Another hiatus

I have been mulling over what to post about the last few days (I mean that last entry is so darn hard to top), but I have been just so staggeringly busy, I really haven't had much opportunity to think of something quality to write.

I am working like a crazy woman on the sequel of my book, as well as attempting to organize my play for SummerWorks (you will happy to learn that I have cast all 7 actors, and am having a read through and photo shoot for pictures for our press pack on Monday - still don't have a stage manager yet, sigh . . .). It is a bit daunting.

Adding to that I will be going to Newfoundland for a family wedding next week! I've never been to Newfoundland and am sooooo excited! Actually what's going to be really weird is that the wedding itself is on June 30th. I know, positively shocking! No, what makes it weird is that June 30th is my birthday (yes I know, it really ought to be a national holiday), my 27th (omg so close to 30, not going to think about it . . . ), so I'm just going to pretend that the lavish party I am attending that night is all for me! Who's the chick in the white dress?

Anyway as such I am going to take a break from blogging this week, and I'll tell you all about the wedding etc when I get back July 2 - ish.

I shall as ever miss you all considerably, but you are such wonderful, sexy and understanding readers, that I know you will be sympathetic to my situation. Big sloppy kisses to all of you! Until July!

Die halsüberkopfundkragendramatischabenteuerliche Katastrophenexpedition der Alex Morningside

Ehem:






Nothing more needs to be said.

Baby's First Blurb!

Hmm . . . Baby's First Blurb . . . sounds a bit like that sound an infant makes followed by that little bubble of spittle that sort of oozes out of the mouth following said sound.

But it isn't.

In this case it is referring to my first blurb for my book! Again, for people who don't know the cool terms that the publishing world uses (may I once more refer to me circa last year), a blurb is a little sentence, or paragraph, that someone else, usually a fellow author, writes about your book and then it is put onto the book cover itself. A bit like how on movie posters you have: "This is the best movie, like, ever!" - Movie Review Magazine

So anyway, I am proud to announce I have a blurb! Okay, not proud, that doesn't even come close to how excited I am about this. Because not only is the blurb itself just wonderfully written and just so darn nice, it's author is someone who is incredibly cool.



Ever heard of the book series, Artemis Fowl?

Yes ladies and gents, I am just totally over the moon to share with you that the author of said series, Eoin Colfer (pronounced Owen as he explains over at his website), has been so totally gracious and lovely as to blurb my little book. To which I am so grateful, and would like to extend a big hug and hearty thank you in his direction.

So without further ado, here it is:


“I read Alex and the Ironic Gentleman and to be honest, it had me at the title—a clever one to live up to and the story did not disappoint. It’s quirky, hilarious and genuinely exhilarating. There is a nod to Lewis Carroll and a wink to Charles Dickens, but no more than that—Adrienne’s words are packed with originality. Alex is a wonderful hero who deserves to return for further adventures. Indeed I suspect there will be a riot if she does not. Great plot, larger than life characters. The future is bright.”—EOIN COLFER, author of the internationally bestselling Artemis Fowl series


What I find most impressive is how he managed to discuss so many different elements of my book in such a short blurb. It's just really well written you know? In fact, I kind of feel like blurbing his blurb:

"Eoin Colfer has created a blurb with humor and a great attention to detail. In a few short lines he is able to sum up a 300 page novel, while getting across a great sense of tone. I think readers will be hard pressed to find a better blurb, or a more grateful recipient." - ADRIENNE KRESS, author of the novel blurbed by internationally bestselling author, EOIN COLFER


Anyway, all joking aside, I just wanted to say thank you one last time to Mr. Colfer for the lovely things he said about my book. It's really, I mean, just really cool of him.

And the winner is . . .

After careful deliberation (and seriously debating holding another contest where everyone chooses their favourite contest suggested so far), I have come up with two, count 'em, two winners.

I thought it would be nice to have one for the kids, and one for the grown ups. So, the winners of a brand spanking new ARC of Alex and the Ironic Gentleman are . . . .

Mary - for her dress up your favourite toy as a pirate (any toy, from doll to espresso machine) idea!
Because putting up these pictures would be friggin hilarious.

and

Talia Mana - for her create an Ironic Gentleman cocktail idea!
Because cocktails are yummy and an Ironic Gentleman cocktail, I would imagine, doubly so.

I know every contest holder says the same thing, that it was a difficult choice, but you guys seriously did not make this easy. I tried to give myself the simplest of tasks by making it a contest for you guys to come up with a contest, but it totally backfired on me! All the ideas were brilliant, and really coming to any sort of decision was painful. I forgot how much I hate making decisions. Kind of silly of me to hold a contest really.

But there you have it!

Thank you all so much for participating, seriously. After all there would be no contest without people actually participating. If anyone is utterly desperate for an ARC (and if they are, dude, thanks, that's totally flattering), there is yet another copy of one on ebay. This time of the American version (they call it "Alex and the Iron Gentleman", I like it, has a nice ring to it . . .): ebay American ARC

As for the winners, could you guys please click on the little "Adrienne Kress's Email" link at the top of my blog and send me your mailing addresses with your full names please?

Congrats again to the winners! And boo-urns to the losers. I am very sorry that I couldn't send you each an ARC, that would have been very Oprah of me wouldn't it? "You get an ARC! And you get an ARC! . . . "

But alas, I am not Oprah. Nor Ellen. Not even Dr. Phil, though my bald head does confuse some people. All I can offer you is my love.

And of course two ARCs to the winners. Because, you know, they won.

Another Literary Weekend

So I don't know if you guys know this, but a week after BEA, we Canadians have our equivalent, called . . . wait for it . . . the BE . . . C.

