A Writer's Moment: Opening those 'magic portals'

A Writer's Moment: Opening those 'magic portals':   “All of us create our own versions of an event, of our lives, even, not because we're liars, necessarily, but because we can only see ...

Opening those 'magic portals'

 

“All of us create our own versions of an event, of our lives, even, not because we're liars, necessarily, but because we can only see and understand the truth from our own viewpoint, and a shifting viewpoint at that.” – Deb Caletti

 

Born in California on June 16, 1963 Caletti is an award-winning writer, primarily of young adult fiction, although she has several adult novels to her credit as well.   Caletti studied journalism at the University of Washington, received some recognition for playwriting, but always wanted to try novels.  "When my son was two,” she said, “I got serious about writing. I didn’t want to be one of those people who talked about their dream but never did anything about it.” 

 

All of her works are set in the Pacific Northwest and her YA books are noted for tackling difficult issues related to relationship dynamics, family (including stepfamilies), change and resilience, and  connections between human and animal nature.

 

A National Book Award finalist (for Honey, Baby, Sweetheart), and a Michael L. Printz Honor Book medalist (for her most recent book A Heart in a Body in the World), she said she’s been a passionate reader and writer from an early age and speaks glowingly about libraries.  

 

“I understood right from the start that every set of library doors were the sort of magic portals that lead to other lands,” she said.  “My God, right within reach there were dinosaurs and planets and presidents and girl detectives!“

A Writer's Moment: An action that's 'worthy of reaching for'

A Writer's Moment: An action that's 'worthy of reaching for':   "I am careful not to confuse excellence with perfection.  Excellence I can reach for; perfection is God's business." -  Mic...

An action that's 'worthy of reaching for'

 "I am careful not to confuse excellence with perfection.  Excellence I can reach for; perfection is God's business." -  Michael J. Fox

Born in Edmonton, Alberta on June 9, 1961 Fox is staying exceptionally busy despite his ongoing battle with Parkinson's Disease, working on causes ranging from finding a cure for the illness to eradicating hunger and housing shortages.

Probably one of the most iconic faces in acting, especially for the two roles for which he always will be remembered - the young Republican Alex Keaton on Family Ties and teen adventurer extraordinaire Marty McFly in the Back to the Future movies - Fox also is a gifted writer.  Using his writing skills to do essays and bio pieces about the disease from which he suffers, he exudes optimism that with enough attention and support a cure can be found.

His book Lucky Man, about dealing with the disease, is a must read for those interested in how to overcome the deepest of odds.  His newest book (out in 2025) is Future Boy:  Back to the Future and My Journey Through the Space-Time Continuum.

Fox's acting career almost got sidelined from the start.  The director of Family Ties wanted him for the Alex role, but producer Brandon Tartikoff felt Keaton was "too short" (he's 5-foot-4) and not the kind of face you'd like to see on your kid's lunchbox."  But they tried him in the pilot and he was so well-received that he went on to be the key figure in the show, winning three Emmy Awards for his acting.

At the series' end, he presented Tartikoff with a lunchbox emblazoned with his face on the cover.

"I like to encourage people to realize that any action is a good action," Fox said, "IF it's proactive and there is a positive intent behind it."

A Writer's Moment: Who makes for good friends?

A Writer's Moment: Who makes for good friends?:   “Poetry and music are very good friends. Like mommies and daddies and strawberries and cream - they go together.”  –  Nikki Giovanni   ...

Who makes for good friends?

 

“Poetry and music are very good friends. Like mommies and daddies and strawberries and cream - they go together.” –  Nikki Giovanni

 

Born in Knoxville, Tenn., in June of 1943, Giovanni was a poet, writer, commentator, activist and educator.   One of the world’s best-known African American poets, her work covered topics ranging from race and social issues to children's literature.  Giovanni, who died in 2024, won numerous awards, including the Langston Hughes Medal and NAACP Image Award.   

 

Her poetry has ranged from the somber, such as the chant-poem she delivered at the memorial for the Virginia Tech shooting victims, to thoughtful, to whimsical.  For Saturday’s Poem here is Giovanni’s  

I wrote a good omelet

I wrote a good omelet...and ate
a hot poem... after loving you
Buttoned my car...and drove my
coat home...in the rain...
after loving you
I goed on red...and stopped on
green...floating somewhere in between...
being here and being there...
after loving you
I rolled my bed...turned down
my hair...slightly
confused but...I don't care...
Laid out my teeth...and gargled my
gown...then I stood
...and laid me down...
To sleep...
after loving you.

A Writer's Moment: Start with 'a great appetite for the curious'

A Writer's Moment: Start with 'a great appetite for the curious':   “One of the most adventurous things left us is to go to bed. For no one can lay a hand on our dreams.”  – E. V. Lucas   Born in Eltham...