Conversations with Sy Montgomery

Last night I attended the Foundation for Children's Books "Conversations With Sy Montgomery" event. This is a great event series, a casual conversation between creator and moderator--similar to the "Actor's Studio" except the people aren't plastic.

I admit I didn't know a great deal about Sy Montgomery's work. I knew her books but never really examined them. I think perhaps I was scarred by too many boring science textbooks as a child. I always though photojournalism non-fiction seemed too much like school.

But, I was wrong. By the first ten minutes, I was captivated by her passion for her work and my appreciation for her work escalated tenfold. Her approach to creating her books is so different than any of my other colleagues, simply because of the nature of her subject matter. Sy travels to the Gobi Desert to research snow leopards. She goes to New Zealand to find flightless parrots. Every book is a life adventure as well as a cerebral one.

The most important thing I took away from the conversation was the sincere motivation behind all her books. For her, "science was a way to answer the question for the things you love most"; a true love that she wants to share with kids. Which I think she is doing quite well.

Snowflake opening at the Danforth

On Sunday those of us that are local (and some not so local) gathered at the Danforth Museum in Framingham, MA to sign books and admire the full collection of snowflakes on display for Robert's Snow. The sight of all 150+ 'flakes on display is AMAZING. You don't have to be a children's book fanatic to be impressed by these tiny perfect works of art!

First we gathered to sign our books and get to know the Dana Farber folks who've done so much for the project this year:



From right to left here is Grace, Elaine, Ki-Ki(G's sister), and Austin(cousin), all looking fetching in red and black:



The artists in attendence (right to left Grace, me, Amiko Hirao, Barbara Lehman, Rebecca Doughty, Alissa Imre Geis, David Ezra Stein, a lovely lady I did not get to meet (sorry!), Judy Moffatt and Robin Brickman:



It was a fun day as it always is when children's book authors and illustrators venture out to meet eachother, and it was especially exciting to see the snowflakes and pick out our favorites... if you have a chance to see the exhibit (stays up until Dec 2nd) I definitely recommend it, as is usually the case with art the pieces look very different in person than they do on the web.

Fyi my interview at over at the Longstockings blog went up yesterday, click here to take a look- they did such a nice job of putting it all together!

My snowflake:

Martha, Chip, and Gibsons, oh my.

I seem to be attending my share of fancy dinners lately. First The Carle Honors, and then last Monday I was lucky enough to snag an invitation to a dinner at Tavern on the Green to honor Random House Children's Books publisher Chip Gibson. The publisher of our adult division is good friends with him and purchased a table, and invited four of us from the young readers division to attend. I had never been to Tavern on the Green and was excited to go, although a bit intimidated as well. I'm used to attending children's books events where I recognize at least 30% of the attendees. In this case, aside from my colleagues, a few RH folk who were familiar, and a few friends from Writer's House and the Sheldon Fogelman Agency, I didn't recognize anyone. One of us remarked, "Who are all of these men?!" as we were used to these types of events being dominated by women. But I think the event was actually dominated by folks in adult publishing. *gasp*

The first speaker was Martha Stewart, which was a real treat. She came onto the stage holding a full martini glass and wearing a suit with a red tie. "I'm drinking Gibsons tonight!" she declared, holding up her glass. "What's in these things...gin or something? I've never had a Gibson, and tonight I've had three!" she was somewhat slurring her words. I was a little alarmed for her. But I think it was just a shtick, because she launched into her talk and was fine. She was funny (she was dressed like Chip), charming, friendly, and got a big laugh when she casually mentioned, "When I got out of jail..."

Other speakers included Magic Treehouse author Mary Pope Osborne and our own Michael Pietsch who played guitar and sang a song he wrote about having a "Chip on our shoulder." Hilarious.

They showed a video highlighting his career, and all of the fun parties/events he's been responsible for, especially the annual Random House Halloween party. One speaker described him as being avuncular, which delighted me to no end, as I'm a bit obsessed with that word.

The dinner benefited the Goddard Riverside Community Center. From their website, they describe themself as "one of New York City’s leading human service organizations. We work to meet people’s basic needs – food, shelter, education – and to bring them together for mutual aid, social action, and to celebrate our richness as a society."

Being there made me think...could that/would that be me someday? Will I ever get to the point in my career where I'm celebrated at a big fancy dinner? Would I even want that? To be honest, I don't know how I feel about that. I think I'll just focus on my current job for now. But congratulations to Chip Gibson. I've never met him, but after that dinner, I think I'd like to someday.

Blogging for a Cure: Week #4

It’s hard to believe it but week #4 of Blogging for a Cure will begin tomorrow. I want to take this opportunity to thank Jules and Eisha, the fine ladies of 7-Imp for spearheading this effort to promote Robert’s Snow: for Cancer’s Cure, a series of online auctions that will raise money for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and cancer research. Please visit the Robert’s Snow website to learn more about this unique fundraiser, which was co-founded by Grace Lin and her late husband Robert Mercer.

