Why Art Matters

My favourite writing spot. On the whole of Earth.

 

It's been more than a year since last I've blogged. In that time, my third book has sold well, I've visited schools across Ontario and Manitoba, celebrated the first I Read Canadian Day, and I'm now writing through a world-wide pandemic. Like so many, my life has been upended. Any publishing interest is currently on pause, waiting for the economic fallout as a result of closed schools, shuttered economies, and sick fellow human beings. 

Like many writers, I'm often overcome with the thoughts of, "What am I doing here? Why does it matter? There is so much at stake far greater than the words I write or don't write. People are dying. People are losing everything. Does my work, really matter?" 

Those are some pretty big thoughts. And I have worked them round and round in my head and heart. I've finally settled on the fact that art in all its form unites, supports, inspires, and encourages. It reminds us that we are connected to others, that living is a shared experience. That life must and will go on, although changed either temporarily or perhaps permanently. So, I will go on and write. I'll take this time to build my portfolio of stories. Fine tune and edit completed manuscripts. Work with my fellow critique partners and assist with their novels. Immerse myself in words and stories and continue to improve my craft. In doing so, I hope in some small way to help soothe the anxious worries of the children and teens who read my novels. Letting them know, that they are not alone in their struggles, even now when everything seems strange and often scary.

I wish you all good health, peace of mind, and hope for better days to come.

The simple joy of a sunrise.

TD Canadian Children's Book Week Tour Approaches!

The days are growing ever closer to the start of my tour TD Canadian Children's Book Week through southern Ontario. Beginning on Monday, May 6th, I'll be visiting Brantford, Burlington, Hamilton, Port Dover, Glen Morris, Oakville and Paris!

Presentation materials sorted

My bags are nearly all packed, my presentations polished and now I impatiently wait for Sunday afternoon's flight to Hamilton.

I'll blog when possible, with updates on my journey and reflections of my travels, spreading a love of reading, writing and creativity.

TD Canadian Children's Book Week Road Trip 2019!

Two of my tour stops are at the Burlington Library. 

Very excited to work with these young writers.

Leaping Hurdles of Self-Doubt

Writing here, writing there. Writing anywhere.

It's a long and winding road..."dah-dah dah-dah daaaaah"... to the next book.

I hope you read the dah-dahs to the tune of the The Beatles song, Long and Winding Road. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, please follow this link: https://youtu.be/OIHEuYfDypg.

Now that I've dumped that song into your brain, let's talk about writing, shall we?

Worry. Anxiety. Self-doubt.
I am a master of all three.
I know what you're thinking.
Overachiever. 

A writer's life isn't all J.K. Rowling's theme parks and Roald Dahl's movies. It isn't all writing from morning's first light, to the pitch black of midnight either. It is a daily routine of setting pen to paper, or fingers to key board and leaping over the hurdles of self-doubt. Yes. Self-doubt. Will my next book be any good? Will it find an audience or am I writing for an audience of one?

There's a saying in the writing community: "You are only as good as your last book." No resting on laurels over here in my big yellow house!

Pixabay says this is laurel.
It looks like holly to me.

So, I have chucked out all laurels and taken a good long running start and am jumping as high as possible over anxious feelings. I've now completed my next middle grade, A Time of Peril, and have sent it to an agent for consideration. Fingers crossed, he likes it. In the meantime I have promised myself not to stalk my inbox for his reply and am well into the book that follows it.

Here is the book blurb: 

A Time of Peril is a humorous fantasy about twelve-year-old Lizzie’s daring mission to rescue her confused tea-cozy-wearing Great Aunt Bess imprisoned in the dungeon of an evil dark faerie queen in a magical land called the Kingdom. Under the guidance of a two-foot-tall talking, purple-suit-wearing spider Guardian named Sir Duncan, Lizzie adopts a feisty Staff of Wisdom named Roofinius, a book of spells, evil-turned-sweet gnome-like gnarfs, a young fellow junior-warden named Trevor and his shrunken Guardian, Sir Leopold. Lizzie’s courage is continuously tested as they trek across the Kingdom—facing fears and foes with hearts and minds set not only on freeing all the evil queen’s prisoners, but the entire Kingdom as well. 

And what's in book two?
Leprechauns of course.

