Category: Triplets - Alisse Lee Goldenberg

The City of Arches, and CHAI Montreal

12/8/2014

So NaNoWriMo 2014 has come and gone. I finished my first draft of The City of Arches and am quite happy with how it turned out. I started this post many times and it didn't work. My kids got sick and it is always difficult when this happens. It seems that with having triplets, once one gets sick, the others shortly follow. They are at the age that they don't understand how to stop the spread of their germs. I also have no self-control. When I see them all sickly and miserable, I have to cuddle and coddle them. Then, of course, I get sick. Ah well.

This book was extremely difficult for me to write. I kept second guessing everything I was doing. Chronologically, it takes place before the events in Sitnalta, yet it is definitely the third book in the series. I kept reading and rereading everything that I had put into Sitnalta and The Kingdom Thief to make sure I wasn't contradicting what I had previously written. Yet I kept having ideas for great plot elements that I could not do. I know that readers are very good at finding inconsistencies in writers' work.

Another thing was that I kept questioning whether or not readers would WANT to read something that takes place before the events they're already aware of. I kept calling my brother Brian and asking him "Are you sure?" "Is this really a good idea?" He kept telling me to go on, and as my foremost Sitnalta fan and cheerleader, I believed him.

In other news, I was just interviewed by Lisa Winston the host of the radio programme CHAI Montreal, their Holiday Spirit Show. The interview airs this Sunday at 10:00 p.m. and you can listen live to it on their website: CFMB.ca (just click LISTEN LIVE). We talk about writing, folklore, family, The Hadariah Chronicles, and Sitnalta. (PS. Books make awesome holiday gifts!)

FanExpo Craziness! (and Stan Lee)

9/1/2014

Once again, FanExpo has come and gone, and I am utterly exhausted! It is a four day whirlwind of craziness! But don't get me wrong, it is definitely a good kind of crazy, and I look forward to it every year. It is a chance to connect to readers and to fellow fans of fantasy and science fiction, Hello fellow Whovians! and I have a blast. I love the energy, the cosplays, the dealers floor, and the chance to meet people who I have looked up to for ages, and this year proved to be awesome.

An and I were there with our "minions" all four days. I can not thank these people enough. Emilie, Jeff, Katrina, Leah, you guys were amazing. Each day, you were beyond helpful. Without you, I don't think we could have eaten, let alone experience the con as we did, so thank you.

Another thing that happened was that Brian showed up on Friday with Joseph,
Phillip, and Hailey! They went to their first FanExpo! They did it in full costume, and Joseph was the Hulk, Phillip was Iron Man, and Hailey was a Pirate Princess. Now, Joseph went all out. He was roaring at people, and smashing the ground, he was the Hulk. He even smashed a guy dressed as Spiderman who had asked him for a high five. He was a total hit with the grownup cosplayers. The funny thing was that the kids didn't realize that the people around them were fans like them. They thought they actually met the real superheroes! It was too cute!

Now that evening, I had planned a special treat for the kids. I had planned to take them for a photo op with Stan Lee. Phillip knew exactly who Stan Lee was. He knew that this was the man responsible for the heroes that he knows and loves, and is the hot dog vendor from the Phineas and Ferb special episode Mission Marvel. He had a special plan of what he was going to say, and how he was going to smile, and what he wanted to do. He had even planned on giving him a drawing of the hero he had invented: Captain Iron Man. We got to the photo op and waited for him to arrive. When he did, Phillip just stared. I think he was in shock. Joseph whispered to me that he "looked like a zaidy". Hailey got nervous, as she sometimes does around strangers. We went up to him, said hello, and took the picture. Phillip did not smile. But after the picture when he realized that we were just going to walk away, Phillip turned to him and said "Hi". Stan Lee responded with a smile, and Phillip went on to say "Thank you Stan Lee for all the superheroes." I swear, he looked like he melted. Later on, I discovered that upon forgetting his drawing, Phillip took it upon himself to sketch one into one of the copies of The Strings of the Violin that I intended to sell. Well Phillip, Mommy found a way. That book is now in Stan Lee's possession. You're welcome. Please do not deface anymore of my property in the future.

