Merry Christmas. Enjoy some pictures of Scotland :)
Read Morewriting
Kittens and Puppies and Homework Oh My
Today I wanted a day off. I don't want to go anywhere. I don't want to do anything. But you know, 4 hours of yard work and two trips to home depot, dinner to make, laundry to do, toilets to clean, and oh, yeah. Homework.
I already need a beer.
It's been a busy year and a lot is always going on. There's always so much to do. And 99.9% of my creative energy has gone towards school. This is what I've been up to this past few months:
[gallery type="rectangular" ids="5058,5072,5068,5063,5030,5077,5065,5070,5020,5067,5080,5021,5062,5071,5079,5073,5074,5060,5075,5061,5083,5041,5039,5040,5037,5076,5082,5069,5078,5034,5038,5081,5084,5088,5089,5085,5086,5087,5091"]
Next time, I'll show you what I've been up to since I've started at ASU! It's crazy! I'm surrounded by thousands of young people every day. Talk about a fish out of water.
If anyone has any questions on the art process, what do you DO in art classes anyway? What are we learning? on choosing to go back to college full-time, as a 43-year-old wife and a mother of 2, I'd be happy to answer them. Please leave a comment below.
And if you're wondering, "Why, of all fields of study to choose from, and in a struggling economy, would anyone go to ART SCHOOL?"
here's why:
So your son or daughter wants to be an ART major?!
by Adriene Jenik, director, ASU School of Art Thanks for stopping by.xo Heidi
How to win an art scholarship
This is how I applied for and won an art-based scholarship.
Read MoreThanks
So, I'm sure you've noticed a huge gap in posts. I mean, of course you have, because you're a regular reader and you love my wit, and you can't WAIT until you see a new post from me!Kind of like how I am with The Hermitage, Dreams + Jeans, and Fine Art Tips.A lot has been going on. I have been taking 17 credit hours this semester, and I can't remember the last time I've worked so hard and been so happy in that work. I'm telling you right now: If you've been in a slump, or maybe want to advance in your career but lack of a degree is holding you back; GO TO SCHOOL, even if it's just one class at a time.There's nothing that will revive you more than feeding your brain. It's the perfect time in the economy, too. Things are starting to bounce back, but it's slow going and business is still slow enough that if you wanted to, you could squeeze in a morning or evening class. Some of them are scheduled to only meet once a week, if that's all you can commit. There are loads of scholarships available, and enrollment is down, so they WANT you to go to school.But assuming you can afford one class per semester - maybe two - what would you take? What has always piqued your interest? Ancient Egypt? Art History 101- Prehistoric to the Gothic, or World History to 1500.What have you always wondered more about? How to really use Excel, so you can go up a paygrade at work? CIS 105 or Excel Level I.
Or, have you always wondered why rocks look like this? Take Geology 101! I liked it so much I took 102 as well.Why don't you do something for you? You've always wanted to try painting. Remember how much you loved watching Bob Ross? I recommend taking Color Theory first. It's been a challenge, but a good one!
Think about it.Besides school, we've had a few birthdaysand lost our two best friends :(Butter (aka Best Dog in the World) was 13, and Pepper (2nd Best Dog in the World) was 12. They passed away within a month of each other.Our new girl, Juniper, was a birthday surprise, and missed meeting Pepper by two days, but kept Butter company for the last month. She's adorable, and smart, and keeps us all on our toes.The horses have gotten hairy. They got a post-Halloween treat.Keira is still for sale. It's strange, I think she must be waiting for the perfect home. I've had several people interested in her, and a few offers, but they all fell through for various reasons. All she needs is time and attention. She's super smart and sweet, and responds well to training (see video on her page). I'm so surprised she hasn't sold yet, because she's pretty close to perfect. But that's just my opinion ;)I gave my first class lectureand we've had some rain.Coming up, I've got a post on a popular author, a round-up of my projects for the semester, an out-of-town writing conference (so exciting!), and after Christmas, I get to go visit my family. Please continue to keep my sister-in-law and our parents in your thoughts. This is our first holiday without John, and he is greatly missed.Here and now, it's holiday time in the desert, cool and crisp in the morning, sunny in the afternoon.I'm thankful for it all - my family, our health & home, the opportunities we have.And to you, for taking the time to visit.Much love,Heidi...If you'd like to do more online browsing, please stop by my friends' sites:Pb Crazyr. mccormack writestaysteele.comstrategicbongoTracyJoyCreative
Back to School: Projects
Have a look through my first semester of college!
