Lines in the Sand

This blog is dedicated to the idea of a refuge. There are as many different types of refuges as there are people and places. Ideas can also be a type of refuge. I, personally, find my values are a refuge. There are certain things I will never do, like cheating, stealing, lying, or murder (although I have come close to that when my dog Toby tears the screen out of the porch for the umpteenth time!) There are other things I TRY not to do, like judging, or hurting people’s feelings by being insensitive, or gossiping (if you can’t say something nice, come sit by me?!). I don’t always do so well, but I try. Being a good person is a challenge, but I find safety in being obedient to the laws of the land as well as to the laws of God. Knowing there are limits on how we behave is important not only for children, but also for adults. Sometimes we stretch those limits. Like I don’t believe in cursing, but when someone cuts me off in traffic, I come real close! Still, my conscience pricks me when I get too near to crossing the line and I’m grateful for that. I can then reflect on how I need to change, how I can do better. That inner communication is as sweet a refuge as my partially-screened porch on a beautiful spring day.

Hallelujah!

I didn’t think I could get nearly as excited about good news from an agent or publisher as when I got my contract offer, but I was wrong. When my friend Jenny called and told me she got a request from not one, but two great agents for her manuscript, I seriously almost cried. She’s worked so long and persevered against so much rejection, and now finally, she has some good news to celebrate. Can I have a hallelujah? Hallelujah! I hope there’s an all-out bidding war and she lands an advance in the six figures. No, it’s not about the money—it’s about the validation. This girl can write! (Hang on; I just have to eat a mini-Hershey’s bar to celebrate even though I’ve sworn off chocolate. I’ll swear off again tomorrow.) I’m anticipating her nervous jitters when she hits the send button, when her stomach drops to her toes, and she wonders what will happen next—and when. Ah, the waiting game begins. I’m pleased also that I met one of the agents. She critiqued my manuscript at the SCBWI conference back in September. She said it was perfect, except for the plot. She said this in very short clipped sentences, as if she wasn’t just flushing my dreams down the toilet. BUT, I trust her intuition—she’s looked at hundreds of manuscripts and had some best sellers and Jenny and I had a blast plot-hashing that night into the wee hours. Meanwhile, hooray for The Perilous Journey of the Not So Innocuous Girl! It’s started on its own journey now with lots of good wishes to send it on its way.

Driving Miss Carole

E.L. Doctorow once said that, "Writing is like driving a car at night. You can see only as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way." Those of you who know me well know that I can’t drive well at night. I have to stick to city roads where the street lights counteract my night blindness. Even so, this quote appeals to me, especially right now. I can’t see the end of the journey; geez, I don’t even know for sure if I’m making the journey! The publishing world is a fickle friend. There are obstacles and road blocks in my way that weren’t there before. For the first time ever, I have a bit of a writing block, perhaps from a lack of confidence. But like the driver, making her way through the dark night, I don’t have to see the end of the road. I can summon enough courage and determination to go to the end of my headlights by opening my computer and plodding along until the ideas that need to come, do come. I have people all along the way (with flashlights) cheering me on as if this was a marathon—and it is! But I can treat it as a sprint. Just go to that corner. Okay, now to the next watering spot. Head around the curve and enjoy that spot of shade. Onward! Ignore the runners passing you all around and run your own race. Hmmm, somehow this has turned into a foot race instead of a night time cruise! I’m not a runner either! But the truth is that the journey is the same whether on foot or in a car. You have to keep going, a little bit of the time, slowly but surely, if you want to get to your destination. When I drive at night, I’m really, really slow. I don’t usually subject passengers or other drivers to the torture of that unhappy circumstance. I stay in town or catch a ride with a fellow traveler. This time, however, I think the situation calls for a more adventurous spirit. I’m going to get a monster truck with giant wheels and the latest headlight technology. That way if I can’t see, I can just run over whatever obstacles are in my way! How do you overcome discouragement? Other than by consuming massive amounts of chocolate :) Do tell…

Do We Really NEED libraries?!

I read something this morning on Facebook posted by Book Riot that has me thinking dark thoughts. They quoted a rant against libraries by children’s book author Terry Deary. ( http://bookriot.com/2013/02/19/when-authors-attack-libraries-a-gif-response/) He spoke out in favor of closing libraries in order to save money. He declares that no one expects to be given a free ticket to the movie or a concert or any other form of entertainment, so why should books be free? He says authors and agents and publishers have to eat. He also points out that bookstores are going under because “libraries are cutting their throats.” And authors who support libraries are helping them do it. Wow. Even though some of these things are true, I can’t imagine a writer feeling this way. I was as excited that my book was going to be on the shelf in the library as I was for it to be on the shelf at Barnes & Noble! Yes, my last post was a farewell to the bookstore where I worked for fifteen years because they’re going under—but mostly because of online sales, not libraries. Libraries and book stores have coexisted happily for decades. Maybe it’s silly nostalgia, but I still remember getting my first library card. Back then they were paper instead of plastic, but the material doesn’t matter—it’s the feeling of walking in and being surrounded by all those WORDS and SENTENCES and PARAGRAPHS and PAPER and INK! It was carrying out a pile of books in the form of fuel for my imagination and letting it soar. To me libraries are practically holy places—with a little “h”. Even though I can relate a bit to Mr. Deary’s pain, I can’t agree with the idea of closing libraries to save money. Let’s just close minds to ideas while we’re at it, and we can all think alike, think what we’re told to. Then we won’t even need books at all! What do you think? To borrow or not to borrow—this is the question.

