tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24227839075957202682011-09-28T11:37:43.734-05:00the not-altogether random words of a wallflowerlittle miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.comBlogger1311100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-55619415972412068532010-12-29T12:28:00.003-06:002010-12-29T12:31:53.049-06:00

The past twelve months have been full of mystery, adventure, magic, and sorrow. After spending five months wandering through Europe (we chronicled our adventures here), David and I moved to the small town of Ohio where I grew up. We needed a safe place to recoup and recover from our travels. Time and Space Travel disorients the body and the soul in numerous, mostly unsayable ways. I am still

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-27762223433072476912010-05-20T09:07:00.000-05:002010-05-20T09:08:47.621-05:00

I am turning thirty on June 19th, 2010. I have lived many lives. In fiction and in my dreams.I am a Gemini.I am a Welsh fairie with hair of fire.I am Native American.I am a runaway slave.I am a Chinese immigrant.I am a Woman Warrior.I write the Word of God in the native tongue.I walk through the mountains to protect the children.I create peace. In Paris, we visited Shakespeare and Co. in the

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-44039818139348723922010-04-19T09:57:00.000-05:002010-04-19T10:01:26.852-05:00

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little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-71406619463649114512010-04-16T05:24:00.003-05:002010-04-16T05:30:36.593-05:00

Greetings from the future! (I still find this humorously after living in Brussels for two weeks. We're about six hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time.)For the time being, please follow my travel blog posts at www.open.salon.com/blog/gwendolyn_glover.I'm unable, perhaps because of poor internet connection, to copy and paste my blog posts into blogger.You can become a fan on facebook or email me to

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-65277277663744863982010-02-23T15:58:00.004-06:002010-02-23T16:02:27.153-06:00

Meet Jason Pettus.I met Jason Pettus, founder of The Chicago Center for Literature and Photography, at the Pilcrow Lit Fest in 2008. This well-spoken intellectual is intrigued by quality literature and film and has dedicated his life to promoting the arts. He is intricately involved with the Chicago literary scene and is a strong supporter of self-publishing. On the CCLaP website, Jason reviews

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-58449892689212523192010-02-22T07:51:00.002-06:002010-02-22T07:54:06.857-06:00

I had the pleasure of reading one of the first copies of Flowergirls, A Mirroir by Robin Sneed. This debut novel is a beautiful and intimate mesh of memoir and fiction."Robin Sneed was born in Los Angeles in 1962. After an eight year career in television as a child, she went on to have a 17-year career in corporate hell. A Physics major, activist, and adventurer, her greatest accomplishment

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-74053345270662050832010-02-16T09:15:00.001-06:002010-02-16T09:16:35.354-06:00

Nina wanted you to believe that it was merely hormones. That's why she reacted so violently. It was just her time of the month. It wasn’t. Nina wanted you to believe that she didn’t already know about the pen. She did.She already knew when you first met in the break room, which always smelled of burnt coffee. She “accidently” bumped into you, splashing scalding coffee on your favorite Spiderman

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-40857697660478970912010-01-31T15:23:00.001-06:002010-01-31T15:25:22.164-06:00

Dear friends,The first month of the new decade has been exhilarating. I decided to try something different on my Open Salon blog. All of the posts during the month of January had something to do with the theme of “The Body.”If you want to catch up on the posts, here’s a list:1/5 This Is My Body1/8 “Cat” (A Flash Fiction Story)1/12 Exploring the Body (A Poem)1/15 Misbehaving Body1/19 Dear

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-730734396551671572010-01-21T11:59:00.003-06:002010-01-21T12:03:28.195-06:00

Julie Ann Seals is my guest blogger today and she is one of the enchanting people that I befriended at Oral Roberts University. I think we became friends because my roommate was a friend of hers and we had an apartment off campus with a washer and dryer. I would come home from work on Saturdays to this blue-eyed nymph doing her weekly laundry in my home. We soon bonded over our adoration of Kurt

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-77916958374418025112009-12-19T10:13:00.005-06:002009-12-19T10:19:31.268-06:00

A few years ago, David and I created our own set of holiday cards featuring a penguin couple.However you're celebrating this year, have fun and be safe! Tis the season to be merry!Wishing you and yours a magical holiday season and a glorious new year!~Gwen, David, & Jasper

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-89596274759976074102009-12-15T11:56:00.002-06:002009-12-15T12:00:28.153-06:00

Dear friends, family, and fans: The weather outside is frightful, so it's more important than ever to cuddle up, huddle together with friends and family, and enjoy the light in each other.Whether you're up late with anticipation for holiday festivities or simply have some free time to read, I wanted to tell you about some interesting blog reads. David posted an insider's view into being a bipolar

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-14864664486977113462009-11-24T13:07:00.002-06:002009-11-24T13:09:25.921-06:00

There is a myth of the isolated writer. The writer shuts herself off from the world, curls up in a dark attic, and furiously pounds away at an ancient typewriter. Okay, the furiously pounding part is real. But a true writer cannot build a fortress of solitude and hide there. A true writer is one who experiences the world fully, not simply from her own perspective but from everyone she meets and

