I wish every day was as hopeful as a sunny Sunday afternoon in February. Everything is possible, and nothing is necessary. Do I move forward with a household project, or take a nap? Do I walk around the block in a trail of sunshine, or write an essay? All of the answers, and all of my choices, lead to an open door marked BLISS.
Here’s a fun thing I’m doing this month:
Manuscript, red marker at the ready.
This manuscript is spending February in my hot, little hands. When it grows up, it is going to be a book aimed at young readers. Not just any book aimed at young readers, mind you, but an amazing and necessary book aimed at young readers. It’s a feminist action adventure story set in the 1920s. The protagonists are a trio of cliche-defying princesses who use their intelligence, talent, wits, friendship and sense of fair play to rule a kingdom, save a prince or two, and defend their people from evil. They are amazing role models for girls (and boys) who think that storybook princesses can be so much more than pink damsels-in-distress. How badass is that?
KM Scott is one of the most talented people I have ever met. He is one of my closest friends, and is a regular contributor to A Small Press Life. I’ve been lucky enough to work on a number of projects with him, in various capacities, for nearly a decade. Indeed, he gave me my first real writing and editing job back in 2004. He’s brilliant, and so is his book. I’ll let him explain the idea behind Legends. In his impassioned words:
“Being a fan of comics, cartoons, and superheroes, I loved to share my interests with my students who were eager to talk about Spider-Man, the Avengers, and Batman. But I was constantly frustrated when it came to finding anything that featured strong female heroes, super-powered or otherwise, to draw my girls into the conversation. Time and again, the girls were more inclined towards talking about their favorite princesses.
Then one day, it hit me: I could write my own story about super-heroic princesses. These ladies wouldn’t just sit around in some tower waiting to be rescued by a handsome prince from an evil witch – they’d clobber the witch, rescue the prince, and then blow up the tower. But violence wouldn’t be the only means of dealing with their enemies; these would be three smart, talented young women whose love of adventure and zest for life were matched only by their devotion to the freedom and safety of their subjects.”
As his editor, I can tell you: boom, mission accomplished! I know that he has done all that he set out to do, and more: he has written the book I wish existed when I was a girl.
KM is self-publishing his book, with my editing assistance and other behind-the-scenes help. Like many wonderfully talented people, he is utilizing crowd funding for his main backing. Unlike many others, his goal is incredibly reasonable and well explained: he needs a mere $600.00 to see his book to print.
Since 2009, my aim with A Small Press Life has been consistent: to use and promote my work and, more importantly, that of other independent creatives. KM is one of the worthiest artists I know.
I hope you do not find my plea on his behalf rude. Although it exists, my direct stake in this venture is minimal. It is all about my incredible friend and a profound work that needs to be read by as many young people as possible. It is my wish that you will at least check out his Kickstarter page to see what I am talking about. Once you do, I know you will fall in love with the project as readily and passionately as I did when I read the initial synopsis.
Crowd sourcing is not just for the lazy or untalented, and is often used by the renegade visionaries that make art and culture so appealing and forward-thinking. KM is one of those artists, and his work is important-for us, and all of the wee ones in our lives. Every dollar donated is a dollar that is going directly to the production and, for anything over the $600.00 goal, marketing of the book. Thank you for listening, and for being such valued readers and supporters of A Small Press Life.
It’s no secret that I love notebooks. They are tools of my trade, a bit old-fashioned, perhaps, but useful, evocative of an earlier time, and beautiful. I usually walk around with tiny Moleskines hidden in my purse and crumpled scraps stuffed perilously in coat or skirt pockets. Spirals of cheap school paper are stacked in the studio and by my bed. Since quantity counts, I cannot afford to be too discerning. I run through paper at an appalling pace (no need to worry, darlings, I recycle), and play a continuous game of hide and seek with the surviving notebooks. Fortunately, I came into a spot of luck back in January by winning this sexy guy:
Everyday I Love You Notebook from Smythson
Isn’t he divine? He originated in London and was sent to me via Austria, from the fabulously chic Nadine of The Flamboyante. The stars surely aligned when I won her December Smythson Notebook Giveaway. This match is meant to be: he’s already an important part of my creative process and is an inspiration in his own right. An unexpected bonus? I feel a lot more elegant dashing off notes on the fly. Maybe Nadine sprinkled magic dust on the notebook before mailing it off. I’ll never know.
Going home for a few days gave me a welcome sense of clarity and renewed my creative determination. I’ve returned South happier, calmer, and aesthetically and intellectually richer. Until next time, Columbus. Until next time.
“A rock pile ceases to be a rock pile the moment a single man contemplates it, bearing within him the image of a cathedral.”-Antoine de Saint-Exupery
James Thurber Quote
Faulkner Quote Poster
Today, my return to shining good health is matched watt for watt by a hearty winter sun. Both incandescent, ready for change. Strong. The renewal of the New Year met a roadblock or two, was delayed, delayed again, the delay constantly looping. Today, creativity is back, and with it hope; they are both resplendent. I’ve re-imagined the way forward, a sturdy path with many forks. It’s beautiful.
Hope is like the light in an Impressionist painting.
Arthur Miller being interviewed by Charlie Rose.
Sylvia Plath Quote
As you probably know by now, I’m a quote collector. I have hand-written notebooks full of them (a decade’s worth), and I post one here every Tuesday. Today’s Daily Prompt: Quote Me is right up my alley.
The quote I’m spotlighting has deep meaning for me, professionally and personally. The man behind the words is the reason I walk my particular creative path (of creating, publishing, writing, and editing only for indie and small press publications), and his inspirational words guide me through every challenge and triumph. If the quote looks familiar, it is because it has pride of place at the top of the right sidebar on this blog.
“Young or old, those who have anything to say will have their own way of saying it.”-Robert McAlmon
A Small Press Life: Books. Art. Writing. Life. Tea. 