BLOGCATION -- How I'll Spend My Summer Vacation

Greetings!

After nearly two years of continual blog updates, I'm taking a short summer vacation. But know that while I'm away from the blog-o-sphere, I'll be . . .

1. Beginning a new novel.

2. Preparing my speech and humor writing workshop for the S.C.B.W.I. conference in L.A. this August.

3. Working on a promotion plan for my new novel -- HOW TO SURVIVE MIDDLE SCHOOL (without getting your head flushed), DEAL WITH AN EX-BEST FRIEND, UM, GIRLS AND A HEART-BREAKING HAMSTER. (It'll hit shelves April 13, 2010.) I'm so excited about this one!

4. Celebrating a birthday. Whee!

5. Enjoying time with family and friends at the lovely, relaxed pace that only summer offers.


Play nicely while I'm gone.

Happy summer!
Donna

Novel Writing 101 -- Plot

I love to read books about writers and writing. I always wonder, "How do they do it?" "What's their schedule like?" "How do they juggle competing demands?"

So when NPR's Three Books was titled: Get That Book Deal, Three Books Tell You How, I was excited. Sarah Pekkanen suggested these titles: On Writing by Stephen King, Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maas and Plot & Structure by James Scott Bell.

Since I've already read and loved On Writing, I got the other two books.

The main thing I took away from Writing the Breakout Novel is that it requires hard work, perseverance and digging deep, deeper, deepest with character development and layered plotting during revisions.

Plot & Structure may not have the sexiest title, but James Scott Bell writes in the most accessible way. I feel like I'm sitting down with a good friend every time I open the book. A good friend who knows A LOT about writing.

I want to share one exercise in the book that I think will help clarify your novel's plot.

(From page 21 of Plot & Structure)

Fill in the blanks for your novel.

• My lead (main character) is a _______________.
• Her objective is to ________________________.
• She is confronted by ______________________ who oppose(s) her because __________________.
• The ending will be a knockout when _____________________.

According to the author, if you fill in the blanks, you'll have the skeleton for a solid novel.


What book about writing most inspires you?

S-P-E-L-L-I-N-G B-E-E

The bee.

Vanessa Rothrock here. Have you been watching the Scripps National Spelling Bee? I have. It's so exciting.

A girl from Florida, Serena Laine-Lobsinger, went to the semi-finals and appeared on ESPN. She was a championship finalist! You can read about her here. Way to go, Serena!

I was biting my nails during the finals. Weren't you?

C-O-N-G-R-A-T-U-L-A-T-I-O-N-S to all the fabulous spellers and the big winner -- Kavya Shivashankar. She went all the way by spelling such doozies as mesophilic and bouquiniste! Hooray, Kavya!

I still can't believe that I got tripped up on a cookie during my bee experience. As if!

If you want to read about my spelling bee misadventures, check out AS IF BEING 12 3/4 ISN'T BAD ENOUGH, MY MOTHER IS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT!

Well, gotta book. Mom just challenged me to a game of Scrabble. Maybe this time I'll actually win. Hey, a girl can dream, right?

Hugs,
Vanessa

P.S. Here's a hilarious bit I just discovered from the fine, funny folks at McSweeney's.

Blog Update . . . Finally

Hope you've been playing nicely while I've been away from the Blog-o-sphere.

Here's what's been going on:

Professionally . . .

• Finished revising HOW TO SURVIVE MIDDLE SCHOOL (without getting your head flushed), DEAL WITH AN EX-BEST FRIEND, UM, GIRLS AND A HEART-BREAKING HAMSTER . . . again. (Release date April 13, 2010.)
  

• Found out that when AS IF BEING 12 3/4 ISN'T BAD ENOUGH, MY MOTHER IS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT! goes into its fifth printing, it will do so with the Sid Fleischman Humor Award seal affixed to its cover.

• Last week, I was contacted about two school visits this fall and presenting at a writers' conference.

Personally . . .

• Family in town from New Jersey and California. (Thank goodness I finished revisions!)

• Here are a few happy snaps . . .

(Our oldest son prepares for a shootout with his thumbs-up grandpa.)

(Nephew, Ethan, and sister, Sherry flew in from CA, and are their arms tired!)

(The gang's all here . . . well, almost.)

(Sister Sherry, Dad, Donna)

What have you been up to lately?

Florida Book Awards

Yesterday, hubby and I had the pleasure of attending the Florida Book Awards Banquet in Orlando.


A panel of five winning authors from a variety of categories had the opportunity to speak to a group of librarians about our books before the banquet. I spoke first, so I got to relax and enjoy listening to the sprints and stumbles of the other authors -- Patrick Kendrick, Loreen Leedy, Kristy Kiernan and Terri Witek.

Here's Patrick Kendrick, talking about his novel, Papa's Problem.




This is part of the audience. Patrick's sons and wife, Lisa, are front and center.



