Warrior Story Give-Away for World Book Night--Great choice!

Vincent Pratchett's THE RAVEN'S WARRIOR is a book that, I am sure, is a wonder for guys to read.  As a woman, I liked it, but I am not typically drawn to war stories, and this is certainly a war story.  The story is well told and the plot is definitely one to keep the attention of the audience, including someone like me.  What bored me a little bit (made it a little difficult to get through) are the specific details about war as well as the training of the warrior.  It's kind of like Herman Melville's MOBY DICK--a super great story and well worth the read once the reader gets through all the whaling information.  Once I waded through the training information in THE RAVEN'S WARRIOR, I thoroughly enjoyed the story.

We gave away many copies of THE RAVEN'S WARRIOR this year at Catawba Valley Community College for World Book Night.  I'm glad we did.  I honestly think that anyone who received it as his/her book will enjoy it and that it will help him/her be excited about World Book Night 2015!

"Peculiar" is a Great Way to Describe It

MISS PEREGRINE'S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN by Ransom Riggs is one of the books we're getting this year for World Book Night, April 23, 2014.  In preparation for the arrival of the books, I figured I'd read it just in case anyone wants to know whether or not it's any good.

I don't know what to think, or say, about it, to be perfectly honest.  The book isn't at all what I thought it would be.  Well, it is, but it isn't.  I had NOT expected it to be set in the 1940s--and modern day.  I had NOT expected World War II to have anything to do with the story.  I had NOT expected it to be a supernatural story beyond their beyond there being "peculiar" children in the story.  Based on the cover, I thought that I was in for a story with kids similar to the x-men, but yet not really super-powers so much as just kids who are different and need to be watched over as a result.

That IS a part of the story, but not in the way I thought.  I can't say too much more without giving away more than I should for those who haven't read it.

It's definitely worth the read, but it might be better if you go into it without having too many expectations and just let the story unfold itself as you read.

Apparently, it's already being used in schools/classes with tweens.  I can understand why from a historical perspective, but I'm going to have to do some more digging and thinking to understand why the book is considered appropriate for tweens.  Like THE HUNGER GAMES trilogy, I think that this book is really a little above tween reading level, yet tweens who read a lot won't have any trouble with the story and will probably even enjoy it.  Tweens who don't read much might find it tedious and difficult to plod through.

I admit that I'm curious about what they think about it--and you, too......

Polly's Major Dreams: Publish my Memoir & Go to England

Another great read by John Maxwell:  PUT YOUR DREAM TO THE TEST:  10 QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU SEE IT AND SEIZE IT.

 Polly's Dream Board:  http://www.dreamitalive.com/pandapaw48

1.  The Ownership Question:  IS MY DREAM REALLY MY DREAM?  My dream really is my dream.  I have several dreams, but I'm going to focus on two for this posting.  And yes, both of these dreams are my own and both are things that I really and truly do want and want to do.

2.  The Clarity Question:  DO I CLEARLY SEE MY DREAM?  I do clearly see my dreams.  My first major dream is to write a book and have it published--and actually be a book that makes a difference in the lives of the people who read it.  This book is my memoir based on the tragedies that have happened in my life, but yet how I continue to search for--and find--God's loving JOY in my life.  I have had a vision of the cover of the book since the loss of my first son almost 16 years ago.  I have a rough draft of it ready and I am in the process of revising.  I am also in the process of trying to figure out if I want to self-publish, publish digitally, or try to go for a publisher like Tommy Nelson.  I have a goal of seeing some real progress made on this dream by the end of 2014.

The other dream I am going to focus on for this posting is the dream I've had since I was a teenager to go to England.  I want to travel the whole country---north to south (or south to north) and east to west (or west to east)--LOL!  Of course I want to spend a lot of time in London, but I want to be able to travel the whole country and visit as many homes of authors as possible as well as see a play performed in the new Globe Theater--and, yes, see a major play on the London stage!  What a dream come true that would be!!!!

