tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-319118172024-03-14T15:07:56.574-04:00Blue Rose GirlsIn the tradition of the Red Rose Girls, seven children's book professionals discuss their lives in booksBlue Rose Girlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05224076615462128422noreply@blogger.comBlogger2078125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31911817.post-16898700386182252452020-07-11T16:18:00.004-04:002020-07-12T09:45:26.594-04:00Designers think differentlyIt's been awhile since any of us posted on this blog —painting, writing, children, grandchildren, school visits, house projects — but this is the kind of thing we USED to post about, and it doesn't really fit with my new blog<div><br /></div><div><a href="http://soloinstonington.blogspot.com">soloinstonington.blogspot.com</a></div><div><br /></div><div>When I was writing and printing (PRINTING, not publishing — there's a big difference!) a cookbook for friends, I wanted a nice cover for it. My friend Lolly had done <a href="www.lauraheyward.com" target="_blank">beautiful paintings</a> of the vegetables, fruit, and fish the book featured.<div><br /></div>
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First, I designed the cover myself, but it looked more home-made than Lolly's paintings deserved. So I asked my friend KC Witherell to design a cover, and she came up with this. I was amazed at what a difference her changes made — and thought the cover was done. </div>
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</div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><font size="1"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">"I hope it’s not TOOOOOO late. Here’s the cover, centered on 8.5 x 10, with the left hand margin the way the New Yorker does it…so smart..so that the thickness of the issue never changed the width of the art area…. This way, the spiral binding will not bite (visually) into the white background of the cover. Of the two, I like the one with the tiny flower replacing the ampersand best. I like the whole look of it and the balance, not just the flower.</span><br /><br /></font><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><font size="1">Meanwhile, the extra reason I hope its not too late is that when I looked at the cover type I sent, it was in really shitty shape. It was poorly spaced (unaddressed software issue) and had gotten slightly distorted."</font></span></div></div></blockquote><div>
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</div>Libby Koponenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01508041827996196293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31911817.post-74988368128436656722016-02-24T19:16:00.002-05:002016-02-24T19:16:34.744-05:00Happy World Read Aloud Day!<a href="http://www.gracelin.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528057532275870386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOM20LUQ0w3AEKEuJ6ydpZfYZECJEJVaFlR0JOv41qN-ISaaeM5AQDld_vIFT0HWdUWf-bB2Fb45K5sfV-7ZCIskYvP2qfBznjsFObyrMZS3DRrR0LuNhMgWNe2yiqHYZNB1jd/s400/grace+brg+header.jpg" style="cursor: move; float: left; height: 56px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0pt; width: 208px;" /></a><br />
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My message to celebrate World Read Aloud Day!</center>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/156565860" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> </center>
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<a href="https://vimeo.com/156565860">Grace Lin Celebrates #WRAD16</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/lbschool">LB School</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</center>
Grace Linhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18129288262225671104noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31911817.post-79792715918276066862016-02-23T10:49:00.003-05:002016-02-23T16:46:26.796-05:00Betting on the right horse<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.libbykoponen.org/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528058555619040498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYBqg0x6jAnTUix6BDdpN7gpdIoqEA9sMxykBmALfnmxRfjWJfnur8re8cRgNbGdScu4fC-Atn1efn4mF_8jWsaxDsP7szY2WaWwf_fjB5-wToMJg6WZnBCALhAL-Cyc2HYz2a/s400/Libby+brg+header.jpg" style="float: left; height: 56px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 250px;" /></a></div>
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Lately I've been writing book proposals for other people, and when one went out, two publishers responded right away. One offered a decent advance; the other wanted the book, but didn't want to pay for it.<br />
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"I've never sold a book for nothing," the agent wrote.<br />
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The editor was indignant; wanted the book and whined about uncertainty. The agent said that acquiring mss. ought not to be going for certainty (buying mss. that are like other best-selling books etc.) but "betting on the right horse."<br />
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I love that idea! And not just because it reminds me of John Steinbeck saying,<br />
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"Publishing makes horse-racing look like a stable, secure business."<br />
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Betting on the right horse is a good way to think about my own books, too -- though for me it's like owning a horse as well as betting on one. If you muck out the stalls etc. yourself, owning a horse is a lot of work. And so is writing a book. You have to really love the creature to make all that work worthwhile, whether it wins the race or not.Libby Koponenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01508041827996196293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31911817.post-53396296062024712552014-06-04T18:16:00.001-04:002014-06-04T18:16:30.225-04:00The Other Meghan McCarthys <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/cMrNahSnL5w?list=UUviaE5osnagBOVWgAZKC2og" width="459"></iframe><br /><br />
