An image of the American Indian tipi was the first thing that captured the Cinnamon Girls attention, leading them to the massive adventure of living in a tipi for their 16th summers. These noble structures are at once practical and beautiful, and possess an interior “inner circle”, which the girls felt had a magical energy. At the center of the interior is a fire pit, which was difficult to learn how to master, but once they did provided many a long conversation, staring into the flames.
Posts Tagged ‘YA literature’
Cinnamon Girls Loved Their Tipi
In Teepee Photos on August 3, 2012 at 5:40 pmLong Before BFF Acronym, Girls Pledged to Love Forever
In teen girls on October 4, 2011 at 8:56 pmA favorite theme in children’s and young adult literature is childhood best-friendship so intense that it inspires a ritual or oath to commemorate it. 
This undying sentiment has been distilled into the texting acronym ‘BFF,’ bestowed on that one and only friend who has earned ‘forever’ status. While some girls may attempt to have more than one BFF, technically by calling someone ‘best’ you are designating an exclusivity only one soul mate can earn.
Authors celebrate the bond of best friends, exploring various ways that children and teens pledge their undying devotion. “Blood Sisters” mingle blood, either by pressing bleeding forefingers together or drinking wine with blood dripped into it. 
Oaths to meet again in the distant future have a romantic flair matched only by sworn promises ‘never to forget’ an adventure, as platonic soul mates Tess and Lisa vow in Cinnamon Girls. One of the things I love about their friendship is that it is not encumbered by the murky motivations of seeking validation or sexual pleasure that sullies the girls’ relationships with Andy and Tucker. Friendship asks only that the BFF be trustworthy. Or, if the BFF totally f**ks up, as humans and especially teens are wont to do, the friend must promptly ‘fess up. Almost any failing can be forgiven as long as you are rigorously honest.
Of course modern parents dread that BFF status may be set in stone via a tattoo that their child will have to have painfully lasered off in the future.
No matter how you show the depth of your bond with a female friend, it is my hope that you will remember that feeling forever, keeping the final ‘F” in your BFF pledge for a lifetime. After all, boys come and go but blood sisters are forever.
To My Agent in the Caribbean: Enjoy
In 1 on January 18, 2010 at 9:37 pmI feel sorry for my agent Bri, being on vacation when an event so horrible errupts that you must interrupt your bliss to tune in on the news. I happened to be in Positano, Italy when the Columbine disaster happened and remember dreading the news but feeling obligated to stay updated. Adding to that quandry, Bri is in the Caribbean, which much feel strange.. to know that besieged Haiti shores occupy the same sea as her chosen island paradise.
Knowing how hard she works, I hope she is thinking about little other than the gentle waves breaking on her pedicured toes. I do have to admit, however, my nagging need to obsess about the fate of my manuscript creeps in from time to time. Specifically, I wonder about her e-mail account & wonder what would happen if an e-mail about my manuscript came in while she is gone. Is someone looking them over in case an acceptance letter from an editor is gathering dust in her in-box? Can someone else reply if one does come in? Do I sound self-centered?
Tomorrow she comes back and no matter how hard I try, I will not be able to resist checking my e-mail every two seconds all day long. Dusty acceptance letter, take heart: we will get you, we will reply, and most importantly, we love you…
Things I need to know about my main character
In 1 on November 25, 2009 at 2:12 amAnger – Why is my character so pissed off (currently & historically?)
Envy – Who has stuff she wants but feels cheated out of having?
Loneliness – How does she hide her feelings of being utterly alone?
Determination – what accomplishment does she believe will “fix” her?
Isolation – In what way is she a misfit?
Lust – Who is unavailable to her and therefore exquisitely desirable?
Longing – If she could have her perfect world, what would it look like?
Survival – what does my character overcome in order to survive?
Blankie – What object from childhood does she still love – a last vestige of being a little girl?
Shower warbling – what is her theme song?
a novel proposal
In 1 on October 21, 2009 at 11:00 pmI am working on a proposal for my next novel. Actually I am batting around several ideas. Why am I attracted to ideas which drag my main character through the gates of Hell? On the one hand, I accuse myself of being lurid, and on the other I believe that it is my job, really, to torture my antagonist. Also, the topics of addiction and recovery resonate with me and could be helpful to girls out there who suffer from alcoholism, drug addition or eating disorders – or girls whose friends suffer. I’m still planning on drawing my story from a real life teen story, being a firm believer that truth is stranger than fiction…