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-85447287360602951562009-11-17T10:23:00.001-06:002009-11-17T10:25:53.120-06:00

Hello!I just wanted to give you a quick update. I will be participating in The Book Cellar's Local Author Night, featuring Young Adult authors. The reading will take place this Wednesday, Nov. 18th, at 7pm. I will be joining J. Adams Oaks (Why I Fight), Pamela Todd (Blind Faith Hotel), and Diane Mayer Christiansen (Switcher). If you're in Chicago, I hope you'll join me for a drink. The Book

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-80264076982047963632009-11-15T14:10:00.000-06:002009-11-15T14:12:27.705-06:00

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little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-35574833857208293372009-10-26T14:56:00.004-05:002009-10-26T15:15:14.332-05:00

It WAS a dark and stormy night. But I’m not going to say that.It was a Chicago night in late October. The cold rain made the roads slick and slowed everyone down. It was getting dark around five-thirty already and the menacing clouds made the sky even darker.We were on a mission. The destination: the Harold Washington Library in downtown Chicago. The tools we had: a 1989 Dodge Caravan with a

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-35525076575835870342009-10-17T10:17:00.001-05:002009-10-17T10:21:37.994-05:00

Tis the beginning of the holiday season and winter is already nipping at our noses. I wanted to take a moment to share some wonderful news with you.The first official reading of Cast the First Stone was a brilliant success. Thanks to all of you that were able to come. (You can read all about it here.) The next event may be at The Book Cellar in November. Details will be announced as soon as they

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-83366179011847861662009-10-08T12:16:00.006-05:002009-10-08T12:24:42.664-05:00

As I’ve alluded to in earlier posts, I didn’t have many female role models while I was growing up. Feminism was a bad word in our home. Women were expected to be supportive to their husbands, good mothers, and take care of the home. Wives were told by God to obey their husbands. My dad was most definitely the head of the household. To him, feminism was a weapon of the devil to destroy families

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-79552422063587122272009-09-24T14:55:00.005-05:002009-09-24T15:06:54.532-05:00

Last week I posted about my (very exciting!) first official reading at Women and Children First. I opened for a brilliant author, J. Adams Oaks, who read from his debut novel Why I Fight. I was so impressed by the captivating novel (which I devoured in about two days) and with J. that I asked him if I could interview him.Tell us a little about your novel, Why I Fight?Well, let’s see, it’s my

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-57103979488469280782009-09-14T15:08:00.002-05:002009-09-14T15:14:03.123-05:00

I had the profound pleasure of reading with the illustrious J. Adams Oaks, author of “Why I Fight” at Women and Children First. I wanted my first official reading of “Cast the First Stone” to be at my favorite Chicago bookstore. David and I moved to Chicago from San Francisco about two years ago and I was feeling pretty homesick. When I walked through the doors of W&CF, I immediately felt at home

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-61602701050774279942009-09-12T09:26:00.004-05:002009-09-12T09:44:26.517-05:00

Alright, folks. I don't know about you but it's been a rough week for me. I'm thrilled that it's the weekend. Tomorrow is my reading and I can't express how excited and nervous I am. A good friend and brilliant writer told me that I should focus on the story, not on how people react to me. The story exists apart from me. So I'm going to take his advice and listen to Denny and Haley and what their

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-74135687590953454022009-09-11T10:39:00.002-05:002009-09-11T10:45:11.325-05:00

Today is the sixth day of my seven day countdown, but I feel that it's disrespectful to celebrate today. Instead, I posted on my other blog. I'm going to post a few words from Bob Dylan here, since he is Denny's favorite singer and I think she would spend this day of rememberance by listening to Dylan."In the dime stores and bus stations, people talk of situations, read books, repeat quotations,

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-46065803666255727202009-09-10T06:34:00.006-05:002009-09-10T10:14:51.466-05:00

I was straight edge in high school so I didn't drink. I had this fear that if I had even a sip of alcohol, I would do crazy things that I wouldn't remember later. I would be...wait for it...out of control. There was no way that 17 year old Gwen wanted to be out of control. Like Haley, I didn't have much control over my life so I desperately wanted to hold onto as much control as I could. (But, of

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-64872645578631070742009-09-09T06:28:00.002-05:002009-09-09T09:44:43.180-05:00

Father of mineTell me where did you goYou had the world inside your handBut you did not seem to knowFather of mineTell me what do you seeWhen you look back at your wasted lifeAnd you dont see me ~ Everclear Question number four is: How does each chapter open?

