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You are viewing the most recent posts from the 1518 blogs currently in the JacketFlap Blog Reader. These posts are sorted by date, with the most recent posts at the top of the page. There are hundreds of new posts here every day on a variety of topics related to children's publishing. We have provided a variety of ways for you to navigate through the blog posts. Click the dates in the calendar on the left to view blog posts from a particular date. Scroll down through the list of Recent Posts in the left column and click on a post title that sounds interesting. Click a tag in the right column to view posts about that topic. You can view all posts from a specific blog by clicking the Blog name in the right column, or you can click a "More Posts from this Blog" link in any individual post.
When a runner steps to the line they are never alone. The racers next to you all have goals of their own; some of the goals may be the same as your own…you both will be fighting for that same finishing place. Some of those racers may be your own teammates, your friends, your training partners.
But in the end, when the gun goes off you all become one and the same: racers. All other titles momentarily erased.
Of course if you know some of those racers you may devise a race plan where you work together for some portion of the race, helping each of you through the early stages and setting you BOTH up for a better finish. There can be a team component to track, more-so in cross-country, but there inevitable comes a certain point in the race where anyone running next to you is nothing but your competition.
Embrace your competition because they are what will make you faster, and one of the strongest tools you have to utilize in the quest for your best. They will push you to your limits…or rather they will push you to the point where you will have to decide whether you are willing to go to those limits.
This opportunity isn’t solely in races, and with the London Olympics fast approaching, there are some really great articles highlighting Shalane Flanagan and Kara Goucher not just as two of the USA’s top chances for medaling in the Olympic Marathon, but also the fact that they are indeed training partners.
Both are excellent reads, and some things you can gather from both are:
* Train For Your Best: Both women have run nearly every workout together; similar to a race situation when you workout with someone who can push you, both of you end up the winners.
* Race Day Confidence: Of course when the gun goes off, both women rightfully acknowledge friendships and training partner labels are completely taken off the table. In the article featuring Goucher they touch on what it means to have Flanagan around her the longer the race drags on. On the one hand, because they have trained together both can get a bit of a confidence boost having the other around with the thinking, “Look, if Shalane/Kara is still here and handling this and we’ve trained together, I KNOW I belong here and can handle it.” The whole, “This hurts, but she’s doing it, so can I” line of thought.
* In The End You’re Running For One: On the flip side, there is the point where you need to drop your competition. There’s nothing more to be said on that one except that rather than ever fear them, be thankfu
Given the briefness of these opportunities I usually observe for as long as I can first, trying to draw in my mind before putting pen to paper. Usually once people notice they have become a subject I am done with the observation part, so I don't think it's too uncomfortable for anyone involved. It's much easier to look without being noticed, than to look-and-draw without being noticed, and I think it's good practice for the visual memory to divide drawing and observing in this way. In fact drawing in-your-mind only is something you can do anytime you want to make visual notes. Just look as if you really were drawing, following the contours and the forms. People get less mad this way, and it's amazing how much looking you can get away with!
This is the first time Tad Hills’ Rocket, pictured above, has visited 7-Imp, and it’s long overdue.
So, when I write weekly columns for Kirkus, I always follow up one week later here at 7-Imp with art from the book. (To not post as much art as I’m allowed makes me twitch a little.) In early May, I did a short Q & A over at Kirkus with author/illustrator Tad Hills. He has created many picture books over the years that my children and I have enjoyed, including the Duck & Goose books, one of which I covered here at 7-Imp in 2007 (back when, shudder, I only included book covers).
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By: Kathy Temean,
on 7/21/2012
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Darlene Beck-Jacobson debut middle grade book contract was listed this past week in Publisher’s Marketplace. Congratulations Darlene! Here is the announcement:
Darlene Beck-Jacobson’s THE CARRIAGE MAKER’S DAUGHTER, set in the early 1900s in Washington, DC, racial intolerance, social change and sweeping progress create a turbulent stage for a twelve-year old, who prefers Papa’s carriage barn and the symphony of the blacksmith’s hammer to the proper expectations of females, and finds the strength to defend what she believes in when her comfortable way of life is threatened by racist neighbors, pitched as reminiscent of Little House on the Prairie, the girl to Marissa Moss at Creston Books, in a nice deal, for publication in Fall 2014, by Liza Fleissig at Liza Royce Agency (World English).
Gayle Krause’s YA Historical Romance, “The Storyteller’s Daughter” is the lead story in the Timeless Anthology, released this month from Pugalicious Press. It’s a mash-up of Scherazade, Aladdin and the real ancient Iranian Queen Homay. Love stories that transcend time. From a thousand years ago to the unknown future, Timeless will show how love is timeless. This anthology of love stories contains “The Storyteller’s Daughter” by Gayle C. Krause, “And The Nightingale Sang” by Kip Wilson, “A Light Of Victory” by Jennifer Carson, “The Angel Of The Bastille” by J.R. Sparlin, “Stella’s Hero” by Kristine Carlson Asselin & Ansha Kotyk, “In This Moment” by D. E. Atwood, and “It Lies Beneath” by Magda Knight. Congratulations, Gayle!
Associate editor at Simon & Schuster Michael Szczerban has won the Ashmead Award, designed to nurture the career of a promising young editor in the field of book publishing. In receiving the award, Szczerban will attend the Yale Publishing Course: Book Publishing: Print and Digital.
Kristin Ostby has joined Simon & Schuster for Young Readers as editor. She was most recently a senior editor for Albert Whitman.
