INSPIRING NEW FICTION BY MEG WOLITZER

Meg Wolitzer is an amazing writer and her latest book, The Interestings, does not disappoint.  Her investigation of what path artists can stumble along is fascinating, terrifying, illuminating and heartbreaking.  It's also totally absorbing and I already miss the characters and wonder what they are currently up to.  You know a book is good when you think about the characters as real people in the world!  Thanks Meg for another fantastic book.  My favorite this year.

LET YOURSELF STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD

When I talk to teens, I often get asked how I achieved my dreams.  Actress, author, public speaker - I'm lucky to have done them all.  But how do you achieve your dreams?  Are some people just lucky?  Or is it hard work that makes dreams come true?  The answer is being really honest with yourself and recognizing what you absolutely love - and then taking steps towards doing it.  

In your heart of hearts, what would you LOVE to be doing?  Now think of three things you could practically do to help this dream come true.  They can be small steps or big ones.  Have a deadline when you WILL do these things...and see what happens.  People aren't lucky - they're assertive.  DO IT!

My Fave Short Film

the Scared is scared from Bianca Giaever on Vimeo.

MY FAVE SHORT FILM!

Story telling is an amazing part of our culture.  It brings us together, makes us not feel so alone and helps us process through a myriad of life's twists and turns.  Check out this amazing video of a kid's story.  I think this is one of my favorite short films of all time.  

Beginner's Novel Writing Class

NEXT NOVEL WRITING CLASS

Hey LA peeps, my next novel writing class will run from May 15th for 10 weeks.  Email me fast to grab a spot!

What Books Have Great Endings?

IS AN ENDING AN ENDING?

I just read the brilliant Griffin and Sabine.  It's an amazing story comprised of letters between depressed Griffin stuck in London and Sabine, an illustrator living on an exotic island.  My book, Its Yr Life, was also a book comprised of letters (emails) so this form of writing really excites me.  I loved everything about this book...except the ending.  But I have read countless amazing books that have awful endings.  So what makes a good ending?  Let me know what books you love that have a satisfying ending.  They are rare birds indeed!

Mrs Wilhelmy's Class!

WELCOME MRS WILHELMY'S THIRD GRADE CLASS!!!

The awesome students of Mrs Wilhelmy are doing a project all about amazing Australia.  I was asked about my favourite foods, crafts and music.  Some of my fave Aussie things: chocolate crackles, mars bar slice, vegemite on toast, musician Lenka, the Aboriginal Dreamtime and Boomerangs!  

I've heard there are quite a few fantastic writers in her class.  I hope they write some cool stories this year.  Maybe some of them will contain some things from Australia?  A wombat perhaps?