The downside of blogging? I'm not into virtual relationships. Go ahead, call me old fashioned. On the upside, I have met "otha mothas" AND other mothers who write. Like this cool lady: April Henry. She's writing acclaimed page turning thrillers for youth and adults (Torched her new young adult novel is just out, as well as Face of Betrayal for big people, pick 'em up), and has essentially written a book a year since she began her writing career. (Go, girl, go.)
But how can you write really scary stuff when you have a kid? That's what I want to know. I can't even watch COMMERCIALS for scary shows on TV without getting sick at my stomach. And that great movie everyone loved, Slumdog? I almost had to leave the theater. I mean I can't take ORPHANS! I told my husband that movie was going to cost him a lot more than $17--like a trip to India and a few extra kids.
Well, April said that in one of her books she gave a kid leukemia. It was a big plot point. And I still believe that because of that I saved my child from ever getting leukemia. Because it would be just too big a twist of fate.
I love that logic. I'm always imagining awful things just to ensure they won't happen! Because if they did--I would be a prophet. And I'm not. Obviously.
Well, whatever April's doing killing off her characters, she's doing it right. In PW (that's cool writer speak for Publisher's Weekly), her work has been called "off-beat and vital" (I'm hoping PW even looks at my stuff).
Of course, we could attribute her great success to the fact that her daughter is out of diapers. (She's 13). April says, I used to say (and believe) that children took equal amounts of work, just different kinds of work. But my life has been progressively easier each year since she turned three. Of course, I also lucked out and got a kid who likes to play banjo, pogo stick, and read.
April's daughter even listens and comments on her novels. So cool. Adeline just tries to eat mine. But then her writing has been called "fast-paced and harrowing" (Bookpage). Interstingly enough, that's how I describe my days at home with the kids.
Give her a virutal visit on her excellent blog. Tell her anotha motha sent you.
Oh my, does every mother do this? I thought I was the only one imagining worst case scenarios...
ReplyDeleteYou are not alone!
ReplyDeletethanks for having me on your blog!
ReplyDeleteThanks, April. I know at least one person who's going to read this and go out and buy all your books: my mother! She's a mystery novel addict...right, Mom?
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