Last weekend, I attended my first SCBWI national conference with my talented author-illustrator pal,
Mary Jane Begin.It was a whirlwind of fun, inspiration, fabulous meals and networking—and it's taken me three days to gather myself to post about it. I've been looking at photos, reading over notes, filing through the many business cards I picked up along the way, and letting it all sink in.
Although I'm not exactly a newbie to publishing—and Mary Jane is a veteran with many books and awards to her name—neither of us had been to the New York conference before, for a variety of reasons, including deadlines, kids, writing and teaching.
So, we were excited. I couldn't wait to be in New York to meet some of the children's book folks I'd been chatting with for
The Little Crooked Cottage and on
Twitter, and to spend an entire weekend focused on all things kidlit.
I knew that I had the perfect partner for the trip in Mary Jane. She's whip-smart, game for anything, never gets rattled and loves to laugh. She also has a more esoteric quality I like to call
flow. She's a magnet for positive people and serendipitous moments. And she loves dark chocolate. That's my kind of travel-buddy.
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Skipping through Grand Central |
When we arrived at Grand Central, we spotted a few familiar faces right away and immediately felt the energy of the conference. There's something visceral about being with your creative tribe, and I felt it the moment we walked into the hotel lobby.
Of course, our
first priority upon arrival was food. We went in search of a sushi restaurant about twenty blocks from the hotel. Friday afternoon was chilly and drizzly, but that didn't dampen our spirits or our desire to walk the city, so we set out on foot. A few paces before our destination, we spotted a charming little restaurant on the corner, and remarked on how cozy it looked.
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Tiny trattoria tucked in beneath the Queensboro Bridge |
This was fortunate, because the sushi spot we'd chosen didn't open for another two hours.
Whoopsie! That's the thing about New York—when one restaurant door closes, another adorable one with tall windows and little twinkling lights opens. We sat and enjoyed a delicious meal, and raised a glass to the great weekend ahead.
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Happy MJ with vino. Saluté! |
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Dining under the twinkly lights |
Jane and I were not faculty or part of the illustration portfolios, so we weren't able to attend the Friday evening VIP cocktail party; however, after entertaining brief giggle-worthy notions about various ways to crash the festivities, we settled on the lounge upstairs, which had a stunning floor-to-ceiling view of 42nd street towards Park Avenue.
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View of 42nd and Park |
Fortunately, not long later, some VIP's came to us; including, to my delight, my editor at Harper Children's, Nancy Inteli. Nancy recently acquired my new picture book,
Monster Trucks! (Summer, 2016). It was lovely to be able to meet Nancy person and give her a thank you hug!
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Nancy Inteli, Editorial Director, Harper Collins Children's Books |
After a fun night and another great meal at
The Smith Midtown...
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Two words: creamed kale. Heaven. |
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You can't tell in this pic, but we're doing the happy food dance. |
...and a brief stop
here... we called it a night.
Saturday morning, we were up and at 'em early (miraculously).
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Badges, notebooks, coffee: check! (Ok, we look a little sleepy. ) |
All the presentations for the weekend followed the theme of
Seven Essentials. Jack Gantos (Newbery award-winner for
Dead End In Norvelt) was up first with a keynote titled, "How everything I learned about fiction and nonfiction in picture books, poetry, short stories, novellas, or, angst, dialog, a hundred drafts, and good luck all end up in the crown jewel of literature: THE NOVEL."
That title speaks to Jack's electric personality. He's all spitfire and energy and humor and talent. He spoke about finding habits that work for you, content and structure, focused rewrites, connecting the dots with theme, and adding emotional depth to your stories.
Beyond his very helpful pointers, I think what came through was his passion and commitment to telling stories in all forms, as well as a joy an irreverence one can't help but love.
It was a fabulous kick-off to the keynotes.
After a morning of enlightening discussions, including a fascinating panel on
The Future of Authorship, and breakout sessions in the afternoon, Mary Jane and I decided to seek a little inspiration outside the conference halls and head over to the NYPL to see
Leonard Marcus's exhibit at the New York Public Library:
The ABC of it: Why Children's Books Matter.
The weather had turned springlike in Manhattan and as much as we were enjoying the talks, we needed some air—and some
art. Library Way, which cuts directly to the front entrance of the NYPL, is paved with quotes from literature. I snapped a few shots of my favorites.