Jules coordinated the efforts of dozens of bloggers who will be posting features about the picture book illustrators who created snowflakes for Robert’s Snow 2007. She also organized the master schedule for our postings. In addition, I would like to thank Tricia Stohr-Hunt of The Miss Rumphius Effect and Jen Robinson of Jen Robinson’s Book Page for providing participating bloggers with weekly schedules to post at our blogs.

NOTE: I have linked to the blogs that will be posting features about the Robert’s Snow artists this week—not to the specific posts. Jules and Eisha of 7-Imp have created a special page that includes a list with links to all the Blogging for a Cure posts. Their list is updated every day.

Monday, November 5
Anna Alter at The Longstockings
Laura Huliska Beith at Just One More Book!!
Cece Bell at Jo's Journal
Denise Ortakales at cynthialord’s Journal

Tuesday, November 6
Carol Heyer at The Shady Glade
Joe Kulka at ChatRabbit
Steven James Petruccio at Blog From the Windowsill
Carol Schwartz at Jama Rattigan's Alphabet Soup

Wednesday, November 7
Jeff Ebbeler at Sam Riddleburger's blog
Scott Magoon at Just One More Book!!
Connie McLennan at The Shady Glade
Julie Paschkis at the excelsior file

Thursday, November 8
Genevieve Cote at a wrung sponge
Linda Graves at Your Neighborhood Librarian
James Gurney at Charlotte's Library
Matt Tavares at Please Come Flying

Friday, November 9
Susan Kathleen Hartung at Wild Rose Reader
Mary Peterson at Brooklyn Arden
Annette Simon at Check It Out and Deo Writer
Melanie Watt at Whimsy Books

Saturday, November 10
R.W. Alley at at Jama Rattigan's Alphabet Soup
Jeannie Brett at cynthialord’s Journal
Daniel Mahoney at Paradise Found and Great Solutions to Team Challenges
Amy Young at Kate's Book Blog

Sunday, November 11
Tim Coffey at The Silver Lining
Elizabeth Dulemba at sruble's world
Chris Gall at Through the Studio Door
Amy Schimler at Please Come Flying

These are the Robert’s Snow artists who will be/have been featured at Wild Rose Reader.

October 16: Scott Bakal

Scott Bakal

October 29: Alissa Imre Geis

Alissa with Her 2007 Snowflake

November 3: Wendell Minor

Florence & Wendell Minor

COMING SOON TO WILD ROSE READER

November 9: Susan Kathleen Hartung
November 15: Mary Newell DePalma
November 18: Wade Zahares

Day Care Center for Writers

Last week Grace was here visiting (very fun!) and we tried to write. She sat in the window seat with her laptop, I sat at my computer -- writing is usually so solitary. This felt so cozy and snug and FUN. It reminded me of where I wrote a big chunk of my first published novel: a sunny bright yellow office with a beautiful view of the Palo Alto hills.

This was at the Stanford Physics Dept., where I worked part-time as a secretary and my boss said I could work on my novel whenever there wasn't anything to do for him. I liked the space so much that I would sometimes go back there in the evening, all the physics grad students in the group (who I was friends with) were in THEIR office down the hall, and I could hear them laughing, and we were all there working, alone but not alone.

That is one of the many things about being a writer that I've never figured out how to manage on a regular basis. Lillian Hellman once said that she always wanted other people to leave her alone when she wanted to be alone, but be there when she wanted company: "and even when I was a child I knew the other people wouldn't let me get away with that."

She never married and maybe that's why. SOME husbands leave people alone to write -- Collete's first (and maybe only?) husband used to lock her in a room and leave her there until she had slipped a certain number of pages under the door. But I think most partners don't understand the need for solitude. Time spent lolling around thinking can look a lot like laziness (and often it is!)...but not always.

How do those of you with partners manage it?

Me, I wish there were a day care center for writers.It would have a great view, and little desks, and stay open 24 hours to accomodate all schedules. Every two hours, someone would wheel snacks around on an old-fashioned brass tea trolley: tea,dim sum, maybe little Vietnamese crepes/omelets....or maybe (equally realistic?) it really is time to hook up with someone. But NOT another writer! One in a family is enough.

POETRY FRIDAY: Are We There Yet?