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I was trying to explain to Libby what the deal was with the "other Meghans." I figure posting this will explain the whole thing!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31911817.post-80187998778207200712014-05-12T11:25:00.000-04:002014-05-12T11:25:01.949-04:00Paintings from Chapter two: Emma<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw0r1RqYzBv_f9cJMwz1Dh7BdjeBsjzgDcJyIMgJpQ_y_OkVF9BMSXPVVXBtvmDQrwM_wRAS2OAkoXFJwnLUedxa16wQcKvsF45HQIllq7VGOQOGCY8GXNmSOXlUY8pH1tHe7Q/s1600/Anna+brg+header-FINAL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw0r1RqYzBv_f9cJMwz1Dh7BdjeBsjzgDcJyIMgJpQ_y_OkVF9BMSXPVVXBtvmDQrwM_wRAS2OAkoXFJwnLUedxa16wQcKvsF45HQIllq7VGOQOGCY8GXNmSOXlUY8pH1tHe7Q/s400/Anna+brg+header-FINAL.jpg" height="56" width="217" /></a></div>
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Here are a few of my favorite paintings from the second chapter of <i>Sprout Street Neighbors </i>(some chapter one paintings <a href="http://bluerosegirls.blogspot.com/2014/04/paintings-from-sprout-street-neighbors.html" target="_blank">here</a>), featuring a rambunctious squirrel named Emma:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikuiAExBcaHW6n08I4HiqUhj4EZRiH7jtVAbDk8QY74RZWEazFFNv_lKhp54fx49inIYerKR3yBXo7Qjs7N28PPuSMmlUSKVGFtR6J66svxhLLdUqadIo3QcsG6Zdn8fgh7d_t-g/s1600/ch.2-2-lr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikuiAExBcaHW6n08I4HiqUhj4EZRiH7jtVAbDk8QY74RZWEazFFNv_lKhp54fx49inIYerKR3yBXo7Qjs7N28PPuSMmlUSKVGFtR6J66svxhLLdUqadIo3QcsG6Zdn8fgh7d_t-g/s1600/ch.2-2-lr.jpg" height="400" width="315" /></a><br />
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<br /></div>Anna Alterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16158290821419472185noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31911817.post-82277108112575206392014-04-23T14:15:00.001-04:002014-12-09T10:11:48.623-05:00Unpredictable<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://www.libbykoponen.org/" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYBqg0x6jAnTUix6BDdpN7gpdIoqEA9sMxykBmALfnmxRfjWJfnur8re8cRgNbGdScu4fC-Atn1efn4mF_8jWsaxDsP7szY2WaWwf_fjB5-wToMJg6WZnBCALhAL-Cyc2HYz2a/s400/Libby+brg+header.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528058555619040498" style="float: left; height: 56px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0pt; width: 250px;" /></a> <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxF94332xWdCANMFNxM3VTFJCgfeQxvYXCTrVniYSoXWsngPiW54Ot69wCrMZU2w0j6TMwzAZIfSBnJtGcRvfsof6B6nIu8qARr4cVzhCcc4Ji4k1oz9VWmsHdw_RD9xmP0RcoQg/s1600/drewb_link.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxF94332xWdCANMFNxM3VTFJCgfeQxvYXCTrVniYSoXWsngPiW54Ot69wCrMZU2w0j6TMwzAZIfSBnJtGcRvfsof6B6nIu8qARr4cVzhCcc4Ji4k1oz9VWmsHdw_RD9xmP0RcoQg/s1600/drewb_link.jpg" height="320" width="261" /></a><br />
Yes, that is Drew Barrymore -- the picture was taken on the steps of my building in Boston, while they were filming <i>Feverpitch</i>. The pink hat is mine, but I (wisely, I think) cropped myself out of the picture. Ordinary people rarely come off well when photographed with celebrities -- especially when the celebrities are young, beautiful movie stars.<br />
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I asked her to pose with it thinking it might be a good ad for the book -- of course, it wasn't!<br />
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That was predictable. But other things about what will grab people's attention aren't predictable at all. Of all the things I ever posted here, the one about my shepherd's hut was read the most (4,000 and something times).<br />
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That wasn't even meant to be anything but fun for me to write about and interesting to my friends. And when it comes to other people's posts, there's no pattern either: what people read most and what they didn't seems completely random (and NOT related to even what readers said were their favorites, in the days when we asked).<br />
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The most visited posts on this blog were (in this order): Elaine's about Valerie worth's animal poems, that shepherd's hut post of mine, Grace's moon craft festival post (about how to make a lantern for a moon festival), Alvina's Day in the Life of an Editor, and a sneak peek of Anna's sketch of a girl.<br />
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Who would ever have guessed that? I think the lesson when it comes to writing (whether a book or a blog post!) is to just write what interests YOU.<br />
<br />Libby Koponenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01508041827996196293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31911817.post-65763114277475134402014-04-09T08:58:00.000-04:002014-04-09T08:58:24.938-04:00Paintings from Sprout Street Neighbors<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw0r1RqYzBv_f9cJMwz1Dh7BdjeBsjzgDcJyIMgJpQ_y_OkVF9BMSXPVVXBtvmDQrwM_wRAS2OAkoXFJwnLUedxa16wQcKvsF45HQIllq7VGOQOGCY8GXNmSOXlUY8pH1tHe7Q/s1600/Anna+brg+header-FINAL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw0r1RqYzBv_f9cJMwz1Dh7BdjeBsjzgDcJyIMgJpQ_y_OkVF9BMSXPVVXBtvmDQrwM_wRAS2OAkoXFJwnLUedxa16wQcKvsF45HQIllq7VGOQOGCY8GXNmSOXlUY8pH1tHe7Q/s400/Anna+brg+header-FINAL.jpg" height="56" width="217" /></a></div>
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Here are a few of my favorites from the first chapter of <i>Sprout Street Neighbors</i>, the chapter book I've been working on. It's been a lot of fun painting without color, it sort of frees me up to think more about the values, textures, and patterns in a painting. I like spending time in this cozy black and white world.
