I've had so much fun as Janelle Dakota: short story contests, web classes, online buddies, two novels - each revised thrice. So many great scenes and wonderful characters! I've had publications with Echelon Press and an honorable mention from Lunch Hour Stories. All very much fun and the bonus is these experiences provided the necessary professional growth.
But...
My muse threw me a curve ball and it made me stop and think. When a voice in your head screams, "Yoohoo! Wrong genre!" you tend to listen, or at least give the declaration a few minutes' consideration. Which is why I'm switching to YA.
Viewed in the YA light, I can see the element that was dangling just out of reach in my two novels, and this excites me. I can't begin to tell you how many hundreds of pages I've written with these characters, trying to make them fit the wrong mold!
That was step one. Step two involved a bit of emotional healing and personal growth. My parents were both proud of my writing and they believed in me. It is in honor of them that I renounce my pseudonym and embrace my given name.
Check out at my new blog:
http://janelatta.blogspot.com/
Friday, February 6, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Guest Blogger
Today, I offer up the prose of my ten year old daughter, Hannah. Enjoy!
1998 –2008 My First Ten Years
A memoir by Hannah Roberts
There were a lot of things I couldn’t do when I was little.
When I was 5 the deep end of the pool was dark, mysterious, and scary to me.
Now I happily dive in.
When I was 6 I could only see the top of my head in the bathroom mirror.
Now I am almost as tall as my mom.
When I was 7 I couldn’t bounce a basketball without losing control.
Now I play on a basketball team called the Eagles.
When I was 8 I loved to play Barbies with my friends. Now I think Barbie dolls are kinda dumb.
When I was 9 I cried about my dog dying…. yeah I’d still do that!
Now I am 10 and I know that friendship means we stick together no matter what, my parents may not always know what they’re doing, and even if I can’t do a lot of things, I can learn how.
1998 –2008 My First Ten Years
A memoir by Hannah Roberts
There were a lot of things I couldn’t do when I was little.
When I was 5 the deep end of the pool was dark, mysterious, and scary to me.
Now I happily dive in.
When I was 6 I could only see the top of my head in the bathroom mirror.
Now I am almost as tall as my mom.
When I was 7 I couldn’t bounce a basketball without losing control.
Now I play on a basketball team called the Eagles.
When I was 8 I loved to play Barbies with my friends. Now I think Barbie dolls are kinda dumb.
When I was 9 I cried about my dog dying…. yeah I’d still do that!
Now I am 10 and I know that friendship means we stick together no matter what, my parents may not always know what they’re doing, and even if I can’t do a lot of things, I can learn how.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
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