rebekah joy plett

The F Word

2012-01-25T07:04:00.000-08:00

I know I haven't been showing you a lot of work lately (and it's not because I haven't done any, but because I can't quite show it to you yet), so instead let's talk.

My dad is the only person I know who gets up at the same ungodly hour that I do (or even earlier). I often receive emails from him at 3 or 4 in the morning with interesting articles on creative processes or some similar thing. They are always fascinating, even if I don't agree with them.

This morning he sent me an article on the Inner Critic by Mark McGuinness. I figure this fits along with the whole Rejection theme I started the other day, so let's run with it, shall we?

Your Inner Critic, let's call him Frank, is that nagging little voice inside your head who ALWAYS has an opinion on your work, even if you don't ask for it. Frank can be a bit, well, frank, so it's important to know how to talk to him in a way that is beneficial for you both. You need someone like Frank and here's why — in the article, McGuinness says:

Without some kind of internal quality filter, you'd be happy to churn out any old rubbish – and join the ranks of mediocrities. A finely honed critical faculty is one of the things that separates a creative professional from the legions of amateurs.

And I don't think there is such a thing as being "too hard on yourself" so much as being too negative with yourself. You're allowed to like and dislike things about your work, and sometimes you need to make something that is awful in order to know what you like. But what it comes down to with art or writing or music is that you have an idea or a feeling that needs to be expressed, and it is up to YOU to express it with all the capability that you have. Frank is there to pick you up and dust you off when you're 3/4 of the way to the finish line and you think there is nothing left to give.

McGuinness later goes on to say:

When you're working, if the Critic starts telling you what's wrong with the piece, ask yourself, "So what does the work need instead?" or "So what do I need to do to make it better?"

The key is learning how to communicate with Frank in a positive way rather than in a negative way. So instead of saying, "Oh it's so horrible, that thing I've made. Don't you think that's horrible, Frank? Of course you do. Oh I'm such a bad painter" think, I need to keep working on this because it doesn't feel right. It doesn't have to be perfect, but it has to feel right.

Something I've mentioned to my Dad (since Frank has always been my friend, for the most part [though we do have some bad days]) is that Frank only really torments me when I look at other artists' work. He says to me, "Oh goodness, look how she does that. Can you even figure that out? You'll never be THAT good. Oh and look at this detail! She must have spent HOURS on that. You don't have that kind of time. Just hurry up now and get this over with."

It's a slippery slope when dealing with Frank. Just like with any relationship you have to take the good with the bad and you have to be understanding. Frank doesn't mean anything by it when he says, "Seriously? THAT'S a duck? Looks like broken eggs." What he means is, "You can do better than that. I know you can. So try again, do your best. This isn't it."

And remember that you never started your creative work with perfection in mind. You started it because you had an idea or a feeling that you needed to get out and express and it is the goal of connecting with someone over that idea or feeling that is important.

Rejection As A Form Of Motivation

2012-01-21T17:49:00.000-08:00

Rejection has been coming up in my life a great deal lately. By which I mean twice. One time it was I who was rejecting someone (and let me tell you, that did not feel good to do) and the other time was stumbling onto Tiffany Moore's blog.

I first came across Tiffany's writing when someone posted on some social network site about her blog post on pricing your work. I've had that particular blog post sitting in my dock for almost a week now and I look at it from time to time when I am feeling like I need a reality check (which I do. Often).

This evening I decided to look her up to see what else she had going on her blog plate. Her latest blog post (and honestly, the only one I've read so far as I felt I needed to put this down in words before my Lesser Half decided it was a bad idea) is called 100 Rejection Letters!

The basic purpose of the post is Tiffany calling herself out to work harder, be uncomfortable and put herself out there. But not in an unrealistic way. Her goal is to get 100 rejection letters this year. Not 100 responses, not 100 people crawling up to her on their bellies begging for her to be in their magazines. 100 rejections means that she'll put herself out to more than 100 people and places, places she may not have tried if she felt she didn't have a chance, she is going in EXPECTING to not have a chance, and seeing what happens (that last sentence was very comma-heavy).

Being on the cusp (really? That's how you spell "cusp"? I will have to ask m-w.com to make sure) of finishing a series, I feel it is my duty to my own work to do something similar. I don't know who will want to be part of my barrage of nudi-red-headed-girls-in-nature series, but I'm willing to find out. This doesn't mean I'll haphazardly fling portfolios shoddily made to any gallery I see. I will research the galleries that I feel suit this style and series and content. I will go beyond my little pond of curators and send my fish hook to the farthest reaching point of the world. I will decide who I think is appropriate for my work and then see who feels the same way.

I don't expect that anyone will fall under a spell for my work and I may just end up showing these out of a warehouse that I rented for a plate of cookies. And I will probably end up with more than 100 rejections. But isn't that the fun of it?

What I've learned from my experiences both as the one being rejected and also the one having to reject the work or ideas of someone else is that it is DIFFICULT TO EXPERIENCE WITHOUT FEELING TERRIBLE. So if I try to achieve rejection, maybe it will make the sting tickle instead. I will let you know.

Until then, onward and upward. The best and worst is yet to come!

My Focus: A Visual

2012-01-11T16:32:00.001-08:00

I did a little graph for everyone to see just how my days go from beginning to end. Enjoy.

daily doodle: See Saw

2012-01-09T05:26:00.000-08:00

Here is an image I've had in my head for a few days and I found some extra time yesterday to sit down and begin drawing it out. It still has a ways to go. It's not quite what I was thinking just yet.

Cowbird

2012-01-08T03:52:00.000-08:00

Hey all.

I'm starting something new on a site called Cowbird. It's basically tidbits of stories and photos taken by regular people about all the little things we see and appreciate in a day. It's like a quilt of small, meaningful treats that you can peruse through.

Check it out, and go look at some of the stories on there. They're really neat.

daily doodle and video: You're All I Need

2011-12-31T08:23:00.000-08:00

daily doodle: This Won't Hurt A Bit

2011-12-29T17:00:00.001-08:00

Do You Know What I Like About You?

2011-12-28T09:40:00.000-08:00

This is a very basic idea of how the references I use when I am creating an image come together. I am constantly looking up images on the internet, in books I've collected, photographs I've taken and various other places to make one image. The final product is usually a collage of things that I've found.

I sometimes use images from other artists to see how they've interpreted a pose or an object and then try my hand at it. I don't usually start something thinking "I'm going to put barnacles on this bad boy." I usually have a pose in mind or look in some of the places I often get inspiration from and once I start drawing, it always changes.

Music is also very important to the progress and feeling of the painting. So is silence.

One last thing I want to add is that it takes just as long to draw something crappy as it does to draw something good. You don't know which one it'll be until you've finished.

daily doodle: One Man's Trash

2011-12-24T07:50:00.001-08:00

daily doodle: Stay Awhile

2011-12-23T11:44:00.001-08:00

More progresseseses

2011-12-22T04:03:00.000-08:00

The Bone Collector - Day 4ish

The Bather - Day 11ish - Complete

When The World Ends - Day 7ish

Whiteboard Wednesday Deep Thoughts:

2011-12-21T10:04:00.000-08:00

The Unleashed Mind: Why Creative People Are Eccentric

2011-12-18T13:38:00.000-08:00

Highly creative people often seem weirder than the rest of us. Now researchers know why by Shelley Carson

The brain is freaking phenomenal, I think we can all agree on that to a degree. I found this article fascinating because, yes, why ARE creative people a little outside the cage? Carson reveals that most creative people feel like "a square peg in a round hole" and then goes into some detail about creative people not filtering as much information, thus often coming across strange or "creative" ideas and solutions to problems. She also talks about how "creativity" is similar in brain function in ways to schizotypal personality (etc etc etc) and can be hereditary like mental disorders. Interesting stuff. Okay.

BUT THEN at the very end of the article (if you can make it through the five pages, which — let's be honest — in the Internet World, is a lot of reading) she says, "As the market value of creative thinking increases, the round-hole world may continue to make adjustments to accommodate and assimilate eccentrics." (and if you're Canadian, you know that "assimilate" is a dirty word) and a few sentences later she writes, "Square pegs...no longer have to work so hard at fitting in."

Which, yes, square pegs can now get jobs instead of living off the lead-based paint they work with. But having a job doesn't make it easier to fit in. Given, Carson admits she fits "more comfortably into [her] round hole." But for that exact reason she doesn't realize that "fitting in" isn't about having a job, or having the people around you politely ignore the fact that you think urchins are following you in the street (Charles Dickens) or that the music you wrote was given to you straight from the long deceased Beethoven (Robert Schumann) — both examples used in the article.

Sticking with the square-peg and round-hole analogy, not all creative people are square pegs. I think most creative people can be best imagined as amoeba-like in that no two are exactly the same shape and even just the one person is often changing shape throughout their life. Therefore "fitting in" can be extremely complicated and delicate, especially when a person is use to when "the brain is focusing on internally generated stimuli rather than on the outside world."

The square-peg round-hole analogy falls flat when you try to think of creative people fitting in, especially together. It's not as simple as filling in the missing piece. Most creative people will tell you that making close-bonding relationships is difficult at best. This is because an artists' amoeba-like shape has to be the right shape at the right time in order to fit together with another amoeba.

