Category: Travel (Page 2 of 14)

Get To Know Tammy Lowe Author of THE SLEEPING GIANT

November 19, 2018 / Katie L. Carroll

Let’s give a big hello to Tammy Lowe as she celebrates the upcoming release of her YA historical romance THE SLEEPING GIANT (a title that I especially like because of a certain mountain in a certain book I wrote!). Make sure to check out the giveaway at the end. Welcome, Tammy!

What inspired you to write THE SLEEPING GIANT?

Oooh, I’m so glad you asked that!

Without giving away spoilers…I spent years researching a legendary artifact; trying to trace the history of it as far back as I could. This “item” seems to be as old as mankind and if the legends are true, the first century Roman Empire might have been a possible time when it could have resurfaced.

What else happened in the first century Roman Empire?

In 79 AD, Mt. Vesuvius erupted with the force of over a thousand nuclear bombs. Many people in the nearby city of Pompeii didn’t even try to flee the volcanic eruption because they didn’t understand what was happening. They thought the gods were angry.

Within twenty-four hours, not a trace of Pompeii remained. The city—and its inhabitants—were buried beneath layers of volcanic ash and pumice. Over the centuries it simply became a forgotten legend.

But…in the 1700’s, men working on a new palace for the King of Naples rediscovered Pompeii hidden twenty feet below them.

The amazing part is that as the volcanic ash hardened over time, the bodies trapped within decomposed, leaving behind what was basically…a mold. When these molds were filled with plaster, the results were life-like statues of the people who died that day; their final moments preserved forever.

Photo by Tammy Lowe

So, I realized I wanted to set this time-travel adventure in Ancient Rome, playing off the terrifying volcanic eruption in the final scenes. I was pumped and inspired!

But then it dawned on me…oh my gosh…am I crazy enough to attempt to write a novel set in Ancient Rome? The research alone would take forever.

Apparently, yes.

I am crazy enough.

After three more years of research, a second trip to both Rome and Pompeii—this time armed with historians and archaeologists to answer all my questions, I fell head-over-heels in love with that ancient world.

I hope you will too.

This is your second novel. How was the writing process different the second time around?

My first book, The Acadian Secret, is middle grade/tween. Because the main character, Elisabeth, is twelve years old, it’s a lot of youthful fun and adventure when she time-travels to the seventeenth century Scottish Highlands.

The Sleeping Giant picks up five years later. Elisabeth is now seventeen. I found it took some getting used to writing for an older reader. I had to step out of my comfort zone more often. I’d opened a whole new world of emotions and events for Elisabeth to explore— things like falling in love for the first time, being sold into slavery, betrayal, etc. That was the biggest difference this time around.

Of course, I think all the writing lessons learned along the way helped make a bigger, stronger story. The entire process is a never-ending learning experience, even as I continue on with The Age of Aquarius, the next book in the series.

What’s one thing you can tell us about the book (no major spoilers please!) that isn’t in the jacket copy?

Although this is a series, I can and should tell you that this book stands alone.

You needn’t have read the first book to get (hopefully) swept away in this one.

THE SLEEPING GIANT has a time travel element. If you could travel back in time, where would you go?

I’d actually really like to go forward in time. I mean, as long as I’m not stepping into a Hunger Games or Divergent type scenario. (No, not even for you, Tobias Eaton.)

I think I could handle travelling to distant planets on the Starship Enterprise.

*Taps imaginary communicator* “Enterprise—one to beam aboard.”

Yes, I’m totally practicing. *grin*

What actors would play the main characters in a movie version of your book?

What an entertaining question!

Okay…if I’m going to start casting actors, just give me a minute to channel my inner Estelle Leonard. (I’ve been watching re-runs of Friends lately! Haha)

I honestly thought this was going to be a hard question to answer, but instead I’ve had way too much fun. Look what you’ve started Katie!

ELISABETH: A few weeks ago I watched The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society with Lily James. A younger version of Lily is the closest to Elisabeth I’ve found. Sweet, smart, and would totally be out of her element if she suddenly found herself in Ancient Rome.

AQUARIUS: I think Aquarius would be such a fun role to play. It would take someone who could pull off a good, old-fashioned, swashbuckling hero. Maybe a younger Hugh Dancy from Ella Enchanted?

CATO: Aquarius’ best friend. I can totally see someone like Channing Tatum in that role.

