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So I am once again feeling guilty (I think if you polled people who work at home you'd find that a large number of us experience this!). I am wearing my "pajamas" -- really my work out clothes because I didn't feel like getting dressed since I'm going to the gym later. I've been watching TV (not really, but it's on) and looking up facts on the internet all afternoon. I am, in fact, getting "work" done, but I put work in quotes because it doesn't feel like work to me. Since I work 3 days at BN I feel like that is what real work is--being tortured. The job really does feel like torture sometimes. Customers can be very difficult and I often feel like a social worker because there are quite a few mental patients who frequent the store.
Today, however, I am on break from that. I'm doing what I want to do. Somehow, though, it doesn't feel like work! I suppose that's why I feel guilty.
I don't want to say much about what I'm working on because I don't want to be copied, but I will say that it involves recycling old material that didn't make it into previous books.
meghan
2 Comments on feeling guilty part II, last added: 11/6/2009
A 4-year old daughter who takes notice of the pink and purple hues in the sky as the sun sets ... and is excited to point them out to me.
A 7-year old son who - upon noticing that we have just run out of Halloween candy after passing out 160 pieces to 160 adorably-dressed trick-or-treaters and we still have 10 kids left standing at our doorstep - runs over to his own, freshly-collected Halloween stash, grabs 10 pieces of sweets, and proceeds to hand them out to the kids waiting in anticipation on our porch.
Snagging a book contract would also fit into this list quite nicely. But ... that will have to wait for another day! Something to look forward to, I guess! :-)
My friend Jim Averbeck and I have been in the look out for evidence in the existence of ghost; more specifically of the famous Mexican ghost of La Llorona).
I became interested since lots of children have reported to me (apparently school visits are a great way to collect testimonials) how THEY or someone in their family have seen or hear La Llorona crying. Have you?
Well, Jim and I have finally collected some terrifying footage, and in honor of my abuelita, who used to scared us children telling us stories, and in honor of all of the children who have told me their terrible tales, here is the video Jim and I put togehter. Watch it with caution:
This week- I took the young'un- maybe not so young'un to the bookstore. Almost 10... we're crossing a line and she's going to the favorite series aisles.. and I'm looking up at the picture book wall saying- "C'mon- just come look..with me..." So 2 eyerolls later - she's perusing some picture books with me.
I went to the store knowing I wanted to buy Peter de Seve's Duchess of Whimsy. (Philomel publisher) Having done a dance of joy when he started a blog not too long ago; I was eagerly anticipating this book. Commenting on his art seems silly- It's like saying "Oh I love that Da Vinci!" - It's just a given. The art - all of his art - is drool inducing. My hand longs to do what his does.. tracing the curves and swirls of his brown lines under radiant watercolor... ..gagahggghghhhggg- oops sorry drooled there. The story! Written by his wife Randall de Seve- is charming. She created wonderful personalities for him to riff on. Just loopy enough to allow for a lot of fun. Big endorsement here- I would buy anything he does- but this did not disappoint at all!
Everyday - either on blogger or on facebook- I look at this guy's work. Everyday. It's better than Prozac -it is spirit lifting- and game lifting. It has "Joie de Vivre!"- And I can say that cause he's french! -He's an animator- a colorist- and a storyteller and when I saw this book- one look at the monkey and I said PASCAL! Then I saw it was They Might be Giants and snatched it off the wall faster then you can say Istanbul and Constantinople! "Kids Go!" (Simon and Schuster) TMBG and Pascal Campion are a match made in heaven. The book bursts w/ the infectious energy it is trying to well- infect kids with!- The art is alive! It's Alive! Get off the couch and GO!... buy the book!!!!
0 Comments on November books that knock me out! as of 1/1/1900
Beginning this month we will offer a free e-book each month. If you'd like to give our Chicago Digital Editions a try, or if you just want to score some good reads, check in regularly for the free e-book of the month. And for all our currently available e-books, see our list of e-books by subject.
This month's selection is The Birthday Book by the Roman writer Censorinus.