Read MoreWhat I learned at Barnes & Noble Today
It's a guilty pleasure, using valuable writing time to languish in a bookstore for a couple of hours. But then again, the boost it gave to my creative spirit was worth it.
Read MoreMeet the Writer - Tom Leveen
Yes. I just compared up-and-coming YA author Tom Leveen to the Martin Scorsese of 80's teen angst: John Hughes.
Read MoreSample Chapter - Ruby and the Unicorn ch. 12
Ruby could see why they called it a Fairy Ring. The moonlight within the ring flickered and shimmered like glitter in one of her grandma’s snow-globes. Mysterious and magical, it drew her in.
Read MoreFree Publicity? No Way! (Ok, but you have to buy me shoes)
Do you have a guest post for Mommy? Do you want your farm or book (or other) to be featured on my site? Now's your chance! This can all be yours for the low low price of a pair of Oscar de La Renta shoes!
Read MoreBear with me
like your lives are so empty and meaningless without my mindless blathering...
Read MoreWhy Do You Write?
I have been working on my book for FOUR YEARS. Four years. God, I hate to say it.
Read MoreMeet the Writer - Rhonda McCormack
an interview on the craft of writing and the changing landscape of publishing with debut YA author Rhonda McCormack
Read MoreMake Good Art
Please watch Neil Himself, and Make Good Art. I hope this inspires you as much as it did me.http://vimeo.com/42372767?utm_source=Ypulse+Updates&utm_campaign=ba9e633306-YDU5_25_2012&utm_medium=email
Gypsy Stallion Showcase (and) Why Am I Selling My Horse?
When I make my millions, I'll need to invest in some top quality bloodstock. Let's go stallion shopping!
Read MoreMeet the Writer - Anna Questerly
An author interview on the craft of writing.Featured Writer: Anna QuesterlyBooks: The Minstrel's Tale I, II, and IIIYoung adult historical fictionBuy Anna's books:
Intro, from Heidi:I first met Anna at her bookstore, Dog Eared Pages Used Books in Phoenix. It is right next to the kitchen for the caterers where I work, and of course when I see a bookstore I have to go in and check it out. Let me just tell you, if you are ever in the north Phoenix area, and are in need of something to read, you HAVE to go into this store.Dog Eared Pages has that magical quality of looking very small on the outside, but when you walk in - look out! You could seriously get lost in here. And if you do, that's OK, because you will have PLENTY to read while you wait for the search parties. The atmosphere is complete with shelves and stacks of books that twist and turn and reach up to the ceiling. There are weekly discussion groups and writer events as well.When we got to talking and Anna told me about her first book, The Minstrel's Tale, I picked up a copy. I'm a huge fan of historical fiction, and Anna's book does not disappoint. Her characters take you on quite an adventure, weaving the tale of a contemporary American teen with fairy tales, folklore, and little-known facts of 14th-century British monarchy.
