That’s right. I told that eat your asparagus and grilled chicken with a side salad voice inside my head to hush, and I had a big ol’ bowl for dinner.
Moose tracks, specifically, with the mini peanut butter cups and thick streaks of fudge.
I could tell you I had it because my throat is sore (it is). Or because I was too tired to cook (I was). Or because dairy is loaded with calcium (okay, that one really is lame). But all those reasons are a load of hooey.
I had ice cream for dinner tonight because a) I wanted to and b) today was the type of day in Minnesota that calls for ice cream.
Don’t believe me?
Consider this:
Spoonbridge and Cherry, The Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, Mn
Hey, I live in a state that has a monster-sized landscape sculpture dedicated to a spoon and a cherry, and who am I to disagree with art?
Seriously though, seconds anyone?
Hope you’re enjoying a blue sky, cherry on top type of day. I am.
I’m a dog lover. Specifically, I’m a dachshund lover.
My current fur babies are seven-year-old Sebastian (long-haired and red) and five-year-old Bella (wire-haired and piebald). Both are total characters and both have me wrapped around their little paws.
Here’s proof:
Need more? No problem! It’s raining like crazy in Minnesota today. I’d say it’s raining cats and dogs, but Bella and Sebastian wouldn’t approve. This onslaught became an issue in my household this morning when, after the third (very quick) trip outside with zero results, Bella looked at me with pleading eyes that I absolutely couldn’t resist. So, armed with an umbrella, Bella and I went outside again, hoping the fourth time would be the charm.
It was.
We returned to the house, me soaked and her perfectly dry and much happier, and neither of us gave a darn that we had just entertained my entire neighborhood.
It seemed to me that there could be a bigger message in this little moment of my life, one that might be blog-worthy of sharing. It has to do with the nature of love.
Love is facing the storm with someone. Love is providing shelter for someone in need. Love is being willing to get soaked so that someone else can stay dry. (Love is even holding an umbrella for a little puppy who has to pee.)
I want to be this tree. Why? Because it’s old and weathered and strong. I look at it and I see roots that plunge deep into the earth and anchor it, no matter what storms come its way.
I want to be this tree because its branches are broad enough to shelter all the people I love.
I want to be this tree because its years and experiences are carved into it and that makes it beautiful beyond imagination.
I want to be this tree because it offers no apology. Because it does not wait for permission or popularity. Because taking its stance is simply what it was meant to do.
I love wildlife and live in southern Minnesota in the heart of the Minnesota River Valley where my daily visitors are about 50 different types of birds, deer, coyotes, foxes and even the occasional wolf. One of my greatest joys is keeping the many bird and deer feeders in my yard teeming with goodies so that I can sip my morning cup of coffee and enjoy the view. Yes, I even have binoculars in my window (and not because I spy on my neighbors!). I just love to look at the birds.
Maybe it’s because I’m a writer (maybe it’s just because I’m weird), but when I see a group of birds I like to imagine their birdy conversations.
“Did you see Hazel’s new baby?” The bird on the far right asks.
Voices tumble over each other as they perch securely on their social structure:
“I did!”
“It’s scandalous!”
“”I didn’t! Quit your yakking and spill! What’s up with Hazel’s kid?”
“He’s well, he’s . . . different.”
Just then a new little bird flits by. You guess it. Hazel’s kid in all his multi-colored glory. I can almost hear their gasps from my living room.
“Well, I never!”
“How dare he?”
“Poor Hazel. She’ll never poke her beak out of the nest again!”
You can hear them too, can’t you? Gossiping about Hazel and her scandalously different child. (Maybe you even feel like Hazel’s kid sometimes. I know I do.)
Here’s what I think Hazel’s kid (and you and I) should do: Ignore that flock of chattering know-it-alls. Sure, they’re experts on peer pressure and blending in and hiding their uniqueness, but they don’t know squat about The Artist with the wild and uncontainable imagination who painted each of us to be a one of a kind masterpiece. He wants us to share our differences with the world. Why else would he have painted us all these screwball colors?
YAY! The day has finally arrived when I can announce that I have signed a publishing contract for Caught in the Crossfire, my first novel, with Bold Strokes Books, one of the finest publishers of GLBTQ fiction in the world! I can’t begin to tell you how excited I am to have the opportunity to work with Len Barot, President and accomplished author (writing as Radclyffe and L.L. Rand) and her staff!
I’ve dreamed of being an author since an essay I wrote in 8th grade AP English class came back with the comment, “There is poison in your pen, Juliann! Write and write often!” Over the years I promised myself that I would write a book . . . someday.
Someday arrived in May, 2011, when my super smart husband bought me a gift certificate for my birthday to The Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis with the note Just do it, damn it.
