Your Magic

A couple weeks ago I didn't have a chance to read many blogs, but I've made it up this past week, and I wanted to share with you some of the posts that brought me joy this summer. Some are whimsical, others question the nature of creativity and the artistic gift.  I hope you enjoy.

I love the serendipity of the Wide World of Blog.  In June, R. at the Creamy Middles and author Lena Roy posted the same quote (one I needed to read) from Emile Zola: 

The artist is nothing without the gift, but the gift is nothing without work.

Lena's follow-up post, "Anyone Can Cook, Er, Write...If They Want To," addresses what she believes is the artist's gift and the importance of craft, perseverance, and old-fashioned hard work.  It's great motivation during rewrites.

Leila over at Write Am I posted an adorable shot of her new editor.  This is one editor I wouldn't mind peering over my shoulder as I work.  She also shared the terrific news of finding a publisher for her novel!

Here at Fantastic Spatula we celebrated with Kemp over her Shameless Self Promotion.

We have graphic artists on staff here at Fantastic Spatula, and I know others of you have the same bug, so check out the interview with the artist behind the jacket for Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver and Linger. I'd love to see an interview with the artist for Lena's Edges, which The Hiding Spot named Cover of the Week on May 24.

Finally, I'm giddy for Sarah and Michelle of Slushbusters as they blog about their time at the Highlights Foundation Writers Workshop.

Thank you all.

What's put a smile on your face lately? 

Unplug

I just found out it is National TV Turn-off Week, which is ironic since the husband and I, people notorious for not watching television, bought a device that allows us to watch webcasts on the old boob tube and immediately surfed to Jon Stewart. That’s me, always going opposite the trends.

I bring this up because the week reminds us to choose how we’ll spend our precious time. How will we make and/or receive magic?

If you’re considering National TV Turn-off Week and want a few good reads, these sites and blogs have great suggestions:

The Book Studio

The Book Lady’s Blog

Lena’s Lit Life A great author blog. LOVE her.

Slushbusters They have author interviews, too.

Fountain Bookstore Folks near Richmond, why not take that tv watching time and go to a literary event?

James River Writers author interviews

Indie Bound

Not interested in being a bookworm this week?

DIY with Young House Love

Knock Off Wood

Soccer By Ives

Will you hide the remote this week?

Weekend Magic

Adam and I spent Saturday at the Virginia Festival of the Book. Every year hundreds of people meet because they love books. There are readers and authors and thousands of great titles. There are readings and panels and signings and book fairs and kids' parades. I geek out just thinking about it.

And there are great people. I reconnected with Sarah, Michelle, and Alison of Slushbusters, a Charlottesville critique group I met at the James River Writers conference. I follow their blog, but I haven't seen them since October. They are creative, funny people who are just as warm in person as they are on their blog, and I loved talking with them.

On Saturday I couldn't stop saying awesome, amazing, fantastic, exciting. The festival was that good.

How was your weekend?

Me, Sarah, and Michelle

Impediments post coming tonight....