And as such I thought I would tell you a bit about my weekend!

Friday

I get a call from the lovely Lesley, saying she had acquired two tickets to the Stephen King honouring him thingy and asked if I would like to join her. I of course said yes. You see Stephen King has never been to Canada before, and they were giving him an award because . . . well because he is awesome. Now of course I had already seen him once before, at that Harry, Carrie and Garp event at Radio City Music Hall, but in this case Lesley and I were sitting in the media seats. Which meant, centre row J. And I was wearing a bright orange top. So I am sure he saw me and was utterly mesmerised. Or slightly blinded. Or didn't see me at all and that is just my wishful thinking going again.

It was very fun. He was introduced by Margaret Atwood and Clive Barker, and interviewed by author and columnist Chuck Klosterman, and the whole thing was MC'd by the Canadian tv host who will always be famous for his last name, no matter what else he accomplishes, George Stroumboulopoulos. Everyone was rather funny, especially the King himself, and I always do think if people are funny, the evening has been wildly successful. I did actually go up to Klosterman afterwards to congratulate him on a job well done. I did it in a way that a 12 year old might. "Hi! I just wanted to say I thought you did a good job!" "Thank you, and what's your name?" "Adrienne." That is actually verbatim what happened. No mention that I too was an author. No witty retort. And hands slightly damp because I had just washed them in the washroom. Le sigh.

Then Lesley and I and our hosts for the evening, Mark and Bruce, went to the Penguin party, which was at an old legion hall and reminded me of the parties LAMDA used to have in London. And then we went home


Saturday

At around 6pm there was a big party for the Children's book community to which my lovely editor, Diane Kerner, at Scholastic had invited me. I was quite nervous as the invitation specified that you weren't allowed to bring a guest with you, and so I didn't have the lovely Lesley to keep me, you know, sane.

The party was on the second floor of a restaurant, and packed right away. I thought my attempt at being fashionably late, ie a whole ten minutes after six, would still make me the first one there, yet when I showed up I had to queue up the stairs to get in.

Terrified, and feeling a bit like an idiot surrounded by all these people going up to say hi to each other, I did what any normal person does in this situation. Made for the bar.

With glass of wine firmly in hand, I stood looking a bit like a lost puppy. How adorable. The only face I recognised was Sean Cullen, who is a famous actor/comedian/and now children's book author here in Canada, and I thought that that might be silly to approach him. A bit like going up to Uma Thurman or someone and saying, "Hey can I hang out with you a bit since I recognise you?" Eventually I noticed a similarly lost soul standing next to me, and so I asked him if we could chat.

It turns out he produces music and songs for kids, and I thought that was really cool. We had a nice discussion about his process, and then the party was just so filling up and I really thought I should find Diane. So I excused myself and went over to the entrance, where I found a girl wearing a Scholastic sticker, Carrie I believe. And she kindly escorted me right back to where I had been standing. Because of course Diane had been in front of me the whole time.

The rest of the night I chatted with the Scholastic folks. I suck at names, so I can't remember them all, but let me tell you, they were just totally awesome. I had such a fun relaxed time, and we just talked about all sorts. I love my publishers.

And then eventually, I went home.


Sunday

Weirdest day ever.

I went to the BEC and this time I was determined to actually collect some ARCs! And by golly I did! And they were very heavy. But fortunately the kind Scholastic folks let me keep my bag with them. Basically there isn't too much to tell about the BEC. Very similar to BEA, a little smaller, but in that way more manageable. I passed the hour long queue for Vincent Lam, and so did not get to say hi (though was awfully tempted to lean over a tell one of the people in the line, "You know he and I are being published by the same house in the states! And we met and everything!" But I thought that would be, you know, obnoxious.)

I did run into an old professor of mine who was signing books. Well actually he was having a heated discussion with two teachers about the Iraq war, and had run out of books, but I still had to introduce myself. His name is George Elliot Clarke, and he taught me Canadian Drama. While I was in his class, he won the Governor General's Award for poetry, and so we had a substitute while he went off to meet "the Queen of Canada" as he put it. He is so lovely, and so energetic, and it was so cool to see him again!

And then . . . then I left. And did a really weird thing. A photo shoot.

You see a few weeks back I got an email from a friend of a friend of a friend who was looking for models for a photo shoot to expand his own photography portfolio. And because the theme was a 1950's picnic, and 'cause I really haven't modeled much (not that that is something I've really wanted to pursue), I thought, eh why not? And so I did. There were three models and three photographers, and a makeup artist and this other girl who was helping organize the whole thing. And we went over to the island to take pictures.

I don't know if you know this, but Toronto is on Lake Ontario, and just a couple of miles out, so that you can easily see them from shore, are a few islands that are still part of the city. People live there, I mean you can't have a car, so it is very hippy like, and there is a small amusement park. It's really lovely, very naturey, and I must go out there more.

It was a fun day, and I really liked them all. Here is one of the pictures, which I just like 'cause it's from a cool point of view, even though you can't really see our faces. I'm in white, and the other model Elaine is the one in red.

Photo by Ryan Raz

And then I went to Lesley's to watch her boyfriend John's award show. That is hard to say. I'll try better. John works for the channel Space, which is a sci-fi station here in Canada. Every year they have an awards show, The Spaceys, for which he is one of three hosts. It isn't like the Oscars, that is done live, but rather filmed ahead of time and edited together and they go and give the awards to the people wherever they are. This year Kevin Spacey won for best villain (Lex Luther), and that was neat cause, well, you know . . . his last name is the name of the award and everything.

And then, as ever, I went home.

