It's Time for Milestone Monday-- Get Your Thumbs UP!

Dear Friends,

Welcome to Milestone Monday!  Though in some parts of the country,  it is Tuesday already-- yikes!  We nearly put up a SINKING Violets post today.  Both Robin and I woke up with some sort of dreadful plague or vampire curse.  (Yeah, okay, I'm reading Twilight!)  She woke up with woodpecker head and I have had the spins all day.  Would someone please get me off this nasty carnival ride???  Worst of all, we even had to cancel our Girls Lunch Out together, and I've been bereft about it all day.   I don't get to see her enough as it is (me sniffling).

Spinning notwithstanding (pun alert!), I couldn't abide one more Monday passing by without calling a Milestone Monday! For our newish readers, this is a day devoted to hearing from all of YOU. We want the skinny on your latest accomplishments-- from finishing a tough synopsis/school visit/bio/chapter/draft, to a recent sale, scoring a read by your dream agent or editor, or getting the Most Seriously Promising Rejection Letter ever!   Use this forum to stand up and cheer for your fellow introverts.  Free promo!  In this biz, with accolades coming too rarely, kudos are crucial to your heart and health!

Speaking of promo OP-POR-TU-NI-TIES (a-hem), I recently did a live blog radio interview with Suzanne Lieurance at Book Bites, which is part of the National Writing for Children Center out of Kansas City, Missouri. Suzanne was great fun to work with.  She had read my new book, perused my website and blog and was completely prepared. Very professional.  In addition to doing author interviews, she hosts a regularly scheduled Promo Day for authors and illustrators to call in during the program.  It's an chance for you to announce any new books or book events you have coming up.  

If the idea of talking on the radio makes you want to crawl back into the womb, whoa there, cowgirl.  This is a great opportunity to stretch yourself a little bit.  If you feel nervous about doing it alone, hook up with a buddy or two, and you can all call in together.  Afterwards, you can post the link to your website or blog.  If any of you try it, please let us know how it goes!  If you have a new book coming out, you can visit the site that I posted above and there are instructions for how to apply to be one of Suzanne's author interviews.

Just one more thing before I turn the mike over the you Milestoney things-- in Robin's post last Thursday, she made a comment that one of our readers Becky had a question about.  Robin noted that since introverts excel at relationships and connecting, the act of networking with industry folks plays to our strengths.  Becky wondered if we could say a little bit more on this, as she hadn't heard that before.

As a generalization about Jungian type, introverts are really hardwired for connecting with others. We prefer one on one, and when we connect with someone, we tend to be more fully present and focused. We are content to stay present in that single exchange, and aren't looking for addditional input or stimulation while talking to that one person.  It makes for a stronger connection, recollection and bond.  Which serves us well in an industry where we want editors, agents, and publicity agents, etc. to remember us with fondness and admiration.   Which is not to say that an extravert can't accomplish the same thing--  Robin's point was that introverts come equipped with the right tool belt already looped around our waist.  We need to take advantage of it!

And without further ado-be-do, let's hear from you!  What's new and exciting in your corner?

Dizzily but devotedly, 

Mary Hershey

Thumbs Poised for Milestone Monday

It’s been three months since we’ve done a Milestone Monday, so I’m calling one here and now. HERE. NOW. If you’re newish on the block, Milestone Monday is a day devoted to celebrating your minor/major/noteworthy creative successes. We really want to hear from you. Yeah, you, shrinking down in your seat right now. :-)

Finish a gnarly chapter? Maybe you recently got an honest-to-goodness original signature on your latest rejection letter! Or, you might have finally rustled up the courage to talk to someone about your work. Did you sell an article, or a book? Maybe you got inspired by Robin’s last post about conferences and made the decision to go to one!

Whatever it is, we want to give you a big thumbs up! No fuss, no muss, and you can sit quietly at your screen and blush all you want.

As introverts, we have a tendency to downplay the power of community. I know I like to delude myself that I am a self-reinforcing model. (Kind of like a self-cleaning oven, but without the impenetrable locking feature.) Which is why I was NOT looking forward to participating in “Integrity Day” yesterday which I was required to attend on account of this Energize your Life coaching group I belong to. Starting at 9:00 a.m. yesterday, I had to dial in to a conference call for ten minutes at the top of every hour for five hours.

Hold on, it gets worse. Not only did I have to call in, I had to report my progress on a life de-cluttering project to a bunch of people I've never met. And, listen to their reports on how they were doing. Did I mention this was Saturday morning, a sacred time I like to reserve for the exclusive company of a brick-sized scone and a skinny latte? If Option B to the call-ins would have been five consecutive mammograms-- truly, I would have been torn. Hmm, mammogram or conference call with required sharing? The dilemma!

So, you might imagine my bolt from the blue when I discovered how mobilizing it was having a cheering section behind me all morning. Moi? Yeah, I know! In five hours, I accomplished more on my project than I ever could have left to my own devices. Better still, even after the calls were over, I worked four more hours non-stop.

