First Loves

If you're looking for my Tim Wynn-Jones YA Thriller Blink and Caution giveaway click here

Thanks for stopping by on Alex J. Cavenaugh's First Loves Blogfest where we're posting our first love in movies, music, books, and people.

First Movie
In 10th grade all the cool kids were invited to Dana Micheal's party (in my neighborhood). While 4 of my good friends were invited, I was not. It was one of those awkward times when you learn about the party by inviting people to go to the new Sandra Bullock movie, While You Were Sleeping, and everyone being busy. Thankfully Emily Pike hadn't been invited either. We went to the movies together and it was SO funny-with a great supporting cast-and romantic and real to my 16-year-old self that I didn't mind I wasn't at the cool drinking party. I still watch it a few times a year and love that Sandra Bullock won MTV's Sexiest Woman of the Year with her out of control hair and baggy sweaters. The scenes that I watch over and over are not when Pullman splits his pants open,  or when she finds Joe Jr. trying on shoes in her closet; but the early morning paperboy scene when he throws the paper so hard he falls off his bike and the family dinner "these mashed potatoes are so creamy."

First Song

Violent Femmes, Blister in the Sun, the theme song for My So Called Life, was the first CD I ever bought. I still love the song and rock out to it any time I hear it, but the CD is long gone as most of the other songs on the CD scared me.

First Book(s)
This is a hard one, I love so many books, so I'm cheating on this one. Favorite baby book? (Babies, by Gyo Fujikawa) says my mom. Early Chapter Book? (Double Trouble by Michael Pellowski) Young MG? Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George is the first book I read repeatedly. I wanted to be Julie, tough, surviving in the wild, strong. The books from my youth that I still read today, the ones that spoke to me, the awkward, "big boned" "crooked-nosed" girl were Robin McKinley's Beauty and Katherine Paterson's Jacob Have I Loved.  The MC's were me, their struggles and lack of confidence with their beautiful sisters, those were my struggles as well. I was tough, better at sports, like Wheeze and her crabbing and Beauty with her horses and farm work. I, like them, grew into myself and found where I fit; these books gave me hope that I could.

First Love
Anthony from my 1st grade class. I had a serious crush on the fastest runner in my class (I was 2nd). I remember vividly our one play date when he came to my house and we sat on the curb, our feet danging over the storm drain, sitting close together, my pale thigh against his chocolate brown one. I still have a thing for sprinters calves.

My 1st Giveaway AND WIFYR

When I began researching writer's conferences (Feb. '11) I stumbled upon Writers and Illustrators for Young Readers and was blown away by the incredible faculty and the week long small class (read 13 or less) writer workshops.  Even  though I live in S. CA it was well worth the extra travel expense to attend. (You can read about my experience last year here.)

In fact, it was so worth my while that I'm going again. This year I'm returning for the Middle Grade class with Tim Wynn-Jones. Now while I have to confess that the beard scares me (more on that on another post) I can't wait for his feedback. The MG class was the 2nd to fill up after Fantasy (with Matt Kirby). Don't worry if you haven't signed up yet, there's still some awesome classes available, but they're filling up fast, so don't twiddle those thumbs either:) Click here to register.

From the WIFYR website:

Tim Wynne-Jones has written thirty-two books including novels, picture books and three collections of short stories. (He's won a gazillion awards click here) He teaches in the MFA program at Vermont College and lives on 76 acres of land near Perth, Ontario. He has three children, all grown up now and living hither  and yon.
I'm reading his newest novel, a YA Thriller, Blink and Caution. And I'm giving away a copy to one of my followers. (Giveaway will close 5/15/2012 at midnight PST) How do you enter? So glad you asked. Required: 1. Follow my blog 2. Comment and tell me that you did (1 pt) Optional: 3. Follow me on Twitter @robinhallwrites (1 pt) 4. tweet or blog about this giveaway (1 pt for each) I'll announce the winner on Wednesday, May 16th Hope to see you at WIFYR!

First Impressions

You can find my 1st page of Lovesense, see what 2 authors think of it, and add your two cents here at In High Spirits or here at Mainewords. Please do! I'd love to know what you think:)

All these fresh eyes are really helping.

Insecure Writers Support Group

It's 3:41 am.
I should be sleeping.
No really, I need to be sleeping because real life is going to hit any second.
But I can't.
I'm obsessing about my first ever Insecure Writer's post.

If that isn't the epitome of insecure I'm not sure what is.
Here I am, joining a group of people who post their fears, stresses, terrors of failure in the competitive world of writing, and I'm worried what readers will think of my post.

I'm over analyzing.
Again.


If my computer was cooperating and I organized my photos better I could find the full-size picture of my little photo on the left side column. You would see me in the foreground and in the background sunning on an SUV, is a lion, the king of beasts. And if I enter his enclosure he might tear me to pieces.

Right now the querying world can feel like that lion's enclosure. I can stay safe on the outside of the fence, continuing to write new stories, to revise old ones, to watch my friends braving the lion's den (query), but I need  the courage to jump the electric fence and take the beating that will come with querying. My parania thinks this will happen: dissecting of every word, laughing at my poor comma usage, deciding my characters aren't nearly as quirky as Lola, as tough as Katniss, or as smart as Kate Grable (even under the pressure of a zombie apocalypse).

Or even worse-they might never read a single word.

Especially if I don't start putting my writing out there. No matter how scary I think the lions could be.

