By: Mo Willems,
on 5/15/2013
After a month of travel, May's schedule is a bit lighter. As I announced recently, I will be taking a year off abroad starting this summer. Consequently, these appearances will be my last ones in these locations for at least a year. If you're in the area, please drop by to say hello, and remember to check with the venue regarding signing policies, etc... MAY 25 - 26 PITTSBURGH, PA It's
By: Jean Reidy,
on 5/9/2013
Here's yet another way I've used Skype to connect to classrooms - chatting with 1st graders and their 6th grade buddies who've read my books together.
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By: Tony DiTerlizzi,
on 4/30/2013
Just as we launched The Spiderwick Chronicles a decade ago, Holly Black and I are returning to a locally-owned independent bookshop to celebrate the Grace kid’s birthday.
For one night only (May 15th) we will both be signing at Barrington Books, in Rhode Island. Bring your young readers, your camera and your books! (Yes, I really will be handing out FREE Wondla II sketchbooks.)
And, for you art students of Rhode Island School of Art & Design, we shall be visiting in the afternoon and holding a special presentation on creative process and answering any/all questions. I hope we see you there!
By: PJ Hoover,
on 4/23/2013
It's that awesome time of year when I head to the Texas Library Association annual conference. This year the conference is in Fort Worth, Texas (which sadly means I won't be able to stop in Italy, Texas) and is sure to be a blast.
If you're heading there, please come by and say 'Hi!'
Here is where I will be:
By: Mo Willems,
on 3/25/2013
April will be a very busy month for me. I will be traveling, work-shopping Elephant and Piggie's We Are in a Play!, celebrating the Pigeon's 10th Birthday (and my 10th year in publishing), and touring a brand new book with appearances, talks, and even a fancy black-tie gathering. Here is my public appearances schedule (please make sure to check with the venues regarding entrance and signing
By: Mo Willems,
on 3/7/2013
Very much looking forward to this month's appearance schedule, because for the first time in 5 years I'll be back in the United Kingdom to chat with fans and read my books a kids. I'll be spending some of my time during this trip catching up with old pals, so my public slate is limited. Please do come on by if you're in the area; I'd love to see you. LONDON, ENGLAND SATURDAY, MARCH 16
By: Jean Reidy,
on 3/4/2013
By: Jean Reidy,
on 2/27/2013
In addition to my Skype and school visits, I'll be reading, signing and celebrating all my books - including my latest book ALL THROUGH MY TOWN at:
By: Jean Reidy,
on 2/1/2013
By: Mo Willems,
on 1/17/2013
As we get set to celebrate the 10th anniversary of DON'T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS! I've got some fun appearances coming up in the beginning of February. Please join me if you can. Here is the schedule as it stands (remember to check with the venues regarding signing policies, etc): NEW YORK CITY Sat. Feb 2 at 11am, MoMA Store, Soho, 81 Spring Street, New York, NY So, Mo at SoHo
This coming Saturday, I’ll be making my very first author appearance. How fun is that? And I hope you’ll be able to join the fun and attend YAKFEST ’13, where I’ll be moderating a YA panel. And wow, is it going to be a good one. I’m already a little starstruck just thinking about it!
I’ll get to ask YA authors Rosemary Clement Moore, Cory Oakes, Victoria Scott, Mary Lindsey and Jeff Hirsch to spill all their secrets, and my friend and fellow debut author, Julie Murphy, will also be moderating a fantastic panel with another all-star lineup–Jessica Anderson, Charles Benoit, Chris Crutcher, Simone Elkeles, Guadalupe Garica McCall, Jessica Warman, Lori Aurelia Williams and Shannon Greenland will appear on a comtemp YA panel.
I would love to see you there. Of course, I cannot promise I won’t hug you if you do. Did I mention I’m a hugger? Or…I also specialize in the awkward stare. And I’m pretty good at dropping things while talking. You know…whatever you prefer. We can work that out later.
For now, here are the important deets about YAK FEST:
WHEN: Saturday, January 19, 9am – 5pm
. Come when you can and stay for as long as you like, of course we want you there all day!
COST: TOTALLY FREE.
WHERE: Keller High School, 601 N. Pate Orr Rd. Keller, TX 76248
SOCIAL MEDIA:
https://twitter.com/YAK_Fest
https://www.facebook.com/YAKbookfest
http://teacherweb.com/TX/KellerHighSchool/YAKFest/apt1.aspx
KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Simone Elkeles, BAM. That’s what we’re talking about.
Panels of AWESOME Breakdown:
Keeping It Real – Jessica Anderson, Charles Benoit, Chris Crutcher (afternoon only), Simone Elkeles, Guadalupe Garica McCall, Jessica Warman, Lori Aurelia Williams and Shannon Greenland
This is Not Normal – Rosemary Clement Moore, Cory Oakes, Victoria Scott, Mary Lindsey and Jeff Hirsch
This is Not Normal Either – Krissi Dallas, Tracy Deebs, Greg Leitich Smith and Andrea White
Vampire Smack Down – Cynthia Leitich Smith, Rachel Caine and Jason Henderson
There will be books available for purchase from The Book Carriage, and they will be selling books all day. The Book Carriage will accept cash and credit cards. You may bring some books from home for authors to sign. Food and drinks will be available for purchase at lunch. Of course you can talk and have your picture taken with your favorite author(s) during the signing. The YAKFEST Yak insists upon it.
