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A few of us Buzz Girls are participating in the YA Scavenger Hunt organized by YA author Colleen Houck. Our own Marley, Tera, and Heather will be part of the event, which will be one day only -- August 1st.
There are thirty YA authors participating, all of whom will post bonus chapters, news on upcoming books, cover reveals, and much much more on their individual sites. To play, you just start at one of our sites and follow the links to complete the hunt -- enjoying all this cool insider content along the way.
At many of the author sites, you can enter individual giveaways. To enter the grand prize drawing for a multi-author book bonanza, you'll collect the clue word in red on each author's post to complete the YA Scavenger Hunt Puzzle. Once you've got the puzzle completed, you'll email it in to enter the grand prize drawing. Rules and a puzzle form will be on each author's blog in the hunt.
It's one day only - August 1st, 2011 -- so get ready to go on the hunt!
Hugs,
Heather
3 Comments on YA Scavenger Hunt on August 1st!, last added: 8/1/2011
I hope everyone had a wonderful, firework-filled Fourth of July! My fiance, his boys, and I are in Florida awaiting the launch of the space shuttle Atlantis. Not just any launch, but the final one. Not just the final one for Atlantis, but the final launch for the entire program.
After thirty years and over 135 launches, America's space shuttle program will come to an end. Atlantis is scheduled to lift off for the last time on Friday morning, July 8th at 11:26 a.m. And we're here to see it!
Officials here at Cape Canaveral are expecting a million people to pour into the neighboring towns to watch Atlantis soar into the sky one last time. We've already staked out our viewing location--12 miles away--and plan to get there wicked early to set up our lawn chairs, cooler of ice water, still cameras, and video recorders. If you've got deep pockets, you can pay for a ticket to watch the launch from the causeway--about 5 miles away. If you're one of the lucky ones who won tickets, you can view the launch from the area with the astronaut's families--3 miles away. This is the closest you can get to the orbiter.
The Crew of Atlantis
...or so we thought.
Patrick and I were at the Canaveral National Seashore to swim and hang out when we noticed something toward the end of Playalinda Beach. We walked and walked and walked...probably for a mile...until we reached a security fence protruding into the ocean. A man in a guard tower held up his hand to keep us from getting closer. But we were allowed to stand there with others and stare in awe...Atlantis in all of her glory sitting on Launch Pad 39A only ONE MILE away!
Truly a moment to cherish!
Have you ever seen a shuttle launch? It's got to be a magical experience...which we'll find out soon. We'll see if the weather holds off and Atlantis and her crew speed away on Friday morning! Keep your fingers crossed!
Godspeed the crew of Atlantis!
5 Comments on The final countdown..., last added: 7/6/2011
As a daughter of a NASA man, I did get to see launches growing up. I was pretty young though, so it was like, oh yes, there it is, whoopee, now can we get ice cream? I'm so glad you'll be there so we can live vicariously!
So excited to be celebrating the release of Tera's new book, Fins Are Forever. I do apologize that my crazy travel schedule kept me from posting last week on Heather's good news...so a belated "whoohoo!" to Heather, as well.
We're talking about memories that involve water...and I created one just last week. And boy, was it a wonder. One of the wonders of the world, in fact: Niagara Falls.
My fiance, Patrick Burns, and I have his two boys with us this summer and we're always looking for things to do to keep them entertained. Well, we were scheduled for a conference in Illinois one weekend and Auburn, New York the next week, so we took the time to drive to Niagara Falls and take in the spendor and beauty of the natural wonder.
This was my fourth visit, but it never fails to take my breath away. This time was especially memorable because we had the kidlets with us and they had never been there. Also, I have always wanted to ride on the Maid of the Mist, the boat that takes you literally right up underneath the horseshoe falls. We did it! We were on the front of the boat and got completely soaked, but I'd do it again in a heartbeat.
And, you can't take a bad picture of the Falls. The sheer power and beauty of it is overwhelming. It was an extraordinary day--albeit, a wet one--and following a warm cup of tea and reminiscing already, I know it was a day to remember for all of us. A real "family" moment...and that's what counts.
Have you been to Niagara Falls? What did you think? Share your thoughts and memories. Remember, three lucky commenters this week will win a Fins pack from Tera Lynn Childs. Click HERE for all the exciting details. And congrat's, TLC! You are truly blessed by the cover gods! LOL!!
Hugs, Marley = )
www.marleygibson.com www.ghosthuntress.com
The next installment of the popular Ghost Huntress series is out and everything's not as it seems... GHOST HUNTRESS: THE DISCOVERY
23 Comments on A Natural Wonder!, last added: 6/25/2011
Next time you go, do the Cave of the Winds 'tour.' You get to *walk* up under the water at one point -- not a major part of the Falls, but it's powerful nonetheless. You will get absolutely soaked, but to feel the power of the water (and it's a little scary!) is absolutely incredible.
My parents went to Niagara Falls before I was born and they said it was beautiful. It looks like a lot of fun to go see it... if you can stand getting soaked. Haha! It's definitely on my list of places to visit.
I love Niagraa Falls! I can't remember how many times i've gone, I recommend getting a day pass when you go, cause for $25 you can take a ride on the ferris wheel, visit the wax museum, and play a round of mini-putt. It's a great outing. Maid of the Mist is amazing and very refreshing. Along with the gorgeous falls, the Coach outlet is a great way to pass sometime as well. O and the casino! So much to do in Niagara Falls!
I don't know why, but there's something that unnerves me about Niagara Falls. I don't know why, I've never been. I guess you really can't knock it 'til you try it, right?!
Congratulations to all of the graduates in the Class of 2011! I bet you thought you'd never get here. Hats off to you for your accomplishment and best wishes in your future endeavors where ever they may lead you.
I remember being in middle school and counting ahead to the year when I would graduate. It seemed so far in the future. Now, I look back and it seems so far in the past. Why, when I graduated in 1885...errrr, I mean 1985, the members of the class of 2011 weren't even a twinkle in their parents' eyes.
Even though Tera already posted a link to old photos of me, I'll go ahead and toss some up.
Here I am last year when I visited "the hill," where Pike Liberal Art School sits in Troy, Alabama. The campus has changed quite a bit, but there was still the same familiar feel on the soil that I walked for twelve years.
Here's my senior portrait. Keep in mind, this was back in the days when thick eyebrows and girl mullets were the fashion. LOL!
I had twenty-eight (28) people in my senior class. We were a really tight-knit group through our years together from first grade until twelth. It seemed as if our world would end being "busted up," but so many people have gone on to wonderful lives. Careers that include, the military, lawyer, policeman, several school teachers, nurses, and even a district judge! Then there's little old me...the published author. Who'd a thunk it? LOL!
Here's our senior portfolio. I'm on the top line because I was a class officer. This is hanging in the hallway at my alma mater, along with all of the other classes. (Check out the big hair on everyone!) Sadly, there's a prayer hand notation on one of my classmates who passed away.
Actually, when I left high school for The University of Alabama, I had planned on getting a degree in psychology and then going forward into medical school. That all changed after my freshman year at Bama when I my creative juices took over in my communication and writing classes and I longed to go into marketing/advertising/public relations. Now *that's* a switch!
That's the great thing about this time in your life. You can change your mind. You can try on dreams and ideas and see what fit. The only thing that matters is that you discover who you are...and who you want to be...and don't let anyone or anything hold you back from your dream, whatever it may be.
So...congrats to the class of 2011! I wish you success and happiness!
Hugs, Marley = )
8 Comments on Hats off to the Class of 2011!, last added: 5/26/2011
Wow, only 28 in your grad class? I was well over 500. (Wait, did I write the same thing that Wendy did? LOL.) Anyway, fun to learn more about you and see your pictures!
And congrats to the class of 2011!
Kari said, on 5/25/2011 4:18:00 PM
My class was about 250, and the Class of 2010 was better than 2011...Just sayin' XD
I get emails a lot asking me where I come up with the names for my characters. Is there a specific formula or a particular way to do it? Absolutely not! LOL! Most of the time, I come up with my character names in the most peculiar ways. You want to make sure that your characters' names fit their role in the story...as well as fitting the overall theme of the story.
Here are some tips for naming characters:
1. Choose something that mirror's your character's personality. If your character is a science geek (like Celia Nichols in GHOST HUNTRESS), give them a name that fits their interests. My first manuscript was about a naive twenty-something working her first job in the tech industry, traveling to tradeshows, and unfortunately giving away a company trade secret. Her name was Vanessa Virtue. It was perfect for her. Could you imagine Thor with any other name? If he was Irving, it just wouldn't work.
2. The character's name should be pronouncable and easy for the reader to understand. Think of how the name sounds if you say it out loud. Is there a harmony or a ring to it? Avoid names that no one knows how to say. I respect all of the urban fantasy out there these days, but some of the names are just...unrecognizable. Being creative with a name is great, but not if you reader has no clue how to say it in their head.
