Camp David has morphed: New Title

I’m thrilled to let it be known that it looks like I will be busy writing a second book over the next several months. Because the new book will be an adventure as well, the title of Escape from Camp David has been changed to DANGER’S EDGE: Wildfire at Camp David, so that DANGER’S EDGE can be used in the new book title as well. I’ll update as I write the second, because it will be a fun book to work on and research.

Reasoning with a cat

Okay, the title is a joke. I’ve tried, but it doesn’t work, and the latest result of faulty cat reasoning had me running around the neighborhood early Sunday morning, shoeless, in my pajamas (black, not revealing and kind of ninja-like) chasing a cat who was intent on vanquishing an enemy. We have a one-sided war going on at our house, between our two mostly indoor cats and the neighbor cat. It’s one-sided because the neighbor cat doesn’t realize he’s the enemy. He strolls over about every day to look in various windows and doors. I don’t know why he does this, but that’s another issue. Anyway, our cats go berserk every time, either not realizing the cat can’t come through solid glass or just hating the sight of him. He’s an unusual cat, with one green eye and one blue eye, but I don’t think that’s the reason they loathe him. They get so agitated they end up fighting with each other, while the cat outside sits and watches as if viewing a bad kung fu movie.

This might be just be a minor problem, except one of our cats, Tinta, has anxiety issues. I didn’t know cats could have anxiety issues until she arrived at our house, but she’s got them. She’s a great cat who keeps me company while I’m writing, following me around during the day, and acting like she’s missed me terribly whenever I’m gone, but she also gets so anxious she’s rather obsessive about grooming herself and ends up with bald patches, among other things. The neighbor cat is a major anxiety for her.

On Sunday, I opened the door just briefly and out dashes Tinta. I didn’t even see the neighbor cat, but she did. She took off after him, not thinking rationally about what she would do if she caught him, chasing him through back yards with me in pursuit, because I knew she wouldn’t find her way home. The neighbor cat finally took a stand and turned on her, so she ended up under a trampoline, determined to defend her position. I wasn’t about to crawl under the trampoline, so I made various weird noises to get her to look at me. When she saw me, she got confused (the ninja pajamas perhaps?) and ran again, this time to another neighbor’s house where she tried to get in their door, I guess thinking it was our house. A house is a house on the outside to an indoor cat. I did manage to grab her then, and carried her home. The end result-My children are mortified I was running around outside in my pajamas, and Tinta has a few more bald spots. Is a visit to the cat psychiatrist next?

Shiny Book Jacket Copy

I’ve learned many things in the past few months about publishing. One of the things I didn’t know was that writers usually don’t write the back cover copy or the inside jacket flap copy for their books. I’ve discovered a good reason for this-having another person write it leads to some great ideas. I’m so pleased with how this turned out:

Jacket Flap Copy:
The presidential retreat, Camp David, is one of the safest places in the United States. So why can’t the President’s son, Luke, and his friend Theo stay there without Secret Service agents constantly hovering over them, watching their every move? But what should be a fun summer for Luke, Theo, and Luke’s once-friend Callie suddenly turns deadly when an earthquake sets off a raging wildfire, causing a chain reaction that wrecks havoc on Camp David’s security—and everyone’s safety.
Now, Luke needs a plan
To override the security systems
To save those who were supposed to save him
To get through an impassable gate
To escape Camp David

Back cover copy (this is going to look like an official memo):

TOP SECRET/CONFIDENTIAL
Subject Luke Brockett
Status: Son of President Brockett
Agents Assigned: Adam Martens and Isabelle Keller
Location: Camp David presidential retreat, Maryland
Coordinates: 39°38’54N 77°27’55”W
Mission Statement: To protect the President’s son as he vacations with his friends Theo Ellias and Callie Lansa from physical harm, terrorist threat, and their own curiosity. Subject is highly intelligent, but prone to endangering himself…

BIG Books – High concept?

Literary agent Kristin Nelson has sparked a debate among writers this week over her blog lament on the desire of publishers for ‘big’ books. With the economy still on an uphill climb, it’s understandable publishers are being more cautious, but what does that mean for us as writers? What is a ‘big’ book? Is this the same thing as high concept? I like definitions, but it’s hard to find ones that agree on these terms. As far as I can tell, ‘high concept’ started in the film industry to mean a concept that was easily understood and could be sold to a wide audience. Think ‘Jaws’: man-eating shark terrorizing town. ‘Titanic’: doomed love on a ship the audience already knew was going to sink.