Anyone who has traveled long distances in a car with a young child is familiar with the following question: Are we there yet? I have to admit my young daughter was a great passenger. When she was about five years old, we drove all the way from Massachusetts to Virginia in one day to visit my mother-in-law who lived in Williamsburg. Sara, my daughter, sat in the back seat with her favorite stuffed animals, a package of tasty snacks and juice boxes, some books, and her pillow. She was quiet and didn't get impatient during our long journey, didn't seem to mind spending so much time strapped into the backseat of our car as it droned down the highway. I think maybe riding in the car put her in a state akin to that of a person while meditating. Only once or twice do I recall her asking us if we were there yet.

When I read R. Virgil Ellis’s poem, it brought to mind all the trips my husband and I took with Sara when she was little—trips to Virginia and Maryland…to Maine and Vermont. I have such fond memories of those times.

So here’s to poetry and to long car trips and to memories of happy times spent traveling with our kids.

Are We There Yet
by R. Virgil Ellis

you'd say, tired of our prompting
to see the world as you should:
train-thunder as we go under a trestle,
smiling face painted on a barn.
You'd even get bored looking for signs
that had the rare q, x, or z.
Are we there yet?
So we gave up telling you the miles
and just said, we're closer, getting closer…

You can read the rest of the poem here at The Writers’ Almanac with Garrison Keillor.

I have a post about Poetry and Art at Wild Rose Reader today.

Today's Poetry Friday Roundup is at Mentor Texts, Read Alouds & More.

inspired by punk rockers

My cousin Tim Barry is ithe singer of a punk rock/hardcore band called Avail. Below is one of their videos (feel free to skip if you hate that kind of music!)


(Tim is the one hopping the train. I wish I could do that sometime!)

Ask anyone who has ever listened to that kind of music or or has a friend who listens to that kind of music and they'll know who Avail is. Everywhere I go and say that my cousin is in Avail people will say "Oh my gosh! I love them!" Even people I would never think would be into that kind of thing. Avail turned down the opportunity to "go big" and be on MTV and the like. They wanted to keep it real. They tour relentlessly and have been doing it for years and years. They are passionate about what they do and that's why they're so great to watch live.

I suppose you're wondering what on earth this has to do with kids' books. Well I've been thinking about it... about what kind of author I want to be and about what will make me happy. People often ask if I'd ever illustrate a celebrity book if given the chance and I usually say "no." Somehow Avail, by staying true to themselves and not giving up, have managed to become well known without going the traditional route. I keep asking myself if I'll ever get my books into stores and become known. Usually I get pretty down about it and think that I'm wasting my time. Why bother putting everything I have into a book if NO ONE ever sees it? But perhaps that thinking is shortsighted. Avail always seems to put everything they have into every show (at least the ones I've seen). So if I follow their philosophy, I should keep doing what I'm doing and EVENTUALLY my books will get out there.

My cousin Tim has also branched out and is doing a solo act--country/bluegrass inspired. Here's some bad film footage of one of his songs. His sister, my cousin Caitlin, travels with him and plays the violin. I think that's a really cool thing to do. (the sound is pretty crappy but they do sound great live!)



I don't know why Tim decided to do this but his shows sold out right off the bat. Sometimes I get bored of what I’m doing or what to further challenge myself. I want to keep evolving but not quit all together. Once again, perhaps I should look at what Tim is doing and follow his lead. If I think I'm getting stale, just change things up!

meghan

p.s you can listen to bits of Tim's solo album --Rivanna Junction-- on ITunes. Word

pps - I found a polished video of his solo work: When I feel uninspired, I can get going watching others do their thing!
Check out this video: Tim Barry



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what I'm working on, part 2

So, despite some doggie help, I have been finally finished work on the mural. I can't believe it's done!


The painted Chinese characters is a proverb written by the upcoming baby's grandfather. Roughly translated it says,“In the pureness and innocence of childhood, true joy and happiness.”

This is my favorite part of the mural. The tree will be used as a growth chart, which is why the banner says, "Oh, how you've grown!" Originally it was going to include the baby's name but since that keeps changing, we decided to leave it out.


All in all the mural took about ten days to do. Ten, ten-hour days, mind you. I think I might have lost some weight in the process. I definitely lost sleep as you can tell from my haggard appearance. Haggard, but happy!

Keene State College Children's Literature Festival

On Saturday, Grace, Elaine and I attended the Keene State Children's Lit Fest up in Keene, New Hampshire (thanks for driving Elaine) and it was fabulous as always! It was my third time attending, and I think it was the best year yet. The festival is always formatted the same way: 5 speakers have an hour to talk about their work, with book signings and food in between presentations. Its a long day to be sure, 7:30 am to 5:30 pm, but a testament to the speakers that the audience stays rapt to the end.

