Monday, January 26, 2015

Luther and True

Just finished the Shitty First Draft (a technical term in the writing world!) of my novel Bay of Plenty. It's a mystery murder set in Oakland and Ohope Beach, New Zealand and featuring three bickering sisters. It's 69,989 words, 52 chapters. Fingers and toes crossed it's not a bunch of bollocks (again with the technical terms) and that someone other than my mother might want to read it.

Me and my Shitty First Draft. Jackson, 15, did the cover page for me.

I figure I've got six months re-writing in front of me. I already plan to chop the first 10 chapters and radically change the main character.
"She's so whiney and annoying," I said to my husband.
"But, um," he said warily. "Didn't you base her on yourself?"

I never had to wear glasses before. But after spending so many hours at the computer, I now need these. As my friend Kathy says, its nice to see all the leaves on the trees but Before Glasses I thought everyone was so much prettier than they actually are.

How many of you have hopped on the hamster wheel? I now have a trainer called Liam and I can now do two sit-ups. I'll aways love my cardio hip hop though and I wrote a piece about it for Oakland Magazine this month. You can read it here.

Foster, instructor, and Corey, director of New Style Motherlode

Another thing I wrote about was a few tips on how to spruce up your laundry. Groovy wallpaper, light, lucite chairs for a start. Read here if you like. Ours is a glorified cupboard crammed with fluff and pennies and candies that have been through the wash and drier. Le sigh.


Two of my great friends from 'varsity, Georgina and Snow came to stay with their son, William. They were friends for years and then ended up getting married - don't you just love that? A local friend recommended a new beer garden in Oakland called Plank which turned out to be incredibly hectic with fried food and video games and bowling alley and bocce ball place. Sensory overload and I hate video games. I was about to majorly meltdown when I recovered my sense of humour, played the video games and we ended up having fun. George-Snow-William bring out the best in people. Also, endearingly, they loved our dog Teddy, calling him Lord Teddington and one night Snow said: "I can't wait to get home and see Teddy."

Georgina and me playing the game which takes you on a ski ride

George, nicepoliceman, William, nicepoliceman, me and Snow at Plank, Oakland. (Is it a good sign if there are police in a restaurant?)

It was a bit of a Kiwirama as our friend Angus came to town too. You might remember Angus - he manages the business end of things for the band Kiss so he has some good tales to tell. He is obsessed with Shakespeare and was in San Fran talking to a conference. He has a plan for a portable theatres made from containers - see here -  so we can all get to experience the Bard, which is what he intended. What I learned: Shakespeare would have been boring to meet as he was a workaholic. Some say the plays were actually written by a local Lord. "Rubbish," said Angus.

Angus and me. Okay, that's way too many photo of me in one post, sorry


Harley, 17, will be graduating high school this year and this is his yearbook photo. Apparently the clothing is an all-in-one shirt, tie and jacket. I love America!

Harley, 17

As the mama I am fully expected to purchase a good frock for his graduation and I have been busy researching. I think I will get more use out of a white suit than a dress. I do like this Donna Karan frock worn by Jen Aniston in the latest In Style, though bit pricey and I don't have the swan neck for it. One of you has, though, and you should buy it.


Another good Donna Karan for some Mama at the graduation.

Donna Karan

Or this one from Tors, though model looks blimim' pissed off.
Victoria Beckham


It's Cy's 11th birthday today. He was supposed to be born on Martin Luther King day hence his middle name is Luther and we added True because that was Cy Young's (famous baseball player) middle name. Cy was born in a hospital in Berkeley where you are positively bound to give babies names to live up to. Any story how you got your name?

Cy age 2. The kid that keeps on smiling and keeps on writing on himself. Not sure why this photo is ripped, a disaffected sibling I would imagine.
If only I could extract a tenth of what Cy gets out of life; he bounds down the steps in the morning, can't wait to see Teddy and doesn't stops smiling through the day (except when he's howling).  It's something he was born with and miserable gittettes  like moi have to work at.  

