Tag Archives: 2021

Christmas Farewell

Posted on January 17, 2022 by PB Rippey

Christmas morning we put our beloved, 14yr old family dog to sleep. We arrived home from the vet’s in gutters-flooding rain, lit a fire and cocooned around it, sharing: how Tucker didn’t have a mean bone in his gorgeous golden … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing | Tagged 2021, 2022, beloved dogs, family pets, life, saying goodbye | Leave a comment

Buh-Bye November Nanowrimo

Posted on December 5, 2021 by PB Rippey

And how was your Nanowrimo? Mine was interspersed with vaccinations (see previous post for shingles vax info if you’re thinking about going for it). And, right before Thanksgiving, a family reunion in redwood forests near Santa Cruz, CA. I might … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing | Tagged 2021, children's literature, fiction writing, kidlit, middle grade writing, Nanowrimo, redwood forests, Santa Cruz, Shingles Vaccine, writer, writing | Leave a comment

NANOWRIMO UPDATE (Shingles Vax Edition)

Posted on November 10, 2021 by PB Rippey

10 days since the start of Nanowrimo. I have missed 2 days of showing up. Because I got my shingles vaccine and had no idea it would slay me. “Just a sore arm,” I was told. “Like the flu shot. … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing | Tagged 2021, Big girl pants, Blue Apron, CDC advice, children's literature, Cinzano, fiction writing, Googling health, middle grade writing, NanoWriMo 2021, personal goals, Romanescu shrimp, Shingles Vaccine side effects, writer, writing, WTF | 1 Comment

Boo

Posted on October 28, 2021 by PB Rippey

This Halloween week, my son’s English teacher is having her students read the short story, THE MONKEY’S PAW, by W.W. Jacobs. Have you read it lately? Or, ever? I just did. First published in 1902, THE MONKEY’S PAW is so … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing | Tagged 2021, Classic horror, teens, The Monkey's Paw | 2 Comments

NANOWRIWAYMO WHAMO

Posted on October 8, 2021 by PB Rippey

The current issue of SCBWI Insight has an article with NanoWriMo tips. Succinct, logical tips for writing 1,667 words a day. And while I probably won’t follow all tips, I have been nudged (shoved?) by said article to participate this … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing | Tagged 2021, California history, Elizabeth Lake, Los Angeles, NanoWriMo 2021, Pets, SCBWI, SCBWI Insight, Ted Lasso S2, Valencia | 1 Comment

O Revision!

Posted on September 9, 2021 by PB Rippey

Ever since the SCBWI Big Five-Oh summer conference, I have been the Madwoman of Revision. Lots of adhering to red ink exclamation points. Filtering critique. On not just my manuscripts, but synopses, loglines…You, too? Whenever I’m convinced my writing is … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing | Tagged 2021, children's literature, fiction writing, Middle Grade Fiction, personal goals, poetry, revision, SCBWI, SCBWI Big Five Oh, writer | Leave a comment

SCBWI Big Five-OH! Summer Conference

Posted on July 31, 2021 by PB Rippey

I’ve “been here” since Thursday morning. Et tu? A main event for me yesterday was class with one of my revered middle grade authors, Gary D. Schmidt, reminding/pointing out to writers the perhaps subtle, yet concrete importance of your novel’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing | Tagged #kidlit, #SCBWIbigfiveoh, 2021, cats, Childrens Literature, David and Goliath, Dickens, Gary D. Schmidt, kidlit, novel writing, SCBWI Big Five-OH!, SCBWI Summer Conference 2021 | 2 Comments

Member: Mini-Get-Away Club

Posted on July 17, 2021 by PB Rippey

How odd to be out in the world. We aren’t venturing drastically far, but enough for a first substantial get-away since—-at least 3 years. The teen has been across the GG bridge, but he was just a boy then, shorter … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing | Tagged 2021, Academy of Sciences SF, Alcatraz Island, children's literature, fiction writing, Fisherman's Wharf San Francisco, middle grade writing, San Francisco, travel2021 | Leave a comment

Music While Writing

Posted on June 7, 2021 by PB Rippey

My Twitter feed has (once again) switched from an obsession with What Is Your Favorite Movie, to What Is Your Favorite Song. After research into my digital playlists (making me wonder if I’m missing a gene as everyone on Twitter … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing | Tagged 2021, alfred hitchcock 39 steps, amelia, ani difranco, bjork, brian eno discreet, carroll ballard, dilate, drops of jupiter, eddie vedder, Elbow, fly away home, indie music, Joni Mitchell, led zeppelin, madonna ray of light, rolling stones, she's a rainbow, william orbit | Leave a comment

SCBWI Summer Conference

Posted on May 24, 2021 by PB Rippey

My Covid-Recovery-Brain has suggested that my leaning back against bed-pillows and Zoom-ing into conference keynotes and panels and workshops might be especially beneficial for igniting synapses previously Covid-numbed. Especially since Gary D. Schmidt is participating this year. July 29 – … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing | Tagged #childrensliterature, #kidlit, 2021, fiction writing, I miss Kauai, kidlit, SCBWI Big Five Oh, SCBWI Summer Conference 2021, writing | Leave a comment

Spring Wild Fire

Posted on May 12, 2021 by PB Rippey

I was hoping that by now we’d have had more rain vs. thimblefuls, but we experienced a brushfire instead. Way too early in the year, too close to home. Friends texted me: ALREADY? and EXCORCISM RE; SUPER LA NINA. And … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing | Tagged #northfire, 2021, brushfires, fire evacuation 2021, firedrills, La Nina, north fire, Pets, pond turtles | Leave a comment

