Archive for » June, 2008 «

the world is beautiful
27
June
Julie

I don’t care how sentimental and lame that sounds . . . the world *is* beautiful.

Don’t believe me?


Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.

Did you notice? No matter where he went, no matter what language the people spoke or what religious, political, or personal beliefs they may have held, when they smile, they are all the same. When they dance, they smile. The world really IS beautiful. Anyone who says different has simply never stopped long enough to notice.

No one’s watching, feel free to take a moment and dance.

Category: Random Rants on life  Tags: , ,  7 Comments
Plays, Wishes, and Book Deals
19
June
Julie

If you’ve never seen the play Into The Woods, you’re missing out. It is quite possibly the most brilliant production ever written–funny, poignant, good music . . .

There is a scene where Cinderella is running from the ball. She’s run from the ball twice already and the prince is ticked that his female of choice continues to escape him. So on this final night, he prepares for her speedy flight and spreads pitch on the stairs. Cinderella is now stuck to the stairs and knows the prince is coming. She’s feeling a little contemplative as she stands there, stuck to the stairs. She has some big decisions to make. Does she tell him she’s really a housekeeper for her ugly stepsisters? Does she tell him she’s been pretending to be a princess this whole time and has in effect lied to him? Or does she have an alternative choice?

She sings a little song. The words go like this:

Then from out of the blue . . . And without any guide. You know what your decision is . . . which is not to decide . . .

My publisher’s answer would reflect the lines of that song. So I wait a little longer. I have no idea how long exactly, but I am patient, if not precisely pleasant.  So I have no answer today, and likely not tomorrow, and likely not until the committee reconvenes next month.  It’s been kind of cute since my daughter, Rae, is at girl’s camp. She’s borrowed her leader’s cell phone and called me from the mountains at least eight times over the last two days to find out the answer. Isn’t she great to be excited and anxious right along with me?

Into the Woods truly is a magnificent play. There’s another song at the beginning where all the characters are introduced. They all want something–a wish. Each wish from each character is different, but no less worthy than any of the other wishes. The baker and his wife want a child. Cinderella wants to go to the ball. Jack (of beanstalk fame) wants his cow to give some milk so he and his mother don’t starve. Jack’s mother wishes for all sorts of things, and little red riding hood wishes for a loaf of bread for her granny in the woods. The witch has her own hearts desires. The princes of the land want princesses worthy of them.

I wish . . . more than anything . . . more than the moon . . .

Everyone wants something.

I am not so far different. I sing the words, “I wish . . .” a lot. I could drown in my list of wishes. On days like today, a small degree of defeat bleeds in and my current set of wishes negate all the wishes previously fulfilled. If I had a genie, I’d make him dizzy with all the, “No wait! What I *really* want is . . .”

Into the woods is supposed to be playing at the Utah Festival Opera this summer. I’m buying tickets.

Category: Random Rants On Writing, jules is whining again  Tags: ,  8 Comments
And the answer is . . .
18
June
Julie

I know the committee meets in the morning or early afternoon based on the times Kirk (my editor) calls me to give me news. So at 3:30 I realized it has to be a “no” and Kirk doesn’t know how to break the news to me.

Then an email popped up in my box.

It was from Kirk.

My hands got all sweaty and my arms went numb as I clicked the email open.

And the answer is . . .

I still don’t know.

How do you like that? Kirk said the committee was going slow and he’d likely have an answer for me tomorrow. Is the suspense killing you guys as much as it’s killing me? 

Yeah . . . I didn’t think so.

Regardless of the answer, it’ll be a relief to put me out of my misery.

In the mean time, I need a new laptop. Anyone have suggestions or cautions on laptops they just love and can’t live without, or ones they hate and would never deign to touch again? I need an *inexpensive* laptop, so don’t go telling me about the latest cool costs-me-one-of-my-kids laptops. I would prefer one that docks or at least lets me hook up a full size keyboard and monitor to. The bane of writers everyone has finally found me–carpal tunnel.

Light! I can’t believe I still don’t know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Category: Random Rants On Writing, jules is whining again  Tags: , , ,  8 Comments
Friday the Thirteenth
17
June
Julie

Life has been busy. On Friday the 13th, I went in to meet with the marketing staff of my publisher so they could meet me and determine if I am “school tour worthy.” They like the idea of my fantasy novel, but are a little wary of letting me loose on school age children.  So I went in and met them to try to prove myself. I took in a blow up map of the world I’d created (illustrated by the way awesome Kevin Wasden), I took in a little packet of how I felt a school visit should go (which I hope they understand was just ideas, not anything I am totally married to). And I took in doughnuts, and muffins, and chocolate (What? You don’t bribe your editors? I’d have brought them in a variety show from Vegas if I thought it would do me any good).

