Randomness

I sent off the materials to Midwest Writers Workshop yesterday. In the hands of the faculty now I suppose. At any rate, I still have a pitch to craft and a query letter to re-edit for the agent pitch. Not exciting stuff but not easy either. I write stories better than I craft queries and such. I wonder if other writers feel the same way. Time will tell I guess. That and some talks with other aspiring and published authors in 6 weeks. This is a challenge for me in more ways than one...a writers' only conference, driving to an unfamiliar place, hoping my work is good enough to at least merit comments and good critiques. My daughter, wise for her years, tells me this is a growth experience...I want to say, Why in the heck did it take so long?!?
On other matters(I said this was random, remember?), I've just finished the most amazing two books by Suzanne Collins, Hunger Games and Chasing Fire. Amazing because they're written for older kids and young adults but riveting...as riveting as a good thriller, because the writing is fantastic! Collins cuts no corners here and expects her audience to pay attention. There are plots, subplots, and intriguing characters as well as a gutsy heroine who makes choices even an adult would cringe at having to consider. The third in the seires, Mockingjay, comes out this August and I will be there...as eager to read the further adventures of Katniss Everdeen as I am to read the latest risktaking of Jack Reacher.
Add to that the exellence of Andrew Gross in his latest thriller Reckless. Terrorists attacking the US through use and misuse of major banks? Almost too real these days and therefore disturbing and a page turner.
See why I fight for time to write? I'm almost too engrossed in learning from some of the best by reading their works.
Off the my 'day job' now, and a local production of Picasso at the Lapin Agile later.
More randoms thoughts on most of this later. Happy Thursday!