December Theme: LOOKING BACK AND LOOKING AHEAD...PLUS A GIVEAWAY by John Claude Bemis


I’m happy to share that today is my birthday.  And a big one to boot.  With the year coming to an end, as well as my thirties, I’ll take this as a time for reflection.  A time to look back and to look ahead.

 
In 2012, my forth novel The Prince Who Fell from the Sky came out and became an Amazon Best Book for May.  This post-apocalyptic animal adventure with its sci-fi Jungle Book elements felt like a departure from the American steampunk epic fantasy in my previous Clockwork Dark trilogy.  I was thrilled to see how it found a new and different readership, as well as deepened my Clockwork Dark fan base.  I was thrilled to have the first book in my Clockwork Dark trilogy The Nine Pound Hammer land on the North Carolina Battle of the Books list, and the last book in the trilogy, The White City, receive the North Carolina Juvenile Literature award, the second time I’ve received this honor.

Also in 2012, I left teaching again and most likely permanently.  I love the classroom, and I’ve missed the day-to-day relationship with my students.  But having the time to focus my attention on my writing, as well as to expand my school visits and public speaking at conferences and workshops, has been rewarding. 

I’m excited to be working on my newest project, one that began in earnest in 2012 and will carry me into 2013.  I superstitiously keep works-in-progress under wraps, but my local librarians pay attention to what I check out to try to figure out my next book.  Earlier this summer when I was in the Hillsborough library, a librarian scanned two books on alchemy, one on the inventions of Leonardo Da Vinci, a history of the Venetian Empire, and the Carlo Collodi original version of Pinocchio.  She raised an eyebrow and scratched her chin but didn’t hazard a guess.  I’ll leave it to her and to you to try to put the pieces together.  I can promise it’s exciting!

So 2013 will be busy with this new project, as well as busy at a new writing spot.  As an early birthday present for my big Four-Oh!, my wife bought me a stand-up desk.  With the touch of a button it raises and lowers, so I can save my back and break up the writing day between sitting and standing.  Beautiful!

I’m looking forward to lots of school visits, conferences, and literary festivals in 2013.  Most exciting, I’m attending Kindling Word, a writer’s retreat in Vermont this coming January, that will be lead by Gary Schmidt.  If a long-weekend snowed in with lots of superstars of the children’s literary world isn’t an inspiring way to kick off the New Year, I don’t know what is.

So to all that came before, I send my thanks.  To all that is to come, I welcome you.

Happy holidays, everyone!   And happy reading and writing.

GIVEAWAY:
As a big thanks to you for reading Smack Dab In The Middle, I'm offering a giveaway.  Post a comment below (make sure you're a follower of Smack Dab), and you'll be entered in a drawing for your choice of any of my book (signed and personalized) or one of my audiobooks.  For more details on my books, see my website.  On Saturday December 15th, my daughter will draw one of your names from a distinctly low-tech hat and I'll post the winner.  Make sure to enter before 9 am EST on Dec. 15th.  Good luck!

Comments

  1. thanks for the give a way! That is a neat desk. You wouldn't want to know where I type on my computer. Enjoy your birthday! Forty is not bad at all. Congratulations on all your books.

    ReplyDelete
  2. The best place to write, I think, is by a window! Happy 4-0!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Some kind of wild potion that turns a 1300's peasant into a born of the silver spoon elitest? With marionette strings possibly :) I enjoyed your post & taking a guess! Happy Holidays!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Congratulations, PT! You're the winner of the giveaway. Shoot me an email at john@johnclaudebemis.com and we can make all the arrangements. Thanks!

      Delete
  4. Happy birthday!!! Would love one of your signed books!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Happy 40! The things they do with desks these days... awesome. THE PRINCE WHO FELL FROM THE SKY was one of my 2012 faves- I look forward to your next. Meanwhile, enjoy Vermont!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Irene, I'm honored that you enjoyed The Prince. Thank you so much for making my morning! Best wishes

      Delete
  6. Vermont in January? May the four-wheeled vehicles that drive you to and from the writer's retreat carry you safely! (It's a beautiful state, regardless of the time of year)

    -- Tom

    ReplyDelete
  7. Happy birthday! It's going to be a wonderful year! Congratulations!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Happy birthday, John! And here's to all the adventures yet to come ...

    ReplyDelete
  9. Looking forward to your next literary adventure! Hope your birthday was the best yet!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thanks so much, everyone, for the well-wishes and kind words!

    I'm happy to share that "PT" you are the winner of the drawing. Congratulations! Thanks to everyone for commenting and entering. I hope you all have wonderful and peaceful holidays.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment