Tom's Blog
Welcome! The purpose of this blog is to open a window onto my writing world through an informal, off-the-cuff journal of what I'm working on, how it's going, what I'm thinking/feeling, how my life figures into what I write, and vice versa. I hope you find it insightful in some way, and helpful in your own journey as a writer or a reader. If you'd like to send me a comment, or suggest a "Tom's Blog" topic, have at it. I encourage feedback, and dialogue. My email address is tom@tombirdseye.com.
P.S. I also post this blog on Facebook. Feel free to "friend" me if you'd like to get them via Facebook "News Feeds."
Note: entries appear with the most recent at the top. Previous year's entries are archived; links are at the bottom of the page.
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7/29/10 -- Today's itinerary: 1. Wake up at 4:00 AM and unsuccessfully try to stop brain gears from engaging. 2. Give up and go for a 9-mile dawn run. 3. Two fried eggs on toast, then Latino music to pack by. 4. Print out draft #11 of REVENGE OF THE MUTANT UNDERWEAR for editing on the trip. 5. Leave with Debbie for Portland. 6. Drop off laptop at the Apple Store to get screen fixed. 7. Pick up Kelsey. 8. Flop at hotel near airport. 9. Hit the hay early, because tomorrow we catch 4:00 AM shuttle to PDX and fly to Mexico to visit Amy. Andale! Vamanos!
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7/26/10 -- "The charm of fishing is that it is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope." -- John Buchan
Somewhere I read that this quote can easily be modified to apply to my line of work -- just substitute "writing" for "fishing." Works for me. I'm guessing it would ring true for many endeavors. Something to cast about on my next long run . . .
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7/21/10 -- Research has shown that listening to Baroque classical music -- think J.S. Bach, Pachelbel, Vivaldi -- helps you concentrate and be more creative. It could just be the power of suggestion, but I had a very fun and productive writing day today, with a Baroque soundtrack in the background. Going to try it again tomorrow.
But now that I'm done writing for this lovely Wednesday, it's time for some Eric Clapton!
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7/19/10 -- "We do not write what we know; we write what we want to find out." -- Wallace Stegner, Pulitzer Prize winning author of Angle of Repose.
Writing, then, as exploration. I agree, at least in theory. Still, some days the exploring feels more like stumbling around in the dark.
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7/16/10 -- First rule of writing: Apply sitter to seat of chair.
Second rule: Don't get up until actual progress has been made. (Note: this does not include answering email, or checking FaceBook, or surfing the Web, or falling back asleep.)
Ergo: If you are a slow writer like me, a comfy chair is handy.
Tah-dah! My new writing limo -- sleek, powerful, full of unleashed potential. Varoom! 
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7/14/10 -- Remember carpe diem, Latin for seize the day? Saw a fun riff on that in Portland at Powell's, the famous independent bookstore -- carpe librum, seize the book. Don't know if Powell's coined the twist, but whoever did, I love it.
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7/12/10 -- Family reunion time in SC and KY is over, and Debbie and I are back in Oregon. An ascent of Mt. Jefferson with my climbing buddies was on the calendar, but rapidly warming temperatures in the Cascades destabilized the heavy snowpack. So we decided to go rock climbing instead. We chose a ten-pitch route, the Peregrine Traverse on Acker Rock in the Umpqua National Forest. It's not a technically difficult climb, but has lots of exposure and was a blast. Here is my friend Gary, a 3rd grade teacher from Bend, OR, on the 5th pitch.
I returned from climbing to find a hardcover copy of STORM MOUNTAIN in the mail. I like to think that the very first copy I receive was the very first one off the press. Probably not, but it still holds a special place in my heart, and takes its place on a special shelf.
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6/25/10 -- I've been away from internet connections for a while, which in this day and age is unusual. (A good thing or a bad thing? Depends on your mood, I guess.) Spent Father's Day weekend at Smith Rock State Park climbing with my strong daughters.
Tried my hand at the famous route Chain Reaction, rated 5.12c. Which, in case you aren't familiar with the Yosemite rating system, is REALLY HARD!
I expected it to be a humbling experience, but not that humbling. Needless to say, I did not make it to the top. It will be a long-term project, like writing a novel.