So I’m just saying. Sharing can be good. And catalystic. We’d love to hear from you. And, for god's sake, it’s free publicity to boot. There’s that, too.

Engerized and uncluttered,

Mary Hershey

P.S. Speaking of milestones, our Shrinking Violets visit meter turned over to 25,000 visits this past weekend. Wow. And, those are visits by introverts, which are the data equivalent of 4.77 extravert visits, according to some super scientific research I conducted. Or made up. It's one of those, but I forget which one.

Checking in for a Milestone Monday

Hello? Remember me? It feels like ages since I’ve stuck my head in here for a good catch up. I have had my poor nose to the grindstone for the last four months, meeting deadlines for two different books. I got the last one turned in this morning and that squeal you heard about 9:00 PST was me. Phew. It’s over. At least until the revision letters start arriving, which according to my editor should be this Friday. (That is a photo of me two minutes after I emailed my manuscript to my editor. Honest!)

It was an interesting four months. I’ve never had to stay that absolutely focused for that long. I’ve also never had to whittle down my schedule and priorities to such a bare minimum. Fellow introverts will not be surprised to learn that one of the first things to go was nearly all my social media obligations, except for an occasional check in on my blog or FB. With two manuscripts screaming for my attention, it was pretty easy to remember that social media is there to support my writing efforts, not detract from producing them. An important distinction. ☺

Since I feel like I’ve missed out on the last two months entirely, can we have a great big Milestone Monday check in? (Have we really not had one since last November??) I’d love to hear what’s going on in your lives! You all know my milestone: I got two books written in a personal best record time. But how about you? What milestones have you accomplished recently?

And to sweeten the pot, we have a three book* giveaway! If you leave your Monday Milestone in the comments, you’ll be entered! (Sorry followers, you need to actually comment for this one.)

Can’t wait to hear from you all!

And a huge thank you to Mary and all the other amazing guest bloggers for holding down the fort while I was hunkered down.


*Giveaway includes:
Edgar Award nominee, Petronella Saves Nearly Everyone, by Dene Low
The atmospheric and delicious Hunchback Assignments, by Arthur Slade
And the much anticipated, stunningly illustrated Leviathan, by Scott Westerfeld

OUR FIRST MILESTONE MONDAY

Dear Friends,

Welcome to the new Milestone Monday feature dedicated to sharing important posts and passings in your journey. The trek to publication and success of any kind can be a long, arid haul. This is our opportunity to give you a hoot, a holler and some cyber-confetti to cheer you on along the way. And, to remind you that you are not alone in this!

Robin and I want to throw out the first handful of e-confetti to Milestoners, Farida Dowler, Tony Dowler and Kimberly Lynn. (Insert sound of blowing horns and near-deafening cheers here.)

Farida, aka Alkelda the Gleeful, http://saintsandspinners.blogspot.com reports that she lined up three storytelling gigs all at once! Strong work! Robin and I think we'd need both CPR and an IV (introvertous fluids) if we attempted that. Good on you, Alkelda! May your storytelling talents and prowess become legendary.

Tony Dowler is working on a game about the Renaissance with wicked cool ray guns and robots. He's been talking about it on message boards and unveiling rough drafts for a few buds. Just last week someone Tony doesn't even know “name-dropped” his game as an influence on their own work. Sweet! You can check out Tony's work at http://planet-thirteen.com/Principia.aspx.

Kimberly Lynn shared a great story that I think is best told in her voice.

“Three years ago, I attended my very first SCBWI conference. I was signed up for a manuscript and portfolio critique with Gaby Triana and Frank Remkiewicz. No one other than my family and a couple of friends had ever read my writing up until that point, so I was utterly terrified of hearing 'the truth.' I was so afraid in fact, that I actually considered getting back into the elevator, but then I thought about how rude it would be to leave them sitting there waiting with no explanation. (I can be so silly!) When I walked toward Gaby Triana, she said, “Are you Kimberly?” I smiled and shook her hand. She said, “Wow! Great writing! Do you have an agent?” Totally not what I had expected to hear! She recommended her agent but when I checked his submission guidelines later, he didn't rep fantasy - which I love writing! Rats. Anyway, it was a moment I will never, never forget. My portfolio review with Frank Remkiewicz went really well too. He said I needed to get it “out there” to publishers. Did I get it “out there” after that? Nope. Let's just take this one baby step at a time.”

Kimberly Lynn also reports that she was asked by her SCBWI Regional advisor to write the Illustrator Intensive article for the newsletter. It's her first published work! You can take a peek at it at http://www.scbwiflorida.com/newsletter.html and scroll down.

Robin and I have a milestone of our own to report. Over the weekend we attended the 55th Annual Santa Barbara Author Breakfast, which was a fun event. And they had quiche AND scones which is like heaven in a Prada bag. The event organizer put us at the same table, and it was the FIRST time Robin and I ever sat together, and didn't pass notes. <-“

Kimberly, Tony, Farida, thank you for sharing all your great accomplishments, and being the first to march in our Milestone Parade. We are raising out Diet Cokes, iced teas, mocha lattes, V-8 and mountain spring water in a happy toast to you each!