So yes, that was my weekend. I hope you enjoyed the tale! Possibly it will become a story to be passed down through the generations.

Possibly not.


____________________________________________________________

The contest to win and ARC of Alex and the Ironic Gentleman is still going strong! Remember I am choosing the winner for Thursday, so I guess you still have till Wednesday night! Keep 'em coming people!

Win an ARC of "Alex and the Ironic Gentleman" (yes your very own Ted!)

Okay, ladies and gents, I have received a lovely box full of Teds and thought that I simply had to hold a little contest, the winner of which would receive an Advance Reading Copy of my lovely book (the American version).

Of course when I decided that this would be an excellent idea, I also could not for the life of me come up with an appropriate contest.

So. After careful deliberation, I have decided that my contest will be a contest for the best idea for a contest. Something piratey, or adventurey, or really anything you can think of that might either be appropriate in relation to either Alex or myself.

The winning contest suggestion may possibly be used later in future, but right now I just want a list of the craziest contests you guys can think up. So leave your ideas in the comments section, and let's see what we shall see! The winner will be announced this time next week, at the which point I will request that he/she/it email me their mailing address.

Good luck to you all! (I've never run a contest before, so I really hope that this works out!)

Guess who's back. . . back again?

Yes ladies and gents I am back from my whirlwind weekend that was BEA (Book Expo of America) in New York City, and I am pooped! Can I just say, dude. Like seriously. Dude.

This is my life?

Evidently . . .

Anyway, forgive the Adrienne as she is typing with 3 hours of sleep, but she just had to tell you guys how awesome the whole BEA thing was, and also, actually, primarily to make you all wildly jealous. And she will now stop talking in the third person.

Okay this is going to be long, so either grab yourself a cup of tea and curl up on the couch with your laptop, or bookmark this page for later. You've been warned.


Thursday May 31st

The lovely Lesley and I, after being delayed an hour due to weather, finally land in the glorious New York. Or rather Newark. After a fab bus ride through rush hour traffic we make it to the Backspace banquet an hour late. Backspace is an online writing forum that we are members of and they were having their conference at the same time as BEA, so of course we just had to go and schmooze! It was so great to meet so many people, and put faces with the names (Jackie, Jenny, Jessica [yay weirdest cab ride ever!], Heather, EJ, Mark, Carolyn, Kim, Karen, "Comma Boy" [whose comic my readers know I adore] . . . oh man so many others, and I met them all in just a few hours so please forgive me if I haven't mentioned you by name, believe me I remember you all very vividly - can we say cast of characters?!).

Anyway the food was amazing - ooh cute story:

Lesley and I arrived late so we were ordering our food course by course instead of all at once like everyone else had done. And when the desserts were being served I went over to counter where the wait staff were dishing out the options and I kept asking, "What's that? Okay, and what's that? And that?" And the guy asked, "Well what are you looking for?" And I said cheesecake of course, but that I knew they didn't have it. So he said, "No problem." And he totally got me a slice of cheesecake even though it wasn't one of the options!! So cool!

Then a bunch of us went to the illustrious Algonquin Hotel, noted for being a hangout for authors over the years as well as the location of the Backspace conference, and then I shared a cab ride into Brooklyn with Jessica Keener, and got settled in at my good friend Jenny's place.


Friday June 1

Lesley and I meet up at the Parker Meridian to meet with her agent Jessica (different Jessica) for lunch at Norma's. Norma's is AWESOME! All breakfast food, but really, you know, good breakfast food. They served us a shot of tropical frozen smoothie, and the best tasting orange juice ever. I had eggs Benedict with smoked salmon, mmmm tasty. And we chatted about writing and publishing and Jessica talked about how much she adored Lesley (and really what's not to adore) and it was just delightful.

(Me, Lesley, Jessica)

Then we parted ways and Lesley and I met up with her hosts for the weekend, Mark and Danielle, and we had a lovely long hot walk through Central Park (after I bought 4 pashmina scarves for 20$ off the street, Lesley bought 2, but one of mine was for my mommy, so I don't feel bad that I bought more. Because I am generous, and therefore a wonderful person.)

And then we went back to our respective places and got gorgeous for supper with the Weinstein Books folks: my editor, Rob Weisbach, Katie Finch and Judy Hottensen. It was so lovely and relaxed, and they always have such nice things to say about my book so really how painful could it have been AND I ate soft shelled crabs for the first time and they were magnificent. Truly.

Then they all had to head over to The Maritime Hotel, North Cabana (which is this awesome bar in this hotel that is pretending to be a cruise ship, so that there are all these lanterns hanging everywhere and this sort of tropical feel to it), to prepare for their party we were attending later, and Lesley and I hung out for a while, sitting on the steps of these lovely brown stone homes watching people walk their dogs, and sometimes petting said dogs.

(mood picture of me on said steps)

When we went to join the party, okay, I'll admit it, I was just a little bit nervous (Lesley stop snickering!). Okay fine, maybe a bit more than that. But it was really cool, and Rob and Katie just sort of took me around and introduced me to people, who were in turn equally cool, and pictures were taken. I got to meet and talk to Chris Elliot (There's Something About Mary, Cabin Boy) who is also being published by them (a parody about climbing Mount Everest called Into Hot Air) and he was so cool, he brought his whole family with him to the party!

I also got to hang out with my friend Jon Weinberg, with whom I had attended drama school in England (like my friend Jenny, the one I was staying with in Brooklyn). He had won the gold award for his poetry book, A Calm Position, at the Independent Publishers Book Awards, and happened to be in town. It was so awesome to see him again!

(Lesley, Jon, Me)

And then after a lovely long evening, we all went to our respective abodes (well actually Jon had to go catch a plane [!!]).