On craft:
How old were you when you started writing? I attempted to write since I was about twelve years old. However, I was forty-six by the time I actually finished a story.Where do you write? I have a huge dining room table that I’ve taken over as a writing desk. It’s completely covered with manuscripts in different stages of editing, timelines, character sketches, maps, research material.When do you write? I get up early and write for a couple hours in the morning. Then I get two days off a week to work on my writing. Most of my editing and rewrites get done on those days.What helps you write—music, pictures, maps, journals, etc.—what gets you into that mindset?My magic book. My journal, is how I tap into the creativity, resolve plot issues, and develop characters. I write in it every day, yet I never reread it.What are some things that stand in your way? logistically as well as creatively?What do you do when you "hit a wall?" On days I just don’t want to write or can’t figure out where to go, I promise myself that if I just write 250 words, I’ll call it a day. I think taking the pressure off helps, because on those days I almost always manage to get over 1000 words done and have a good idea where I’m going from there.Do you use an outline—do you know exactly how the arc will play out—or do you just let the story develop as you write? If so, how do you outline? (notecards, etc.) I do a bit of both. Like a roadtrip, I want to know where I’m eventually going, but I like to leave the way open for fun adventures and fortuitous discoveries. I always know my endings before I begin, but leave the path open to get there. It’s more fun that way, since I want to know what’s going to happen next.How do you draft/revise? (i.e. do you just get it out in one big "dump," then revise, revise revise, or do you revise and edit as you go)I write my draft first and then revise-- forever it seemsWhat are some tools that you use? (reference guides, manuals, websites—a favorite pen/notebook/computer)I write historical fiction, so I use a lot of reference books, maps, andbiographies.Do you use critique groups?How did you find them? Yes, my critique partners have improved my writing immeasurably. I found them through writer’s groups at my bookstore, Dog-Eared Pages in Phoenix.
On your current project:
What kind of research did you do for this book? And, were you surprised by something that you learned in your research?I was surprised how much 14th century politics resembles our current political/economical problems. For example; the Peasants Revolt in Britain was similar(although bloodier) to the Occupy Wall Street movement.How good did it feel to write that last line? Bittersweet. I am so happy to have finished, but I’m going to miss those characters.
On the business of publishing:
How did you find your agent/editor? Great question; I actually had to make my own editor. My daughter edits for a living and has been so helpful with my books. I trust her more than anyone else I can think of and probably wouldn’t have dared publish without her help.How has self-publishing shaped your career as a writer? OR What is your opinion of self-publishing? I love the ease of self-publishing. The more I learned of traditional publishing and the problems authors have with their rights, royalties, and marketing, the more certain I am self-publishing was for me. It’s more important than ever to have good editing when you go it alone.What can you share with our readers about marketing? (i.e. what, if any, support did you have from your publisher? Costs involved? Things that worked best/weren't worth it, etc.) The Kindle program that allows me to be paid for books borrowed has been great. I’d recommend it to any author.
About You:
What is a trick that you've learned along the way that has made the writing process easier? I can’t remember where I read it, but it’s one of my favorite lines. If you get a button chair (butt-in-chair), you can write.What writers inspire you? Tolkien, Twain, Dr. Seuss, Steven King, JK Rowling and so many moreWhat do you like to read for enjoyment?Historical fiction, fantasy, horror, sci-fi (pure escapism)We all know that learning from our mistakes is part of the process of becoming who we are. As a writer, what's one lesson you've learned that you would like to pass on to others? How to handle a critique. This was a huge lesson for me. One of my readers pointed out that I had a character in the story I hadn’t introduced. I argued and showed her where I had introduced him in the previous chapter. I was ready to discount her suggestion, thinking she hadn’t read it correctly. While I was discussing it with another writer, he said to me, “Maybe you didn’t make the character memorable enough.” This was a big wake up call. If something isn’t clear to