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That Secret Place

Sep 22, 2011 | | 10 Comments

One of my favorite songs is “Sail Away” by Enya. I can totally picture myself jumping on board a random sailboat and slipping away into the sunset, my hair flying behind me like the movies.

Okay, so that’s totally cheesy, but sometimes I do have that urge to get away and escape. Do you ever feel this way? Like when the kids are throwing fits over their homework, or when I get too many emails from work, or when the cats have shattered my favorite bowl from Bali, or when FIRE ANTS invade my house.

That’s one of the things I love about writing. I can find that escape in my stories. After I put the boys to bed, I slip away to the front room, curl up on the couch with a million pillows, laptop tucked into my lap, and I start typing away. All the problems vanish and it’s just me and my own little world. I call it my Secret Place.

Tonight I told my youngest it was time to start working on his homework. He said, “Maybe later, Mommy. Right now I’m taking a break and relaxing in Bora Bora.”

I laughed so hard. I couldn’t deny that Bora Bora sounded perfect right about then.

Sometimes we as writers need to have that Secret Place where no one can find us and we can escape.

Do any of you have a Secret Place, too?

Fun Stuff

Sep 18, 2011 | | 13 Comments

Here’s a picture of one of my favorite Korean treats. It’s got chocolate inside!

For many of you, the weather is getting cooler right now. Not here in Florida. But then I love the heat so bring it on!

When not teaching, I’ve been fast drafting my latest WIP which I’m so excited about. That and fighting FIRE ANTS. Yes, they have invaded our house! I have war wounds to prove it.

It was Chusok holiday for Koreans from Sept. 11-13 (for you Canadians and Americans, think the Korean version of Thanksgiving). So happy Chusok everyone! Here’s a great article about Chusok (or Chuseok, depending on how you want to translate it) from Korea Legal.org. Or check out this past post on my own Chusok experience.

My sister’s wedding pictures were posted on her photographer’s blog and I HAD to share the blog link with you because they are just perfection. Her photographer, Abby Liga, is amazing. And Julianne, my sister, looks gorgeous. You have to look at these pictures!

Kelly Polark has recently started up this great blog called Book Recs of the Rock and Famous to promote literacy. Go check it out too! 

Obsessed with the Hwarang Warriors

Sep 10, 2011 | , | 15 Comments

I’m a history fan. I totally love the stuff. Documentaries are almost as enjoyable as watching Jane Austen movies. In high school, I used to read my history books for fun. So when I moved to Korea, I was totally entralled with Korean history and especially the Hwarang Warriors.

I did a blog post on it a while back after visiting a museum in Seoul and interestingly it’s one of my most popular posts.

There’s a lot of really cool things about the Hwarang warriors:

1. They inspired the Japanese to create what we now know as the Samurai warriors.
2. They practiced a martial art form that evolved into what’s taekwondo today.
3. They were known to be able to kick a man off a moving horse.

4. The first Hwa Rang Do were females.
5. They followed many of the same ethic codes as the European knights did.

But the thing that sums it all up the best are the pictures. There’s something very romantic about the age of Asian chivalry.

Revision Is This Part II

Sep 7, 2011 | | 15 Comments

This is in continuation from my last post on revision, Revision Is This. You didn’t think I’d leave you dying on the path, did you?

My legs ache from the steep incline and I can barely put one foot in front of the other. I stagger to the top of the peak and let the wind brush a cool breeze against my cheeks. The air smells sweet like honeysuckle. A valley spreads below me in a patchwork quilt, and I realize it’s filled with tulips, daisies and tiny white flowers.

And there, just in the distance, stands the finish line, its crimson flags whipping against an icy blue sky.

Energy bursts through me and I take off in a sprint down the hill. The wind pushes against me now, tearing at my clothes, but I’m so caught up in my downward momentum that I don’t care. I’m practically flying.

I hit level ground. It’s rocky and weeds twist their way over the path, but my eyes focus on the finish line. Fire burns my lungs, a searing pain. It spreads through my whole body and yet I’ve never felt more alive than I do right now.
 And then I cross the finish line. I lift my arms in victory, and I scream and shout. Someone presses a thin, cold disc into my sweaty hand.

My medal.

The blisters are forgotten, the cuts and bruises have vanished, and the doubts have been left in the dust because I’ve finished the race.

And nothing can take that victory from me.I’ve nearly made it. I’m almost there!