When it comes down to it, I don't think creative people need to fit in as much as non-creative people need them to adhere to some kind of logic. We need each other, creatives and non-creatives, just the way we are. We also need a bit of friction because no great accomplishment ever came easy. So the next time you meet someone who is a little wacky and hard to get along with, give them a break. It's a lonely world in here.

daily doodle: Just Love Me

2011-12-17T17:18:00.001-08:00

The Bather - progress & detail

2011-12-10T05:25:00.001-08:00

daily doodle: The Swing

2011-12-03T04:38:00.001-08:00

Progress

2011-12-01T08:24:00.001-08:00

The Bather - day 8

When The World Ends - Day 5

daily doodle: The Swim

2011-11-30T08:49:00.001-08:00

daily doodle: trilobite monster

2011-11-28T04:20:00.000-08:00

After the Hunt - video

2011-11-27T10:54:00.000-08:00

The actual length of time to complete the sketch (including Photoshop work) was approximately an hour.

"Rhineland (Heartland)" by Beirut

daily doodle: body study - the intestines

2011-11-26T17:20:00.001-08:00

daily doodle: body study - the heart

2011-11-25T21:42:00.001-08:00

The next day I thought it needed more. Here is the update:

Studio Ginger Presents

2011-11-23T19:15:00.003-08:00

Our first video. Art by Rebekah Joy Plett. Video and editing by Bree Ogden.

Progress Report

2011-11-21T03:50:00.000-08:00

Here are the paintings I'm working on and where they're at.

The Bone Collector (day 2)

The Bather (day 6?)

When The World Ends (day 3)

daily doodle: Narwhal

2011-11-20T04:03:00.000-08:00

Before

After

The Human Figure

2011-11-19T03:08:00.000-08:00

Have you ever been scampering along on the internet and seen something that looked human, but you're not quite sure?

And then on closer inspection you're even more confused?

This is what I'm afraid the world is coming to. Has everyone forgotten what the female body looks like?

Apparently.

One way I can think to remedy this is life drawing. Not only do you get time to really inspect the human form (which, if you've ever tried to do that on a beach in the summer - guys I'm looking at you - it doesn't end well) you also get to learn how to draw the wonderful, meaty parts of the female figure.

Life drawing is hard. I have done enough bad life drawing in my life to know so. And even if your drawings start out looking like this:

If you keep at it, maybe it'll look like this:

Of course, we can't all be James Jean, but it is worth the try. And after a few sessions, when you're feeling comfortable with you abilities (and you've stopped giggling at the male model wandering around, getting ready for his turn without any clothes on ALREADY), you can start playing around with the human form.

You can even try something completely crazy, if you're up to it.\

So please, if you want to draw the female form, do go take some life drawing classes first and even if you leave there feeling more like a failure than a success, it was still worth it because then you won't be drawing this:

Come back next time for How to Make Faces Look Less Freaky (if nothing else).

retro doodle redo: Life is a Boat

2011-11-18T16:47:00.000-08:00

My BPIC (business partner in crime) and creative extraordinaire Bree was spending time with me in Studio Ginger today and brought up how much she loved an image I drew about a year and a half ago. She wondered what that same image would look like today. So here is the experiment.

This is the original image.

Here is the raw sketch, unphotoshopped.

Here is the final image. You can also purchase this as a print, if you feel so inclined (and do feel inclined).

Bree was faithfully snapping shots of video of me drawing this image and I will link to it when it's up.

If you'd like this as your desktop, here is a wider format for all you Mac junkies out there.

daily doodle: More Madness

2011-11-18T04:28:00.000-08:00

Before

After

Derby Auction

2011-11-17T04:34:00.000-08:00

My lovely ladies at the Terminal City Roller Girls are putting on an auction in the new year and asked if I would like to contribute.

Are you kidding me? I shouted to the empty room. Of course I would.

Before

After

daily doodle: The Madness (photoshop evolution)

2011-11-16T05:58:00.000-08:00

Before

After

On Failure

2011-11-08T18:03:00.001-08:00

Failure sits in a tall chair behind me and curiously watches over my shoulder.
"Are you sure you want to do that?" He asks (because failure is a man, I'm sorry to say).
"Why?" I reply, "What's wrong with that?"
"Well," he says back, "does it really make any sense? I think it's pretty unforgettable. Also, that shirt makes you look squarish."
"Then how about this?" I ask.
"No."
"Or this?"
"No."
"Then what do you suggest I do?" I say, tearing at my hair.
"I hear McDonalds is hiring."

Progress - When the World Ends

2011-11-05T23:30:00.000-07:00

daily doodle: "Words are only painted fire; a look is the fire itself." - Mark Twain

2011-11-05T18:58:00.001-07:00

New Painting

2011-11-03T10:20:00.001-07:00

More Progress

2011-11-03T08:02:00.001-07:00

Good Ideas ≠ Good Sketches

2011-11-02T11:06:00.000-07:00

Last week, my fabulous Faster Pussycats came to me needing some art for their fundraiser poster. I was all, Heck yes!

What was on the program? Glam rock karaoke! I love me some rock and I love me some sparkles, so I was all over this.

Until I drew this.

And then this!

AND THEN THIS?!?!

Some things don't get better by forcing them so I went to bed and let my brain figure it out while I took a break.

Then I came back the next day (or a few days later, I forget) and started sketching again and drew this:

And breathed a sigh of relief because at least we were getting somewhere now. After a few more hours of shining up the image, I ended up with this.

The moral of the story, kids, is if at first you don't succeed, maybe your idea isn't very good and you need to do something else. Oh yeah, and don't quit.

Because we all need a barfing pumpkin in our lives once a year

2011-10-29T14:19:00.000-07:00

Change of plan

2011-10-24T04:00:00.000-07:00

You know when you go to bed at night but you can't sleep? And then you realize it's because something is wrong; very, very wrong? This is what I was thinking about last night and it feels so good to rectify it.

Readathon - Book the Second: Catching Fire (Hunger Games book 2)

2011-10-23T13:50:00.000-07:00

Comrads, I've heard so much about these Hunger Games books (especially at the BEA) and so I sort of dove into them with Great Expectations. Or at least YA expectations (which are mostly different and of lesser quality).

Here is my one opinion on Young Adult Novels That Have Romantic Bits: you have one chance to knock us off our proverbial feet with a kiss. Choose wisely.

Anyways, still good so far. Parts of it, like the people from the Capitol, remind of The Fifth Element. Also, Finnick kind of reminds me of the pole dancer from the most recent season of America's Got Talent. So...it's a strange conglomeration of things.

Starting the third book.

Readathon - Book the First: The Hunger Games (book 1)

2011-10-22T15:03:00.000-07:00

I finished my first book in my first readathon! Victoire! It took me roughly 7 hours to read the first book in The Hunger Games. So far so good. Except the name "Katniss"? This is like the "Bum pits" all over again.

Onward and upward. See you after the next book.

another doodle: The Bird Feeder

2011-10-19T08:09:00.001-07:00

some more doodling: When the World Ends

2011-10-18T21:09:00.000-07:00

painting progress - the bather

2011-10-16T19:52:00.001-07:00

furry doodle

2011-10-12T19:46:00.001-07:00

doodle: Wonder Woman's Words of Wisdom

2011-10-10T09:36:00.001-07:00

Another doodle: The Bather

2011-10-05T13:20:00.001-07:00

More Doodles

2011-10-01T07:21:00.001-07:00

Now that Underneath The Juniper Tree's October issue is out, I can put up some of these doodles I did for them.

And also this desktop background that you can download for free here.

Another doodle for Underneath The Juniper Tree Magazine

2011-09-27T20:14:00.001-07:00

More Doodles

2011-09-08T06:00:00.000-07:00

Battle not with monsters, lest ye become a monster, and if you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes also into you. - Nietzsche

Some doodles I've been doing

2011-09-07T11:36:00.001-07:00

I know, friends. I am the neglectful one in our relationship. Here are some doodles for your likings.

Creativity Knows No Bounds

2011-07-23T19:33:00.000-07:00

Accomplishments!!! Where I once relied on my dad to cut out board for me to paint on, I am now able to do it myself. I used a power tool! I didn't bleed at any point! However, my dad will probably roooooll his eyes when he sees the photo below because today my husband and I spent a good while MAKING a work bench (out of an old, broken chair and some flimsy board) on which to saw the wood (with my new power tool!). Where perfection can be boring, haphazard clamps and jagged edges are exciting.

Let the painting commence!

RJP

J.C. Herz Talks About Being Stuck

2011-06-25T12:27:00.000-07:00

I'm not talking about that time you put your head through the railing bars and dad had to get out the Crisco.

I'm not talking about when your husband (or boyfriend or dog) left the seat up so when you went to go pee in the middle of the night your toilet became a makeshift bidet (thanks Christine!).

I'm not even talking about every time you're driving home from work and there's construction on the highway.

No.

I'm talking about when you've finally taken that few hours out of your weekend to sit down and Do What You're Meant To Be Doing In Life; you take out your pencil or charge up Word or put the canvas on the easel.

And nothing happens.

And not "nothing" as in your canvas is still white or the page is still empty. I mean you write 2000 words or fill up half your sketchbook and what comes out of it is Nothing. You've gone through 12 pencils in 7 hours and you feel like you've pushed yourself even farther back than before.

And then you see the Wall. The Wall between you and your idea, you and motivation, you and the ability to put what's in your head onto something outside your head. I'm talking about being creatively stuck. Here is an excerpt from the commencement speech that J.C. Herz gave at Ringling College of Art & Design:

Getting stuck is a big part of creative work, and it’s really important to be good at getting unstuck. There are two main reasons why creative people get stuck on a piece of work: The first is, you don’t actually have an idea. You may have requirements, and you may have tools. But you don’t actually have an idea that’s going to carry the day, and you’re going to be stuck until you get a solid idea.

The second reason creative people get stuck is that, while they have the idea, executing the idea takes a lot of work, and not all of that work is fun, and basically you don’t want to do the work, because having the idea in the first place was the fun part. The problem is, you don’t get to say “check mate in four.” You actually have to finish the project. So you get mystically “stuck” after the brilliant sketch is done.

