Transformation

Dear Readers (all five of you :)

You know that I’m going through spiritual journey. At first I had wanted to shout out everything to the world, but increasingly I feel the need to withdraw, look inward and cocoon. It’s an apt image … because I am literally being transformed. So I need to listen carefully to the voice I need to hear – that of my Lord, my God.

I need to quiet my mind. That means, minimizing distractions. Visiting the Blueboard and reading my favorite blogs is such a fun break but it has the opposite effect of quieting my mind. I get excited about a book or an author, or I want to participate in a conversation about writing. My mind gets filled with other people’s thoughts. So, as of today, I am taking a break from blogging and participating in other online communities. To be sure I will miss you all. And it will take an enormous amount of discipline for me to stay away from my favorite method of procrastination. I may even fail miserably. But I’ve got to try.

A good friend was telling me that what I’m experiencing actually has a term assigned to it: metanoia.

The Praxis of Prayer site defines it: METANOIA: This is the original term in Greek (often translated as "repent") which is at the root of the Christian message. As opposed to the idea of repentance which carries with it much moral and emotional connotation, metanoia signifies a turning or re-orientation of being and mind to an altogether different reality from the one we are used to. Precisely it means an inward reorientation of being and consciousness from the horizontal dimension to the vertical.

I do so love it when someone can articulate precisely what I’m blathering about. Thanks, Janel. Adios, my friends. You know where to find me if you need to talk. I’m still here. Just not *out there*.

God Bless You.
*

Reading

Andrew Clements is a favorite author in our home. I recently picked up two of his books for teens: THINGS NOT SEEN and THINGS HOPED FOR because I saw the second one reviewed on Marcia's blog. And I rememberd that Patti Gauch (the editor) had talked about it in a workshop once. The entire scene came flooding back to me ... the girl playing her violin in the dark. Both these books are amazing. I loved these passionate, intelligent teens and their stories.

I've also been reading a lot of Dick King Smith's books. He's famous for BABE (most people have seen the movie). But all his other animal stories are just as delightful and whimsical. We especially love MARTIN'S MICE and GEORGE SPEAKS. They are excellent read-aloud books as well.

For Christmas, my daughter received Kate di Camillo's GREAT JOY with illustrations by Bagram Ibatoulline. Today she picked it out again to read. Brings tears to my eyes every time.

I also just finished SALVATION IS FROM THE JEWS by Roy Schoeman. Much food for thought in this book. And I am hungry ...

I'm feeling too lazy to make a link to all these authors and their books. But I hope you'll check these books out.
*

New Books

I've had the pleasure of reading these new books that are coming out this month. Thank you Fiona and Jenny for the opportunity.

I cannot top the review that Kirkus gave, but all I can say is that Bubble Homes and Fish Farts is an amazing romp through the world of bubbles, how various animals use them. The writing is classic Fiona, and I should know because I kept running into her articles all over the place -- in Odyssey, YES, Highlights, and pretty soon, if I saw the name Fiona Bayrock, I knew I was in for a treat. Bubble Homes and Fish Farts is no differet. The writing is always lively and the beautiful pictures Carolyn Conahan has painted bring all the critters and their bubbles to life.

*

Winnie's War is a historical novel set in Texas during the Spanish Flu (1918). The spunky heroine, Winnie, at first seems quite typical, chafing over the instructions her grandmother gives, but very soon, we learn her fierce love for her sisters, her friends, her father and where it leads her. It's a story with depth and layers.

Some tidbits that I especially enjoyed:

A most unusual first kiss.

Stealing Vicks VapoRub.

Love between older people.

*

Have I whetted your appetite yet? Get thee to a bookstore this month and look for these beautifully made books. And there are so many more!

*

Free Books

One good turn deserves another.

I have one extra copy of each of these books from ICL:

The Giblin Guide to Writing Children's Books by James Cross Giblin
Book Markets for Children's Writers 2009
Searching: A Research Guide for Writers
From Inspiration to Publication
Essentials of English

You can see the descriptions of some of the books here:

If you'd like any of these, just leave a comment specifying which one you want before the end of this month. I'll draw lots on Monday.

