Writerly Camaraderie, Back-of-the-Book Blurb # 35 and the True Story of Hansie

         Last night I was part of an authors' event. There were 80 or so writers there, each one eager to talk about (and sell) their books.
          I got to see and chat with her Mary Horner. Mary's one of the newest writers at WOW. Check out the site--if you haven't already--and be on the look-out for Mary's posts. They're always thought-provoking and helpful.
          I got to ride and chat with Linda O'Connell. Linda is a magnet for the quirky/the strange/the "characters"... and last night was no exception. However, she's always able to make the most of any situation and see the positive in a heap of not-so-positive. And I got the chance to hang out with Donna Volkenannt and Pat Wahler. While we chatted, I got some tidbits about some publishers, heard about an book event and got rejuvenated by hearing what they were working on.

       And now onto back-of-the-book blurb fun:

• Look at the photo below. That is the cover of your book.
• You choose the genre. A frothy romance? (Ugh.) A tall tale? A coffee table book on statues? You choose the genre.
• Write an enticing blurb--150 words or less. (The title doesn't count in the word count.) Lisa Ricard Claro was the original creator of this project  and this past summer, her third novel Love to Win debuted. Now she's working on her fourth novel. Check out her website. She's always upbeat and always helpful.
• Include your blurb in a blog post. Include a link to this post. 
• Link your post to Mr. Linky. Mr. Linky is easy. You don't have to buy him a drink or anything. If you've never done it, you'll be impressed with how simple he is.
• Check out the other blurb(s). It's interesting to see the different directions writers take, given the same photo.
• And have fun with it. Think of it as a way to take a break from the truly important writing you do... like a bit of a warm-up.

      Here is the book cover and my blurb (as silly as it is):

The Last Bite of Gunter

When Gunter was a puppy, his family put up with his pee puddles.His mine-fields of poo piles. His chewing. His constant yapping.

But once the pup passed by his second birthday, his family said, “Enough is enough!” When they’d step into a pond of urine or a fecal pile of not-fun, they’d shout. Seeing another chair leg being whittled away by Gunter’s teeth made them scream.

Gunter’s family had enough of Gunter. They’d tried dog trainers, they’d gotten him on Ceasar Milan’s show and even the Dog Whisperer had to admit, “This is my first failure.”

Finally, the family decided the “scared straight” method. They nestled Gunter into a hoagie bun… and told him, “If you don’t straighten up, you’re going to be tonight’s entree.”

Will Gunter learn some house manners? Or is he destined to go from a bad dog to a hot dog? (146 words)

The true story of Hansie: The above photo took me back to when I was 10 or 11. My best friend was Gwen McKenna. Her family had a dachshund named Hansie. Hansie was quite an unusual dog. He once came back from wandering the neighborhood with a perfectly-baked turkey leg in his mouth. Did someone feel sorry for him and give it to him? We never knew.

One Halloween, Gwen and I dressed Hansie up as a hot dog. We put him between the top and bottom of a loaf of French bread. (I think we gently tied them onto him.) Hansie was great sport. When Gwen and I were younger, we'd put girly doll clothes on him and walk him around in a stroller. Being a hot dog was --I imagine--much less embarrassing for poor Hans...

And for those writers who like to think ahead, here's the photo for next week:

WOW! Triple UhOh! and Uh Huh

         First, the great news. (Just like good critique, I'll sandwich something not-so-good between a couple of positives.)

         I've been accepted as one of the new WOW writers over at The Muffin. The process was grueling. I was sent out into the desert for five days, survived on my own urine and the few desert rats I could catch, and--the final challenge--then I had to write about the experience.

        I'll be joining local authors Margo Dill and Sue Bradford Edwards, along with other bloggers around the country. I'm quite excited.

         And now for the not-great-stuff, the part I'm calling Uh Oh to the Third Power: 

1) I usually post on Tuesdays but I left for work at 6 yesterday morning and didn't get home until 10 last night. It wasn't possible to post yesterday. 