The exhibit itself was similarly paved in riches. Expertly curated and gloriously designed, it was the perfect end-note on a roundly inspiring day.
We arrived back to the hotel feeling glad we hadn't missed the opportunity to see the exhibit, but barely able to catch our breath before the cocktail party—which was a blur of fun connections, old friends and new faces.
It was great to meet
Ame Dyckman (Ezra Jack Keats Award-winning author of
Tea Party Rules) and
Drew Daywalt (New York Times bestselling author of
The Day The Crayons Quit) in person, after becoming friends in the Twitterverse, and featuring them both on
The Little Crooked Cottage. |
Ame Dyckman, Drew Daywalt and moi. |
Another unexpected treat was bumping into talented YA author,
KM Walton. I met Kate years ago, before her first novel published, at the home of good friends. Since then, Kate has published two novels:
Cracked (2012) and
Empty (2013), with another title,
The Lies We Tell, forthcoming
in 2015. It was lovely to be able to reconnect after cheering Kate's successes from afar. Keep an eye on KM Walton. She's one to watch.
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Striking a pose with KM Walton |
But my favorite moment of all came on Sunday.
Kate Messner delivered the best, I mean it,
the best speech I have ever heard at an SCBWI event. Her keynote on
The Spectacular Power of Failure was inspiring, moving and full of hope.
Who among us hasn't faced the fear of failure in our work? Kate encouraged us to take a moment to celebrate each of our successes, large and small, instead of automatically moving the bar before we've had the chance to appreciate our accomplishments.
She turned the entire notion of failure on its ear by putting it in perspective. "You can't have brave without scared," she said quoting
Linda Urban's novel
Hound Dog True. We learn from failing, and reevaluating and trying again."
She encouraged us all to "live our creative lives bravely," and to do the same by our characters. "Let them be flawed, let them fail, and let them survive."
Kate ended the speech by reading a poem.
What Happened to Your Book Todayby Kate Messner (Copyright 2011) Somewhere, a child laughedon that page where you made a joke.Somewhere, she wiped away a tear,Just when you thought she might. Somewhere, your book was passedfrom one hand to another in a hallwaybusy with clanging lockers,with whispered words,“You have got to read this.”And a scribbled note:O.M.G. SO good.Give it back when ur done. It’s looking a little more love-worn lately,rougher around the edges than it did on release day.There are dog eared pages and Gatorade stains.Someone smeared maple syrup on the coverbecause she read all through breakfast.Pages 125 and 126 are stuck fast with peanut butterBecause Chapter 10 was even more deliciousthan lunch. Somewhere, tiny hands held up your bookAnd a little voice begged, “Again!”Somewhere, the answer came,A grown-up sigh…and a smile…And the fourteenth read-aloud of the morning.That same book. Again.Your book. Somewhere, a kid who has never read a whole book on his own(Really. Not even one.)picked up yours and turned a page.And then another.And then one more.And it was pretty cool, turns out.He brought it back – huge smile on his face –(and I mean huge)And asked for another one.And he read that, too. Somewhere, a teenager who thought she was aloneOpened your pages and discovered she’s not.And somewhere, somebody who thought about giving upwill keep on trying,
keep on hoping.Because of that book you wrote. Somewhere tonight – listen closely and you’ll hear–A child will turn the last page of that book,That book you wrote,and sigh.Can you hear it?It’s the sound of a story being held closeRight before a young voice says,“It feels like this was written just for me.” And it was.I don't have a photo to share of this moment because a.) I was blubbering and wiping my nose, and b.) I was on my feet, clapping and joining in the standing ovation that Kate received for her uplifting, heartfelt and encouraging words.
I looked to my left, at my friend Jane who was teary-eyed and clapping, too, and I knew we were both thinking the same thing.
This is why we do what we do. Kate summed it up beautifully.
Even without all the rest—which was magical—that one reminder was worth the trip.
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Group photo with the 2012 LAL State Winners! |
Last night, I had the pleasure to present award certificates and deliver the keynote speech at the Rhode Island Center for the Book's 2012
Letters About Literature Awards.
Letters About Literature is a national reading and writing program of the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, presented in partnership with Target and supported locally by RICB.
60,000 young readers from across the country participated, including nearly 800 Rhode Islanders. Students were asked to submit letters describing how an author's work -- novel, non-fiction, poetry -- changed their view of the world or helped them realize something they didn't know about themselves.