Saturday June 2

Brunch with Jenny, then off to the BEA (wearing my cute skull and cross bones shirt, and snazzy red belt)!

OMG.

Guys.

The BEA?

It's like totally huge. It's like a city. In fact some of the stalls are made to look like little buildings. And each different booth had its own special carpeting. It's no longer about judging a book by it's cover people, but by the quality of the floor covering, I'm telling you.

I arrived with Lesley half an hour before I was due to sign ARCs, so we wandered around feeling overwhelmed and collecting basically no ARCs ourselves. Which is sort of the main point, you know, free books. I think we were just a bit too overcome to actually grab anything. Though we each did manage to collect a whoopee cushion and a Tony Bennett CD.

I returned to the Weinstein Books booth for 3pm and Katie was busy putting out my ARCs (oh so many Teds!). The booth was very cool, and hanging on the back wall were three illuminated posters of book covers, and yes, Alex most definitely was one of them. I sat down at the table to try and prepare myself, but waiting happily was Carolyn, a Backspacer I had met at the conference, and she was so sweet and wanted to take pictures of me and stuff, and so then I had Lesley do the same with my camera and because there was all this picture taking people started to come over and suddenly I was signing ARCs like a crazy lady. I mean I had no time to even come up with a good catch phrase, so I chose "Happy Reading" of all things! Sigh. Then Lesley had to go and I sat, for two and a half hours, signing away.

(Me with the ARCs feeling slightly overwhlemed)

(Me signing ARCs with people actually lining up and everything!)

(Lesley and Me. And the big glowing poster of Alex in the background!)

It was really fun.

I mean no one actually knew I was the author, so when they came over to pick up the book I had to say, "And I can sign it for you if you'd like!" And they'd be all, "Oh are you the author?!" And I would be all, "Yes!" And then they would come over and we'd all be excited about each other. Sometimes someone would walk by and just glance over at the booth, and I would totally pounce, "Come on, you know you want to take a look . . . " No one escaped my clutches. And then . . . the ARCs were gone!

As I sat there exhausted, a fellow Weinstein author, Vincent Lam came by. This was really cool for me because he's something of a Canadian celebrity. He won the Giller Prize here in Canada for his book, Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures, which is the top literary prize in this country. And he was a first time author, having originally been in the medical field. Anyway, he's quite well known. Weinstein Books are now publishing him in America. So, I mean, yay Canadians! And he lives in Toronto, and went to U of T, so we actually had a fair bit to chat about. Oh and he gave me a few of the ARCs he had collected from wandering around the expo, as I had, you know, none. Good people is what he is.

Then it was over, and we all walked out together, and I went back to Jenny's where I got ready to go out and celebrate her housemate's 25th birthday. It was a great party, and there were so many people there from LAMDA (that same drama school I mentioned earlier) that I hadn't seen in forever, and I just love them all so much and it was a really special night.

(Jenny, Me, Jenny's housemate Daria, two ex-LAMDA gents: Brian and Mark)

Sunday June 3

Returned home from party and packed. Tried to sleep. Three hours later got up and went to meet Lesley at the bus for the Newark airport. She too was on no sleep. Then we got on the plane. Then we flew to Toronto and my mom and dad picked us up. Then we dropped off Lesley and my parents and I went to see a robotic chair that collapses into many pieces and puts itself back together again. A very smart chair. Then I went to my apartment. Then I checked my email. Then I wrote this blog.

So that is the tale of the journey to New York and the epic adventure that was the BEA. I hope you enjoyed it! If I met any of you with the signing of the ARCs and such, thank you so much again for coming by! It was so cool to meet all of you!

And now I must go lie down or something. Adrienne is tired. And back to writing in the third person. And that definitely is not a good sign.

Off to the Big Apple

Okay everyone, I am leaving today on a jet plane for New York NY to engage in all activities BEA (Book Expo of America). Of course I go with the lovely Lesley who is fast becoming my NY buddy. Should be a good time (fingers crossed etc). We begin the itinerary with the Backspace Banquet (Backspace is a writing forum on zee net and is also having their writing conference . . . well I guess as I write this) tonight. Tomorrow we do lunch with Lesley's agent and we go to the party my publishers, Weinstein Books, are hosting in the evening. Then on Saturday I go to the expo itself and hang out a booth 3770 from 2 - 3pm signing galleys and stuff, so if anyone is in the neighbourhood . . . please stop by!

Incredibly, almost painfully, detailed report to follow on my return on Sunday.

Until then, have a lovely weekend everyone! Big wet sloppy kisses to you all! Except you. No not you, I love you, I meant you, the one standing next to . . . yes! You! You may go now.

(oh how can I even kid with my fab sexy readers, I just, man, I just love all you guys so much!)

On My Method

Okay so I've had a look at all the lovely suggestions that people gave me for blog entries (thank you so much for them by the way, and keep 'em coming!), and I guess I'll work my way through them as best I can.

I thought that today I would answer Mahak's question on my method. Just because this question really struck me that I hadn't actually answered it before. It feels like something I should have already shared. But then I thought, maybe the reason I hadn't shared it was because everyone's method is unique to them, and as such is of little help really to others. I mean there is no template or anything. Still, I know I find it interesting to read about the methods of others, so gosh, why shouldn't I share!

First off I would say that I wouldn't exactly classify my writing style as a "method", as something I thought through or anything. It just sort of evolved.

