Last night, I read from Imaginary Girls for a room of artists here at the colony. I talked first about what I find so exciting about writing YA fiction, I showed some images of a place that inspired the mythical elements of the novel—the Ashokan Reservoir in the Catskills, where I used to sneak swims … Continue reading »
It’s the first month of 2011 and I have to tell you what I’ve done. Something amazing. I’m here at the artist colony—yes, it’s a great gift and an achievement to be here, but that’s not what I want to tell you about. I did something rather phenomenal this morning that I want to announce … Continue reading »
I grew up, for the most part, in the mountains. I grew up where my books take place. Imaginary Girls is set in the town where I went to high school. I grew up where this was more commonplace… …than this: But the second photo is a shot from the curb right outside my building … Continue reading »
In a surreal bit of perfect coincidence, the week after the ARCs (advance readers copies) of Imaginary Girls were released into the wild I had the opportunity to go into hiding. It helps with the nerves, hiding here. It helps me from being tempted to look at Goodreads—which I am trying to avoid this time … Continue reading »
…that people are about to read your book. If they want to. That people will open your book to the first page and start with the first sentence, and hopefully go on from there, and you can’t keep it close anymore, this book you wrote that started as a story for you and you only, … Continue reading »
My first yes of 2011 came early this week. I’d been hoping, quietly hoping, that I’d get a call from a writers colony telling me a space had opened up for me. I was well aware what an impossible feat this would be, but I also knew what a gift it would be for the … Continue reading »
The year 2010 ended for me on a yes. Yesterday afternoon, on the last day of 2010, I got into a writing-something I’d applied to! I’ll reveal more once I’m sure it’s happening. But let’s just say it involves some foreign travel and if you have any suggestions for travel grants for writers please let … Continue reading »