Longtime president and publisher of Viking Children’s Books Regina Hayes will relinquish that position and serve as editor-at-large, just as she celebrates her thirtieth anniversary at Penguin. Writers House agent Ken Wright will take over as vp and publisher of Viking Children’s on August 27, reporting to Penguin Children’s president Don Weisberg.
Keating Literary and Brick House are “formalizing what has been organically emerging over the past few years as a strong alliance” between the two and joining together to form Union Literary. Trena Keating and Sally Wofford-Girand are joined by Brick House senior agent Jenni Ferrari-Adler and newly promoted agent Kezia Toth under the new banner.
Kathy tomorrow,
Kathy
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Alan Ayckbourn's latest play, Surprises, has now opened at the Chichester Festival Theatre; see also the Faber publicity page, or pre-order your copy at Amazon.co.uk.
Early reviews include those by:
Lots of Ayckbourn plays are under review at the
complete review -- see, for example,
Henceforward ... -- and I hope to get to this one, too.
Global Times looks at the Uncertain future of literary magazines in China, as:
It's not the worst of times, but it's not the best of times either.
The Master scandal has ignited concern for the financial situation of other literary magazines. Lack of money is a common thread.
(The
Master scandal involved: "a bi-monthly literary magazine published by Yunnan People's Publishing House since 1994, was forced to suspend its operation for illegally running its magazine for commercial interests."
For commercial interests !)
And, of course:
The emergence of multi-media channels exacerbates their situation.
"The publishing aspect of literary magazines is weakening," said Qiu.
"Writers now have other ways to publish their work, and readers have a plethora of reading options."
The most recent addition to the complete review is my review of Padgett Powell's You & Me, just out in the US, but published in the UK last year as ... You & I.
A novel entirely in dialogue(s), it's hardly the only fictional dialogue under review at the complete review.
Many libraries have taken advantage of hosting teen advisory groups at their libraries, but what about the children’s library? Tween patrons offer remarkable insight into making your library the place to be. Many of them are also encouraged by becoming active participants within their community. With the recent push among libraries to increase appeal to tweens, why not implement a Kids Advisory Board for this upcoming school year?
Calling All Kids
Upon moving into our new children’s space in 2009, we decided to recruit a number of savvy young superusers to help establish a tween-friendly environment. We came to the conclusion that the best way to achieve this goal would be to set up a Kids Advisory Board (KAB). The target age group for KAB was 9 to 12, and we made it a priority to recruit up to twelve students from each of the local schools. Since KAB wasn’t going to be a book discussion group, there was also a concerted effort to ask members who were not voracious readers, but who did use the library in other ways. Broadening the scope of what we deemed a superuser allowed us to better reach out and serve a variety of kids.
Meetings and Structure
In the first KAB meeting the participants were asked for their input in setting up the group guidelines. Depending on the library, the librarian facilitating may want to make these structural decisions ahead of time, such as how frequently the group will meet or whether officers will be appointed.
Our members voted on having monthly meetings, and that there would be no officers elected for the first year. The host librarian was given the responsibility of emailing agenda items and notes for each meeting. In recent years as the group has gone more virtual, the meetings have lessened and communication is accomplished via email. Some advisory groups might also choose to create a wiki, blog, or Google Docs account for more efficient communication. Our library has also discussed setting up a KAB Tumblr account this upcoming September.
At each KAB meeting the group is given an agenda which includes updates on ongoing discussions and future projects. We always open with a time of socializing and pizza, which is a perfect opportunity to find out what’s going on at school, and what books, music, and movies the kids are excited about. When it comes time to focus there are usually between two to three topics up for discussion. Agenda items may include collection assistance with ordering Wii games, program ideas, or special projects like choosing furniture for the children’s library. The meeting traditionally ends with the distribution of ARCs, advanced readers copies, to KAB members who write reviews for the library’s website. This has been a perk that the kids look forward to each month.
KAB Programs and Projects
Over the past three years the Kids Advisory Board has been a huge asset to the library and has greatly influenced our service to the kids in the community. The group has planned and executed programs including a Harry Potter marathon and a winter craft fair. Their assistance is also greatly appreciated when it comes time to plan Summer Reading. Since we do not participate in the national program, KAB has offered guidance in developing programs
A contemporary librarian noir starring folks I know? Don’t mind if I do! I had no idea that Sarah Murphy was such a fine actress but it surprises me not at all. Written and co-directed by Joy Tomasko with co-direction, photography and post-production by Jon Dieringer and starring librarians and friends thereof, this film premiered at The Bell House in December 2011 during the Desk Set’s Biblio Noir, a fundraiser for Literacy for Incarcerated Teens (which I missed thanks to my new baby state). Screened at Spectacle Theater in June 2012 it’s now available online. Many thanks to Maria Falgoust for the link.
After that, let’s start the day off right with a book that is completely and utterly unavailable to us here in America. Basically, this all boils down to a children’s graphic novel, blurbed by Shaun Tan himself, that we have not yet seen. Tan says of it, “Reading this book is like being quietly ushered into another dimension by winged strangers, a place beyond the tread of normal earth-bound language. Ephemeral as a feather, timeless as a rock, and as true as both, Unforgotten is a magical experience.” That would be Unforgotten by Tohby Riddle. Here’s the trailer:
Thanks to Andrew Joyner for the link!
