Forever Stuck Between Love and Fear by Anna

In case you missed it, Anna wrote a blog about the inspiration behind "Learning Not to Drown". Check it out at her site: https://annashinoda.wordpress.com/2014/12/08/forever-stuck-between-love-and-fear-the-inspiration-behind-learning-not-to-drown/

Behind the Cover of Learning Not to Drown

Anna interviewed the photographer who took the picture that is on the cover of Learning Not to Drown. It's a great read! Check it out at Anna's site...

Mike's Learning Not to Drown Playlist

Mike put together a playlist of songs for Learning Not to Drown: Arcade Fire – Here Comes The Night Time CHVRCHES – Tether Haim – Send Me Down Beach House – Myth Santigold – The Riot’s Gone Cat Power – Sun M83 – We Own The Sky Bon Iver – Perth Beach House – Wild Metric – Speed The Collapse London Grammar – Strong Warpaint – Love Is to Die The Hundred In The Hands – Keep It Low Fiona Apple – Never Is A Promise Source: Anna's blog

Anna Blogs About Meeting Mike

Anna posted a blog today where she talked about college, live shows and how she met Mike. You can read the blog here.

It was at a party at Brad and Phoenix’s apartment after a Xero show that my friend from Long Beach State, Mark Wakefield, introduced me to the rapper in his band.
That was over fifteen years ago.  With passing time comes a loss of memory.  I don’t remember if the show was at the Whiskey or the Roxy.  I don’t remember what date it was (I know it was in February of 1998).  But I do remember Mike Shinoda handing me this tape and leading me around the party by the hand, as if we had been dating for months instead of just meeting that evening.

Anna's Book Club and Chat Dates

Book Club This Friday! 

Book Club is just a few days away!
Friday, February 15th, 1:30pm PST (that’s California time, ya’ll)  We’ll be discussing The House of The Scorpion by Nancy Farmer.  Chat room details still TBA, we’re trying to figure out a location that will be ideal for the Book Club.
The other chat with me – where you can ask me about my favorite color and if I like long walks on the beach – will be on Thursday, February 14th at 1:30pm PST.  Chat room TBA.
I’m really excited to discuss some of my thoughts about The House of the Scorpion with you and even more excited to see what you think!

Anna's Book Club!

I was sick the past few days so I wasn't able to post it here sooner...This is really cool! Anna posted on her site about starting a book club where you read a book and then talk about it in an online chat with her. The chat will be February 15th. Check out her blog for all the details. :)

I've already got a copy of The House of the Scorpion so I can read it. Hopefully i'll be able to make it to the chat too.

Mike's blog + other news

• ~ If you haven't seen it already, be sure to check out Mike's new blog. It's a great read!


~ Anna posted a blog with book recommendations for 8-10 year olds. Read it here!


• ~ Elka posted some pictures on twitter recently of her and the kids ;).
  
  

  My daughter Devynn is home only for a moment from college. twitter.com/ElkaBr/status/…
  — Elka Brand (@ElkaBr) January 5, 2013

  Jaime and I ... Xoxo wuve him twitter.com/ElkaBr/status/…
  — Elka Brand (@ElkaBr) January 12, 2013

  Isaiah and Devynn:) twitter.com/ElkaBr/status/…
  — Elka Brand (@ElkaBr) January 12, 2013

  My new fun beanie hat:) twitter.com/ElkaBr/status/…
  — Elka Brand (@ElkaBr) January 12, 2013

Anna's blog: My Writing Process...

Anna shares some of her writing process and visions on her new blog at annashinoda.com. Check it out!

Anna's blog: The Shinoda Veggie Garden

Check out Anna's new blog where she writes about her vegetable garden and how it helps make her home more green. She also mentions she will be trying to post more green things on her blog that you can do over the next few months. You can read the blog here.

NEW Anna blog post + twitter confirmation

Enjoy Anna's new blog entry. She confirms it's her twitter and that they have another baby with Mike too! cute! Unfortunately her book is going to be released at 1st half of 2014...but she's writing another one and that's great news!

new blog entry

Hello!  Remember me? It’s no secret that I am awful at blogging--just look at my track record.  So I’m trying my hand at Twitter, which has resulted in a few followers wondering “is this the real Anna Shinoda?” and wondering when my book will be able to purchase.To answer the first question, yes, it’s me on Twitter: @AnnaShinodaAs far as my book goes...I just sent in another round of edits on Learning Not to Drown to my fantastic editor over at Atheneum.  Yes, this has been a much more lengthy process than I could have ever imagined.  I am incredibly lucky to write for the love of writing, without the need of a paycheck rushing things along.  I can choose to spend my days with my lovely children--who will only be this young for a precious few years--and work on my book during nap times and after I put them down to bed.  That’s not a lot of hours to work, considering some of that time is eaten by cooking, cleaning, laundry, mending little outfits (as well as some big ones), tending my veggie garden, reading, and anything else I need to do without my little monkeys following close behind.  My editor is an incredibly busy woman as well, and when my latest draft arrives in her office, is has to wait its turn before she can have a chance to review it and get back to me with her thoughts.
So my book comes out later than we planned.
While my editor has each draft, I continue to have life experiences that I can bring to my edits, making my novel richer, my characters more dynamic.  As far as a release date, it continues to change, but I think it’s safe to say that we’ll actually see it in stores between January and June of 2014.
For now, I am plodding along on a first draft of my next novel and enjoying a lot of hugs, kisses, giggles and firsts.

