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Tiger Woods, athlete
Dec. 30, 1975-

Tiger Woods by David R. Collins, illustrated by Larry Nolte (Pelican, 1999)

Tiger Woods, the gifted young African American golfer, faced prejudice with positive character and determination as a child and as an adult. He won his first U.S. Amateur Championship at the age of 19.

Visit the Tiger Woods Official Website to learn more about this great golfer.

I thought Chewbacca would be happier with his good buddy Han Solo. Quick sketch from today :)

• So What Exactly Is A News Release?
• Why Is This So Hard To Do? What Makes This So Special?
• So What Exactly Do Media People Look For When They Receive A News Release?
• So What Do You Need To Do To Write A News Release That Really Works & Truly Gets Media Attention?
• How do you know when you’re ready?
• What Specifically Should Authors Do To Create This Galvanizing Candy – This Magic Script .
• What is the Magic Formula (DPAA+H)? (“Dramatic Personal Achievement in the face of Adversity, plus a little Humor”)
• Which Are Better For Authors To Aim At - Book Reviews Or Feature Stories & Why?
• How do you know when you achieve success with a news release?
• So once you have a trash proof news release, what do you do with it

Listen to the PodCast!

This morning started with a walk to the Philadelphia Convention Center under sunny blue skies (Finally - yay!) to see the panel discussion called "Fractured Classics" about using well-known archetypes to create stories for middle grade and young adult readers. It included fellow Bloomsbury/Walker authors Shannon Hale and Suzanne Selfors as well as Malinda Lo and Diane Zahler, all of whom were funny and brilliant. Here are some of my favorite moments:

Diane Zahler, author of THE THIRTEENTH PRINCESS (Harper Collins):

"Fairy tale retellings allow heroines to take charge of their lives and break out of the passive princess role."

Suzanne Selfors, author of SAVING JULIET (Walker) about a girl who goes into the story of ROMEO & JULIET to try and save Juliet's life. (She's also the new YA COFFEEHOUSE ANGEL, which I got a signed copy of today!):

"Before Edward and Bella...Romeo and Juliet were the world's most famous teenagers."

Malinda Lo, author of ASH (Little Brown), a retelling of Cinderella in which the main character is gay:

"It's really a story about grief and love, things we've all experienced."

She also reminded us that LBGT stories can be a great comfort to teens.

"When I was a teen, if I'd read ASH, I might have figured things out a little sooner, and it wouldn't have been so scary."

Shannon Hale, author of GOOSE GIRL, RAPUNZEL'S REVENGE, and more (Bloomsbury) talked about how the fairy tales that infuriate her are the ones that inspire her to write. She ranted a bit about the prince who visits Rapunzel repeatedly in her tower in the traditional fairy tale.

"Does he EVER think to bring a ladder?? There's no excuse for this prince!"

After the panel, I met up with Loree Griffin Burns to talk about our afternoon panel and explore the exhibit hall a bit. My editor Mary Kate took the train in from New York so she could be there for our panel, which made me so, so happy!



The brilliant MK also shared some cover sketches for SUGAR ON SNOW. They are gorgeous, and thinking about a cover makes the book seem that much closer. It's scheduled for December 2010. We had lunch across the street from the convention center, here...



This is Reading Terminal Market, an enormous indoor market with every kind of food and treat you could imagine. I had a chicken burrito plate that was so big it seemed like the plate was still full no matter how much I ate.

Then it was time for some book-stalking (and author spotting!) in the exhibit hall. How many faces & covers do you recognize?











Mallinda Lo, signing copies of ASH.



Jenny Moss, signing ARCs of SHADOW (Scholastic, 2010). Jenny and I will both be signing at the Bloomsbury/Walker booth from 9:30-10:10 tomorrow morning.



Gene Luen Yang, whose books I love...but I didn't have a chance to get one signed because it was time for our panel, "Stories & Standards: Pairing Fiction & Nonfiction." Here we are:


From left to right, Jenny Moss, Loree Griffin Burns, Teri Lesesne, Tanya Lee Stone, & me.

If you weren't there, don't feel left out... You can click here to see our presentation and download our handouts on the Teachers page of my website. And our facilitator, the wise and bookish Teri Lesesne, aka professornana , also tweeted our workshop while it was happening, so you can click here and scroll down to read her posts.

Here's my schedule for tomorrow:

9:30-10:30 Signing THE BRILLIANT FALL OF GIANNA Z. in the Walker/Bloomsbury booth. (and they're offering books at a 50% discount, too!)