And be sure and keep those milestones coming for next month!

Mary

Ms. Viola on Milestone Monday and the Latest 4-1-1

Ciao, l' amicos! Ms. Viola pitch-hitting here for Robin and Mary who are busy plotting away about some kind of SDQBI grant for something happening this summer in Los Angeles. All I know is that there is a delish one thousand dollar cha-ching attached. O-O-o-ooh! Now that got my attention! Do stay tuned on that front, won't you?

Milestone Monday! Back at last! The day devoted to blowing your horn however softly or madly you like. We want to hear about you! Perhaps you wrote through a difficult scene, queried an agent, received an encouraging rejection, updated your resume, said NO to something that was a big YES to you. Do tell! Leave a comment here telling us all about it, or if you prefer to blow quietly, you can send your milestone to Mary at Just between us. Everyone that submits a milestone will have their name entered in a drawing to win a copy of Laura Resau's faborama of a book entitled Red Glass, which has won just about everything but the Pillsbury Bake-Off. (Now is she or isn't she an introvert? Enquiring minds want to know. 'Fess up, Laura, dahlink!)

Just nine days and counting until the start of National Independent Bookseller Month here at Shrinking Violets! R & M wanted me to tell you to keep the bookstore names coming in. If you haven't already, please do post the name and address (or website) your favorite indie so they can be in the running to be featured next month. We love indies so much it nearly makes us weep.

So, post away, friends. Your tribe loves hearing from you!


Arrivederci for now--
Your loving Ms. Viola

Time for Another Milestone Monday

Photo by Renato Brancaleoni "Brickslaying"

Dear Friends,

It has been much too long since we've hosted a Milestone Monday here-- a day devoted to hearing from our readers about their recent accomplishments.  I aim to remedy that right now!

Consider this practice for putting yourself into the spotlight, but in the gentlest and most supportive space possible, here with your very own tribe of fellow and fella introverts.

Have you recently completed a piece of work that you are quietly celebrating?  Sold an article, essay, book?  Started a blog or launched a new website?  Agreed to do a school visit with live children (shriek!) or to do a book signing or book launch?  Have you asked someone to be your (gulp) writing buddy or read a new piece of work aloud?  

Let's hear from you!  And to further entice you, if you post an accomplishment here, we will enter you into a drawing to win a copy of the most lovely CDs I have heard in a long time . . . Prayer Cycle: A Choral Symphony in Nine Movements.  The compilation features such talents as James Taylor, Ofra Haza, Alanis Morissette, the late Musrat Fateh Ali Khan, the American Boychoir with Devin Provenzano, and the English Chamber Orchestra & Chorus. One reviewer notes that if this music fails to move you, you have no soul.  :-]  Lovely world music to recharge by.

I'm unfurling the long red carpet right now.  Violets, are you ready?

In full celebratory mode,

Mary Hershey 

Something New Coming Your Way: Milestone Mondays

Dear Violets and Vinnies,

Robin and I had a marvelously productive lunch last week at Chateau La Belle talking all about YOU, and how much we love this growing community of introverts. We've evolved into a virtual iPod--oh, fine, that's already taken. iCommunity? Anyway, we want to stay fresh, inventive, relevant and responsive. We've got some new things coming down the pike! We invite (read beg) and welcome your feedback.

For those of you that haven't sold your work yet-- but you will-- marketing begins now, not after your first sale. It starts with your recognition of yourself as a writer . . . not a future one, a wannabe one, an unpublished one, but a bonafide professional writer.

You MAY and should call yourself a writer without cringing, blushing, or losing hold of your bladder, if you write regularly, take classes, read craft books/blogs/mags, attend conferences, participate in a crititque group, read others' work. Face it, you are a writer! Stand in front of a mirror. Rehearse it. Swirl that imaginary martini (or diet coke) around in its glass. "Me? What do I do? I'm a writer." Claim it!

Now, being a writer that hasn't yet been published can be a lo-oo-ng trek . . . lots of work without praise or payday. That's where our new feature Milestone Mondays come in.

We want to give you a chance to feel a bit of the limelight on your skin now, in easy, supportive doses. We want to herald and trumpet some of your accomplishments along the way. Time for you to let the world now that you are up and coming, baby!

We want to hear about a promising rejection letter, or the completion of your discovery draft, or a writing class, or your article in the Trader Joes flyer, or the time that Arthur Levine/Wendy Lamb/Jodi Reamer told you that s/he'd like to see your whole manuscript. Let's start the celebrating of you now, huh?

Ready to get 'yer feet wet? What do you say? Send your milestones to me at News for Milestone Monday. We'll run them once a month. If you have a website or a blog, make sure you let me know so we can post a link. Look forward to hearing all about you!

Ars longa, vita brevis--

(Art is long, life is short)

Mary Hershey

Milestone Monday and More!

