I'm not sure if what my family does at Christmas really constitutes for "traditions", but whatever it is, it's something I've been doing since I was a child. My mother and I always begin with our Christmas baking, which usually starts around the first of December and ends a week before the "big day." As the days tick away, we start looking forward to the little things like the children's Christmas concerts (which were great this year), decorating the tree, the first snowfall, the first Christmas song on the radio, and holiday shopping.
On Christmas Eve we pile the kids in the car and head over to my parent's house for dinner. Before dinner starts we open our Christmas crackers. We all try on our paper hats, some with better luck than others, and then trade our goodies around the table and share our jokes. We devour our meal in about ten minutes and then remark at the fact that the meal takes all day to prepare and is gone in only a matter of minutes. We then wash dishes and head over to the tree to open our gifts.
On Christmas Day we open our stockings and gifts from Santa. We watch the children play with their toys and then we head to the kitchen for a yummy Christmas breakfast. The rest of the day is spent usually in pajamas. It's a wonderful day of family and friends, and I hope this year is a happy one for all of you. God Bless and Merry Christmas!
Showing posts with label Carolyn McTighe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Carolyn McTighe. Show all posts
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Reviled Revisions
I guess I'm the exception when it comes to revisions, because I don't like them. When I have completed a story and have handed in my final draft, I have a hard time cutting and rearranging things, because it feels like I'm losing some of the content that I feel is vital to the story. That is not to say of course that I think my writing is perfect, far from it. I have always appreciated the discerning eye of my editor, and I usually happily accept all of his suggestions and make the necessary changes no questions asked. There have been times though, when he has questioned the tone or content of the story, and I have had to firmly stand my ground.
For example, here is one of those situations. The excerpt is from my new book, "How to Ruin Your Life and Other Lessons from the Fourth Grade" and what follows is an exchange between myself and my editor.
Even though I didn’t want to admit it, it was true . . . Katie was faster than me! She had beaten me during gym practice and she had even beaten me the next day at lunch. Though I probably could have beaten her, if Mr. Shepherd’s butt hadn’t got in the way. The whole thing was making me feel terribly sick. So sick, that I didn’t even feel like eating dinner. Instead, I went straight to my room and crawled into my bed. Mom came in to see if I was feeling okay. I told her that I was nervous about the race on Tuesday. She told me that I would do just fine and that her and dad would be proud of me no matter what. Mom is always telling me dumb stuff like that. I bet if I told her the whole world was going to explode she’d still say, “That’s okay P.J., things will be better tomorrow!”
Mom had only been gone a few minutes when Dad came into my room.
“Your mom tells me you’re nervous about the race on Tuesday,” he said. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“Not really!” I said, pulling my blankets up over my head.
“You know it’s normal to be a little nervous. Everyone feels like that from time to time.”
Why does my dad always ask me questions like “Do you want to talk?” or “Do you think I’m made of money?” or “Do I look like I was born yesterday?” and then when I answer him he ignores me, kind of like I never said anything at all. It’s weird.
“You’re not still upset about Katie?”
I didn’t answer him, because I thought it was better to be silent than to lie.
“You apologized didn’t you?”
I closed my eyes.
“P.J!” he snapped.
I looked out from beneath my blankets long enough to shake my head.
“Why didn’t you say you were sorry?” he asked.
“I was going to, but then Katie turned the whole class against me!”
“No one cares whether you win the race or not!” Dad said in his most serious voice. “I don’t know why you won’t believe me. Your mother and I have both told you that. We would be proud of you whether you win a medal or not."
Email from my Editor
Dad's orders to PJ to apologize to Katie (when PJ's parents first
hear of the dustup over the race) are still imperatives - we're telling you
to do this, and did you do what you were told. Are you sure you want to
leave them like this? It makes Dad seem a little hard-nosed.