Nearly 2,000 years ago, the Roman scholar Censorinus bestowed upon his best friend a charming birthday present: The Birthday Book, which appears here in its long-awaited first English translation. Laying out everything he knew about birthdays, the book starts simply, but by the conclusion of this brief yet brilliant gem, Censorinus has sketched a glorious vision of a universe ruled by harmony and order, where the microcosm of the child in the womb corresponds to the macrocosm of the planets. Alternately serious and playful, Censorinus touches on music, history, astronomy, astrology, and every aspect of time as it was understood in third-century Rome. He also provides ancient answers to perennial questions: Why does the day begin at midnight? Where did Leap Year come from? Which came first, the chicken or the egg?
E-books from the University of Chicago Press are offered in Adobe Digital Editions format for Mac, PC, and a number of mobile devices such as the Sony Reader, IREX, BeBook, and more. Check out these links to find out more about Adobe Digital Editions or more about e-books from the University of Chicago Press.
As the weekend glimmers like the light at the end of a five-day-long tunnel, here is your daily dose of quick links and publishing catnip.
In a WowoWow interview, author Lorrie Moore confesses: "I do know a lot of writers are watching musicians and the way they've bypassed the sinking music industry and struck out on their own."
Entertainment Weekly landed an excerpt from "Nightlight," a Twilight parody.
In gorgeous graphs, web comic xkcd maps out character interactions from famous literary adaptations.
The new issue of McSweeney's pays homage to newspapers with "huge and luxurious broadsheet" and a massive book section.
Back from a bout with the flu, and grateful for the joy of reading: After the chills, the aches, the fever, passed, I was too worn out to write. So I yielded to the pleasure of a reading feast. From my earlier, happy wanderings through book stores, I had a stack of unread books just waiting to be read.
Even though I write books for children, I read anything and everything that I deem well-written. One of my weaknesses is mysteries, and there were a few on hand: Bodies in a Bookshop, a story that takes place in London. The Lost Keats, set in Indiana. (Anything to do with books or dead poets hooks me right away.) A new Cara Black mystery. On another day I'll blog a bit about her mysteries, because reading one of her books is like a free trip to Paris. I also discovered a luminous book, The Speed of Light, by Elizabeth Rozner, which defies genres, but goes into the pile of "must read again".
Next week I will probably start back to work on Granny's Jig, but I'm still enjoying my reading spree. I'm immersed in The Year of the French, by Thomas Flanagan, a novel about an Irish rebellion, aided by the French, that took place in the summer of 1798, fifty years before the Great Famine. It's an earlier period than the one I'm writing about, but it certainly gives the background to the sorrows immigrants would have carried to the New World with them, having listened to the many stories passed on at home.
Meanwhile, despite ten days' confinement to "resting", my little world has been greatly enlarged: Indiana, England, France, Ireland.... Only through reading can one travel so far, go back in time, and have such rich journeys in the space of ten days, without setting a foot outside the door.
1 Comments on The Joy of Reading, last added: 11/6/2009
From accounts of civil rights heroes, to harrowing (and hopeful) stories about contemporary teenagers, to picture books that perfectly capture friendship, curiosity, or flights of fancy, 2009 held a treasure trove of wonderful reading for children of all ages and interests. Narrowing them down to just 30 titles wasn't an easy task, but we believe the following books stand out for their remarkable writing, indelible characters, and arresting artwork.
The Day-Glo Brothers: The True Story of Bob and Joe Switzer's Bright Ideas and Brand-New Colors by Chris Barton, illus. by Tony Persiani (Charlesbridge). The unlikely subjects of this fascinating picture book biography exemplify ingenuity and dedication to chasing one's dreams.
The Curious Garden by Peter Brown (Little, Brown).\ With humor and some showstopping spreads, Brown offers a green fable about the rebirth of a city, without a hint of preachiness.
Yummy: Eight Favorite Fairy Tales by Lucy Cousins (Candlewick). Moving beyond the geniality of Maisy, Cousins expertly draws out the primitive emotions at the core of Little Red Riding Hood, The Three Little Pigs, and six other beloved stories.
Dinotrux by Chris Gall (Little, Brown). Few things are more kid-pleasing than trucks and dinosaurs—put them together in a raucous, prehistoric hybrid and you have picture-book gold.
John Brown: His Fight for Freedom by John Hendrix (Abrams). Hendrix's powerful, exaggerated imagery in this picture book biography is ideally suited to the life of this controversial American abolitionist.
Stagecoach Sal by Deborah Hopkinson, illus. by Carson Ellis (Disney-Hyperion). Blithe storytelling and slyly humorous art give this story of an utterly confident, quick-thinking 19th-century heroine plenty of pioneer spirit.
