Anna's Blog

10 True Things About My Husband

June 9th, 2010

Last year on our anniversary, I posted this story. Hard to top that for sheer toe-curling embarrassment. So this year, I will tell you 10 true things about this man I married.

1. When we were in college, I did a summer study in London and Nathan flew in to visit the last week I was there. We visited Greenwich and took a picture at the Prime Meridian, Nathan in one hemisphere and me in the other. And for my birthday that year he had the picture framed opposite the John Donne poem that reads:

My face in thine eye, thine in mine appears,
And true plain hearts do in the faces rest ;
Where can we find two better hemispheres
Without sharp north, without declining west ?
Whatever dies, was not mix’d equally ;
If our two loves be one, or thou and I
Love so alike that none can slacken, none can die.

I had it on the wall of my dorm room and had serious boyfriend envy from all the girls who visited my room that year, believe me.

2. His first car was a 1973 Dodge Dart, bought from a pair of little old ladies he knew who had only driven it to church and back and now could no longer drive and couldn’t afford to keep it. He bought it while I was away in England and I remember talking to him over a really bad long-distance connection asking him what kind of car it was and him saying, “You’re going to kill me.” I kind of liked it, though. And whenever I drove anywhere after we were married I would be surrounded by older men exclaiming, “Wow, that car is a CLASSIC!”

3. I like his hair a bit longer than he does, and to humor me he didn’t cut it for a few weeks before our wedding. With the result that after the ceremony his aunt came up to congratulate him with the words, “Nathan, you need a haircut. But have a nice life.”

4. When we were picking out (really inexpensive) wedding rings at the jewelry store across from our college dorm, I saw a necklace on display and totally fell in love. Then realized that the stones were, in fact, actual diamonds, and said, Right, not happening. Which was totally okay; there’s a time in life for diamond necklaces and just-married-while-still-in-college is probably not it, I was completely fine with that. But on our one year anniversary I came home to our little 1-bedroom apartment and Nathan gave me a jewelry box with that exact necklace inside.

5. He has no internal clock. None. It was beaten out of him by years as a physics major, and he still has the ability to stay up all night indefinitely and/or crash whenever he has a few minutes break. This makes him very handy to have around when there’s a newborn baby in the house.

6. He really hates anything sticky on his hands. Like, really a lot. All anyone wanting to get information out of him would have to do would be to coat his fingers with jelly and then offer him soap and a wet paper towel in exchange for agreeing to talk.

7. He taught our older girl to recognize every airplane in his ‘Encyclopedia of World Air Power’ book by the time she was two. He also read her books about rockets and space exploration as bedtime stories. When she and I were drawing with chalk on the brand new chalkboard my mum had just gotten her I asked what I should draw and she said, “Draw Sky Lab!” Really.

8. He reads computer books for fun. Novels? Not so much. He always has some really intelligent, interesting feedback to give me about mine, though.

9. I just had a play date with a neighborhood mom who had met Nathan and traded contact information because, as she put told me, “Our kids are the same ages and he looked so steam-rollered that I could relate.” But he was out there, juggling our infant and toddler, getting them out of the house so that I could have some uninterrupted writing time. Bless him.

10. As of tomorrow, we will have been married for TEN YEARS. I sure love him.

Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments »

Ch-ch-ch-changes

June 4th, 2010

The summer after my freshman year of college, I worked behind the counter of a bagel shop, part of the franchise of . . . well, in the interests of being nice, I won’t say which chain this particular shop was part of. But their motto was “Totally, completely obsessed.” As in, every day I worked there I had to wear a name tag pinned to my apron which read, “Hi, I’m Anna: totally, completely obsessed.”

And I really wish I knew just who the marketing genius was who thought up this particular motto/policy, so that I could thank him or her personally. Because it ensured that every single creepy skanky guy who came into the shop looked me up and down and then said, “Hi, Anna. So, are you totally, completely obsessed?” All summer long.

This company also had the particular gimmick of making small batches of bagels every 30 minutes throughout the day, and never toasting them or reheating them–because they were always fresh. So the store didn’t even own a microwave or toaster. Because they were so totally, completely obsessed and all, you know? Anyway, I would love to personally thank whoever it was who was responsible for that bit of company policy, too. Because let me tell you, there are a LOT of people out there who feel very, very strongly–passionately, even–that bagels should be toasted before they are spread with cream cheese. I might not feel quite that passionately about it, but I would tend to agree. I like a toasted bagel as much as the next girl. That didn’t help, though. I would explain that I was sorry, but the bagels could not be toasted. And these customers would all complain, protest, and argue the point with me. Loudly and angrily. Because you KNOW that the girl who spends her days spreading cream cheese while forced to wear a name tag that reads, Hi, I’m Anna: totally, completely obsessed has ALL the power to change company policy. Yes. Please lodge complaints here.

