On Friday I was lucky enough to escort a group of 6th graders down to Santa Barbara for Author-Go-Round. Sponsored by the Santa Barbara County Office of Education, this annual event gives hundreds of students the chance to meet and learn from four different authors.
This year we heard from Bruce Hale (yay!!), Michelle Markel, Joe Cepeda, and Amy Goldman Koss. The event gets it's strange name because after hearing each of the authors make a presentation to the full assembly, students break into groups based on the color of their name tags. Each author has a booth decorated with a corresponding color. Students start off with the author matching their color. For 12 minutes they can ask questions, discuss books or learn how to draw some of the illustrations. When the circus music plays, everyone moves to the next author booth. It was a fun way to spend time with each author in a smaller group.
The hands-down favorite for my 6th graders was Bruce Hale, and not just because
I kept saying how wonderful he was. He impressed everyone with his funny anecdotes, his hilarious voices when reading Snoring Beauty, and his easy-going cameraderie with the kids. He also encouraged them to write down their stories, telling them, "We're all story people. The world is waiting to hear
your story."
Author/illustrator Joe Cepeda showed examples of where he has painted friends and family into his illustrations. He also taught everyone to draw using simple shapes, telling students to, "Use your artists eye to really look at what you see." He encouraged them all to keep a journal, not just for writing, but for sketching as well. "Use it as a receptacle for your creativity."
Amy Goldman Koss revealed herself as a pantser when someone asked if she likes to outline her stories. "If I already know the ending, the thrill would be gone. It's the best feeling in the world when everything becomes so real."
My husband was jealous that I got to meet Michelle Markel. He often reads one of her books, Dreamer from the Village (about painter Marc Chagall), when he teaches art classes. Since he couldn't be there, she was kind enough to sign our copy of the book to him.
The best part of the day, though, was just hanging out with the kids, and listening to their opinions on the books, the authors, and getting to "ditch" school for a fun event like this.
And now, for those of you eager to see if you've won a copy of Lois Lowry's classic, The Giver, I won't make you wait any longer :)
The winner is...
Tony DiTerlizzi co-authored (with Holly Black) and illustrated the bestselling Spiderwick Chronicles. He also helped produce the movie based on that series. Other works include the picture books The Spider and the Fly and Jimmy Zangwow's Out-of-this-world Moonpie Adventure. His newest release is the book Kenny and the Dragon, which he both wrote and illustrated. You can visit him online at http://www.diterlizzi.com
I had the opportunity to meet Tony last month in California while he was on tour for his latest book, Kenny and the Dragon.
Tony posing for the camera. He's such a hilarious guy. :)
Tony drew a few sketches, illustrating the different types of dragons and how the dragon in his book originated. He then took requests and drew a couple of Spiderwick characters. Afterward, he gave them away and I was lucky enough to come away with the sketch of the "European Dragon."
He also read a passage from Kenny and the Dragon aloud to us. It's the story of a young rabbit named Kenny whose life changes when a dragon is discovered in the hills near his home.
After having such a grand time at his signing, I was so happy to have the chance to interview Tony! I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did.
What was your inspiration for Kenny and the Dragon? How did you get the idea to retell The Reluctant Dragon by Kenneth Grahame?I have always loved the original story written over 100 years ago by Kenneth Grahame. What I soon found was that many people (children and adults alike) either couldn’t remember it, or simply did not know it at all. So I thought, “I will re-illustrate the original text”, which has been done before. (Michael Hague’s version is a favorite).
But my editor and I thought that perhaps the original text, as brilliant as it was, felt a little Victorian and may not grab a 21st century reader. So I began re-imaging it, not to replace the original story mind you, but to get it back on people’s brains again..almost like taking a classic, old Brothers Grimm tale and redoing it.
What do you and Kenny have in common? I'm thinking quite a bit, after hearing you talk about your childhood a little...?I actually struggled a bit in trying to write the hero, Kenny. All the other characters I had a good feel for, but Kenny was tough. I wanted him to be “book smart” but not particular wise on the ways of the world. In the end, I
realized he was an awful lot like me as a kid.
