Isn’t that where good stories usually begin, at the end? Think about it. You’re sitting around with your friends and someone says something that triggers a memory. You want to tell the story that’s in your head. Why? Probably because you think the ending is exciting, funny, scary, or in some cases, especially when boys tell stories, gross! You wouldn’t tell a story about buying a lottery ticket unless you won, right? Although some people do like to give you all the details about what they’d do with the money if they did win. What are those odds again? Does anyone really want to hear about the time you got up in the morning and drove to work in traffic? I don’t, unless you pulled a man from a burning car on the way. Now that’s exciting!
It was the same with our little book (I call it little because it’s still so new and delicate in so many ways. It’s not even two months old for goodness sake!). Although I had the basic idea for the story I wanted to tell, the story of three young siblings making a movie with an old video camera, it was not ready to be told. The ending needed to have that special element that would make it worthwhile to take the journey with us. The ending was actually the driving force.
Once I knew the ending, the meat of the story and the silly details began to flow. The fun part was imagining what ideas the kids would come up with for their movie, how they would verbalize the events that were taking place, how they would solve problems they encountered along the way and how they would work together to reach their ultimate goal, the funny, exciting or scary ending.
Finally, the beginning was the hardest part for me. What would give the kids the idea to make a movie? Would there be a leader or would all three children have a say in the events of the day? How would the beginning relate to the ending?
It does seem a little awkward, doesn’t it? But again, remember that it’s the exciting, funny or scary thing that happens at the end of the story that really makes you want to tell it. Or, maybe that’s just my crazy way of looking at things and the rest of you are wondering what I’m talking about. Either way, it has been an amazing book journey for me and Joey and we are very excited to bring you our little book, A Reel Cool Summer. We’re happy to be able to begin at the end, with book in hand. It may not be as exciting as pulling a man from a burning car or winning the lottery but it’s definitely toward the top of our list! We hope you and your little ones will enjoy the journey that Joey, Danny and Jacqui take through the book as much as we’ve enjoyed bringing it to you!
Until next time… stay cool!
Martha
Showing posts with label Joey Rodriguez. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Joey Rodriguez. Show all posts
Friday, August 19, 2011
Monday, August 15, 2011
You Wrote a Book? (Why is everyone so surprised?!)
Me: Hey, Mary, guess what.
Mary: What?
Me: I wrote a book!
Mary: You wrote a book? Really? No way!!
Me: Yes!
Mary: NO WAY!
Mary: What?
Me: I wrote a book!
Mary: You wrote a book? Really? No way!!
Me: Yes!
Mary: NO WAY!
Wow, why am I so shocked that people are so surprised? I guess I can understand it in a way. Do you know anyone who has written and published a book? I happen to personally know two people and I think that’s probably a lot.
After the shock comes that weird feeling in the pit of your stomach. It’s kind of like that awkward silence that rears its ugly head when you’ve been introduced to someone with whom you have absolutely nothing in common. Do you just start talking about your book? Do you wait until they ask you about it? Neither? Both? Is “both” even a choice?
I wrote a picture book and I find that it’s relatively easy to get the conversation started. I mean, who doesn’t like children’s books, right? They’re easy to read and the pictures are cute. If it’s not about a topic you like, it will be over soon. You don’t have to read 300 pages. The fact that the book’s characters are my three children, and that my oldest son Joey illustrated the book, makes it that much easier. Moms and Dads like to talk about their kids… but *WARNING* they have to know when to stop. You have to strike a balance (I’m trying to learn). The people who know my kids will probably see their personalities shining through in the book and those who don’t know them will immediately understand how wacky they are and wonder what kind of parents we are.
The funniest part comes when the conversation gets more comfortable and people start to give you advice, some good, some not so good. At that moment, you thank them for their advice and you just put it all in your memory bank and make something of it later… maybe! You’re just glad that the person hasn’t walked away yet and that they seem interested. Maybe they are really good actors. I don’t know.
So, now I’m actually ready when people are surprised. The conversation goes a little more like this:
Me: Hey, Mary, guess what.
Mary: What?
Me: I wrote a book!
Mary: You wrote a book? Really? No way!!
Me: I know. I’m kind of surprised myself! (See, now we’re on the same page… pun intended!)
I hope you’ll stop by my website to get a sneak peek at A Reel Cool Summer, watch the book trailer and read reviews. Oh, and if you want to get on my good side, you may want to buy it… I’m just sayin’!
Until next time… stay cool!
Martha
Special note: I want to thank my wonderful friends Michelle, Sharon, Kelly and Clare. They may have been surprised but did not show it. The first thing they did was buy a copy of my book to share with the little ones in their families. That did not shock me; it melted my heart. You are four incredibly wonderful friends!
Special note #2: My friend Sharon, mentioned above, MADE ME add this note from her. She's a sweetie pie!
After the shock comes that weird feeling in the pit of your stomach. It’s kind of like that awkward silence that rears its ugly head when you’ve been introduced to someone with whom you have absolutely nothing in common. Do you just start talking about your book? Do you wait until they ask you about it? Neither? Both? Is “both” even a choice?
I wrote a picture book and I find that it’s relatively easy to get the conversation started. I mean, who doesn’t like children’s books, right? They’re easy to read and the pictures are cute. If it’s not about a topic you like, it will be over soon. You don’t have to read 300 pages. The fact that the book’s characters are my three children, and that my oldest son Joey illustrated the book, makes it that much easier. Moms and Dads like to talk about their kids… but *WARNING* they have to know when to stop. You have to strike a balance (I’m trying to learn). The people who know my kids will probably see their personalities shining through in the book and those who don’t know them will immediately understand how wacky they are and wonder what kind of parents we are.
The funniest part comes when the conversation gets more comfortable and people start to give you advice, some good, some not so good. At that moment, you thank them for their advice and you just put it all in your memory bank and make something of it later… maybe! You’re just glad that the person hasn’t walked away yet and that they seem interested. Maybe they are really good actors. I don’t know.
So, now I’m actually ready when people are surprised. The conversation goes a little more like this:
Me: Hey, Mary, guess what.
Mary: What?
Me: I wrote a book!
Mary: You wrote a book? Really? No way!!
Me: I know. I’m kind of surprised myself! (See, now we’re on the same page… pun intended!)
I hope you’ll stop by my website to get a sneak peek at A Reel Cool Summer, watch the book trailer and read reviews. Oh, and if you want to get on my good side, you may want to buy it… I’m just sayin’!
Until next time… stay cool!
Martha
Special note: I want to thank my wonderful friends Michelle, Sharon, Kelly and Clare. They may have been surprised but did not show it. The first thing they did was buy a copy of my book to share with the little ones in their families. That did not shock me; it melted my heart. You are four incredibly wonderful friends!
Special note #2: My friend Sharon, mentioned above, MADE ME add this note from her. She's a sweetie pie!
OK, you have me in tears now! Thanks for acknowledging me, but you get all the credit here. I wasn't the least bit surprised you wrote a book - I somewhat expect things like that from you! You are very talented and creative …. and it's obvious you're a mom who's really into her kids, which I love about you. I say "good for you, write another one!" And if you do, be sure to let me know when it comes out so I can buy it for my grands. By the way, you're pretty incredible yourself! (and I'm no actor!)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)