Britta Coleman's Blog

First Finished Knit of the Year: Fingerless Mitts

2012-01-02T13:14:00.006-10:00

It's only January 2 and I already have a completed project! Must be all those black eyed peas I've been eating. Anyway, I just finished tying in the ends of these fingerless mitts, using a lovely pattern from Calypso Knits that I found on Ravelry. (If you're a knitter or crocheter on Ravelry, feel free to friend me. My name is BrittaMarie.)

I made the mitts to match this hat, which I finished a couple of months ago. I bought the pattern (Golden Gate Bridge Hat) and yarn at Bluebird Yarn & Fiber Crafts in Sausalito, California. The yarn is Shabui Superwash Worsted, in Breeze and Chinese Red. I'll leave it to my distinguished reader to ascertain which is which.

While I would probably never purchase a hat with an imprint of the golden gate bridge, I thought it would be fun to learn fair isle (the weaving process of using more than one color in a knit) and create a funky souvenir for myself. I followed the pattern exactly, except I freestyled my own starburst instead of the pattern's suggested hearts or SF between the bridge posts. I decided on a star because our visit to San Francisco was over the fourth of July.

My son says the star looks like a space invader, but I think it resembles a robot spider. Either way, it's supposed to be sparkly and fun and slightly weird, which pretty much sums up San Francisco for me.

Linking Blogs--Winter Gardening

2011-12-30T11:35:00.005-10:00

One of my current projects (because I need more!) is a community garden I'm helping to start at my local church. We have a blog that I'd like to invite you to read, and here's the latest update.

Winter Gardening--It's Possible!

We just returned from checking on the garden, with good news to report. The cauliflower and broccoli are doing so well. We harvested our first batch of broccoli on Thanksgiving day, and it was so tender and delicious. We have yet to taste the cauliflower, but it looks good so far. The spinach was struggling in its current spot (hidden from sunshine behind the enormous broccoli and cauliflower plants), so we transplanted it closer to the Western side of the bed.

If you've seen the garden lately, we "winterized" it by adding thin pvc piping with a "planket" to cover for a freeze. So far we've only had to use it once, with excellent results. The pvc piping keeps the planket off the plants, because I'm told that if the cover freezes and sticks to the plants, the plants freeze, too. Who knew?

New seedlings for carrots and lettuce have come up, and we planted a few extra radishes today since they come in so quickly--22 days! We hope to have a batch available for the first garden party meeting, which is tentatively set for 2:00 on January 22 at AUMC. More details to come soon.

Follow Up on Summer of Soap

2011-11-30T12:57:00.001-10:00

My daughter and I had a full summer of soaps--with wonderful results. Our first batch was the hot pink bar at the top, upper right of the photo. We called it Berry Beachy, and it had a tropical scent to go with its (a little too bright) pink coloring. It was our first effort at coloration, and my daughter is nothing if not enthusiastic.

The second batch was on the upper left--Cafe O'Le! It had coffee grounds and an energizing scent, which combined for extra exfoliation and wake-you-up goodness. Super great for gardening hands, which is helpful since I'm helping to start a community garden.

The third batch was at the bottom right, on the green washcloth. This is Rosehip Jasmine with ground oatmeal. Superfatted with extra almond oils, this one is extra moisturizing.

The lower left (with the swirl) is Sandalwood Spice. It's got an earthy texture and color due to some cinnamon I added for scent and exfoliation.

All the soaps are resting on handknit washcloths--another obsession of mine. I'm trying to convert my household into all homemade goods. Not sure whether I'll succeed, but it sure is fun to try...

In our newest experiment, we made a batch of Eucalyptus Spearmint soap with a trick I learned from a spa in Wyoming. They sold loofah soaps which my whole family fell in love with. We used a new mold for these, too--Pringles cans. The soaps came out a little damp since the loofahs were moist when we added the soap mixture. I'll let you know how they cure.

Summer of Soap & Jennifer Archer's Through Her Eyes

2011-05-16T09:04:00.004-09:00

My grades are in, I passed my comprehensive exams for my doctorate (what the what!), and I'm officially All But Dissertation. I'm wrapping up my tenure at American Literary Review, and it's a gorgeous beginning to my summer: 70s and sunny in Fort Worth, Texas. So far today I've read the newspaper, baked a loaf of banana bread, and am reading through the fourth Harry Potter. Tough day at the office.

I have, however, between Dear Abby and the crossword, made a momentus decision. After spending roughly a gazillion dollars on other people's handmade soaps, I've decided to make my own. Old school. With lye. As in, cover your eyes and watch out for the lye. For research, I've watched videos from the Soap Queen on Youtube, read online recipes and lurked in soapmaking forums. My daughter gave me a soap-making book for my birthday, and I've got an overdue book from the library on my desk: Soap Maker's Workshop by Dr. Robert McDaniel. It's a good book, and the enclosed DVD presents an informative workshop by the adorable Dr. Bob.

I've loaded my Amazon cart with additional soapmaking books and supplies, and I'm hoping to get started within the next few weeks. I'll keep you posted...

On another note, my friend Jennifer Archer is coming to town to sign copies of her new YA, Through Her Eyes. She'll be at the Barnes & Noble in Hurst, TX this Sunday at 2:00. I was fortunate enough to be Jenny's critique partner while she was writing this book, and it's a beautiful story. If you can't make the signing, I hope you'll do yourself a favor and buy a copy online or in your local bookstore.

As for me, I'm back to the Goblet of Fire...

Happy Birthday, Judy Blume

2011-02-12T05:43:00.003-10:00

I was always a Judy Blume fan. Borrowed the heavily-worn Are You There God, It's Me Margaret from my elementary-school library. Felt sad/guilty reading Blubber (I still remember how that girl smelled--which is a neat trick to pull off in print) and completely identified with Superfudge's older brother. In fact, I won a hardback copy of Superfudge for doing something terrific in fourth grade, but I can't remember what it was. I still have the book, though. Today's Judy's birthday, and Writer's Almanac sent the following. Enjoy.

Judy Blume was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, the best-selling author of more than two dozen books for young people.

She was 27 years old, with two preschool aged children, when she began writing seriously. For two years, she received constant rejections. Highlights magazine routinely sent her a form rejection letter with the box checked "Does not win in competition with others." She finally published her first book in 1969: a story called The One in the Middle is the Green Kangaroo.

The next year, she had her big breakthrough, with the young adult novel Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret (1970). It's the story of 11-year-old Margaret Simon, the daughter of Jewish father and Christian mother, and her adolescent attempts to make sense of things like religion, boys, and menstruation. The book was banned in many schools and libraries. It's one of the most challenged books of the last third of the 20th century. But it's also beloved by many, and it has been a big best-seller over the years. It was re-released just last year.

She's also the author of Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing (1972), Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great (1972), Blubber (1974), The Pain and the Great One (1974), Starring Sally J. Freedman as Herself (1977), Superfudge (1980), Here's to You, Rachel Robinson (1993), and recently, Going, Going, Gone! with the Pain and the Great One (2008). Her books have sold more than 80 million copies.

She lives mostly in Key West, where she writes at a desk facing a garden. In the summer, she writes in a small cabin on Martha's Vineyard. She always writes in the morning. When she's working on a first draft, which she says is the hardest part, she writes seven days a week, even if only for an hour or two day.

She always begins a story "on the day something different happens." In Here's to You, Rachel Robinson, she said, "It's the day Rachel's older brother Charles, gets kicked out of boarding school." In Superfudge, "it's the day Peter learns there's going to be a new baby in the family." She keeps a notebook for each book, filled with scraps of dialogue and other things that come to her head at various times through out the day. She says that her characters are in her head for a long time before she begins writing, and she feels like they're so real that she often talks about them at the dinner table. She usually does about three drafts of each book, and works much more intensely at rewriting than at the first draft.

My desk faces a world map, not a garden in Key West, and I don't have a cabin in Martha's Vineyard. But, I connect with her habits and the idea that the first draft is the hardest part. I particularly like that she always begins a story on the day something different happens. It sounds simple, but it's extremely good advice.

Why I Love Weekends

2011-01-28T06:36:00.003-10:00

Here's another lovely poem from the reliable Writer's Almanac. Enjoy.

Weekends, Sleeping Inby Marjorie Saiser

No jump-starting the day,
no bare feet slapping the floor
to bath and breakfast.

Dozing instead
in the nest
like, I suppose,
a pair of gophers

underground
in fuzz and wood shavings.
One jostles the other
in closed-eye luxury.

We are at last
perhaps
what we are:
uncombed,
unclothed,
mortal.

Pulse
and breath
and dream.

"Weekends, Sleeping In" by Marjorie Saiser, from Beside You at the Stoplight. © The Backwaters Press, 2010. Buy it here.

Charles Bukowski's "the hookers, the madmen and the doomed"

2010-12-01T05:47:00.003-10:00

I'm a subscriber to the Writer's Almanac, a source from Garrison Keillor that sends a poem to my inbox every day. I like it--a chance to hear a fresh voice or be reminded of a favorite. I especially enjoyed today's selection, from Charles Bukowski, for its reverent irreverence. I also like the assumption that, at some level, we're all counted amongst the ostracized. That we're all "other," and that sometimes it takes a moment of stillness to realize it.

the hookers, the madmen and the doomed

today at the track
2 or 3 days after
the death of the
jock
came this voice
over the speaker
asking us all to stand
and observe
a few moments
of silence. well,
that's a tired
formula and
I don't like it
but I do like
silence. so we
all stood: the
hookers and the
madmen and the
doomed. I was
set to be dis-
pleased but then
I looked up at the
TV screen
and there
standing silently
in the paddock
waiting to mount
up
stood the other jocks
along with
the officials and
the trainers:
quiet and thinking
of death and the
one gone,
they stood
in a semi-circle
the brave little
men in boots and
silks,
the legions of death
appeared and
vanished, the sun
blinked once
I thought of love
with its head ripped
off
still trying to
sing and
then the announcer
said, thank you
and we all went on about
our business.

"the hookers, the madmen and the doomed" by Charles Bukowski, from What Matters Most is How Well You Work Through the Fire. © Black Sparrow Press, 1999.

Art and Lies

2010-10-25T09:54:00.003-09:00

"Art is a lie that makes us realize truth."
-Pablo Picasso.

Happy birthday, Pablo. You're an excellent liar.

One Drawing for Every Page of Moby-Dick by Matt Kish: MOBY-DICK, Page 266

2010-08-10T09:41:00.002-09:00

I'm halfway through my self-imposed summer goal of reading Moby Dick for the First Time Ever. Today, I was inspired by Melville's descriptions of "brit":

"....we fell in with vast meadows of brit, the minute, yellow substance, upon which the Right whale largely feeds. For leagues and leagues it undulated round us, so that we seemed go be sailing through boundless fields of ripe and golden wheat."

I don't know about you, but I'd never heard of brit in this context, so I googled it--brit yellow ocean Moby Dick.

Careful, Google. Be very careful.

Happily, instead of disturbing images of naked, jaundiced Englishmen, I chanced upon artist Matt Kish's blog. He's illustrating each page of Moby Dick, one page a day. After browsing through his illustrations, I thought, this guy needs a book deal. After a bit more digging around, I saw the post which announced that the publishing gurus have, indeed, chosen to smile upon this worthy endeavor. I'll be on the lookout for the book, forthcoming from Tin House.

Here's the first brit-infused image I stumbled upon. Enjoy.

One Drawing for Every Page of Moby-Dick by Matt Kish: MOBY-DICK, Page 266

ER Bound

2010-08-03T10:27:00.002-09:00

My son wants to build a motorcycle out of a dirt bike and a weedeater. What could possibly go wrong?

Tim O'Brien's The Things They Carried

2010-04-05T04:16:00.004-09:00

I stayed up too late last night reading this book, which was beautiful and devastating and true, even though the subtitle says it's a work of fiction. Yes, I know I'm about 20 years behind the trend on this one, but it's been on my shelf forever and I finally pulled it down to read it. You probably have it on your shelf, too. If you don't, go get it. Then try reading the first (title) story and see if you don't end up reading the whole darn thing. My favorite piece was "On the Rainy River," which is about a young man drafted to the Vietnam War, and his crisis of conscience as he grapples with the idea of fleeing to Canada. It had me openly weeping.

Here's a sample of why the writing's so good:

"The things they carried were largely determined by necessity. Among the necessities or near necessities were P-38 can openers, pocket knives, heat tabs, wristwatches, dog tags, mosquito repellent, chewing gum, candy, cigarettes, salt tablets, packets of Kool-Aid, lighters, matches, sewing kits, Military Payment Certificates, C rations, and two or three canteens of water. Together, these items weighed between 15 and 20 pounds, depending upon a a man's habits or rate of metabolism. Henry Dobbins, who was a big man, carried extra rations; he was especially fond of canned peaches in heavy syrup over pound cake. Dave Jenson, who practiced field hygiene, carried a toothbrush, dental floss, and several hotel-sized bars of soap he'd stolen on R&R in Sydney, Australia. Ted Lavender, who was scared, carried tranquilizers until he was shot in the head outside the village of Than Khe in mid-April. By necessity, and because it was SOP, they all carried steel helmets that weighed 5 pounds including the liner and camouflage cover."

See how he did that? Sly, isn't it? The string of "things" in a dream-like list that's interesting because of it's specificity. The repeated "ssss" from the plurals, the salt tablets, sewing, certificates, the hard "k" of candy and Kool-Aid and canteen. The way he lets the reader feel smart by not spelling out R&R and SOP. The just-right brushstrokes of characterization: Henry's got a sweet tooth, Dave's hygienic, Ted Lavender is scared and, in an exquisite curve ball from what's basically a list poem, gets shot in the head outside of Than Khe. O'Brien lulls you into his prose then reminds you, this is, after all, war. But I'll quote the author, from the excellent "How to Tell a War Story," that in describing Tim O'Brien's collection I'd say: "It wasn't a war story. It was a love story."

Karyn's Sopapilla Cheesecake

2010-01-07T05:25:00.004-10:00

Here's an oft-requested recipe that's perfect for family get togethers or the proverbial potluck. My friend Karyn first introduced me to this dish, a spot-on perfect dessert with its buttery crispy crust and gooey sweet center. If you're trying to watch calories in the new year, you can use low-fat cream cheese and margarine, but the full throttle version is worth the payback in the gym.

Sopapilla Cheesecake
2 Cans Pillsbury Crescent Rolls
2 (8 oz.) pkgs. cream cheese
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 stick butter
1 tsp. vanilla

1. Spray a 9 x 12 pan with cooking spray.
2. Lay 1 can crescent rolls in bottom of pan.
3. Beat 2 pkgs. cream cheese, vanilla, 1 cup sugar and spread over crescent rolls.
4. Cover mixture with 2nd can of crescent rolls.
5. Melt stick of butter and mix with remaining 1/2 cup of sugar and cinnamon.
6. Pour butter and sugar mixture over crescent roll/cream cheese layers.
7. Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.

The cheesecake is superb fresh out of the oven, at room temperature, or chilled from the fridge with coffee the next day. That is, if there's any left over.

Enjoy!

Because I Know How to Get This Party Started Right

2009-12-22T07:00:00.001-10:00

I'm celebrating the end of the semester--all A's!!! To make this day extra special, I'm going to treat myself to an organic throat lozenge and more ibuprofen. Hooray!

All I Want for Christmas

2009-12-17T05:47:00.001-10:00

We're getting a new washer and dryer set delivered today. (Allegedly.) It's our third set in six months. Please, baby Jesus, let fresh laundry be a special Christmas miracle.

Bring Back that Loving Feeling...

2009-12-16T04:25:00.001-10:00

Semester's over. To celebrate, I worked for four hours yesterday on my novel and thought, ah, this is what it feels like to be a writer.

Headed back for more...

My son's advice on reliable blogging

2009-09-13T09:52:00.001-09:00

His words: "I say at least one incredibly deep thing a day. Just write that down and post it on your blog."

Done.

If only I had an invisible plane...

2009-08-17T12:02:00.005-09:00

Sorry for the lapse in blogs, gentle readers, and thanks for your kind reminders to post. School starts for us next week, and I hope to do a better (if more succinct) job of posting here.

We're back from a week in Colorado and I've spent today blazing through emails, bills, laundry, and organizing my fall schedule. I also squeezed in an hour with my new Rosetta Stone software to catch up on French. My son's comment to my day's activities: "Wow. You're like Wonder Woman. Except Wonder Woman doesn't speak French."

So now I'm singing the falsetto "Wonder Woman" theme song, and wishing I had those fabulous golden bracelets...

Summer Reading: Pores and Flies

2009-05-13T15:01:00.003-09:00

School's out, for me anyway, and I'm into my self-directed summer reading program. Just finished Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451. My edition has a great author interview at the end--he's cranky, but in a good way.

One of my favorite sections in the novel is about writing:

"The more pores, the more truthfully recorded details of life per square inch you can get on a sheet of paper, the more 'literary' you are. That's my definition anyway. Telling detail. Fresh detail. The good writers touch life often. The mediocre ones run a quick hand over her. The bad ones rape her and leave her for the flies."

Here's to touching life and making pores.

Chihuahuapalooza

2009-03-06T10:37:00.003-10:00

Meet Zorro and Rosie, expressing themselves in their favorite pastime.

Speaking of dogs, I saw the fabulous "Wendy and Lucy" last night and I'm still not over it. Sniff.

Question: Favorite dog movie ever?

Happy Birthday, Toni Morrison

2009-02-18T04:41:00.003-10:00

Today is Toni Morrison's birthday (thanks for the reminder Writer's Almanac.) Here's what they had to say about one of my favorite authors:

It's the birthday of Toni Morrison, born in Lorain, Ohio (1931). She started writing when she was in her thirties, unhappily married, working as an editor, and raising two children. She said, "It was as though I had nothing left but my imagination. I wrote like someone with a dirty habit. Secretly. Compulsively. Slyly." She went on to write nine novels, including The Bluest Eye (1969), Song of Solomon (1977), Beloved (1987), and in 2008, A Mercy. In 1993, she won the Nobel Prize for Literature.

Morrison's latest novel, by the way, is worthy of the buzz. On writing, I especially like her simile: I wrote like someone with a dirty habit.

Makes me wonder...what or who do I write like? What modifiers would I apply? How about you?

5 Things I Did This Weekend

2009-02-16T06:57:00.005-10:00

I finally took the red pill and joined Facebook and have enjoyed catching up with old and new friends. If you're on FB (a cool acronym which, I've learned, stands for FaceBook), come see me.