It is very, very important to accurately understand which of these problems you’re having when you get stuck. If you don’t have an idea, you need to play around a little, take a walk, have a good conversation, open the aperture. As they say in drawing class, explore the negative space. If you’re balking at the work, you need to stop playing around, sit down, shut up, go offline, and focus single-mindedly on executing the work, and make it real. In either case, if you try to solve one problem when you’re really having the other, you’re going to waste a lot of time.

If you'd like to read the whole speech you can click here. I hope you feel inspired!

RJP

More Sketching/Photoshop

2011-06-19T08:08:00.001-07:00

Before

After

RJP

What A Little Photoshop Can Do

2011-06-18T10:16:00.000-07:00

Before

After

RJP

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

2011-06-16T17:12:00.000-07:00

Remember when I was losing my mind over the trailer for this book? Then my sister got it in the mail and was all, "Here you go." And I nearly slapped somebody.

I was nervous about reading this book because I do not like things that come out of wells with all the well-seaweed (algae?) on it and Angry Nails digging into dirt, etc etc. I read the prologue (and you can too) and it was great and I heaved a huge sigh of relief because I cannot handle the horror. And that's not what this story is about.

Jacob's Grandfather goes all wacky and dies in a most gruesome way claiming it was The Monsters (that he ran away from in his childhood) but really it was just a pack of ravenous dogs (which worries no one but ME because I know that once they taste the blood, no one is safe. But that doesn't seem to be an issue here).

Jacob then loses his mind after seeing The Monster in the bushes all tri-tongued and snarly so he has to go to therapy (a good way to meet chicks, no? No. But yes! You'll see.) and they all convince him he has lost his attic bats (that is, to say, his mind).

Let's backtrack: while Jacob's grandfather is dying in his arms (the blood people, the blood!) he says a few bat-crazy things and Jacob is all "WHY ARE YOU BEING ALL LIKE THAT RIGHT NOW, GRAMPA?!" and then the therapist, etc.

Jacob decides he needs to go to the tiny island on which his grandfather found refuge (when he was fleeing the Nazis as he was the wrong Jew in the wrong land) and discovers there are all sorts of magical (peculiar) children living there. And that his grandfather did indeed have all his attic bats. So it goes.

Everything turns retrospective and there is a girl (see??!?!) AND THEN ALL GOES AWRY! And I'm just going to say that the pages start to run out far before the story stitches itself back together.

I recommend reading this book. I became emotionally invested in the characters (who are now causing me agony until I get to read the next book) and I felt like I was there with them going through all these things. AND THERE ARE PICTURES. Lots of pictures.

I found myself editing and adding as I was reading ONLY because I felt so close to the book (as in wishing I had thought of the idea first so I would be the one writing the story).

RJP

Unraveling Anne - Laurel Saville

2011-06-11T06:00:00.000-07:00

This review comes with a bit of a story. I picked up Unraveling Anne at BEA by accident. It was near the end of the event and my sister and I were tired and giggly in the worst way and our feet had now been bleeding for five days straight and we had picked up about 80 books or so.

We wandered over into Laurel Saville's line up (which actually wasn't a line up but a collection of several ladies hanging about talking in what was suppose to be the line up) and chit-chatted with her and giggled with her and when we left we both said, "Well wasn't she pleasant!"

Later on we picked up the book to see if it might be good or crap and saw that it was a biography/autobiography written by Saville about her life with her extremely creative and aggressively destructive mother. I am a sucker for bios ESPECIALLY when I've met the author (this being the first time) so I decided I needed to stop reading whatever filler book I had gotten into and start this book on the plane ride home.

How do you describe this sort of book? Saville wrote as if you and here were sitting down for a cup of tea, looking through photos and documents of her family history.

I felt unnerved as I read about this incredibly creative woman who was beautiful, charismatic, driven - a woman whose life ended with her being homeless, alone (except for her one-eyed dog) and murdered. As I flipped through the pages eagerly taking in this woman's life through the eyes of her daughter all I could think was, "Please never let this be me." The worst kind of talent is a wasted talent and that is exactly what happens to Anne. Bad decisions, bad influences, bad situations turn what could have been a superstar life into the bottom of the barrel sludge.

However. The story didn't end as I thought it would (except for the obvious murder) and I'll let you find that out for yourself. It's worth the read because it dives into a world that no one really wants to be a part of but we can't help peeking.

There is one thing and ONE THING ONLY that left me feeling unsatisfied with this book: pictures. However, after speaking with Laurel (who is SO sweet, if you ever want to get to know a wonderful person and author) she sent me to this link where I could see all the photos my little grabby eyes wanted. Although there were no photos in the copy I got (an ARC) there will be photos in the final product which you will be able to buy off Amazon and probably other places.

More than being a cautionary tale of Life, I think Unraveling Anne is a book about choosing your path and, although our life events affect us, we decide which way we are going to go. Meeting Laurel Saville convinced me of that. Meeting her, I would never have guessed the traumatizing childhood she grew up with and the amazing and strong woman she has become(see her cancer blog where she battled an aggressive form of breast cancer). I'm so glad she wrote this book to show us there are really ugly things in life, and there is also beauty where you look for it.

RJP

Highlights of BEA - Lecture Doodles

2011-06-09T06:00:00.000-07:00

At BEA there were lots of Informative Things To Listen To (and I went to many) and of course, being studious and in love with list and list-like things, I took notes. Sometimes. Sometimes the talking wasn't relevant to anything that I thought it would be so I would doodle.

The most informative panel to ME was the From Writer to Reader lecture. On the panel were an author, an editor and a marketing-man. After I read the book they were talking about, I will tell you more.

Now...for some doodles.

RJP

Highlights of BEA - Quirk Books

2011-06-07T09:48:00.001-07:00

Walking through BEA, I found myself pulled in by the astoundingly brilliant covers at the Quirk Books booth. I am a sucker for a good book cover (and have read many terrible books because of this) so when I toddled onto their website I was head over heels for their eclectic collection of titles.

And then I saw this.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. Must. Have. I'm not so much a fan of horror, I do not watch the Saw movies, I only particularly like the Dark Tower series by Stephen King. I can only really read R.L. Stein because it's written for a younger audience. But the trailer for this book really got me. I don't know if it was the creepy old mansions (which I had dreams about last night before I even saw the trailer!) or the old man, but I am hooked. You can go and read the first few chapters here.

I won't tell you anymore, you have to discover it for yourself. I can already tell I wish I wrote this. And I wish I got to do the art for it! Maybe some day. I'll add it to my list of life goals.

RJP

Back From BEA

2011-06-02T10:30:00.000-07:00

This is how I felt about New York in three photos:

It was GREAT. More on that later.

In other news, Underneath The Juniper Tree has released its first issue chock full of writings and drawerings (and some of those might be my drawerings, so I might be a bit bias) that are SUPER. Check it out. Download it. Tell your friends. It's FREE, y'all. We all love free things (ex. books at BEA).

RJP

We're Off To See The Wizard

2011-05-14T06:00:00.000-07:00

I don't mean to alarm anyone but Book Expo of America here we come! My bookerly sister and I are leaving for BEA in less than a week. Hooks are tentered, people, tentered hard.

I also picked up my reading material for the flight yesterday so I'm good to go. Historical fiction, how I love you.

RJP

Sketches of Words

2011-05-13T12:59:00.000-07:00

I've been doing some sketches and things for Underneath The Juniper Tree while they get onto their feet and running. For those who haven't heard, Underneath The Juniper Tree is an online children's literature magazine that was launched after the departure of the wonderful and incredible Crow Toes Quarterly.

If you love to draw or paint or photograph things that fit in the "creepy and spine-tinglingly grim" realm of chilren's art/lit then I suggest you pick up your pencil and send a letter over to junipertreelit@gmail.com because they are looking for some great artists.

Here is a page out of one of my thinking-books of some limericks and sketches I've been doodling for Underneath The Juniper Tree. Unfortunately, I can't show you the final products because they have yet to be shown on the site but you can see the foundation of them here.

Often when I'm writing short bits like this I write it in a notebook or on scrap paper or whatever. If I'm writing long distance (ex. novel or anything longer than 20 lines) then I usually go straight to my computer. But I find that short pieces like these come out much more fluidly when I can see them in my own writing on paper and am able to scratch words out and then put them back in whenever I feel the need. It also means that most of my writing is crossed out, scribbled over and rewritten in on the sides. I think it's a thing of beauty, to be honest. It shows how the brain is working.

RJP

A Humbling Amount of Heads

2011-05-12T06:00:00.000-07:00

Sometimes the light at the end of the tunnel flickers on and then it's gone again. I have been drawing heads for – I've lost count. Creativity is work no matter how fun it is.

I have not given up. I will not give up.

Please tell me which version of the character sketch Ella you like best. You have so many to choose from.

Blackout/All Clear - Connie Willis

2011-05-10T06:00:00.000-07:00

It's no secret that Connie Willis is my everything. Have you READ To Say Nothing of the Dog yet? Because in all honesty there is a big piece of the literature world you're missing out on.

Blackout and All Clear are basically one big book. There are many plots (but then fewer when you find out some of the characters are residing under more than one name). A bunch of historians go back in time to the World War II era all on separate assignments and then OH NOES!!!! They have altered historic events and spend the whole second book trying to fix what they done broke. Hilarity does not ensue but many anxious moments do. THE BLITZ, people, how could this horrific event be of this world?

