This Blog Is Back: a Field-Guide to Necromancy.

Yep. After a months-long hiatus, caused in equal parts by me looking for work, nerding it up, and otherwise running around like a headless chicken, NSN has returned... with some great news (that doesn't involve me raising the dead).

After a few minor setbacks, my book-review is up! Even better, its author (the wonderful and talented Laurie Glenn Norris) emailed me, to say thanks. Well, thank you, Laurie- the book was a pleasure to read!

Until next time,
El Veeb

Sweet Victory, & The Bitter End.

Good evening, all! I interrupt this blog-post with a very-special announcement...

I DID IT! YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH, BABY!

*shifty eyes*

That's right, everyone. Nineteen days and 50,512 words later, my NaNoWriMo journey is over- at least until next year. Best get plotting, and celebrating this well-deserved end to an otherwise-crappy week. In the meantime, I think I'll give my hands a break and get back to drinking my wine... Now, back to our regularly-scheduled programming!

Cheers!
El Veeb.

/youthful enthusiasm

The Countdown Is On!

That's right, folks. Just 15 minutes to NaNoWriMo 2011 (probably less, by the time I post this), and I'm absolutely raring to go! I realize I've been a bit of a slacker lately, but will try and update on my progress as often as possible (don't expect anything more than weekly, though, as 50,000 words is a lot to type in 30 days).

Update: UNB Faculty of Nursing presentation on domestic violence went really well, and I've submitted that same excerpt to the Writers' Union of Canada's short-prose contest. Grand prize is $2500, and possible publication... Wish me luck! 

Only 11 minutes left!

Peace,
El Veeb.

Find Yourself In Fiction!

Hello, again!

Now that The Firestarter can officially hold a connection, without setting anything aflame, it's time for some more good news!

Awesome adventure #1: This Saturday (October 1st), W.F.N.B director and local author Lee Thompson will be reading from his novel-in-progress at the Riverview Public Library, followed by a workshop. The reading starts at 1 pm, and is free; the workshop, Find Yourself In Fiction, costs $40 and will run from 2-4 pm.

Awesome adventure #2: The hospital recitation has been confirmed for October 24th, and I'll be reading from my novel-in-progress as part of a presentation on family violence. I've got 30 minutes to fill, so I'd best get to work.

Awesome adventure #3: The Writers Who CARE campaign begins next week. For those who are in the area and are interested, please contact Kathy-Diane Leveille, via her website.

Awesome adventure #4: National Novel Writing Month is just around the corner- if caffeine, sleepless nights, and speed-writing are your thing, check out NaNoWriMo.org for more info. I also applied for a position as an ML (Municipal Liaison), so those of you in the Moncton/Dieppe/Riverview area may see more of me... Lucky you. :)

-

Signing off,
El Veeb.

Dancin' With Words, and Bad Techno-Romance: Parte Deux.

Ooh, finally!

I've been dying to get on here since Saturday afternoon, but d'you think that my laptop (a.k.a. The Firestarter) can stay connected to the 'net for more than 5 minutes? Not frickin' likely.

The 'pooter is on the fritz again- in fact, the BF has just informed me that he purchased it with a cracked motherboard. Way to go, Travis. Anyway, moving on to the fun part...

DANCIN' WITH WORDS!

Topics ranged in scale from the minuscule (syntax/sentence structure) to the ginormous ('what is the heart of your novel?'), and many laughs were had. We learned how to emulate our writing role-models (it's not considered cheating- there is a difference, you know), shared personal stories, poems, and even read the prep exercises we'd done beforehand; I'll be posting mine shortly, so pop on over to Allpoetry and sign up to let me know how I did. :)

Once again, I cannot even begin to describe what a wonderful teacher Donna is. I don't know if I'll ever be able to do what she does, since I imagine that having to listen to a bunch of writers who, while we don't suck, are nowhere near as gifted as she is must get a bit exhausting. Of course, it's possible for a good teacher to transform even the most-inept student into a prodigy, so there's hope for me yet!

She was also generous enough to pose for a photo-op, so that I can put her picture in the same space as Atwood and Harris. Sadly, with the 'pooter out of commish, I can't post it yet... I do, however, assure you that it will be up as soon as the desktop is up and running. Sometime before Christmas, I hope.

Until next time,
El Veeb.

PS: Hospital recitation date is tentatively set for October 31st. More on that, as details come in.

An Evening Of Epic Proportions!

Good evening (though it probably won't be, by the time I'm done posting this), dear readers!

I've just returned from a 2-week hiatus, which I spent visiting family and friends in Ontario... Since a lot of the relationships in my novel are rooted in my real life (with the exception of bits like the one from tonight's reading, of course), I came back with a ton of ideas and hope that they will produce some potentially-publishable sequences.

But, enough about me... Onto the REAL reason for this post!

