Summer is a time to write

Just when the weather is warming up and hay fever season is in full swing, I'm not teaching or grading. It's time to write. I must be pretty dedicated, because I'm spending hours inside glued to a computer when I could be outside. It's a good thing, too. I've gotten lots done. It took me most of the winter months to schedule some writing in amongst the teaching and grading and write 60 pages of my latest (and coolest so far) novel. In the past couple of weeks, I've added 70 pages and the ideas are flowing. Yesterday I moved over to my father's to take care of him (90 years old with failing health), so the writing will slow down some, but not as slow as during the winter months. What else am I going to do while he's lying down to take a nap? So, maybe I can get a first draft done in a few weeks. Then I can work on the next book that has been taking shape in my head. It's very different from anything I've worked on before--kind of interesting, actually. The more I think about it, the stranger it gets--in a good way, I hope. To quote Alice, "Curioser and curioser." Anyway, I digress. The main point that I wanted to make is that there are sacrifices that must be made when I want something very badly and staying indoors on lovely days is one of them.

Kristen Chandler's Book Signing

Yesterday I had the great honor of attending the book signing for my friend Kristen Chandler's debut book, WOLVES, BOYS, AND OTHER THINGS THAT MIGHT KILL ME at the King's English in Salt Lake City. I was so happy to see lots of people there and that Kristen sold lots of books. She deserves it and her story deserves all the attention. It's a good read. I know, because I've read various drafts and I can't wait to read the final version. So, congratulations, Kristen!

Being with writers and readers

What is it about being with other writers and readers that is so satisfying? I have other friends who do things I like to do, too, and other people I do things with. I am among people at football and basketball games or out shopping doing what I do, but somehow there is just something soul-satisfying about being with other people who write and read. With those people, I want to settle in and soak up the experience and BE with them. On several levels, they are like me. That's nice.

The Edgar Award Statue

Kind of cute.

Photo taken by Matt Peyton Photography.

Edgar Awards Picture of All Nominees

Picture taken by Matt Peyton Photography at the Mystery Writers of America Edgar Awards banquet.

Pictures from the Edgar Awards

Thanks to Matt Peyton Photography and the Mystery Writers of America for these photos of my fifteen minutes of fame. In the first, from left to right, are Peter Abrahams (winner of YA category), Saundra Mitchell, Caroline Cooney, John Ford, and me, Dene Low. We are the nominees in the Young Adult category.

A meeting about writing

I went to a meeting about teaching writing yesterday at the university and had a moment of dismay. Now, I don't want to get in trouble by giving the false impression that it was a bad meeting. I learned some good things and the people there were delightful. However, the moment of dismay came when the work of a contest winner was presented as a good example of excellent writing in personal narrative. It was awful. No, it was gosh-awful. It was a string of superlative adverbs and adjectives that was more an exercise in self-indulgence than crisp, clear narrative. What dismayed me even more than that piece was that several of the writing teachers gushed over over how wonderful it was, yet, later in the meeting when another personal narrative was read that sparkled with clarity and excellent word choice, only one person praised it. If teachers of writing can't tell the difference between self-indulgent, purple prose and truly excellent writing, how are they going to teach their students how to write?

Provo Children's Book Festival

I've been asked to participate in the Provo Children's Book Festival next week on Saturday, May 15, 2010, at Academy Square in Provo (the library). I'll be signing my book from 3-5. See you there.

Mystery Writers of America Awards Night

Thanks to the Mystery Writers of America for a great time at the 2010 Awards banquet. They did a wonderful job of making all of us nominees feel honored, even though there was just one winner in each category--and I didn't win, but I did feel honored. Peter Abrahams received the Edgar for his book Reality Check. After the ceremony the MWA put out stacks of books by the nominees and shopping bags and we were able to take home as many as we wanted. Christmas in April!!