Connie Willis, I have no idea how you mentally figured out how to write this book. My only complaint (and it is so minor) is that I think Mike "raked his hand through his hair" more times than I could count. Or some such thing like that. But hey. Worse things could happen like BOMBS.

What I love about Connie Willis' characters – especially the females – is that they are smart and cunning and could be sexy if they wanted to but do not depend on it to make you enjoy their story. SOLD.

Now, please write more books about Ned and Verity.

RJP

I Am A Business Card Wizard

2011-05-08T16:00:00.000-07:00

I've been working on business cards lately. Have I ever mentioned how much I love typography? It is an art in and of itself. Being able to bring illustration and typography together as a piece has always been something I've dreamed of doing well.

Firstly: my sister (of the book blogging) asked me to make a business card for her book bloggingness for the BEA (UNDER TWO WEEKS, PEOPLE!!!). I was more than happy to oblige. Also, it was her birthday recently and it is much easier to send a file over the email than something more weighty via the post.

So! She wanted to have the Tootler on her card. I drew this for her...awhile ago? Years? I don't remember. She also had the issue of whether to have her real (full) name or her shortened Blogger Identity. A friend of hers came up with the great idea of having a strike through her real name revealing her Blogging Identity. Voila!

My dad (who has just started his own business. Our family is full of businessy ambitious, y'all) also needed business card and a logo and though he wanted something illustration-based, 100% typography would be the solution. I think this was the one we ended up on:

And then of course my mom is gearing up her business to launch later this year (so shhhh) and I've started on her card but have yet to complete it. However, I did get to incorporate illustration into this one and it was all very exciting. This is a rough:

More exciting projects to come!

RJP

Networking! Eeegad!

2011-04-26T16:35:00.001-07:00

This is exactly how I feel about networking in person. To say I pound my head into the sand faster than an ostrich during an air raid is putting it mildly.

I hate selling my work – mostly because I don't think of my work in terms of money. How does one price one's creation? To be honest, a little voice in my head often says, "You made that. If you can do it, anyone can do it and no one will buy something they can throw together in their backyard." No, for serious, this thought has run a crevasse through my mind. But it's not true. Yes, art is subjective and it's the meaning and the emotion a person feels when looking at a piece that determines its worth. It has nothing to do with the artist (unless the artist is hella famous and DEAD).

I was reading a great article about how to sell yourself beyond The Internet and The Social Networking. It all comes down to people skills. But even with people skills, it's hard to talk up your work so someone will buy it. The idea of "selling" myself leaves a sour taste.

Then I read a related article about shyness and selling your work. What really got me was this paragraph:

Part of the fear and loathing is probably tied to the “selling” aspect. No one likes to be sold-to, and salesmen are about as loved as litigation lawyers. So who wants to be associated with selling? Not me! If I ever think I am selling, my whole brain shuts off, and I lose my composure. But when I’m having a good conversation, explaining what we do, who Camilla is and what we’re building, it’s another ball game. Hence … it’s all about your approach and removing that nasty word - sales - from your mind.

"Ok, so let’s reword it then – you’re not selling anything. You’re telling something – you’re having a conversation about who you are, what you do, and humbly yet assertively (and excitedly) explaining your art and your passion to someone who could potentially have an interest in working with you. So what’s scary about that? If you think about it as having a friendly conversation, you’ll be in a more relaxed frame of mind, and you’ll be yourself and everything you say will come across more naturally."

Yes! I can talk to people about my art! More or less, anyways. Art is about telling a story or describing an emotion (in my opinion). Believe it or not, people get that. To me, art is about relating to people. I'm not good at relating to people just in general. When I get my brushes out and start creating images, people say, "Ahh yes, that." and that's it. We get each other. That is enough. So that's something to talk about and the wordless splendor that radiates from your work will sell itself. People will want to know you because they dig your work.

So let's do this together. Let's get out of the house and meet some people. Let's show our work! Let's get noticed! Let's be friend-buddies and make some fans.

How will you get noticed? Add some tips in the comments box.

RJP

Bird

2011-04-12T12:41:00.001-07:00

Here is a little piece of the painting I'm working on. This bird practically painted himself. It was a joy to be a part of.

RJP

Win!

2011-04-12T06:00:00.000-07:00

For those derby fans out there, our team The Faster Pussycats won the season opener game against the 3-year reigning champions The Bad Reputations last Saturday.

The real reason I'm telling you this is so you can see our amazing intro before the game.

Don't stop believe, everyone. Just don't.

Passage - Connie Willis

2011-04-11T08:35:00.000-07:00

Connie Willis is like Alex Trebec in that she knows everything. She can write just about anything in detail including complicated doctor jargon. We're not worthy, etc. etc.

Passage, unlike To Say Nothing of the Dog and The Doomsday Book, is not about time travel. Feeling somewhat acquainted with Willis' books, I kept expecting Mr. Dunworthy to show up worried and frazzled. The net! The net! But – no time travel.

So. Joanna is a neuro-something-ologist who studies Near Death Experiences (or NDEs). Mr. Mandrake, the antithesis of Joanna's work, claims NDEs to be a spiritual manner: the tunnel leading towards the Holy Light, angels, dead relatives, life reviews. Joanna teams up with the cute (but not too cute) Dr. Wright (Dr. Right) to figure out what NDEs really are (chemicals of the brain, synapses firing off, dreams, nightmares?).

Dr. Wright specializes in creating artificial NDEs and puts Joanna under the needle after a series of unreliable volunteers fall through. Joanna discovers that NDEs aren't what Mr. Mandrake preaches – but they aren't what she thought, either.

I tore through this 800-page book in a couple of days because how could I not? Near death experiences! Plot twists! Someone important dies (it's Connie Willis, how could someone important NOT die).

Would I recommend this book? Yes. Though To Say Nothing of the Dog will always be my favourite Willis book, Passage is like having an abundance of donuts and being incapable of being full.

RJP

Lesson: Fewer or Less?

2011-04-08T14:17:00.001-07:00

Today we are going to learn about the difference between and proper use of the words "less" and "fewer". This is brought on by all the signs in the grocery store stating, "12 items or less". 12 items or fewer, people, fewer!

The difference?

Less refers to something you cannot, in good time, count:

"Less air"
"Less attitude"
"Less pain in my head due to grocery store checkout signs"

Fewer, on the other hand, should be used when you can count those items:

"Fewer dogs"
"Fewer times I have to explain the difference between 'fewer' and 'less'"
"Fewer headaches due to fewer grocery checkout signs reading '12 items or less'"

Of course there are exceptions (such as when constituting a more limited number or amount: less than three. Or when it is a unit of measurement or time: less than 200 pounds, less than 30 days; and please don't ever put "less then" unless you're saying, "so you want to weigh 10 pounds less, then?" and I'm not even sure if THAT is correct) because the English language is the love child of all the languages so don't go all "'i' before 'e' except after 'c'" on me because yes, I know: science, species, sufficient, ad. infin. But try going into a grocery store NOW and not reading those signs with the taste of disgust in your mouth.

RJP

The Cutting Table

2011-04-05T15:27:00.001-07:00

I don't know what else to call it. Anyways, it was an emotional purchase (as I was emotional and HAD to buy it) and it was so bland so today I worked on perking it up a bit. Also making it match the kitchen. We like things that go together.

When we bought it, it was all pine (or some such light wood) and if there is something I hate more than the colour beige it's light-coloured wood.

What a hideous thing. I then oiled the top of the thing (as per the instructions) and painted the legs a dark green to match the cabinets. I quickly realized it would have been much easier (and cleaner-looking) if I had done this before the table was assembled. Life lessons, people!

Better already! But still hideous. Then I painted the slatted-things cream to match the opposite room and voila! Personality! Maybe not a stunning personality, but one nonetheless.

Acid green kitchen not included.

Tips!

1) Paint before assembling
2) Make sure all dogs are sleeping so they do not lick the wet paint while you're in the other room
3) Do not paint the furniture to the newspaper underneath it
4) Have many other things to do between wait times
5) Do not tell your husband you are going to do this until he gets home from work and it's already too late and he is pleasantly surprised (or horribly outraged)

RJP

The White Darkness - Geraldine McCoughrean

2011-04-04T13:55:00.000-07:00

Yes. Let me say it again: Yes. This is how books for kids and teens should be written: challenging, smart, enthralling. Thank you Geraldine McCoughrean for doing what I've been asking children/young adult writers to do for years: challenge your audience.

Some forewarnings: make sure you have a cup of scalding hot tea near by while reading this book. Also, do not read this book while your dog is sitting in the kitchen staring up at the dark corner of the room as if something is going to jump out at it.

So. Symone (or Sym) is going on an arctic expedition with her Uncle (who isn't her uncle [not unlike Uncle Oscar to Buster in Arrested Development but also not like that {this is not a spoiler}]). Uncle Victor is in search of Symme's Hole that opens to the Realms of the Underworlds and why wouldn't she believe him? He has an IQ of 184. Also, she loves him and loves the Arctic and wants to be a Maker of History. But, as all history goes, people must die and lies must be told. Survival is of the mind and she is only a 14 year old girl who only has eyes for Titus, a man who has died 90 years ago on an Arctic Expedition and now lives in her head. So Many Things go wrong and if I were one to bite my nails, they would be chewed to the bone.

This story is full of Smart Words; words that you savour in your mouth and then go to look up so you can sound intelligent later using them. And it seemed that McCoughrean always knew just the right word or phrasing to use. I ate up all her sentences, pouring over them again and again. The story radiated from the pages. I loved the dialogue between Sym and Titus. What a perfect pair, the awkward and unwanted teenager with the long-dead, dashing English traveler:

"So that's when I sealed myself inside. Laced up the tent, so to speak. Filled the locks with water so that they would freeze. That's when Titus and I looked at one another and decided we could do without them, so long as we had each other. 'You and me now, Sym.'
'You and me now, Titus.'
'Warm, isn't it.'"

