a quibble

Okay, this is probably going to be more like a rant, so be forewarned.

Yeah, I'll admit it, I'm still ticked off by the whole thing that went down with the query critique. I keep reading the comments left by others and my blood is basically staying at a low simmer all the time now. I've never had a critique get under my skin like this. In fact, I've grown quite a thick skin about my writing from doing this for so long. Publishing isn't a place for the thin-skinned, which is a lesson that comes hard and fast to anyone seeking publication. I've seen my share of frustrating, less than flattering critiques/rejections. But this one, this one hurt. I've been trying to decipher why, and basically this is what I've come up with:

I'm not a brave person. It takes a LOT for me to stick my neck out and share something like my query (or anything, for that matter) in something as public as an agent's blog. The only reason I even entertained the idea is because I really respect said agent's other query critiques. She's always been kind and honest, in a way that doesn't come across as snarky. I'm one of those people who doesn't give high marks for snark--it's not a talent, it's a fallback for people who are not creative enough to be honest in constructive, kind manner (one of the reasons why I hate Dr. Laura, but that's neither here nor there). The community of followers on her blog also seem to take this into consideration, and the other queries that have been dissected on her blog have all been done in a manner that I found helpful and supportive. So, when the call went out for people to volunteer their queries, I thought it was a situation I might be brave enough to handle. And then, when the critique was posted, my heart sank. I mean, yeah, I know the query needed work (why else would I send it? It's been making me nuts!), but it would have been much more suited to other venues where I don't fit in. That's fine. I can take what I can from the critique and move on.

The comments on the entry, however, are another matter. Why is it that suddenly it is okay to blast someone with snarky, less than kind comments? Do people not realize that I am reading them, not particularly enjoying being the butt of their jokes? I do not understand this, nor do I understand why I seem to be singled out for this. What gives? Yeah, my query wasn't great, but I've read much worse--in the same blog segment! UGH. I just don't get it, and I can't say anything because it would be trite of me. That certainly hasn't stopped me from wishing I could. Obviously, I have a lot to say on the matter!

In all, I've spent a lot of this evening staring at a blinking cursor, trying to work on my query for the hundredth time. I should be writing. I should be enjoying my limited hubby/distraction-free time. Instead, I'm upset and feeling incredibly stupid. This is one of those lessons I really didn't want to learn this way, but I will most certainly never volunteer for this kind of thing again.

Check it out

Contest for those so inclined :) Can't hurt to take a look!

Ouch

You know when you have one of those nightmares, the naked-in-the-classroom kind, where you wake up out of breath, and then are grateful you woke and the dream ended? There's also this little part of you that is relieved because you realize that real life probably won't ever be as bad as the dream. With me here? Yeah, I had one of those last night about my query over at the KT Literary blog. I told myself it would never actually be as bad as my dream when the post went up this morning.

Nope. It was much, much worse.

Please excuse me while I go hide somewhere and eat chocolate. Or better yet, go shopping. So much for writing this weekend, too. Even the thought kind of makes me sick now.

Taking my own advice

A few days ago a friend of mine asked me how I write. Now, this caught me off guard. I don't tell much of anyone that I write, mainly because it's just one of those things I'd rather keep to myself. (Now, if I had a book deal, I'd be singing from the rooftops, but, yeah...) Anyhow, he's read one of my manuscripts, and decided that he'd like to try his hand at writing a book. Personally, I think he's got some great potential stories, as he's lived through things that I can't even begin to imagine, but I'm rambling. So, I wrote him back and basically said: just do it. Yeah, I know, I'm knocking off Nike, but it's a good phrase :)

What does that mean, though? For me, it means getting my butt in my chair and opening the WIP file. Some days this is an effort in and of itself. I might read through a few chapters, tweaking words, or noting places I'll need to go back and fix later. Before the accident, it meant 4k words a week, at least. I really worked to get them in, on top of my insane schedule, because I enjoyed it. Granted, the accident has thrown my life into a giant tail-spin. I'm finally off my crutches, but concentrating has been next to impossible. I will get back to it, but I'm cutting myself some slack until I feel a little bit more normal. So, what I'm saying here, is that if writing it what you want to do, just do it. There's no book, or article, or anyone, who is going to be able to take that step for you.

Now, revisions, that's a whole other ball of wax. I'm not going to touch that one now :)

This weekend I've got some hubby-free time. I plan on using it. I never get the apartment to myself (the one downside to having one/both of us working from home), so I'm free to turn up my music, as loud as I want, and enjoy some time with Polyandry. I'm looking forward to it!

(And, tomorrow, my query for COLORS LIKE MEMORIES is going to up dissected on Kate Schafer's blog. I think I may puke just thinking about it!)

