I like to dream yes, yes, right between my sound machine
On a cloud of sound I drift in the night
Any place it goes is right
Goes, far, flies near, to the stars away from here
Well you don't know what we can find
Why don't you come with me little girl
on a magic carpet ride
You don't know what we can see
Why don't you tell your dreams to me
Fantasy will set you free
Close your eyes girl
Look inside girl
Let the sound take you away
Steppenwolf
A newer version of "Magic Carpet Ride" 2010 Acrylic and Resin of wood and wood panel
I've been a bit quiet on the blogs lately because I'm trying to instill some self-discipline towards working. Today I painted this journal for Etsy.
I scooped up a couple of these at Michael's Craft Store knowing right away what I would add. I think any one of you could have guessed!
Yes indeed, my raven friend! I painted him with an acrylic paint base and then detailed him with colored pencils.
And then I added this to the back. So true, don't you think?
xo♥
GREATTRUTHS THAT LITTLE CHILDREN HAVE LEARNED:
1)No matter how hard you try, you can't baptize cats..
2) When your Mom is mad at your Dad, don't let her brush your hair.
3) If your sister hits you, don't hit her back. They always catch thesecond person.
4) Never ask your 3-year old brother to hold a tomato.
5) You can't trust dogs to watch your food..
6) Don't sneeze when someone is cutting your hair..
7) Never hold a Dust-Buster and a cat at the same time.
8) You can't hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk.
9) Don't wear polka-dot underwear under white shorts.
10) The best placeto be when you're sad is Grandma's lap.
GREAT TRUTHS THAT ADULTS HAVELEARNED:
1) Raising teenagers is like nailing jelly to a tree.
2) Wrinkles don't hurt.
3) Families are like fudge...mostly sweet, with a few nuts
4) Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground...
5) Laughing is good exercise. It's like jogging on the inside.
6) Middle age is when you choose your cereal for the fiber, not thetoy..
GREAT TRUTHSABOUT GROWING OLD
1) Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional...
2) Forget the health food. I need all the preservatives I can get.
3) When you fall down, you wonder what else you can do while you're downthere.
4) You're getting old when you get the same sensation from a rockingchair that you once got from a roller coaster.
5) It's frustrating when you know all the answers but nobody bothers
Elana Johnson has organized some interviews of writers who've traveled down this long and winding road toward publication. Some have agents. Some of them have book deals.
They've "made" it.
I will be featured on Beth Revis blog this Friday!
Here are some other blogs participating:
Click here for more inspiration: Lisa and Laura Roecker, Leah Clifford, Victoria Schwab, Kirsten Hubbard, Susan Adrian, Dawn Metcalf, Kim Harrington, Carrie Harris, Amy Holder, Kathy McCullough, Suzette Saxton and Bethany Wiggins, Gretchen McNeil and Tiffany Schmidt.
As Elana says, "Everyone involved is hoping this series will inspire you, provide a beam of hope along your way, and really prove that you CAN succeed in this crazy business. You CAN go from slush-pile-nothing to agented writer to published author."
Yes YOU!
There are nine of us artysoulsisters from around the world collaborating on nine journals. We each begin one and then we all add a page or pages to one another's book. Some of us have themes, some are freestyle.I was going themeless at first, but as my pages evolved I realized I'd like my book to be about journies, physical ones or spiritual ones.
After all, we're all on one great big one!
I started out with our cross-country move. The snail represents the slow way home, driving vs. flying. My belongings and loved ones are on the snail's back, Emma and Bliss trying to find balance in the chaos, and of course my raven guide is along for the journey!It wasn't too far into the trip that I realized this was more than a physical move.
I drove every single mile myself, nearly 3,800 because we detoured for a visit to my sister in Colorado. There was a nasty spider bite I had to contend with and two very scary near-misses on the highways. There were guides with us for sure!
The snail gets us to our destination leaving her glittery trail along the way. No slime in my journal! We open the doors that are clearly marked 'home' and find an envelope inside.
There are keys in the envelope welcoming us home. Little did I know that this journey would be this hard. I have come back to old friends and loving family but I deeply miss California and the life I had there.
