I was tagged by the lovely and talented Brenda Ferber for the fun meme that’s been going around lately. (A little while ago, but better late than never, right?)

1. What were you doing ten years ago?
I was probably sitting in a lecture hall at Northwestern University getting my Master’s in Education. At my feet there would have been a baby blanket covered with toys and a baby quietly playing while I took notes. My professors were unfailingly understanding when babysitting fell through.

2. What are five things you need to do today?
-call bookstores to set up readings for this fall
-finish writing the teacher’s guide for THIRD GRADE BABY
-book campsite for our first family camping trip
-return 5000 phone calls (may be a slight exaggeration)
-spend an hour writing new book

3. What are some snacks you enjoy?
-anything with almonds
-chips and guacamole
-chocolate

4. What would you do if you were a billionaire?
-set up a foundation to help fund the good works of others
-fund the education of everyone in my family and close friends
-fix up my house

5. What are three bad habits?
-I interupt people when they are talking.
-I often leave the dinner dishes until morning.
-I procrastinate.

6. Name five places you have lived.
-Riverwoods, IL
-Deerfield, IL
-Evanston, IL
-Ann Arbor, MI
-West Bloomfield, MI

7. What are five jobs you’ve had?
-kindergarten teacher
-freelance writer
-hostess at a restaurant
-library aide
-children’s book author

I hereby tag anyone who wants to play!

So I know almost nothing about dance, but I started watching this show because I went to Hebrew school with the host, Elizabeth Berkley, when we were kids, and hey, it’s kind of cool to watch the career of an I-knew-her-when.

Plus, I’m a huge Project Runway fan, so I figured that was reason enough to give another Bravo reality TV show a shot.

Big surprise, but there’s something that resonates so strongly in me when I watch these kinds of artist competitions. (Because, that’s basically what they are, right?) The casts of these shows just love their medium (be it dance, fashion design, singing, modeling etc) with such a passion, and they want to make it so badly. That belly fire desire is palpable, and (is this embarrassing?) it’s how I feel about writing.

I think that’s why I love reading other writers’ blogs too. We just all get it–that feeling of wanting to create something amazing, and that understanding of how hard, hard, hard it is to do.

Hmmm. I guess I’m feeling philosophical because I just sent off another revision of my YA manuscript to my editor, and my desire to make it great almost undid me.
But now, for the time-being at least, I have to let it go, and that means more time for blogging.

Stay-tuned for later this week when I unveil my special summer project for unleashing creativity!

Yesterday I spent the evening at Columbus East School as the guest author at their second annual Author’s Fair. I was thrilled to be a part of it, the students had such great questions for me, but, even better, read such beautiful poetry! Most of which they’d written themselves. I have no doubt the gym last night held authors I’ll be hearing from again.

The only bummer is I forgot my camera and cannot show you the amazing display tables of student work. I particularly enjoyed a story about a school bus that got sucked into a vortex! Now that’s some drama.

On my way home I was driving very carefully (it was raining) but couldn’t help notice one billboard out of the corner of my eye. It was for Moonvertizing–shine your ad by high-intensity laserbeam onto the surface of the moon! I couldn’t help feeling that I’d driven into a dystopian science fiction novel. Are the Moonvertizing people allowed to do that? Seriously? Who does the moon belong to anyway?! What if I don’t want my view of the night sky to be marred by a beer commercial?

Then I got smart and googled it.
Just a hoax, people! We are safe…for now.
But sheesh, am I gullible!

But here’s something that is absolutely true. The release date for THIRD GRADE BABY is now exactly four months away! I’m celebrating with this nifty countdown clock.

Myspace Countdown Clock You’ll also see it if you scroll all the way down to the bottom of the page!

And if you can’t wait for months, other exciting things are also afoot. I’ll be appearing on a panel of first-time children’s book authors at the Printer’s Row Book Fair in Chicago on June 7. More details to come!

Has it really been three months?
I’ve been so busy it feels more like I just blinked three times.