After Reading

Rebel Angels by Libba Bray

Ah, Christmas! Gemma Doyle is looking forward to a holiday from Spence Academy, spending time with her friends in the city, attending ritzy balls, and on a somber note, tending to her ailing father. As she prepares to ring in the New Year, 1896, a handsome young man, Lord Denby, has set his sights on Gemma, or so it seems. Yet amidst the distractions of London, Gemma’s visions intensify–visions of three girls dressed in white, to whom something horrific has happened, something only the realms can explain. . . .

The lure is strong, and before long, Gemma, Felicity, and Ann are turning flowers into butterflies in the enchanted world of the realms that Gemma alone can bring them to. To the girls’ great joy, their beloved Pippa is there as well, eager to complete their circle of friendship.
But all is not well in the realms–or out. The mysterious Kartik has reappeared, telling Gemma she must find the Temple and bind the magic, else great disaster will befall her. Gemma’s willing to do his intrusive bidding, despite the dangers it brings, for it means she will meet up with her mother’s greatest friend–and now her foe, Circe. Until Circe is destroyed, Gemma cannot live out her destiny. But finding Circe proves a most perilous task.

Seriously, I don't think it's possible for me to love these books any more than I already do. They are fun, interesting, hilarious, with a good amount of "meat" that keeps me thinking. I'm already well into the last book in the trilogy, and I know this is going to be one of those series that I'm going to hate to see end. (The only annoying thing about this series? Honestly, how do some people get all the talent? Good writers, and funny to boot? Seriously not fair!) So, yeah, check these puppies out--you won't regret it!

Fav line: "Mrs. Nighwing beams. She has found a kindred spirit, which is to say, someone devoid of all human joy." (This was a hard ch

Query Letters

I've been hard at work on my query letter of late, and can't quite seem to get this right. I've enlisted help from the BlueBoards (where I spend too much time, but I love nevertheless), and have rewritten this thing at least fifty times. UGH. For some reason, this thing will just not come together!

Anyone out there know any good tricks for a killer query? I know the basics from doing this so many times before, but this one is kicking my trash!

The best thing about living in California

Is that we get spring nice and early here! Today was absolutely a blanket in the park day, and hubby and I enjoyed the holiday sprawled on the lawn with good books, some tasty treats (probably a few too many, so sue me!), and the clear blue sky. The trees are beginning to blume, the daffodils are a sea of yellow, and the poppies are bobbing in the breeze. Ah, spring!

(Dang, that was a gushy post. But, after weeks of rain and a blanket of fog and clouds that have left the valley here cut off from the sun, I'm very happy to be back to normal Cali weather.)

Because, let's be honest, I really, really want a copy of this book :)

In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other.  Now, in Linger, they must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping a very dangerous secret about her own well-being. For Sam, this means grappling with his werewolf past . . . and figuring out a way to survive into the future. Add into the mix a new wolf named Cole, whose own past has the potential to destroy the whole pack.  And Isabelle, who already lost her brother to the wolves . . . and is nonetheless drawn to Cole.

At turns harrowing and euphoric, Linger is a spellbinding love story that explores both sides of love -- the light and the dark, the warm and the cold -- in a way you will never forget.

Comes out in stores everywhere July 20th. Pre-order here.

Enter to win an advanced review copies of LINGER, Sisters Red, The Dead-Tossed Waves, and The Replacement on Maggie's blog.

Obligatory Valentine's Post

Ahhh, all the pink, red and otherwise hart-influenced candy must be getting to me. Or driving me crazy. I'm leaning toward the latter. At any rate, tomorrow is the big day for some people, and that coupled with a three-day weekend has people going over the top. I'm actually rather sick of hearing what everyone else is doing for the holiday, and what sweet things the radio DJ is doing for their significant other. Ugh. Here at the Casa Snow, Valentine's day is the one where one of us (read: hubby) picks a fight so that he can feel off the hook in terms of doing anything slightly romantic. It's our lovely little tradition :)

The other annoying thing about the day is that it always results in sappy movies 24/7 on TV. Honestly, if I see Julia Roberts one more time in Runaway Bride, I may scream. (At one point in my life, I enjoyed this movie. I don't know what happened since then, but it's no longer at all cute.)

About the only thing that makes all the romance okay is a nice,good book to read. Now, I generally don't do straight up romance. If there is a half-naked man on the cover, I'm more than likely not going to even go in that isle of the bookstore (mainly because I'll never live it down with hubby, and quite frankly he already has enough ammo). But, there are plenty of other books out there with a fun romance on the side, along with some good adventure tossed in, too. At the moment, I'm reading Rebel Angels by Libba Bray, and it has just the right touch of romantic intrigue. Actually, this series has pretty much won me over completely--how can Bray be so downright hilarious? I have a bunch of others that I adore, and I think that I might just have to curl up with them later, if only to make getting through tomorrow bearable.