So this is fun. The Digital Shift recently came up with the Seven Top Trailers to Hook Kids on Books. Picking and choosing amongst them there’s a lot to enjoy here, but I’m particularly taken with this 60th Anniversary trailer for good old Charlotte’s Web (#1 on my Top 100 Children’s Novels Poll, doncha know). Observe:
Speaking of pigs, in comes the rather timely (how many Olympic-related fictional picture books are there this season?) Olympig via author Victoria Jamieson. Much with the fun.
Finally, for our off-topicness, I think I’m going to go nerd on you and whip out a bit of Star Wars meets Goyte stuff. I know you’ve probably already seen it, but it makes me happy. See if you can hear the hidden Wookie howl.
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Thanks for visiting my site. I appreciate your interest in my work. If you have questions regarding my books or stories, please feel free to send me a message. I enjoy hearing from you, and I’ll respond as soon as possible.
Happy reading!
Artie
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Artie’s children’s book Living Green: A Turtle’s Quest for a Cleaner Planet is now available as a free video for kids through StoryCub. A shortlist finalist for the national 2012 Green Earth Book Award, Thurman the turtle is tired of seeing the land he loves cluttered with trash and decides to take action.
To watch the Living Green video and many other books on StoryCub.org, please click on the cover below. StoryCub videos are one of the most watched programs on Apple’s iTunes Kids & Family section.
COPYRIGHT © 2012 ARTIE KNAPP
Use of any of the content on this website without permission is prohibited by federal law
Ptch is a new iPad/iPhone app that allows users to remix photos, videos, songs and text into 60-second music video-style shorts called Ptches. Sort of like an Instagram for videos (with “styles” instead of filters), Ptch aims to make video editing as intuitive and reflexive for the masses as taking a photograph with a smartphone. The app also allows users to remix ptches made by their friends so that each person can share their own version of an event. The software is available on Apple’s iTunes Store for free, though add-on songs and film “styles” will cost money in the future.
Here’s where it gets interesting. Ptch is headed by Ed Leonard, the Chief Technology Officer of DreamWorks Animation and the former director of R&D at Disney Animation. He convinced DreamWorks CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg to launch a new company called DWA Investments. The company, which is funded entirely by its parent DreamWorks Animation, has 15 employees, a third of whom are former DreamWorks staffers who took paycuts (in exchange for stock) to join Ptch.
Sites like Fast Company and BetaBeat have been debating what Ptch means for the future of DreamWorks. For example, does it signal the company’s transition from being a content producer into a technology company? Ptch helmer Ed Leonard hinted at that possibility while speaking with BetaBeat:
“There’s a lot of ambition at DreamWorks, they’re thinking about how to leverage ambition on the film side and how to reinvent themselves as more of a technology company than a movie company and really leverage all that value. If you get close to what Jeffrey is thinking about in terms of the DreamWorks brand … Jeffrey really believes in the intersection that’s happening between technology and entertainment.”
It’s hard to know what to make of all this just yet, but Leonard’s quote reveals that DreamWorks Animation is evolving in different and unexpected directions.
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Driving through rural Alabama, I noticed the quaint little doctors’ offices tucked away in historic buildings and the pint-sized medical centers built to serve a variety of small communities. In essence, residents don’t have many choices when it comes to finding a doctor or health facility in these remote areas; they just appreciate that there’s a doctor in their small town.
It made me grateful too, for all the choices I have in healthcare at home in bustling South Florida. This includes the fact that I live 3 blocks from Memorial Regional Hospital, one of the best hospitals in the country. I guess I have to give up the quiet, wide open spaces for the modern conveniences (and myriad of choices) of living in a very populated area. But I’m fine with that.
Should you ever need a list of the Broward and South Palm Beach hospitals, their specialties and contact info – and I hope you never do – here’s my article on About.com. I’ve done a lot of the homework to make it easy for you to find the hospital that best suits your healthcare needs.
By: Sue Bursztynski,
on 7/21/2012
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The Great Raven
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Wolfborn will be released in the US on October 1.I'm celebrating in two ways. The first is that I'm taking out my family for High Tea at the Windsor Hotel in Melbourne. That's where we went to celebrate when I sold it and once more when Edwina Harvey, who had helped me sell it via an interview, was in Melbourne for the Worldcon.
The other way is by a giveaway of a signed copy of the Australian edition, and you can enter wherever you are. All you have to do is click Comment.
The giveaway ends on July 31. Just over a week to enter! If you missed out on the last Wolfborn Giveaway, here's your chance to try again.
We drove several hours down to Cedar City for the Shakespeare Festival - but found things of interest on the way -
At a gas station/rest stop in the middle of no-where, we were surprised by a peacock in the parking lot.. What? Why...?
Turns out there was a petting zoo on the property (who knew?) - full of a nice selection of animals from the exotic -
(baby llamas!)
- to the domestic (baby sheeps and pygmy goats :-)
The peacock was pecking at car tires and even stalking my son. Keeps life interesting. :-)
A rocky out-cropping in the middle of endless looking flat lands...
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By: Jennifer DeDonato,
on 7/21/2012
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Colorfly Studio
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What better day for book trailers than a Saturday?
Tell us we’re home by Marina Budhos
Marina Budhos discusses Tell us we’re home
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By: Margot Justes,
on 7/21/2012
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My daughter and granddaughter came for breakfast, so I cooked their favorite dishes. My daughter loves kiszka, so I got one for her. (Kiszka is a sort of Polish sausage made from barley and beef blood) My granddaughter loves scrambled eggs and Polish sausage. I cooked that along with tomatoes, various cheeses, and pretzel rolls. She loves pretzel rolls. It was a feast, and I might add the coffee was sublime.