the reader, you can’t blame the reader. As the author it’s my job to make things clear to my readers.What's next for you? Another series. This one will be present day. If Nancy Drew and Indiana Jones had a daughter wouldn’t that be a blast? That’s my main character for the new series.While reading Kris Tualla's book, Becoming and Authorpreneur; Navigating a 21st-Century Career in Publishing, I was pleasantly surprised to see her refer to you in her chapter on the importance of "branding." It must be an honor to be referred to by other authors!It is a wonderful feeling to be referred to by other authors. It’s always an honor to be recognized by one’s peers and Kris Tualla is an amazing author so it was special.Here are the books: The Minstrel’s TaleAmos Questerly, a wandering minstrel in fourteenth century Europe, takes on a mysterious young apprentice. But his new protégé, Richard, carries a deadly secret. A secret someone is willing to kill for.To reach safety they must earn their way to England by telling exciting stories of magical swords, princesses and dragons, while danger follows on their heels.By the time Amos learns Richard’s secret, it’s clear even England may not be safe. The two, trapped in an adventure as thrilling as any of the Minstrel’s tales, must follow a perilous path that leads straight to the royal palace. The Minstrel's Tale IIThe Minstrel’s Tale continues…A boy with the power of a king.A wandering minstrel bound by an oath.A secret that unites them.When Minstrel Amos Questerly’s ten-year-old apprentice, Richard, ascends the throne of England, Amos soon finds himself entangled in royal affairs.Determined to return to his wandering ways, the minstrel instead finds himself drawn further into the king’s inner circle where powerful enemies conspire and scheme for control.The country at war, the treasury low, and the young king’s first decision triggers the roiling anger of England’s peasantry to erupt, and plunges London into a revolt that shakes the foundations of a nation.The Minstrel's Tale IIIThe Questerly saga continues...King Richard II, once a friend -- now a powerful enemy, refuses to release Minstrel Amos Questerly from the impregnable Tower of London.A daring plan to rescue Amos leads to more exciting adventures and incredible dangers in this thrilling conclusion to the Minstrel's Tale.
Anna can be found online:
Thanks for taking us on 3 amazing adventures, Anna!
Desert Rain - a picture post
We have FINALLY gotten some much needed rain down here in the desert. It is making for some very humid don't-even-bother-straightening-your-hair days, but things have cooled off ever so slightly and the dust has been kept to a minimum.There is a certain smell that springs from newly damp desert ground, but I suppose it smells just as good as any other place when long overdue rains arrive. I actually put it into the first chapter of my book. Here's a peek:
The western sky was the kind of blue that comes after a cleansing summer rain, and the breeze still smelled of damp sage and pine. Leather reins lay slack in her fingers, resting on the saddlehorn in front of her. Closing her eyes, Ruby breathed in the beautiful day.
You'll have to wait to read more, but I'll try to pop in a few tidbits here and there. Until then, enjoy some recent photos of the girls (click images to enlarge):
For some more AMAZING Arizona photography, check out this local photographer's page.Thanks for reading,Heidi
Meet the Writer - Virginia Nosky
An author interview on the craft of writing.
Featured Writer: Virginia Nosky
Books: The Fall from Paradise Valley; Blue Turquoise, White Shell; Ring of Fire; Pima Road; Kachina
Coming Soon: To a Certain Degree; White River
Buy Virginia's books:
Intro, from Heidi:
Virginia is an award-winning author, and one of my earliest cheerleaders from my beginning days at the library critique group. I have to say, she intimidated me at first, being one of those no-nonsense types who would put a huge "X" over an unnecessary paragraph, scratch corrections over my manuscripts, and has a take-no-prisoners attitude when it comes to punctuation and grammatical errors.I learned a great deal from Virginia. She gives amazing feedback, and I knew I was getting better at this writing thing when I started to see that she drew a star in areas of my work. That was a sign that she liked what I wrote. And if I got a star on the front page—whoa! Look out! A star from Virginia is like a nod of approval from the Queen.If any of you are interested in writing romance, take a cue from Virginia. This lady may look polite and proper, but, man can she steam up some pages! And she writes a hundred times better than E.L.James, so if 50 Shades of Grey left you wanting more, pick up a copy of one of Virginia's books—you won't be disappointed!