The Lion & the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney (Little, Brown). Not a single word from Aesop's fable of friendship appears in Pinkney's version, set in the Serengeti. This isn't a problem since the lovingly detailed interplay between the protagonists say it all.
Otis by Loren Long (Philomel). Long's story of the friendship between a tractor and a young calf exudes a comforting sense of nostalgia and a gentleness of spirit.
Crow Call by Lois Lowry, illus. by Bagram Ibatoulline (Scholastic Press). Newbery Medalist Lowry's first picture book, drawn from a childhood story about her father's return from war, is poignant and quietly moving, with a timely resonance.
Sweethearts of Rhythm: The Story of the Greatest All-Girl Swing Band in the World by Marilyn Nelson, illus. by Jerry Pinkney (Dial). Gloriously evocative poetry and paintings create a stirring tribute to an all-female swing band that made spirits soar during an era of war and prejudice.
Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, illus. by Tom Lichtenheld (Chronicle). A simple, fixed design and two combative, off-screen voices make this book and its central optical illusion—is that animal a duck or a rabbit?— a delight.
All the World by Liz Garton Scanlon, illus. by Marla Frazee (S&S/Beach Lane). A subtle undercurrent of interconnectedness and a spare elegance make this picture book more than just a gentle ode to families of all shapes, sizes and kinds (which it assuredly is).
Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson (Viking). A powerful exploration of anorexia, dysfunction and death, Anderson's story of a friendship ripped apart is moving and haunting.
Going Bovine by Libba Bray (Delacorte). An angel, a dwarf, cults, wormholes and mad cow disease all factor into the surreal cross-country road trip that teenage Cameron takes, in a satirical story that's as memorable as it is funny.
Fire by Kristin Cashore (Dial). Introducing Fire, a human “monster” with psychic abilities, this companion novel to Graceling expands the scope of Cashore's fantasy world and offers twists, intrigue and romance aplenty.
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (Scholastic Press). This much-awaited sequel to Collins's dystopian bestseller, The Hunger Games, doesn't disappoint; it's immersive, voracious reading as the ramifications of Katniss's actions in that book spread.
If I Stay by Gayle Forman (Dutton). Masterful characterizations make the tragedy at the core of this novel all the more devastating, as narrator Mia weighs the decision to live or die.
The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly (Holt). With a detailed, evocative setting and an authentic, relatable protagonist, this turn of the century coming-of-age novel teems with humor, spirit, and energy.
Purple Heart by Patricia McCormick (HarperCollins/Balzer & Bray). This timely and provocative thriller, with a teenage American soldier at its center, is a nuanced exploration of war, heroism, and morality.
The Ask and the Answer by Patrick Ness (Candlewick). Set on a planet colonized by men and now wracked with strife, Ness's sequel to The Knife of Never Letting Go entwines themes of sexism, terrorism, genocide and human nature, while bringing the action to a fever pitch.
A Season of Gifts by Richard Peck (Dial). The singular Mrs. Dowdel from A Year Down Yonder and A Long Way from Chicago brings humor and heart to this holiday story; as ever, Peck's writing has a comforting, evergreen quality.
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead (Random/Lamb). Every syllable feels rich with meaning in this atmospheric mystery involving a girl, her former best friend, and her mother, set in 1970s New York City.
Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater (Scholastic Press). Lyrical and thoughtful, this paranormal romance between a girl and a werewolf offers wit, an intriguing mythology, and dual (but equally honest and compelling) narratives.
Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork (Scholastic/Levine). Artfully crafted characters form the heart of this riveting novel about a 17-year-old with Asperger's syndrome, who grapples with issues of ethics, love, and other real-life conflicts.
Tales from Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan (Scholastic/Levine). Tan proves that his prose is every bit as hypnotic as his artwork in this wondrous collection that reveals the banality and strangeness of the suburbs.
Lips Touch: Three Times by Laini Taylor, illus. by Jim Di Bartolo (Scholastic/Levine). In lush prose, Taylor offers three utterly captivating stories, each centered on a kiss; comic book–style prequels from Di Bartolo, her husband, add to the enchantment.
The Uninvited by Tim Wynne-Jones (Candlewick). In this thriller about a college student uncovering twisted family secrets, Wynne-Jones expertly draws his characters and setting while ramping up the tension and the creepiness.