In the meantime, I'm in Folly Beach, SC for a Birdseye family reunion. Factoring in the humidity, the heat index will reach 110 degrees this afternoon. A good time to stay indoors and write. I'll get out later and enjoy the sunset over the dunes.
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6/15/10 -- The writer as eavesdropper. At a restaurant I overheard a group of diners talking about their health: "Diverticulitis, too. I'm falling apart." And eating habits: "My daughter-in-law uses no salt on her mashed potatoes!" The neighborhood: "They want to add a second floor, they should be able to. It's their house!" Overall, lots of grousing, which struck me as sad. And raised the question of gratitude. And perspective. Is the glass half full or half empty? Complex subjects to explore.
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6/10/10 -- I woke up around 3:00 AM this morning and starting thinking. Not a good thing, thinking in the middle of the night. Unless you are a writer and by thinking at 3:00 AM you solve the mystery of what's been puzzling you about your novel. Made the changes today, and it worked, Eureka!
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6/7/10 -- Opened the mailbox yesterday to find an Advance Reader's Copy (aka ARC) of STORM MOUNTAIN. It will go out to reviewers. (Keeping my fingers crossed on that.) Official publication date of the hardcover version is October 15. What was once a vague idea floating around in my head is now one step closer to becoming a real book!
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6/4/10 -- Finished the work week with a good writing day.
Will start the weekend with a good writing day.
And top off the weekend with a good writing day.
Yep, lots of wordsmithing to do.
But in the meantime, the sun is shining and it's time for a mountain bike ride. During which I will ponder the following:
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read." -- Groucho Marx
Woo-hoo!
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6/1/10 -- After a long weekend in the wide open, spectacular spaces of Malheur Wildlife Refuge . . .
. . . my mind seems a little less scattered. Nothing like the wonders of the natural world to bring life into focus.
Now if I can just apply that focus to my writing . . .
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5/28/10 -- Finished an editing project yesterday, and today I'm clearing my desk and getting back into REVENGE OF THE MUTANT UNDERWEAR. Oh, and packing for a weekend trip to Eastern Oregon for some desert time. Hiking and mountain biking are on the agenda, as well as bird watching at Malheur Wildlife Refuge. (Sandhill cranes should still be there.) Happy Friday, everyone!
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5/24/10 -- Editing today, and repeating the mantra: Show, don't tell. Show, don't tell. Show, don't tell.
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5/22/10 -- "I like to hear and smell the countryside, the land my characters inhabit. I don't want these characters to step off the page. I want them to step out of the landscape." -- Author Peter Matthieson, as quoted in today's The Writer's Almanac.
Home again, I'm happy to be stepping back into the Oregon landscape, even with this unseasonable, chaotic weather.
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5/20/10 -- Today I was at Iroquois Community School in Des Plaines, IL for their Young Author's Conference. It is a K-8 school, which is unusual these days. (Most I visit are K-5 for elementary, 6-8 for middle schools.) Great kids, and super supportive staff. Tomorrow I'll be back, doing writer's workshops with smaller groups in the library.
In the meantime, my stomach is growling for Mexican food, and -- lucky me -- Cancun City Restaurant is just around the corner. Fajitas, por favor!
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5/18/10 -- 30 years ago today (5/18/80) Mt. St. Helens erupted, and is still a hot number.
36 years ago today (5/18/74) Debbie and I got married. We're still a hot number, too!
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5/17/10 -- Back in Oregon, until Wednesday morning when I head for Des Plaines, IL and my last author visit of the 2009-2010 school year. There is already much in the works for next year, though. The calendar is filling up fast! Let me know asap if you are interested in lassoing a date.
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5/14/10 -- I had a great day with the kids at Maloney Interdistrict Magnet school in Waterbury, Ct. Many thanks to Sue Wiehn for inviting me!
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5/13/10 -- Up early and waiting at the Portland airport for a flight to Chicago, then on to Connecticut. School visit tomorrow in Waterbury. But first, writing work to do on the plane. Actually, first I've got to wake up . . .
