tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48433293108729457712024-03-14T10:32:51.998-07:00H.G. Wallace I Aspiring YA AuthorAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04602452971982657490noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843329310872945771.post-72268586460218295752013-05-15T14:24:00.000-07:002013-05-15T14:26:43.067-07:00Summer LineupWith break quickly approaching, I decided to put together a
list of all the fun things I want to do with my boys this summer.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Picnic (free, except for food)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Millennium Park fountain </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lincoln Park Zoo (free, except for parking)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Brookfield Zoo (I will only need an adult membership – my kids
are under 3, so it’s free for them!)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Monkey Joe’s ($70 for 10 visit pass)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Swim lessons (~$70 at my local park district)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Water balloon fight</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Neighborhood pool</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Library story time</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Schaumburg Farm (free)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Travel the world (learn about different countries online and
then cook cuisine from those cultures)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
$1.00 kids movies</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Local parks (create a “park passport”)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Draw on driveway with chalk</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Randall Road Petting Zoo (should only cost ~$10-15 total)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Make race tracks for toy cars out of rain gutters</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Put seed in our bird feeder and watch the birds</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
AMF – free bowling</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Alphabet tour (take one picture of something for each letter
from the alphabet)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Splash park (shouldn’t be more than $20)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Draw on windows with window markers</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Feed the ducks</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hula hoop contest</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Local trails</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Bass Pro Shop</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Create a tin foil river in the back yard</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Chuck E Cheese</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mall playgrounds</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Find a big open field for Evan to go crazy!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kiddie pool</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Make a playhouse out of a huge cardboard box</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Experiment with baking soda and vinegar</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Look for shapes in the clouds</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Create paper bag puppets</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We’re going to be living on one income over the summer;
things will be tighter than usual, so I plan to pay for any memberships/lessons in the near future, while we still have two paychecks coming in.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This will be my first summer off since 2005 - I am SOOOO
excited! <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">:)</span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04602452971982657490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843329310872945771.post-1825215859457733982013-05-06T14:44:00.002-07:002013-05-06T14:45:12.247-07:00Motherless<div style="text-align: center;">
Without divulging too much, I will say that my main character is motherless. How? Why? You'll have to read the book :)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Anyhow, for days I reached inward for a good metaphor for what it's like to grow up without a mother. I finally decided to liken it to a night sky without stars. A feeling of being lost at sea under an endless expanse of black, trying to navigate the waters of life with a broken compass. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5nMENIXCk5EvfyOYjaJw5SnOVpNc3cqyRDwmMcm-4H3_TMpcncmcohZBzf07S0Daqcni0gFDl_s8e15jRO0oVQf1ceNE7VJXCg40PwLgA8ir6Dpzs4b5l8KU47YT_CcAUPBgSGxR1WZt7/s1600/beach-at-night.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5nMENIXCk5EvfyOYjaJw5SnOVpNc3cqyRDwmMcm-4H3_TMpcncmcohZBzf07S0Daqcni0gFDl_s8e15jRO0oVQf1ceNE7VJXCg40PwLgA8ir6Dpzs4b5l8KU47YT_CcAUPBgSGxR1WZt7/s320/beach-at-night.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I drew a lot of inspiration from the poem "Mother to Son" by Langston Hughes. The poem is about the truth that life contains struggles but that one can choose to keep struggling. One can choose to persevere, which is exactly what my protagonist will do.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