Oh! Before I forget, The Dybbuk's Mirror is out in two days! My ARC's are looked over, as are my galley proofs, and now I wait and panic!

Now, pictures! (and THE picture is at the end)

An and I at our booth.

A cosplayer who actually managed to create the Iron Man armour with Body Paint!

This is true. Even Saxon is better than Rob Ford.

My friend Alexis as a truly awesome Gamora.

Cassandra!

Cosplayers

I honestly could not believe she made this whole thing herself. an amazing How to Train Your Dragon 2 cosplay.

My friend Nerissa who does amazing Steampunk jewelry with her company SteamGummi

My friend Robert as Juggernaught.

The best family photo ever!

Anthologies, Faery Fest, and Dance

6/18/2014

It's been a while since I've updated. But I have a decent excuse. As you know, An and I have been working on a short story that will be published in an upcoming YA Paranormal Romance anthology called Night Life. Yeah, that's right. We're ROMANCE writers now! I have to say, I was nervous about venturing into another genre, but I enjoyed it. Who knows? I may dabble in it again. As a matter of fact, my soon to be released novel The Dybbuk's Mirror does have a romantic subplot in it. Maybe the genre wasn't so new to me after all.

Anyway, our Night Life story is due on July 1, so we've been working like mad to finish it, get the edits done, etc. We've finally chosen a title (subject to change if our editors hate it.) and we're going with Ouroboros. Why do I always name books and people after things that spell check hates? Oh well. Anyway, check out the anthology's cover:

Pretty snazzy eh? Also, the other authors in here are all awesome, so if you're looking for some good reading... hint, hint.

Other updates: this weekend is FAERY FEST! I am ridiculously excited about this. Yet another opportunity to dress up and have an awesome time. Yes, I will officially be there selling and signing my books, so if you're around check it out in Marden Park in Guelph. Unfortunately, I don't have An with me, but I do have Tal! I've known him since he was two, and my brother's best friend. Also, he's letting me dress him up. Yay! After that comes Pirate Festival in August.

Last weekend was Father's Day, and the triplets' first dance recital. I didn't know what to expect from them. All I know is that they've been dancing up a storm at home, and in their class (which I get to watch with the other parents on a television the school provides in their waiting area.). I like to think they were amazing. I think every parent thinks that watching their kids up on stage. They didn't really do the dance they were supposed to, but they were extremely brave getting up there and facing the crowd. I am so proud of them. I will definitely have pictures soon. Their costumes were too cute!

I will have more updates soon, and will be better at this once Ouroboros is officially submitted!

Family Vacations- or How Joseph got Punched by a Kangaroo

3/27/2014

I've been meaning to post this for a while, but life, author interviews, and other writing have gotten in the way! Anyhoo..

February, right on the heals of EVERYBODY's birthdays we took the kids on their first trip to Florida. We stayed with my parents, ate lots of food, did lots of shwiming (as Hailey puts it), and Joseph got punched in the face by a kangaroo. Yup. That actually happened. We went to FLORIDA of all places and my kid got punched in the face by a real live red kangaroo. Let's look at the offending species:

Now how did this happen? Well we went to this lovely place called Jungle Island. (That 'lovely' comment was not sarcasm. Seriously, it's the perfect sized zoo-like park for a bunch of toddlers.) While there, we noticed that they had a petting zoo full of red kangaroos. I thought that that would be fun for the kids. They love animals, and this way they could feed and pet something a little different then the standard goats that you'd usually see. (Sidebar- the goats freak them out! They keep trying to eat their hats, and any paper they carry in their pockets: Gone.) So we paid our extra $5.00 and went inside. The kids got handfuls of grapes and kangaroo pellets and went to pet them, with Brian and I watching carefully. Joseph looks at them and yells: "They look like Sebastian!" Sebastian is our dog. He is 85 lbs of patience and love when it comes to the kids. See:

He knows they don't bite, and if he gets annoyed he stands up and walks away. Well, Joseph runs for the nearest kangaroo, and I chase after. He reaches for it's ear squealing with joy, and it jumps up, spins, and lashes out with fists of fury. Joseph falls on his butt, and his brother Phillip bursts out laughing that the kangaroo hit his brother. Joseph seemed okay, and went off to continue feeding and petting the other animals, albeit a bit more tentatively.

