| Yes, Virginia, I’m listening |
[May. 12th, 2008|01:00 pm] |
I’m back from Kindling Words West. For a week, I got to feed my muse and focus on my writing, and only my writing. I can hardly wait to sign up for next year.
I didn’t take any of my old projects with me, or anything that needed revising, because I wanted to work on a new project. I also left my laptop at home, and relied on spiral notebooks and my Alphasmart Neo. I hiked every morning but one at dawn, then spent most of the rest of the day writing. In the afternoons and evenings, I would emerge and rub my eyes, and be ready to talk.
Now that I’m back home and dealing with the regular day-to-day stuff and all the things that piled up while I was gone, like laundry, I realize what a gift I gave myself.
And I’m going to give myself another. As soon as my daughter moves out, I’m moving into her room. She’s working on emptying the closet for me already. It’s way past time that I had a room of my own to work in, as Virginia Woolf eloquently reminds me when I reread her essay.
I can’t wait to tack up some postcards on a bulletin board to remind me of my time at Ghost Ranch. I also have some quotations from Georgia O’Keeffe, who made the area around Abiquiu, New Mexico both familiar and famous.
Here’s my favorite: “The cliffs over there, you look at it and it’s almost painted for you, you think until you try.”
Georgia O’Keeffe painted the table top mountain Pedernal over and over, and once boasted that because she painted it so often, God had promised it to her.
I think it’s hers all right. |
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| Lots of books, lots of pine trees |
[Apr. 28th, 2008|08:09 am] |
I’m just back from the Northern Arizona Book Festival in Flagstaff. On Friday, I spoke at the Young Authors Conference at Northern Arizona University, along with Sylvester Allred, Monica Brown, Jesse Hummingbird, Diane Iverson, Robert Mesta, and Tony Norris.
Then on Saturday, I was privileged to be in the audience when Veronica Tsinajinnie received the Lacapa Spirit Prize for her picture book, Jóhonaa’éí: Bringer of Dawn, illustrated by Ryan Singer, and published by Salina Bookshelf, Inc. She choked up, and had a hard time getting the words out as she told how much the award meant to her, and thanked everyone who had helped her along the way.
Naturally, I have my very own autographed copy! |
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| Moonlighting by day |
[Apr. 15th, 2008|10:52 am] |
Today I am sitting in the office of MAKE WAY FOR BOOKS, pretending to be a receptionist, and trying not to screw up at it.
I have never held this type of job before, so it makes me kind of nervous. What if all the lines ring at once? What if by typing that last question I've jinxed myself and it happens?
I am actually on the Board of Directors, but the office is short-staffed, so I am helping out. I am also temporarily acting as webmaster, for the same reason.
I am better at that job.
Ten years ago, I remember Mary Jan Bancroft asking me if I would help her with a project. Because it was Mary Jan who asked, I said yes, without knowing what the project was.
Mary Jan is one of those salt of the earth type people you should always say yes to.
We started by purchasing picture books for one preschool, and Mary Jan was our first story time volunteer.
Today, we have established libraries in nearly 100 preschool and childcare centers, we have 20 story time volunteers, and Mary Jan manages five different programs, all designed to give children, from birth to five years, the chance to fall in love with books and reading. I hope if you have time, you'll explore our website. This Thursday, we'll be celebrating our tenth anniversary!
Happy birthday to MAKE WAY FOR BOOKS! |
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| Las Tres Amigas whose names begin with J |
[Apr. 4th, 2008|01:35 pm] |
Call us the J Team: Juanita, Jennifer, and Janni. That would be Juanita Havill, Jennifer J. Stewart, and Janni Lee Simner.
On three consecutive Saturdays, beginning April 12th, we’ll be speaking in Tucson at Pima Community College’s East Campus -- 8181 E. Irvington Road -- starting at 10:30, in Community Room L-101. We’re the guest lecturing part of Marge Pellegrino’s Writing for Children course.
Here’s the schedule:
Juanita Havill -- Writing a Novel Using Poems -- April 12th
Jennifer J. Stewart -- Marketing your Book -- April 19th
Janni Lee Simner -- Three Paths to a Story -- April 26th
Best of all, our lectures are free! |
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| Any excuse for gelato |
[Mar. 31st, 2008|08:15 am] |
Today, in honor of the Bologna Book Fair, ![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) janni and I are meeting with the express purpose of eating gelato. Maybe even two flavors each.