For the past two weeks I’ve been teaching a class on how to structure a novel at the Off-Campus Writer’s Workshop in Winnetka, IL. It’s been so fantastic meeting other writers, hearing about their great works-in-progress and working together at improving our writing. I truly believe that anyone who wants to be a writer must consider herself a lifelong student of the craft. So even though I’m standing behind the podium, I’m excited by how much I am learning too.

There’s one more session left if anyone out there is interested in joining us. The topic will be how to manage your subplots. Thursday morning, May 1, from 9:30-12:00 at the Winnetka Community House.

And now, even though this post is short, that’s all I have time to write. Because in addition to teaching, I’m still revising. (Or I should say revising again.) But this time with such energy, and a strong feeling that I’m improving my novel, as opposed to just muddling things up, which I kind of felt last time. So…yay!

I’ve gone back to middle school!
Does that sound like I’m telling you the nightmare I had last night? For me, it could have been. My middle school years were not pleasant, to say the least, but I haven’t been dreaming about them. Thank goodness. Middle school has come back to me recently in a couple of other ways.

1. I just read the book Queen Bees and Wannabes by Rosalind Wiseman. I don’t typically read non-fiction, but this book was so gripping I practically read it in one sitting. (It kept me up way past my bedtime.) It is a must read for writers with characters in this age group, all parents (especially those with daughters,) and anyone who just wants to understand those awkward years. (How’s that for an understatement!)

2. I just visited Shepard Middle School, and will soon visit Caruso Middle School, to talk about writing. I was blown away by the talent and enthusiasm of these students! Some of them had story concepts that would make many agents and editors salivate. I think I’ll hold on to the attendance list, because I have a feeling we all might be hearing from these kids in the future.

3. In preparing for above talk, I found my writing journal! The one I kept all through middle school and high school. I thought it was lost forever. But now all that teen angst is right there at my fingertips. Every emotion that passed through my body for seven years imortalized in bad poetry. Have you ever heard anything so exciting?

exhibit a:

exhibit b:
a trusting soul
trying to find
an interlocking soul
one that is
just the same
and very different
-jenny, age 15

Any of you care to relive grades six through eight with me?

Even though the New Year began a week ago, for me, it really didn’t feel like it had begun until today. Finally a day of uninterrupted Work Time!!!

Last week was still Vacation Time. The kids were home from school. Many people were still out of their offices, but today, life is officially back to normal. My kids were grumbling of course, but I think they’ll be glad to be seeing all their friends on a daily basis again. And besides, it’s fifty-eight degrees here! It’s not like we could have gone sledding again anyway. (We don’t own one of these here grass sleds. They do look fun, though.)

Did anyone get anything done during the last two weeks?

In 2k8 news:
Check out the class of 2k8 blog today to learn all about 2k8’s first book THE OPPOSITE OF INVISIBLE, by Liz Gallagher.

This Wednesday, January 9, I’ll be leading a writing workshop entitled Crafting Voice: Make Your Writing Sing. It’ll take place at The Bookstall in Winnetka, IL, 811 Elm Street, at 7 pm. If you are around and interested please drop by. With paper and pencil of course!

And if you can’t come, then visit me at LiveJournal, if you are of that ilk. My blog is now syndicated there for your blog-reading ease.

Goodness gracious I’m just so excited! I popped over to Lisa Yee’s blog today to see who’d won her hilarious Bodacious Book Title Competition, and my entry was an honorable mention! I feel seriously, um, honored.

The contest rules were easy, pick a book title, change one word to a word that rhymes with it and give a description of what the book was about. My husband and I were addicted for about two days, then we sought help and went cold turkey. (But not before I entered, obviously.)
Here’s my entry:
Book: The Polar Express
New Title: The Solar Express
Summary: Due to global warming Santa now owns beachfront property.
(And I will receive a small portion of the fantastic booty!)

And for any moms out there, check out this blog! (It’s written by my sis.)

I just read about this great site called FutureMe.org. Quite simply, it’s a way to send an email to yourself to be delivered at some date in the future. And this is the perfect time of year for it. I just sent one to my end-of-2008-self.

It’s a great activity to do with your kids. (Whether that means in your classroom or in your house!)

And then if you want more accountability, post one of your goals for 2008 here!
I’ll start:
In 2008 I will play more board games with my kids!