My Response
I completely understand your feelings about the tone of Dad's response to Katie. I think what I am trying to get across is that PJ is a stubborn young girl. She is head strong and does things without thinking sometimes and her parents are very accustomed to her habits. I based much of PJ's family life on my own as a child. My mother was gentle, while my father just cut to the quick and told you what to do, but not in a harsh way. When I read the exchange between PJ and her father I don't think he comes across as rough. I think he appears realistic. As a parent there have been many times where I have told the children what to do, not asked them or encouraged them to sort it out themselves. If they have done something they know is wrong and are too stubborn to fix it, then there have been times where I have had to be firm with them. I don't think his being firm comes across as being hard-nosed.
That's an example of one of those times where I have had to disagree with my editor, though I must admit it's not too often that I do. Most of the time I take his suggestions and go with them. Who the heck am I to disagree with a man who has won literary awards and his been in the "business" almost as long as I've been alive.
For example, here is one of those situations. The excerpt is from my new book, "How to Ruin Your Life and Other Lessons from the Fourth Grade" and what follows is an exchange between myself and my editor.
Even though I didn’t want to admit it, it was true . . . Katie was faster than me! She had beaten me during gym practice and she had even beaten me the next day at lunch. Though I probably could have beaten her, if Mr. Shepherd’s butt hadn’t got in the way. The whole thing was making me feel terribly sick. So sick, that I didn’t even feel like eating dinner. Instead, I went straight to my room and crawled into my bed. Mom came in to see if I was feeling okay. I told her that I was nervous about the race on Tuesday. She told me that I would do just fine and that her and dad would be proud of me no matter what. Mom is always telling me dumb stuff like that. I bet if I told her the whole world was going to explode she’d still say, “That’s okay P.J., things will be better tomorrow!”
Mom had only been gone a few minutes when Dad came into my room.
“Your mom tells me you’re nervous about the race on Tuesday,” he said. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“Not really!” I said, pulling my blankets up over my head.
“You know it’s normal to be a little nervous. Everyone feels like that from time to time.”
Why does my dad always ask me questions like “Do you want to talk?” or “Do you think I’m made of money?” or “Do I look like I was born yesterday?” and then when I answer him he ignores me, kind of like I never said anything at all. It’s weird.
“You’re not still upset about Katie?”
I didn’t answer him, because I thought it was better to be silent than to lie.
“You apologized didn’t you?”
I closed my eyes.
“P.J!” he snapped.
I looked out from beneath my blankets long enough to shake my head.
“Why didn’t you say you were sorry?” he asked.
“I was going to, but then Katie turned the whole class against me!”
“No one cares whether you win the race or not!” Dad said in his most serious voice. “I don’t know why you won’t believe me. Your mother and I have both told you that. We would be proud of you whether you win a medal or not."
Email from my Editor
Dad's orders to PJ to apologize to Katie (when PJ's parents first
hear of the dustup over the race) are still imperatives - we're telling you
to do this, and did you do what you were told. Are you sure you want to
leave them like this? It makes Dad seem a little hard-nosed.
My Response
I completely understand your feelings about the tone of Dad's response to Katie. I think what I am trying to get across is that PJ is a stubborn young girl. She is head strong and does things without thinking sometimes and her parents are very accustomed to her habits. I based much of PJ's family life on my own as a child. My mother was gentle, while my father just cut to the quick and told you what to do, but not in a harsh way. When I read the exchange between PJ and her father I don't think he comes across as rough. I think he appears realistic. As a parent there have been many times where I have told the children what to do, not asked them or encouraged them to sort it out themselves. If they have done something they know is wrong and are too stubborn to fix it, then there have been times where I have had to be firm with them. I don't think his being firm comes across as being hard-nosed.
That's an example of one of those times where I have had to disagree with my editor, though I must admit it's not too often that I do. Most of the time I take his suggestions and go with them. Who the heck am I to disagree with a man who has won literary awards and his been in the "business" almost as long as I've been alive.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
My Favorite Holiday
I know it may sound strange that Halloween is my favorite holiday, but it is. Don't get me wrong, I love all the other holidays too, but there is something so special about this time of year. When I was a kid it was all about getting candy and going out after dark. Now it's about seeing my own kids getting excited about the very same things. I love making their costumes, painting their faces, decorating the house...it's wonderful. And probably the best thing about it for me is that as quickly as it arrives, it is just as quickly gone. I have never been too excited about holidays that require so much preparation (Christmas) and then leave you feeling down when they are over.