11:45-12:15 Being interviewed for the ReadWriteThink podcast for IRA

2:30-3:40 Middle Level Mosaic - which I understand to be sort of an author speed-dating event. It sound like fun!

I have more to blog, but right now it's time for tonight's publisher dinner with a bunch of bookstore people and NCTE folks. I actually made a joke about not being able to attend because I needed to stay back in my room to read all my ARCs. No one was particularly amused, so off I go. More tomorrow.... Read the rest of this post

Didja ever go out to a restaurant
And eat more than you should?
If so, you know just how I feel:
Stuffed, and not too good.

Could not resist the nachos,
Ate more than twice my share;
The margarita went down smooth –
I didn’t even care.

The quesadilla melted
Like queso in the sun.
I gobbled it and with each bite,
I’d only just begun.

Fajitas followed quickly;
They sizzled and they sputtered.
The meat wrapped in tortillas –
My stomach getting cluttered.

The meal was sadly finished,
But not, alas, complete;
For when I got home I did crave
A taste of something sweet.

So even though I barely
Could sustain another bite,
I scarfed a mini-Almond Joy,
A Halloween delight.

And now I pay the piper:
My jeans I must unzip;
But now that I am comfortable,
Please pass me one last chip!

I have created many music-related images for record labels, bands, The San Diego Chamber Orchestra and I even painted a music house. This image is for the music blog I am a member of called "Kings of Maybe."When our fearless leader Asperezas asked me to make a new header for the 1 year Anniversary, I knew I had to make a crown of buildings. Our group is small but good and they have turned me on to some great music that I LOVE! My new fave is Just Say Yes by Snow Patrol posted by flor. I am lucky to be part of this wonderful tribe and hope for many more years of good music and inspiring videos. This is our new honorary member and crown model :)

copyright 2009 valerie walsh
please click on to the highlighted links

In preparation for the little show I'm in next month, I thought I'd throw a few things in frames today--always so much more of a production than expected, what with drilling holes, sealing the backs, etc. Even though a couple of my frames are about as cheap as they come, I hated to risk ruining them with my own enhancements. Nevertheless, I took the plunge and followed these instructions (scroll down) Stapleton Kearns posted back in August for toning mass produced metal leaf frames. I'm so glad I tried it!! I still have to add the butcher's wax, but already the result is beautiful--so much richer looking and quite an improvement on the original gold, $17.99 Simpleton Plein Air frame from Blick:

Because the middle value looked sort of blah on my mostly middle-value painting (hmmm, some improvement needed there), I also painted on the black border. Should have gotten Blick's black Simpletons with gold liners, but didn't see them when I ordered, and probably wouldn't have wanted to spend the extra $7.50 per frame for them, anyway. I think this will do.

For your weekend reading pleasure, here some publishing news briefs...

Oprah Winfrey announced today that she will end her popular show in 2011, closing the televised side of the most influential book club in America. Author Edwidge Danticat told the Wall Street Journal why she will miss the club: "When she calls to tell you that your book has been selected for the book club, she sounds so excited that you feel as though she's both your ideal reader and your biggest cheerleader."

To write its embargo-breaking scoop about Sarah Palin's memoir (which has reportedly sold 300,000 copies already), the AP ripped, scanned, and mined the text for juicy tidbits.

Kat Meyer interviewed Angela James, the executive editor for Carina Press on Twitter for her weekly Follow Reader Twitter chat. Read the whole exchange at #followreader.

Why author and literary blogger Maud Newton is writing a novel instead of a memoir.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Sending you to "displaced Dene," a blog run by Tenille Campbell. She's got some things to say about the House of Night series...

Tenille Campbell is Dene (First Nations) from Northern Saskatchewan. From reading her site, I gather Campbell is studying writing at the University of British Columbia with the AWESOME Richard Van Camp. Regular readers know I think Richard's work is terrific. If I'm not mistaken, Nicola I. Campbell also studied writing with Richard. As noted earlier today, Nicola's book, Shin-chi's Canoe just won a major literature prize. So! We should keep an eye out for Tenille Campbell. She says that Richard has a new comic book out...  I should follow up on that!

Translation: The chickens have flown the coop!


(the French version of Chicken Dance)

Ooh. La. La.

http://www.amazon.fr/Coq-star-Tammi-Sauer/dp/2745942093/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258435208&sr=1-6

P.S. It's pronounced COKE STAR, people. :)

Wow, I had a wonderful day at Browne Academy in Alexandria! With grades K-2, we read ALFIE THE APOSTROPHE and did some awesome magic tricks. Grades 3-4 had a fabulous punctuation bee - congratulations to Sarah who was the winner!

