DRAGONFLY for 99 cents and ROCKABET!

On Goodreads

Watercolor is on the way, reader friends!

We're counting down the final TEN days to Anna + Julian, and to celebrate, Dragonfly is only 99 cents!

Get your copy today~

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

* * *

Amazing blogger turned writer-friend Kelly Polark has a FAB new picture book out called ROCKABET: CLASSIC EDITION, and to celebrate, we're all putting together DREAM BANDS...

Here's the scoop:

If I could choose any band members from any bands to form the best band ever, these would be my rockin' picks:

Kelly P.

Band Name: A Hot Mess

First Gig: The Cosmopolitan in Vega$, baby, yeah!!!

Lead vocals: Ryan Adams of Whiskeytown and his solo band

Lead guitarist: Ryan, of course

Bass guitarist: Flea of The Red Hot Chili Peppers, because that would be crazy!

Drums: Neil Peart (I don't care if he's already gone, the man was a machine... A machine!)

I know. My dream band really would be a hot mess--primarily because my lead singer is such a diva. But I discovered he has the supernatural ability to counter Nora Jones's soul-sucking powers...

Anyway, back to Kelly's FAB book.

On Amazon

ROCKABET: CLASSIC EDITION can currently be purchased online at Amazon or at select bookstores. Hardcover books will be available at various online retailers and stores in October.

Kelly Polark is also the author of BIG SISTER, BABY BROTHER and the upcoming HOLD THE MUSTARD! from Meegenius. Come visit her on Facebook and Twitter! Check out her website and celebrity book recommendation site, Book Recs of the Rock and Famous.



READING ROCKS!

Kelly is the best! Here's wishing her all the success in the world~

Have a rockin great week, reader-friends!

Where's My Pirate Costume?

Most of you know I have two little girls. This morning I woke up singing songs from Dora's Pirate Adventure.

Sing with me...

Parents of small children, if you missed this one (featuring John Leguizamo), I highly recommend it. You will be singing these songs for the rest of your life.

To this day, we still finish Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star with "how I wonder what you ate for breakfast."

That led me to wishing I could have a REAL sing-along blog like Dr. Horrible (link)!

Would that rule or what?

I have always loved to sing.

But I tend to suffer from singing stage-fright, so you will rarely catch me onstage singing anywhere. (Unless I've had too much "medicine.")

When I lived in Baldwin County, I worked up the courage to join our small church's choir. A few friends made fun of me for being a "choir girl," but the truth was, I got more out of church being in that choir than from anything else I did.

Get me!

Not sure what that means.

What does all this have to do with anything?

Well, there's a lot of serious stuff going on in the world this week. I for one am a little weirded out by how much history seems to be repeating itself. (Great Depression followed by WWII, the majority of the country not wanting to get involved...)

Some people believe you can't be serious and lighthearted at the same time. But I have a tendency to get too serious, reader-friends.

I have to throw in some lightness in the mix so I don't lose it.

That thought gave me an idea for a scene in a book I'm working on. It's about looking ahead to how things will be once the bad thing has passed...

My hero tells our heroine a game he liked to play as a child. He would think of his favorite thing to do, and then he would tell himself that was what he'd do when whatever he was afraid of was over.

I confess, the idea grew from that part in L O S T where Jack tells Kate about allowing the fear in for five seconds. Really being afraid for those five seconds, and then letting it go and getting the job done.

Powerful thing, the mind...

It's going to be in the 90s here this week, but then the 70s by Friday. I think we should all imagine dressing up and doing a big Dora's Pirate Adventure sing-along on Saturday. Or Teen Beach Movie. Whatever floats your ship... or surfboard.

Quick Reminders:

**You can still enter to #WIN one of TEN amazing prizes including signed copies, audiobooks, etc., in the Happy Birthday The Truth About Faking giveaway! Go here (link)~

**Watercolor is coming Oct. 3! Look at this gorgeous paperback cover my incredibly talented writer-friend Jolene Perry made...

On Goodreads

I am SO in love with that cover. And it is SO perfect for Anna & Julian's love story... You've got time to catch up--grab your copy of Dragonfly and/or Undertow today!

Have a super week, reader-friends! Cooler weather is on the way~

Rockin #Undertow Friday and You Can #WIN!

Happy Friday, reader-friends!

I'm out of town at the moment--rambling around the exact location where Dragonfly, Undertow, and the whole series is set! I'll take some pictures for sharing later~

In the meantime, want to know what MUSIC inspired the story?

Nicole & Nicole over at Book Addicts Not-So Anonymous (link) have The Playlist! Run over and see how Wham! and Bruce Springsteen can go together to tell a tragic tale... (link)

Nicole also gave Undertow a RAVE, saying, "It is very scandalous, but I found my heart breaking for Lexy and Billy despite their betrayal of Meg, which tells me one thing Leigh creates AMAZING characters who even when they are doing wrong we still love and root for them."