I'm hoping when I emerge in the Spring I'll feel renewed with hope and happily settled into my new life and fill my studio with new art.
Luckily, nothing keeps me down!
Please check out the other fantastic journals at Artysoulsisters blog and follow our progress!
I was going back over my posts from last year and realized how far I have come in my writing journey in just a year.
Last year, around this time, I made a serious commitment to myself and the writing process. Prior to that I had dabbled, quit, returned, dabbled, and quit again. (oh yeah, I also quit a big time corporate job, had 2 kids, helped my hubby through a major back surgery, and had 6 months of vertigo)
But, last fall, I learned my writing buddy, Lindsey Leavitt, signed the final contract on her Princess for Hire deal (that went to auction!).
Her deal and journey made me realize something. "I can do this!"
You see Lindsey and I for a long time were in a similar space. In 2007, I had met her at her first SCBWI conference, which was the first conference I was also speaking at. We were reading the Twilight series at the time (along with a few BILLION other people.) So when her book sold to Hyperion, it was the first person I knew to get a real book deal.
I thought, "Wow! You mean this really happens? To people I know?" That was a HUGE eye opener for me.
Last October, I met her for coffee/chit chat after a SCBWI conference. She gave me some praise, some great advice, some pointers and most of all, hope, that it could happen for me. She really got me back on track.
So without Lindsey - and my critique group - I would not be here today. (Yes Lindsey, it's true. Stop shaking your head at me. Don't be so modest!)
After shelving one book along with many many rejections and working for 4 years to get published, last November, I finally queried my second novel "Grace Under Fire" to agents for the first time. I also rededicated myself to learning the ins and outs of the publishing business as well as jumpstart my blog again.
Here's everything I have done in just one year:
- Met my first Blogger Buddies: Carrie Harris, Casey McCormick, Chandler Craig, and Corey Schwartz, Sherrie Solvang, Suzanne Young, Plot This girls (BTW - Happy Bday Katie! :)
- Reignited blog - 0 followers
- queried "Grace Under Fire" for first time
- got full requests
- got vertigo
- got my first gray hair - ok third but whos counting
- First Marketing Blog interview with Chandler Craig -
- got rejections - including a personal one from Alyssa (my agent)
- started marketing series on my blog - about 50 followers, only about 2 comments a day
- got more rejections
- had hubby cit me off from having a 3rd baby. dolls will have to do.
- ran a Commenting contest - followers increased to 100
- started Facebook and Twitter
- pissed off my hair dresser and got banned from the salon
- Started "On the Bright Side - initially a YA
- joined Publishers weekly and Publishers Marketplace
- personal rejection with opportunity to resubmit
- revised Grace's entire plot
- another gray hair - obviously my old hairdresser's fault
- Resubmitted to agent who asked for book to be redone
So this is a weird time for me. Being done with a project that I know editors will see is very scary.
Last week, I had a minor panic attack about the whole publishing business.
As I head towards putting my baby out into the world, the reality hits me.
This is it! This is where the rubber meets the road (I sound like my dad!). This is where everything I've done the last few years, the sacrifices I have made, that my family has made comes down to this moment in time.
The prospect of this suddenly freaked me out!
For the past 5 years, I have dreamed of going out on submission with my book. Dreamed of editors fighting over my book. Dreamed of going to auction b.c everyone thinks I'm brilliant. Dreamed of making a huge sum of money. Dreamed of becoming a published author.
It was all hope to get me where I am today.
Now, that time is here, There is no going back. No do-over's. No more room for dreaming.
My dream either "will or will not" become my true reality. How that happens remains to be seen.
It dawned on me that this may NOT be my moment. This may not be where my dream comes true. It might and I imagine every day that it will, but the reality is it might not.
Sometimes it doesn't and sometimes it does. You just never know.
This business is finicky and no matter how great your writing is or your idea, sometimes your dream flies and sometimes it dies. That is just the reality.
My problem is that reality is not an option for me. Never has been. I dream big. And I dont' give up those dreams for a dumb thing called "reality".
I've resorted to doing Bikram Yoga the last several days to get the weight off my chest. The heavy one that makes me feel as if I cannot breathe.
