Casting Marcia Brady and Pie in the Sky

The Pull of Gravity has been optioned for film.

Don't throw confetti or sound the party horns just yet.


First, I know this may be news to you, but it isn't news to me. I've known since last summer there was interest.

In fact, the Producer and I have emailed and Skyped on and off for months and we seem to be dilly-dallying and taking our sweet time about getting the option agreement signed, even as the film plans forge ahead.

(I tell you this: Lawyers are their own worst clients. Author/lawyers, likely worse than the worst).


So, I know I don't sound uber excited.

But, I am.

But, here's the thing:

A movie option is a very Iffy thing. Like that, with a capital I.

IF they raise the money, and IF they get the right people, and IF blah, blah, blah, etc., etc., THEN a movie will (might?) get made.

I know a bunch of writer friends with stalled or dead option deals. It's just the way that it goes.

So, it's not that I'm not flattered and excited, because, trust me. I promise you, I am.

It's just that it's all very pie in the sky.

Now, I like pie.

And, there's no better place to enjoy some nice pice than in the sky.

(why not?)


You just can't count on it. Not yet.

But, what I can count on?  The news bringing me some laughs.

"I want to play Scoot. Sure, I'm a middle aged
black guy, and he's a sickly white teen. . ."

For a facebook addict like me, the best thing about good
(or fun or exciting) news
is sharing it
with my ridiculous virtual friends. 

True story: I typed virtuous by accident first, instead of virtual.

And, trust me on this, my facebook friends are anything but virtuous.*


But they are funny and sincere, and, on the high and low days, especially, a source of constant comfort and entertainment.


So, yeah, good news is fun, like, say, if you have a movie option on your book.


But it's really only fun if you have good peeps to share it with, and join in the fun. Which I do, and am grateful for every day.*

- gae

* if you are under the age of 19, and because we are not always virtuous on my private page, please join me on my public facebook AUTHOR PAGE HERE.

If you are over the age of 18 and want to join me on my private page, it's HERE.

The Pull of Gravity Goes to School(s) #2

Las month, TPoG was in the fabulous Jennings Middle School in Indiana.**

This month I feature another awesome group of 8th graders from Megann Tresemer's class from Holmes Middle School in Cedar Falls Iowa.

It's hard not to LOVE them when they found this perfect resting spot for TPoG:

Yoda never gets tired of this book. ;)

According to Ms. Tresemer,

"Yoda held the book in between classes. Students loved holding him while I read aloud. He had quite a calming effect!"

  

And better than that, here's Yoda reading aloud to the kids:

Hah! Come on, I mean, how can I not give them brownie points?! :)

But enough about them, let's hear what they had to say about TPoG:

I asked, is TPoG a good read aloud? If so, why? If not, why not?

Anna:  "What made the book a good read aloud was that it included a boy and a girl as the main characters."

Morgan: "It made us want to keep reading.  We didn’t want our teacher to stop reading at the end of the chapters."

Meghan:  "I think The Pull of Gravity was a good read aloud because the author made us care about Nick and Jaycee and made us want to find out more about how they were doing."

Mitch:  "It was a good read aloud because there were good endings to chapters. The suspense made you want to keep reading."

But, he added, "What didn’t make it a good read aloud was the unanswered question at the end about ..."

Sorry, I edited out what he said because it contained a spoiler. But I hear you, Mitch. You're not the only person that storyline frustrated. You know where to find me. We can talk... ;)

And, a super duper **BONUS ALERT** Ms. Tresemer weighs in on what made it a good read aloud for her!

Mrs. Tresemer: "What made The Pull of Gravity a good read aloud was that it had a male and female main character, their voices were real, and it had funny parts in amongst the serious. The Star Wars references were so fun for me to read aloud!

Reading aloud, I did change some of the swear words, but the kids could always tell when I wasn’t saying the word that was on the page. Also, I skipped over some of the making out on the bus. I just told them today that I didn’t read all of that, so I’m sure many of them will be checking out the book to read what I skipped! J

I think the girls enjoyed the romance between Jaycee and Nick, but because it came through Nick, it wasn’t too flowery for the boys. I think they secretly enjoyed it, too.

Also, many of my students had read or a teacher had read aloud to them Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick last year, and we had many connections between the two books that we could talk about."