With Halloween it's just the right level of excitement and then it's time to move on until next year. So I'm off now to prepare for my final Halloween party. It's for my five-year-old daughter and she is quite excited. I've included a photo from my eldest son's Halloween party last Saturday. This is the table with all the goodies on it. Hope you all had a wonderful Halloween. BOOOOOOO!
Oh, by the way. Guest blogger KC Dyer will be posting tomorrow. Make sure to stop by and check out what she has to say.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Not That Exciting
Compared to everyone else's story, my story of how I found out my book was going to be published is quite boring. For me there was no "Call" and I didn't even have an agent at the time, so there was no one to really tell me what was going on or guide me through the process. I wrote "The Sakura Tree" one weekend after watching a wonderful documentary about picture brides on the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.) When I was finally happy with the text and had revised it death, I printed out four copies and mailed them out to four different publishers. Three of the four publishers I sent my manuscript to were American, but the last one was sent to Red Deer Press, a small Canadian publisher. One by one the rejections came in. I tried not to let them upset me and I even tried to convince myself and others that I didn't care, but every time I opened a letter and read that another publisher was turning me down, my heart would sink.
Two months passed and I had heard back from everyone, except for Red Deer Press. Though I knew there was always a chance they might pick up the book, my heart and spirit were so low that I barely had the desire to write, let alone dream that one day I might be published. One afternoon, after I had gotten my youngest down for his nap, I went to my computer, sat down and began to seriously question my dream of becoming a writer. I decided that I was going to give myself a test. I would contact Red Deer Press and inquire about my manuscript. If they turned me down, then I would forget about writing and pursue something else. If they accepted it then I would know it was what I was meant to do.
Tentatively I wrote to Red Deer Press and asked about the status of my manuscript. I waited...no response. For the next three weeks I checked my email a dozen times a day...each time hoping to hear something positive. As each day passed with still no answer, I could feel my hope fading. I needed this to work out. I didn't want to have to walk away from my dream. Finally I heard back...and it is a day I will never forget. My "yes" came in the form of an email:
"After careful consideration we have decided that we would like to offer you a contract for publication."
I can remember getting up from my computer, walking over to the side of my bed and dropping to my knees to thank God for allowing this to happen. I'm not a religious person, but for some reason I felt the need to pray. "The Sakura Tree" was published in May 2007 and has been doing very well. It was nominated as Best Picture Book of the Year by the Alberta Book Publishers Association and was also recently listed in the CCBC's (Canadian Children's Book Centre's)2008 Best Books for Kids and Teens Guide. I am proud of this book and forever grateful that Red Deer was willing to take a chance on me.
Two months passed and I had heard back from everyone, except for Red Deer Press. Though I knew there was always a chance they might pick up the book, my heart and spirit were so low that I barely had the desire to write, let alone dream that one day I might be published. One afternoon, after I had gotten my youngest down for his nap, I went to my computer, sat down and began to seriously question my dream of becoming a writer. I decided that I was going to give myself a test. I would contact Red Deer Press and inquire about my manuscript. If they turned me down, then I would forget about writing and pursue something else. If they accepted it then I would know it was what I was meant to do.
Tentatively I wrote to Red Deer Press and asked about the status of my manuscript. I waited...no response. For the next three weeks I checked my email a dozen times a day...each time hoping to hear something positive. As each day passed with still no answer, I could feel my hope fading. I needed this to work out. I didn't want to have to walk away from my dream. Finally I heard back...and it is a day I will never forget. My "yes" came in the form of an email:
"After careful consideration we have decided that we would like to offer you a contract for publication."