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<br />Anna Alterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16158290821419472185noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31911817.post-40247804004181250452014-03-17T09:01:00.001-04:002014-03-19T06:35:52.557-04:00HOW TO PAINT AN EYE: SPED UP <a href="http://www.meghan-mccarthy.com/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj51quPg_cq2gl-KM5XyyS_Pnac8XyxeW2ix5znlxHC2prnTkBCQPP4zvYo7Q_cxDkftCjTIIBDpGtfAOzit1fSbCsUkFzUbJqraKkDAapfRzuqHjpuAdZ_-tZZMvJes-6tjJO0/s400/meghan+brg+header.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528057523026458594" style="float: left; height: 56px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 267px;" /></a>
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I'm working on a "how to" and this is the sped up version...<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/WuwiRpDbb5s" width="459"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31911817.post-28824041373904048992014-03-12T15:13:00.001-04:002014-03-19T06:37:03.357-04:00How to (really) avoid jetlag <a href="http://www.ifyoulovetoread.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYBqg0x6jAnTUix6BDdpN7gpdIoqEA9sMxykBmALfnmxRfjWJfnur8re8cRgNbGdScu4fC-Atn1efn4mF_8jWsaxDsP7szY2WaWwf_fjB5-wToMJg6WZnBCALhAL-Cyc2HYz2a/s400/Libby+brg+header.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528058555619040498" style="float: left; height: 56px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 250px;" /></a> <br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Several of the Blue Rose Girls have been traveling lately: Grace is in Hong Kong, Alvina was in Italy, I'm in Scotland, and our long-lost Linda was in Israel. So since no one has been posting much lately I am describing the five-step plan for avoiding jetlag.</span><br />
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I've heard of various methods:</div>
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<li><span style="font-size: small;"> always be exhausted, so you sleep wherever you are -- this was what a work-aholic boss always did</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">drink a lot -- "Works for me!" a builder/pirate-fighter (really) on the island said cheerfully</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">follow the anti jet lag developed by the US Air Force.</span>
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These are the five steps that worked for me, starting with the Air Force diet. I slept for 12 hours the first night
and did not have ANY jetlag at all after that, thanks, I am convinced, to this five-step plan developed by trial and error over the years.</div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>1. My version of the USAF anti-jet lag diet</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The science behind this diet is that your liver plays a big role in setting your body's internal clock -- how and why this is, and how these foods play into that, I don't know. I just know it works.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">How you do this varies depending upon whether you are going East (it's later at your destination) or West (it's earlier).This is the going East version.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> Five days before
the flight (counting the flight day as day 5), alternately feast and feast. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> They said no
caffeine, but I had white tea. They said no alcohol, but I had wine with
dinner
two of the feast nights -- two glasses. They said to start 4 days before the
flight, but I started 5....and I drank as much water as I could stomach every day, especially the day of the flight.</span>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The details: </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Day 1, fast --
MY version of fasting is to have liquids (berry smoothies and green drinks) or
salad (baby greens with an avocado: no cheese, no meat) and a light supper of
cooked vegetables or eggs</span></div>
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Day 2, feast --
high protein breakfast AND dinner (avoid carbs both days), lots of water</div>
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Day 3 -- fast</div>
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Day 4 -- feast,
and on THIS day, have a dinner that is high in both protein and healthy carbs.</div>
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Day 5 (the day
of the flight) -- fast: smoothie for breakfast, salad or nothing for lunch,
salad for dinner (a bit of protein with it if you wish), and as much water as
you can drink.</div>
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<b>2. The day of the flight:</b></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Get a massage. It's a
nice treat and in my case, I think it really helped.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>3. On the plane:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">If it's a red-eye, try to sleep -- and drink as much water as you can. No alcohol on the plane! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>4. Wherever
you are (on the plane, at your destination) when it's wake-up time at your destination:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Have caffeinated tea or coffee. Remember, the destination time zone is the time zone to use for this.</span></div>
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Have a high-protein breakfast at that time, too.</div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>5. First day at the destination:</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Stay
up until
bedtime -- and walk around a lot, outside, in the morning.
Morning light helps you adjust to your destination time if you're
traveling East.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">If you are really really tired, take a nap at around 4 (no earlier or all your efforts will have been wasted). Sometimes I take a short nap in the afternoon but this time I did not and I think you adjust much faster if you just stay up. This time, I stayed up until 9.30
-- <i>and slept for 12 hours!!!</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I admit that one
reason I was able to do this is that I got an absolutely hideous haircut and
the drama, stress, and sight of it kept the adrenaline flowing. Perhaps you can
add a little stress to your first day and let that keep you up.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Continue to
drink as much water as you can.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Is it worth it?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">To me, definitely. I'd take the
bother of the diet -- which is simpler than it may sound -- over feeling out of it and off for the first two
weeks. It's true that I was completely incompetent and out of it the <i>first</i> day
-- but when I woke up after having slept soundly for twelve hours that was
worth it, too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">From then on, I was on local time.</span><br />