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-65386614160539129672009-09-08T07:46:00.005-05:002009-09-08T11:22:26.341-05:00

Denny was based off my best friend in high school. She was a really tough girl. The first feminist I knew. We were like yin and yang. She was the dark, angry one and I was the sweet, happy one. On the outside. We listened to No Doubt and Metallica, created our own sci fi comic book world, stayed up until 1am watching Mystery Science Theater 3000, and could eat a half gallon of strawberry ice

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-69289701095343042472009-09-07T09:07:00.004-05:002009-09-07T09:32:15.859-05:00

When the story of Denny and Haley began forming in the dark recesses of my mind, it was Haley's story. I tried writing it from her point of view, but I had a big problem. Haley wasn't self aware enough to tell her story. She always wanted to tell other people's stories. So I decided that her best friend would tell her story.Okay, are you ready for question number two? Here it is:How would you

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-75006974643404183002009-09-06T08:53:00.007-05:002009-09-06T09:24:59.977-05:00

Today is the first day of my celebratory countdown to next Sunday, Sept. 13th at 4:30pm, when I'll be sharing an afternoon of literary debauchery with J. Adams Oaks, author of the adrenaline-packed novel Why I Fight. You'll find us at Women and Children First.Each day I'll be posting a question about Cast the First Stone. The answer can we found either on my website or my blog if you haven't read

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-52946032414128489532009-09-03T09:47:00.001-05:002009-09-03T09:49:08.584-05:00

I began writing as a little girl and I never stopped. Writing stories was my door to Narnia, to a world where magic was real and good always won. Writing stories was my way of going on adventures, which were strictly forbidden by my controlling father. Good little girls do not go on adventures. They do not take risks. They do not kiss boys. Good little girls pray and get A’s and obey their

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-7741147390846316962009-08-13T10:12:00.002-05:002009-08-13T10:14:38.101-05:00

The amazing literary rockstar, Stephanie Kuehnert, interviewed me on her blog: http://stephaniekuehnert.blogspot.com/2009/08/cyber-launch-party-day-23-women-who.html Stephanie interviews and highlights amazing authors all the time, so you should really check out her blog.You also have an opportunity to win a copy of CTFS!

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-36924292384955508812009-08-04T11:23:00.000-05:002009-08-04T11:35:03.432-05:00

Hello, ardent readers!It’s been a hot summer and I’m eager to update you on all the literary happenings.Promoting my debut novel, Cast the First Stone, has been going exceptionally well, considering that it was only published about eight months ago. The book is currently available in two Chicago bookstores (both of which I adore): Women and Children First in Andersonville and The Book Cellar in

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-53301140824546347422009-08-03T07:17:00.007-05:002009-08-03T07:25:47.798-05:00

Remember a year later when Dad had his first book published? He was an elder at our church. His radio show was doing okay. Dad wasn’t making as much money as he had at the newspaper. I know because Mom was teaching at the Christian school that we attended. You were president of about three different clubs at school and were on the soccer team. To my young eyes, everyone seemed to fit somewhere. I

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-23185317732930258262009-08-01T13:03:00.003-05:002009-08-01T13:06:10.495-05:00

I am so very excited. Mrs. Magoo Reads has just reviewed CTFS! She will begin a contest on Monday to win a copy of my debut novel.Read it here:http://www.mrsmagooreads.com/2009/08/cast-first-stone.htmlCheck back for more reviews to come.

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-21152848702280837642009-07-21T11:15:00.002-05:002009-07-21T11:28:45.214-05:00

I am nothing. I am invisible . Hold onto what you believe, Francis. Look at me. Five foot, four inches of one hundred and thirty pounds of insubstantiality. Nearly eighteen years old and I just don’t believe anything anymore.Dad’s been living on the couch for two weeks, Francis. Two weeks. He won’t eat anything. He just lies there watching black’n white movies. He hasn’t changed his clothes in

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-46448787163845732652009-07-13T08:47:00.001-05:002009-07-13T08:49:43.255-05:00

Stephanie Kuehnert got her start like most authors by writing bad poetry about unrequited love and razor blades back in eighth grade. That was also around the time she discovered punk rock. Along with literature by geniuses such as Shakespeare, Nathaniel Hawthorne, John Steinbeck, Sylvia Plath, Francesca Lia Block, John McNally, Irvine Welsh, and Louise Erdrich, noisy guitars and lyrics by Kurt

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-76297803910358850302009-07-05T09:29:00.001-05:002009-07-05T09:32:10.475-05:00

Cat saw the shooting star and decided it was a sign. She buzzed her hair and moved to the City by the Bay. She bought a 49ers baseball cap and got a job at Borders. She lived out of her car for two months before she found a room for the rent the size of her bedroom closet back home.Not home anymore.Not since she told her mother (her father was AWOL) that she thought she was supposed to be a boy.

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-85221809162595202222009-06-24T10:31:00.001-05:002009-06-24T10:58:03.482-05:00

Last night, I had the pleasure of attending Women & Children First’s annual Gay Pride open mic night. Hosted by Chicago poet Gregg Shapiro, it was an evening of merriment, contemplation, and a bit of naughtiness.Jenn P. began the evening with her rockin’, slam style, lesbian poetry. As a performer, Jenn P. was engaging, intimate, and energetic. I thought it would be difficult for the others to

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-20672091871332890342009-06-16T12:00:00.005-05:002009-06-16T12:19:08.489-05:00

I met Leslie Goshko on my very, first day at Oral Roberts University and she was wearing these amazing, rainbow socks. I’ll never forget those socks. Leslie is the kind of person that really sticks in your memory, which is great for me because I have a sucky memory.Leslie is a New York performer who loves all things comedy: stand-up, improv, sketch, writing and producing. She is a 2008 Manhattan