To start at the very fundamentals, I guess the first question is how do I come up with a story. Despite being a huge fan of words and playing with them, I have a very visual sensibility as well. To be honest I think it's 'cause I watch a lot of TV and movies. So, often, I'll see an image and be inspired to write from that. Not just a picture or anything, sometimes it's a situation, actually you know what it's like? It's like those dioramas you had to make in school. I LOVE those diorama thingys. Anyway. Whatever the image is, it usually gives me butterflies and I get all excited and I immediately start a little fantasy in my head.

For example, with my play I am directing for Summerworks, I had an image in my head (based on those drawing room comedies) of seven friends lounging in an open space concept living room of a swanky cottage. From that I then had to answer a lot of questions. Who were these people, how did they relate to each other, why are they there . . . and then suddenly the ball just got rolling.

Usually the images I use are pretty stock. But what made Alex and the Ironic Gentleman unique for me was for the first time I just decided to use every single "image" I liked, however stereotyped or typically "Adrienne" (I am pretty easy to pinpoint. If I were a room, for example, I would be a two story library with a large fire place, dark red walls and worn leather arm chairs, but I digress).

So what this meant was that I decided to write an "everything I like" kind of book and just put them all in the same universe. So you have art deco party trains with tall ships, pirates and behind the scenes on a movie set.

The actual writing process. I tend to write chronologically. Start with chapter one, end with the last chapter. But occasionally when I am stuck, or I can tell my brain just wants to go to the next good bit, I jump and then go back to fill in the blanks.

The reason though I typically work from beginning to end, is I don't really outline. I need to have a general knowledge of what will happen, and the points along the way, but I don't really know from the off who my characters will be and how they will interact (I write about lots and lots of characters, so I mean those ones just pop up. My main characters I always know from the start). Therefore one scene informs the next, and without any doubt when I reach the end of the book, somehow everything will work out in a spectacular fashion, more so than I could have even expected. In Alex, I knew exactly how it was going to end and yet as I was writing the ending, a true moment of inspiration hit me, and something that had happened at the very beginning of the story came full circle there at the end. And I was like, woah, I totally did not expect that to happen. But it does. Happened in both of my plays too . . . I don't know how, it's a mystery.

I don't actually tend to do a lot of drafts, but edit as I go. Not to the point where I never get past page one, sometimes I just write on whatever the quality. Now of course I am not including all the editing and everything I did with my agent and editors. I mean, with them, gosh I can't tell you how many drafts I've been through. But in the initial, finishing the book, I've always had sort of a pretty finished product first time round. Then I go back and tweak that.

When it comes to editing, and editorial suggestions, I consider myself pretty open minded. However when it comes to bigger structural edits, I tend not to do the specific suggestion that is offered. Not that it isn't a good one, and not that I ignore the spirit of the suggestion, but because I usually can figure out a way to achieve the same end, while sort of sticking with the original vision of the scene (though sometimes the scene just has to change, and even I see that).

When my agent asked me to cut 10 000 words, a lot of people started offering suggestions of what scenes to cut etc. But I was determined to cut the words within the scenes, and not any of them in and of themselves. And by gum I did it! From the first draft to the final one, one scene has since been cut (understandably so, a nice scene, but it didn't go anywhere), and another one completely changed (different location etc). Three sections have been re-worked over and over to make them quicker, but their arcs and locations etc have not been altered. And the rest of the book has been tightened, words deleted, changed and so on.

Who knows what kind of adventures I'll have with this other one I am writing now (which was another question: what am I doing now, and I'll answer another time)?

I write quite dramatically. As if I am directing the scene. I place my characters on stage, and move them about, I know where they all are at all times. Sometimes I work inside out, the character's motivations and the conflict they encounter and how that leads to a result. Sometimes outside in, this character needs to be over here so that something else can happen. Um . . . maybe they want to look out the window for some reason . . .?

And it takes effort. A lot of work. Just to get bum in seat and to write several pages, I go through a HUGE emotional roller coaster. Sometimes the parents have to be called. Sometimes the lovely Lesley. There are days when it just flows, and days that each sentence feels like torture, and the weirdest thing, is that on re-reading the work, I honestly can not tell which one of those days I was having at the time. The work, whether inspired or squeezed onto the page, still has quality and merit. So don't ever think that if it isn't inspired, your work won't be any good. It just ain't true.

And yes sometimes I have the TV on in the background. But not a show like Lost or anything. Something mindless that I don't actually listen to. I can't write with music, because music is meant to only be heard, and so is designed to move you through sound. I get very affected by music, and while some authors find it inspirational, I find it distracting. I never really can have one bit of music to inspire a scene as there are usually a lot of different characters who are all in different places and therefore all have their own soundtracks.

But TV was meant to be watched AND heard, so that if I only listen to it, it comes across as white noise. I find it hard to work in utter quiet, so I use it to keep me company. Man I wish I had a dog.

Anyway, that's all I can really think of at the moment. If I have missed some element of writing that you are curious about, please feel free to ask. It's a really interesting question, and one I am not sure I can ever entirely answer.

It's happened to me too!

Yes ladies and gents, we are all rather familiar with the hilariousness that is Patricia Wood's ARC of Lottery being sold many times over on ebay and I am extremely proud to announce that an ARC of the UK version of my book is up on ebay too! So crazy and totally unexpected! And it comes with bonus extras!

Here you can check it out and just have an awesome giggle!

ebay ARC: "Alex and the Wigpowder Treasure"

This is good stuff

In my typical blog tour I found a link at Lit Soup by author Libba Bray. Ms. Bray's post is in response to a blog entry by Joss Whedon (yay the linking of blogs to other blogs to other blogs . . . ).