3. Make sure the character's name fits the time period. You wouldn't want to write a contemporary YA and name the heroine...Ethel. (My grandma was Ethel...so apologies if I offend anyone.) If you're writing steampunk or historical YA, make sure to use names from the time period. I don't think anyone back then would be named Brittney. LOL!
4. Use the names of people you know...friends, family, colleagues. When I first sold my SORORITY 101 series, all of the guys at my sales office wanted to be in the book. So I put them in as random fraternity guys, teachers, and fellow students. I carried this tradition on with my GHOST HUNTRESS books. The character of Rebecca is one of my best friends (see below.) She's not a goth chick at all, so she loves reading her "alter ego." Be careful with this technique as you don't want to make anyone look bad or make the character reflect something you can get sued over. Always get the person's permission to use their name. Funny enough, the name Kendall Moorehead, the heroine of the GHOST HUNTRESS series came from an offensive lineman that played for the University of Alabama when I was in school. I always loved the name and wanted to use it. So I did.
5. Obituaries are a great place to find unique and personality-filled names. Now, before you throw rotten tomatoes at me, a LOT of authors do this. It's a tribute to the person in that their name carries on and, you can read a lot of about who they were in their obituary, and pay tribute to their life.
6. There are numerous online sources you can use for naming characters. If you're writing about someone that was born in a particular year, why not visit the Social Security website that ranks the popular names by year. Or, you can use any "name your baby" website. There are also name generator websites you can use, as well. Use a surname generator for your family's history
2 Comments on Naming Characters, last added: 5/13/2011
I am forever writing down names in my notebooks--my favorites being slightly unusual but, like you said, pronounceable. In my book, THE ABC'S OF KISSING BOYS, the "mean girl" is called Chrissandra. I have no idea if that's a common name or if the mother of the woman I met made it up, but once I heard it, I knew I was going to use it!
We are so excited to be celebrating the release of Marley Gibson's Ghost Huntress: The Discovery this week, and in doing so, each of the Buzz Girls is writing about discoveries. As for me, I like discovering new things about where I live: new things to do, new sights to see, new people to meet. I have a good friend named Meredith who lives in AZ but has a second home about 10 minutes away from where I live, here in UT. So every time she's here, we go to fun places for dinner, hit the lake in the summer or go skiing in the winter. As you can see in the photo, we accidentally showed up at Snowbasin with the same ski clothes. (People wondered if we were on the Swiss Ski Team!) She likes to go snow mobiling, but as you can read HERE I am banned from that particular sport so I have yet to join her. I really love it when she's in town because I get to vacation right here at home!
This summer marks the second time my family is having a big reunion in my town. We rent out a B&B and in addition to boating, hiking, biking, and fishing, we go to a petting farm and a crazy store called Smith & Edward's (where we took this photo), explore the a couple of hot pots at the base of the canyon, dip our toes in the Great Salt Lake, and do other random/silly/cool things together. I'm really excited to discover new things to do when they're all here come July.
For a chance to win Marley's fabulous prize package: a signed copy of THE DISCOVERY (Yay!), a dowsing pendulum, incense and an incense burner, and two awesome bracelets, leave a comment telling something you've discovered about where you live.
Good luck!
12 Comments on A Continued Celebration of GHOST HUNTRESS: THE DISCOVERY, last added: 5/6/2011
First of all, I never knew about your snowboarding experiences, and can I just say OUCH?
Here's something I learned about where I live in southern California, just last night. That the local 1940's motel that they are forever threatening to tear down is actually in Lima, Ohio...or at least, it appeared so last night in an episode of GLEE!
Kari said, on 5/4/2011 12:14:00 PM
I've learned air conditioners are crucial in living in Phoenix. I learned this last summer when mine went out and I spent 3 days sleeping on the tile floor because it was cooler than my bed. XD Also, sleeping on tile floors hurts, jsyk
This year it has been how bad tornados can really be. While I was little we always got the warnings but never really got hit. This year hasnt been as bad as the southern states but hasnt been that great either.
I learned that the weather here is actually more severe than I originally thought. I always thought that I was kind of separated from the rest of the country so that I was unaffected by the harms of the weather (a.k.a. mother nature), but this winter has shown me that my area suffers from the same harmful weather conditions as everyone else. I live in New England, so we get a touch of heavy snow, heavy rain, extremely humid days, etc. I'm used to living in these conditions, but as I see what goes on around the world, I actually understand how similar each area is in several ways.
I'm pretty new to the area I live in, but I've done some research and found that Lake Elsinore used to be a resort town for movie stars in the '20s and '30s. You can still see the ruins of the old country club, and apparently Bela Lugosi's son attended the now abandoned military academy across the lake. There's also an old haunted bathhouse (now an antique store) next to Steve McQueen's old dingy bar. I love digging through history!
Oh I leave where the first Mcdonalds opened though its nothing intresting its still kind of school In a more creppy part of my town is that John Wayn Gase was cought.
Anonymous said, on 5/5/2011 4:06:00 PM
Well, I knew our state's motto, but I didn't know what it meant. Apparently "Esto Perpetua" means "It is forever". [email protected]
To all of our Buzz fans, I want to wish you a Happy Passover and Happy Easter! Wow...is spring really upon us? I sure do hope so. We've been in Gettysburg for the last month...or as I call it, Wettysburg. I know April showers bring May flowers...those need to be some pretty stupendous flowers! LOL!
Some good news to share is the WINNER of my Meg Cabot book giveaway. A copy of AVALON HIGH CORONATION goes to...
************1110cg************
Congrats! Please e-mail me at marley_gibson AT yahoo DOT com with your name and mailing address.
Now...to this week's giveaway. (Isn't this fun?) I'm giving away a copy of my fellow St. Martin's Press author, C. C. Hunter's book BORN AT MIDNIGHT. The cover is reallllly dark and cool.
To enter the book giveaway, please leave a comment letting us know what you and yours are planning for the Passover/Easter holidays. Anything yummy to eat? Family traditions?
Hugs, Marley = )
www.marleygibson.com www.ghosthuntress.com
The next installment of the popular Ghost Huntress series Coming May 2nd! Everything's not as it seems... GHOST HUNTRESS: THE DISCOVERY
18 Comments on Happy Happy...a winner...and another giveaway!, last added: 4/21/2011
Every year, despite the fact that both my sister and I are grown, we have an Easter egg hunt in the yard. My aunt hides the eggs and we find them, they have numbers in them and we can turn them in for awesome prizes. We also still get Easter baskets. We aren't allowed to have our baskets until after church and it is kind of fun to wait and see what is in them. After church we also have a traditional meal of ham, deviled eggs, potato salad, asparagus, and cauliflower salad- very spring like.
The hubs and I are doing something different this year. We are staying home and spending the holiday with just the 2 of us. We've never done this before so it should be nice. Although, that does mean that I have to do the cooking. :o)
My family always goes to church and following that we go to my grandmother's house. As usual, our Easter tradition is I hang ut with my little cousins and babysit them while my brother and the rest of the family play cards and gamble after dinner....it's very closely related to our Christmas festivities as well :)
I'm gonna miss my fam's Easter celebration this year. Usually, there is a ham dinner with lots of sides like scalloped potatoes.
Back in the day, I really enjoyed Holy Week and always went to Good Friday service to remember what the whole Easter story is all about. The best part is that the cross filled with nails on Friday night was covered with flowers on Easter Sunday. Transformation is always awesome, no matter what your belief system. :)
The family all go over to my parents house for a huge turkey dinner.The kids get to have an Easter egg hunt too.My nephew was only 2 months old last year so this year he'll enjoy it more.I'm looking forward to that. I hope everyone has a Happy Easter elaing8(at)netscape(dot)net
1110cg said, on 4/20/2011 10:39:00 AM
Happy easter and passover. We celebrated last night with my Jewish side, and had lots of matzo ball soup. For easter we get to celebrate even more.
I am going to my grandparent's house this year for Easter. All of my cousins on my mom's side of the family are younger than me, so we have an Easter egg hunt. Of course, I participate, but I mostly help my favorite little cousin find some eggs. We usually have ham with the pineapple rings and cherries around it along with mashed potatoes, corn, salads, etc. Mostly the basics. However, this year we are also going to combine Easter with my grandmother's birthday, so we'll have her favorite dish. I think it's called fettuccine Alfredo, but I'm not sure. It's a white, Alfredo type sauce with broccoli and chicken over fettuccine. It's really good. My family usually goes to church before we go to my grandparent's house. We alternate between my mom's church (where I usually go) and my dad's church. It should be fun this year since we have another new addition to our family. He was just born a few months ago (December 17th) so this will be his first Easter. I'm pretty excited. :) Have a nice Easter!