A while later, I sat with him in a bird show and asked what had happened. His response: "Kangaroo try to hug Joseph. Didn't do a good job." Yeah....

Their other discovery that day: Dinosaurs are real and alive. This is proven by this thing they saw:

6 foot tall bird monster known as a cassowary. The kids thought it was awesome, and I was a horrible parent for not letting them rush the stage so they could pet it.

The trip was a lot of fun, and as the triplets grow and mature, we can definitely do more things with them. I can't wait for the next one!

Happy Birthday Babies!

2/4/2014

This is not going to be a writing entry. Why is that? Well, we are now in the month I like to think of as "Birthdaypalooza"! This is the month that pretty much everyone in the house has their birthday. (And all in the span of 9 days. Oy.) Birthdaypalooza kicks off tomorrow as the triplets have their birthday.

Tomorrow, Joseph, Phillip, and Hailey turn three years old. I can't believe that it's already been three years since they were born. They say that time flies, and I am seeing that to be 100% true. Three years ago tomorrow I was lying in bed planning to finally watch the BBC 6 hour miniseries of Pride and Prejudice starring Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy. However, my plans to do so were tossed aside when Joseph's water broke at 4:00 in the morning. A few hours later, my children were born via C-section seven weeks premature.

Everyone who wants to be a parent has dreams of what it will be like when their children are born. They dream of holding them as soon as they were delivered. They dream of having them in the room with them, and of how perfect everything will be. I'm fairly certain that no one dreams of having their babies taken to a sterile room, and then whisked away to the NICU while they (the mother) are taken to a completely different hospital ward for surgical recovery. I remember driving myself absolutely crazy with worry over what was happening with them, how they were, would they know me when I was finally permitted to see them.

I don't know how much time passed before I was wheeled in on a stretcher to where my babies were lying in their incubators. I knew they would be small, but I had no clue just how small they would be. Joseph, who was biggest, was just over four pounds, and I was told that this was a good size for a premie multiple. I remember seeing him, Phillip, and Hailey lying there, and I became determined to get as strong as possible, as quickly as possible so I could spend as much time as possible at their side, and I did just that.

Let me tell you, you haven't experienced a weird birthday, until you have your parents bring you restaurant food and make a buffet dinner at the hospital cafeteria. That was my 29th birthday that year.

Going home was extremely difficult. Being in the hospital sucked on so many levels, however it enabled me to see the kids as often as I wanted. I couldn't do that from home, especially since I couldn't drive yet. Thank god for Brian, and his taking me wherever I wanted, and for his help with everything baby. He was a total rock. That plus our wonderful families got us through it all, and soon, one by one the babies came home.

Now the triplets run around the house like crazy. They love music, singing, art, and dance class. They have distinct, wonderful personalities. They are growing and learning new skills at an astonishing rate, and Brian and I couldn't be prouder.

Happy birthday babies! I hope you like your cake on which the Avengers are fighting Princess Sophia, Captain Hook, Nemo and Dori. We love you guys!

Joseph

Phillip

Hailey

Procrastinated again! (Whoops)

1/27/2014

Wow. Okay, so it's been a while since I've posted. There has been quite a bit going on, and I have some news.

First thing: I have been asked to contribute a short story to a YA Paranormal anthology called NightLife, that's coming out December 2014. I am hard at work on it, and it needs to be done by July. Keep in mind that short story in this case means 15,000-20,000 words, so not TOO short.

I have been making good headway in my sequel to Sitnalta, and I am hard at work editing The Dybbuk's Revenge. So I definitely have a lot on my plate in the writing world right now. I have also started sending in applications to the various festivals and cons for the upcoming year. Wee! Lots to do.

What I didn't need was for my good friend Julia to give me her Blue Rays of Once Upon a Time. Oy. I'm loving it so far! But I didn't need more distractions! These stories will not write themselves, and I am a master procrastinator!

In completely unrelated news: Next week marks the start of Birthday-palooza in the Goldenberg house. The kids are on the 5th, I'm the 8th, and Brian's the 11th. Lots to do there to get everything all ready. For the kids' birthday, I'm baking a cake and putting figures on it. It's the only way to give them all what they want. How else can I get a cake that has the Avengers fighting Princess Sophia, Jake, and Captain Hook? I'll definitely take pictures when I'm done.