While there, enter to #WIN signed copies of Dragonfly and Undertow, Exclusive eARCs of Watercolor, your own Private Journal, and SWAG!

Run over and join the fun (link)!

Remember, Dragonfly is still on SALE for 99 cents! Here's a little picture-teaser for ya:

Only 99 cents! On Amazon

Have a super weekend, friends~

Keep It Simple

It might not show in pictures, but I've always been sort of a laid-back personality. Sure, I'm super Type-A, but that's mostly when it comes to things like accomplishing my own, personal goals.

I think that's what attracted me to my husband. We're both extremely driven. But we don't expect others to be that way. In fact, we're both almost apologetic for not being more cool and laid back--Zen--about things like careers and fitness and personal goals...

Okay, so that's a long buildup for what I'm about to say: I got no beef with that little Rebecca Black song.

"Friday" is all about pure joy, man, and I just don't understand the hate. Now get over yourself, and listen to me.

Yes, the words are inane and the the vocoder on her voice makes her sound like a tree frog, but when you get right down to it, "Everybody's lookin forward to the weekend."

That's something we can all understand. Right? It's so simple, it's corny.

My preferred version is the Stephen Colbert/Jimmy Fallon production (link). But you all know I'm a fan of dancing girls and glitter guns (and feather boas). The Glee cast also did a pretty good rendition. (link)

Anyway, I got to thinking about writing and the book I've currently got on submission. When I started writing that one, I had one thing in my head: Keep it Simple.

I'd recently re-heard that This American Life broadcast where Starlee Kine wanted to write a break-up song, so she enlisted the help of Phil Collins. I don't know if you've heard it, but it's gut-wrenching. Here's the (link).

Anyway, I always thought Phil Collins was a tool and his music was oppressive. But after listening to that TAL, I decided he was among the first people I was inviting to The Party.

After Shatner and Bill Murray and Kirstie Ally. And Wes Anderson. And my little sister, Reese Witherspoon.

Yes, this is a fictitious party in my head. So?

Here's my point: Last week (or so) I posted about writing a classic, and we all weighed in. The comments basically added up to the fact that a classic presents relatable characters going through situations we all face in an engaging, timeless way.

I'm not saying "Friday" by Rebecca Black is a classic. But I think it deserves examination. It doesn't over-think the situation. It boils it all down to the basics. I'm snorting as I say this, but it's primal. And it's damn catchy.

The lesson I got: Do that logline exercise described by Nathan, Rachel and now Natalie. Then start writing. Keep It Simple, Sweetheart (KISS).

And see what happens.

Okay, I'm just throwing it out there. What do you guys think? Have I lost it this time?

Remember, LITBM blogfest is Monday! Here's the (link).

Have a great weekend, reader-friends. Til Monday~ <3

Summer Sharing - Music

The girls are back, school's out, and today starts VBS week with me teaching kindergarten. Naturally, I've got this amazing idea for a new book... !

For my non-local readers, it's been dark days since our last check-in. On Friday, Day 45 since the explosion, oil washed up on our beaches.

Along with it came the smell of paint, disinfectent and hot tar. And the pictures of oil-soaked pelicans, the stories of dead dolphins and sea turtles, and the destruction of underwater habitats.

Today is #48, and the oil continues to flow at a rate of 5,000 barrels per day. Now they're talking about the extermination of sperm whales and other endangered species...

This isn't a political blog, but I find I've taken a side on drilling in the Gulf. Care to guess which it is?

On a more positive note, there's a new, fashionable way to support local wildlife relief efforts: Fleurtygirl.net has created a supercute "Rescue Me" T-shirt, and all proceeds go to saving the Gulf marine life. Here's the link--scoot yourself over there and buy one now! They also come in kids' sizes.

The National Wildlife Federation has also set up a site for talking to kids about the oil spill. Click here for that page. To report oiled wildlife, call (866) 557-1401; to request volunteer info., call (866) 448-5816.

This is in addition to the links I put at the end of my May 27 post, "Oh, Black Water."

And on a quest for "lighten the mood" music, I found a podcast on iTunes called "St Tropez Beach House" that has great, free dance mixes.

I feel this must be wrong, but it is so good.

Go there and dowload Rihanna's "Please Don't Stop the Music" and shake that pain away. It's summer sharing, music edition. What's your favorite lose the blues tune?

A big Thank You to everyone who recommended books last Thursday! Anybody seeking escape via literature (recommended by cool people who read this blog), check out the comments section of that post.

I can't wait to get my hands on some makeup-wearing bullfighters, kudzu queens and guernsey literary and potato peel societies.

I also revisited Prodigal Summer by B. Kingsolver over the weekend, and I still like it very much. I also still can't quite say why--and I didn't recall it being so sexy-sexy--however... :o) JRM has announced he'll read it next.

LTM: It's very... earthy.
JRM: All her books are earthy.
LTM: Yes, but this one's very earthy....

