Writer Mama Riffs on Raising A Writing Career Alongside Your Kids

I just received this book in the mail and the first thing that jumped out at me is, man, I love this book cover and interior book design.

I was bummed that Claudean Wheeler, an amazing designer over at Writer’s Digest, didn’t win the Preditors and Editors poll for designing Writer Mama. She should have!

So, when I saw this cool design, I just had to share. Can’t get this on Kindle or the Sony Reader…and you can’t even see the contrast between matte and glossy finish like I can in real life. Or feel how think and sturdy the book feels in your hands.

Also, on the inside, the sections dividers are white-on-black. Very hip, especially when combined with the splashy design. Check it out:

In a brave, new world of flimsy, cheaply made books, Writer’s Digest Books are definitely worth taking down from the shelf and cracking open. Each one has a cool design theme inside and out. Love that!

I’m telling you, mamas, this is not your mama’s Writer’s Digest Books. And I’m so thrilled to be a part of this thrust into hip and helpful territory. [Shout out to WDB editor, Jane Friedman, for all of her splendid work over the years! And kudos to the editor in charge of Make a Scene, Kelly Nickel.]

(P.S. This scan doesn’t really do the colors justice…)

From Publisher’s Lunch on Januay 8, 2007:

NON-FICTION: HOW-TO
Author of Writer Mama: How to Raise a Writing Career Alongside Your Kids Christina Katz’s GET KNOWN BEFORE THE BOOK DEAL: Use Your Personal Strengths to Grow an Author Platform, to Jane Friedman at Writer’s Digest Books, by Rita Rosenkranz Literary Agency.

Check out my new blog of the same name.

What do you think? Does it sound helpful?

How interesting. Just when a post in Michael Stelzner’s blog, Writing White Papers, really tripped my trigger, my interview with Jackie Papandrew in the Mom Writer’s Literary Magazine appeared.

In my comment to Michael’s post, Merry Christmas, NOT Happy Holidays, I talk about the importance, for me, of diversity and following an inner, not an external, authority. And how that determines what I say to others, as opposed to what a study says:

I say “Happy Holidays” because I am part of an interfaith family. Sometimes I say “Happy Holy Days” to remind me that important traditions of the season we still practice today come from many (not just christian) faiths. I feel better about myself when I don’t make assumptions about others being one faith or another but remember that we are all the same regardless of what religion we choose or are raised in. At holiday time, I want to celebrate and acknowledge diversity because diversity is healthy and it’s the reality in which we live. I say Happy Holidays because I trust my gut, not a study when it comes to what I should say and to whom. Personally, I don’t find anything particularly American about Christmas. Nor do I associate being American to have anything to do with one religion or another. I am an advocate of people following their gut…and it will inform them of what to say when. Thanks for the discussion.

And then in the interview for Mom Writer’s Literary Magazine posted today, I elaborate on the same theme, which is be mindful of the rules but ultimately follow your gut.

You can read the interview here.

Coincidence? I think not.

Say “Happy Holidays” or “Merry Christmas,” mamas, whichever you prefer, but for goodness sakes, do it because that’s how you feel in your heart. That’s the reason for my riff today. If there is one thing I’ve learned as a mom who strives to communicate with all moms, it’s how incredibly diverse we all are. I celebrate that diversity because homogeneity is fine…but diversity is divine.

While I’m bringing everything full circle, I want to acknowledge that this blog wasn’t chosen as a top ten blog by Writing White Papers. I’ve been meaning to write about that, but I’ve been so darn busy with deadlines and holiday prep.

I knew we wouldn’t be chosen after we were nominated when I saw the criteria for the top ten. For a split second, I had the urge to conform to someone else’s idea of what makes a good blog. Then I remembered that this blog has received almost 50,000 visitors this year and I came back to my senses.

You can view the list of nominees here and the blogs that were chosen here. Check them out. They are great blogs.
It’s unlikely that I’ll adhere to someone else’s standards any time soon because my blog is the place where I let it rip, not where I follow someone else’s rules. I encourage all bloggers to do the same.

Happy Holidays, mamas!

Did I mention that it’s the biggest Barnes & Noble between Vancouver B.C. and San Francisco?

That’s right.

If you want to learn more, please visit my earlier posts here and here and the Willamette Writers Website.