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5/11/10 -- Skyped with @ 100 first and second graders at Neff Elementary School in Lancaster, PA today. Host librarian Janet Anderson did a great job with the technology end of things. Kids were fantastic, and had well thought-out questions. Spent the afternoon working on REVENGE OF THE MUTANT UNDERWEAR and other writing-related projects.
"It seems to me that writing is a marvelous way of making sense of one's life, both for the writer and for the reader." -- John Cheever
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5/10/10 -- Three weekends in a row I've had the good fortune to be out in the mountains. This last time was a special treat -- Debbie got to go, too! We snowshoed into a cabin just below timberline on the northeast side of Mt Hood. Originally a ranger station, it was built in the 1920s.
No electricity or running water, but a nice stone fireplace to gather round with friends.
On Saturday we hiked up into the alpine zone to take in the views.
Sunday we ate a quick breakfast and headed back to Corvallis for a Mother's Day celebration. I am one lucky guy to be part of such an incredible family!
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5/5/10 -- Last weekend I completed a "Life List" goal. In the company of good friends I skied around the rim of Crater Lake.
With a circumference of 33 miles, it took the better part of three days. Despite the calendar reading "May" there was still plenty of snow at that elevation. (7,000 feet or so, on average.)
Sometimes too much snow, as in whiteouts we experienced on both Saturday and Monday. (Ironic, since I'd just finished STORM MOUNTAIN.) Imagine skiing inside of a ping-pong ball while being buffeted by wind gusts up to 50 mph. We got lost twice. Thank goodness for compass, map, and GPS.
Sandwiched in between, however, was a beautiful Sunday of stellar views.
And accommodations were five star.
Two days after returning I'm still beat. But, just like the commitment and effort required to write a novel, the reward was absolutely, without-a-doubt worth it.
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4/30/10 -- A few more editing details needed to be taken care of on STORM MOUNTAIN. Now it really is headed to the printer.
Spent the rest of the day packing for a 3-day ski around the rim of Crater Lake. Weather forecast looks pretty good. Views should be spectacular. Over nine feet of snow at the top. Everything is thumbs up. Woo-hoo!
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4/29/10 -- Back in Oregon after a fun visit with the kids at Cranbury Elementary in Norwalk, CT. Many thanks to my host, Enrichment Coordinator Laura Dufort.
An added bonus to the trip was a great view of the New York City skyline as I flew out of La Guardia. I didn't get my camera out in time for a snapshot, but imagine an angular mountain range strung with thousands of lights . . .
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4/27/10 -- A big weekend for me in the Oregon Cascades:
Skiing powder Saturday on Mt. Hood. (That's me on the right, with my buddy Gary, a third grade teacher. Photo credit: Ethan Wilson, ER doc extraordinary.) We planned to climb that night, but checked the weather at 11:00 PM to find snow coming in sideways at 30 MPH. So we decided to sleep in only to discover . . .
. . . the storm had passed by morning and gifted us with blue skies. We grabbed gear and went out to play. Didn't summit (dangerous to be up high on a mountain late on a sunny day; avalanche potential gets high), but we had a great mountain experience just goofing around.
To top it all off we then snowshoed/hiked into a forest service lookout to spend the night.
True, you had to haul snow up in a bucket to melt for drinking water . . . 
. . . but the view was worth it!
Today I flew across our beautiful country and am in Norwalk, Connecticut for an author visit at Cranbury Elementary. Life is busy, but I wouldn't have it any other way!
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4/23/10 -- Just finished the final edits of the master proofs for STORM MOUNTAIN. To celebrate I'm going to go play on Mt Hood, Oregon's tallest peak. The original plan was to begin the climb at 2:00 AM tonight (typical alpine start time), but the weather is looking . . . well, stormy, so we're going to postpone a day. Fine with me. As the climber's saying goes: summitting is optional, returning mandatory. Besides, my guess is that the mountain will still be there.
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4/21/10 -- Went climbing yesterday at the Oregon State University indoor gym. A friend of mine, who will remain nameless, ushered me over to a route I hadn't done before and assured me it was "easy, you'll love it!" Little did I know that he had tried it while I was out of town and considered it a tough nut to crack. Among climbers this is called "sandbagging" and is a popular prank to pull on your climbing buddies.