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What's worked for you? And if you try this, will you report back on how it worked for you?</div>
Libby Koponenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01508041827996196293noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31911817.post-63298858802603798262014-03-05T13:23:00.001-05:002014-03-05T13:23:59.343-05:00Sprout Street Jacket<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw0r1RqYzBv_f9cJMwz1Dh7BdjeBsjzgDcJyIMgJpQ_y_OkVF9BMSXPVVXBtvmDQrwM_wRAS2OAkoXFJwnLUedxa16wQcKvsF45HQIllq7VGOQOGCY8GXNmSOXlUY8pH1tHe7Q/s1600/Anna+brg+header-FINAL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw0r1RqYzBv_f9cJMwz1Dh7BdjeBsjzgDcJyIMgJpQ_y_OkVF9BMSXPVVXBtvmDQrwM_wRAS2OAkoXFJwnLUedxa16wQcKvsF45HQIllq7VGOQOGCY8GXNmSOXlUY8pH1tHe7Q/s400/Anna+brg+header-FINAL.jpg" height="56" width="217" /></a></div>
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Here is the final painting for the jacket of Sprout Street Neighbors. I began with <a href="http://annaalter.blogspot.com/2014/01/saturday-sketch.html" target="_blank">this sketch</a>. I'll post the jacket design soon!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglcHMacxmPxvrMOL5AfYvN47NSJy5SaxK_hydBh4Vk-B7yqBCcJl1x99q4o_u5dyjEAiRgyBxjfDtLzlXKBOVELpnT1uDFk-WoZlpfoaVgmQ8vinICe8h4LVUCoo_P_Si-FKoVpg/s1600/jacket+finish-lr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglcHMacxmPxvrMOL5AfYvN47NSJy5SaxK_hydBh4Vk-B7yqBCcJl1x99q4o_u5dyjEAiRgyBxjfDtLzlXKBOVELpnT1uDFk-WoZlpfoaVgmQ8vinICe8h4LVUCoo_P_Si-FKoVpg/s1600/jacket+finish-lr.jpg" height="390" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Anna Alterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16158290821419472185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31911817.post-40683481645003449352014-02-19T09:51:00.002-05:002014-02-28T09:13:08.341-05:00I get scared<a href="http://www.gracelin.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOM20LUQ0w3AEKEuJ6ydpZfYZECJEJVaFlR0JOv41qN-ISaaeM5AQDld_vIFT0HWdUWf-bB2Fb45K5sfV-7ZCIskYvP2qfBznjsFObyrMZS3DRrR0LuNhMgWNe2yiqHYZNB1jd/s400/grace+brg+header.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528057532275870386" style="float: left; height: 56px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0pt; width: 208px;" /></a><br />
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Recently, I read <a href="http://stacylwhitman.tumblr.com/post/77130746273/someone-forgets-i-pay-attention-sweetheart-as-ive">this disturbing post</a> and it made me worry about my privacy online. As authors, we are told to "be real," to "share" and to "connect" with readers as well as others. And, honestly (when I have the time) I rather enjoy doing those things. I love sharing real photos of my life, my baby, my studio. I love connecting to readers and hearing how they've read my book. The purpose of being an author/illustrator is that you want your ideas, your images, and (not to be cheesy, but truly) your heart to be shared. Otherwise, why bother to publish--just keep everything in a box under the bed!<br />
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But, I get scared. That same baby I love to share photos of--am I risking her safety? Am I risking my own safety, my family's safety by revealing--by "sharing" so much of our lives? I don't want to be afraid, but I don't want to be dumb, either. <br />
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Thoughts?<br />
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Grace Linhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18129288262225671104noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31911817.post-8856978604958844922014-02-17T13:57:00.001-05:002014-03-19T06:38:24.718-04:00Inside Random House: Bringing Our Authors' Books to Life<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/4FlnAFH4HV4" width="480"></iframe><br />
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I've been off the radar because I have to move... to where I don't know. All of my books are now in boxes--over 35 and counting! Yeah, I have a lot of books. This whole process is just really draining for me. The day I'm supposed to be out of my apartment I have a school visit so I've been working on trying to add some material to it today. I have tons of school visits coming up in the next two months. Something I struggle with is how to explain how a book is created. I found a good video FOR ADULTS. What I'd like to do is create one for kids. But oh, how to find the time...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31911817.post-80851196280503969062014-02-13T15:24:00.002-05:002014-02-14T09:16:26.518-05:00Dealing with comments<a href="http://www.ifyoulovetoread.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYBqg0x6jAnTUix6BDdpN7gpdIoqEA9sMxykBmALfnmxRfjWJfnur8re8cRgNbGdScu4fC-Atn1efn4mF_8jWsaxDsP7szY2WaWwf_fjB5-wToMJg6WZnBCALhAL-Cyc2HYz2a/s400/Libby+brg+header.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528058555619040498" style="float: left; height: 56px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 250px;" /></a><br />
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When I first started out in this business, I thought that if an editor told you to change something you had to do what she said.<br />
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Now, I think that when an editor makes a comment, you have to do SOMETHING -- you can't just leave it as you had it -- but even good editors aren't always right about WHAT. That's why they're editors, not writers. So when an editor comments on something, I take it as a sign that it's not working, but may come up with an idea that works better as I rewrite.<br />
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And I'd always, always like to do the rewriting myself! I've worked with two publishers who just did it themselves without even consulting me (NOT Little, Brown!) and would never, ever want to work with them again. I think this is highly unusual, though.<br />
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What about you? How do you (authors and editors) handle comments and rewrites? How much rewriting do you, as an author, do in response to comments? How do you, as an editor, expect your authors to respond -- and what do you do if they don't do anything?Libby Koponenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01508041827996196293noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31911817.post-67259654573512183512014-01-25T15:44:00.000-05:002014-01-25T15:44:39.540-05:00Saturday Sketch<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw0r1RqYzBv_f9cJMwz1Dh7BdjeBsjzgDcJyIMgJpQ_y_OkVF9BMSXPVVXBtvmDQrwM_wRAS2OAkoXFJwnLUedxa16wQcKvsF45HQIllq7VGOQOGCY8GXNmSOXlUY8pH1tHe7Q/s1600/Anna+brg+header-FINAL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw0r1RqYzBv_f9cJMwz1Dh7BdjeBsjzgDcJyIMgJpQ_y_OkVF9BMSXPVVXBtvmDQrwM_wRAS2OAkoXFJwnLUedxa16wQcKvsF45HQIllq7VGOQOGCY8GXNmSOXlUY8pH1tHe7Q/s400/Anna+brg+header-FINAL.jpg" height="56" width="217" /></a></div>
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Tightening up the jacket sketch for <i>Sprout Street Neighbors</i>, my first chapter book, due out next year. </div>