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-9308979490275785342009-06-11T11:55:00.002-05:002009-06-11T12:00:09.908-05:00

I just realized that I haven't posted anything about my debut novel recently and I'm working hard to attract new readers to my blog. So here's a little introduction:“Cast the First Stone” is not about vampires, shopping, or finding “Mr. Right.” :)The two main characters, Denny Stone and Haley Fisher, could not be more different, but they both feel trapped in small town, Oklahoma. Denny is being

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-59199188587057416692009-06-08T15:14:00.004-05:002009-06-08T15:21:55.839-05:00

David and I arrived rather late on Saturday afternoon, wearing heavy jackets to ward of the chill and brandishing a clear umbrella. Tents filled the historic Printers Row in downtown Chicago and were filled with books, books, and more books. There are small press publishers, local bookstores, and authors from around the country.Almost immediately, I was snatched up by a raven-haired temptress in

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-82103265083482542802009-06-06T18:45:00.001-05:002009-06-06T18:45:59.020-05:00

Cast the First Stone is…-like Stargirl’s evil twin.-what Mark Twain would have written had he been a lesbian.-what Judy Blume might have written had she been a punk in combat boots.-not about vampires, shopping, or finding Mr. Right.-like MTV’s “Daria” with a drinking problem.-what Judy Blume might have written had she been drunk.-one part The Princess Bride and two parts rum and cigarettes.-

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-26491676302822370272009-05-28T20:16:00.003-05:002009-05-28T20:20:11.609-05:00

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-19983481492220245652009-05-28T07:12:00.000-05:002009-05-28T07:13:11.388-05:00

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-20555848847173700252009-05-24T12:19:00.000-05:002009-05-24T12:20:41.754-05:00

“I need Plot: people growing, banging into each other and into circumstances; stewpot citizens: growing and hurting and loving and making the best of various bad jobs.” –Sylvia PlathI’m sitting in my pajamas, listening to Cat Power and thinking about the past week. The sun’s out and Chicago’s alive with drivers and bikers and people hung-over from Saturday night festivities.Last Sunday the

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-14552589000362412902009-05-22T11:12:00.001-05:002009-05-22T11:12:36.997-05:00

Once upon a time, there was a little, pale girl with Shirley Temple curls, who spent her days, wandering from one room to another in the tiny, five-room apartment. Everywhere she walked, there was not enough room for her. She wanted room for all her imaginary characters, adventures, and faraway lands. She hid her nose in books, finding the room she desired between the pages. But it still wasn't

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-38691847817370513982009-05-18T12:27:00.000-05:002009-05-18T12:29:21.180-05:00

Congrats to Amy Guth, Leah Jones, and the Pilcrow Lit Fest team for a successful kick-off to this week's festival. We chilled at Matilda's last night and chatted with some interesting literary folk.Please check out all the amazing literary happenings around Chi-town athttp://www.pilcrowlitfest.com/calendar.html

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-28615236256335279112009-05-05T11:05:00.004-05:002009-05-05T11:20:26.651-05:00

A couple of weeks ago, I went with a friend to a reading at the African Studies department on NU's campus. I knew nothing about the author and, with less than twenty people in attendance, I wasn’t expecting anything phenomenal. But when the introduction was given, I was surprised to be in the presence of someone so accomplished. I wondered why there weren’t more people there. The author, Tsitsi

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-64090452798917961862009-05-01T10:00:00.002-05:002009-05-01T10:03:36.692-05:00

Hello to my fabulous friends, starlit strangers, and literary lovers,I'm head-over-heels in happiness. Amy Guth, brilliant author and founder of http://www.pilcrowlitfest.com/ , has generously added me to the prolific list of participants in this year's festival. There are numerous, tantalizing events from Sunday, May 17th through Saturday, May 23rd. You'll find me:Upstairs @ Trader Todd's3216 N

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-44822486623468156882009-04-22T09:09:00.003-05:002009-04-22T09:20:51.635-05:00

(a letter, revised, that I wrote in the great summer of 2003)I’ve been sitting outside for the last two hours, reading Jack Kerouac. It’s a beautiful, lazy day. the sun is bright but the air is cool and there’s a gentle breeze blowing the curls in my face. I was woken up by Julie Seals this morning. I’d crashed on the guys’ couch around 4am while someone, maybe Rick, was watching a black and

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-46673747737430348582009-04-15T09:40:00.002-05:002009-04-15T09:44:46.474-05:00

(updated post from my open salon blog)Like most girls, when I was growing up my dad was the most influential and important person in my life. It's hard to describe someone like that honestly and without bias, so I'm not going to even attempt it. I'm going to give you a very biased look at my dad during various stages of my life, from my skewed point of view.My dad was a super hero. Seriously. He

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-34007723585048399252009-04-10T14:59:00.003-05:002009-04-10T15:04:49.815-05:00

This drawing is done by a French graffit artist named Fafi. She's gotten some good press over the last couple of years and I simply adore her sweet and sassy characters. Please check her out at http://www.fafi.net/

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-28290325712867050672009-04-03T15:43:00.002-05:002009-04-03T15:45:55.454-05:00

Please check out this website and specifically the articles about the disappearing freedoms and rights of Afghan women.http://www.rawa.org/index.phpThis is why we write and create and sing and dance. We must create something beautiful out of ugly and painful experiences.

