Stamp of Approval

It’s entirely possible that I’m the last person on the planet to realize that the US Post Office is selling “Favorite Children’s Book Animals” stamps. But now that I’ve discovered them, I’m in love. How can you help but smile — even when paying bills — when you affix a Wilbur or Wild Thing image to an envelope?

Here’s the cast of characters they’ve selected for this philatelic homage: The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Wilbur, Fox in Socks, Maisy, Wild Thing, Curious George, Olivia, and Frederick. Aren’t they adorable?

And on a totally different topic, bostonerin tagged me with the book meme. If you’re interested, my answers are 

1.     One book that changed your life: I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS. This compelling and controversial book about overcoming adversity inspires me on multiple levels, most too personal to explain.
 
2.     One book that you’ve read more than once: WIZARD of OZ. A great fantasy story, but also a metaphor about becoming a fully integrated person. If you haven’t read THE ZEN OF OZ, I highly recommend it, too.
 
3.     One book you would want on a desert island: THE WORST CASE SCENARIO SURVIVAL HANDBOOK.
 
4.     One book that made you laugh: Anything CALVIN AND HOBBES.
 
5.     One book that made you cry: NIGHT, by Elie Wiesel. Such raw imagery – and provocative in that the author poses an impossibly difficult question: How can a loving God cause/allow such atrocities to happen? Worth considering always, but relevant again, especially in light of current events around the world.
 
6.     One book you wish had been written: A FINAL GOODBYE TO ANGST AND ADIPOSE.
 
7.     One book you wish had never been written: GODLESS (or anything else by Ann Coulter). I’m not one for censorship, but I believe publishers and authors have to be more responsible about presenting opinions as fact. Coulter’s works seem to me the publishing equivalent of shouting “FIRE” in a crowded theatre – and then setting off explosives to prove your point.
 
8.     Books you are currently reading/have been meaning to read: BITTER IS THE NEW BLACK and AN ABUNDANCE OF KATHERINES. I’m struggling to get through them – not because they’re bad (they’re actually quite good), but because I should instead be finishing up a chapter for my nonfiction proposal. Ahem.

Myth Busting

Is it possible we’re reading Gen Y all wrong? This week’s L.A. Times suggests there’s more to “the MySpace Generation” than meets the eye. If you’re a YA writer or a parent of a teen, you can measure your expectations against reality by reading the articles and polls assembled here. Fascinating stuff!

Speaking of myth-busting … Last week, I bemoaned the fact that I’m moving through my manuscript at a stultifyingly slow pace, and said that I want to be MADE into a more confident, productive writer. Today, I want to thank everyone who offered encouragement and/or suggestions. I used your ideas and (drumroll) I had a very producting writing week. Seems I was mistaken about my inability to write faster while writing well. Best part: my critique group gave me extremely positive feedback! Naturally, I have some revising to do, but honestly, not much. And I’m feeling energized by the progress I’ve made. 

Finally, let’s all put to rest the notion that one person, one voice can’t make a difference in a democracy. I’m thisclose to realizing the goal of my Rosa Resolution. Along the way, I’ve often been asked, “What organization are you with?” Translation: Who’s funding your lobbying efforts? (Short answer: no one.) Turns out, money isn’t the only effective talker. Heh.

AB 2165: GREAT NEWS!

EXTRA! EXTRA! Read all about it!

I just heard some wonderful news: This afternoon, California Assembly Bill 2165 sailed through its last committee hearing on a unanimous vote of consent!

Assemblyman La Suer strode to the podium and started to speak: “AB 2165 prevents student athletes…” he began, and then got cut off by the committee chair. “I make a motion for passing the bill,” Senator Murray said, and all the other Senators followed his lead. “Great presentation,” they laughed, and went on to debate the next bill on the docket.

Now, the bill goes for a vote of the full Senate, followed by a vote on the accepted amendments in the Assembly. It’s likely both votes (pretty much pro forma) will happen sometime next week. Then (cue drum roll), on to the Governor’s desk for Schwarzenneger’s signature!

Thanks to all of you who’ve supported this legislation — and my family — as we’ve worked through the process of passing the bill. It understand it may get tiresome to hear about this, but I’m very grateful for your patient support, as it’s been a long and often painful road. As I mentioned to a friend, I’d never go into politics full-time. If I did, I’d probably die of a heart attack or a broken heart.

ABOUT THE BILL:  AB 2165 would prohibit California student-athletes from participation in athletic endeavors or on athletic teams if, after enrollment in CA public colleges and universities, they are convicted of a violent felony or certain sex crimes and have not yet served their sentences. 

If this topic is news to you, here’s a link to a USA Today article about my personal/professional involvement in this, and here’s a blog entry that gives the backstory on the bill.

I Wanna Be MADE

Have you seen the MTV show, I Wanna Be MADE? It’s all about self-proclaimed losers who become winners by working hard to realize their dreams.
 
This afternoon, I wrote thousands of words for my manuscript watched an episode about an socially unskilled, doughy-looking high school senior who asks to be MADE into a prom king. Over several weeks, he works out with a physical trainer, meets regularly with a MADE motivation coach, and undergoes a makeover with a cadre of fashion and hair stylists. Eventually, he is beaten over the head with enough brickbats realizes that the most important steps to being MADE involves the approval of his peers getting off the couch, believing in himself, and doing WHATEVER IT TAKES to accomplish his goals.