But here's the thing: Being told that it was "easy" and that I "would love it" planted that belief in my head, and I flowed right up the route to the top. Climbing success, like success in a lot of things -- read: writing -- is heavily influenced by attitude. Maybe that's why I got so much work done today on STORM MOUNTAIN. I had my attitude screwed on straight.
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4/19/10 -- Back in Corvallis and at work on the master proofs of STORM MOUNTAIN. This is my last chance to make any changes before the book trundles off to press. So I'm going over it with a fine-toothed comb. I'll read it aloud, too, as this always helps me identify problems that just don't show up when reading silently.
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4/16/10 -- Packing to head home to Oregon, my head is a whirlwind of New York images both minute and magnificent: plum blossoms petals on the sidewalk in Central Park, the Empire State Building looming over 5th Avenue, a Hasidic Jew's earlocks tucked up under his broad-brimmed black felt hat, the off-key chorus of taxi horns, the smell of fresh-baked bagels, downhill stair step symmetry in townhouses on East 30th Street, the wonderful pedestrian dance along Lexington Avenue at rush hour, a rainbow of cultures arching across my field of vision. Cool city. Gotta come back soon!
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4/15/10 -- Today was a Big Apple day, capped by lunch with publishing standouts John, Mary, Julie, Kathleen, and Olivia. Last look at the proofs for STORM MOUNTAIN, too. Julie Amper has done a great job of editing and offering much-needed perspective on improving the story. (For all you developing writers out there, remember, feedback is essential to getting your best work.) Only a few more tweaks to make before "Storm" is ready to go the printer. Publication date will be next fall. Yay!
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4/14/10 -- Another great day in schools, this one at Eli Whitney Elementary in Enfield, CT. My host, librarian Denice Gartrell, had thought of absolutely everything to make my visit a stellar experience. Thanks, Denice!
Then it was back to New York City on Amtrak, walking cross town from Penn Station to East 30th St, where I collapsed at the Murray Hill Inn. Whew!
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4/13/10 -- A fun day with great kids at the Yeshiva of Central Queens. Many thanks to Etta Presser-Anton for being a consummate host!
From Queens I took the subway to Penn Station in the heart of Manhattan and caught the 5:40 Amtrak to Enfield, CT. The view from the train was not always the most scenic: gritty alleys, dumpsters, peeling paint, broken windows, graffiti, homeless camps, and weeds run rampant. But then the landscape morphed and the next thing I knew we came around the bend and there was a meadow bordered by flowering plum trees and the glass surface of a pond reflecting cattails and blue sky.
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4/12/10 -- I'm in Jamaica. No, not of Caribbean fame. Jamaica, New York, in the New York City borough of Queens. I flew in to La Guardia airport today, and do an author visit tomorrow at the Yeshiva of Central Queens. Looking forward to meeting the kids there! In the meantime, though, it's time . . . for . . . bed . . .
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4/11/10 -- A hotel near the Portland, OR airport is home tonight. I leave early tomorrow for New York and Connecticut for author visits and meetings with book folks. Got in a fun bouldering session with Kelsey this afternoon, though, at a great indoor climbing gym called The Circuit. Numerous interesting and challenging routes were to be found, but I especially enjoyed their hanging boulder. Check it out!
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4/9/10 -- A good writing day, with a 9-mile run mixed in before lunch. Now both of our girls -- Kelsey and Amy -- are here, along with Amy's fiance, Alex. We're going to cook up a Middle Eastern dinner and watch slides of Debbie and my trip to Israel. A great way to end the week with family gathered around. Happy Friday!
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4/7/10 -- This morning I was running behind schedule and caught myself thinking, "I've GOT to write!" As if this job of mine is a hassle and infringes on my life.
I quickly corrected myself, and inserted a different vowel: "I GET to write!" It is an honor and a privilege to create books for kids. I am one very lucky guy that this is my career.
As if a reward for altering my thinking, a teacher comment was forwarded to me after my recent visit to Haddam-Killingworth Middle School in Connecticut: "The best author visit we've ever had!"
Like I said, I'm one very lucky guy.