Will I see you there? 
By: Mo Willems,
on 12/16/2012
San Francisco Sketchfest is a huge event that for over a decade has featured truely great comics doing all sorts of improv, interviews, sketch, stand-up, screenings, and now storytime. Yup. Joining the SF Sketchfest lineup this year will be a show entitled Don’t Let The Comedians Do Story Time! that will feature some of your favorite comics turning my books into sketches. It should be a
By: Jean Reidy,
on 10/17/2012
Here's a great way to connect children's authors and readers, and it's a WIN-WIN-WIN for schools, authors and school book fairs everywhere!
By: Jean Reidy,
on 10/11/2012
By: Jean Reidy,
on 10/8/2012
Hah! Look at that face! AWKWARD!
But if you click PLAY, you can help me fix that.
Then, get excited, because you'll hear how TOO PURPLEY! is one of the books coming to your Scholastic Book Fair and how I can help you promote your Fair.
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By: Matthew Cody,
on 9/30/2012
SUPER is finally out in stores and to make sure you all buy at least three copies a piece (one to give, one to read, and one to enclose in a hermetically-sealed case for all time) I will be hitting the road this October and November!
October 14th: New York Comic Con - Panel Discussion and signing.
October 18th: Anderson’s Bookshop, Naperville, IL
October 19th: The Book Stall, Winnetka, IL
October 20th: Illinois School Library Media Association 2012 Conference
October 23rd: Harleysville Books, Harleysville, PA
Nov. 4th: McNally Jackson Books w/ Gotham Writers Workshop, New York, NY
Nov. 15th: RJ Julia Booksellers, Madison CT
Keep checking this site because there are more appearances to come!
By: Jean Reidy,
on 9/24/2012
Thanks to my good friend, Jimmy Michael, for snapping these pictures! I wish I could have been there.
By: Jean Reidy,
on 9/12/2012
By: admin,
on 6/21/2012
Today I returned to Sunset Lakes Community Center in Miramar, FL to speak to a group of 50 campers ages 6-12 I visited here last summer under very unusual circumstances. I was all set up to perform on a large stage in front of a huge group of students when the electricity went out. It was quite dark in the auditorium, but we simply decided to open the outside doors, let in a little natural light and get started.It was rather hot in there, but we had a great visit – and the electricity never turned back on that day.
Luckily today, the electricity worked just fine, and the A/C was much appreciated. And I have to say these campers were among the most curious children of all the students I’ve met. A few of the best questions I was asked were:
Q. “What does a 6-year-old child like me need to do now to become an author when I’m an adult?”
A. “Awesome question! Read, read, read all you can and not just popular books. Find unusual stories, books about historical figures and books about how to do things. Practice writing. Start with a pen pal, maybe even a friend who lives close by. Write thank you notes, keep a journal, write poetry. You’ll get better and better with practice.”
Q. “Is is okay if I laugh at your cartoon voice, because I think it’s really hilarious?!”
A. “I sure hope you do laugh because it is supposed to be funny!”
Q. “Why did you choose a millipede for your lead character, Lilly Badilly?”
A. “I love pill millipedes that roll into balls when they feel threatened. There are more than 10,000 species of millipedes on the planet, and they love the rainforests of Costa RIca. They are not harmful to humans. Besides, there are not many stories about traveling millipedes!”
Here are 10 random facts the children learned today:
Thank you Miramar Parks and Recreation for a fabulous week of author visits!
For any of you out there who live in Broward County and are looking for programs for your children, I cannot say enough about how wonderful the programs and staff are in Miramar. Check out the website!
By: Tony DiTerlizzi,
on 7/5/2012
For those attending next week’s Comic Con International in lovely San Diego, California, here is my schedule of events:
BE SURE TO STOP AT SIMON & SCHUSTER (booth 1128) TO RECEIVE A FREE COPY
OF THE A Hero for WondLa LIMITED EDITION SKETCHBOOK!
Thursday, July 12
10:30am-11:30am
Books and Hollywood: Literary Franchises in Television and Film— Authors discuss their work transitioning across various mediums, from screenwriters to novelists turning popular books into hit TV series and Hollywood films. How does the creative process differ when writing a screenplay as compared to a novel? Authors describing the process of adapting novels for the big screen include Rebecca Serle (When You Were Mine), Margaret Stohl (co-author of the Beautiful Creatures series), Scott Speer (Immortal City), Tony DiTerlizzi (The Search for WondLa series), Ashley Edward Miller and Zack Stentz (Colin Fischer), Mike Richardson (president of Dark Horse), and Mark Frost (The Paladin Prophecy). Moderated by Geoff Boucher (Los Angeles Times). Room 24ABC
7:00pm-8:00pm
The Scoop at Simon & Schuster!— Get the inside word on Simon & Schuster’s upcoming books and the chance to win exclusive prizes. Lucille Rettino (director of marketing), Carolyn Swerdloff (marketing manager), Chrissy Noh (senior marketing manager), Liesa Abrams (associate marketing manager), and Anna McKean (publicity manager) give you the scoop on upcoming books from exciting authors, including Cassandra Clare, Tonya Hurley, Tony DiTerlizzi, Orson Scott Card, and Brandon Mull. Hear what is going on with S&S’s hot properties — Star Trek and The Smurfs — and get a chance to win exclusive giveaways. All attendees will receive a limited edition T-shirt for Becca Fitzpatrick’s Hush, Hush. Room 9
*Note: this panel is with Simon & Schuster staff only. Tony will not be attending.