These were both big movies, and both of those concepts are easily understood, but it is not so easy to predict which ones have wide appeal. Titanic yes, but Jaws? It did tap into some fundamental human fears of nature outside of human control . Maybe that’s why Jurassic Park succeeded. Dinosaurs are scary to begin with, but man-eating dinosaurs are really scary.

High concept can also mean high stakes. All those movies dealt with life or death, and not just to one or two characters. To bring it into the realm of literature, look at Harry Potter. I don’t know if that would have originally been pitched as high concept, but in essence it was. The stakes are not only for Harry’s life, but also for the future of the wizarding world.

So what do you think? How would you define a ‘big’ book? Is it the same as high concept?

White House Photos

Sadly, I missed the tour of the Library of Congress on my recent trip to D.C., but did get to do the White House Garden tour. I’ve done so much research on the White House, presidents, and presidential children in the last year that this was a dream come true. In fact, even though I’m not normally an outgoing person, I asked three different strangers to take my photo in different spots on the tour so I could have a record I had been there. None of them are posted here, because I look delirious in them, and the non-Dee photos are much better.

If you are a fan of the West Wing, here’s my favorite, the Oval Office:

The playset for the Obama children is right outside the Oval Office:

Playset

The Rose Garden is much smaller than I pictured:

Rose Garden

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There is a tennis court:

Tennis Court

And a children’s garden, which wasn’t really much of a children’s garden. When I saw the small pond, it became clear to me that it probably wasn’t designed by someone with children.

Entrance to the Children's Garden

Children's Garden

Now, I just need to go back and tour the inside of the White House.

Show, Don’t Tell

“Don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.” ~Anton Chekhov

Chekhov’s elegant phrasing is a good way to begin to understand the writer’s adage of ‘Show, Don’t Tell’. Several writer friends agreed to spend some time pondering this with me, and to all post on this topic on the same day. At the end of my post are links to their musings. We’re all writing and reading in different genres, so I’m excited to read the examples they’ve used.

First of all, what does ‘showing’ mean? I see it as a way to describe what’s happening through the emotions and senses of the characters, their dialogue and the action.

So, what’s the problem with telling?

Nothing. Telling can’t be banished in writing, nor should it; it should just be used in the right places for the right purposes. Too much telling doesn’t work well in beginnings, when the reader needs to be drawn in to the story. A laundry list of descriptions and events doesn’t evoke a connection between the characters and the reader, even if it’s a beautifully written laundry list.

Too often, writers try to introduce their characters by their physical description, even down to what the characters wear. Unless the story revolves around the fashion industry, I need to know, as a reader, more about the character’s personality before I can begin to care that they have auburn hair, blue eyes, and wear designer clothes.

Overdoing the physical description is an especially easy trap to fall into when writing fantasy characters. Yes, it’s important the readers know they’re not learning about the old lady next door, but there are so many other ways to show a fantasy world full of fascinating characters. Eoin Colfer in Artemis Fowl, The Lost Colony, introduces a character this way:

“Holly Short’s career as an elfin private investigator was not working out as well as she’d hoped. This was mainly because the Lower Elements’ most popular events show had run not one, but two specials on her over the past months. It was difficult to go undercover when her face was forever popping up on cable reruns.”

In a mere fifty-six words we learn Holly is an elf, a private investigator, and is having trouble with her job. We also learn of some sort of world called the Lower Elements, and we can figure out that the setting is in a modern time period, because of the mention of cable shows. Even though we don’t yet know what Holly looks like and we don’t know anything about this other world so far, I, at least, don’t want to stop reading.

Even for characters who not the good guys, readers need to feel some sort of interest in them, because it’s hard to worry about what a cardboard cutout might do. Bartimaeus, a 5,000-year-old djinn, in Jonathon Stroud’s The Amulet of Samarkand, is not your typical character a reader could love, but he’s important to the story. Here’s how we learn a bit about him when he is debating what kind of creature he needs to become to carry out a robbery:

“I hate the taste of mud. It is no fit thing for a being of air and fire. The cloying weight of earth oppresses me greatly whenever I come into contact with it. That is shy I am choosy about my incarnations. Birds, good. Insects, good. Bats, okay. Things that run fast are fine. Tree dwellers are even better. Subterranean things, not good. Moles, bad.”

Dialogue and action are crucial as well. I feel a bit strange posting some of my own work, because I’m still having a hard time believing real people will actually read it, but I decided I needed to take the plunge for the this post.