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4/1/10 -- I'm just now back in Oregon after returning from Israel and then taking off immediately for an author visit in Connecticut. Twenty-six time zones in ten days. Whoosh! I don't know whether I'm coming or going, an appropriate state of mind for April Fools Day.
A few pics of Israel:
The grounds of the American International School of Israel. I had a great time talking writing with the kids. Fantastic educators there. Fantastic school.
After leaving the Tel Aviv area, we went to Jerusalem. Here is a view from our hotel window of the Old City. The Dome of the Rock dominates the cityscape.
Typical street scene in the Old City.
If you pay any attention to the news you're aware of the Arab-Israeli conflict. Well-armed soldiers were, indeed, common, but willing to take time to give us directions. We ventured into the West Bank and East Jerusalem, but saw no hostilities and were treated with great kindness and respect everywhere we went.
The Western Wall, also known as the Wailing Wall, sacred to Jews. Behind it the Dome of the Rock, sacred to Muslims.
The Garden of Gethsemane, sacred to Christians.
A Muslim, a Christian, and a Jew. Jerusalem must be one of the most varied holy cities in the world.
Much has been written about this contested landscape. I like the sentiments expressed here in Hebrew, English, and Arabic. If it could be achieved, what a wonderful legacy to leave for the next generation . . .
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3/23/10 -- Greetings from Israel! I'm here giving author presentations at the American International School north of Tel Aviv. The flight over here was tough (24 hours travel time, 9,000 miles, ten time zones), but well worth it. The school is fantastic, kids a delight, teachers outstanding. What more could a visiting author ask for?
And then there is the country itself. Talk about antiquities! There are places where 2,000-year-old pot shards are scattered about like gravel. We've seen a lot already, and taken tons of pictures, but here are a few to hopefully at least give a taste:
The ancient port of Caesarea, built by Herod beginning in 22 BC. Over the centuries it was occupied by a series of invaders, including the Crusaders. Now it's an Israeli National Park, and an archaeological treasure.
Roman aqueduct that carried water to Caesarea.
2,000-year-old tile floor. Who needs linoleum?
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3/17/10 -- Packing this afternoon for the trip to Israel it occurred to me that my entire career -- and in some ways a hefty representation of my entire life -- is housed in my laptop: multiple writing projects, slide presentations for author visits, email folders containing crucial information, photographs, music, my calendar. It is both a wonder that so much can be contained is such a small and portable piece of electronic wizardry, and at the same time a terror. It's going with me halfway around the world. What if it doesn't make it back? Sure, I back everything up. But still, as much as I love my MacBook Pro, there are moments -- packing for example -- when I find myself wishing I wasn't so attached to it. Then the moment passes, I give my computer a hug, and thank my lucky stars it's mine.
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3/15/10 -- A great and varied weekend: Ran a 5k with Kelsey Saturday morning in Eugene (that's us in light blue and red shirts going for the finish line), then skied that afternoon at Willamette Pass, and stopped back in Eugene on the way home for Indian food with the whole clan. A yummy day all the way around.
Now it's pedal-to-the-metal time. Debbie and I leave for Portland on Thursday afternoon, then fly to Tel Aviv early Friday morning. I'll be speaking at the American International School of Israel for three days next week, plus we'll get in some sightseeing. So much to do when getting ready to travel, especially travel internationally. I don't mind, though. We're in for an adventure!
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3/12/10 -- Those of you who teach know that spring is the season when you can really start to see the gains kids have made over the course of the school year. Today I heard from a teacher in the midwest who tells me I had at least a little something to do one of her student's academic growth in writing.
"You made a visit to our school last fall and I just wanted to let you know what a difference you have made for one of my students! Ethan is in my language arts class except when he goes to the resource room for a little additional support. Writing has been a challenge for Ethan - forming ideas, organizing thoughts and a basic shutdown. This then led to behavior issues and a Dr Jekyll/Mr Hyde change in Ethan went into effect!"
I know the feeling. I was a bit of a Dr Jekyll/Mr Hyde kid myself. She goes on . . .
"Ethan happened to sit next to me during your wonderful presentation to our school. When you made the comment that you did not like to write when you were young, he turned to me and said, 'He is just like me!' Ethan has now become one of the top writers in my class and I wanted to thank you. He now believes in himself and his behavior has turned around too."