Virginia Nosky:
On craft:
How old were you when you began to write?All mixed up in my mind are these little plays my sister and I would put together with neighbor kids. There was very little written down, but these little dramas were full-blown affairs, with beginnings, middle and ends. They were also fully costumed with whatever our fevered imaginations could come up with. I remember playing a Maria Montez role—she was a popular sultry movie star—always, it seemed, in harem type costume. I wore my mother’s tin measuring cups as my bra, over my nonexistent chest. There was a little woods beside our house and once we even built a little fire in a clearing—to dance around. We had a lot of freedom back then. My point is that I spent a great deal of my play time in a world of glamour and exotic situations. My imagination was engaged constantly in other worlds. Making up stuff has always been with me, and I can’t really remember when I started writing it down. I majored in Communication at Ohio State, worked in broadcasting and advertising. Writing is just there, in my life.Where do you write?When my sons went off to college, my husband took one of their bedrooms for an office, and I took the other one. It didn’t happen suddenly…we just sort of moved their stuff out…like squatters.What helps to inspire you? Music, maps, journals.I have never liked background music. Total quiet is best, but I can tune out ambient household noise when I really get into something. Sometimes I would like to screech at interruptions by my sweet family…but I don’t. I can’t come out with “Do you realize I’m trying to get this woman in bed with the guy and now, NOW”…etc. But that scene will be different for the interruption. That’s true of any artist whose train of thought is broken. The piece will change. You can only hope it will be as good or better.What stands in your way? Logistically/creatively?Not much. A busy schedule is the most disruptive. Or some kind of emergency that requires your attention. It’s hard to be creative when you’re troubled about something.What do you do when you hit a wall?Just going back to reread what I’ve already written just gets everything going. The worst thing is to get into a corner, where something doesn’t work. But I find those insomniac hours at night can come up with some amazing solutions. “Sleeping on it” is really good advice.Do you outline? Know how the story will develop?Outline? No. Never. I know how the story begins, how it will end, and there is usually a dramatic scene somewhere in the middle that triggered the whole idea. That’s not to say the story will end like you thought. Stories develop lives of their own, and sometimes the end will be different than you started out. A character will assert herself or himself. But it’s important to know where you’re going when you start out. For that matter the beginning might change a bit. The best advice I ever read was from Tony Hillerman. Don’t spend so much time polishing and polishing the beginning. You’ll make some changes when you’ve finished. He said when he started out, he did that. He wrote the most perfect first chapter in the universe. It was lapidary in its brilliance and it still nestled unread in a dusty drawer. That has stayed with me and saved a lot of grief.How do you revise and edit?I edit as I go. I get ideas as I go along and work with them. Then when the book is finished I go back and do it some more. And, as I mentioned, if I’m stalled, it’s a good way to get going again.Do you have any special tools?I work on a desk top and I have an extensive library. I have books on birds, astronomy, flowers, history, physics, geography, wildlife, minerals, weather, sports, games, food, wine, native plants, survival, Native American healing. I have maps and word books: Roget’s, Word Menu, Synonyms, Reverse Dictionary. I have several grammar books: The Chicago Book of Style; the Oxford Book of Grammar; Strunk & White. I have a French Dictionary, and Spanish, Italian, a Japanese, Navajo, Portuguese. I have books of quotations. One book I love is the Book of Everything. Everything has a name and this book has every screw, spark plug, beam, anchor, sail, knot…well, you name it. And it’s there. I have dozens of books on writing. Then I’ve collected a number of books on Arizona Indian culture, mostly Navajo. If I don’t have an answer in those books, Google is my friend.Do you belong to a critique group?Yes. I belonged for years to the Scottsdale Writers Group at Mustang Library. That’s where I met you. And many lovely people. My most valuable group is an offshoot of that. There are five of us and we read much longer excerpts from each other. Take them home and write serious criticism. I love them. Every serious writer needs readers to bounce their work off of. We all write different things, but that isn’t a problem, and sometimes it’s invaluable.What kind of research do you do?A lot. One thing leads to another. You read that something happened. Then you find you have to know why it happened. I’m working on a sequel to Blue Turquoise, White Shell called White River. But in writing about an important incident in the Navajo history, it took place during the Civil War. And I had to get into that, which I hadn’t meant to. That’s the trouble with history. Nothing happens in a vacuum.Did something surprise you? Not really. Particularly with White River. Oh, fascinating details crop up, but I had immersed myself so much in the first book, I pretty much knew what was going to happen.How does it feel to write the last line?With Kachina, my first book, there was a huge surge of pride that I had done it. But I face the last line now with a sense of uncertainty. Is this the right ending? Also a sense of regret. You do get into the lives of your characters and you can’t stop thinking about them. But you do have to send that baby out into the world. A book isn’t truly finished until somebody reads it. I always sense that it’s the same with an artist. When to lay down the brush.