After Reading

Libyrinth by Pearl North

In her debut novel, Pearl North takes readers centuries into the future, to a forgotten colony of Earth where technology masquerades as magic and wars are fought over books.

Haly is a Libyrarian, one of a group of people dedicated to preserving and protecting the knowledge passed down from the Ancients and stored in the endless maze of books known as the Libyrinth. But Haly has a secret: The books speak to her.

When the threat of the rival Eradicants drives her from her home, Haly learns that things are not all she thinks they are. Taken prisoner by the Eradicants, who believe the written word to be evil, she sees the world through their eyes and comes to understand that they are not the book-burning monsters that she has known her entire life.

The words of a young girl hiding in an attic—written hundreds of years before Haly’s birth—will spark the interest of her captors and begin the change necessary to end the conflict between the Eradicants and Libyrarians. With the help of her loyal companion Nod, a creature of the Libyrinth, Haly must mend the rift between the two groups before their war for knowledge destroys them all. Haly’s life—and the lives of everyone she knows—will never be the same.

A powerful adventure that unites the present and future, Libyrinth is a fresh, magical novel that will draw in young readers of all genres.

It's been a while since a book really knocked my socks off, and this one did the trick! I really enjoyed this story, and all of the wonderful questions it brought up. Maybe it's the anthropologist in me, enjoying the interplay of all the different belief systems, that made me really sink into this world, but I had a lot of fun reading this book. The quotes from other books that I've read were fun to pick out and identify, too. I'll admit, this book may be more "adult" than others, not because of violence or sex or anything, but because of some of the concepts. Not many teens enjoy reading about the clash of cultures, both for those that do (and I would have totally been one of them), this is a fun read. And it's going to be part of a trilogy--yay!

Contest, for those so inclined

You know you love them. And I love this blog, along with the recently implement contest :)

Check it!

What they don't tell you when you break your leg

AKA crutches suck.

Yeah, my upper arms are totally rock solid (a look I've been after during many trips to the gym), and no, my armpits are fine--I wasn't about to make that classic mistake. But, honestly, I'm going nuts. Nothing is easy, nothing is getting done, and I am driving myself, and hubby, just a little crazy here. I'm not one of those people who "sits still" easily. Er, at all, really. But, I have to right now. I mean, my leg is getting better, so I can do a few things, but sweeping my floor? Vacuuming? Dragging the laundry to the dryer in our complex? Only hubby can do it. Now, to give credit where credit is due, he's been great. But it's become very clear to me that I'm a little (ahem, *a lot*) more picky about stuff like this than he is. When the dishes have taken over the kitchen, I start to twitch--he says he'll do them tomorrow. GAH!

It doesn't help that I can't seem to angle the dang sticks anywhere where they'll just stay in one spot. No. They like to fall over, often on unsuspecting lab mates. It's true, I have homicidal crutches. Thankfully, they have yet to take me out completely (with the exception of the wet and slippery floor at the library...).

I have also come to the conclusion that if anyone in my family ever nearly dies in a car wreck, there's a good chance I'll totally ignore them, or proceed to use them like their personal therapist. Never mind that I can't even get to the lab where my life's work is taking place, even though I can see it from my house, or just could really use some time away from campus. Honestly, I should write a book! :)

After Reading

Watersmeet by Ellen Jensen Abbott.

From her birth, Abisina has been outcast—for the color of her eyes and skin, and for her lack of a father. Only her mother’s status as the village healer has kept her safe. But when a mythic leader arrives, Abisina’s life is ripped apart. She escapes alone to try to find the father and the home she has never known. In a world of extremes, from the deepest prejudice to the greatest bonds of duty and loyalty, Abisina must find her own way and decide where her true hope lies.

Catching up before my least favorite meeting of the week: TA meeting (dun dun duhhhn). Anyhow, this book was my little bait for getting through with grading papers (which is absolutely the most mind-numbing chore ever!). It was a very fun read, in a Lord of the Rings kind of way. I enjoyed it, but did feel there was something lacking in the main character, Abisina. I'm not sure if it's because the story is told in 3rd person, which I'm not really a fan of, but I did feel like I was just glossing over the surface of who she was for most of the book. Either that, or I just couldn't identify with her much, especially with a strong father-figure there, which is foreign to me. At any rate, I loved Haret, who was very Gimli-like, and he's one of my fav's from LotR. I will certainly pick up any other books Abbott writes, as she is quite good at world-building!