Also, if you're on Facebook, you've probably been inundated with requests for 25 Things about You. That seems like a pretty exhaustive list to me, so instead here are 5 Things I Did This Weekend, in no particular order.

1. Read William Faulkner's As I Lay Dying. May be my favorite Faulkner novel yet. He allegedly wrote it in six weeks and announced that he intended to write a tour de force. He succeeded.

2. Ate Almond Roca candy. One of my favorite Valentine's treats. The chocolate comes wrapped in these little gold foils. Fancy!

3. Knitted an irregular-shaped kitchen towel. I was shooting for square; it turned out rectangular. Totally irritating, because it had this wierd pattern and took much longer than it should have. Especially for something that's meant to wipe countertops.

4. Saw Elvis at Half Price Books. He had jet black hair, gray roots, those fabulous alcoholic farmer glasses, and was purchasing one of his own albums. He was trying to be incognito, but I'm no idiot.

5. Put together a style exam for my technical writing class. Passive voice + dangling modifiers + faulty word choice = tons o' weekend fun. Still, I amuse myself by creating truly awful, and sometimes funny, sentences for my students. I mean, if you've got to make the grade, you might as well have a good time.

Your turn. Want to share a quick 5 things?

Elvis and Travis

2009-01-08T06:50:00.005-10:00

Happy Birthday to the late (allegedly) Elvis Presley. While I'm not a huge Elvis fan, he did write one of my favorite songs -- "Always on My Mind." Willie Nelson's version, in my opinion, is the best. Heartwrenching and true.

Speaking of heartwrenching, my thoughts and prayers are with my Amarillo friend and blogging icon, Travis Erwin. He lost his home to a fire this week. He and his family survived without injury, for which I thank God. If you know Travis, or simply want to express a kindness or two, please stop by his blog.

If you want to help the Erwins (and you will after reading his poignant account of the fire), please visit Habitat for Travis. Every little bit counts.

Cheers and Jeers

2009-01-05T05:51:00.003-10:00

This past Saturday morning I sat at the kitchen table with my family, drinking coffee, eating breakfast, and reading the paper. Like many local newspapers, ours has gotten thinner from loss of revenue and circulation, but thankfully, the Star-Telegram has kept one of my favorite weekend features: the Cheers and Jeers section.

Cheers and Jeers is a special Saturday edition of the opinions where readers can send in short comments, positive or negative. The comments range from thanks to medical centers ("you made the stay of this grouchy old man much more tolerable") to broader diatribes on society ("jeers to a world in which everyone over 5 years old has a cellphone glued to their head"). Of course, I always get a bigger kick from the jeers.

Here are a couple excerpts.

"Cheers: To the Barnes and Noble bookstore in Sundance Square for providing the only public restrooms during the Parade of Lights. Jeers to the city for not having enough portables for the crowd." --M.R. Ormsbee, Haltom City

I'm with you, M.R. Although, I will risk great internal damage before using a portable under any circumstances, long lines or not.

"Jeers: To the person(s) who knocked down a large section of our 6-foot wooden fence and left the scene in the wee hours the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Were you too loaded with presents from Black Friday, or just too loaded to make the curve? We are older and on a fixed income, so this comes out of our pockets. Oh, maybe that was why you left your side mirrors, signals and other parts in our yard. How thoughtful. We can sell them on eBay to pay for the damage you left behind."--Ralph Briggs, Arlington

Way to go, Ralph! Not only did you get in a pun (loaded!) but you displayed an internet savvy uncharacteristic to your age group. Here's a tip of the coffee cup to you, fine sir.

Question: Do you read the newspaper? What's your favorite section?

My Town Monday: Cowboys, Books, and is that bacon?

2008-12-29T10:35:00.006-10:00

Merry Belated Christmas, everyone. We celebrated the holiday with much food, family, and frivolity. Except for the spectacular demise of the Cowboys' playoff hopes, it's been a pretty good break.

For My Town Monday followers, today is a balmy 68 degrees in Fort Worth, Texas. I just got back from one of my favorite local haunts: Half Price Books. Extra 20% off everything through tomorrow. Whoopee! Thank goodness I wore my best shopping flip-flops. I came home with three prizes for next semester's coursework. (Speaking of which, I finished my M.A. this fall, and in January I'm entering the doctoral program at the University of North Texas in Denton. Because I'm crazy like a fox. Or like a fighting eagle, which is our school mascot.)

Anyhoo, on my way home from the book store, flip-flops on and sunroof open, I listened to a new compilation CD my son made for me for Christmas. Some favorite tracks:

More than a Feeling by Boston
Your Song by Elton John
She Talks to Angels by the Black Crowes
Sweet Emotion by Aerosmith
Faithfully by Journey
You Can't Always Get What You Want by the Rolling Stones.

Seriously, how cool is my kid?

Also on the drive home, enjoying the tunes and the balmy weather, I spotted a neighborhood teenager cruising down the sidewalk. He wore short-sleeves, a skull cap, skinny jeans, and was carrying a skateboard. He also had, in one hand, what appeared to be a large jar of Bacon Bits.

The beginnings of a short story, perhaps?

Question: What was one of your favorite presents you received this year?

My Town Monday: The Horned Frog

2008-10-19T13:31:00.009-09:00

Since the Cowboys are breaking my heart, I thought I'd switch topics for today's My Town Monday post, and introduce you to a particular Fort Worthian icon: the horned frog.

The horned frog is the official mascot of Texas Christian University, a private school located in the heart of Fort Worth. In 1897, four students helped decide the school's mascot and chose the horned frog. Wonder why? Here are a few tidbits about this colorful creature, gleaned from www.collegefootballhistory.com.

The horned frog is actually a lizard, and Texas named it the State Reptile in 1992.

The horned frog's primary diet is red harvester ants--they would like to eat 80 to 100 a day. (Which makes me think Texas needs waaaaaay more horned frogs.)

The typical horned frog is three to five inches long.

Horned frogs are cold-blooded animals and have an unusual pineal gland, resembling a "third eye" on the top of the head.

When angered or frightened, horned frogs can squirt a fine, four-foot stream of blood from their eyes.

Stories of Native Americans in the Southwest depict horned frogs as ancient, powerful and respected.

In some parts of Mexico, folklore persists that horned frogs which weep tears of blood are sacred.

The mighty horned frog: a powerful, sacred, blood-squirting, state-recognized really-a-lizard mascot. Ah, the things you learn through My Town Monday. Visit Travis Erwin's blog for a list of other my towner participants.

Question: What's the oddest mascot you know? Does your state have an official reptile? Please share.

*photos from TCU's website.

My Town Monday: Cowboy Fever

2008-09-07T14:15:00.000-09:00

Today my community is awash in the glow of our favorite sport: football! While the Cowboys may call Dallas home, Texas Stadium is actually in Irving, Texas. Owner Jerry Jones is currently building the new, bajillion seat sanctuary/stadium in Arlington, Texas. And since the only other NFL team near our area is in Houston (the Texans, yawn), Fort Worth claims the Cowboys as our own.

Our family spent the day yesterday wearing Cowboy colors (silver and blue), proudly waving our Cowboy flag in the front yard. Yes, we are that cheesy. It's hard not to get excited about the game when players like Tony Romo, Terrell Owens, Jason Witten and Marion Barber function as an unstoppable offensive machine. Even more fun when our defense makes the Cleveland Browns look like the seventh-grade B Team.

Felix Jones, a rookie running back from Arkansas, made his NFL debut with a touchdown-making first carry, and several impressive runs. Welcome to Texas, Felix. We like you already.

A few quotes from the Cowboy's star-spangled history, found in Dallas Cowboys: Quips & Quotes by Alan Burton (If you're a football fan, a humor fan, a Cowboy fan, you need a copy of this book.)

Linebacker D.D. Lewis on Texas Stadium: "Texas Stadium has a hole in its roof so God can watch his favorite team play."

Walt Garrison, when asked if legendary coach Tom Landry ever smiled: "I don't know. I only played there nine years."

CBS-TV sportscaster Jim Nantz on coach Jimmy Johnson: "The only time Jimmy Johnson didn't run up the score was twenty-seven years ago when he took the SAT."

ABC Monday Night Football broadcaster (and former Cowboy) Don Meredith, when a fan made an obscene gesture to the camera: "He's just telling us, 'they're number one.'"

Sports fan? Do tell...

My Town Monday: Hurricane Gustav

2008-09-01T08:02:00.005-09:00

The biggest news in Fort Worth, Texas on today's Labor Day holiday is the onslaught of evacuees arriving from the Louisiana coast. Today's paper (the Fort Worth Star-Telegram) reports that one man and his family were the first to arrive in the area, but were told "evacuation centers in Dallas weren't ready, so they headed to Fort Worth to find refuge."

Ahem.

Our city is ready to go with more than eight community centers ready to serve as shelters, and six churches on standby. Fort Worth Mayor Moncrief further opened the welcome to those fleeing the hurricane by reminding workers, "Remember these folks are not evacuees--they are our guests."

Our family has filled out the necessary volunteer paperwork to assist our city's guests, and are waiting for the call to see how we can help. The difference in a few hundred miles is startling: today we have fair skies and warm weather. I spent yesterday afternoon in a lounge chair reading, while families packed up and spent hours in horrendous traffic fleeing their homes.

Instead of barbecuing, swimming, or relaxing with friends, these folks/evacuees/guests must spend the holiday anxiously watching news coverage to see how their homes, and hometowns, are faring. I can't imagine the emotional toll of facing such devastation twice in three years. Unlike them, today I'm safe in my brick house, hearing the chug of laundry, and eating a tuna fish sandwich. The simple calm, the gorgeous weather, my absolute blessedness, makes me feel inordinately grateful and helpless at the same time. So today in my hometown, I'm praying for God's mercy and for the chance to be a help.

If you want to volunteer, contact the Volunteer Center of North Texas. Cash donations may be sent to the American Red Cross at 817-335-9137 or you can click here.

And, if you're a praying person, lift up those whose lives, whose hometowns, might need it the most.

***UPDATE*** Wow, those volunteer coordinators are fast! We've been invited to help serve dinner at the Worth Heights community center near downtown Fort Worth. Consider us hair-netted and ready to go!

I am still laughing...

2008-08-29T11:39:00.002-09:00

After finding this random little ditty on YouTube. I don't know why I find it so funny, but I do. It's only sixteen seconds long. Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzRH3iTQPrk

My Town Monday: Back to School

2008-08-24T06:49:00.000-09:00

It's still 100 degrees outside, but students and teachers in our district head back to school Monday morning. My classes at the University of North Texas start at 8:00 a.m. sharp, which means I'll leave for my commute sometime in the middle of the night. The upside: sunrise! That is, if I'm able to view it through sleep bleared eyes.

For those scholars braving congested traffic and jammed hallways today, I offer this tip from the geniuses at Worst Case Scenario.

How to Survive Being Crushed in a Crowd.

1. Bend your knees.
2. Take a deep breath.
3. Tense your biceps and shoulders against the crowd, and fold your arms in front of your stomach (as if you are carrying something).
4. Lift your feet of the ground and let the crowd carry you.

I really like the visual on this. I may try it in the stairways in the university's English department.

Good luck and good studies, to all!

Question: morning person or night owl? Any tips on crossing over for the early side of the worm?

Abducted by aliens?

2008-07-21T09:12:00.003-09:00

Sorry for the lack of posting this summer. To qualm any rumors, I have not been squashed by a cement truck, joined a polygamist cult, or been abducted by aliens.

Here's what I have been doing:

1) Tea with the Lutherans in Waco. What a lovely group of women, who served up some of the best chicken salad this side of the Mississippi and bought books by the bushel. Talk about Southern hospitality.

2) Family Reunion in Wisconsin. Three words: fried cheese curds. We ate them at nearly every meal. Thank God they're not available in Texas or I'd have a heart attack by Christmas.

3) Vacation in Jamaica. A hurricane cut short our last trip to the island, but we're nothing if not tenacious about our pursuits in the art of doing nothing. We lounged on the beach from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and moved only to refresh cocktails or take a dip in the ocean. Possibly the Best Trip Ever.

4) Reading. Man, what a great summer. Some picks I'd recommend include Elie Wiesel's Night, Barbara Kingsolver's The Poisonwood Bible, James Frey's Bright Shiny Morning, John Irving's Hotel New Hampshire, and Larry McMurtry's newest memoir (fragmented but worth the trip if you're a fan) on book collecting, appropriately titled Books. We saw Mr. McMurtry, along with Diana Ossana, last Thursday at the Nasher Museum in Dallas. The venue was gorgeous, the author cantankerous and interesting, and the seating crammed with readers. What could be better? Also, after a Chilean sea bass dinner at Javier's with tres leches cake for dessert, I couldn't have been in a better mood.

5) Writing. I'm halfway through my third draft of the WIP. So far, so good. I keep telling myself my only job is to do good work. The rest is out of my control. Also, I've renamed the thing. My last novel went through about five titles before we settled on Potter Springs, so I'm not panicked by this latest change.

As for My Town Monday, I've finished my pages for today, and plan on spending the afternoon knitting and reading by the pool. But not simultaneously because a lapful of yarn in 100+ degree isn't so relaxing. Best to keep needlework projects in air-conditioned environs.

My Town Wednesday: Time to Absquatulate

2008-06-02T11:26:00.006-09:00

We're leaving Wednesday for a long weekend trip to Wisconsin for a family reunion and to celebrate my mother's birthday. I'm surrounded by laundry, to-do lists, and last-minute reminders of what to pack. Wisconsin, in a bizarre twist, has different weather than Texas and requires more than sundresses and flipflops.

Thank goodness we have a daily calendar from the Princeton Review that offers up a word of the day, along with the promise to "Help students define their futures." Not sure how a calendar can do that, but our family has fun working in the vocab into daily dialogue.

Today's word:

ABSQUATULATE (ab-SKWOCH-uh-late)

Just for fun, do you think it means...
a) to decamp; to depart in a hurry
b) to emit gas from the abdominal cavity
c) to eliminate primitive beasts from wooded areas
d) to exercise core muscles by calisthenic repititions

If you picked A, you are correct! Although, I still think ABSQUATULATE sounds like it falls in the flatulence camp, which is why I whipped up the little quiz. (Also, word play is an excellent procrastination tool when one's to-do list makes one want to weep and/or surrender all plans watch Bones episodes on Hulu.)

I digress. After the laundry, the packing, the squishing of gifts into overloaded suitcases, we'll absquatulate our home environs and head north. To the land of the Packer Backers, the great lakes, and lots and lots of white food.

Will post when I return next week. Until then, my blogger friends, best wishes on any absquatulations in your future.

Happy Birthday, Michael Chabon

2008-05-24T09:46:00.003-09:00

Sorry for the lack of posts lately. I took a trip to Waco for a women's tea (will post pics and stories later), celebrated my birthday, and am deep into rewrites for my WIP. I'm rejuvenated by the process and the hours are flying...so much so that I've neglected the blogosphere.

This came in my inbox today, from The Writer's Almanac. I'm on a subscription where they send a poem and essays about famous authors, usually aligned with their birthdays. Today's the birthday of one of my favorite writers, Michael Chabon. This tells a bit about him, and the inspiration behind the novel Wonder Boys.

***********

It's the birthday of the novelist Michael Chabon, (books by this author) born in Washington, D.C. (1963). He was just 23 when he wrote his first novel, The Mysteries of Pittsburgh. He turned it in as his master's thesis in a creative writing program. He turned it in on a Friday. On Monday he heard that his professor had sent it to an agent. The book was published the following year, in 1988. It was a big success. He was compared to Fitzgerald and John Cheever. He was asked to model clothing for The Gap. People magazine wanted to include him in its list of "50 Most Beautiful People." He turned down both offers.

He started working on his second novel. He had seen a picture of the original plans for the city of Washington, D.C., and he got an idea for a novel about an architect. Chabon later said, "It was a novel about utopian dreamers, ecological activists, an Israeli spy, a gargantuan Florida real estate deal, the education of an architect, the perfect baseball park, Paris, French cooking, and the crazy and ongoing dream of rebuilding the Great Temple in Jerusalem. It was about loss: lost paradises, lost cities, the loss of the Temple, the loss of a brother to AIDS, and the concomitant dream of Restoration or Rebuilding."

He called the novel Fountain City. He spent five years working on it and wrote 1,500 pages of manuscript. He felt he just couldn't put the pieces together and then one night got an idea for a whole different story and decided to follow it. He wrote 15 pages in four hours. He kept working on it in secret for the next few weeks. He didn't tell anybody. He said, "I didn't stop to think about what I was doing or what the critics would think of it and, sweetest of all, I didn't give a single thought to what I was trying to say. I just wrote."

He finished the book in seven months. The novel was Wonder Boys. It came out in 1995, about a creative writing professor named Grady Tripp who can't seem to finish his latest novel. It was made into a movie five years later.

After Wonder Boys, Chabon stumbled on a box of comic books he'd kept since childhood. He hadn't looked at them in 15 years. He said, "When I opened it up and that smell came pouring out, that old paper smell, I was struck by a rush of memories, a sense of my childhood self that seemed to be contained in there." It gave him the idea to write a novel about the golden days of the comic book trade called The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay. It came out in 2000, and won a Pulitzer Prize. It was the story of a Jewish kid who flees the Nazis just before World War II — has to leave his family behind and come to America. Along with his cousin, he creates a comic book super hero called "The Escapist."

Michael Chabon said, "Literature, like magic, has always been about the handling of secrets, about the pain, the destruction, and the marvelous liberation that can result when they are revealed. If a writer doesn't give away secrets, his own or those of the people he loves, if he doesn't court disapproval, reproach and general wrath, whether of friends, family or party apparatchiks ... the result is pallid, inanimate, a lump of earth."

--Katrina Cicala

********

So happy birthday, Michael. May you continue give away secrets, court disapporval, and avoid inanimate earth.

Grits, Sunsets & My Town Monday (sort of, and on Tuesday)

2008-05-13T15:13:00.012-09:00

Happy belated Mother's Day! I had a lovely day with church and three generations of family all gathered in my home. Ham, pesto pasta salad (thanks Katie!), and cheese grits. Because it's hard to have a celebration without a grit or two.

I had every intention of joining my friend Travis for a special My Town Monday to review a book from my area. With recent travels to the NETWO conference, the end of school, and preparing for Mother's Daypalooza, I whiffed on the commitment. I will say that I've started a book from my area, a true story called Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore. It's about a wealthy white art dealer and a homeless black man and the woman who brought them together in an unlikely friendship. They've toured in the area, but I haven't had a chance to see them live. Friends (hello Alyssa!) keep telling me to read it, and I really will. I promise. If anyone else has read this, feel free to comment and tell me what you think.