How cool is that? Go, Ethan!
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3/10/10 -- I've known for a long time that visualizing my audience can be helpful when I'm working on a story. Since I'm writing REVENGE OF THE MUTANT UNDERWEAR for eight-to-twelve-year-olds, it made sense to visualize someone in that age bracket.
But who? I knew I wanted it to be a reluctant reader. If I could get a reluctant reader interested, then I could get almost anyone interested. Besides, we need more books for reluctant readers.
After much experimenting with less-than-optimal results, I thought, "Why not try visualizing myself at that age?" I didn't like to read, and avoided books whenever possible. I have vivid memories of being twelve. And, besides, who do I know better than me?
I tried it, and so far it's working great. It has been said many times by many people that you should ultimately write for yourself, but I'd always thought of that advice as figurative, not literal. But here's at least one example of it being literally true. Try it, visualize yourself as the reader, and see if it works for you.
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3/8/10 -- Last May I spoke at the International School of Curitiba in Brazil. It was a short trip -- only 48 hours in the country -- but a great experience. Now, ten months later, I've heard from one of the students there, Lucas. He wrote:
"When you visited our school I didn't talk to you, but I watched your presentation about your books. I wasn't very interested in what you were talking about, but since the moment you said that when you were younger you didn't want to become a writer but a basketball player you caught my attention. I’m a basketball player and I want to become a professional basketball player. So, after that you gave some tips about writing, and the one I learned was to write all the ideas that come from your mind first and then worry about commas, spelling etc. Now in school I'm being way more successful with my writing assignments."
That's how it is with teaching; you often don't see or hear about the fruits of your labor until later, if at all. Nice to get the good news. Thanks, Lucas!
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3/4/10 -- After a fun trip to South Carolina (family reunion) and Alabama (school visit at South Shades Crest Elementary in Hoover), I'm back in Oregon until March 19, when I travel to Israel to speak at the International School in Tel Aviv. Should be a great adventure, with some extra time in the country to go to Jerusalem, the Dead Sea and Masada, and the West Bank. I'm even more excited than usual, because this trip lines up with Debbie's Spring Break, so she gets to go with me!
In the meantime, I've received the copyedited manuscript of STORM MOUNTAIN for my review. This is when we (the editor, copyeditor, and I) get down to fixing the last little details in the story -- spelling, punctuation, capitalization, all that writing mechanics stuff which I'm not very good at. Check out the list of goofs. As you can see, I have a particular problem with compound words. Maybe my Southern upbringing has something to do with that. We Carolina-Kentucky folks tend to have slow-moving tongues that blend syllables together.
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2/28/10 -- I'm at the Charleston, SC airport. Spent the weekend at a family reunion. Really fun to reconnect with everyone, and squeeze in a nice hike in the low country woods -- Spanish moss and palmetto trees, so different than my Northwest forests of Douglas fir and vine maples. Tomorrow I speak at South Shades Crest School in Hoover, Alabama. I'm looking forward to meeting all those budding young authors!
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2/22/10 -- The entire family kicked in to help Kelsey move to a new apartment in Portland on Saturday, then Debbie and I hit the ski slopes with friends on Sunday. From the photo you can see that we've all been watching the Olympics, and are in our racer tucks. Still, I think Lindsey Vonn and Bodie Miller have nothing to worry about . . .
A great weekend. Now back to my writing!
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2/19/10 -- It's always great to hear from readers. One, a Missouri fourth grader named Ryley, says I remind her of Henry Winkler of Happy Days fame. (For those who don't know, Happy Days was a very popular TV show from 1974 to 1984. Henry Winkler played The Fonz.) What do you think? See any resemblance?
P.S. Henry Winkler is now a very successful children's author. Check him out on Wikipedia by clicking this link.
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2/17/10 -- A beautiful, sunny afternoon, temperature approaching 60, daffodils and plum trees starting to bloom. Hmmm . . .
Sometimes the best thing you can do for your writing is take a break, clear the cobwebs from the mind, refresh the spirit, get outside. Time for a mountain bike ride!
