Where I'm At

NOW, ONLINE:

Check out the lovely review of SHATTERED by Alexa on February 1, 2012.

Also, read my interview by young adult author, Cheryl Rainfield, posted February 7, 2012. While you're there, check out her books: SCARS and HUNTED.


IN THE FUTURE, IN PERSON:

March 6, 2012 ~~ Dominican University ~~ with Oak Park River Forest High School, Fenwick High School and Trinity High School Students ~~ I'll be facilitating conversations with the students at their Youth Conference during break-out sessions.

March 14, 2012 ~~ Oak Park River Forest High School Psychology Club ~~ Presentation on my young adult novel, SHATTERED, focusing on some of the psychological issues in the book: trauma and transformation, support, and empowerment; and on the inspiration for this story and how I went about writing a psychological story. I will be signing afterward.

March 16, 2012 ~~ Illinois Reading Council ~~ Illinois Author/Illustrator Luncheon/Signing. Here's a list of Authors/Illustrators who will be participating:

Krista August
George Bailey
Blue Balliett
Kathi Baron
Raymond Bial
Barbara Binns
Debbi Chocolate
Laura Crawford
Carolyn Crimi
Kat Falls
Beth Finke
Scott Gustafson
Kimberly M. Hutmacher
Sara Latta
Laurie Lawlor
Steven L. Layne
Marianne Malone
Alice B. McGinty
Gary Moore
W. Nikola-Lisa
Janet Nolan
Nnedi Okorafor
Barb Rosenstock
Barbara Santucci
Karen Halvorsen Schreck
Suzanne Slade
Kristina Springer
Nancy Stewart
Sally M. Walker
Jeff Weigel

Stop by and say Hi!

New Year Old Attitude

It's a new year--2012. Time for a fresh start. I'm seeing things in a new way. I've set a goal to write a new novel and have been making notes and lists of books to read to support this endeavor. But I also want to bring something along from the past years into this one. I want to continue to cultivate a daily "attitude of gratitude." Being grateful focuses my mind to see the small things that bring light to the day.

Last summer, a lightning storm struck a tree in front of a house on Des Plaines River Road, the road I use to get to my occupational therapy job. I didn't notice it on the way to work. But on the way home, a man was out there with a chainsaw, buzzing away. He wasn't taking down the trunk. No he was actually carving. Interesting. I made a note to check the spot on my return to work the next day. To my surprise, instead of just a pitiful stump, there is now a magnificent bear carved from the trunk of a 100-year-old elm tree. My bear, which is what I've come to think of him as, is 14 feet tall and he's standing in a way so that he's angling, looking back at his family's house. But what I see when I drive by is his smile. And he makes my day.

It's not just the beauty of his smile. But the idea that art is smiling at me.

Making art is not only a gift an artist offers to all of us, but it is a gift to the one who makes it. Doing art is a beautiful experience. Being playful, creative, getting new insights and seeing the human spirit in a new way--is quite a wonderful way to live.

I'm grateful for those chances when I get to do my writing. When I get to be artful.

Seeing the small details in this world, in my life--they all make my life rich. My bear makes my life rich.

Thank you.

P.S.--If you want to see my bear, go to:
www.triblocal.com/des-plaines/2011/08/23/when-storms-give-you-stumps-make-art/

Be Your Best Self: Beryn Wins Game Ball

I'm an avid baseball fan. In fact, I'd go so far as to call myself a "baseball geek." I'm a big Red Sox fan and I usually watch a couple innings a night. I start everyday, reading baseball websites, learning baseball news because I'm also a fan of the game. Sometimes I'll sit down and watch a game because I want to see Tim Lincecum of the Giants pitch, or Jason Verlander of the Tigers. I also love good hitting. So I'll watch Albert Pujols play for the Cardinals or I'll watch a whole Red Sox game because I love the line up of Jacoby Ellsbury, Dustin Pedroia, Big Papi, Kevin Youkilis, and well the rest of them, they're all fun to watch. I thought I'd be following them into the offseason, through play-offs and into the World Series. So you could say they broke my heart with their September meltdown resulting in them never even making it into the play-offs.

This is where I was when I went to New Jersey to visit relatives and to see my niece, Beryn Wienstock, play softball on October 1st. I was glad to see all the relatives, but I tell you, my heart was sad that the postseason was going on and there was no chance to wear my Red Sox jersey and to sit in front of the TV and cheer for my beloved team.

And then I saw my neice Beryn play her softball double-header. She's awesome! That day she had 3 RBI's, 2 doubles, 2 singles and a great catch she made in left-center field! I don't even know if her team won the games, and I don't care because watching her and her team, with their energy, attitude and smartness, well it lifted my spirits. After her 2nd double, I said out loud, "there's your MVP!" Afterward, she came out of the dugout carrying the game ball. Her coach had awarded it to her for her amazing performance that day. I was and am still very proud of her.