I can remember getting up from my computer, walking over to the side of my bed and dropping to my knees to thank God for allowing this to happen. I'm not a religious person, but for some reason I felt the need to pray. "The Sakura Tree" was published in May 2007 and has been doing very well. It was nominated as Best Picture Book of the Year by the Alberta Book Publishers Association and was also recently listed in the CCBC's (Canadian Children's Book Centre's)2008 Best Books for Kids and Teens Guide. I am proud of this book and forever grateful that Red Deer was willing to take a chance on me.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Happiness Is A Good TV Show
I'm not a huge television watcher so I don't have too many shows that I follow. It isn't that I don't want to watch TV, it's just that with four young kids in the house, a freelance writing career and my books, I just usually don't have the time. With that being so though, I do have a few shows that I always make time for, and like all the other girls, I am very excited about the new season.
My all time favorite show that I can not wait for is 30 Rock. I LOVE Tina Fey and think the show is an absolute riot. My other guilty pleasure is Dancing with the Stars. Though I hate to admit it, I'm a glutton for anything to do with dancing. The music and the costumes are all something I can't resist, much to the chagrin of my husband who would rather be watching something to do with war.
My other favorite shows are Kitchen Nightmares (which has made me strongly question dining out), Man Versus Wild (nothing better than watching someone eat a bison's eyeball, and Lost.
So with cooler weather heading our way and a hopeful slow down in what seemed to be a recent flood of deadlines, I'm hoping to catch up with many of my favorite fictional and reality characters.
Happy watching!
My all time favorite show that I can not wait for is 30 Rock. I LOVE Tina Fey and think the show is an absolute riot. My other guilty pleasure is Dancing with the Stars. Though I hate to admit it, I'm a glutton for anything to do with dancing. The music and the costumes are all something I can't resist, much to the chagrin of my husband who would rather be watching something to do with war.
My other favorite shows are Kitchen Nightmares (which has made me strongly question dining out), Man Versus Wild (nothing better than watching someone eat a bison's eyeball, and Lost.
So with cooler weather heading our way and a hopeful slow down in what seemed to be a recent flood of deadlines, I'm hoping to catch up with many of my favorite fictional and reality characters.
Happy watching!
Saturday, September 27, 2008
The True Art of Procrastination
Right now, as we speak (read actually), I'm smack dab in the middle of editing my first middle grade novel. The book is called "How to Ruin Your Life and Other Lessons from the Fourth Grade" and is scheduled to come out in early spring 2009. The first book I wrote was a children's picture book and honestly (thankfully) there weren't that many revisions to make. I think I had to change a few facts that related to the story, but that was about it. So as you can imagine, I was under the false impression that I was an amazing writer...no revisions, barely any corrections-I'm awesome! Then I get an email from my editor, it was four pages long and only two lines of that email consisted of good-natured chitchat. The rest of the letter was a list of all the things I had done wrong, and let me tell you, apparently I did a lot wrong!
So for the past week or so, I've been making my way through the book, trying to change the things that need changing, all without losing the original voice of the character. But as with most things, I'm beginning to run out of steam. Suddenly the task of rewriting my book has become the most unpleasant of jobs. My current list of dreaded jobs is as follows:
1. Clean the house
2. Help my grandmother shave her leg hair (unfortunately true)
3. Wash my nine-year-old son's underwear (no need to go into details here)
4. Change my 9 month-old's diaper (again, no need for details)
5. Clean the toilet (I have two boys in the house, no need to say more)
6. Edit my book
As a result, I've been finding it very hard to get down to work. Every morning I find myself searching for reasons not to get the revisions done. And the saddest part is that the work has to be completed and turned in by this Monday...crippity crappity! Yet despite this, I'm still completely unmotivated to do it. Yesterday, for example, I pretty much wasted the entire day doing menial tasks around the house. Tasks that really didn't need to be done.
6 AM Got up and fed the kids (four in total, though at times I could swear there is more)
7AM Made my son's lunch and made him change out of his pants with the torn knees. Made him change out of his jogging pants with the torn knees. Did some sewing.
8AM Brushed my five-year-old's hair to the sound of her appreciative screams.
9AM Went into my office and sat down at my computer. Time to write.
9:30AM Saw a bird outside the window and it reminded me to fill the bird feeder.
10:00AM While I was outside I noticed the front walkway to the house needed to be swept. I swept it.
10:15 AM Returned to my office.
