That Was Then... This Is Now

I was privileged to visit the delightfully treed, copiously gardened, wonderfully architectured, hidden away gem called CA (Colorado Academy) for two days this week to meet, greet and teach kiddoes from itty bitty Pre-K's (My gosh tiny human beings are cute!) up to fifth graders.

The first day was full of assemblies, storytelling and workshops and the second day was full of creative writing workshops with excited, involved, engaged and FUN students!

I love the energy children bring to writing! It is SO much fun to work with their ideas of WHO, WHERE, WHEN, WHY and WHAT and to mold it into a fun picture book stories while they buzz about the room coming up with VERBS that will activate the sentences and story!  There is nothing more refreshing that seeing something appear out of a child's imagination and then to see it bloom and flourish into a story someone might actually want to read in a book!  Magical this job of mine!

FIVE years ago I visited CA for the first time and wished I could go back to school.

It was a beautiful Autumn day and we all decided to do some pictures.  I took a picture with the little children pictured and was presented with a great photograph to remember the day by.  

As I was going through my bulging school files over the summer I came across this picture and thought it would be fun for the folks at CA to see the kids as they were "back in the day" and my host, the AWESOME Allison Peters (librarian), set out to find them to take another picture.  Only one was not at the school any longer.  
 

SO, that was then... 

This is NOW! 

I would say for the first time in a photograph in a long time, I am the least changed of all.  That is a nice thing when the days, weeks, months and years seem to slip by.

Perhaps I'll catch up with them again in five years when they are in their last year at CA.  Now that will be some picture, huh?

There are Gargoyles among us...

Meet Roderick, the main character of my present writerly obsession.

I am busy working on a book which I am targeting at the Middle Grade audience, but I hope will be full of enough "good stuff" that it will find an adult audience the way other "kid's books" have.

My book (presently in the manuscript stage) is full of fantasy, historical fiction, present day adventures, and incorporates unlikely subjects including; crime fighting, Guinness World Book Record type of activities, Parisian nights, Malibu days, underworld Basque conspiracies, extreme underwater swimming speed battles, a bumbling news reporter, La Costa Nostra and other crime elements, epic battles, surfing and surfers, Laguna Beach, California, exclusive yacht clubs and snooty people, a touch of romance, an ancient curse which must be broken, secret detectives, the search for Gargoylian Kryptonite, magic, a priest with an ancient text about Gargoylian lore, nocturnal carnivorous feasting, Grotesques and Chimeras who battle the Gargoyles for supremacy, California Coast Cruising (an extreme water sport few know about), some Red Hot Chili Peppers music, texting, social networking, video blogs and tons of mystery.

So much packed into one book and thus far this book has been tons of fun to write, but the hard work of editing, cutting, adding, refining, redesigning and restructuring is about to begin.

With all of the swirling elements it remains primarily about one subject; the Notre Dame Gargoyles, which have intrigued me for years, since seeing them on a trip to Paris, and I hope my book will intrigue readers as well.

While researching this current book project and scouring the world for examples of these creatures (my book is about Gargoyle Superheroes) I discovered one protecting the baggage area at DIA! He is sitting inside a suitcase.

Now how cool is that?

Do you know anyone who would want to read about gargoyle adventures?

I need some "fantasy"readers to critique several chapters to see if this new genre for me will work for you.

If you are interested in reading a bit of it and chiming in, please email me at justin@justinmatott.com I am looking for critique, not compliments (though they are welcomed too). I am hoping those who enjoy this style of book will give constructive criticism which would help guide me to a better book in the end.


PROCESS:

Trying to "zero in" on what is important in story, incorporating the outline devised for it. The structure of character development (WHO), describing settings which details place and time (WHERE AND WHEN) for the characters to dwell in, while identifying and sticking with a main idea and/or author's purpose (WHY) and ultimately delivering active plot lines which will keep the pages turning. (WHAT HAPPENS). Once those goals are articulated within the pages of the manuscript, I must determine if my reader can SEE, HEAR, TASTE, SMELL AND FEEL THE STORY I have designed for them.

The AC Project is underway!

Be encouraged! The youth surrounding us are doing some pretty terrific things to change the world!

