Monkey Madness Monday: Beautiful Women Month

So, I've heard it's Beautiful Women Month. I'm not sure if this is accurate or not. I did a search and I've seen pretty much every month have a Beautiful Women Month post. But ya know, maybe every month should be Beautiful Women Month.

Many of them share the same Audrey Hepburn quote though. I will as well, because I do think it's brilliant.

"For attractive lips, speak words of kindness. For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people. For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry. For beautiful hair, let a child run his/her fingers through it once a day. For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone. People even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone. Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms. As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands; one for helping yourself, the other for helping others."

Yes, beautiful brilliant quote by the truly lovely Audrey Hepburn.

This comes at a most apropos time for me, as last night I wrote my first poem in forever. I was inspired by a new friend that told me I'm a diamond, I am a rare beauty, and I need to realize it and own it (not the exact words, but close enough). So I thought I would share my poem with all you beautiful women out there.

It's a first draft, keep that in mind. It still needs work.

I am a diamond,
not transparent as plate glass nor spring water
not flawless, but exceptional in my imperfections
profoundly rare, I’m singular in every way.
not perfectly symmetrical,
my facets may not always sparkle,
no matter my clarity, color, carat, or cut
I'm blemished, but beautiful, radiant, resilient.
I am a diamond.

F³A: I'm on a Washington Radio

Okay, read the title of this blog and think 80's music.

I've done two radio shows this week which was kind of cool. Wednesday I was live on local station KLAY with DJ Mike Lonergan. I'm always nervous about live stuff, but it was fun.

Yesterday I was at Evergreen Radio in Seattle at their Washington Talking Book
& Braille Library. It was really fun. My interviewer Leighanne was really bubbly and nice. This interview was pre-recorded, and I'll find out later when it will be aired.

Friday Scribbles

Random Pandora Song of the Week: Xavier Rudd, Messages

Book of the Week: Okay For Now by Gary Schmidt. Reading it for conference and really enjoying it.

Netflix of the Week: The United States of Tara. Love this show. Done for now though. Any one have any suggestions for what to watch next?

Quote of the Week: I'm posting a personal quote today, one that is apropos for me this week. “Love Jo all your days, if you choose, but don't let it spoil you, for it's wicked to throw away so many good gifts because you can't have the one you want.” ― Louisa May Alcott, Little Women

Class of 2k13: Call for Members!

As you know, I am a member of the Class of 2k12, well, the Class of 2k13 is open for membership!

"The 2K Classes" are a network of groups for debut YA and MG authors that focuses on marketing its members' work. Unlike other debut author groups, the 2K groups' main focus is marketing - you have to pay dues, commit a certain amount of time each month, etc. 2K has become relatively well-known in library and book-selling circles, so there are definite benefits to joining.

Basic Requirements:

1. This must be your first book*, either middle-grade or YA, scheduled for release in 2013
2. Your publisher must be listed in the Children's Writers and Illustrators Marketplace or be an SCBWI PAL publisher.

3. You must be willing to commit 10-15 hours per month to the group and pay the required dues.

Debra Driza and Liesl Shurtliff will be heading this fantabulous group. If you're interested in 2k13 or have any questions, please contact Liesl, at sendliesl(at)gmail(dot)com and she will send more information.

They are going to take authors on a first-come-first-serve basis and will cap the group at 20 members. Space fills up fast so don't delay!

History:

The first 2k class was founded in 2007 by Greg R. Fishbone and has been a strong promotional network/outlet for debut YA & MG authors every year since. Here are some 2k alumni you might be familiar with: Jay Asher, Melissa Marr, Rebecca Stead, Sara Zarr, Jo Knowles, Nancy Viau, Sydney Salter, Rhonda Hayter, Jeri Smith-Ready, and Jennifer Hubbard, among many other talented authors. And word on the street is that there might be a 2k Alumni group formed in the future.

Here are links to check out all the past Class of 2k websites, books & members:

www.classof2k7.com

www.classof2k8.com

www.classof2k9.com

www.classof2k10.com

www.classof2k11.com

www.classof2k12.com

Class Mission Statement:

"The Classes are a community of YA/MG debut novelists banding together to use group synergy to promote their books. Typically, group activities include developing common promotional materials (website, blog, other social media, postcards, brochures, etc.); creating press releases and/or hiring a group publicist; forming panels to speak at conferences; and supporting one another while sharing information about the publishing world as we discover it."

*If your first publisher did not meet the listed requirement (i.e. self-published), but your current publisher does, then you can still be considered a "debut" author.

Monkey Madness Monday: Irresponsible "Advice" from Rappers

Just heard a disturbing bit of news about online Hip Hop mag XXL and rapper, Too $hort. Apparently, the magazine was offering "Fatherly Advice" videos from your favorite rappers.

Too $hort thought it would be a good idea to tell middle school boys how to sexually assault their female peers. After being told about the video, editor Vanessa Satten had it removed immediately.

My question though, how did this video make it online to begin with? Obviously as editor in chief, I'm assuming Ms. Statten doesn't see everything that gets published to the XXL website, but she has to be responsible for her staff members and the trust she's placed on them.

Supposedly, this was a spoof about what advice rapper dads would give to their boys about picking up girls, but is it a good idea to do the spoof with a man who was arrested for battery after fighting with club guards who wouldn't let him bring underage females backstage to his dressing room? A rapper known for sexually explicit rhymes?

Too $hort states he was "in character" when he made the video and it got out of control. I don't think this is a very good excuse for using your fame to be totally and utterly irresponsible and promoting sexual assault among early teens.


There is a petition being signed requesting Ms. Statten's firing and the editors behind the video have been suspended, but it doesn't seem like enough. Seems to me some serious staff overhauling needs to be done as well as some mandatory rape/abuse awareness classes.

I'm honestly sick to my stomach that this kind of harmful rhetoric was in public view for even a small window of time.

Wednesday Weigh In: Slow start and stupid cats

Finally I'm back on track. Down 4 pounds and exercising again. Determined.

I had something I was going to blog about, but I think it's more vlog worthy, so I'm hoping to have some time to film a Middle Aged Angst segment today.

Instead I'll talk about Lola. The cat that comes to visit. Mind you, I am not an animal person, mostly because I have horrible allergies. But awhile back, this cat started coming to my window and meowing.

One day I gave her turkey. She seemed very hungry.

Then I did it again. And again.

Then one day I let her in.

Now mind you, she's not homeless. She doesn't have a collar, but she's well fed and not mangy at all.

So then me and the Things got her some stuff. A bed, a scratching post, a couple toys, a food dish and food.

This has been going on for at least a couple months now where she comes, mostly on weekends, though her weekday visits have increased.

Yesterday she came in and was acting crazy. Next thing I know, she's in my office peeing in a box that held the newspaper articles about me and my book. I promptly tell Thing One to kick her out, as she's really the only one in the house that likes her.

Now I'm convinced she's the reincarnation of the cat I accidentally ran over when I moved into the neighborhood. I always said the cats in the hood were stalking me after the incident, but now I'm convinced.