They came over to pick up a bed I no longer wanted. We disassembled the bed, packed it in the truck and went shopping for a little chair I wanted to put in the spare bedroom. There is a queen size bed there already, a sleeper couch in my office. I have enough sleeping accommodations. The additional trundle bed took up too much room. A small chair is all I wanted.
Back to my shopping for the little chair. I love Dania, they have lovely contemporary pieces that do not cost an arm and a leg. Maybe a couple of fingers at most.
My daughter and I found a lovely small, comfy chair. My granddaughter found a semi circular, orange couch. It was love at first site. We tried to talk her out of it. She was willing to look around, but always came back to that orange couch.
I am now the proud owner of a round, orange couch. The room is painted a light green. It is a good thing that other than the dining room furniture, nothing matches in my house. I buy pieces I like and it always seems to work out. Maybe it is an inherited trait.
Cheers,
Margot Justes
www.mjustes.com
A Hotel in Paris
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Goldie and the Three Penguins by Chris Gurney, illus. Sarah Nelisiwe Anderson, Scholastic NZ
One of the latest titles in the popular Kiwi Corkers series, this hardback book presents an amusing and ultra-modern take on Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Goldie sets off to buy a jelly-tip ice-cream but is lured by the smell of fish and chips to the house of the three Penguins. When she eats the meal of Chick Penguin, she says, “My oh my, that was really kapai!” This mantra is repeated throughout the story as Goldie tries out the chairs and the beds. Everyone can guess the ending – Goldie runs back to the loving arms of her mother. Children who know the original story (and are favourably inclined towards movie-style penguins) will enjoy the inter-textual links. The rhyming text is fairly demanding to read aloud but should be entertaining if read with panache. The illustrations are lively, intriguing and very modern – using a style that combines a semi-comic-book format with digital painting and digital collage. Goldie’s snarls of blonde wool hair provide an interesting motif (and of course her mum has the same). Best for primary-aged children.ISBN 978 1 77543 043 8 $18.50 Hb
The Frog Footie Player by Chris Gurney, illus. John Bennett, Scholastic NZAnother Kiwi Corkers title, this is a very New Zealand version of The Frog Prince. Youngsters might not know the original story as well as they know the Goldilocks one, but it’s still an entertaining read. Kiri’s lost rugby ball is returned to her by a frog called Archie. All he wants in return is to watch rugby on TV with a pillow and some chocolate fish. Kiri isn’t keen, but her dad says she must keep her promise. In the excitement of watching the game, Kiri gives Archie a kiss – and he turns into an All Black!!! The cartoon-style pictures are suitably bright and friendly, done using Corel Painter. Primary-aged boys will enjoy the rugby theme – and girls are likely to enjoy the rugby-mad heroine.
I was horrified to learn that some of the bodies at the Aurora shooting stayed in place for what sounded like overnight. Why didn't they bring them out and let their loved ones have them?
Then I read this post from a crime scene investigator who worked the Columbine shooting. The post seems to have been taken down now. Maybe it was too sensitive, even years later, to talk about that day.
But he said:
"One of the only criticisms from processing Columbine was that we left the victim's bodies in the school overnight. It wasn't an easy decision I can assure you. But we believed strongly that the case would eventually go to court (either civil or criminal) despite the fact that the killers were deceased. Truthfully, you can't afford to think otherwise. So it's not as simple as just walking in a putting the victims in body bags. We can't levitate them out of the scene. People have to walk in there to get them and those people could possibly damage or destroy evidence if they aren't careful. The bodies have to be carefully photographed, videotaped, and measured with precision. The CSIs may have to collect trace evidence from their bodies or clothing. Adjacent objects that may be disturbed also have to be fully documented before a path can be cleared. You can't just kick a piece of evidence out of the way. So all of this process takes time. We don't like it either but we have to do everything we can to make sure the evidence can be presented in court."
Thanks to Joanne Fritz for being our hostess with the mostest this afternoon at your beautiful, please-tell-us-it-will-be there-forever store. Where else can we sit like we did and laugh long and hard, long after we stopped talking about
Small Damages? And how lucky am I that A.S. King (we'll call her Amy) and K.M. Walton (we'll call her Kate) spent this afternoon with me?
Right answer: Extremely lucky.
And what about Julia—our teen reader? She's something else.
I wore orange pants, just so none of us could forget this afternoon. I know that I never will.
Please talk to someone. Call a crisis line. Call someone who loves you. Get support. And consider this:
Please Do Not To Kill Yourself:
- Because you deserve to live, and to find happiness and joy and love and laughter. It may not seem like you can find those things right now, but they will come. You have had them once, and they will come again;
Because things will get better, and when they do, you will want to be here to enjoy them;
Because if you kill yourself it will deeply hurt the people who love you and care about you;
Because there will never be another person like you, bringing your unique perspective into the world. It’s only by staying alive that you can have a voice, and help to make things better in the world–for you, and for others;
Because if you kill yourself, you will let all the people who hurt you so horribly win. And they should not win. We need good people in this world;
Because your pain will pass, and get lighter, and you will find beauty again in the things around you, and love, and laughter;
Because you matter. Even if you think you don’t, you do. You touch other people. Your life has an impact. People care about you;
Because if you kill yourself, you can never undo that act. It is final and forever. You can never again see love and compassion in the eyes of the people who love you, feel the touch of someone’s hand on yours, hug your dog or cat, listen to the rain on a roof, taste ice cream melting on your tongue. You can never have a chance to be happy again;
Because death is not relief or release; it is an end. You don’t feel anything after you die. But you can feel relief and release if you stay alive, and find a way to release your pain safely. Find a way to take in the love of the people who care about you;
Because even the deepest pain can lessen. Talk to someone you love. Write out your pain. Cry it out. Scream into a pillow. Break something. Do what you need to to get out your pain safely;
Because you are not alone. There are so many people who have felt the way you feel, experienced the things you have experienced. Reach out. Talk to others. You are not alone;
Because the desire to kill yourself will pass, if you can just wait it out long enough. Distract yourself. Call a friend. Call a crisis line. Do something you enjoy, even if you think you won’t enjoy it;
Because if you stick around, you will find one day that you are glad you did. You will find more good people who care about you. You will find your voice. You will do things that you love and that make you happy;
Because I have been there, too. I know how bad it is. And I know it can get better. It did for me. It will for you. And I hope for good things for you. Please choose to live.
