Libba Bray holds a gnome stowaway at SCBWI. |
Contrary to popular belief, not all gnomes
are pranksters. They don’t control the internet and mess with your computer
files (hackers do), or ravage your tulips before they’ve fully bloomed (that’s
the deer). They don’t move storage boxes around in the attic, nor do they
tunnel under the foundations of your homes, wreaking havoc with the structure. Really,
people, you are getting gnomes mixed up with things like poltergeists and
termites. Nasty nuisances, poltergeists are. And I can’t even think about
termites without itching, so I’ll stop there. Gnomes are different. Most of
us…er, them….are serious-minded
creatures who like to talk about music and philosophize from atop those little
bridges that humans build to get across the koi ponds in their yards. (Or, in
cases where the owner of the yard has fewer resources, gnomes recline on giant,
plastic mushrooms and ponder the universe. It’s like Woodstock for gnomes,
minus the drugs.)
We like to fish. That much is true. (Who
doesn’t?) But we never, ever, ever fish with that moronic smile spread across
our faces. Not to mention, we pin our beards up so they don’t get wet. (Oh
dear, did I say “we”? I don’t know where my mind has gone. Of course I meant
“they.”) There—right there! That’s proof that Jen is not under gnomic
influences, for if she were, her mind would not only be intact, but would linger
on far loftier topics than this blog traditionally tackles.
Because gnomes are deep. Far deeper than former advertising professionals. They dabble in
improving relations between all creatures. They contribute to world peace and
promote great literature. In fact, we…er, they
(I don’t know why I keep doing that) would’ve passed more than 500 writers
through the third phase of the ABNA contest if given a chance. But gnomes
cannot be Vine Reviewers, which—you must admit—is ironic, as there is a
definite garden analogy in play. (Yeah, Amazon didn’t buy it, either.) I bet
you didn’t know that gnomes idolize
writers, EXCEPT, of course, for those who slur gnome reputations and threaten
bodily abuse. Gnomes don't like authors of books like this one which provides a guide to surviving gnome attacks. (Like there's a market for that anyway. Pfft.) Those types of writers need to perish in flames, so it’s a good
thing we don’t know any. A very good thing.
Now since gnomes are a noble lot, an
ancient clan undeserving of being bullied and/or anihilated, we should all be
ashamed of ourselves for targeting them and making their lives a living hell
for the past two months just because we happened to be going through “a thing.” At
the very least, we owe them an apology. Recompense may be addressed to The
Glenny Foundation at notagnome.com
While this is Jen's closet, she is NOT stashed in it. |
....and congratulations to the ABNA quarterfinalists.