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<br />Anna Alterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16158290821419472185noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31911817.post-33955220395902838062014-01-09T10:57:00.003-05:002014-01-09T11:04:33.163-05:00keeping your mouth shut<a href="http://www.gracelin.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOM20LUQ0w3AEKEuJ6ydpZfYZECJEJVaFlR0JOv41qN-ISaaeM5AQDld_vIFT0HWdUWf-bB2Fb45K5sfV-7ZCIskYvP2qfBznjsFObyrMZS3DRrR0LuNhMgWNe2yiqHYZNB1jd/s400/grace+brg+header.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528057532275870386" style="cursor: move; float: left; height: 56px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0pt; width: 208px;" /></a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span>Like many authors, I had a great laugh at <a href="http://noblemania.blogspot.com/2014/01/childrens-authors-read-reviews-of-their.html/">these videos of children's authors reading their harsh online reviews</a>. However, a couple days later I was looking up Ellen Oh's book <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780062091109">Prophecy </a>on Goodreads and found myself reading <a href="http://theyakitten.blogspot.com/2013/02/ellen-oh-and-negative-reviews-how-much.html">this</a>, an example of how online readers show their ire when authors respond to negative reviews.<br />
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And honestly, I do understand that, to a point. When a book is published, it no longer belongs to the author. It becomes the reader's book and its their experience which an author has no right to criticize. The big unwritten rule when it comes to reviews when you are an author seems to be KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT. Personally, if I can help it, I try just to not read reviews (though I'd be lying if I said I didn't read reviews at all, though).<br />
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Sometimes I wonder, though, what they expect from us. Once and a while, I'll get an e-mail from an irritated or even angry reader who wants to know what I meant by this or that, and I never know how to respond. Just as the reading experience belongs to them, the writing experience belongs to us. Every author I know has written their book to the best of their ability and I've always assumed that readers take it on faith that authors are not out to create books to annoy them. But, perhaps, they just want that agreement acknowledged. So, most of the time, I usually respond, "I'm sorry your reading experience was not what I intended." However, sometimes, I think the best course of action is to follow the rule and keep my mouth shut. What do you think?</div>
Grace Linhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18129288262225671104noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31911817.post-70040055246266240442014-01-07T11:04:00.000-05:002014-01-07T11:04:26.256-05:00Wise words from Leo Lionni<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw0r1RqYzBv_f9cJMwz1Dh7BdjeBsjzgDcJyIMgJpQ_y_OkVF9BMSXPVVXBtvmDQrwM_wRAS2OAkoXFJwnLUedxa16wQcKvsF45HQIllq7VGOQOGCY8GXNmSOXlUY8pH1tHe7Q/s1600/Anna+brg+header-FINAL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw0r1RqYzBv_f9cJMwz1Dh7BdjeBsjzgDcJyIMgJpQ_y_OkVF9BMSXPVVXBtvmDQrwM_wRAS2OAkoXFJwnLUedxa16wQcKvsF45HQIllq7VGOQOGCY8GXNmSOXlUY8pH1tHe7Q/s400/Anna+brg+header-FINAL.jpg" height="56" width="217" /></a></div>
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"Of all the questions I have been asked as an author of children's books, the most frequent one, without doubt, has been 'How do you get your ideas?' Most people seem to think that getting an idea is both mysterious and simple. Mysterious, because inspiration must come from a particular state of grace with which only the most gifted souls are blessed. Simple, because ideas are expected to drop into one's mind in words and pictures, ready to be transcribed and copied in the form of a book, complete with endpapers and cover. The word get expresses these expectations well. Yet nothing could be further from the truth.</div>
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"It is true that, from time to time, from the endless flow of our mental imagery, there emerges unexpectedly something that, vague though it may be, seems to carry the promise of a form, a meaning, and, more important, an irresistible poetic charge. The sense of instant recognition with which we pull this image into the full light of our consciousness is the initial impulse of all creative acts. But, though it is important, it produces no more than the germ of an idea. Each book, at the birth of its creative history, has such a moment. Some are fortunate enough to have, from the outset, a strongly identified hero, one with an inescapable destiny. Others are blessed with a promising beginning, or perhaps with the vision of an ending (which means working backwards to a surprise opening). Others stem from a clearly articulated conflict situation. Sometimes, I must admit, the motivations of a book may be found in a sudden, unreasonable urge to draw a certain kind of crocodile. And it may even happen that in the dark of our minds there appears, out of nowhere, a constellation of words that has the bright, arrogant solidity of a title. Only last night I was jolted out of a near-slumber by the words the mouse that didn't exist. I am sure that, temporarily tucked away in my memory, they will eventually become the title of a story for which as yet I have no idea.</div>
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"To shape and sharpen the logic of a story, to tighten the flow of events, ultimately to define the idea in its totality, is much like a game of chess. In the light of overall strategy, each move is the result of doubts, proposals, and rejections, which inevitably bring to mind the successes or failures of previous experiences.</div>
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"Inspirational raptures may happen, but most books are shaped through hard, disciplined work. Creative work, to be sure, because its ingredients come from the sphere of the imaginary. But the manipulation of these ingredients requires much more than mere inclination or talent. It is an intricate process in which the idea slowly takes form, by trial and error, through detours and side roads, which, were it not for the guidance of professional rigor, would lead the author into an inextricable labyrinth of alternatives.</div>
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"And so, to the question 'How do you get your ideas?' I am tempted to answer, unromantic though it may sound, 'Hard work.' "</div>
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<i>-Leo Lionni</i></div>