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-52983803184428553772009-04-02T14:06:00.000-05:002009-04-02T14:09:41.528-05:00

I’m finding it difficult to write these days. My day job is in jeopardy. I’m looking for a new one. My immediate future is not secure so it’s hard for me to make a plan to get published. It’s hard to focus on my writing career when I’m worried about bills. It’s hard to talk to bookstores about selling my novel on consignment when I can’t afford to order any. If I’m not sure how next month’s rent

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-47935187172966887702009-03-30T16:33:00.003-05:002009-03-30T16:37:05.064-05:00

Dorothy Allison is coming to Chicago!!!Time: Sunday, May 3, 2009 4:30 p.m.Location: Women & Children FirstTitle of Event: Dorothy Allison and Thomas Glavehttp://www.womenandchildrenfirst.com/NASApp/store/IndexJspYay!!!

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-18947766552193006242009-03-16T14:00:00.001-05:002009-03-16T14:00:48.178-05:00

"And by the way, everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt." ~Sylvia Plath

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-71236650378285587042009-03-06T10:09:00.004-06:002009-03-06T10:24:02.720-06:00

If you're like me, you're looking for entertainment that doesn't empty your pockets. Well, lucky for you I've got a handfull of suggestions.Rent Mambo Italiano from your local library or Netflix. It's a Canadian film about the son of an immigrant Italian family who realizes that he's gay. It is absolutely hilarious.Read Georgia Under Water by Heather Sellers. It's a collection of short stories

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-40749927578057397242009-03-03T16:33:00.002-06:002009-03-03T16:40:25.354-06:00

Well, I didn't get accepted into my grad program of choice. But this is a great opportunity! Now I'm absolutely free to (a) run away to Mexico (do you think Sallie Mae will find me there?), (b) join the Peace Corps and be a slave for two years, or (c) sell myself to any of the ba-zillion ESL programs in South Korea.What's your vote?

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-26369730498426258052009-02-24T16:50:00.004-06:002009-02-25T13:58:01.916-06:00

Hello there, enthusiastic readers! I wanted to post a few things of possible interest to you.If you live in Chi-town or want to come visit us in May, there's an amazing indie literary festival you just have to check out. I'll be participating in one way or another. Here's the website: http://pilcrowlitfest.com/I went to a reading about two weeks ago that was hosted by Northwestern's writing

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-84467700105832552482009-02-17T10:11:00.002-06:002009-02-17T10:15:23.228-06:00

This is just a little something I'm working on. I don't know if it will transform into a short story or if it's just an exercise in character development. These characters are part of a book that I will be calling Invisible Elephants. Enjoy!Maggie Singer eats donuts. Traditional powdered donuts out of the box with coffee. Cream-filled donuts with a tall glass of whole milk. Chocolate donuts by

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-6355572590294118142009-02-14T10:41:00.001-06:002009-02-15T14:25:31.872-06:00

i carry your heart with me(i carry it inmy heart)i am never without it(anywherei go you go,my dear; and whatever is doneby only me is your doing,my darling)i fearno fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i wantno world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)and it's you are whatever a moon has always meantand whatever a sun will always sing is youhere is the deepest secret nobody knows(here is the

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-40670119937538461742009-02-12T16:31:00.001-06:002009-02-12T16:32:48.635-06:00

Has anyone else every watched "Dr. Horrible's Sing-A-Long?" It's pure genius. (Insert evil laugh here.) If you're having a rough day, please look it up on hulu.com . You'll be so glad you did.P.S. I love Neil Patrick Harris. Seriously.

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-52168846483211801282009-02-09T13:57:00.001-06:002009-02-09T13:58:48.783-06:00

I was studying the many uses of commas in preparation for tutoring next week and I found this quote:"I have spent most of the day putting in a comma and the rest of the day taking it out."— Oscar WildeDelightful.

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-71790696148958579962009-02-06T14:40:00.003-06:002009-02-06T14:48:42.371-06:00

I adore Cary Tennis. He's like my practical guru. I devour his articles like some people devour celebrity gossip. I get to be both a voyeur--I secretly crave outside drama, (I think) because it keeps me from working on myself--and metaphysical student. This particular article is simply beautiful.http://www.salon.com/mwt/col/tenn/2009/02/06/jehovah/index.htmlLet me know what you think.