And I realize I got this same way when I was looking for an agent. I got to a point where I could not sleep, could not stop checking my statcounter or email, could not write. And I could not breath.
I got so attached to the outcome. I eventually said out loud one day, "It doesn't matter what happens. I will write no matter what anyway. I have to let go of my attachment to the result and enjoy the journey."
Because you know what? The journey is fun if you let go of the end result.
Well let me tell you that feeling does not go away after you get an agent. That feeling is a shapeshifter. That feeling comes back in a different form. It comes back in disguise. And it took me a while to realize it.
My friend asked me the other day - "so if this all makes you so anxious, why do it?"
I said, "It doesn't make me anxious until I think about the money side of it."
She simply said, "Then don't think about that."
And it dawned on me. She's right. Why am I hanging on so tightly to that. Enough to where it is making me miserable. I have to let it go. I have to have faith in the process and try to enjoy the process. Because let me tell you - the process itself has been fun. Hard. But fun. As long as I release my focus on the end result I am happy.
Yesterday, after I talked to my friend, I decided to pull a Tarot card from my Angel deck someone gave me when I got an agent (for my angel book).
(yes I am admitting to being a total freak. I dont live by these things, but I believe in all that stuff - dreams, tarot cards, numerology, astrology readings, signs from the universe ect. You name it, I believe it. Anything that can possibly give me any additional insight to my future or path, I believe in. please don't unfollow me for this!!! :)
Anyway, I closed my eyes and swept my hand over the deck of cards.
And guess what card I pull (out of like 100 cards).
Release and Surrender.
Here is what it said:
"We shower you with blessings. Open your arms and release the challenges that you've held so tightly within your hands. Open your hands, arms, mind and heart to love and assistance. You have pulled this card b/ you have been trying to control a situation in your life. You must emotionally let go and have faith that a higher power can do a better job. Surrendering does not mean you are giving up, it just assures you of happiness and a better outcome. Don't worry about how your prayer will be answered. Release the need for control and trust all will work out."
I cried when I read it.
It's so true. We hold on so tightly to outcomes that we freak ourselves out along the way.
I let go during the agent process and focused on enjoying the writing and submission process. Not soon after, I got an amazing agent.
This summer during my heavy revision process, I did the same thing. I let go of when I was going out on sub or possibly missing an opportunity and focused back on my writing process. Enjoyed learning from my agent and made sure I was grateful for the journey.
Now, I am going to do it again.
I am letting go of expectations, fame, fortune, and my tight attachment to outcomes and results. I am going back to enjoying the process.
Because the truth is - when I just focus on the writing and how I feel when I am doing it. My heart is full and I am elated. The minute I take myself out of the journey to try and see, predict or guess what the future holds or where I will be, I feel as if a weight drops from the sky and lands on my chest.
So today, I release and surrender.
Recently a 17-yr. old boy, Zac Sunderland, completed a 13-month, 28,000 mile, round-the-world voyage in a 36 ft. sailboat. Zac bought his well-used boat for $6000, and set sail in June 2008 when he was only 16, arriving back home earlier this month, 13 months later, at Marina Del Rey in southern California. Previously home-schooled, he studied to complete a high school education while at sea. His parents--dad is a professional sailor--stayed in touch with him during the voyage, using special software and satellite updates to help track storms in Zac's path.
I was reminded of this daring kid's voyage while at the nearby Point Arena wharf, inspecting a small monument (see my sketch) on the rock-armored beach, commemorating a landing of 15 men from the town of Yawatahama, Japan, on Aug. 13, 1913. A free-hand etching done on a metal plate set in the top of the monument depicts their 15-meter, 3-masted junk, and though the boat was a bit larger than Zac's, it may not have been any more seaworthy, and certainly did not have the satellite updates of weather to help plan the safest route along the 11,000 km voyage. It did have 15 crewmen , though, which I'm not certain was an asset or a problem. Disappointingly, the hopeful immigrants were returned to Japan; nevertheless, a sister city relationship sprang up between Yawatahama and Point Arena in later years.
