What I'm Writing:
OK, not so much writing, but revising, revising, revising...and now querying OUR FOUR MOTHERS, complete at 50,000 words!
And related to writing, I had an incredible time at the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) conference in New York City in January. I hoarded the good meds, prepared to use two Imitrex shots a day, but miraculously had a relatively low-migraine weekend. Th
e speakers were inspiring, my roommate and new friend Mary Losure a treasure, and the free time tromping around Manhattan in the frigid weather a lot of fun. Mary and I hit the New York Public Library and a, thanks to a Target promotion, a free (vs $20) visit to the Modern Museum of Art on Friday night. I also had a great time at the inimitable Books of Wonder, which is dedicated to children's books, with many, many signed copies on the shelves. (One of these days I'll visit BoW and sign MY books!)What I'm Reading:
Ooh, lots to report here! I bought a signed copy of Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games at Books of Wonder. Mary got hold of it before I did, and read the beginning in our hotel room Friday night. I read it after I got home, and immediately ordered the sequel, Catching Fire, and pre-ordered Mockinjay, due in August. All I can say is, "Whoa." Talk about your intense dystopic future! Katniss, the main character, is forced to take part in the annual "Hunger Games", in which two children from each of twelve districts remaining in the former US are forced to fight to the death in a man-made "wilderness" arena. Things get more complicated when she becomes attached to Peeta, the other contestant from her district, knowing that only one of them 
can survive.
AND with Amy, my ten-year-old, at bedtime, Ellen Klages masterful The Green Glass Sea and its sequel White Sands, Red Menace. Dewey and Suze are the daughters of scientists building a "gadget" during WWII. The girls know it's some kind of weapon, which might be used to end the war. They don't know that their parents are working on the Manhattan Project, building the atomic bomb. These are GREAT books for girls and boys interested in science and math, or history. Amy was enthralled with the details of life in the 1940's. "No microwaves? No TV? How did they LIVE?"
AND, last but not least, I've just started the long-awaited companion volume to my all-time favorite grown-up books. Connie Willis' Blackout takes place in the same future world as To Say Nothing of the Dog and Doomsday Book. Mr. Dunworthy and Colin are back, as well as a new historian named Eileen who has traveled back to the 1940's to observe children evacuated from London. I'm not far enough in to know much, yet, but I'm planning on savoring every word!
Yet again, Meh. I'm extremely thankful for the good weekend for SCBWI. Otherwise, status quo with migraines every day, lots of sleep, and a bad cold to top it off.
Ooh, lots to report here! I bought a signed copy of Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games at Books of Wonder. Mary got hold of it before I did, and read the beginning in our hotel room Friday night. I read it after I got home, and immediately ordered the sequel, Catching Fire, and pre-ordered Mockinjay, due in August. All I can say is, "Whoa." Talk about your intense dystopic future! Katniss, the main character, is forced to take part in the annual "Hunger Games", in which two children from each of twelve districts remaining in the former US are forced to fight to the death in a man-made "wilderness" arena. Things get more complicated when she becomes attached to Peeta, the other contestant from her district, knowing that only one of them can survive.
AND with Amy, my ten-year-old, at bedtime, Ellen Klages masterful The Green Glass Sea and its sequel White Sands, Red Menace. Dewey and Suze are the daughters of scientists building a "gadget" during WWII. The girls know it's some kind of weapon, which might be used to end the war. They don't know that their parents are working on the Manhattan Project, building the atomic bomb. These are GREAT books for girls and boys interested in science and math, or history. Amy was enthralled with the details of life in the 1940's. "No microwaves? No TV? How did they LIVE?"
AND, last but not least, I've just started the long-awaited companion volume to my all-time favorite grown-up books. Connie Willis' Blackout takes place in the same future world as To Say Nothing of the Dog and Doomsday Book. Mr. Dunworthy and Colin are back, as well as a new historian named Eileen who has traveled back to the 1940's to observe children evacuated from London. I'm not far enough in to know much, yet, but I'm planning on savoring every word!What I'm Knitting:
I'm THIS CLOSE to being finished with the cube part of Doug's Fibonacci cube afghan (pictured at top.) I'm really happy with how it's coming out, and so is Doug! We've loved having him home on weekends, for over a month at Christmas, and for an extra week during the double blizzard of 2010. We've also enjoyed getting to know his roommate, Tommy.
Especially Carrie. :D
How I'm Feeling:
How I'm Feeling:
Yet again, Meh. I'm extremely thankful for the good weekend for SCBWI. Otherwise, status quo with migraines every day, lots of sleep, and a bad cold to top it off.
