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Written by Ann Dee Ellis
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Monday, 10 November 2008 |
In honor of two of my favorite people, Mr. Bob Ross and his happy
little trees, and Mrs. Iforgetherfirstname Cahoon, my eighth grade oil
painting teacher who said my llama that I painted over by that one
cactus in my desertscape looked "quite realistic", I would like to
start a series for my blog postings. I want to focus on the little
things I struggle with in writing that actually turn out to be BIG
things because as we all know, the happy little tree and the smudgy fat
llama contribute to the composition as a whole.
This week I will focus on Moms.
Question #1: Are all Moms kooky?
I
am finding that most of the moms I write tend to either a tad bit
crazy, a little bit depressed, or a whole lot misguided. Bottom Line:
Kooky.
Is this accurate? And the greater question, is it possible
to be a mother and not come off this way from a teenager's point of
view? Because really, mom is trying to do her best but mom is a person
and mom does not go to school every day and face what teenager has to
face. BUT mom did at one time face what teenager faced and wants more
than anything (usually) to help teen be happy. Do some moms do it
right? Completely? Is that possible?
Question #2: Will my children think I'm kooky? How can I avoid becoming kooky or am I already kooky?
No answer.
Question
#3: How do I convince my mom that the moms in my book are not her? that
she isn't kooky? At least not the brand of kooky found in my writing?
(Because if all moms are kooky, mom would be right to assume my
experience with her would inform my shaping of the mom character.)
I
am finding more and more that I write a lot about mothers. I don't know
if it's because my mom had a profound influence on my life (and most
moms do), or if it's become I'm trying to be a mom and my kid keeps
reminding me that I'm not so good at it, or if it's inevitable--we all
are interested in mom relationships.
That's all for today.
Trees and Llamas Forever. |
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Written by Ann Dee Ellis
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Thursday, 02 October 2008 |
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Spooky Day #2: How many pumpkin cookies I ate and these books: 
I used to read these over and over again. Like the bride who gets locked in the hope chest? and they don't find her for years?
Or the hook?
Or the high beams?
Or the hitchhiker? |
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Written by Ann Dee Ellis
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Wednesday, 01 October 2008 |
You guys, I'm totally on top of everything. Like my life, my writing,
my fearofdrivethrus. Totally. That's why I was not surprised at Sara's post about
the fabulous panel I'm going to be on with Sara and Mette Ivie
Harrision at the Salt Lake City Public Library on October 14th at 7:00
pm. I'm going to be there with Halloween Bells on. I may even show up
as Little Orphan Annie like I did last year. Okay.
The
Baby-O-Poult as Sara so lovingly named the ritual exercise at our
house, may or may not occur at this event so you'll just have to show
up and see.
Other news, it's October 1st. In keeping with
tradition, I try to focus on the spooky things in life throughout this
month. I think you should too. It makes everything feel darker, more
witchy, maybe a tad more haunted. And I promise, if you change your
focus in life, you will find spooky things. They happen all the time.
SO . . . today's spooky occurence: Ants.
Many
of them. They just appeared out of nowhere and I think they are
disgusting. Mr. Baby Original things they are funny and sometimes tries
to pick them up. I say: NO!
Then I get out the vacuum (a good
idea? I don't know) and suck the suckers into the wall and thus into a
mysterious place down in the garage that may or may not get emptied in
the near future. So then, let's think about that: Ants (plus a few
spiders). Lots of them, multiplying in my garage. Eating all the crumbs
and pepperoni, waiting, waiting, waiting for the time when we finally
open the mysterious place and WACK!!!!! (Insert your own visual of
attack of ants).
Loves |
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Written by Ann Dee Ellis
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Sunday, 14 September 2008 |
  He's really nice and just yesterday his brother didn't attempt to pull his fingers off. Not once. Not only that, this little boy insists I wake up numerous times in the night to think about many things. Like writing. Perhaps. Or my personality problems. Sometimes. Or why a very loud truck keeps driving around the neighborhood at 3 am. Without him, I'd miss this precious me time. I'm serious. |
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Written by Ann Dee Ellis
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Friday, 29 August 2008 |
On Monday i got a call from the director of the audio version of my second book  Everything Is Fine
Reading level: Young Adult Hardcover: 160 pages Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers (March 1, 2009) Language: English ISBN-10: 0316013641 ISBN-13: 978-0316013642
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She was wondering how to pronounce the name of the MC. Some people
wouldn't get both nervous and overly excited about talking to people on
the phone especially if they are calling from LA or NYC and they sound
like they drive convertibles. I am, obviously, not some people. I
actually get nervous talking to the AC repairman or the receptionist at
the hair salon. I'm a bad phone person. I'm a bad email person. I'm
overall, just a bad person. So you can imagine my state of mind when LA
director called.
I told her my little MC is named Mazzy. As is
Mazz (Jazz) and ee (ee). I also acted very professional and normal with
an abnormally high voice and I laughed a lot. I think it went well.
Which
reminds me, when I got back from Hong Kong years ago, I also spoke with
an abnormally high voice. To everyone. And not just on the phone. This
should be important to remember some day.
The baby is set to
come Thursday. That's what the doctor is telling me anyway. Baby is
telling me he might come earlier so we'll see. In the meantime I've had
a few friends/family come and organize my house. I'm not kidding. My
niece Holly made me throw away about 3/4s my clothes.
But I like that skirt.
Sure you do. I did too back in 1992.
And
now my pantry looks like there's food in there rather than piles of
non-descript things. To say this was a relief is really not to say
anything at all. You all know how panicked I am about my really
horrifyingly unorganized nature. Now I get a fresh start. And I've kept
it up for three days! Three whole days! Look out baby, you are not
going to mess up my sparkling wash room (ha ha ha). But really, if you
ever feel like you need a lift and you want to pay my niece Holly and
my friend Kathy a lot of money, they might come and make you throw
everything away. It will feel great. I wish I could post pictures just
so you could all bask in my once in a lifetime clean house.
And
finally, I almost just posted a picture of me hugely huge at Bear Lake
but then I decided this: Why? So I didn't. You're welcome. |
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