I'm plunging headlong into Spring with renewed vigor. My writing productivity over the last month has been pretty dismal, but I had a great conversation with Derek, a friend and great writer, about polishing what I've got so far and sending it out just to get some feedback. I think it's the jump start I need to reinvigorate the process.
Needless to say, my extremely ambitious goal of finishing by April is absolutely not going to be met. And I'm pretty okay with that. I'm going to spend the next couple of weeks polishing off some of the first chapters and I'll likely post an excerpt here and then get to work mailing sections out.
I've never been much of a performer, although I have absolutely no problem getting up in front of a crowd. So after attending a great reading, here&now:mortality, put together by my friend and multi-dimensionally talented artist, Jade Sylvan I have been inspired to put some writing together for public consumption. It didn't hurt that all of the writers came back to my house and burned their work in a beautiful ceremony in my backyard (bringing the spirt of Burning Man to me!). This will be a summer project, but again, another kick in the ass to get my work out there. Hold me accountable, okay? I haven't read in front of a crowd that wasn't a workshop or class since high school coffee houses.
I've read a handful of pretty cool YA books lately, and they've been keeping the wheels turning, I recommend these three for sure:
Management business on the other hand has been growing more and more steadily. I've started to make a concerted effort to get out and network in the music community, and it's giving me a nice dose of socialization that I thrive on.
I've met some great ladies involved in the Ladies and Girls Rock Campaign, which is an incredible program. I plan to volunteer for one of the Girls Rock Campaign Summer Sessions. If you haven't heard of the Rock Campaigns definitely check out their website. I feel like their mission, "to help build self-esteem and leadership skills for girls through music education and performance. We hope to stimulate and enrich the communities surrounding us and provide space to foster and showcase that power", is so inline with everything that I'm doing, and I could totally see Violet, the protagonist in my novel (or me) being part of this program.
I've had a couple of meetings with a very talented band over the past week and it's looking like I'll be working with them soon. I don't want to make any sort of announcement until that's official, but needless to say I'm really excited to be part of their team.
Missing Ships has been working really hard on their upcoming album French Vanilla. And I spent a very long and late night listening to some tracks last week and it sounds huge and bold and fun and stunning. The night culminated in me video recording Greg and Sky painting the album artwork on a sheet of paper taped to the wall, until I was too tired to do it at 5:30 a.m. Here's a still:
So I've been brainstorming and booking and updating all of the MS web presence. We now have a Missing Ships Bandcamp too. So since late January I've really been buckling down to make sure every thing runs smoothly.
Next on the menu, get my GGMPS website up and running, get my new business cards ordered and make good use of the longer days and warmer nights of Spring.
Oh and on a final note, congrats to my husband's band, Cooling Towers, on getting into the WZLX Rock N' Roll Rumble!