Actually, my family is not very religious so now that all us kids are grown, and there are no Easter baskets or egg hunts to do, we just use it as an excuse to have a big ham dinner. :)
The family gets together for Easter and we have a ham with the usual sides, green beans, potato salad.
bacchus76 at myself dot com
Kari said, on 4/20/2011 3:24:00 PM
We, of course have an Easter egg hunt. We used to do it (my sisters and I ), but now my niece and nephews do it, and it is postively endearing. We also always get a new movie to watch, and this year it's Tangled XD
petra said, on 4/20/2011 5:04:00 PM
we eat a lot of ham and potato salad and color eggs for the kids. please enter me to win the book.
We don't really have any traditions on Easter - they change year to year depending on who is coming to Easter. I always love the years my mom makes her cheesy potatoes, as they are quite awesome.
Anonymous said, on 4/20/2011 5:23:00 PM
will go to an easter service. then dinner with family. lots of italian treats to munch on.the best for me will be veggie lasagna.
First Easter we get to celebrate Easter as a family with an Easter Egg Hunt with the kids 5yr and 3yr. Enjoying the Home raised smoked Ham and Noodles and Cheese...peas and pearl onions, Pierogi-Style Lasanga and Strawberry Poke Cake with Cool whip.
Last Wednesday, I offered up an advanced copy of the next GHOST HUNTRESS book, THE DISCOVERY. And the winner is...
Amanda Mora!
Congrats Amanda! Please e-mail me at marley_gibson AT yahoo dot com with your contact information so I can get it in the mail to you. A really cool thing...I'm blogging from 35,000 feet. Thanks to a nice $5 connection from Southwest, I'm able to wave down at you from the friendly skies as I'm headed out to Los Angeles for the RT Booklovers Conference. I'm really excited to see fellow Buzz girls, Tina, Tera, Heather, and Dona, and our former Buzz girl, Simone Elkeles and so many others. My agent, Deidre Knight, and I are doing a panel on how agents sell film rights to books. I'm participating in CLUB RT, giving away a fun ghost hunting basket, and, of course, I'll be participating in Teen Day!
As Tina and Tera mentioned in their posts, I'll be among the teen authors appearing at Teen Day at the Romantic Times Booklovers Convention on Saturday. Something cool is the teen authors will have their own rows, all together, for easy access. Then all of the YA gang will move into various activities like meets-and-greets, interesting talks, author readings, one-on-one "speed dates," and then all followed by a teen party. This is my first RT conference and I can't wait!
I ran across an interesting article online from the Wall Street Journal regarding things that are said in social media circles and how it can effect one's employment status. Check it out.
My dear old dad always told me growing up, "Don't put in writing what you wouldn't want the whole world to see." He's right. I've always tried to operate this way in my life. However, Facebook, Twitter, and blogging changed everything.
We are a society of immediacy. We drive through to get our food. We Red Box our movies. We file our income tax online. We don't like to think things over too long or wait for results. Has this resulted in stifling our own internal sensor as to what is and isn't appropriate to say?
(This teacher said she was fired because of a Facebook photo of her on her European vacation holding alcohol. Let's remember...she's of age and it's legal to drink. So why was she fired for that?)
My friend, Pam, is an executive recruiter and she tells me that not only do employers look people up online (website, blog, Twitter, FB) before interviewing them, but schools also look at potential students' sites to see what kind of addition they'll be to campus life.
Is this right? Is Freedom of Speech gone wild? Or is it an infrigement of your rights to have to be accountable for everything you say online.
Just because we CAN say whatever we want, does that mean we SHOULD?
Sure, we've all encountered the school beyotch who made life unbearable at times. We've all had the fat cat of a boss who manages you with a heavy hand. Is it appropriate to Tweet or FB every emotion related to dealing with these people?
It's a slippery slope and one that it seems the courts will start hashing out.
What do you think? What does your "digital" or "virtual social footstep" say about you?
Would love to hear your thoughts!
Hugs, Marley = )
www.marleygibson.com www.ghosthuntress.com
Ghosts don't hang up their sheets after Halloween! GHOST HUNTRESS series - The Awakening, The Guidance, The Reason, The Counseling - available now!
4 Comments on Watch what you say!, last added: 1/29/2011
I totally agree with the precautions employers and colleges are taking....although they can go overboard (ex. the teacher fired for her facebook photo)I totally believe that what you put out there should be held against you. The internet is now the perfect place for bullies and people to go wild, sometimes we forget others can see that.
Yeah, working in a school there's obvious no-nos.. do not talk about your students, don't even mention what happened at school.. don't post any pictures of drinking, etc. I've known of teachers who have gotten fired or written up because of something silly they have said on facebook. And now with twitter, that is dually so.
It's a little creepy the way once you put it on the web it is there forever. Makes me rethink the whole facebook thing some days.
well, this is definitely a minefield. No matter what or where you say something, I think you should be accountable for it--although I'm not sure I would say they it should be held "against" us (sorry, that's probably just semantics).
I kind of try to follow the rule, "what would my mother think if she saw it."--but I do have a fairly understanding mother...
There are definitely people that I will not friend, because I wouldn't want it to affect me in a professional capacity--and also the reason that I keep my profile private--friends and family only.
But now, people are being encouraged to use social networking in their job searches and job capacity--so who's really blurring the lines, here?
as for that teacher--what's to say that she's even drinking anything alcoholic?--couldn't it just as easily be nonalcoholic? apple juice?--maybe everyone else was drinking and she abstained?
or, ok, let's say she is a legal adult and was drinking--what if someone else took the picture and posted it on their page?--something that she would have absolutely no control over.
I definitely don't think that this should have been a fire-able offense, but the fact is that we now live in an age without privacy. Or perhaps censorship is the new privacy???
For those of you who religiously read our blog here, you know that I'm a foodie, through and through, and adore cooking. But, when I'm on deadline for a new book (25 days to be exact!) and lock myself into the writing cave, how do people get fed?
In fact, a friend on Facebook asked me, "how in the world do you write and cook?"
The answer is simple: Crock Pot.
(My carnitas that was muy excellente!)
Okay, I'll admit that I was slow to jump on the crock pot wagon. My ex never wanted me to get one because 1) he didn't want something plugged in and on all day while we were away, and, 2) he didn't believe it actually cooked the meat to a proper temperature. While I agree mostly with the first point, the second point couldn't be more incorrect. Crock pots totally cook the meat to a proper temperature. It just takes...time.
And when I'm in the blood fever of writing my book, time isn't necessarily on my side. I'm the world's biggest procrastinator, so I'm always working my tailfeathers off to get the book done...always on time. Writing RADIATE is no different.
With the crock pot, I can toss something together in the late morning or early afternoon and then when us night owls are ready to eat around 9-10-ish, voila...a complete meal. LIke last night's beef stew!
So...if you're working hard on a book and don't think you can get a decent, nutritional, hot meal on the table for your family? Think again. Try a crock pot...it's no...crock. LOL!
Leaves me more time to write...with the help of my two new muses, Madi and Boo.
Would love any recipes anyone would like to share! This is a whole new world for me.
Marley, one of the crock pot recipes that I rely on is chicken pieces and BBQ sauce cooked on low all day. We serve it in rolls--barbecued chicken sandwiches!
Marley, I'm with you. I adore cooking in a Crock Pot. I also do a lot of chicken on the bone in the CP, also it's great for Boston Beans or a bean soup. My sister gave me a cookbook last year - "Not Your Mother's Crockpot Cookbook" had some good ideas...
I'm busy, busy, busy working on my Spring 2012 book, RADIATE, and wanted to do a fly-by post. As I posted earlier, my sweetie proposed and we're getting married this year...that's an amazing commitment. And it gets even stronger as we just committed to a huge undertaking: kitty parents.
Meet Madison Leeny (Madi in back) and Smokey Farquar Booreguard IV (Boo in front), the newest additions to our family. We rescued them from Polly's Pet Shelter in Los Angeles, CA, after I read of their heartbreaking story online.
Madi and Boo were born to a feral mommy on Thanksgiving. A lady was watching out for the small family and leaving food out for them. She was going to wait until the kittens (three of them) were eight weeks old before taking them to the shelter. Sadly, when the babies were five weeks old, a stray dog attacked and killed the mommy and their sibling. Madi and Boo escaped unharmed, but were left orphaned. Fortunately, Polly's Pet Rescue took them in and simply by a pure miracle, I decided to look for kittens for adoption while we were staying in Los Angeles. It only took three days after the initial e-mail for the transaction to be completed.
Now Madi and Boo live very happily in the RV with us, playing and running, chasing each other, batting the balls around, and sleeping any time they want. They are an amazing addition to our family and we have fully committed to their health and well-being. They are vaccinated, spayed/neutered, and microchipped.
Commitment comes in many forms...and I'm pleased to dedicate myself to these two little bundly puffs of love in my life. Well...as I write RADIATE!
