Blog | Ally Condie

personal idols: michael phelps

The best photo I got of Michael in Pasadena…wish I hadn’t forgotten the good camera!

I have all these thoughts going on in my head about what I should write about. Within the space of a couple of weeks I got to hear two of my (very different) idols speak–Michael Phelps in Pasadena and P.D. James in London. My attendance at one event was very planned (I found out that Michael was speaking in an article online–I think on NBC–and decided to use my SkyMiles to go see him talk). The other was very not planned (I had taken my son on a trip to London to see dear friends and found out that P.D. James just happened! to be speaking! in St. Paul’s Cathedral! and so I brought my son, age 10, and he was an angel).

Both events were fantastic, and very different. P.D. James is an author in her nineties. Michael Phelps is an athlete in his twenties. They had different things to say about life and their work, different perspectives.

But they were both very matter-of-fact in that the work is hard, and you do it anyway. It was inspiration I needed very much.

I’ll write more about what P.D. James said in another post (she had some thoughts on faith and writing that I found absolutely fascinating) but I thought I should write down some of what I learned from Michael as well.

Sometimes I have a hard time explaining to people why I like Michael Phelps so much. I mean, he’s extremely likable and the greatest Olympian of all time, but I’m not a swimmer. And I don’t have a crush on him in a physical sense (although his body is amazing–like a piece of art). I love seeing his sisters and his mom cheer for him. Now that I’m a mom, watching the parents at the Olympics is almost as fun as watching the athletes. There are sacrifices made and supports that we, as parents observing, both can and can’t imagine.

Of course, we can never truly know another person’s story. Or another family’s story. But oh, what a ride Michael and his family have given us.

Remember in Athens, when the media realized that he had qualified in eight (!) events and was a contender to win a medal in all those events? And some of the media decided that–since he didn’t win gold in all eight and didn’t break Mark Spitz’s record (he “only” won gold in six)–he was a “failure”? I remember that kid. I remember how he was only 19 and darling and when he took bronze in his second race and people said, “The run is over,” he didn’t care. He just kept swimming his heart out and won five more golds and another bronze. By any measure, a success. He talked about this in CA–he said that when the media kept asking him how it felt to fail, he kept thinking, “I don’t feel like a failure.”

He certainly wasn’t a failure, and he went home and worked hard every day for four more years. And then he came back in Beijing and put any questions about failure or anything else to rest. 8 golds. Perfect. And wow, the focus in those days that we saw from him. I have never seen such intensity on someone’s face. What we didn’t see was all those years, every morning, when the alarm went off and he got up. In eight years, he took two days off. One day to get his wisdom teeth out, one day for wrist surgery. That’s it.

And then came London. I can’t get over London. I made a schedule of all his events so that I could watch them live online in addition to later at night. When he failed to medal in the 400IM I thought I would throw up. His face–the exhausted devastation. Well. We all know how it ended. He came back for more individual and team golds and left the meet as the most decorated Olympian of all time. The dignity he showed in defeat, and the gift he gave us all of seeing him come back and swim and be human–which he always was, even when he performed that superhuman feat in Beijing–was something I’ll never forget. Watching him in London was a perfect story arc–in being imperfect, but still wonderful, he showed us how you get back up and go for gold again, and again, even when people declare that you’re done. He knew that he wasn’t.

In Pasadena, someone asked him how he got motivated through his 20 years of swimming, how he kept going through all those days and all those workouts. I’ve seen him on TV when they’ve asked this question before, and he answered it in person just as simply as he always has on television, “I wanted it.” He said that yes, he got tired, and yes, he didn’t want to go in sometimes, but he always wanted his goal more.

That is the key to me, right there. How much do I want my goal? People ask about how I wrote my books and the answer is simple. I wanted to write a book more than I wanted lots of other things. Sleep, watching movies, running, reading, going out with friends, having a clean house, etc. And some days, when I find myself messing around on Pinterest or reading blogs instead of working, I think of Michael Phelps. Do I want it, or don’t I?

And that is what I like about Michael so much. He had the strength and dedication to write his story–both when no one was watching and when everyone was.

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very big news about my next project!

Shi Cheng, China, photo by Chinese National Geography. Can you believe this place is real?