All of which leads into my latest evening reading, "On to Oregon," by Honore Morrow. First published in 1926, it had been mentioned by a number of YA literature folks as one of their favorite books while growing up, and was compared to a couple of American classics. I'd never heard of Morrow's novel, but as noted, I'm intrigued by stories of epic journeys. John Sager, a 14-yr. old boy, with four younger siblings, and his parents, are on a wagon train leaving Missouri in 1844, and headed for the Oregon Territory. He is a difficult, rebellious boy, and the journey up through Wyoming has already faced desolate wasteland, hunger, sickness, and marauding Indians. When both of John's parents die of disease, it falls to this undisciplined, but tenacious boy to keep his remaining family together, and try to bring their wagon through to Oregon. John has elements of Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer in his makeup, but he faces much more dangerous trials in his story. I'm only one-third through, so I've yet to decide how well the book succeeds.
A collection of my YA book reviews is at Jacketflap.
I'm setting out on an inner journey as well as a physical one.
It's as if the skies cracked open to show me the way home.
It appears the 'new leaf' I needed to turn over was back there where I left it.
This is a SoulCollage I did some time last year that seems so fitting now.
This is my first time posting to the blog, so I hope I don't gum up the workings with mistakes!
This image is from one of my own stories (unpublished) titled "The Walk". A little girl takes her baby brother on a journey to help distract him from teething troubles. One of those projects that needs a lot of work before it can go out again!
Don’t you hate it when you think of something when you are half asleep and it's crystal clear in every detail but when you come to note it down later, or in the morning, it's but a shadow of its former self. This happened to me recently. This is what I remember, but the original seemed so much more... I don’t know what... just more!
Last week I was almost asleep when I started thinking of a journey, not your average trip by car, plane or on foot and it wasn’t even my story…
You see there is this little squat horn-toed creature with sharp ears and a rather long chin. He is on his way along a winding path through what is obviously a fairytale land, you can tell that by the lane that meanders through unbelievably perfect countryside with undulating hills, all the optimum size for ‘pleasantness’. He is muttering and mumbling to himself as he approaches a small house with happily drooping roof, which might just look like it had been knitted if you looked at it in the right light. He has several packages under his arm that all look similar in shape and size. They are each wrapped in brown paper and tied with a piece of old knotted string.
He knocks at the door and when a young wench in a low cut blouse opens the door he gingerly hands over one of the rectangular packages. She frowns when she sees who is at the door but she takes the package. The creature looks pained as she is patently uninterested and quickly shuts the door before he has even finished speaking. He stands for a moment staring at the closed door, almost as if he wants to knock again.
Eventually he trots off along the road to the next building, which looms high above him, an imposing structure. This time he pulls a bell that rings sonorously, echoing through the valley. A tall, thin man opens the door. The horn-toed creature offers him one of the packages giving detailed instructions. The tall, thin man takes it and although he promises to deliver the package the creature shakes his head knowing that his precious package is unlikely to be opened at all, far less by the person it is intended for.
(yes, I can hear the large penny dropping as some of you read this!!)
Setting off once more he finally arrives at a shabby looking hut and on knocking at the door he is welcomed in by a scruffy old man and offered a mug of steaming ale. They sit together and the creature begins to talk at length as he offers the package, pushing it into the old man’s hands. The scruffy old man takes the sheaf of papers from the wrapping and starts to read the first few lines. In moments he is engrossed paying no attention to his guest.
Delighted, the creature sinks back into his chair and waits, unwilling to disturb the shabby old man’s obvious enjoyment of his manuscript. After a few pages the old man looks up and grins. They shake hands and the creature sets off with a spring in his step.
As he walks home he sees a familiar package at the top of the pile of rubbish outside the tall imposing building, wrapped in brown paper and string but slightly torn at the corner. A little further on he notices that one of the windows of the first house is open, unsurprising on this hot day, but he cans see that it is his manuscript that has been rolled up and used to stop the window closing.