"I'm afraid at failing at whatever story I'm writing - that it won't come up for me, or that I won't be able to finish it." Stephen King, Rolling Stone 2014 Interview 

The Year of Yes

Yes, please. Yes, thank you. Yes, of course.

Our move overseas was full of changes and challenges for our family, not all of them fun. Some moments were downright unpleasant. 

However, rather than run naked through the cobble-stoned streets of England like a lunatic, I decided to challenge myself to try anything and everything that came my way while over here. 

(That is correct. Those were my only two options; Wild Nudity or Never Uttering No.)

I am now coming up to the 18 month anniversary of "Saying Yes", whenever possible, and so far all opportunities have proven possible. I've been pushed over, above, and beyond my comfort zone. This has been nerve wracking, nauseating, and exhilarating all at the same time. Who knew adrenaline could be such a rush. I know, lame, but sometimes you have to "say yes" to lame. See what I did there? 

So, this is me, doing something I never thought I'd ever get the chance to do. I got to be a reporter; not once, but twice.

I practiced head nods for this bit. Such dedication.

Here is my first interview and foray into the world of journalism. (That would be extremely small "j" journalism, as I have zero training, and truthfully the CBC will not be calling anytime soon.) In this video I speak to Karen Delahay, one of the founders of Hertford's leading visual arts venue; Courtyard Arts.

The History of Hertford's Courtyard Arts

In my second Courtyard Arts interview I met the talented artist, Paul Hiles. His work illustrates his love of London and showcases his affection for 1950s/60s culture and style. His house was an homage to everything Mod.

I could have lived the rest of my days, quite happily in this kitchen.

 It's All in the Details - Paul Hiles

My extreme gratitude goes to Courtyard Arts for saying "yes" to me conducting these interviews and to Dr. Mike Howarth for having faith in me to pull them off. He is a video wizard and was somehow able to edit out my mad-blinking affliction. 

If you are looking to get connected to the art scene in Hertford, England, follow this link to Courtyard Arts.

If you need anything to do with video, get in touch with Dr. Mike Howarth here: MHMVR

And finally, if you are considering your own, "Year of Yes", 

I highly recommend reading Amy Poehler's book, 

Yes Please. 

Inspirational and hilarious. How could you say, no?

Buy it!

Forever Julia wins McNally Robinson Book Awards for Young People (older categor)

In fact the road was a lot like this,
minus the mountains & the arid landscape.
Otherwise identical, but metaphorical.

It's been a long and winding road, back to this blog!

Apparently moving to another county across an ocean is sort of a big deal. Sometimes it even interrupts your life, even if you are not an organized type A personality. It seems a transatlantic relocation will put a bit of a kink in your everyday goings on.

Go figure.

Sunrise over our Pier in Ponemah.
(The Drew snapped this photo!)

Now we are back to the cottage in Ponemah, Manitoba for the summer, where I get to complete my middle grade novel; Ford and Ellie: Family of Spies along the shores of Lake Winnipeg.

While in England I had the extreme honour of receiving two nominations for Manitoba Book Awards; The John Hirsch Award for Most Promising Manitoba Writer and the McNally Robinson Book Awards for Young People (older category). The first award went to the talented Chantal Fiola, but I won a Manitoba Book Award for Forever Julia! 

                              Crazy, right? 

Super bad image, but that signature doesn't lie!
Much Happy Dancing was done.

Come August 30th we head back to our final year in England with full and heavy hearts. Our Winnipeg and lake-time fun with our friends and family will fuel us for further adventures in Europe and carry us back to our new friends and dear family in England.

How can it be, that in 12 short months we now find ourselves stretched between two countries, thousands of miles apart? If only the Concord would come out of retirement and fly to Winnipeg every four months, life would be sublime.

Hmmm. There may be a story in there...

What is Your Theme Song?

By the light of the silvery moon...

While listening to classical music on the drive home this morning - Claude Debussy's Claire de Lune to be exact - I had this funny sort of thought. 

Normally while driving, fresh writing ideas come to me or my current character's dialogue chatters on in my head. But today as I raced down the back roads of Hertfordshire, I began thinking about the composer of the beautiful music that flooded through my car.

Who was this Debussy?