Edited to add: All the books have found good homes, folks.
*

A Student Again!

Today, the much awaited box arrived from ICL ... I'm taking the book course! Been meaning to do this for a while, but there never seemed to be a good time. But I'm making a committment. I'm going to trust the process and start fresh.

I have two novels in different stages of progress. The historical YA is 3/4 done and the other is just a messy first draft. My hope is that I will finish this new book that's been rattling in my head for quite some time.

Although I'm good at taking time to study by myself, nothing beats having a teacher hold your hand, and push you when you need it. I find I stretch and grow so much more in a classroom than when I work alone.

So ... wish me luck! I've a lot to juggle. And I'm excited and terrified all at once.
*

Goals, Chinese New Year, and TV madness

It's almost the end of January. How's everybody doing with their goals? I've heard that it takes a good three weeks to settle into a new pattern. It's true for me.

*

So far, I've been able to do all the things daily that I wanted to, except on the weekends. I find it difficult to find writing time with everyone at home. I can't get quiet enough to focus. So either I get up early and write or accept that some days are going to be too full. Haven't decided yet.
*

But it's the beginning of a New Chinese Year ... so you can start anew now, if you've been having trouble keeping up with your goals. I think it's not wise to beat yourself up about not meeting your goals. Better to say, I will try again tomorrow.

*

I'm so happy that Grace Lin will be coming to our local SCBWI conference. I love her picture books and she has penned charming novels: "The Year of the Dog" and "The Year of the Rat." All the little girls I love will be getting a set of these books for their birthdays this year. They are gems. And I do believe they are somewhat autobiographical. So check them out.

*

On a completely unrelated topic. I happened to tune in to Michael Medved's show and I thought he was joking when he said our government was postponing the digital TV transition to June. First of all, I am baffled that our govt. is actually giving out coupons to have converters. As though the ability to watch TV is a basic human right. Jeepers creepers. I mean, this has been planned for years, and frankly if people couldn't watch TV for a while, it wouldn't kill them. Again, I cannot believe that with all the things going on in the world, that giving converter box vouchers so that people can watch digitized TV is a national priority.

*

In all fairness, I admit that I haven't watched TV for the past 20 years, so I don't know what amazing things I'm missing. Yup, I gave it away when I was in graduate school. Two years ago, our 15-year-old computer monitor died and we decided to replace it with a TV monitor. We do like to watch movies and it is nicer to have a bigger screen. My husband turns it on to watch sports at times, but our children never think of turning it on. They haven't been raised on it, and they have cultivated so many other interests. It's been a wonderful thing not to have a TV.

*

I was shocked to hear that the average American spends 30 hours a week watching TV. That's almost like having a full-time job. Imagine what you could do with all that time. Write a book?

*

Happy Reading

The ALA winners have been announced.
So many wonderful books, so little time ...
*

Seven Books

Bish is a sweetie for awarding me this. I don't think of myself as creative (let alone Kreativ) because I've always been in the shadow of my sister who is very artistic, as well as friends like Bish and many other ladies who do amazing things with their hands -- like tat and sew and carve and make beautiful music, none of these which I do well, but enjoy so much.

I suppose I am creative with my writing and in the kitchen (just ask my family all the things we've had to put in the compost :)

I'm to list seven things I love and pass on this award. Since there are too many things I love, like my family, pets, plants, foods, books, music, I decided to focus on seven books that I have loved, that shaped me, that are still helping me to grow.

1. The Holy Bible. This is by far the most influential Book I've read. It was the first book that I remember my mother reading to us. She read us stories every night from the big Marathi Bible and I remember how beautiful the language was -- very descriptive. It painted a picture of ancient times. I also remember her reading silently, skipping over passages that are probably inappropriate for little girls.