On the NETWO front, I had a great time meeting writers from Eest Texas and talking about breaking through writers block. Which must have worked, because since I've been home I've been crazybusy with the WIP. Today I cut out 22 pages. A painful edit, but totally necessary. I've been stuck for a while because I felt the story had gotten derailed and the decision to lose those scenes (carefully tucked away in another file, of course) has freed me up to push forward. Wahoo!

I do want to say thanks to the kind hosts of NETWO, and say hello to Ben Rehder, a fellow Texas author who kept us laughing all weekend. Kern swears by his Bone Dry series, and I swear by Kern, so there's a second Texas book recommendation for you. (See, Travis, I'm really trying.)

Here are some pics from the weekend:

Britta and author Ben Rehder. (He's the one who isn't split in half.)

The cutie patootie cabin by Lake Bob Ray Sandlin.

The sunset view from our balcony.

Thanks again, NETWO, for an inspiring weekend. When we left on Sunday morning, we stopped in this diner in Mt. Vernon.

Where I ate a breakfast that looked like this:

Please note the grits. Upper right side. Yum.

Question: Have you ever...
a) cut large portions of your manuscript in progress?
b) gotten stuck on a fuzzy plot point and stalled on rewrites?
c) encountered a cheese grit?

End of Semester & Out of Gas

2008-05-08T05:51:00.005-09:00

Literally.

True story: yesterday was my last working day of the semester (thus the recent lack of posting), and I needed to make the 30-mile trip to campus to drop off portfolios. Here's how it goes down. I wait on the kids (4:00) and have to make it to the English office before it closes at 5:00. Pick up the kids, drop off a due-today permission form, on the road with at 4:15. It's a 35-minute trip, all highway. The problem? That little light that says the car's low on gas and no time to fill up. The gauge shows I can go 50 miles. 50 minus 30 equals 20. Easy peasy. I'll simply fill up for the return trip.

So, we toddle off, listening to tunes, and make it to campus with ten minutes to spare. Drop off the portfolios, chat with Derek in the office (he knows everything), and head back to the car all before 5:00. Gas gauge says 19 miles before we go kaput. Make it to the station, pull in and look for my debit card. Except, um, no wallet. NO WALLET.

I've got the purse, so it should follow that the wallet's included, right? Not so, gentle readers, as I've left it on the dining table in another purse. (All this for strategic accessorizing.) No wallet! As in, no cash, no credit, no nothing. And I'm stuck thirty minutes from home with two kids and a useless, albeit adorable, purse. We start scrounging, and between the quarters I'd brought to feed the parking meter and my son's leftover lunch money we have a grand total of $5.30. Has anyone checked recently how much gas you can buy for five bucks? Exactly.

Shamefaced, I step into the Quick Deli Gas Station with my little pile of change, feeling like a sixteen-year old. Although, back when you could actually drive for a week on pocket change. Here's the magical thing, and why I love people:

Britta: "I feel like an idiot, but I forgot my wallet. If I have my husband call with a credit card, can I buy gas that way?"

Guy Behind the Counter, who has seen plenty of people without wallets and phony credit card call-ins: "No."

Britta: "Okay. I understand. This'll be fine. Here, I've got..." (change rattling) "five dollars and thirty cents."

GBTC, looking suspicious: "Where are you going?"

Britta, with forced bravery: "Fort Worth. I'm fine. I get good gas mileage."

GBTC, considering the little pile of lint-covered money on his immaculate counter: "I don't think so. Is not enough. Are you with the university? I will give you extra dollars, you can pay me back next time you come."

Britta, feeling ridiculous but secretly pleased he observes her scholarly qualities: "No, really. I couldn't. It's my last day of the semester and it could be fall before..."

GBTC, taking charge of the situation, sweeps the money into his register and wipes his hands on a nearby cloth: "It is okay. I will give you extra dollars."

Britta, dumbfounded (which isn't unusual): "Really? Wow, that's so nice. Thank you." Runs out before he changes his mind. Pauses at the door. "What's your name?"

GBTC, who clearly wants the crazy lady to leave his store: "Enosh."

Britta: "Thanks, Enosh."

Enosh nods, hopes she will really leave this time, and turns to his next customer.

I pumped the gas (nervous I'd go over the limit and abuse his generosity) and hopped inside the car. Gas gauge: 70 miles to go, baby!

Enosh, you are a hero. You not only made my day, but you taught my kids something about the kindness of strangers. Which is a much better lesson than my mother is a dingbat who ran out of gas and forgot her wallet in another city.

We made it home safe and sound, and I plan on sending Enosh a little thank you in the mail, with some extra dollars to pass on to the next embarrassed person with a pocket full of change.

So that's my story. After papers and portfolios and that last trip to UNT, I'm wrapped up for the semester. WOOHOO! Look for a new My Town Monday post next week where I'll recap my visit with the Northeast Texas Writers, and an all-new Two by Two post on Thursday. Don't forget, it's not too late to enter my contest to win a box of signed books by Texas authors. See the On Generosity post for details.

As for me, I'm going to revel in having nothing due except my own creative writing, which after all the other work, is something of a pleasure.

On Generosity

2008-04-24T08:13:00.005-09:00

Tomorrow I'm headed East for the NETWO conference, and for those in the area, it's not too late to sign up. Editors, agents, and authors, oh my! For more information, click here.

Today I'm doing laundry and packing, and catching up on note-taking for my class. Re-reading through Shirley Hazzard's The Great Fire, I came across this sentence (which will be my Two Sentences Read for Two by Two):

"After childhood, we become prepared for coldness. It's generosity that disarms us."

This stopped me short, and I wonder if it's true. Are we, as adults, disarmed by generosity? I think back on some of the most generous moments I've experienced, and they were, in fact, unsettling. In the best of ways. Back when we were newly married with two young babies, and I was stay-at-home mom living on my husband's barely-above-minimum-wage teacher's salary, we struggled just to get by. Charging groceries, living in a house without central heat and air. Selling my old work clothes and CDs (so painful!) to buy diapers.

One winter night just before Christmas, we came home and a card was on our front porch. Unsigned, other than a simple line that read Jesus Loves You. (I know, this teeters dangerously into a very special Lifetime moment, but it's true.) The envelope contained, along with the card, one hundred dollars cash. It's one of my clearest memories of unconditional generosity, probably made sharper because we needed it so desperately. It's humbling to accept a gift like that, with no way to return it.

Speaking of giving (check me out, with the segues!), it's not too late to join my contest for a box of signed books by Texas authors. All I ask is that you check out the Nothing but Nets Website (we're on an honor system here, folks) and read about how a $10 donation can save a life. Whether you give or not is up to you. Come back to this blog and leave a comment, any comment, and I'll put you in the drawing. Contest closes at the end of May.

For my two "sentences" written from a poem I'm working on:

My grandmother died of Alzheimer's
in a special home in Wisconsin
where they clipped her nails
and rolled her hair and bathed
her when she forgot the closet
is not a toilet.

I remember her: tall and lovely,
long limbs draped in linen
the clink of her jewelry and ice
in vodka; how she'd ask the same questions
over and over, then laugh along with us
when we teased her
about forgetfulness.

I know I'm no poet, but it is two sentences. And, if you look close, a semi-colon.

For other two by two participants, check out the Women of Mystery blog, which started the trend.

Ever been disarmed by generosity? Have sentences to share? Wanna win books? Get your post on...

My Town Monday: Tornadoes, Tunes and Margaritas

2008-04-22T02:50:00.005-09:00

Sorry for the late My Town Monday post. I had a meeting in downtown Fort Worth yesterday in the 35-story Bank One building, famous for being hit by a tornado in the spring storms of 2000. Here's a photo of the damage:

The building has since been rebuilt, with swanky condos on the upper floors. Our financial advisor has offices on the third floor of the building, and when I asked him if that makes him nervous, with the whole tornado thing, he said no. Which is the kind of bravery I like in a CPA.

The Fort Worth Arts Festival was last weekend, and we trundled downtown to see what was shaking in all that is artsy fartsy. Heavy rains and hail ruined the Thursday events, but Friday was gorgeous so the crowds showed up in baby-strolling, flip-flop wearing throngs. Our main purpose was to see the phenomenal Ruthie Foster, a blues/folk singer with some serious pipes. She's from Texas and is in my top three of the Texas trinity: Lyle, Willie and Ruthie. She's incredible live, and in an explosive one-hour set on the main Sundance Square stage, she did not disappoint.Neither did the stage-side revellers who'd apparently been enjoying...art...all day long. Our favorite was a little woman in a red sweater whose toe-tapping and hip shaking made Elaine Benes look Ginger Rogers. In honor of her enthusiastic response to the tunes, we called her Tiny Dancer.

The only downside to the evening? A margarita. Live music, balmy spring night, an outdoor setting--what could be better, right? Wrong. They do that coupon thing so you can't keep track of how much things costs--which totally works--and this supposedly happy concoction was purchased for a whopping 14 coupons, which equals, I think, about fifteen hundred dollars. Salted rim, on the rocks, just like I like it. But it was undrinkable. I mean, total swill. Like the bottom of a melted lemon-lime snowcone bad. The booth was called "Margaritas on the Rocks" (no I'm not kidding), so heads up for any future festival-goers. I'm sure my experience was an anomaly to other booths serving up tasty treats, and I won't let it taint an otherwise great evening on the town. In fact, Kern had some sort of chicken skewer that elevated festival food to an entirely new level.

Next year I'll remember to save my adult-beverage moolah for trusted establishments: like Joe T Garcia's which serves up the best margaritas anywhere.

Frozen concoctions or on the rocks? What's your favorite festival food?

NETWO Conference and Two by Two

2008-04-17T07:49:00.007-09:00

A Where in the World is Britta update:

Well, right now I'm in front of my computer, but next weekend (April 25-26) I'm headed to East Texas to join NETWO, the Northeast Texas Writers Organization for their 2008 Writers Roundup conference. I'll be joined by a slew of authors, including Texas comic crime novelist Ben Rehder whose first novel, Buck Fever, was nominated for an Edgar award. If my husband's late night laughter is any judge, Ben knows what he's doing. For those looking to land their first book deal, the conference will have agents and editors on hand as well. Another draw for the weekend: it's on the shores of Lake Bob Ray Sandlin.

Here are this week's Two by Two sentences, inspired by the Women of Mystery who started Two Sentence Tuesday. If you want to join in, you can post on your own blog and let me know, or leave your sentences in the comments. And because I believe in free will, it doesn't have to be Tuesday. Or Thursday.

Two Sentences Read:

"He recognizes his old Monopoly game being played, the board in two pieces, the racecar missing ever since Sonia dropped it into the baseboard heater when she was little. Gogol does not know to whom these children belong--half the guests are people his mother has befriended in recent years, people who were at his wedding but whom he does not recognize." -- from Jhumpa Lahiri's The Namesake.

I love the detail here...that bit about the racecar in the heater is so specific it has to be true. After finishing this novel for the second time (even better on the re-read), I watched the film. Gorgeous colors in costume and cinematography, but overall it doesn't hold up to the book. Hard to take the lead character seriously when he's played by Kumar of Whitecastle.

For my two sentences written:

"Hoosits was Gus's shorthand for Hoosiers, a cheap knockoff of the Hooters bars, that featured a scrawny basketball-playing owl, and scrawnier girls to go with it. He'd heard the wings weren't bad though." -- from my WIP.

I'm still working through this round of revisions, on page 180 out of 285. I think I can, I think I can...

My Town Monday: Fort Worth Gives Back

2008-04-14T06:00:00.001-09:00

When we moved to this area five and a half years ago, one of the first things we noticed was this cute little church around the corner from our house. To me the white steeple and red brick looks like something from olden days, only with newer landscaping that speaks of suburbia.

You know that old child's play with hands: this is the church, this is the steeple, open the doors and see all the people? When we walked in these doors, it was the people we met that made the place seem like family. I can actually walk there, much like Father Tim in Mitford, in less than five minutes. Makes me feel all small-towny.

Here are some pics from our prayer garden, a quiet place tucked in a corner off the sanctuary.

Our congregation reaches out to our community in many ways: stocking food pantries, donating school supplies and Christmas gifts for kids in need, and sending work teams to reinforce aging homes or build wheelchair ramps for the elderly. A recent, more global venture was initiated by a friend in our Sunday School: we're joining the Nothing But Nets Campaign to help fight malaria. Millions of people die each year from malaria - but there's a simple, life-saving solution, and all it takes is $10 to buy a bed net, distribute it to a family, and explain its use.

And I thought I'd take this opportunity to ask my friends in the blogosphere to help out.

So here's the skinny: please check out the Nothing but Nets website and see if you can donate ten bucks to save a life. That's ten dollars. To. Save. A. Life.

Even if you don't have the funds, it's worth a quick click to see what's going on. If you want to donate, you can join my Fort Worth team in our friendly competition, to see if we can blow the top off our goal.

Whether you're able to give now or not, check out the site, leave a comment on this blog and I'll put you in a drawing to win a box of signed books from Texas authors, including a copy of Potter Springs by yours truly.

Nothing but Nets. We can fight, and we can win. Game on.

Author Signing: Jodi Thomas in Fort Worth Today

2008-04-12T04:07:00.007-09:00

A quick note to let you know my friend Jodi Thomas will be in Fort Worth today, signing her newest novel, Twisted Creek, from 12-2 at Sam's Club on 4400 Bryant Irvin Road. There's also the inaugural meeting of the Jodi Thomas DFW fan club at 2:30 at MiMi's restaurant across the street (which I hear has a killer bread pudding.) I'll be at Sam's this afternoon, and I'm hoping that, along with my signed copies, I don't come home with a forty gallon jar of mustard.

To see a YouTube trailer for Jodi's novel, click here. Which begs the question: we use trailers, or commercials, to sell everything from life insurance to movie tickets, so why not books? There's the adage that print sells print--as in reviews and ads in newspapers, magazines--but can film sell print?

Tyranny and Two X Two

2008-04-10T08:46:00.005-09:00

On my heart and in the news today are those poor women and children from the religious sect housed Eldorado, about five hours drive from my home town of Fort Worth. You've seen the pictures on the news: those girls dressed like Laura from Little House in the Prairie, bewildered and clutching the hands of their own children.
I can't imagine what they're feeling, having suddenly been released from tyranny and thrust into the crazy lights of "outside world" with the media's unblinking eye catching every detail. Still no reports that they've found the courageous 16-year old who made the initial contact, in an act of bravery that may have broken the cycle of abuse for hundreds. Lord, I hope they find her.

What I can't get over are the arguments from the sect's attorney, from today's paper (and my Two Sentences Read for this Two X Two post):

"Goldstein contended in his motion that the temple was a 'religious sanctuary' and that the authorities violated the First Amendment rights of church members. But 51st District Judge Barbara Walther let the search warrants stand."

Here's a shout out to Babs for having not only backbone, but a genuine sense of right and wrong. In my opinion, once you start sexually abusing children the whole "religious sanctuary" thing doesn't really fly.

I just wonder what they'll do with all those kids...where will those girls go to be resocialized? It has to be terrifying.

On a much lighter note, for my Two Sentences Written, a missive also involving women and children: "We did receive our daughter's report card and have signed it, as requested. Unfortunately, we must have put it in a 'very special place' as we can't seem to find it this morning."

Ever been part of a religious sect? The raid: a violation of rights or a smart move?

My Town Monday: Serenity NOW

2008-04-07T07:29:00.006-09:00

One of my favorite places in my town is the Fort Worth Botanical Gardens, touted as the oldest botanical garden in Texas. It's over 109 acres with 2500 species of plants in 23 speciality gardens.

The extensive rose garden is my second favorite part--the first is the Japanese Garden. While the rest of the gardens are free, the Japanese Garden has a minimal charge (three bucks, I think?) and is well worth it. It's like walking on the set of Memoirs of a Geisha. Minus the heavy makeup and mincing walk. With winding paths, bridges, waterfalls, koi ponds and lazy turtles, all in a lush green setting, it's instant serenity and a fantastic place to spend an afternoon. I've taken myself there on "Writer Dates," with a journal and a pen.

Here are some pics my son took on one of our visits. Isn't he talented?

Where do you go for serenity NOW? For inspiration?

Celebrity Reading Week

2008-04-04T06:30:00.004-09:00

Today I'm headed back to Junior High. Thank goodness it's only for thirty minutes or so, as I'm part of Celebrity Reading Week for a local school. Not that I don't love visiting schools (I do), I'm just thankful I don't have to get a smelly locker and navigate hormones and cafeteria mystery food while trying to understand sixth grade algebra. Okay, that's not all true. I rocked sixth grade algebra.

Anyway, not sure what I'll read to them this afternoon. Last year I read Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are which is one of my favorite children's books ever. I also read a short (kid appropriate) section from Potter Springs, which they seemed to enjoy. It's the bit about Mr. Chesters at the gas station, if you've read the book.

One of my favorite things about events like today is letting kids know that pursuing writing and staying in school pays off, and that if they're really lucky/blessed/struck by lightning, they'll walk into a bookstore one day and see their story on the shelf. Or better yet, on one of those front tables in a big ole stack at Barnes & Noble with a sign that says, "Great Reads." There's nothing like it. If you want a glimpse of what it feels like, check out my photo album here. There's a pic where I'm all shiny faced and excited, standing with cool salesguy Dan at BookPeople in Austin. First book I saw on the shelf, ever. Thus the delirious expression.
It still makes me laugh.

Have a favorite kids' book? A painful/funny sixth grade memory?

April Fool's and Two Sentence Tuesday

2008-04-01T08:46:00.006-09:00

Happy April Fool's Day, and sorry for the recent lag on the blog. I'm in high gear with my rewrites and only have 120 pages left to go on this round for my WIP. I did find a scary thing today--that the draft in my computer for a particular chapter was a step behind a copy of my hard edits. I'm hoping it's an anomaly, that I took this chapter out of sequence for my critique group, polished it, and forgot to put it back in. Which would be way me of me. The idea that I've saved a lesser draft over a more polished one--for the whole book--is more horrifying than I can entertain. And it's not an April Fool's either.

On to Two by Two, since I missed them last week (where I share two sentences read, two sentence written, and y'all are invited to join me.) Today, according to The Writer's Almanac, is the birthday of Francine Prose, born in Brooklyn, New York in1947. Along with writing novels, she's authored the nonfiction book, Reading Like a Writer (2006), which is subtitled "A Guide for People Who Love Books and for Those Who Want to Write Them." It's one of my new favorite books on writing, and here's a sample two sentences from a terrific chapter on gestures:

"First of all, it's important, as with every word we write, to be careful and sparing. If a gesture is not illuminating, simply leave it out, or try cutting it and see if you later miss it or even remember it's gone."