Please reach out to someone if you’re feeling suicidal. Don’t stay silent. Choose life and hope.
Crisis Lines:
US and Canada: National Suicide Prevention LifeLine
24 Hour Crisis Hotline 1 (800) 273-TALK
1 (800) 273-8255
International: Befrienders
Please also read this:
Reasons Not To Kill Yourself
and this:
If You Are Thinking About Suicide, Please Read This First
Some time back I wondered whether offering non-form replies to queriers would be a good idea. You said yes, and very enthusiastically.
I've decided to give it a whirl on a trial basis for the next few weeks.
On Saturday night (oh man, this is just proof positive I have no life!) if you query between 7pm and 8pm Eastern Daylight Time I will reply to you individually. I may not reply during that exact time window, but your query has to arrive in that window.
You have to put "New Wrinkle" in the subject line so I know you WANT to participate.
I'd really REALLy appreciate it if you didn't write back to tell me all the reasons I'm an idiot until at least a day has gone by and you might have cooled down.
I am NOT guaranteeing feedback or critiques on each letter, although that may happen. This is ONLY a personal, non-form reply guarantee.
The queries need to be for real. If I request something and you tell me it's not ready, or you were just kidding, I will come to your house and gnaw on you till you realize the error of your ways.
Questions?
Shout out in the comment column and we'll develop an FAQ for our little experiment.
These last two days where life inside my home (as opposed to Work, and The Great Outdoors), have mostly been all about the dining room floor and the sun room floor, and the sanding and varnishing thereof. And a four D puzzle of New York taking up most of the living room, the dining room being (obviously) out of commission. So though I am in the middle of two good books (Advent and The Atomic Weight of Secrets) and several less good books, I turned during my breaks to a slim new arrival, a collection of autobiographical shared thoughts-- The Chairs are Where the People Go, by Misha Glouberman with Sheila Heti.
Misha Glouberman was a lovely person to have brief reading chats with. How could I not enjoy his words when he makes his living, among other things, as a professional Charades instructor? (On re-reading, it strikes me that this sounds ironic, but it wasn't meant to be). I find that such a pleasing idea--not just that he had the gumption and enjoyment of life to want to teach charades, but that random people would sign up, and do their charades homework, and have a ball with it. He is an organizer of unconferences and of public participation in music events, someone who isn't afraid to start a group he would like to join, and a player of a game that involves people moving rocks in a way at once utterly pointless and yet deeply invested with meaningful social bonding (if the players take it seriously). I would like to play it. Maybe.
His thoughts on sundry topics, mostly involving urban life as lived by himself, deal mainly about ways in which people engage with each other--not in the Big Issue sort of way, but how people might socially construct lives for themselves that have interest and interpersonal engagement. It is just a series of short monologues in which he shares what he thinks about this and that. He isn't pushing a big agenda, he isn't telling anecdotes, he's basically just talking about things he has thought about. It's not polished beautiful prose essays ala E.B. White or A.A. Milne (whose essays I enjoy lots), but there were thoughts that spoke to me.
Like--it's really easy to get caught up in a battle mentality, consumed with defeating your enemy. And he couches his response to this not as a Moral Dictum (because he's not trying to convert the reader) but as a statement--"You're just being angry in ways that don't make things better for anybody." (page 80).
Also useful--"If you're running a project and you want to get people involved, ask them to set up chairs. People like to set up chairs, and it's easy work to delegate." (page 16).
But seriously, how could I not like a book that includes an essay on "How to Teach Charades"?
Basically, the book reassured me that it is possible that other people are not, as a general rule of thumb, utterly foreign, but are in fact capable of playing nicely (by which I mean,
By Todd Allen
The comment section seemed pretty happy with the announcement that Howard Chaykin was going to be doing Buck Rogers for Hermes Press, so I laid hands on Dan Herman (the Publisher at Hermes) and got a little more information for you.
Hermes has a five year license for Buck Rogers comics, which means the license for a new comic as well as reprint rights for the previous comic books, like the Gold Key series based on the television show and, yes, some Murphy Anderson work from the early ’50s. Part of their proposal was a “back to basics” new series. Herman, as a publisher who does a lot of archival/historical books, isn’t a big fan of changing the formula.
That’s where Howard comes in. Herman had originally commissioned Chaykin to do a cover for a collection of the old Flint Dille/David Marconi/Dan Speigel “Agent 13″ graphic novels that came out from TSR back in the mid-to-late 1980s. Herman knew Chaykin had a fondness for ’30s and ’40s material. He also knew Chaykin’s work with Ironwolf/Cody Starbuck/Star Wars. Chaykin liked the idea.