Photo by Kevin Baird

Dear Violets and Vinnies,

Mary and Robin are back in the building!  And, very glad to be here with our favorite "peops!" Hope you all had a marvelous week.  

I had an exceptional time frolicking in Fresno, California with some amazing School Librarians and their staff.  Which I followed with a truly Don Knotts moment when after cramming ninety junior students into a smallish cafeteria, my Power Point presentation would not come up. No way, no how-- despite praying a number of Hail Marys  directly into the USB port. I would have to face the assembled mass totally unplugged for a full hour with no fun slides, visuals, soundtrack, or Youtube-- just uh, ME... middle-aged dame and all.  

This was actually the second time I had a techno-malfunction  in the span of about six weeks. The first time was with a group of kindly adults who did not have Must Have Media written all over them.  I punted and things went fine.  I think they would have been good if I'd burst into a hour long rendition of Kumbaya-- those kind of great students.

With my hoard of 90 pre-pubescents, however, there was the chance that things could get ugly. Their School Librarian was looking as nervous as a long-tailed cat in a rocking chair factory. God love her, she kept apologizing as if it were her fault.  I briefly considered whippping off my boots, and  fashioning a couple of quick sock puppets.  Which might have worked if the students were three, and not twelve-going-on-seventeen. So I took a big bracing breath, pretended it was whiskey, unhooked the mike from the podium, and moved closer.  I took all the concepts from the non-existent slides, and instead embed them deeply in story.  Within moments I had the tribal fire crackling, and the universal power of story saved the day.  

