Summer in winter

What does a writer do when it's snowing outside, there's a windchill that's too horrifically cold to contemplate, and a frostbite warning to boot? She uses her imagination to put herself somewhere warmer!

In my case, this means writing about South Africa at this time of the year i.e. midsummer. What am I writing, you ask? It's a memoir, actually the first full length manuscript I ever completed. I wrote it for a writing contest and although it didn't win, the sponsoring publisher wrote to say they were interested to publish my 'charming' book.

Hah, I thought, this getting published business is a bagatelle. How wrong I was! A year later I received the rejection, along with the two readers' reports. I was so ignorant and innocent that I didn't really 'get' what those were saying. Luckily I kept them because now, at last, I feel the time is ripe to do the revise and expand thing. Because now I can see the faults—well, some of them—and the potential.

So what's it about? Ahhh, see, our family spent four magical years on a Cape wine farm. My memoir is written from the point of view of Miranda, our eldest child, who was on the brink of teenagerhood at the time. Here's a faded old photo to give you a glimpse of the paradise in which we lived:

What a coincidence!

Last week when we had a snow dump, our neighbor and her daughter helped my husband with the shoveling. So when they were done, he invited them in for a cup of tea and a slice of Christmas cake.

We were sitting around the dining-room table adorned with its festive cut-glass candlesticks when our neighbor turned to me and asked, "I'm interested to know... What do you do to keep yourself occupied?"

I explained about being a writer and started to tell her about 'Cape Town'. She opened her eyes in astonishment and said, "I just got that book out of the library!"

"Really? That's amazing!"

We chatted a bit more about writing and reading and so forth.

" And do you know how I choose the novels for (her teenaged daughter) and me to read?" she continued. "I go along the shelves and see what book kind of glows for me, stands out in some way."

How often I've wished I had that ability, which some people seem to possess quite naturally.

Anyhow, the cool thing is, mother and daughter were very excited and thrilled. Mom said she'd definitely buy my book, and would I be willing to sign it for them?

Would I? You bet!

For the season

During November, I began to write a new story that's been hovering around me for some time. It's a challenge (yes, I always bite off more than I can chew), and so will take it's own sweet time to manifest and even longer, no doubt, for me to wrestle it into publishable form. But I'm glad that I have some words, some kernels of scenes, even though there are still big questions I need to answer.

For the moment I've put it aside, but that will definitely be my main project once we get into the New Year.

As we look forward to the Christmas season, I thought I'd like to share this video of Bo inspecting the White House decorations. It has some relevance to 'Cape Town', and when you hear the music you'll know why!

Enjoy.

http://tinyurl.com/cgg98hf

Procrastinate Now!

I once saw a teeshirt with that slogan and still wish I had one!

The area of my life where I'm most inclined to procrastinate is webwork and social media stuff. Which is not so good because these days-- unless you're Suzanne Collins-- that's pretty mandatory for an author.

However, I finally got to Amazon.com last night and put up my bio, photo and so forth. Today I'll be looking at my website. The funny thing is, when I actually get around to it, I enjoy thinking up things to say i.e. content, fiddling with photos and design. It's kind of a different creative challenge and that's stimulating for me.

Otherwise, I'd rather be writing.

We used to have the saying 'Procrastination is the thief of time', but I think that's overdue for an update. Years ago I realized that, for me, watching television was what stole my time. When I looked back over the day, there was this kind of vacuum during my TV watching minutes or hours. So I stopped. Of course, I still watch occasionally, but this is not part of my regular daily routine. There's that mild hypnotic state I'd rather not be put into, thanks very much.

And now we have the internet, and blogs, and twitter and facebook and and and. These, it seems to me, are even more addictive. Somehow I need to find a conscious way to deal with them because they're not going to go away any time soon.

How about you? What's your 'go to' when you feel the urge to procrastinate?

Playing Catch Up

During October, I did a big push to finish my revision for a new young adult novel. This meansvery little time was spent surfing the web. Only today did I discover something. The wonderful Helen Kubiw, who writes the blog CanLitforLittleCanadians, included 'Cape Town' on her YA book list for the International Day of the Girl. So, tonight I'm feeling very honoured.

Check it out if you like at http://www.tinyurl.com/al4hdgs

Having reached that goal for October, I've now given myself permission to start writing something new. Not that I haven't got another revision to dig into, but since it's Nano, I'm spending a bit of time every day spinning a new story. Oooo, I do love the creative process!

In other news, last Thursday I did my first ever school visit. According to the teacher, this was a big success, so there it goes, zooming past as I drive along in the dark... another milestone for my writing life!

What November has brought so far.

Yesterday I drove through the soft yellow, browns and greys of our almost-winter landscape to go to Kingston. This was for the book launch of a dear friend who's always been very supportive of my writing. She has published a slim volume called 'Prayers for Women Who Can't Pray', out from Wintergreen Press.

Only recently have I really begun to realize what it means to an author if invitees actually attend their launches. I know how much I appreciated the support I received for the launch of 'Cape Town'. Friends and writing friends as well as staff from the South African High Commission came to the event, and I still recall the occasion with gratitude. Launches are celebratory, that's for sure!

When my first novel 'At Your Service, Jack', a humourous romance, came out,  I did a book signing but no launch. The late Katherine Witmer, who was a reviewer for Romantic Times, said it was one of the best-written romances she'd read.

Now, ten years later, my second romcom has been released from Crimson Romance. This is only in ebook for the moment, so again, I won't be having a launch party. Take a look on their website if you're interested. Here's the link: http://tinyurl.com/aayygfo

And the cover pic:

This wasn't me at that age, I don't think!

A friend forwarded me a link, which I'll share with you in just a minute. You'll see why I wanted to share this sweet video with you. And you'll see why it's relevant when I tell you that at my recent reading last Friday evening, I chose the excerpt from 'Cape Town' where Renee goes to her first class at the University of Cape Town School of Ballet. In a sentence or two, I detail exactly how that starts from a physical point of view. She has to put her feet in 'first position', which means with heels together, toes pointing out. They have to form a straight line. So take a look at this:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=tdylQeg5B9I

Cute hey? A p.s. from me suggests the little girls' feet are actually in third position, which is more appropriate for their age. And yes, the kid is right. The discipline is not exactly natural!