It's September, the time we stay-at-home mom-writer types finally can get back to work. Without leaving the house, of course.

My youngest one goes back to pre-school tomorrow. Which means I can finally brush the dust off my WIP. And other stuff. Like the attic.

This past year, we renovated our bathrooms. Little did I know that all the debris from ( Read more... )

This week I have an interview in the India Abroad. Growing up, we used to subscribe to it at home. Once a week, it would come in the mail, full of articles, photos, tidbits, advertisements about Indians living in the United States. I still remember the perforated edges, the size of the paper that was just perfect for holding on your lap and reading ( Read more... )

My 8-year-old has been devouring the series by Pseudonymous Bosch. I didn't know much about this it until recently. I just started reading The Name of This Book is Secret (book #1) and it's hilarious. It's a little bit Lemony Snicket, a little bit Italo Calvino (another way of saying second POV), and a little bit...good old-fashioned storytelling.

I ( Read more... )

Because I'm swamped with the last days of summer vacation i.e. kids, I'm going to share links to items I really enjoyed today or recently.

First!
You might know that WriteOn Con started this week. Via a twitter link by lisa_schroeder, I'd like to pass on a link to this truly lovely and so accurate description of an author's debut year by Lindsey Leavitt (lindsey_leavitt ). Many ( Read more... )

This week, I drove 1 1/2 hours both way to see a writing teacher of mine from college. It turns out she was publishing her first novel in July just like me! Over the years she had published several short stories, and she has been a wonderful creative writing teacher throughout, but this was her debut novel. I can't remember where I read about it ( Read more... )

A very well-regarded professional in the children's book publishing business said to me once, It's a shame, but music books don't sell.

I gave kind of a start. This was before Vanished sold, and certainly well before it was published. At the time she said it, I thought of Vanished, which even though it was a mystery, it was also very clearly a music ( Read more... )

Other than foaming at the mouth because LJ was down for so many days....

VANISHED launched this past week! On July 25, I stayed up until midnight so that as soon as the clock struck midnight, I went online to Amazon and then Barnes & Noble to watch the Pre-Order sign switch to Order. Kind of like watching the ball drop on New Year's Eve.

Well, to ( Read more... )

I just came back from hearing my daughter perform at her day camp's music recital. Every Friday, the camp holds a concert, and different groups from the camp get to perform. This Friday was my daughter's turn ( Read more... )

The other day I was talking to a librarian when I heard something that made me incredibly happy. She said summer at the library is the busiest time of the year.

SUMMER AT THE LIBRARY IS THE BUSIEST TIME OF THE YEAR.

Sorry - I had to repeat that again!

I asked the librarian, what about camp? But apparently in spite of camp and summer vacation and all ( Read more... )

Apparently the "first samples" of my book are back from the printer and my editor has them. Eek! I'm hoping to get a peek soon!

It's blazing hot as summer arrives in New York with a thud. We have the AC on all day, and I'm trying hard not to wilt.

Meanwhile, I'm guest blogging over at Eve's Fan Garden today, along with Clete Smith, Ellen Hopkins, and ( Read more... )