Tonight marked a new beginning for the Attic Owl reading series. Having had the entire summer off, it was with great pleasure that I joined the other writers- including award-winning author Donna Morrissey- for a beautiful supper at La Teraz. The meal consisted of risotto, asparagus, bread, and pork medallions so soft that they practically melted in my mouth, and was followed by a scrumptious strawberry shortcake for dessert... A big thank-you to Mario and Jackie, for not making us cook for ourselves. :)

Then, the fun part... the reading!

Since public speaking and I don't mix, it was incredibly nerve-wracking to open for someone like Donna... Still, Chapter 2 (M's first part) was well-received, and I managed to stay upright for the entire recitation. Sharing part of my 8-year work-in-progress, which had never been read by anyone but my mom, was a bit like a coming-out party- both liberating and utterly terrifying, all at once.

One thing I did not anticipate, however, was the crowd's reaction. The novel was written for a younger (read: mid-teens to early twenties) audience, and I definitely hadn't thought that a group comprised mostly of older adults would react so viscerally to it... It was very unexpected, though it gave me hope for my future career- if they liked it, then I don't suck at writing... right?

Also worth noting: I received an invitation to read my excerpt at the Moncton Hospital, to a class that is studying the effects of family violence (a major theme in that particular passage) on children and teens. Psychology has always been a passion of mine, so I'm definitely amped-up about that (if the whole writing thing doesn't work out, perhaps I'll even have a future in it). Unexpected, but a great perk... More on that, as the details come in.

*boots ego out of the window closest to the 'pooter*

Of course, Donna really made this event special. She is amazing, on so many levels, and the first real writing role-model I've had who is more than just a name on a cover. Her advice has been invaluable, and she's a great teacher... I feel sorry for those unable to make it to Saturday's workshop, since you're missing out on a fantastic experience.

(FYI: my bookshelf has also just informed me that it's a tremendous honour to have a signed copy of Sylvanus Now on it, alongside Alias Grace and You Comma Idiot, and I agree with it completely).

Yep, I talk to my bookshelf. Clearly, bedtime was a few hours ago...

Sadly, I still have to wake up in the morning and attempt to find a normal, soul-sucking, 9-5 job- preferably something that involves as few human beings as possible (unless they're writers) and doesn't suck... I guess that rules out office dronery, any position that requires me to cook stuff, and everything else. Just thinking about it is exhausting... yawn.

Until Saturday,
L.

Bow Down To My Awesomeness!

Okay, so... happy dance time!

Just got some great news from Lee Thompson (the director of our wonderful WFNB) yesterday afternoon: on September 15th, two days before the workshop of awesomeness, Donna Morrissey will be reading from her latest book, What They Wanted, at La Teraz. It's a cozy little banquet hall on Church St., and I can't think of anyone I'd rather share the space with for a few hours on a Thursday night than a group of writers. :)

But it gets better...

Lee also said that they'd wanted a local author to open the festivities, and guess who they picked? Me! Isn't that just spiffy? Seriously... How awesome is that?

I'll be reading a short passage from the novel (yes, THE novel)- the one that Donna herself told me had "better be written exactly like [the piece you wrote in class], or else you've gotta go back and rewrite every, single darn line" Naturally, I'm excited to show her what I've done with it, and that I've taken her advice.This means that I expect you, if you're in the Moncton area and you love me, to be there- I'll make another post when I get a full itinerary for the evening.

Off to gloat some more!

The Long and Fruitless Summer Ends.

Never thought I would hear those words from my mouth. Hey, who didn't look forward to summer, at some point- we all had vacation plans, and fun things to do; not to mention a ton of free time to commune with family and nature; and dreaded going back to school (the place where I once pursued an edu-ma-cation).

Once we are adults, though, that all changes. Most of us now live alone (or with a significant other), don't have time for the holidays we used to take, and no longer have to worry about dodging the hordes of angry back-to-school shoppers at Wal-Mart; yet September still signifies a time of change. As a writer, this is a great thing- it means that the drought is ending, and that all of the adventures of aspiring writerdom that were on hiatus through the summer are coming back full-force! Among them:

The one and only Donna Morrissey is returning to Moncton for yet another amazing fiction workshop! This awesome event costs $85, and will take place on September 17th, at the Riverview Public Library... Having worked with Donna previously, I have to admit that I not-so-secretly adore her; she is very warm and friendly, funny as hell, and a wonderful teacher, so I highly recommend her seminar to anyone who's ever written anything, or wanted to.

Also on the calendar is the Writers Who Care project, the brainchild of local author Kathy-Diane Leveille and CARE International. For $50, donors will receive the opportunity to submit 50 pages of a work-in-progress to a published author for review- proceeds go to the Somali refugees facing starvation. Whether you are a published author and would like to give us writers some C.C., or a writer who'd like some feedback, I encourage you to contact Kathy-Diane through her website- it's a pretty sweet perk, and for a great cause. :)

Writing for change,
L.