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-56058916975972563332009-02-03T07:58:00.003-06:002009-02-03T08:07:44.594-06:00

Hey there, fearless folks and sassy cats! We're clicking and whirring over here, thinking of ways to promote CTFS and spread the literary love. So far, the comments I've received have been very encouraging. The thing I hear the most is: " Please! There MUST be a sequel!" Well, I just want to reassure you that there is. I just don't know when it will be written because I have a hefty project I'm

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-18739750565691036572009-01-27T12:28:00.005-06:002009-01-27T15:47:26.384-06:00

This past weekend we received a movie from Netflix that I was looking forward to watching. To find a film boring or slow is one thing, but watching this film actually made my blood boil. I’m speaking of “The Duchess,” an Academy Award nominated British film starring the talented Keira Knightley. Although well-acted, this film portrayed a female character whose main virtue and value in the eyes of

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-72320316665301288782009-01-20T16:13:00.000-06:002009-01-23T16:15:39.678-06:00

"i thank You God for most this amazingday: for the leaping greenly spirits of treesand a blue true dream of sky; and for everythingwhich is natural which is infinite which is yes"-e.e. cummings

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-52198301625972047942009-01-13T11:53:00.001-06:002009-01-13T11:59:53.719-06:00

Wendy Chan walked into the classroom full of round, blue eyes and light hair. There was only one student who didn’t have pinkish, pale skin and pimples. He sat alone, in the front row. His skin was the color of dark chocolate. There was an empty desk on either side of him. Wendy sat down in the right one. It pinched her classmate in the waist, she noticed immediately. He was a round kid with a

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-32399995492678204362009-01-09T15:10:00.001-06:002009-01-09T15:23:02.786-06:00

I wonder sometimes at how important the perception of others is to the vision I have of myself. How important is the assumption I have of the perception of others toward me?All through my school years, I wouldn’t try anything new. I had to already excel at something before I performed in front of others. Others could mean my teachers, my parents, classmates, etc. Anyone except my brothers. They

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-30312292587802575432009-01-07T14:38:00.003-06:002009-01-07T15:09:39.919-06:00

Well, it’s the new year. I’ve spent the last two weeks pondering the last year and planning what I wish to accomplish in 2009. If you’ve been following my blog, you know what a hectic year it’s been. In the last twelve zany months, I got a new job, started tutoring ESL, took classes at NU, finished my first novel, helped design my website and the look of the pre-publication edition of Cast the

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-73116544784609451482009-01-05T10:30:00.000-06:002009-01-08T10:31:32.017-06:00

"Just wanted to let you know I finished your book last night. I could not put it down, it totally sucked me in. I absolutely loved Denny and really wanted her to get the heck out of Oklahoma. And Haley reminded me so much of myself in high school. It was kind of frightening, but reassuring at the same time. My favorite part by far was the time she spent in San Fran. Your description of the city

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-28732006968551253342009-01-01T10:03:00.000-06:002009-01-08T10:09:05.901-06:00

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-11535687911902266632008-12-11T11:22:00.001-06:002008-12-11T11:41:02.205-06:00

If you listen to NPR (you poor thing) or start yawning repeatedly at 4:30pm because outside it looks like midnight, you might start feeling like you've caught a nasty case of malaise. Fear not! When it's most dark, it's time to light candles, bake tasty treats, and take a walk to admire your neighbors' flamboyant use of electricity. Sure the three layers of clothing are getting heavy and

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-85344452171362406362008-11-24T10:20:00.002-06:002008-11-24T10:24:17.767-06:00

"To accomplish great things, we must dream as well as act." -- Anatole France After many years of dreaming, the time has finally come to act. After many sleepless nights and a great deal of revision, my production and publication crew and I are thrilled to announce the completion of my first novel: "Cast the First Stone."Letters of inquiry have been written, agents called and publishers sought.

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-46229434305155243652008-11-18T13:51:00.002-06:002008-11-18T14:01:39.930-06:00

In the last month, I have been to readings from two remarkable female writers. The first is Sefi Atta, who is the writer in residence this quarter at NU. She has a whimsical grace and a sweet shyness. She read parts of several of her short stories, which are available to read on her website. Aftewords, I rushed to buy her first novel available in the United States: Everything Good Will Come.

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-62349707269140631272008-11-05T23:12:00.003-06:002008-11-05T23:15:27.062-06:00

David just finished the book cover. Isn't it fan-freakin-tastic?

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-57037554017773083022008-11-02T10:07:00.007-06:002008-11-20T10:39:31.288-06:00

I remember strange details from that day. I remember wearing a pink Strawberry Shortcake shirt and denim overalls. I remember that my white-blond hair was pulled into two pigtails. I remember the smell of wood chips and the hot steel of the monkey bars on the playground. I remember the looks on the kids’ faces when I asked them where they were going when they died.Do you know for sure? I asked

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-61228285755097383362008-10-31T11:50:00.000-05:002008-10-31T11:51:13.806-05:00

Hello! This is a quickie reminder of my upcoming stint with the Cultural Center's Open Studio Program. It begins November 1st and goes until thanksgiving. M-F, 8-6 @ the storefront in the Pedway below the Chicago Cultural Center, 77 E. Randolph St. The Open Studio Program was created to allow the public to see the art-making process as it unfolds so, by all means, please feel free to swing on

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-15350866659880452532008-10-27T13:38:00.003-05:002008-10-27T13:46:45.529-05:00

