From time to time I have these bright and shiny light bulb moments. Not just one single pop of illumination, but more like Times Square at night. Maybe even bigger than that…
Not all of these ah-ha moments are brilliant, or even worthy of stopping the presses. But together they bring a new light to my life. What it reminds me is that I am leaving a place of stress, upheaval, insecurity, sadness, fear and unfocus. And now I am moving towards a place where my compass is spinning towards it’s true north.
It’s not perfect. I still have “stuff” going on that I’d like to put behind me. Little black holes that suck up my illumination. I’m tired lately and I need to get more aggressive with getting to bed earlier. I have a couple tweaky body parts that are keeping me from running and dancing the way I like. And even though the weather is getting warmer, putting me in the salad, fruit and veggie, smoothy zone again. I’m also just as likely to be put in the ice cream zone as well. *le sigh* And yes, even though I want to be healthier–I’m counting down the days until the Easter Bunny brings me my Alps Chocolate. So–yeah–far from perfect.
BUT…
The the cascade of bright and shiny lightbulb moments is irresistible none the less. And what I love about a lightbulb moment is that it doesn’t feel forced–like I’m saying something in the secret hopes of trying to convince myself. Nope–this is the good stuff. It’s solid and true and I thought I’d share a bit of it with you. Be warned…they are kind of random. And of course I like it that way.
*EVERYTHING I read makes me a better writer. When I first started writing I only read for pleasure. I never read as a writer–for instruction. Then when I started reading as a writer, to improve my own craft, I found myself a little shell shocked about how much there was for me to learn. I forgot to get lost in the story. But now I feel as if I’ve found my balance. I’m like a person who’s been wearing bifocals long enough to jump effortlessly between perspectives. I’m liking this tremendously.
*There are more adult bullies out there then child bullies. Often they are instructing children how not to be bullies. I’m not sure we can change the adults–but I always have hope for the children.
*REMOVE YOURSELF FROM TOXIC ENVIRONMENTS!!!!! You can call me naive, optimistic, a door mat, pretty damn stupid, evolved, hopeful or even a glutton for punishment. In truth I’m probably a mix of all of them. But despite who I am, I’m not sure what makes me stay so long in relationships that allow people to treat me poorly. But I’ve discovered that whatever my motivations are/were for toughing out a bad situation–I’m happier when I’m no longer in a toxic environment. So yay for making a change, even if it took me way too long to make it in the first place.
*Raising resilient, happy, well rounded kids means sometimes they have to be miserable. If you protect your children from everything–their world will implode the day you’re finally not there to insulate them. Instead of fixing everything–it’s more important to hold up a mirror so they can witness their own strength. Reach out a hand to help them up when they fall. Hug them when things are hard so they know they are always loved. Let them fall down from time to time so they can practice getting back up on their own.
*I just want to write what needs to come out of me. I feel like I should elaborate, but I don’t need to. It’s that simple.
*The only reason I keep unpacking those leftover boxes is because I still have things I need and can’t find. If it weren’t for that…
*Half the battle in anything is showing up. This means sitting down and writing. It also means doing your laundry. It even means relaxing or climbing into bed in a timely manner.
*Homeopathy is the single best thing I’ve done for the physical and emotional health of myself and my family.
*Jealousy is like a fleet of dust bunnies. That dark feeling can hide in small unexpected places. It can be around every corner and blow out of hiding with the slightest breeze. And no matter how well you “clean house,” it can’t be eliminated. The evil dust bunnies must be stared down and wrestled into submission.
See how scary they are…
*My lap top is not going to live forever. *sobs*
*I am a work in progress. Every bright and shiny lightbulb moment I have today will be seen through a different lens at another point in my life. And that’s okay–illuminated moments of thought are the layers we use to get to more complicated thoughts and emotions.
I’ve got more, but it’s your turn. Are you having any bright and shiny lightbulb moments lately that you’d like to share? I find interesting thoughts breed more and more interesting thoughts…
Tags: bullies, Dust Bunnies, homeopathy, jealousy, Kids, Kim Sabatini, Kimberly Sabatini, lightbulb moments, reading, showing up, toxic environments, unpacking, writing
Katherine Longshore keeps getting better and better. In my opinion, BRAZEN (The Royal Circle, Book 3) is her best book yet!
Mary Howard has always lived in the shadow of her powerful family. But when she’s married off to Henry Fitzroy, King Henry VIII’s illegitimate son, she rockets into the Tudor court’s inner circle. Mary and “Fitz” join a tight clique of rebels who test the boundaries of court’s strict rules with their games, dares, and flirtations. The more Mary gets to know Fitz, the harder she falls for him, but is forbidden from seeing him alone. The rules of court were made to be pushed…but pushing them too far means certain death. Is true love worth dying for?
Kimberly’s Review of BRAZEN:
I’ve never been one to lean in the direction of historical fiction until I started reading Katherine Longshore’s books and BRAZEN is my favorite to date. Her writing just keeps getting better and better. It’s so rare to find a book that is historically educational while also as tantalizing and swoon worthy as a very popular romance. An amazing read.
Mary Howard and Henry FitzRoy are chess pieces in the very real and dangerous games being played in King Henry VIII’s court. But love has a power all it’s own and Longshore gives us front row seats to the danger and intrigue. You do not want to miss your chance to be a part of this. Read BRAZEN–better yet–read GILT, TARNISH and then BRAZEN asap!
