by Naomi | Nov 25, 2011 | Creative Life
My book birthday last Tuesday was magnificent. Here are some of the highlights:
7:00 am. Woke up to an inbox full of notes from friends, celebrating my book birthday. Shades of Truth and Flickering Hope are OUT! Wondering: are you allowed to eat cupcakes for breakfast on your book birthday?
9:15 am. Ate pumpkin bread- a compromise on the cupcake thing. Starbucks is celebrating Christmas this morning in honor of Flickering Hope!
10:47 am. Just finished working with two amazing young authors who will be published in this year’s Inklings Book. On my way to The Phillips Brooks School for I Love to Write day. A “real” author visit!
3:00 pm. Finished school visit. Told them bear stories and showed them my husband’s amazing photographs of the bears we saw in Minnesota. Visited Linden Tree and am off to Hicklebees to show them the books. Oh, and to find a cupcake!
5:54 pm. Off to UJam to dance! My cupcake is waiting for me in the refrigerator…
10 pm. Had dinner out with Dave, who brought me flowers. And when we got home? Cupcakes. 🙂
by Naomi | Nov 15, 2011 | Creative Life
Today is my book birthday! Shades of Truth and Flickering Hope have stepped out into the world. My friends tell me I should celebrate, and so I will. I’m going to document my day on Facebook… and celebrate however I can! I’ll post the highlights here tonight.
Right now, I’m wondering… can you eat cupcakes for breakfast on your book birthday?
by Naomi | Oct 10, 2011 | Creative Life
So, I played today. I rolled up my sleeves and dug through old boxes of notes and letters and pictures. Fascinating how these artifacts bring everything back, the feelings, the thoughts, the events.
I was once 12, the age of my character, Sadie. Actually, in lots of ways, I’m still 12. But now, I’m also 13 and 21 and 33, with all the experiences that have come since.
Why was looking at old letters and cards playing? To me, playing is any time I let go and let myself be surprised. When I do something just for fun, without any real plan. Younger Naomi surprised me. She was silly, passionate, and the kind of girl who lost herself in fits of giggles in Algebra class and had to be sent out into the hall. She fussed over running the mile, and lost the volleyball championship for her team because she was too busy dreaming to pay attention. She created a lip sync in which she dressed up as Lucy Ricardo, and her best friend played Ricky. She baked a huge heart-shaped chocolate chip cookie for her crush for Valentines Day. She had horrible 80’s bangs.
You know what surprised me most? Even though this younger self had dreams––lots of them––and plans like you wouldn’t believe, most of her life was full of joy. Friends and fun. I wouldn’t mind having a little more of that in my life now. Minus the bangs of course. Anyone up for a lip sync??
7:00 am. Woke up to an inbox full of notes from friends, celebrating my book birthday. Shades of Truth and Flickering Hope are OUT! Wondering: are you allowed to eat cupcakes for breakfast on your book birthday?