You don't have to have a reason to eat gelato, of course, but we happen to think the Bologna Book Fair is a fantastic reason. |
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| My queen of editors now reigns at Egmont USA |
[Mar. 26th, 2008|08:32 am] |
SCBWI Arizona is hosting Editor’s Day on May 17th in Scottsdale. Details here. I've already sent in my registration and booked my hotel room.
On hand, and giving hands on advice will be:
Regina Griffin, Egmont USA Executive Editor
Kat Kopit, Roaring Brook Press Associate Editor
Alexandra Penfold, Simon & Schuster Paula Wiseman Books Associate Editor
Laurent Linn, Simon & Schuster Art Director
Jaime Weiss Chilton, Andrea Brown Literary Agency Associate Agent
While she was at Holiday House, Regina Griffin edited my three middle grade novels: Close Encounters of a Third-World Kind, The Bean King's Daughter, and If That Breathes Fire, We're Toast.
I am looking forward to seeing her again! |
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| Take your pajamas to work day |
[Mar. 24th, 2008|09:58 am] |
Okay, I hear you saying, rub it in. Writers get to work in their pajamas if they want, because all they have to do is roll out of bed and fire up the computer. It’s true, but usually I’ll get dressed anyway.
Recently, I was speaking at five different schools in the Phoenix area. That Friday was Pajama Day, so I was invited to come to school dressed in my pajamas.
You don’t have to ask me twice. I like dressing up. Over the years, I have been the Cat in the Hat, the Hungry Caterpillar, Max the Bunny, Daisy the Duck, and Corduroy Bear at MAKE WAY FOR BOOKS family literacy events. Any costume I can squeeze myself into, I’ll wear, but because I’m tall, they don’t all fit. For instance, I will never *sniff* get to be Curious George.
But I could wear my pajamas to school.
One thing, though. I had never checked out of a hotel before in my pajamas. The staff were well-trained, but I sensed they were trying hard not to crack up at my outfit: red flannel decorated with white snowflakes.
Outside, the construction crew had no inhibitions.
“Nice outfit.”
“Did you forget to put your clothes on, lady?”
Please imagine sound effects.
Yes, those would be whistles.
There are times when it is important to imitate the Queen of England and ignore the little people.
Earlier in the week I had lent my suitcase to my illustrator friend Amanda Shepherd because her suitcase wouldn’t fit everything she needed to take to Alaska to see the Iditarod. This meant I had to walk past the hard-hatted guys three times as I loaded my car.
You must not be afraid to make a fool of yourself if you write for children. |
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| Not one of the seven wonders of the world |
[Mar. 22nd, 2008|12:46 pm] |
Everytime I type quesadilla, my word processing program replaces it with queasily, which makes me wonder:
Could my laptop be lactose intolerant? |
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| Reading between the aisles |
[Mar. 15th, 2008|04:39 pm] |
So I was at the grocery store avoiding the siren call of Pepperidge Farm cookies, while waiting for my daughter to finish her voice lesson. I found myself gravitating toward the book and magazine aisle. Just because.
Occasionally I’ll read a Regency romance, but I have gotten selective. Being bored, however, led me to look at some titles that I wouldn’t ordinarily have picked up.
Titles like these:
Bedded for the Italian’s Pleasure
The Italian Billionaire’s Pregnant Bride
The Millionaire’s Convenient Bride
The Sheikh’s Convenient Virgin
The Spaniard’s Pregnancy Proposal
Taken by Her Greek Boss
Do you sense a marketing trend here? These are truly terrible titles, but I suppose they serve the function of the modern movie preview, which gives away all the good bits, so you don’t have to see the movie, or in this case, read the book.
You know what’s going to happen. We have rich Latin lovers bent on making mad passionate love to inexperienced women, so inexperienced that they get impregnated practically with the first kiss.
Then I got to wondering: why should the Spaniard, the Greek, the Italian, and the Sheikh have all the fun?
What about the Belgian? Belgium is a tiny country, it’s true, but I think it’s a nice country. Is it that the authors don’t know how to murmur endearments in Belgian (Belgian? Flemish? French?)
What do they speak in Belgium, anyway?
I throw out the following, sure to be a bestseller:
The Belgian Gazillionaire Takes a Wife and Conveniently Knocks Her Up
What? You think it’s too long? |
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| Listening to Mem Fox |
[Mar. 11th, 2008|03:12 pm] |
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Acclaimed picture book author Mem Fox visited Tucson last week, and spoke on the importance -- and joys -- of reading aloud to young children. The Pima County Public Library taped the session, so you may listen to the podcast by clicking here. Find yourself a quiet hour, and prepare to be enchanted. |
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| Hitting the road in slow motion |
[Feb. 29th, 2008|10:25 am] |
I have eight days of speaking engagements over the next two weeks. Five of those schools are in a row, next Monday through Friday. I’m feeling a wee bit anxious because I am at the middle stage of having a cold, every so often breaking into a coughing fit. It’s worst at night, and when I wake up.