Presidential Elect conferring with Lord Teddington


Last week Cy ran for President of Fifth Grade, after losing last year. He was surprised to hear that he had tied and there was going to be a runoff vote. Turned out his campaign manager and best friend had not voted for him.
Campaign manager: "I listened to your speech and there was something in it I didn't like. I had to vote for the other guy."
President Hopeful: "Sounds fair."
They wrote his second speech and Cy won. 

House of Cards this is not, people.










49 comments:

  1. Congrats on the first draft!!!!!! I am into draft 3 of book #2 - it is not for the faint of heart, is it?

    Yeah Cy! Wendy is just as you would expect - after a Peter Pan, but also a variation of my kiwi grandmother's middle name Gwendoline. Her first name was Huia.

    Glad to hear all is well. 2 sit-ups? I am in awe!:>

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    1. Hula? Dont stop there! How can you explain Wendy and not Hula?

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    2. Huia. Was a NZ bird that went extinct the year she was born 1904

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    3. Wendy- I did not know that! If I ever come your way I will bring the wine named after Grandma.

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  2. So impressed you're on your second book - that seems so far away for me.
    Huia is a Maori name (and now also a name for white wine in NZ)

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  3. Wow congratulations on getting the first draft done. God knows where the Janet comes from, but my middle name, Marie, comes from my paternal grandmother, I think my Mom was trying to get on her good side. It didn't work, she disliked all her daughter's-in-law.

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    1. Oh, my middle name is Maree too (spelled differently).
      I had a good friend called Janet in High School and she was always very fashion forward

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    2. Unless living in jeans becomes fashion forward I haven't a chance.

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  4. I have just cleared a couple of precious inches off my IKEA bookshelf to house your first novel 1st Edition and I plan on hosting a reception for you at The Red Lion during the book tour...Lord Teddington will preside.

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    1. Thank you GSL - and leave lots of room for your own books!

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    2. I'm thinking about my Red Lion order as we speak

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  5. Just wanted to say a huge congrats on your book draft. I've often wanted to say you should write a book…
    And, two sit-ups is worthy of a party! I tend to treat core work as my rest time. The only effort that goes into it is trying to look like I'm actually doing something.

    (I can't remember how I got here but do love your posts! Is it a funny murder mystery?)

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    1. Hi Jane, Thanks for commenting!
      I just had a banana split to celebrate the sit-ups, that is what you're supposed to do...isn't it?
      Its supposed to be a funny mystery murder, yes.

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    2. Yes, absolutely a banana split… or martini, whatever is more celebratory.
      And, thank you so much for even looking!

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  6. Congratulations! It's a big step. I ended up in trifocals through the writing process. Suffering for art and all that. Gorgeous family as always!

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    1. Yes resisted the tris, but realised I will return for them. also have the ones you drive at night in too. Just spent a fortune on me specs

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  7. Jody wonderful about the book! I'm very excited to read it. You are doing that and all these cool articles. No wonder you've been a bit busy. What a great senior picture of Harley! We have those shirts too I think. I guess I'll find out next year...It all goes too fast in these older grades, no? Cy is a cutie. Love that story. Congrats to him. xo

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    1. Kim! Yes as soon as they hit High School its all gone. I used to say when they were young it got to 10am and it felt like a century, but then it really revs up

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  8. So this is why blogging has taken a back seat! Can't wait to read it, it's sure to be fabulous, if your blog and your freelance pieces are a guide. So pleaded for you.
    Have clicked through to the articles plus the Container Globe (love that!) so have had plenty to read this morning.
    Happy birthday to Cy and good luck finding a frock x

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    1. I know - I hope he finds a home for his containers - such a good idea. Back to the interactive (jostling, brawling) days of Shakespeare.

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  9. Well done... a first draft and sit ups!! your boys are gorgeous and the specs make you look very 'writer in residence'..x

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    1. OOh great, i will start practise wearing them to the coffee shop. They are great for hiding the no make-up tiredness...

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  10. Nice photo of Harley. They don't do graduation photos in France which is a shame I think. All we get is the standard school photo taken at some random time at the beginning of the year.

