Stephanie Gayle

Many days, when I should be writing or blogging I find myself reading other writers' blogs. It's a whole lot easier, plus entertaining and informative!

Here are some writers' blogs I enjoy. You may too.

Maureen Johnson, YA authorwho pines for a pink taser.

Meg Cabot, another YA author who has a wee obsession with my former boss, genius Marilyn vos Savant.

Tess Gerritsen, bestselling thriller and mystery author who I keep missing at local readings (damn it!)

John Connolly , mystery, thriller, fairy story author who has prompted in me book cover envy (see the cover for The Book of Lost Things--awesome, no?)

I like these blogs because they're often funny (especially the first two) and they impart writerly advice, wisdom, or just in-the-trenches tales to which I can relate. Maureen provides beautiful photos of Cary Grant regularly, which I appreciate. Plus she has a pet stuffed monkey. And Tess just dropped a tip the other day on how to check out how many copies of your book your local Borders has ordered (useful!)

Posted by Stephanie at 08:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I always thought Jamiroquai was singing "I've got candy in my heels." It sounded like fun. Apparently he has "canned heat" in his heels. Oops.

You know, I think I'd still prefer candy. Canned heat sounds as though it might be a euphemism for athlete's foot.

Posted by Stephanie at 06:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Yesterday I partook in the Concord Festival of Authors by reading at the Fowler Library in Concord. I was part of a "New Literary Voices" panel along with Eleanor Lincoln Morse and moderator Johnathon Wilson. The event was well attended and people asked good questions. I got teased for claiming all writers are good, generous people (most are--I stand by that). The very handsome boyfriend got recognized as being the very handsome boyfriend (though I didn't "out" him--people just figured it out). Plus, the helpful librarian there hooked the v.h.boyfriend with a new library card as his record had been "purged for inactivity." He was able to check out the Al Gore book he was reading right then and there. I love libraries and librarians. They rock.

Posted by Stephanie at 11:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Lately I've been spending my lunch break at Hayden Library at MIT because I've discovered that I am capable of writing as long as I'm not in my office. If I'm in my office the temptation of the Internet or of doing more work while munching and the risk of interruption is strong. But if I physically move across campus and plop myself down at one of those long wooden tables whose surface is smooth like sea glass then I can write. It's been a great discovery. I feared I was a bit too attached to writing at my desk at home and becoming incapable of adapting.

At the Midwest Literary Festival I heard Deb Olin Unfurth say one of the best writing lessons she has learned is to be flexible, to be able to write anywhere. She put her money where her mouth is by attempting to write inside Walter Peyton's Roundhouse (adjacent to the Walter Peyton museum!) where she was accosted about four times by various guys asking her what she was doing. Oy vey. But she persisted. Whereas many of us threw up our hands that weekend and said, "No, we can't write. The distractions of Aurora are too plentiful!" Or some such.

I don't know that I'll ever become so flexible that I can write inside a smoky bar/restaurant with people interrupting me. but I aim to become better at it. The library is, of course, made for writing. Quiet. Lots of books. The soft rustle of turning pages. So it's a baby step. But it's a baby step that's increased my daily output by about 33 percent. Not too shabby.

Posted by Stephanie at 08:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Dear Kashi Bar makers,

First, let me say, thank you for making a product I enjoy that appears to be good for me. It gives me protein, which is great, because although I am not a vegetarian I often live like one. I prefer to let other handle my dead animals and cook it for me. So yes, protein, good. And fiber. They say you need fiber. And chocolate chips. You managed to include chocolate chips into my healthy snack. Well done.

Your portable treats have also made it possible for me to make it to the next meal without killing someone and I think I can say that my companions during those low blood sugar moments appreciate your product too.