On the 2nd, An and I will be participating in a video blog called "In Bed With Bran" where we will be interviewed about all things Bath Salts. I look forward to it. I get to be filmed in my pyjamas! Maybe I just won't get dressed that day...

I will definitely strive to keep this blog more up to date. I think it needs it.

This past week...

12/30/2013

So, I don't know how many of you outside of Toronto heard about what went on last week, but we had a doozy of an ice storm. Trees came down, power was out across the city, and some people are still without it! Brian and I were lucky and only lost our power for a day, but after that, every time the lights would go out, and the power would die, we cringed until it came back. I can not believe that there are areas in the city where they still haven't gotten it back yet, and that they probably won't have it in time for New Years.

Other than that excitement, things have been relatively calm. However I need to vent about something. I am tired of people asking me ridiculous questions, and making odd statements when they see me out in public with my kids. I am not talking about people I know, who I have run into after a while and are genuinely interested in how I'm doing. I'm talking about total strangers. I have thus compiled a list of the most egregious ones:

1. Are they triplets? Oh my god! Why would you do that?!?

Come on! Do you really think I did this on purpose? Do you not realize how rude you're being to a total stranger and her kids? They're getting to the age where they understand what you say to them. Also, I'm not Octomom. I had triplets. I am very happy with my kids. I love them dearly, but it was not my choice to have three at once.

2. So they're two boys and one girl. Are they identical?

Let's think about this one for a minute. Yup. They're identical. Okay. Hailey is EXACTLY the same as her BROTHERS. Also, Phillip's brown eyes are exactly the same as his siblings' blue eyes. Moron.

3. But you're so calm!

Should I be in a continual state of stress? Because that would be fantastic while raising my kids. How should I be behaving? Should I look more like your view of a mother of multiples and run around with my hair in a mess, wearing nothing but stained sweats, no makeup, and mismatched socks? (Although, my socks often don't match, but that's more the dog's fault as opposed to my kids!)

4. I couldn't be you.

Again, weird stranger I just met at the mall. You're right. You can't be me. I'm me and that's the end of it. For some reason this statement always leaves me feeling odd. What exactly are you saying? I feel like you're making me out to be some weird martyr of some kind. I don't get it.

5. She brought this on herself.

This was said while one of my kids was having a tantrum over stickers. I was dealing with him while the other two wanted to walk off and look at toys. This jerk must've thought I was deaf. Again, this hearkens back to statement number one. Like I chose to have triplets. Look lady, my kids are two. Two year olds have tantrums. Loudly. In public. Over stupid things. You either don't have kids, or your children are androids if this has never happened to you. Mine just occasionally happen in triplicate.

6. You're selfish.

For having triplets? Oy. I seriously wanted to slap the person who said this. What kind of person says this to a person they just met.

Basically, I may need to stop being friendly in public. Enforce the "Stranger Danger" rule strictly, and tell Joseph to stop smiling and saying "Hi" to people he passes. Maybe then I won't be sucked into these awkwardly horrid conversations.

Happy Holidays!

12/19/2013

Well, Chanukah is over, and the family had an amazing time seeing relatives, getting presents, giving presents, making latkes. I may hate the cold, but I certainly do love this time of year. It's full of so many wonderful excuses to get together, and to see people you may not have seen in quite some time. I know that Brian and I are going to certainly take every opportunity to do just that.

The kids absolutely loved the holiday, and Joseph has taken to hiding dreidels in his bed. He wants to pretend that Chanukah is still happening. He got upset with me when I tried to take down the decorations. He loved watching everyone light the candles (as he tried to blow them out), and he learned several songs at preschool that he, Phillip, and Hailey sang from the moment they woke up in the morning, until they fell asleep at night. I hope they embrace every holiday with the same vigour.

On the writing front, I am making slow and steady progress on the sequel to Sitnalta. I know exactly where the story is going, and in what direction I want to take each and every character, and that's a hugely important step for me. My broken computer monitor (aka my story board) is littered with post-its telling me exactly where I need to go. It's just a matter of plunking the words out on my lap top.