So, imagine me towards the end of that summer. The air conditioning in the shop had been broken for a week. Which, in August, when company policy dictates that the bagels be baked fresh on the premises every 30 minutes . . . it was hot. Really, really, hot. It was the height of the lunch hour rush. I was dripping with sweat under my uniform and apron. And this middle-aged businessman stepped up to my counter and asked–I would have sworn he asked–for a toasted bagel with cream cheese. I had pretty much had it. I looked him straight in the eye and said, in my most polite-but-firm voice, “I am sorry, sir. But we do not toast bagels. We do not microwave bagels. We do not reheat bagels in ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM.” And the poor guy gave me this totally bemused look and said, “Um, all I wanted was a turkey sandwich.” I had completely misheard him.

Oh, toe-curlingly embarrassing.

Anyway, let me be clear that despite the fact that this was not exactly the best summer of my life, I firmly believe that everyone, for the good of their immortal soul, should have to work a job like this at least once in their lifetime, if for no other reason than that you will never, ever be rude to anyone in the service industry afterwards. Not that I would have been rude before, but even now, 10 years later, I would eat my own shoes before I even hinted to some poor overworked behind-the-counter employee that a company policy was in any way their personal fault.

And looking back now is a really good reminder of just how lucky I am to be able to work my dream job these days: to write full-time, tell myself stories all day long and actually get paid for it. The college-age daughter of my writing partner Sarah (*waves* Hi, Brynne!) is searching for summer work now, which is what prompted this particular trip down memory lane. And it was a really good reminder this week especially, because there are times when even my dream job–the one I would do even if I never got paid another dime–is hard.

I’m going to be losing my beloved editor Danielle at the end of this month. She’s getting married and going to grad school, and I’m so happy for her, because those are great life-changes and she deserves every single happiness that life has to offer. But at the same time, I’m so sad she’s leaving editing, because I have loved, loved, loved putting my stories and my characters into her incredibly insightful, sensitive, and intelligent hands.

When my agent and I were going through submissions to publishing houses, she read my book, loved it, and called me on the phone to talk even before her house made an offer. And we connected right away. I just felt instantly that she was IT, the perfect person to help me tell Trystan and Isolde’s story the absolute best way I could. And she has been. At the back of each of my books I’ve thanked her for having ‘helped me uncover the book I meant to write all along.’ And that’s really what she’s done, every time. I always read her comments and feel as though I’ve been groping in the dark and she’s switched on the light and shown me exactly what direction I need to go. And that without ever giving me a single direct order–not once has she ever said, Do this. or Re-write it this way. She just asks questions, shows me opportunities in the manuscript where things can be improved or heightened.

And now she’s leaving. And it’s hard. She won’t be with me when Dark Moon of Avalon is released in September, or when Sunrise of Avalon comes out a year after that. Whoever buys my next project, it won’t be her. But I’m still so, so lucky to have gotten to finish out the whole of the trilogy under her direction. Even though the final 2 books aren’t published yet, they are edited and done, and Danielle and I both feel great about them, and that is such a good assurance to have. I’m so, so lucky that she picked my manuscript out of the pile of submissions in the first place and has made me stretch and grow as a writer over these last nearly three years.

Thank you, Danielle! And best of luck wherever life takes you. Trystan, Isolde, and I will always, always be grateful to you.

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments »

Writer Unboxed

May 21st, 2010

I’m over at Writer Unboxed today, blogging about finding the time to write with two little kids in the house. And sounding waaaay more together about it than I have felt this week! 2 sick kids + 1 sick husband + sleep deprivation + repairmen working on various construction projects around the house = chaos, pretty much. Although I guess in a way I’ve proved the point of my WU post, which is that even when life is craziest, the writing still can get done. My word count for this week isn’t exactly the highest it’s ever been–but it’s higher than zero, so I’ll take it!

And in other news, Vivi has her first tooth and is working on a second. And hasn’t even been cranky about it, which is great. Although I’m realizing that she is now just 3 months away from turning ONE YEAR OLD. Aaahhh, stop growing, I can’t stand it! Not really, of course. But I feel like that’s the eternal Catch-22 of motherhood–you long for your kids to be older, more self-sufficient, less prone to turning your house into a play-dough covered disaster zone and trying to teethe on the electrical cords. Then you look at their little chubby legs and toothless grins and curly pigtails–and you’d give anything to freeze them just the way they are.

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Happy Mother’s Day

May 9th, 2010

Happy Mother’s Day! Both to my amazing mother and mother-in-law, of course, and to all the other wonderful mums out there, too. This was the first year Bella (now 3) was really old enough to understand the concept and make a gift–so she made me a beaded necklace, and picked out some flowers, too. So sweet. And then we had the following conversation:

Bella: I love you a hundred and fifty.
Me: I love you up to the moon and back again.
Bella: *rolls eyes* That’s not a number, Mom.

I’ve said it before, but I really am pretty sure that she’s the cutest thing ever.

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

conversations with my girls

April 27th, 2010

Conversation #1

Bella: I’m always Daddy’s best friend.
Me: You sure are, sweetie. Will you be my best friend, too?
Bella: Yes. But you don’t have fur on your skin.
Me: Um, no, very true. No fur here.