I'll leave you with this memory. Our Gulf, Oct. 2009. "Just another day in paradise" we used to say.

sigh~

Book Review - Secret Life of Prince Charming

First~

#1-Happy Memorial Day! Thanks to all the men and women who fight for me every day. I know several cool folks in the military, and I thank you all for your dedication to your jobs, for your heart, and for having the courage to risk your lives to keep our country and way of life secure.

#2-Happy Anniversary to my sweet husband! Eight years ago tomorrow a judge in Indianapolis allowed these two nerds to get married:

and life just hasn't been the same since.

Here's to eight-plus more~

Now for the blog! A few weeks back, a mom-friend complained to me that Glee was very racy and the language and situations were inappropriate for children.

She was right, but I hadn't really thought about it because my little ladies are too young to watch the show and they aren't really interested in it anyway. So it hasn't been an issue at my house.

But I felt bad because other friends and I (used to) discuss it on FB every Thurs., and us mommies have to stick together. Mommy solidarity!

At the start of this season, the music and the choreography were still engaging, but I kept with it (despite the flagging storyline) primarily because Jane Lynch (and all the cast members of those Christopher Guest mockumentaries) is/are the funniest human(s) on the planet.

I commented it had peaked with the Madonna bit, but I gotta confess. They sure showed me. The writers got together and pulled out some really strong and moving final episodes.

I actually got a little misty at the wheelchair rider dreaming of being a dancer and the mother-daughter setup they unfolded between Idina and little Rachel. And a fun dose of Lady Gaga theatricality always wins. That was a brilliant finale.

(Here, I always chalked up my high tolerance for theatricality as the result of growing up in such close proximity to New Orleans. I completely forgot artists such as Queen, Alice Cooper, Bowie, Kiss, Elton John, etc., who were cuttin up during my formative years.)

So there you go. My DVR's still set for Glee.

As for book reviews, finished The Secret Life of Prince Charming by Deb Caletti, and man, I wished I was still teaching high school for a few minutes so I could round up a group of YA girls and get their take on it.

Here's the cover, which bears no relation to the plot (never at any time does this scene occur in the book):

I gotta be honest with you guys. I found SLPC to be predominantly... Boring.

And I hate to say that because I really enjoyed the humor and heart of Honey, Baby, Sweetheart. So I wondered if it's because I'm a grown-up (no giggling). To me the story behind SL of PC isn't new, and frankly, it's tiresome.

I mean, Caletti had a lot of good messages and great instructive stories, but I found it hard to slog through 200 pages of dumb girls and even dumber women making dumb love decisions. And then hot musician boy who's really sweet doesn't show up until the last 100 pages of her 325-page book.

Where's the fun in that?

If I were re-structuring it, I'd have introduced hot musician boy who's really sweet much earlier and had the struggle with MC's "I'm waiting for you to turn into a monster" ongoing as they learn the mistakes of her mom and her dad's exes.

That would've added a little sugar to the medicine. As it is, there just wasn't enough reason to care, and I had to will myself to keep reading.

But I'm ready to be challenged! Someone who loved it, please chime in and straighten me out. Tell me I missed the point just as surely as Lisa Schwartzbaum did reviewing SATC2.

On that note, even JRM got it when I said if I buy him a vintage Rolex that I've had engraved with a little phrase that's meaningful to the two of us for an anniversary present, and he in return buys me a flatscreen TV for our bedroom... He's in trouble.

Have a great holiday, guys. Til Wednesday~

Author-Agent Match dot com

OK, so originally this post was going to be something about the oil spill.

I've been thinking about our beaches and growing up in south Louisiana, living on the Alabama Gulf Coast, having family in Mississippi, a brother in south Florida. We're all virtually joining hands in this crisis praying it can be resolved with as little damage as possible.

Then I got a form rejection on a query letter for Brand New Novel from an agent who, according to her stated interests, should've at least wanted to read a little more... It's OK, I wasn't that upset. (big lie)

I can say I was pleasantly surprised that after only a few test letters, I got a full MS request from an extremely nice and reputable agent I interacted with on Debut Novel. (whee!) She seems like a neat person to work with. I'll keep you posted as that unfolds.

So since it all comes back to the books, I was thinking about how the agent search is a lot like using Match dot com to find a date/potential mate. (Never used MDC, but I'm betting it is...)

I read somewhere a caution to writers to approach selecting an agent even more carefully than you would your husband/wife. That seems a little extreme, but I get it. This person is going to have a huge role in my career path, and as most agent-author relationships involve contracts, there's a similarity.

So here's how it works (and those of you who've used MDC, see what you think):

The search is 98 percent online now--almost everybody's wanting to be green, and it sure saves on postage, so I'm all for it. You set out, aspiring novelist, finished novel in hand (teeth brushed, coolest outfit), and you head over to Query Tracker to set up your dbase/do a search for agents seeking your genre.