As a P.S. to this, I also had not received my shipment of author postcards in time for my trip, so I made a quick trip to Costco and bought ninety Hershey bars, which I signed with a silver Sharpie. Which the kids loved a lot, and before long, I was signing hands, forearms, and the rubber soles of their shoes.  (Nervous School Librarian now sweating profusely). I had a few requests for other body parts, which I politely declined. :-]  All in all, a seriously great day was had at Raisin City Elementary.  Smart, funny kids.  If you ever get invited, g-o.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here's an even quicker tool for assessing introversion and extraversion that I heard recently:
If you are interrupted while reading and you are irritated, you're an introvert.
If you are interrupted while reading and you are grateful, you're an extravert.
~~~~~~~~~~~~

I am looking for someone to read and review the book entitled The Shy Writer by C. Hope Long for our blog. Interested? I'll send you a copy of the book to keep--along with your very own autographed Hershey bar! Email me at Pick me, Mary!

We are just about five weeks away from the start of our Third Annual National Independent Bookseller Month here at SVP, a month long festival in which we pay homage to the extraordinary work of our indie bookstores.  Each year we have selected a an indie staff member as our Bookseller of the Year, and treated them to dinner at their favorite swanky restaurant and presented them with a very also swanky certificate. These come coupled with our undying loyalty,  and servitude for the year.  (Robin, have we remembered to tell them about the servitude part?)  In 2007, we selected and celebrated Vroman's Bookstore's Kris Vreeland and in 2008, Alex Uhl of A Whale of a Tale Bookshoppe in Irvine, Calfornia took the honors.

Start thinking about 2009 nominees now!  Our last two winners have both been from California. We'd love to see some nominees from other states.  Everyone that submits a nominee will be entered in our drawing to win a Indie Bound gift certificate.  If your nominee is selected, we're talking big loot.  

Lastly, but never leastly, time for another Milestone Monday-- a random Monday dedicated to giving each of you an opportunity to practice a bit of self-promotion. The road to publication can be long, years long, and we want to celebrate your triumphs along the way with a cyber hoot and holler.  So, pony up to the line with your tribespeople, and let us know your good news.

Let's hear it for your path--
Mary

We’re Baaaack!

And very happy to be so! I hope you all had a hugely productive summer. In fact, we would love to hear what you’ve all accomplished over the last couple of months! As we all straggle back in get settled into our fall routines, we’d love to have a Milestone Monday and learn what everyone’s been working on, accomplished, any breakthroughs people have had. You know the drill.

I’ll start. I actually (finally) finished a manuscript I’ve been working on (off and on) for four l-o-n-g years. Boy, did that feel good! It is my first YA and I am very excited about it.

As for Mary’s milestone, well, there is some good news and some bad news. And the bad news is actually more bittersweet. Mary has radically unplugged. Over the summer she deleted her Twitter and Facebook accounts and is going deeply inward for the next year and taking a year’s sabbatical from SVP.  ::sob!::

I am hugely proud of her that she is honoring her introverted needs and process, but I will sorely miss her presence here throughout the coming year. The important thing is, that if any of you have been feeling a similar need, do let Mary’s decision be a gentle nudge in that direction. She reports that her stress has been reduced by 75% and her muse is happy, happy, happy with the decision.

The good news is that we have lots of exciting things on the menu for you in the coming months. By popular demand, we will be running both a Discover Your Online Persona workshop as well as a Shrinking Violet Bootcamp. We’ll be starting with the Persona workshop on Oct. 4. The Bootcamp will probably begin sometime after the first of the year. We also have a bunch of inspiring, educational, eye opening, and perspective challenging guest posts on the horizon, which I also hope you’ll enjoy.

Also, if you are a regular Shrinking Violet reader and have a new book coming out in the upcoming year, drop me a line, will you? We’d love to celebrate your launch here as well as get your picture up in our sidebar.

And lastly, I’d like to point you to a terrific article, The Revenge of the Introvert, in the current Psychology Today by Laurie Helgoe, who has been a frequent guest poster here on SVP. The article also features Nancy Ancowitz, yet another frequent guest poster here. Do take a moment to read this terrific article.

Look forward to hearing all about your milestones!

We're All Ears!

Time for a Milestone Monday! We want to hear your good news, your accomplishments, your movements forward! And, a-hem, we have it on good authority that one of our readers with the initials RM just sold her first book in a "very nice deal" to Disney/Hyperion. We'd love to hear the deets!

I've recently taken a big, bracing breath and sent my picture book ms. to a friend/rock star/former bookseller to have her take the first look at it. No one has seen my rewrite. Sweat is running down both sides of me, but I'm glad I've done it. I'll keep you in the loop on this. In the meantime, I'm practicing detachment from the outcome and going nose down on my WIP.

How about the rest of you? What have you moved forward? Anyone done any public speaking, leaping over their own personal buildings? Please share with us.

I want to welcome my awesomely lovely sidekick, Robin, back from her week-long East Coast book tour. It's been great fun following her on Facebook and hearing about all the great indies she has visited, the people she has connected with, and all the places she has been able to sightsee. Given her recent enormous output, I'm calculating that she'll need about 3.5 days plugged directly into the socket before she is speaking. But, we can still send her a quiet and heartfelt Hail the Returning Violet!

Speaking of indies, it is the last week of May ( spewing here at that!) and if you've not yet visited your local independent bookstore and supported them, please jump into your Converse now and pay them a visit. We are celebrating Buy Indie Day for the entire month so none of you miss out! Buy a book, a book cert, card, bookplates, magazines, or just cruise it and thank them for their contribution to your community.

And as promised, here are some words from our 2007 Indie Bookseller of the Year, Ms. Kris Vreeland of Vroman's in Pasadena. 

Ms. Viola Undercover

(Enter Ms. Viola through the back door, wearing silencers on her stilettos)

