A young Tom Bosley (the dad from HAPPY DAYS). Wasn't he so very handsome?
1. Last week, I was reminded several times of the importance of having a peer group. On Tuesday, I had lunch with Adam & Andrew, two very nice dudes who just so happen to have written The Familiars. Thursday, I had dinner with two of my dear writer-girlfriends, Elise and Corey. Friday, I had the extreme pleasure of attending the Private Practice wrap party (thanks, Amy!), and was able to bring along the awesomely talented, still somewhat new to me but fast becoming a good friend, Jihan. At each of these, we swapped war stories and intel and… if I am to be honest… gossip. Writing is a solitary endeavor. An awful lot of time is spent living in your own head, talking to people who don’t exist. We writers need peers: people who exist like us and speak the same language. If you’re a writer and you don’t have other writers in your life… please, go find some. You’ll be happier.
2. I recently read YA novel The List by Siobhan Vivian. It’s about the high school caste system and is filled with a variety pack of the complex characters who Siobhan draws so well. It’s aching and honest and beautiful and relevant. My favorite SV book so far (and I really loved Not That Kind Of Girl).
3. In my fantasy life, I am a flourishing gardener like this amazeballs woman. In my real life, I get all inspired to plant things and then I don’t really know how to take care of them or I forget to water often enough, and epic garden tragedy follows. Last year, my little raised bed garden featured one giant tomato plant that choked out everything else. We ended up with a tomato forest which, in the grand scheme of things, was actually lovely. Over the summer, we probably had ravioli with fresh tomato sauce at least twice a week.* This year, I have already planted the garden. Two tomato plants (which I have vowed to cut back… or whatever you’re supposed to do to tomato plants so they don’t turn into forests), three green beans, three watermelons (one of which has already bit it), three cucumbers, and a rosemary and a dill. Wish me luck.
4. Yesterday, I turned in a draft to my book agent and now have that kind of beautiful weightlessness that comes with crossing something HUGE off the To Do list. Yes, the list is still long (and pretty much always will be), but this felt really good. My husband, sister, and I enjoyed a celebratory drink together.
5. I think I’m a little link-happy in this post. I’m okay with that.
* Chop up the tomatoes & saute with garlic in olive oil. Sprinkle in sea salt, cracked pepper & enough red pepper flakes to give it a zing. Throw over ravioli (like my favorite from Trader Joe’s) & enjoy with a green salad. Dinner!
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