Do you have a new kitten or puppy in your life? Tell us about the joys of your pets.
They are simply adorable! Their story is a sad one too but I'm glad they found a good caring home!
I have four cats. Our newest was a sad story too. I work at a 911 call center and someone called in saying they found a week old kitten that had been burned with acid. One of my co-workers took her in (this is before I worked there) and my husband and I adopted her. She's fine now (her fur on her ears, tail and the pads of all of her paws were burned off) accept for a little part at the tip of her tail that won't grow back.
Having cats is so rewarding. They are my babies. Congrats!
Oh, Marley! What a heartwarming story! I had seen the pictures of your new kitties on Facebook, but had no idea their backstory!
You know that my friend and I found two motherless 5 week old kittens living outside following our big forest fire, right? It's well over a year now, and we're all living happily ever after!
I'm a "to-do" list person. I have lists on my computer sticky notes. I have lists in my notebook. I have lists in my BlackBerry. Do this. Do that. Don't forget that. Don't forget this. And, of course, I shuffle and hussle and most things don't get done.
To me, everything is a "to-do" item. I learned once that if you put things on your "to-do" list that you know you'll actually do and can cross off, it'll make you feel like you accomplish things during the course of the day. Like blogging today. I know I'm going to do it, so "blog" goes on the list because I know I'll cross it off. But where's the prioritization?
That's the problem with me...I'm a reactionist, if that's even a word. I react to what I need to do at that moment, or where my monkey mind (a Buddhist term meaning "unsettled") thoughts take me. You know, those random thoughts that come to you during the day that you have to stop everything to Google the information before you lose the train of thought.
It talks about what keeps us from our art is Resistance. Resistance is anything that keeps us from our art. Resistance comes in many forms. Resistance is there to keep us from reaching our potential and seeing our dreams fulfilled. Resistance is self-doubt, procrastination, focusing on the wrong things, getting involved in television shows, online games, Facebooking, or anything else that keeps your attention away from your art. It takes the form of your relationship, your friendships, your job, your chores, anything. It's evil and you have to overcome it. Resistance keeps you from your artistic potential.
So, for me, my goal in 2011 is to beat the crap to of Resistance. For me, that includes not wasting time, not getting sucked into online dramas on Facebook, or spending way too much time trying to beat my high score in Bejeweled Blitz. I will stick to the "to-do" lists...doing what is IMPORTANT and not what is URGENT (as the book recommends) and focusing on my art. Manuscripts, proposals, new ideas, new characters, new words. That's what matters.
What is keeping you from your art? What is your Resistance?
Hugs, Marley = )
www.marleygibson.com www.ghosthuntress.com
Ghosts don't hang up their sheets after Halloween! GHOST HUNTRESS series - The Awakening, The Guidance, The Reason, The Counseling - available now!
4 Comments on Attacking the never-ending "to do" list, last added: 1/6/2011
Great blog about getting past resistance, Marley! Facebook is definitely a major time-suck for me, and sometimes when I finally get off, I want to do anything BUT stare at the computer some more. So what I need to do (more of) at that point is print and read pages I've already written to get back into the head...not something totally different, as I have been known to do...
My sweetie and I are on the road this Christmas, calling Southern California "home" for the holidays. It's hard to be traveling over the holidays, which includes Christmas, my birthday, and New Year's Eve, but so many people have opened their homes and hearts to us that it's overwhelming.
Our friends Kathy and Malcolm let us stay with them for a couple of weeks while our RV was getting regular maintenance. They made us feel right at home, letting us take over their dining room table with our computers and cameras. Their pets, Speedy (the dog), Precious and Scooter Boy (the two cats) treated us like we were part of the family. And, the UPS guy was even starting to recognize me from all the packages he delivered for us!
My sweetie's kidlets are with us for Christmas. They're 11 and 9 (almost 12 and 10) and they are thrilled to be in California. On the agenda is a touristy bus tour of Hollywood and the stars' homes, Grauman's Chinese Theatre, La Brea tar pits, and maybe a drive up to Big Bear, weather permitting.
Speaking of...I have NEVER seen this much rain in my life. And I've been in several tornados, two hurricanes, and a flood. I'm told this is the "Pineapple Express" weather system from Hawaii that brings such dumps of rain. Let's just say that the RV is squeaky clean from all of nature's washing.
People wonder what we'll do Christmas day...well, no worries...we have a small tree that we're going to decorate with the kidlets, stockings for them, and we'll await Santa's visit Friday night just like everyone else. Our friend Kathy has invited us to her parents' house in Escondido for Christmas dinner, which we're really looking forward to.
All in all, not you're usual Christmas. No snow or cold weather clothes. But we're together and we're blessed with wonderful friends and family.
What are you doing this holiday season?
Hugs, Marley = )
P.S. Prayer request goes out for my missing fur-niece, Leeny, who escaped from my sister's house in Florida yesterday. Please pray that she returns home safely in time for Christmas.
3 Comments on A California Christmas, last added: 12/23/2010
I love Christmas movies, cartoons, specials. Can't get enough of them. And every year, even though I've seen the same things over and over again, I still crave the seasonal viewing of my beloved holiday favorites.
Here are my faves...
Of course, I adore "Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer," who doesn't? But one of my favorite, less shown, Rankin-Bass production is called "Nestor the Long-Earred Christmas Donkey." Nestor was born with abnormally long ears and was taunted by the other animals in the stable until he was banished. Through hardship and loss, Nestor triumphs and grows and is in the right place at the right time when a poor carpenter, Joseph, and his pregnant wife, Mary, need a donkey for her to ride to Bethlehem.
Most people will cite "It's a Wonderful Life" or "Miracle on 34th Street" as their favorite movies, but my two favorites are a little more obscure.
First, there's "Christmas in Connecticut." Barbara Stanwyck stars as a Martha Stewart-ish magazine feature writer who talks about her farm in Connecticut and cooking. However, her being the perfect housewife is all a lie. Now, she must try to cover her deception when her boss and a returning WWII hero invite themselves to her home for a traditional family Christmas. I can't say enough how much I adore this movie.
And my other movie that I have to watch not just on Christmas, but seriously...any holiday. It's called "Holiday Inn" and it stars Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire and it's just a barrel of fun from beginning to end. Crosby and Astaire are performance partners who have always fallen for the same girl. Crosby's character decides to hang up his crooning and buy a farm in Connecticut. When it turns out to be boring, he decides to open it up every holiday for dinner, dancing, and music. Once again, they compete for the love of the same lady. You'll recognize the origin of such traditional Irving Berlin hits as "White Christmas," and "Easter Parade." If you've never seen this movie, it's a must.
So...what are you favorite holiday picks? What movie, special, or cartoon can you not go through the holidays not seeing?
I can't go a year without seeing Christmas Vacation. I identify so much with the character of Clark Griswold some days! I haven't seen Christmas in Connecticut or Holiday Inn but I plan to.
As I write this from the passenger seat of my RV, we are about two hours east of Santa Monica which will conclude our coast-to-coast trip that began in Baltimore on November 5th. We're pulling into SoCal just in time to be included in a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner and celebration with our friends The Wilsons.
Having just come cross-country, over 3,000 miles, there is much thankfulness. I'm thankful for the love and support of my sweetheart, Patrick, who not only did his share of driving us out here, he also took care of pumping the gas, dumping the water tanks (don't make me go into too much detail! LOL!), and taking care of any needed repairs here and there.
I'm also very thankful to the many friends and family we stayed with (called "boondocking" in RV vernacular) along the way from Baltimore to Chicago to St. Louis to Joplin, across Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico, to Arizona and finally to California.
And I'm thankful for this beautiful country that we live in. I am truly in awe of her beauty...literally, from the mountains, to the prairies, to the oceans. We watched the leaves turn colors on the east coast and then saw the flat plains of the midwest change into the deserts of the southwest and into the mountains. I'm a writer, yet I have no words to describe the things we've seen except...wow.
The beautiful mountains of western Arizona along Old Route 66
The Petrified Forest in eastern Arizona
The Painted Desert in eastern Arizona
The world's largest rocking chair in Cuba, MO
I will be most thankful on Thursday when I sit down to a wonderful dinner with friends who were kind enough to bring us into their fold for the holiday. And, I will be most thankful on Saturday if my beloved Crimson Tide and completely mess up the Auburn Tigers' "perfect" record with a win in the Iron Bowl. LOL! What...I can't be grateful for my football team?
Shout out and thanks to the wonderful people at RTBookReview.com for their amazing support of the Buzz Blog Girls and featuring us to give advice to aspiring writers of young adult fiction. If you haven't already done it, check out the article here.
