California Traipsing

My trip to California was fantastic! So much writing done and a bit of time to tour the city. Do you see the tiny Hollywood sign behind El and I?

I found Johnny Depp's handprints and bootprints. Awesome possum! I'm not going to think of how many people like me put their hands into the concrete. Although that could be why they are black, right?

Grauman's Chinese Theater was more beautiful than I expected.


And the stars went on so long down the street! I found many of my favs including Jim Henson's star!

Many thanks to my dear friends Dani and Arden for hosting me and El. They fed us delicious food night after night and let me write undisturbed. Friends for life!

And of course El had a blast with her friend Abby! Beach buddies, 2008!

I do believe I'll even miss the Japanese beetles. And Dani screaming in panic and running inside. :~)

Such great California memories. Now to my email which is piled high!

Final Round

It's truly amazing to complete the final pass of a manuscript and get the work to your agent. The ball goes to her court and there's a refreshing moment of freedom. That's about the time I turn to my bookshelf and run to the library.

What a delight to sit with someone else's work and lose yourself in their story.

Although right now, I have 2 more novels to polish for my critique group. Maybe just a short celebration stint. I am down in CA this week. I can hear the Disneyland fireworks each night.



I'd guess Mickey and Minnie would vote for a break!

Wordle!

I've had fun making wordles at www.wordle.net

Hmm. Really this was during breaks from writing. And it's Justina's fault. She showed me the site. :~) Try it out. It's really fun! Get a visual representation of words that describe you!

The Breaking Dawn Concert!

Screaming yellow zonkers, I went to the Stephenie Meyer Breaking Dawn Concert! I'm not kidding. Who is that woman trying to sneak in behind me?

Here's my video I made for rgz tv:



What a blast!

What do you do when your bud moves around the entire world? You rant and cry and send her off well. And then you start to count the days until she returns!

Justina Chen Headley is now in Shanghai! I can't believe it. Before she left, we did a little geocaching together. And a lot of partying. I made a yearbook for her so she doesn't forget rgz (as if) and Dia Calhoun put together an amazing geocache for Justina's forthcoming book North of Beautiful. How fun to think of it hid in the valley for travelers to find!

So, normal has been redefined. My friend is in Shanghai, or actually Beijing today. Maybe I'll catch a glimpse of her on the Olympics. :~) Now to figure out when she's awake so we can IM next! Happy year in China, Justina!

Writing with Dia Calhoun

Recently, Dia Calhoun invited me to join her on a writing retreat at her family's pear orchard. We had such a great time, I wanted to share images with everyone.



I admit I was occasionally caught just hanging in the hammock. Dia advised coming in at dusk though. Cougars have been spotted in the orchard twice!

This is Dia's favorite pine tree which grows in the canyon behind the orchard. Is it not amazing?



A highlight was a picnic dinner on a beautiful hill that Dia hopes to one day have her own house on.

I have to say the imagery was spectacular in every direction and so conducive to writing and reflecting.



Believe me, Dia whips up an amazing smoothie!



Here's to good friends who share their abundance, sweet moments, and our beautiful world. Thank you, Dia!

Ten Year Anniversary Thoughts

As my friend celebrated her 40th birthday last week, I realized I've now had rheumatoid arthritis for 10 years. That seems unbelievable to me. So, I thought to record my thoughts on the experience, the good, bad, and life lessons.



The Start

The disease crept into me during my friend's 30th b-day party. I went to stand in the restaurant, and it had crawled about halfway into my body. By the end of the evening, it had spread completely, into every joint from head to toes.

The Diagnosis

Instant with a blood test within the next few days. Waiting for the rheumatologist appointment for 3 months was a trial. There were nights of crying and walking to unclench joints.

The Medications

Vioxx (later removed from the market) methotrexate (a cancer drug which caused temporary memory loss like I couldn't remember how many children I had) Enbrel (the wonder drug, but it lowered my immune system until I got chicken pox at 40) To now (living very small and quietly with little meds until something new is discovered)

The Bad

* Seeing the vial of unnaturally yellow methotrexate that I had to squirt onto my tongue with a needle made me realize my normal life was truly changing
* Meeting the old deformed rheumatoid arthritis lady in the lobby of a Walt Disney World Resort hotel which brought the disease home for the first time



* Injecting extremely slowly two burning shots a week into my thighs
* Waiting behind as fam and friends hike to amazing places
* Not being able to dance or exercise
* Not being able to sing anymore because, who knew, there's a joint in your voice box

The Good

* Slowing down so much that being able to braide my daughters' hair can be seen as a gift
* Truly being aware that my body is a full part of me and not denying it
* Accepting my appearance because mobility is so much more important
* Being able to empathize with others who suffer physical trials

There's the top of my mind after 10 years of rheumatoid which has also included:
Glaucoma, Sjogren's, Lupus concern, Hashimoto's Disease, Reynaud's, tongue surgery, foot surgery, Chicken Pox, Thyroid Cancer/Surgery/Radioactive Treatment.

Many thanks to my patient family and friends. Only by grace. Onward, however slowly.

Bedtime Kiss for Little Fish

It always makes the book seem real when you see this info from the Library of Congress!

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Grover, Lorie Ann.
Bedtime kiss for little fish / by Lorie Ann Grover ; illustrated by
Debra Ziss. -- 1st ed.
p. cm.
Summary: As night comes to the deep ocean, sea creatures prepare to
sleep.
ISBN-13: 978-0-545-12823-0 (alk. paper)
ISBN-10: 0-545-12823-4 (alk. paper)
[1. Stories in rhyme. 2. Bedtime--Fiction. 3. Marine animals--Fiction.]
I. Ziss, Debra, ill. II. Title.

PZ8.3.G9184Sle 2009
[E]--dc22


2008026645

Yep, my board book releasing June 2009 has a new title. The first title SLEEP IN THE DEEP does sound a bit like death, right? Thanks to the marketing team at Cartwheel Scholastic for catching that! My editor Rotem Moscovich and I came up with the new title: BEDTIME KISS FOR LITTLE FISH. Woohoo!

I can't wait to see Debra's illustrations. I know they will be perfect!

My Writing Retreat

So, I'm back from my writing retreat! What a fab time! I had an amazing chair to write in and visits from the nearby deer.

Then there were jaunts to the river to clear my mind and chill. And gorgeous sunsets!

Needless to say, it was entirely inspirational! I completed rewrites of 2 novels. Woohoo! So until next time, I'll be thinking of this special time and remembering it well.

As I get back to work at home, I think of a quote by Caroline Myss:

"Creative expression is not only alive in our major
projects, but also present in the normal course of
everyday life--how we organize our work space
or our home, how we prepare our meals,
or even how we structure our time."

MSN Twilight Article

Martha Brockenbrough, MSN Cinemama, graciously asked me to do an article with her about Edward. Basically it turned into a very nice knockdown fight. Thankfully, I'm the one getting teen thank yous. :~) And I truly spoke from the heart. I mean, come on. EDWARD IS NOT A COMPLETE PRIG, MARTHA!

Sorry. Just HAD to say that. You can check out the essay of awesome here.

Now, back to Breaking Dawn. *sigh*