This year's speakers were: Kathy Mallat, Michael Dooling, Richard Peck, Natalie Kinsey-Warnock and Chris Sontpiet. To be honest, I didn't know who most of the speakers were before I got there. But even not knowing their work beforehand, whats most fascinating about hearing authors speak in this context is getting a window into the way an artist's personality and life path interweaves with the books they make. I am especially hungry for this kind of information because as a an author/illustrator at the beginning of my career (if 8 years is still beginning- strangely in publishing it is) I'm always anxious to know whats coming next, what it would be like to be publishing for 20 or 30 years.

Richard Peck was probably the most dynamic speaker. A veteran writer of 30 plus years, the audience was instantly scrambling to jot down the abundance of phrases that collectively gave us all goosebumps. For example:

"The only way one can write is by the light of the burning bridges behind you"

"You learn the most from the experience you would have avoided if you could"

"No one ever grows up til they have to"

"Humor is anger sent to finishing school"

And a quote from Cicero: "Not to know what happened before you were born is to remain a child"

All of these points move through his books, and clearly evolved out of deep passion and interest in humanity.

Natalie Kinsey-Warnock was another stand out on Saturday. Mainly because her personality was so big and she was so open, it felt like watching a person explode behind a podium. She laid out all the facets of her life; her life in rural Vermont with 8 dogs, cats and a slew of horses all of which were rescued, the labor involved in maintaining her land, her obsession with family stories and researching her personal history, a distrust of technology (she has no cell phone and writes all her books longhand in pencil). She showed us quilts she designed with her great grandmother, all sewed by hand (no machine). Writing for her seems as compulsory as eating a meal.

Another highlight of the day was visiting the children's book gallery, maintained by the festival director, David White. It is hands down the best collection of children's book art I've seen, if you love children's books then you have to go. There are pieces from all the greats (Maurice Sendak, Tomie dePaola, Arnold Lobel, and Trina Schart Hyman among others) and new artists too. Lots of sketches and process work.

This year we got to see the expansion of the "owl wall," a collection of owls (Keene's mascot) painted by children's book illustrators to celebrate next year's 100th anniversary of the college. Here is a pic of me next to my owl contribution (you can see it close-up here):



Grace, Elaine, me and Alissa Imre Geis in the gallery:



The owls (thats Eric Carle's in the front):



Finally the day ended at a get together for the speakers, owl donors, and friends at the festival director's authentic Irish Cottage:

Best versus favorite?

Yesterday I was talking to a friend about favorite books, and I made the distinction that my favorite books aren't necessarily the books that I think are the best, or most well-written. The example I gave was with movies: I think Schindler's List is a technically better movie that, say, Say Anything, but I wouldn't rate the former on my top 10 favorite movies, whereas the latter is safely there. I've seen Say Anything countless times, and have enjoyed each viewing immensely. I've seen Schindler's List once, and found it moving, powerful, and beautiful to watch, but I have no desire to repeat the experience, because it was so draining. Maybe this has to do with the genre, romantic comedy versus drama, although I do think, in movies and in books, that I generally gravitate towards drama over comedy.

When I think of my favorite books, I think of titles like To Kill a Mockingbird, Little Women, Watership Down, Ender's Game, Emily of New Moon, etc. Books I read as a child, and read over and over. But I can't say that they're "better" books than Beloved, 100 Years of Solitude, The Book Thief, or Ulysses (I've never read the latter, actually). Of course, the nostalgia factor plays a role, as does the opportunity to re-read the books. All of the books I mentioned earlier above I've read at least 3 or 4 times. Nowadays, unless it's a book I'm editing, I don't have time to read books more than once, which I find sad.

So, the question: do you make the distinction between favorite and best? What are some of the books on your lists?

Blogging for a Cure: Week #3

Week #2 of Blogging for a Cure was another smash success. Unfortunately, I was so busy last week that I didn’t get an opportunity to read all of the posts featuring Robert’s Snow artists. I intend to read all of the Blogging for a Cure features once my schedule isn’t so hectic.

You will find the schedule for Week #3 of Blogging for a Cure below. Every day some of the picture book illustrators who have created snowflakes for Robert’s Snow 2007 will be featured at different children’s literature blogs. Robert’s Snow is a unique fundraiser. The proceeds from its three 2007 auctions will go to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute for cancer research. Read all about Robert’s Snow: for Cancer’s Cure here.

NOTE: I have linked to the blogs that will be posting features about the Robert’s Snow artists this week—not to the specific posts. Jules and Eisha of 7-Imp have created a special page that includes a list with links to all the Blogging for a Cure posts. Their list is updated every day.