Wayne Wiegand of the College of Information at Florida State University did a fabulous job of hosting the event.



In the evening, we had the pleasure of sitting at a table with several librarians and Loreen Leedy, fellow book award winner, and her hubby, Andrew Schuerger, who is a scientist and author. We talked about things like earthworms (imported here from Europe) and honey bees (imported here from Europe) and microbes (necessary for life but responsible for much death) and how major plagues that killed off a huge chunk of the population have helped forests grow and reduce CO2 levels and greenhouse gases. Fascinating stuff for this very curious writer!

After dinner, the book award winners were announced. We were given medallions and framed posters to commemorate the event.

(l. to r.) Marlene Lee, juror in the children's literature category and former Youth Services Coordinator in Broward County, me for As if Being 12 3/4 . . ., Loreen Leedy for Missing Math: A Number Mystery and Susan Womble for Newt's World: Beginnings.

A huge thanks to all the jurors, Micah Vandegrift, Wayne Wiegand and all those involved in promoting Florida authors and their books.

With appreciation,
Donna

Fun on a Friday -- Screen Cleaners

Ft. Lauderdale ROCKS!!!

I have renewed appreciation for librarians, media specialists and educators. Last week, I enjoyed a two-day visit to a library, middle school and conference in Ft. Lauderdale.

First, I had the great pleasure of speaking to some students from Walter C. Young Middle School in Pembroke Pines. The school has no library on site so students go next door to the Pembroke Pines branch of the public library.

The room where I spoke had been transformed into a political rally. Red, white and blue streamers decorated the walls, skimmer hats sat on tables, the podium where I spoke was decked out in patriotic colors, and there was a huge banner with my name spelled out the way my character spells obsessively in my book.

Ms. Robinson and Ms. Zelinsky are the masterminds behind the great decorations and creative planning.

I was greeted by 40 enthusiastic sixth grade girls with a few fourth grade girls thrown in for good measure.

Here's a photo of the left side of the room.



And the right side.


I signed books for some of the young ladies and was happily surprised when my first "Vanessa" came up to have her book autographed. "That's the name of the main character in my book," I said. She told me sometimes people call her "Nessa" just like the girl in my book.

Thank you students from Walter C. Young and Ms. Zelinsky and Ms. Robinson!

The next morning, I had the good fortune to speak to sixth, seventh and eighth grade students at New River Middle School.

The school's media Specialist, Ms. Miller, woke at 5 am to make a special treat for the students -- Ms. Perez' Lemon Squares, from the recipe at the back of my book. Now that's dedication!

The students and staff made sure I felt welcome.


A couple of the students made dioramas based on my book. Here's one of them:


The students created book-related signs that they waved.




This was an interesting school visit because while I was speaking in front of these students . . .



. . . my talk was being broadcast live to students at several other middle schools.

Here's the TV where I could see the students at the other schools. There is a small camera on top. It was awkward to speak to a TV screen when I had actual students on either side of me, but the visit went extremely well. (Thanks to Joy for keeping the technology running smoothly; this included lending me her belt so I'd have something to hook my microphone to.)

(This was a test with a technician and image of my book before the students came onboard.)

My favorite part was the questions at the end. Many of the questions/comments came from boys. One boy said, "I just wanted you to know you inspired me. You're my role model." And another boy said, "I read your book. And it's my all-time favorite." Another boy told me how he loved the book, A Wrinkle in Time. I told him it was one of my favorites, too.

One of the questions was so thoughtful and mature. A girl at one of the other schools asked, "Did the fact that your father was absent from your home while you were growing up influence your book?"

Indeed it did. The father is absent in my book and the main character wishes for more time and attention from her very busy mother, which mirrors my childhood.

While students enjoyed lemon squares, I signed books . . . slips of paper, agendas ("Why didn't you fill in your homework assignments?!"), etc.

After that delightful visit, Karen Williams, awesome librarian and my host for the day, drove me to the African-American Research Library and Cultural Center. What a fabulous place! It's a great melding of art and literature.


There is a small round room with the words to the African-American National Anthem printed on the walls along with artwork. The acoustics are designed for people to sing in that room. I was given a special tour from Larry Holland, Library Specialist. He took me into the room with the special collections, including memorabilia from Esther Rolle.

When we were leaving, I noticed a girl, maybe in 8th grade, carrying more books to the check-out desk than she could manage. The books were sliding off the top of her precarious piles. I smiled because it reminded me of me at that age.

After a lovely introduction by Nadine Robinson, I got on stage and spoke to an auditorium full of awesome librarians, media specialists, educators, etc. for the 22nd Annual Conference on Children's Literature.

(There were actual people in the seats during my talk. Really.)

It was so much fun. What a great group of people. I have Gina Moon, Youth Service Coordinator, to thank for inviting me to participate in this wonderful program.

A huge shout out to the fine folks in Ft. Lauderdale, who made this children's book author feel a teeny bit like a rock star.