Then she uses delightfully perfect words like "scandalize":

"...and hoovered the house (in case we all drowned in mid-Channel, I suppose, and neighbours had to break in and were scandalized by the state of our carpets)."

And her character development is equal to none. She eases details at you throughout the story so you know her characters as well as she does. She doesn't fling their traits at you like cow patties:

"The article was called Foto-Fit!!! Exclamation marks infest all Nikki's magazines. Like head lice. Given the amount of time she spends with her head in a magazine, you'd think Nikki might have caught some, but oddly, whenever she speaks, there's no sign of an exclamation mark anywhere."

Her imagery was like poetry of the best kind: unassuming, simple, exquisite:

"I let it soak into me like water into salt, until I was invisible, absorbed."

The entire book was written thoughtfully and you could tell. It made the story devourable. I can imagine McCoughrean went through this story over and over again, choosing each word like fruit, not too greeen, not too old, just ripe enough; no bruises or dirt, no worms to be seen.

Bravo.

Would I recommend this book? Yes! With the warnings above heeded.

RJP

To Breast or Not To Breast

2011-04-01T08:31:00.000-07:00

As Wesley once put it, "There is a shortage of perfect breasts in this world; 'twould be a pity to damage yours."

Rebecca commented in a previous post what her 9 year old boy would think after looking at this painting:

To be honest, I have no idea. I've gotten these reactions:

Husband: "EGAD!"
Sister: "EGAD!"
4 year old girl: "She's preeeeeeetty."

The funny thing about boobs (how many times have I started a sentence like that) is that they are a huge part of the art world but they are also taboo (breast feeding in public, anyone want to get heated on that debate?) and can be used very effectively to prove a point (HA! Pun.)

It all depends on how the subject matter is portrayed. Breasts can be beautiful.

Lucas Cranach

They can also be symbolic.

Da Vinci

Reflective.

Jenny Saville

Vengeful.

Ronald Manullang

Historic.

Reubens

Dreamlike.

Mark Ryden

I think the reason breasts are such a useful image in art is because they are the Nourisher Of Life and also Objects Of Desire And Lust. So what are they? Beautiful pieces of art that give life and meaning to our relationships as human beings? Or are they The Unmentionables that we keep hidden in hotels at 4am on Friday nights?

RJP

New House. New Dog.

2011-03-31T12:45:00.000-07:00

My husband and I have been busy painting and moving into our new home (and also adopting a puppy which you can read about here). When I told my husband I was going to make him a rustic living room that was yellow and had a wall of trees he was - in a word - uncertain. Given, the tree wall was something I had to fail at in order to accomplish. However! I think it turned out great and it's like every day is sunny in our living room. In a manly way.

Do you see something you recognize?

Yes! This painting is complete! And it has antlers! More on that later.

Then I told my husband our kitchen was going to be green. Fern green. That was my only plan and the rest I was going to figure out on the way. For inquiring minds, my Kitchen Aid is Tangerine Orange.

I love my cuckoo clock even if it is only plastic.

To quote Lady Shrapnel from Connie Willis' To Say Nothing Of The Dog, "God is in the details". Touche, Connie, touche.

RJP

Down Times

2011-03-27T06:00:00.000-07:00

I was thinking the other day about what a roller coaster it is to be A) creative and ii) self employed. There are weeks (or months!) when I have a thousand things I'm working on and I just can't get enough of my work. And then all of a sudden the projects are finished and there is often a little space where there isn't a lot coming in.

I like to call this Absorption Time. This is when the floodgates open and instead of having a river of ideas come streaming out, I let the illimitable inspiration come to me.

This morning my sister sent me the video below. I've always been interested in the old, gory fairytales (Grimm's Grimmest comes to mind). They are so fantastic and peculiar. They are their own world.

What I really love about this video is the way it was animated. And that it's kind of shaky so you feel like you're the one running after the hedgehog. His voice is a little eerie (not unlike Salad Fingers) and then all of a sudden he's in the water. So I get lost at parts but that doesn't really matter. It's worth the watch.

I had an interesting thought yesterday as well: when I was a kid we use to have a picture book (my mom still has it) about the stories in the Bible but for kids. What I remember vividly about that book is that there was a big ink stain on the front. A big dark blue blotch. As a kid, this became part of the book to me, as much as the words and illustrations were. It didn't matter that it wasn't suppose to be there or that it had nothing to do with the book but I found myself as a child looking at that irregular shape on the front of the book and imagining it into different things it could look like. The creativity of a child should never be underestimated.

RJP

Roller Derby – Hard Hits & Design

2011-03-26T06:00:00.000-07:00

Roller derby has changed a lot in the last 50 years. There's no more elbowing, clothes-lining, chasing a girl off the track to punch her out. No, roller derby is more like...what do they call it now? A sport. It's a strategic game with bright, sparkly uniforms and excitement.

I've been working on a piece for the TCRG (Terminal City Roller Girls) here in Vancouver. They are recruiting new talent for the next season.

Below is the progress from my initial sketch (yes, I did it first try!) to finalization. I wanted to show you just a few steps in how something like this comes to life. Luckily, I was left pretty open with what I wanted the illustration to look like. However, type is a complicated mistress and so it took many revisions to get to the final product. Doesn't it make you want throw on some skates and hit someone?

RJP

International Women's Day

2011-03-25T06:00:00.001-07:00

March 8th, 2011 marked the 100th anniversary of International Womens Day. This post is dedicated to my *Grandmother whose 87th birthday is today.

What makes a great woman? Eleanor Roosevelt said in her autobiography that she felt it wasn't the big events that made her life interesting, but the small things that happened that made it meaningful.

I have a Grandmother named Martha Plett. She is my father's mother. When I look in the mirror, I see my father's face and when I look at my father's face I see my Grandmother. So it goes.

There is a photo of me when I was 2 and my mom always says I look like a stout, little German woman. My Grandmother is a stout, little German woman.

My Grandmother always says to me, "Do you remember? You were my little pet and you would put on a dress and boots and no one could tell you what to wear." I don't remember.
"Do you remember? When Grampa and I use to come visit you? You called the hotel "Grandma and Grampa's hotel." I don't remember.
Now I sit by her bed and I say, "Grandma, do you remember when I was here on Thursday and you asked about how my art was going?" She does not remember.
"Grandma, do you remember how I told you my husband and I bought a house and all the rooms are colourful and joyful because that is how you raised us to be?" She does not remember.

My Grandmother use to play the piano; her tiny nimble fingers pecking away at the keys making a beautiful scale of notes. I brought home antique sheet music of Für Elise from Austria that I carried in my backpack between two books for three months for her because we both love Beethoven.

Every time I see my Grandmother she says the same thing to me:
"How is your art coming along?" If my art is a leafling then my Grandmother is the roots.

So how do we know what makes a woman great? When she is gone and all those things she was, things she said and did become little holes in our day.

Thank you, Grandma, for making a creative family; for being kind and generous; for teaching us that it is the people we love, not the things they have; for being open to just about everything because life is an experience; and for showing us that it is better to laugh at ourselves than to laugh at others.

Love your Granddaughter,

Rebekah

*As of around 6pm today my Grandmother passed away. She has left many small, wonderful holes in my life.

What I Do In My Spare Time

2011-03-24T09:40:00.000-07:00

I like to do many different things all the time (kind of like multitasking if multitasking was a disorder). Yesterday I said to my husband:

RJP: I want to make a wall of clocks in the living room.
Husband: No.
RJP: Then I want to make a chandelier for outside where the hanging basket goes.
Husband: No.
RJP: How about I make a plant chandelier for outside?
Husband: Only if it will have plants in it.
RJP: Fine.
Husband: Fine.

My husband is slowly beginning to understand my disorder. Another one of the things I do when I'm not drawing or painting or writing or potentially walking the dog!!!!! is play roller derby.

Photo by Bob Ayers

If you are in the Metro Vancouver area this Spring and Summer, you should come watch us play AND DESTROY! You will not be disappointed (but over excitement and lots of shouting is common).

RJP

Painting Progress

2011-03-18T06:00:00.000-07:00

I feel like I've arrived at a new stage in the way I paint. I use to hurry through paintings: rush, rush, rush. But lately I've slowed down, gotten lost in the details, really thought about my work and taken my time. I've given the paint time to dry before I continue on and so forth. I'm certain it's all for the greater good.

I've also noticed that my painting mood coincides with the type of music I feel like listening to. This is also for writing (but writing while listening to music is much more difficult since songs with words makes it hard for me to write my own words). Sometimes when I'm painting I think, "This painting is making me feel in this mood and so I will listen to this." It's fascinating.

RJP

Walk Two Moons - Sharon Creech

2011-03-17T09:52:00.001-07:00

Sharon! Between Walk Two Moons and Meg Rosoff's How I Live Now I'm going to need to find a quiet happy place to stay for awhile. And there better be puppies there.

I don't know how to review this without giving everything away so I'll do my best. Salamanca (a weird name I can pronounce!) has moved to a new town with her father after her mother left. That's all I can really tell you!

Creech is amazing at giving you little tidbits and then saying, "But you must wait until later to find out" and then distracts you with OTHER tidbits so you are constantly shouting in your mind, "...and then??? AND THEN???" which is why I finished this book in two days.

There are many Sad Parts so don't say I didn't warn you. But you will have a good cry, not a bad cry. And somehow Creech is able to make Unfortunate Things Happen with an uplifting feel. She could probably have a dog get hit by a car and some how make you feel that it was for a greater purpose and you wouldn't be so upset about it. Sad, yes, but not upset.