Wow, thanks for that. I'm often curious what the teachers edit when they use it as a read aloud. :)

Okay, onward! I asked who their favorite character was, and why:

Mitch says, "My favorite character was Scooter. He was a realist who wasn’t put down by the truth."

I love that, Mitch! Yes, yes he was!

Ilsa: "I really liked Nick’s mom because she was mean at times but she was also comforting. That is something a lot of moms are like, I think."

Nick: "Jaycee was my favorite character because she’s weird but in a way that works."

And, Jordan agreed: "Jaycee was my favorite character because she said things straight up as they were. She had kind of a weird personality, but it fits her." And, she wasn't the only one:

Michaela: "Jaycee was funny, and I liked how she could read Nick’s mind. She’s just kind of like different. That’s cool."

Morgan: "Jaycee is really up front about things. She doesn’t really care about what people think about her. I don’t like it when girls try too hard."

A brief break to see Ms. Tresemer's class being awesome.

So, did you have a favorite part?

Kristin: "My favorite part was when they were kissing on the bus with the candy lips because it fit their personalities."

*sigh* Me, too, Kristin. Me too.

Michaela: "I liked the part when they woke up and they didn’t know what happened to the bus. It was really intense."

Lupe: "I didn’t like when it said Scooter died and then there was the flashback to the funeral because I was like, what?"

I hear you, Lupe. I get mixed reactions on how it was handled. Some people love it, and some people, not so much. Apologies. (I wanted you to experience how it can take you by surprise even if you are expecting it, you know?)

Ilsa: "I loved the part about the water tower and when he’s delirious."

Kayla: "I liked it when they see Nick’s dad and (womp, womp, womp, spoiler deletion ;)) at the restaurant because it was a nice twist. I didn’t see that coming."

How about Of Mice and Men? Did it make you want to read it, or not so much?

Madison: "The Pull of Gravity made me very much interested in reading Of Mice and Men."

Woohoo! *throws confetti!*

Okay, guys, anything else you want to tell me about The Pull of Gravity?

Jordan: "There should be a sequel. I want to find out more about Scooter’s dad…how he (womp, womp, womp, spoiler deletion). I just feel like there’s more you could dig with between Nick’s dad and (...) and then what happens between Nick and Jaycee and if his dad ever comes back."

Well, Jordan, Mitch agrees: "You had better have a sequel coming to answer the unanswered question."

Let's leave Mitch with the last word! :)

A HUGE thanks to Ms. Tresemer and her awesome 8th graders for welcoming The Pull of Gravity into their school year.

-gae

** Here are links to the other TPoG Goes to School(s)! for the 2011-2012 school year:

http://ghpolisner.blogspot.com/2012/03/pull-of-gravity-goes-to-schools.html

http://ghpolisner.blogspot.com/2012/04/pull-of-gravity-goes-to-school-3.html

http://ghpolisner.blogspot.com/2012/05/pull-of-gravity-goes-to-schools-4.html

http://ghpolisner.blogspot.com/2012/06/pull-of-gravity-goes-to-schools.html

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall...

Who is (at) the (Local Author) Fair-est of them all?

Er. Okay, fine, never mind.

But I am. At the South Huntington Public Library Local Author Fair this Saturday, March 31, 2012, from 1 - 4 pm.

Come play with me there.

Bring a piece of writing or a query letter, and, if I'm not too busy fighting off fans (*coughs*), I'll help you edit or revise, or just sing your praises.

Or tell you a knock-knock joke.  

Do you know the one about the interrupting cow?




Plus, I have new swag. Who doesn't like swag?

Here's me in my swag crown:

 (yes, I'm an idiot. It's okay. Really).

See you there. Deets are HERE. Click the link and come.

Saturday. 1 - 4. South Huntington Library.

Hope to see you there!

- gae

Sunday Shadowing on I-94

That is Jen Vincent.

And this ----------------------------------------------------> is Colby Sharp.

(yeah, I did that arrow thing because I can't get my blogger photo arranging to cooperate with me today. So be it.)

Jen and Colby are teachers. The are also super, awesome

NERDIES!  

Clap your hands if you believe in Nerdies.

Okay, fine, whatever.