I spoke to Powell Middle Schoolers this morning about heroism, character and making a difference in the world. Several of them suggested I blog about my son's journey, because they were impressed with the idea of young men traveling the world to make a positive change, so here it is!

We talked about how you can make a positive change on the street corners of Denver (or any city, town or hamlet), by handing out sweaters, coats, gloves and food to the folks who are down on their luck. No reason to wait!

The morning at Powell Middle School was made possible by one student, LUCY, who is already a hero, a champion of others, a student of the NON MEism movement. A girl who puts her faith into action! A girl who already knows she wants to go to Africa to make a difference for orphaned children! I am very proud to know her and after meeting her parents realized the "apple didn't fall far from the tree". It was exciting to see how her desire to change the world infected the others to want to do something similar. WAY TO GO LUCY!

Ethan Matott, Doug and Ryan Wekenman left LAX this week and landed safely in Haiti where they will start this year long mission trip. There is a facebook page set up to follow them as well as their website: http://theac.org/ Matt Fons will join them in June when he is done at with his last semester in college and then the four of them will continue on the trip.

Take some time to read about what four guys who met at Colorado University in Boulder are doing to make this a better world. When they get back they will be showing their video journalism and setting up the foundation where other people can get involved and make a difference too. It is also exciting for me to think that Matt Fons, the WRITER, will be possibly bringing out a book about their travels.

Watch THE AC PROJECT in 90 SECONDS
http://vimeo.com/31881334

If you are on twitter, please follow their twitter feed for more information. https://twitter.com/?iid=am-114225476113257957525153798&nid=23+sender&uid=23076800&utm_content=profile#!/The_AC_Project


If you are on facebook, please LIKE their facebook page for more information.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/122104614558045/

Don't judge a book by the cover...

I wore my hair long when I was in middle school. Many teachers and others thought I was a druggie. I looked like one with my uniform of long hair, wire frame glasses, hiking boots, 501 jeans and psychedelic shirts! Little did they know that the time they thought I was spending "wasted away" was actually spent helping others. I remember when this article came out in the newspaper the counselor calling me to her office and with amazement showed me the article, as if we must be talking about a different Justin Matott here.

Lately I have had the good fortune of spending a lot of time in middle school. Some people think people in sixth, seventh & eighth grade are tough to deal with. I don't! I really like them and understand them. I understand the struggles, because I have been there. My middle school years like many were a difficult time for all of the typical reasons, PUBERTY, a new awareness of the opposite sex (and the further awareness that the ones I was interested in, didn't return the favor), acne, growth spurts and erratic moods and the list went on and on. The biggest thing I was going through wasn't evident to the eye. My mom was VERY ill. A brain tumor was changing all of our lives and soon she would be diagnosed, but there were a few years when her behavior was literally the behavior of someone who is insane. This is a HUGE burden for a boy of twelve, thirteen AND fourteen to go through. It is tough for someone of any age.

When my world was turning upside down and the craziness was too much for me to bear, I walked across the fields from my house and found refuge with "the house of grandmas and grandpas". I volunteered any way I could to help bring some sunshine into their lives just by the very fact that I was young, funny and fun loving. Those hours spent at the retirement home brought me sanity in the midst of a world turning upside down. I am currently writing about that time in an effort to help adolescents to understand that they are not alone.

BUT, one thing I find that remains the same in our day and age is that middle school age kids are VERY self focused, as I was. I am encouraging them to get outside of themselves. GO help someone in need. GO read to the lonely grandmas and grandpas at a retirement center near you. GO pet the animals in a shelter and let them know there are kind humans out there. GO volunteer! GET AWAY FROM THE 'ME MACHINE' and your life, your mind, your turmoil will begin to lessen as you give to someone else.

The funny thing is that I am taking my own advice. Both of my sons are involved in some awesome missionary work and they have inspired me to get to it! It's time for me to go read my own books to the grandmas and grandpas (many of whom have returned to their childhoods in many ways) and see the wonder of a simple picture book reflecting through bifocals.

For my new buddies at Bell Middle School...

I am experimenting with a video blog. This one is for Bell Middle School as an introduction... It's weird, but so are Middle Schoolers!