So. The question arises: who really needs two blogs?
Hmm. Not me, since it's too hard to keep things separate, especially when everything in my life seems to filter through the farm anyway.
So Farm Tales and the Inkslinger will be combined into Farm Tales and Sheepish Stories. The Inkslinger will quietly retire.
Thanks to those of you who followed me here. Please join me at Farm Tales and Sheepish Stories, available from my profile, or from my website, catherinefriend.com
Topics? Books and calves and publishing and lambs and anything else that may come up. It's all life.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Technologically Challenged
I had a great time last night speaking before an enthusiastic group in Jordan, MN. The community has a small, small library, but that didn't stop people from packing themselves in.
After years of speaking at libraries with nothing but my books as props, I've joined the 21st century, and put together my first Power Point presentation. It's mostly photos, but there are few slides with text. The first two days I worked with PP, I cursed a blue streak 'cause nothing worked as I wanted it to. The third day the light bulb went off and I was able to make things happen.
Connecting to a library's projector is much easier than I thought. Plug in, hit a few keys, and voila! And I even have a remote clicker. How high tech is that?
I do need a bit more practice however.
Whenever I wanted to advance the slide, I'd point the clicker at the screen (not the computer), and wonder why nothing happened.
Although I'm not so good with technology, I luckily have lots of experience laughing at myself!
After years of speaking at libraries with nothing but my books as props, I've joined the 21st century, and put together my first Power Point presentation. It's mostly photos, but there are few slides with text. The first two days I worked with PP, I cursed a blue streak 'cause nothing worked as I wanted it to. The third day the light bulb went off and I was able to make things happen.
Connecting to a library's projector is much easier than I thought. Plug in, hit a few keys, and voila! And I even have a remote clicker. How high tech is that?
I do need a bit more practice however.
Whenever I wanted to advance the slide, I'd point the clicker at the screen (not the computer), and wonder why nothing happened.
Although I'm not so good with technology, I luckily have lots of experience laughing at myself!
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
And the winner is...
Congratulations to Carol B, who won three books from my bookshelf on writing for young adults. Carol, could you email me your address? catherine AT catherinefriend DOT com.
I'll send the books out later this week!
I'll send the books out later this week!
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Thinning the Herd (of Books)
It's March, which means both Melissa and I have birthdays. So instead of expecting gifts, I've decided to thin my herd of writing books by giving some away. These books should be circulating, helping others, instead of gathering dust as I ignore them. So if you write, or want to write, or know someone who writes, these books are for you.
I'll have four 'drawings,' one each Monday, until March---and winter---have both slipped away.
The first give-away is a group of three books about writing for young adults. They're good books, brand-new, and I've gleaned all I can from them.
Interested? Just post a comment. Next Monday (March 7th) I'll pick a winner from those who've commented, then I'll announce the next group of books.
The three books are:
Writing Great Books For Young Adults, by Regina Brooks
Wild Ink: How to Write Fiction for Young Adults , by Victoria Hanley
Writing and Selling the YA Novel, by K.L. Going
I'll have four 'drawings,' one each Monday, until March---and winter---have both slipped away.
The first give-away is a group of three books about writing for young adults. They're good books, brand-new, and I've gleaned all I can from them.
Interested? Just post a comment. Next Monday (March 7th) I'll pick a winner from those who've commented, then I'll announce the next group of books.
The three books are:
Writing Great Books For Young Adults, by Regina Brooks
Wild Ink: How to Write Fiction for Young Adults , by Victoria Hanley
Writing and Selling the YA Novel, by K.L. Going
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
The Blurbs are In!
There is a point in a book's life when it hovers somewhere between a typed manuscript and a printed book. One of the things that happens at this stage---when it's more than a manuscript but less than a book---is that other authors are asked if they'd read the almost-book and say something about it (hopefully positive!) This 'something' is called a blurb.
So the material goes out, and the almost-book's author waits, holding her breath. Will they like it?
Finally, the four blurbs for Sheepish are in. Turns out I can start breathing again. And I'm so grateful to these four authors for taking the time to read the manuscript and put down their thoughts. Writing a blurb is harder than you'd think.
Blurb 1:
“Fans of Hit by a Farm will get another dose of Catherine Friend’s signature wit and moxie with Sheepish, as she faces a rough patch on the farm, but still manages to be hilarious. In the end, Friend’s enthusiasm will make you want to raise sheep, or at least wear wool undies.”
—Novella Carpenter, author of Farm City
Blurb 2
“A graceful collection of farm-life vignettes becomes a whole even greater than the sum of its lovely parts as Catherine Friend…builds the story of a partnership rich in love, humor, and perhaps most importantly, sheep.”
—Rachael Herron, How to Knit a Love Song
Blurb 3
“Sheepish is as smart and funny as its title. Catherine Friend takes us along on her quest to master the other ‘oldest profession.’ Warning: It may make you want to drop everything and go tend a flock.”
—Meg Daly Olmert, author of Made for Each Other: The Biology of the Human-Animal Bond
Blurb 4:
So the material goes out, and the almost-book's author waits, holding her breath. Will they like it?
Finally, the four blurbs for Sheepish are in. Turns out I can start breathing again. And I'm so grateful to these four authors for taking the time to read the manuscript and put down their thoughts. Writing a blurb is harder than you'd think.
Blurb 1:
“Fans of Hit by a Farm will get another dose of Catherine Friend’s signature wit and moxie with Sheepish, as she faces a rough patch on the farm, but still manages to be hilarious. In the end, Friend’s enthusiasm will make you want to raise sheep, or at least wear wool undies.”
