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Handling the Insecurities of Publishing A Novel
*** It’s a challenging endeavor. I’ve done it twice now with fiction, and twice with nonfiction books. And I’m about to do it again when I release my latest, third fictional novel. There will always be anxieties that manifest themselves into insecurities about putting our work out there. The tendency to feel nervous about it is normal. We’ve invested a lot of time and energy into our stories, and we hope people will appreciate that time and energy regarding our work, too. But there are no guarantees. Some people will love it, some will think it’s just okay, and some will downright dislike it. It’s the way of the world,…
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Magic Comes Alive at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando
*** After years of considering this trip, our flight descended into Orlando’s airport. We are not like many families I know who seem to go to Disney World like I go to Safeway. We have not been to Orlando for six years, and the Mouse is not our destination this time. Instead, we are bound for Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade. Days ago our kids opened gifts for Christmas that asked them this question: Are You Ready to Fly on a Broom? Welcome to Harry Potter World at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. I’d been to Universal Studios over twenty years ago with my parents when I was single and…
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In Snape and Col. Brandon There Was Committed Love
Learning the news of Alan Rickman’s passing today made me stop and pause. Rickman, 69, star of stage and screen, who is probably best known for his role as Snape in the “Harry Potter” films, lost his life to that dreaded demon, cancer. Rickman’s ability to play a variety of roles left us eager to see who he would play next. From his brilliant portrayal of Snape in the “Harry Potter” series of films to the hurtful, unfaithful husband in “Love Actually,” Rickman consistently brought tenderness, realism, and the right balance of wickedness to the parts he played. Rickman’s voice and delivery made him instantly recognizable. There was a resonating…
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Suggestions for Helping Kids (and Adults) Enjoy Reading
I’ve been teaching now since 1993 when I instructed that first course in public speaking. Over the years, I’ve moved from teaching public speaking into teaching writing and other communication courses. Over this period of time, I’ve noticed a dramatic drop in the amount of outside reading done by students (I’ve also noticed, as have my colleagues, that textbook reading has decreased as well, as too many students rely on the course Powerpoints). Admittedly, we have a lot of distractions today—cell phones, social media, cable television, sports and social commitments, and family life—all of which contribute to having less time to “sit down and enjoy a good book.” A recent…
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Thick Skin
This week in classes we’ve talked a lot about the craft of writing…what goes into it, what makes a good piece, what makes a good novel. One thing I’ve learned in life, love, and writing is that we have to have thick skin. If we can’t take criticism well—either to heed it or let it roll off our backs—we’re not going to enjoy being in the writing world. We’re not going to enjoy the beauty of putting something out for public consumption. I’ve been to many different types of book talks, and the truth is, not everyone is going to love everything we write. I chalk it up to the…
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Does “Harry Potter” Deserve an Oscar Nod?
*** As a movie enthusiast and an Oscar Party hostess for the last 20 years, it is my humble opinion that “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2” should get an Oscar nod. My fingers are crossed for it. While I usually prefer book to film, the cinematic experience of seeing this novel come to life was phenomenal. Viewing “Harry Potter” in the theatre last summer—first, not in 3D, and then a second time in 3D—was an absolute thrill. The way Hogwarts came to life, the dueling between Harry and Voldemort, the burning and destruction of the school, Snape’s murder, and Harry having a conversation with Dumbledore in Heaven…
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If You Want to Scare Me This Halloween, Make Griphook, Not Voldemort, Your Costume
In the world of “Harry Potter,” Voldemort, or rather “He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named,” that freaky, creepy, evil wizard who wants eternal dominance, hides horcruxes in an attempt to prolong his wicked life (forever), and desires to rid the world of muggles, is certainly a scary figure, indeed. But we know he’s bad. The worst. He’s The Dark Lord. It’s almost like he’s so bad he’s sort of unbelievable. I mean, there’s probably a short list of people you know who are that evil, right? Do you know anyone who fits that bill? I’d probably be hard pressed to name someone. On the other hand, the goblins are more realistic and pose a greater…
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A ‘Magical’ Homemade Harry Potter Adventure for Kids (of all ages)
As the anticipation grows for the premiere of this week’s final installment of the Harry Potter movies, I thought I’d share an idea for a week-long Harry Potter Adventure you can do with your kids, or your friend’s kids, or kids you borrow just to do it because it’s so much fun. There’s been a tradition in our family for the last several years to create an adventure while we vacation together—we create it for our kids to experience and it adds something even more magical to our week together and creates lasting memories. My sister-in-law Alicia and I created the first one together years ago: a pirate adventure. The…
