Nikki Loftin

Archive for the ‘Children’s Fiction’ Category

Using Your Super Powers

I had a wonderful dinner last night with a Writer Friend* who was unstinting with her ideas, encouragement, and advice. I think one of my favorite pieces of advice was this: Use your super powers.

At first, I wondered how she’d heard about my ability to hear my children plotting mischief from two miles away, but that wasn’t what she meant. We were talking about the individual skills each writer brings to the process –  touching on the fearsome topic of publicists and book “extras” like curriculum guides — and I mentioned that I had been a teacher. And that I had written curriculum for years.

Oh, yeah! THOSE superpowers.

It started me thinking. I spent a long time NOT being a writer. I was a GT and a music teacher, a salesperson for expensive glass art and jewelry, a Director of Family Ministry (which meant weekly public speaking, curriculum planning and SO much more), and a mom. (Well, I still am a mom, which entails a whole host of superpowers, but that’s not the kind I’m talking about here.)

I’m used to my life experience creeping into my work — if I hadn’t been a musician from the time I was four, would I have written a main character who loves to sing? If I hadn’t taught music to kids, would I have written a witch-like music teacher who loves to kill defenseless children? Oh wait. — but I hadn’t really thought about how those experiences would pertain to the publication/publicity process.

So I’m taking inventory this week, Friends, of what I have in my Bag of Tricks that I may not have thought about. Wondering how my acting credits might come in handy at school visits, for instance.

And even how I could use my hip-hop dancing skillz ** to move copies.

Break it down, Peeps. What do you have in your shady pasts that might help you onto the NYT list?

* The NYT best-selling type of Writer Friend, from whom advice about the pre-publication process is invaluable. And who happens to be one of the nicest people I’ve ever met.

** No, that’s not me. But it could be. It could be.

I’ve Got Joy… and Happiness, Too

“One joy scatters a hundred griefs.”

– Chinese proverb

Today, let’s talk about joy in the writing life. And why not its red-headed, cross-eyed cousin, happiness, too?

I know, I know. Happiness isn’t in vogue, is it? We’re supposed to be all post-post-modern and deconstructionist, supposed to be too cool to care about such things.*

Here’s the thing. As writers, especially writers seeking publication/external validation/an audience for our work, we need to forget being cool and look for happiness wherever we can find it. Because, honestly? The publication process has plenty of the other stuff for us all. Dish after dish of hot, steaming rejection, tables full of despair, and wafer thin mints for the “successful” in the form of brutal reviews from Kirkus, etc.

Happiness matters. Even little scraps of it. Maybe Lolcats do it for you. That works.

For me? After a bad day of writing, all it takes to bring me back is a margarita with a friend. An inappropriately funny website shared with my older son. Belly farts on my eight year old’s stomach. (Hold that thought. I have to go do that now. Back in a minute.)

Where was I? Oh, yeah. Happiness. I’ve been meditating on happiness in general and Writer Happiness in particular because I’ve been thinking about why so many writers avoid the page – including me, at times.

I think it’s easy to take all the rejection to the page with you, to open up your WIP file while you’re playing your Soundtrack for Failure in the background.

I think, maybe, we forget how to experiment with the words, how to build the worlds we’ve imagined with a sense of joy and wonder, rather than fear and foreboding. We forget it’s supposed to be fun, and joyful, and more about the process than the product.

We forget how to play.

When was the last time you wrote with abandon, with joy, with a smile on your face and your fingers flying on the keyboard? That feeling? It’s heaven.

I think, maybe, that’s part of what my favorite storyteller was talking about when he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

I wish you all joy this week, and happiness, too. Play with your words!

And if any of you need a margarita with a writer friend? You know who to call.

***

Nikki News: My flash fiction piece is still up! Thanks so much for the comments. I have another story coming out next month – links in a week or so. And I’m almost done revising Dark House… my next story is impatiently nudging at me. Can’t wait to cut loose on it!

* I never was cool. I always cared too much. WAY too much. I teared up in my graduate lecture when we were discussing Toni Morrison’s Beloved. My tears brought the class to a halt. “Wow,” said one of my classmates. I can’t remember the last time I cared that much.” I thought that was kind of sad, actually.

I wish I could say that it was only great works of literature that gets my tear ducts working, but it’s not. I also cry for Hallmark ads, seatbelt PSAs  like this one, and when my kids are on stage anywhere, anytime.

I always have been a huge dork. I’m okay with it.

Hurry Up! Now Wait.

Hi, Writer Friends!

As most of you know, I’ve been hip-deep in alligators and line edits. (I’m convinced that term does NOT mean what I thought at first. I had visions of small, piffly, “which word would work better” changes. Not so much, in my case. Eek.) Oh, and I did almost all of those line edits at South Padre Island on vacation with my family. Fun times.