My dear Violets and Vinnies!

Your beloved Ms. Viola is back at last, but you mustn't let it get out! Can I trust you to keep this just between us ? Raise your pinkies and swear with me-- "We never saw her!"

I am absolutely being split right down my sternum! Between Sarah's people and Joe's people, I haven't had one moment's peace. I simply cannot be expected to coach them both for the debates. Of course they are both are in urgent need of my special services, but don't get me started on that. I've given their goons the slip so that I can spend some time with my people-- all you marvelously creative introverts.

Robin and Mary are finally scooching over and letting me announce our most recent contest winners. It's about time, girls! Getting MIFFED here (arched eyebrow sent their way). If you recall, Mary was on a veritable bender last week about the dehumanizing language of marketing. She suggested that we come up with a less bovinish word than "brand" or "branding". We had entries from Jen Robinson, Terry Pierce, and a new reader named Jennifer. Their entries respectively were: communicating your passion, shining, and bouquet.

And the winner is New Jennifer! Cheering in my indoor voice for you, darling!!! Please send your 4-1-1 to Mary by clicking here and she'll get your prize shipped right to you!

Bouquet is a fabulous way to describe what defines you in the marketplace. It is what is uniquely you, and speaks to your passion, your individuality, your creativity. Bouquets are organic-- they can change, too, where a brand is so painfully permanent. As a replacement term, it probably won't catch on in the carniverous world of marketing, being a bit femmy and all, but I hope that it lingers in your minds. And I hope it helps you to think of your place in the market a bit differently!

Lastly, it is Monday and that means Milestone Monday! Time for us to give a zip-hip-hurrah to your lastest accomplishments! What have you done that we should know about? Your virtual cheerleading squad stands ready to start spinning cartwheels! Do tell--

Oh, for pity's sake, there goes my pager and my Blackberry! Must dash before I'm discovered!

Love!

Ms. Viola

On Quiet Books, Blue Moons, and Your Milestones

Brain Boggle de Jour

What exactly is a quiet book?  Robin and I have been chatting this up big-time in recent weeks, and had a really fascinating discussion with our writer's group on Friday. 

What makes a book quiet and what makes a book commercial?  Are those two things always mutually exclusive?  Is it something that authors can even control? Is it voice that drives commercial success? Is it story?  Might it be what the film industry, and now publishing, refer to as "high concept?"  Is it the degree in which your publisher's marketing team gets behind you?  Can the right promotional campaign take a quiet book and lead it to more commercial success?  As you can see, I'm still struggling in my mind with the definition.  Does quiet = less sales? And commercial = cha-ching?  We would love to hear what you think!   

 

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About YOU

I'm calling a Milestone Monday right now!  Between our weeks devoted to indie bookstores, then our month on Twitter, and our change to once-per-week posting, we miss hearing from you!  What's the haps? Please post a comment telling us about something you've accomplished lately that you're excited about.  Finish drafting/writing something? Sell something?  Get a good review?  An agent?  A super-friendly rejection letter?  Do let us know! As always, if you post in our MM celebration, you are automatically entered into our drawing for a prize! 

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Lastly But Not Leastly

It has come to my attention that my long-standing date to Not-Attend the SCBWI Annual Ball can't accompany me (shrieking here)! Rest assured Robin will be at the LA National Conference in August, but she has a scheduling conflict that won't allow her to Not-Attend this year's Blue Moon Ball with me.  I don't have date!  And I desperately need one--it's tradition! But not just anyone, I need an especially stealthy date that can skulk away with me, artfully dodging all the super-excited Blue People in tall, wide, sparkly, shiny, pokey costumes.  If they find out you're not attending, they get super bummed out and want to make you change your mind. They get the very same face that I'm sure they look at pound puppies with, god love them. They try very hard to get you to come, and will even offer you their extra boas, leis, or body paint. It really is best to keep the lowest profile possible that night.  As you can see, I have a lot of experience in the Not-Attending business.

And may I say that the SCBWI team does such a FABULOUS job of putting this event on ... it seems to get grander each year!  Least from my view as I creep around the edges to get back to my room.  I would attend if only I could find my Invisibility Cloak and Supersonic Earplugs so that I could float around and ogle the outfits and fanfare. Not-Attending is absolutely not a dish or boycott of the ball in any way at ALL! It truly is a highlight for so many people. I'm glad they do it for all the excitement and joy it creates. Now if they ever hold a Silent Ball where there are fabulous desserts, no talking, a reading competition, and blindfolded dancing-- I want to order my tickets NOW.  

Until then, I'll keep my tradition of sneaking away to the movies and/or the quietest restaurant possible.  Because even after just two days of Nationals, my skin starts turning itself inside out and I need to get away from the masses, if only for a couple of hours. I become in desperate need of psycho-spiritual dialysis.

If YOU would like to be my date to Not-Attend the Blue Moon Ball at Nationals, please email me here at www.match4violet.com or leave a comment telling me why you'd be the Perfect (platonic) Date.   Robin and I will announce the selectee next week! If you are chosen to be my date, you will be my guest at the movies.  Snacks included!  I'm a pretty fun date (right, Robin?), love to laugh, and hardly ever talk during the movie.   

  

Hope you all are having a marvelous summer, full of adventure and renewal--

Mary Hershey

Even Violets Get The Blues...

It is my turn to post and the truth is, I am a social flatline right now. I had to stage an emergency rescue attempt this weekend to drive up to school (long five hour drive past cow fields and, well, more cow fields) where one of my sons contracted mono. And of course, it had to be one of the worse cases of mono the E.R. doc had ever seen. Poor guy. (He's doing much better now!)