2. The Diary of Anne Frank. I read this as a young girl and it was my first introduction to the Holocaust. I cried at the end because I couldn't understand man's inhumanity to man. Anne Frank's words resonated with me -- her hope and her ultimate belief that despite everything, people are really good at heart.


3. Magnificent Obsession by Lloyd C. Douglas. This book is based upon one sentence in the Bible: Let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth. It was the first adult book I read. I was 12 years old and I suddenly realized what an incredible person my mother was. Here we were, struggling to survive, and yet, she managed to help others who had less. She gave what she could without any expectations of reward.


4. My Adventures in Two Worlds by A. J. Cronin. I read this autobiography when I was 12 years old. And I knew one day I wanted to be like him -- physician-turned-novelist. By the way, this is a breed of its own. I've read fantastic books by Michael Crichton, Khaled Hosseini, Atul Gawande, all physicians-turned-writers.


5. Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. I've already spoken about this book recently, but it gave me a moral compass at a time when I was moving away from God and religion.


6. Microbe Hunters by Paul de Kruiff. I read this in college and loved how Louis Pasteur, Robert Koch, and many other scientists were brought to life. It reminds me what good nonfiction must be like -- vibrant, with all the elements of a good story.


7. A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry. This is the book that probably made me think about writing myself. I was a postdoctoral fellow at Purdue University, studying wheat-virus interactions and I kept putting off reading this book. Every time I picked it up, I was flooded with memories, both good and bad. Eventually I sat down and read this book and the characters have never left me. I bought Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird, but didn't do any writing. Soon after, we moved to Washington, and while making the road trip, I discovered I was pregnant. I threw away all the materials I had gathered for research positions here. I became a stay-at-home mom. Then, when I was pregnant with my second baby, I realized that I have stories to share that only I can tell. I dug out the Anne Lamott book, starting writing and taking classes.

Oh, oh, oh, there are so many more. Please go to my favorites page and see what other books I love. These books are like my closest friends. At any time, I can go to a specific page to read exactly what I need to hear.

I'm going to pass this on to these creative people who have entertained and educated me on their blogs: Fiona Bayrock, Laura Salas, Molly Blaisdell, Jolie Stekly, Marcia Hoehne, Christy Lenzi, and Susan Sandmore.

*

History in the Making

I cannot express how far we've come ... but the video clip from this site says it all. Choose life! Anything is possible when you have the opportunity to live.

God Bless you, President Obama. May He guide you in all the decisions you make.

Thank you, Mr. Bush, for eight years of service to our country. God Bless you. And God Bless America!

*

A Letter of Rejection

In ATONEMENT by Ian McEwan, there is a lovely rejection letter to Briony (one of the main characters). She is 18 years old, has sent in a novella and it has finally returned months later. Here are some excerpts (in italics):

They begin with the fact that they wouldn't consider publishing a novella by a unknown author, let alone an established one.

That said, we found ourselves (initially against our better judgment, for there is much to do in this office) reading the whole with great interest.

There is much commenting on Briony's use of words, her characters, how well she's captured a specific moment. The first part of the book is an excellent exercise in seeing events through different points of view.

We found Two Figures by a Fountain arrresting enough to read with dedicated attention. I do not say this lightly.

Then come a lot of questions. Lots of what ifs, encouraging her to make a plot out of the observations she's made.

Simply put, you need the backbone of a story.

Ah yes, it's the story that's imporant.

You may feel perfectly satisfied with your pages as they stand, or our reservations may fill you with dismissive anger, or such despair you never want to look at the thing again.

This made me laugh.

We sincerely hope not. Our wish is that you will take our remarks -- which are given with sincere enthusiasm -- as a basis for another draft.

Good advice.

I am thankful today for *good* rejection letters. My husband thinks this is an oxymoron, but the truth is, it's these kinds of letters (I confess mine are not three pages long, usually just 1/2 -1 page) that have pushed me to take my writing further. I still have some manuscripts that I don't know how to implement the advice. But I know something somewhere will click and I'll know exactly how to fix it, and then the comments will make sense.

What's your experience with good rejections?
*