MRS. WATERS: Back at home in the 21^st century, an intriguing old woman named Sissi Waters is Elisabeth’s employer/mentor. Since she’s the epitome of class and elegance, even in her eighties, Julie Andrews of course comes to mind.

BALINUS: Ben Kingsley could pull off Balinus. He’s this darling, old philosopher who accompanies Elisabeth, Aquarius, and Cato.

RUFUS: The slave-dealer can be a younger Ciaran Hinds. I have a special place in my heart for Ciaran Hinds because he’ll always be Mr. Rochester from Jane Eyre to me. And, even though Rufus is a villain, I have a special place in my heart for him too. So…perfect casting.

AURELIUS: If this is my imaginary movie, then I’m going to stick the one and only Bill Murray in here somewhere. He can be Balinus’ eccentric old friend, Aurelius.

What’s your favorite snack or beverage to have while writing?

Can I say champagne and Parisian macarons?

The truth isn’t as glamourous.

I live on water, don’t like coffee (did someone just gasp?) and try not to snack between meals. When I get into that writing zone, the world around me fades away and then I’ll look up and realize it’s something like four or five hours later.

But…

Somedays, when the planets are aligned, I do end up with my favourite snack and a fancier glass of water.

Like this day.

THIS is my perfect snack while writing…

Thanks so much for having me on your blog again, Katie. I had a lot of fun.

About the Author:

An adventurer at heart, Tammy Lowe has explored ruins in Rome, Pompeii, and Istanbul (Constantinople) with historians and archaeologists.

She’s slept in the tower of a 15th century castle in Scotland, climbed down the cramped tunnels of Egyptian pyramids, scaled the Sydney Harbour Bridge, sailed on a tiny raft down the Yulong River in rural China, dined at a Bedouin camp in the Arabian Desert, and escaped from head-hunters in the South Pacific.

I suppose one could say her own childhood wish of time traveling adventures came true…in a roundabout way.

www.tammylowe.com

About THE SLEEPING GIANT:

A Historical Romance Adventure

Lured into time-traveling to Ancient Rome, weeks before a volcanic eruption will bury the city of Pompeii, a shy teenager finds herself falling for the adventurous runaway slave she is supposed to rescue.

MuseItUp http://bit.ly/2S8PHtW
Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JD44YYS
B&N http://bit.ly/2CYSUba
iBooks https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1439019487
Kobo http://bit.ly/2POUmPR

Tucked in a box, in the back of her closet, seventeen-year-old Elisabeth London hid the secrets of a summer five years ago. The items inside are a reminder to never time travel again. After almost being burnt at the stake in 17th century Scotland, the shy teenager believes life is perfect the way it is now; calm and stable.

When a tormented man from Elisabeth’s past begs her to travel back in time to save his life, she reluctantly agrees. Elisabeth assumes Scotland is the destination and is horrified when she arrives in Ancient Rome instead.

The good news is she finds the man; now a cheeky, fun-loving, seventeen-year-old boy named Aquarius. The bad news is he’s an indentured slave, sentenced to death in the arena, and has no idea who she is yet.

Elisabeth helps Aquarius escape and becomes an outlaw herself. Armed with nothing but her wits and his rock sling, the new friends are on the run from Rufus Leptis, a relentless slave-dealer whose job is to hunt them down.

Elisabeth soon realizes she’s here to save Aquarius, not from Rufus or the arena, but from the doomed city of Pompeii. She’s trying to be brave, but the thought of remaining in his swashbuckling world a minute longer than necessary is inconceivable.

At least, it used to be.

Before that darn, happy-go-lucky slave stole her heart.

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Conference Panels Writing and Publishing Advice #LA18SCBWI (Bonus Jane Austen and Salt-N-Pepa)

September 10, 2018 / Katie L. Carroll

Last #LA18SCBWI post was devoted to the amazing (and many!) keynotes, so this post is devoted to the panels. Where the keynotes are largely inspirational, the panels tend to get more into the nitty-gritty of publishing and the craft of writing. These are snippets from each panel, which are done in a Q&A style and often turn into conversations, so these are simple highlights I’ve pulled out and tried to keep in context as much as possible. (And make sure you get all the way to the end to see me dressed as Jane Austen!)

Editor Panel with Laura Godwin, Elizabeth Law, Amanda Maciel, Krista Marino, Francesco Sedita, and Namrata Tripathi:

Question: What makes you keep reading on when considering a manuscript?

