Finished...again...and still writing

A few months ago, I decided to re-write my book in 1st person from Jack's perspective. I've finished it. My mom read it, so far, and she passed it on to a couple of British friends of hers, whose native perspective I really need.  But since they received it, I haven't heard a word from them. Of all the people I've sent my book to for feedback, only my mom and my best friend Aileen have actually read it.

So now I'm working on the 2nd book. That's being re-written in first person from Lizzie's perspective. I'm only about 55 pages in so far, but I've always felt more confident about this book, so I think it'll be good.

Here's a little snippet from the 2nd book:

When my dad, David Hennessey, arrived at Jack’s apartment, I greeted him at the door and thought he looked a bit tired. His hair was gray at the temples, which I never saw on him before. I suppose he always dyed his dark, curly hair (just like mine) and had recently been neglectful, but I’m surprised my mom let him go gray. He was wearing a dark-green tweed jacket, white button-down shirt and jeans. He was also wearing his glasses, which he usually didn’t do. I had been on the verge of dread about the evening, but now that he arrived, I felt happy to see him. He seemed less edgy than usual. Perhaps it was because he wasn’t with mom tonight. He was always more guarded around her.

      “How’s my baby girl? It’s been too long since I’ve seen you,” he told me warmly. “I was so disappointed when you didn’t come for Christmas.”

      “Sorry.” But I didn’t regret that at all; I was with Jack in England.

      I led him into the kitchen, where Jack had his head in the oven. He took off his oven mitts and shook Dad’s hand with a big smile on his face. “Jack Franklin. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”

      “Very nice place, Jack,” Dad commented in the midst of surveying the place. He was duly impressed.

      “Thank you,” Jack replied. I knew he was quite proud of his place, and with good reason. It was a two-bedroom, two-story townhouse with an office/den, full kitchen, two bathrooms, dining room, two balconies, a fireplace, underground parking and fantastic acoustics for playing violin or cello.

      “You’re English?”

      “Yeah,” Jack responded.

      “Liz didn’t tell me that.” Dad smiled, looking at me. “How long have you been here?”

      “It’ll be four years in July. I came for school. Can I offer you a drink? I have Merlot, Chardonnay, Sam Adams, Corona, soda, water…and I make a great Mojito.”

      “I’ll have a Mojito, thanks.”

      I leaned against the counter with my arms folded. I watched them as they studied each other, determined to decipher as many of their thoughts as possible. I didn’t anticipate Jack and Dad having any problems getting along; they were both perfectly amiable men. I retrieved a beer from the fridge, perhaps to numb myself to the topic of conversation that would inevitably arise; my mother. Jack was far too curious about her after I’d avoided the topic so many times not to ask Dad about her. And I knew Dad wouldn’t be remiss in talking about her to Jack.

Been a long time!

I'm still alive, yes. Apparently, I've had nothing to say since February.

Spring instrumental recital was April 10th and it was the best recital we've ever had. There are 26 video clips from the day on my youtube channel or you can link there from my website. Vocal recital is this Saturday night.

Need more students. I lost several in January and February, kicked one out for skipping the recital and hopefully will have some referrals come when school lets out. I'm raising my rates July 1, which I didn't think I'd do, but I've been researching what other teachers who go to students' houses earn, and I'm pretty far below the belt, plus many of them have far less experience than I do. The elementary school behind my house has early dismissal on Mondays and I'm going to put up flyers there to get some kids to come over for lessons.

My geeky Brit-obsession did, of course, prompt me to get up at 2am and watch the royal wedding. I find it quite serendipitous that I was at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2010. Yes, exactly 1 year to the day before the wedding. Hmmmm...wonder what the universe is trying to tell me there. Anyhow, I have quite the crush on Wills now. I think he is very much his mother's son - he has a huge heart and is quite intelligent. Kate's pretty cool too - damn, that dress! It was perfect! They're both so down-to-earth and just seem like very genuinely nice people who are truly in love.

My little Pasadena pad is cool as ever. And I mean that in more than one way - it's been in the 90s the last couple of days and my house stays pretty cool without a/c.