You can pre-order BRAZEN by Katherine Longshore here…
*Amazon
*Barnes & Noble
*IndieBound
Having spent time as a freelance travel writer, travel agent, coffee shop barista, bookseller, ship’s steward, construction company contracts manager and Montessori preschool teacher, I have finally found my calling. I write historical fiction for young adults. I am represented by Catherine Drayton of InkWell Management.
You can find out more about Katherine Longshore and BRAZEN here…
*Website
*Twitter
*Facebook
*Goodreads
*YA Muses
Want to know what other must-reads the Bookanistas have been consuming? You’re in for a treat…
Lenore Appelhans is nuts for NOGGIN by John Corey Whaley
Tracy Banghart swoons for STAR CURSED by Jessica Spotswood
Rebecca Behrens raves about PUSH GIRL by Bookanista Jessica Love
Christine Fonseca is riveted by SEKRET by Lindsay Smith
Jessica Love sings the praises of OPEN ROAD SUMMER by Emery Lord
Katy Upperman is crazy for THE SYMPTOMS OF MY INSANITY by Mindy Raf
If you could read a historical fiction about any time period in history, what time frame would you like to see between the pages of a good book? I want to hear more about the Berlin Wall and what that felt like for families separated and trying to get home to each other. Okay historical fiction writers–get on that for me.
Tags: Bookanistas, Brazen, Gilt, Historical Fiction, Katherine Longshore, Kim Sabatini, Kimberly Sabatini, review, Tarnish, YA Author, YA Book, YA Muses, Yanarella School of Dance
Today I’m cross posting because I’m blogging over at YA Outside the Lines. Our topic for the month is our current reading list. Click here to find out about what I’m reading!
And just a reminder–I’m running a Library Giveaway! Enter to win one of six signed copies of TOUCHING THE SURFACE for the Library of your choice. All the details are HERE!
It’s easy-peasy to get your library’s name in the hat.
And I’m also taking random questions today. Anything you want to know about writing and publishing–I’ll do my best to answer.
Tags: Contest, Kim Sabatini, Kimberly Sabatini, questions, reading, Signed Copies, Touching the Surface, YA Outside the Lines
It’s been a long time since I’ve run a contest for signed copies of TOUCHING THE SURFACE.
Last weekend one of my dear friends and a fabulous children’s librarian, Cathy Nuding, volunteered her time to come speak to my local SCBWI Shop Talk. It was two hours of amazing. I’d like to recognize Cathy’s awesomeness and help out even more hard working librarians. I’ll be giving Cathy another signed copy of TTS for her library (along with some other goodies) but I’ll also be giving away SIX more signed copies. You don’t have to be a librarian to enter. Just tell me about the library you believe should have a copy of TOUCHING THE SURFACE. If Rafflecopter pulls your name–I’ll send a signed copy right to their front door.
“Soulful and inventive. A thoroughly original vision for what happens next.” –Daisy Whitney, author of The Mockingbirds
“This gorgeous, lyrical read will sweep you away.” –Jessica Verday, bestselling author of The Hollow trilogy
“Sabatini creates an exquisitely tangible alternate reality, ordering the cosmos with impressive authorial derring-do, crafting answers to ontological questions with grace, disarming simplicity, and nary a trace of dogma. All while believable teens–teen souls, that is–tangle with affection, selfishness, and doubt. Thought-provoking and romantic, Touching the Surface takes risks with narrative and form, and succeeds on multiple levels.” —RBW (Chronogram)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Tags: Contest, Kim Sabatini, Kimberly Sabatini, Librarians, Libraries, Signed Books, Signed Copies, Touching the Surface, Win, YA Author, YA Book, YA Novel
It’s April Fools Day, but my blog today in no joke. Ha ha! I had to do it–so sorry.
Moving on…
What I was trying to tell you was that I’d like to hug the universe right now. Why? Because, even though writing brings me great joy–producing good stuff is HARD! Really hard. I always laugh at the analogy of a friend of mine. She likened writing to pushing a cow through a colander in order to make hamburger meat. *snort* Yeah–that sounds about right. Although, not the least bit appetizing. Or fun for the cow
But there are some days–some projects that just feel organic and easy. The ideas and the words seem to fall from the sky. Nothing about the process is forced.
I’m working on just that sort of project right now. Ironically it started as a kind of a lark. I was sitting at my desk feeling the emotional heaviness of the YA project I was working on and I had the urge to write something humorous and light. Something that would crack my kids up. And then this character got up in my face, kind of like that cow in the picture above. And I couldn’t help it, I stared right back at him and laughed. And it felt mighty good, so I put down what I was working on and wrote down whatever this new voice was whispering in my ear.
What a character.
Unfortunately, then I moved and I was inundated with all the time sucking drama that comes with the process. But a cool thing happened while RHF (my MC’s initials) was on hiatus–my kids kept asking me to write more of his story. And I knew I wanted to. So last week I dusted off RHF and now I’ve fallen even more in love with this quirky MC. And it’s so cool, because it’s so not the cow through the colander. With my current YA–I’m working really hard to pull back the layers and discover the voices of the characters. Not with RHF–this kid came fully formed and he talks my ear off all the time. It’s such a blast writing down his story and I kinda love the hell out of him for being easy. It’s a rare gift to be cherished.
Off to write some more.
Have you ever had a super smooth and easy writing project? What about one that required a cow and a colander? Has your easy project resulted in publication? Did you learn anything from the writing that came easy? Tell me about those projects.
Tags: cow/colander, drafting, Kim Sabatini, Kimberly Sabatini, writing, writing process