The Great and Only Barnum: The Tremendous, Stupendous Life of Showman P. T. Barnum by Candace Fleming, illus. by Ray Fenwick (Random/Schwartz & Wade). This illuminating biography reveals Barnum as a complex, infinitely clever figure and delineates his triumphs as well as his failures.
Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice by Phillip Hoose (FSG/Kroupa). Colvin's memories of fighting for civil rights in the 1950s—including refusing to give up her bus seat as a teenager in Montgomery, Ala. (before Rosa Parks)—make for a searing true-life story of courage.
Marching for Freedom: Walk Together Children and Don't You Grow Weary by Elizabeth Partridge (Viking). Arresting photography and firsthand memories from those who participated, as children, in the 1965 march to Montgomery make for a haunting and inspirational read.
0 Comments on It's that time of year...PW's Best Children's Books of 2009 as of 11/6/2009 7:22:00 AM
First-time authorCatherine Austen officially launched her book Walking Backward on Nov. 1 in Quebec. Not only did she get a great turnout for the launch, but Catherine really went the extra mile in preparing for the party, including ordering this gorgeous “snake cake” to match the book’s cover.
Walking Backward, a novel for readers ages 9-12, is told from the perspective of Josh, who has recently lost his mother in a phobia-induced car crash – I’m sure you can guess the source of the phobia. For her launch, Catherine prepared a terrific phobia display to show different kinds of phobias accompanied by Kindergarten art on the same theme.
Catherine has reason to celebrate: Walking Backward is getting great reviews! Booklist says that “Austen breaks from the pack with this confident and peculiar debut…[she] is more interested in people’s alternately funny and haunting reactions to grief.” In addition, Kirkus Reviewscalls it an “impressive debut novel” and “an elegantly crafted volume of lasting power.”
Curious how a story about grief can be funny? Then you need to check out Walking Backward!
Over at our sibling blog, FishbowlLA, Tina Dupuy interviewed a former LA Times editor about the dilemma facing every writer in the 21st Century: to blog or not to blog.
Richard Rushfield explained why he left his post at a national newspaper to serve as West Coast editor at Gawker: "There were so many times when you'd write a wonderful article for the LA Times, or break some news and it would just be met by the sound of crickets. When you are at the LAT you're at a place where even the website isn't in the central flow of the nation's cultural conversation. But at Gawker one is very much in and a part of that conversation and as one who is writing, in part at least to communicate, that's where you want to be."
Despite this new focus, Rushfield didn't lose his long-form chops. He also wrote a new book: "Don't Follow Me, I'm Lost: A Memoir of Hampshire College in the Twilight of the '80s."
Author Simone Elkeles (author of the "How to Ruin" series) and kidlit expert and professor June Cummins discuss trends in Jewish YA chick lit at the Association of Jewish Libraries convention in Chicago, Illinois. You can hear June's lecture at this conference, "Bat Mitzvah and Beyond" on the AJL Podcast.
AUDIO:
Click the play button on this flash player to listen to the podcast now:
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If you are the parent of a gifted child or are wondering if your child is gifted, highly gifted or profoundly gifted, Haogie’s Gifted Education is a great place to visit. You name it, as far as the gifted world is concerned, they’ve got it. This site will answer all your questions and lead you to the right gifted education resources to help you on your way. There is information for parents, teachers, kids and teens. You’ll find toys, software, magazines, movies, books, contests and more. This site links to countless sites where you can buy educational and entertaining products for your gifted child. This mega site may seem overwhelming at first, but it is well organized and easy to navigate.
Learn about the website’s award-winning founder, Caroline K and just exactly how this site got the unusual name it has by clicking here. Who exactly is Hoagie anyway?
Carolyn K
Smart Poodle Publishing continues to support and promote other websites that are there for the greater good of our children, their well-being and education. There’s nothing more important than that, is there?
Here’s another article that other writers might enjoy from Writer’s Digest.10 Query Letter Tips
Posted by Chuck
In the most recent issue of Writer’s Digest magazine (Sept/Oct. 2008), the big focus is on agents, so I got to write a lot of material for the issue. One smaller article I wrote that’s getting a lot of attention over at writersdigest.com is a basic piece called “10 Tips You Need to Know Before Querying Agents.”