3.  The Reality Question:  AM I DEPENDING ON FACTORS WITHIN MY CONTROL TO ACHIEVE MY DREAM?  The factors within my control to achieve my dream of being published are simply to be sure that I keep at it.  It is within my control to write and revise my memoir.  I am very capable of doing so not only because of what I have been through and I know my story is worth telling, but also because I have a degree that enables me to have the qualifications not to mention the fact that I simply love to write anyway!

The factors within my control to achieve my dream of going to England are a little more difficult because of the financial costs, but I am hoping and believing that I will be able to convince CVCC to agree to make it class credit for students to take such a trip which means that I will be able to go not only as a participant/traveler, but also as a teacher and enjoy the trip with others--which will make the trip that much more awesome!  I simply have to follow the procedures necessary and hope and pray to get the approval needed.

4.  The Passion Question:  DOES MY DREAM COMPEL ME TO FOLLOW IT?  My dream of writing and publishing my memoir does comple me to follow it.  I have had the dream of writing SOMETHING and publishing it since I was a little girl, so that part of it has always been with it.  I not only want to do this, I NEED to; I HAVE to.  It is something I know the Lord has laid on my heart and every time I don't focus on it for days or weeks at a time, something happens to bring it back to focus and make me realize that it's a dream that isn't going to go away until I succeed!

My dream of going to England has been, in years past, something that I would do "some day."  As we all know, "some day" quite often never comes if we don't actually DO something about it.  I want that "some day" to become a reality, so yes, it does compel me to follow it.  It's going to be difficult getting the approval needed, but something tells me that if I do it early enough and allow enough time for preparation, etc., the school might just actually agree to it.....

5.  The Pathway Question:  DO I HAVE A STRATEGY TO REACH MY DREAM?  Strategy is something I have lacked on both of my major dreams, but I am working on that part.  My major strategy for finishing and publishing my memoir is to revise and begin working on publishing--getting an agent or self-publishing--by early summer and then going from there based on the decision that I made (or is made for me)--regarding an agent or self-publishing.

The strategy to reach my dream of going to England is to begin making phone calls and putting together a budget, tour guide/group, etc., and then begin filling out the paperwork that's going to be necessary.  I'll have to find out what paperwork is going to need to be filled out beyond the co-curricular paperwork because I want the trip to count as class credit for the students who attend.  I don't know what's all involved with that so I will have some real research to do, but I know that I'll have the information I need and that I will get what I need.  I just have to stay on it and not give up!

6.  The People Question:  HAVE I INCLUDED THE PEOPLE I NEED TO REALIZE MY DREAM?  I am working on including the people I need in order to realize my dream of publishing my Memoir.  Devon is helping put together a cover for me--whether it's the actual cover used for the final copy or not, it will be great motivation to keep me working on it.  I will begin shopping for agents within the next few weeks and hopefully find one who will be someone who will fight for my Memoir and help me get it published.  My counselor, Shirley, is on my team.  Mom and Katie will help me, I know, by reading a draft whenever I am able to send them one.  I will probably even be able to get a few folks from school to help me if I just ask.

I haven't spoken to anyone about the dream of going to England through CVCC, yet, but I will have a great list of those to help once I get the ball rolling.  Kristy will be happy to work on the project with me.  I'll need Donna, Keith, and Arlene.  As long as Mona stays, she'll be on the team.  And anyone else who is needed, especially whoever I work with to make the travel arrangements--my tour guide.

7.  The Cost Question:  AM I WILLING TO PAY THE PRICE FOR MY DREAM?  The major cost/price for both of my dreams is time--something I don't have an awful lot of.  I know, though, that if I break the work down in smaller chunks of time rather than trying to do everything at once, I will be able to get done what I need to get done.  The most difficult obstacle I have is keeping up with my grading.  I feel guilty working on anything else when I have so much grading to do.  But even if I do just a little bit of SOMETHING every day, my two major dreams will come to pass.  At this point in time, I am not sure of any other costs involved with achieving my two major dreams, but I know that I will deal with each as it becomes important necessary to do so.

