Aug
29
SLJ - Authors against homophobia and racism
YA author Mayra Lazara Dole (Down to the Bone) wrote a terrific piece for the School Library Journal about homophobia and racism and the power that authors have to combat hatred.
Aug
25
Miracle at Coors
At the last minute last night, I decided to take in another Rockies game. Little did I know that I was buying a ticket for one of the greatest games in Coors Field history!
Of course, I didn't see it. After 13 innings and countless squandered opportunities by the Rox, and not a single extra-base hit, I left. So I missed the Giants scoring three runs in the top of the frame, and the Rockies scoring five in the bottom, including Ryan Spilborghs' game-ending grand slam.
Of course, I didn't see it. After 13 innings and countless squandered opportunities by the Rox, and not a single extra-base hit, I left. So I missed the Giants scoring three runs in the top of the frame, and the Rockies scoring five in the bottom, including Ryan Spilborghs' game-ending grand slam.
Aug
20
Another draft - finished
I have finally finished another draft of Father, Son, and Holy Buddha!
My agent asked me to flesh out the father character. His major criticism of the last draft was that the father didn't jump off the page in the same way the two younger protagonists did. He wanted me to work on getting to know the character better, and I think I've done that in this draft.
He also wanted me to re-think two characters, who he felt were a bit one-note.
My agent asked me to flesh out the father character. His major criticism of the last draft was that the father didn't jump off the page in the same way the two younger protagonists did. He wanted me to work on getting to know the character better, and I think I've done that in this draft.
He also wanted me to re-think two characters, who he felt were a bit one-note.
Aug
18
Out of the Pocket - a nice review
I admit I have stopped looking for reviews of Out of the Pocket. It's not that I don't care, and it's not that they don't appear from time to time still. It's more that the bloom is off of that rose. For the first six months after it was released, I was super excited to see what people thought of it, and I looked on a daily basis. Now, as we approach the one-year anniversary, I enjoy reading reviews but I hardly ever actively seek them out.
Aug
17
ZooMontana
We did the fair last weekend, so this weekend, with our friends Phyllis and Lavon in town, we decided to go to the zoo.
There were animals!
Unofortunately, they were mostly plastic.
Ah, Billings, the only city that could have a zoo without animals. We walked around for a good 15 minutes, saying things like, "Let's go there, maybe there are animals there!"
Alas, there were not.
Finally, we found a sign for a Red Panda.
Lavon saw it, we didn't, as we were too slow.
There were animals!
Unofortunately, they were mostly plastic.
Ah, Billings, the only city that could have a zoo without animals. We walked around for a good 15 minutes, saying things like, "Let's go there, maybe there are animals there!"
Alas, there were not.
Finally, we found a sign for a Red Panda.
Lavon saw it, we didn't, as we were too slow.
Aug
11
Face Painting and Bible Study
Ah, MontanaFair at Billings.
I dragged Chuck along with me on Sunday, and even pushed him to go on rides with me. One Tilt-a-Whirl and one non-descript washing machine-type experience later, we were both nauseous and done with rides for the day.
We are old.
At least there's food to be had, we both thought. Because who doesn't have good memories of eating all sorts of junk at the fair when they were a kid?
But the deep fried pepsi made me scared.
I dragged Chuck along with me on Sunday, and even pushed him to go on rides with me. One Tilt-a-Whirl and one non-descript washing machine-type experience later, we were both nauseous and done with rides for the day.
We are old.
At least there's food to be had, we both thought. Because who doesn't have good memories of eating all sorts of junk at the fair when they were a kid?
But the deep fried pepsi made me scared.
Aug
7
Enough with the humiliation!
I just got finished watching an episode of an NBC show called Parks & Recreation. It's the show in which Amy Poehler plays a character very much like the one Steve Carell plays in The Office.
I want to go on record as saying that this is not about the quality of the script, nor about Poehler, who is generally funny in most roles that she plays. But I have to say: enough.
I want to go on record as saying that this is not about the quality of the script, nor about Poehler, who is generally funny in most roles that she plays. But I have to say: enough.
Aug
4
Wisdom from Roy Simmons
I'm back after a quick trip to Arizona. I was doing some research for my novel, for the most part, and it was a successful trip on many levels.
OK. So I just wanted to share something from Roy Simmons' book "Out of Bounds." Simmons is a former NFL player who came out in the early 90s, and his book deals with his drug addiction and the sexual abuse as well as what it was like to be in the closet while playing pro football.
I'm sorry to say that I am only reading this book now.
OK. So I just wanted to share something from Roy Simmons' book "Out of Bounds." Simmons is a former NFL player who came out in the early 90s, and his book deals with his drug addiction and the sexual abuse as well as what it was like to be in the closet while playing pro football.
I'm sorry to say that I am only reading this book now.