Anna Alterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16158290821419472185noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31911817.post-42825797963584476302014-01-06T08:00:00.000-05:002014-01-06T08:00:05.547-05:00Looking back, looking forward<a href="http://bloomabilities.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0-5hs52rEocdCyo7DFF6DghSgwtFD4LWuzcXyVQdji1tsOYnXUjq7McdyRl08ddLIU6d0E8X6CPoEK94m_L5-oL2no4pcuAwT6Sdppsr9fNEyP6m6U112jy6hzUfdrzsxaiBw/s400/alvina+brg+header.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528057697052070994" style="float: left; height: 56px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 214px;" /></a> <br />
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As I mentioned in an <a href="http://bluerosegirls.blogspot.com/2013/10/that-would-be-excellent.html" target="_blank">earlier post</a>, while packing, moving, and unpacking, I've unearthed some forgotten things. Another thing I found was my cover letter when I applied for the editorial assistant position at Little, Brown, and also the thank you letter I sent after my interview. Here's a draft of my thank-you letter:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6wOW6Ma4iiUxElA-ZldPsdFnCW0qIfMGKgiU46yE9YcpEBurfyw3ZiH1nE2HkYl8knmUq06qq6Ng9vP0jQV9faRxwr0oM3_yTnparp4MO0iFDsdnTt1xeNF7SZsF4zauNUVK9Cw/s1600/IMG_3952.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6wOW6Ma4iiUxElA-ZldPsdFnCW0qIfMGKgiU46yE9YcpEBurfyw3ZiH1nE2HkYl8knmUq06qq6Ng9vP0jQV9faRxwr0oM3_yTnparp4MO0iFDsdnTt1xeNF7SZsF4zauNUVK9Cw/s640/IMG_3952.jpg" height="585" width="640" /></a></div>
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As the <a href="http://www.cbcdiversity.com/" target="_blank">CBC Diversity Committee</a> has been such a significant part of my life the past few years, I especially appreciated my comment about Megan's commitment to publishing diverse books. That still holds true. By the way, the two spaces between sentences drives me crazy now.<br />
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Also, note the "Time Warner Trade Publishing"--back then, Little, Brown was part of Time Warner, and the children's division was still based in Boston. Soon thereafter, it became part of "AOL Time Warner"--I also found this:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjNRfvwchhdVBpLhD2nBB9fBn05ktPuIyo69KtWBN_YyxmRf4Gyx0vaoyDGp0mPKA1M7H9TZW7zEsiHUv3piwCo8AZFOoA1BXrwDroXLWZwPRoV-4U9llTlKqBxAeMUrk__Eh38g/s1600/IMG_3947.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjNRfvwchhdVBpLhD2nBB9fBn05ktPuIyo69KtWBN_YyxmRf4Gyx0vaoyDGp0mPKA1M7H9TZW7zEsiHUv3piwCo8AZFOoA1BXrwDroXLWZwPRoV-4U9llTlKqBxAeMUrk__Eh38g/s320/IMG_3947.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
Now, of course, we are Hachette Book Group, and the children's division is based in New York. The company has been through at least four name changes in the 14+ years I've been here.<br />
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And finally, I found this fun note. Grace (Pacy) Lin and I were roommates back then, and she left me this fun little note before leaving for vacation:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjkgtmdfV-Fg1VsDnpoRPC1fUpWEWtmNbBXQXNUiAnIfAh34ojCC7PoDaoznUCfYm5iDe-MzZw9EtLbFLSFgkB41aovIJNwwTiQPowGg21Ey7BDWVz93c5v2jdyIE-B_NyRP29nw/s1600/IMG_3954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjkgtmdfV-Fg1VsDnpoRPC1fUpWEWtmNbBXQXNUiAnIfAh34ojCC7PoDaoznUCfYm5iDe-MzZw9EtLbFLSFgkB41aovIJNwwTiQPowGg21Ey7BDWVz93c5v2jdyIE-B_NyRP29nw/s320/IMG_3954.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Ah, memories.<br />
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I did a quick <a href="http://bloomabilities.blogspot.com/2014/01/so-long-2013-welcome-2014.html" target="_blank">wrap-up of my vacation</a> on my personal blog. I'm really looking forward to putting 2013 behind me, and am looking forward to and hoping for a better, less tumultuous 2014.<br />
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As always, I love making new year's resolutions. Here are a few of mine for 2014:<br />
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- No internet shopping unless it's a gift, a necessity, or for work. (I successfully kept this resolution from last year, and will try to keep it for at least one more year)<br />
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-write in my journal and/or blog at least twice a month<br />
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-go on a vacation to Europe with Greg<br />
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-achieve a maximum of work inbox 100 at the end of each week<br />
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Happy 2014, all!</div>
alvinalinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04503984086482905226noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31911817.post-25801702339489316622014-01-03T11:04:00.002-05:002014-01-05T15:28:43.352-05:00Writing and going online<a href="http://www.ifyoulovetoread.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528058555619040498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYBqg0x6jAnTUix6BDdpN7gpdIoqEA9sMxykBmALfnmxRfjWJfnur8re8cRgNbGdScu4fC-Atn1efn4mF_8jWsaxDsP7szY2WaWwf_fjB5-wToMJg6WZnBCALhAL-Cyc2HYz2a/s400/Libby+brg+header.jpg" style="float: left; height: 56px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 250px;" /></a> <br />
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I take New Years Resolutions very seriously: think about them and talk about them and write them down --and, I admit, sometimes forget about them completely after all that.<br />
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But not always.<br />
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One I'm thinking of for this year is not to do ANYTHING online --even look at email -- until after I've done my morning writing.<br />
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In Scotland, I usually started the day by making a fire and heating water -- I had an electric kettle, but if wanted hot water, I had to heat it myself so the day ALWAYS started with that even if it wasn't cold enough for a fire. During that I would just sort of naturally think about what I was going to write and when I was washed, I'd start writing. <br />
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Here, I often begin the day by checking email.....and I got so much more written in Scotland!<br />
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Just that little pause to make the fire and boil the water is enough to start the day in a focused way. Going online first means jumping into emails and other distractions -- and I'm easily distracted. On a bad day, my whole morning can vanish online! That is not good.<br />