Here’s an example of how I could have just told a brief action scene from Escape from Camp David:

“Luke knew the helicopter was going to crash, and he was scared. He yelled to Callie and Theo to run, grabbing Callie and dragging her away. When the helicopter crashed, it made a booming sound. The heat from the fire was hot.”

Here’s how I actually wrote it:

“Get out of the way!” Luke screamed. He flung himself at Callie and Theo, both standing transfixed at the sight of the helicopters tangled together. “Run! Run! They’re going to crash.” He grabbed Callie’s arm and dragged her away, not wanting to look back. A boom sounded behind him, nearly knocking him down, and he felt a surge of heat washing over him.”

There are so many other examples I could find , but this post would grow way too long, so I’ll stop with the thought that if a writer draws you into a story and keeps you there, they’ve mastered the art of showing the glint of light on broken glass.

I’d love to see more examples of ‘show, don’t tell’, so please comment if you have any to share. If you want to explore this question more, check out these writers (Their posts should all be up by noon on Tuesday):

Tracey Martin
Gretchen McNeil
K.A. Stewart
Wendy Cebula
Amy Bai
Bryn Greenwood

Guest Blogging – Pirates vs. Ninjas vs. Batman

Holy Blogging!

It was a blast to participate in writer Chelsea Campbell’s guest event on her blog debating who is better-Pirates, Ninjas, or Batman. Until I started answering her questions, I had forgotten how much I loved the Batman television show. In fact, though I don’t admit it on the Q & A, Robin was my first crush. Batman was just…old, but Robin qualified as a cute boy to my five-year-old eyes.

Here’s the link where you can read the questions and answers, plus more about Chelsea’s book, The Rise of Renegade X, which comes out next March. There is a great book trailer about it and prizes too!

The Peryton Wins!

My kids chose the peryton as the winner of the contest, though there was much debate about it versus the dragon and the abatwa. Congratulations, Arissa!

Unintentional Halloween Costumes

If you are overwhelmed by coming up with the perfect Halloween costume, take inspiration from these LOLCATZ pictures.

Shakespeare Cat

Burrito Cat

Contest! Prizes! Author Interview!

UPDATE: The contest is now closed. Thanks to everyone for your great entries. The winner will be announced by 10:00 PM on October 1st.

To celebrate my leap into blogging, I’m thrilled to post my interview with author R.L LaFevers about her new middle grade adventure, NATHANIEL FLOOD, BEASTOLOGIST: THE FLIGHT OF THE PHOENIX. At the end of the interview are instructions on how to enter the contest to win either a copy of The Flight of the Phoenix or a $15.00 Barnes and Noble gift card.

The interview is in two sections. The first section is for readers and parents of readers, and the second section is for readers who are writers as well. Enjoy!

Your main character, Nathaniel, is not sure he wants adventure. What’s the most frightening adventure you have ever had?

Jumping out of an airplane, hands down. In fact, I like to think I learned everything I need to know about fear from jumping out of that airplane. I’d signed up for one of those one day parachute schools and we’d spent the day training and I thought I was totally ready for it—until we got up in that plane and the instructor told us to jump. Then I pretty much changed my mind. However, I was the only girl in the class and the instructor decided if I went first, all the guys would HAVE to follow or risk being one-upped by a girl. So when I balked, he kind of pushed me out the door. I went kicking and screaming the whole way, and landing was a much harder jolt than I’d ever anticipated. I was so relieved to be in one piece I kind of just sat down. I may have even wept.

From reading your website, I know you love history. What was the most fun part of this book to research?

One of the things I had a lot of fun researching was medieval bestiaries. I’m obsessed with those points where magic and reality meet and often find them in history. When I decided I wanted to write about mythical beasts that maybe weren’t so mythical, I went to the “source” of the accounts of those beasts; medieval bestiaries. The thing is, the ancient philosophers and early scientists thought they were chronicling animals that actually walked the earth. It’s fascinating to read of their accounts and see all these creatures through the eyes of earlier times. It is also surprising both how many details they got right, and how far off they were on others.

I also had a lot of fun researching The Age of Discovery and various explorers, cartographers, and world travelers. What amazing men they were, to have set out into the truly unknown and begin to explore and map our world! Whether vast oceans or endless deserts or frozen wastelands that stretched out as far as the eye could see, these men had extraordinary courage and curiosity and passion.

What’s the best thing about being a writer?

