Articles in month: June, 2009

I get a lot of email about the endings of my books. Sweethearts, especially, but Story of a Girl, too. It’s interesting to me to hear all the different ideas about what makes a happy ending. I got a letter about Story today and though the reader, in high school, praised it, she also said she was not fan of the ending. She wished Deanna and Lee could have really made up. She wished Deanna’s father would have said “I love you.”

From my perspective as a writer, the characters live on after the last page. The last page of a book, to me, is not the same thing as the end. I always say I like to give my characters forward momentum. So you can see the possibility of full reconciliation, and of the I love you. I know that isn’t satisfying for everyone, but it is for me. There’s a discussion going on about the Sweethearts ending at rgz—I’m the one who put the question out there, because like I said, I’m interested in how others feel about endings. (If you haven’t read the book yet and plan to, don’t read the comments.) I’ll be back to the thread over there in a day or so to add some thoughts.

I’ve been staying up way too late since my vacation. In Banff, it stays light until past 11! So I am programmed. Speaking of Banff: on the plane trip there I read Jesus Land, by Julia Scheeres, a memoir that completely broke my heart. I can see why it’s an ALA Alex pick. It almost reads like a YA novel, as Scheeres tells her story (mostly) with a present tense voice, and the bulk of it takes place while she’s a teen. Very compelling, extremely maddening (especially for those of us religious folk who die a little every time someone does something horrible—particularly to children—in the name of Christianity). There’s humor, too, and strength. It’s not a “look at my tragic life and gasp” memoir. It’s a survival story, and you know I love me some survival stories. On the way home, I read Stewart O’Nan’s Last Night at the Lobster. Loved it. O’Nan wasn’t really on my radar for some reason, but now I’m eager to read more.

And now, I really have to go to bed, before it’s tomorrow already.

I wasn’t going to post over the weekend, but this morning I realized that a bunch of stuff happened at the Readergirlz blog while I was gone. Also, while digging around for foreign edition links for the forthcoming new incarnation of sarazarr.com*, I found the German cover for Sweethearts, known in Germany as Long Lost Friend, coming out this September.

I really like this. Note Little Cameron’s striped shirt. And, this Older Jenna looks very close to how I picture her. Nice job, DTV Books! The translation was done by Eva Riekert.

Now, onto the continued book of the month discussion at Readergirlz. Since my last post on this, the conversation has grown to include a question about being ditched by friends when they start dating, and ideas for a Sweethearts-themed party.

*We were close to launching the new site this weekend, then ran in to a couple of technical glitches, but it’s coming soon! I’m very excited. There’s going to be new content like a real bio, FAQs, and a page with my thoughts on writing. And, an all-new design, one that I’ll be sticking with for (hopefully) years to come. If you notice any weirdness in site performance over the coming week or so, it’s just Chris working behind the scenes so don’t panic.

Fun facts about Canada! Or maybe not so much facts as bits of information I picked up during my visit of very limited scope and duration…

1. What we call stocking caps are called “tubes” in Canada. I learned this when we took our cruise on Lake Minnewanka and it was so cold and windy that I needed to purchase a hat from the shop at the boat dock. I said, “Do you have any stocking caps?” “No, just what’s in the box. The baseball caps and the tubes.” EDIT! In the comments, Shari says, our stocking caps are actually “toques” (sounds like “tukes”). Quiller over on LJ also said it, and Wikipedia says it, so now I know it’s true. Toque/tuque, not tube. See, this is how rumors gets started and misinformation is spread, like a game of telephone! Here I am in my toque:

2. As in the south here, iced tea in Canada is by default sweetened. In fact, I could not find a restaurant with unsweetened iced tea. That was sad, because I don’t drink soda and unsweetened iced tea is my drink of choice when out.

3. There is a food item I was told again and again to try while I was in Canada: poutine. Which is a really fancy-sounding name for fries smothered in all manner of gravies and toppings. As much as I love fries, I have to admit it didn’t appeal. Gravy is not a favorite. Maybe next time. Convince me!

4. Speaking of food items, I almost fell over when in the Calgary airport shops what did I spy with my little eye but the legendary Kit Kat Dark. It’s been legendary to me, anyway, ever since reading Steve Almond’s wonderful book Candyfreak. He scored a case somewhere along the way while researching and became obsessed. I was restrained and only bought two, along with a bag of 70% cocoa M&Ms. Dark chocolate treats and my diabetes get along really well. I may have to move to Canada for health reasons.