QT has links to agency websites and agent email addresses--even a comments section from queriers as to how fast they respond or if they do.

I'm sure this is some Big Brother means of tracking the habits of aspiring novelists and plotting trends in the industry, but I Don't Care. The fellas who designed and maintain QT (which is free, btw) are Heroes.

The list is made (profiles matched), so you pick about seven you'd like to ask on a date (i.e., send a query).

Pause.

I once read a long blog post about how a bad agent's worse than no agent at all--possiblly worse than never being published. (gasp!) I can't remember where that was or I'd give you a link.

So how do you know if this person you're about to ask out/possibly marry's crazy or not? What if you get an offer from the literary agent equivalent of Glen Close in Fatal Attraction?

Run over to Absolute Write Watercooler for the skinny. It's an online forum of writers who post about agent behaviors. Sometimes agents even drop in for interviews or to update threads about themselves. It's basically like your group of girlfriends, although I feel like the total guy in this scenario.

You can also Google the agent's name to see if he/she has a blog or has been interviewed recently by many of the helpful agent-interview blogs out there (e.g., Guide to Literary Agents, Literary Rambles, etc.)

For me, even after all this homework, it's been very hit or miss.

I've gotten several form rejections from agents who specifically state they're seeking what my novel is. I've gotten several partial requests from the same. And the I've gotten full requests (the home run) from agents both specifically seeking it and from some I've queried because I liked books they handled or their agency, regardless of whether they were specifically seeking what I'd written.

I've gotten the no call the day after treatment. I've gotten the surprise positive follow-up from the date you didn't think went so well...

And then I discovered Agents on Twitter. Can I just say, following AOT is a big mistake.

I know it helps us keep track of them 24/7, but when they start tweeting about queries, it's a lot like being the guy who overhears the group of girls discussing a bad date when you've just gone out with one of them.

They never tweet the name of offending querier, but you just KNOW they're talking about you.

Or then you have the agent who tweets that she just had the most amazing cookie at some NYC bakery while hanging with the Shark (Janet Reid), and you're thinking, "Why are you hanging out with the Shark eating cookies and not reading my partial???"

The best are the tweets from the agent who's so disappointed because she never gets the MS she really, really wants. Or the one who proposed to an author who'd already gotten married. But based simply on a query, not on reading the full...

Naturally, I hopped over to her profile to see if I should ask her out! I discovered she's seeking exactly what DN is! I tentatively send her a "Would you like to go out with me?" query and get back the insta-slap. The "Dear Author..." form reject.

LTM: (Puzzled frown, rubbing cheek) I guess she was still in mourning...

They should start using "John" instead of "Author" in those. Just to inject a little humor.

If all this sounds bitter, I've failed. It's totally not meant to. I'm actually extremely optimistic, and I've gotten super feedback on Brand New Novel.

The agent search is frustrating, but I still think it's way better than sending my MS off to the slushpile of four major publishing houses and hoping for the best. And I very much appreciate the fast-responding agents, positive or negative.

It's just the entire process brings to mind that Fountains of Wayne song "Someone to Love." (You knew there'd be a musical tie-in.)

I'm Seth. Agent Seeking Exactly What BNN Is, But Who Sends "Dear Author" Form Reject To My Query can play the role of Beth. Pay careful attention to the taxi interaction... Here's the link to the song.

Onward and upward, reader friends! Oh, and some Happy Mother's Day recipes (my contribution is #3).

(Not a) Blog Blog

A little over a month ago--right after the Oscars, whenever that was--I rented Julie & Julia (despite Richard's protests). I really enjoyed it.

I feel like I learned a little bit about who Julia Childs was as a person, and of course the publishing struggles were extremely relatable. It was shortly after I started this blog, so that part where Julie talks about blogs being vain and self-indulgent and narcissictic... (sp?) I totally got that. I felt that way. I still do... sort of.

So why am I doing this? Well, I read an agent's (Janet Reid's) blog post on "How to know when you're ready to start sending query letters." Her advice included the following: 1-Your book's finished, 2-You've done your research on agents, and then (cringe) 3-You've established a web presence, and I don't mean Facebook.

OK. I'm a smart person (stop giggling!) and I know. It does make you more appealing to publishers if they see that there are people out there (other than your mom/husband) who actually like reading what you write. (I also finished J&J, so I saw the end with the phone ringing off the hook because of her blog. A.k.a., "the dream sequence.")

So that's it. The answer to "Leigh, why did you start a blog?"

In its defense, since starting my blog, I've revised my initial judgment on them. I've really gotten to know a lot of you better through it--through your emails and comments--and I suppose you'd say the same of me.

I like it when you send me suggestions of things you'd like to see (Anthony! Next post~), and I especially like reading your comments. It's cool because I can see how once an author's books are out there, s/he really doesn't know how people respond to them. Unless s/he trolls the Internet to find chats or whatever. Here I can actually post the occasional literary musing and hear back from you guys almost instantly. I love that.

