Category: Video

All We Know of Love

On Tuesday, August 26, Nora Raleigh Baskin’s YA novel All We Know of Love comes out.

I was fortunate enough to have Nora as a teacher for two children’s book writing classes last summer. Nora teaches at Gotham Writers’ Workshop and if you’re inclined to write children’s fiction (from picture book to YA), look into taking a class with her. She is absolutely terrific.

For those of you who have never attended a writing class or workshop, it can sometimes be very difficult to find the heart of someone’s story if they’re just starting out (either with writing or that particular story). Nora has this talent. I marveled at her feedback to the other students. It was spot-on every time. So, of course, I listened when she gave me feedback on MacKenna’s story.

Anyway, she’s published several middle grade books, but All We Know of Loveis her first YA. It sounds terrific and I’ve already pre-ordered it. And look at the quote she got:

“A poignant, daring tale about love. . . . I hesitate to use the word ‘healing,’ because it has so often been misused, but this adventurous tale truly deserves that description.” ~ Anita Shreve, best-selling author of THE PILOT’S WIFE

Dude! Anita Shreve. Sweet.

And, for your viewing enjoyment, the book trailer:

Synchro and San Fran

If you ask my kids what they loved best about our San Francisco trip, they’ll both say: swimming and the beach. Seriously, I think they could have spent the entire time in the pool at my sister’s place and been completely satisfied.

True, Andrew’s a little unclear on the pointed toes concept:

This might be my favorite picture from the trip. It looks like she might end up doing a colossal belly flop, but she didn’t.

I love how she’s reaching for the sky.

Now that Geek Girl’s Guide has gone to copy edits (man, that sounds surreal), I’m back to working on The Fine Art of Holding Your Breath, AKA MacKenna’s story. In this pursuit I, of course, got sidetracked on YouTube, looking for synchronized swimming videos.

Because, you know, that’s really important for the writing. Also important, if you’re writing a book with a sport, make sure it’s one people like to mock (cheerleading, synchronized swimming, etc.).

Note to YouTube users: the video of your Cancun vacation where you’re clearly drunk and pretending to swim synchro? Not really funny. Trust me on that.

I’m hoping we get more good video from the Olympics. In the meantime, enjoy the following. Sure, they’re commercials, but they’re also pretty cool.

All I can say about the 0:39 point: Ouch.

You can see more of the “traditional” elements of synchro in this one:

I love the lift in this one.

Say what?

I have great affection for puns, misheard lyrics, and unintentionally funny typos. Once, when I was working on an installation guide, I meant to write: It does not. What I wrote was:

It’s doe snot.

Yeah. It keeps you humble. Below is a video courtesy of SBTB.

I’ve always like the Joe Cocker version of this song better than the Beatles version. Sacrilege? Probably. At least now I know all the words. I love how into the song he is. Granted, in this video, evidence suggests he’s into several other things as well. Still. Dude rocks this song.

Kyra’s at that age where she interprets lyrics/words her own way. Her version of the pledge:

… one nation, under God, invisible …

Not to mention the major confusion with “liberty and justice for all” since she had a preschool friend named Liberty and Andrew has a friend named Justice. You try explaining.

This year, at her summer program, she’s learning all sorts of old camp standards. You may remember this one:

Got this little piece of tin
Nobody knows what shape it’s in
Got four wheels and a running board
It’s a Ford, oh, it’s a Ford.

Here’s Kyra’s version:

Got this little piece of Tim …

Ah, yes. The young Hannibal Lecter attends summer camp. Good times.

Tell me what you want, what you really, really want

I found this over at Jen’s, so if you saw it there, you don’t need to watch it here.  I post it for two reasons:

  • It’s an easy way to get a blog post in.
  • We’re a full-service blog here at Writing Wrongs.

I’m so writing a book about these three. The blond kid slays me, every time. Oh, and the girl? She’s totally the boss of the other two.

The only downside is the ear-worm. (Tell me what you want, what you really, really want. I’ll tell you what I want, what I really, really want …)

Still, it’s a small price to pay for such genius.

Werewolf of Minnesota

This is what happens when Halloween costumes meet digital camera meet Microsoft Movie Maker meet book, what book? I need to finish a book? Of course not. What I need to do is add another dissolve transition to this movie.

Clearly, if you’re on limited bandwidth, this does you no good. I apologize.

Yeah, I know what you’re thinking: Dude, she needs to do this for a living.

I’m so there.

Tonight, we dine in … heck!

I originally saw this on Diana Peterfreund’sblog. The kids loved it so much I had to bring it over to my blog to spare Diana a freakish spike in hits on that particular entry.

And since I have exactly zero words at my command today (oh, you should see MacKenna–or not. I have completely lost the ability to write), I give you this instead.

Consider this the family friendly, rated G version of 300.

Speaking of heck, a while back, so he wouldn’t say “a swear” around Kyra, Andrew referred to “Hell’s Kitchen” (the reality TV show) as “Heck’s Kitchen.”