Revision Is This

Sep 3, 2011 | , | 9 Comments

I’ve run 10 miles. My legs are jelly. Blisters rub against the soles of my sneakers. Sweat drips down my face, burning my eyes, and my shirt is drenched.

I stumble and I fall to the ground, scraping my knees and palms against the concrete. I know I need to get up. I know the end is near. But I can’t. I’m tired. Dully as I stare at the blood cutting its way to my knee’s surface.

And then I see her. My coach, strutting over to me, her eyes lit with fire.

“What are you doing?” she yells. “Get up! Don’t give up now that you’re almost there!”

I stare up at her. She looks a whole lot like me, except she’s got muscular legs and arms and her ponytail bobs with just as much enthusiasm as her words. She’s even holding a timer and a clipboard with a list of goals and aspirations.

Then another person, who also has a strange resemblance to me, rushes over. She’s wearing soft pink pajamas and hooked in the crook of her arm hangs a wicker basket filled with books and sweets.

“Leave her alone!” Pink PJ girl tells my coach. “Running is the most ridiculous pastime. And she’s not even good at it. Look at her!” Then to me, “Forget this nonsense. What you need to do is forget about running and relax with a good book, a comfortable pillow and some chocolate.”

Pink PJ girl has a point. I do need rest. And at times this run has felt pointless. Sometimes I wonder if I’m going in useless circles or even the right direction. I look down at my aching body and my bloody knees. I sure don’t look like a runner. More like I’ve been through combat. Besides, her proposal sounds tempting. Especially since she’s holding out to me a copy of Hunger Games and Pride and Prejudice along with a bag of dark chocolate.

But then my coach says, “You were destined to run. The time to rest is coming. But first you must finish the race!”

Her words fill me with hope and somehow I stagger to standing, groaning as my muscles cramp up. I push away Pink PJ girl’s soft pillow and sweet chocolate and I start running. Because my coach is right. This is what I was meant to do.

Run.

And nothing is going to stop me from reaching the finish line.

(Okay, so I’m being slightly dramatic *grin*. But do you ever feel like this? And for more specific ways on what I’ve been doing in my revisions this last summer, click over to the MiGs blog where I blogged about it)

Check out the next episode of REVISION IS THIS PART II.

Winners!

Aug 31, 2011 | | 8 Comments

Oh wow guys. Things have been insanely busy for me. I’m not sure if I’ve actually ever been this busy, or at least in a very long time. Last week was the first week of school, my sister got married and I finished my revisions. Busy, busy times.

BUT now things have seemed to slow down and I plan on…sleeping. Ha! Okay, maybe not ALL the time. But more of it. Defintely.

And I’ve got WINNERS to announce for my celebration contest!

Angelina Hansen is the winner of GOOD ENOUGH by Paula Yoo

Tina Jones-Jovanovic is the winner of WHAT WILL YOU BE, SARA MEE? by Kate Aver Avraham 

Congrats guys!

Korea’s Got the Coolest Stuff

Aug 5, 2011 | | 25 Comments

A friend of mine sent me this link and I was like: “A virtual grocery store? Brilliant!”

But the thing is, if anyone can do it, Korea can. They are so technologically advanced and service orientated, it’s totally expected.

Basically, it’s a shopping experience catered for those too busy to shop. Tesco (similar to the American version of Walmart) has created a virtual supermarket in a subway station. While waiting for your train to arrive, why not get your grocery shopping done in the meantime?

I know, it’s a busy mom’s dream come true.

First, browse through the products on the wall. Then scan the bar code of the item you want with your cell phone. And viola! A basket of your goods will be delivered directly to your apartment!

See? It’s cool. Very cool.  


Christine Fonseca Interviews Me

Aug 3, 2011 | | 4 Comments

Hey guys! I’ve had the honor of being interviewed by Christine Fonseca over at her blog: Opening the Door to New Worlds.

Christine is a school psychologist by day and lover of books by night. So she began to blend the two together and wrote parenting and advice books for kids that delve into the often turbulent world of emotional intensity and giftedness. In addition to writing books related to giftedness, she writes contemporary, fantasy, romance, and gothic novels for teens.

Please stop by here and say ‘hi’!

Party Time!

Aug 1, 2011 | | 1 Comment

Oh my gosh guys. You are absolutely amazing! Thank you so much for all of your kind words and congratulations. It was totally a Christmas-in-July-day. Each of your messages were like little presents. You guys ROCK!

