« August 2007 | Main | October 2007 »

September 26, 2007

Learning Something New Each Day

The entry below was to have appeared a long time ago. But the cyber gremlins decided other-wise. So here it is. .. better late than never!

I have learned my new thing for the day. And from wonder writer Roland Smith. When I discovered we were going to be at the Missouri Reading Association Conference in November (his terrific wife, Marie, and new writer friend, Mary Casanova, will also be presenting), I emailed him to say hey.

He emailed back that he was on the road and listed off about nine million places he was going to be between now and November. "Roland," I wrote back, "how on earth do you write when you're on the road that much?" Do you know what he answered?

He gets up at 3 or 4 each morning while he's traveling to write. Three or four. In. The. Morning. I had no idea that such a time of day even existed.

Which might explain why he's getting books written and I'm not. Sigh.

Don't you just hate good examples?

So I have not only learned there are hours before dawn, but that I might actually be able to use them to work while I'm on the road, too.

Why is it all the lessons I need to learn are hard?

Posted by kirby at 02:05 PM | Comments (0)

September 25, 2007

Each Little Heart that Sings

I had exactly one half hour to stop in at Third Place Books to see one of my favorite writer friends, Deborah Wiles. I've been following her tour blog -- that poor thing has left more personal belongings behind on this whirlwind trip! -- and I just wanted to give her a quick hug.

But I got more than I gave. I got to listen to her read snippets of three of my favorite books: Love, Ruby Lavender, Each Little Bird That Sings and The Aurora County All-Stars. As I let her lively language carry me away to small town Mississippi, I was struck by something startling.

Deborah Wiles was having an absolute blast sharing her stories with others. I mean, the woman laughed out loud in some spots and I swear I saw tears at other moments. She stood up there and dared to enjoy herself. Imagine that.

That moment was better than a month of Sunday sermons for me. It was as if she had handed me a warm slice of homemade peach pie. It was that good.

Here is the gift she gave me: She reminded me to have fun with my own work, that taking pleasure in what you're doing is just fine, thank you very much.

It was sure a lesson I needed to hear. Hope it helps you, too.

Posted by kirby at 01:49 PM | Comments (0)