10:16AM Went upstairs to make a cup of tea. While I waited for the kettle to boil, I found an old magazine I hadn't read yet. Sat and read it.
11:00AM Returned to my office. Changed the colour of my computer's background to purple. Looked through the screensavers and then decided to keep the one I had.
11:21AM Watched a cat across the street clean his unmentionables.
11:30AM Lunch.
1:00PM Returned to my office. Took my pulse. 72 beats per minute. Took it again while I held my breath. No change.
1:13PM Tried to type out all the words from Seal's "Crazy" Couldn't do it.
1:25PM Went back upstairs to search the house for some candy. No luck.
1:45PM Returned to my office. Noticed dust on the top of my desk. Took off my sock and wiped it off.
1:52PM Realize my kids would be home from school soon. Decided I had better get serious.
1:55PM Went upstairs and grabbed a sweater. Noticed a few smears on the living room window. Grabbed some cleaner and cleaned the window. Decided I might as well do all the windows.
2:21PM Returned to my office and checked my email. Answered a few and then searched the Web for "Tips on Staying Motivated." Read a few. Felt inspired. Determined to get my work done.
2:42PM My kids came home. Time to wrap things up.
Another productive day of writing. Hopefully today will be better and more fruitful...which reminds me, I need to buy fruit....
So for the past week or so, I've been making my way through the book, trying to change the things that need changing, all without losing the original voice of the character. But as with most things, I'm beginning to run out of steam. Suddenly the task of rewriting my book has become the most unpleasant of jobs. My current list of dreaded jobs is as follows:
1. Clean the house
2. Help my grandmother shave her leg hair (unfortunately true)
3. Wash my nine-year-old son's underwear (no need to go into details here)
4. Change my 9 month-old's diaper (again, no need for details)
5. Clean the toilet (I have two boys in the house, no need to say more)
6. Edit my book
As a result, I've been finding it very hard to get down to work. Every morning I find myself searching for reasons not to get the revisions done. And the saddest part is that the work has to be completed and turned in by this Monday...crippity crappity! Yet despite this, I'm still completely unmotivated to do it. Yesterday, for example, I pretty much wasted the entire day doing menial tasks around the house. Tasks that really didn't need to be done.
6 AM Got up and fed the kids (four in total, though at times I could swear there is more)
7AM Made my son's lunch and made him change out of his pants with the torn knees. Made him change out of his jogging pants with the torn knees. Did some sewing.
8AM Brushed my five-year-old's hair to the sound of her appreciative screams.
9AM Went into my office and sat down at my computer. Time to write.
9:30AM Saw a bird outside the window and it reminded me to fill the bird feeder.
10:00AM While I was outside I noticed the front walkway to the house needed to be swept. I swept it.
10:15 AM Returned to my office.
10:16AM Went upstairs to make a cup of tea. While I waited for the kettle to boil, I found an old magazine I hadn't read yet. Sat and read it.
11:00AM Returned to my office. Changed the colour of my computer's background to purple. Looked through the screensavers and then decided to keep the one I had.
11:21AM Watched a cat across the street clean his unmentionables.
11:30AM Lunch.
1:00PM Returned to my office. Took my pulse. 72 beats per minute. Took it again while I held my breath. No change.
1:13PM Tried to type out all the words from Seal's "Crazy" Couldn't do it.
1:25PM Went back upstairs to search the house for some candy. No luck.
1:45PM Returned to my office. Noticed dust on the top of my desk. Took off my sock and wiped it off.
1:52PM Realize my kids would be home from school soon. Decided I had better get serious.
1:55PM Went upstairs and grabbed a sweater. Noticed a few smears on the living room window. Grabbed some cleaner and cleaned the window. Decided I might as well do all the windows.
2:21PM Returned to my office and checked my email. Answered a few and then searched the Web for "Tips on Staying Motivated." Read a few. Felt inspired. Determined to get my work done.
2:42PM My kids came home. Time to wrap things up.
Another productive day of writing. Hopefully today will be better and more fruitful...which reminds me, I need to buy fruit....