Earth Day 2021

Posted on April 23, 2021 by PB Rippey

Oh, crap–missed it. Didn’t realize until 11:30pm last night and checked my Twitter feed. I’m used to ED falling on Saturdays. Aren’t I? Speaking of Earth, we are having a Super La Nina in my part of the world. No … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing | Tagged 2021, carbon footprints, ducks and turtles, Earth Day 2021, La Nina, LIfe Without Plastic, recycling for life | Leave a comment

Euphoria

Posted on April 21, 2021 by PB Rippey

Reading Lily King’s EUPHORIA and watching Ken Burn’s ‘Hemingway’ feels like my brain has been emptied into the large silver strainer I use for washing strawberries, jiggling organic matter beneath faucet spray, jiggling, jiggling some more. For me, the theme … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing | Tagged 2021, Dogs, Euphoria, fiction writing, Hemingway, Ken Burns, Lily King, Pandemic, PBS, Pets, writing | Leave a comment

21 Days Later

Posted on April 15, 2021 by PB Rippey

I notice myself doing little things I haven’t in 3 weeks. Moving my hips to my Echo Show playlist, “PB’s Groove”, as I transfer dishes from the dishwasher to their homes. Throwing cat toys for the 3 beasts, up and … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing | Tagged #covid19recovery, 2021, children's literature, covid infection, covid19, Euphoria, fiction writing, Healing, Lily King, slow cooker salmon | Leave a comment

This Is Covid

Posted on March 29, 2021 by PB Rippey

Yes, but I’m the one who wears a mask to walk the dogs, herding them across the street to avoid oncoming pedestrians (who are never masked); the one who won’t powerwalk with mom friends (who are never masked); who will … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing | Tagged 2021, Alexa, cats, Covid fever, COVID-19, Sam Neill, writing | 6 Comments

SCBWI Events

Posted on March 15, 2021 by PB Rippey

A bright light in #stayhomestaysafe is being made aware (thanks to my SCBWI regional newsletter) of SCBWI regional events around the USA. Here are a couple I’m registered for: Austin, TX Webinar: To Plot or Not? , Tuesday 3/16 with … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing | Tagged 2021, fiction writing, Jennifer Swanson, kidlit, middle grade writing, Newbery Awards, non-fiction writing, SCBWI, SCBWI-Los Angeles, Solve It!, STEMTeamBooks, The Night Diaries, Veera Hiranandani, writing | Leave a comment

2021 Int’l Women’s Day

Posted on March 8, 2021 by PB Rippey

Posted in Writing | Tagged #peace, #wearetheworld, 2021, Butterflies, California, cats, Dua Lipa, hummingbirds, International Women's Day, Pets | Leave a comment

SCBWI Winter Conference

Posted on February 21, 2021 by PB Rippey

I’m “here”! Full day today. Especially looking forward to the agent panel. Also have made new Twitter friends. Will be phenomenal to attend in real life one day. Yours in info dumps,PB

Posted in Writing | Tagged #fictionwriting, #kidlit, #NY21SCBWI, #SCBWI, 2021, Childrens Literature, fiction writing, writing | Leave a comment

Revising Is Writing

Posted on February 10, 2021 by PB Rippey

That’s it. That’s the post. Revising. Is. Writing. Also: When I remember that revising IS writing? It’s like I’ve downed a small shot glass of caffeine. Or at least an Americano. Pen, fingers liven up. In conclusion: Here is a … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing | Tagged 2021, Black cats, fiction writing, stay healthy, stay safe, stay strong 2021, wear a mask, writers block, writing, writing fiction, writing woes | Leave a comment

Dam Break! (Shaman Edition)

Posted on January 23, 2021 by PB Rippey

Not at all far from my new home in the Santa Clarita Valley are chunky ruins of the St. Francis Dam, once a major reservoir for Los Angeles. March 12, 1928, the dam collapsed. The sudden freedom of 12.4 billion … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing | Tagged 2021, Harey Carey Sr, Navajo AZ, Pacific Ocean, San Francisquito Dam break, Santa Clarita Valley, Shaman, Tesoro Adobe, Valencia CA, Ventura CA | Leave a comment

Happy Inauguration Day

Posted on January 20, 2021 by PB Rippey

The future is bright! Finally. Also: #catsforbidenharris

Posted in Writing | Tagged #catsforbidenharris, #stayhome, #staysafe, #wearamask, 2021, Biden Harris, books, Breathe, COVID-19, fiction writing, hope | Leave a comment

SCBWI Winter 2021

Posted on January 12, 2021 by PB Rippey

I’m going. Are you?

Posted in Writing | Tagged 2021, Children's book publishing, Children's Books, children's literature, kidlit, Middle Grade Fiction, SCBWI, Writing life | Leave a comment

Happy New Year!

Posted on January 1, 2021 by PB Rippey

NYE we went around the dinner table, each of us (husband, teen, me) listing anything we’d like to accomplish in 2021. Our teen shocked the heck out of his parents by stating he’d like to learn how to cook things … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing | Tagged #maskup, #stayhome, #staysafe, 2021, Bridgerton, happy new year, maple glazed salmon, Netflix, NYE dinner, Shondaland, teens, Tennyson, XboxOneX, young chefs | Leave a comment