And in celebration of the Thanksgiving holiday and the upcoming Christmas holiday season, I am giving away a copy of my book, CHRISTMAS MIRACLES. To be eligible to win, please post in the comment trail what you're most grateful and thankful for...from the most sincere and heartfelt...to the most quirky. One (1) winner* will receive an autographed copy fo CHRISTMAS MIRACLES.
Thanks to Stephanie Hale for opening our discussion yesterday about the Romance Writers of America conference in Orlando, Florida, attended by five of the seven Buzz Girls. (Next year we're hoping for a full house!)
Here are Steph and Tera flanking me in a picture Tera somehow managed to be in AND take (I am always inspired by multi-taskers):
Here stands me, Marley, Wendy and Tera, in a photo perhaps worthy of one of Marley's Ghost Huntress books:
And now replace Wendy with Steph, and add in the middle...oh...um...what's her name...(choke, sputter, gasp)... MEG CABOT.
Yes, *the* Meg Cabot. Looking every bit as warm, friendly--and gorgeous--as she is in real life. It was a thrill and delight for us to meet her!
That's it from me. Maybe some of the other Buzz Girls have pictures to share?
Tina
Tina Ferraro The ABC’s of Kissing Boys, 2010 Rita® Finalist How to Hook a Hottie, 2009 Rita® Finalist Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress www.tinaferraro.com
7 Comments on More Pictures from National, last added: 8/6/2010
ZOMG MEG!! I so hope one of you remembered to say hi to her for me. If not, that's ok. I'm sure I'd forget everything I wanted to say to her if I saw her in person.
I really wish I could have been there too. Ah well. I will just have to live through you guys and your recaps!
BookChic--I KNOW! OMG, Meg! And among the fun was telling her that we'd met before, at the Grove in Los Angeles years ago, when I brought my daughter to hear her speak about the Princess Diaries. And she remembered the event--not us, of course--but the event. That was fun for me!
So, as you may know, I sold the film rights to the first three GHOST HUNTRESS books to the fabulous folks at Shoulderhill Films. They are hard at work trying to find the perfect screenwriter for the project, as well as the right movie company. They've started a GHOST HUNTRESS fan page on Facebook (please join!) and are asking fans who you think should play Kendall?
I would have to say Emma Watson. Cant wait to hear more!
Anonymous said, on 6/16/2010 2:43:00 PM
I think that Demi L looks like a Kendall. I would say Emma, but b/c it looks like Kendall is American (i have yet to read the books; but I will soon!) Emma's Brit accent might throw people off, especially people who watch the movies and never read the books (so annoying!).
Anonymous said, on 6/16/2010 2:48:00 PM
same anon @ 2:43- Or how about Alexandra Daddario from The Lightning Theif (yes I know she's 23, and maybe too old for Kendall, but she's a good actress)?
I really like the pics of Victoria Justice, Demi, and Emma--have you emailed them to see if they've read your books???--I can't imagine how excited you must be!!!!!!
Although, I like Miley in some stuff, I have a hard time picturing her doing this straight...Of course, that might be just what she needs...Right now she's kind of the definition of the difference between Movie Stars and Actors--they're by no means mutually exclusive, but when I see a Movie Star, I watch THEM, when I see an ACTOR, I watch the movie...and them.
Congratulations on your success!!! I wish you the best!!!
So cool! But...I'd mention someone not on your list: Willa Holland. She's so kickass Kendall-style.
Anonymous2.0 said, on 6/17/2010 12:27:00 PM
I think that Victoria Justice should play Kendall. Emma Watson is too blonde and British to be Kendall, and Miranda just isn't who I pictured as Kendall. But anyone would be better than Miley and Demi. Disney Channel stars should stay on Disney channal for the kids cuz they're typically horrible actors/singers.
Victoria Justice- she has the perfect face, perfect age, etc. (I've already commented on a Facebook status about all the good reasons it should be her and other suggestions.)
Also, Emma Watson would be amazing. She would probably bring more of the quiet, mysterious type characteristics to Kendall than Victoria Justice would. (But, don't get me wrong, Victoria Justice is a great actress.)
All of these suggestions are great, but I beg you not to choose Miley Cyrus- I don't like her acting and she might ruin the series for me if I go see the movie (which I ENTIRELY plan on!!). Demi Lovato isn't my favorite actress either, but I would choose her over Miley Cyrus any day. I think that Demi Lovato doesn't really grow into her character much. By this, I mean that I don't think she really tries acting like her character. She seems to be the same person in every show or movie she is in/on.
A new actress who has never been heard of before and is just starting out but has great acting skills is another option that I think would be great. She would already know what kind of mood the story is set in because it's based on a book series, so it would be a great beginning.
I picture a girl with long, dirty blond hair that's curly, very much like the girl on each cover. (The reason I picture her this way is pretty obvious.) However, I do make little tweaks to the Kendall I imagine as I read more because something happens or my mind just changes the picture. For this reason, Emma Watson has the looks because of her hair and her overall image.
Whoever you choose will be great because, as the author, you know what you had intended her to look like and how she was going to act, so the person you choose will be very similar to what we are all expecting. Good luck! :)
A huuuuuuuuge congrats to Tera for the release of her new book, Forgive my Fins. What an awesome concept and I can't wait for my Amazon delivery to catch up with me.
As the others have said, we're talking about childhood dreams. Mine...were a bit warped, I must admit.
First...I dreamed of being a travel agent. I turned my father's shelf of tax forms into homemade travel brochures of "exotic" places like Atlanta and Panama City Beach and Birmingham. LOL! I would book my stuffed animals on trips and make tickets and such for them.
Ironically, my professional career has been as a meeting planner...so I guess that dream helped me out some, eh?
Then, I wanted to be a doctor. Most kids want that at some point, eh? But not just any doctor. I wanted to be an anesthesiologist. My grandfather had surgery and he told me all about it and I was fascinated by the fact that there was a doctor that could literally just put you asleep.
But the dream that was biggest for me...I wanted to be a cheerleader! I love sports and especially football and I have an extremely big mouth. LOL! What better person to be a cheerleader, right?
I started off as a pee wee cheerleader. This wasn't a big deal as anyone who would buy the uniform and show up for games could be one. I was in band my junior high years, so I wasn't a JV cheerleader. But, in 9th grade, I tried out for the varsity and made it! Fortunately, because of being so physical as a cheerleader, I discovered a lump in my left leg which turned out to be cancer. Had I not been a cheerleader, I might not have found it so quickly. So, that was definitely something to cheer about.
How have your childhood dreams morphed and changed and helped you? Share your story in the comment section and you'll be entered in this week's contest to win a copy of Tera's book. Also, there are more chances to win over at Tera's website web-site and she's making donations to an ocean charity, as well. Please help out!
When I was a kid, I read the Little House books and thought I wanted to live in the country. I hated buildings. But after I grew up I decided I like being near theaters and restaurants and, above all, bookstores! So my dream of living in the country turned into a dream of living in the city. :-)
When I was little I wanted to be a "professional babysitter", onyl to find out when I took a babysitters course and had to watch other peoples childern that I could not stand it. Then I wanted to be a doctor but once I got my first sight of gushing blood I turned away from that and looked at being a dancer but I didn't want to leave Canada so i had to but another career and decided seeing I was good at math and with computer why not try accounting which I realized that I LOVED IT! I know weird right who loves taxes? I'm just one of those weird people lol
I'm still working toward my childhood dream. I'm not giving up on it ever. I've always wanted to paint, paint, and paint. I'm actually getting one step closer. I just graduated from law school and I take the Bar exam in July. Once I'm done with that I am going to have a few months waiting for the results so I will have time to focus on putting my art business together. I'm really excited about that.
petra said, on 6/2/2010 11:58:00 AM
cool pics. u were a cute cheerleader. i'm sorry about ur cancer but ur apparently ok. i would like to win tera's book because when i was a little girl i wanted to be a mermaid. ; )
Very cute. I was a cheerleader for 2 years. It was a lot of fun. I always regretted quitting.
I think I went through so many phases as a kid. I would pretend to be a doctor, teacher, singer. I would make "demo" tapes on my little tape player and pretend I was on the radio lol. Sadly, I don't think I will ever be a professional singer due to me having the worst singing voice on the planet lol. :)
I pretty much always wanted to be a teacher. I still think I'd like to be, but lately I've been thinking that I'd like to be a book editor. My friends always ask me to proof papers, which I thoroughly enjoy doing, so I think that I'd like editing books.
Hmm....My dreams have changed me, because in order to achieve them, I need to put in the effort, the dedication, the risks. When you chase your dreams, they help you realize all the things your great at, and what you need to work on :)
I had two dreams as a child. One was to be a teacher. I lined up my stuffed animals for lessons and struggled to teach my three year old brother to read. I didn't quite grasp the concept of being developmentally ready at age six. I'm still working toward my second dream--being a writer. I started a draft of a novel last summer. My goal this summer is to finish it.
...Yesterday's question made me think a lot, but I think my response works better for today's question...oh well!
I had a lot of fun as a child, I was always pretending, and making up stories with my friends or my dolls. And making up stories were always my favorite assignments in class...My problem is my lack of patience...Whenever I tried to write anything down, my fingers couldn't keep up with my brain...That's the one thing I'm still working on, putting the stories on paper. I can definitely say it has improved my typing speed :)
As I kid my dream was to play outside all the time. I then went on to college to get a degree in Wilderness Leadership and Experiential Education and then became a year round camp counselor. Basically I got paid to play outside all the time.
Most kids want to be doctors? I NEVER had that dream, heh. Probably because I was too busy dreaming of being an artist. Eventually, that dream became more specific, and I wanted to be a comics artist. That then morphed into me wanting to draw AND write for comics, and then I just simply wanted to write. To this day I'm still working at becoming a published author, but every now and then I'm tempted to revert back to my original childhood dream of being an artist.
As a kid I always wanted to be just about everything. For the longest I was the pink ranger/ ruthless sea pirate/ ice-fairy princess/ vampire/ detective/ ballerina... But now, now I am an author {not yet published} / "vampire" / ruthless sea pirate who happens to be affraid of the ocean. ;) But yeah,
Kari said, on 6/2/2010 6:51:00 PM
My dream of being a dancer had to change becauseof my bad knee. I considered being a wedding planner and a marine biologist before deciding to be a writer. Being a writer just felt so... right. For a short time I did wnat to be a cheerleader. My older sister was one and my lil sis is one now. Actually, she had to get stitches today because someone fell on her face while doing a basket toss. Thank goodness I dodged that bullet because I don't want someone to fall on my face.
Anonymous said, on 6/2/2010 6:56:00 PM
My childhood dreams helped me become the person I am today by showing me what it takes to achieve something. I always had goals, from drawing a flower, to passing Pre-Calculus with an A, and each goal helped me understand what it is like to strive and achieve something.
For the longest time, I wanted to be a marine biologist. I was fascinated by whales and dolphins. Then I grew up and realized: a) I can't swim and b) science is hard! :) Ahh, well. It all ended up okay in the end. Now I'm a teacher and in school to be a librarian ... I'm always looking for that opportunity to sneak a good marine life book into the hands of one of the kids. Maybe they'll take up my childhood dream and make something of it for themselves!
When I was younger, I used to dance - I even wanted to pursue it professionally at one point - and I was in glee club and did a school musical and countless talent shows, recitals, parades...you name it, we did it! I think this taught me to appreciate the arts, express my creativity, and put myself out there no matter how crippling my shyness was. Oh, yeah, I overcame the shyness - for the most part.
When I started highschool I didn't really know anyone in my new english class, but somehow started having this random conversation about childhood dreams with this girl sitting across from me. When I told her that when I was younger I wanted to be a unicorn she looked at me all boggle-eyed and said, "No way! I wanted to be a Unicorn Doctor!"
When I was a kid, I wanted to be a superhero. This has definitely morphed into wanting to protect my friends and family, as well as nature. I think we're all superheros in our own way.
When I was a kid, I wanted to be a grown up so I could do whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. Yeah, that was my idea of a grown up. Now, I'm almost 20 and I wish I could go back to being a kid..
Sorry I missed posting last week. Life is a whirlwind; what can I say? I have been in California since the end of April and just got back to Boston yesterday morning on a red eye flight. It was so hard to leave the sunshine and blue skies of SoCal to return to the gloomy rain of the east coast. But there's so much to do!
While I was in SoCal, I attended a conference, premiered GHOST HUNTRESS: THE REASON, went body boarding, cooked out a lot, hung out with my left coast friends...and I learned to surf! Here's proof...
We also made a trip out to the desert and...wow...was that incredible! I'd never been to the desert, so it was breathtakingly beautiful...
Also had the BEST tamale I've ever had...and it was at a place in Borrego Springs called Kendall's Cafe! How cool!
I also made some new friends...
This is Speedy, my friend Kathy's papillon...
And his brothers, Precious and Scooter Boy (who are 16 years old!)...
I also visited some famous graves in the Hollywood Forever cemetery...
All and all an amazing trip! Loves me some California. I have a lot of travel planned for the summer - Chicago, Wisconsin, Indy, Louisville and Orlando, to name a few. What are your summer travel plans? Where do you like to go?
my summer plans are very up in the air right now, but several friends sound like they may be coming my way...so I may just stay put...and I've definitely got a few people who are interested in Yosemite, so that's the most likely place I'll visit...
If I had the chance, my first stop would be back home in Wisconsin--I noticed it's on your itinerary! Secondly, I'd hit the east coast, because I have a lot of friends there that I haven't seen in a while.
Thanks to everyone who stopped by for the release party of GHOST HUNTRESS: THE REASON and entering the book giveaways! I hope if you're not one of the lucky winners that you'll pick up the book anyway. = )
And the winners are...
Cara King
chelleyreads
Momma Bookworm
RagDollVampGirl
Liviania
DeNiSeMaDnEsS
Bee
Thanks soooooo much for entering! Please e-mail me your snail mail address to marley_gibson AT yahoo DOT com and I'll get the signed books in the mail to you.
We are having a blast celebrating the release of Marley's third installment in her Ghost Huntress series. THE REASON is in stores now so make sure you get yourself a copy! You can also leave a comment below for a chance to win a copy. Okay, now to the embarassing stuff. I. SUCKED. MY. THUMB. Big deal, right? UNTIL. I. WAS. LIKE. TEN. I know, right? In my defense, I was a child of divorced parents and I was constantly going back and forth between my mom and dad's houses. These households couldn't have been more different if they would have tried. At one house, it was perfectly acceptable to suck to my hearts content. But if I broke the thumb out at the other house, it was not good. Sometimes when I was tired I would forget and sneak a lick before I realized what I was doing.
Of course my habit led to years of head gear, braces, retainers, and other orthodontia-related torture devices. But the worst part was the sheer embarassment of realizing that I was doing something that my friends had all outgrown. I was nervous about sleepovers because I knew my slurping in the middle of the night would wake the dead. My parents tried everything. Tabasco sauce, a metal cage installed in my mouth (not kidding about this one), even making me wear mittens. I'd suck through all of it. I realize now that I was just trying to deal with things that were scary to me in the only way I knew possible.
But I lived through it. Although my husband does enjoy teasing me by saying that I still suck my thumb at night sometimes. I'm not sure what finally made me stop. I think I was just ready.
Did you have something you were attached to when you were little? Leave a comment for a chance to win Marley's new book!
A really weird habit that I did well into my teens was when I got excited I would put both arms out in front of me and rotate my wrists.. I know that sounds completely crazy and would probably make more sense if I could demonstrate! =) Most people when they got excited would jump and down or scream, not me! I was "the wrist rotating weirdo"! I really don't know why I started doing that! But it is kinda funny to look back on. Like your husband, everytime my family and I come across a picture or a family video they love to make fun!! I really relate to your personal experience Stephanie! I come from a divorced family as well and you just do what you can do to deal with emotions!! Thanks for sharing!!!
It was a really weird habit but I used to chew my lips a lot,almost to the verge of making it bleed.I don't know why I started doing it in the first place!I still do it sometimes though not as much...
I bit my nails. Strange ladies would stop me in the street and tell me to stop.... My mother hated the habit. I didn't try anything like Stephanie's cage, but I tried putting foul-tasting things on my nails, or nail polish, and all sorts of things. When I hit the age of 12, instead of stopping, I just decided I didn't care! So I quit trying to stop. And I still bite my nails to this day....
As a teen, if nagged, I'd say things like "well, it's that, or smoking. Would you rather I smoked?"
So, Stephanie, I won't tell you how long I did it...but, instead of even being normal enough to suck my thumb, I used the three fingers on my left hand. Apparently I came out of the womb that way. And I don't have an overly traumatic childhood excuse, or divorced parents, it was just comforting and I liked it--Early on, I learned that people would look at me funny if I did in public, so I just controlled myself. At sleepovers, I would pull the covers up high over my head, and be as quiet as possible. On the upside, I think the effect of using three fingers was that I was only left with a very mild sloping on my left teeth, because of my pinkie finger being smaller, but otherwise, the three fingers kept things pretty even. My parents didn't try any of the things you mentioned--Just a look was enough for me to know to keep it to myself.
@AllisonPaige25--I tried to do what you were describing, and I think I know what you mean (if I did it right)--It doesn't seem that weird--I can totally picture someone being excited an doing that!
@chelleyreads--Shaving is overrated--Until I got to college, I had NO IDEA girls could have so much hair--it's all personal preference, and unless I'm going swimming/going out/wearing a skirt, why bother?--I was kind of late bloomer and didn't actually START shaving until I got to college--but I experimented with nair in high school--the only times I was afraid were that someone would find me out in gym class--one time in 8th grade was the only time anyone even noticed!
