Pacific Cup, Whonnock Lake, B.C. Canada on July 13th, 2015 - between races.
Although I wasn't really prepared for a big book celebration for Dynamic Writing 1, many wonderful bloggers and tweeters gave my book a shout-out or several tweets! I'm am humbled and thankful for your encouraging support!!!
And - this just in - Melissa Sugar-Gold wrote the most amazing review of Dynamic Writing 1 and posted it on her blog yesterday. I was so overwhelmed with thankfulness for her kind and encouraging words that tears came to my eyes. And now, I just feel like blushing and saying, "wow, wow, wow" over and over again. Thank you, Melissa!
And - this just in - Melissa Sugar-Gold wrote the most amazing review of Dynamic Writing 1 and posted it on her blog yesterday. I was so overwhelmed with thankfulness for her kind and encouraging words that tears came to my eyes. And now, I just feel like blushing and saying, "wow, wow, wow" over and over again. Thank you, Melissa!
The weekend before my official celebration of Dynamic Writing 1, I had the chance to cheer on 17 athletes from the Gig Harbor Canoe and Kayak Development Team and Racing Team at Pacific Cup at Whonnock Lake in Canada. The regatta is for novice athletes and athletes under the age of 15 (as of January this year). My oldest daughter was too "old" to attend, but my youngest raced and brought home a fistful of ribbons. It was a good weekend and since my oldest stayed home solo for the first time (with grandparents next door), it was one more reminder of all the transitions we are going through as a family.
For 12-16 years now (depends on if you count starting at birth), my kids have home-schooled. This year, we are doing things differently.
(Enter a really long mom brag moment - sorry, but my girls are a huge part of my life and my writing life - impacting my stories in ways that they don't even realize.)
(Enter a really long mom brag moment - sorry, but my girls are a huge part of my life and my writing life - impacting my stories in ways that they don't even realize.)
This year, my oldest is off to running start, our state's community college dual credit program. She intends to get an associates degree and a high school diploma over the next two years. She already has enough almost enough credits to graduate since she works hard and has a variety of interests. And, I'm still making her read several works of literature (plays, novellas, and novels) and write several projects (essays and play scripts) for me over the next two years because I'm determined to have her prepared for writing in any academic or career field. Currently, she is interested in bio-engineering, theater, film production, and dance. (How would you put those together?) Oh, and she enjoys canoeing and coding, too. (She finds coding, relaxing; I don't get it, but I'm glad she likes it.)
My youngest is attending the local high school for just two classes, Chinese and Pre-AP English. She wanted to take Chinese and since she was placed into an English class accidentally, she wanted to see how someone else other than me would teach it. Of course, because I'm a "mean" mom, I'm expecting her to read several novels and write several essays for me this year, too. They only read one novel and one play in a year for her class. So far, she's interested in interior design, special effects design, and other areas that include art and some science or math. She's good with language and loves to read, but doesn't want to include those in her career/academic plans. She creates bead necklaces symbolizing character development in books that she loves and she also really wants to be able to compete internationally in flat-water sprint kayak races.
My kids are starting to take flight with their multitude of interests, and at the moment, I'm actually busier than I was before. I think once we get past the transition point with the new school schedules and fall into a routine, life will get back to a more regular (normal-busy) pace. Until then, I may post erratically through the end of October.
Again, many thanks to all of you who have encouraged me and helped spread the news about Dynamic Writing 1. Please let me know how I can help spread the news about your books!
And, I'm still looking for hosts for a book blog tour from December 7th through December 18th for Champion's Destiny. A few spots are filled, but I still need more help! If you are interested, please e-mail me at tyreantigger (at) gmail (dot) com
And, if you've ever wondered why/how I'm so busy . . . well, I have an incredibly busy family and a desk-sized family calendar with multiple entries every single day. Everyone chips in to clean and everyone has to help with dinner.
And now, I'm off to run errands/write/teach/drive my youngest somewhere . . .
If you have time after reading this overly long post, please check out Melissa Sugar-Gold's review.
If you have time after reading this overly long post, please check out Melissa Sugar-Gold's review.
24 comments:
Just sent you an email about the blog tour!