I quit drinking Coca-cola and eating anything sweet or snacky. It's day 3. I had a momentary lapse of sense and joined Weight Watchers on Sunday, but have decided that you must be obsessive-compulsive to follow that complicated point system they have and after reading through all of their materials, I am going back for a refund today. In the past, the only periods of weight-loss success I have had were not obtained through a diet plan. It's always been from winging it. So my plan is to eat as many fruits and veggies as possible, no desserts - ever, and stop drinking coke and to exercise 30-60 minutes every day. And no food in the car, except water.

So, the book! The main reason I haven't blogged is because I've had writer's block since Feb. I started rewriting book 1 on one path, but I didn't like where it was going, so I stopped. I read a bunch of books (fiction, and 1 book about writing). Now, I've figured out a new path, so in the last 4 days, I've written about 18,000 words and I like how it's going. I'm writing it in first person from Jack's point of view and I'm really discovering Jack and learning things about him I didn't know before.  I think the second book will be written from Lizzie's point of view.

My mom was going to bring my nephew out for a visit in June for his 13th birthday, and initially, my brother gave his permission, but now he has retracted it and I'm VERY PISSED OFF about it.

BTW, apparently Osama was born in Hawaii. Who knew? ;-)

Moving forward

First of all, congratulations to my bff, Colby, who has a great new job and new place to live! I'm very proud of you, Colby!








Projects:
Rewrite my whole first book from the other main character's perspective.
After lots of hemming and hawing and soul searching, I have discovered that the power in the first book is from Jack's point of view. He has much more drama about their relationship than Lizzie does. Her power is in the second book, which is still about 1/2 finished.
I went to a very informative workshop on Jan 29th at PCC, given by Bobbie Christensen. She's self-published 11 (I think) books.
Here are some things I learned:
- 80% of all books published today are self-published
- You only earn 3-4% profit when you are published traditionally, as opposed to 45% self-published
- It only costs about $3,000 to self-publish and you can earn most of those costs before your book comes out
- It's very easy to organize a book-signing and sell 20-30 books at every signing
- Only 7% of all book sales are e-books

In the 20 or so years, she has NEVER met somebody who has been published through a literary agent for fiction or non-fiction (screenplays, yes, but not books). Cool thing - if you attend her class (see her website above) you get free consulting with her.

Next project:
Advertising through homeschool networks to pick up daytime students. I have found 3 and am working on ads for those, but if you know of any organizations or individuals, please send them my way!

Next project:

Spring recital, Sunday April 10th 4&6 at Altadena Community Church. Getting the kids ready. The singers will be on their own separate recital (date tba) due to scheduling conflicts.

Next project:
Gotta get back to London!

A new year to ponder (and time to reflect)

My new year sees me with a successful business, a nice little place to live, family and friends are healthy, (I'm okay too).  2010 was a good year for me and I hope 2011 is equal or better. 

My mom is into this bucket list idea, so I made one last year when I was on the way home from London. I was excited by the idea because to that date in 2010, I had already crossed 5 items off my bucket list (the trip to London encompassing 3 of them). For the year, I managed 6 of them. 
          1- Be fully self-employed
          2 - Go to London
          3 - Obtain a passport and use it
          4 - Meet Matthew Macfadyen
          5 - Play in a studio orchestra
          6 - Move to Pasadena

I had a great Christmas. Mom came to catch her ship for about 3 days and left on Dec 23. She was excited to see how my house has evolved. I spent Christmas Day with close friends, helped them cook a ton of food for 15 people and had a really lovely time.  From my mom, I got a Sony eReader, from my brother and his family a little video camera. My dad sent a check. He's not a gifty-shopping kind of guy, which is fine. I used that $100 to get a blu-ray player.

On New Year's I didn't do anything. It was quite boring. Didn't even go to the Rose Parade, 6 blocks away. I did watch all the traffic on my street for about 2 hours after the parade ended. Whoop-de-do.

So my goal for 2011 is to get my books published (this is also a bucket list item). I'm going to a couple of workshops on January 29 at PCC on publishing and marketing. I am working to complete the 2nd book, which is about halfway through the edit now, but I'm a little stuck at the moment.

