WELCOME
12/8/09
I can't believe how long it's been! Happy holidays to all! It's a crazy busy time and I know I'm looking forward to a break. I plan to do a lot of writing, reading and projects! I wish everyone a safe and happy holiday and a fantastic year ahead.
9/12/09
I almost made it for posting something every two months - but I'm a bit late for August. Oh well. I had a two-week vacation in Canada and had a good time. Great weather! We celebrated my nephew's 21 birthday and it was the first time the whole family has been together in a LONG time. Got up to the lake, which was awesome! Love it there. Good to see family and friends. Hope it's not another 6 years before I make it back there. Sheesh.
Doing lots of writing and rewriting. Everything takes a long time and I need to be patient. It's important to make the story the best it can be with full and complete characters. So that's what I'm doing now.
Reading lots of good books - there are so many out there. I was in a book store and just gazed at all the books I'm not reading. Made me want to get a job there. Guess that's it for now and will hopefully not take so long to update in the future. I can dream! :-)
6-23-09
So, another two months go by. I think I should try for monthly blurbs at least! What I want to mention today is two books I just love. And you can check out the authors' links on the Others' Stories page!
BECAUSE I AM FURNITURE by Thalia Chaltas
It's her debut novel in verse and it is just perfect. It flows and has beautiful language and great characters that ring true. Very compelling and a good read.
ABSOLUTELY MAYBE by Lisa Yee
Amazing characters, situations and stories! So much fun. I can't imagine there not being a sequel. She doesn't think there would be one - but I can hope!
What else is new? I'm going to be submitting a story to an editor soon. That will be very exciting to get it out the door! And I finished rewrites on another novel and will have to get critiques back from my writing group and fix it and then that one will go to a couple of editors. Lots and lots of fun and lots of work. Definitely worth it.
And it's summer and I'm so ready for warmer weather. It comes and goes here in Santa Barbara. I'll take whatever comes my way. Enjoy your summer, hope the weather is fantastic and read read read!
4-13-09
Yes, I am embarrassed that it's been that long since I last updated. Life rolls along, you get busy, you get sick, you get better, still rolling along. Today is my husband's birthday. Funny that I decided to write on his birthday too. We'll go out for a nice dinner tonight. I took him to Mama Mia and he really enjoyed it. I had seen it before and knew how much fun it was - and thankfully, he loved it too. Of course, we're stuck with ABBA songs in our heads for 2 weeks, but it was worth it.
This Saturday I'm going to the Los Angeles Writer's Day. I'm looking forward to seeing people I know and meeting new ones. Always a fun event. And the weather looks good. Bonus! I will work on keeping this site more current. I'm working on a story right now and hope to get it to my critique group soon. Then there's another round of rewrites after that. But I love it.
PS - I added a few authors on the Others' Stories tab. I plan to add a bunch more!
2-23-09
Today is my birthday! I've had a fabulous birthday this year. I was surprised at a restaurant by my best friend and her family. They flew down from Canada for a family vacation and scheduled it around my birthday. How amazing is that?! I have never been so surprised in my life. I'm usually arranging the surprises, so I was very shocked that they got me. But a truly wonderful time and visit with my friend, her husband and three kids. Doesn't get any better than that! I get birthday lunches this week and a birthday dinner tonight with my husband. Then I should be good for another year! Have a piece of cake - on me. Mine will be carrot cake with yummy icing.
2-12-09
I came back from the winter conference refocused and motivated to get my stories polished and out in the world. Between work, life and writing, I'm catching up to myself.
Some of the highlights from the conference: the Friday intensives were good - received positive and good feedback on both of my stories. My 1st session was with Liz Szabla (Feiwel & Friends) and the 2nd with Michael Stearns (Firebrand). I had a great time in both. Liz was insightful and encouraging and MIchael had a fantastic energy and a good sense of humor. Both offered helpful feedback.
I did enjoy 2 get togethers - or kidlit drink nights - while I was there. Met great people at both. Betsy Bird (Fuse #8) was a lot of fun. She's the children's librarian at the NY Public Library. And Queens librarian Lori Ess, was extremely passionate about kid lit. (If you're from the Ventura/SB region, think Jody Fickes-Shapiro). Both Betsy and Lori should take their act on the road - they are that funny.
I met an author whose book just came out: Kekla Magoon - nicest lady - I can't wait to read her book. Sounds amazing. And met another agent, Stephen Barbara - nicest guy. So many nice people in NY.
At another gathering, I met Leeza Hernandez (who won the Tomie DePaola award!) and Angela Matteson - stupendous illustrators/artists. Check out their websites.
Jay Asher arrived - he gave the luncheon Keynote and did a great job. Bruce Hale also spoke and I took soooo many notes! All the speakers were good.
Richard Peck was outstanding - really beautiful speech. Jack Gantos was hilarious. Jarrett Krosoczka was absolutely hysterical again. That video has been making the rounds. I saw him at the LA annual conference a couple of years ago and still remember THAT video. This one tops it - believe it or not.
Enjoyed the breakouts wtih editors Jennifer Greene, Kathy Dawson and Caitlyn Dlouhy. the passion was outstanding and made me want to work with everyone!
1-22-09
On Sunday I leave for New York for the SCBWI Winter Conference! My sister is coming with me and neither of us has been there before. We have a week to see everything possible and then enjoy the conference. It will be a bit cold, but we're prepared and ready to have fun!
1-14-09
Welcome to my website! I'm pretty sure this site will always be a WIP (work-in-progress) since I'm not that technologically advanced. But I will give it a try because if I don't, how will I know if I can do it or not. So welcome to my experiment, you are my first guinea pigs, I mean visitors.
This will be my spot for updates that are new or spectacular. Or a random picture of my kitty, Lucy.
Angela Russell
Children's Author