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So this year I resolve to only go online later in the day, AFTER I've done my writing -- or (on days when I won't be writing, and there will be some), yoga and meditating.Libby Koponenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01508041827996196293noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31911817.post-27252594795811847472013-12-31T09:44:00.001-05:002014-01-05T15:27:36.813-05:00name this tune!<a href="http://www.gracelin.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528057532275870386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOM20LUQ0w3AEKEuJ6ydpZfYZECJEJVaFlR0JOv41qN-ISaaeM5AQDld_vIFT0HWdUWf-bB2Fb45K5sfV-7ZCIskYvP2qfBznjsFObyrMZS3DRrR0LuNhMgWNe2yiqHYZNB1jd/s400/grace+brg+header.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 56px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 208px;" /></a><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyO7iqrWcGlZi8YTijVRECexZnaFAnQEComeLqUbwyB053Kh_cncErCBZ9yfk1oLDhngk-F0gs8QVo' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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At the hotel in Taiwan, a violinist serenaded us during breakfast. It was Rain Dragon's first experience with a violin and she was fascinated--so much so that she watches this video over and over again. Because of this, the Sasquatch and I find ourselves humming and singing this tune all the time and it is driving us a bit mad that we don't know what song it is. Do you know it? If you do, please tell us as then we could start the new year without losing our minds!Grace Linhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18129288262225671104noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31911817.post-69976518961480675232013-12-26T16:42:00.001-05:002014-01-05T15:26:42.147-05:00Christmas at Grace's (with update)*<a href="http://www.ifyoulovetoread.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528058555619040498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYBqg0x6jAnTUix6BDdpN7gpdIoqEA9sMxykBmALfnmxRfjWJfnur8re8cRgNbGdScu4fC-Atn1efn4mF_8jWsaxDsP7szY2WaWwf_fjB5-wToMJg6WZnBCALhAL-Cyc2HYz2a/s400/Libby+brg+header.jpg" style="float: left; height: 56px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 250px;" /></a> <br />
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Grace put the finishing touches on her gingerbread house, we took a picture,</div>
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and then <a href="http://www.gracelinblog.com/2013/12/critique.html">Grace presented the house to her daughter</a>...<br />
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*edited to add <a href="http://www.gracelinblog.com/2013/12/critique.html">a link to for the continuation</a>!</div>
Libby Koponenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01508041827996196293noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31911817.post-3886876354483194992013-12-24T12:53:00.001-05:002014-01-05T15:32:35.413-05:00NY Merry Christmas<a href="http://www.ifyoulovetoread.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528058555619040498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYBqg0x6jAnTUix6BDdpN7gpdIoqEA9sMxykBmALfnmxRfjWJfnur8re8cRgNbGdScu4fC-Atn1efn4mF_8jWsaxDsP7szY2WaWwf_fjB5-wToMJg6WZnBCALhAL-Cyc2HYz2a/s400/Libby+brg+header.jpg" style="float: left; height: 56px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 250px;" /></a> <br />
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In NY now the Salvation Army people are all young and they don't just ring bells -- they DANCE. I was lucky enough to see two guys dancing to that old carol, "YMCA."<br />
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They were joined by a large group of young teenagers -- the sight of them all line-dancing on 5th Avenue was quite something! -- and then by a middle-aged matron<br />
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I absolutely can not imagine that happening where I live in CT and I loved it. </div>
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Merry Christmas, wherever you are!Libby Koponenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01508041827996196293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31911817.post-49195680023766117332013-12-18T13:27:00.002-05:002014-01-05T15:28:15.492-05:00ONE STAR CUSTOMER REVIEW<a href="http://www.meghan-mccarthy.com/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528057523026458594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj51quPg_cq2gl-KM5XyyS_Pnac8XyxeW2ix5znlxHC2prnTkBCQPP4zvYo7Q_cxDkftCjTIIBDpGtfAOzit1fSbCsUkFzUbJqraKkDAapfRzuqHjpuAdZ_-tZZMvJes-6tjJO0/s400/meghan+brg+header.jpg" style="float: left; height: 56px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 267px;" /></a>
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Ugh. I haven't been posting because I have a bookdeadline and I have so much art to do! Help!<br />
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Anyway, my pal Marc Tyler Nobleman came up with an idea: to have writers read one of their bad Amazon customer reviews and he'd put them all together. Obviously we're not to be negative about them or anything like that. After I did mine I found out that we were supposed to make the videos only 10-15 sec long. I guess Marc had gotten so many responses that he had to limit the video responses. So... this is my long video response. If he uses mine it'll be one fraction of this:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/GxJzbGJiTc8?list=UUviaE5osnagBOVWgAZKC2og" width="560"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31911817.post-30534627641367661812013-12-13T11:04:00.001-05:002014-01-05T15:36:32.737-05:00POETRY FRIDAY: Things to Do If You Are a Book<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I’ve been away from blogging at <b>Wild Rose Reader</b> and
<b>Blue Rose Girls</b> for so long that I thought I might forget how to post. It has
been an eventful year for me. We finally moved into our new home in June. It
was—at first—difficult saying goodbye to my home of thirty-seven years…and even
more difficult boxing up and moving all the “stuff” we had collected in nearly four
decades. The heaviest things to tote to our new place were the thousands of
children’s books that I owned and cherished—books that I’ve been sharing with
my granddaughter Julia. We had a number of bookcases built for our in-law
apartment so I could keep my books on display…and easily accessible. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">NOTE: For Mother's Day, my daughter gave me </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">a lovely drawing</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #274e13;"> of our old home. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We’re fortunate that our apartment is more spacious
than most in-law suites. Still, it’s much smaller than our old place. At my
age, it has been good to “downsize.” My apartment is much easier to clean than
my other home. It’s the perfect size for two old fogeys! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s so wonderful living
next door to my daughter and son-in-law. I get to see Julia every day. It’s
such fun watching her change and grow…reading books with her…helping her make
puzzles…listening to her vocabulary grow.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>Lots and Lots of Book Shelves!</b> </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">THINGS
TO DO IF YOU ARE A BOOK</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">By
Elaine Magliaro</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Be
filled with words that tell a tale</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">of
a little mouse and a giant whale</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">of
