Sally and Conrad!

I almost forgot to mention one...well two, more important things! I am now the proud momma of two fish (it was supposed to be just one but I couldn't let him be alone)! I have NO clue as to what kind they are... but they are silver with a little black on their tails. Even more importantly, they survived the night, proving already to be little fighters!

They were named, appropriately, from a great authors book; Dr. Seuss' fun-filled story titled the "Cat in the Hat."

These lovely little additions have made their home right next to my new desk and give me someone to talk to, even though they don't talk back! It's just nice to have something else that lives and breathes in the house!

Well, I am off to get some work done! After all, it's like the amazing Dr. Seuss said, “How did it get so late so soon? Its night before its afternoon. December is here before its June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?”

Then There Was a Desk!

I will be the first to say that I, without a doubt, have some of the craziest things happen to me! However, it's from those crazy mishaps, that the best memories arise! For example, the past 24-hours. I am sitting at work, with a back that is less than pleased with any movement right now, and eyes that are heavy from lack of sleep. But in order for those to make sense in this story, we should start near the beginning instead of the end!

Yesterday was payday, and not just any payday; but rather my first pay day from my big job at the library. Furthermore, my first paycheck period since I moved here. After the move, and a few weeks of groceries, new items for my apartment, clothes for work and other necessities... I was desperate for that little piece of paper signed by my boss and holding the wonderful weight of monetary value. So desperate in fact that after making 4 trips to the mailbox to check and see if it had come, and neurotically looking out the window every 5-10 minutes... I decided it would be easier if I just parked it outside and waited for the mailman; and that's exactly what I did! I grabbed my navy blue, crushed velvet, mushroom chair, a container of neon pink Playdoh (good for relieving stress, FYI), the daily newspaper and the book I am currently reading (Flipped, by Wendelin Van Draanen), and set up camp on the front balcony of my apartment building...for 3 hours and approximately 17 minutes. Then, about the millionth time looking up from my book, I saw him walking down the street! It was everything I could do to restrain myself in the chair until he delivered the mail; but I saw the check go into the mailbox, and when I did, I hit the ground running! It was officially payday!

Later that night, my friend Kathy and I set out to grocery shop after grabbing a bite to eat. This is where the story truly begins! At Wal-Mart, in the furniture isle! It stood slightly taller than 5'6' and was made of a dark brown wood, with black trimming. It was designed to fit at an angle, and had numerous shelves... and before I realized it... I had fallen in love with a desk! In case you didn't know it... true love with furniture goes a little like this. You fall in love and start deciding which part of the house it would look best in and whether or not you will need a lamp to go with it BEFORE you ever see it's price tag. Which in my case, happened a few minutes later when I realized the only thing that kept me from shoving this thing in my cart was it's enormity and weight, and then.... the price... $99. Leave it to me to fall head-over-heels in love with one of the most expensive desks in the store! So, we decided to take a look at a few other desks being held in the back that were in clearance. It took some convincing, but I settled for one that was on sale $45. Even to the point that two clerks took it too the front.... or halfway that is. Because walking back, we had to walk by the original desk isle. When, I felt my heart pang... and with one look, Kathy said, "Oh my god, I'll go get them! Just go stand by your desk!" So, that is how we ended up going to the grocery store and coming home with a desk! Now getting home was interesting part 2!

I live on the second level of an apartment complex. To get to my place, you have to walk up a rather steep set of wood stairs (known for giving it's fair share of splinters). When we got the rest of our items inside, it was time to haul in the very long, very heavy cardboard box that held the pieces of my desk. This process alone took a good 10 minutes. Halfway up, we couldn't budge because we were laughing so hard and it really was SO heavy. Eventually though, we managed to get it into the apartment and in one piece (well, technically many pieces, but you get the point)!

It took over 4 hours to assemble the cute little desk we saw at Wal-Mart. In the time frame, we laughed, we nearly cried, and we dealt with a lot of frustration; but we did it! Now, when you walk into my apartment, the very first thing you will see is a very pretty corner desk, perfect for any writer who needs a place to spread out! Furthermore, it's more than just a piece of furniture because it has it's own little story. Overall, the perfect place to set up my little writing office.

When I woke up this morning I came around the corner to see it still sitting there, and before I dashed (ok stumbled) off to work, I smiled. Now sitting here, aches and pains, sleepiness and all... I know that when I get off work I won't head straight to bed like I joke about. I plan to head straight to my writing desk!

Bad days... but good books!

I will take this day as an opportunity to point out that I cannot write on bad days. Which, this day has turned out to be! I have been doing really well lately staying positive and bouncing back from things that would normally make me take a step back. Yet today.... was just a day! There are many things that contributed to it not being good... things I am not going to even get into! But I will say that any day that begins with a trip to the dentist is not out to a good start ( I have a huge fear of dentists)! So, needless to say, that after an hour and a half... close to two hours... of sitting in the dentist chair, being poked, prodded and cleaned... I was not in the best of moods (though the fact that they ran out of regular bibs and had to use a Finding Nemo one did make it a little better, just for kicks)! All of which, ended with a payment plan that I cannot afford yet and the doctor telling me that he thinks I would benefit from braces next year! To which I laughed... before realizing the man was serious! I left with my free toothbrush, toothpaste, and a headache!

The rest of the day, despite my desperate attempt to change its course, has fallen behind the mornings trail. My bike tire popped, I spilled half a glass of milk on me, and my mood is rather foul! Granted... things could be much worse! I could have so many other bad things happen in comparison that make this day seem like.... well... spilled milk! But I didn't; and for that I am thankful. But that doesn't stop it from being a pretty crummy day!