My only beef is that I read The Unfinished Angel first and it has ruined me for ALL the books. That being said, The Unfinished Angel is Creech's most recent book so I have to say she is getting better and BETTTTTTTTER with each book and for that reason I eagerly await anything else she writes.

Would I recommend this book? YES. I would also suggest reading all of Creech's books (and any other young adult or middle grade fiction you don't want ruined) BEFORE you read The Unfinished Angel and definitely do read The Unfinished Angel.

RJP

First Lines

2011-03-16T09:44:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been out and a person you don't know comes up to you and says something like, "I've lost my underpants!" or "Where's the refried beans!" or "Popsicles are for summertime!" and the first thing you want to do is be as far away from that person as possible? This is the same with books. When I go trolling for a book to read I first look at its cover (I know, pointless, but I do). I then flip open the book and read the first line from it. If it sounds like something that would be said at my Grampa's 90th birthday then I immediately put the book back. HOWEVER – a good first line will wrap my attention-strings around its fingers and will pull ever so slightly.

Here are some good first lines from some books I've read:

"One morning, as Gregor Samsa was waking up from anxious dreams, he discovered that in his bed he had been changed into a monstrous verminous bug." Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka

First off, I love the name Gregor. I can pronounce it! And also it's terribly classic. And then we find out he's been having anxious dreams. Who doesn't wake up from anxious dreams and, for a moment, question their existence? And then we learn he has been "changed into a monstrous verminous bug." Not even a nice bug. Now I need to know what happens with this bug-man. What kind of anxious dreams do bug-men have? How is he going to put on his pants?

Another:

"The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed."
The Gunslinger by Stephen King

Being reared on classics such as The Princess Bride, The Man in Black will never not intrigue me. Go on...GO ON....and he is in a desert which is an ominous place to be followed through. And then gunslinger (you had me at "gun") followed; but why? Will he catch up? What happens when he does? Are they friends? How do they know each other?

A classic:

"Alice was beginning to get very tired of sitting by her sister on the bank, and of having nothing to do: once or twice she had peeped into the book her sister was reading, but it had no pictures or conversations in it, 'and what is the use of a book,' thought Alice 'without pictures or conversation?'"
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

Alice, charming! Who hasn't, as a child, sat there while being read to and gazed at the book that was Written For Adults only to be bored and wishing they were ANYwhere else doing ANYthing else? To this day I still look at some books and ask myself, "and what is the use of a book without pictures of conversation?" Touché, Carroll, you win this one.

What makes a good first line of a book? Since the likability of a book is very subjective, here are some things that I look for when reading (and writing) the first line in a story:

1) Give me Character. No matter where in the story time line I'm dropped, I want to be enthralled with a character; I want to love them, or hate them, or to be attacked by giggles. They don't necessarily have to be the main character, but they should be a character I want to know about. If you are going to give me a character in that first line A) make it so I learn something about them that is interesting and 2) make sure it draws me into the story.

2) Tell me something I don't know. I wasn't sure how else to word that. Tell me something interesting. Don't write, "It was the first of October and the apples fell from the trees, as apples do; Mary looked at the apple and thought, 'that's strange about apples and their falling.'" I know all these things and Mary sounds like she has too much time on her hands and not a lot of brains. Perhaps the apple falls in Mary's lap and Mary takes a bite only to find out that apple seeds have arsenic in them so she keels over and dies (let's be honest, Mary didn't have a lot going for her anyways).

3) Visuals are key. If I can't see in my mind what you're writing in that first line, I'm going to be looking at words on a page rather than conjuring up a film strip in my head. This doesn't mean the text has to be stuffed with imagery; it means give me enough ideas so I can start creating what your world looks like to me. You've created the world and that's fine but if the reader can't imagine it then who cares?

4) Do not start from the beginning. And this isn't always important but I've found that books I prefer usually start me somewhere in the middle and then when I've been good they give me a delicious piece of character history to paddle the story through the rapids. I tend to veer towards stories that start when Something Happens and then fills in the gaps later. It's easier to sit through long dialogue and explanation after I've gotten to know the characters than at the very beginning.

5) First lines aren't everything. Yes, you want to draw the reader in as soon as you can but if the story flops, the reader will remember diddly about what you wrote at the beginning. I recently read a book that started off strong and I wanted to Know What Happened Next. However, the writing became tired and things were figured out too easily and by that point I wanted to put the book down and go read the latest celebrity gossip in The Inquirer.

What are some of your favourite first lines and when you're writing, how do you start your first line in a book? Let me know in the comments section, y'all.

RJP

Creativity

2011-03-15T06:00:00.000-07:00

Merriam-Webster.com
1: the quality of being creative

2: the ability to create
3: the ability to make new things or think of new ideas –▪her intelligence and artistic creativity

Wikipedia
Creativity refers to the phenomenon whereby a person creates something new (a product, a solution, a work of art etc.) that has some kind of value.

Answers.com
Ability to produce something new through imaginative skill, whether a new solution to a problem, a new method or device, or a new artistic object or form. The term generally refers to a richness of ideas and originality of thinking.

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I don't think creativity can be defined and I don't think it should be. Think about how you might describe creativity to an alien. Is it an action? A thought? I think the best I could do would be to describe creativity as the moment when a person's mental needs overwhelm their physical inhibitions, fear and worry and for that moment their soul and being become one, which enables them to express emotions, ideas and connections that would otherwise be impossible to communicate.

I began thinking of the word "creativity" after watching this video of a musical savant named Derek. He can play anything he hears; he can emulate any style of musician and has perfect pitch. And he's blind. Where most of us try (and try and try and try) to express our deeper level of emotion through creativity, he discovered emotions and communication by learning to play music. He learned music before (and faster) than he learned spoken language. Music is like breathing to him and it's incredible. He doesn't just regurgitate music he's heard, either. He improvises. He puts his own notes together and they sound amazing. I love that no one can say exactly why he is this way and I never want anyone to know.

I don't think creativity should ever be answered. It should always be something we strive for to connect with others. It will always be that thing we can't quite put our finger on, the thing that is why we love this or understand that. I think creativity should be encouraged and fed. I don't believe there are people out there who AREN'T creative. They just don't understand their own creativity (or are afraid of it).

So go discover your creativity even if it means making mud pies on a rainy day.

RJP

Winning My Wings: A Woman Airforce Service Pilot In World War II - Marion Stegemen Hodgson

2011-03-14T13:52:00.000-07:00

This was the second book on the WASP that I purchased for my personal collection. I would probably own them all if I had enough money and one or twelve of these.

Marian Stegemen Hodgson entered into the WASP training program in 1943. Winning My Wings is made up mostly of letters between her, her mother, her Grandmother and her future husband Ned during WWII. Between the letters she gives a little more information into what is happening at that time; what events are taking place in the war and what is occurring on the home front in the USA.

What I appreciate most about this book is that it is written by a WASP, about the WASP and gives a lot of insight into How Things Were when the war was happening. You can almost taste her excitement and sorrow as comrades pass flight tests and then die weeks later. Or as she is separated from her two best aviation friends and is left to fend for herself. She expresses the thrills of fighting for her country as a pilot (in the only way they let her) and the loneliness of being antagonized as men wanted back jobs that the WASP had taken on when the men thought the jobs were beneath them. She unabashedly speaks of the men she was constantly falling in love with and the heartache she endured every time she saw a young face of a boy heading off overseas to be shot at. Those parts ripped my heart out.

The only less-than-positive thing I have to say about this book is that her letters to Ned (and his to her) can be a little much. But they were young and in love and far away from each other and not knowing if they could marry or if they should wait until the war would be over (whenever that is) and that went on for awhile. However, they are both romantic and wonderful and I wish they were my friends.

This is a very informative and interesting book. It reads like a story because it is one. It's an important part of history to learn as we aren't taught about the WASP in our textbooks at school (at least not when I was going to school). In fact, before the WASP were recognized as war veterans in the 70s, they were forgotten in the dust heap that were Things Of The War's Past.

Would I recommend it? Absolutely. And if you're looking for any other books on the WASP, just visit this site.

RJP

Easy Saturday Readings

2011-03-12T17:18:00.001-08:00

For those of you interested in writing well, I suggest taking a gander as this article (link below) written by Pat Holt of Holt Uncensored. I feel like 10 holes were punched into my gray matter and fitted with 10 doors gaping open in the wind. A good and thorough read.

Here is the article.

RJP

The Dark Secret of Weatherend - John Bellairs

2011-03-10T16:33:00.000-08:00

*Warning, I kind of tell you the mood of the ending so if you don't care, read on past the 2nd paragraph. If you do then...go do something else.

John Bellairs has written A LOT of books. He could probably write books in his sleep (or perhaps he does). The reason I picked up one of his books in the first place was because Apple Of My Eye Edward Gorey did the cover illustration. You sneaky covers and your mysterious ways.

Anthony is a teenage boy who works at a library with his best friend Miss Ells (who is just about 70 so making this pairing weird and uncomfortable to me). They go up to Weatherend which is a big mansion where some cranky-pants lunatic lived until he died. They find 4 statues that are Important Things (and then quickly become unimportant and you say, "Why the emphasis on these Unimportant Important things?") and they get chased away and Impending Doom. Cranky-pants' son CP Junior is going to wipe the Earth clean with really bad weather. Hello? Didn't God already do this once? Anthony and Miss Ells must stop The Insanity.