He loves knowledge and seeks like-minded peers, but feels a bit like an outcast to his town. This, I feel, is a fairly universal emotion and I soon realized that, though he was inspired by a younger me, many would be able to relate to him.
Honestly, I struggled a bit with the notion that he was so bookish. I am not a real big fan of reading a book that imparts the value of reading...that seems sort of redundant to me. So here, I illustrated the point that book knowledge can only get you so far in life, experience is just as important. Hopefully I pulled it off.
What was/is your collaborative process with Holly Black for The Spiderwick Chronicles like?Holly and I abandon the usual “author/illustrator” roles when it comes to Spiderwick. Prior to working on these books, I had written picture books for a younger audience, and Hol had written her first teen novel (which I helped her
get published). So the Spiderwick books were a great middle-ground for us to combine our storytelling talents.
Basically, we sit down and discuss the story for each book, as well as the overall plot for the series as a whole. We throw around a bunch of scenarios to allow us to use the old fairy folklore in a new, (hopefully) exciting way. Holly begins writing and I begin sketching, but along the way we share the process so that it feels as if the books are coming from one, unified source.
That’s why there is no “written by” or “illustrated by” credit on the books. We blurred the lines so much that it was hard to determine exact roles.
What's the best thing about collaborating vs. working solo? The hardest thing?I feel that working in the fashion that was used in creating the Spiderwick books allows the collaborators to use all of their tricks, talents and point of view to create the best book possible. And doing so creates a final story that neither Holly nor I would create on our own – it truly is a hybrid.
For me, working solo is still quite a collaborative process involving my editor, Kevin; however my relationship with Kevin is very different than my working relationship with Holly.
Editorial notes generally ask things like “What exactly are you trying to say here? Please clarify” or “How would this character react in this situation?” . In the process with Holly, it is more like “What if Jared did this here?” or “I think Sandspur should have more page-time”. The editor’s notes usually ask question that aim to draw the answers out of the writer. With Holly, I can actually be much more specific with what I’d like to see....and sometimes we use it, sometimes we don’t. Oftentimes, it leads to creative discussion that produces a third, better option that (again) neither of us would have come up with on our own.
You and Holly both helped produce the Spiderwick Chronicles movie. What did that experience entail? How much say did you have in the creative process of adapting the books into a movie, in general?We were prepared for the movie-making process to:
A. not happen at all
OR
B. produce a crummy film
Fortunately, we were participatory in a film adaptation that (I feel) retained the spirit of the books. And that’s all an author can really hope for in this process.
After all, you are taking 5 books that equal a 400+ page novel, and condensing it into a 90-minute, 3-act structure. It is not an easy feat and things are going to change, scenes will be dropped or edited – it simply
is the nature of the beast.
So my attitude towards the film-makers was: I make books, you make films – so do what you do best. We won’t tell you how to do your job, but we’ll be here to make sure that the end result feels like the books and is a fun movie to watch. And I think we accomplished that.
What that meant for Holly and I was that we were primarily consultants on the various scripts and treatments. Also, I was able to meet with Phil Tippett’s team, and the folks at Industrial Light & Magic, to convey my inspirations and general notes on all the sprites, goblins and trolls as they worked on creating them in the computer for all of the effects shots.
Lastly, I worked closely with Jim Bissell, who was the production designer on the movie. He and I had lengthy discussions about how the themes and motifs of the books could be integrated into the sets, costumes and props of the film. And you can really see that in action if you take a closer look. For instance, the notion of fairies being “spirits of nature” is woven all throughout the movie. From the oak-leaf wallpaper in the Spiderwick Estate, to the flowers embroidered on Mallory’s jean jacket, the theme of of man and nature’s relationship is everywhere.
What's on your to-read stack at the moment?From time to time, I like to revisit books that I haven’t read in awhile to see them from an older, perhaps wiser, perspective. So, I just finished Dante’s “Inferno” from “The Divine Comedy”, then read “From the Crazy Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler” (how’s that for diversity in books?). Also, I just read Jon Scieszka’s memoir “Knucklehead”, which was hilarious and reminded me of John Shepherd’s “A Christmas Story” (you know, “You’ll shoot your eye out kid!”).