Colby and Jen both have terrific blogs in their own rights (Sharpreads and Teach Mentor Texts, respectively) but they also do a feature together every month called Reading Along I-94. In Colby's own words,

     "Each month Jen and I read a book together. We take turns selecting the book. About once a week we chat together in a google doc about the book. Sometimes we are in the doc together, and sometimes we type in the doc alone and then let the other person know that they can respond when they have time. We post our discussions on our blogs. It is super fun and VERY nerdy:)"

This month, Colby picked The Pull of Gravity for their I-94 feature:

Colby and Jen, fighting over TPoG.

and I am a (crazy, stalker) fan of his, and incredibly honored, so I've decided to follow along.

Btw, if you want to know why I'm a crazy, stalker fan of Colby's, this is basically all you need to know:

And, while I don't crazy stalker girls, Jen is pretty darn amazing, too!

So, anyway, here's the link to Colby's introductory post on TPoG, or if you don't want to read it (sigh, I know, I know, it's Sunday and the Giants are playing today: Go, GIANTS!), this is the takeaway from what he had to say:


"I can’t help but wonder how my life in high school would have been different if I would have had great books like The Pull of Gravity to read instead of books that made me want to jump off a cliff."

Macmillan, if you're reading, I think that's a great blurb for the cover of the paperback!!!

So, without further ado (because that was quite enough ado already up there, don't you think?), here here are the links to Part 1 of Jen's and Colby's Reading Along I-94 posts (this week's posts are not done in Google Docs, because Jen wasn't available, but the following three Sunday's will likely be :)).

Jen's, in which she shares the awesome word, HAMARTIA (I still don't know if it's real): http://www.teachmentortexts.com/2012/02/read-along-on-i-94-pull-of-gravity-part.html

and

Colby's, in which he sees fit to post a sweaty and unmade-up photo of me from after yoga two weeks ago in my Nerdy Book Club t-shirt: http://sharpread.wordpress.com/2012/02/05/1118/.

I warn you there are SPOILER ALERTS in the posts. And, if you want to hear what I had to say, check the comments!

Until next Sunday shadowing along I-94. . . HUGE thanks to Colby and Jen.

*adjusts rear-view mirror, and takes off*

Don't text and drive.

- gae

Favorites

Robert Whipple once said,

"Playing favorites is one of the most damaging problems in any group of people."

Meh. What does Robert Whipple know? Isn't he the guy who squeezed the toilet paper? ;) *

At any rate.

It's the end of the year, and, as so many people are wont to do, book bloggers love end of the year Best Of lists. As a new author, it's a scary proposition. No one wants to be left out.

So, you cross your fingers and hope you were somebody's favorite.

And if it turns out you're more than one person's favorite, well. . .

So, with great gratitude, I present a few wonderful places THE PULL OF GRAVITY SHOWED UP as a favorite this year: 

First, there is my shiny new Nerdy Award from the Nerdy Book Club (!!!);

and my YALSA Readers' Choice Nomination,

and my 2011 CYBILs nomination.

Each of those nods is like a succulant, juicy pomegranate seed, just bursting with flavor and goodness (I love pomegranates, people, so just go with me here).

Then there are the year-end Best-Of lists, like that of:

Paul Hankins, high school teacher extraordinaire and founder of Raw Ink Online (are you a member?);

"Mr. Schu" -- an award-winning, nationally-known K-5 librarian who runs a blog called Watch. Connect. Read. He is one of the first librarians to read and love TPoG, and to work to connect the book with readers, like Paul Hankins, who could help spread the word, and, thus, my book's wings. Here's TPoG on his list of 100 most memorable (including picture books, he has read over 2,000 books this year!);

YA Librarian Tales (run by a fab youth librarian in Minnesota) (not only on her best list, but also on her "most recommended;"

KellyVision (run by an avid reader in Baltimore who may be one of TPoG's biggest fans). It shows up on her end of the year book survey HERE, her best-of-2011 list HERE, and in the Sammies Awards voted on by her readers, HERE; 

At the Dolphin, bookfaces from l - r, me, Christopher Grant, Lena Roy, Nova Ren Suma,
Michael Northrop, Arlaina Tibensky and Matt Blackstone, for
an amazing teen author event this past October.

The Dolphin Bookshop in Pt. Washington, NY. The fabulous women of the beautiful Dolphin Bookshop have included The Pull of Gravity in their Favorites of the year;

and last, but so not least,
Cari Soto of Cari's Book Blog has been such a tremendous supporter of the Class of 2K11, and I know she loves us all equally and would have just put ALL our books there if it wouldn't have undermined her credibility ;).