For my two written, from my WIP: "He missed the actual accident, but heard the kid scream, a high animal sound. Sagging between two men as they drug him off the lift, his face turned purple from crying."

Other Two Sentence Tuesday Posters:

Women of Mystery (who started the trend)

Question: are how-to writing books worth a writer's time? Do you have a favorite?

My Town Monday: Fort Woof

2008-03-24T12:25:00.007-09:00

This weekend in my hometown, I attended a real live dog show, courtesy of the Fort Worth Kennel Club. To be honest, I wasn't sure what to expect. After watching Christopher Guest's brutally funny Best In Show, I was hoping for, well, the best. Dear readers, I am thrilled to say I was not disappointed. They seemed like character actors, those soft-shoed trainers intensely jogging along pedigree dogs. The ponytails in scrunchies. The occasional glittery headband. The loose sport coats and anxious expressions. It was hard to focus on the canines. Honestly, I could have sat there for hours, just watching the trainers interact with the dogs, clicking and feeding treats, and of course, doing the Hush Puppy victory laps. I wondered where they buy the shoes, and if wearing nude pantyhose with taupe knee-length suits is contractual.

Of course the dogs were wonderful, too. Great Danes and Portugese Water Dogs, Irish Setters and Boxers, basically name a breed and it was there in all its hairy glory. I was rooting for a white Chihuahua in the toy category, but the Shi Tsu pulled out the win. We would have stayed the afternoon, but the Amon Carter exhibit hall was icycold (perhaps to stave off the puppy smell?). Still, we got a good look at this guy on the way out. Tell me that face doesn't make your day.

I came home with appreciation for my two Chihuahuas: Rosie who tucks her hind leg when she runs and Zorro with the obsessive/compulsive eating disorder. See their pics here.

They may not be show winners, but they're mine. Plus, I can wear whatever kind of shoes I want.

Christopher Guest fan? What's your favorite?

Spring Break & Two by Two Thursday

2008-03-20T12:02:00.004-09:00

Spring Break changes the older I get, and I think both of us are getting better with the years. I spent my morning in the backyard catching up on some reading for class. Loving the sunshine, even as I sat under an umbrella with unembarrassed old-ladiness. I'm not a fan of the skin cancer, and I've had two friends with close brushes the past two years. No thank you, melanoma.

I remember as a kid my mom would take us to the beach for Spring Break. (I say "beach" even though I mean Galveston with its murky brown water and its surprisingly dead sea life washed up on gelatinous sand.) My mother has olive earth-goddess skin that goes from pale to bronze, zero to sixty with barely a pause. My skin is more of the balded chicken variety, that goes from ghostly white to freckled to fried. After a day at the beach, my mom would come home looking like a Coppertone ad and I'd be sunsick and shivering, my skin the color of a fresh boiled lobster. So, these days I wear hats, SPF 50, and stay in the shade except when I'm swimming. And for Spring Break, I read, go to museums, and watch movies. Cause I'm cool like that.

Here's this week's two-by-two.

"That is, with due respect to Shakespeare and others, we want our girls to communicate freely with the live world around them rather than plunge into musty old books. We are still groping perhaps, but we grope intelligently, like a gynecologist feeling a tumor." -- Nabokov's Lolita

"We'll be fine. Maybe we can have green pancakes & bacon for dinner." -- in a text message to Kern on St. Patrick's day

For new readers of the blog, Two by Two Thursday shares two sentences read (from any source) and two sentences written (to any source.) Feel free to share yours.

Have Spring Break plans this year?

My Town (belated) Monday: Last Meal

2008-03-19T08:49:00.003-09:00

Last night we celebrated a family birthday by immersing ourselves in fried chicken at the famouse Babe's Chicken Dinner House at the original location in Roanoke, Texas. It's the kind of place where none of the chairs match, the roof leaks when it rains (like last night), and the entire interior is coated with a fine sheen of fryer grease. Babe's makes annual "Best of" lists around the country for its delectable fried chicken, one of only two available entrees on the menu. The other option is chicken fried steak, and I've had both. Go for the chicken. It comes with an all-lettuce salad, creamed corn, mashed potatoes and gravy, and fresh biscuits. Definitely a comfort food lovefest. We figured that since yesterday north Texas was under flash flood warnings and heavy thunderstorms, we'd have the place to ourselves. No such luck--the place was packed wall to drippy wall with ecstatic, rain-gear wearing diners. Babies crawling under tables, small-town waitresses doing the hokey-pokey mid-aisle, and adults with six-packs of BYOB. We waited our turn, got seated at an uneven table listing hard to the port side, and happily ponied up the ten bucks a pop to treat ourselves to one of the best meals I've ever eaten, in my town or otherwise.

In fact, I had to choose my last meal (in a Dead Man Walking world), mine would be Babe's, hands down. What about you?

Chef Fauxhawks and Two by Two

2008-03-13T06:22:00.006-09:00

Now that the season is over, I'm transferring my Project Runway obsession to another Bravo show: Top Chef. So far my favorite character is Erik, the tall tattooed fellow who wants to use the 100K prize money to buy floral shirts and cook on the beach in Hawaii. Call me a cynic, but I think he's gonna need more than 100 grand for that. His cheese souffle fell flat before judges Padma, Tom, Rocco and Anthony Bourdain, but he gained respect when he admitted, "I made glorified nachos. I'm not proud of it."

Another (un)quotable line: Andrew in his extreme excitement over the posh Chicago digs-- "Yo. Casa, motherf%@#$s!!!" I wasn't sorry to see melancholy Nimma pack up her knives after she emphasized for the umpteenth time that she wasn't on the show to have fun and put herself to bed. I know it's not Project Runway, but she should have been auffed straightaway for that purple headband. And the trio of fauxhawks (Richard, Jennifer and [smaller, but there] Dale) should help end a haircut that went out with David Beckham. Plus, who dressed Padma in that unflattering olive green dress? If you can make a stunner like Padma look dumpy, no matter the camera angle, perhaps you're in the wrong career.

Here are my two sentences for Two by Two Thursday (two sentences read, two sentences written from the past week):

"It's only my sister, she thinks, but still, after all this time, after everything that's happened, she wants to inspire in Vanessa a certain surprised admiration. Still she wants her sister to think, 'The goat's looking rather well, isn't she?'" --from Michael Cunningham's The Hours.

"The inside of Brody's Bait 'n More smelled of earthworms, stale frying oil, and musty equipment. Nestled into the crook of the lake off the main highway, it served as a local fishing supply and watering hole--nicknamed Grody Brody's by spurned teenagers trying to score cheap cases of beer." -- from my novel in progress

My Town Monday: It's Not Easy Being Green

2008-03-10T08:49:00.002-09:00

My town, Fort Worth, is ranked the 15th greenest city in the nation, according to Popular Science magazine. This is a pleasant surprise for a couple reasons, mostly that I read an article in Popular Science magazine. The article lists cities based on renewable energy use, public transportation, green buildings, availability of parks and recycling.

I have to say I'm proud of my city for making the list, and more, for the way Fort Worth has changed my carbon-footprint habits. Before we moved here, I never thought about recycling or watching our energy consumption. Our diaper contributions to the landfills alone should put us on the green blacklist. But Fort Worth makes it easy: when we moved in we received two plastic trash cans for the weekly haul, one for trash and the other for recycling. How simple is that? Now we have a weekly competition between the two, and more often than not the recycling bin fills quicker.

Other ways we've gone green:

* Thermostat 68 in winter/76 in summer. When the kids get cold, we quote Garrison Keillor: "You're not special. Go put on a sweater."
* Fluorescent lightbulbs. Yes, they look like crazy corkscrews and take a few extra milliseconds to light. We chalk it up to ambiance.
* Trading in our gas-guzzling SUV for a lean, mean station wagon. I'll let Kern weigh in on that--it was his decision, and he asserts he has no problem blending in with soccer moms. I got to keep my zippy 5-speed, which makes me inordinately happy.
* Taking the heat cycle off the dishwasher.
* Watering outside peak hours.

Ways I stay stubbornly carbon-cantankerous:

* Paper napkins. No way am I doing ANYTHING to add to our mammoth laundry mountain.
* Bottled water. I recycle the bottles, but I can't go with the carry-your-own refillable glass. I bought a cute green one to take to school, but the mouth on it is too wide and more than once I've ended up with a streak of water down my shirt, mid-class.
* Not carpooling/taking public transportation. I'm open to discussion on this, but I'm surprised Fort Worth scored in this category. While there's a plethora of options between FW and Dallas, for transportation going north to Denton, it's me and my wheels. Not that there's anything wrong with that. (See zippy 5-speed, above.)

Going green? Waving the "global warming is a myth" flag? Do tell...

Project Runway and Two by Two Thursday

2008-03-06T07:53:00.005-10:00

Congrats to Christian on winning Project Runway, and for finding his style soulmate in Posh Beckham. Honestly, no matter how annoying Christian can be with his wiry arrogance, I thought his lip-trembling humility on the runway rather touching. Of course he sprang back to uber-confidence faster than you can say "fierce" after he won. I liked his designs: the drama, the frills, the palette, but if I were to buy one dress, it would have been Rami's intricately ruffled black evening dress (minus the pone-highlighting side panels) or that creamy-tan number with less regal shoulder accents. I actually thought Rami's black evening gown similar in tone to Jennifer Garner's fabulous gown from the Oscars.

On another note, I'm picking up a cue from the Women of Mystery (and by extension, Travis) and joining in their Two Sentence Tuesday. Except it's Thursday because I'm not sure I'm with it enough to blog thematically on Monday (My Town Monday) AND Tuesday. So, I'll shoot for Two by Two Thursday. Catch the Noah's ark spin? I like the thought of those sentences marching together, toward a grand adventure.

The idea is to post two sentences you've read and two sentences you've written from that week. The reading sources can be from all over the place: the newspaper, a blog, a tabloid, a book. The writing can be from a work in progress, a snippet of your journal, an email, an essay for class, a reminder to your kids, a signed confessional, whatever. I think it's a great idea, and user friendly since most of us read and write at least two sentences a week.

Here are my first two:

"Be careful there. When we're indecisive, the wishes of others gain." -- from Shirley Hazzard's National Book Award Winner The Great Fire

"He'd administered her shots, prescribed antibiotics when she got ear infections. He also performed an in-office urine extraction, an embarrassing apex of Dorie's adolescence when she had a bladder infection in fourth grade and was too nervous to pee in the cup." -- from my novel in progress

Sentences to share? Let me know and I'll link you...

My Town Monday--Hot Dogs and Hot Votes

2008-03-03T09:14:00.011-10:00

Texas, as many of you know, is weird. This weekend we were out in the garden planting zinnia and marigold seeds, pruning the rose bushes for spring. In shorts.
This guy (left) was hanging out on our brick wall, soaking up some sunshine.

Kern even whipped up some gourmet grilled hot dogs with whole wheat buns and a variety of peppers--which looked like this. Can't you smell them?

I don't know what it is, but to me a grilled hot dog, with peppers and spicy mustard (and the occasional jalapeno) is one of the best things on earth. (Almost makes me forget those horrific meat scenes from Sinclair's The Jungle.)

Today, it's frigid and raining and I'm in two layers of clothes hoping my plants don't freeze to death. I'd say it's odd, but given this is Texas, it's pretty normal.

Even though the weathers pulled a chilly snap, the political races are heating up huge in my town, as the primaries and caucuses are held in Texas tomorrow, March 4th. There are signs on almost every available corner, with Hillary Clinton, John McCain, Mike Huckabee, Barak Obama and Ron Paul (bless his heart) vying for roadside visibility. Candidates have cruised through our area, pulling in huge crowds in Fort Worth (and our neighbor to the east, Dallas) as well as other cities throughout the state. Our daily paper has new photo ops with grinning politicians, shaking hands and asking for votes. Almost every day we have messages from council leaders, our governor with the good hair, Rick Perry, and taped messages from the candidates themselves.

Do I mind the political flurry? Not one bit. Because I'm an American and the right to vote isn't one I take lightly. Plus, it's exciting to see the political pundits focused on my home state, knowing that the races aren't over until somebody nabs Texas. No matter how weird we are.

So, here's my two cents: get out and vote. Exercise your right and let your voice be heard. Take your kids, visit with your neighbors in line--and do the right thing. I'll be out there, and afterward I may just treat myself to a hot dog. It's just so American.

A Project Runway Moment: Human Hair...

2008-02-28T09:05:00.003-10:00

As fashionable decorative trim??? For the love of all that is good in this world, Chris, back AWAY from the hair extensions!!! I'm so sorry Bryant Park will miss out on your effervescent self, your witch-cackle giggle, and your often stunning designs, but you have to know that when your collection activates Tim Gunn's gag reflex, you ain't makin' it to the tents. I did feel a pang of sympathy when Tim compared your design studio to the monkey cages, a metaphor for the unpleasant aroma of your aesthetic. A little harsh, in my opinion.

I'm off to study for a humongo exam tomorrow...am reading Poe's "Fall of the House of Usher" and Robert Frost's "Directive" among other things. I plan on using the terms "humongo" and "gag-reflex" and "monkey" as often as possible in my essays, just to shake things up.

Think it'll work?

My Town Monday

2008-02-25T11:00:00.003-10:00

Inspired by my friend, Travis Erwin, I've decided to join in his efforts to take Mondays as a day to celebrate (or bemoan) the events, culture and quirks of our current hometowns...which for me is Fort Worth, Texas.

Today my daughter is at home sick and I called our doctor's office to schedule an appointment. I like my doctor's office because it's five minutes away from my house and is across from a drive-thru pharmacy, which comes in handy when you're stumbling around half-blind with pain from a sinus infection. (Maybe that's just me?) Of course, the office was booked solid and the receptionist put us in the nearest appointment--for noon tomorrow. Which seems like an eternity when your tweenager is drifting listlessly around the house with a fever and the cough of an eighty year-old smoker. Then the receptionist told me, not unkindly, that if I'd called earlier I'd have probably gotten an appointment. It wasn't a reprimand, more like a friend-to-friend commiserating on my bad luck. I agreed, thanked her, and said goodbye.

A few minutes later she called back. She'd talked to the doctor directly and wrangled a spot, because, as she said, "Eleven year-olds don't like to be sick, do they?" "No, ma'am, they don't." And their mamas don't like it either. I told the receptionist we could be there in five minutes after she said go, and she said, "Why don't you just come on down right now?" I said, "You precious woman, we'll be right there."

So, here's what I love about my town: That even in the medical marsh that is today's healthcare system, a busy woman will go the extra mile and put in a good word for another busy woman. That a sick child can travel a few short blocks and see a competent, professional doctor (who gave us nose spray for free! whoopee!) That I can, without embarrassment, call that lady who helped us You Precious Woman. That we probably made each other's day better, in a small way, simply by trading kindnesses.

So, readers o' the blog, I hope you go forth to spread and experience kindness in your town today. Report back, and tell me what happened...

DFW Writers Conference This Weekend

2008-02-22T10:22:00.005-10:00

Just a quick post to let you know I'll be teaching a workshop at the DFW Writers Conference this weekend in Grapevine, TX. It's not too late to sign up, and the conference is stacked with agents and editors, along with published authors, to help you along your writing journey.

My session is at 2:30 and my topic is "Exploding the Moment: Write Now!" Notice the punny wording. We'll be going over some exercises to help break through writer's block and to bring depth to your fiction. Should make for a great time. Many of my writer friends will be there, including the fabulous Candace Havens who will deliver the lunchtime keynote, which you won't want to miss because she's a) hysterical b) supertalented c) quick with gossipy quotes about everything from the book industry to Hollywood.

So, hurry up to register and drop by and see me.

Fashion dilemma--I need your votes! For the conference should I wear:

1) Black shirt and jeans (safe yet authorly)
2) Flowy skirt with flat boots (boho chic)
3) Brown slacks, pink oxford and ankle boots (sassy yet professional)
4) Pajama bottoms and a sweater (my daily at-home gear)

Please, feel free to come up with your own combinations...

The Best Burger Ever and Genre Fear

2008-02-19T07:43:00.005-10:00

Totally unrelated topics, but yesterday I had the best burger of my life. It was the Dirty Love Burger (excellent name, no?) at Tim Love's eponymous Love Shack in Fort Worth, Texas.

The famous chef has outfitted a beer-garden spot in the stockyards with little tables and either fire-pits (winter) or fans (summer), for the delight and comfort of burger-noshing regulars (plus Europeans in Texas for extended holidays.) Yes, the people watching is exquisite (dark socks! sandals! funny accents!) and the place is lined on three sides with beer cartons ready for the evening revelries, but the real show-stopper is the food itself. The Dirty Love Burger comes with lettuce, tomato, American cheese, a thick slab of bacon and Love Sauce..topped with a fried quail egg. Never had quail egg on a burger? Don't be frightened, my friends. It's a flavor explosion without the messy yolk, and served with a side of their pitch-perfect onion rings, is close to heaven itself. I think if Jesus were to walk around Fort Worth, he would definitely hit the Love Shack.

As I mentioned in the last post, I had a great time with The Village Book Club in Dallas. Aren't they cute? (I was relieved that someone else wore jeans. Must remind self: Dallas is fancier than Fort worth.)

As I mentioned the previous post, one of The Village Readers (as opposed to The Village People) as this question: Is there a genre, as a writer, you would shy away from? The answer is yes, and it would be detective or murder-mystery fiction. The problem is I absolutely adore a great mystery. Whether it's a movie, book, or television show, I'm into figuring the thing out from the get-go, and when I'm right it's soooooo disappointing. As a writer, I'm not sure how I'd handle the twist factor with the balance of relevant clues--and I'd hate if ANY reader figured it out before the end. Maybe one day I'll give it a shot, but for now I'll stick to character-driven regional realism. (Who's in graduate school? Me, that's who!)

Burger fan? Where do you go for The Best Burger Ever?

Valentines or Any Tines

2008-02-14T11:00:00.005-10:00

Happy Valentine's Day! Here's a pic of some glorious roses from my sweetheart. And yes, eschewers of all things shmalz, I'm a sucker for red roses, any day of the year.

Had a fabulous time with the book club at The Villages in Dallas last night. Will post a group photo soon. One of my favorite comments was about my characters Mark and Amanda from Potter Springs. Beverly said, in kind of a dreamy voice, "I think he really loves her..."