—Novella Carpenter, author of Farm City
Blurb 2
“A graceful collection of farm-life vignettes becomes a whole even greater than the sum of its lovely parts as Catherine Friend…builds the story of a partnership rich in love, humor, and perhaps most importantly, sheep.”
—Rachael Herron, How to Knit a Love Song
Blurb 3
“Sheepish is as smart and funny as its title. Catherine Friend takes us along on her quest to master the other ‘oldest profession.’ Warning: It may make you want to drop everything and go tend a flock.”
—Meg Daly Olmert, author of Made for Each Other: The Biology of the Human-Animal Bond
Blurb 4:
“Wry, witty, and honest, Sheepish describes a magical personal transformation—from urban to rural. Catherine Friend finds meaning in the middle of life, love and even knitting projects. Friend brings out the urge to farm in knitters, spinners, and ‘fiber freaks’ everywhere, teaching us to find joy and contentment in the small, sheepy parts of our world.
—Joanne Seiff, author of Fiber Gathering and Knit Green
—Joanne Seiff, author of Fiber Gathering and Knit Green
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Sheepish Cover!
It's always exciting when the publisher sends you the first crack at your book's cover. You don't know what it's going to look like until it appears in your inbox.
I usually fuss quite a bit, and have way more suggestions for change than the publisher wants to hear. So when my editor sent me the cover for Sheepish, she nearly choked on her Starbucks when I emailed back that I loved it. "It's great!" I email-screamed.
Then there was a delay in the book's release date (my fault, not the publisher's.) When it came time to get serious about the cover again, they sent me a new version. I didn't like it. I found it blah. I lay my head on my keyboard, in mourning for the first version, then I sat up and let my fingers do the talking. I worked hard to convince both my editor and the art director that the first version had SPUNK! PIZAZZ! COOLNESS!
To make a long story short, they agreed with me, and we returned to the original design. Here's my new GREAT cover:
I usually fuss quite a bit, and have way more suggestions for change than the publisher wants to hear. So when my editor sent me the cover for Sheepish, she nearly choked on her Starbucks when I emailed back that I loved it. "It's great!" I email-screamed.
Then there was a delay in the book's release date (my fault, not the publisher's.) When it came time to get serious about the cover again, they sent me a new version. I didn't like it. I found it blah. I lay my head on my keyboard, in mourning for the first version, then I sat up and let my fingers do the talking. I worked hard to convince both my editor and the art director that the first version had SPUNK! PIZAZZ! COOLNESS!
To make a long story short, they agreed with me, and we returned to the original design. Here's my new GREAT cover:
Sunday, February 13, 2011
The True Story Behind My "Author" Photo
It's time for a new author photo. I really dislike this whole process because I'm not that comfortable in front of a camera. Because the photo is for my memoir, Sheepish, which is obviously about sheep, I thought it would be fun to get a few sheep into the photo.
It was a brisk late October afternoon when photographers Karen and Pattie tramped out to the pasture with me. The plan was to sprinkle some corn on the ground, thus attracting the sheep. The sheep would happily munch in the background, and I'd try to look relaxed as Karen snapped shot after shot.
I sprinkled the corn. I plopped down onto the ground.
But before I could even really get myself situated, one of the sheep---a tame one---wandered up. Hey, whatcha doing?
Before I could explain, she caught sight of the camera. Oooh, a photo of me? Lucky for you, all my sides are my best sides.
She then sent intense, sultry looks toward the camera. She tossed back a few locks of fleece. She turned to the left, then the right. She allowed me to snuggle up next to her, but only because it would make her look good. This sheep has clearly had some runway training.
Karen started snapping photos. The ewe and I chatted, but she only had eyes for that camera. I scratched her neck, kissed her nose, and whispered complimentary things in her ears. She loved it all, and stood in one place for an amazingly long time. Karen got a gazillion photos. Finally the ewe decided she was done sharing the limelight with me, so she wandered away, but tossed a 'follow me, let's ditch the farmer' look over her shoulder. Karen followed, and once I was out of the frame, the ewe stood still again for another gazillion photos.
We're always on the look-out for ways to make more money on the farm. I wonder if there's any money in getting this ewe her own facebook page, website, and circulating her 8x10 glossies to the modeling agencies.
Here's the final photo that will be on the back cover of Sheepish:
It was a brisk late October afternoon when photographers Karen and Pattie tramped out to the pasture with me. The plan was to sprinkle some corn on the ground, thus attracting the sheep. The sheep would happily munch in the background, and I'd try to look relaxed as Karen snapped shot after shot.
I sprinkled the corn. I plopped down onto the ground.
But before I could even really get myself situated, one of the sheep---a tame one---wandered up. Hey, whatcha doing?
Before I could explain, she caught sight of the camera. Oooh, a photo of me? Lucky for you, all my sides are my best sides.
She then sent intense, sultry looks toward the camera. She tossed back a few locks of fleece. She turned to the left, then the right. She allowed me to snuggle up next to her, but only because it would make her look good. This sheep has clearly had some runway training.
Karen started snapping photos. The ewe and I chatted, but she only had eyes for that camera. I scratched her neck, kissed her nose, and whispered complimentary things in her ears. She loved it all, and stood in one place for an amazingly long time. Karen got a gazillion photos. Finally the ewe decided she was done sharing the limelight with me, so she wandered away, but tossed a 'follow me, let's ditch the farmer' look over her shoulder. Karen followed, and once I was out of the frame, the ewe stood still again for another gazillion photos.
We're always on the look-out for ways to make more money on the farm. I wonder if there's any money in getting this ewe her own facebook page, website, and circulating her 8x10 glossies to the modeling agencies.
Here's the final photo that will be on the back cover of Sheepish:
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