Ahem. HOWEVER. Today's bite into my Chewy Cherry Dark Chocolate bar met with a sharp cracking noise and a horrifying moment of resistance in which I thought I'd broken my molar (or a piece of it.) Those seconds spent very carefully moving the half masticated granola bits about in my mouth were truly fearful. I didn't want to swallow tooth bits. Moreover, I didn't want to visit the dentist. As I gingerly spat the remains of the bar into a tissue and poked around said bits (yes, yes, ewwww) I looked for tooth. Remarkable how sesame bits and granola look like tooth.

Kindly fate seems to be on my side (except for the horrifying snake nightmare I had this morning and oh, yeah, tooth scare thing). No broken bits of tooth.

But, in the future, could you ease up on the crunchiness?

Sincerely,
Stephanie Gayle

Posted by Stephanie at 11:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Saturday the very handsome boyfriend and I finally made it down to Little Rhody to walk around Providence.
We visited RISD's museum, which was free because it's under construction. I love free. Also, the collection pieces we did see were lovely. I especially liked the giant Buddha, the Botero painting of people who resemble Weebles, and the amazing silver and mother of pearl inlaid desk and chair that kicked Tiffany's ass to the curb and won first prize in silversmithery in the Great Expo of 19somethingsomething.

Here's the very handsome boyfriend before the RISD museum.

Then we went shopping. Window shopping.

Here's a store I wanted to shop. But it was closed. They had roosters. But no roosters for me. Alas.

We ate lunch at Bravo Brasserie. Very yummy. Our waiter rocked. All waiters should be like him. His attention to soda refills was commendable.

The problem I had with Providence was I couldn't orient myself easily. After years of Boston/Cambridge/Somerville you think I'd be used to one way streets and maps that suck, bu no. I got frustrated.

This is me and my 'where the hell is this place' gesture.

At long last I found the store in Providence I most wanted to visit: Figments. It's a very cool, small store with funky gifts and very pretty objects d'art. I'd bought stuff online before but I wanted to see it and touch things. The owner was super friendly and, unprompted, suggested a place for us to find some stellar desserts. It's as if she saw into my soul. Dessert recommendations? Way to my heart.

I enjoyed Providence very much and plan to return soon, with much better maps in hand. And maybe more money. There were things I wanted but they costed money. Such a problem.

Posted by Stephanie at 07:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Today there is an interview with me published in the Somerville News. I ran to get a copy. (Literally--I was starting to run when I remembered I'd forgotten to pick up the paper so I ran toward Davis Square to get one). Ahem. It was fine, good stuff. Except there was a bit about the book I'm working on now, and when I read it my stomach tightened. My gut didn't like that bit. Not because the reporter got it wrong (she got it right) but because I realize that if I had been interviewed midway through writing My Summer of Southern Discomfort and I'd been asked to describe what I was working on the synopsis I would have provided then wouldn't have been accurate as of print time. Things change in drafts. Plus, I don't want to give too much away.

I know some authors who don't discuss their works in progress because they feel that once they've talked about it there's no fun in writing it. Talking it out ruins the suspense for them, destroys the feeling of discovery. That's not the case with me. I've been talking about this work in progress with friends and writers since I began, but somehow that's different than seeing it put in print.

So from now on when I'm asked about what I'm working I'm either going to say, "My twelve steps" and if they persist I'll say, "A story. It's going to be good, I hope."

Posted by Stephanie at 05:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I just spent four hours rewriting my first chapter. It's five pages long. It was six. At this rate I should finish in, oh, three years.

Did I say I hoped to finish by Thanksgiving? Bwahahahahaha. Oh, foolish optimist!

I rarely question my decision to pursue my writing. But today? Is a very hard writing day. Made more difficult by writing-associated deadlines related to promotion and events. I think I need a patron of the arts. And maybe a glass of Lagavulin. After all, nothing makes me feel more authorly than a Scoth, neat.

Posted by Stephanie at 08:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Ahoy! Good news! The snot tide had turned and I can now breathe through my nose (mostly). Just in time for the weekend, during which I plan to continue devouring the books of my new author friends (reading Mary Modern right now--so, so good) and maybe bake some more (funny how the weather change makes me want to stoke the oven's fire.)