Support The Arts: Buy This Book, Like, Naaaaaow!

No, not the novel... That's still a (disappointingly-stagnant) work in progress; the summer hasn't been very kind to my muse, or conducive to adventures of aspiring writerdom. In fact, I was dying to go to Sheree Fitch's workshop in Fredericton last week, but it wasn't to be- I had to be at work, to find out whether or not I would have a job, come this week. Oh, the perils of contract work... If this book ever gets off the ground, I'll pay someone to do my thinking for me; until then, I'll do my time, just like everyone else.

Anyhow, the good news:

My amazingly-talented Auntie Barb recently published a book of poetry, via Blurb.com, called Blind Thoughts; not to be left out, Yours Truly attempted a similar project. The words & photographs are all my own work, so I'm very excited to put it out there. Since the preview-widget link won't work here (though it's supposed to), you can preview the end-result & purchase here instead.

So, yes... Buy this book, & win a lifetime of hugs & cookies. Come on... graveyards, poetry, the beautiful dark... what's not to love? My wallet and I thank you in advance. :)

With love/avec amour/con amore/s laskou,
Laure.

Attic Owl Reading a Hoot!

Here's a tip: when among writers, one must do as writers do. If you're an introvert, like me, this means sharing your work, pretending that you're totally at-home in front of people and not about to commune with the floor of the banquet hall.

Fortunately, neither I, nor my lunch, spent any time bonding with the carpet. I was fourth, out of fourteen writers/readers, one of whom I'd met previously, at Donna Morrissey's workshop, and met a ton of cool people- superheroes, broken hearts, and the female posterior were only a few of the themes touched on tonight, and I'm honoured to have had the opportunity to participate in such a fantastic event. I also hope that Lee Thompson will now remember me as someone other than the girl who can never remember to attach files to her emails!

I also have a new respect for James Joyce, whose work was read aloud at the end of the night (The Dubliners is exactly the kind of stuff I love to read), by a woman whose speaking-voice held me for the entire six-page excerpt.

Tomorrow night, I'll be helping one of the girls I met at the reading to set up another event similar to this one, except that we'll be choosing and reading works by famous black poets; the event takes place at Kimberly: the Studio, on Archibald St. in Moncton, and includes poetry, a film-screening, and even dancing! What's better, this can all be yours for only a $5 cover-charge, so come & join the party!

Write on,
L.

And Now, For Something Completely Awesome.

Ranty post over.

Despite the fact that AP is currently sucking the life out of me, there are a few bright spots in this self-inflicted torture:

1. Awesome new novel idea!

-Just about everyone who knows me, whether online or in real-life, knows that I dislike the fantasy genre (save for Harry Potter, and his amazing author, J.K. Rowling). That said, I've been playing this awesome game recently, and have been inspired by characters I've created there; the ensuing attempt at fantasy will be my NaNoWriMo pet-project. Sure, it's 6 months away (okay, 5), but what better excuse to plan, plot, & block?

2. More epic adventures of aspiring writerdom!

-Yes, it's true. I will be participating in the Attic Owl poetry-reading at La Teraz on June 16th. The fun starts with a dinner at 6 pm, followed by poetry at 8, so those of you in the Moncton area should come out and join the party- to sign up for the mailing-list, or for more info, contact Ed and Elaine, our great & fearless leaders.

All's good in the 'hood,
L.

Awesome Novel Trailer!

Two posts, you ask? Oh, yes.

Following the last post's obvious fail, K., M., and I have come to a mutual decision that I should never attempt to write a script, ever again. Then again, it's partly my fault- there is no guitar-solo in Act Five (it's actually in Act Four, but M. wasn't having any of it and is now being quite uncooperative). Fortunately, this trailer:

did not require me to manage any annoying characters, or deal with M.'s endless fits of emo. It did, however, require a great deal of patience- editing the clips, timing everything just right, and countless crashes almost put my poor Task Manager out of business! But it's done, so watch & enjoy!

With love/s laskou,
Laura/e.

Fiction Is Fun!

Yes- yes, it is.

Anyone who knows me will attest to the fact that I hate mornings, with a fiery passion. But tomorrow is different- at 9 a.m., I'll be going to a 6-hour fiction workshop with Donna Morrissey, the award-winning writer of such books as Kit's Law and Downhill Chance, at the Riverview Library. Having spoken to her a few times by email, I've gathered that I'll be making at least one very-cool acquaintance! Who knew that Moncton was such a great place to be a writer?

Definitely worth getting up early for.

Honey, I'm Home!

Yes, we are back in business!