Mozart, Quartet in C

How did he "think" up these songs? Did he hear the music in his head as he walked about town, like writers hear their characters' conversations? When Debussy showered, did great trills and crescendos crash down upon him, like words and passages do for me?

What would it be like to have music as great as Mozart, Beethoven, and Debussy lilt through your mind and carry you through each and every day?

I have often used music to set the tone for writing. Some characters I create prefer AC/DC, others The Weekend. Some, I feel even have a theme song that become synonymous with who they are. Music helps my creativity. 

I have now arrived home and have Claire de Lune cranked on my laptop. Its haunting melody surrounds me as I tackle the next scene in Ford and Ellie. 

Moon Fever on my brain.

How will Debussy's music shape my next passage?

Imagine, if you were the one to make music that others enjoy and use to help fuel their creative endeavours. Both current and classical music is often used in television and film as a movie's score and I then wondered further, "Was there one specific song that Debussy would have considered the score to his life? Did he have a theme song?"

My theme song changes quite regularly. Currently, it is Chumbawamba's Tub Thumping (I Get Knocked Down). Not because the lyrics are awe-inspiring or incredibly meaningful, but the energy of the song lifts my spirits and pumps me up.

What is your theme song?

Edits, Revisions, Rewrites. Fun.

Not sure why I thought I was done editing Forever Julia. Maybe because this summer I strengthened Julia's relationship with her boyfriend, tweaked her interactions with her best friend Annika, and merged two characters into one new, uber dude?

Maybe.

More likely it is because I am often a completely unrealistic dreamer. Somehow I thought I would skip merrily over the copy editing step.

Ou est copy editing you wonder?

It is the joyful line by line analysis of every single sentence.

I wish I could say this news filled my heart with a joy only writers can feel. Even more, I wished I Happy Danced around my laptop. I do love a Happy Dance. But I would be lying.

Sort of.

I do want Forever Julia to be the best book I've written, thus far. I want readers to pick it up and think,

"This is the BEST BOOK EVER, I need to read more of Jodi Carmichael's works!" 

But there is this tiny and almost impossible to hear voice, sucking its thumb and hiding behind my left rib cage*, whining,

"Come on. When is this ever going to be done?!"

Thankfully, I am a grown mature woman. I am married, with two children, and a healthy mortgage so sadly it must be true.

Naturally, I can shut up that whiny voice - fast. 

I only need to get myself in writing mode complete with fuzzy slippers, a pot of coffee, and half a pan of Nanaimo Bar. 

(Who am I kidding. I'll eat the entire tray.)

Nanaimo Bars at the ready.
(New York Slice for my American Pals.)

*That is right, that whining voice hides behind my left rib cage. This is also where one of my lungs went to recover after I played that extremely exhausting parents vs kids soccer game. Apparently it is a good place to chill.

The Craft Makes My Left Eye Bulge. And Twitch.

It has been too long since I returned to my middle grade manuscript, Ford and Ellie's Mostly Solved Mysteries: Family of Spies. AKA Ford and Ellie.

Much has gotten in my way, much of which was out of my control, but however it happened, my free time was consumed. Today I snatched back the reigns & scheduled actual writing time. It worked.

I'm not going to lie. It wasn't easy. 

I found myself drifting to other things; laundry, email, messy bedrooms, plus my left eye has developed a twitch. But I did get some fresh words onto paper.

Baby Steps, Peeps. 

That's how this next novel will get written. 

Twitchy-Eyed Baby Steps.

Zero Purple Chickens

Recently, I posted a link to my lesson plans and was surprised to see a purple chicken attached to my link. 

Why does the vast and powerful internet do weird things like this? 

Since the Great Googler has not given me any deep insight into this phenomenon I decided to share it with you here. 

Any thoughts?

Jodi Carmichael shared a link.

7 minutes ago · Edited

For my teaching pals. This is where you can download Spaghetti lesson plans . Not sure why a purple chicken displays in this link. There are exactly zero purple chickens in my book. There is one green gecko and one brown dog, but I passed on poultry. I mean, who can compete with Mo Willems' Pigeon? He's got birds covered.

Spaghetti is NOT a Finger Food Lesson Plans - Little Pickle Press

www.littlepicklepress.com

Spaghetti is NOT a Finger Food Lesson Plans, based of the award-winning chapter book written by Jodi Carmichael and illustrated by Sarah Ackerley, will provide children with an...

