Friday, May 30, 2008

It's been awhile...

Wow-I hadn't realized how long it had been since I last wrote.  Here's what's been going on:

1.  I have completed 2 major revisions of my novel, Sisters.  It's now as polished as I can make it for right now.  I sent in the first 20 pages for my residency workshop at Vermont College (which, by the way, is only 38 days away).

2.  After sending in those pages, I put the manuscript away and will not be looking at it again until after school is finished, unless I can convince my advisor to accept and critique it with the first packet.  

3.  I have begun to work on my new middle grade novel (I think I'm channeling a 13 year old girl...)  I am 12 pages in so far.

4.  I read the prologue and first 2 chapters last night at our library (along with a few other talented writers reading their work) for the 300th anniversary of "Ridgefield Writes".  I was nervous, of course, but not as bad as last time I read my work for an audience.  I guess it's true that it gets easier each time.  At least that's what I hope!

In my next blog, I will describe how the low residency program at Vermont College works, since it's only a little over a month away (did I mention that?).   

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Favorite Books

It's a dangerous thing to be a children's writer and work at a children's book fair.  I'm going to be broke by the end of the week.  Such awesome books!  Some of the popular titles are:  The Boy Who Dared, Swindle, Diary of a Wimpy Kid (both of them), and The Invention of Hugo Cabret.  Of course I'm not talking about the "garbage" books, like the Guinness Book of Gaming Records, and Invasion of the Campfire Weenies.  I picked up The Book Thief and Clementine myself.
So what kids' books have you read recently?  What are your favorites and what did you think was "garbage"?  What books are still on your list?