———-
Querying Agents: 10 Tips For Writers
1. If you write across categories (let’s say you write both picture books and adult fantasy), look for an agent who handles everything you write. She might just be your perfect fit.
2. Mass mailing (or e-mailing) agents without considering each one’s specialties is a waste of time and postage. Not every agent listed here will be a good fit for you. In fact, the fewer true matches you find, the more you’ve done your research. Agents love when you query them individually and provide a reason, such as, “Because you represented such-and-such book, I think you’d be a great agent for my work.”
3. Make sure your work is edited, revised and polished. Rewriting is a crucial step to bettering your work, so be sure to have trusted peers give you an honest critique, or consider seeking a professional freelance editor to evaluate it. And never query an agent for a novel until the work is complete.
4. Single-space your query letter, and keep it to one page. Double-space your manuscript and synopsis.
5. If you lack a good opening for your query letter, just give the facts. A simple yet effective opening line would be, “I am seeking literary representation for my 75,000-word completed thriller, titled Dead Cat Bounce.” In one sentence, you can tell the agent the length, genre, whether it’s complete and the title. After that, follow with the pitch and a little biographical information.
6. Follow submission directions to a T. If an agent requests “no attachments,” your query will likely be deleted should it arrive with an attachment. If they say “query first,” do just that. If they reply to your query and ask for an exclusive read of your manuscript for four weeks, make sure you give them that exclusive look.
7. If you have an automatic spam filter, turn it off. If you’re lucky enough to garner a reply from an agent interested in your work, the last thing they want to deal with is a spam filter requiring them to prove their existence.
8. Remember that publishing is a business and there’s much to learn. If you’ve finished a novel, make sure you know how to construct a good synopsis. If you’re pitching nonfiction, you’ll likely be asked to submit a full proposal detailing the book and how you intend to sell it. If you don’t know everything that goes into a book proposal, now’s the time to learn.
9. Realize that listings are an excellent start, but there’s still work to be done. Research the agent’s website to confirm that he is indeed still seeking “electronic queries for romance novels,” etc. Also, remember the frustratingly sad reality that the publishing industry is constantly in flux. Agents quit; they switch agencies; they suddenly stop representing fiction and move completely to nonfiction. The best way to deal with this is to cast a wide net.
I'm curious what everyone is reading right now. Currently I'm reading two books: The Maze Runner and The Demon's Lexicon. I don't normally rea...
Read the rest of this post
Hello, all! Hope all is well. I've been juggling a few plates lately while trying some new things. I'm still trying to get the hang of a wacom tablet, and lately I've also been attending SUNY New Paltz's figure drawing every week; it's a great free-model Monday night. Perhaps I'll post some drawings from the sessions eventually, but for now you'll have to settle for another illustration installment!
I was recently contacted by Jesse at Philadelphia Magazine with a very interesting assignment: a portrait of Philip Berg. Now you may ask: "who is Philip Berg?" That was my initial response when I first read Jesse's email. It turns out that Philip Berg is the man behind many conspiracy theories including the government's responsibility for 9/11 and the Obama/birth certificate fiasco. Apparently, Berg became obsessed with conspiracies and was once a well-respected lawyer.
Jesse wanted a portrait that would showcase Berg's involvement in the conspiracy movement, but he dd not want Berg to be "too crazy looking." He sent me a few reference photos (neither of us could find much) and I got started:
I decided to nail the likeness down first and try some different backgrounds. I agreed with Jesse about staying away from a "crazy look" as we agreed that the article would let people decide for themselves. My goal with Berg was to show him as he sees himself: as a hero informing people of the facts. I went for a iconic and confident look; he is very proud of himself and what he is doing.
In terms of the backgrounds, the first sketch features polaroids of 9/11 and theories about Obama and the White House; the photos feature handwritten theories. I was going for an "evidence wall" type of feel.
For the second sketch, I went in a different direction and used a technique from a personal drawing I did a year or two ago. I like the visual effect of a figure surrounded by question marks. It works in two ways as they can represent both Berg's questioning everything as well as our questions about Berg: "What happened to this man? Has he lost his mind? etc."
Jesse decided to go with the first sketch, and I was fine with either choice. I worked up two different color versions. One featured a green background and the other was the red background chosen. I tried a few new things on this piece in therms of rendering the figure, and I like some of the subtle things going on.