Yes, Beverly, I think he does, too. I so love my job.

Among many interesting questions, one of my favorites was posed by Melissa: "Is there any genre you would shy away from writing?" The answer is yes...and I'll tell you which one in another post.

Recommended for Romance (on Valentine's or Any Tines):

Movies: Atonement and Juno. Haven't seen 27 Dresses or Definitely Maybe, but the chick in me wants to catch both.

Music: Soundtrack to Juno--earthy, clever songwriting from Kimya Dawson and (surprise) The Darjeeling Limited. Love the Indian flair with tracks from Satyajit Ray and quirky selections ranging from the Kinks to the Clair de Lune.

Food: Steak, shrimp, asparagus and red wine. And a little salad with baby greens, raspberries, feta cheese and pecans. At least, that's what I'm having. We cook at home because the last time we tried to eat out on Valentine's day, between the long lines, inept service and the price gouging, we nearly got divorced.

Question: Valentine's -- overhyped greeting-card marketfest or an opportunity to celebrate all things love?

Prize Winners and Book Clubs

2008-02-13T06:12:00.004-10:00

Last night I had the pleasure of meeting Aimee LaBrie, author of Wonderful Girl, which won the Katherine Anne Porter Prize from UNT Press this year.
Aimee read from her collection of short stories and did an excellent job of capturing the attention of fatigued students with her vivid prose and wicked humor. I was Aimee's first reader on this prize...and had the experience of mining the gold from the slush pile. As a writer, reading for the KAP contest helped me see the other side of publishing: that daunting mountain of manuscripts (this year we had almost 300) and the overwhelming responsibility of slogging through each one, looking for glimmers of brilliance.

Yes, there are the manuscripts with clip art (bad idea) with themes of unicorns and princesses (bad, bad idea) and the strange single-space formatting, or worse, italics. Those, thankfully, are the minority of entries, and each year the contest is filled with better and better applicants. The majority of entries we see are from people who publish widely in literary journals, authors who write with competence and confidence. To find the winner is no easy task. We separate the cover letters from the manuscripts for readers, so each entry is reviewed "blind" without the weight of accolades to push it past its prose. Which helps, I think, in giving an honest read.

Aimee's book came through with such shining strength, I had no trouble passing it along for a second read and in voting for it as a finalist. When it won, I did a happy dance, and it was no surprise that the author turned out to be just as engaging and witty as her writing. If you're interested in crafting short stories that get published, you should check out her collection and treat yourself to a great read. You won't be disappointed.

I'm off tonight to Dallas to visit with members of a book club who chose Potter Springs for this month's read. I always enjoy meeting with readers who spend their time with my stories, since I think in today's world time is one of our most precious resources. I also like the questions and insights that other people bring to my work...when they argue over a character or see themes I hadn't pre-conceived on the page. I'll report back on the most interesting comments...

In a Q&A session with an author, what question would you ask?

Careers, Superpowers and Puppies

2008-02-07T10:28:00.000-10:00

Which one are you?

Thanks, Travis for helpful time-suckage hint. After visiting your blog, I had to take the test for myself, and this is what I got. (Although, I can defend my wasteful actions because I got in my full five pages today!)

You Should Be a Doctor

You are practical, sharp, and very intuitive.
Optimistic and energetic, you are a problem solver who doesn't get discouraged easily.
You are also quite compassionate and caring. You make people feel hopeful.
You're highly adaptable and capable. You do well with almost any curve ball life throws at you.

You do best when you:

- Are always learning new subjects
- Use your knowledge to solve problems

You would also be a good therapist or detective.

What Should You Be When You Grow Up?

Britta says: Aha! A therapist or detective! Or...a writer, which is where the two meet.

Your Superpower Should Be Mind Reading

You are brilliant, insightful, and intuitive.
You understand people better than they would like to be understood.
Highly sensitive, you are good at putting together seemingly irrelevant details.
You figure out what's going on before anyone knows that anything is going on!

Why you would be a good superhero: You don't care what people think, and you'd do whatever needed to be done

Your biggest problem as a superhero: Feeling even more isolated than you do now

What Should Your Superpower Be?

Britta says: Isolated? Who's isolated?

You Are a Chihuahua Puppy

Small, high strung, and loyal.
You do best in the city with a adults - young kids could crush you!

What Breed of Puppy Are You?

Britta says: No kidding! I have two chihuahuas (see my photos page) and nearly fell out of my chair when this happened. I will refute the high-strung assertion, however.

If you take the quizzes let me know...which are you?

How to Escape...

2008-02-06T11:39:00.000-10:00

A Giant Octopus.
(From Joshua Piven and the fine folks at Worst Case Scenario.)

1. Pull away quickly.
2. If you do not escape, do not go limp. Octopi tire easily, so continue to put pressure on the arms by attempting to swim away.
3. Prevent the octopus's arms from wrapping around your arms.
4. Peel the suckers from your body. Give the octopus a spear, raft, surfboard, or other object to latch on to. Work quickly, before the arms grab you.
5. Detach the octopus from its anchor.
6. Turn somersaults in the water to irritate the octopus.
7. Swim towards the surface.

I think what intrigues me about this is most of the tips could easily apply to a toxic relationship. Ever been entangled by one of those? Read through the steps again, and see what might apply. Pull away quickly (go for a clean break.) No limping out. Peel that sucker from your body, and if necessary, deflect them to another source. Better do this quickly, before they suck you back in. Turn somersaults (or whatever else it takes) to irritate this person, then swim with all you've got toward breathable air.

Ever been attacked by an octopus? A wild animal? A toxic stalker?

A Novel Update...and Chekhov

2008-01-29T10:50:00.000-10:00

I'm well into my revisions...and slowly but surely making progress on the WIP. My goal this week: 5 solid pages a day. I'm a third of the way through, and the earlier work was, admittedly, the more polished third, so the rest of round two will be something of an uphill climb. If I think about the whole journey I'll get terrified and quit. Right now it's a matter of putting one foot in front of the other, or in this case, one word after the next. I have to remember my own advice: it doesn't have to be perfect. Yet.

I subscribe to the often-wonderful Writer's Almanac, and found a great quote for today. If you want to subscribe to daily poems, historical notes, and noted author's birthday's, click here.

Today is Anton Chekhov's birthday. Known by some as the father of the short story, Chekov says: "Any idiot can face a crisis; it is this day-to-day living that wears you out."

I find this humorous, and often true. In the vein of not letting daily living wear me out, I'm back in my best routine of pray, read, write, family time, knit and exercise. Plus healthy doses of bubble baths, dark chocolate and naps. Sounds simple, but it keeps me sane.

What keeps your cookies cool? Tips for habitually healthy living? Do share...

He Said, She Said...Best Books of 2007

2008-01-22T09:47:00.000-10:00

Welcome to the third annual Best Books for the blog, where Kern and I list out our favorite reads of the year. Actually, because Kern is more organized he writes his list first and I respond.For clarification, these are books we read in this year and don't necessarily respond to pub dates.

Here goes...

Kern says:
10. Psycho, Robert Bloch – The original from which Hitchcock adapted his screenplay. It was a short read, but very tense. The movie is better in this case, but I enjoyed the book almost as much.
Britta says:
This is on my to-be-read stack. For a classic intense read you might try the psychological ghost story Turn of the Screw by Henry James. I read this on my own after picking up some James in class, and it's my favorite so far. The terrorized nanny and the is-it-or-isn't-it haunted house with creepily adult children set the mark for today's current supernatural thrillers, complete with undercurrents of sexuality and repression. Not bad for a serialized story first published in 1898.

Kern says:
9. Wonder Boys, Michael Chabon – Grady Tripp is a pot smoking English professor/ writer in a small Pennsylvania town. The writing stands out, and is hysterical at times.
Britta says:
It's hysterical throughout. Chabon's writing shimmers, his characters are exciting and weird, and the way he weaves what seems like inconsequential clues (the pet snake!) into climactic turning points is sheer genius.

Kern says:
8. The Long Walk, Slavomir Rawicz – A memoir about an escape from a Siberian prison camp, and the ensuing walk to the Indian Ocean after WW2. A fascinating story that holds up to scrutiny. Toward the end of the story, there is a short reference to a Bigfoot creature they spotted in the Himalayas. Yeti or not, the story is an incredible tale of endurance.
Britta says:
I don't know why Kern loves the survivor tales so much, but he does. Maybe the chance at spotting Bigfoot? I'd suggest Elizabeth Gilbert's memoir Eat, Pray, Love which is a story about a freelance writer from Manhattan learning to navigate life after divorce by spending a year submerged in foreign cultures.

Kern says:
7. The 64$ Tomato, William Alexander. This is the story of an organic gardener in New York, and his battles with gardening. Having tried unsuccessfully many years to raise a tomato myself, I was drawn to the title. Of course in the end, the author calculates what it has cost to go organic. Very funny read, especially for the gardener.
Britta says:
I don't garden, but Kern's laughter as he devoured this book makes me want to read it. If reading about food is your thing, try Jhumpa Lahiri's gorgeous books: Interpreter of Maladies (short stories) and The Namesake. She uses food symbology in her stories of the Indian immigrant experience, as filtered through generational families struggling with identity and place in American society. If the opening page of Namesake doesn't make you want to snack on Indian food, you have no tastebuds.

Kern says:
6. The Brooklyn Follies, Paul Auster. Nathan Glass, retired and estranged from his family returns to his childhood neighborhood in Brooklyn. A great cast of characters.
Britta says:
I read this one and while it was enjoyable, for a top-ten cast of characters I'd recommend E. Annie Proulx's Pulitzer Prize-Winner The Shipping News. Love Quoyle, love the aunt, love the villagers. Made me want to learn to fish and live in Newfoundland.

Kern says:
5. The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid, Bill Bryson. A memoir of his childhood in 1950’s Des Moines.
Britta says:Hysterical. I enjoyed this book so much I bought it for my parents who grew up in the 50s. Whether you're of that generation or not, you'll appreciate Bryson's wry humor and a classic coming-of-age tale from times past. Bryson's childhood desperation to get into the carnival to see the scantily-clad freakshows captures longing, adolescent hormones, and small-town dynamics all in one colorful and gut-funny scene.

Kern says:
4. Bitter Blood, Jerry Bledsoe. True crime narrative covering two southern families. Vitamin C anyone?
Britta says:
Isn't he cute? If it's not survival stories of people eating people, it's crime narratives. After last year's nightmare inducing foray into Kern's serial killer bedside reading, I took a sabbatical from true crime in 2007. For an excellent fictional crime tale, I'd recommend Kate Atkinson's One Good Turn. A killer twist at the end from unlikely characters, plus her lead detective is Case History's shlumpy and likable Jackson Brodie.

Kern says:
3. The Road, Cormac McCarthy. His post apocalyptic story about a father and son making their way to the coast. Chilled me to the bone. Don’t throw away your canned goods!
Britta says:
I shouldn't count this, because I technically read it in 2008, but I'm gonna. Unforgettable, worthy of the hype, and as a student of writing, I'm in awe of his spare and powerful style. If you start this book, you won't stop, and you won't ever forget it.

Kern says:
2. The World According to Garp, John Irving. Irving is without doubt the Great American Novelist. The story of TS Garp is unforgettable.
Britta says:
I Heart John Irving. He shames me with his writing, and I love him for it. I haven't read Garp, but it's on my list. For another twisty tale of dysfunctional families, try Alison Bechdel's Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic. I was assigned to read this for class, or else I'd never have picked it up--it's a graphic novel, which I used to think was a euphemism for Really Long Comic Book. A disclaimer: Fun Home IS graphic, in tone and subject matter (who knew cartoons could be so...explicit?), but its setup of a young girl grappling with identity as she grows up in a funeral home setting is poignant, at times laugh-out-loud funny, and utterly real. I wept at the last image.

Kern says:
1. The Corrections, Jonathan Franzen. Alfred and Enid Lambert, and their dysfunctional descendants. What a story. The chapter on the cruise ship stands alone. What’s that on the couch?
Britta says:
Evermore labeled as the man who shunned Oprah, Franzen lives up to his own hype with this book. I laughed, I cried, I feel like Alfred and Enid are family members and I miss them. Like Chabon and Irving, Franzen knows what he's doing when it comes to crafting fiction. While his character's exploits are at times larger than life, their frailties in the smallest moments...a father in a nursing home, a prodigal son arriving home, a marriage strained into silence...are heartbreakingly real.

Other books from 2007 I'd recommend (see earlier posts on the blog for more descriptions):

The Optimist's Daughter by Eudora Welty
Yiddish Policeman's Detective Union by Michael Chabon
Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller
Drinking Coffee Elsewhere by Z.Z. Packer
Shopgirl by Steve Martin
Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
Twilight of the Superheroes by Deborah Eisenberg
On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan
All Aunt Hagar's Children by Edward P. Jones
Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
Thereafter Johnnie by Carolivia Herron

Disagree with our choices or have books you want to add? Comments welcome! Let us know...what did we miss???

Britta Knits!

2008-01-14T08:38:00.000-10:00

Though I am in mourning today for the devastating end to the Cowboy's season, I do have some happy news to report. I've updated my website to include a new Britta Knits section in the photo album where I'm displaying my current obsesssion with the art of knitting.

For a teaser, this is a pic of a recent knit-then-felt project that I like to call "Hello, I'm a Tree Hugger Yoga Mat Carrier." More details on the site...

Have a hobby? A current obsession? Do tell...

A Project Runway Moment

2008-01-03T13:12:00.000-10:00

From last night's episode,

"Is this a skirt? It looks like a coffee filter. Or a maxi pad."
-- Tim Gunn, to designer Sweet Pea,
at which point she collapses into her work station.

Seriously, if you have it TiVo'd, go back and look. Tim's eviscerating analogies are worth the revisit, but Sweet Pea's silent devastation comes across as a soft crumple, very dignified. What else can you do in the face of an ever-correct Tim?

Props to Elisa, the Dallas area car-wreck survivor and spit-marking free spirit, for exiting the show with her kooky/classy integrity intact.

Who's next? And who should be in the final three???

Favorite Things

2008-01-02T09:22:00.000-10:00

Happy New Year! To ring in 2008, I thought I'd list out a few of my favorite things...in no particular order.

Reef sandals. My sister-in-law bought me a new pair for Christmas in a funky metallic shade. I wear them year round, whenever it's warm enough that my toes don't freeze off.

Dark chocolate. Of which we now have a plethora thanks to thoughtful family and friends. My neice sent me dark chocolate covered cherries from Trader Joe's (one of my favorite stores.) These candies rock because 1) they're dark chocolate 2) they have the cherries but without all the syrupy goo.

Juno. Caught it over the holiday, and it's hands down my favorite film of the year. The dialogue is fantastic, thanks to a brilliant screenplay by Diablo Cody, and the lead characters riffs are major quote-worthy. But my favorite line is delivered by Jennifer Garner with nuanced shades of grief and loathing: "Your shirt is stupid."

Knitting accessories. Santa brought me tiny silver scissors and a handy retractable tape measure. Yes, I realize that makes me supercool.

Christmas cantatas. We have a couple at my church who sing a hymn a cappela every Christmas Eve, and it makes me cry every year. They're truly gifted, and the sight of them singing together, those complex incredible notes, makes me think God must be smiling, right at that moment.

Yoga. I've been away from it for a while, but I'm busting out the Rodney Yee tape today. Because I know if I hit my gym class without warming up, I'll be face planted in child's pose the entire hour.

The Cowboys. In spite of a dismal December, I'm thankful for the most exciting season since the 90s. Whatever happens in playoffs, I'll say I'm thrilled with what Wade and the Boys have accomplished.

Resolutions. And not just for January. I like the reminder, of course, that as human beings we always have the option to set our minds and hearts on becoming better people. In that vein, I'd like to share one of my favorite prayers, by Francis of Assisi (I was reminded of it in a Dear Abby column, of all things. But come on, who doesn't love Abby?)

So here it is, the prayer of St. Francis, and may it be a blessing for all that is good in 2008:

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
Amen.

Happy New Year to you and yours!

Care to share? What are a few of your favorite things? (And can you read that without hearing Julie Andrews singing in the background?)

Wherefore Art Thou Romo?

2007-12-18T04:49:00.001-10:00

Did anyone catch this Sunday's Cowboy game? I don't know what happened to Romo's mojo, but I'm thinking it starts with a J and ends with an -essica.

We have a wedding to attend for next Saturday's showdown, so we'll TiVo the game but I'm almost thankful for the break. I just don't know if my heart can take it.

Daisy Days

2007-11-13T11:13:00.000-10:00

Here's me trying to be artsy fartsy photographer with the flowers from National Author's Day. Pretty, no?

The flowers are gone (Gerberas don't last forever), but the writing continues...I'm about a third of the way through this round, and I'm liking it so far. Bit by bit, I'll get there.

Other updates:

1. Saw Darjeeling Limited and liked it (I'm a Wes Anderson fan). Quotable line: "Can we agree on this?" Poignant to see Owen Wilson pre-trauma. He's so talented.
2. I am beyond stoked about Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys, for the first time since Troy Aikman dominated the field, with help from Emmitt and Michael. Jury's still out on T.O., but I'm afraid I'm wavering...because when that man catches a pass, it's a beautiful thing to see.
3. Countdown to Project Runway: ONE DAY!!! hee hee hoo hoo (that's me hyperventilating.) Can't wait to see Tim, Heidi and the gang -- love Michael Kors's snotty asides. Will do a better job of collecting them this year.

Yes, the TiVo is fired up and ready!

National Author's Day

2007-11-01T13:26:00.000-09:00

Who knew??? My husband came home with yellow Gerberas and my children offered hugs and smiles. I'm blessed. And I pass on the good vibes to my fellow writers laboring out there...congratulations on the work you do, on facing the pages and making them sing.

It's also the kickoff to NaNoWriMo, or for the uninitiated, National Novel Writing in a Month insanity. Google it, and you'll find a smorgasbord of bleary eyed scribblers who've committed to penning a book (good, bad, indifferent...but done!) within the confines of November.

In that spirit, I've decided to focus on my revisions for the WIP with a renewed vigor and intensity. Why not absorb the energy from my literary kinfolk and push forward with all the oomph I can muster? The weather's cold, the tea is hot, and I've got a candle that smells like a library. (Thanks, Mom.) With two Chihuahuas ready for couch time and a laptop with a long battery life, what else do I need?

I started today and wrote for two solid hours, shaping and shading, cutting and layering. It's not perfect, but for this round it doesn't have to be. Not yet. Now it's about falling in love again and spinning my tale. Perfection is for accountants anyway.

