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BATMAN AND HELLO KITTY JOIN FORCES

If they did, just imagine what we could achieve..

Batman and Hello Kitty are two of my favorite characters—Hello Kitty because my mom and dad bought me Hello Kitty stuff when I was a kid and I just loved it. All those cute, extra-small colored pencils, erasers, travel kits and purses. I'm so happy it's all coming back. I've dragged out all my old Hello Kitty stuff and feel licensed to buy more. You can't get cuter or sunnier or happier than Hello Kitty.

I love Batman because of his darkness, his actions motivated by great pain, anger and vengeance. He helps people, but he also hurts people. It's that gray area in Batman that fascinates me and his countless fans, because it's so human. We all have that gray area in us.

These are the two sides to everything in life—the darkness and the light, the Batman and the Hello Kitty. One cannot exist without the other. They are the roots of all human motivation. And they are what attracts us to stories, because stories—novels, movies, plays, short stories—illustrate for us how humans can move from a place of pain and anger, to a place of peace and love, how we can endure the darkness to emerge, stronger and more whole, in the light. Stories let us experience this transformation, preparing us for a time when we will have to undergo it ourselves.

I write my fiction from the place where Batman and Hello Kitty meet. In The Secret Thief and my future novels you'll find a lot of darkness and a lot of humor, sinister characters and genuinely nice ones, pain and love, sadness and, in the end, great joy.

The Secret Thief is published by Behler Publications.

BE YOUR DESTINY

What is your dream for yourself?

It's a question I ask all of my characters. I need to know the answer to this question for my characters for the same reason we all do: to know where they are headed.

I live by the notion that dreams can come true and I can be my destiny. Right now, you may be thinking, "What a naïve Pollyanna! Obviously, this girl has never experienced adversity or disappointment in her life." Not true. Adversity and disappointment have visited my life. And in my writing life, I have the rejection letters to prove it. Everyone faces challenges, obstacles to their fulfillment and happiness, all throughout their lives. What's naïve, and ultimately self-defeating, is clinging to the belief that the grass is greener on the other side of the fence.

The key to being your destiny, I've learned, is how you react to those challenges. There are usually more ways to overcome them than we are ready to admit to ourselves. The first step is answering the question: What is your dream for yourself? Once you discover the answer, the next step is to start pursuing that dream.

Right now, you may be thinking, "I was right—she is a simple-minded idiot!" Not true. My dream was to be a novelist, and now I am. And this is how I did it. I'm not a trained expert, but I know some stuff, learned it the hard way, which can be argued is the best kind of training. I invite you to be your destiny. Read my blog, Your Creative Kick in the Butt, if you want some tips, thoughts about and steps you can take toward your dream. It's not just for aspiring writers, either, but everyone—aspiring opera singers, chefs, tight-rope walkers, tattoo artists, you name it.

Come on. Do it. Be your destiny.


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About Judy home For book groups Invite Judy to speak Writing workshops Mentoring and consulting Judy's bio Influences		About Judy Home BATMAN AND HELLO KITTY JOIN FORCES If they did, just imagine what we could achieve.. Batman and Hello Kitty are two of my favorite characters—Hello Kitty because my mom and dad bought me Hello Kitty stuff when I was a kid and I just loved it. All those cute, extra-small colored pencils, erasers, travel kits and purses. I'm so happy it's all coming back. I've dragged out all my old Hello Kitty stuff and feel licensed to buy more. You can't get cuter or sunnier or happier than Hello Kitty. I love Batman because of his darkness, his actions motivated by great pain, anger and vengeance. He helps people, but he also hurts people. It's that gray area in Batman that fascinates me and his countless fans, because it's so human. We all have that gray area in us. These are the two sides to everything in life—the darkness and the light, the Batman and the Hello Kitty. One cannot exist without the other. They are the roots of all human motivation. And they are what attracts us to stories, because stories—novels, movies, plays, short stories—illustrate for us how humans can move from a place of pain and anger, to a place of peace and love, how we can endure the darkness to emerge, stronger and more whole, in the light. Stories let us experience this transformation, preparing us for a time when we will have to undergo it ourselves. I write my fiction from the place where Batman and Hello Kitty meet. In The Secret Thief and my future novels you'll find a lot of darkness and a lot of humor, sinister characters and genuinely nice ones, pain and love, sadness and, in the end, great joy. The Secret Thief is published by Behler Publications. BE YOUR DESTINY What is your dream for yourself? It's a question I ask all of my characters. I need to know the answer to this question for my characters for the same reason we all do: to know where they are headed. I live by the notion that dreams can come true and I can be my destiny. Right now, you may be thinking, "What a naïve Pollyanna! Obviously, this girl has never experienced adversity or disappointment in her life." Not true. Adversity and disappointment have visited my life. And in my writing life, I have the rejection letters to prove it. Everyone faces challenges, obstacles to their fulfillment and happiness, all throughout their lives. What's naïve, and ultimately self-defeating, is clinging to the belief that the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. The key to being your destiny, I've learned, is how you react to those challenges. There are usually more ways to overcome them than we are ready to admit to ourselves. The first step is answering the question: What is your dream for yourself? Once you discover the answer, the next step is to start pursuing that dream. Right now, you may be thinking, "I was right—she is a simple-minded idiot!" Not true. My dream was to be a novelist, and now I am. And this is how I did it. I'm not a trained expert, but I know some stuff, learned it the hard way, which can be argued is the best kind of training. I invite you to be your destiny. Read my blog, Your Creative Kick in the Butt, if you want some tips, thoughts about and steps you can take toward your dream. It's not just for aspiring writers, either, but everyone—aspiring opera singers, chefs, tight-rope walkers, tattoo artists, you name it. Come on. Do it. Be your destiny.