And don’t forget to tell the B&N cashier you want your book purchase credited to Books for Kids.

You may download cashier vouchers, which will also be avaiable at every cashier station, and a PDF flyer for the event, if you’d like one, here.

Writing in the Dark, in the Basement, in the Bathroom, or at the Park
A Panel Discussion of Mom Authors

Moderator: Diana Page Jordan
Panel: Chelsea Cain, Heather Sharfeddin, Elizabeth Rusch, and Christina Katz
What do a thriller author, a contemporary western author, a children’s author and a how-to author all have in common? They’re all women writers who mix literary life and motherhood. Come hear about the ups and downs of raising a writing career alongside kids.

Chelsea Cain is a columnist for The Oregonian and the author of The New York Times Bestseller Heartsick (St. Martin’s Minotaur). Heather Sharfeddin is the author of the contemporary westerns, Blackbelly and Mineral Spirits (Bridge Works Publishing), which both earned starred reviews and were chosen “Best of the Northwest.” Elizabeth Rusch released four books in 2007: Will It Blow? (Sasquatch Books), The Planet Hunter (Rising Moon), A Day with No Crayons (Rising Moon), and Girls’ Tennis (Capstone Press). Panel organizer, Christina Katz is the author of Writer Mama, How to Raise a Writing Career Alongside Your Kids (Writer’s Digest Books). Moderator, Diana Page Jordan is an award-winning broadcast journalist and a published writer.

December 9th, Barnes & Noble / Willamette Writers Books for Kids Fundraiser
4 p.m., This event is FREE at the Clackamas, Oregon Barnes & Noble, All book purchases on this day benefit Books for Kids!

I don’t know about all the other mom writers out there but this has been one busy summer for me. And that was without teaching a class since April. So now that I’m back in classes and, as always, trying to improve the quality of my classes across the board, I’m remembering what it’s like to work really, really hard.

Wait a minute, I was already working hard without the classes. Hmm, maybe next time it would be nice to have a book come out in the fall, so I can have more summertime off!

I’m working on the Northwest Author Series that I’m planning, which is sponsored by the Wilsonville Library and Arts and Culture Council. I’m so excited for Marc Acito to come to our sleepy little suburb and rock the house!

I’m preparing to attend the Whidbey Island Writers MFA program, which is just going to be so lovely.

I’m planning the year for Writers on the Rise with Managing Editor Sage Cohen.

I’m making a zillion doctor and dental appointments for the whole family.

I’m preparing for the awesome Writer Mama Back-to-School Daily Giveaway (see photo).

And I haven’t EVEN started getting my daughter ready for school yet. However, the tooth fairy did remember to come last night (again). And I did have my wits about me enough to send out a “calling all grandparents”note. It goes like this:

Help! Please send clothes!

And I have some invitations that are pending like a panel of writer mama authors at the Clackamas Barnes & Noble this November and a trip back up to Seattle in the Spring to participate in the King County Library’s Playing with Words event.

But you know what I really want to do? I’d really like to slow down on all the traveling and book promotions for a few months and write more. But suffice it to say, nothing wrong with having a really productive summer.

I will be hosting The Writer Mama Back-to-School Daily Giveaway right here in my blog, The Writer Mama Riffs starting September 1st and running through September 30th!!!

Every day during the month of September, I will be giving away helpful resources for writer mamas. And tons of copies of Writer Mama, How to Raise a Writing Career Alongside Your Kids. As in, one copy per day. Like that many.

And all you have to do to win is comment in my blog each day in September. Each blog post will describe something new to win!

Is this blogging stuff fun or what?

In order to win repeatedly you have to “bring a new friend” to comment each day before you comment again. But no big deal. I know you all have plenty of friends.

And I know that you are going to want to win all the great prizes…like the brand new 2008 Writer’s Digest Market books.

Yes, I’m talking about:

• Writer’s Market Deluxe 2008
  
• Guide to Literary Agents 2008
  
• Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market 2008
  
• Children’s Writer’s & Illustrator’s Market 2008
  
• Poet’s Market 2008

Are you excited yet? I’m giddy. (And I hardly had any coffee today, I swear, unlike most days when I drink quite a lot).

