Monday, November 24, 2008

disappointment

This morning I got a phone call from a lady I've spoken to only once or twice before. She's a member of the Squamish Band (Nation) in North Vancouver. I wanted to visit her church and get some more information about the Squamish involvement in the Vancouver Fire of 1886, the setting for one of my novels. However, it seems that all the historical information about the Squamish rescue efforts are subjects of songs and stories belonging to individuals in their tradition. It's not for outsiders. So, my historical fiction is going to be more fiction than historical in the couple of chapters I have set for the Squamish heroes. It's sad, for me and for others who are interested in that sort of history, but I respect their "copyright" tradition. I'll look elsewhere for something similar that will neither trespass on their rights nor misrepresent their culture.

Franciscan obedience again

Yesterday I sent off my novice report #23. Only one more to go, maybe. It's a long journey from "enquirer" through postulancy and novitiate to profession. Lots to learn on the way.

Saturday, November 22, 2008

mailing

It's taken me a couple of days, but I finally got my sample writing and critiques mailed off to the writer-in-residence on Bowen Island. Writing, especially the rewriting (ie, most of the job) isn't easy. But it's an adventure, and adventures are, by definition, challenging and not easy.

Franciscan obedience

Today I attended our local Franciscan Fellowship meeting, in accordance with my vow of obedience. We celebrated Communion together, discussed some issues and then read a chapter of the Franciscan Formation papers. It sounds dull, yet the couple of hours were filled with laughter and friendship.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

to the mailbox

Today I am committed to mailing a sample chapter and some critique pages to the writer-in-residence on Bowen Island. I have a request from a publisher to resubmit a manuscript after doing rather extensive revisions. The editor suggested getting help from a writer-in-residence, and that's what I'm doing. It's my middle grade historical novel called Angels in the Flames. Wish me luck!

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

published

Another link I have to add is the publishing company that published my three articles in Faces Magazine and my game in Calliope. For now, I'll just post the URL here: http://www.cobblestonepub.com/index.html .

another link

I hope you'll look at the links: Under "Writing for Kids" look at the ICL link, that's the school where I took two courses. I found them extremely useful. The other link in that section is the SCBWI link. I was regional advisor for Western Canada for five years, and resigned just last September. Ken Kilback took over from me. I'm sure he'll make our chapter bigger and better. Under the religious heading, I have links to St. James Anglican Church, where I attend, and to TSSF, the Order in which I am a novice.

I'm procrastinating

I have to contact a few people and do some interviewing and rewriting. It is overwhelming, and scary, but it won't get done if I don't get on with it. It's what I love to do, yet it makes me gulp and feel nervous.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Kate's birthday

I have to amend that previous post. It's past midnight, and so actually, her birthday was YESTERDAY! November 17th. Sorry, Kate!

Family

Today is my daughter's birthday. She claims it's her 39th, and who am I to argue? She's a very smart lady, and I'm very proud of her. Her name is Kate, and she's an editor. I won't put up any family pictures unless I get permission from them. Kate, would you like to pick a picture to go in this blog? Or do you prefer to remain anonymous?

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Sunday morning

In my profile, I list the Anglican Church as one of my interests. So, not surprising, I attended St. James Anglican Church this morning. Usually, my husband and I attend morning prayer at 8 am, and stay for Low Mass at 8:30. But today it was my turn to teach Sunday School, so we attended the 9:30 Sung Mass, and stayed for the children to come down to the crypt for lessons during the High Mass. Ours in not the average Anglican church. It's "High Church" or "Anglo-Catholic". When I get the URL for the church, I'll list it in the blog.

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Writing for kids

So, I set out to learn how to write for kids. Why? Because the books I like best are kids' books. And when I was about 10 or 11, I lived in London, England, where although they already had television (1950ish), you had to pay for a licence to listen to the radio. We could not only not afford a TV, neither could we even afford the licence to listen to a radio. I had a record player. But I owned only ten records, single songs on 78 rpm records, that's about 1 minute each. Imagine listening to the same records (double sides gives 20 minutes worth of listening) over and over. I had no siblings and few friends, because we kept moving. Hence my love affair with public libraries. My favourite author was Richmal Crompton, who wrote the William books. In 1950 these books were already "old fashioned." They were written and set in the 1920s, nevertheless I loved them. They were funny and they probably saved my sanity. I remember being extremely grateful to Richmal Crompton for giving her time and talent to entertain children. She is my inspiration.

New Beginnings

Today I'm starting a new experience: blogging. People who read blogs probably have had this experience, so I won't go on and on about it. In fact, enough said on this already.
Right now, I'm just anxious to know what this will look like, and then begin to think about how to personalize the page. So, here goes!