A pulsing heartbeat throughout the story. – Francesco Sedita (president and publisher of Penguin Workshop at Penguin Young Readers)
You can tell when a writer has a deep investment and curiosity about a topic. She takes notice when she doesn’t care about a thing and she is transformed to care about that thing by the writing. – Namrata Tripathi (VP & publisher of Kokila, a newly-formed imprint of Penguin Young Readers dedicated to centering stories from the margins)

Question: What do you see too much or or can’t see enough of?

It’s super exciting to see something that’s been done a million times and it’s done in a new way. – Krista Marino (senior executive editor at Delacorte Press, part of Random House Children’s Books)

Question: What is the most important skill a writer for children can possess?

Persistence. Have passion and stay in the game. – Elizabeth Law (editor at Holiday House)
An endless curiosity about the world and yourself. You need a great idea and to keep asking questions and developing that idea. – Amanda Maciel (executive editor at Scholastic)
A curiosity and drive to satisfy it in an endless loop. – Laura Godwin (vice president and publisher of Godwin Books, an imprint of Macmillan publishers)

Panel “Truth vs. Innocence in Children’s Books” with Elana K. Arnold, Brandy Colbert, Erin Entrada Kelly, Carolyn Mackler, and moderated by Linda Sue Park:

Question: How go you define dark in literature?

It’s what I have. When the well has filled us and whatever we’re filled with we have to work with. – Elana K. Arnold
Dark is part of life. Leaning into the sadness of life, as I also lean into the the light and find humor in sadness. – Carolyn Mackler
The further away from hope, the more interesting the road to coming back. – Erin Entrada Kelly

Question: Tell us the initial spark or kernel for one of your books.

After my first two books, I had emptied the well of shame. New water had filled the well, and it was rage. I’m not holding back and saving anything for the next book. – Elana K. Arnold (on her upcoming book DAMSEL)
It’s wish fulfillment in an alternate universe. – Brandy Colbert (on her book LITTLE & LION)

Question: How do you respond to critics who say your books are too dark?

One of the greatest disservices we do to young people is to underestimate them. – Erin Entrada Kelly
I pull out the letters from young readers to show me how important my books are to them. – Carolyn Mackler
Children are whole people. Book are a wonderful way to practice saying no. It’s good practice to recognize when they feel uncomfortable or unsafe. – Elana K. Arnold
I get really angry because I think of the kids going through those things. It’s telling those kids their lives or experiences are too dark. – Brandy Colbert

Panel “Culture, Identity, and Writing: Where do they intersect?” with Malinda Lo, Dashka Slater, Aida Salazar, Ibi Zoboi, and moderated by Arthur Levine:

Question: Was there a time during the writing that you felt the joyful intersection of culture, identity, and the work at hand?

I was writing about my own identity but not my own experiences. When I was telling a complete truth, my own truth, about my culture. – Ibi Zoboi
I was proud and joyful to rescue my story from obscurity. It’s a revolutionary act. – Aida Salazar

Question: What are the talismans of power in your writing?

I use my writing as a tool for social change. My characters have emotions in spite of white narrative and hostility. – Aida Salazar
Having to think of yourself and having to think about how you are being perceived by others in a white space. I always feel like I’m on the outside looking in. I can’t help but having a worldwide perspective. – Ibi Zoboi
Using gender and race and performance. The point is to center the Chinese-ness of the character and the point isn’t to be concerned about making sure others get it. – Malinda Lo

Question: As part of a minority culture, do you ask “Is there part of me that I shouldn’t show because it will be too scary?” Do you feel that way in your writing, that you’re censoring a part of yourself?

I definitely did. I imagined the characters in ASH as Asian. The gay thing was enough of a problem, so I did not include any Asian-ness in the book. You don’t see these stories that represent you. You have to imagine they exist in the first place. The message is everywhere, no one has to outright tell you. – Malinda Lo
Self-censoring comes in telling the truth. It comes when we’re afraid of telling these truths and thinking about who will be mad. – Ibi Zoboi
Authenticity is marginalizing. It centers the mythological one story line. – Malinda Lo

Agent Panel with Jenny Bent, Tina Dubois, Kirsten Hall, Kevin Lewis, Ammi-Joan Paquette, and Tanusri Prasanna, and moderated by Alexandra Penfold

Question: What’s strong in the marketplace right now?