Jesse seemed very happy with the piece, and I look forward to working with him again. Honestly, working with Philadelphia was a bit of a dream job as I spent my college years and then some in Philly, and I get a kick out of thinking folks I know actually get to see my work in print. And there are still some other Philly publications I would love to work with (hint hint).
On a side note, this assignment sort of sucked me into the whole conspiracy world. I was watching videos of 9/11, reading sketchy blogs, etc. Some of the arguments can be pretty persuasive! Interested in reading about Mr. Berg? Read the article here.
Sheinmel, Courtney. 2009. Positively. Simon & Schuster. 216 pages.
When my mother died I imagined God was thinking, "One down, and one to go."
Our heroine, Emerson Price has known she was HIV positive since she was four. (She's now 13.) But when her mother dies, Emmy's world begins to collapse. (Her mother had AIDS.) She's sent to live with her father and stepmother. (There's a little one on the way too.) And Emmy begins to question everything.
Why is she taking her medications if she's just going to die anyway? (Why didn't the meds work for her mother???) Why bother if she's never going to have a normal life? If she's never going to have the opportunity of growing up, falling in love, being with someone, and starting her own family? Can one girl find the will to live her life to the fullest? Can Emmy work past the anger and bitterness and realize that there are plenty of reasons to live, to love living?
After several desperate cries for help (not that Emmy would say they were desperate cries for help), her parents (father and stepmother) decide to send her to Camp Positive. A six-week camp for children with HIV. Can the camp experience change Emmy's life? Can this broken family be healed? Is there hope for Emmy yet?
Positively is a heartbreaking (in some ways raw) novel about grief and brokenness. It's a redemptive novel about finding hope, family, and friendship in unexpected places. This one is a compelling book, one that I couldn't put down.
STATUS: Phone conference in 10 so I’m trying to dash this entry out before it begins.
What’s playing on the iPod right now? NESSUN DORMA by Paul Potts
If you read my Agenting 101 entries on royalty statements (see right side bar), you should know why Kristin wouldn’t like net amounts received.
But if you haven’t, then I happy to just rant about it and tell you. There are two main reasons why I don’t like royalties to be based on net amounts received.
1. It’s archaic and currently doesn’t serve much of a purpose as audio and eBooks have a retail price and there are high discount clauses in all contracts so why not simply make the royalty based on retail?
And
2. Agents can’t track net amounts received by the Publisher. The only way we will get that information is if we:
a. audit and therefore look at the books to see what monies were actually received, from what account, for how much, and what were the deductions, or
b. we put a clause in the contract, not unlike reconciliation to print, that allows us to request the information from the publisher at any time and they can print out all the amounts received information so I can determine if what is on the royalty statements is correct.
Ah yes, once again the onus is on me as the agent to be a squeaky wheel, to demand more info, and pry the necessary info out of the publisher to see if the royalty statement is remotely accurate. And this is making a huge assumption that the publishers have the necessary software in place that will allow for this information to be accessed, printed, and shared.
I know Random House has that in place. Do the others? Guess I’m just about to find out because you know I like kicking up a fuss and less is not more for me when it comes to royalty statements.
See how much simpler it would be if all royalties were based on retail price? I’m capable of doing the math easily on royalties calculated via retail price.
Now that we have this big push from publishers to move to 25% of net receipts for eBook royalties, whose going to hurt 10 years from now when eBooks may be the main format and print editions the secondary?
Yep, you can see why I’m in state of righteous indignation all the time as of late. Maybe it’s time we move back to a term of license on contracts instead of Out of Print clauses and term of copyright.
5 Comments on Why I Don’t Like Net Amounts Received, last added: 11/6/2009
Another stellar review has come in for Penny Vincenzi's irresistable new novel Windfall: "In the mid-1930s, all of England --- especially the jet-setting upper class that brushes elbows with royalty on occasion --- is abuzz with rumors of the new young king, Edward VIII, and his scandalous relationship with the American divorcee, Wallis Warfield Simpson, a love affair that will create a constitutional crisis and ultimately result in Edward’s abdication of the throne.