According to my dad, I used to take my clothes out of my dresser and refold them and put them back in. My theory on this is I made a mess when getting dressed. ;) Still, I kinda like folding... sigh.
There were twin high school boys living across the street and my sister and I (when we were elem. school aged) would spy on them out our windows while they tossed a football in the cul-de-sac. I am sure they knew!
I was a nail biter.used to bug everyone around me..my mom would try everything to stop me..but i'd keep biting them no matter what she tried. and at times until they bleed. It was a nervous habit.
Whenever I can't find something or I forgot what I was doing I stare into the refrigerator. I'm sure it doesn't seem that weird until you are at my house I can't find my keys and you see me stare into the fridge for a few minutes until I remember where they are. I've been doing this for years and I'm not sure why but it works. I know it wastes electricity but without this habit I would never know why I walked from one room to the other.
I have no idea why, but when I was a kid, I used to puff up my hair in front on one side. Which come to think of it, really is weird, but back then I thought I looked nice *shudders*
Bee-- I definately relate to that! When I was younger, my Mom would always curl mine and my sisters hair... but, instead of leaving it alone, she always felt the need to use a comb on it and it would be sooo fluffy!!! So, my sister and I deemed that the "triangle hairstyle" because it definately looked triangular!!! =)
This week the Buzz Girls are celebrating the release of Ghost Huntress: The Reason by our very own Marley Gibson. You can enter to win a signed copy of this awesome book by leaving comments each day. Since the main character, Kendall Moorehead, discovers a BIG secret, Marley thought it would be fun to discuss secrets this week, and I can't agree more!
Today I'm writing about anonymous secrets. I remember an episode of an old TV show called Cashmere Mafia, where people were invited to a NY art show and given invisible paint to write their secret on a wall. Then the lights went out and everybody's secrets glowed in the dark. Something else that comes to mind is PostSecret. Have you ever heard of it? According to their web-site, "PostSecret is an ongoing community art project where people mail in their secrets anonymously on one side of a postcard." I remember reading something about about it in a fashion magazine a loooong time ago, and when I read some of the postcards people had sent in, I remember being impressed about the quality of the artwork, and as I started reading the secrets, I felt kind of weird, like a voyeur. I experienced a wide spectrum of emotions as I read each secret. Sure, there were weird and gross confessions like "I pee in the shower," but ones to the tune of "I truly think I'm ugly" made me so depressed! Then again, some are inspiring, like this one I read today: "My anxiety is not the boss of me" or snippets of would-be suicides stopped by a stranger's kind words.
For a chance to win a copy of Ghost Huntress: The Reason and find out what big secret Kendall is going to discover, leave a comment about a secret of yours, a friend's, or a stranger's that lifted your spirits. But do not tell us whose secret it is! Keep it anonymous. Okay, I'll go first: Uplifting secret: I went out with him because I felt sorry for him and ended up falling in love.
15 Comments on Anonymous Secrets, last added: 5/8/2010
Hmmm...sort of Pop Secret-like. (I do enjoy that blog now and then.) Okay, how about one that makes me smile:
I know someone who lied about her weight to the delivery nurse because she didn't want her husband to know how much weight she'd really gained in her pregnancy!
ghost huntress sounds very interesting. marley gibson is a new to me author. ooooo!! i love post secret! sorry can't think of an uplifting secret but here's a secret:
I know someone who bought an expensive Gucci bag and told her husband that it only costs a $100.
.. I leave library book receipts in the books I like so that someone with the same interest has my name and can find me online and we can become good friends..
Whoah, those are some secrets all right! Thanks for commenting. You're entered to win a signed copy of Ghost Huntress: The Reason!
Anna, I'm glad that writing about your past experience is somewhat therapeutic for you though I wish nothing bad had ever happened at all to you!
Tina, haha! Want to know something crazy? My driver's license is my REAL weight. But I admit I didn't want my husband knowing how much I weighed while pregnant, like your example.
chelleyreads, I really think you'll like Marley's books. She puts so much research (she actually goes out and hunts ghosts to see what it's like!) into them and has such a fun, chick-litty voice. Ouch on the Gucci bag secret. Hope her hubby never finds out!
RagDollVampGirl, that's a juicy secret! Would make a great book!
AllisonPaige25, that secret is kind of funny but also kind of sad. Here's one that I will confess to. The other day I left a bookmark advertising one of my books in a library book I returned. Not sure if the librarian will leave it in, but I thought it was worth a shot! LOL
I know a teenager who lied to her parents claiming that she had gained weight when she actually was pregnant! Of course they found out later but even then..she was so scared at the time they asked her about her increasing stomach,she couldn't confess I guess.
A secret that lifts the spirits...I suspect that's the exception, because I'm having trouble thinking of one!
Okay, here's one: I complain about my cat whining and demanding my attention while I'm working, but on some level I'm flattered that he needs me so much... :-)
OMG--That's so awesome to think a real author left a bookmark out there--I hope you autographed it!--It would be like a treasure hunt! I'm such a book-groupie!
A friend married her husband...before the wedding--They were getting stressed out with all the details, so they decided to just go ahead and do it--Then they were able to relax and enjoy their wedding :)
I know someone who took an expensive coffee table book out of the office library and claimed that someone else took it. Of course I only found this out after I was at another job.
Cara, that is interesting! And not that it's a secret, but Tina and I are also big cat fans!
Nymfaux, that's funny b/c my dad is getting married next month and they're going to get married before the ceremony too. (And psst, send me your mailing addy via wendytoliver.com if you'd like a signed bookmark.)
Llehn, oh man, the stealing secret! Methinks you will like my next novel, Lifted! LOL
Precious, so romantic!
Y'all are all entered to win a signed copy of Marley Gibson's latest and greatest! Good luck!
This week on the Buzz blog we've been celebrating Marley’s latest release, Ghost Huntress: The Reason. Last week we all dished about lies in our pasts, and this week we're spilling secrets.
While I can't exactly spill any of my secrets (because then they wouldn't be secrets, would they?) I want to talk about keeping secrets in writing. I don't remember where I heard it, but there's an adage in writing that goes something like this:
Secrets from the character are good, secrets from the reader aren't.
Basically it means that if the character doesn't know something that the reader knows, that's fine. It's even okay if the character doesn't know something and neither does the reader. But if your character knows something (like that she's secretly a mermaid or a princess or in love with a particular boy) then the reader should know, too.
Let's take a classic example: Romeo and Juliet. Think about the end, when Juliet has taken the special "poison" that will make her appear to be dead, so she can go be with Romeo forever. Enter Romeo, who has no idea that she isn't really dead. The reader knows. We're practically screaming at Romeo to just wait a few minutes before stabbing himself in the gut. As sad as it is, we love that, because we know something Romeo doesn't.
Imagine if it were reversed. Imagine if we thought Juliet were really dead. Imagine Romeo knew the truth, so he just walks into her crypt, whistling a happy tune, and has a seat next to her seemingly-dead body. We'd hate him in the moment because it looks like he doesn't care at all for this girl who risked everything to be with him. When she woke up a moments later and we discovered the truth, we would be so annoyed that we (or at least I) would throw the book across the room.
It's all about balance, about making sure the reader never knows less than the characters. As readers, we either want to share the big reveal with the character or we want to know what's coming and anticipate their reaction when they find out, too.
Okay, enough of my little rant about secrets in books and onto the fun stuff. The giveaway! Marley is giving away signed copies of her new book all week here at the Buzz blog. To enter today's contest, leave a comment the following:
Share an example (good or bad) of a book in which the writer keeps a secret from the character.
Besides Romeo and Juliet, I would have to say Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. I won't share what, because it would be spoilers, but she's brilliant at hinting to the reader about a really huge secret that Katniss really has no clue about. Brilliant, really.
Your turn to share. Check back every day to comment on the other Buzz girl posts for more chances to win and then tune in this weekend to find out who won.
In the Outlander series Diana Gabeldon does a great job at keeping secrets. It is kind of hard to explain the circumstances because the books are long and complicated. For one thing it takes us a long while, like five or six books, to realize that Claire's 20th century husband, Frank, really believes she went back in time to the 18th century and got married to another man named Jaimie and got pregnant; this bit of knowledge and what he does with it makes him a little less of an ass. One secret I'm waiting for DG to reveal is if the ghost that Frank saw staring at Claire in the first book was Jaimie or not.
I think Megan Whalen Turner, in The Thief, does a fabulous job of keeping a secret from the reader and not making it awful. When it's revealed, everything that came before in the book changes, but still works. It's incredible.
Ooh, Liviania, good example! I totally agree about The Thief. Secrets are kept from the reader, but it's not bad, it's good -- wonderful, in fact! (A great example of why no writing rule is unbreakable.)