I'm hard at work submitting a just-completed story to literary magazines so that in a few months' time I can begin to get rejected. A day without rejection is a day I feel less like a writer and more like some normal person.

When the weekend ends so too does my reprieve. Then it's back to book #2 for the polishing draft, when the prose gets polished and I check to make sure I haven't changed a character's name mid-narrative (why yes, I have done that before and no, I really didn't notice for some time). I hope to finish by Thanksgiving but it's a lofty goal.

Until then, let the reading/baking/relaxing begin!

Posted by Stephanie at 02:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I have a head cold. It sucks. My nose is red, my eyes are glassy and my reading comprehension level has gone back to third grade.

So, on a whim, I googled "cold remedy" to see what the shiny internets had to offer me. Ah, the Mayo Clinic! Well those folks have degrees of a medical nature. Alas, all their advice: drink fluids, chicken soup, avoid stress (ha!) provided me with no new remedies. Besides they overlooked the obvious one I'm considering: a head transplant.

Posted by Stephanie at 03:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I am tired and on the verge of a cold, I fear. Three days of attending and holding forth on writing workshops/panels at the Midwest Literary Festival takes a lot out of a person. But the weather was lovely, the people very congenial and I got to met so many amazing writers that it's a miracle I didn't wet myself like an overexcited puppy. (I didn't!)

Having never done a festival like this before it was all very new to me, but the highlight truly was getting to hang out with other writers. Because famous writers are a lot like non-famous writers! And we tend to talk about the same things when you put us together. Come along and I'll share what writers such as Andrew Gross, Megan McCafferty, and Camille DeAngelis discuss in the privacy of the super secret "Author's Room" or in a very loud Mexican restaurant:

Writing
Agents
Editors
Publishing perils
Book covers
Book titles
Royalties
The New York Times Book Review (see related: sexism, genreism, classism)

Wow, you're thinking. Writers are boring! Yes, yes, we are. But in addition to talking non-stop about our work we also discuss:

Rap music (particularly the deft wit of Kanye West)
Collecting creche figurines
Getting drunk
Pop culture magazine covers
Places we'd never live
Which absolutely hoochie mama outfit we'd choose from the hoochie mama clothing emporium
Casinos/gambling
Fear of clowns

I was sad to leave this stimulating talk behind, but very happy to be going home (alas, home needs a serious cleaning). And if I can find the business cards people gave me perhaps we can continue these and other fascinating dialogs.

Posted by Stephanie at 08:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Hey! All of you people in Aurora and points nearby (that means you, residents of Chi-town). Where you going be this weekend? Cuz I'm gonna be in ur hoodz teaching you writing skillz.

Do stop by the Midwest Literary Festival this weekend! It should be fun! And I'll be there, trying to act all writerly and professional. Well worth the price of admission (free on Sat. and Sun.)

Hope to see you there!

Posted by Stephanie at 02:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hey all, it's Banned Book Week! You know what that means? It's time for me to froth at the mouth while reviewing the reasons books get banned (oddly, "because people are twatwaffles" is never listed as the reason). Anyhoo, to celebrate this dubious wonder, y'all should take a gander at the ALA's 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books . It's sure to make you say WTF at least five times.

Then go buy and read a banned book! Or share your favorite book from that list and why it's absolutely batshit for it to be banned. The ladies at Smart Bitches, Trashy Books are having a review contest. You submit a review of one of the banned books and you might win a bracelet of banned book covers (rendered small and metallic, otherwise it's would be rather big and awkward to wear).

Portland Community College has a list of reasons why some of these books were challenged (from 2006). There's banned for "social reasons" and for "obscenity." Thus far my favorite is Joyce's Ulysses, reportedly banned in 1933 because it was considered impossible to read and obscene. Impossible to read is not a reason for banning I'd ever come across before. Wow.
If it was impossible to read how did they discover it was obscene?

Posted by Stephanie at 01:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)