With a focus on reader response and reflective writing, one winner and several honorable mentions were chosen in three competition levels, ranging from grades 4 through 12.
I had the chance to read the winning letters beforehand, and heard them read-aloud by the winners at the event. All of the letters had a powerful narrative voice and displayed a talent and wisdom beyond the young writers' years.
It was honor to present the students with their awards, and an inspiration to hear their words. All in all, it was evening I won't soon forget.
Click here to learn more about
Letters About Literature and
Rhode Island Center for the Book.Below is a transcript the address I gave to the students, their families, and members of RICB.
Keynote Addressby Anika DeniseRhode Island Center for the Book Annual Meeting and Letters About Literature AwardsWilliams Hall Library, Cranston, Rhode IslandJune 4, 2012Good evening, everyone. First, I want to say thank you to the Rhode Island Center for the Book for inviting me here to speak to you tonight. It’s an honor and a privilege. Not to mention, great fun to be spend an evening celebrating reading, writing, and the books that inspire us! So thank you, for including me in the festivities. There's even balloons... it's a party!
Second, I’d like to CONGRATULATE all the winners, honorable mentions in the Letters About Literature Competition.
It takes courage to submit your words, to participate… to put something of yourself out there into the world to be judged. Writers must do this all the time. And it’s never easy.
But, you did. You wrote something compelling and meaningful, and tonight, you’re being recognized and celebrate
After a lovely vacation week visiting my family in the southeast, this is the official start of what I'm calling my "full-time-part-time" writing career.
I'll admit, day one (yesterday) consisted of not so much writing, but more desk-clearing and laundry. Still, it was a good first step.
This morning, as the cursor on my screen blinked in anticipation, I felt the first real wave of panic hit me since making this decision. All the usual fears invaded my brain: What if I get a massive case of writer's block? What if writing during nap-time and evenings isn't enough? What is no one pays to me to write a single word EVER AGAIN!?
Typically, when in the throes of a good "career freak out," I head out for a walk. I'm not great at meditating in stillness, but a brisk walk often helps me quiet my mind. This morning I had two problems: First, the baby was napping, hence me, "butt-in-chair" in front of my computer. Second, it's pouring rain and chilly here in Barrington today, and I needed to be distracted -- not drenched.
So, feeling a tad desperate, I decided on another type of movement meditation: My kids' Just Dance game for X-Box 360.
I know very few people over the age of 17 who look cool doing Just Dance or any of those Wii or X-Box dance games, and I assure you, I am no exception. But this was an emergency.
So, I pulled the drapes, cranked up the volume, and just... danced. Until all I was thinking about was how to a master a move that no one looks good doing who isn't in a boy band.
I let go. And laughed at myself. And when the music stopped, and I realized I'd bested my high score in "Shake Your Groove Thing," I felt better.
My lesson for the day? Sometimes butt-in-chair isn't going to happen, until you shake off the fears (even if it's only temporary) that are holding you back.
And if a quarter turn and a hip slap is what works... then do it. Just dance.
I've been thinking a great deal about world building. It's an odd phrase, really. Sounds more like a subject for the Geneva Convention than the concern of novelists. But if you write fantasy, world building is key.
Currently, I'm at work on a middle grade novel featuring mice as the main characters. And although I don't have the daunting task of creating an entire universe with its own class, culture, government, technology, botany and imagined creatures that many high fantasy middle grade and YA authors do, it's still vitally important that the world in which my mice exist be plausible and interesting.
There are a number of questions I must answer in order to avoid causing the reader stop and ask them, too.
First, is the issue of scale. How do the mice interact with larger animals in the story in a believable way? Will my characters and plot follow the natural order of our world, or will it break those rules with a purpose?
What about clothing? How do I integrate clothes into the story so that it seems perfectly natural that a mouse would don a trench coat and fedora?
And the most important question of all: Is this an alternate universe where mice rule the day, or are they an adjunct, hidden part of a larger human world?
Believe it or not, when I first began writing this novel, I hadn't decided the answer to that question. It's only now, in the editing and rewriting stage, that I'm fully addressing (and sometimes grappling with) that issue.
And whenever I'm grappling with some aspect of craft, I find it helps me to look to the masters for inspiration.
Here are a few authors who build "critter worlds" like nobody's business.
