I've known for a long time
3/10/10 -- I've known for a long time that visualizing my audience can be helpful when I'm working on a story. Since I'm writing REVENGE OF THE MUTANT UNDERWEAR for eight-to-twelve-year-olds, it made sense to visualize someone in that age bracket....
Last May I spoke at the
3/8/10 -- Last May I spoke at the International School of Curitiba in Brazil. It was a short trip -- only 48 hours in the country -- but a great experience. Now, ten months later, I've heard from one of the students there, Lucas. He wrote: "When y...
After a fun trip to South
3/4/10 -- After a fun trip to South Carolina (family reunion) and Alabama (school visit at South Shades Crest Elementary in Hoover), I'm back in Oregon until March 19, when I travel to Israel to speak at the International School in Tel Aviv. Shoul...
I'm at the Charleston, SC
2/28/10 -- I'm at the Charleston, SC airport. Spent the weekend at a family reunion. Really fun to reconnect with everyone, and squeeze in a nice hike in the low country woods -- Spanish moss and palmetto trees, so different than my Northwest fore...
The entire family kicked in
2/22/10 -- The entire family kicked in to help Kelsey move to a new apartment in Portland on Saturday, then Debbie and I hit the ski slopes with friends on Sunday. From the photo you can see that we've all been watching the Olympics, and are in ou...
It's always great to hear
2/19/10 -- It's always great to hear from readers. One, a Missouri fourth grader named Ryley, says I remind her of Henry Winkler of Happy Days fame. (For those who don't know, Happy Days was a very popular TV show from 1974 to 1984. Henry Winkler ...
A beautiful, sunny afternoon,
2/17/10 -- A beautiful, sunny afternoon, temperature approaching 60, daffodils and plum trees starting to bloom. Hmmm . . . Sometimes the best thing you can do for your writing is take a break, clear the cobwebs from the mind, refresh the spirit, ...
After a great weekend, I'm
2/15/10 -- After a great weekend, I'm back in the driver's seat:Regardless of where you write -- school, home office, at the kitchen table, in a coffee shop, or even under a bridge -- this is the place that we, as writers, create the universe know...
I'm off to the mountains for
2/12/10 -- I'm off to the mountains for the weekend with friends, and my wonderful wife, Debbie -- who has put up with me for 35 years, and I love dearly. Skiing, both downhill and cross country, is on the agenda, as is good times around the wood ...
Went to the indoor climbing
2/11/10 -- Went to the indoor climbing gym at Oregon State University last night. Was a bit tentative at first, due to the shoulder surgery. Thought pulling hard might set me back. Ironically, it actually made my shoulder feel better! I worked my ...
Busy day: Writing, planning
2/10/10 -- Busy day: Writing, planning an April trip to the New York City area (two school visits -- Queens and Enfield, CT -- plus reconnecting with editors, publishers, and my agent in Manhattan).Oh, yeah, and then I worked on my taxes. Which, n...
Yesterday I was busy with an
2/6/10 -- Yesterday I was busy with an author visit to McKinley Elementary in Salem. Thanks, Pat Knight and all the wonderful kids and teachers. They even have a young authors club, filled with aspiring writers who like it so much they're willing ...
Just back from a fun day with
2/3/10 -- Just back from a fun day with the students of Morningside Elementary School in Salem, Oregon. Lots of good writing going on there. Great kids and staff. I told them that yesterday I finished the last rewrite (I hope) of STORM MOUNTAIN, a...
Had a great weekend with
2/1/10 -- Had a great weekend with family in the mountains. (Me and the girls below). Also got back on skis for the first time since my shoulder surgery. At first I was a bit tentative, but after a few runs I opened it up and skied fast again. Fly...
As will often happen with
1/29/10 -- As will often happen with writing -- as well as many other things in life -- I hit a snag. STORM MOUNTAIN will not go in the mail today. It's taking more time than planned to get all the details and wording just the way I want them. Tha...
Three long days of rewriting
1/27/10 -- Three long days of rewriting have gotten me through the most recent round of editorial suggestions for STORM MOUNTAIN. (Which are excellent, by the way, and have improved the story a bunch. Never underestimate the power of a good editor...
This past Friday I spoke at
1/25/10 -- This past Friday I spoke at Riverview Elementary School in Lebanon, Oregon. Great kids and teachers. Thanks for the invitation, Kirk Phillips! Saturday morning Debbie and I got up early and drove into the Cascades, where we met our good...
Fed Ex delivered the most
1/21/10 -- Fed Ex delivered the most recent feedback from New York on STORM MOUNTAIN. Not much more rewriting to do, which is a good thing, since my editor, the wonderful Julie Amper, needs it back by February 1. Still, I'll be going over it with ...
If REVENGE OF THE MUTANT
1/20/10 -- If REVENGE OF THE MUTANT UNDERWEAR tightens up as well as the doormat I just finished weaving from old climbing rope I'll be one happy camper . . . er, writer.
Yesterday was my first
1/12/10 -- Yesterday was my first author visit of 2010. Nice to work close to home, only a two hour drive from Corvallis to Fairview, Oregon. Great kids and teachers at Salish Ponds Elementary. Unusual in that all three third grade classrooms had ...