Mommy, who’s your agent and editor?
She has called to me from the fourth chapter of her new book, the kids’ version of that golden syrup Marley & Me, speedily read in bed before lights out.
We have imposed a moratorium on her voracious nighttime feeding of the Harry Potter seven-book collector’s series, noticing only months too late the correlation between her interrupted sleep, resurgent fear of the dark, wakefulness after 90 minutes of early dreaming and her tearful terror of being alone. (These things are rather always of obvious origin, although pitiably difficult for parents to recognize.)
She leaps up from bed and comes to me, certain that she has everything she needs to write her own international bestseller – a pencil, paper and dog whose name begins with an M. (Plus mom’s trusty publishing contacts!) Hastening to the dining table, she starts and finishes, sensibly enough, with a rendering of the cover. What more need be said?
“Molly & Me” it reads, with illustrations of the lead characters. Inspiration has wagged its tail, and all before bedtime.
If only I had her literary pedigree.
Your posts about Georgia make me smile.
Comment by Kristin H. — September 30, 2008 @ 6:56 pm
My daughter is also reading that book and she also writes her own stories. Problem is – her mother does not have a book or publisher. Ah well – what’s a girl to do?
Comment by Shalet — September 30, 2008 @ 7:05 pm
Write anyway, girls. I promise you, it’s not the agent, editor or even publisher that makes a book. It is the writer, and a writer who is content with a self-drawn cover alone is a very accomplished writer.
Comment by Karen Maezen Miller — September 30, 2008 @ 7:10 pm
How wonderful! Those make for the best books – the ones they write and color all on their own! As for the book Marley & Me – it was a wonderful read – my 14 year old is reading it now. Cat
Comment by Cat — September 30, 2008 @ 7:57 pm
Such healthy self-esteem and world optimism. Where can I get some of that? Also, where can I get a copy of Molly & Me??? 🙂
Comment by shannon — September 30, 2008 @ 8:58 pm
And confidence! Oh, that must have come from her mother…
Comment by Mika — September 30, 2008 @ 11:02 pm
can’t wait to read “molly and me”. how is it that i can love your daughter more and more, without ever having met her? she just seems like someone that i should know well, because she is one heck of a girl.
Comment by Holly — October 1, 2008 @ 12:02 am
Oh, for a pinch of her confidence!
Comment by Jena Strong — October 1, 2008 @ 12:56 am
As for her confidence, my friends, it is unsurprising. Where, after all, would she get the idea that she couldn’t write a book? Where do you, for instance, get the idea that you can’t?
I won’t say that she has the persistent interest in such an endeavor, persistence being far more useful than confidence as far as writing is concerned.
The fact remains: she has a darn good cover for a book!
Comment by Karen Maezen Miller — October 1, 2008 @ 1:49 am
Go Georgia go!
Comment by nyjlm — October 1, 2008 @ 2:28 am
My 5 yr old is also writing a book. Must be in the blood.
But hey, who needs a pedigree. My dog doesn’t have one and he’s still good at being a dog.
Comment by mapelba — October 1, 2008 @ 2:29 am
It’s “like mother like daughter” around here, too. A, almost nine, always says she wants to be a writer..until she has to write. Just like me! I find bits and pieces of books all over, but we share “completion issues.”
Our solution to the HP dilemma has been to read them as a family, out loud a chapter or two at a time, at bedtime. On the recommendation of friends, we’re going to hold up for a bit after “Order of the Phoenix.”
Comment by bluelikethesky — October 1, 2008 @ 4:39 am
Priceless.
Comment by Shelli — October 1, 2008 @ 12:25 pm
That’s so cute!
Comment by Mama Zen — October 1, 2008 @ 2:14 pm
I still remember the story my sister wrote when she was 8. I was the one who ended up being the writer, though. Maybe she made me believe it was possible. But I was a late bloomer, I didn’t start my first novel until 15.
Comment by Rowena — October 1, 2008 @ 3:53 pm
OK – persistence I can do.
Comment by Jena Strong — October 1, 2008 @ 4:50 pm
Dear Georgia and Karen,
This rubber duckie floss holder is wonderfully awesome and would match my miniature rubber duck necklace that lives in my bathroom.
While I appreciate the importance of dental hygeine, I am not a fan of regular flossing. I do believe that with teh assistance of this duck and the Fun Raiser, I would have a much happier and healthier mouth.
Sincerely,
Megan O of Gimme Insight!
Comment by Mambinki — October 3, 2008 @ 4:53 pm
Ah, Marley and me, the paen to bad dog raising. Sigh.
Comment by donna — October 5, 2008 @ 4:38 pm