I honestly thought I would be walking out of there with an answer.

But looking back on it, it makes perfect sense that they would never deliberate and debate with me sitting right there looking anxious, and biting my nails, and offering them more doughnuts. So they are going to committee on Wednesday. That’s tomorrow.

I’ve had a ton of people ask me how the meeting went, but I don’t know what to tell them. I think it went okay. I didn’t throw up on the board room table. I don’t remember saying anything wretched, so my filter must have been working for the hour I was there. And I can’t think of anything I wish I would have said. I did my best. If the answer’s no, it won’t be because of my mediocrity. It’ll be because it just didn’t fit their company right now. It sounds like I’m making excuses so I can feel better about myself if a rejection should come, but that’s not it. Sure I’ll be disappointed if they say no, but i know I went in prepared. I did my best and can’t ask for more from myself. I also know that my personal editor has got my back and I can’t ask for more from him. I have never enjoyed a publishing relationship more than the one I am in.

I do like that the meeting was held on Friday the thirteenth. I was born on that day. I love the number thirteen.

I haven’t had a whole lot of time to obsess over the waiting. Father’s day was Sunday and I hosted dinner at my house. My dad is one fabulous guy. And it makes me happy to know that I married someone who is such a fabulous dad. We went hiking to Devil’s Den (our local waterfall) after dinner with my brother and his kids and had a great time.

Today is my anniversary. Yep, sixteen years and I still love to kiss that face. My daughter decided she wanted to look at my yearbooks recently. While she was flipping pages she saw where Scott had written in my yearbook. It read, “You said you wanted me to write something that will matter in twenty years, something that you will look back on and smile about . . . The year will be 2008.”  He wrote for a whole page and a half and it is 2008, and I did look back on that life we had then and smile. Twenty years we’ve been together . . . a few detours, and some downs to go with the ups, but I wouldn’t trade the journey for anything. It’s been fun growing up with him, learning about life with him, and having him around to hold me until the love sinks into my bones.

You can bet that whatever the answer tomorrow, he’ll be there to high five me and dance around the living room with me. Or he’ll be there to hold me ,and smooth down my hair, and tell me there are other things waiting for us. Whatever happens tomorrow, he’ll balance me.

What does this mean for all of you?  This simply means that you have to wait too. Why should I have to wait for the answer alone?

Category: Random Rants On Writing, family life  5 Comments
9 WORDS WOMEN USE
05
June
Julie
9 WORDS WOMEN USE

1. Fine: This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.

 2. Five Minutes: If she is getting dressed, this means a half an hour. Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given five more  minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.

 3. Nothing: This is the calm before the storm. This means something, and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with “Nothing” usually end in “Fine”.

 4. Go Ahead: This is a dare, not permission. Don’t Do It!

 5. Loud Sigh: This actually is not a word, but a non-verbal statement  often misunderstood by men. A loud sigh means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you about nothing. (Refer back to #3 for the meaning of nothing.)

 6. That’s Okay: This is one of the most dangerous statements a women can make to a man. That’s okay means she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.

7. Thanks: A woman is thanking you, do not question, or Faint. Just say ”You’re welcome”.

8. Whatever : Is a women’s way of saying YOU SUCK!!

9. Don’t worry about it, I got it: Another dangerous statement, meaning this is something that a woman has told a man to do several times, but is now doing it herself. This will later result in a man asking “What’s wrong?” For the woman’s response, refer to #3.

I laughed when I got this in my email box because I use ALL of the above statements. My poor husband . . .
Number nine and I are intimate friends because I usually have a chip on my shoulder and am always too proud to ask for help. It’s because I think I shouldn’t HAVE to ask. He’s a smart man. Surely he knows when I want something done. And yet he is still MALE which does not equate into mindreader.
Last week, I was desperate for help. Desperate enough I *asked* for help. And do you know what he did? He helped me. It’s an odd phenomenon. I might try it out again and see if it works next time too. I might be on to something.
Yesterday, Scott framed in half the ceiling for my daughter’s room. I didn’t have to ask or anything. He just went and did it, and did a great job. If the other half gets done soon, I can go in and pull wire and hang insulation and we can call the sheetrockers! For the first time since we moved here, I looked at my basement with a real hope that it might actually get done. I hope it gets done before book signings and school tours start. That would be a mess to try and juggle all that together . . . In the meantime, I need to get back to writing; what am I doing musing about basements on my blog when there is a little girl trapped in my book who will never get untrapped if I don’t get to it? Have a great weekend everyone!
Related Posts with Thumbnails
Category: Jules is amused, Random Rants on life  12 Comments