(Actually it was fun. Seriously awesome in fact! Hinky Punky caught a sting ray! Dave took amazing pictures that he will turn into artistic gold! I learned how to line edit BEFORE drinking the pina coladas!)

So, no major blog post. Just this, my author picture.

I look mahvelous, darlings. Ah, the wonders of Photoshop.

Happy Writing , Friends!

Freaky Flash Fiction

Happy Memorial Day, Writer Peeps! I have good news. Not only do I get to sleep in tomorrow (what, that doesn’t rate as good news? Does for me.), my very first flash fiction story came out today in Flash Fiction Online. It’s short, weird, and — dum dum dum! — Young Adult.

Oh no! NOT middle-grade? Hide your sons and daughters!

No, seriously. This piece isn’t for all ages. But for you? Yes! My favorite part of the story is the comment from Suzanne at the end. I was bouncing up and down, like, “She got it! She got it! I must have done something right because this reader got it!”

Which reminded me (I’m not sure why) of an excellent post about reviews my agent-sister Hannah Moskowitz had on her blog this week. Read it. Hannah’s so smart, and funny, and wise. Listen to her, book reviewers!

Of course, then I had to Google myself to see if *I* had any negative reviews floating around out there… and I found a review! A very strange one, but lovely… I think. Or maybe not. Of a poem I had published a year ago, in Front Range Review.

Here’s the link to the review. If you scroll down alphabetically to Front Range and read my review, can you please leave a comment and let me know — is “clear, pungent juice” a good thing in a poem, or a sign that you might need some antibiotic cream?

Here’s to publication, and reviews, and all the attendant strangeness that this writing life brings with it. Have a lovely weekend!

The Day I Met My Editor

Everyone’s laughing at how fast the whole thing is going for me – the pubishing thing, that is. Which makes me want to laugh, AND cry, and cringe. “It hasn’t been fast!” I want to scream. “It’s been glacier-slow! Continents have drifted, stars have collided, galaxies formed and crumbled since I started writing this book!” Although that might be a slight exaggeration.

But still. I went through so many of those traditional “firsts” when we were still in Top Secret Mode for MONTHS after signing. I didn’t get to post pictures of a contract, pictures of my editor at lunch in NYC, pictures of my edit letter. So I’m doing a bunch of that now. Why? Because probably, if you’re still reading ths, you’re my mom and you care.

Here’s my editor! She is beautiful! She is tall! She has exquisite taste in restaurants! I am ever-so-slightly in love with her.

And here is my editing letter! it came to my house… no, wait. It didn’t. It came to my TRASH CAN.

Yes, the Fedex guy left it tied to the trash can.

Did he know something?

As it turns out, no. Laura’s comments were all editorial GOLD. She loved my manuscript, ans she is a Super Genius, and Super Geniuses just have a lot to say about… things. Manuscript-y things that need some fixing. *whimper*

And now, we’re through with the substantial edits, and I’m waiting for my line edits. Of course, I’m also following the sage advice of my published Writer Friends, and writing as fast as I can. Well, revising this week, adding in Completely Inappropriate Scenes for middle-grade fiction that will be deleted once Suzie sees them. I think. But so much fun to write.

And honestly? This *is* the fun part, y’all. It doesn’t ever seem to get less nerve-wracking, but it gets a LOT more fun. Like the downhill part of the roller coaster.

Thanks for letting me share!

Book Launch Party Planning

I know quite a few authors now, and all of them have different stages of the publishing process that really appeal to them. Some of them (sickos) love revision, some go all gooey at the thought of seeing their galleys/ARC/finished book on the shelf at B&N. Me? I spend most of my daydreaming time planning for my book launch party.

That’s right. I’m party planning for next year. Don’t laugh. If you’d written a book about a school with haute cuisine in the cafeteria, and bowls of candy on every desk, you’d have some ideas, too. (Where can I get small, golden bowls for the M&Ms I MUST give out to my partygoers? Anyone?)

Of course, the book also touches on the possible cannibalization of small children, so that opens some interesting culinary doors. No, I’m not planning on serving my sons up as spare ribs! But gingerbread cookies with names? Small, child-sized, lifelike fingers and toes made of marzipan?Yesssssssss.

I am a very sick woman.

I’ve been attending book launches like a bride goes to wedding expos — with a gleam in my eye, and a notepad handy when I see great ideas. I’ve seen a lot of amazing launches – I do live in Austin, after all, so we’re lousy with talented authors who throw amazing parties/launches at our local Indie, Bookpeople.

I’m thinking of having more than one launch – why not? I had more than one wedding reception! (Three actually, one in Scotland with all those lovely boys in kilts. Dude, I got some wear out of my wedding dress.) I want to support my local library, so I’m thinking of doing a summer program there, with a contest for kids to design their most elaborate, magical school cafeteria menu… or playground… with prizes (donated signed books?) for the winners, and food for everyone.

Enough food to fatten up all the children, at least.

Can you tell I’m excited? What can I say: I’m a party girl.