The show inspired me to think about how much I want to be MADE into a writer. So I took some time to think about the questions MADE wanna-be’s respond to in their auditions, and I’ve included a very condensed version here:

 
MY GOAL: To finish the first draft of Chapter Two by the end of next week, and to finalize my nonfiction proposal revisions and additions by the end of this month.
WHY I THINK I CAN MAKE IT: Because I have the energy, the time, and the passion. And besides, I have a wonderful agent, friends, and family who believe in me.
HERE’S WHERE I NEED HELP REINVENTING MYSELF: I have sentence-level OCD writer’s block, meaning I worry each line to “perfection.” Then, I get really discouraged because my overall writing is moving forward at a stultifying pace. Bottom line: I need to be MADE into a writer who’s more confident and productive.

One of the great things about Live Journal is that we are, in a way, MADE coaches — a posse of friends who help each other reach our full potential. So if you’ve got some tips/tricks/ideas you think will help me, would you please leave them for me in the comments thread? With a bit of inspiration and a lot of proverbial perspiration, I hope to have it MADE by the end of this month!

Already, a small disclaimer: I know that too much TV turns productive citizens into passive pod people without ambition or drive — definitely not MADE material. (Hello, MTV, see any irony here?) So, in my own defense, let it be known that I only watched for 30 minutes today, and that was my time-out for lunch. =:)

Book Buzz

In case you’ve been procrastinating, here’s your reminder: Monday at midnight is the deadline for entering Susan Taylor Brown ‘s contest for HUGGING THE ROCK.

Even though I’m not artistically inclined, I was inspired enough by her book’s metaphor to send in a submission myself. I’m fairly certain it won’t stand up to the competition, but it felt good to send Susan a visual representation of my own symbolic rock — and to tell her what her book meant to me. 

Here’s a link to a .pdf file of the first few chapters, to give you a sense of the book and to inspire your creative sensibilities. And here’s a link to the contest details, the rules, and the prizes awarded to winning entries. I’ll bet Susan will enjoy seeing your artistic endeavors, and I’m guessing that she’ll also appreciate knowing how you connected with her book. For an author, I’m imagining that’s the best book buzz of all.

Speaking of big book buzz, I just read this at Publisher’s Marketplace:

Better Than Yesterday and Social Climber’s Guide to High School author Robyn Schneider’s THE IVY LEGACY, about a college freshman who joins her sister’s elite all-female secret society, stumbles upon a plot to frame her society for the theft of a campus relic, and unknowingly falls for the head of the rival all-male society, to Jodi Keller at Delacorte, in a pre-empt, in a two book deal, by Susan Schulman at Susan Schulman Literary Agency (NA).

This announcement is further confirmation of what I already knew: her “lucky thrift store” really is charmed that girl is incredibly talented! She’s left NYC for the summer, to teach creative writing at a camp in Connecticut. But if you want to send Robyn a congratulatory email, you can write her at robynschneider AT yahoo DOT com. Big kudos to you, Robbiewriter

Trophy Date

I was late for my lunch date at The Ivy, but I swear, it wasn’t my fault. I’d arranged to meet my interviewee at her home in West Hollywood so we could ride together to the restaurant. But when I finally reached Sunset Blvd., the exit was blocked by construction cones! Oh, no!
 
I took the next off-ramp and pulled into a convenience store to recalibrate my directions. A huddle of construction workers and mow-and-go gardeners tried to help me, but I was getting more confused by the minute. Finally, a grizzled black man in a workman’s uniform stepped in.
 
“Girl, you ain’t never gonna get there with them guys tellin’ you how. Get back in yo’ car and follow me!” 

With that, my Dickies-clad guardian angel led me to her exclusive, hill-top neighborhood, his cobalt blue Sears Home Repair van heralding my half-hour-late arrival.

Meanwhile, my trophy wife date attended an early-morning Pilates class. From the looks of all the shopping bags she showed me, it’s clear she also had an aerobic (and wallet) workout on Rodeo Drive, in nearby Beverly Hills!
 

Here’s a photo of us, the Ladies Who Lunched, settled into our see-and-be-seen table at The Ivy. Who would’ve imagined, with so many options to choose from, that we’d end up wearing nearly identical pearl necklaces and outfits in similar shades of blue?

 
One of her good friends, Steven, joined us for lunch. (I forgot to get his picture, but if you can, try to imagine him: mid-thirties, about 5’11, blue eyes, spikey blonde hair, hard-bodied, wearing a pink-and-white polo shirt and jeans.) As we ate our salads ($23.00 per plate!), he regaled us with stories of his acting career (no air quotes intended). He’s done some impressive work on the way to earning his SAG card, including serving as a stand-in for a certain famous actor whose love interest recently had a baby. Ahem.

And now, here’s a photo for the tabloids: a picture of Paris Hilton’s home and Bentley, which I snapped through the windshield of my (bodyguard-avoiding) car as I drove past.  Ms. Hilton’s house, by the way, is near the base of the winding road where my interview subject lives.

 

 
I headed back to Orange County in the late afternoon, to meet my writing group at  Barnes & Noble. Now, it’s about 2:30 in the morning, and I’m still too wound up to sleep.

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Racism in All Colors and Corners

In recognition of Blog Against Racism Week, here’s a story that might give you pause.

In late 2004, my son was the victim of a violent, unprovoked assault by several members of the Grossmont Community College football team. Someone at the party took a digital movie of the crime as it unfolded, which eventually helped convict the thugs. 

About a week after the crime occurred, detectives showed that video to Head Football Coach Dave Jordan. Court records indicate that his response was that the “spoiled white boys [victims] probably deserved a beating.”

Maybe you were shocked and perhaps offended by the coach’s remark. But did you also wonder about the coach’s ethnic origins? And how about those violent athletes: How did you picture them in your mind?

Here’s your answer.

PS Richard Nelson, the fourth assailant, finally turned himself in at the end of last week.