So I did.
Over the next year I became a regular at The Loft. Just ask the coffee shop lady. She’ll tell you exactly how I like my Chai Lattes! I took many classes and workshops with amazing teachers/authors including Mary Carroll Moore, Megan Atwood, Pat Schmatz, Swati Avashti, and Kurtis Scaletta. The Loft also offers conferences and student readings which gave me the chance to grow and network with other writers. In January, 2012, I was accepted for a mentorship with Ben Barnhart, formerly of Milkweed Editions, and together we worked on fine tuning Caught in the Crossfire untilI had a manuscript that was ready to be sent to literary agents in May, 2012.
Just four months later I received an offer of representation from Saritza Hernandez, Senior Literary Agent at Corvisiero Literary Agency in New York City. Saritza is the kind of agent any writer would be lucky to have. She is massively book smart, surefooted in the shifting landscape that is the publishing industry, and fiercely dedicated to her authors so I was not surprised in the least when she found the perfect home for Caught in the Crossfire with Bold Strokes Books.
As you can tell, many people have walked this journey with me, and I can’t make this announcement without expressing my gratitude to them:
Len Barot, President at Bold Strokes Books, thank you for believing in Caught in the Crossfire. I am beyond excited to work with you and your staff.
Saritza Hernandez and Marisa Corvisiero, I honestly don’t know how to thank you. You welcomed me into the Corvisiero family and turned my dreams into a reality.
All my awesome teachers at The Loft Literary Center, you have enriched not only my craft, but also my life.
Ben Barnhart, my mentor and my friend, you are another person I don’t know how to thank! Just know that I am a better writer because of your guidance and a better person because of your friendship.
Candace, Maggie, Siobhan, Char, Judy & Kathryn, my writing group buds, your thoughtful, honest critique has strengthened Caught in the Crossfire in countless ways.
To the fine folk at Mn Kidlit: I learn something every time I get together with you (and not just about where to find the best brew in the Twin Cities!). It is an honor to be a part of your group.
To the world’s best beta readers: Angela, Sue, Ryan, Nicole, Bev (how I wish you were still here to celebrate with me!) and Ruthie, thank you all for sharing your time and keen insights.
Special thanks to Jeff, husband extraordinaire and my rock. Matthias, my beautiful son and hero, I wrote this book for you. And Mom, I also wrote it for you because what I know of a compassionate and living faith, I learned from you and Dad.
So, here are the details: Caught in the Crossfire, a story about sexual awakening set against the backdrop of the evangelical Christian church, will be published by Soliloquy, the Young Adult line of Bold Strokes Books, Spring 2014. It will be available in both print and e-book format in the brick and mortar bookstores such as Barnes and Noble as well as on Amazon and of course, directly through Bold Strokes Books. Please follow my website for more details about the publication date and events such as the pub party and book signings.
I’d like to share a song video that is especially meaningful to me. It’s called Same Love by Mackelmore and Robert Lewis, featuring Mary Lambert.
Yup, I’ve been MIA for awhile. My deepest apologies.
In my defense, I have been entrenched in the world of the sequel! (I can’t decide on a title so the sequel it is for now.)
I thought I’d bop by today to give you all a quick update. The sequel is coming along beautifully! In fact, I have a completed first draft now (YAY! OH GLORIOUS DAY! IS THAT ANGELS I HEAR SINGING? I THINK IT IS!) and I love it. There is more work to do with revision; however, I am very pleased with it.
So what is it about?
As sequels do, this book follows Caught in the Crossfire whichtold the story of Jonathan Cooper, a gay teenager who struggled to integrate his sexuality with his evangelical Christian beliefs when he fell in love with the fiery Ian McGuire at Spirit Lake Bible Camp. The sequel takes up that story after the bubble of camp bursts and Jonathan must return to his real life. That means home, family, school and friends. While Caught in the Crossfire is a poignant story of faith and love, the sequelis a painful story of friends turned to enemies and Jonathan’s attempts to keep it together in the face of excruciating betrayal and bullying. However, it is also the delightful story of new friendships found in the unlikeliest of places.
Here’s a teaser: There WILL be a battle to establish a GSA at East Bay Christian Academy, Jonathan’s fundamentally conservative school! There WILL be loads of drama with his soccer team. There WILL be a new love interest to pique Jonathan’s interest and challenge his relationship with Ian, and of course, there WILL be complications aplenty at home. A new cast of characters will be introduced while some of your favorites (YAY, Simon, Dawn, Bear & Ian!) will return.
I am so proud of my state of Mn! Last November we defeated a bill that would have banned gay marriage forever. Today we made marriage equality a reality!
I would write more, but there is a cool block party to go to!