So I have some big news! I’ve signed on again with Dutton/Julie Strauss-Gabel for two more books! I cannot tell you how happy I am about this. Working with Julie (and the rest of the team at Dutton/Penguin) has been the ideal experience for me. Julie is one of the smartest, kindest, most interesting people I know and it’s an absolute honor to have her as my publisher. She shapes my books and makes them better, every time, by asking wonderful questions and guiding me to where the story really needs to be. The team at Penguin has done incredible things for the Matched trilogy every single step of the way, from cover art to marketing to school and library outreach. I am thrilled to be publishing two new books with them. And, of course, my agent (Jodi Reamer) who negotiated the deal, is just tremendous. She is so savvy and smart and I am truly blessed to be able to work with her and Julie.

The first of the two books won’t be out until Fall 2014, so there is a little while left to wait, but I am having SO MUCH FUN writing this book. Here’s a bit from the press release (edited a little because I am the biggest spoiler-phobe in the world):

Ally Condie, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Matched trilogy, to publish two new novels with Penguin Young Readers Group

New York, NY – March 11, 2013 – Ally Condie, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Matched trilogy, will publish two new novels with Dutton Children’s Books, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers Group, it was announced today. The first book, scheduled for publication in fall 2014, tells the story of Rio, who has waited her whole life for the opportunity to leave her safe, underwater city of Atlantia for life on the surface. But when her life takes an unexpected twist and Rio must remain below, she is left with increasingly dangerous questions about the complex political and religious system constructed to govern the fragile divide between land and sea.

The second book is not yet scheduled. The deal was brokered by Julie Strauss-Gabel, President and Publisher of Dutton Children’s Books and Jodi Reamer, Writers House. Julie Strauss-Gabel will edit the books. Dutton has North American rights.

Julie Strauss-Gabel said, “I am thrilled that we can all look forward to more books from Ally Condie at Dutton. I’m excited to introduce fans of the Matched series to exciting new worlds and heroines as strong and compelling as Cassia.”

Ally Condie is the author of the critically-acclaimed, New York Times bestselling Matched trilogy. Matched has been called “the hottest YA title to hit bookstores since The Hunger Games” (Entertainment Weekly), and a “superb dystopian” (The Wall Street Journal) featuring “impressive writing that’s bound to captivate young minds” (The Los Angeles Times). Crossed, the second book in the Matched trilogy was released in paperback March 12, 2013.

We don’t have a title yet (I refer to it right now as the “Rio Book”). But I will be sure to keep you posted as more information becomes available. One of the things I’m really excited about regarding this book is that it’s a story about sisters. (Don’t worry, there is also romance!) I love reading stories about families and relationships and so I hope I can do that justice in this book. And I hope you readers will like it too.

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moments

When I was presenting to a group recently, someone asked me about the hard parts of being published and going on tour. There are hard parts now and then (leaving the kids, no sleep, crazy schedules, deadlines, etc.) but there are also so many good parts. Obviously, the best part is getting to meet the readers, who care about the books and the characters. I can’t tell you how much that means to me.

Tour and travel often mean a lot of sort of generic moments–hotel rooms, car rides, airplane rides–but also those moments you’ll remember forever. I was thinking of a few of my favorites from trips over the years and found some pictures to go with them:

It was in this beautiful square (Romer Square, and I am sorry I cannot figure out how to get the umlauts over the “o”) in Frankfurt, Germany, that I received word that I had my first ever starred review, from Publisher’s Weekly, for MATCHED. I was with my agent and the two of us had just walked down the tree-lined streets and into this square on a perfect fall day and I thought, “I can’t believe any of this is happening to me.”

On a pre-publicity tour in Boston in the fall of 2010, I had the morning free and went out to walk on Boston Commons. I wandered around and saw the Make Way for Ducklings statue and all the beautiful old houses. I’ve been to Boston before, but there is something about exploring a city when you are completely by yourself that is memorable.

This year in Miami, I got to go to Books and Books. I love all the independent bookstores on my travels. Anne Holman of The King’s English (my local indie) has always said, “Have you been to Books and Books yet?” And now I have. This was the lovely Becky, who is the children’s book buyer there and who hosted a great event.

Don’t you just want to stand and stare at those gorgeous shelves forever (again, Books and Books).

This is a picture I have at a school in Illinois, but all the school visits are true highlights for me. That moment of walking into a school, seeing the students–it makes me miss the classroom and, at the same time, I’m so happy to be back in some small way.

This is a picture of me with my cousin, Andrea, following an event in Bethesda, MD. Andrea came to the event and then, because the schedule was crazy, rode to the airport with me and ate terrible food while we waited for my flight just so we could have a little time together. What a great cousin. Moments like this–when friends and family come and support–are awesome. There is something about looking out and seeing a familiar face that just makes my heart glad. Another moment this picture reminds me of–after the event, someone asked if I was Andrea’s mother. (Andrea is seven years younger than I am.) Also awesome. It’s nice to know I’m aging well.