This real-life historical drama lies in the background of Windfall, Penny Vincenzi’s latest book to be released in the United States (it was originally published in the United Kingdom in 1997). The royal crisis underscores several of the novel’s themes, most notably the transition between a “traditional” understanding of marriage and sexuality to one that more closely resembles our modern views. Vincenzi also explores the life-altering conflict between desire and duty and how it seems that a person can have one or the other, but never both.
Cassia Tallow, the complex heroine of Windfall, discovers her own conflict between duty and desire almost as soon as the novel opens when Cassia receives a large inheritance from her recently deceased godmother whom she had thought was penniless. She is now rich beyond her wildest dreams. At first, Cassia is drawn to the expected luxuries: a fancy sports car and chic clothes that she, as the mother of three young children and wife of a humble country doctor, could never have afforded before.
Soon, however, Cassia sets her sights somewhat higher as she realizes that this unexpected wealth might enable her to revive her own dreams of becoming a practicing physician, dreams that were thwarted when an unexpected pregnancy and reluctant marriage put an end to her promising medical school career. But her husband, Edward, who struggled to pass medical school, grows increasingly resentful of Cassia’s aspirations. He initiates a war of passive aggression that escalates when Cassia rents a house in London and when Edward sends their oldest son, only six years old, to boarding school.
Meanwhile, Cassia’s medical work near London has brought her back into the fashionable crowd with whom she associated in her younger, unmarried days. These include the second-rate actor Rupert Cameron, her oldest friend and first love, and the maddeningly stubborn and rakishly attractive Harry Moreton, who has long professed his alternating passion for and annoyance with Cassia. Fueled by her new financial independence, Cassia finds herself making questionable choices that could affect not only her friends but also her entire family. And, to complicate matters, Cassia soon starts to suspect that the inheritance from her godmother might not be quite what it seems, and it could even have a few strings attached.
Windfall starts by focusing quite exclusively on Cassia’s own story, beginning with her discovery of the inheritance and, through a series of flashbacks, introducing readers to the character’s history. As the novel does so, however, it also broadens gradually to encompass a dozen or more of Cassia’s friends and acquaintances, each of whom has his or her own story to be explored. Vincenzi manages to create the kind of broad, panoramic canvas she loves to paint, as marriages are threatened and destroyed, individuals come to the brink of despair or reinvent themselves in new and surprising ways, and the inevitable happy (but sometimes bittersweet) endings come into view.
Vincenzi excels at depicting the upper classes, at describing their elegant clothes and homes, their lavish parties, and also their petty squabbles. Here, though, she goes beyond mere idolatry of the rich, as she contrasts their internal dramas with the far more dire circumstances facing lower- and working-class women like the ones Cassia treats at her birth control clinics. She also explores conflicted and changing ideas of sexuality as they existed in the 1930s, depicting both characters who freely convey their era’s prejudices and those who are beginning to adopt more modern attitudes.
However, at the center of it all is Cassia, one of Vincenzi’s most complicated and compelling heroines. Despite her numerous ethically questionable choices, Cassia remains a genuinely sympathetic character, especially for modern women readers who will rejoice that the available choices for ambitious women have come so far from Cassia’s time. " - Norah Piehl, on Bookreporter.com
0 Comments on More Praise for Penny Vincenzi's New Blockbuster WINDFALL as of 11/5/2009 1:06:00 PM
Action! Silliness! Pictures galore! It's no wonder that comic books and graphic novels are a big hit with kids. We've loved how authors artists are creating fun graphic stories for younger readers. Babymouse has been a huge hit for the past few years - we can hardly keep them on our shelves. And Calvin and Hobbes collections are grabbed as soon as someone returns them. Lunch Ladyis a new series that will find many fans among 1st through 3rd graders looking for a fun adventure in their comics. Would you like a free copy? See below for your chance to win!
Hector, Dee and Terrence, three friends who make up the Breakfast Bunch, start wondering about what the Lunch Lady does when she isn't serving lunch. "I'm telling you, they probably lead very boring lives!" Dee says. Meanwhile, Lunch Lady and her faithful assistant Betty, suspect that something fishy with the new substitute. As Betty distracts him with freshly baked cookies, Lunch Lady brings her lunch-tray laptop to his room to investigate. A crazy chase ensues, with our superheroes Lunch Lady and Betty chasing the mysterious substitute back to his maker's lab, and the kids following the Lunch Lady and Betty, where they all find an army of cyborg robots.