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Kill Your Darlings. Check.

And kill my darling Tyler I did. 

In my first crack at edits for Great Plains, I merged two beloved characters into one to tighten the protagonist's character arc and strengthen plot lines.

Gulp.

Although difficult to bid adieu, it was the right step to take.

Next up for review; Forever Julia's time line.

Peace of cake, right?

Shout out to Chapters St. Vital!

Another successful book signing at Chapters St. Vital, done and complete!

I met all sorts of folks. Avid readers, burgeoning writers from ages 9 to 29, parents looking for books for reluctant readers, and of course grandparents. Again, I was astounded by the numbers of grandparents buying books for their grandchildren.

Most awesome.

Pat, me (chinless), & Christina - "An Anitas Writing Group Selfie"

Throughout the afternoon I was joined by my writing friends, my
parents, and my daughters who came and went, keeping me company and enticing shoppers to buy Spaghetti! My dad in particular had a delightful time speaking to customers and to Joseph, who looked after us throughout the book signing, making us feel like part of the Chapters team.

They say employees are a reflection of the general health and attitude of a business, and if that is so, Chapters must be doing everything right. Every staff member I've dealt with has been enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and a joy to work with.

Three Cheers for Chapters!

Wanna' be a Working Writer?

J.K. Rowlings' Loose Change

I suppose my Artistic Statement can’t simply be:

I want to make bags of cash writing novels, so I can stop working two jobs to pay for food, water, and soccer shoes for my kids. 

I want to be that elusive beast; 

The Working Writer.

After mind bending hours of revision, I believe I have written my Artistic Statement. I also believe it may be too salesy and not enough artsy. And it is not long. In fact, I would deem it short.

I believe this may be a problem.

I am in the midst of drafting my very first literary grant application. It took me less than 3.5 minutes to learn that each granting agency, much like every publisher, requires something a wee bit different. The first needs a 500 word essay. The next, a 252 word Artistic Statement. But most want a Project Proposal. Which makes sense. 

Those holding the money bags need to know why you can't write your book without their moolah. 

For example; if you are planning a research trip to Bali in typhoon season, they need to know the reasons behind your  insanity best laid plans. Like a bookie at the Assiniboia Downs Racetrack, they're hedging their bets that you'll be the next Governor General recipient. (Or at least sell through your first 5,000 book print run.)

...and then off to Bali. Note to self; pack an umbrella.

The Manitoba Arts Council allows for two pages to complete their Project Proposal. Two pages. That seems far too generous. I believe I will need two, possibly three lines. Four lines max, if I use Jokerman 16 point font. (I believe Times New Roman is overrated.)

Gack. I mean, Gack.

Thankfully, I am well prepared for this Grant App Challenge. 

Edie Brickell's jazzy tunes waft through the house, a heaping bowl of peanut M&M's keeps me energized and awake, and my daughters have gone to bed without complaint. 

And yes, I realize that writing this blog post is not helping to complete the actual grant application that I am blogging about. I may need help. And good Karma. And luck. Yes. Wish me luck.

P.S. I have no clue who or what this dude is. I typed in luck and clip art presented me with him. Or her. Whatevs. All I know is, if he's lucky then pass me a toga, a recorder, and large vat of dippy-do hair gel. I'm getting my luck on.

Character Motivation - Young Author's Club

Motivation is key to believable characters.

Why does anyone do what they do? Why do people say what they say or respond the way they respond? 

Why? Why? Why?

The curious mind of a writer spends a lot of time contemplating what is going on in the minds of everyone around them, deeply engrossed in examining human behaviour.

In order to encourage my Young Authors to "think like a writer" I asked these pointed questions this week: 

What MOTIVATES your character? 

What drives your protagonist to keep going when everything is working against them? What is it about them specifically that makes them respond differently than everyone else?

Great plots still need captivating characters.

There were many great responses, many baffled faces, and an agreement that more character sketch work is needed.

I handed out a character sketch someone had completed about their own grandfather and gave them these instructions:

• Your goal is to make your fictitious character come to life. The reader wants to feel that your protagonist is a real live person, that the characters you've created could be someone they know - a friend, a sibling, even the reader themselves.

•  Your job is to know your characters - all your characters - as well as this person knows their grandpa, or as well as you know members of your family.