I know I’m lucky to have a chance to do this. For my first five books, I never went on tour or had a launch party or anything like that. And I still loved the writing, of course. But to be able to keep writing and to also have the opportunity to see new places and meet readers and talk with other people who love books–it’s something I don’t take for granted. So, as always, many thanks to all of you for making it possible.

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palette

photo by me, taken in Zion 2012

I was going through photos on my phone when I found this one that I took of my mom’s pastels. She had them all set up on a plateau in Zion and she was waiting for the light to be just right so that she could capture the sunset on the water and the rocks. I love this picture. Even though she isn’t in it, it’s so her. The way she’d found a perfect, solitary place. The sunglasses sitting on top of all of the pastels. The fact that she has a giant case of pastels that she can and does carry anywhere, to be ready when the light strikes.

It’s a romantic picture, and in my mother’s case, a true one–the artist, waiting for the light, tools at the ready, prepared for a flurry of creativity at the perfect moment.

I’ve also seen her do the work that leads up to that moment. I’ve seen her with chalky fingers, standing silently at a distance from her work, just looking. I’ve seen her blocking in the underpinnings of her painting before she starts, and I’ve seen her begin again when something didn’t work out the way she had planned. I’ve seen her making a certain face while she works, the one where you know she’s concentrating. I’ve seen her spend hours and days and weeks getting it right.

I’ve also seen her do the work in other ways. I’ve seen her cooking dinner and grading dozens of papers for her students and nursing a baby and putting kids to bed and then going to sleep herself, without having had a chance to make anything of her own that day. I’ve seen her teach other people how to draw. I’ve seen her sit down and spend an hour drawing pictures for my children, animals and people and fire engines, when she could be making something all her own. When I travel, she drives up from my hometown (which is three hours away from where I live now), puts her own work on hold, and takes care of my children. They adore her. So do I.

I’m extremely lucky to have grown up with her example–someone who loves to create, and knows how to work. I know that seeing her do both made me hope that I could do the same, in some small measure.

Thank you, Mom.

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newsy news

image from www.gimmesomeoven.com

Some news for you:

*The CROSSED paperback will be released on March 12. Yahoo!

*I am speaking and signing as part of the BREATHLESS READS tour this Saturday, February 16th at 4:00 p.m.at the Orem Barnes and Noble. More info on the Events page.

*I am also going to be signing at Braun Books in Cedar City on Friday, March 1, from 6:00-7:00 p.m. Yahoo! This darling store had a REACHED launch party even though I couldn’t be there. How wonderful is that?

*If you are wondering about new book news, or movie news, I am hoping to have info for you soon. But right now, my hands (and tongue!) are tied.

*Love to you this Valentine-y week!

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new year, mud bird

My friend Brook took the above picture, and she used the “mud bird” scene in REACHED as the inspiration. I’ll keep this quite spoiler-free, but basically it’s a scene where a girl makes a bird out of some materials (one of those materials is mud, and one is glass). It’s a scene about creation and making something out of what you have.

I’m working on a new mud bird right now. Several of them, actually, and boy, are my hands dirty. And I am certainly getting lots of little cuts as I work with what I have and try to repurpose new things. I’m not just talking about writing projects (though I do have some of those!). Creation can be exhilarating. It can also be painful.

At the end of the year, Sara Zarr, an author I admire tremendously both personally and professionally, interviewed me on her THIS CREATIVE LIFE podcast. You can find links and more info about the interview here at Sara’s blog. Sara is very thoughtful about her writing, her religion, and her living, and it was a privilege to be interviewed by her. I think our conversation (and having read her blog/listened to her podcasts throughout the year) put me in an especially reflective frame of mind as I contemplated my creative life, and my life in general, at the end of 2012.

2012 saw the conclusion of the MATCHED trilogy, a set of three mud birds I’d been working on for four years. It was a project whose scope and heft sometimes felt tremendous and weighty and sometimes felt giddy and free. I think most creative projects–for me, at least–have moments of utter soaring and ease and other times where you just need to sit down and get the work done. I’ve written enough books (8) that I know this is part of my process. 2012 also saw the arrival of our daughter (oh, we are so glad to have her!). And, of course, our family (like people everywhere!) continued to deal with new and ongoing challenges and blessings.

So. In 2013 there are some other things I need to create too, in addition to birds of the book variety. Some are too personal/abstract to share on a public site, but much of it has to do with helping my little family fly.

What mud birds are you making in 2013?

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