Teaching is good. I sent out a New Year's e-mail on January 1st that contained some strong words about practicing. I am determined to be a teacher who does not allow students to not practice and I've set out to become much more adamant about this. I have about 6 kids who I am considering dropping at the end of January if they don't turn things around, and lo and behold 4 of them quit already. I will miss them, of course, but it really is the best thing for them. It is a waste of time and money to take lessons without no expectation of progress. I am so thankful that most of my students (and especially their parents) understand this and do their best to complete their assignments. If a student makes a good effort and doesn't quite finish, I am always willing to work with that, but if somebody doesn't practice at all, it's just not worth it. I understand people have busy schedules, but in 7 days if you honestly cannot find any time to practice, don't bother taking lessons.

I am going to give the South Pasadena YMCA another try. It's dark and dingy, but it's close and the class itself was ok. Either way, I've got to get some exercise going. I've been going over to NoHo a couple times a month to see my friends there and do the water pilates class, but it isn't enough, of course. Back on the wagon for me!

Back to book

To my utter astonishment, I am actually halfway through the rewrite of the 2nd book. I maintain this book is stronger than the first. It feels fantastic to be writing again! My plan, when finished with this rewrite, is to find a writing class, possibly at PCC, and attend book publishing fairs in the hopes of generating interest and meeting the agent or publisher that can make things happen for me.  I also really want to learn screenwriting because when this is finished, I have a great screenplay in the works.

Last week and this, my fantastically great friend Jeni Bellcour, who lives in Denver, and with whom I grew up in Minnesnowta, is in California for work. We've been able to see each other twice at length and she will come to stay with me on Friday before she leaves early Saturday morning. It's been so fantastic to spend time with her! We saw the movie Tangled, which was really good! I love how kids movies always have a lot for the adults to enjoy these days. For us, we get double the pleasure by getting in touch with our inner kid and enjoying a few sophisticated jokes just for us on the way. In this pose, she is mirroring a statue which is behind her, but I had to cut the statue out to make the picture smaller.



The day after Jeni leaves, my mom will visit again for a few days before she catches her ship for Around the World again this year. We'll have a bit of Christmas and do some shopping.

My house has really taken shape. Most everything is done, but I decided to do a bit more painting. One wall in the living room (purple, of course) and some trim in the bathroom (red and gold). Going to try to get that done before Mom comes to visit. Also, my bed frame still isn't built. Probably will do that between Christmas and New Year, when there are less students.

Started a great family with 3 kids last night. 2 piano, 1 violin, but I think the older girl wants to play violin instead. I hope she does. Seems like she'd be happier with that. Have 2 more beginning cellos coming on board in January, and a returning student from a few years ago, a boy I absolutely adore and have missed a lot and I usually don't take kids back and he plays guitar, but I adore this kid so much that I'm going to take him anyhow! I just hope I can fit him in the schedule. He'll make #43.

And now I present...a little teaser from Book 2:

“I think it’s time I met your family,” Jack Franklin said to the love of his life, Elizabeth Hennessey.


She scoffed. “Why?”

“You’ve met my family!” he reminded her. For two blissful weeks over the holidays, they went to Jack’s family estate near Reading in Berkshire in England. His parents died several years ago, but she met his sister, her husband and her two daughters and several other members of his extended family. “When is the last time you talked to them?”

“I talked to Dad last month for about a minute.”

“And the others?”

She shook her head.

Jack couldn’t imagine having so little contact with his family. “You haven’t seen him in how long?”

“Last summer. And you haven’t seen your family in three months either.”

“Lizzie!” He clicked his tongue. “I can’t imagine that, you know. Not seeing your family on purpose.”

“Well…you like your family.”

“You really don’t like any of them? Why not?”

Elizabeth sighed and played with her sandwich. “I’ve already told you a lot about them. My mom isn’t nice, and my dad is a pushover; my little sister is a troublemaker, Charlie is completely withdrawn and aloof, and Will’s in Denver at school and he’s a stuck-up snob. I don’t really get along with any of them except Dad.”

“They all seem to have glaring faults, don’t they?”

She grimaced at his implication. “I don’t have anything in common with any of them.”

“None of them are musicians like us?”

“I think Charlie plays a little guitar. But no.”

“So, they’re not like you; they don’t like music. Don’t they have any redeeming qualities?”

She stared at him and stated, “You think I’m judging them.”

“Even murderers have something you can like about them.”