EB White, Stuart Little
Mary Norton, The Borrowers
Robert C. O'Brien, Mrs. Frisby and The Rats of NIMH
Richard Adams, Watership Down
Kenneth Grahame, The Wind In The Willows
2 Comments on "Please call back later, I have a world to build.", last added: 4/10/2012
The Q&A portion of a school visit is always an enlightening, entertaining experience.
Time and time again, I find myself impressed and delighted by the intelligent, incisive questions even very young children ask. Questions about process, inspiration and creativity that reaffirm what I already know: Kids are infinitely clever, and we as authors and educators should never underestimate them.
Which is why I was not surprised when at a recent school visit, a little boy raised his hand and asked: "How much do you get paid for a book?"
I was not surprised, but not exactly prepared, either. First, I made an attempt at humor.
"A million dollars," I said, with my pinky to my chin, doing my best "Dr Evil" impression.
[Crickets]
These kids are in first grade. They're too young for Mike Meyers.
Then I gave the standard and probably all-too-confusing answer about how a publisher pays the author some money in advance of the book coming out, which is based on a guess of how many books the publisher thinks will sell. Then, if a book sells more than what they guess, the author gets paid a small amount on each book sold after that.
[Huh?]
I tried to move on, but the little boy was undeterred. And on to me.
"But how much do you make for a book you write?" he asked.
"It varies, depending on the length of the book."
This is true. Sort of.
Then it hit me. He didn't really want a dollar amount. (Well, probably he did.) But what his infinitely clever little mind was actually trying to work out was: Can I do this as my job?
To which my answer was, "I can tell you this, Chris and I make our living creating books for kids, and it's the best job on earth."
The little boy smiled, and I did too. Because it's true.
This past weekend, I had the pleasure to attend
Whispering Pines Writers' Retreat.As a retreat "newbie" I was nervous, but excited, to be spending two-and-a-half days away from the responsibilities of home, kids, work, press releases, etc., to focus on my works-in-progress, meet other writers, listen, learn and be inspired.
Happy to have friend and fellow Barrington-based children's author,
Jamie Michalak, as my retreat-buddy, we set off like Thelma & Louise (minus the convertible and armed-robbery), with our bags packed and the sun dipping in the late afternoon sky.
A short while later, we turned onto the long, winding road of Whispering Pines. Cozy cottages nestled beside a picturesque pond greeted us, and both Jamie and I commented that it was hard to believe we were still in Rhode Island. We'd traveled only 30 minutes, but already felt a world away from our daily routines.
As the the rest of the weekend unfolded, we discovered that a beautiful setting is just one of
many things that makes the Whispering Pines Writers' Retreat so special.
Charlesbridge Editorial Director Yolanda Scott shared with us her thoughts on winning picture books in her presentation on
Character, Plot and Voice.Jo Knowles, author of LESSONS FROM A DEAD GIRL, JUMPING OFF SWINGS, PEARL and the forthcoming SEE YOU AT HARRY'S discussed elements of a great beginning in her
First Pages workshop.
Delacorte's VP Executive Editor Michelle Poploff recounted the road to publication for several of her most successful debut novelists, including Clare Vanderpool, author of the Newbery Awarding-winning MOON OVER MANIFEST.
Literary Agent
Andrea Cascardi of TransAtlantic Literary Agency, in encouraging us to keep the faith, delivered perhaps my favorite mantra of the weekend (borrowed from a colleague): "Revise and persist!"
Alexis O'Neill, author of LOUD EMILY, THE RECESS QUEEN and ESTELA'S SWAP, flew in from California to give us all a lively and information-packed presentation on successful school visits.
Award-winning illustrator
Suzanne Bloom dazzled us with daring displays of artistic acumen in her presentation on picture books.
Some of my favorite moments came each night when the mentors and writers gathered around the tall stone fireplace to listen to
First Pages. Electricity filled the air as the anonymous first pages were read aloud, and then critiqued by our mentors.
And of course, there was the FOOD. Anyone who attends Whispering Pines and blogs about it, no doubt dedicates a full paragraph to the food. I will sum it up this way: Gorgonzola Gnocchi. Enough said.
I could go on. There was so much more. From Jo Knowles' insightful and generous critique of my middle-grade manuscript, to the infectious enthusiasm of Conference Director
Lynda Mullally Hunt
Fantastic!!! And those kids make you look tall!
Ha! I'm in the front row, with the 4th and 5th graders... that's why I look tall! ;)
Oh dear one, this was beautiful. Thanks so much for sharing it.