Update, I got a reply from an agent I queried back in January yesterday. She asked for a sample of the book. And there you have it. The speed of this game. Otherwise, still in "no news is no news" purg. I feel myself growing... and not just from the stress eating.

In music, I managed to get Richard's original "(Not a) Train Song" up on YouTube! I had to make it into a video, so if  you want to turn off your monitor and just listen, that's better. Otherwise, you'll be treated to family photos. (I tried to find ones of Richard playing music, but we actually don't have a lot of those. JRM asked why there were no train pix. LTM: It's not a song about a train.)

Musical guests include "Na$hville" Dave Harper on guitar (and production) and Margrette "Marge" Lane on mandolin and backup vocals. Here's the link.  Enjoy!

I'll keep the ole back 40...

Just in case you missed it, I'm having to cut back my blogging to Mondays & Thursdays while I work on other writing projects. I know. And I call myself a writer...

That is, of course, unless there is breaking news on Debut Novel--in which case that screaming sound you hear is me. (Yes, that includes you, Overseas Readers.) But I will also post it here. And everywhere.

So those of you sweethearts who have been asking, I'm still in what's known as the purgatory of no news is no news.

But I was thinking I haven't said anything about music in a while. I thought about it today as I was jogging and songs were coming on that I liked. The one mentioned in the title of this blog, for instance. (Robert Earl Keen, fyi.)

The girls have entered a Taylor Swift phase. I blame Lori Quimby, their GA teacher, but Catherine came up to me the other day and timidly asked if we could download a few of her songs. (She has her daddy's old iPod shuffle.)

I'm a sucker for the timid request for music, so we jumped on the iTunes immediately and started scrolling through Miss Swift's offerings. I hadn't listened to any of her songs, but now that I have, they're sweet.

They're like the musical Cliff's Notes for a lot of these YA novels I've been reading lately. Update, Something, Maybe was a bit of a let-down. Hmm... Elizabeth Scott is still great at the buildup to the kiss, but wow... it took fuh-evah to get there.

Starting I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter next. And I admit, I only bought it because Ms. Carter's agent is Kristin Nelson. Ms. Nelson seems like she should be my agent; I'm curious about what she actually represents. More soon.

So back to Taylor Swift. I've been enjoying her stuff. I was a very girlie little girl (shocker...), so I understand the attraction of these songs.

Richard, on the other hand, is a merciless ridiculer. Some of you know that he sings "Tim McGraw" as "When you play Donkey Kong." (I hope you have your sweatpants on...)

I forbid such behavior when the girls are around because I like them listening to *nice* music. (I finally got them to stop asking for "Tik Tok" and "Party Like a Rock Star.")

Still, our recent trip to the beach was a test. Catherine and Laura were demanding their Taylor Swift rock block, and Richard was literally squirming in his seat from all the one-liners just NEEDING to come out.

For example, TS's song "Today Was a Fairytale" was playing. The girls were happily singing all the words in the back seat, the following was going on up front:

TS: Today was a fairytale, I wore a dress... etc. Today was a fairytale.
JRM:  (under his breath) how many times is she going to say that?
LTM: (quiet, scolding voice) Richard...
TS: Today was a fairytale, you've got a smile, takes me to another planet...
JRM: Sounds more like a science fiction story.
LTM: (cuts eyes)

Ahh... The little ladies were unaffected. And I have to say, I've reached the point where I'm recognizing the cycles in the entertainment industry.

It's OK, I am not a ridiculer. Especially when you get that rare performer who actually wrote her own songs and then is actually singing them. And I think it's awesome that there's something out there for everybody (and at every stage of the game).

I'm sure these are the character-building lessons one learns in no news is no news purgatory.

Richard's a songwriter, in case you didn't know it (most of you do). His songs have titles like, "Kiefer Sutherland's Mother," "That Dog'd Bite You," and of course, the "(Not a) Train Song." They're in the humorously unexpected genre. I'll see if I can upload one for your musical enjoyment.

As for me, I'm just trying to get all the paying gigs done so I can get back to my sophomore effort. It's going quite well, and I'm noting how little I've leaned on my musical crutch for this one. (What could it mean...?)

I'll let you know when we're ready to start Round 2.

Musical Inspiration & Junie B. Jones

I've been reading different writer's blogs lately, and I've found that (like me) a lot of writers use music to get ideas for plot and character development.

It makes total sense because songwriters have to get in and out so fast, they can only hint at characters or situations and convey the emotion of them. It's a great jumping off point for a writer.

I remember being a kid and hearing "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" from the Evita soundtrack. I loved the melody, and I imagined this entire storyline around it based on the few words I remembered. I was a little disappointed when I finally saw the show. Kind of like seeing the movie version of a book you really liked.

Speaking of that, I can only think of one movie version of a book that I thought was really well done. (OK, two if you count that BBC miniseries of Pride & Prejudice.) Curious? It was Bridget Jones's Diary.