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Quick and Relatively Painless
The truth is...I actually got an agent fairly quickly. The only problem was that my first agent and I didn't really mesh, and I unfortunately had to move on within a year of signing with her. Authors of children's lit don't typically go the agent route the first time around. Children's book publishers, unlike their adult counterparts, are more open to direct contact by writers and are willing to look at newbies. This was a great starting point for me. Once I had my book placed with a publisher, getting an agent was relatively easy. I originally submitted to five agents and three responded favorably. After careful consideration I picked the one I thought would be the best and signed with her. At the beginning she was great. She was attentive and prompt in all of our conversations and seemed fantastic, but over time she got harder to contact and wouldn't respond to my inquiries. It would take her many, many months to read new works. She just seemed to lack the polish that I was looking for. The hardest thing for me in deciding to drop her as an agent, was that I liked her, but in the end it came down to my career and where I wanted it to go and I was simply not satisfied.
After I notified her of my decision (she took it quite well,) I decided to look a little closer to home for my next agent. Though I loved the idea of having a New York agent (which my first agent was,) I decided that it might be better to get a Canadian agent that knows where I'm coming from and knows what I'm talking about when I mention things like "touque" and "a double double." So I contacted a very reputable agency and immediately got signed with the wonderful and very patient Lise Henderson. She is a great agent and does her best to meet the needs of all her writers. Aside from the business end of things, she is just plain nice...and that never hurts! So if you are looking for an agent here are few of my own personal tips in getting the right one.
1. Make sure you submit to the agent that is representing you kind of writing.
2. Do not send out blanket submissions. Personalize your cover letter and introduction and know something about the agency you are sending to.
3. When you make contact with an agent, tell them EXACTLY what you are looking for as a writer. Do you like them to keep their distance and only contact you when you contact them? Do you need to be prodded along? Do you need them to set deadlines for you? Let them know what you are looking for...afterall they are working for you.
4. DO NOT agree to pay for READING FEES. No reputable agency will ever charge you to read your manuscript.
5. If things don't work out with your agent don't feel obligated to stay. It's important that you find someone you are comfortable with and someone you can trust. Do though, make sure and read the fine print on your contract to find out what steps you need to go through before you can break the contract.
6. Look at the agent's client list and recent sales. Though you wouldn't think it, it can actually tell you a lot about them.
7. Remember that an agent with many, many clients will not always be able to give you the personal attention you would like. If you want someone who is going to know that your cat's name if Fluffy, then consider going with an agent with a short list of clients.
After I notified her of my decision (she took it quite well,) I decided to look a little closer to home for my next agent. Though I loved the idea of having a New York agent (which my first agent was,) I decided that it might be better to get a Canadian agent that knows where I'm coming from and knows what I'm talking about when I mention things like "touque" and "a double double." So I contacted a very reputable agency and immediately got signed with the wonderful and very patient Lise Henderson. She is a great agent and does her best to meet the needs of all her writers. Aside from the business end of things, she is just plain nice...and that never hurts! So if you are looking for an agent here are few of my own personal tips in getting the right one.
1. Make sure you submit to the agent that is representing you kind of writing.
2. Do not send out blanket submissions. Personalize your cover letter and introduction and know something about the agency you are sending to.
3. When you make contact with an agent, tell them EXACTLY what you are looking for as a writer. Do you like them to keep their distance and only contact you when you contact them? Do you need to be prodded along? Do you need them to set deadlines for you? Let them know what you are looking for...afterall they are working for you.
4. DO NOT agree to pay for READING FEES. No reputable agency will ever charge you to read your manuscript.
5. If things don't work out with your agent don't feel obligated to stay. It's important that you find someone you are comfortable with and someone you can trust. Do though, make sure and read the fine print on your contract to find out what steps you need to go through before you can break the contract.
6. Look at the agent's client list and recent sales. Though you wouldn't think it, it can actually tell you a lot about them.