I had a great time talking to 6 phenomenal eighth graders, who asked fantastic, probing questions. I think a few may become writers themselves someday. And signing books at the bookfair, which was beautifully run by Bookworm Central, was the perfect ending to the day. Thanks to everyone who made it happen and to everyone who bought books!

Here is the fourth sculpted illustration for the on-going “My Woodland, My Nightmare” series. It is titled “When Giants Meet”

Check out the sculpture.
Enjoy!
www.jessicaforter.com

I got a call late yesterday from a representative from Foxwoods Resort and Casino. They are interested in me doing a few signings for both BIG SLICK and BUG BOY at their casino before the holidays. Poker book, horse racing book, perfect fit. According to the people of Foxwoods, I'll be signing in the World Poker Tour room and the Race Book rooms. Both are huge venues and I am super excited about this event.

This is Foxwoods:



Here is the wicked cool poker room:



And the wicked cool Race Book:



Not to mention the uber-famous performer who will also be there that night.

Maybe my name will be on one of those mega-big jumbo-trons! Fingers crossed.

So, here are the deets:

Date: December 5th and 6th, 2009
Location: Foxwoods Resort and Casino
City: Mashantucket, CT

Gonna be around? I'd love to see some familiar faces!

Today was a good day, but what day at NCTE isn’t?  Since we just finished our last session and have dinner plans in a few minutes, you’re getting a list of swirling thoughts.  Expect more blog posts about NCTE  in the future. Choice matters.  Today I’ve been inspired to stand up and defend student choice in [...]

Here’s the schedule for this, the last day of the Winter Blog Blast Tour. I’m late gettin’ to it, but better late than never:

• Pam Bachorz at MotherReader
• Alan DeNiro at Shaken & Stirred
• Joan Holub at Bildungsroman
• Sheba Karim at Finding Wonderland
• R. L. LaFevers at HipWriterMama
• Lisa Schroeder at Writing and Ruminating

I like peeking into other people's work spaces, so I thought, in the spirit of getting up and stretching, I'd take photos of my office bookshelves*:

















*Notes:

1. The TV is ONLY there for breaking news, announcements of school closings, and very important baseball games.

2. Binoculars for trying to see what the dog is barking at outside.

3. Wall shelf is for favorite picture books. I really like that shelf.








What do YOUR bookshelves look like?

Winter online course registration now open YALSA opened registration this week for its winter session of online courses. Get teens engaged with reading after taking Booktalks Quick & Simple with Nancy Keane and rev up  your special events with Power Programming for Teens with Amy Alessio.  Classes last four weeks. Pricing starts at $135 for YALSA members (10% discount for groups of 10 or more). Learn more at YALSA’s Online Courses page or by contacting Eve Gaus at egaus@ala.org.

YALSA Events at Midwinter Join us for our two ticketed pre-Midwinter events, Libraries 3.0: Teen Edition and Games, Gadgets and Gurus.  Details and how to register for them after the jump (you can read about everything we have planned for Midwinter Meeting at the YALSA Midwinter Wiki).

Libraries 3.0: Teen Edition: Join YALSA from 9-4:30 p.m on Jan. 15 to learn how you can take advantage of free online tools and social networking options to enhance and expand the services for teens, discover strategies to gain funding for technology initiatives and buy-in from administrators, and hear speakers like Stacy Aldrich (futurist & acting California State Librarian), Cory Doctorow (BoingBoing.net, Little Brother), Laura Pearle, Wendy Stephens, and Buffy Hamilton. Lunch included! Libraries 3.0 costs $195 for YALSA members, $235 for ALA members, and $285 for nonmembers. Full details on this event, and all of YALSA’s plans for Midwinter, are available online at http://bit.ly/yalsamw2010.

Games, Gadgets & Gurus: Join us from 8-10 p.m. on Jan. 15! Spend a fun evening networking with colleagues and learning new skills to take back to your library! Come play games – both board and video; demo gadgets like e-readers, mobile phones, digital audio recorders, video cameras and the latest software; and take advantage of the opportunity chat one-on-one with a tech guru. Other participants include Galaxy Press, PBS’ Digital Nation, and Tutor.com. Mingle with colleagues! Enjoy some refreshments! Play with neat tech toys! And go home with great swag! Tickets cost $40; full details online at http://bit.ly/yalsamw2010.

