When my wife first suggested we put artificial turf down in the yard, I was skeptical. I remembered it as a plasticky, fake-looking thing that had all the charm and appeal of listening to that teacher from Ferris Beuller's Day Off call roll for hours.

I'm so glad I was wrong!

What we have instead is a soft, green, grassy place for the pups to romp and play. And for us to sit out and eat, when they allow it ;)

Can't wait to take it for a spin as a writing spot this afternoon during lunch!

An amazingly good book on writing, being a writer, and what it means to write fantasy in general (and children’s fantasy, in particular). Her voice is so strong, it sounds like she’s sitting next to you on the train, telling you these stories about her life and her writing process to while away the time.

Three things I learned about writing:

• Care about all your characters, even the very minor ones with hardly any speaking role at all
• It's ok to start the journey without knowing where you're going, so long as you see it through
• Don't let yourself be boxed in by others expectations. Write the best story you can, while you can, that you yourself enjoy.