I should remember to add the humidifier to the pile of stuff that is going with me to Phoenix.
I predict by Monday I’ll be in the finishing up and recovering stage of the cold, but I do worry about whether my voice will hold out. I am going to pretend I am a world famous opera singer, and only talk when necessary, and wear long scarves, but not so long that I end up like Isadora Duncan.
As a bit of self-care, I’ve filled five ziplock bags with dried oatmeal, a handful of dried cherries, and a dash of cinnamon. Cook it, slice a banana on top, pour on the milk, and that’s my recipe for a comfort breakfast.
I think that when you are sick, you especially need your comfort food. My hotel is one freeway exit away from IKEA, and I plan on having dinner in the cafeteria there every night, because IKEA has a soup and salad bar, and an excellent apple cake.
Some people might think that planning on eating dinner five nights in a row at IKEA is a sign of a particular form of craziness, but I’m not the only writer who exhibits bizarre fixations on the road; David Lubar recently confessed to obsessing about a certain brand of hotel, so much that he google maps them.
I’m going to come home with brightly colored Swedish souvenirs. I don’t know what they’ll be yet, but I know I’ll find something that I just have to have. It’s IKEA, right? If anyone is in Tucson, and needs something, let me know. |
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| The running of the bulls and the wearing of the earplugs |
[Feb. 26th, 2008|12:42 pm] |
Okay, it’s not like I need to concentrate like I would if I were in Pamplona during the running of the bulls (and stupid enough to be walking around wearing white accessorized with a red scarf). That kind of concentration could mean the difference between life and death. I don’t need that kind of concentration when I’m writing.
Sometimes, though, I wish my family would go away, because they can be big distractions when I’m working, which breaks the flow of words.
Like today, when my husband had to make numerous phone calls, to give billing services his new credit card number, because the old one got hacked? I thought he should go outside to do this. Or whisper.
Our home has an open floor plan, so it is hard to find a place where I won’t hear these conversations. When I went upstairs, I could still hear him, instead of my characters, until I resorted to earplugs.
What a wonderful invention. Sometimes little things like earplugs can be a writer’s best friend.
To be fair, sometimes when I am writing, you would have to cut the power supply to my computer before you could get my attention. If any of my family is reading this, don’t even try! |
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| One book at a time |
[Feb. 14th, 2008|04:02 pm] |
I prefer acts of kindness that are not random. So it was exciting to see my friend, novelist Masha Hamilton and her family featured in the Family Circle's March issue, in “Special Delivery” by Gwenda Blair.
A handful of dedicated people can indeed make this world a better place, one book at a time. To learn more about Masha’s Camel Library Book Drive, please click here. |
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| Jaded teens and horror movies |
[Feb. 13th, 2008|04:53 pm] |
So I found this puzzling list by the computer. My youngest daughter and her friend were watching a horror movie, and for once, it did not revolve around vampires. As they explained to me later, they decided to see how much of the plot they could figure out ahead of time. They made 22 predictions, and 15 were dead on (please excuse the pun), like:
Balding guy is going to die
Uptight chick (UC) is going to say “Let’s go upstairs”
UC will kill her husband
Daughter will find out UC is a psycho killer
Scary guy will become a cannibal
UC will die eventually
This is the same daughter who gets mad if I’m sitting by her watching a movie, and if someone coughs onscreen, I say, “she’s going to be dead soon.” Because everyone knows that a movie cough signals a serious deadly disease, right?
And now she’s making lists. I find that very, very funny. |
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| Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award -- 2009 list |
[Feb. 2nd, 2008|12:15 pm] |
Check out the full list of nominated books in the intermediate category:
Blood on the River: James Town 1607 by Elisa Carbone
Close Encounters of a Third-World Kind by Jennifer J. Stewart (!!!)
Eager by Helen Fox
Free Baseball by Sue Corbett
Golden and Grey: An Unremarkable Boy and a Rather Remarkable Ghost by Louis Arnold
Gossamer by Lois Lowry
The Homework Machine by Dan Gutman
MVP* Magellan Voyage Project by Douglas Evans
Shakespeare‘s Secret by Elise Broach
Three Good Deeds by Vivian Vande Velde
Yes! My book is on it! I am so grateful to members of the selection committee. You can find out more about the Nutmeg Book Award here.