Monday, October 29
Dan Santat at Writing and Ruminating
Joanne Friar at The Longstockings
Alissa Imre Geis at Wild Rose Reader
Diane Greenseid at Just One More Book!!
Sean Qualls at Brooklyn Arden

Tuesday, October 30
Ann Koffsky at Book Buds
Bill Carman at A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy
Gretel Parker at Finding Wonderland
Matt Phelan at A Year of Reading
Stephanie Roth at Writing with a broken tusk

Wednesday, October 31
Shawna Tenney at Kate's Book Blog
Adam Rex at Booktopia and Welcome to my Tweendom
Mo Willems at MotherReader
Rolandas Kiaulevicius at a wrung sponge

Thursday, November 1
Karen Lee at sruble's world
Diana Magnuson at A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy
Melissa Iwai at Brooklyn Arden
Victoria Jamieson at AmoXcalli and Cuentecitos
Molly Idle at The Shady Glade
Meghan McCarthy at A Fuse #8 Production

Friday, November 2
Tracy McGuinness-Kelly at Sam Riddleburger's blog
Sarah Kahn at Kate's Book Blog
Sylvia Long at Whimsy Books
Jeremy Tankard at the excelsior file
Holli Conger at Please Come Flying

Saturday, November 3
Susan Miller at Your Neighborhood Librarian
Ellen Beier at What Adrienne Thinks About That
Hideko Takahashi at The Silver Lining
Judith Moffat at Jo's Journal
Wendell Minor at Wild Rose Reader

Sunday, November 4
Joy Allen at Check It Out
Robin Brickman at Greetings from Nowhere
Lauren Stringer at laurasalas
Nancy Wallace at In the Pages . . .

WIN A PRIZE!!! I do hope you’ll stop by to read my Blogging for a Cure articles at Wild Rose Reader and to comment about the artists and their work. I have a special prize for some lucky person who leaves a comment at any of my six posts featuring a Robert’s Snow artist: a limited edition giclee print of an illustration from Grace Lin’s book Robert’s Snow! That’s right folks! Here’s a picture of the print that I picked up at the Child at Heart Gallery.

Each time you comment at one of my Blogging for a Cure posts about a Robert’s Snow artist, I’ll put your name in a hat. If you comment at all six posts, your name will go into the hat six times! The drawing will take place on November 19th, the day bidding begins on the first of three Robert’s Snow 2007 auctions.

I also have several consolation prizes for commenters who don’t win the “big” prize: five small prints of the Robert’s Snow mouse(mice).


Note to Blog Readers about Blogging for a Cure: When Jules of 7-Imp put out her call in September for bloggers to interview/feature artists who had created snowflakes for Robert’s Snow 2007 at their blogs, a number of artists had not yet sent in their snowflakes to Dana-Farber. As time was of the essence to get Blogging for a Cure underway, we worked with the list of artists whose snowflakes were already in possession of Dana-Farber. Therefore, not all the participating artists will be featured. This in no way diminishes our appreciation for their contributions to this worthy cause. We hope everyone will understand that once the list of artists was emailed to bloggers and it was determined which bloggers would feature which artists at their blogs, a schedule was organized and sent out so we could get to work on Blogging for a Cure ASAP. Our aim is to raise people’s awareness about Robert’s Snow and to promote the three auctions. We hope our efforts will help to make Robert’s Snow 2007 a resounding success.


These are the Robert’s Snow artists who will be/have been featured at Wild Rose Reader.


October 16: Scott Bakal
October 29: Alissa Imre Geis
November 3: Wendell Minor
November 9: Susan Kathleen Hartung
November 15: Mary Newell DePalma
November 18: Wade Zahares

Fact, not a fact

I'm trying to finish a book -- a non-fiction book with a contract and a deadline, so this is going to be a short post.

I'm not as far along as I'd like to be partly because I keep getting distracted by things that, probably, can't be included because they're not visual enough..... like that in the Quecha language (the language of the Incas that many people in the Andes still speak today), the form of a verb depends on whether you know something happened from hearsay or from your own experience.

You can also add suffixes to show whether an action was:

*performed for someone else's benefit

*performed for your own benefit

*futile or of little importance

*lamentable

*not your responsibility

This is fascinating to me -- for what it shows about their culture and ours. In English, something is a fact or not a fact; you did something or WOULD have done it if......or COULD have done it....period. Our verbs deal with the possible.

While doing this research I've also seen videos of kids learning to read in Peru, animals actually eating in the jungle, found a GREAT story for a picture book that hasn't been told, and wasted vast amounts of time! More when I can use the simple past tense to report that the ms. has IN FACT been handed in.

POETRY FRIDAY: One Reason I Like Opera

A couple of weeks ago I posted a poem by Marge Piercy entitled Colors Passing through Us. Eisha also posted the poem at 7-Imp the same day in Poetry Friday: Marriage, as seen by me (and Marge Piercy). Last Saturday, I got together with a friend who is a teacher and poet. We met at a local Border’s in the café to critique each other’s poems. Later, we checked out the poetry section in the store. I purchased a copy of Piercy’s book Colors Passing through Us. It’s got some great poems! Here’s one of the best poems that I’ve read so far in the book. I like the touches of humor in One reason I like Opera. I’m often surprised when an adult poem makes me chuckle to myself. I hope you all enjoy this Piercy poem as much as I do.