In other news, I will be having another online party for Sitnalta on January 15, 2014 between the hours of 2-4 Toronto time on Facebook. I will be pasting the link as soon as I have it, and if you could all show up and join in the fun and games, that would be awesome! Also happening in January, I will have an official trailer posted online for The Strings of the Violin, and I can't wait to see how it turns out! I am also deep into the first round of edits for the tentatively titled The Dybbuk's Revenge which I finished last month.

Since the holidays are here, how about giving a book (or two) to your loved ones?

The Strings of the Violin

Bath Salts

Sitnalta

And remember, a review feeds an author's soul! :)

Chag Purim Sameach

2/25/2013

This Saturday I finally got to take the children to synnagogue wo celebrate the holiday of Purim. A brief breakdown of the holiday for you: a young girl named Esther was sent by her uncle Mordechai to marry the king of Persia. She was Jewish and had to hide this fact from her new husband. At the time, King Ahashverosh's advisor Haman was plotting to kill the Jews. Mordechai found out and told his niece who exposed herself and the plot to the king. The king told her that her religion did not matter to him and had Haman executed. Now we celebrate our victory by wearing costumes, eating triangular cookies and drinking in the good king's honour.

This year, I felt the kids were old enough to stay up late and participate in our synnagogue's reading of the story of Purim, and the carnival that happens afterwards. During the reading, we all get noise makers so we can drown out the mention of Haman's name. (I thought the kids would love that. And they did.) I also tried to bake the triangualr cookies called hamentaschen with the kids. Those were a little less successful. It doesn't help when you're trying to bake and three toddlers think the dough would taste so much better with crumbled aeroroot cookies, eggshells, and wrappers in it. I think I removed all that...

Anyway, I feel this will fast become one of their favourite holidays. What's not to love? Costumes, cookies, carnivals, it's all good when you're a kid!

Our attempt at hamentaschen. Apricot and honey as well as chocolate filled.

The family in our costumes.

Joseph with his noise maker. We gave the kids marracas instead of the traditional gregor because we felt this would be easier for them to use.

I am also making some headway on the next Hadariah novel. I am enjoying where the story is going. However, I am going to miss these characters greatly when this is all over. Ah well, I suppose I could revisit the land if I choose, but is there's no story left, what would the point be in that? To quote a beloved musical: "It's a puzzlement!"

Vacation and a New Project

1/14/2013

We just got back from a family vacation to Aruba. It was my mother's 60th birthday, and all her children and grandchildren were there to help celebrate. We had an amazing time, Joseph, Phillip, and Hailey saw the ocean for the very first time. Phillip and Hailey were not too keen on it, and seemed to find the whole idea of wading in the surf to be frightening, however, Joseph was his adventurous self and had a good time of it.

They did a lot of swimming, and eating. We saw parrots, and they were confused by all the lizards wandering around the hotel grounds. Phillip and Joseph really enjoyed the swim up bar at the pool. They liked getting virgin strawberry daquiris and drinking them while in the water.

I have never seen my children eat as much as they did on this trip. This is good, since we have always been told that they are quite small, and we need to get them to eat more food. They tried so many new things. Some were hits: ravioli in cream sauce. Some were not: beef hot dogs. I think they have some strange tastes for toddlers. I don't understand how they can eat things like chili pizza when I can barely tolerate mild salsa.

The one thing that was not too great was that we all seem to have come home with a virus of some sort. Brian, the children, my mom and I are all fighting something. It really sucks, and we are all trying our best to get better.

In other, more exciting news: I'm going to be a director! I have been asked to direct an original play for York University Vanier College Productions' One Act Play Festival! I have read through the scripts, and I will hopefully know soon which one I will be working on. This will be so exciting. I have always wanted to try this, and already I have tons of ideas for the shows I've read. I know the students in the group, and it will be great to finally be able to create something with them. Until now, I have only been a dutiful audience member. Yay! I will update this more when I have more information.

As for the writing, I may have a partner adding things to the zombie novel. (Guilt tripping An right now...) The third Hadariah book is underway, and my readers are being a little slow on the latest draft of The Dybbuk's Mirror. (Guilt tripping a whole lot of people right now...) I have a whole lot of balls up in the air. I really hope I don't drop any of them.

Hailey's new friend.