And I don’t know about you introverts out there, but for me, even when dealing with medical personnel and school personnel, I have to flip my On switch. I can’t just relax and interact with them, I am very aware of having to be On. Which, when combined with the sheer logistics of the venture, (parking illegally near the dorms, packing up all his worldly belongings in under five minutes, then bribing a few dorm mates with $20 bills to help me haul stuff to the car, all at a fevered clip) is enough to render me a flatline.

Which is a long--if dubious--way to try to tie this into introversion. And while the connection is there (even if it is a bit shaky) the truth of the matter is—I simply don’t have a post in me today, guys. Sorry. Plus, I’m catching a cold. At least, I hope it’s a cold. If it’s mono, just shoot me now….although my son swears his doctor told him by the time everyone is 30, they’ve had mono, either knowingly or such a mild case they didn’t recognize it. Here’s hoping….

In the meantime. Mary is still whooping it up with a bunch of girl bikers at training camp. Remember to clap if you believe in introverts, or she might just wither and fade away!

Also, don't forget next month's Milestone Monday's are coming up, so be sure to email us with any milestones we can share!

And The Winner Is....

Before we announce the winner, I have to say Mary and I were thrilled with all the entries we got in the last Milestone Monday Contest. Yeay! I think we may have set a new record here at SVP.

There were so very many cool things to celebrate, too! Hoo-ray!

And now, before the suspense kills you, the winner of our drawing and the brand new owner of their very own copy of Donna Gephart's As if Being 12 3/4 Isn't Bad Enough, My Mother is Running for President! is...

Julie Bowe!!!

Congratulations, Julie! Please send Mary your mailing information at mlhrshy@aol.com and she'll get that right out to you!

And once again, welcome to all the newcomers. We hope you stick around awhile!

And Awwwaaaay I Go!

Ever feel like you've lost control of your life- your schedule- your plans? Oh, moi? Gee, never. But I 'know' this children's author who is experiencing something like this. It's a lot like getting your arm wrenched out of its socket by a thundering bull or an exceptionally fast little white dog. All you can do is HOLD ON. The crashing from letting go would be worse!

Or, at least that is what I imagine it feels like to her. :-] Okay, fine, it's me, and my month hit the ground at warp speed. I have way more events and deadlines than any one violet should have to endure. Lots of people+lots of events are to introverts what Kryptonite is to Superman.

I'm going to make sure that I get lots of down time in my special ice fortress-- or bakery. The latter works very well for me. Give me a latte hot as lava and a chocolate chip scone, and my battery starts humming again. (Not just from the joe-- really.)

And for the day's major gaffe, in editing my new Facebook profile, per my Marketing Plan, I accidentally fired off a request to (nearly) everyone in the northern hemisphere asking them to be my "Friend". The long list included the mayor of Santa Barbara, nearly every student I've ever had, some very high-profile editors and authors, and Robin's son in college. It was truly an introvert's nightmare.

I know I'll be laughing about it later in the week.

But I do want to speed by and deliver the ** NEWS ** that having counted all the entries for the Ms. Viola Makeover Contest, it is confirmed. The new look for Ms. Viola wins-- but only by a hair. Whew! It was close, a real dead heat. Thanks for all your entries, everyone!

Melissa Camara Wilkins' entry was randomly selected, and she will be receiving a copy of the Plug Your Book by Steve Weber. Many congrats, Melissa! Will you email me off-line and send me your address so that I can get it shipped to you? Click here to email me.

We haven't done a Milestone Monday for some time. Do any of you have any news, breakthroughs, incremental victories that you would like to post? We would love to hear from you.

Homework for This Week:

1. Update my mailing and email list. I taught two workshop classes over the weekend, and I'm doing a presentation at the Women's Literary Festival in Santa Barbara this weekend. I've circulated an email list in the class on Saturday and I'll do it again this coming weekend. Those names will all be added to my notifications lists. When it is time for postcards to go out in late May or June, I don't want to have to be scrambling to get my list updated. And, when I do my school visits this months, I'll make sure I get teachers' contact info as well.

2. Invite Shrinking Violets to be my Friends. A-hem. Any of you on Facebook?

Best,

Mary Hershey

End of Summer Milestone Monday Check In

One of my favorite commercials of all time was that Staples commercial that had the father dancing around the Staples store, loading up his back to school cart and singing, “It’s the most won-der-ful time of the year…”?

 

Honestly, September has always felt much more like the start of a new year for me rather than January. I am a big fan of those academic calendars that let me buy new versions in July or August, because for more of my life than not, my calendar has been ruled by school calendars. First as a student myself, then as a parent.

I suspect this may be true of the internet as well, because I’ve heard a lot of people talking about how they had cut back on their blog reading and interacting online over the summer. We’ll see if that changes now that September has rolled around.

Of course, that means that I will need to be online more as well.

But first things first! Because it has been MONTHS, let’s do a violet check in! I would love to hear what you all have been up to, what you worked on during the summer, what you didn’t work on, any milestones you achieved, epiphanies you had, or break throughs reached. All that good stuff. Also, if you are a regular reader and have a book coming out, please send me a jpeg and release information. I am WAY past due for updating the sidebar there at the side. [Note, if you sent it to me earlier, and it hasn’t appeared, PLEASE send it again as it is buried somewhere deep in my computer folders.]

And, to entice you, if you leave an update in the comments, you will be entered to win a copy of Donald Maass's The Breakout Novelist:  Craft and Strategies for Career Fiction Writers.  

As for me, I have had a very emotionally intense summer. I have been writing the second teen medieval assassin book, which is dark! Darker even than the first book. Plus, I’ve got an actual deadline now so I’ve been trying to trick the muse into thinking she’s had the same stewing, fermenting, and playing time she got with the first book. This was also the last summer before the last child leaves for college, so I’ve been doing lots of living in the moment, enjoying the last few weeks and soaking them up.