One reason I like opera
by Marge Piercy

In movies, you can tell the heroine
because she is blonder and thinner
than her sidekick. The villainess
is darkest. If a woman is fat,
she is a joke and will probably die.

In movies, the blondest are the best
and in bleaching lies not only purity
but victory. If two people are both
extra pretty, they will end up
in the final clinch.

Only the flawless in face and body
win. That is why I treat
movies as less interesting
than comic books. The camera
is stupid. It sucks surfaces.

Let's go to the opera instead.
The heroine is fifty and weighs
as much as a '65 Chevy with fins.
She could crack your jaw in her fist.
She can hit high C lying down.

The tenor the women scream for
wolfs down an eight course meal daily.
He resembles a bull on hind legs.
His thighs are the size of beer kegs.
His chest is a redwood with hair.

You can read the rest of the poem here at The Writers’ Almanac with Garrison Keillor.

At Wild Rose Reader today I have an Anti-war Protest Song and Poetry post with three poems and a YouTube video of the Jackson Browne song Lives in the Balance.

The Poetry Friday Roundup is at Literary Safari this week.



I'm off to New Hampshire this afternoon with Grace an Anna for the Keene State College Children's Literature Festival.

god damn!

Okay, once again I can't post photos. GRRRRR. But if you go to JJK's website's blog you'll see that Mr. Krosoczka has his own van! Well, not HIS van but a van that transports books is decorated with his slug character. Wow. One can only dream of having his or her own van. I'll post the pic when I can. Go Jarrett!

Anyhow, this brings me to an idea I've had brewing for a while, er, rather, a few weeks: To have a contest and the winner gets to be illustrated into my next book. I'm not sure exactly what the contest will be--perhaps the person who does the craziest thing with my books or my characters... or perhaps the person who does the most creative classroom project... I'm not sure yet. Ideas? I'm not sure how to judge the winner yet either. Perhaps the BRG can help out? I haven't asked them yet but I'm asking now!

Okay, so stay tuned for more info on that. Who wouldn't want to be illustrated into one of my books?

meghan

my trip to texas

Finally someone has pulled me out of my own little world and dropkicked me into the Texas. Did you know that Texans pledge allegiance to both the US flag AND the Texas flag?

Anyhow, Blogger is being a jerk and won't let me upload photos. Therefore I won't post until Blogger stops being a jerk. I will also post on my personal blog... and talk about Texas and the SOI opening... blah blah blah. I will also post an inside peek into my new book ASTRONAUT HANDBOOK. Yeah!

Stay tuned!

meghan

what I'm working on now

I still have not been able to settle down into book work, but I am attempting to use my artistic skills. Right now, I am painting a mural for some good friends who are going to have a baby. When I offered to do this, I realized that I had never painted a mural before but I thought, "Hey, I'm a professional illustrator, right? How hard can it be?" With my confidence in overabundance, I assured them that I could get the wall done in a few days, maybe a week.

So I drew up some sketches and got the okay for this one:



And calmly began painting in the background.


Then the snags began. My oh-so-smart idea of projecting the image onto the wall failed miserably. The room was too shallow for the image to project accurately and I spent the day wrestling with it.



Finally, I just gave up and drew everything freehand. Which was quite time-consuming.


And of course my pencil marks were so messy, I had to outline in paint just to see what I had drawn.


It was quite a relief to actually start painting color. But to get to this stage took about twice the amount of time anticipated.


And at this point, I just hope I get the mural done before the baby gets here!



to be continued...

Found in translation

I recently discovered that one of the books I illustrated, The Purple Ribbon, has been published in Japanese! This is the first time one of my books has been translated, so cool! I love looking through it to compare the differences in design and how the type translates (not that I speak a word of Japanese). I really love what they did with the layout. Especially here on the contents page:



And here on the half title, where they put my little mouse spot below the title, as if it were hanging from a string. Such an elegant design:



I am going to have to learn a little Japanese so I can read some of the book to kids, or at least pronounce the title!

Peter Brown and the fabulously bouncy, exciting, pretty good week

Last week, I neglected to mention one other book I edited that is out this Fall: The Fabulous Bouncing Chowder by Peter Brown. Peter has had quite a bit of good things happening for him lately. First of all, and perhaps most importantly, he was finally named a Hot Man of Children's Literature by Fuse #8.