5. Noticeable differences in restaurants there vs. here, other than the iced tea thing: They do not obsessively keep your water glass filled, and in fact may let you run dry for a long time. They do not rush you out by giving you the check five minutes after serving your food. We had to ask for it every time in every place, after sitting for long periods after a meal. Which was fine. What’s the hurry, anyway? And they call it the bill, not the check. Canadian readers: am I making sweeping assumptions based on limited experience? If you haven’t dined in the states, there is a total compulsion with topping off water. I noticed in general Canada (at least in Calgary and Banff) seemed greener–recycling bins in hotel rooms, dual flush toilets, etc.—so maybe the water thing is part of that.

Okay, have a good weekend!

Oh, Banff. How I loved you. Your mountains! Your lakes! Your forests! Your colorful money and your lack of Internet access!

(The view about halfway up the hike between Lakes Louise and Agnes. This is Louise.)

Frankly, I am not thrilled to be back home. After this:

(The Devil’s Gap, view from boat on Lake Minnewanka)

Or these:

(Bighorn sheep at Lake Minnewanka)

But I am, and I will deal with it. Meanwhile I want to see your pictures of nature from your summer travels or local adventures, okay? Okay.

*Of course when hiking from Lake Louise to Lake Agnes, I could not get John Prine’s song, “Lake Marie,” out of my head. (And the wind was blowing, especially through my hair.)

1. Thanks to everyone who came out for the chat on Wednesday—that was fun. If you missed out, you can read the transcript at the rgz blog, where the Sweethearts discussion continues throughout the month.

2. I am totally chagrined by last night’s SYTYCD elimination. Max is an incredibly strong dancer. But then, this season it seems like they all are, so every week will be devastating, I’m sure.

3. I want to thank, hug, clasp hands with, send flowers to everyone who has already responded to Once Was Lost. Between your tweets and emails and blog posts, I’m feeling grateful that you have made the Season of Nausea less stressful, and am excited for fall. (And, FYI to bloggers, I do not have any ARCs to send you, I’m sorry! If you have a review site and want one, you’ll need to contact my publicist. With a modicum of effort, you will find her contact info on this site.)

4. Yesterday I finally watched Shut Up & Sing, the documentary about the fallout for the Dixie Chicks after Natalie Maines made a negative comment about Bush. It’s very good (and maddening), dishing up a lot of food for thought: What is patriotism? Was what happened to them censorship? How does the near-monopoly situation of the broadcasting industry filter what we get to hear and see, even when there is no specific controversy? What if a grizzly dude instead of an attractive female had made same comment? The immediate reactions after the fact included referring to the women of the Chicks as twits, sluts, bimbos, and airheads. When you watch the documentary, it’s obvious they are none of those things, not even close. You know the rhetoric would have been different (or non-existent) if they were not young, cute women. As a writer, I was especially interested in their conversations after the fact with their manager about what kind of artists they want to be. How far should any artist have to go in playing the game?

5. I’m getting out into the wild for a few days. I may try blogging from my phone, just for kicks, but I should probably resist that impulse when I’m trying to get back to nature. We’ll see. So, see you late next week if not before!

The month of Sweethearts over at Readergirlz continues! Believe it or not, it is already June 17, so we’re over halfway through. Yikes! Here’s what’s going on:

• Live chat tonight at the rgz blog. 6 p.m. Pacific / 9 p.m. Eastern. (7 p.m. Mountain, 8 p.m. Central! And if you’re in Arizona…well, who knows. You can always check the world clock if you’re not sure.) It should be easy. The chat opens at 5:45 Pacific. You should just be able to go over to the blog, and see a chat box and start yapping! The address, once again: http://readergirlz.blogspot.com

• Yesterday, Sarah Darer Littman, whose book Purge is a recommended companion read to Sweethearts, posted to the rgz about that and about her own experience with food and body image.

• Also yesterday, the featured discussion question was: Jenna and Cam’s relationship isn’t really romantic, and it isn’t really platonic. Sara asks, “What is challenging about that kind of friendship?” Whoah nellie, what isn’t complicated about that? Add your thoughts.

I hope to see you at the chat tonight where we can talk about all things Sweethearts, or just So You Think You Can Dance!