I left my manuscript with just enough thread to approach it again tomorrow...and the next day...and the next.

Wish me luck, and write on!

Great Reads...New and Old

2007-09-20T12:10:00.000-09:00

Had a great time at the conference last weekend. (Waves to all my new friends.) One of my favorite questions came up: What books do you recommend? I rattled off a few, but that's a tough one since I have so many.

First, you might browse older blog entries as I'm usually soapboxing about some novel or other. And check back often, because it's a favorite topic.

New (to me) books, read this year, that I'd recommend:

Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller. Non-fiction, non-religious musings about a life of faith. If I lived in Portland I'd be Donald's friend.

The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen. If you get past the Oprah backlash, the book is a standout on its own merit. Crazy family, an impending holiday. Chip is my favorite (slacker) character.

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield. A throwback to the gothic tradition about a mysterious, bestselling author and the woman who researches her past.

The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon. A twisty tale involving a (fictional) displaced Jewish community in Alaska, their mafia-esque religious leaders, a chess genius and possible Messiah, and the shlumpy detective navigating a murder in a low-rent motel. Chabon's writing is sheer genius, and this one sent me to re-read another of his books, Wonder Boys, which is my favorite read of the year so far.

The Painted Veil by William S. Maugham. Saw the movie (gorgeous), read the book. I usually don't roll in that order, but you gotta do what you gotta do. Kudos to the always fantastic Edward Norton for championing the script. For the book, I enjoyed the deeper insights into Kitty's flighty character and the surprising emphasis on her spiritual journey (less pronounced in the film.)

Shopgirl by Steve Martin. Rewatched the movie, reread the book. Who knew King Tut could carry off such a dreamy yet spare literary style?

About a Boy by Nick Hornby. Again, for me a reverse order on the book/film scenario (a disturbing trend???), but a pleasant one. Enjoyed his writing style, the bare honesty of a narcissistic man adrift and the awkward boy who grounds him. Plus, you have to love that mother.

Drinking Coffee Elsewhere by Z.Z. Packer. A collection of short stories held together by themes of race and place in society. If you read the first one "Brownies," you'll follow her all the way through.

The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson. Hilarious memoir of a kid coming of age in consumer-happy 1950s.

Twilight of the Superheroes by Deborah Eisenberg. If this hadn't been required for a class, I probably wouldn't have gotten past the comic cover. It just doesn't look like a book I'd read (which goes to show you about the whole judge/cover thing), but the opening story is a knockout. She takes a group of twentysomethings dealing with post 9-11 connections in New York City, and does a fresh take on the definitions of family and friendship. I'll read more of her work, which for me is a good test of if I really like an author or not.

Some of my all time favorites:

Plainsong by Kent Haruf
A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
The Rapture of Canaan by Sheri Reynolds
Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry
Beloved by Toni Morrison

Right now I'm reading Thereafter Johnnie by Carolivia Herron -- a difficult book, but so well written it's worth the trip.

That's all for now...I'm sure as soon as I sign off I'll think of more...

What about you? Any recent reads you'd recommend?

Fish, Water and Writers

2007-09-12T08:42:00.000-09:00

Hi all. I'm in preparations for an upcoming writers conference here in my area. It's hosted by the North Texas Christian Writers and they're bringing in a slew of authors to teach on different tracks in the writing world. Songwriting, non-fiction, and (my favorite) fiction will all be discussed. The conference emphasizes the craft of writing, versus the I'm-so-ready-to-make-a-sale-I-might-die end, which I respect. Focusing on honing craft first makes the quest for publication sooooo much better.

I'm presenting several talks -- one called "Nuts and Bolts for Rank Beginners" -- which reminds me of a traditional Texas A&M yell after a bad football call. Imagine an entire stadium (or, at least the loud half) chanting, "Nuts and bolts, nuts and bolts, we got ________!" But that's probably inappropriate in this forum, and not at all related to the actual session. The talk covers priorities, goal setting, approaching the marketplace, and publication.

Other presentations include "Exploding the Moment: Write Now!" where we'll do some hands-on writing exercises. I'm busting out freewriting prompts and a little gadget I like to call the Wheel of Fortune (a brainstorming technique.) Then there's "The Art of Rewriting" which is one of my favorites. We'll talk about the process of revisions -- that exquisitely painful yet wonderful love/hate/love rollercoaster. I'm also presenting on "Inspired Writing for a Mainstream Marketplace" which will be interesting, considering the audience. I've spoken to Christian groups before, but by main professional field is the literary or mainstream marketplace. I'm wondering if I'll be a bit fish out of watery, or if this group will catch my vision of writing towards an inclusive audience while remaining authentic to yourself and your worldview. Should prompt some discussion, at least.

As for me, I'm not interested in reading about perfect characters making perfect choices in a perfect life -- because that's not only unrealistic, but unbiblical. Case in point: David the anointed King seducing married Bathsheba. Peter cutting a guy's ear off for Jesus. Abraham the liar -- "No really, Sarah's my sister, yeah, yeah,that's right, my sister, not my wife, you can have her, just don't kill me!" Plus, the entire catalog of other misfits who helped carve the crazy path that is a life in faith.

So, given such precedence, I'm hoping the attendees of NTCWC won't mind that I write about broken people doing crooked things, whose common bond (like most of us) is the need for a second chance. In fact, I bet deep down, they might relate.

I'm off to prepare, but maybe you can help. If you wanted to be a writer, what sort of nuts and bolts question (nothing too silly to ask) would you want answered?

Van Gogh and Lilo

2007-08-10T07:40:00.001-09:00

A couple new friends of mine--hello Tyler and Sally!--just spent a few days with our family here in Cowtown, and I took the opportunity to revisit some favorite sites and restaurants. We took in the new Ron Mueck exhibit at the Modern Art Museum (my favorite museum in Fort Worth) and were completely blown away. He does hyper realistic sculptures of human forms ranging from a miniature seated woman (a permanent exhibit and my favorite piece) to gigantic newborn infants to a particularly poignant undersized figure titled Dead Dad, which is, in fact a rendering of Mueck's own father. If you have a chance to see the show, definitely do. This is another top pick, for me. Can't you just see them on a city corner, gossiping?

We also ate at Angelos, a historic barbecue spot, and took in an afternoon exhibit at the Kimbell which has an impressive touring collection of portraiture influenced by Picasso.

It's a humbling experience to see a self-portrait of Van Gogh and realize it's not a print but the real thing. Weird to imagine him holding a paint brush, staring at himself, and transferring that intensity onto the very canvas hanging before you.

After being all artsy fartsy, we decided to decompress with an evening at Pete's Dueling Piano Bar. I don't know how those guys do it, but they hammer out everything from Top 40s pop to Queen to Air Supply to college fight songs to a Dr. Seuss Green Eggs and Ham rap (with the crowd shouting Sam I Am!) all to make for a great time.

My friend Sally is from London and she cooked us a real English breakfast yesterday, complete with tea and "baked beans." It looked like this:

I'm no food photographer, but we gobbled this down (even my kids cleaned their plates) and felt extremely cultured. We spent yesterday chilling poolside, floating around and talking about the differences between America and England. I did learn, among other things, that a floaty is called a lilo, which is way more fun to say.

Speaking of lilos, I'm leaving tomorrow for a week-long cruise that stops in Grand Cayman, Cozumel and Jamaica. My goal: to chart as much time in a lounge chair as is humanly possible. I'm digging through my to-be-read stack for cruise reads, which is trickier than it sounds as I'm usually so busy people watching it's hard to stay focused.

I'm off to pack, but am leaving you with a question: What's the strangest thing you've ever experienced on a vacation? [In Mike Myers' Coffee Talk Voice]: Discuss amohngst yehselves...

Movie Musicals: Confections and Confessions

2007-07-30T08:47:00.000-09:00

I love the movies in summertime...especially when they're as much fun as "Hairspray," the oversized confection of fun starring Nikki Blonsky, John Travolta, Christopher Walken, Queen Latifah and Michelle Pfeiffer. After the opening montage where effervescent Tracy Turnblad belts out her love for life, dancing, and Baltimore, I was transfixed. John Travolta makes for an endearing mama Turnblad, and Christopher Walken's shirts were a study in early 60s kitsch. Bravo, costume designer. But seriously, Christopher Walken could walk across the room eating a grilled cheese sandwich and I'd find him subversively hysterical. Michelle Pfeiffer rules her scenes with icy femininity, and Queen Latifah adds regal, maternal grace to the proceedings. An absolute ball.

Michelle Pfeiffer's singing reminded me of another, less star-studded film: Grease 2. I'll confess, it's a total guilty pleasure and I've seen it more times than I care to recollect. The young Michelle grabs hold of the shlocktastic material and gives it her Cool-Rider loving, Pink Ladies jacket wearing, gum smacking all. She sings a few numbers with agility, a skill she highlights in the better received Fabulous Baker Boys. I always wondered what happened to Grease 2's young Maxwell Caulfield, who played the nerd-goes-biker with embarrassing sincerity. After a quick search on http://www.imdb.com/ (one of my favorite sites for all things film), it looks like he's taken a quieter path than his leading lady. Which leads me to another early Pfeiffer film...Ladyhawke (1985). A young Matthew Broderick delivers quote-worthy bon mots and a still-happenin' Rutger Hauer fights his way through the implausible plot toward lady love, Pfeiffer in a brunette pixie (!) that frames her otherworldly looks. The star-crossed fantasy is a diverting way to pass an afternoon, if you can get past the jarring, ill-suited music. (Think bad eighties rock. Real bad. Real eighties. Light on the rock.)

Confession time: Have a favorite B movie? A soft spot for schlock? A fan of the campy musical?

Eat, Pray, Love

2007-07-25T08:47:00.000-09:00

As a follow up to the previous post, another author who makes me laugh is new-to-me memoirist Elizabeth Gilbert. Her book, Eat, Pray, Love chronicles her journey through three countries as she explores what each has to offer in the way of culture, religion, and balance. I had so many people recommend this book to me that I was almost resistant to read it. That ever happen to you? Anyway, I'm so glad I picked it up. Gilbert's writing is inspired and witty, and once you start reading, you won't put it down. I especially liked the "Pray" section as she travelled to an Ashram in India and learned about prayer and meditation.

Spiritual journeys intrigue me, and I found myself wanting to buy a plane ticket to the other side of the world and hiding out for a month. I wonder what it would be like to be a monk on a mountaintop, or a nun living out a life with orphans in China. What does that type of committed service feel like, look like?

I recently went on a spiritual retreat in pursuit of my own faith (I am Christian), and the timing couldn't have been better. You see, this past month I've lost two dear friends to cancer -- Mary Ann Corrigan and Ronda Thompson -- and the losses hit me rather hard. Ronda Thompson, as some of you may know, is a New York Times bestselling romance writer from Amarillo, and was one of my first real writer friends on the journey. She was electrically sarcastic and a terrific storyteller. Mary Ann Corrigan is the mother of one of my best friends, and I spent about a third of my youth sitting at her kitchen table eating sandwiches on white bread -- a secret luxury. Mary Ann's daughter is a sister of my heart, and that she has lost her mama is unthinkable. Both women were way too young to have gone so soon, and have left many an aching heart in their passing.

In the midst of grieving those losses, I discovered a lump on my own breast. Perhaps the worst part was watching the ultrasound technician measure the black spheres that showed up on my film. It wasn't in my head, or a sympathy bump...there was a mass, and it was real. I scheduled an appointment with a surgeon, and waited.

It is true, as Tom Petty sings, that the waiting is the hardest part.

Then came the spiritual retreat. It was a 72-hour period of no phones, no watches, and a complete immersion into learning and prayer. Plenty of eating and love, too. I think I gained about five pounds. We took communion and sang songs, and I had ample time to focus on other things besides what might or might not be growing in my breast. We sang the old hymn, "It is Well With My Soul." The opening lines go like this:

When peace like a river attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

These words, for me, became that flowing river of peace and a personal plea. Faith pulsed with the longing that, whatever my lot, it would be well with my soul. The Monday after the retreat, I had my first medically-supervised chest stabbing. Some refer to it as a "biopsy," but I speak the truth. During the whole time the surgeon was poking me with needles (I kept my eyes closed, but I'm sure they were about a foot and a half long), I sang that hymn in my heart and prayed.

The results came back yesterday.

No cancer for me.

It is well, it is well, with my soul.

What inspires you? Nature? Music? Time with family? Ever been on a spiritual retreat?

Marsha Moyer Makes Me Laugh

2007-07-16T09:24:00.001-09:00

Today I'm headed to Dallas to visit one of my favorite writers. Marsha Moyer, who writes the engaging Lucy Hatch series, made a huge splash a few years back when she sold her first novel in a fantastic two-book hardback/softback deal. If you've read her writing (lyrical, clever and laugh out loud funny) you know why. She's following up with the third in the series, called Heartbreak Town. If it's anything like the other two, I'm sure I'll be up all night reading.

Marsha Moyer is doing a read and booksigning tonight, Monday, July 16 at 7:00 p.m. at Borders Books & Music, 10720 Preston Road, Dallas, TX. She's a terrific speaker, dry and witty, and as a frequent teacher for the Writers' League of Texas, Marsha has plenty of insight on the biz. If you're in the area, drop by and say hello. I'll be in the front row, and I'm bringing my mama with me.

Which authors/books make you laugh out loud?

Summer Lovin'

2007-07-02T08:34:00.000-09:00

Long time, no blog! Sorry for the lag...and thanks for the prompt to post. (Hello, Dee!)

Here's what I've been up to:

Travel. I received a new (fabulous) suitcase for my birthday and it's already broken in. So far I've visited family for a reunion, a wedding, and the birth of a new niece. My niece is completely precious (of course) and I got to assume full aunt duties and feed her in the middle of the night. Those infant wee hours are wonderful, full of wide eyes and little grunts, and are all the more exciting when you don't have to do it every night.

I also attended the Frontiers in Writing Conference in Amarillo, Texas where I caught up with old friends and made some new ones. Highlights for me included a pep talk from thriller bestseller Barry Eisler and a luncheon session with Jodi Thomas, the queen of Texas romance. Both authors shared insights on perseverance and believing in your own writing -- essential if you want to navigate this crazy business. I presented sessions on writing a novel and tackling revisions, and then came home to apply my own wisdom. It's funny, sometimes when I'm up at the front teaching I think, "Wow, this is pretty good stuff. I should use it." Which leads me to...

Writing. So far I've read through the complete draft of my Work in Progress and have started the umpteenth round of revisions. Right now the WIP has its moments of brilliance and moments of...who in the name of all that is holy sabotaged my manuscript and inserted this garbage? Reading my own work is a love/hate thing, and I usually find the rewriting process is near the end when the work as a whole pleases me. My hope is to get through a revision this summer, then hit it again this fall. I'll keep you posted.

Other stuff I'm loving this summer:

Boss Lady Lip Balm. Simply the best lip balm ever, and the packaging couldn't be cuter. It's smooth, tastes of sweet honeysuckle, and has SPF 18 to keep your pucker winsome. Speaking of winsome (insert awkward segue here), you can Win Some (!) in my Summer Contest. To enter, click here.

The Phenomenal Ruthie Foster. We went to see her live for my birthday and she was more than incredible. Tracy Chapman meets Norah Jones meets bluesy southern gospel soul. Love, love, love her. She signed discs for us after the show, and we tried not to fall all over her as we gushed over her greatness. Any of her CDs are sure to kill; we bought Runaway Soul and The Phenomenal Ruthie Foster which are now on constant rotation.

Project Runway reruns. My tivo is queued up and ready, and what better way to spend a rainy day than with Heidi, Tim and the girls? While I enjoy Jay's work -- especially his funky knits from the runway show -- I absolutely adore Kara Saun's clean Armani-meets-Gucci style. I don't think she had a misfire the entire season. For season 3, I'll admit I'm a Jeffrey fan, but I'd buy Uli's dresses faster than you can say Miami.

Movies. Recent raves: Waitress, starring Keri Russell and Knocked Up. Waitress wins the summer comedy war, by a slice of "My Husband is Gonna Kill Me for Having an Affair" pie. The dialogue rocked, and the performances rang southern twang true. My mother-in-law was horrified by Knocked Up's profanity and gross-out shock 'em humor -- is it odd that I found it heartwarming and poignant? I actually cried a little at the end.

Enough about me...what are you loving this summer? Anybody a Project Runway fan? Are you sick enough of movie trilogies that you could choke on your butter popcorn? And what about Bruce Willis reviving Die Hard?

Happy Birthday, Willie

2007-04-30T08:37:00.000-09:00

Willie Nelson, singer, writer, sometime actor and all-the-time living-to-his-own-smokin'-tune personality, is 74 today. I think he's simply one of the best songwriters ever. Case in point: did you know he authored "Crazy" the song made famous by Patsy Cline?

My personal favorite Willie song is "Always on My Mind." Haunting, sad, and well-suited to his grainy vocals.

Best Willie Album? For me, it's "Red Headed Stranger." Whether you're a fan of country music or not, you should give it a try for its storytelling. Beautiful stuff.

Feel free to put forth your own Willie opinions. Ever seen him live???

Blake and Bull

2007-04-02T11:21:00.000-09:00

I'm doing a paper on William Blake's poetry for grad school (how funny that I'm writing papers after all these years...) and was reminded of one of my favorite film scenes. Can you guess it?

Annie: [In response to Crash's query, "Who dresses you?"] The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom. William Blake.
Crash: William Blake?
Annie: William Blake!
Crash: William Blake?!
Annie: William Blake!
Crash: What do you mean William Blake?
Annie: I mean William Blake!

Okay, it's easy since I left the character names in -- it's Bull Durham, a hugely quotable baseball flick starring Kevin Costner and Susan Sarandon.

Other favorite lines from Bull Durham:

Skip: You guys. You lollygag the ball around the infield. You lollygag your way down to first. You lollygag in and out of the dugout. You know what that makes you? Larry!
Larry: Lollygaggers!
Skip: Lollygaggers.

Larry: Sears sucks, Crash. Boy, I once worked there. Sold Lady Kenmores. Nasty, whoa, nasty.

Crash: Man that ball got outta here in a hurry. I mean anything travels that far oughta have a @#%! stewardess on it, don't you think?

Crash: [stands up] Hey! HEY! [walks to meet Ebby at the mound]
Crash: Why are you shaking me off?
Ebby Calvin Laloush: [Gets in Crash's face] I want to give him the heat and announce my presence with authority!

Crash: Charlie, here comes the deuce. And when you speak of me, speak well.