He was also selected to be included in the Original Art Show at the Society of Illustrators for the second year in a row for The Fabulous Bouncing Chowder. Here is Peter with his original art:As usual, it was a fabulous (although hot and crowded) event. I saw many familiar faces, including a few former colleagues who were down from Boston. My company treated our four illustrators who made it into the show to a nice dinner afterwards: Jerry Pinkney for Little Red Riding Hood, Chris Gall for There's Nothing to do on Mars (coming in February), Peter Brown, and Patrick McDonnell for Hug Time, although Patrick was under the weather and didn't make the event. But the dinner was lovely, and I had the privilege of sitting across from Jerry Pinkney,which was a treat because he and his wife an fascinating stories to tell about everything from Moscow, to Vegas, to hope.

A few of us made it to the Kidlit drinks night afterwards, although we did miss the raffle that Jarrett had organized. But there were quite a few people still out, including Meghan and newlywed Jarrett, and I was happy that the venue I suggested, Baker Street Pub (selfishly, in part, because the bar was 10 blocks away from my apartment), seemed to work out well.

But back to Peter and his good news: when he told me this story, it made my day--make that, my week, month, year. It's always wonderful to get positive feedback about the books I've worked on from fans, but when that fan is somewhat of a hero to you, it's that much sweeter and more amazing. I asked Peter to tell the story in his words, so here you go:

I was at a book signing with Doreen Cronin, Nick Bruel, Elise Broach and John Segal at Books of Wonder. Doreen and I were standing around chatting and waiting for the official signing to begin when I heard, "Look that's Peter Brown, the guy who made Chowder." So I turned around and saw that my hero, Jon Stewart from the Daily Show, was talking to his son Nate and pointing at my name card on the signing table. Doreen and I immediately became quite nervous and forgot what we had been talking about. After failing to salvage our conversation we decided just to sit down and see what happens.

While she and I had been talking, I think, but I'm not positive, that Jon Stewart had John Segal sign a copy of his book for them. And then almost immediately after I sat down, Jon and Nate walked over to me, handed me a copy of The Fabulous Bouncing Chowder, and asked if I could sign it to Nate and Maggie.

There was a pause as my brain tried desperately to figure out how to not come across like a giddy schoolgirl.

"I just have to say that I'm a huge fan." That seemed like a good start.
"Oh, thank you very much." Jon replied.
"So who's Nate?" I asked hoping for some fun banter with Jon's son.
"I am!" said Nate.
"Who's Maggie?"
"Sister!" said Nate.
"She's his sister," added Jon.
"Alright then, I'll sign it to you two," I said as my nervous hand
scrawled an almost illegible signature on the title page. "And I'll make a little drawing in here as well."
While I was personalizing the book Jon said to me, "My son thinks it's very funny that Chowder sits on the toilet."
"Oh, so you've got the first Chowder book?"
"Yes we do," said Jon, "It's one of our favorites."
Awwwwwww Yeahhhhhh! I thought to myself.
"Well then, you might be happy to know that there will be a third Chowder book someday, and possibly even a TV show."
"That's great!" said Jon. "Hear that Nate? You might get to see Chowder on television."

I handed the the book to Jon and Nate. They seemed to really like the little doodle I drew of Chowder bouncing on his trampoline, so I said to them, "Hold on a second, let me show you something."

I reached into my messenger bag and pulled out the immaculately framed original illustration from the first page of the new Chowder book. I had it because I had to drop it off at the Society of Illustrators when I was finished with the signing.

"So this is the actual painting that I made for the book, see?" And I put the painting next to the page in the book. "I had to sit down for hours and hours and paint this by hand, and then months later it magically appears in this printed book! Pretty cool, huh?"
"You actually painted that?!" Jon asked...he was impressed.
"Yup, I'm the author and illustrator of these books, so I do it all."
"That is very cool." Said Jon, and he reached out to shake my hand.
Another Awwwwwwwww Yeahhhhhhh!
"Well it was very nice meeting you both," I said.
"Very nice to meet you, too," Jon replied, and then he and Nate left the store.

I felt a little bad that they didn't approach Doreen, or any of the other authors, but I figured, Doreen has probably sold about a million more books than me...she can let me have this one little honor.

I'm in awe. I love Jon Stewart. Jon Stewart and his son love Chowder. Life is funny sometimes.


And to top it all off, the Red Sox are in the World Series! :)

Robert's Snow: Blogging for a Cure

Here is the schedule for Week #2 of Blogging for a Cure. Every day some of the picture book illustrators who have created snowflakes for Robert’s Snow 2007 will be featured at different children’s literature blogs. Robert’s Snow is a unique fundraiser. The proceeds from its three 2007 auctions will go to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute for cancer research. Read all about Robert’s Snow: for Cancer’s Cure here.

NOTE: I have linked to the blogs that will be posting features about the Robert’s Snow artists this week—and not to the specific posts. Jules and Eisha of 7-Imp have created a special page that includes a list with links to all the Blogging for a Cure posts. Their list is updated every day.