In the second book, Lunch Lady and the League of Librarians, our secret crime-fighting duo takes on the evil schemes of the school librarians. Kids will love the plot, as the librarians try to destroy all video games and achieve world domination. The snazzy gadgets continue, with Taco-vision Night Goggles, Hover Pizzas and Sonic Boom Juice Boxes. I loved how the librarians unleashed creatures from stories to battle Lunch Lady and her gang.
I especially liked how Krosoczka created an action-packed comic book with goofiness that makes it perfect for this younger set. This doesn't have any of the dark undertones that some graphic novels or comic superhero stories have. This is not a book with a lot of character development, but I think it's purpose is to hook readers and make them laugh.
Enter to win a copy of Lunch Lady and the League of Librarians for your child. The publisher kindly donated 4 copies to give away to Great Kid Books readers. Contest ends Thursday, October 28th. All you need to do to enter is:
* Enter a comment on the blog OR send me an email to greatkidbooks(at)gmail(dot)com Make sure you leave your email address so I can contact you.
* Let me know a book you've enjoyed reading with your children, especially funny books, graphic novels and comics.
* Get 2 extra entries: become a follower or tell me you're already a follower!
There are some fun reviews of Lunch Lady by other wonderful bloggers. Check out: Jen Robinson: "I mean, what right-minded elementary school kid could resist the premise that the lunch lady is a secret crime-fighter? Or the idea that the substitute teacher is actually a cyborg?" The Book Aunt: "There's no mystery meat here: second and third graders are going to eat these up!" Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast: "Every little detail is so well-thought-out, from the school-lunch-inspired spy gadgets (those Fish Stick Nunchucks made me hoot out loud) to Lunch Lady’s expletives (”Oh, Doughnuts!” and “Nutritious!” were a couple of my faves)."
The review copy came from the publisher. Stop by your local bookstore to find a copy, or find it at your local library.
This books is available online at Amazon. If you make a purchase by clicking through to Amazon, Great Kid Books receives a small percentage, which will be used to buy more books to review.
3 Comments on Lunch Lady - fun graphic novels full of action & zany adventure (ages 7 - 10), last added: 11/6/2009
I am so excited today! I did a freelance content review for Carson Dellosa last November. I had sent them a proposal that was ultimately rejected but was offered to do a freelance content review for a possible manuscript that they were considering on publishing. I liked doing the review and hoped to hear from them in the future for other freelance projects. Unfortunately, I hadn't heard from the since, until today! This morning, I received an email from Carson Dellosa asking me if I was interested in writing a book for them! You can imagine my surprise! I wanted to write back and say, "YES! YES! YES!" But I took a deep breath and sent a more controlled reply. I can't go into much detail about my book right now. It is for the k-1 age group, which is in my favorite "early childhood" group. I have a tight deadline but I know I can do it. I am a full time preschool teacher in a public school so that means all of my extra time at home I will have a laptop stuck to my lap. But, that's ok. I am very excited about this project. Being an Early Childhood Teacher, I have always loved the books and learning materials that Carson Dellosa offers to teachers/parents. It was always a goal of mine to get published by them. This is definitely a good day. When I can post more about the title of the book and when it will be available, I will. Until then. . . .it's time to get busy writing!!!
4 Comments on I'm writing a book for Carson Dellosa!, last added: 11/6/2009
I forgot to take many pictures at World Fantasy. (I know! Me! Calling myself a "photographer"!) Plus, my laptop's hard drive is literally so full that it won't let me upload what pictures I did take. So you won't get to see all the attending Utahns with author L.E. Modesitt and agent Joshua Bilmes (taken specifically to make Brandon Sanderson jealous, because he couldn't make it this year--blame Dan, or if you're a Writing Excuses fan, blame Jordo, who wasn't even there and it was his fault), and you won't be able to see me in my I Am Not a Serial Killer t-shirt, so you won't be able to be reassured that I'm not a serial killer until next week.
In the meantime, head on over to Tu Publishing, where today is an open thread--tell us what you'd like to see on the Tu Publishing website. What would draw you to return to a publisher's website?
Also, continued gratitude to all the people who are pledging to give Tu a kickstart! We're up past 25%! Let's keep the momentum going!
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As the weekend glimmers like the light at the end of a five-day-long tunnel, here is your daily dose of quick links and publishing catnip.
Over at our sibling blog, 
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