Books addressing complicated and ugliness of our world. – Kirsten Hall
Fiction that digs deep into the personal experience, the heart coming through in a deep way. – Ammi-Joan Paquette

Question: Should you write a book outside your own identity?

If you want to write a book outside your culture, if it’s in your heart, then do it. But realize you have to take what comes with that. Actions have consequences. – Kevin Lewis
Look internally. Ask yourself why you want to write this book. If you’re writing it just to be diverse, then don’t do it. If you feel it in your loins, then do it. – Tanusri Prasanna

Question: What is your best advice for writers?

Be you and do you. Spend a lot of time on your work. – Kirsten Hall
Take risks and do something different. – Ammi-Joan Paquette
Celebrate any victory. Celebrate yourself. – Jenny Bent

Panel “The Secret of Crafting Engaging Non-fiction” with Jason Chin, Candace Fleming, Deborah Heiligman, and Barbara Kerly, and moderated by Melissa Stewart

I believe people’s lives have themes. Look for things in people’s lives that has those themes. – Barbara Kerley
A life is a story. It has a beginning, middle, and end. This is why narrative non-fiction works for biographies. – Deborah Heiligman
The difference between fiction and non-fiction is like cake. In fiction, I get to buy the ingredients for the cake, bake it up, and gobble it down. In non-fiction, I don’t do the shopping. The ingredients are all crazy, but I still have to make delicious cake. – Candace Fleming

No L.A. conference would be complete without the Saturday night gala. This year’s theme was a tribute to writers and artists. There were tacos and dessert food trucks and dancing. I chose to go as the incomparable Jane Austen. This may or may not have been a tweet about me that night (I’m pretty sure I saw at least one other Jane Austen, but I’m not sure I saw any others dancing to this particular song), “You haven’t lived ‘till you’ve seen Jane Austen dance to Salt-N-Pepa.” @jennymontyinSD

Keynote Conference Highlights and Writing Advice from #LA18SCBWI

August 22, 2018 / Katie L. Carroll

I feel so lucky to have been able to attend the SCBWI Conference in L.A. earlier this month. A big thanks to the SCBWI for sending me out there (I won the trip through my participation in SCBWI BookStop program). For all of you who saw my worries about leaving The Gentleman when he was just barely 1, you’ll be happy to know that he was find while I was gone (and even took a bottle at times!).

There were so many amazing moments that I couldn’t possibly share them all here, so be sure to check out all the SCBWI blog coverage of the conference or #LA18SCBWI on Twitter. The keynotes in particular were amazing, so I’ve devoted this post to those. (I always like to note that I don’t use quotation marks for these snippets because these are from the notes that I’m often frantically taking during talks, so there’s not way to know for sure if it’s a direct quote or if I’m paraphrasing, but I always try to be true to the point the speaker was trying to get across.)

Daniel José Older (He’s super funny!):

Words are supposed to sound nice when you put them together, so read out loud before you sub.
Beginnings establish what your character wants; they establish their humanity.
Every story that we tell is the story of a crisis, where a crisis is a turning point, a moment that everything changes in some significant way.
Good books are made of bad decisions.

Ekua Holmes (I love her whole aesthetic…the colors, the flow, the emotions behind it…everything!):

Reach back and gather the best of what our past hast to teach us. Reclaim her history, legacy, and sovereignty through art.
Our art is always personal. My strategy is somehow to find myself in each of my stories.
Confinement in mind and body cannot stop our creativity and desire to be free.
Children innately respond to creativity.

Lynda Mullaly Hunt (Her talks are always so full of the passion she brings to her work and for caring about kids.):

It’s a very brave act to create something that has never been in the world until you put your hand to the page and share it with others.
Young readers need us to care more about them than we care about our careers and ourselves.
Children are hungry for optimism–just like the rest of us.
Wishes are passive longings. Change your wishes into goals and act on those goals.

Andrea Davis Pinkney & Brian Pinkney (Such an adorable, creative couple…with very different work styles. I’d love to be a fly on their wall.):

Every artist have to have a style – B.P.
You want the reader to not even know they are reading because they are having so much fun. – A.D.P.
Write your own letter to diversity and come back to it in a year to see how you’ve done. – A.D.P.