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2/15/10 -- After a great weekend, I'm back in the driver's seat:
Regardless of where you write -- school, home office, at the kitchen table, in a coffee shop, or even under a bridge -- this is the place that we, as writers, create the universe known as "story." How cool is that?!
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2/12/10 -- I'm off to the mountains for the weekend with friends, and my wonderful wife, Debbie -- who has put up with me for 35 years, and I love dearly. Skiing, both downhill and cross country, is on the agenda, as is good times around the wood stove in the evening.
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2/11/10 -- Went to the indoor climbing gym at Oregon State University last night. Was a bit tentative at first, due to the shoulder surgery. Thought pulling hard might set me back. Ironically, it actually made my shoulder feel better! I worked my way up to 5.9s (moderate grade, but still challenging). Next week I'm going to go twice and see if I can get back to doing 5.10s (much harder, at least for an old guy like me).
You may be thinking, "That's nice, Tom, but what does it have to do with writing?" Well, the main character in REVENGE OF THE MUTANT UNDERWEAR is learning to rock climb. So I guess you could call it a form of research. Really fun research!
P. S. I'm also posting these blog entries on Facebook. Feel free to "friend" me if you'd like to get them via Facebook "New Feeds."
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2/10/10 -- Busy day: Writing, planning an April trip to the New York City area (two school visits -- Queens and Enfield, CT -- plus reconnecting with editors, publishers, and my agent in Manhattan).
Oh, yeah, and then I worked on my taxes. Which, no matter how I turned it, was not the most pleasant job in the world.
But then the clouds burned off and I just had to get outside. Had to. Or at least that's the way it seemed. Amazing what blue sky can do for the spirit. If you got it, enjoy it!
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2/6/10 -- Yesterday I was busy with an author visit to McKinley Elementary in Salem. Thanks, Pat Knight and all the wonderful kids and teachers. They even have a young authors club, filled with aspiring writers who like it so much they're willing to miss lunch recess to discuss their work.
Today it was back to Salem (I've been beating a regular track up there) for the Oregon Association of School Librarians regional conference. Thanks Andrea Surfleet for hosting me. Nothing like a room full of book lovers to perk an author up. I had a great time!
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2/3/10 -- Just back from a fun day with the students of Morningside Elementary School in Salem, Oregon. Lots of good writing going on there. Great kids and staff. I told them that yesterday I finished the last rewrite (I hope) of STORM MOUNTAIN, and that it is now on its way to New York. Normally, I would take a day off to celebrate with some mountain time (skiing/climbing), but I've got to get taxes done -- ugh -- and then -- ah! -- return to REVENGE OF THE MUTANT UNDERWEAR.
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2/1/10 -- Had a great weekend with family in the mountains. (Me and the girls below). Also got back on skis for the first time since my shoulder surgery. At first I was a bit tentative, but after a few runs I opened it up and skied fast again. Flying over the snow, I was reminded of why I love skiing so much. What a fantastic sensation!
In the evening we played games and talked and laughed, and checked out Mark's new electronic book, the Kindle. With its growing popularity, and the release of the Apple's iPad, the way we read seems headed toward significant change. Personally, I love the feel of an old-fashioned book in my hands, but believe there is room for multiple ways to experience a story.
Speaking of stories, I'll finish this final rewrite (?) of STORM MOUNTAIN tomorrow and sent it back to New York. Yay!
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1/29/10 -- As will often happen with writing -- as well as many other things in life -- I hit a snag. STORM MOUNTAIN will not go in the mail today. It's taking more time than planned to get all the details and wording just the way I want them. Thankfully, my editor is very understanding, and is encouraging me to: "Take the time you need to do it right! (And take some time off to enjoy the weekend!)" There you have someone who truly understands the writing process. And the need to step away from it, too.
Which I will be doing this weekend. We're headed up to Odell Lake to stay in a mountain cabin. Yesterday the doctor gave me the go-ahead to ski again (rotator cuff surgery in late October), so I am pumped to get back on the slopes!
There will be plenty of down time in front of the wood stove, too, though, so I'll take STORM MOUNTAIN back to the mountains again and keep working on it.