After some discussion, we clarified that what she meant was that my arms are less hairy than Nathan’s. Which, although a good thing in my book, is evidently a strike against me in the plus/minus tally of parental qualities.

Conversation #2

Vivi: Dadadadada
Me: Very good! Now can you say Mamamamama?
Vivi: *Big Grin* Dadadadada
Me: Mamamamama
Vivi: *sound of very wet baby raspberry*

She has a very well-developed sense of humor for 7 months old.

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

(No More) Mr. Nice Guy

April 20th, 2010

On the (rare, lately) occasions when my children take long enough naps for me to post on this blog, I try to keep it controversy- and negativity-free. Plenty of both in the world already, that’s how I look at it. But today–today I’m going to step outside that. Because it happened again the other day.

I was in the library, browsing through the “romance” section, because I like a good guaranteed happily-ever-after kind of story now and again. And in flipping through the first pages of one of the books on the shelf, I found a story whose first chapter consisted of the male protagonist taking the female protagonist’s virginity with absolutely no thought of commitment, love, or even birth control–then calling her various vicious names afterwords and making her cry. Because, you know, he is such a hard-edged alpha-male type.

Nor is this an isolated occurrence. I’ve read books in the “romance” genre that include–as part of the courtship between the hero and heroine–emotional abuse, physical violence, and situations that border on rape.

Now, since these are guaranteed happily-ever-after romance novels, I have no doubt that if I picked them up from where they land after I hurl them across the room, I would find the same hero and heroine falling into each others’ arms in the final pages. But for me, that just makes it worse. Abusive behavior does not deserve to be glamorized as some sort of romantic ideal.

I mean, if, God forbid, twenty years down the road, one of my daughters came home with a story like the one I just repeated, would I tell her, ‘Oh, sweetie, he must be The One’? No. I am, in general, a peace loving, violence-is-not-the-answer kind of a girl. But if (God forbid) one of my girls came home with a story like that, I would be sending my husband out for a SHOTGUN.

But they’re just stories, you may say. Fiction. Just don’t read them if they offend you. And you’d be right. Absolutely, you’d be right. Except–

Except that the other day my husband was reading an on-line news site and chanced to click on an advice column article. A man had written in with a problem: he couldn’t seem to sustain a long-term relationship. Women were always breaking up with him. Ah, the advice columnist said. You’re treating the women you date too nicely. Women don’t like nice guys. You need to be more of a jerk.

Now, beyond agreeing with my husband that this advice columnist was a *word he would never have used had either of our girls been in earshot*, I didn’t really think too much of it. Just an isolated occurrence, right?

Not two days later, one of the lead stories in a major newspaper was an interview with a guy who runs a dating service for men that centers around teaching them to be less nice to the women they date. Because, he explained, women don’t like nice guys.

Now, let me be clear. Am I suggesting that this advice columnist, dating service, or romance novels are cause-and-effect directly responsible for each other–or for that matter for domestic violence and abuse?

No. I’m not. All I am saying is that words have power. Stories have power. Let’s–please–be mindful of the stories we read, write, and believe in. Please? These two precious girls of mine need to grow up in a world where they can find men who are as nice as their Daddy is.

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

Writer Unboxed redirect

April 16th, 2010

I’m over at Writer Unboxed today. Stop on by!

And one of these days maybe my children will miraculously sleep long enough for me to post a blog post beyond my monthly announcement that I’m over at WU. It could happen. Really.

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Calling All Bookclubs

March 31st, 2010

Welcome to the Blarney Stone Book Club of Manlius, NY, who are the first to send a group photo!

If your bookclub wants to read Twilight of Avalon, take a look at my bookclub page where you can submit your own photo or arrange a telephone/Skype chat to discuss the book.

And in other news, it’s SPRING! Warm weather and flowers everywhere! Bella picked me a bouquet of dandelions in the yard yesterday, then put them on the bookcase next to my side of the bed. She told me, “Now every time you go to sleep you can dream about your big girl and how nice she is.” Yes, I’m pretty sure she’s the cutest thing ever.

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Writer Unboxed

March 26th, 2010

I’m over at Writer Unboxed today for my monthly post.

Also, have you watched the remake of The 39 Steps on PBS yet? If not, I highly, highly recommend it.

It stars Rupert Penry-Jones, who I developed a huge (don’t tell my husband) crush on when he played Captain Wentworth in Persuasion. And it’s just a wonderfully suspenseful, fun time.

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

Schatten über Avalon

March 11th, 2010

Eek–ages since I last posted! I seem to have had even less free time than usual lately. Something about a certain two sweet girls I was lucky enough to bring into the world. . .

But I wanted to share the cover of the German edition of Twilight of Avalon. Isn’t it gorgeous? I must have had a cover fairy present at my contract signing–I’ve had such great luck with the lovely artwork chosen.

Schatten über Avalon is available from weltbild.de. If you cannot view the Flash preview (it tries to spawn a popup window), you may instead download sample pages in PDF format.

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

« Previous Entries Next Entries »

Anna Elliott's blog is proudly powered by WordPress.
Entries (RSS) and Comments (RSS).