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!

Where You'll Find Me

April 16, 2011

I'm keynoting,

teaching 2 writing workshops

and signing copies of SHATTERED

at

River Forest School District 90

Young Authors Conference

Roosevelt Middle School

7560 Oak Avenue

8:30-noon

Children's Literature Conference

I'm looking forward to particpating in the

31st Annual Children's Literature Conference

at

Northern Illinois University

March 11, 2011

1:00 - 1:50

Local Author Booktalk Session: Young Adult

Featuring six Illinois young adult authors booktalking our newest books:

Barbara Binns, James Kennedy, James Klise, Adam Selzer,

Claire Zulkey & yours truly, Kathi Baron

3:40-4:30

Local Author/Illustrator Autographing Reception

I'll be signing copies of Shattered

www.cedu.niu.edu/oep/conferences/childrenslit/index.html

Guest Interview: Hallie Claire Waltezko

November was National Novel Writing Month or NaNoWriMo. This year, my 14 year old niece, Hallie Claire Waletzko participated. She started on November 1, 2010 and on November 29, 2010, she completed a novel, 1 day early, writing a total of 50,289 words!

If you've ever written a novel, you can appreciate what it takes to get 50,000 words down on the page. But in a month? So far, with my new novel, it has taken me 2 years and 3 months to complete that much! If you've never written a novel, try to picture yourself doing it. It's remarkable, right?

I'm so impressed by Hallie, that I asked her to let me interview her about her NaNoWriMo experience. Read on and be inspired!

Here's what she had to say:

KB: What was your process like--ie what did you do to be able to get 50,000 plus words written in the month of November?

HCW: Going into it, I didn't actualy expect to hit the 50,000 word goal. But the NaNoWriMo website sets daily goals for you, and I would always be really determined to meet those goals. As well as word count goals, I would set time goals, like "Okay, I'll write without stopping for the next 15 minutes." Or I would set plot goals, where I would write until something happened in the story so I wouldn't lose the thought.

KB: Did you ever want to quit?

HCW: I wouldn't say I ever really wanted to quit altogether. There would be days when I got home from school really late, and would stop before I got to my goal of the day. There were times when I had computer issues, and get really frustrated, but overall, I just kept going.

KB: Did anything surprise you while doing NaNoWriMo?

HCW: Yes, everything surprised me! By the first few days, I realized that my characters were making their own decisions! At the end of October, the NaNoWriMo website sends you an outline of what should be happening every few days. By Day 3, they say, "Realize this isn't the novel you were intending to write, and that's okay." And that's totally true.

KB: Any advice for novelists?

HCW: I guess my only advice is to just write. Don't worry about whether or not what you're writing is any good, that comes later. But getting the words out of you is really important, and a program like NaNo is really helpful with that.

KB: Thanks so much, Hallie!

Young Authors Conference 2010

I'm happy to say I'll be presenting 2 writing workshops to middle grade students this Saturday, October 23, 2010!

The Annual District 97 Young Authors Conference is from 9-11:00 at Lincoln School, 1111 S. Grove, in Oak Park.

I'll be talking about my young adult novel, Shattered. I'll also provide a writing prompt and will facilitate a critique group, so that students will get the chance to explore 2 tools writers often use. A free journal will be given to each participant.

A book sale will be held in the gym from 11:00-11:30, with books provided by the Magic Tree Bookstore. All participating authors will be on hand to sign.

This special event is one of the reasons I love living in Oak Park!

Going to college

We found out that my son, Dan, is assigned to move into his dorm at DePaul U. on Sunday, August 29th. Seeing this date on the page makes it so real that he's going. And turns these last days of summer ultra precious. I want to take each chance--a minute or long hours--to enjoy his presence in our house. Until he goes, I want to make sure I don't waste any time while he still lives with us. There's still time to savor his childhood. To be a family under one roof.

I love being surrounded by his teen-aged life--having his friends drop in, eating our food. Hanging out in ballparks, watching him play baseball. Watching baseball games on TV together. Him sleeping until 1:00 PM. Him texting, buying video games, going out to play putt-putt. I even want to appreciate his messy room. And how he forgets to do his chores; and how I nag him.

It's been a grand run, these last 18 years. I'm proud of him. Excited he's going to college. That he gets to go on this incredible journey.

It will be so quiet when he goes. So for now, I want to enjoy his noise.