7. Remember that an agent with many, many clients will not always be able to give you the personal attention you would like. If you want someone who is going to know that your cat's name if Fluffy, then consider going with an agent with a short list of clients.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
My Thoughts On Friendship
Though I would love to be able to say that have more friends than I can count, the truth is I've always been a one friend kind of girl. I've never been the kind of person who wants to go out and socialize or hang out at clubs, though I can certainly understand their appeal. I'd much rather stay at home, putter around the house or hang out with my husband and children. I've honestly never felt compelled to have friends and that doesn't mean I don't like being around people, because I do...I just never felt as though my life was lacking anything because I didn't have an abundance of friends.
I have one girlfriend, Angie, who I have known since grade four. I was the new girl in school and she allowed me to put my desk next to hers. From that point on we have been the best of friends. We have the sort of friendship where we don't have to talk all the time. She lives a few hours away, and whenever she comes to town to visit her mother, we get together. And despite the fact that we may not have talked for months, it's like we've been chatting everyday...conversation flows and as we say goodbye we try to squeeze in a few more precious words until we get to see each other again. Like any true friend, Angie has been there for me through the best of times and the worst. She was there for me during the difficult birth of my third son. She would come to the hospital like clockwork, bringing with her creams and lotion, and my favorite chocolate mint cookies. I leaned on her during those difficult weeks, and she never let me down.
Over the years Angie and I have gotten married and become mothers (her third will be arriving very shortly) and yet through it all we have always made time for one another. We have laughed at how we both like to torture our husbands, get angry over the same things, and we've watched each other succeed at some things and fail at others. She may not always agree with everything I say or do, and I'm sure there have been times where she has wondered what I was thinking, but she has never made me feel foolish. She has stood in the corner and sometimes in the background, and cheered me on nonetheless. I will forever cherish my friendship with her.
Aside from Angie, my only other friend (best friend) is my husband. Without him I wouldn't be the person I am today, have the beautiful children I have, or be as happy as I am. He grounds me and comforts me, and always encourages me to do what I want. He listens to all my crazy plans, and puts up with my moods and emotions. He has had faith in me, even when I haven't.
I have one girlfriend, Angie, who I have known since grade four. I was the new girl in school and she allowed me to put my desk next to hers. From that point on we have been the best of friends. We have the sort of friendship where we don't have to talk all the time. She lives a few hours away, and whenever she comes to town to visit her mother, we get together. And despite the fact that we may not have talked for months, it's like we've been chatting everyday...conversation flows and as we say goodbye we try to squeeze in a few more precious words until we get to see each other again. Like any true friend, Angie has been there for me through the best of times and the worst. She was there for me during the difficult birth of my third son. She would come to the hospital like clockwork, bringing with her creams and lotion, and my favorite chocolate mint cookies. I leaned on her during those difficult weeks, and she never let me down.
Over the years Angie and I have gotten married and become mothers (her third will be arriving very shortly) and yet through it all we have always made time for one another. We have laughed at how we both like to torture our husbands, get angry over the same things, and we've watched each other succeed at some things and fail at others. She may not always agree with everything I say or do, and I'm sure there have been times where she has wondered what I was thinking, but she has never made me feel foolish. She has stood in the corner and sometimes in the background, and cheered me on nonetheless. I will forever cherish my friendship with her.
Aside from Angie, my only other friend (best friend) is my husband. Without him I wouldn't be the person I am today, have the beautiful children I have, or be as happy as I am. He grounds me and comforts me, and always encourages me to do what I want. He listens to all my crazy plans, and puts up with my moods and emotions. He has had faith in me, even when I haven't.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Bringing Up The Rear...that doesn't sound right!
I've never enjoyed talking about myself, which is partly why I enjoy writing so much. When you write you can escape into your characters and typically your book overshadows you as the writer. But alas, today writers have had to learn how to sell themselves along with their books, so I'm forced to talk about little old ME!
I haven't always wanted to be a writer. When I was five I was certain I was going to become a veterinarian. When I was nine I was positive I was going to be Laura Ingalls Wilder and even insisted that my parents call me Laura and in return I referred to them as Ma and Pa. It wasn't until I was in my late teens that I toyed with the idea of becoming a writer. My interest however was not in writing novels, but in becoming a world traveling journalist. So in an effort to set that goal in motion I joined my high school newspaper, and eventually joined my University newspaper. After graduating from University I decided I would go to the University of Ryerson in Toronto, get my journalism degree and then get a job on the Toronto Star like my literary hero, Ernest Hemingway.