Sign up for both and save! Tickets for both cost $215 for YALSA members, students and retirees; $255 for ALA members; $300 for nonmembers. Register through Midwinter registration or, if you only want to attend these two events, by downloading this form (PDF; skip section I) and following the directions at the YALSA wiki. Want to add these events to an existing registration? You can add events two ways: (1) By phone: Call ALA Registration at 1-800-974-3084 and ask to add a workshop to your existing registration.; (2) Online: Add an event to your existing registration by clicking on this link. Use your log in and password to access your existing Midwinter registration and add events in the “Your Events” section (screen 6). Then simply check out and pay for the events you’ve added.

Apply for $40K in awards & grants from YALSA YALSA members can apply for more than $40,000 in grants and awards! This year, we will award up the YALSA/Baker & Taylor Conference Grants, theYALSA/BWI Collection Development Grants, the YALSA/Greenwood Publishing Group Service to Young Adults Award, the MAE Award for Best Literature Program for Teens, the Frances Henne/YALSA/VOYA Research Grant, and the Great Books Giveaway. Applications for all YALSA member awards are due by Dec. 1. Details on all the awards and grants are available online at www.ala.org/yalsa/awards&grants.

Connect with YALSA members for First Wednesdays YALSA’s new networking initiative launches Dec. 2! Use YALSA’s informal monthly online chats as a centerpiece for face-to-face networking in your area. Find out how to get involved on YALSA’s First Wednesdays page.

YALSA’s Lit Blog Manager Search extended Interested in editing YALSA’s new blog, focused exclusively on teen literature? We’re extending the application period until Nov. 30! Find out what we’re looking for and how to apply here.

Apply for a YA Lit Symposium travel stipend Join YALSA in 2010 for the Young Adult Literature Symposium, Nov. 5-7, 2010, in Albuquerque, N.M, with a theme  of “Beyond Good Intentions: Teens, Literature and Diversity.” We’re also giving away two stipends to offset travel costs, one for someone whose worked directly with teens in a library setting for ten years or less and one for a student in an ALA-accredited MLS program (you must be enrolled in an MLS program at the start of the symposium); stipend applications are due by Jan. 4, 2010. Details on both are available at www.ala.org/yalitsymposium.

Teen Tech Week registration open Register now for Teen Tech Week 2010! This year’s theme is Learn Create Share @ your library. Registration gives you access to this year’s theme logo. Teen Tech Week will be March 7-13. Visit the Teen Tech Week website for activity ideas, planning and publicity resources, and more!

That’s it for this week’s update! To stay up to date on the latest from the YALSA Office, sign up to follow YALSA on Twitter or become a fan of YALSA on Facebook!

Riddell, Chris. Ottoline Goes to School. Harper, c2008.

Poor Mr. Munroe. His status in Ottoline's life is rather unique - and rather unclear to outsiders. In fact, most folks can't quite tell what manner of creature he is, and so when he accompanies Ottoline to boarding school (the Alice B. Smith School for the Differently Gifted), he is labeled a dog and sent to stay in the east wing with the other assorted pets and companions (all of whom are at least as eccentric as Mr. Munroe).

This isn't Mr. Munroe's only dilemma. He is also suffering pangs of jealousy and sadness brought about by Ottoline's new friendship with Cecily Forbes-Lawrence III, a girl with rich but often absent parents (not unlike Ottoline herself, but they react to their similar situations rather differently). It is Cecily's attendance at the Alice B. Smith School that prompts Ottoline to enroll as well - and it's a good thing Mr. Munroe goes along, because he helps solve the mystery of a marauding ghost at the school.

I do love Mr. Munroe. He's not supposed to be the star of this book (it's not called Mr. Munroe Goes to School, after all), but his appearance is so odd (he's pretty much all long hair and feet, with a couple of large eyeballs peering through the mop that Ottoline loves to brush for him), his origins so mysterious ("Norway"), and his personality such a lovely blend of moroseness, optimism, and loyalty that he altogether steals the show as far as I'm concerned. Oh, Ottoline is a trooper, with her penchant for wearing different shoes on the same feet and absolutely making the best of her strange life living alone (well, except for Mr. Munroe and a bunch of helpers) in an apartment while her parents travel the world collecting stuff. But that Mr. Munroe...

Light on text and and liberally sprinkled with Riddell's intricate and piquant drawings, this airy, funny book will work well with readers ready for their first chapter books and as a one-on-one read-aloud. And here's a secret - my 15-year-old daughter is simply mad about the Ottoline books, so I know this one spans a great many grade levels. Cheerful, weird, and sweet. Recommended for ages 7 to, er, 15.

Here's a video of Chris Riddell drawing Mr. Munroe...