And, because it's my blog and I can, here are a few more scattered favorites:

There are few higher compliments than an author you love, loving you back. I just happened across this the other day, thus continuing the year-long mutual admiration love affair between Geoff Herbach (STUPID FAST) and me as he shares his favorite fictional character of the year. I feel the same way about Felton, so if you haven't read Stupid Fast yet, GO! Now! Do it!;

This favorite is from Betsy Cornwell, who has her own debut YA fantasy, Tides, coming out in 2013. She's funky, funny, smart, and sassy, and I'm thrilled to be her pick!;

and, this one: THIS LINK naming TPoG as a favorite book showed up in my Google alerts one day this summer, and whenever I see one of these -- namely, a teenaged boy loving the book -- it moves me the most, because I wrote this book hoping and praying I could connect with that very elusive creature known as the male adolescent who has so often lost interest in reading.  So, thanks, Francisco! You may never read this, but I won't forget you. :)

And there you have it. If you've read and enjoyed The Pull of Gravity, hooray! And thank you. It means everything to be read and to forge that connection through our books.

Happy New Year.

- gae


*according to Wikipedia, Robert Whipple is the author of several books on leadership. Whatevs. ;)

Swimming, Winning, Whining, and New Beginnings.

Considering this is me (photo left, with my sister),
terrified by a 5 degree angle,
I'd say I'm doing pretty winning at life these days. ;)

In an oh-too-predictible microcosm of that old macrocosm of Time, 2011 flew by in a blink of an eye.

Damn you, Time. I wish the days would slow down.

I did my best to seize them, to make the most of the hours, some days more successfully than others.

In this, my 47th year, it seems essential to seize every moment, or at least to try, as they blur past me, out the windows.

Here are some of the highlights, the good, and the whiny:

That's me in the middle, finding my religion. . . and, yes, we swam on Christmas Eve day,
me sans Santa hat, but I did don my monkey hat after.

Swimming. My family fills me, my writing sustains me, but my swimming? My swimming saves me.

As I get older, the water keeps me young, keeps me pushing to achieve new goals. Frustratingly, I did not accomplish last year's resolution to complete a five-mile swim this summer (mostly due to logistics), but I am signed up for one this coming summer. Luckily, I did push myself in new ways, including by swimming faster, harder, in more challenging conditions, and through December. Good enough. I'll take it.

I am endlessly blessed to have found The West Neck Pod (here's the official blog of the Pod, if you are interested).

And here I am swimming today, on 12/24/11 with the other amazing nutjobs of the West Neck Polar Pod ;))

Winning. I've had some winning experiences this year, both family and book-related. My kids don't love it when I blog about them, so suffice it to say, both my boys are wonderful kids who are having some awesome and hard-fought-for successes, and I'm proud of them. This is my younger son, having one such moment (yes, that is his name they are chanting ;)).

They say you're only as happy as your most unhappy child, and I can tell you that this is true.

As for winning book news, some of the many highlights were:

the Dolphin Bookshop reading in October 

the high schools that have picked up The Pull of Gravity into their curriculum (!), my Skype visits with Mr. Hankins' class and especially the boys of Room 407, and with the 9th graders of Clio High School thanks to Mrs. Sarah Andersen,

and, the winning-most things of all: the confirmation that I will be going to PAPERBACK (!!! Winter 2013) and

my shiny, wonderful, and oh-so-geekily meaningful 2011 Nerdies Award in Young Adult fiction bestowed by the amazing teachers and educators who run the Nerdy Book Club. (Thanks again to all who voted in the final phase!)

Whining. I am out on SUBMISSION. Need I say more? (If I do, you can read this blog post, or this one to learn more). Also, my old lady, bum hip still hurts despite months of Physical Therapy, and then there was the night I passed out and broke my nose on the bathroom floor. Also, my freaking house is a mess and I have zero desire to clean it. There. That should do it. That wasn't too bad, was it?

New Beginnings.

So, there you have it. And, now, here it is, a New Year.

I have a fresh slate and a chance to do better. To be a better friend, to be a more patient parent, to let go of old wounds and find a way to embrace the unknown without so much angst and distraction. And to spend less time wasting time, and more time writing and doing.

This is what I've learned: the more I do, the less I long for all the things I didn't do. Simple, right?

I have books to write, friends to spend time with, a family that I love, and that deserves to have me not just there for them, but fully present.