This is the third state award nomination for Close Encounters of a Third-World Kind. I am starting to call it “the little book that could!”
P.S. It is also “the little book that could” that is now coincidentally in paperback, released by Holiday House. |
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| An eclectic list of books |
[Jan. 28th, 2008|09:58 am] |
The Almost Moon by Alice Sebold -- I read this one for my book club, and I predict the members will have a fascinating discussion in a couple weeks about aging parents, mental illness, suicide, and murder. This one’s not for children, even though The Lovely Bones did crossover into YA territory.
Sometimes I read a book, and then I read another, and even when I don’t know the subject matter (I try not to read cover copy or see movie trailers), they seem to pair up thematically. It happened with Feathers by Jacqueline Woodson, and with God Went to Beauty School by Cynthia Rylant. I’m going to reread both books; they’re that good.
I Am Not Joey Pigza by Jack Gantos -- I adore the series and I’m glad to see Joey back in action -- of course, he never holds still!
I’m reading The Winter Rose by Jennifer Donnelly now. It’s one hefty book, which gladdens my heart, as I hated for A Northern Light to end. [Whoopsy alert/edited to add: I've just noticed that The Winter Rose is a sequel of sorts to The Tea Rose. I also think that anyone who enjoyed the Sally Lockhart by Phillip Pullman will really enjoy these two books.] |
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| A public service announcement concerning writing contests |
[Jan. 24th, 2008|09:40 am] |
I frequently get phone calls or emails asking how to break in, and what the secret is to getting published. I say there is no secret, just write well and be smart about your submissions.
That’s the short, easy answer.
But of course, being smart means a lot of things: educating yourself about the market, knowing how to format your manuscript, and a little networking doesn’t hurt either. But being smart can also mean working at getting noticed. Which brings me to writing contests -- if you enter good ones (avoid the scams; sorry, they are out there), and your are fortunate to place or at least get an honorable mention, it helps. With some of the bigger contest, an agent or editor may contact you after the winners are announced. With a smaller one, you still have something nice to tout in your query letter.
Here are some contests that look like winners:
Pacific Northwest Writers Association -- Deadline February 22nd. Many local writer’s organizations run contests in conjunction with their annual conference. The PNWA is a good example. Google to find others.
Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators -- Consult website for deadlines. SCBWI has grants for works in progress. You need to be a member, but there are no entry fees.
SmartWriters -- Deadline in August (check website for details). Winning this one will get you noticed in a big way.
SouthWest Writers -- Deadline May 1st. If you are in the top 20, the final judge is an industry professional. Picture book writer Marge Pellegrino won in the novel category several few years ago, and also received the grand prize storyteller award. Her amazing book will be published in 2009 by Frances Lincoln Books of London. I know of others who have gotten agents or received book contracts after placing in this contest (I'm one of them).
Writer’s Digest -- Deadline May 15th. This one gets a lot of entries, so the odds are long, but it’s a good one.
So if you're waffling about whether your work is ready to submit, entering a writing contest may give you an answer.
This concludes this public service announcement.
P.S. Don't be a cheapskate. Pay for the professional critique if one is offered. |
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| Time out with MLK and CPC |
[Jan. 21st, 2008|02:28 pm] |
I finished Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis today. The book received a Coretta Scott King Award and Newbery Honor a week ago. I'm glad, because it means that many more people will read this book. (I would have read it anyway, because I'm a Christopher Paul Curtis fan.)
It seemed fitting that I would finish the book today, when people pause and remember the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, to relect on where we've come as a nation, and where we still need to go.
It will open kids' eyes, especially, to the reality of slavery, when they see it filtered through the "fra-gile" eyes of Curtis's 11-year-old narrator, Elijah, the first freeborn child born in Buxton (also known as Raleigh, Canada West). Elijah knows that people who were former slaves are different, but he doesn't know why, until he goes on a rescue mission to Michigan. I'm not going to give away the plot, or what happens, but this book will make you cry, even as you cheer for Elijah. |
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| My fingerz iz froze |
[Jan. 18th, 2008|10:22 am] |
I don't suppose anyone will feel sorry for me, because it's January, and I happen to live in sunny Tucson, Arizona, but still, while I'm waiting for the furnace repair guy or gal to show up, it's hard not to feel sorry for myself. Just a little. I keep having to brew tea, so I can wrap my hands around the mug and keep my fingers warm.
Maybe I should just type faster? |
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