“Oh, don’t even say that,” she scoffed.

“It’s true.”

“Yes, but at the very least that makes my mother less likeable than a murderer!”

“There’s got to be something about her you like.”

“No. I really can’t stand her.”

“Do you love her?”

“Of course, she’s my mother but that doesn’t mean I have to like her."

Sooo Busy!!!

I MOVED!  I now live in Pasadena in a little house (duplex) on Maple Street. There are so many things I like about being here that I didn't have in my old place! I'm closer to students, not on 2nd floor anymore, washer & dryer in unit, new fridge, fireplace, garage (shared), recycling...the list goes on!  Not really any disadvantages. I didn't get wood floors, 2 bedrooms or a/c, but it worked out great anyway!

Mom was here and an immense help to me! She contributed a great deal financially, emotionally, physically, and I can't thank her enough! I'm very lucky to have her!

I got a new bedroom set, had to get some new storage cabinets for the l.r. because my entertainment center wouldn't come out of my old place and we had to break it apart and throw it away. My bedroom, once it's finished, is going to be gorgeous!

Our fall recitals are tomorrow.  Most of the kids are playing well, but there are a handful who aren't taking it seriously enough and it vexes me a bit that their parents won't get on board. Next recital if the kids' songs aren't memorized a week before the show, I'm going to axe the songs. It's not just that it has to be memorized by the recital, it has to marinate in memorization for a bit, or the memory will fail. They don't get it. I really want these kids to have a good experience and I try to do everything to provide that, then they don't do the work and bomb and blame me. I can't practice for them.  Maybe having a not-so-good experience is the only way they will learn that lesson. I just hate to see it happen.

Writing has not happened in a month or two, but it will. Once I get settled, I'll get back on the wagon. I really have high hopes for the second book and am thinking about re-hashing the first book. I am trying to read more and more books in my category and I'm finding they're not as well-written as mine and the characters aren't as interesting.  I hope I can find a publisher who agrees with me!

Lots to say

I haven't blogged since July!

My book is sort of on hold - haven't been writing much or submitting to agents because I am finally making the move to the Pasadena area to live closer to my work. I've begun packing a bit and am planning to move November 1st. I can't really look for a place til October, but I'm getting all my other ducks in a row in the meantime. My mom is coming to town when she gets off her ship contract in late October and will help with the final packing and I'm hiring a moving company to get me there.  I'm hoping for a 2 bedroom, ground floor in Pasadena, but possibly in Eagle Rock or Altadena because I'm finding Pasadena is just a little too pricey for me, unless I live in the hood and I'm really trying to escape the hood, having now lived in it for 12 years. Yes, October 17th marks 12 years in North Holly-hood.

I like change and I'm really looking forward to this move. My dream move would be to London, but I'd have to win the lottery to pull that off! And frankly, I don't play the lottery very often (although it only takes once, doesn't it?)

My students are doing so well! I've had a goal since teaching full-time in 2008 that I wanted 40 students and I now have 40. We're in the beginning stages of planning the fall recital. Have had some kids recently switch from piano to a stringed instrument, which I love! And I'm phasing out teaching guitar, which I don't particularly love. I have some kids who have been with me 2-4 years now who are really getting quite good and some who were slacking and have turned things around due to some very supportive families. It couldn't be better! I'm very lucky!

My most recent thoughts in regards the book are that it covers too much for 223 pages. I really wish it could be longer and go into more detail about the characters' thoughts. Maybe I need to cut dialogue and have more exposition. The comment has been made that it reads like a screenplay and that's been something I like about it, but at the same time, the books I read have way more exposition (and are much longer) and then I think, "Maybe it should be more like this."  I think the 2nd book doesn't have that problem, although the revision is only about 1/2 done.

I've also been writing some scenes that aren't in the book (things like Jack's perspective, which isn't included in the first half, and some of his background story).  That's fun, but doesn't contribute that much to the process because it won't see the light of publication.

So after I move, I will resume the process full-swing.  I need to find a way to make some legit connections to publishers/agents. I don't think these blind submissions will get me anywhere. That sort of success is attained through who you know. I wish I was better at "knowing" people! I'm well aware of the fact that I should get out more, but it terrifies me.