I am blown away by this post of hers because it is something I so easily could have written, and, wait a minute, actually have written. I was once given an assignment to write about something I was passionate about for a drama class. So I chose the F word. Feminism. How it has become a dirty word and affiliated with extreme actions, when really the meaning is very simple, equality for women (I cringe when some woman says, "I'm not a feminist, I'm an equalitist." Sigh). Anyway, there is not much point in me going on about it as Ms. Bray has done an excellent job herself, so I direct you now to her blog:

http://libba-bray.livejournal.com/16264.html

8 Random Things About Me

I have been tagged again, so here are 8 random things about me.

1. My grandparents on my dad's side escaped from Denmark to Sweden in a fishing boat during WWII when the Nazis were attempting a mass round up of Jews on the Jewish new year.

2. For large family celebrations on my mom's side, my four cousins and I find ourselves somehow roped into creating and singing parody songs for the occasion. Very Von Trapp (and all of us can more than carry a tune for some reason).

3. I played a duster in a three person version of Beauty and the Beast. This is what I looked like. I defy to you figure out how on earth I look like a duster in this costume.


4. I have become so obsessed with Lost that each time after I watch an episode I have the craziest Lost dreams. And I think season three was the best (heresy I know).

5. I am a terrible speller. I blame this on taking French Immersion from the ages of 5 - 10.

6. I was in French Immersion from the ages of 5 - 10.

7. I have movie traditions. ie: if the film is a trilogy I need to see each one with the same people. Some may call it OCD, I like to call it loyalty.

8. I have created the ultimate dessert. Plain apple sauce with honey, put into the microwave for a minute thirty, add cinnamon. Tastes just like the inside of an apple crumble thing, but without the stuff that causes badness to my digestive system (that could be number 9, I have a really bad digestive system).


And there you go! I hope you are all feeling much more enlightened now! Of course most everyone I can think of to tag already has been, so I will tag the lovely Lesley who has been very remiss in her blogging of late anyway!

(oh and I have the Internet at home again!! It's soooooooooooooo exciting!)

MIA

So my internet is down and I have limited access, and I just wanted to say this because I may not be blogging that much in the next 2 weeks, and I am very sorry. And I have one or two things I want to chat about too. Sigh.

But I was also wondering if maybe my fabulous, loyal, and sexy readers would mind offering up some suggestions, or questions, for me to blog about. Any pressing concerns? Inquiries? I thought it could be cool to ask what kind of entries you guys like reading from me.

And before you all ask, yes this is because I am lazy and I want you to do my work for me.

Seriously, though, anything?

My UK Cover!

Yes, yes I know, you've all been waiting oh so impatiently, and so now here I would like to introduce you to my UK cover!




Isn't it just so cool how different covers can be?! Okay and before anyone asks me the inevitable, "Which one do you like more?" can I just get it out of the way by annoying you all so completely by telling you: I love them both.

I'm sorry if it sounds wishy washy, but it is simply the truth. They are completely different from each other and they each highlight completely different things. I love the colourfulness of the UK one, the sort of crazy silliness it represents (which is what is inside the book as well). The sketches of the characters are awesome, and I am just thrilled that Mr. Underwood and Alex's Uncle get to make an appearance. But my absolute favouritist bit?

I love, LOVE, the little sketches around the border! With just a few simple lines the artist, Paul Bommer, has managed to capture the essence of so many characters (but I love the sketch of Port Cullis best!). It's also kind of retro feeling, a la "Catch Me If You Can" title sequence (the Steven Spielberg movie? With Leo DiCaprio? Tom Hanks?).

Anyway, I am so excited that I can finally share it with you! Man, I mean seriously! Just so totally awesome!

Summerworks

There's a theatre festival here in Toronto that happens about a month after our big Fringe festival called SummerWorks. It is an opportunity for theatre artists to have access to some of the theatres in Toronto and showcase their work. The shows are chosen by jury, and each play/performance gets publicity and technical support. It's cool.

And I am pleased to announce that my play "A Weekend in the Country" was accepted. I will be directing it as well, and since I suck at directing myself I will not be acting in it. Besides it may be a bit overwhelming considering at this moment I am the director, writer, producer and stage manager (hopefully I'll acquire a SM soon). We'll be performing at the Factory Mainspace, and I am very excited about the whole thing!

Anyway I thought that in honour of the event, it might be interesting to those of you who are not in the theatre business to get a sense of what a rehearsal schedule for a play is like. As with everything I write here, there are different ways to do everything, and exceptions to every rule. This model I am giving you is used typically for already existing plays, not workshopping or experimental works. Oh and I am not getting into all the work the techies are doing at the same time as the play is being put together. I think if I did that this would be the biggest blog entry ever (having been a techie for a repertory company for 6 years, I can tell you, it's a lot of work).


- first read through
- full cast, director, with stage manager reading the stage directions, usually around a table and quite casual and relaxed

- rehearsals
- the longest period in the process where the play comes together. Often unfortunately most plays are churned out as quickly as possible, over perhaps the course of two to three weeks (obviously there are longer rehearsal periods as well if you are lucky and have the money for it). It makes it easier if the actors learn their lines as soon as possible. Some actors even learn their lines before the first read through. This makes blocking out the staging much easier, and allows for the actor to get into their character more deeply without having to worry about carrying a script everywhere with them. In this period, dances are choreographed, fights are staged, and actors become totally fabulous in their characters.

- levels
- towards the end of the rehearsal process the director, stage manager and lighting/sound technicians all get together for an extremely long night to set levels for the show. This means going through the script facing the empty stage and setting what the lights will look like for each scene, how loud the music will be and any other "effects" that will be used. Of course this level setting can only happen after all the lights have been put up and focused previously by the technicians. Nonetheless often during a level setting lights will have to be adjusted, and usually there are one or two crew members who have the oh so glamorous job of walking the stage. This means the crew person stands where the director wants the scene and actor in it to be lit, and the director et al make sure that the scene is lit correctly. It is a very tedious job being that person (I know, I've done it). You have to sit around for a long time, and then be ready to jump up and be right on the ball.