And wow, the varied interests your daughters have amaze me. Juggling all that would overwhelm me even now, much less when I was still a teenager! You juggling all you do amazes me, too. Makes me want to up my game when it comes to productivity, LOL.
Your daughters sound awesome, and I wish them luck with all their interests. And you're a good Mom for encouraging and supporting them. :)
Personally, I think taking a moment to share your real life is a prefect item for a blog. As writers, we are always into talking about writing, but I think all the writer stuff can make simply-readers get bored and walk away.
You have some awesome girls!! They sound as smart as they are beautiful. Isn't it amazing that we are busier with grown kids than with toddlers? A friend of mine whose children were grown and gown explained to me that as toddlers, they adapted to our schedule; as teens and young adults, they make their schedules and we have to adapt. I know I'm busier now than ever before!
Congrats on the release. I totally missed it. I'll have to add a shout out.
We spend time talking through their schedules every day, and we do "overviews" of the day at the end of the day - everyone has a "tell-all" moment in a round robin kind of way in our house. This kind of gives us a chance to remind each other of what's going on and de-stress at the same time. It is definitely a juggling act, but it's more like we're a juggling troupe than several solo acts.
And the productivity thing is kind of hit and miss - yes, we're all busy, but there are many mid-project days that feel like no progress has happened, even when it has. Those are the tough spots to see through - just like in writing or in any "goal" type activity.
Thanks, Madeline!
Thanks so much, Elizabeth, both for your encouragement about sharing real life stuff and for the shout-out!
And thanks for saying that about my girls - I think they're awesome, but then, I'm their mom. :)
I think you're right about the toddlers to teens difference with schedules.
I saw Melissa's review!
Awesome your daughters are working so hard and are ahead of where they would be otherwise. Maybe your oldest will bio-engineer some plays?
Congratulations! Melissa wrote a wonderful review and your book is helping so many kids. You are amazing. Not to mention how awesome your family is as well. You go girl! You deserve all the good things coming your way.
Glad to hear your book is getting lots of attention. Your girls sound wonderful. I guess they're hybrid students this year.
Before I read this post I have to tell you that photo, the one you've used above, has perfectly captured the opening scene in my YA novel releasing next fall. So strange ... and yet so cool. So great to hear the DW1 is doing wonderfully! I have it. Can't wait to read.
Your girls are really sharp.
I can host you in December. What dates do you still need?
What an adventure you and your family is having! My son likes coding too and, at 6, he's way beyond where I was at his age. Wishing many more happy days in your future Tyrean.
Yikes, I hear you! My oldest just started college at 14, and figuring out two other school schedules around helping him get his feet on the ground, whew! Here's hoping the insanity settles.
Thanks, Alex!
It is nice to have such hard-working kids and my oldest is thinking of bio-engineering with prosthetics in mind, or something similar.
Thank you, Murees! I really appreciate your encouragement. :)
Hybrid students - that's a good way of putting it. :)
And, thank you Susan!
That's awesome to hear! I love how things work out with photos and ideas. :)
Thank you!
I'm never sure if they're sharp or busy - it depends on whether I'm having a proud mama day or a tired mama day. :)
And, Thank you! I'll send you an e-mail. :)
Wow! Coding at 6! That's awesome and amazing! I only had one "basic" class in high school and I've forgotten all of it, now.
Thanks for your encouragement!
Wow! College at 14! That's awesome! I want to hear more. :) My kids kind of wanted to get ahead, but I kept them "officially" in the same age-grade range as their closest friends even while they were taking extra courses.
And yes, here's to hoping the insanity settles. Best wishes with your kids!
Wow, you have an amazing family! I admire how you and they are able to juggle everything and make it work while still keeping it real. Congrats on the new release and on the super review! I hope things settle into a routine soon.
Congrats on your review! :D
Your daughters sound amazing, and there's no need to apologize for talking about them. We all like to hear more personal details about each other's lives. And your daughters are definitely something to brag about. :)
Congratulations on all your fun and good news! And kudos on your homeschooling success! :) Thanks for checking out my guest post too.
Congrats on the review! And it's a tiny bit of a "mean" mom to expect her to write essays besides what she has to do in the English class. Of course, making read more books is totally acceptable. ;)
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