There’s a bit of a bird theme in UNITY, the second book of the Dark Light Dance Trilogy. This is probably because I love birds and often watch them outside my window while I’m writing. One thing I’ve noticed is that birds eat in groups. One chickadee lands on the feeder. Within seconds, there’s another. Then a cardinal. Then a titmouse, a sparrow, a wren, a finch... Before long they’re swooping and diving, taking turns at one feeder or another, or having a sip of water at the bird bath. How like birds we are at times—we wait for someone else to try something first. When it looks like it’s safe, we venture out. There’s safety in numbers. Yet, writing is a solitary quest. Sometimes, we can hash out ideas along the way if we have someone patient enough to put up with our mental meanderings. Most of the time, though, we go to the feeder alone. We carry off a seed of an idea, crack it open, munch on it awhile and digest it. Sated, back in our nest, we sink into the refuge of creativity, feathering our nest with made up characters that seem just as real to us as our family and friends. Then when those family or friends interrupt us, it’s a bit of a shock reentering the real world. Ah, that literary refuge of writing or reading books! I love analogies. What is yours about the writing refuge?

Endings and Beginnings

Line Upon Line, the book store where I worked for fifteen years, is closing its doors forever in February. I worked at this store from its very early beginnings when it was located in the attic of a garage contractor, then moved with it to an actual store that was so tiny you could see all the stock from the phone. If someone called to see if you had something, you didn't have to leave the desk! Then we moved to an old house. We thought it was absolutely charming with its fireplace and warped old floors--and so did the mice and other varmints. Since the owner couldn't bear to hurt the little darlings and they wouldn't leave, eventually we moved out instead. We had more space and a great new location-we had arrived! Independent religious bookstores have never made their owners a lot of money, but LUL had owners (several of them) willing to sacrifice profits for the chance to serve their loyal customers. Until, they couldn't do it anymore... Alas, these days, small independent brick and mortar bookstores are closing their doors left and right. It's sad in a way--I love meandering through off-the-beaten-path bookstores and finding the perfect book, like a shiny treasure. However, the old adage, whenever God closes a door, he opens a window, is true in this case too. LUL filled a special place in the market and now those products are available online for those who want to let their fingers do the wandering. Still, nothing will quite replace the feeling of enlightenment that browsing in Line Upon Line Bookstore offered, with its wide selection of religious books, clean fiction, art, and accessories--not to mention the chance to meet and greet old and new friends. Some of the best people in the world worked and shopped at LUL. I will miss them as well. It's a mixed blessing that I quit a year ago to pursue my goal of writing books, rather than selling them. Without LUL, I'm not sure I would have been brave enough to chase that dream. It's there that I found the perfect publisher for the kind of general market young adult fiction that I write. LUL stayed open long enough to launch my career with a lovely signing party when REFUGE came out, something for which I'll be forever grateful! Part of me is a little sad though, that I missed the day-to-day journey of their last year of operation. All the owners from the beginning until now, and all my favorite fellow employees and customers--you know who you are--thanks for the memories! They are sweet. And who knows, maybe there will be a book about it someday!

Finding Refuge

In the first book of the Dark Light Dance Trilogy, REFUGE, the main characters meet and fall in love at a wildlife Refuge. Hence the name of the book has a double meaning—the place they meet, and the feeling of security they have when they're together. But the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge is also a place each of them goes to retreat from the world. Laney has just lost her parents and little brother. She goes out to the Refuge to walk. It is a private place, away from kind but curious eyes, where she can commune with nature, enjoy the wildlife, and come to terms with her loss. In its quiet beauty, she hopes to find courage to begin again. Gabe goes to the Refuge to paint. He finds pleasure in capturing the images of wild creatures he sees in his sketchbook, later to turn them into beautiful art. This process of creating helps him forget the tragedies in his young life and the uncertain future he faces. Just like Gabe and Laney, we all need to find places of refuge in our life. No matter how good our life is—how full and busy—sometimes we may need to retreat from even our blessings, especially if they’re small people! Our refuge can be as simple as sitting in a porch swing with the scriptures or a good book (my favorite!) Or sometimes we need to get clean away and visit a new place (or a beloved familiar one), in order to restore our equilibrium. Many of my friends take refuge in running or walking. That devoted time fuels their creativity while it tones their bodies. Your refuge can be a place, an activity, or both. This year, if you don’t have one, find your refuge. Let it fuel your creativity, give you peace, and restore your soul.