Thank you Beryn for reminding me that it isn't really about winning or losing or going to the offseason...it's really about how you play the game. Giving it your all. Trying your best. Being your best self.

Book Sale/Signing

I'm happy to say I'm participating in the

Aurora Public Library Local Author Fair

Saturday, September 10, 2011

1-4 p.m.

Eola Community Center

555 S. Eola Rd.

Aurora, IL 60504

Book Sale sponsored by Barnes and Noble

I'd love to sign a copy of SHATTERED for you!

Living in a Baseball Park

It's getting near the end of summer. I love this time of year, because the race is on, to see which baseball team can get into the post season. This is when I start checking the standings every day, to see who's inching their way closer and closer to the World Series.

Since 2006, my family and I have been been visiting ballparks. This past July, we visited the new Target Field in Minneapolis. Wow! It's so beautiful! Prior to this, I'd been to Petco Field, Dodger Stadium, visited the Oakland A's, the Giants and the Mariners on the west coast. On the East Coast, I've been to Fenway Park, and the old Shea Stadium. I'm from Chicago, so of course I've been to US Cellular Field and Wrigley. And I love to day-trip to Miller Park in Milwaukee, so we've been there, too. I've also been to see the Tampa Bay Rays play and the Toronto Blue Jays.

I would have to say my all-time favorite place is Fenway in Boston. It's old and new all in one. I love that it's preserved and well taken care of and it just feels historic and beautiful to be there. Target Field is my 2nd favorite. It was friendly and just really nice. Plus they have this big gold glove (check out the picture above). I love Miller Park because they have a dome. You never have to worry about the rain when you go there.

I love ballpark food. US Cellular has the best hot dogs! In Seattle, you can get chocolate covered strawberries on a stick and in San Francisco, they have garlic fries. Milwaukee has great cheeseburgers.

In Toronto, we stayed at the hotel that is attached to the stadium. You just head out the lobby, around the corner and down the stairs and you're there. A baseball fan's dream.

This time of year, I have a hard time concentrating on anything other than baseball. I'd like to ditch work and my chores and go sit in a ballpark every night. In fact, I'd love to move into a skybox at Fenway, turn it into my apartment and be available for the rest of the season!

On Terry McMillan's book, "Getting to Happy"

Saturday, early, I grabbed a book, thinking I'll read a chapter and then figure out what to do next with my day. It's 8 hours later. I've indulged in reading all day long. Like I used to do in the summers. When I was a kid. Such a simple pleasure! I first got into Terry McMillan when "Waiting to Exhale" came out, years ago. I loved these 4 friends, Robin, Savannah, Gloria & Bernie when they were younger. Now, they're in their 50's. Like me. They're all dealing with tough stuff and I feel rejuvenated, having spent the day with them, watching them all transform.

McMillan asks a brave question in this book: "What is happy?" Each character defines it for herself and then works to get there. I found myself asking: what does my happy look like?

Last month, the owner of WestSide Books, the home of my novel, Shattered, put the company up for sale. Every day since, I've moved through a different kind of emotion or thought about it. I don't know what it means for the future of all of us authors at WestSide. I just know I feel a lot of anxiety because it's all so uncertain. I hope another publisher will buy us, hire Evelyn Fazio--who was the heart and soul of WestSide(she's in the picture with me above)--and move us all forward, continuing to publish realistic fiction for young adults. What is certain is I don't have control over any of it.

But what I do have control over is my writing life. For me, "getting to happy" is about continuing on with the life I had before WestSide. A lifestyle I created while being a grad student at Vermont College. Spending time reading young adult literature, to learn how to write for teens, journaling to be true, and writing and re-writing to get it right.

I'm also back to wanting to get published. I'm working at putting my best work on the page, even if it takes hours to write one sentence. Even if it takes 5 drafts to get the story out. Moment to moment, word by word, I'm living the me I was meant to be: a writer. Yes, publication brings its own kind of special joy. But honestly, what makes me ecstatic is creating.

I don't know if I'll ever make it to another publication. But I'm pretty sure, if I keep on writing, I'll make it to happy.

A Challenge for Writers

Here's a question for you: What makes a good writer?

Each writer has to discover this for herself, which is half the fun of doing it. I think that what makes a good writer is taking the time to truly live your life. By being present. By experiencing whatever it is that you're doing, wherever you are, and paying attention to the five senses.

Think about it--

By seeing, really seeing the orangy-red in that hibiscus blooming on the tree on the way to the beach, and

by hearing the actual chords to that song on your I-pod, and

by feeling that cool breeze on your arm when you left the house and forgot your jacket after lunch and

by tasting your favorite ice cream, really tasting the crunching of the mega chocolate chips mixed in with the smooth, chilly chocolate, and finally,

by smelling the salt in the air

--you've got the stuff that makes up a good sentence about a story set at the beach!

The senses focus a writer to get detailed and poetic and interesting. It's what brings a character, a setting, a point of view to life for the reader.

I challenge you, go ahead, live your life. To the fullest. And become your best writer self that you can be!