Went to the indoor climbing
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 ...
Busy day: Writing, planning
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, n...
Yesterday I was busy with an
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 ...
Just back from a fun day with
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, a...
Had a great weekend with
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. Fly...
As will often happen with
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. Tha...
Three long days of rewriting
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...
This past Friday I spoke at
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...
Fed Ex delivered the most
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 ...
If REVENGE OF THE MUTANT
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.
Yesterday was my first
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 ...
A pleasant change of plans
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 o...
Today I went for the first
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 pus...
My first official work day of
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 w...
Done writing for the day, and
12/31/09 -- Done writing for the day, and 2009! Happy New Year, everyone!
I'm back home in Oregon,
11/19/09 -- I'm back home in Oregon, unpacked, and my desk finally cleared. The flight from Nebraska was uneventful, except for the repeated kindness shown to me with my arm in a sling. I never once had to ask for help putting my bag in the overhe...
Here in the Omaha, NE airport
11/17/09 -- Here in the Omaha, NE airport I'm waiting for my flight home to Oregon, tired but happy with the school visits in Lincoln. Many thanks to my wonderful hosts, Theresa Dorsey and Glenda Willnerd, and all of the great librarians and teach...
I'm sitting in a laundromat
11/15/09 -- I'm sitting in a laundromat in Lincoln, NE. Clothes are almost done. The steady rumble of the dryers is oddly comforting, and dampens most other noise, except for the clink-clink-clink of the change machine dishing out quarters. I've g...
My author visits in Lincoln,
11/10/09 -- My author visits in Lincoln, Nebraska are well underway. This first week I've got the luxury of staying put for five straight days at Roper Elementary. Great kids, great educators, and a chance to go deep into the writing process with ...
In the rush of packing to go
11/7/09 -- In the rush of packing to go on a trip (me to Nebraska, for example) it's easy to get caught up in hurry-hurry mode. This morning I was hustling across the dining room with yet another load of stuff to cram into my suitcase, when the su...