Life however threw me an unexpected curve ball that came in the form of a handsome man, who I eventually married. All of a sudden my life was that of a wife, traveling from province to province, in my husband's quest to find employment. My dream of becoming a journalist was over, or so I thought. In the next eight years we moved four times and had four children, and in that time opportunity presented itself and I took it. I got work as a part time reporter on a weekly newspaper in Ontario, which led to a freelance job with the CBC...I was lucky. That led to a freelance gig with the Los Angeles Times...again lucky!
After my youngest son was born I was watching a documentary on television about Japanese picture brides who came to Canada and the United States in the early 1900's, to marry Japanese men who had come to North America to seek their fortune. The idea stuck and from there I wrote my first picture book. I sent it out to four publishers, who all turned it down. I was discouraged and figured I should just give it up, but something told me to send it out again. This time I got a response and it was from a wonderful man named Peter Carver, who eventually became my editor. The book was published in 2007 by Red Deer Press and I couldn't be more proud of it.
In 2009 my second book, a middle grade novel called How to Ruin Your Life and Other Lessons from the Fourth Grade, will hit bookstores. I'm currently working on my next book, writing for two magazines and freelancing for Sun Media. When I'm not at my computer, which doesn't seem to be that often, I mother four beautiful and hilarious children who not only inspire me, but also act as my sounding board.
I can't guarantee where my writing will take me, but I can guarantee one thing...I'm gonna enjoy the ride! I couldn't be more pleased to be a part of this wonderful group of talented women. Each one is such a promising new writer with a very bright career ahead of them.
All the best
Carolyn McTighe (A proud member of The Novel Girls)
I haven't always wanted to be a writer. When I was five I was certain I was going to become a veterinarian. When I was nine I was positive I was going to be Laura Ingalls Wilder and even insisted that my parents call me Laura and in return I referred to them as Ma and Pa. It wasn't until I was in my late teens that I toyed with the idea of becoming a writer. My interest however was not in writing novels, but in becoming a world traveling journalist. So in an effort to set that goal in motion I joined my high school newspaper, and eventually joined my University newspaper. After graduating from University I decided I would go to the University of Ryerson in Toronto, get my journalism degree and then get a job on the Toronto Star like my literary hero, Ernest Hemingway.
Life however threw me an unexpected curve ball that came in the form of a handsome man, who I eventually married. All of a sudden my life was that of a wife, traveling from province to province, in my husband's quest to find employment. My dream of becoming a journalist was over, or so I thought. In the next eight years we moved four times and had four children, and in that time opportunity presented itself and I took it. I got work as a part time reporter on a weekly newspaper in Ontario, which led to a freelance job with the CBC...I was lucky. That led to a freelance gig with the Los Angeles Times...again lucky!
After my youngest son was born I was watching a documentary on television about Japanese picture brides who came to Canada and the United States in the early 1900's, to marry Japanese men who had come to North America to seek their fortune. The idea stuck and from there I wrote my first picture book. I sent it out to four publishers, who all turned it down. I was discouraged and figured I should just give it up, but something told me to send it out again. This time I got a response and it was from a wonderful man named Peter Carver, who eventually became my editor. The book was published in 2007 by Red Deer Press and I couldn't be more proud of it.
In 2009 my second book, a middle grade novel called How to Ruin Your Life and Other Lessons from the Fourth Grade, will hit bookstores. I'm currently working on my next book, writing for two magazines and freelancing for Sun Media. When I'm not at my computer, which doesn't seem to be that often, I mother four beautiful and hilarious children who not only inspire me, but also act as my sounding board.
I can't guarantee where my writing will take me, but I can guarantee one thing...I'm gonna enjoy the ride! I couldn't be more pleased to be a part of this wonderful group of talented women. Each one is such a promising new writer with a very bright career ahead of them.
All the best
Carolyn McTighe (A proud member of The Novel Girls)
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