I managed to get my six-year-old fire-hazard of a laptop running, so I'm not completely stuck. In lieu of the novel, however, I've been working on a series of short stories based on it- the idea is that it will:

1. Produce some potentially-publishable sequences of events that may or may not appear in the sequel's final draft. Some neat characters and subplots have already resulted from this process. :)

2. Ward off writers'-block.

My 'pooter is in the shop as we speak, and should be back any moment, so I'll turn this thing off, lest it torch the apartment.

-

In alphabetical order,
this is K, L, and M. signing off.

The Literary Goddess (Not Me... Yet!).

First of all, thank you to Rachel (my wonderful photographer-friend) for allowing me to see how fat I've gotten. I hope that this picture never surfaces until after I'm famous, and the press can airbrush to their hearts' content... Until then, I'm working on it- honest!

Of course, the point of this post is not that I'm getting fat, but to show off the picture! This is me, with Margaret Atwood at the Capitol Theatre in Moncton- she is one amazing gal, a real class act, and I'm so lucky to have met her!

Now that you've seen the literary goddess (well, both of us- haha) in action, I'll go back to doing crunches and muttering some form of encouragement to myself as I attempt to continue reading You Comma Idiot (which is excellent, so far) while doing said crunches... If that isn't dedication, then I don't know what is.

Goodnight, world!

Frye Fest 2011: My Trip To Writer-Heaven and Beyond!

So, it's official- Moncton is an untapped goldmine of literary awesomeness!

After spending the day at Chapters, I attended the Frye Festival's meet-and-greet, which featured all sorts of Canadian writers, both big names and some newly-published ones. Since I'm painfully-shy in crowds, it took some guts, but I finally got to networking! Here are a few of the awesome people I met today:

Susan Juby

She is an adult- and YA-fiction writer from BC, who moved to Toronto (not far from my own hometown of Mississauga, Ontario) at the age of 20. This trailblazer also taught me a lot about query-writing, as well as possible pros and cons of breaking the rules (including unsolicited excerpts, for example) and that it's all about marketing: "Whether or not your book is any good doesn't matter, as long as you can market it well."

 Helaine Becker

A successful writer of children's books, she also had a lot to say about putting myself out there. When I asked her about "networking for introverts", which was how I'd gotten talking to her and Susan in the first place, she had this to say: "Go to workshops, go to seminars and places like this- take a plane home to Toronto, and go to the literature festival. Get practice."

This is a picture of me with Doug Harris, the bestselling author of You Comma Idiot. We started talking titles by the punch bowl, which ended in him giving me a copy of his winning query-letter and teaching me how to sign my future masterpiece. He said, "when your book gets published, you can scratch out your name on the first page and sign there. But, if you like the person- and I like you- you probably want to sign in a bigger spot." Inside my copy, he also wrote this:

"To Laura- I hope that you enjoy the book, but more than that, I truly hope that you never give up on your writing dreams. All the very best."

I was surprised at how down-to-earth he was! We had a great chat, and having met him in person will make reading his book twice as awesome.

I'll also be posting a picture that my friend Rachel took of me with Margaret Atwood at the Capitol Theatre. Margaret gave a presentation on Northrop Frye and mythology, but also talked about her own life and work- even at 70-odd, she is a very funny and intelligent lady. While she signed my copy of Alias Grace, I asked her if she had any words of wisdom for an aspiring writer; she recommended her book Negotiating With The Dead: A Writer On Writing, saying that "it's not exactly a resource, but I hope that you find some encouragement in it. Just keep at it, and don't ever give up".

The world needs more events like this; more writers, and more Canada.

Off to read my autographed masterpieces, and fill out my volunteer-form for FryeFest 2012!

On Slovakia, Lesbians, and Words That Rhyme With Orange.

 Finally, after close to 3 days of staring at my computer, I managed to write two whole sentences. Getting this far has been a stretch of late, so I'm proud of myself- two sentences may not seem like much to most people, but it just so happens that every single, itty-bitty one counts, when you are a writer.

In truth, I owe those two sentences to the wonderful music I've been listening to lately. Learning the language helps, but speaking Slovak to yourself (with an Italian accent, no less) doesn't help much, especially if the first words you learned in it were "pork" (bravčové), "ugly"(škaredý/a), "secret" (tajný/a), "tomato" (paradajka), and a few obscenities. That said, playing with Audacity (my voice-changer toy) and the sound-recorder also works wonders- it gives my characters a voice, and it's easier to be 'in the moment' with them that way.

On a brighter note, I've recently discovered (thanks to Horkýže Slíže and their wonderful L.A.G. song) that Slovak has a lot of great words that rhyme with "lesbian" (that must mean that there's a word out there, other than door-hinge, that rhymes with orange, right?).  Unlike most of the English-speaking world, I also know that Slovakia's 2010 Eurovision song is called Horehronie and, as M. says, has nothing to do with prostitutes.

Aiming for two more sentences before the night is out!