That was the first (and only) time I walked out of a movie feeling like it did a great job capturing the spirit of the book. I'm trying to think if I can remember another... Anybody got one?

Catherine recently went through all those Diary of a Wimpy Kid books, and she's So Excited about the movie opening this weekend. I've only read half of the first book, so I wasn't sure about the movie. But Richard stopped me to watch the trailer on TV the other morning and it looks funny.

I wonder if it's just the diary books that translate.

The girls are also into Junie B. Jones. We've read about six of her books so far, and I happen to love Junie B. Jones. Richard says she doesn't use proper English, and the other day Laura came in and said JBJ "says bad words."

To Richard, I said it didn't matter; to Laura, I said, "Wha--?"

This is coming from the child who took ballet for a year, and while showing me the different positions she learned, she threw in "Position 14."

Position 14 involves turning your backside to the audience, sticking it out and then shaking it from side to side slowly. Sort of like a burlesque.

It was her Grandpaw's favorite ballet move of the year and he demanded repeat performances every time he saw her. He also likes to write on her with ink pens. Grandpaw's a character.

A while back I told Richard I was afraid Laura would grow up to be our Sarah Silverman child because of all her stunts, but I got my casting wrong. She's very concerned because JBJ says "stupid," "dumb," and "darn."

So maybe she'll be our Gypsy Rose Lee rather than our Sarah Silverman. I wonder if she realizes Mommy uses these words. I suppose I shouldn't be such a potty mouth.

I hear they're making another Eloise movie--this time in Paris with Uma Thurman as Nanny. I never imagined Nah-nee looking like Uma Thurman. Nah-nee's more Mrs. Garrett from The Facts of Life.

I love love love movies, so I'm sure the girls and I will be there for E in P. I'd like to see JBJ made into a movie. Maybe we'll have that to look forward to before long as well.

I hope it's not rated R for language.

Harmony

I used to go to sleep-away camp every summer when I was a kid. It was for three weeks, and I started going when I was seven years old.

The idea of sending Catherine to camp for three weeks right now by herself blows my mind. But if it was with Mr. Guy and Ms. Beth Tanner (the owners of Kueta-T Camp for Girls in Norwood, La.), I wouldn't hesitate.

Those guys were saints and grandparents and leaders and listeners all rolled up into one. They had six kids (plus them made eight, hence the "Kueta") and a dream of having a safe, fun, nondenominational camp for girls.

They also opened it to churches during the winter for retreats, and I think anyone who ever had any contact with Kueta and the Tanners came away loving those guys.

At Kueta the days were divided into activities you signed up for at the beginning of the session. You went to four or five a day, I can't remember. And the options included horseback riding, canoeing, archery, riflery, sign language, crafts, swimming, tennis... all the typical camp fare.

When I was a SMITY (Staff Member in Training) my last year to go, I taught drama and journalism. The journalism kids made an end-of-session newsletter and the drama group ended with a play. It was something about a princess and I can't remember what. Seems like there was another P-word in the title. (No, it wasn't "Pea.") It was hilarious.

My favorite part of the whole experience was the singing. Mr. Guy and Ms. Beth had graduated from LSU way back in the 1940s, and they had rewritten a bunch of the great old songs from that time with Kueta lyrics.

They were all about how great it was to be a camper at Kueta-T, and we would all sing a few after breakfast each morning. There were usually one or two that were divided into rounds.

Campers at Kueta aged from seven to seventeen, and after three weeks, everyone knew the songs. The year I was a SMITY, I got to help lead the singing after breakfast with Diedra (an actual grandaughter of MG & MB). It was awesome.

I also liked the sessions when they'd have a chorus option. A camper friend of mine Hayley and I loved to sing together. I remember Hayley had a really strong voice and the most beautiful, well-behaved blonde hair. There was no electricity at camp, so you can imagine what I looked like after a day.

During the sessions we were housed in open-air cabins called "Hogans," and the bathrooms were a hike down the hill from where we slept. Night-time bathroom runs were always ... exciting. We were out in the piney woods, you see, and it was Dark.

I thought about all this last night. I was feeling very tense and I had to go to choir practice at church. Since we moved here, we joined a small church that has an equally small choir. But it's a great bunch of folks--friendly and warm. They'd fit right in at Kueta.

We sang a song last Sunday that we hadn't practiced in a while and we hit a few wrong notes. The Duck in our choir fussed the whole way back to our seats about it. Something about sounding like cats and wishing she hadn't had a dog in that fight. Ms. Duck cracks me up.

Richard told me the Duck said she fell at the car wash one time and decided to just lie there until paramedics came and helped her up. She's one of the funniest, scrappiest old ladies I know, and I Love. Her.

Anyway, what all that has to do with harmony is this. I'm not the strongest singer in the choir, but I've got a decent ear for harmony, and I'll tell you something. There is nothing in this world like being surrounded by a group of voices ringing out a perfect four-part harmony.