Herman described the series as a “riff” on the original series and tells me Chaykin went back and read the two original pulp prose stories and roughly the first 10 years of the strip to get ready. Look to the left and the promotional poster does look like the classic period of the strip.
This will come out in normal comic book format and Herman is thinking May 2013 is a likely target date. Herman says Chaykin is initially working on 4 issues and when those are completed they’ll have a look at it and see where to go from there. He wants to evaluate the work as a whole, not piecemeal. Also factoring into this approach is Herman’s philosophy that “you let Howard do his job.” He knows who he hired, so he’s getting out of the way.
Figure we’ll hear a little more about this around the beginning of next year.
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I’m so glad you got to see Tad Hills- we loved him when we met him. And the new book looks darling..
Ok.. I haven’t kicked in ages. Here goes!
1. A heat wave that finally broke.
2. My new fascination with middle grade novels- Three Times Lucky is my current find.
3. Writing motivation.
4. Children happy at play after we declared a total and complete (for now) vacation from tv.
5. Local corn.
6. A family birthday celebration.
7. A short get-away with just my hubby all planned.
Hope all my fellow kickers are doing well. It feels good to be back!
Love, love, love these books!! I’ve seen Tad’s first one at the bookstore and thought it looked so cute but never opened it surprisingly. But I just requested the first one from our library a few seconds ago and am very excited. Also, I’m really tempted to buy “Rocket’s Learning Box” because I kind of love posters…should I display self control though?…
Jules, your picture book talk sounds great! I’d love to hear more details, but only if you have time!
Stacey, the heat finally broke down here too, although it’s slowly seeping back :/ You Vacation from TV sounds great and good luck with your writing!
7 Kicks:
1. Finished my 45 page book list of children’s books set in Ancient History, started this project as a resource for my mom and little brother as they take on Ancient History for homeschooling this year! Although now I’m reworking the format, because I realized I could possibly sell it on Amazon which would be really cool!
2. Entered the new, scary (well not really, but it takes getting used to) world of twitter this week.
3. Went on my first run in a while, although now I have to keep up and continue.
4. My little brother guest posted on my blog here: http://alice-peregrinations.blogspot.com/2012/07/guest-post-from-my-little-brother_19.html
5. Finished John Green’s The Fault in our Stars, I rarely do this, but I cried and literally laughed out loud and was beautifully and intellectually inspired.
6. I’ll be guest posting (about The Fault in Our Stars!) on Danielle Smith’s wonderful blog, There’s A Book, in a few weeks
7. Drove a lot this week! So, I just got my learner’s permit a few weeks ago, and am finally learning to drive, just a bit overdue…
I am going to be racing to the bookstore when this second book hits the shelves because I adored the first one, Jules. And the teaching tools are amazing; tried and true. So happy you and your girls got to see and meet him.
Stacy: Welcome to the world of MG novels. 21 of my 34 years as a teacher librarian was at the middle school level. I love those books.
Jess: You will love the immediacy of Twitter. I sobbed repeatedly reading The Fault in Our Stars. ALA Graphics has a new poster featuring Rocket.
My kicks for the week:
1. The rain did come for a day which was great. Didn’t have to haul hoses until yesterday.
2. Gardens are edged and weeded.
3. My There is work to be done, but all I want to do is Read poster arrived.
4. My copies of both the Nanny Piggins books autographed by the hilarious Dan Santat came.
5. So very happy that two author/illustrators commented about reviews on my blog. It’s nice to know you might be doing something right.
6. Found another heart shaped stone when weeding. Love is where you find it.
7. Saved a toad trapped in my watering can this morning.
I love Rocket so much. AND I LOVE THE HIPHOPAPOTAMUS.
ANd I haven’t kicked in forever either, so here we go:
1. I managed to conquer the cat-pee in our laundry room! (sorry for TMI, but it’s a big happy thing)
2. I went to see Chuck Prophet play, and it was awesome.
3. Read Only and One IVAN. Loved it.
4. Turned in my new novel. (hence time for all this other stuff)
5. Daily rain in Atlanta is keeping it pretty cool…
6. Caught up with a friend I hadn’t seen in months.
7. It’s 11:22 on Sunday, and I’m typing this from my bed, where I’m curled up with the kids, watching Sat morning TV. Laaaaazy.
Hi, Jules! It seems ages since I last left a comment at 7-Imp. I’m busy these days being a nanny granny. I don’t have as much time for blogging as I once did. I hope you and your family have been well.
I’ve gotten some of Tad’s books for my granddaughter. I think I’ll have to add these two “Rocket” books to her already extensive picture book collection.
MY KICKS
1. I get most of my kicks from my granddaughter Julia these days. She has taken her first steps and is drinking from a sippy cup now. I so enjoy reading board books to her. She’ll be a year old in a couple of weeks. I can’t believe how the time has flown.
2. I finally finished the final draft of my “Things to Do” manuscript last month. Now I just have to wait to find out who will illustrate the book.
3. I’ve done some major cleaning around my house and thrown tons of stuff that I don’t need away. Things are really getting organized around here. It feels great!
Rocket is never on the shelves of my library. So happy there”s a sequel. He’s the cutest dog.
Jules, now you have me curious of good new to give you angina.
Stacey, yum, local corn and cooler weather.
Jes, I agree w/ Margie, you’ll like twitter.
Margie, I need that poster.