I am grateful for all the good that has come to me in 2011, and I hope you know how much your readership, and friendship, mean to me.

Especially to those who inspire me, who swim with me, and to my classmates in the Class of 2K11 who got me through this first author year, a very heartfelt thank you.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

- gae

The Pull of Gravity is Going to Paperback!

You heard me.

So, yeah,

no,

I can't help myself.

We're going to dance like idiots whether you like it or not.

Click on the arrow, and get off your duff and get dancing. I'm right there with you.

Ready?

Set,

Go!

The Pull of Gravity. In paperback. Winter, 2013.

- gae

Halloween Riff (Sugar Rush)

Last night, with my Whopppers

Reeling from a sugar high (after weeks of not eating any) and inspired by a copy of Edgar Allen Poe's The Raven (reprinted way below) that serendipitously arrived in my email box this morning, I penned my own version of some early Halloween terror.

I invite you to join me in the comments and create a little Halloween homage of your own.

Definitely treat over trick.

- gae

Deprav'in

Once upon a Tuesday, teeming, with the thought that I was dreaming,

when consuming pounds of creamy, malted chocolate balls galore,

should my sugar-coated teeth, my growing thighs felt underneath,

this memory, now, so vague and brief, it barely lingers at my core. . .

“Tis only fair, you see,” I muttered, “to mix some sweet amidst the bore,”

only this: a sugar fix, and nothing more. 

Ah, distinctly (I was sober), it was in the bleak October,

sent my husband like a gopher, to the aisle in the store. . .

Eagerly, no, not a Spartan, sent him for the whole damned carton

Tried to cease, but played my part on, part on asking, yes, for more -- 

Now, the fear of scale uncertain, holes in teeth will soon be hurtin’,

Thrilled me - filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;

So that now, to still the beating, of my heart, I stand repeating,

"'Tis some minor weakness leaving, exiting through every pore,

Calories to soon be leaving, through my every pore.

Twas only candy, nothing more.”

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
`'Tis some visitor,' I muttered, `tapping at my chamber door -
Only this, and nothing more.'

Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December,
And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.
Eagerly I wished the morrow; - vainly I had sought to borrow
From my books surcease of sorrow - sorrow for the lost Lenore -
For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels named Lenore -
Nameless here for evermore.

And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain
Thrilled me - filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating
`'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door -
Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door; -
This it is, and nothing more,'

Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,
`Sir,' said I, `or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;
But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,
And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,
That I scarce was sure I heard you' - here I opened wide the door; -
Darkness there, and nothing more.

Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before;
But the silence was unbroken, and the darkness gave no token,
And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, `Lenore!'
This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, `Lenore!'
Merely this and nothing more.

Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,
Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before.
`Surely,' said I, `surely that is something at my window lattice;
Let me see then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore -
Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore; -
'Tis the wind and nothing more!'

Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,
In there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days of yore.
Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;
But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door -
Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door -
Perched, and sat, and nothing more.

Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore,
`Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou,' I said, `art sure no craven.
Ghastly grim and ancient raven wandering from the nightly shore -
Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'

Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly,
Though its answer little meaning - little relevancy bore;
For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being
Ever yet was blessed with seeing bird above his chamber door -
Bird or beast above the sculptured bust above his chamber door,
With such name as `Nevermore.'

But the raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only,
That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.
Nothing further then he uttered - not a feather then he fluttered -
Till I scarcely more than muttered `Other friends have flown before -
On the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes have flown before.'
Then the bird said, `Nevermore.'

Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,
`Doubtless,' said I, `what it utters is its only stock and store,
Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful disaster
Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore -
Till the dirges of his hope that melancholy burden bore
Of "Never-nevermore."'

But the raven still beguiling all my sad soul into smiling,
Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird and bust and door;
Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking
Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore -
What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt, and ominous bird of yore
Meant in croaking `Nevermore.'

This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing
To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom's core;
This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining
On the cushion's velvet lining that the lamp-light gloated o'er,
But whose velvet violet lining with the lamp-light gloating o'er,
She shall press, ah, nevermore!

Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer
Swung by Seraphim whose foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor.
`Wretch,' I cried, `thy God hath lent thee - by these angels he has sent thee
Respite - respite and nepenthe from thy memories of Lenore!
Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe, and forget this lost Lenore!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'

`Prophet!' said I, `thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil! -
Whether tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore,
Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted -
On this home by horror haunted - tell me truly, I implore -
Is there - is there balm in Gilead? - tell me - tell me, I implore!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'

`Prophet!' said I, `thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil!
By that Heaven that bends above us - by that God we both adore -
Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn,
It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels named Lenore -
Clasp a rare and radiant maiden, whom the angels named Lenore?'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'

`Be that word our sign of parting, bird or fiend!' I shrieked upstarting -
`Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore!
Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken!
Leave my loneliness unbroken! - quit the bust above my door!
Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'

And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming,
And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted - nevermore!

-Edgar Allen Poe

Keeping Afloat in the Crazy Waves

It's been a wonderful, whirlwind week.

There was a rewarding two-day marathon at two local high schools, plugging my book and our big Teen Event at the Dolphin Bookshop in Port Washington (my dear friend Lena Roy has done a great job writing it up here -- yes, yes, she gushes about me, so there's that too).

But also, in those two days,I have become more than an author/presenter, I am suddenly a creative writing teacher, and let me tell you that feels like an amazing thing. I actually got a few students who were initially afraid, to trust themselves and their creativity and share their pieces aloud. One of the teachers told me that two boys spoke more in her class that day than they had since school started, and another has asked me to come back to cover the classes of hers that I wasn't able to attend that day. It suddenly feels like this great new extension of me -- the inklings of possibilities, of a new third (?) career.

The event at the Dolphin was a smashing success. As I mentioned up there, Lena does a pretty great recap. But here are some photos from the night:

l -r : Christopher Grant, me, Lena Roy, Nova Ren Suma, Michael Northrop, Arlaina Tibensky and Matt Blackstone.

The YA community is really such a supportive one, we thought it was funny to cover each others' faces with our books.;)

And there was swimming and more swimming as we of The West Neck Pod grab the last few precious weeks, or perhaps only days, of the open water season by the, well, waves.


With gale force winds, and waves like the actual one in the photo up top, it's been crazy and challenging out there, giving us an exhilarating end to the fall.

If you want to read more about our swims, our Fairy Pod mother, Carol Moore, describes them with often breathtaking beauty here: http://thewater-blog.blogspot.com/.

And so it goes. I am back to revisions on Frankie Sky with miles to still go before I sleep. Have great hopes that, if I bang them out well, this manuscript will be my next deal.

Keep going.

See you soon.

- gae

A Few Reasons Why . . .

. . . You should ALL come to the Dolphin Bookshop this Friday evening and/or send everyone you know:

 1. I have been mounting things (*coughs* -- er,  with glue sticks on poster board) all morning;

2. I have been driving Matt Blackstone (A SCARY SCENE IN A SCARY MOVIE), Michael Northrop (TRAPPED), Lena Roy (EDGES), Arlaina Tibensky (AND THEN THINGS FALL APART), Christopher Grant (TEENIE) and Nova Ren Suma (IMAGINARY GIRLS) crazy with emails for weeks;

3. there will be music and cupcakes and cupcakes (and cupcakes!);

4. to see what the girls finally decide on to wear (more emails on that one to follow, I'm sure! And, no, not the boys -- I mean, Michael Northrop once wore a Polar Bear costume to a reading, what does he care?!?!)) and

5. Because I HAVE A DINGY BELL and am not afraid to use it.

(yes, yes, go ahead and think all the "dingy" jokes about me that you must. . . )

But know that I WILL "DING OUT" any author who reads more than ONE MINUTE THIRTY SECONDS at a pop! :) You heard me, my finger is just itching to ding.

6. Also, because if you put SEVEN teen authors in one room at any given time, at some point they will become punchy and hilarity is sure to ensue.

Please join us! Bring your friends. It will be NO fun without you!

TEEN EVENT. THE DOLPHIN BOOKSHOP, Pt. Washington, NY. THIS FRIDAY. 10/14 at 5:30 - 9:00 pm.

Come early. Come late. Stay short. Stay long. We want to see you there!

The foot at 12:00 is mine. No reason.

 - gae

Perspective & Wanting

Once, all I wanted (well, mostly all I wanted) was a book deal.

It took me ten years, but I made it there.

Then I lost sight of "all I wanted," because I suddenly wanted more.

I wanted the book to do well. Both critically and in sales.

I wanted people to read it.

I wanted another book deal.

And these are all tied together, so it's hard to keep it all in perspective.