Monday, October 22
Mark Teague at The Miss Rumphius Effect
Sharon Vargo at Finding Wonderland
Christopher Demarest at Writing and Ruminating
Rose Mary Berlin at Charlotte's Library
David Macaulay at Here in the Bonny Glen

Tuesday, October 23
Carin Berger at Chasing Ray
Marion Eldridge at Chicken Spaghetti
Sophie Blackall at not your mother's bookclub
Erik Brooks at Bildungsroman
Brian Lies at Greetings from Nowhere

Wednesday, October 24
Elisa Kleven at Rozzie Land
Consie Powell at Becky's Book Reviews
Jimmy Pickering at Shaken & Stirred
Frank Dormer at What Adrienne Thinks About That
Sheila Bailey at Lizjonesbooks

Thursday, October 25
Julia Denos at Interactive Reader
Rebecca Doughty at A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy
Brian Floca at A Fuse #8 Production
Margaret Chodos-Irvine at readergirlz

Friday, October 26
David Ezra Stein at HipWriterMama
Juli Kangas at Sam Riddleburger's blog
Ginger Nielson at Miss O's School Library
Margot Apple at Jo's Journal

Saturday, October 27
Julie Fromme Fortenberry at Your Neighborhood Librarian
Sarah Dillard at The Silver Lining
John Hassett at cynthialord's Journal
Abigail Marble at Please Come Flying

Sunday, October 28
Ashley Wolff at A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy
Barbara Garrison at Brooklyn Arden
Kelly Murphy at ChatRabbit

Note to Blog Readers about Blogging for a Cure: When Jules of 7-Imp put out her call in September for bloggers to interview/feature artists who had created snowflakes for Robert’s Snow 2007 at their blogs, a number of artists had not yet sent in their snowflakes to Dana-Farber. As time was of the essence to get Blogging for a Cure underway, we worked with the list of artists whose snowflakes were already in possession of Dana-Farber. Therefore, not all the participating artists will be featured. This in no way diminishes our appreciation for their contributions to this worthy cause. We hope everyone will understand that once the list of artists was emailed to bloggers and it was determined which bloggers would feature which artists at their blogs, a schedule was organized and sent out so we could get to work on Blogging for a Cure ASAP. Our aim is to raise people’s awareness about Robert’s Snow and to promote the three auctions. We hope our efforts will help to make Robert’s Snow 2007 a resounding success.

These are the Robert’s Snow artists that will be featured at Wild Rose Reader.

October 16: Scott Bakal

October 29: Alissa Imre Geis

November 3: Wendell Minor

November 9: Susan Kathleen Hartung

November 15: Mary Newell DePalma

November 18: Wade Zahares

WIN A PRIZE!!!
I do hope you’ll stop by to read the my Blogging for a Cure articles at Wild Rose Reader and to comment about the artists and their work. I have a special prize for some lucky person who leaves a comment at any of my six posts featuring a Robert’s Snow artist: a limited edition giclee print of an illustration from Grace Lin’s book Robert’s Snow! That’s right folks! Here’s a picture of the print that I picked up last Sunday when Grace, Janet Wong, and I visited the Child at Heart Gallery to see the snowflake exhibit. Each time you comment at one of my Blogging for a Cure posts about a Robert’s Snow artist, I’ll put your name in a hat. If you comment at all six posts, your name will go into the hat six times. The drawing will take place on November 19th, the day bidding begins on the first of three Robert’s Snow 2007 auctions.

I also have several consolation prizes for commenters who don’t win the “big” prize: five small prints of the Robert’s Snow mouse(mice).

Scenes from the Child at Heart Gallery

Artist & Blue Rose Girl Anna Alter with her snowflake.

This is the back of Anna's snowflake.

Author & Illustrator Grace Lin

Grace is the co-founder of Robert's Snow.

Real children # 6: Hey, you, leave me alone!

Sometimes I feel sorry for kids now , with all their lessons and activities, but a karate class I watched recently made me think.

School had just started, and the teacher talked a lot about that, and their new responsibilities. Then, he asked,
"What are you going to do if someone bothers you -- pushes you, or shoves you?"
He showed them.
They were going to step forward, stretch out one arm, forefinger pointed at the person, and shout:
"Hey, you! Leave me alone!"

They did it, each time becoming more confident. I wish I'd thought to take a picture: imagine twenty second and third graders, girls and boys, in white karate outfits, stepping forward and pointing. By the third time, they were all exactly in step (it's like yoga class for us, the group energy kind of builds) and shouting all together:
"Hey, you, leave me alone!"

It was exhilarating. It made it seem so easy.....and it made me think of all the tragedies that could, maybe, have been avoided if children had always been taught to do that.