Well, I've been feeling all "red, white, & blue" lately. This isn't a political blog, but I am a feminist so I'm duty-bound to remind everyone: DON'T FORGET TO VOTE! David & I voted early on Saturday and we had to wait for over an hour in a nice, ever-growing line. It makes me happy to see so many people enthusiastic about voting. So, remember, when you standing in line, bored to tears, and

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-49728907883238395162008-10-24T09:32:00.001-05:002008-10-24T09:32:50.335-05:00

Storytelling reveals meaning without committing the error of defining it. ~Hannah Arendt

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-19879493772022538302008-10-16T14:53:00.002-05:002008-10-16T15:13:53.155-05:00

I can't help myself. I said I wasn't going to post anything because I'm in the middle of writing a rather wordy and incoherent novel as fast as I can. But I miss you all and wanted to say hello. Hello!Do you feel like you've been caught in a maddening whirlwind of continous--and often ambiguous--facts about the economy (which is pretty much fucked) and the presidental election, conflicting with

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-60363917445905647602008-10-15T15:28:00.000-05:002008-10-16T15:39:23.698-05:00

Our little toddler is still a bit shy even though we've had him for about a month. Jasper was a birthday present for David and we're training him to hang out on our shoulders, travel with us in the car (he likes hanging out under David's shirt), and eat from our hands. He's a good little kid and makes these beautiful, little chirping noises in the morning. Okay, everyone say it together:

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-2680299189060555892008-09-29T10:58:00.000-05:002008-09-29T10:58:00.721-05:00

During the month of October, I won't be posting anything on this blog. I'll be participating in a frenzy-filled, group writing challenge starting at the stroke of midnight on October 1st and ending at 11:59 on October 31st. This is the third time I've taken the challenge, which is highly influenced by the National Novel Writing Month. The first time was in January of 2007 and I aggressively

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-26945710905602262652008-09-25T13:13:00.003-05:002008-09-25T13:54:22.266-05:00

Classes have started at Northwestern, where I work as a pharmacy tech. This means that I'm actually busy during the day. The phone is ringing. Kids are confused about insurance. How do they pay for stuff without their parents? How did they get here and where are they going? After several long days of smiling and helping students, my immune system crapped out on me. I caught that stupid, "first

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-39183611928427738562008-09-18T13:03:00.002-05:002008-09-18T14:09:01.384-05:00

Sunday, September 21st, is the International Day of Peace.Recently, I've become very aware that I'm guilty of being consumed by personal frustations and family-related stress. I distract myself by checking my e-mail constantly and getting news updates from NPR, BBC, MSN, etc. My head is often a constant whirlwind of information and lists of things to do and keeping track of my budget. I'm so

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-44233543162324167662008-09-17T11:19:00.001-05:002008-09-17T11:19:58.410-05:00

There's only one person who needs a glass of water oftener than a small child tucked in for the night, and that's a writer sitting down to write. ~Mignon McLaughlin, The Second Neurotic's Notebook, 1966

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-7884264193020581332008-09-11T14:48:00.000-05:002008-09-16T15:00:06.656-05:00

Last night was a lovely summer-like evening. David and Sarah walked with me to The Heartland Cafe. I mentioned that it's a little piece of San Fran. It's not just a cafe with an open mic venue. It's also a bar and a small store selling fair trade items, socialist and feminist books, and handmade jewelry. I adore it.We arrived way too early. The website said it started at 9pm, which I thought was

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-65097019196844160572008-09-11T13:40:00.001-05:002008-09-11T13:41:34.775-05:00

"We sailed away on a winter's daywith fate as malleable as clay;but ships are fallible, I say,and the nautical, like all things, fades.And I can recall our caravel:a little wicker beetle shellwith four fine masts and lateen sails,its bearing on Cair Paravel."

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-36557338060145139072008-09-10T10:53:00.003-05:002008-09-10T11:01:44.765-05:00

Author Laurel Snyder asked of the blogosphere, "What is your favorite book from childhood?"The dearest book in the whole, wide world to me is "The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe" by C.S. Lewis. By age eleven, I was proud to say that I had read it eleven times. I love that children never tire of good things, like songs and games and stories.I also loved "On Beyond Zebra" by Dr. Seuss, "

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-65555283013418822052008-09-10T10:49:00.002-05:002008-09-10T10:50:13.014-05:00

"What is required of us is that we love the difficult and learn to deal with it. In the difficult are the friendly forces, the hands that work on us. Right in the difficult we must have our joys, our happiness, our dreams: there against the depth of this background, they stand out, there for the first time we see how beautiful they are."-Selected Letters of Rainer Maria Rilke

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-46027807063070645242008-09-02T14:16:00.005-05:002008-09-02T15:09:34.292-05:00

I love Roger's Park! Seriously. We met so many intriguing people who make bags out of t-shirts, and lovable, stuffed "monsters" and jewelry artists at the Glenwood Arts Festival. Thanks to all of you that stopped by our booth. It was a beautifully successful weekend. David sold lots of prints, a drawing, and drew crowds of people with his bright personality. Although on Saturday we became hot

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-64241045435614612152008-08-20T14:26:00.003-05:002008-08-20T14:37:02.654-05:00