Okay, so the writing I found to be very good at the beginning but then it sort of...I don't know, did he get tired of the story, too? Because and *SPOILER* the last chapter is full of, "I guess you're wondering why THIS happened? Well conveniently, all these things came together! And everything worked out! And no one really had to try!" and really? REALLY? Talk about slapping mudpies together instead of giving us an ending.

So the story started out fine and then unraveled as it went and I was – well, disappointed wouldn't be the right word because half way through the book I stopped caring about what would happen.

Would I recommend this book? Maybe to someone who is 10. I would recommend looking at the artwork though. 10/10 to Edward Gorey.

RJP

Progress

2011-03-08T06:00:00.000-08:00

Check it out – this painting is coming together. How swell! I'm particularly fond of the ghost rabbit in the bottom corner. Where did he come from?

RJP

Black Swan Green - David Mitchell

2011-03-07T15:48:00.000-08:00

I've never wanted to be a boy (I've never wanted to not be a boy, either) and after reading Black Swan Green I A) didn't want to be a boy at all and 2) was thoroughly amused by boyhood.

Jason is a boy who is 13 (the most hellish of the teenage years, certainly) and the story revolves around just over a year of his life where he entangles with bullies, divorce, the Spooks, girls, a kite, adulthood-at-its-worst amongst a smorgasbord of other things.

What I love about the way David Mitchell wrote this book is that it is partially in dialect and that is usually AWFUL (I think it was Angela's Ashes that was also written this way? And so hard to read? Yes?) but he has put it in such a way that after you've read it you feel like you can say things like "soz" and "grasser" and it will make sense.

I can't help but feel sorry for Jason who is a st-st-stutterer. However, Mitchell has given Jason "personalities" that deal with his stuttering, his ineptitude and his "bad" side. The Hangman sneers as he closes over Jason's throat on s-s-S words. The Maggot shudders inside as Jason has to read a passage from a book out loud in front of the whole class. The Unborn Twin says, "Do it until it cannot be undone."

A whole lot of Normal Things happen and you follow pleasantly along because they are so average yet so interesting. And you root Jason on, hoping he'll come out fine in the end. But don't all boys come out fine in the end?

Thank you David Mitchell for addressing the complete suckage of teenage years. I think you got it spot on.

Would I recommend this? Yes. Twice. Because after the first time you will forget everything about it except that you loved it. Also, there is a character in BSG that is also in Mitchell's previous book Cloud Atlas and some of her conversation with Jason only makes sense if you've read that as well.

RJP

A Sad, Sad Day

2011-03-05T06:00:00.000-08:00

As some of you may already know, one of my favourite magazines is going out of print, off the presses and away "to the farm".

Crow Toes Quarterly Magazine was a lovely children's literature magazine that not only showcased new talent, but spoke to an audience I hold near and dear to my heart.

8th Issue - Cover

Crow Toes Quarterly focused on dark, whimsical fairy tales where anything was possible.

13th Issue - Cover

They valued consummate writing as well as an array of fantastic artwork. I was fortunate enough to Grace the cover several times as well as illustrating several pieces and winning the portrait contest.

10th Issue - Inside Illustration - When Pigs Fly

Crow Toes Quarterly was the first printed thing to ever publish my work and for that I am eternally grateful. I always squealed with delight when I saw one of Christopher's emails pop up in my inbox.

7th Issue - first published work in CTQ

Coming up in April Crow Toes Quarterly was going to put on a writing contest with the theme "Robots need love too". Below I've put an excerpt from the piece that I was going to enter. I have yet to do the illustrations. Perhaps this piece will live on somewhere else. For now, it is my long wave goodbye to a wonderful magazine that brought a wealth of literature and art to the world

----------

"Before Man took the land and the seas, Robots ruled the Earth. They lived in trees large enough to hold a fleet of ships. They spoke with animals, they sailed through the Bermuda Triangle and dove deep into Mariana's Trench. Some Robots climbed snowy mountains while others basked in the desert. Because they lived in peace; there was no need for questions. They did not ask why birds fly or why dunes change Their shiny, metallic bodies were a stark contrast to the luscious deep colors of the Earth but they didn’t see it this way. To the Robots, they were just another lumbering species in the menagerie that was Earth.

One great little Robot had the unrobotly quality of curiosity. He did ask the birds why they flew and the dunes why they moved. He hunted for shiny things, round things and tall things. He hunted for new things, mysterious things to satisfy his wonder. The other Robots didn't understand his curiosity. Eventually, when the Earth became too small for the Robot population, they left. The curious Robot stayed behind. He stood at the edge of the Great Cliffs and watched as they sailed off into the sky. He felt an unfamiliar twinge deep inside his inner workings but ignored it and busied himself with other things."

Excerpt from The Giant at the Edge of the Cliffs by Rebekah Joy Plett

RJP

20% off Prints

2011-03-04T13:19:00.001-08:00

Hey all! Come buy some prints and save 20% on your order by using coupon code SMOOTH20. Sale ends Sunday so come on by and buy!

RJP

New Work

2011-03-04T06:00:00.000-08:00

Something I've learned about painting with oils is that when you start a painting you should probably have another one as a back-up so you can keep working once the first one is covered and there's nothing else you can do to it until it dries. Just FYI, people.

Here is another piece I started this week.

RJP

Fear

2011-03-03T06:00:00.000-08:00

Yesterday two amazing writers (and friends of mine) did a dual (duel!) blog post on The Fear of Writing Part 1.

The three points made were that we writers (and I'd like to encompass all creatives in general) have the fear of:

1. Time – not enough of it.
2. Acceptance – none of it.
3. The Unknown – too much of it.

I'd like to take these points and extrapolate them further.

Time

Looking at my own life I have LOADS of time. I'm in the fortunate situation where I spend most of my time working on what I love doing. That being said, the time I could be spending at the bar ogling young men or watching a sitcom or drinking until I forget my own name or even napping (and those of you in the know KNOW I love napping) is spent working. Just because it's fun work doesn't mean it's not work. Where I'm going with this is that time is like spare change you find under the couch cushions: it's there, you just have to dig for it.

Acceptance

None of us will be good at this. I think even if a person had a dozen books or a hundred paintings that were popular we'd still start our next work on tenterhooks mumbling to ourselves, "Is it good? Is it okay? Did I do enough? What am I doing? Why didn't I keep my job at Bennigans? THEY'RE GOING TO BURN ME AT THE STAKE" because medieval mobbing is totally in these days. My answer to this is something I've said before at least once if not twice; when doing something important to you (emphasis on the YOU) ask yourself:

1. What am I trying to achieve?
2. Did I succeed? (and here you need to define to yourself what "success" is)
3. Was it worth doing?

Remember that you're doing this because you like it and it's important to you (there is no underline option in blogger). The day I cease to like hitting and being hit by other girls is the day I quit roller derby. So it goes.

The Unknown

Ah heck. The Unknown is everywhere. That's what makes life exciting! It's also what makes writing exciting. Use The Unknown to your advantage and squeal the socks off your readers. I love a book that leaves me shouting "And then...??! AND THEN?!?!"

If you're thinking, "What about the unknown of how my book will do when I get it published?" If you've created something that is reaching out to an audience and it's good then it'll be fine. The thing about being creative is that it's subjective. I might think I'm a good painter, good enough to put something in cafe and sell it for a few bucks. Someone else will come across it and say, "What! Who put this crap on the wall? I'M SUING!" because you never know. It's not until you push yourself out into the spotlight and wait to either get a nice handshake or a punch in the face that you'll know if whatever you've done is good. And even if it IS popular, it still might not be good (I mean seriously, HOW many books are published a year? And let's face it, some of them are crap).

So if you're afraid of The Unknown then make it your job to go out and discover what The Unknown is hiding and maybe it's just a little monster in the corner sipping tea and you were freaking out over THAT? Come on, now.

I'd like to add one more Fear to the list. The fear of

Success

Once you get your Creative Thing out in the open and people flock to it THEN WHAT? Oh crap, how am I ever going to live up to this? That was my one good idea! Beginners luck! Yes, well there is that. But don't stop creating. Don't let the success of one project stump your creative output. Allow inspiration to flow into you and you'll change course and do something else. Don't expect it to be the same as before and don't think of it as "better or worse" than what you did because it will be different and incomparable. My mom always says, "People are allowed to change" and so are your creations. Think of every success as a stepping stone to the next thing. Even if people start to think you're crappy, WHO CARES? If you were doing it for them in the first place you probably would have given up a long time ago.

Thanks for stopping by and please check out the discussion of the Fear of Writing by DM Cunningham and fellow writer Kelsey Ketch.

RJP

New Work

2011-03-02T14:24:00.000-08:00

I've mostly almost completed the other painting but I won't show it to you until it's 100% done. I think you will be pleased.

I started a new painting today that I've been agonizing over for months because I've wanted to paint it so bad but haven't had time UNTIL NOW.

You all probably remember the study I did a little while back.

Well I've started the actual painting and I am chuffed to bits. As far as paintings go, you all know that I feel the first day is awkward and ugly, not unlike an alien of colour splashes. You remember how the last painting started and (nearly) ended, yes?

Horrifying. Well, today isn't much different but instead this time I have a plan and it is so good to have one.

It's going to be glorious. Thanks for stopping by to check out the progress, y'all.

RJP

Book Review

2011-03-01T06:00:00.000-08:00

How I Live Now - Meg Rosoff

Yes, these book reviews are out of order.

This book was great. What it had going against it was that every time I spoke with my sister she would say Did you read that book yet? And I would respond No, my library doesn't have books. Eventually she just bought me the book. Oh yes, and every time, she would say how AMAZING it is and so I expected great things from this book. I also already read What I Was and Just In Case so I really WAS expecting great things regardless of the ogling from my sister.