Libba Bray (She’s a badass–super funny, smart, and thoughtful. See my post about how her keynote inspired by author theme of “find your magic”.):

In writing a story, you have to want to know something. The question makes your story come alive, leading us from somewhere we know to something new. The question leads to change.
Branding is about answers, about selling stuff. Brands by there very nature are static. It puts writers in a position to view kids as consumers instead of growing young people.
Writers need safe places to be able to take risks.
We are facing the kind of monsters we read about in books. There has never been a more important time to write for the next generation.
If someone asks what your brand is, tell them it’s a commitment to craft and a deep respect for the audience.

Mike Curato (He’s as adorable as his elephant character Little Elliot):

Eat cake…but make sure it’s good cake.
Think about how happy you were as a kid making art. Create things that make you happy.
Think about how small your were as a kid and how things looked, and draw from that perspective.

Lois Lowry (Needs no introduction! This was set up as a chat between Lois and SCBWI co-founder, Lin Oliver.):

The reaction of kids to her first book kept her writing fiction for young people. Her sudden awareness of the passion of kids for a book they love.
When asked what unifies her as a writer, Lois said intimacy. It’s her one word for her voice. She feels an intimate connection to her reader. The element of human connection is the theme that runs through her books.
There are things that are too dark for children, but they’re there. We have to write about those thing, and do it in an intelligent way.

Unfortunately I missed Eliza Wheeler’s keynote because I had to take break to pump breast milk, but there’s a great overview on the SCBWI Conference Blog.

I also popped in and out of Bruce Coville’s keynote (and didn’t get a chance to take notes of what I did hear) because it ran late and I was rushing around getting books signed before I had to catch my flight home. I’ve listened to a keynote of his before, and it was sooo good. You can just tell how much he loves writing for kids and the impact reading can have on them. Again, check out the SCBWI Conference Blog. Him talking about ripples really resonated with me.

I’m hoping to pull some highlights from the panels and workshops I attended for another post, as well as just a fun post about some of the shenanigans that went on during the downtime (You do want to see me dressed up as Jane Austen for the party, right?). Stay tuned!

Heading Out To #LA18SCBWI: Conference Gems Round-Up

July 31, 2018 / Katie L. Carroll

I head out for the 2018 SCBWI conference in L.A. in two days! I’ve been super nervous about leaving The Gentleman for four nights (it’s the youngest I’m ever leaving any of the babies for a conference), so I haven’t really had any nervousness left in me for anything else. But as it’s crept closer, I find I’m getting those little butterflies of excitement/nerves about the actual conference.

I was taking a look back all the gems of wisdom and inspiration I have accumulated on the Observation Desk from previous conferences and thought it would be fun to link to those here. (Wow! Look at that, they go all the way back ten years ago! And look at how many conferences I’ve been to.) Here they are:

SCBWI L.A. 2008 Conference Gems: Part 1

SCBWI L.A. 2008 Conference Gems: Part 2

SCBWI L.A. 2008 Conference Gems: Part 3

SCBWI Eastern PA 2010 Conference Wrap Up

Nuggets of Writing Wisdom from SCBWI L.A. 2010 Conference

SCBWI Poconos Conference 2011

SCBWI Poconos Retreat 2012

New England SCBWI 2013 Conference Gems

Thoughts on the New England SCBWI 2015 Conference

New England SCBWI 2015 Conference Gems of Wisdom

New England SCBWI 2016 Conference Words of Wisdom for Writing and Life

Last Minute Trip to Boston in Pictures

July 24, 2018 / Katie L. Carroll

The story of my traveling life is often one of mishaps when plans go awry, usually because of circumstances I have no control over. (For a taste of this, see my posts “Tahiti Tsumani experience: Part 1” and “Part 2” or my guest post on Meradeth Houston’s blog about trying to get to Alaska to run a marathon “Katie Carroll and Sary in the Real World.”) So when our plans to visit a family member’s farm in upstate NY didn’t work out because of issues with their well, the hubby and I scrambled to come up with a new plan.

And that plan ended up being a trip to Boston! We stayed just one night, but we packed it full of fun, and fun for the boy always includes visiting firehouses. We also went to the Boston Museum of Science where we got to see what it would be like to be on the International Space Station (The Prince’s favorite part of the museum) and see the dinosaur bones (The Boy’s favorite part).

Here are some pics from our trip and one from The Gentleman’s birthday because a first birthday is a big deal!