8.  The Tenacity Question:  AM I MOVING CLOSER TO MY DREAM?  I am moving closer to my dream of having my Memoir published because I at least have a really good draft written.  It needs a lot of work, but it's more than I've had previously!

Up to this point, I have not moved any closer to my dream of going to England, but I am going to begin working on it as soon as I possibly can.  I will begin doing the research necessary and begin putting the bug in the ears of my superiors and start the ball rolling.  This is going to be a long, uphill climb just to get the approval, not to mention planning the actual trip, but I know it will all be worth it in the end!!!

9.  The Fulfillment Question:  DOES WORKING TOWARD MY DREAM BRING SATISFACTION?  YES!!!  YES!!!!  YES!!!!  YES!!!!  I have always tried to tell the people around me to find what they love to do and do it because it bring the greatest joys in life--doing what you love to do!!!  Teaching is something I LOVE to do even to the point of having the "itch" (like gun-fighters) to be back in the classroom between breaks!!!  And working toward both of my major dreams brings me great satisfaction because with my Memoir, I get to write--which I LOVE to do and I get to plan a trip to a place where I've dreamed of going for as long as I can remember!

10.  The Significance Question:  DOES MY DREAM BENEFIT OTHERS?  The dream of publishing my memoir does benefit others in that I hope and pray my story is something that inspires others who are struggling and/or who are having a difficult time dealing with LIFE that there is JOY in Jesus Christ.  In the midst of our deepest pains, hurts, and struggles, God is with us and He loves us.  It is my job as a Christian to help others see Christ for who He is--to be a witness--and my Memoir is one of the best ways I have of being that witness to others.

My dream of going to England benefits others because students will be able to get credit for going and participating!  Those who go will get to get out of the United States and see another part of the world.  We'll get some great culture.  It will be a wonderful learning experience.  It will be fun.  It will be a wonderful social experience not only in being with others from the same school, but also in meeting others in a different country with a different way of speaking than what we're used to--so language will be a major part of that!  Oh, I can't wait!

*One final comment, one dream I have right now it to participate in World Book Night on April 23, 2014.  CVCC (Catawba Valley Community College) has been accepted as a Group Giver, so now we just need to receive the books and actually give them out!  I've requested 100 cases of books--the largest number of books requested by Group Givers according to Carl!  Here's hoping we get them all and that we are able to give them all out!  What an awesome opportunity!!!!

http://www.us.worldbooknight.org/

Similes, Images, and Metaphors, Oh My!

I started reading THE WEIRD SISTERS by Eleanor Brown because it was chosen as part of the book for list for World Book Night for 2014.  I want to try to read a number of the books so we have a better idea of which books to choose if we're chosen as givers.  (By "we" I mean CVCC.)

The book is good.  I wasn't as impressed as it seems others have been with the novel, but I didn't dislike it by any means.  What stood out the most to me throughout the novel is not the fact that everyone, especially the dad, speaks quite often using Shakespearean quotes.  Nor is it the fact that this family reads rather than watches television.  Nor is it the wonder of fighting cancer or even the struggles each sister goes through.

All are great parts of the story, but what struck me the most throughout my reading of the novel were all the similes, images, and metaphors.  Hundreds of them.  Some of them were a bit overwhelming in their comparison.  I have to wonder how much Eleanor Brown was conscious of them as she wrote them.  Did they just happen in the course of her writing and they're a happy accident or was she very aware of what she was doing with them from start to finish....?

Just a few to spark your interest--

"floating like a dandelion seed" (7)
"felt as though she were folding in on herself like an origami crane" (71)
"the way the false stars of the light strings twinkled below the real stars, giving the impression that she could have reached up and held the light of a thousand years in her hands" (151)

Why I am Choosing to do NaNoWriMo: 2013

So I’ve decided that I’m going to do NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month—writing 50K words in 30 days) again this year.  I’ve been involved with NaNo one way or another since about 2004.  I have not won (successfully written 50K words in 30 days) every year, but I have won about four times.  Very few people will ever read the full manuscripts for any of the years I attempted NaNo, whether it be the years I won or otherwise.  They simply are not audience-worthy.