One thing that tends to help me when I am feeling low is being around friends.... but I am at work and they are all busy! So, the second best is books! Children's books to be exact! And what luck it is that I work in a library, and the entire fourth floor is dedicated to that genre! So this evening... when I was on the verge of tears, I decided to take my rounds a few minutes early and headed to the Children's Book Level. There, I found myself at home! Because while I am unable to write on a bad day.... my ability to read remains a constant!

Books have always served as an escape for me; ever since I can remember. I learned how to read at a very young age, and since then have never been too far without a book! In middle school and high school I was, to say the least, a "bookworm." I read in-between classes, through my lunch period, on the bus-ride home...I was even was able to read while I walked (which may be where my clumsiness developed)! In college I slowed down a bit, but I never went without at least one book in my room at all times. Mostly books on how to write right, how to illustrate, how to get-published, and list after list after list of publishers. Nevertheless, it was reading! Now, I have graduated from college, and.... re-entered college... and work full-time as a Librarian Assistant and declare myself "little miss independent," I am back to hard-core reading. Throughout all these life changes, the thread is reading and it has, (as I mentioned), served as an escape. When things are too much, or the world I am in isn't properly "functioning," I can escape into another. One that lies between front and back covers, and nestled in-between the pages!

Reading is a wonderful thing... and it goes hand in hand with writing! I have been asked before how I ever have time to write my own things if I spend so much time reading! The answer is simple; by doing both you learn how to appreciate the other. I make time... when the time is right. After all, there is always a right time to write and you'll know when it's right for you! For me.... it's a day to escape into someone else's world!

Children Serve As Inspiration: My little "co-workers!"

I think one of the biggest aides in becoming a Children's Author is having children to help you along the way! I have been blessed with little brothers, nieces, and nephews that I use as testers for my stories! It's during these times that I find myself being the most creative. Especially with my niece and nephew! They love to be read too, but even more so, they love when they visit me because they know if they beg enough, I will tell them stories!

Many nights we have laid next to each, snuggle up... lost in the world of the stories I tell. You can see in their little faces that they are imagining themselves in the magical worlds I create. It's an amazing experience as a writer to be there for that... to watch them hold on to every word that escapes from your mouth. To witness the sudden fits of giggles break through the air! All of it serves as inspiration that I wish I could capture in a jar and save for later... for the moments when inspiration runs low. But instead, I store away the memories... grateful for my little co-workers. Grateful for those moments... because in that time... we are all three away on an adventure... discovering roads that we create as we go along. And when their eyes grow heavy with sleepiness, and soon they are off in their own dreamlands... I remain there, thinking of how easy it was to tell a story on the spot!

After I am sure they are sleeping, I sneak out, tucking them in before I go… and I record my evenings “work.” If you can call it work! To me, children are my biggest inspiration; after all, they are your best customer in the end!

COMING SOON: Children's Book Reviews

I have decided, for more than one reason, to add Children's Book Reviews to my blog! It's a good excuse to read more books (not that you ever need an excuse ;) to read a children's book); and it is something I need to be doing anyway for one of the workbooks I am currently working from! So, soon there will be new additions to my page, posted just as I would any other entry! I am going to try and have at least one book a week. More if I have adequate time! It is important to note that the reviews I list are written by me, and are solely my opinion! Therefore, if you disagree with me, that's fine! In fact, feel free to respond and we can start a new forum! I will not be harping on any author (as I feel that is cruel), but looking closely at what makes that book appeal to it's audience, if the illustrations fit, and the overall plot-line. I'm doing this... to learn! There are so many different styles of writing and ways of presenting a story... studying someone's work is a good way to widen your horizon...even if it isn't the normal genre you work with (or read)!
So, look for the reviews here within the next few day's! Who knows, maybe you'll find a book you hadn't heard of and in doing so, enrich your reading list!

Recorder brings new method to the creative table!

Between living out of Rubbermaid tubs, to using them as a dining room table, to using them as bookshelves: I have not had a lot of room to spread out my creative materials! It has been somewhat of a pain, but I recently picked up a technique that I used to use and had forgotten how useful it was! Recording: it saves time and requires little space!

Working a full-time job and getting settled has proven to be a handful! Furthermore, getting used to living alone and all the other changes that come along with it has also been a bump in the road of creativity! I have noticed that things are starting to flow more smoothly as each day passes, but one thing remained the same! It seemed like I had a writers block that was firmly in place until the least opportune moment! For example, in the middle of cooking, or on a quick break from work... or during the last few minutes until I fell into a deep sleep! Not good moments to abandon everything to pick up a pen and paper! That's when I remembered recording! When I first started this I was in high school! It started out as a tool for my journalism work; but one day I found myself babbling off a story that had popped into my head. Since then, it has helped me in many time crunches. As luck would have it, I even have a brand new recorder that I received as a graduation gift from some very close friends. So, about a week ago, I found myself running for it in the middle of a creative explosion! It gives me a way to make sure I have recorded the thoughts that I have... either word for world or simply the idea. After that, it is as simple as the click of a button to save the recorded file and it is there until I have adequate time to translate it to my computer or a story board!

While this practice is one that may not work for some, it is one that works extremely well for me! I now carry my little recorder with me wherever I go! It's kind of an added bonus that it was a gift from two of the people I love the most, because it inspires me as well. I think these two things alone.... finding a way to manage your work-life and writing-life and grabbing hold of inspiration.... are key to being a successful writer. Either way, they make me smile and it gets the job done!