So many more I could list...most notably Crash's soliloquy on what he believes in. The speech is mostly unprintable in this forum but manages to mention the novels of Susan Sontag, the actions of Lee Harvey Oswald, Astroturf and the designated hitter, and the best time to open Christmas presents.

Other favorite movie lines? Quotables?

Black History Month...

2007-02-24T14:24:00.000-10:00

Is almost over...and I don't want to miss my chance to talk about one of my all time favorite writers. This month I treated myself to Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon. (other great reads: Beloved and The Bluest Eye. I hope to read all of her work at some point...she's that terrific.)

I finished reading Solomon just a few minutes ago, and the tears are not quite dry. It's simply beautiful. The way she twists a plot together, the tiny links that make you go aha! and flip back 100 pages. Secrets and shimmers...and it all plays so well. Her language kills me. Toni, I love you because you write like this:

The calculated violence of a shark grew in her, and like every witch that ever rode a broom straight through the night to a ceremonial infanticide as thrilled by the black wind as by the rod between her legs; like every fed-up-to-the-teeth bride who worried about the consistency of the grits she threw at her husband as well as the potency of the lye she had stirred into them; and like every queen and every courtesan who was struck by the beauty of her emerald ring as she tipped its poison into the old red wine, Hagar was energized by the details of her mission. She stalked him.
Takes your breath away, doesn't it?

Who are some of your favorite African-American artists? Painters, singers, actors, authors...who inspires you?

On Writing with the Door Closed

2007-02-17T12:05:00.000-10:00

I keep this quote from Elizabeth Berg pinned above my desk:

"It's important when you are creating something that material is sacred. It's between you and the page. Nobody else should be there in the room in your head. It's just you saying what you need to say. After that's done, then you need to make the decision about whether or not you want to let this be so public after all."

I totally agree. But then again, I'll cheat, too. There's something about writing that makes you want to share the sacred...to read a bit to your spouse, to tell a trusted friend your next plot point, to sneak an early chapter to critique.

When you write, be it an email, a diary entry, or a short story, who gets in your head? Who do you need to shoo away to get the creativity going?

Ask the Author: What about Revisions?

2007-02-12T12:16:00.000-10:00

I get this question a lot. Probably because I teach a class called "The Art of Rewriting," and maybe because I make the embarrassing confession that I actually like revisions. I'll say it again -- I like rewriting.

Anyhoo, this came to my inbox the other day:

"I just finished up the rough draft on my [INSERT GENRE] book. (Hurrah!!!!!!!) I'll be starting the revision soon--do you have any pointers or major things you keep in mind when you are revising?

To be honest, I'm feeling a little overwhelmed by the task of revision. It's exciting on one hand and on the other there's that stabbing question in the back of my head--what if I miss something, what if I don't get it right?"

I think that's a common problem - the heaviness of seeing revisions as the FINAL process. And if it's final, it's gotta be perfect, right? Well, not for now. Not if you take it a step at a time.

Here's what I wrote back:

1. As I revise, I let myself take it in layers. I read through, take notes, knowing I don't have to make it perfect, THIS time.

2. I look for consistency in characters - did I introduce someone minor and forget them? What plot threads need tightening? Did I find someone "new" at the end, or discover a new strain that must be woven in from the beginning?

3. I search for tension in setting and character. Does every chapter count? Every scene? Every paragraph? What characters need to be brought to the front? Who can be eliminated, or melded together? How can I make my settings more purposeful, more colorful, more alive? Am I bringing enough to the reader, in terms of excitement?

4. Hooks. At the end of each chapter, do I have a reason for the reader to turn the page? Something they don't know yet, must find out in the next chapter?

5. Honesty. Does what I've presented hold up to the "reality" meter? Do I buy it?

6. Emotion. How can I make it come alive to the reader? Am I writing in hopes that it is funny or sad, or is it truly funny or sad?

7. Language. This part takes me the longest. Choosing precise words, making each sentence purposeful. Culling the extraneous that doesn't forward the plot. Making metaphors strong, tightening dialogue, building pictures in scenes.

I take all this in layers, as I said, with cooling off periods in between. It's funny how when you let a manuscript get "cold" you see so much more of what needs work. That's some of the best advice I can give. I'm sure there's so much more...but that's what's off the top of my head..."

And here's a funny from my mom, who asked me the other day, "But how do you know when you're done?" She was almost shy about talking shop with her daughter the writer, which I thought was the cutest thing ever.

I told her you know when all you're changing are the little things: the commas, verb tenses here and there. Personally, I know when it pleases me. When the thing comes together and sings a little bit, all on its own. That's when I know, it's time for my baby to fly.

Okay, writers. How do you approach revisions? Any advice you want to share? Maybe what NOT to do?

He Said/She Said Best Books of 2006

2007-01-31T12:53:00.000-10:00

After reading Stephen King's Best of list in Entertainment Weekly, Kern and I started keeping our own lists of what we read, then sharing our top picks with friends and families. We tend to overlap in our choices, but not always, so I thought I'd share Kern's list and my responses. (Because that's just how I roll...)

Like King's list, these recommendations are from reads of the year, not necessarily those published in this year.

Kern’ Top Ten 2006

Kern's #10. That Old Ace in the Hole, Annie Proulx.
Having spent thirteen years in the Texas Panhandle, this story was very familiar. Even if you are unaware of the hog farmer’s predicament, Bob Dollar was a memorable character.

Britta says: I haven't read this, but it's on my list, as is Proulx's prizewinning The Shipping News. For memorable characters and a funky small town setting, try Timothy Schaffert's The Singing and Dancing Daughters of God. I had the pleasure of meeting Tim at the Pulpwood Queens Girlfriends' Weekend and he's as unassuming and kind as it gets. Without bias, his fiction blew me away.

Kern's #9. Red Sky at Morning, Richard Bradford
Story of a 17 year old boy uprooted from his prestigious Mobile home during WW2 to the mountains of New Mexico. His adjustment while his father is in the Navy, and his mother drinks all day, is a great coming of age tale.

Britta says: While I enjoyed this (who doesn't love daytime drinking parents?), I think something about the perspective appeals more to the nostalgic male. A solid read, but for my coming-of-age-boy money, I'd highly recommend David Mitchell's Black Swan Green. Sometimes hysterically funny, at other times touchingly poignant. It's a portrait of a gifted young protagonist, cursed with a secret stutter, seeking to find his place with family, friends, and the horrifyingly scary terrain of the English schoolyard.

Kern's #8. The Piano Tuner, Daniel Mason
Mild mannered piano tuner Edwin Drake is called from his mundane London existence to travel to Burma in 1880 to tune the piano of an eccentric British officer.

Britta says: Haven't made it to this one either. For exotic locales and international perspective, run, don't walk and secure thyself a copy of Khaled Hosseini's The Kite Runner. I read this as 2005 turned to 2006 (over a year ago, but since it technically ended in 2006 I'm counting it) and I still remember nearly every scene. Perhaps the most satisfying, heartbreaking ending ever.

Kern's #7. History of Love, Nicole Krauss
Confusing at times, but rewarding at the end, History of Love is a memoir of two old Jewish friends in New York who are nearing the end of their lives.

Britta says: I hate to pick favorites, but this may go down as my top choice for 2006. I hadn't heard anything about it until a friend recommended it (thank you thank you Shannon) and was completely enamored with every page, with every character. The way the stories and characters interweave (there's a great brother/sister duo who share the bulk of the tale) is complex but oh, so wonderfully wrought. I'd add to Kern's summary that it's also about lost loves, researching roots, forgiveness, and the importance of human connection. It's the kind of book when you reach "The End", you close it and start it all over again. I did.

Kern's #6. Naked, David Sedaris
Another collection of hysterical memories of a dysfunctional childhood home.

Britta says: I wish David and I were very good friends and I could go to his family reunions. His writing makes me laugh out loud. For a long time. Which isn't an easy thing for a book to do. (Except for Kern's #1 choice, which you'll get to...)

Kern's #5. Jim the Boy, Tony Earley
Beautiful story of a young Appalachian boy being raised by his mother and two uncles during the depression.

Britta says: Didn't read this one. In its place I'll nominate Kate Atkinson's Case Histories. A literary mystery set in London with a shlumpily loveable detective and some of the best minor characters, the spinster sisters especially. Her writing is simply gorgeous.

Kern's #4. My Friend Leonard, James Frey
Even if every word is a lie, this a remarkable story of friendship and loyalty. For me, it was more rewarding than Million Little Pieces.

Britta says: Compulsive liar, drug addict, trickster extraordinaire, James Frey, in my book, still knows how to tell a story. James, I'm sorry Oprah was so mean to you, but next time it's veeerrrrry important that you tell the truth. Lecture over.

Kern's #3. Alive!, Piers Paul Ried
Harrowing true story of the Uruguayan rugby team that crashed in the Andes. Their story of survival and recovery was captivating. I read the book in May, but often felt cold. The story brings up a lot of ethical questions that we’ll save for another time.

Britta says: I have never been drawn to stories (true or fictional) where characters are forced to eat one another's flesh for survival. I just ask Kern, "Did anyone make it out?" He tells me the answer, and I save myself a few hundred pages of angst-ridden creepy crawlies. That said, if you want to read a creepyscarybrilliant book you won't easily forget, check out John Burdett's thriller Bangkok 8. I'm still shivering.

Kern's #2. A Death in Belmont, Sebastion Junger
This look at the Boston Strangler murders in the 60’s was especially interesting, because the Strangler himself was photographed with Junger as a child and his mother the day he committed a crime in their neighborhood. Another man, who happened to be black, was convicted of that crime. This was the best true crime account I’ve read in a long long time.

Britta says: I did read this, along with Portrait of a Killer: Jack the Ripper Case Closed by Patricia Cornwell. As I mentioned in an earlier blog, I don't think I'm hanging with the whole true-life serial killer thing anymore. Too many nightmares. For mystery that's engaging and served up with simple life wisdom, try Alexander McCall Smith's The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. If you walk away without wishing Precious could be your cousin, you have no heart.

Kern's #1. Neither Here Nor There, Bill Bryson
Bill Bryson’s memoir of a trek through Europe as a young man. I was on the beach in Mexico reading this, and laughed several times so hard that Corona spewed from my nose. I laughed so hard that I couldn’t communicate. People stared. As soon as I finished, I handed it to Britta, and in ten minutes, Corona was spewing from her nose as well.

Britta says: Normally I think it best to keep nasal Corona spewage between spouses, but I cannot deny this is true. Bill Bryson is a wry genious, and anyone who's ever left home will relate to his stories.

Britta says:

All right, additional reads I'd recommend (and be sure to browse the blog for more):

Karen Joy Fowler's The Jane Austen Club. Multi-perspective tale about an all-female book club perusing Austen's oevre whose lives mirror the books they review. Cleverly done.

Dave Egger's A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius. Manic/depressive account of orphaned brothers making their crazy twisted way in the world. Worthy of the title.

Carson McCullers' The Heart is a Lonely Hunter. It's a classic, and so hovers outside and above a simple top ten. How did I get through life without reading this? The story, told through several viewpoints, centers on an insightful mute stranger who brings connection and purpose to misfit characters in a small town.

That's it. I'm exhausted. Your turn. Totally disagree with our pics? What are some of your memorable reads from the last year? (I won't make you pick a favorite...)

A Long Time Gone...

2007-01-24T07:06:00.000-10:00

Happy New Year, my friends! Sorry for the gap in posting, but one of my resolutions is to post more often in 2007. We'll see if it sticks.

November to January was a whirlwind...here's a (brief) recap.

Holidays...fried turkey, no burns (thank you, Jesus)...sinus infection ick ick ick... finals for school (did I mention I'm back in school pursuing a Masters in Creative Writing???)...family visits with babies and presents and puppies, oh my!... Christmas - we got TiVo and my life has been forever changed, hallelujah everybody say cheese...reading, movies, napping (being sick does have its advantages)...new carpet - an experience not unlike moving as everything must be boxed off the floor including an entire study worth of books and files but the new carpet smells terrific, woohoo!... Ringing in the New Year with champagne and fireworks (I'm a sucker for both)...

...A stomach flu of The Devil Wears Prada variety, although it's possible I might have had cholera...speaking of which, saw "The Painted Veil"- great flick, haunting score, amazing cinematography, where is the nomination?...

...Back in school for the spring semester, loving my classes, am currently reading Emily Dickinson, love her quirky and totally honest angst...still unpacking my study (how many boxes of staples does one person need?)...and in general trying to grab hold of my life.

There. That's about it.

I'll post soon about the best books I read in 2006...and yes, Shannon, Carson McCullers will be there!

Also, the Oscar races are heating up...we must discuss. I'm taking in movies as fast as I can, so far my favorites are Bobby, Notes on a Scandal and the Departed (except for that very last image, and if you've seen the movie you know what it is.)

I'll leave with this quote, a great bookend to my winter break: "Muddy water let stand will clear." (Chinese Proverb.)

Here's to clear waters for us all in 2007!

Question: What's the worst ending to a movie you've ever seen?

The Best November Ever...

2006-11-27T11:25:00.000-10:00

Here's what I've been up to:

1. Thanksgiving hooplah. In the tradition of crazy southerners with the need to plunge any edible foodstuff in a vat of boiling oil, we deep fried our turkey this year. Seriously, I haven't been that nervous in a while. 15 people for the meal and I've got 10 gallons of lethal viscosity in my backyard, ready to maim, destroy and set my suburban neighborhood on fire. We made it through without a trip to the emergency room (praise you, Jesus!) and the turkey was quite delicious. Would I do it again? With the right medications on hand, certainly.

2. Lyle Lovett and his Large Band in concert. We had primo seats to see one of my favorite singer/songwriter/performers of all time at the gorgeous Bass Performance Hall. Lyle played for almost three hours and was backed by some of the best musicians assembled under one roof. The show was fluid, funny and probably the best live performance I've experienced. When he played "If I Had a Boat" I actually wept.

3. Movies, movies, movies. Finally got my husband to watch Hustle & Flow - which I love and would rewatch again and again (thank you Netflix), saw For Your Consideration in the theater - funny, strong premise, ended a little flat, and caught Borat the same day we saw Lyle. On Borat: I have images - and if you've seen it, you know which ones - burned into my brain. Hysterical and offensive. Be prepared to nearly injure yourself with squeamishness (they can't be doing that, oh my gosh, they're really doing that, for the love of all that is good and holy, make it stop!) and uncontrolled laughter.

4. Reading. Browsed through my spouse's nightstand and ended up reading two serial killer books - A Death in Belmont by Sebastion Junger (about the Boston Strangler) and Portrait of a Killer: Jack the Ripper -- Case Closed by Patricia Cornwell. After slogging through both of them, fighting off nightmares and wondering what makes crazy people tick, must remind self: no more serial killers.

I also finished Ralph Ellison's Juneteenth, the novel in progress assembled from his notes after his death. It's brilliant, uneven, and makes you sad that such a genius didn't live to craft (and publish) his story in the way he wanted it received.

Right now I'm in the middle of Carson McCullers The Heart is a Lonely Hunter. It's a close contender for best read of the year, which is still held by Nicole Krauss' The History of Love. I'll keep you posted.

Question: Best live show you've seen? Worst? Gimme details...

Get Your Vote On

2006-11-07T06:21:00.000-10:00

Today's the day, my fellow Americans. Grab a cup of coffee and a friend, and get thee to the polls. It's a perfect chance to exercise your freedom and let your voice be heard.

Then, if you like, check back and say, I did it!

And if not, share your must-be-over-the-top-excellent excuse...

Something We Fumblingly Call True or Real

2006-10-13T08:40:00.000-09:00

I'm reading a collection of essays by James Wood (The Broken Estate: Essays on Literature and Belief.) Heady stuff, but his writing is clear and vivid, and it's interesting to me as a novelist to look over the shoulder of someone whose life work is based on critiquing the art.

Here's how he opens:

"The real is the atlas of fiction, over which all novelists thirst. The real is contour, aspiration, tyrant...

[In] all fiction those moments when we are suddenly swayed, suddenly moved, have to do with something we fumblingly call 'true' or 'real.'"
I agree. As a novelist, I have mixed emotions about writers who piggyback on the creation of others. (Perhaps because I've been at the other end of that sharp pen, experienced both the panning and the praise?) I think that criticism helps illuminate aspects of the art, but I often wonder if most literary critics aren't frustrated novelists at heart. See question below...but first--

Great real-and-true reads from the past couple months:

Damned if I Do by Percival Everett, a collection of shorts. I'll get to meet the author in person next week - interesting to see the man behind the work, which I enjoyed.

Black Swan Green by David Mitchell. Picaresque coming of age novel about a thirteen year old in England. Loved it.

Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane. How did I get through high school without reading this one? Intriguing that the author had never been to war. Little factoid: Crane's first novel was a dud and, in a creative bout of self promotion, he paid folks to read it on trains.

Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison. Maybe the most layered novel I've ever read. I'm still going back to re-read sections, struggling with meaning and symbols. Ellison's genius deserved the National Book Award.

Flying Home by Ralph Ellison. Short stories, less "difficult" than the novel, but no less powerful.

Coronado by Dennis Lehane. Short stories from the author of Mystic River, which provided the truth and the oomph for Clint Eastwood to make the Oscar-winning film. The best story is "Until Gwen" a second-person narrative about the relationship between a conman and his son. "Until Gwen" has one of the best opening paragraphs I've ever read. If you pick it up, I promise you won't put it down.

Question: Do critics secretly long to be artists? Have you ever bought (or stayed away from) a book because of a review? Thoughts?

Books and Dogs

2006-10-03T12:17:00.000-09:00

Back home from the quick trip to Houston - many thanks to the Words for the Journey writers' group for putting on such a lovely evening.

Among other things, I came away with this inspiring quote:

"Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." -- Groucho Marx

Words to live by, my friends. Words to live by.

Aw Honey, Houston

2006-09-28T06:08:00.000-09:00

After a great trip to Amarillo with the Panhandle Professional Writers, I'm headed to Houston this weekend for friends, family, books and writerly stuff. I grew up in Houston, so driving down I45 is always a bit like coming home.

Here's the schedule, so if you know any Houstonians, send them my way...

Thursday, September 28, 2006 - 7:00 p.m.
Barnes & Noble at the Woodlands Mall (upstairs)
Words for the Journey Writers Group
"Writing Mainstream Fiction" workshop and booksigning.
Woodlands Mall
1201 Lake Woodlands Dr. #3008
The Woodlands, TX 77381
281-465-8744

Saturday, September 30, 2006 - 2:00 p.m.
Borders Baybrook
Britta discusses "The Road to Publication" and reads excerpts of POTTER SPRINGS.
19419 Gulf Freeway
Webster, TX 77598
Phone:281.338.9390

Hope to see you there!