I left last night feeling more relaxed than after a yoga class. Refreshed, too. Bro. Randy, our minister of music, is one of the hardest working men in show biz, and he always likes to say we're lead worshippers.

I don't always feel like a leader, but I always come away from that group restored, refreshed and ministered to. It's almost as good as coming off three weeks in the woods with no electricity and nothing but singing.

Kueta's no longer open. Ms. Beth's not doing so well, and Mr. Guy's up in heaven.

I like to imagine some of the songs he gets to sing up there including the words, "We call it fun, but you may call it ma-adness. Stay here with us and you'll forget your sa-adness. Happy campers are we having fun 'neath the trees and when we are gone you'll remember our song we call it Ku-eta-Tee, Ku-eta-Tee, Ku-eta-Tee, Ku-eta-Tee, Ku!"

Spring is springing!

First, cool tune alert: "Stylo" by Gorillaz. (For those of you trying to remember, Gorillaz is the cartoon group who released that "windmill, windmill" song about five years ago, "Feel Good, Inc.")

I downloaded "Stylo" a few weeks ago, and I have to say it gets better with every listen. That, and I really dig Mos Def's voice. Good vibrations.

Second, several peeps have asked for the latest on Debut Novel. Here's where we stand: I've had five requests for the full MS and one request for a partial.

And I wait. And yes, it's torture.

But the full MS requests came quickly over the last 10 days. (I finally figured out that query-letter trick.) Typical turnaround on fulls is 4-8 weeks. I'll keep you posted.

Now for spring! I was out jogging this morning, and it is so nice right now. The Bradford pears and Japanese magnolias are blooming and it's 60 degrees outside. Wow.

There were still little bursts of dead leaves that would rain down every so often while I ran, and it made me think of my first boss as an editor at LSU, Susan Rogers. She was a neat lady.

Susan was Irish. Actually, she was Jewish, but she was born in Ireland and then raised in London. Very multicultural. Still, she had this great British accent and she was extremely refined. She had a little teapot, and she liked to observe tea time. She said it was important to pause and reflect at some point during the day.

She taught me to write sentences that began with "would you please" and ended with "thank you" in the letters I sent back to professors with their edited manuscripts.

(Rather than "do this" and "do that" and "explain this" and "you stopped using English here.")

Susan also used fun catch phrases such as "we live in hope" and "keep calm." (Yes, there were times when those catch phrases were needed.)

Our offices were in Prescott Hall right next to the offices for this government program Law Enforcement Online (LEO). I never was quite sure what LEO did--busted hackers? Used satellites to track spies?

I did know we weren't supposed to go through their double-glass doors for security reasons. But the hall bathroom was just on the other side of their little suite of offices, so we ignored that rule. Sorry, federal government.

The lady in charge of LEO was this obnoxious redhead. She liked to stand in the hall and have loud conversations with her underlings who were in their offices. Her yelling typically involved lots of cursing, and it drove Susan nuts.

The redhead drove me nuts because every day after lunch she would go in the bathroom in her office and spray the crap out of her hair.

The building where we worked had been a dorm in a past life, so the bathroom of this woman's office was connected to my office, but the door had been sealed shut. (I'm sure to keep me from going postal on their butts.) The only problem was it wasn't airtight, so after she finished her grooming, my office was awash in Aquanet.

I would seriously have to stand at my door and fan out the hairspray. Rex Rose, my first graduate assistant got the brilliant idea of using clear packing tape to seal all the cracks around the door. It actually worked.

Oh, if only he weren't better at editing the manuscripts I gave him. He was actually pretty terrible. Susan was always calm and rational, but once he provoked her to say "bugger." That was So. Funny.

Susan had a daughter Rosie and an autistic son Seamus. Rosie called the office once and I answered the phone. Our conversation went like this:

Rosie: Is my mom there?
LTM: She's not in the office. Is everything OK?
Rosie: Keep calm.
LTM: Ooo-kaay... What's wrong?
Rosie: There may or may not be peacocks in our yard, and Seamus may or may not be chasing them.
LTM: (Well, which is it?)

That situation worked itself out. Seems their neighbors kept peacocks. Baton Rouge is also a quirky place to live if I haven't already mentioned it.

Seamus didn't talk and he wasn't toilet trained. He was also nine years old, and quite a handful. Some days Susan had to call in sick because he'd been up all night. She was a single mom. Her jerk husband had left her after they found out Seamus was autistic.

I say "jerk" because she implied that he blamed her for their son's condition. Seems that used to be the school of thought--autism was somehow the mother's fault. Jerks.

But Susan was always so upbeat and positive, and the few conferences we attended together were a blast. She was a lot of fun, and I admired her very much.

The reason I was thinking of her today was because she taught me to catch leaves.