a runty pig and his spider friend</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">who
was true and loyal to the end</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">of
a badger who loved eating bread and jam</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">of
a funky guy, green eggs, and ham</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">of
a spunky girl named Ramona Q.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">of
a boy and the Jabberwock he slew.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Be
filled with words and tell a tale</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">that
will let my imagination sail.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Be
a mystery</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">or
a fantasy</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">or
sing with sounds of poetry.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Between
your covers</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">let
there be</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">a story that’s just right for me.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Over at <b>Wild Rose Reader</b>, I’ve posted an original
poem for the holiday season titled <span style="color: #274e13;"><i><b><a href="http://wildrosereader.blogspot.com/2013/12/under-tree-original-poem.html">Under the Tree</a></b></i></span>.</span></div>
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Elaine Magliarohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09829330276633865868noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31911817.post-70844817628800520952013-12-12T09:49:00.001-05:002013-12-23T13:40:44.354-05:00Process (and yes, this is a rewrite - and an example of step#5 too)<a href="http://www.ifyoulovetoread.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528058555619040498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYBqg0x6jAnTUix6BDdpN7gpdIoqEA9sMxykBmALfnmxRfjWJfnur8re8cRgNbGdScu4fC-Atn1efn4mF_8jWsaxDsP7szY2WaWwf_fjB5-wToMJg6WZnBCALhAL-Cyc2HYz2a/s400/Libby+brg+header.jpg" style="float: left; height: 56px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 250px;" /></a> <br />
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I sent my novel off to my agent last week -- electronically, but towards the end I can read it more objectively on paper, pencil in hand to make comments.<br />
Now I'm using the time and energy I would normally be spending on my book to sort through my possessions; donate, sell, and throw out throw out a lot (thank you for going through my shoes with me, Alvina!); and find a new place to live.<br />
I'm going to blog about that (not here, on <a href="http://carfreeinconnecticut.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">my personal blog</a>), both as a way to get other people's ideas and remember what I saw.<br />
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But first: I want to write down what I learned about my process from this, mainly so I won't forget but if it's interesting to anyone else, excellent.<br />
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1. Love the idea myself, and test it before I start writing -- Raold Dahl did that, sometimes for a YEAR. By test it, he meant: think about it, attack it from every angle, to see if there's enough there to make a novel and if it will WORK. Disappointing as it is to realize that an idea I'm really excited about just won't make an exciting, interesting book, better to figure that out before rather than after spending a year or more writing it!<br />
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2. Get to know the characters -- at least the main character. More may emerge as the story develops, but I think it's a mistake to start writing until the main characters are as clear to me as, say, the characters in THE LITTLE HOUSE books (who have always seemed like real people to me, people I actually knew)....both Noel Streatfield and Dianna Wynne Jones said they spent at least 6 months getting to know the characters before writing.<br />
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3. For me, first drafts are the hardest and most painful parts of writing. I flipflop between things just coming and being very excited; and times when NOTHING comes, or what does seems so bad that I think I'm wasting my time, this doesn't even make any sense, no one is going to read it ever....blah blah.<br />
<i>That second feeling is hideous and painful, but it just goes with the territory-- </i>and I need to accept it. It doesn't mean I'm doing anything wrong -- every writer I know has it.<br />
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I also need to j<b>ust accept that in the first draft I really don't know what I'm doing </b>(that comes later). Writing a book is like jumping off a cliff without a parachute -- you just have to have faith that one will blow by and you will grab it.<br />
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Also, when something just COMES, even if it doesn't seem to make sense or fit in at all with the story as I then know it: trust it. If it comes with energy and conviction, it belongs in the book and I'll figure out why and how later. <br />
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The worst thing I can do is give in to those feelings of hopelessness; the best -- work on the book every day -- even if "working" means just sitting with it, clueless about what happens next; trust what just comes; and resist the urge to chatter when I don't know. WAIT.<br />
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4. The real book emerges in the second draft. Again, once I start it -- don't stop. If I keep at it, all the baffling blanks in the first draft will get filled in. And I do mean "get filled in," if I write every day, and get into that state of thinking about the book all the time, I see what should be happening in all the scenes that WERE boring.<br />
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5. Wait to polish until the third draft--polishing done before then (except for the first scene which I do think is really important: it sets the tone and the voice) is a waste of time. If I've polished something, it's harder to take it out-- and by the third draft, a lot that's in needs to go. <br />
<br />Libby Koponenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01508041827996196293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31911817.post-10247488115864000372013-12-04T11:40:00.000-05:002013-12-04T11:40:19.971-05:00RISD Alumni Holiday Art Sale<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />I'll be selling books and prints once again at the RISD Alumni Holiday Art Sale (as will Grace!), this Saturday at the Rhode Island Convention Center. As always, the sale is a great place to do your holiday shopping- I love to stroll the aisles and pick out handmade goodies for my xmas list. Come join us! The sale is from 10:00-5:00.
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<br />Anna Alterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16158290821419472185noreply@blogger.com0