2) Why was it such a long day yesterday? I had a meeting after school, then physical therapy (for my torn meniscus... have I whined lately?), and then my school had a town meeting (because there is a plan to close at the end of the school year). The meeting was held at the church, and was heated. The pews were full and the people were full of passion... and hurt.

3) My NaNo is almost at 13,776 (but who's counting) and it should be 26,000 and some change. That means I'm only half a loser. Actually, I'm feeling good about what I'm writing, I shared it at a writing retreat I went to this weekend (and they gave me some constructive suggestions), and I'm shuffling forward at a slow pace.

          But at least I'm moving forward. So I feel like a writing winner.

         And will I be at the author event tomorrow evening at the Spencer Road Library? Uh huh. It's from 6-8, and if you come, you can mingle with over a hundred local authors.

         And while I'm thinking about how worn out I am right now, I'm planning my weekend. (I have lots of papers to grade.) What are your plans this weekend? Envious minds want to know...
     

UhOhNaNo, Sioux's Brazilian Butt-Lift, Back-of-the-Book Blurb #34 and More

          Uh oh. My NaNo word count, at this moment, is 9,763, far below the 13 million it's supposed to be at this point. However, I'm going to a writing retreat this weekend, and I hope to get lots of writing done.

        Many of my students have surpassed the 2,000 mark. One student (a friend of Linda' O'Connell's grandson) said, "Dialogue is a way to really increase my word count." I told him it's also a way to make the story come alive. This young man invariably sits next to me when we write, and watches what I do, as I cut and paste bits of articles so I can paraphrase (and then I delete the article snippet)... as I make a note about characters and time frame at the beginning of my piece (so I don't go astray). I'm really proud of the steam they're building up.

       I'm also proud of my country... but not so proud of some of the decisions the voters made. However, perhaps this is what I need to prod me into becoming more active. If I'm worried that some of our rights might disappear, perhaps I need to become fiercer and more involved.

       And if you want a cheap Brazilian butt-lift, tear your meniscus (a muscle in your knee) and be forced to do lots of physical therapy on your leg (and with some of the same exercises, your rear end). I swear I think my rear is becoming firmer (not smaller or less broad, unfortunately) as my leg muscles around my knee are getting stronger.

      But it could be my imagination... runnin' (or hobbling) away with me.

      And now onto back-of-the-book blurb fun... 

The Chicken Man       

Jethro was known as the “Chicken Man.” He had over a hundred chickens that lived in his house. He also had a coop full of fowl… fowl that he rented out.

       The Chicken Man discovered an organization called GAP--Green Acres People--rabid fans of Eddie Albert and whatever-Gabor-sister-that was. They like to reenact the show, and having real live chickens fluttering and pooping and pecking around them is one easy step they can take. Jethro also found that some people love fresh eggs. Renting out a coop from the Chicken Man gets them fresh eggs every day.

        But then the Chicken Man adopts a black puppy. Jethro names him Nujo. Nujo’s fur is dull… until some of the eggs start disappearing, and then Nujo’s fur starts looking lustrous.

        What is happening with the eggs? What is responsible for Nujo’s fur getting glossy-looking? Read this book to solve the mystery... (148 words)

And for those writers who want to work ahead, here is the photo for next week:

UhOhNaNo

            I'm doing NaNoWriMo. My students are flying along. All of them met their first goal (1,250 by the first week). They're finding things that work for them. They're going back and weaving in bits of storyline as they create it. They're listening to really loud music on their headphones. They're using name generators.

          I suggested cutting and pasting in bits of research so they can draw from it... and then they can delete it. I'm not sure anybody has tried it out yet, but it's working for me.

         My word count goal, at the end of today, is supposed to be 12,800 and some change (maybe a lot of change). What I have right now is only 6,014 words... which makes me a loser.

       However, after reading Pat Wahler's post, I feel muuuuch better about my pathetic word count.

       Has NaNoWriMo gotten me to begin a writing piece I might not otherwise take on?

       Check.

       Has NaNoWriMo prodded me forward, pushing me to write puddles and small ponds of words?

       Check.

       Has NaoNaWriMo energized me about what--for me--is a challenging project?