- cue to cue
- possibly the other longest night ever for the gang, this time the actors are a part of the fun. In this case the director, stage manager and technicians run through the cues of the show practising the timing and placement of each cue, with the actors going through their first and last lines of every scene between cues. So you have scene one where the lights fade up slowly and some piano music plays softly. Then you skip to the end of the scene where one of the actors cry out, "My word, he has a banana!" and the lights snap out with a crash of thunder etc. If the cue is not called correctly, or something isn't quite right, it will be corrected and then tried again. "My word he has a banana!" Perfect this time. If this is a musical, then there are many cues within a song itself, different colours of lights for different lines of songs . . . it's a very long process. Again the actors can get really restless, and well goofy, and the stage manager, director and technicians furious with the actors. I have been on both sides and I totally appreciate both perspectives.

- tech run
- a run through of the play with all tech and everything. Typically the actors are not in costume yet, though sometimes if a costume is tricky to contend with actors will choose to practice with it. Props, if they haven't already been used during the rehearsal process, will all be introduced at this point.

- dress rehearsal
- all the bells and whistles. Costumes, make-up, tech, props, special effects. If you are lucky you get a few of these rehearsals. More often than not, you don't. These rehearsals are often a mess because this is the very first time everything has come together. As such there is this superstition that if you have a bad dress, opening night will be amazing.

- previews
- rare for a small fringe show, but much more common for the big plays in the big theatres, the previews are a few shows done with all the bells and whistles and also in front of an audience (usually the tickets are cheaper for a preview in order to tempt people to come). They allow for the actors to get comfortable in the play while still technically not being officially opened yet. Reviewers will often come in at this point to review the show, and final adjustments, both technical and artistic (cutting lines, re-directing scenes) will happen here. After the shows the director will give "notes", reminding actors of things that they forgot, or improve on, or just saying, "Bang up job there chaps!", and also "notes" to the technicians, much the same way.

- opening night
- opening night

-the run
- the play gets turned over from the director to the stage manager (who calls the show, ie telling the lighting and sound people and backstage people what to do - giving them their cues which were established at the cue to cue all those many moons ago, as well as giving "notes" now). The director can then go off and direct something else as this show keeps running on.

- closing night
- closing night

- strike
- where the set is taken apart, costumes and props put away, and technical equipment brought down. In a professional house, this will be done by the crew and costume/makeup/prop people. If however you are doing a smaller show, everyone involved will take part.

-cast party
- what happens at the cast party, stays at the cast party


And there you have it! Again, very basic version of what goes on, told from the perspective of a small theatre show. In the big theatres everyone has their job to do, and you bet your booty that the unions will see to it that the right person is doing the right job. But when it is a smaller show with smaller funds and smaller casts, then it becomes a big team effort. And the best casts are the ones who embrace that. And then it becomes a really special thing.

Tap Dancing

Hey all! Time for some tap dancing!

What is this you ask? Well the fab J M McDermott tapped my blog as a "thinking blog" which I just thought was very lovely of him to do, and now as the rules dictate (and just because it is the nice thing to do) I would like to tap others in turn.

The rules dictate 5 blogs, but I am having a hard time finding that many, not because the content out there doesn't exist, but because the ones I happen to frequent have all already been given the award. So I have three instead.

The first person I am choosing is John Connolly, the prolific bestselling Irish thriller author who's recent novel, "The Book of Lost Things" was a bit of a departure for him. He updates his blog, when he is not busy book touring etc., around once a week, and I've always found his posts incredibly insightful and well written (even if they are simply about the day to day mechanics of his life, which are always my favourite posts). He really let's you experience the world of writing through his eyes, and I just think everyone should head over right now to have a read through some of his archives.

So Mr. Connolly - I TAP THEE!

www.johnconnollybooks.com/blogger.html


The next tap goes to a now defunct blog that is still worth reading. It is the journal entries by yet another prolific author, Guy Gavriel Kay that relate the details of the run up to the publication of his book "Ysabel". Yet another very interesting read about the business, and well worth reading despite the fact that the journey is over, and also again, very well written.

So Mr. Kay - I TAP THEE!

www.brightweavings.com/forums/tour.htm



And finally, I must tap my lovely writing/acting buddy Lesley, not just because she is my lovely writing/acting buddy Lesley, but because her entries are remarkably astute (that is when she has time to post). Sometimes observational, sometimes almost poetic (check out her rant about April), this blond bombshell deserves a nice tap I think.

And so Ms. Livingston - I TAP THEE!

http://lesleylivingston.blogspot.com/



For an explanation as to what the heck this whole tapping thing is, check out:

http://www.thethinkingblog.com/2007/02/thinking-blogger-awards_11.html

This guy amuses me . . .

And as such I thought I would share with you one of his many comics:



Don't ask me why this one gets to me so much. But I just could not stop laughing when I read this!

You guys (and especially the writers amongst you) should really check out his other stuff here: Keith Cronin

A Spoiler Free "Lottery" Review

Yes ladies and gents, I have finally finished the fabulous Lottery by our lovely Orion [aka Patricia Wood] (and by finally I don't mean, thank goodness it's all over, but simply that what with real life getting in the way and everything and all I really want to do is read the book, I have finally got the opportunity to). Now fear not. There shall be no spoilers. But just for fun, since I've always wanted to do it, I will make you highlight to read this next bit:

I have nothing really important to say here but thank you very much for indulging me. You are a fabulous person, and may I just add, look rather fetching today as well!