And, it's hard to keep the wanting from overshadowing the success that I've had.

It's important to redefine "well" so that you remember to appreciate the smaller successes. I'm trying. To pay attention, redefine and hold on.
My book is selling.
Well?
Well, no. Okay fine. Well enough.
It's getting good reviews.
Okay, some reviews are amazing and make me want to cry.

Like this gem I stumbled across on 60SecondRecap.

I mean, seriously, could a person ask for more?

(and, yet. . . )

I've gotten some amazing notes from readers, both adults and kids, and, man-oh-man from teen boys. Even a boy who started his note, "trust me, I don't read," then proceeded to tell me how he was assigned my book for school and couldn't put it down. Isn't that better than sales numbers?

But numbers sell the next book.

(I'm angsty. Can you tell it's a Monday?)

Focus.

Perspective.

Here's another cool thing: I've been nominated for a Cybils Award (Children's and Young Adult Bloggers Literary Award) by a librarian who has been quietly championing my book. I was her first pick. I mean, isn't that better than numbers?

I'll answer it: yes. That is better than numbers.

Happy Monday.

- gae

p.s. Any of you in or near NYC and Long Island, I have a lot of exciting events coming up, especially next Tuesday, October 11 at POWERHOUSE ARENA (with David Levithan and Jonathan Farmer and others, no less!) and that Friday, October 14 at the Dolphin Bookshop in Pt. Washington with SIX other YA authors that I planned and promises to be an event! Check my sidebar for updated appearances. :)

Giddy Things



Thanks to Carol Moore of The Water-blog for the photo

Some days are truly giddy.

The Causeway view this a.m.

For me, of course, such days usually must involve water (I know, blah, blah, blah . . . ), and, yes, this morning was no different as a few members of the West Neck Pod and I set out at around 8:15 a.m. for a gorgeous, September "Causeway" swim.

The waves were rollicking and the current strong against us, but the water was crystal clear, a cool 71 degrees, and 100% jelly free!

After a rigorous 1/2 hour swim out less-far than we intended, we turned around and swam back for another 45 minutes, assisted by a helpful current, but stopping often to work on some new swim techniques (as well as lamely* attempt some butterfly).

*Okay, if you want to see me butterflying badly, you'll have to go to the Water-blog link and click on the video. Can't get it to embed here. And the lame applies only to me. Carole's butterfly (first in the yellow cap) was quite good, actually.

Once back to our home base of the lifeguard station, we were reluctant to get out of the vast, sparkling expanse we had all to ourselves, so instead, we stripped off our wetsuits and snorkled around in the shallow waters as if we were in the Carribean. When we finally tore ourselves from the water, we all agreed that September is, hands down, the best month for an open-water swim.

Back home, buoyed by endorphins (and some coffee), I set about responding to emails, including one from my editor, equally thrilled about this terrific review of The Pull of Gravity that came out in yesterday's YALSA (Young Adult Library Services Association) newsletter, The Hub. Here's the lead-in sentence because, well, because I can:

"I cannot NOT mention this title. It’s a smaller YA book, clocking in at only 202 pages but wow, it packs a punch."

Yep, that's me and TPoG, absolutely punchy! ;)

That was followed by a phone call from a local independent bookstore owner (The Dolphin Bookshop in Pt. Washington) who had "finally" read TPoG and called to tell me how extraordinary she thought it was (she had even bought a copy of it together with Of Mice and Men for her nephew's birthday (er, hope she got him a video game and some cold hard cash too?!), and that she was approaching the local schools to tell them that they need to get on reading it.

Seriously, people, a phone call like that is (insecure) writer's gold.

Spent the rest of the sunny day writing, returning phones calls, booking a veritable slew of fall events (a/k/a five), and basking in the glow of the swim endorphins, grateful for the small highs -- those wonderful giddy things -- that keep you going.

- gae

End o' Summer Blues

that's me on the right, hanging at the buoy before the return trip

Yikes. It's been more than a month since I posted?!

I have excuses, but I can't be bothered with them. They're the usual lightweight fare. Plus, one puppy fiasco, and one tropical storm that took our power out for a long, dark, internet-less five days. ;)

Suffice it to say, you haven't missed much. The past four weeks have, indeed, been the dog days of summer. Not good, not bad, just there. Plus, swimming (which is bliss). Well, plus the puppy fiasco. But don't get me started crying again.