Daisy is shipped off to Some Nowhere Place in the UK with her cousins and proceeds to have Relations with her cousin which threw me off at first. And then my husband and I went out for dinner and I some how got into a conversation with the waitress on what I was reading and that there were cousins doing The Deed in it and how it was during a war and she said That's okay, they did stuff like that back then. And I hadn't the heart to tell her it was set during Now, not Then. This is why I don't go out very often.

So Daisy is staying with her cousins and they are odd sort of country folk (the kind I wish I was related to, except without the cousin-loving) and they swam in the lake and picked berries and so on. And then The War started and everything got all messed up and there are lots of deaths (but not always who you think will die) and many Difficult Things happen but it's all a good read and beautifully written.

All that being said, I preferred What I Was but I think only because it was set near the ocean and I am sort of biased that way.

Would I recommend this book? Oh yes, I would. And then all her other books. Actually, read Just In Case first and then decide amongst yourself which to read next. They aren't very long and you'll be sad when they're over.

RJP

Book Review

2011-02-28T06:00:00.000-08:00

To Say Nothing Of The Dog - Connie Willis

During my time with this book all I could think about while I wasn't nosed in between the pages was how much I wanted to be in 1888 with Verity and Ned watching them romp about (in the most demure way) trying to save the Space-Time-Continuum.

Let me say that I read Willis' The Doomsday Book before I read this. For all of you who've never read her work, she kills EVERYONE. That is no spoiler. Each time I pick up a book of hers I just assume everyone is going to die. Willis spares no one's life. I kind of love that about her.

Verity stole a cat through the (time travel) net (which is suppose to be impossible but it happened anyways) and then Things Start Going Wrong and she might have begun the collapse of the universe as we know it. Ned, shows up drunk off Too Many Drops ("too many notes!") and isn't much unlike a drunken Marsh Wiggle that is both hilarious and useless. Hilarity ensues, there are many jumble sales, screamlets and then a stint in WWII.

Worth the read? OH HECK YES. Especially since I read this after I finished How I Live Now (Meg Rosoff) and still loved it. It's sci-fi in the most delightfully regular way. Also, I could pronounce all the names which was a big win in my books.

RJP

2011 No-Holds-Barred 365 Day Creative Challenge - Snow Edition

2011-02-27T10:35:00.000-08:00

If it never snowed again I wouldn't be upset.

However, since it is snowing (and quite heavily at that) I decided to make the best of those fat, fluffy ice-things falling from the sky.

The day started off with my husband and me in our robes debating who would go out to shovel the walkway. For some reason (and possibly for the only time in our lives) we both wanted to shovel the walkway. It came down to who could get dressed first. But then my husband couldn't find his boots that we packed yesterday so I figured it was only fair to wait and then to let him shovel the snow. I am a good wife.

So I spent my time rolling, rolling, rolling the snow around the yard (in a strategic pattern, mind you, so the snowball collects as much snow in the most balanced way possible) and in turn kind of stole all the fun from the kids upstairs. When I had the snow piled high and my back was screaming I stopped. And looked. And then I started creating.

Oh my what a glorious hour that was, carving away, shaping, fondling, shaping, rounding out the rugged bits. I felt no less than Michelangelo, certainly (given, snow is more forgiving than say, marble, but a girl has to start SOME where, amiright?).

When my husband came back around the house he let out a big, "HRACK!" and I said, "What." and he said, "Nothing."

So that is my creative thing for today. What did you do for your creative kick? Cereal art? Shave the dog? Hang books from the ceiling and reenacted Birds?

RJP

If At First You Don't Succeed

2011-02-24T11:59:00.001-08:00

Try and try and try and try and try and then maybe go work on something else.

I'd like to bring up the topic of blog comments. I just wanted to let you all know that I read all of your comments. I don't just read them, though, I think about them and respond to them in my head and then go about my business.

Well, as a blogger and – unavoidably – a blog reader, I feel it's important to have a comment, or more importantly a question addressed. So! Once a week (let's say Thursdays) I will answer any questions that came up in either the comments or in emails that are relevant to this blog the previous week. Sounds good, yes?

Now let's go back. Since this is the first time I'm doing this I'll go further back than a week. Also! If I missed your question and you are like, "What a jerk! I'm never reading her blog again." don't be distressed, just ask me again and I will answer it. I am somewhat like a magpie when it comes to numerous things that aren't My Work. OKAY!

Jenn: Yours wasn't really a question but yes, I will be posting a new video soon of one of my Catrina Girl paintings. It ended up being the one that took me the longest to paint. So it goes. Should be a fairly in depth high speed adventure.

mshatch: Yours wasn't a question either but you made an interesting point on my last blog post about how painting is a lot more like writing than you thought. Yes. You start off with something rough and ugly and you slowly shape it into something and sometimes you have to completely fail at it and tear it apart before it becomes the gem you wanted it to be.

Brian: What I disliked about the second image from the top is that it wasn't right. Sure, it was nice and everything but it wasn't what I wanted. It'd be like wanting a brownie and getting a cookie. Both are good but I wanted a brownie and now I'm going to have to throw this cookie away because there's no point in getting fatter unless I'm enjoying the experience. That analogy strayed a bit but do you see where I'm going with this? I loved the sketch and the painting was just sort of pleh and why bother doing it if it's not going to be what I want?

Thanks for all the questions and comments, y'all. And for those curious minds about the last painting I posted, it has gone MUCH better since. Here is my progress so far.

Keep the questions rolling! This is all the socializing I get.

RJP

This Is Not How I Had Hoped Today Would Go

2011-02-17T17:47:00.001-08:00

It probably doesn't help that where I paint has the worst lighting of all eternity. Onward and upward.

RJP

A Study

2011-02-14T16:51:00.001-08:00

I have some scraps from the board I'm using to paint my next series. It is a new material to me so I thought it'd be a good idea to test it out first with a study. I also have new paint brushes to try out.

Here is a cropped version of the sketch for one of the pieces. I love this sketch so it's vital to me that I don't lose that magic in the painting (which I did in the study, le fail but also le win!).

The new paint brushes I tried today are from Trekell down in the States. They are like painting with clouds (if clouds is something you want to paint with and in my case, yes, I do, so they are great). I was able to get some really nice soft light to dark mixes of colour which is exactly what I want with this series. They were so sharp and accurate to paint with that I could use a fairly big brush for most of the face. I am pretty rough with my brushes so I'm waiting to see how they stand the test of time but since they are so fabulous I'm inclined to treat them kinder. I would only use these brushes if I had the money to buy a whole new set. I recommend these brushes to anyone, they are GREAT.

So my study wasn't successful. I found the face was too wide and they eyes now lack something that was in the sketch. The hair colour isn't winning me over yet and I think it might just need to be subdued. I don't think I'll go with yellow/green eyes in the final product as it looks too Poison Ivy to me.

However, there were some successes and that's what I want to focus on. I have this image as my background for the last few weeks. I love the way Ingres uses subtle shades to make the woman look as if she's made of porcelain. I could stare at this image for hours. When in doubt, study the Masters, my friends.

Success #1

The photo is terrible, I know but beyond that what I found successful with this hand is the lighting. It is a bit of a chubby hand which I like as well since I am crazy about hand dimples and they turned out just fine here.

Success #2

This is my first time painting the Dog Rosebush. I love how crooked and simple these flowers are. They will be a bit part of this series.

Success #3

This particular piece is inspired after the numerous painting of Saint Sebastian. I like how the arrow into the skin as turned out. I'm still debating blood but I'm not sure if I'm going to go there. Again, the skin looks nice and soft because of the brushes I was using.

Check back often to see other studies and sketches for this series.

RJP

Talent Begets Talent

2011-02-10T08:29:00.000-08:00

If you don't know Bree Ogden, I suggest you do. She is an amazingly talented woman with current, impeccable taste. She is young, vivacious and has a spirit for what she does. What does she do? She is a literary agent.

What is outstanding about Bree is that she knows what is trending, she can see what trends are coming and she encourages her clients to be just who they are. I think Bree is an agent of the future (in the most robo-futuristic way).

Not only does Bree loooooove what she is doing, she also loves what her clients are doing. I am the sort of writer that writes themselves up to a wall. And then waits. And then digs the toe of my shoe in the dirt for awhile making circles. And then turns around and walks away. Bree has helped me over so many of those walls.

Bree recently started a site dedicated to her amazing feedbag of clients. You should check it out frequently to get updates on her client's work and progress. Even see an excerpt from my recent piece of work here.

Thanks Bree and keep up the spirit!

RJP

The Suspicious Swimmer

2011-02-09T19:31:00.001-08:00

Research

2011-02-09T14:50:00.000-08:00

One of the toughest things I'm finding about writing a book that is during a real era with actual facts is the research. Not that researching is hard or tiring, I'm quite enjoying it. It's that I'm so worried about getting something important wrong.

I'm currently researching World War II and it is fascinating. What has been so interesting about this particular war is that I know people who were there. This is a bit of a mind boggle because The World Wars! They were so long before my time! And look how far we've come since then. My husband's grandmother remembers the King's speeches. Enthralling!

"What does this have to do with anything really?"

Well, part of my research revolves around African Americans during WWII. I'm going to be honest with you, I hadn't thought at all about this until I began my research. I was shocked to see there was segregation in the war. IN THE WAR. What were we fighting for? With so many boys dying, how could we possibly divide our nation? I just...there aren't words.

So! What I want you to do is go check out Lee & Lows Books and enter their Black History Month contest. Why?

A) Free books!

B) Because history is intriguing. It also made us who we are today.

Best of luck to everyone! But really, I hope I win.

RJP