I'm currently working seven
8/8/08 -- I'm currently working seven days a week on finishing STORM MOUNTAIN. My limit per day seems to be about 7 hours. Although my spirit is willing to keep pushing for 8 or more, my brain is not. Any writing after that is proving to be worthl...
This past week, July 12-18, I
7/21/08 -- This past week, July 12-18, I had the good fortune to be on the teaching staff at the Oregon Coast Children's Book Writer's Workshop. As if the beautiful setting weren't enough (see pic below, taken from the classroom window, no kidding...
Whew! After several days of
7/8/08 -- Whew! After several days of trying to figure out why I couldn't log onto my web site, I've finally figured it out. So now I can finally update this here blog. I'm back from the KY and SC trip. The family reunions were fun, as was the wea...
I've just finished packing
6/14/08 -- I've just finished packing for our annual trip to Kentucky and South Carolina for family reunions. We won't have our girls with us this year -- both tied up with work and school -- but we'll adjust and have a good time with the rest of ...
Another school year has
6/11/08 -- Another school year has ended, and I've spoken to my last group of kids about the writing process. Signed lots of books, too. Great fun, all of it.Now I'm focused solely on finishing STORM MOUNTAIN. Granted, it's taken much longer than ...
The weather
5/19/08 -- The weather, a very important factor in STORM MOUNTAIN, has been playing with us here in Oregon as of late. Two weekends ago we got snowed on during our annual trip on the north side of Mount Hood. This past weekend the temperature rage...
After two weeks
5/13/08 -- After two weeks in my new writing location upstairs, the jury is in: Fantastic! Friends donatied the old countertop from a kitchen remodel and I set it on top of some cabinets some other friends gave me from their kitchen remodel (lots ...
At this point in rewriting
4/30/08 -- At this point in rewriting STORM MOUNTAIN, I'm going over it very carefully, fine tuning each and every sentence. I'm also reading it aloud. Why? I find that adding an oral component to the process helps me discover word repetitions and...
I'm back at an airport
4/25/08 -- I'm back at an airport, this time in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Just finished a week in schools in Mechanicsburg and Blain. Once again I was treated to a great bunch of kids and educators. Also, my gracious host Ila Verdirame and her hus...
As I write this I'm sitting
4/20/08 -- As I write this I'm sitting at Gate E2 in the Portland, Oregon airport waiting for my flight to Pennsylvania. I'll be spending a week there in schools, speaking to kids about the writing process. Really looking forward to the experience...
I thought the following email
4/16/08 -- I thought the following email from a third grade teacher worth sharing. Not only is it funny, poking fun at a common stereotype, but also brings up a point worth considering:"Dear, Tom -- I'm trying to do more writing with my students t...
I wore a new shirt to school
4/16/08 --I wore a new shirt to school last week, a mock turtleneck from Eddie Bauer's. It's the first mock turtleneck I've ever worn to work. A fellow teacher commented that I looked like a writer, and that got me thinking. Is that the secret? Is...
I'm back from the writer's gathering
4/7/08 -- I'm back from the writer's gathering. You know you're with a group of committed wordsmiths when you can have a three hour discussion about the use of flashbacks in a story and everyone thinks it's intensely interesting. Most people would...
Today is Debbie and my
3/18/08 -- Today is Debbie and my Month-a-versary, celebrating 33 years and 10 months of marriage. Boy, did I luck out with her for a partner. She's a keeper!On the writing front, I'm working on the 18th draft of STORM MOUNTAIN. So far, so good. H...
Finished the latest draft of
3/14/08 -- Finished the latest draft of STORM MOUNTAIN yesterday. I'm going to take today off from writing and paint my new office. With both of our girls out on their own now, I'm moving out of the tiny room in the back of our house that I've bee...
Feeling much better now.
3/5/08 -- Feeling much better now. As has often been said: Nothing like getting sick to make you appreciate good health. Ah! I'm brimming with appreciation. Received a photo from my recent trip to Sinton, Texas. The three students from Smith Junio...
Five days of the flu, fever,
3/1/08 -- Five days of the flu, fever, cough, foggy brain. Yuck! Enough said. Back to bed.
Last week I was in Sinton, TX
2/25/08 -- Last week I was in Sinton, Texas (a small town in the southeast part of the state) where one of the librarians, Sally Hart, showed me a version of a writer's notebook she'd come up with. It's like the one I carry around in my pocket, ex...
Wow! From the emails I've
2/12/08 -- Wow! From the emails I've been receiving it's clear there is a lot of strong feeling out there about standardized testing and its impact on kids and teachers. Next to none of it is positive. Many teachers feel put-upon and pressured. Ki...
I'm back from a fun week of
2/6/08 -- I'm back from a fun week of speaking in schools. Got to meet hundreds of great kids, and staff after staff filled with dedicated and hardworking educators.I couldn't help but notice, however, the high stress levels among kids and teacher...