So, yeah, am blue anyway about summer ending, but a little relieved at the thought of a schedule, of getting my revisions FINISHED on Frankie Sky. And excited to see what my new shiny agent can do with it. (Yes, I promise you he's very shiny). Also, excited for some fun book events coming up soon -- four between now and mid-October so far. I'll get the schedule up in the sidebar today! Oh, and a second school has picked up The Pull of Gravity as a "choice" book in their freshman classes. Pretty. Darn. Cool.

And it was nominated for a YALSA Reader's Choice award here:

http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/booklistsawards/readerschoice/rcnominations.cfm.

So, some good stuff all in all. But the end of summer means my open water swimming days are waning, speaking of which, I'm running off to one now!

Happy Labor Day, all. And happy Back to School for those of you returning.

- gae

Fresh Start, Excitement and the Inevitable Melancholy

This morning, August 4, at West Neck Beach

I woke up this morning at 5:30 to swim, and was somewhat shocked to walk outside and feel the distinct chill of fall in the air. Aw, come on!!
>:( It feels like summer JUST started.

And, yes, it's only early August -- and yes, the last few weeks have been hotter than a witch's pitootie -- but still, there it was confirmed by my car's dashboard thermometer: a meager 64 degrees.

I'm not ready, I tell you. I AM NOT READY FOR SUMMER TO END.

Certainly, this one is flying too fast. Of course, lately, it all flies too fast (can you feel my melancholy as I type?). I mean, my older son, who is small for his age, now towers over me, and turns 16 this month! That's driving age, people!!! And my younger son, who is also small for his age, well, let's just say his feet suddenly look huge when I wake him up in the morning.

I AM NOT READY FOR THIS AT ALL. NOT READY FOR IT, I tell you!

Having said all that, I can tell you what I am ready for. The summer is a notoriously slow book business time, and in that regard only, I am ready for the fall. The good news is, I'm making a fresh new start: I have a new agent representing me, Jim McCarthy of Dystel & Goderich, and he took me on just on the strength of my option manuscript, Frankie Sky (okay, and the existence of TPoG although he hasn't read it yet and didn't ask to see the other manuscripts he knows I have) and, better still, he didn't want huge revisions to Frankie Sky. Given that my old agent, and now this agent, both feel Frankie has huge promise, I'm feeling confident that, after this next revision, it will sell. Of course it's been vastly revised (VASTLY) since my editor orginally turned it down (mostly as too commercial compared to TPoG). And as much as I love her, I still don't get that one at all. My readers, prejudiced as some of them may be (and there have been a few non-prejudiced ones as well), have loved the manuscript a lot! So, yes, I am hopeful.

The best news is, the revisions Jim did ask for make total sense -- like hit-the-nail-on-the-head-so-I-now-love-you TOTAL sense! They will take some time, but I'm excited about them, and already in as much as a groove as I can get in with my son's heavy baseball schedule requiring me to run all over Long Island every day.  

My son, the centerfielder, who the team has nicknamed, "The Vacuum."

                                                 
The other totally EXCITING NEWS is that my first high school (in Michigan!) has picked up THE PULL OF GRAVITY into their curriculum along with Of Mice and Men! They didn't teach either, and now they will teach both. I will be taught alongside Steinbeck. Next time I'm whining about low sales, someone remind me of this and slap me. A second school has included it on their summer reading list and I'm sure it will be an unofficial part of their curriculm as the teacher LOVES, and has long taught, Of Mice and Men. And yet a third school in upstate NY had included it on the summer reading list, and one of the English teachers contacted me about learning more about it in the fall. Which leads me to this last bit of excitement: The fabulous Sarah Andersen of Y.A. Love Blog has finished my TPoG Student Study Guide and, if you ask my humble opinion, it is totally awesome. My younger son looked at it and said, "this looks just like the stuff we do in school!" I mean, you can't beat that as a compliment, can you? The guide is up on my website under Young Adult --->Teachers & Resources here: http://gaepolisner.com/html/teacherguides.html if you want to take a look! And I'd love you forever, if you'd pass the word on.

And that's it. I haven't swum my full 5K yet, let alone the 5 miler I'm itching to do, so I need summer to stick around a little longer. I mean that with all my heart. I need more summer. So, do a dance or say a summer prayer or something, would you?

Thanks.

xo - gae

After a 2+ mile swim at West Neck Beach, with the girls. :)