And Turner does the same in her next three Attolia books -- wonderful surprises in all of them. (And I strongly recommend avoiding spoilers to keep her surprises surprising!)
As to secrets kept from the character...I think that's less common in YA now that so many books are either first person or a very close 3rd person...but I suppose a clever author can do it by dropping in clues that the character ignores (or doesn't understand) but the reader can figure out. (For example, in Diana Wynne Jones's fabulous "Howl's Moving Castle," one character is from our world...and so the random bits of info that mean nothing to the heroine clue us in...)
James Patterson's The Honeymoon is a good example of a secret being kept from the characters.. The main character is a black widow and the men that she catches in her web (poor guys) have no idea what hit them until after it's too late.. The same goes for another potential victim.. until he gets wise and then.. well I guess you'll have to read it to find out!!!
The best example of a story where the writer his secrets from his characters according to me is Twelfth Night by Shakespeare. He never for once let the other characters know that Cesario was actually Viola who was disguised as a pageboy for Orsino. And in the process Olivia falls in love with Cesario,Viola falls for Orsino...and its a total comedy of errors!! Brilliant masterpiece from the best story-teller of all ages!
The Mortal Instruments series has a couple of secrets that are kept from both the characters and the readers. Very good series that keeps you wondering too.
I just finished reading "Fallen," and was really disappointed that the author kept HUGE chunks of both the character's mythology and religious mythology--I didn't mind going along for the ride, but by the end of the book, we still didn't know a majority of everything that led up to the events in the beginning of the book. I felt empty at the end, dreading a second book now, instead of anticipating one--A teaser is fine, but give me SOMETHING... it's so frustrating!
Speaking of teasers...TLC keeps teasing us with Nicole's godly lineage. It's an example of a good secret, because people want to know, which means she did a good job creating interesting characters...And, at least so far, it hasn't been something integral to advancing the plot.
And as long as we're talking about the subject, it really bothered me that the Harry Potter movies never revealed the origin of the Marauder's Map--It's really important to how Harry develops and views his connections with some of the other characters in the book, also tying some of the other characters together in an important way. And though I totally recommend reading the books, the movies should be able to stand independently, and in this case, I really feel that the moviegoers are really missing something important.
Anonymous said, on 5/4/2010 3:45:00 PM
nymfaux- I wholeheartedly agree!! In the 6th movie, they in;y mentiones 2 of the 6 Horcruxes mentioned in the book. Movie 7 will be REALLY confusing to non-readers.
I know exactly what you mean, Nymfaux about Fallen. I seem to be reading more and more books these days that are clearly set ups for a series more for marketing reasons than anything else and it frustrates me. Every book needs closure with some kind of independent story arc, not just dumping a whole bunch of information about character and premise and going nowhere, paving the way for a sequel. I, for one, am boycotting the subsequent books.
I think the most reason book where the author kept a secret from the reader and when it is revealed, it changes the dynamics of the book is Liar by Justine Labalestier.
I really like the point you make here. As a reader I do like to know more than the characters (or at least think I do) but at the same time it is sometimes nice to be surprised ( as long as it is logical). I think I would be annoyed if the character knew they were a mermaid and they didn't tell us, but I would be pleasantly amused if another character knew that they were a mermaid and hadn't told the readers. Thanks for an interesting post. I have to say I like Faye Kellermen as a writer because she keeps the reader in the dark, but usually because the characters are in the dark at the same time. The reader can usually figure out how something has happened about a line before the characters come to the same conclusion so it is an interesting battle to see if you can beat the character to the punch.
I'm glad to hear that Nymfaux! Like I thought Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater was a pretty good stand alone by itself and it just so happened that it got turned into a series. Books should be like that on the principal of it and not sacrifice their integrity for commercial reasons!!
Hee hee hee ... sorry for hijacking this thread for our soapbox rant :D
City of Glass is a novel with lots of secrets. Cassandra Clare kept secrets from her characters and filled the story with twists and turns with a revelation that I never expected.
Catching Fire is a great example! Other books I think of are City of Bones, My Soul To Take & Glass Houses
Anonymous said, on 5/7/2010 3:28:00 AM
I know this is the opposite, but I find that in 'Evernight' the author does preceisely the thing you say not to: for the entire book the main character knows she's a vampire, but we only find out half way! All sorts of strange things were happening during the first half of the book and we had no idea what was going on, but obviously the main character knew. I found that very poor writing.
I have to agree about Catching Fire. That book just kept my pulse racing throughout..and the big reveal literally killed me! Can't wait for Mockingjay..
Also, I think all of Sidney Sheldon's book have some earth-shattering secrets. Windmills Of The Gods caught me clueless with the big reveal about who Angel really was!
In celebration of Marley Gibson’s latest release, Ghost Huntress: The Reason”, we are talking this week about secrets. For in this third book of the series, an important secret is revealed...
Marley is giving away signed copies of this book all week here at the Buzz Girls blog, so be sure to drop by every day, and to leave a comment to be entered.
When my mind turns to secrets, right now, it skyrockets to the TV program, LOST, which is, of course, in its final few countdown weeks of the sixth season--and forever. It seems secrets are being revealed around every corner, with some being total surprises to me, some head-thunks (“I should have thought of that!”) and some more like confirmations of what I’d long suspected.
But while much of the water cooler buzz involves what has now been revealed, just as much is focused on what is still to come, and whether the writers will manage/remember to reveal every last secret, or viewers will have to then go for time and eternity on an issue or two, still wondering...
In order to be entered to win a copy of Ghost Huntress: The Reason, leave a comment telling us about a final TV episode of a TV (sit-com, drama, reality show) that left you completely satisfied. Whether it was in the revealing of all the secrets, or you just like the way it ended.
And be sure to check back next Sunday to see if your name is on the winner’s list!
Tina
Tina Ferraro The ABC’s of Kissing Boys, 2010 Rita® Finalist How to Hook a Hottie, 2009 Rita® Finalist Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress www.tinaferraro.com
I was addicted to Sopranos. I love being "involved" in the whole mafia family, seeing their struggles, and triumphs. Even though a lot of what they did was illegal, they loved each other and were truly loyal to those that were loyal to them. They were a family. Most people hated the ending to the last show because it was somewhat of a cliffhanger.. I on the other hand thought it was brilliant. It left people to USE THEIR IMAGINATION on what they thought had happened. I think people are scared of that, but I personally LOVE IT! Imaginations are a wonderful thing and through them many magnificent ideas are born!!!
I did not watch Battlestar Galactica, but I will take your word for it, JP! I did watch every episode of Six Feet Under and the Sopranos and loved them from beginning to end!
I was completely devastated when Buffy ended. I felt like I was losing family. I was also somewhat relieved to have more time on Tuesday nights to read.
It's hard to think of one! I'm usually left pretty unsatisfied. I'm going to go with Alias, because as much as I like "happily ever after" I prefer to know that Sydney's out there kicking some butt!
I really liked the way that Numb3rs ended -- they tied up loose ends, brought back characters from earlier seasons and shows, and gave it a nice resolution.
(I admit I was much less satisfied with the way Battlestar Galactica ended! But I know that's an issue that splits fans -- half seem to love it, and half seem to hate it...)
I hate when shows I love end. I am always left wanting more. The only show I was satisfied with was Life on Mars. It was a weird show with an even weirder ending...it was perfect
I was bitter sweet about the way Angel ended. On the one hand I was sad that they would all be dead but on the other hand, it was realistic in the sense that eventually the BIG BAD would get them. But the point is they went down fighting.
I was really satisfied with the way Friends ended. The couples were totally destined for each other since the very beginning and I have to agree...I wanted Friends to end the way it did! So yes,I enjoyed it very much :)
Okay, now to the embarassing stuff. I. SUCKED. MY. THUMB. Big deal, right? UNTIL. I. WAS. LIKE. TEN. I know, right? In my defense, I was a child of divorced parents and I was constantly going back and forth between my mom and dad's houses. These households couldn't have been more different if they would have tried. At one house, it was perfectly acceptable to suck to my hearts content. But if I broke the thumb out at the other house, it was not good. Sometimes when I was tired I would forget and sneak a lick before I realized what I was doing. 
Of course my habit led to years of head gear, braces, retainers, and other orthodontia-related torture devices. But the worst part was the sheer embarassment of realizing that I was doing something that my friends had all outgrown. I was nervous about sleepovers because I knew my slurping in the middle of the night would wake the dead. My parents tried everything. Tabasco sauce, a metal cage installed in my mouth (not kidding about this one), even making me wear mittens. I'd suck through all of it. I realize now that I was just trying to deal with things that were scary to me in the only way I knew possible.
Sounds great, Heather, thanks for sharing this!
Sounds like fun! Thanks for sharing Heather. I will look it up today.
Best,
Suma.
Sounds fun! Good luck to everyone!