The YA's were ready to get started and left our session with new binders, donated from the school, and two assignments:

• By next week's meeting a completed characters sketch for their protagonist. It this was done, then one for their antagonist, and if that was completed, then sketches for minor characters.

• A fully fleshed out plot outline. If that was done, the start of their first chapter. Some of the YAs are already writing the second or third chapters of their novels. 

I did mention they were uber keen, didn't I?

This, peeps, was a good first lesson in writing to a deadline. 

It also showed them the only one who can write their book is themselves. I can only provide resources and encouragement. 

(And candy, because who doesn't like candy?)

Next week I'm sharing tips gleaned from my newest writing resource books:

Itching to read all three. At once.

(The Thesaurus series by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi and Rivet your Readers with Deep Point of View by Jill Elizabeth Nelson.)

Author's Club - Rocks!

Most Important Rule - No Laughing at Fellow Authors

Oakenwald School's Author Club is off and those young authors are writing up a storm of zombies, magical worlds, wilderness adventures, and mysterious disappearances.

Yesterday was our second meeting and we gained another writer bringing us to 15 eager young minds.

I told them I named them Writers-in-Training, WITs for short, and they looked less than thrilled by my enthusiastic announcement.

When I slipped and called them authors, many of them responded with surprise and excitement.

"We're authors!" rippled around the library.

They sounded like I gave them the best Christmas present. You know the one; the one you were hoping to get, but didn't dare ask for, because it was a long shot. It was too expensive or too hard to find, or didn't actually exist. I remember asking for a magic book that would let me travel to other worlds when I was about 8 or 9. Apparently Santa was all out that Christmas.

And once you give that perfect gift, you can hardly take it back. Unless you are a Grinch. (Which would suck, with that minuscule heart and all.) But I digress.

I, not a Grinch, quickly trashed my grand plan of a cute acronym because they were right. They know who they are better than I.

They ARE authors.

And they impressed me. Already, without prompting, most came to me with story ideas in hand. Many had begun to write and were through their first chapter.

Together we explored the school and became sensory detectives. What did we see, hear, smell, touch and even taste as we prowled the building?

Nigel Watts' 8 Point Story Arc - Next Week's Lesson

(I provided Smarties for the taste challenge. Who wants middle schoolers licking the hall walls in an attempt to hone their writing craft? Not I. Plus, I'd like to return next week.)

We assembled back in the library and shared our observations, highlighting what I like to call 2nd Level Observations.

What is a 2nd Level Observation? 

It is when a writer goes beyond the obvious of what they see, hear, taste, touch or smell and hooks it to another thought, feeling, or memory.

For instance, one young author said when she saw the previous years' class photos hanging in the hall, memories came to her. Memories of teachers and friends, and days gone by. This is 2nd Level Observation and I was thoroughly impressed. Did I mention she is 10 years old. 10, peeps. This is what an author in the making looks like.

I can hardly wait for next week. Already I see we have different skill levels, different story interests, and as important; different levels of writer-self-confidence a.k.a - WSF. (Yes, I made that up. I do love a tidy acronym.)

That is where I am going to pay particular attention, for beyond the writing skill set, successful authors need to "know" they can write. 

That can be a hurdle, which we will overcome together.

Great Resource for Young Authors
(And their instructors.)

Spies, Secrets, and the SOE: Oh My!

It's been nearly two months since I last blogged. Between Christmas, working three jobs, and my newest middle grade work in progress, I've been all consumed.

But, peeps, I am so excited about my latest novel that I must share some deets with you! Thanks to a fellow "Anita" - Christina Janz (check out her most awesome blog, Dragonfly Dithers) who gave us a quick tutorial on Microsoft Onenote, I can now share some of my character sketches, plot development, and research that is going into my latest book.

Ford and Ellie's Mostly Solved Mysteries: Family of Spies, is loosely based on the mystery of my Grandfather's still sealed World War II records. Few facts are known about his RCAF years. but family legends of spying with William Stephenson, covert flight plans, and code breaking abound. Ford and Ellie, two 12-year-old cousins solve the mystery while retracing their Great-Grandfather's SOE footsteps. It is a current day James Bond meets Spy Kids.

