1. This ridiculous essay made the rounds on Twitter the other day. I was buried in children but promised to share my thoughts later, then didn’t have the energy to make good on that promise once the kids were asleep. Luckily Lindsay Cross did.
2. This Wednesday I’ll post the final scheduled Writer, with Kids piece. Other authors have expressed interest in participating, but their schedules haven’t allowed it so far. As those posts come in, I’ll put them up. It won’t be an every-week thing anymore, though.
2a. And really, I think the thing is winding down. It’s been a great conversation, one I’ve enjoyed as I hope you have. Time to move on, though. It’s held me back from all those posts you long for about the garden and the chickens, after all.
2b. This week’s post is from Rosemary McLaughlin, one of my first writing teachers. I am so pleased that it will be her closing the series out.
3. I promised to report back on What Happened to Sophie Wilder, and I didn’t. I finished it. I loved it. Here’s what I said about it on Goodreads:
I was dubious early on in this book. Charlie’s early chapters were so self-consciously mannered, and the idea of spending time with Sad Young Literary Men wasn’t all that appealing. (There are many things I was glad to leave behind when we left New York.) I stayed with it because the Sophie chapters were so compelling, and I’m glad I did. That tone of Charlie’s early chapters earned its place, makes sense as a choice in light of the work as a whole. And the work as a whole? Gorgeous.
4. I’m back to reading too many books at once again. It would be manageable if I actually had a significant amount of reading time. On the go right now: Stone Arabia, Arcadia, The Monsters of Templeton.
4a. If I ever meet Lauren Groff, I’m likely to make a huge fangirl ass of myself. That woman can write.
5. I’ve got to get revisions to Revolution back to my editor by September 15th. Cranking away at those, but with a new wrinkle. I now have to battle stage fright every time I sit down to write. For the first time in my life, I’m approaching a book with the absolute certainty that it will go out into the world and be read and judged. It’s been unsettling. Sometimes paralyzing. I probably should have expected it, but I didn’t. Working through it.
5a. Wait…let me say that again… my editor. My Editor. I am doing revisions for MY EDITOR. Holy shit.
Two years til a deadline. So spacious. Probably good to feel some shivers with that, to keep the pressure on. And also feel tge thrill. “Your editor” indeed! (She said, beaming.)
Thanks for the shout-out, btw. I’d hate to think what I wrote was a conversation stopper; relieved to know that you PLANNED to end it with me. Happy rewriting!
Post edited to clarify my deadline, after Rosemary’s understandable confusion. The revisions are due back September 15th, not September 2015.
I’m glad to hear rave reviews of Lauren Groff’s work from someone whose opinion I trust. I recognized the cover of Arcadia, when looking at the links you provided, from an article in our local paper. I’m always thrilled to find great talent that lives in my hometown. Thanks for sharing!
Oh good! Let me know what you think if you read her books, Midj.
Oh my god, oh my god-Lauren Groff just became my friend on FB and I completely spazzed out because I love her so much! Also, I recently read Megan Mayhew Bergman’s Birds of a Lesser Paradise and she has a similar quiet genius you might also love.
April: I just friended her on FB too! I’ll go seek you out, if you don’t mind. And thanks for the book rec!