My kicks:
1. Beach days.
2. Beach days with family
3. Hearing author Tayari Jomes at the local beach bookstore.
4. Hiking Tillamook Head. Strenuous ascent but worth for the view.
5. Buying books for grnadgirl’s.
6. Reading with grangirl.
7. Fire, s’mores on the beach last night.
Have a great week.
Elaine, welcome back. Looking forward to reading your new book.
Laurel, enjoy the summer rain.
Good morning, Imps!
Hello, Rocket, Tad, and company. How are you? Three cheers for reading, writing, and sharing!
Jules: Hope it’s truly good news and not causing you stress.
Welcome back, Stacey!
Jess: Congratulations on completing your booklist. Sounds like a great resource.
Margie: Thank you for saving the toad. Yay for the heart-shaped stone.
Laurel: That IS a joy, isn’t it? (re: cat cleaning) Been there, done that… and miss them horribly. Please hug your cats for me.
Elaine: Congratulations on completing your manuscript. Happy early birthday to your granddaughter.
Jone: Sounds like you’ve been seeing a lot of lovely sights!
My kicks for the past week:
1) Movies
2) Rehearsals
3) Thoughtful podcasts
4) Assistance
5) Fresh fruit
6) Music, always
7) Dark chocolate granola
I look forward to reading the Rocket books! I laughed when I read, “I see by your waggy tail that you are well-rested.” I wish humans had furry tails for expression and balance.
My kicks:
1. A lovely trip with a friend to Orcas Island
2. My new foam roller (to work out that muscle stiffness before and after exercise)
3. I found Pimm’s (an infused gin aperitif) and now I can make Pimm’s Cups. I even have borage growing in the yard for garnish.
4. Another day of life
5. Loose summer schedules
6. Enough sleep
7. Good friends
Rocket is irresistible. Thanks for sharing
Jules- I’m going to get the audiobook of, “Bossypants” to listen to in the art studio.
Margie- My niece found a granite, heart shaped stone as big as her head at the beach.
Laurel- Lazy Sundays are the best.
Elaine- I also did some belated Spring cleaning this week. Feels good to purge
Jone- I love that 4 of 5 kicks are about the beach
LW- Dark chocolate granola is so delish! Yum
My kicks
1. My two week visitors went home. The house is so quiet and empty.
2. Frozen mudslides on the porch.
3. My wonderful husband built a trellis for my roses.
4. Stole away enough studio time to sneak a pic. in for Illustration Friday.
5. Fancy dinner by the sea with my sister.
6. Lobster mashed potatoes.
7. I’m gonna steal kick #4 from S&S.
Happy to be here.
Moira: Kick #4 was a good kick to steal! Now, how am I going to steal your kick #6, i.e. lobster mashed potatoes? I’ve never heard of such a delightful concoction. I want some. I need some. In the meantime, I must munch on almonds and an an oatcake.
Stacey, I wanna read Three Times Lucky. I have a copy around here and need to do that. Enjoy your get-away …
Jess, I gotta read John’s book already, too. At this workshop for which I presented, someone talked about this book and some line that went something like this (I’m probably going to get the quote not-exactly-right): “You’re so busy being yourself that you don’t realize how utterly unprecedented you are.” I LOVE THAT. … Good luck with Twitter. (And kick #1? Impressive.)
Margie, the toad thanks you, I’m sure. … I’ve got the Nanny Piggins book, too, and am eager to read it to my girls.
Laurel, I think your last kick trumps all the other ones, though of course it’s awesome that you turned your book in.
Elaine! I’m so glad you get to spend all this time with Julia. How special, and I have no doubt she’s insanely adorable. Congrats on finishing the draft, too!
Jone: The beach! A fire on the beach! S’mores! I’m excited for you … And I’ll share my news soon. (Not stressful, Little Willow. Promise.) No, I’m not pregnant. Heh.
LW: Now I am craving some dark chocolate. Dark chocolate granola would do, too. What good movies did you see?
Farida: I’m with Moira on the wonderfulness of kick #4. It should be a weekly assumed kick. Hear, hear to #7.
Moira: I hear the audiobook is great, since Tina herself reads it. … Congrats on a quiet house, though I’m sure you miss your company. … Happy you’re here, you know. And now I wanna go see your Illustration Friday illustration.
Jess: Saw your brother’s post. I LOVE The Squirrel’s Birthday. After I finished it, I thought, I wanna write a book THAT good. Toon made it look easy.
Moira: Visited your blog. Sorry you had to go to a funeral recently. Hug.
Jules, I know he did! I loved Toon’s book I want to get the companion book; I didn’t think about that when I was reading it, but yes it gave this air of effortlessness and wonderful freedom with words and was just wonderful!
I love that quote from John’s book too, there are so many good ones in there! I’m excited to pick my favorites when I write up my guest review on it in the next few days.
Margie, I definitely want to look at the poster I’ll have to look it up! And I need to check out Nanny Piggins from the library again, I was supposed to read it with my brother a while ago and we never got to it, but it looked so good!
Farida: Hope foam rolling helps you! I know someone who does that, and says it hurts her but it helps her.
Moira, Jules: The dark chocolate granola I was crunching on = Cascadian Farms brand. Not a lot of chocolate in it, really, but that perhaps makes the chocolate bits even tastier.
Moira: YAY TRELLIS! I love the look of a lovely trellis.
Jules: Glad that it’s happy news. I watched most of the Barbara Stanwyck marathon on TCM a few days ago, and I’ve been checking out some independent films on the Sundance Channel.