You may have heard, or may not, that Lottery is a pretty popular book already. There is tons of buzz on the Internet and in the book world about it (and I feel honoured to be contributing to the hype) and it isn't even out until August. And you may have already read one or two reviews on the subject. So you may be a little tired of all the accolades being handed Pat's way. And if you are you may not want to read any further. Because, well, because I am going to add to them.

First here's the little blurb about the book from Putnam:

Perry’s IQ is only 76, but he’s not stupid. His grandmother taught him everything he needs to know to survive: She taught him to write things down so he won’t forget them. She taught him to play the lottery every week. And most important, she taught him who to trust. When Gram dies, Perry is left orphaned and bereft at the age of 31. Then his weekly Washington State Lottery tickets wins him 12 million dollars, and he finds he has more family than he knows what to do with. Peopled with characters both wicked and heroic who leap off the pages, LOTTERY is a deeply satisfying, gorgeously rendered novel about trust, loyalty, and what distinguishes us as capable.

Lottery is an interesting book. On the surface, it's something that we've seen before. Plot wise: a lottery changes a man's life. Character wise: a not typically intelligent main character making very astute observations on human nature. But whatever, it isn't about what we see on the surface. It's the panache with which Patricia weaves the story together that makes this book unique, and the effortless and fearless way she writes her lovely MC, Perry, that touches your heart.

The plot is simple, a man with an IQ of 76 wins the lottery, and then all this "stuff" happens as a result. Yet the lottery in this book is less of a catalyst for the story, but more of a structure. Perry's life becomes different and yet stays oddly the same.

Perry refers to himself as an auditor, because he listens. As such we are introduced to some fabulously inventive characters, his friends, his boss, and his family, all of whom reveal themselves to the reader through Perry as a filter. The choices that Patricia makes in these characterisations are just wonderful, which make these characters seem more like people she has observed from afar, than creations of her own imagination.

The story itself, which I really don't want to elaborate on because, well, you should just read it yourself, is handled deftly by the author. In less capable hands it could have quite easily veered off into the sentimental. However with Patricia at the helm we never quite run aground. With Perry she is able to address what one could define as "issues", while still maintaining a slight emotional distance because of the man's own take on people and the world. This isn't to say that the story isn't affecting emotionally. Trust me there are a few tears that are shed for sure. But we feel things because Perry feels them, because we have grown to understand him so completely, and not because we are reading about something that is "sad". You cannot help but empathise with Perry.

I'm sorry I can't say much more. I don't even feel it is right to talk specifics about the secondary characters, whom I really loved, because it is far more fun for them to be revealed to you as you read. Needless to say this is a wonderful book, and well worth reading. Not that I have any doubt it will be a huge success, but don't read it because of that. No bandwagon jumping here. Read it because it's a lovely story that will move you, and make you very happy that you got to be a part of that world.

Anyway, thank you Pat so much for the ARC! I was very flattered to get one! Best of luck (not that you need it)!

_________________________________________________

As a side note, I had the pleasure to be interviewed in my capacity as an actress by a lovely young lady who calls herself Miss Erin. Do stop by her blog to check it out, and to just read some of her blog in general: Interview at "Backstage Musings"

Pre-ARC!!!

I have an ARC!! I do! Or really what I like to call a pre-ARC. I call it a pre-ARC because as my editor explained, these are more like colour photocopies. They are making prettier ones in a few weeks where I will get many more to send off as I please, but right now they are trying to get them out to as many people as possible so they wanted to get the show on the road. Still I mean, it looks very much like other ARCs I've seen out there, like a soft cover book, so I can't imagine what more they are planning on doing with it.





But who cares?! I think it is absolutely gorgeous and I can't really believe I have a book! I mean it looks like a book! Like bound and stuff! My favourite part? The spine! Sounds silly maybe, but think about it, aside from the cover, it's the bit you look at most because when it is shelved next to other books, that's all you see. I love my spine!



Okay now for the story of the pre-ARC. I get a call yesterday morning from my mom to tell me it arrived. But my poor mom! My dad's out for the day so she's all alone, no one to hug or jump up and down with, so she's a teeny bit giddy on the phone. And when she brings it over to my place, she just refuses to leave and sort of just keeps smiling at me. It's very sweet.

Then I spend all day in my apartment doing whatever, and wherever I go I take my pre-ARC with me. A bit like a teddy bear or blanky.

Then I go meet the lovely Lesley for drinks, and I so have to bring my pre-ARC with me. We order and I show her and we get all giddy about it. And then the waitress comes back and I just have to show her. So I do! And then she gets all giddy! We notice how her hair is cut a lot like Alex on my cover. Then she goes off and Lesley reads the first chapter of the book. When the waitress comes back she tells us that she told the bartender who got all excited and that the next round is on them! So sweet and seriously unexpected! We chat more with her, her name is Kerry (and I am spelling this right 'cause we had a long talk about the spelling, how she was named after the County Kerry in Ireland, Lesley pointed out it was a good thing she wasn't named after the County Cork), and she is just as excited as we are.

And then I go home and read some of my book on the subway. I was hoping someone would come up and ask, "Ooh interesting looking book, what's it about?" so I could say, "Oh, you know, pirates. And see this? That's my name, I wrote it!" But alas no one did.

Finally I go to bed, and pick up Lottery to read more (which is so awesome and you will get a full review anon), but my book is right next to me in bed still.

And now it is here, looking up at me from my desk as I write this. My happy little pre-ARC. I think I'll call him Ted.