So, what is your dream, Writer Friends? Are you a Contract in the Mail type? An Advance Check dreamer? A secret Newbery Fiend? What keeps you writing through the rejections and the revisions?

Conference Afterglow

What is it about a great writing conference that makes the following week seem positively bursting with writerly possibility? It’s like conferences produce tons of little idea babies that follow you home and keep you up at night. Kinda like those bedbugs from the hotels in Vegas. Souvenirs for everyone!

Okay, not exactly like that.

I’m home from the Houston Writer’s Guild conference, and having to tamp down all those Shiny New Ideas, since I have a fast approaching deadline. (It’s okay, not panicking since I think I’m done, just re-reading the last few chapters. Squee!) I had a blast in Houston, thanks to Roger Paulding, who invited me to speak and hang out. Thanks, Roger! I also met some new Writer Friends, including the amazing Elaine Scott who made her topic, writing middle grade nonfiction, sparkle like the stars!

In my talk, I said that the real treasure of writer’s conferences is the other writers you meet. I would like to introduce you to some of those people (clever ones who already have their blog posts up!).  You all know Vonna Carter, I’m sure — she writes an amazing blog for any writers, especially Houston-based kid lit ones, to read.  I also met and/or caught up with the incredibly lovely Sarah Warburton, the up-and-coming Lauren Hennessy, the amazingly prolific Pamela Hutchins… and so many others.

I know, I know. You’re going, WHO? Most post-conference blogs focus on the Names. Josh Getzler, Chuck Sambuchino, those guys. And, yes, they were amazing. But probably, they’re not going to come to my house and have ribs at the Salt Lick for my release party. (Although that would be so freaking amazing.)

These others? They’re all on the invite list. Have a great writing day, Friends! I’m off to read a bit more of my deathless prose (*coughchokesputter*), then hit send to my editor. Yay!

* If you were one of those who asked for my presentation to be linked here, I’m working on it. I’m going to add a new page with those Important Links and Awesome People as soon as I can. Be patient! Next week, probably.

Houston Writer’s Guild Conference, Coming Up!

So, if any of you are in Houston this weekend, you should totally go to the HWG Conference. I’ve heard this AMAZING author is going to speak.

I’ve also heard this newbie author, Nikki Somebody-or-Other, is planning to give out chocolate so people won’t leave HER talk early.

I’m presenting a lovely, hour-long, whimsical journey through the perilous path to publication… complete with a Powerpoint presentation. (Oh, gods of Powerpoint, have mercy on me. Do not spurn me, and leave me with the Dark Projector Screen of Despair.)

Powerpoint with pictures like THIS. So it’s going to be awesome.

And I wasn’t kidding about the chocolate.

Oh, and next week, I’ll post the pictures of my editor, my revision letter that came in the trash (oh,yeah, you’ll want to see THAT one), and tell about the Call from Suzie about The Offer. I laughed. I cried. it was SO MUCH better than Cats.

SUZIE SOLD MY BOOKS!!!!

I’ve been dying to spill this news. DYING, I tell you! At long last, I’m allowed. Publisher’s Marketplace had this wonderful  little announcement in it this morning.

Nikki Loftin’s debut novel THE SINISTER SWEETNESS OF SPLENDID ACADEMY, pitched as Coraline meets Hansel and Gretel, about a young girl whose seemingly delightful new school hides frightening secrets, to Laura Arnold at Razorbill, in a two-book deal, for publication in Summer 2012, by Suzie Townsend at Fineprint Literary Management (World).

Oh, I’m going to have a TON of stories to tell about this process — The contracts have been signed for months, I’ve already had my editing letter, finished the first revision, have it ready to send back to Laura in a few days… I went to New York and MET her!! (She is a DOLL!) Oh, lots of stories. But for today, just this: Thank you Suzie Townsend, for making this happen for me.

And thank you, Writer Friends, for everything.

My Very First Guest Blog Post

Happy Tuesday, Writer Friends!

I am pleased as punch to announce my very first guest blog post is up today at echook. (This is the digital chapbook publisher that chose one of my essays for their first release on memoir.) My post is about my favorite short story (but really about my stepfather) and my essay is about poisoning people (but really about my mom).

Speaking of Mom, it’s her birthday today! Happy Birthday, Mom!

It’s also Hannah Moskowitz’s Book Birthday for Invincible Summer. This is not one you’ll want to miss – the reviews have been outstanding, and Hannah is the cutest/smartest/funniest writer-prodigy EVER, so run out and buy yours today!

I’m buying it as my (gulp) first e-book on my new Kindle.

Yep, you read that right. I have joined the Dark Side.

So… what’s new with you? Did anyone else attend TLA and get your picture taken with Famous People? Or better yet, Beautiful and Kind SCBWI People?

Now, I have revisions to attend to! Go and explore the Internet, Writer Friends. Or better yet, go write something wonderful and transformative. Why not?