Biography note:
Anna married musician Mike Shinoda in 2003, and she has no shortage of kids to be inspired by, thanks to her children...

New Anna's journal update

Anna posted new note on her journal. Check it out HERE:

Networking
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
A lot of people ask me two questions: how did I get into writing? And can I give advice on how to get an agent and a publishing contract?
[...]
As far as getting an agent and published goes, let me first say that I decided very early on that I wanted to be published because I was a good writer and had a compelling novel. I did not want a book deal because of who I married. At no point along the way did I use Mike’s influence in order to get me farther in my career. Like most authors, I have a nice big stack of rejection letters.
[...]

Thanks to tensh_iie from saybox for a tip!

Anna's new journal note

HERE it is:
More Songs Released on Download to Donate
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
More songs were released on MFR’s Download to Donate! Check it out by visiting www.Musicforrelief.org!

Another site about Haiti worth checking out: Andrew MacCalla’s blog. Andrew is currently in Haiti as a representative of Direct Relief International, a charity organization that provides medical supplies to people in need around the world. His blog gives a realistic view of the struggles people in Haiti are facing, from the unique perspective of someone working for a charity organization. Reading his blog is my regular reminder that millions still need help in Haiti. Direct Relief is still taking donations for Haiti. Also, Music For Relief continues to raise funds through Download to Donate

You can join in support of the long-term recovery process in Haiti by downloading songs at MUSICFORRELIEF.ORG and making a donation in any amount. Then, EMBED THE WIDGET on your Facebook or MySpace page, your blog, or your website…wherever you can spread the word. Every little bit helps.

VISIT http://www.musicforrelief.org/ AND DOWNLOAD TO DONATE

Funds raised through the program will support the United Nation’s rapid disaster response efforts through the UN Foundation, long-term rebuilding of sustainable homes with Habitat for Humanity, and Dave Matthew’s Band’s BAMA Works Haitian Relief effort. 100% of funds received will go directly to the Haiti efforts.

DOWNLOAD. LISTEN. DONATE. SPREAD THE WORD. BRING HOPE.

Anna's new journal note ;)

Here it is:

iVolunteer
Saturday, April 24, 2010

This past week was National Volunteer Week, so what better time to blog about volunteering!

One of my favorite things to do with my spare time is volunteering with a number of different organizations in my local area. Just last Saturday, I volunteered with Music for Relief and TreePeople. We planted 35 trees in an area burned from wildfires in California two years ago. I always have a great time digging in the dirt and getting beautiful trees in the ground. For me, it feels more like fun than work. I am really looking forward to the next opportunity I have to volunteer !

The best way to really enjoy volunteering is to find something that you love to do in your spare time and pair that with an organization that is helping in a way that speaks to your heart. And get friends to volunteer with you! Another organization that I volunteer with provides back-to-school supplies to kids who have been victims of abuse. I enjoy spending a morning with friends, stuffing backpacks with supplies I know will be used to help kids learn. And I love to imagine what their cute little faces must look like when they peer inside the backpack and see that they have everything they need plus some bonus materials like crayons and markers.

So how do you find that special organization that you want to work with? The best way is to get out there and try a few out! Here in the United States, there is an organization dedicated to make volunteering in our cities easier and more fun to do: iVolunteer (www.iVolunteer.org). They find and list great volunteer opportunities on their website. All you do is type in your zip code and ta-da! A list of volunteer opportunities for you to choose from.

iVolunteer... Do You?

Download to Donate - Anna's blog

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

On January 12, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti. Hundreds of thousands are feared dead, many of whom are children. Millions more are in need of medical attention, shelter, clothes and food just to make it through the days ahead. It will take years to rebuild homes and communities.
Music for Relief has brought together an incredible album of artists who have all generously donated original songs to support the Haiti relief effort. Artists include: ALANIS MORISSETTE, THE ALL-AMERICAN REJECTS, DAVE MATTHEWS BAND, ENRIQUE IGLESIAS, HOOBASTANK, KENNA, LINKIN PARK, LUPE FIASCO, PETER GABRIEL AND SLASH.
Now, we need your help: you can join in support of the immediate relief and long-term recovery process in Haiti by downloading songs at MUSICFORRELIEF.ORG and making a donation in any amount. Then, EMBED THE WIDGET on your Facebook or MySpace page, your blog, or your website…wherever you can spread the word. Every little bit helps.
VISIT http://www.musicforrelief.org/ AND DOWNLOAD TO DONATE
Funds raised through the program will support the United Nation’s rapid disaster response efforts through the UN Foundation, long-term rebuilding of sustainable homes with Habitat for Humanity, and Dave Matthew’s Band’s BAMA Works Haitian Relief effort. 100% of funds received will go directly to the Haiti efforts.
DOWNLOAD. LISTEN. DONATE. SPREAD THE WORD. BRING HOPE.