What are you working on next?Coming up is the grand finale to “Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles”, titled the “Wyrm King”, which will be out next fall. Fall of ‘09 will also be the debut of a silly, nonsensical series of picture books that I created with my wife called “Adventure of Meno” which is visually a departure for me, I don’t even know if people will recognize the artwork as mine...
What's your favorite thing about being a writer? What's your favorite thing about being an illustrator?My favorite thing for both roles is that I get to make a living doing essentially what I did as a kid. Coming up with imaginative
, far out tales and drawing pictures for them. Seriously, I have been making up stories and creating little books since I was in grade school. I love a good story: whether someone tells it to me, or read it in a book, watch it on a movie or even play it in a cool video game.
So the fact that I get to be a part of this story-telling universe is truly a dream-come-true for me, and I hope I can continue doing it for as long as I’d like.
...also I get to make my own hours, which means I can sleep in if I want...and don’t have to sit in traffic to get to the office (since my studio is downstairs)...life is good.
Thank you ever so much, Tony!
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Ellen Dalow at Chasing RayMelissa Walker at Hip Writer MamaLuisa Plaja at BildungsromanDM Cornish at Finding WonderlandLJ Smith at The YA YA YAsKathleen Duey at Bookshelves of Doom
Meeting Shannon Hale and Libba Bray was only the beginning of my Seattle fun! I also was so blessed to be able to celebrate my 17th birthday while there. I hosted a little party, and in attendence were: Three readergirlz divas (Janet Lee Carey, Dia Calhoun, Lorie Ann Grover), Holly Cupala, Jackie, Ellen and Emily (Lorie Ann's daughters) my aunt, my grandma and my mom.
The party was a blast! There were lots of fun games (you can read about one game over at Holly's blog)....
And lots of laughing....
One readergirlz diva, Justina Chen Headley, was out of town, and therefore unable to attend. However, Lorie Ann dialed her up on her cell and I was able to talk to her! That was very cool and happymaking.
Janet is bold and funny....
Lorie Ann is just wonderful....
Dia is so sweet....
I also performed a couple of Wicked (the musical) songs for them, including "For Good". Which made everyone (including myself...didn't know if I could make it through, for a sec) choked up, but in a good way.
It was a very special day, and I'm so thankful to have been able to finally meet these amazing mentors and friends!
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Sounds like something wonderful. Really cool you could participate. AND congrats to Kirsten.
What an amazing event for kids (and adults!)! Very nice of the authors to take the time to talk about their books and writing with the future writers of the world.
Good for you, that's awesome!
Sounds like such a fun day. Clearly, I live in a rural area! :)
So happy that the kids got to be around authors, illustrators and books. It's something they will probably remember for a long time.
What a great idea. And I love love love Bruce Hale. :D
What a great way to "ditch" school. That kind of interaction between authors/illustrators and kids is priceless. I love the idea of the small question and answer sessions.
I remember Bruce Hale from the SCBWI LA conferences...always in a cool hat, always with that warm smile and ready laugh. Very cool guy.
Oh yay! Thanks, Sherrie. I'll email you shortly.
Also, LOVE this: "We're all story people."
Aren't we? AREN'T WE?
What a cool field trip! I absolutely would have LOVED something like this. Glad you AND the kids had fun!
My little guy and are are currently reading a Chet Gecko mystery, The Hamster of the Baskervilles. Really fun!
I'm starting to wonder if that hat is permanently attached to Bruce's head. ;)
It sounds like a wonderful event! I'm sure the students left inspired and motivated. In fact, I'm a little jealous. :-)
Wow, what an awesome event! If my kids went to school there, I'd have been like, "Pick me to be the parent volunteer! Please!" I'd have totally wanted to hear the authors, but I'd have also really wanted to see that interaction. Kids are incredible and capable of anything. It's great that all of you are feeding their potential.
Congrats to Kristan! I LOVE that book!
I love Bruce Hale. I got to attend a weekend retreat where Bruce was on faculty. He's so down to earth and funny!
This looks like such a great event. I'm so glad you got to be there! :0)
Sounds like a great day. And congrats to the winner! I guess I'll have to add the book to my list to buy.
So fabulous! LOVE!!!
CONGRATS to the winner!
What a great class trip for your 6th grade students!