But to query, I have to LET SOMEONE READ MY BOOK.
(I know what you're thinking-if I can get the agent request a full, but just go with me here)

My fear-letting the world read my writing, and tearing it to pieces. What if my skin isn't thick enough? What if I can't handle the emotional roller coaster. I'm focusing on my new MS instead of revising Lovesense. I'm telling myself I'm giving it a rest so that I'll have more perspective, but what if it's because I'm afraid of letting the lions maul my baby?

My words NEED to be out there. I'm practicing positive self talk and I tried for a  First Impressions slot on Dianne Saleni's blog. I got this Friday-am I scared? Pooping my pants terrified.

I love my CP's and my hubs, but they know me, they're nice to me because of, well, because they know me. But Friday-strangers (she has 300 followers) will be reading my first page.

Terrifying.
Thrilling.
Nail Biting.

And hopefully *crosses fingers, toes, and eyeballs* what I learn will help me perfect my 1st page and have a better experience when I begin facing the lions.

What small steps are you taking to conquer your writing fears or tame those imaginary raging lions?

Gone Flying, Must Bring Books

As I pack my family for another trip across the country, I can't help but think of the road trips I took each summer growing up. We'd head either out West to see our extended family or up the East Coast on camping adventures. And along the way Mom or one of my older siblings would read to us. Lots of Roald Dahl (isn't he wonderful?). I distinctly remember my mom reading Danny the Champion of the World and being so engrossed in the story that the car trip flew by as I was busy poaching pheasants and out smarting the town's nasty rich guy, what was his name? What a dream to live in a caravan with a father whose eyes smiled.


Tomorrow we'll be traveling by plane, 3 of them, in fact, and although I'm making sure we have enough underwear and matching shoes, I'm also packing my suitcase full of books (in addition to my Kindle). Big Nate and Pendragon for my 8-year-old, Fancy Nancy and Little Bear for my 6-year-old, the Berenstain Bears and Dora for my 4-year-old, and the Mercy Thompson Series for myself.  (Yes, I'm a little concerned about how the in-laws are going to feel about those darn covers.)

In some ways I wish my children could have the experience I did travelling together in a full-size van, laying across the seats or hanging out in a nest of pillows created on the bed in the back listening as I read like my older sister did, with accents and saying "chap--i-ter." . . .

But then I'd have to spend 6 days confined in a minivan. (Yikes!)

If you look up tomorrow and see a plane flying east, give it a wave. It might be me.

 I'll be loading up my Kindle for the trip home and I could always use a recommendation. What books do you take when you travel?

A to Z Blogfest

While I wasn't brave enough to commit to posting 26 times in the month of April, I've been having a great to virtually meeting some new to me bloggers. I've done my share of bloghopping, but these three I check daily-

Cassie Mae-A to Z on her fears. Oh my awesomeness. Don't try to eat or drink while reading these posts. My favorites, My Mouth Needs a Filter, Jell-O (because I too worried about those kids in Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs), Getting Shot in a Public Restroom.

Kate Scott  -I gobble books whole and am always looking for recommendations. She's doing her top 5 favorite books in a particular catagory. I've been adding to my TBR list and got 3 of her boy recommendations yesterday. For me it's fun just to see what category she can come up with--and to know she has to do it 26 x 5 times. That's a whopping 130 books! (she just might be able to keep me busy through the month of May)

Ilima-Okay, she's not new to me, we're CP's, but I devour her posts like I do Kate's book recommendations. Friday she did Loglines, so wrote 2 of my own. They're awful, but now at least I have one (well 2, but you know what I mean).

In all their first draft stench:

My WIP: When eleven-year-old Ruby realizes her parents have been lying to her all her life she becomes convinced she's adopted and begins a search for her biological parents.

Lovesense: When Rae, who reads love in photos as a side business at school, finds a picture of her soulmate, she has to find him, navigate high school, and stay under the principal's radar; all before her arch enemy can out her.

What A to Z blogs have you been following? Favorites? Advise for my loglines?

Getting My Book Taken Away

I was a really good student in 5th grade-smart, but also into sports. I sat in Mr. Perguson's second row. He was the overweight teacher that turned away from the class and sneezed towards the chalkboard to cover up his flatulance.  I never got in trouble until one day during silent reading.  This is the book I was reading:

See them walking on the beach in nightgowns? Does this look risque to you? It sure did to Mr Perguson.  He took my book away and asked me where I have gotten it.

"My mother," I replied.

He harrumphed and told me he'd be keeping it for a while and that he would be calling my mother after school.

As the daughter of a daughter of a high school principle I knew that if I got in trouble at school, I would be in trouble at home. My parents supported our teachers as much as they could. So I sweated it a little, but mainly hoped that my mom would just think it was funny. After all, this was Katherine Paterson, the author of Bridge of Terabithia and The Trumpeter of Krakow. And this one was the Newberry Medal winner in 1981. 

I went home and told me mom what had happened. Better she heard it from me first, right? She did laugh, just like I was hoping. Later that evening she talked to Mr. Perguson on the phone, but she did not share the conversation with me.

The next morning before class started he came to my desk and returned my book saying he had read it the previous night and it was okay for me to read.

No kidding, I thought, my mom is the one who gave it to me.

He didn't question my reading for the rest of the year. The flatulence I'm afraid though, didn't go away. If only I'd been a few rows further back . . .

Have you ever had a book taken away? What book and why?