And now it’s time to PARTY!

For starters, we need music. If you ever get a chance to see the Nanta show, I highly recommend it! These drummers are amazing.

A party is never a party without food. Today’s party choices are:

Chocolate Chip Cheesecake (my family’s favorite)

GAMES! Look to your right at the side bar. Be sure to vote for your favorite type of chocolate!

And most importantly: CONTEST TIME!

As many of your know, I lived and taught at an international school in Seoul, Korea for the last 8 years. While there, I fell in love with the country and its people. So I wrote a book about my experiences.

So as you can imagine, I’m a fan of Korean-based literature. To celebrate, I’m giving away three Korean-based books in three different genres: picture book, middle grade, and young adult.

Here they are:

About the Book:
Will she be an artist? A cook? A writer?
Sara Mee is turning one, and her family and friends gather for her tol, or first-birthday celebration. Food and presents abound, but most exciting of all is the traditional Korean prophecy game, called the toljabee, which predicts what Sara Mee will be when she grows up.


ARCHER’S QUEST by Linda Sue Park
About the Book:

Twelve-year-old Kevin, a Korean American math whiz, is shocked beyond belief when a young man, complete with bow and arrows, crash lands in his bedroom. And that’s just the beginning. The man, called Skillful Archer, claims to be a legendary ruler from ancient Korea. While Kevin tries explaining contemporary life to the man he nicknames Archie, the young ruler teaches Kevin about focusing his thoughts in an attempt to help him return to his kingdom.  
 

GOOD ENOUGH by Paula Yoo

How to Make Your Korean Parents Happy
1. Get a perfect score on the SATs.
2. Attend Korean church every week, no matter what.
3. Don’t talk to boys. (They will distract you from your studies.)
4. Get into Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Cornell, Dartmouth, Columbia, Brown, Penn, MIT, Stanford, University of California at Berkeley, Smith/Mount Holyoke/Bryn Mawr/Wellesley. Then get into Harvard or Yale Law School and/or Harvard or Yale Medical School.
5. Become a Korean doctor. When all else fails, marry a Korean doctor.

Aren’t these fantastic books? You know you want them! Fill out the form below and mark which book you prefer. I will choose one winner from each category.

Contest ends Aug. 13th.

AGENTED!!!!!!

Jul 29, 2011 | , | 65 Comments

There are the everyday moments, the ones you never notice.
Then there are the awful ones that wet your pillow with tears.

There are the moments that fill you with precious memories.

And there are moments you LIVE for.

I’ve just had a LIVE FOR moment!

*SCREAMING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!*

Yeah, I’m totally freaking, flipping out. And dancing around the house.

Because I can now say I have an AGENT!!!!!!

I am totally thrilled to announce that I’ve signed with Jeff Ourvan from the Jennifer Lyons Literary Agency. Not only is he amazingly cool and knowledgeable, but he loves my work.
SQUEEEEEEEE!

Here’s me freaking out:

Thankfully I calmed down so I could sign the contract:

And here I am with the smile that’s glued to my face:

There are some people that I MUST thank because they have been a huge part of all of this and are full of pure awesomeness:

My hubby– You never doubted.
Julianne, my sister and muse– So many late night phone calls listening and solving my ‘issues’. You always believed in me.
Beth Revis– You were there when I first started writing (dear Lord, poor you), and you’ve been my cheerleader and great friend through all of this. And yes, your critiques are always spot on. 
Casey McCormick– You never let me give up even when I wanted to. Thank you for reading those awful drafts and never allowing me to write less than my absolute best. There are no words for how awesome you are.
Ellen Oh– My Korean expert! Thank you for dropping everything to read my story in the midst of your own awesomeness book deals.

THE MIGS:
Andrea Mack– You always have such great insights and find those details that I miss.
Debbie Ridpath Ohi– For those critiques that made me think about everything in a new light. 
Carmella Van Vleet– My taekwondo expert who inspired me to join a do-jang.

Susan Laidlaw– For keeping me true to my YA voice.
Kate Fall– For all those encouragements. How I needed those.

I truly believe that a writer’s journey shouldn’t be alone. It’s about discovering, pushing yourself to new levels and more importantly telling a beautiful story that will touch lives. I couldn’t do it without them. And I know my writing is that much richer because of them. *I heart you guys!*
Please pop back here on Monday because I’m going to celebrate with a PARTY on my blog! With book prizes, games, dancing and lots and lots of chocolate.

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