New Books, Great Books, the Best Books?

2006-09-06T13:55:00.000-09:00

On the New and Great Front:

Here's the elusive A. Lee Martinez, at a booksigning for his latest, In the Company of Ogres.

Martinez's first book, Gil's All Fright Diner, nabbed him an Alex nomination and about a bazillion starred reviews. The best thing about it: when he introduces himself in certain company he always adds "Big Time Hollywood Author" with a completely straight face. Makes me laugh every time. He's freakishly talented. And I mean that in both the "freakish" and "talented" sense.

Big time cheers to my dear friend Candy (Candace) Havens who has a new book out this week. It's called Charmed & Ready and is already flying off the shelves, much like her double-Rita-nominated debut Charmed & Dangerous. Woohoo, Candy! True story: I once watched a girl pick up one of Candy's books, start reading, and a few minutes later was laughing so hard she spewed Coke (as in cola) through her nose. I'm not kidding.

As for me, along with workshops and attending friends' booksignings, I've been doing some writing, and tons of reading. On my trip to Powells Bookstore (see earlier post - Going Coastal), I picked up a list of the Greatest 100 Books for the Past 100 Years. Of course, I promptly lost the list, but I've made it a goal to read through some of them just the same. I also like to keep up with major prize winners (Pulitzer and National Book Award) and the latest on the new fiction shelf.

Recent reads:

Beloved, by Toni Morrison. Read it in college, even better the second time through. The first sentence tells you everything you need to know about why Morrison is one of the best writers working today.

A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, Dave Eggers. A Pulitzer nominee with exquisite writing, some truly manic bursts, with an entirely original and fearles point of view.

The Sound and the Fury, William Faulkner. Again, a re-read, but worth it. Totally inspiring in the way he handles voice, and his characterization...well. There's a reason why Faulkner is Faulkner.

Animal Crackers, Hannah Tinti. A collection of short stories, all with a common thread of animals. Some funny, some gruesome, some absolutely beautiful. My favorite was about a young hitman in love.

Next on my list: This Book Will Save Your Life by A.M. Homes. It came highly recommended from one of my favorite booksellers (Hi Lee!), and it promises to be supergood.

What about you? What would make your top 100 books list?

Church Ladies

2006-08-22T10:42:00.000-09:00

On the tour front...

My last official gig was with a United Methodist's Women's group in Texas. What a hoot. Here's why I enjoy (most) church ladies: they love to laugh, they have a heart for helping others, and generally they're pretty down to earth.

Personally, I don't know many of the Bible-thumping, tight permed women with frown lines who make a mockery of all things spiritual. Most church ladies I know defy stereotype with gentleness, kindness and good humor.

Take for example, my new friend Lois. (I wanted to scrunch down to look shorter, but she said not to.)

Isn't she cute?

So, my thanks to you sweet women of Meadowbrook for hosting me, and for the excellent punch and cookies. I especially liked your penny prayer idea and the quiet way you live out your devotion.

You do your faith proud.

p.s. I'm glad you picked POTTER SPRINGS as one of your "not sucky" books for review.

Going Coastal

2006-08-04T15:01:00.000-09:00

We just got back from a trip to the Oregon coast...where I was more than pleased to find the trade paperback of POTTER SPRINGS featured on the new fiction tables. Of course, like a total goober I had to take pictures. We're not in Texas anymore, Toto! (Whipping out the digital sorta blows the elusive-I'm-an-author-cool-chick image, but I never claimed to have one anyway.)

Here I am in Powell's City of Books, which is a reader's idea of heaven. They literally have maps so you don't get lost in the gazillion floors which are color coded for those of us who aren't so number-oriented.

Note the hoodie wrapped around the waist. Total tourist, but with coastal weather, it's all about the layers. Plus, with a hoodie and a ponytail, you're ready for anything: hiking, water rafting, spelunking. Of which I participated in exactly none. But we did eat at some amazing restaurants. Hello Huber's!

Here's a stop at my newest favorite Borders in Oregon - in a town called Gresham. Here's Rachel, (me), Sarah and Joan. Can't you see by their faces how friendly they are?

Of course, when I started talking, my new friends looked at me strangely and said, with Oregonian politeness, "Where are you from?" And here I thought I didn't have an accent.

Maybe it was because I said "Thank y'all for selling my books?"

A poll: Where's the friendliest place you've ever been? The rudest?

Yo Shorty...It's a Birth-Day

2006-07-13T09:21:00.000-09:00

When a new book hits the shelves the experience is something like giving birth. You've waited. And waited. Spent sleepless nights dreaming of the future, and dealt with neuroses and raging hormones (or is that just me?) Pre-booknancy is marked by nausea, fear, and sometimes, unattractive mood swings and swelling of the ankles.

And when the pregnancy part is over and the little paper-swathed baby finally arrives, well. You cry. You laugh. You pray for a good long life for your little one. It's wonder and terror and exhilaration all at once.

The trade paperback version of POTTER SPRINGS officially enters the world today. The official word from the author: WOO-HOO!!!

Makes me a little sick to my stomach (post-partum, perhaps?), but really, I'm excited. Every time I see my book in stores, the surprise hits me all over again: holy cow, I might be a real author after all.

So here's me popping a little champagne on a birth-day of sorts...and a tip of the glass to you in celebration and many heartfelt thanks.

Where did June go?

2006-07-05T08:33:00.000-09:00

Man, it's like I blinked and it's gone. Here's what I've been up to:

Vacation. In a word: fabulous. No phones, television or computers. Just sun, sand, clear water, and loungers under palapa huts perfect for afternoon napping on the beach. You know those Corona commercials? We lived that for a week, only without being interrupted by regular programming. My question: When can I go back?

Writer Stuff. Just got back from the best conference in Texas, The Writers' League Agents Conference in Austin, Texas. They fly in agents from all over the country and have breakout panels with authors and editors talking about everything from the craft to the business side of publishing.

I caught up with friends Marsha Moyer (if you haven't read her Second Coming of Lucy Hatch you're missing out) and the ever trippy and fun Will Clarke (his The Worthy drops this month - check it out.) I also picked up a new read by author David Liss called A Confederacy of Paper that features a Spenser type (if Spenser was a Jewish ex-pugilist) character searching down a murder in 18th century London. Good stuff.

Many thanks to all who attended my sessions and bought books. I can't tell you how much fun - and how inspiring - it is to be on the other side of that signing table. Dreams do come true, so write on, my friends. Write on.

Family. Reunions and birthdays and travel, oh my. We're hitting three out of four reunions this year, so we're bulking up on the twisted tree that is family history. Seriously, I took notes.

Reading. I've been on a streak of fantastic books, my favorite of which is The History of Love by Nicole Krauss. Unforgettable, and definitely on my "best of" list for this year so far.

Other great reads that helped June fly by:

Naked by David Sedaris
The Laments by George Hagen
Neither Here Nor There by Bill Bryson
River Cross My Heart by Breena Clarke

Speaking of summer reading, the trade paperback version of Potter Springs is set to hit shelves with the next few weeks. [Insert shameless plug here.] I'm starting to hear of pre-release "sightings" already - very exciting. This version has an enclosed reading group guide, so if you have book club in your area, feel free to name drop...

Play Sublimely

2006-06-08T06:35:00.000-09:00

Here's an excerpt from one of my favorite inspirational books, Grace for the Moment by Max Lucado.

"Antonio Stradivari was a seventeenth century violin maker whose name in its Latin form, Stradivarius, has become synonymous with excellence. He once said that to make a violin less than his best would be to rob God, who could not make Antonio Stradivari's violins without Antonio.

He was right. God could not make Stradivarius violins without Antonio Stradivari. Certain gifts were given to that craftsman that no other violin maker possessed.

In the same vein, there are certain things you can do that no one else can. Perhaps it is parenting, or constructing houses, or encouraging the discouraged. There are things that only you can do, and you are alive to do them. In the great orchestra we call life, you have an instrument and a song, and you owe it to God to play them both sublimely." (Lucado, Grace for the Moment, p. 172)

Max, I totally agree. So wherever you are and whatever you do, my friends, play on. Sing your song, and sing it well, for only you can do it.

Ever played a musical instrument? Sang in the choir? As a non-musically gifted person, I'll share my misadventures in the comments...

May Madness

2006-05-25T09:10:00.000-09:00

Summertime in Texas starts in May, which happens to be my favorite month.

Here's what I've been up to:

Cultural stargazing. Saw "A Chorus Line" for the first time at the glorious Bass Hall in Fort Worth. Our seats were amazing...we could peep over into the orchestra and watch. I'd never seen the show before (I'm the last one, I know.) Who knew musicals could be so...introspective?

Reading. (Of course.) John Burdett's Bangkok 8 still hasn't left my consciousness. A mystery set in the mean streets of Thailand, it's a sensory soaked trip with one of the most horrifying murders set to page. The end offers up a nightmarish twist you won't forget. As Owen Meany would say, it gives me the SHIVERS!

Writing. The creative process for book two (working title: Mulligan) is going well, and I'm learning more than I thought I ever would about tobacco, autism, the PGA tour and how to knit. I promise, when you read it, it all makes sense.

Being a birthday girl, for several days running. (Insert Anthony Michael Hall's "You say it's your birthday, bananananana") We had friends over and celebrated in grand style on the back patio, with twinkly lights overhead. My husband made grapefruit margaritas - sounds gross but they rock - and we chatted al fresco until the wee hours.

Background music - a great birthday gift from my tunally inclined friend (thanks, Joel!):

Rosanne Cash's new album Black Cadillac. Try it, you'll like it.

And then, possibly the most exciting, over-indulgent gift ever, from my mother. Two words: Manolo Blahniks. They're more beautiful than a pair of footwear has a right to be. But I promise to love, honor, and adore them. Sigh.

Questions o' the day:

Live musicals - seen any?
Birthdays - greatest gifts ever? And sentimental counts...

Friends With Money

2006-05-09T11:02:00.000-09:00

I have a movie-going friend whose mother (another film freak) serves as sort of a barometer for us. She goes, she sees, she reviews.

And she's usually dead-on right. So, it was with great disappointment when my friend's mom called the new Jennifer Aniston flick - Friends With Money - degrading.

Ouch. 'Cause, um, I really wanted to see it. How could you not race to catch a movie with Catherine Keener, Joan Cusak and the fantastic Frances McDormand?

She had me at "I guess that was your accomplice in the woodchipper." [Fargo.]

We forged ahead and saw it anyway. What does it say about me that I didn't find it degrading at all? I liked it - enough to add it to my recommended movies for 2006.

Aniston plays a pot-smoking maid adrift after a disastrous last year of teaching rich kids. Her big money friends try to guide her to the next (more successful) stage, all while living their own screwed up lives. I found it more about marriage and choices than friendships, but I enjoyed it all the more for transcending stereotype. The dialogue crackles and each actor brings layers and texture to a truly ensemble piece.

What other movies are you loving right now? Have favorite go-to films? You know, the ones you own on DVD and watch again, and again, and again...

Perspective

2006-05-03T14:56:00.000-09:00

Today was a great day. Why? I hung out in Walgreens for thirty minutes and then waited in a healthy long line at the post office.

Sure it doesn't sound like fun, but it's all about perspective. Because today I jumped through those less than glamorous hoops for a reason: a new passport!

For this do-not-pass-go globe trotting pass I posed for shiny forehead photo at the drugstore, filled out the paperwork (my dad was born in Washington, fyi), pulsed cash to cover costs, raised my right hand and swore to a government official wearing a ponytail and a cabana shirt that I am said person in said ridiculous photograph. All so I can go on vacation to a place that looks like this:

The trip is still weeks and weeks away, but my husband and I are already mentally packing. Paperbacks, bathing suits and sunglasses. That's about it, baby. In my heart I'm already on that beach chair, kicked back in the ocean breeze with my best friend and a cold one by my side.

Now...to find a good beach read. Besides the latest People or InStyle. Something funny and wonderful or mysterious and quirky with the capacity to sweep me away.

Any suggestions?

Read This: Firefly Cloak by Sheri Reynolds

2006-04-26T06:08:00.000-09:00

I love a book that you blaze through in one day and weep when it's over. Both because it's poignant, beautiful and true, and because the writing humbles you with its exquisiteness.

Firefly Cloak by Sheri Reynolds is such a book.

I've been a fan of Ms. Reynolds since her Oprah bout with Rapture of Canaan. She's one of my favorite authors, and her latest novel does not disappoint. Is it too embarrassing to admit that one of the reasons I became a writer is because of her work?

I play a little game with the novels on my must-read list. I don't read reviews or even back-page summaries. I simply open the book, start at page one, and let the story unfold without a hint of what's to come.

I highly recommend Firefly Cloak, and I recommend the method, which is why I won't reveal any secrets about the plot.

Just read it.

Who's on your must-read list? Do you have any quirky tics in the way you approach a book? (Please tell me you don't read the last page first - total sacrilege.)

Pretty Princess

2006-04-20T11:50:00.000-09:00

My dog, Rosie the Chihuahua, smiling in her party gear. Because sometimes you just need a pink feather boa.

There, now don't you feel better?

Ask the Author: How do I find an Agent?

2006-04-20T09:13:00.000-09:00

One of the most frequent questions I receive as an author is where to find the all-elusive agent. There are a slew of books and articles that will tell you all sorts of things, but I'll share my best advice in a nutshell.

Go to a writers' conference where they host agents and editors and get thyself an appointment.

I met my agent, the fabulous Marcy Posner of Sterling Lord Literistic, at the Texas Writers' League Agents' Conference. She wasn't even my scheduled agent appointment, but I happened to hear her speak on a panel and I liked what she had to say. When we chatted in the hall afterward, I pitched her POTTER SPRINGS. Then, I heard those magical four words, "Send it to me."

Actually, I had several agents request my manuscript that weekend, but I ended up going with Marcy because I thought we'd work the best together. I like Marcy because she's smart, tough, and honest. Plus she's a total advocate for my writing, which is essential in a great agent. The fact she knows just about everyone in the biz doesn't hurt things either.

As a board member for the Texas Writers' League, I'm headed back to Austin this year for that same conference, and they've already booked an impressive roster of agents. Check it out here.

Where to find a conference in your area? Try Google, look in the back of writers' magazines, ask local writing groups. Make sure you have a finished product before you pitch, but even if your work is still in progress, conferences can be a great way to learn and start networking.

In fact, if you're in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, there's a great conference this weekend hosted by the Trinity Writers' Workshop. They're flying in agents and editors, as well as pubbed authors to help shed a little light on this crazy business.

I'll be there (insert shameless plug here), teaching a workshop called "The Art of Rewriting: From Brain Storm to Book Deal." Check it out, drop by and say howdy.

Brushes with Fame

2006-04-19T09:23:00.000-09:00

I just returned from a holiday weekend in California to visit my sister's family - she of the seven adorable children (but that's another blog) - and I'm excited to report:

I flew on a plane with Johnny Knoxville.

The cooler thing to say, I suppose, would be, "Oh, Johnny Knoxville and I flew out to L.A. the other day for the weekend...", but my husband might have issues with that.

Here's the scoop.

Johnny sat in first class, looking entirely like himself. Faux messy hair, big aviators, shlumpy clothes. I nearly had apoplexy trying to get my family to look at him without appearing like gawkers.

We might have failed.

The whole plane was buzzing about it, and at luggage pick up, Johnny (see how we're on a first name basis? We're like, thisclose) was surrounded by fans, shaking hands, signing autographs. Not me, though. I figured the more sophisticated choice was to hang back and whisper madly with my little sister while we pretended not to stare.

My husband was thrilled when, in a show of true Knoxvilleism, Johnny sucker punched a nearby fan in the groin.

Talk about class.

Have you had any celebrity encounters? How'd you hold up under pressure?

When Kimberly Willis Holt Comes To Town...

2006-04-11T06:03:00.000-09:00

A public service announcement: one of my favorite writers is coming to Fort Worth, and I'm tickled to get to see her again. Her name is Kimberly Willis Holt, she of the National Book Award winning fame. Her young adult novel When Zachary Beaver Came To Town not only won that coveted prize, but was made into a film. I first met Kimberly while living in Amarillo, and she's not only talented, but is a genuinely kind person.

Kimberly's currently on tour with her first children's picture book (the rest are YA), Waiting for Gregory, and she'll be in the DFW area at Brystone Children's Books in Watauga, TX, from 4-6 p.m. today (April 11th). If you're in the area, swing by and meet somebody superfamous and supertalented. Grab some of her books to get signed, too - they're all amazing.

Speaking of which, what are some unforgettable children's books you love?

Some of my childhood favorites include Where the Red Fern Grows, Charlotte's Web, The Little Princess, Sideways Stories From Wayside School, A Wrinkle in Time, the Little House on the Prairie series, and (caution: scandalous girl coming-of-age story) Are You There God it's Me, Margaret.

Penguins and My Doorbell

2006-03-30T12:50:00.000-10:00

I'm a freak about music, and when I find tunes I love I tend to be evangelistic about it. Case in point: I went to a girlfriends' weekend at the lake and took my two latest favorite CDs with me and made everyone listen. Well, not made. I just turned up the volume while we ate breakfast and my chicas asked, "What's that?"

Well, since you asked, let me go ahead and tell you.

Matisyahu. Hassidic Jew, hip-hop reggae king. The music flows in all the right ways, and his lyrics made me cry the first time I heard (understood) them. My friend Candy Havens (Charmed & Dangerous) introduced Matisyahu to me, and I'm eternally grateful. Thanks, Candy!

KT Tunstall. Part Sheryl Crow, part Norah Jones, with an original bluesy sound all her own. If you ever see her do the Black Horse and Cherry Tree song live, you'll do what I did: run out and buy her CD immediately.

Other artists on my playlist:

The Little Willies. Norah and the gang going old school country. Yeehaw!

The White Stripes. The song My Doorbell is on near-nausea inducing volume and rotation levels in my automobile.

Lyle Lovett, Live in Texas. How can you not love someone who sings the line, "Penguins are so sensitive...to my needs."

Weezer. Okay, I'm a sucker for the dork-slash-rocker thing. And Beverly Hills is still a windows rolled down, totally driveable song. I don't care if it is pop. And while we're at it, I'll go ahead and admit: I like Kelly Clarkson.

All right, I've aired my music secrets. Embarrassing crushes, anyone?