The best thing I’ve seen lately isn’t a film, but rather, a television show: Leverage, which I’ve been watching since its premiere, just began airing its fifth season. Sunday nights at 8 PM PST/EST 7 Central on TNT, people. It’s awesome.
Oh, and Jules I found the illustrator for that image I sent you on Twitter! Months ago I luckily had typed up all the ideas I had for possible thesis projects, when I was still doing art history as my major, and one of my ideas was to write about art, illusions, and dreams in the works of Rene Magritte, Piero Fornasetti and Quint Buchholz…and that’s his name Quint Buchholz!! He’s a german artist/illustrator/author… I think I’ll have to make a post soon on him and the others I mentioned and possibly add in Morris Lessmore as well!
(here’s his website http://www.quintbuchholz.de/en.html )
Just wanted to let you know
Hey Imps and Jules!
what an ADORABLE book - I haven’t seen the first one, which I can’t believe. I’m smitten. Thank you so much. I think my little will love this story. I missed when it is coming out, but I’ll be watching like a hawk for it.
Holy Moly - everyone has great Kicks and such friendly, encouraging comments! What a group - what a week! I’m so happy to read every one.
My Kicks this week:
1. purple (I think I like it) toe polish and great pedicure
2. good morning in the library researching picture book biographies for my workshop at the end of the summer (phew!)
3. discovered some of the charms of ‘Fancy Nancy’ after reading the book for the first time, and then wrote a humble pie apology post on my blog for having written a slightly disparaging comment about ‘Fancy Nancy’ a few weeks ago with out every having read the book. Good lessons! Jules - I know you’ll cringe when you read this.
4. Sunday waffles and bacon (apologies to all vegitarians and vegans) to celebrate my husband’s birthday with my aunt and uncle
5. great afternoon yummies today at a local French cafe with my aunt and her sister-in-law
6. almost done with the giant tome I’m reading to review - I should be reading it now. Yes, I’m procrastinating!
Happy Week everyone!
Happy Sunday Imps! Kicking late this week, and been a few weeks for me too…I’ve missed everyone!
Love Rocket! Both of these books are now on my list for me and several kids I know too.
Jules - that Hiphopoppatamus was awesome! I loved Bossypants, it made me laugh out loud in parts.
Stacy - the family birthday celebration and vacation from tv sound great!
Jess - that 45 page list sounds amazing!
Margie - hooray for rescuing the toad!
Laurel - Sunday mornings in bed are lovely…
Elaine - congrats on finishing the manuscript, and enjoying your granddaughter!
Jone - jealous you are at the beach but so glad you are enjoying it!
LW - hope rehearsals are going well. and fresh fruit = yum! I bought a half flat this week at a farmers market and have enjoyed it so much.
Farida - Orcas Island in the summer - what fun! And a Pimm’s Cup is so perfect for summer.
My quick kicks:
1) After 10 months in my house I finally picked a color scheme.
2) Painted my bedroom last weekend.
3) Painted the living room and dining room this weekend - with good friends to help out, chat and share cocktails with while painting.
4) Super happy with the results, and next up is the guest bedroom.
5) Made syrup today from fresh raspberries and blackberries to use in wine spritzers for a dinner later this week.
6) Finished Days of Little Texas by R.A. Nelson - really really liked it.
7) Have a couple of days off starting tomorrow, and next up is going to a Timbers game with friends.
Have a wonderful week everyone!
Jess: Companion book? Must find! Also, good sleuthing work with that image. Speaking of Morris Lessmore, maybe that can be the art I feature next Sunday here at 7-Imp Camp.
LW: I gotta add Leverage to the ‘ol queueueuee, since you consistently recommend it.
Allison: Your second kick sounds fun. I wish I could sit in on that workshop. And I did see that post the other day after you first posted it. I’m sure we’ve ALL been guilty of this!
Rachel, what’s your color scheme? Inquiring minds wanna know. I think painting and cocktails sounds perfect. Enjoy your days off!
LW: Wait. I think that might be the first time you’ve recommended Leverage. (I just went to the site you linked to.) I was thinking of the show with Jason Isaacs. Which one is that again that you also recommend? Oh, Awake. That’s it! Is that still good? (Isaacs is such a good actor, isn’t he?)
Jules - think vintage earthtones, if that makes sense. bedroom is Umberglow, a warm orangey-brown; living and dining room are Vintage Bakelite a green/yellow/brown color, and guest bedroom is Sewing Bee, a warm sandy beach color. And yes, cocktails and good company while painting are a perfect combination. : )
Haha, thanks Jules! And yes the companion book is called
Letters to Anyone and Everyone and when I was finding that title, I noticed that apparently another one came out this past April called Far Away Across the Sea! So now there’s two books for you
Rachel: Sounds lovely!
Jess: Thanks. I will hunt them down!
I agree with your observation that there are a million ways Tad Hill could have failed in writing this book. When I read about this book, I did not expect it to be successful. I may not have even given it a shot if my parents hadn’t given it to my daughter as a present. That said, I think Tad did a fantastic job of creating a story that is very readable and gets kids who are just starting to sound out words excited about their new skills.
love Tad Hills work and looking forward to this new book. He gets such great emotion from such simple expression. Thanks as usual for my (here lately mid-week) inspiration. As usual its great reading everyone’s kicks and getting ideas for art/music/books. Running out to get kids so no time for kicks this minute. Glad Knoxville went well and enjoy Bossypants… wait til you get to Prayer for My Daughter.. it’s hilarious!