    Well done for finishing draft 1, and good luck with the follow-ups. I finished draft 4 of mine 8 or so years ago and never took it further. :)

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  11. Hello Jody,

    You deserve to feel very proud of yourself having reached the stage of first draft of your novel. This is an exceptional achievement. Many plan to do this but relatively few stay the gruelling course to the finish line. Congratulations on getting this far.

    We know exactly what you mean about seeing too much when wearing the dreaded spectacles. As teachers we were always happy to have the back row of the classroom in a blur......better not to know exactly what was going on!

    Your children are growing up very quickly. We are sure that you are proud of their achievements and it is so good that they are clearly confident and independent young people. You have given them the ladder to success and they are climbing it. Perfect!

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    1. Thanks Hattats, best not to think about all the steps, as you'd never start, eh?
      Hilarious about the specs in class! I did not know you were former teachers. When it comes to the little angels you know of what you speak. I have the highest regard for teachers, they have the toughest job in the universe (and don't get compensated properly for it).
      You well earned your lovely traveling years.

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  12. Congratulations on the book - Bay of Plenty is such a great name! I'll read it, it sounds fab.
    I have a very positive 9 year old too - it's so nice to have him when the rest of us are making our way grumpily through January...

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    1. Wish I could siphon it (the boy energy)
      Bay of Plenty is the name of the Bay that Ohope beach is in. Named by Captain Cook

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  13. Congrats on the first draft! That's a great achievement in itself.
    Sx

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  14. Congrats on the book draft, yeah first ones can be rather crappy haha but they get tighter fast.

    Congrats to Cy on the win too and hmmm police in a restaurant may not be a good sign

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    1. Yes agree on the last bit. All kids out by 9pm too, so we had a deadline

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  15. YOU ARE A RIOT!!!!!!!!!
    YEAH< for CY!!!!!!
    HOORAY,for YOUR BOOK!!!I will READ IT!Where do I BUY IT!
    The DONNA K. outfits are a SMASH............am I the one with the SWAN NECK??!!!I do hope so!
    CONGRATULATIONS on ALL THE ABOVE!BOOK,SON GRADUATING,CY making it through the 5th grade and becoming the PRESSY of HIS CLASS, and everything else YOU do!

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    1. Yes, you are one of the long-neck friends! You would look great in the Jen dress

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  16. Congrats on your first draft! Are you really cutting that much out in rewriting? Your laundry room sounds just like mine. Plus mine is a single sock morgue. I like the cream dress. Would look fab on your fit bod.

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    1. Single sock morgue - classic!
      In cutting out the begininng, will have add in o the middle -apparently 60,000 to 80,000 is the best length esp for beginners like me (c/f Donna Tartt )

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  17. I shall be ready for my next book in a few months...lots of time between books. Congrats darling! I struggled with the graduation dress. All the girls wore white and the boys dark suits so that eliminated anything white. You will look lovely in all the family photos with the boy. Thanks for dropping a note to Em's running bud. It will make her week, which will be grueling, and it definitely made mine. Love you!

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  18. Congratulations on your first draft! What an achievement! I've not heard about the shirt, tie, jacket all in one. I wonder how long it will be before we get those over here. Nice photo!

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    1. Yes i think it will go the way of proms which have been suddenly popular in England and Europe.

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  19. Congratulations on finishing your first draft!! Exciting news for sure :)

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    1. Thank you! Though it feels like the beginning of loads more work!

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  20. Congrats on the draft! I can't wait till it gets published! Jennifer looks great and I can't imagine her aging, happy birthday to Cy. You are very lucky to have such funny kids who are also inspiring. Hope you get thru the second edit and we get to read your book soon to be bestseller soon!!

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  21. I'm with Angus...no ghostwriters for you or Shakespeare!

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  22. Love the Donna Karen...am wearing my DKNY little black dress from the thrift shop to a birthday party tomorrow evening!!

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  23. Further to your technical terminology, if the novel is the dogs********, I'll buy it.

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  24. How AWESOME that you have written a book. Sounds like it is going to be a great read! Congratulations to Cy on winning,

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