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1/27/10 -- Three long days of rewriting have gotten me through the most recent round of editorial suggestions for STORM MOUNTAIN. (Which are excellent, by the way, and have improved the story a bunch. Never underestimate the power of a good editor.) The new draft is ready to read aloud -- tomorrow's big job -- then print out, and off it goes to New York and the road to publication. Woo-hoo!
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1/25/10 -- This past Friday I spoke at Riverview Elementary School in Lebanon, Oregon. Great kids and teachers. Thanks for the invitation, Kirk Phillips!
Saturday morning Debbie and I got up early and drove into the Cascades, where we met our good friends Gary and Sally and snowshoed into a remote cabin. The snow pack is shallow, what with El Nino flexing its muscles. But we still had a great time. Below is the cabin, built in the 1920, cozy and rustic. Perfect! 
Here is the view from the living room, out onto Fish Lake.
I hauled the edited version of STORM MOUNTAIN in my pack, and had a great time discussing mountaineering details from the book with Gary, who has lots of experience on peaks. I also took the manuscript outside and waved it in the breeze. Who knows, maybe that will add a bit more mountain flavor to the story.
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1/21/10 -- Fed Ex delivered the most recent feedback from New York on STORM MOUNTAIN. Not much more rewriting to do, which is a good thing, since my editor, the wonderful Julie Amper, needs it back by February 1.
Still, I'll be going over it with a fine-toothed comb, making sure all is well with the story, characters, setting, details, voice, etc. Then I'll read it aloud to make sure the language flows smoothly. Publication is scheduled for next fall. Exciting!
P. S. Check out my publisher's logo. Perfect for a purveyor of children's books, in my opinion.
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1/20/10 -- If REVENGE OF THE MUTANT UNDERWEAR tightens up as well as the doormat I just finished weaving from old climbing rope I'll be one happy camper . . . er, writer.
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1/15/10 -- Today, during a short break from writing, I finished up the first stages of a doormat I'm weaving out of old climbing rope. The initial pattern is there, but I've still got much tightening to do before I call it done.
Kind of like my novel -- the story structure is there, but I've still got lots of tightening to do, and tweaking, and no doubt some additions, too, before I type, "The End!"
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1/12/10 -- Yesterday was my first author visit of 2010. Nice to work close to home, only a two hour drive from Corvallis to Fairview, Oregon. Great kids and teachers at Salish Ponds Elementary. Unusual in that all three third grade classrooms had male teachers. Nice to see guys in there making a difference for kids, too! We need more, though.
Several people asked for photos of the snowshoeing on Saturday. I didn't take many pics, but here are a couple: (Debbie on the left, and a creek that runs into Gold Lake on the right.)
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1/9/10 -- A pleasant change of plans has developed. Up early this Saturday morning, I'm getting a bit of writing done, then, instead of going for a run, I'm off to the mountains for snowshoeing with Debbie and friends. I'm stoked at the prospect of being out in the natural world for the day. Hopefully, it will clear my mind for continued writing. Happy Saturday!
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1/6/10 -- Today I went for the first hard run since my shoulder surgery on October 26. After a morning of working at my desk it felt especially good to move. By the third mile, however, it didn't feel so good any more. Still, I kept at it, and pushed through. Hopefully I won't pay the price this evening. Regardless, I'm on the mend, and excited to be getting back to my old self. This weekend I'm even going to try my favorite 10 mile loop out to Bald Hill and back. I'm sure I'll be slow, but that's okay. I'll approach it the same way I do my writing -- one step at a time, focus on the process, and enjoy the experience, even when it's hard.
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1/4/10 -- My first official work day of . . . I almost wrote 2009. No, it's now 2010 and I'm off to a good start with a productive writing session on REVENGE OF THE MUTANT UNDERWEAR.
True, I had to stop after lunch and pay bills -- such a lovely way to spend time -- and am faced with tax records and all that other adult end-of-the-year stuff. But I can see clear sailing not too far ahead, and will make good use of it. Onward, toward the horizon!
P.S. Note the Blog Archive links below. After all, the past is past, but not totally worthless. Or something like that. I hope . . .
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Archive of Past Years