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That’s what Neil Gaiman writes on Twitter whenever he links to one of his blog posts.  “Warning: Contains Me.”  Well, today’s a nice me-centric post, but let’s start off by looking at a “them” instead.  Specifically, a “them” of awesome.

• Two years ago authors Jim Averbeck and Maria Van Lieshout had an idea.  Since the words Newbery/Caldecott Banquet are already synonymous with glitter and glam, why not do a Red Carpet Interview series?  The series was a hit, and this year Jim and new partner-in-crime Kristin Clark Venuti have a whole new crop of On the Red Carpet interviews.  Now you have 18 days to vote for your favorite interview.  They may not all be up quite yet, so be patient, but when they are you’ll have twenty-two fine and fancy names to choose from.  This year, my primary job was to grab folks as they walked past so as to MAKE THEM talk to Jim and Kristin.  I did okay.  But I was hindered by an injured extremity.  In this video, Jim sets my tale of woe against a rather convincing game of Frogger.

Beats Pac-Man.  Or Centipede, for that matter.  Go to this site to see more videos.

• Speaking of ALA, Laura Rogers, the cute as a button girl who read all the Newbery winners, recently participated in a Mock Newbery Committee meeting at the Hussey Mayfield Memorial Public Library that sported a record turnout.  Check out the kids.  Woah.  Good readers!  Thanks to Kelli Brooks for the link!

• Who says there are no second chances on Broadway?  Or, in the case of Mr. Frank Wildhorn, third, fourth, and fifth chances.  From the man who brought you Jekyll & Hyde (which I admit to liking in college) and Dracula: The Musical (not so much) comes Wonderland: A New Alice. A New Musical Adventure.  I’m not hep enough to my Broadway history to know how many Alice musicals have trod the Great White Way before, but I suspect that this is not the first.  Interesting.  Thanks to @PWKidsBookshelf for the link.

• I’m about all things bird, and now Peter Sieruta has put up a post that includes an interlude on how Laura Amy Schlitz’s The Night Fairy inspired him to hang a hummingbird feeder outside his home.  Check out the video feed he got of a little surreal bee-like bird taking a sip or two.

• This is a little off-topic, but my buddy Davin just made thi
  6 Comments on Fusenews: Warning – Contains Me, last added: 8/10/2010
  Display Comments
  tanita said, on 8/10/2010 2:35:00 AM
  

  …I still cannot believe that I didn’t even see you at the New/Cal dinner. And I was SITTING WITH JIM AVERBECK. ::SIGH::

  KHazelrigg said, on 8/10/2010 5:14:00 AM
  

  That Frogger song at the end of your ALA video is rockin’!

  working illustrator said, on 8/10/2010 5:57:00 AM
  

  I’m voting for Westerfield #1 (mostly on account of its not looking like a movie poster (very backwards of me, I know, but I hate – have always hated, always will hate – photography on fiction covers, even when heavily Photoshopped). And I wouldn’t get your hopes up about “Wonderland” on Broadway… my inside-scoop theater people are mostly thumbs-down.

  Chris in NY said, on 8/10/2010 6:12:00 AM
  

  Loved the Tammy Pierce link. She is one of the daughters favorite authors. And I can testify that Pierce is a total hoot as a speaker- get her in a room with Bruce Coville and it is non-stop laughs.

  Jim said, on 8/10/2010 8:37:00 AM
  

  Thanks Betsy. You did a fine job of author herding this year. We have interviews with Holly Black, Ellen Hopkins, Grace Lin, Jon Scieszka, Linda Sue Park and many other luminaries of the children’s book world. And we got most of them to play a game of $20,000 Pyramid in honor of the Newbery winner, WHEN YOU REACH ME.
  All the interviews are now up, grouped by subject, and we have a bunch of things for folks to do over at the site.
  Hope your ankle is all healed.—J
  PS- Hi Tanita!

  WendieO said, on 8/10/2010 7:41:00 PM
  

  Love your FuseNews posts — and this is a nice long, juicy one.

  Add a Comment

I received this email yesterday. If any of you know military teens, please encourage them to share their wisdom with other teens.

_________________________________________________________

Military Child Education Coalition’s
CALL FOR TEEN DEPLOYMENT ADVICE

The Military Child Education Coalition is excited to announce its plans to print a publication about teenagers’ experiences during the deployment of a loved one. Tens of thousands of teenagers have watched their loved ones deploy for extended periods of time since September 11, 2001 and yet there are few resources in print focused on the experiences of teenagers during these challenging times. We at the MCEC know that teens are most likely to listen to the wisdom and advice of other teens, and there is no one better qualified to offer advice about deployment than the teens that have experienced it. We would like to gather their insights, ideas and wisdom in a publication that can be shared with other teens and the adults who support them. This publication will be by teens for teens!

Our intention is to gather information (via the attached questionnaire) from the full spectrum of teenagers, who come from all military dependent backgrounds: Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy - Active Duty, National Guard, and Reservists. We urge you to share the attached form with any and all teens you know who have weathered the deployment(s) of parents, siblings and other loved ones. The greater the number of responses we receive from military-connected teenagers, the better this publication will be.

The MCEC wants to give military-connected teenagers a great publication about deployment. Help us make this goal a success!

Please direct any questions regarding the Call for Teen Deployment Advice to Joan Barrett.

WHO: Teenagers who were between the ages of 12-20 when
their loved one deployed (deployments since 9-11-01)

WHAT: Advice and Experience regarding their experiences
during the deployment of a loved one

HOW: Fill out attached questionnaire and return to
Joan Barrett

DEADLINE: MARCH 31, 2008

POC: JOAN BARRETT
Director of Research and Evaluation
(816) 746-7966
[email protected]

Warmly,
The MCEC™ Staff

You can email Joan at the address above for a copy of the questionnaire, or if you'd rather go through me, I downloaded a copy from the original email and can send it to you myself.