On the business of publishing:
How did you find an agent?I don’t have one now. But it was endless queries, endless sending out mss. Two of my books I’ve used a Canadian publisher that I met at a conference. Conferences are a great place to meet editors and agents. They’re sort of obligated to look at a little bit of your stuff.Has self-publishing shaped your career?I’ve had all my books come out with traditional publishers. I don’t have a problem with self-publishing and I’ve thought about using it to publish my poetry and short stories. These have been in anthologies, but I may get to it one of these days as the rights devolve to me. One has all that nice control when you do it all yourself.What can you share about marketing? What didn’t work?It’s ongoing, it’s time-consuming and most writers hate it. I do. But publishers don’t do it anymore. Oh, maybe if you’re ever so famous. I’ve tried a bunch of stuff, even hired a publicist, but it was pretty much a waste of money. I have a great gal who helps me with computer things and we’ve become great friends. But it’s just getting your name and work in front of the public on and on and on. Speaking to groups is great, and you can hope that the more you write the more your name will become familiar. All the social media is a must.
About You:
Tricks to make writing easier.It’s not supposed to be easy, but it’s fun most of the time. When you get a good scene going, you soar.What writers inspire you? Updike, because he notices the smallest things. Maybe all the good writers do. Don Delillo, Pat Conroy, T.C.Boyle, Chrisopher Moore, Richard Russo, Barabara Kingsolver. David Sedaris is hilarious, Christopher Buckley. Tony Hillerman, Elmore Leonard so simple…well, on and on.What do you read for enjoyment?All of the above. I’m really all over the map in what I read. I sort of lean to literary, but well- written trash is fun, too.What’s next for you?As I mentioned above, White River has gone off to the publisher. It will probably be out the first of the year. I’ve done some short stories, and have put together some contest work. I’m relaxing doing a little romance that’s been around in my drawer for awhile.Where can we find you? My website is www.virginianosky.com. I have a trailer on YouTube for The Fall From Paradise Valley. I just did a long interview on web radio with Al Cole, a broadcaster out of Boston. All my books are on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, ChampagneBooks.com/store. Some of them are in libraries around town, but they can always be ordered. Poisoned Pen book store has several.Thanks Virginia!For those of you in the Phoenix area, Virginia will be giving a Workshop:"Writing Romantic Scenes" for the Scottsdale Society of Womens Writers on October 31, 5:30-7:30, at the Chaparral Suites Resort in Scottsdale.Blue Turquoise, White Shell is a contemporary multicultural romance mixed with historical fiction. It has won three First Place Glyph Awards from the Arizona Book Publishing Association.When a privileged east-coast Med school student agrees to work on the Navajo reservation in exchange for getting her Harvard education paid in full, the last thing she expects is to fall for the tribe's newest congressional Golden Boy, Nicholas Nakai. But what is in her secretive grandfather's past that makes him send Lily to the Rez? You'll have to read to find out!
Meet the Writer - Deborah J. Ledford
An author interview on the craft of writing, with mystery/thriller writer Deb Ledford.
Read MoreMeet the Writer - Anne Tibbets
An author interview on the craft of writing, with YA writer Anne Tibbets.
Read More50 Shades of Grey - Why Readers Will Love It and Writers Will Hate It
I always believed that if you started a book, you had to finish it. Giving up was for pansies.
Read More