       Check.

       So, at the end of November, I hope both Pat and I are losers. By the time we have eaten too much on Thanksgiving and are recovering from a carb-overload, I hope we will be able to look back at the daily writing we did and be happy... happy we kept plodding forward. Happy that we didn't give up. Happy that we have more words down on paper than if we had said "NoNoNaNo."

       'Cause if we were willing to take the risk and write, we're winners...

First, Do Harm By Doing Nothing, NaNo Update... and Back-of-the-Book Blurb # 33

            I am about a quarter of the way into Jodi Picoult's newest novel, Small Great Things. The premise is an interesting one. An African American nurse is told by her hospital administrator to not touch or tend to a newborn baby (the parents are white supremacists). When the baby goes into cardiac arrest, the nurse hesitates to do CPR, the baby dies... and now the nurse has been arrested.

           It's fascinating so far, and makes me contemplate what I would do if I was in the same situation...

           As far as NaNoWriMo, I'm behind (I'm at 4,024 words) but hope to get some writing done today with my students. On Tuesday I'll share how my classes are doing with NaNo...
     

And now onto back-of-the-book blurb fun:

• Look at the photo below. That is the cover of your book.
• You choose the genre. A frothy romance? (Ugh.) A tall tale? A coffee table book on statues? You choose the genre.
• Write an enticing blurb--150 words or less. (The title doesn't count in the word count.) Lisa Ricard Claro was the original creator of this project  and this past summer, her third novel Love to Win debuted. Currently, Lisa's too busy to host Book Blurb Friday anymore. She's become so successful as a novelist, she's finishing up her fourth one. (I think I have that number right... or is the fifth, and the fourth just hasn't hit the shelves yet?
• Include your blurb in a blog post. Include a link to this post. 
• Link your post to Mr. Linky. Mr. Linky is easy. You don't have to buy him a drink or anything. If you've never done it, you'll be impressed with how simple he is.
• Check out the other blurb(s). It's interesting to see the different directions writers take, given the same photo.
• And have fun with it. Think of it as a way to take a break from the truly important writing you do... like a bit of a warm-up.

      Here is the book cover and my blurb (as silly as it is):

Two Wild and Crazy Women        

          Florence and Cicily had finally made it to their dream destination: Italy. They’d saved up their pennies for the trip by living on cheap canned ravioli so when they finally were able to wing their way across the Atlantic, they wanted to experience it all.

        And they wanted to fit in. Flo and Cic were determined to live like the eye-talians do.

        Since they’d heard that most Italians traveled through town without a car, they rented Segways. With their fanny packs strapped into place, and their cameras hanging down at the ready, the ladies were sure they looked like a couple of fun-loving Italians.

         Will they blend in? Will they end up big as barns as they eat their way across Rome? Will they bring home a couple of nice Italian boys? Join Florence and Cicily on their rollicking, bittersweet adventure. (141 words)



And for those usual suspects who like to work ahead and who play along, here's next week's book cover:

Hit the Road, Sioux (And Don't You Come Back No More No More No More No More)

        I got some news on Sunday that made me feel like I was in the middle of a theater, watching a horror film. Like I had looked up, and saw the shadow of someone stabbing me...

       My school is closing at the end of this school year. At least that's the recommendation that is being handed to the school board.

       Of course, teaching requires flexibility. Every class is different. Every day is different, and every year is different. That's wonderful if an educator has a rough year, because they think, Next year might be a great one.

        However, I don't want different next year. I want the same thing next school year that I'm experiencing right now.

       I'm in a wonderful place. Superb kids. A close-knit school family and a tight neighborhood community. My principal's super supportive. My teaching partner is a gifted teacher and an incredible person.

      So now I get to have the fun (again) of applying and interviewing. (Don't worry about me. I have one pair of high-heeled Crocs I save for things like job interviews. I'm a shoe-in for some job. I'll land on my feet. Or my Crocs, I mean.)

       If you have any job stories--stories about you making a change and thinking it was a bad one but it ended up being a positive experience--I'd love to hear them.

       Broken hearts want to know...