I have also been redesigning my website and creating a new one for the medieval teen assassin books. Neither are live yet, but it has certainly made me think a lot about internet presences and connecting to our readers and what they are looking for from us. Lots more on that in the weeks to come. Also in the weeks to come, some way cool interviews and guest posts.

Looking forward to hearing what all you've been up to!

Launching Teri Hall's Debut Novel

Robin and I thrilled for the opportunity to launch another debut novel. Congratulations to our reader Teri Hall!

THE LINE

by Teri Hall

Young Adult

Hardcover: 224 pages

Publisher: Dial

Release Date: March 4, 2010

Rachel lives with her mother on The Property. The good thing about living there is that it’s far from the city where the oppressive government is most active. The bad thing, at least to most people, is that it’s close to the Line—an uncrossable section of the National Border Defense System, an invisible barrier that encloses the entire country.

She can see the Line from the greenhouse windows, but she is forbidden to go near it. Across the Line is Away, and though Rachel has heard many whispers about the dangers there, she’s never really believed the stories. Until the day she hears a recording that could only have come from across the Line.

It’s a voice asking for help.Who sent the message? What is her mother hiding? And to what lengths will Rachel go in order to do what she thinks is right?

"A tense narrative that will leave readers intrigued.... a good choice for introducing young readers to the science-fiction genre." --Booklist

"Encourages young readers to think about the tension between freedom and security...a suspenseful story. Well done indeed." –Kirkus

"The Line took me 'away' in one page- turning gulp. Seamless, smooth, and compelling-- I can't wait for the next installment. This is a new author to keep an eye on." -Mary E. Pearson, author of The Adoration of Jenna Fox

Teri Hall lives in Washington State. She has two cats; Nadine and Henry. She has a tiny dog named Simon. She likes to write books. You can visit her website at by clicking here.

photo by Steve Garfield

I talked Teri into sharing her Big Launch Day plans with us and here they are!

An Introvert’s List of The Things I Won’t Be Doing on The Line’s Launch Day

1: Making sure the flowers and refreshments are perfectly displayed at my gala reading/signing location

2: Coordinating with the crowd control service for my gala reading/signing

3: Calling in an anonymous tip to the paparazzi about my gala reading/signing

4: Actually having a gala reading/signing

An Introvert’s List of The Things I Will Be Doing on The Line’s Launch Day:

1: Working at my day job

2: Getting groceries after work

3: Laundry

4: Smiling. A lot.

Teri would love to donate a copy of The Line to one of our readers’s local libraries. It could be yours! If you’d like to be in the raffle, leave a comment. We also will be including all our Shrinking Violet Followers in today’s raffle. Good luck, everyone.

To buy a copy of Teri's new novel for yourself, a teen, a school or public library, follow the link to Indie Bound.

LATE BREAKING NEWS: The Line has been optioned for television!

Sony Pictures Television has optioned The Line for Jamie Tarses (Fanfare Productions) to produce an original series by writer/director Mary Harron. Mary Harron and director John C. Walsh are working on a script now.

Fabulous news, Teri! Many congratulations.

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Do you have a new book coming out in 2010? If you'd like your book to be considered for launching here at Shrinking Violets, please email me by clicking here. This is an opportunity for our introverted readers to enjoy the softlight here in a supportive community.

We haven't had a Milestone Monday in much too long. What is happening with you? Any good news to share--promising starts, breakthroughs, connections, completions, acceptances, contracts, movie options? Do tell!

Robin and I had the opportunity last week to travel together briefly, and we talked a lot about YOU. We've got some terrific posts coming up in the next few weeks. As always, we'd love to hear your ideas about posts you'd like us to do. Don't hesitate to share! If fact, if we choose your idea, you will be properly gifted. :-) So, fire away? Any topics you'd like us to cover? People you'd like us to interview?

* * *Don't forget on Thursday, March 4, to call your local bookstore and ask if they have Teri Hall's new book. Let's kickstart the Launch Day buzz! * * *

Wishing you each an absolutely lovely surprise this week--

Mary Hershey

Happy 2nd Birthday, Shrinking Violets!

Dear Friends, 

Happy Birthday to us, as in the collective us-- the community we have built with all of you here. We are TWO this week!   I keep looking at the calendar and thinking-- really?  Two years??

Robin and I feel so fortunate to have watched the conversation that started between us:

Me (circa 2006-2007) :  God, I hate book promotion.  I'd rather be burnt at the stake. Naked. On CNN. No, wait, on Live with Jon Stewart.

Robin :  I'd rather crawl over hot coals in my best silk blouse.  Why can't we just write? How can they expect us to do this?  

And from those early conversations, we have grown into this marvelous and gifted network of creative folk.  Wow.  Still amazes me.  And, it continues to be a lesson that visits me regularly, which is-- pay attention to the things that start small.

Because this is a birthday, there needs to be presents!  And, in keeping with one of the main tenets of our SVP philosophy, which is to Turn The Spotlight Around, I think we need to be the giver of gifts.  In the spirit of our birthday celebration, how about buying a book at an independent bookstore and donating it to a child, teen, a shelter, a school or public library?  And, if you can't decide which book to buy, Robin has posted some of our readers' books in the sidebar, as part of our new, ongoing, promotion of our tribe's work.  

And, since we are talking gifts, happy congratulations out to Cheryl, author of the soon to be released YA fantasy book entitled Dragon Speaker: The Last Dragon.  Cheryl was one of our Milestone Monday contributors and her name was selected in our random drawing today. Cheryl, please email me off-line by clicking here and let me know your mailing address for your prize.  I think you will love the CD you've won!

Robin is out of pocket this week, so I will be taking her turn posting this coming Thursday.  I am very excited to be interviewing author Meghan Wier, author of the new book entitled Confessions of an Introvert: The Shy Girl's Guide to Career, Networking, and Getting the Most Out of Life.  And, of course, there will be a contest to win a copy of her new book.  So, do come on back.  

Do treat yourself to a cupcake or two this week, friends.  Thanks for enriching our lives!

*[[['-)    *{[|:-]

Mary & Robin

The Shrinking Violets