What are your favorite metaphors from YA fiction and/or classic literature?</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04602452971982657490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843329310872945771.post-68985982056183753982013-05-01T14:28:00.001-07:002013-05-01T14:30:51.751-07:00What's Up Wednesday<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7e5PzJKFahRYUxo4ylfjlc5nFK2afSJgUNoU3VVkCNLKp7486lceSxXipYQdM0tqc1RPDhJ2GXRv3HcTb_BPVNCGUHxlFKDg_6Zj3GvyOAlHbdJCQZtMO3Nyj18IF6AgLdVJDBRfIyqP7/s1600/0a7bd-buttonlargenoborder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7e5PzJKFahRYUxo4ylfjlc5nFK2afSJgUNoU3VVkCNLKp7486lceSxXipYQdM0tqc1RPDhJ2GXRv3HcTb_BPVNCGUHxlFKDg_6Zj3GvyOAlHbdJCQZtMO3Nyj18IF6AgLdVJDBRfIyqP7/s1600/0a7bd-buttonlargenoborder.jpg" /></a></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I am jumping on the <i>What's Up Wednesday</i> bandwagon <span class="st">à<i> </i></span>la two bloggers I follow, Jaime Morrow and Erin Funk.<b> </b>All aboard!<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>What I’m Reading: </b>I just revisited <i>Freeze Tag </i>by Caroline B. Cooney, one of the YA books that is nearest and dearest to my heart. I remember vividly my first encounter with this book: staying up wayyy past my bedtime, despite my mother’s protestations, wondering if and how the gang would take Lannie down. A lot of readers don’t like the ending, but I love it. The whole freezing aspect of the story is really just a way to represent hatred and malice, how they can take over once they touch you. As the novel progresses, the characters around Lannie start to grow colder, to the point where they aren’t much better than she is. The ending can really only go one of two ways, and I was satisfied (and touched) by the resolution Cooney offers.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifXnE6dcLkn3xKHSrjSp-fmyYH5Zkgc4Nz-Jrq_OM-B0ZNAruboYWbC6AknqpVOtN9diDgt1KZV4sb-B-TOgKUAgjYtwct6hSW0iJEdSPeluftnewu_0gy0egPfJxM8ovHaKi44Y6uRAQp/s1600/freeze.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifXnE6dcLkn3xKHSrjSp-fmyYH5Zkgc4Nz-Jrq_OM-B0ZNAruboYWbC6AknqpVOtN9diDgt1KZV4sb-B-TOgKUAgjYtwct6hSW0iJEdSPeluftnewu_0gy0egPfJxM8ovHaKi44Y6uRAQp/s1600/freeze.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>What I’m Writing: </b>My first YA novel! I have already written two unpublished rhyming children’s books, but now I’m fulfilling my lifelong dream of writing a chapter book. I have decided to name my main character Arianna Caldwell. And since I couldn’t use Rowan Caldwell, I decided to change his last name to McAllister. I am going to strike the second love interest for now. I have decided on the names and traits of a few supporting characters as well. My characters and plot are all mapped out and ready for action. I hope to have Chapter One finished by Monday. Time to start writing!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>What Else I’ve Been Up To: </b>Trying to address my Vitamin D deficiency by tanning. Working out-lots of cardio, a few weights-at the local rec center. Watching playoff hockey (GO HAWKS!). </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>What Inspires Me Right Now: </b>My co-teachers. They are both avid readers and have been so instrumental in helping me to develop my characters and plot. I think they just as excited about this book as I am! </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04602452971982657490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843329310872945771.post-80047455137966803462013-04-30T14:48:00.002-07:002013-04-30T14:48:32.872-07:00Say My NameI have the potential names for the main characters (one female, two male) in my book narrowed down to two short lists. Help me find the winners!<br />
<br />
Here they are, in no particular order.....<br />
<br />
<u>Girl</u>:<br />
Josie Sinclair<br />
Bree Sinclair<br />
Rie Sinclair<br />
Mischa Sinclair<br />
Peyton Sinclair<br />
Arianna Sims or Klein or Ross<br />
<br />
<u>Boys</u>:<br />
Rowan Caldwell<br />
Ty MacGregor<br />
Gavin Blackwell<br />
Liam Wroth<br />
Cole/Colton Lattimore<br />
Jax Armstrong<br />
<br />
<br />
What do you think?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04602452971982657490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843329310872945771.post-65880134287786920392013-04-27T21:40:00.001-07:002013-04-27T22:20:16.705-07:00Every New Beginning.....comes from some other beginning's end {because you know you were thinking it!}.<br />
<br />
Anyway. <br />
<br />
I have decided to quit my day job (at least for the summer) and pursue my dream of becoming a professional writer. I majored in English in college and have been teaching it to secondary students for nine years. I am knowledgeable of and passionate about the subject - and about my target audience. Becoming a published author has been on my to-do list since I was a child myself, but the time has never seemed right.<br />
<br />
Until now.<br />
<br />
I have worked through the summer for the past seven years. I am super excited about having this summer to spend with my baby boys and my manuscript.<br />
<br />
My goal is to finish my first novel and have it query-ready by September. I want to have something to offer when I attend the Chicago Writers Conference in late September.<br />
<br />
This is really it. Everything is in place. Now I just have to bring my story (and lifelong dream) to life.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04602452971982657490noreply@blogger.com0