The best thing about being a writer is writing! I’ve always loved writing and for so much of my life I had to squeeze it in between other obligations, family, jobs, social commitments, etc. But now, getting to do it eight hours a day? Heaven.

Or maybe the best thing about being a writer is being able to use my imagination so much, something I got in trouble for a lot when I was younger. Now, it’s my job.

Or maybe the best part is being able to read all these amazing cool books and call it research. Or… well, you get the picture. I pretty much love everything about being a writer.

What’s the worst?

The only part I don’t like about writing is getting a negative review. I would love to be able to pretend I am thick skinned enough that they don’t bother me, but sometimes they do. Even though I understand that not everyone is going to be my reader, I always end up feeling like I failed that reader who doesn’t care for the book.

Four important questions
1.What’s the top of your travel wish list (a place you’ve never been)?

Brittany (mostly because I’m working on a book set there and am dying to have a research trip!)
Scotland/Ireland would be a close second.

2. Favorite movie

A tie between GLADIATOR and CHOCOLAT. What can I say, I’m a conflicted person.
When I was a kid it was FANTASIA and MARY POPPINS.

3. Favorite kind of pizza
Mushroom, olive, and sausage.

4. Favorite non-pet animal
Griffins.

So here are the writerly questions:

What technique do you use to get an authentic middle grade ‘voice’ in your books?

For me it’s two fold. One part of it is being around kids and staying in touch with how they think and feel and process information and their surroundings. Being a parent helped a TON here, watching my sons and nephews and nieces grow, and all that contributed to my intellectual understanding of it. But also, and perhaps more importantly, part of it is being able to crawl back through time, deep inside to when I was that age and remembering in a visceral way what my fears and hopes and worries were. What kept me up late at night? What brought me comfort? When I was feeling timid, what things did I notice, how did that timidity affect how I viewed things. What kinds of things held enough power over me that they would propel me to take action, even though I thought I was far too afraid to do so.

How did your first book get published?

I sent the manuscript for my first book, The Falconmaster, out to an editor at Dutton’s Children’s Books. I waited, biting my nails. Then one day, I got a message on my answering machine saying they’d loved the first three chapters and could I please send the rest of the mss along asap. Needless to say, I was beyond excited. I danced around the house for an entire hour before I got down to business and packaged that puppy up and mailed it off, certain, CERTAIN, I would be hearing back within the week.

Well, I heard nothing. And nothing. Until finally, after about three months I sent a follow up letter asking if they’d received it. They wrote back and said yes, they had, and would be getting back to me shortly. And thus began a long, slow round of me following up and them promising to be in touch. After about a year of this, I gave up and turned my attention elsewhere. I took a bunch more classes and workshops, worked on honing my craft. Then I took all that I’d learned and applied it one last time to this manuscript. When I signed up for SCBWI National that year, I also signed up for their manuscript critique session. Well, the agent who read my manuscript loved it and offered me representation. Needless to say it was my most exciting conference EVER.

She then contacted Dutton, told them she was representing me, sent them the revised mss, and we had an offer within weeks. Things move much faster with an agent!

What is your best single piece of advice for writers wanting to be published?

There are so many things to concentrate on as a new writer; craft, plot, character, structure, and all of those are vitally important and must be mastered. However, I think once you’ve mastered those, it’s critical to take your apprenticeship one step further and spend as much time and energy on developing your own voice and creative vision. That is what will transform competent work into compelling work. As artists the most vital thing we have to offer is our take on the world or human nature or Truth. So be sure to give yourself plenty of time to fully explore and develop that. I think your best, strongest work will come from that place that is uniquely you.

Oh, and be wickedly stubborn. Never give up. It is only when we give up that we lose…

Thanks Robin! To find out more about Robin, check out her website at http://www.rllafevers.com/books.html. Robin has another series of books about a girl whose parents run a Museum of Legends and Antiquities in London. The first book in that series is Theodosia Throckmorton and The Serpents of Chaos.
If you’re a writer, Robin’s blog has many great tips: http://rllafevers.blogspot.com/

Contest!!! To enter you need to be at least thirteen years old, and live in the U.S. or Canada. In Robin’s book, Nathaniel’s aunt has a talking dodo who lives at her house. To enter, answer this question in a comment: If you could have a mythical creature living at your house, what would you choose?

My kids will be choosing the winner, and they have been promised ice cream if they take the contest seriously. The contest is open through Wednesday, September 30th. You don’t have to post your name on the entry, but just give yourself a screen name I can use when I post the winner on October 1st.