 

They were fun to write and I did share parts of them with others, but as a whole entity, the manuscripts will stay “hidden” on my laptop.

I have not yet once revised a single manuscript over the years, not even for the novels I really enjoyed writing and feel could possibly one day be publishing-worthy.  Last year’s novel was more fun to write than I can possibly describe—it’s about a serial-killing teacher (based loosely on me) who kills (with arsenic, mostly) and buries her students under her desk in her office, but even as much fun as it was to write, I can’t help but wonder what kind of reaction I’d get from an audience who doesn’t know me.  When I mentioned it to my son’s counselor during a counseling session, she looked at me very ODD and gave me that, “WTF?!” look.

Yeah.  I can live without that.

NaNo is a lot of fun for me regardless of whether I have as much fun writing the novel as I did last year simply because I LOVE to write.  When I have something to say, 2k words a day is nothing. 

The hardest part about NaNo—beyond Revision and/or preparation for publication—is finding the TIME to do it.  While I try to write every day in my journal, when I am really very busy, my journal, sadly, is the thing that suffers.  I might still write in my journal, but my word count will more than likely be far from my daily quota (750 words).  I just have a LOT going on:

1.  I am a Mom to a 12-year old in 7^th grade—Middle School (I don’t think I need to explain!)

2.  I am a wife to a Pastor (20 years!)

3.  I teach English full time at a community college—that’s 6 classes (average) per semester with 125 students (average) per semester—you can do the math when every class write a 2-3 page essay and I have to grade them….

4.  This semester (Fall 2013), I am also taking a class online through UNC-Chapel Hill’s Friday Center—English 121:  British Literature, 19^th to Early 20^th Century (you know what’s involved in taking a class online)

5.  I am on the board for NC CEI (North Carolina Conference of English Instructors) and we have a conference this weekend (just prior to the start of NaNo) and I am presenting—board meetings once every quarter

6.  I am the Lead (I don’t know what else to call it) for setting up an opportunity for my college to participate in World Book Night—an opportunity to give away books!!!!  I have to write a proposal and complete all the documentation, etc. to set up my college as a Group Giver—organize the event—take care of receiving and distributing the books to the Givers, etc., etc., etc. (I’m doing this because I WANT to!)

7.  Because I’ve had a lot of health problems, I have various doctors’ appointments every few weeks.

And I hope it goes without saying that there are also all the regular day-to-day activities that must be taken care of as well as attempting at least somewhat of a social life in order to function at any level of intelligibility!

I’ve had many people ask me how I have time to read, let alone half of the other things that I have to do—want to do—need to do. 

My answer?

We tend to do whatever it is that we REALLY want to do. 

When I don’t REALLY want to do something, I don’t do it—whether that be doing the dishes, grading papers, or just going to school.  (We all need a “Mental Health Day” every once in a while!)

But when I REALLY do want to do something, I find a way to do it.  I find the TIME to do it.  If my sleep suffers, so be it.  I make it up during my afternoon catnap or with a large soft drink or coffee! 

NaNo has not made me a successful, published writer—yet, but I thoroughly enjoy participating in the challenge to write 50K words in one month.  I have yet to do Camp NaNo; once a year is all I can afford at this time.  But I keep signing up for it!  I have no idea if I am going to be able to win NaNo this year or even if I’ll make it beyond 50K words, but I am going to give it the old college-try and hope for the best.

In my heart, in spite of how very busy I am, I feel that this is MY year not only to win, but also to write something that will be worthy of revising and eventually publishing!  How will I know if I don’t at least give it a shot?

Here’s to NaNaWriMo!!!!!