With a shrug of his slightly bent shoulders he continues on his way home, still wearing a smile as he remembers the look on the old man’s face as he read, the delight and enthusiasm in his voice. The creature knows the old man may still decide not to take it but he is still happy because he is sure his precious words are being read and at least considered, not discarded……
By: Rebecca,
on 1/31/2008
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I first learned the Donner Party story as a teenager hiking over Donner Pass and their harrowing fight for survival has always stayed with me. So you can imagine how excited I was to read Ethan Rarick’s Desperate Passage: The Donner Party’s Perilous Journey West. Rarick provides an intimate portrait of the Donner Party and their unimaginable ordeal in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. We were lucky enough to have radio host Dorian Devins interview Rarick and two clips from that interview appear below. Stay tuned in the upcoming weeks for more audio clips from Rarick’s interview.
“The Basic Story”
(transcription after the jump.) (more…)
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By: Rebecca,
on 10/11/2007
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Today is National Coming Out Day and for all of you coming into your own I thought I would provide some useful resources. Below are some websites and books that should help your journey. Congratulations!
HRC Guide to Coming Out
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I've inserted a watercolor done at my life drawing session last week. The pensive mood is nice, and it's time to start another novel, which will involve some casting about for concept and theme. My present evening reading is Cervantes’s “Don Quixote,” translated by Edith Grossman. I’ve read other, earlier translations, but this is both scholarly and a handsome edition, replete with footnotes about Cervantes’s story references, and the manuscript history. A jacket blurb by Lionel Trilling says, “It can be said that all prose fiction is a variation on the theme of “Don Quixote.” Perhaps. The theme of an addled but learned man coming centuries late to the call of knightly chivalry, and setting out in comical, makeshift knight’s regalia to seek adventure, has the ingredients of a comical farce, and yet, it never admits to anything like tongue-in-cheek comedy. We groan and shake our heads at Quixote’s foibles, even smile, ruefully, but the language, and often the wisdom sweep us along. Another jacket blurb by Milan Kundera says it well, “Don Quixote is practically unthinkable as a living being, and yet, in our memory, what character is more alive?” There are many story variations on this hero’s journey, or quest, from the crossing of the threshold from our world into the story world, the trials the hero must face along the journey, the winning (or losing) of some treasure, and the return—richer or poorer, in wealth or spirit. Perhaps none have, or will, make the journey quite like Don Quixote.
ell I have started off the "guideline" of an blog a day with a bang- check back in a month and see how I am really doing!! Thought about "sailing through" today with getting two up yesterday with my illustration friday entry! But really wanted to record how I came to this ephany!
It was all due to standing around a coffee/bookstore in Farmington New Mexico- waiting for a bagel to be made! Had to travel there for a meeting and found the most wonderful little bookstore- downtown- walls all painted bright colors, filled with wonderful books and earthly people. Next to the coffee counter was a card display and a line of cards of women with long faces, big hands and feet caught my eye- I started reading the captions and realized I understood this artists poetry- I dont know if she would call it poetry- but I did- Susan Mrosek is her name and her line of cards is called "pondering pool" - some of her phrases I dont get "yet"- I hope they will seep into me in time- the ones I do- so hit a cord with me- about the ways we as women carry our joys and our sorrows on us and in us- in such a physical way- that is what I love about her work- here is one to ponder upon-
" Slumber- I must say I am exhuasted!I've tossed twice over and once on my back. I've no room to lounge in this jumble of thoughts that crowd my bed." From her book Leaks
I love her work and it certainly inspires me- but what really hit me like a freight train was reading in her book and here I quote her again-
"It stands to reason.
I stand to reason.
I stand to write.
Writing helps make reason-
which is the reason I write."
Wow! I am an artist I create- I am a writer- so I should be writing- for that "Stands to Reason!"
to check her out- go to the pondering pool link in the side bar!
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The colors are beautiful! Bravo, dear one, Bravo!
looks magical ♥
love the colors on this one Val, lovely :)
vibrant and playful:) makes my little girl inside, dance! :D
This is lovely! Love how the fantasy is too big to be kept in by the frame!
LOL a much more innocent rendition representing that song than the image that was once stimulated!
Fantastic! In my wildest dreams, I'd like to reach for a place like this, too! :o)
Gorgeous colors!
Absolutely awesome!
Enchanting and dreamy :)
This is lovely! Such a soothing and charming image...like being read to after I've been tucked in!
Hey Val! Wow the colors and the sky make this dreamy :o) I’ve always liked the song... now I’ll like it more because your painting will come to mind. Superb my friend!