Susan had lots of fun Irish folklore, and supposedly if you catch a falling leaf, it's very good luck. I managed to do it once when we worked together. I caught my leaf and then tossed it aside. Susan later informed me I had thrown my luck away. (You're supposed to keep it, silly!)

Catching leaves is hard. If you try it, be sure you've got an open, flat space to practice. Looking up and runing around is a great way to get hurt.

This morning when I was jogging I caught a leaf. I smiled and thought of Susan. She moved back to England several years ago. To a little village called Lowndes. I like to imagine those guys are doing great, having fun, enjoying life, observing tea time. Rosie would be grown now.

St. Patrick's day is a week away. Get outside and catch a leaf!

L O S T Anthems

A while back a friend recommended I download "Big Light" by the group Roman Candle. Very luminous, I know.

Anyway, I did, but I didn't really listen to it at the time. I'm sure you guys agree, you have to be in the mood for certain songs. Lately, it's been in constant rotation, much to the children's annoyance.

The girls are very into "Les Champs-Elysses" by Joe Dassin. I blame my French-teaching friend Jenni and Eloise in Paris.

Don't get me wrong, it's a fun, catchy tune, and I'm diggin the multiculturalism. But after the 100th time, I'm thinking thoughts I can't translate into English... 

"Au soleil, sous la pluie, a midi ou a minuit
Il y a tout ce que vous voulez aux Champs-Elysees"
 
Jenni!

I've also been liking "Animal" by Kie$ha. Another anthem and great inspiration for romance. Yep. That's the emotion you're trying to capture. Good stuff.

(Can I go off on a tangent for a second and wonder what's the deal with no pants? I know we have Madonna to thank [again], but jeez, isn't the leotard look over yet? You're fit. That's awesome, now go get dressed already.)

So L O S T is in it's final season, and it is totally RULING!

My theory: the events that are happening off the island are going to end up being how the show rides off into the sunset. When they were on the plane, and Jack looked out the window and they showed the island underwater, I think that's what un-Locke/Smokey is ultimately going to do (sink the island), and our friends the Lostaways are going to be bounced back to what's going on in the real world.

Juliet did say "it worked" after all.

But that's just my theory. I have a group of friends in a separate email discussion who blow my mind with all their theories. Of course, they're all ST:TNG/Sci-Fi/Fantasy geeks, so I'm used to it. Having never read An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge, I'm behind the curve. It's fun, though.

So I was thinking, those of you out there who watch, two questions:
1-What do you think?
2-Which L O S T  character are you?

I have to admit, while I'd like to be Kate, and last month I felt like I was turning into Rousseau, the truth is I'm really Hurley.

He outweighs me by like 200 lbs and all, but every line he utters is totally in my head before he says it. I'm as completely confused as he is (in which cases, I do tend to go all Zen and be like "whatever"--Hurley!), and I would have totally been writing the screenplay for Return of the Jedi, because he's right. Ewoks sucked.

That's it for today, kids. I've got to get back to Bidding of the Bulls. Let me put my lighter away...

Love is in the Air

First, Bravo, Shadow Barons! Awesome ball last night. This funny exchange occurred between yours truly and a Baron who was crazy-dancing with me:

LTM: You're going to make me fall!
SB: (loudly) That's OK! I'm a member of this organization!
LTM: But I don't want to fall!

Ah... good times, good times.

So Happy Valentine's day! In honor of this special occasion, I'll share three reasons why I love my husband, Richard, so much:
1-He insists that I pursue my dreams/obsessions/creative urges.
2-He gives me honest feedback.
3-He is the voice of reason insisting that I stop going to extremes and look at things rationally.

Those would also be the three reasons he infuriates me sometimes. (Why did I ever tell him I had become an aspiring novelist?)

Here's my favorite picture of him~

Aw, look at that face. I remember the first time I laid eyes on him at LSU when we were 18 years old. I was kind of tired that night, so I begged off hitting the Chimes with those guys and went back to my dorm to get some rest. But we spent the next three years practically inseparable. Well, as inseparable as two people with other significant others can be. And during the summers, he wrote me the best, longest letters. Yep, letters. On paper even. And yes, Virginia, I've still got them all.

I knew by graduation I'd end up a Moore before it was all over. I knew it when he gave me that mix tape. He was headed to Vandy law school, and I was headed . . . well, back to my old high school to teach tenth-grade English. (That turned out to be a really fun experience.)

That mix tape contained the following songs (get out your notepads, fellas): Roy Orbison's "In Dreams," Fleetwood Mac's "Silver Springs," Elvis Costello's "Alison," Indigo Girls, "Love Will Come to You," Rod Stewart's "Baby Jane" ... I can't remember the rest, but I wore it out.

And then, ten years later, we found each other again and got married.

I can report my college boyfriend Paul said, "It's about time you two got together," when I told him we were married. Paul's a great guy.

So Happy Valentine's Day, Richard. I love you. I knew you when you had no one to talk to.