I'd like to introduce to you, the main character, Ford and his cousin Ellie:

These are the kids that have my mind a'whirling, their individual voices clear in my head. 

Now, if only I could get to France for some on the cobblestone ground research...

A New Novel Begins

Today is a day of firsts.

I've never shared on my blog a section from one of my works in progress. I thought I'd pull out some courage and give it a go. Plus, many of my non-writer friends seem quite curious about the writing process.

When I was accepted into the Sheldon Oberman Mentorship Program, I shelved the young adult novel I was then writing. 

This past 9 months has brought me many writing rewards. Most importantly, three days ago I finished a complete rewrite of the novel I worked on with my mentor Carolyn Gray. It began as, Who Needs Romeo - A Tale of a Modern Day Juliet and finished as, Forever Julia.

It is the best novel I have written thus far. At least that's how I feel about my development as a writer.

This stretch of time has also allowed for the novel I cast aside to peculate in my mind, and my brain, and my head too. Yes, I am a die hard fan of Jack Black's School of Rock.

Yesterday I returned to, Gemini, writing a new first chapter. It gave me goosebumps. 

Will it survive my final edit? Who knows. 

I only know that it feels like the right start for now.

I hope you enjoy it.

Chapter 1

Truth [trooth]  

actuality or actual existence.

In the shadows lurked the truth.

And it floated through the jack pines and skimmed over the peat bogs straight to the old log cottage that sat high on the rocks.

In the shadows lurked the truth.

And it hovered outside a bedroom window, where it peered through the cracked yellow plastic blind.

In the shadows it lurked.

And it melted into that room and waited at the end of the bed for the sleeping girl to see it.

In the shadows lurked the truth.

And at the first pale light of dawn, Kate screamed.

School Visits

As the kids return to school so do I! 

Both to my awesome job at Linden Meadows School and to schools around Manitoba to read from my chapter book, Spaghetti is NOT a Finger Food and Other Life Lessons and to discuss the writing process.

I am currently booking into the fall and if you'd like to contact me about visiting your school, please email me at jodi@thecarmichaels.ca.

Spaghetti is NOT a Finger Food and Other Life Lessons, is a humorous chapter book about an eight-year-old boy with Asperger's Syndrome. Connor struggles to make his way through a typical school day and in his attempt to be as cool as everyone else, he leaves a hilarious trail of destruction. But, by the end of the day, and despite many miscommunications and misunderstandings, Connor realizes that he is exactly as cool as he is supposed to be.

My presentations are varied and completely flexible. You can learn more about what I offer by clicking on the School Visits Tab of my webpage or simply click HERE.

Made McNally's Bestsellers List for 9 Weeks!

Hot off the Presses...

...and into my Cool Hands!

WOOOOHOOOOOO!

My box of author copies of Spaghetti is NOT a Finger Food and Other Life Lessons arrived today!

So excited, I think I may stroke out. Must take a breath. Or twelve.

Happy Dancing as I type. Sounds impossible, but not when you are a pro like me.

I send a huge, heartfelt thank you to my publisher Rana DiOrio and all of Team Pickle. Most especially, Cameron Crane, Dani Greer, Khadijah Lacina, Sarah Seward, Leslie Iorillo, and Kelly Wickham. And a digital thanks to Aarti and Chintu Parikh of Kite Readers for creating the best digital book a writer could ask for.

And my congratulations to Spaghetti's talented illustrator, Sarah Ackerley. You brought Connor to life, exactly as I imagined.

I feel like that little youtube girl who sings,

"I love my life. I love my hair. I love everything."

 And to my supportive family and friends,

"I love you. I love your hair...I love everything about you!"

Central Canada Lit Fest

I'm growing more excited about presenting at the first Central Canada Lit Fest in Winnipeg.

My topics: 

Creating Characters with Special Needs in MG/YA Fiction; The Importance of Blog Book Tours; and Kindle, KOBO, and NOOK - Reading in a Digital Age.

Central Canada Lit Fest

Young Adult | Fantasy | Paranormal Romance | Science Fiction | Horror

April 20th & 21st

Central Canada Lit Fest

April 20th & 21st 2013

Place Louis Riel

190 Smith Street

Winnipeg, MB.

Canada

Come join us for two days of learning and sharing the craft of writing.

Follow this link to the schedule:

C4 Lit Fest Schedule