Bring your friends, so you can comment every day and potentially win great prizes.

More details as the month unfolds. Assuming my head doesn’t pop off with excitement before then.

And, of course, as always, every writer mama who comments will be added to my blogroll.

Please feel free to add this blog badge to your blog to let writer mamas know about the giveaway. I can’t wait. I’ve got giveaway fever already!

Here’s an interesting tidbit.

The Market Books now have mini-sites with information about each book and a place to sign up for an upcoming free monthly newsletter (currently in development, except where noted). To check these mini-sites out and sign up for the free newsletters, go to:
Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market www.novelandshortstory.com
Children’s Writer’s & Illustrator’s Market www.cwim.com
Poet’s Market www.poetsmarket.com
Guide to Literary Agents www.guidetoliteraryagents.com
Photographer’s Market www.photographersmarket.com
Artist’s & Graphic Designer’s Market www.artists-market.com
Songwriter’s Market www.songwritersmarket.com

[From the Writer's Market e-newsletter]

Move over 2007 version, the 2008 Guide to Literary to Literary Agents is about to hit the shelves!

I contributed an article called, “Almost Famous, Start Building a Platform to Garner More Attention and Respect.”

Here’s a teaser from Editor Chuck Sambuchino’s GLA blog.

I met Chuck at the BEA and Writer’s Digest/BEA Conference and he is a super-nice guy, who enjoys seems to genuinely enjoy helping writers seeking publication.

I’ve also been writing about platform development for The Willamette Writer this year. All of these columns are reprinted in Writers on the Rise. If you are interested, you can pull up the whole series by clicking here. (It will come up in reverse chronological order, so scroll down to the bottom to read the series in order.)

I also started teaching a class that focuses on platform called Platform Building Basics for Writers that I’ll be offering again starting October 3rd. If you are interested, you can find more info here.

You may be wondering, “What’s all the fuss about platform? Can’t I just write well and let that be enough?”

Well, I’ll let Writer Mama editor Jane Friedman from Writer’s Digest answer this question for me. Not too long ago she told me this:

Platform development is more important than ever for writers seeking publication.

More important than ever. You might not like hearing this. You might feel like developing a platform on top of everything else you have to learn is simply asking too much. But I’ve been growing my platform alongside my writing career for years and I am here to tell you that not only is it fun, it’s also extremely gratifying.

So, as I teach in my platform class, try to keep an open mind. No one is asking you to do anything that compromises your integrity.

It’s just that the days of the isolated writer slaving away in obscurity are over and a new day has already dawned—the day of the multi-tasking writer, who keeps introversion and extroversion in balance.

And to that, I say, Amen.

Well, I’m home, and playing catch-up this week. I’m also fairly exhausted from the trip to the Big Apple, so I have to pace myself.

It was fabulous to get away from the daily chores of life and stay in a lovely hotel where someone comes in and cleans up after you and even washes your dishes. If only that was the case at home!

But of course, it isn’t. So now I’m back to doing all that I do for my writing career (a feature deadline, wrapping up two classes, preparing to pitch two more books) as well as managing all of my home and family responsibilities.

Nothing like those family hugs, snuggling with my daughter, and lots of puppy kisses, since I’ve been back. I didn’t get any of those in New York and I missed them all so much I actually ached.

And when my daughter wasn’t at the airport with my husband when he picked me up at almost midnight, I was so sad I cried to have to wait another half hour to see her. I just couldn’t wait any longer!

I have a new appreciation for all that I have accomplished in my writing career. I know I wrote a book on how writer mamas succeed, but let’s face it, raising a writing career alongside your kids (or in my case, kid and pups) is not easy. And unless you have a full-time staff (maid, butler, nanny, personal chef), it’s a lot to manage.

So, yay me! Pat, pat, pat. (That’s the sound of me patting myself on the back.)

And now, back to work! More photos and reports about the trip coming soon.

I’m happy to have a chance to digest it all.

And, before I forget, I am a media queen this week. My husband Jason spotted a picture of me and our puppies on the cover of our local newspaper. An interview with me was aired Sunday morning (same day as our seventh wedding anniversary). And an interview with me by Beryl Brey is posted on Wow–Women on Writing June issue on balancing work and writing. How appropriate!

Hope everyone is having a good week!