This week I was invited to be part of a literacy event at a local middle school. It was an evening program and I was on a panel with three other local authors. (All of whom were awesome, by the way.) It took place in the cafeteria, which was PACKED with kids and their families. Honestly, seeing so many people coming out to celebrate reading, especially at this time in history, warmed my heart. The organizers had lined up picture books across the stage, facing the audience. Every few minutes during the panel, one of the little kids present would creep up, shyly, then grab a book and run back to their parents like they’d just gotten a treasure. Oh, my heart. There were books on all the tables, too, free for the taking. By the time I left, they were all gone. *sniffles*
I feel like I struck gold this week when I happened upon Kayla Rae Whitaker’s The Animators at the library. It came out in 2017, when I somehow missed it, which was a shame because OH MY GOODNESS was it good. Like, haunting you before you even get to the last page good. I can’t believe it hasn’t been developed into a movie. Producers, take note! Also this week I read Jessamine Chan’s The School for Good Mothers, which was riveting and, frankly, terrifying in that timely way entirely too much seems to be these days. Now I’ve moved onto Jami Attenberg’s latest, A Reason to See You Again. I love Jami’s books. She has this way of dipping in and out of a series of characters, linking them while also making each its own story. Every good thing I read makes me want to be a better writer. I’m so lucky that being in awe is part of my job.
Speaking of writing, I have hit what I think of as “the bloom is off the rose” stage of my work in progress. Whenever I start a new novel—-if I wait until I am ready and excited, which I don’t always do—-it’s fun at first. Like having a new crush, that excited, everything-is-perfect feeling. Then, by about page fifty, things start to get harder. These are the days where I delete more than I save. Drive around town considering other careers. Obsess about what I’m doing wrong (what am I doing WRONG?). The bad news is that this lasts until about, oh, page 350 or so. The good news is the LAST fifty pages, when it all comes together, is worth it. Or so I am telling myself. For now, I just have to figure out why all my characters are stuck at a breakfast table and I’m somehow unable to get them up and to the car. Sigh.
We’re now in February, which is a month I always find myself trying to rush through because I am so eager for spring. This week, though, a tiny preview: the frogs are back. I was brushing my teeth the other night before bed when I heard this steady chirping coming from the pond in front of our house. It wasn’t loud, like the summer frogs, which screech all night long. More of a quiet salute: Hey. Hey. Hey. I stood there, just listening. Signs all around of change, even when it feels like you’re standing still. Just have to be quiet to hear them.
At the literacy event this week, I was asked to read a short excerpt from one of my novels. Normally, I pick my most recent book—-in this case, The Rest of the Story—-because it’s the one I am most comfortable with. But because this was at a middle school, plus I felt like switching things up, I decided to do a throwback and read from Keeping the Moon. Which came out in 1999 (or, as I said to the crowd, when dinosaurs roamed the earth). I decided to go with the first couple of pages, so I wouldn’t have to give background. Still, I wondered if it would feel weird. Nope. Instead, I felt like I’d bumped into a dear old friend after a long time apart. Just like that, I was RIGHT back with my narrator, the years in between only a blink. Just me and Colie, at the train station, catching up. Hey. Hey. Hey.
Have a good weekend, everyone!
Please tell me they're at least stuck at World of Waffles? 🥰
From a teacher: thank you so much for going to a school literary event! Meeting REAL authors is one of the best ways to encourage kids to read. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
And best of luck getting through that murky middle of your WIP :)