The Flash

And then, for one glorious, supreme
moment, came "the flash."

It had always seemed to Emily, ever since
she could remember, that she was very,
very near to a world of wonderful beauty.
Between it and herself hung only a thin
curtain; she could never draw the curtain aside--
but sometimes, just for a moment, a wind
fluttered it and she caught a glimpse of the
enchanting realm beyond--only a glimpse--
and heard a note of unearthly music.

--L.M. Montgomery,
Emily of New Moon

----

I sometimes think that writing--or any pursuit of one's passion--is our clumsy breath on that curtain. Most of the time, it stubbornly stays put. But when true inspiration strikes, that corner lifts, and we connect with all the beauty and rapture beyond.

If just for a moment.

I wasn't particularly like Emily as a child. Her last name wasn't "Starr" for nothing. She was a strange girl: a little mystical, a lot temperamental, whereas her sister in letters--the plucky, lovable Anne of Green Gables--kept her feet nearer to P.E.I. earth. I loved them both. I still love them. The fiction of our grade-school years imprints us like none other, after all.

But there was a darkness to Emily's New Moon world that appealed to me. I didn't completely understand her depth as a character, but I was willing to take the plunge. Her "flash" was something I wanted to share in. And now it's something I--like so many of you--still chase.

Oh, did I mention she was a writer?


(This post is dedicated to Sheri, the Anne to my Emily. :) )

Child's Play

And now for something completely different.

A month or so ago, I wrote three children's books. Having two young kids, I am saturated with picture books every day, and wanted to take a crack at it. I'm sure nearly every parent reading this will commiserate.

And I was so utterly sick of reading Dora, and her like. Oh, Swiper, enough with the damn swiping already! We get it. You're a sneaky fox.

Give me Frog and Toad any day. Love those guys.

So my agent (who only handles my adult work) put me in contact with an old colleague of his, now working as a senior editor at the children's division of a publishing company. I submitted one of my books, and heard back from her a couple of days ago. She liked it, but still had some problems. Hence, revisions . . . and me pulling out my hair trying to cram everything into a 32-page format.

So in the spirit of my newest project:

What was your favorite children's book growing up?
Which picture books do your kids most enjoy?
Have any of you engaged in a little child's play, too?

And Swiper, no swiping!

(Oh, Mannnn...)