David and I will be sharing a booth (for the first time!) this weekend. This is a "popping the cherry" event for me. I'm a big knot of nerves. We're working on having a tangible, pre-publication copy of CTFS on-hand. We'll have info on how to order a pre-publication copy of your very own. (To snuggle up with in your favorite chair.) Also, David will be unveiling some of his just-finished

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-9431904907450584792008-08-20T14:25:00.000-05:002008-08-20T14:26:22.665-05:00

I really think this is an interesting article.http://itotd.com/articles/283/arcosanti/

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-38988972166924471802008-08-13T14:32:00.002-05:002008-08-13T14:37:27.497-05:00

It’s a humid August evening. I am unclipping the sun-dried laundry from the nylon line drawn between two maple trees. I hear the phone ring. Surely one of the kids will pick it up. It rings again. Or maybe Joshua will realize that he can, in fact, pick up the phone sitting on his desk, right where he is working on Sunday’s sermon. And rings again. Joshua hollers down from the bedroom window. “

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-48763841376546989962008-08-05T10:03:00.003-05:002008-08-05T10:15:04.344-05:00

Hey, everybody! I'm very, very sorry for not posting anything in such a long time. There's been a steady stream of cool peeps running through our humble home and my fiction writing class has got me pretty busy too. I am vigorously working on a short story, which I hope to post in the next week or so. In the mean time, what's up with all you avid readers and writers?Oh, I'd just like to mention

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-37433117618942152682008-07-08T14:26:00.003-05:002008-07-08T14:31:38.007-05:00

Shitty First Drafts"I know some very great writers, writers you love who write beautifully and have made a great deal of money, and not one of them writes elegent first drafts. All right, one of them does, but we do not like her very much. We do not think that she has a rich inner life or that God likes her or can even stand her. (Although when I mentioned this to my priest friend Tom, he said

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-43705768002806889912008-06-30T14:53:00.003-05:002008-07-03T11:56:36.856-05:00

Nine-thirty and I begin the ritual. I brush the tangles out of my thin, brown hair and braid it into a single ponytail. This takes four minutes. I brush, then floss, then rinse. This takes about eleven minutes.The studio is too quiet. I can hear my heart beating. I turn on Frasier. I file the bottoms of my feet during commercials. There’s a reoccurring one for pregnancy tests. The music sounds

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-82220739544387110532008-06-26T10:20:00.003-05:002008-06-27T11:21:46.008-05:00

Nina wanted you to believe that it was merely hormones. It was just her time of the month. It wasn’t. Nina wanted you to believe that she didn’t already know. She did.She already knew when you first met in the break room, which always smelled of burnt coffee. She “accidently” bumped into you, splashing scalding coffee on your favorite Spiderman tie. This led you to apologize with that Irish guilt

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-80041453865517844222008-06-23T15:21:00.003-05:002008-06-23T15:25:51.287-05:00

I went on a Borders spree cause my brother Jason gave me some moolah for my birthday. I bought "No one belongs here more than you." I'd wanted to buy the book for awhile, but I can't remember why. I liked the orange cover and the author's name: Miranda July. Also, her pic on the back is super cute.I've read the first two stories and they are exquisitely and simple beautiful. You need to read

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-69205392022190798532008-06-11T14:11:00.001-05:002008-06-11T14:13:36.060-05:00

It is finished! (Well, mostly.)I am in equal parts ridiculously giddy and marvelously terrified. Saturday, June 7th, at approximately 2pm, I typed the LAST sentence of CTFS. (That stands for Cast the First Stone, I’ve decided.)Yes, you read that correctly.I spent the rest of the day jumping up and down with my husband, huge grins plastered to our faces.Then I realized that it was now time to dig

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-55851221626526061562008-05-28T14:43:00.001-05:002008-05-28T14:44:59.772-05:00

It happened like this: David and I were walking down my favorite-est street in San Francisco. Valencia has the cutest little stores with homemade stationary and organic cotton t-shirts and super neat people. Just walking into their shops (I have no idea how they made enough money to pay the rent) made me feel almost “cool.” There were stores with handmade jewelry fashioned out of Legos and

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-80911445568436813552008-05-23T14:25:00.002-05:002008-05-23T14:34:08.329-05:00

A couple of weeks ago there was an unusual interview on NPR with a rap artist. His amazing story can be found here:http://war-poverty.suite101.com/article.cfm/child_soldier_turned_rapperhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emmanuel_JalI am more of an indie music girl, but this singer/songwriter's passion and courage is something that I can celebrate and stand behind. I'd like to give a shout out to him

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2422783907595720268.post-27696410915249234982008-05-18T17:19:00.005-05:002008-07-01T11:14:10.688-05:00

I know I haven't posted anything in awhile. Here are my excuses: it's been deliciously warm outside, I've been trying to get a prof's permission to take a fiction writing class this summer (and I'm in!), I just started tutoring ESL to a lovely Korean mother and her eight-year-old daughter, and I've been revising that pesky novel. So there.I do have a few recommendations for this week. If you

little miss gnomidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02711780440381336896noreply@blogger.com1