Saturday, July 14
3:00pm-4:00pm
Book signing– Mysterious Galaxy Book Store presents Tony DiTerlizzi. Many of Tony’s titles will be available for purchase or bring your books and cards to be signed. Booth 1119
Sunday, July 15<
By: Tony DiTerlizzi,
on 7/23/2012
Its taken over a week for Angela and I to recover from the madness of San Diego’s Comic Con International, but boy, was it worth it.
I first attended Comic Con in 1997 as a guest of Wizard of the Coast. Along with artists, Rebecca Guay and Terese Nielsen, I signed piles of Magic the Gathering cards and was grateful to meet many a fan. Of course, I also got to be a fan myself, which is something I love about attending conventions of this sort.
These days I primarily attend to promote my kid’s lit. However; I still enjoy catching up with artist-pals who I met back during my gaming days – like Doug Alexander Gregory and Jason Felix (above).
Another old friend I was excited to meet in person (for the first time) was award-winning author, Peter Beagle. Many know Peter’s work through his his beloved tale, The Last Unicorn, which is also a fav of mine. I had the opportunity to illuminate Peter’s prose for his anthology Giant Bones early in my career, and was thrilled to reconnect with him. Perhaps there will be more Beagle/DiTerlizzi book collaborations in the future…hmmm.
Speaking of books, I spoke about translating books to film on a panel hosted by LA Times reporter, Geoff Boucher. Along with many talented authors, we discussed the inevitable changes made when a book is adapted into a screenplay. In the end, all panelists agreed that, despite a film’s success or failure, the book will always remain to express the author’s true vision of their story.
I continued to talk story with fellow kid’s lit authors Brandon Mull and Lisa Yee (as seen above) on a panel focusing on the heroes of middle-grade fiction. This was another fascinating discussion that I wi
By: Mo Willems,
on 8/10/2012
My new picture book, GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE DINOSAURS as retold by Mo Willems, will hit the shelves on September 4th. The following week, I will be hitting the road across the nation to read the story, meet folks, and sign books. If you're in the area, please come by to say 'hello'. Remember to check with the venues about ticketing and signing policies. Some shows do "sell out".
By: Tony DiTerlizzi,
on 8/13/2012
My mind is still awhirl from the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI for short) summer conference held in Los Angeles last weekend.
I joined an amazing faculty (comprised of award-winning authors, illustrators, editors, art directors and agents) to share knowledge and experience to aspiring kid’s lit creators. Over the course of 4 days I attended workshops, sessions, keynotes, reviews, parties and a massive book signing (with all faculty members signing at once). It was marvelous!
Above: with illustrator David Diaz and art director Cecilia Yung.
Don’t know what the SCBWI is? They are a non-profit organization devoted to encouraging and developing the next generation of children’s lit writers and illustrators. Founded in 1971, many of its members have gone onto win the prestigious awards of children’s publishing, like the Newbury and Caldecott. I have known of this organization for years and have steered many would-be illustrators in its direction, but I had not participated in any of their events prior to the gracious invite from Lin Oliver and David Diaz to the LA conference.
Did I mention the keynote presentations? I was asked to speak on day one, following the illustrious Arthur Levine (known by many as the editor of the Harry Potter books). Speaking in front of the 1200+ attendees I focused my speech less on how I create my books, but more on why I create my books – with a focus on the importance of imagination.
Now, I usually like to open with a bit of a laugh to get everybody in the right frame of mind. For this gathering, I spoofed some ideas I had been toying with for kid’s books, like dystopian tales for preschoolers:
…and Twilight for a new generation:
…not to mention evolving Fancy Nancy for the older crowd:
Thankfully, these went over well and I was off and running for my hour-long presentation.
The following day, I spoke to a room full of illustrators about the process of writing from a visual perspective. I broke the elements of writing down into art terms to help convey the steps in crafting a final manuscript. What surprised me was the amount of note-taking that went on while I spoke. I hadn’t really stopped and thought as to how much of my earned knowledge was coveted by these fellow artists. As I chatted with attendees, I was swept back in time to my own trials and tribulations of breaking into children’s publishing. How I would have loved to have the opportunity to listen to Chris Van Allsburg or William Joyce explain their process to me back then.
On Monday, I spoke more about bookmaking to a group of serious illustrators. This was part of the intensive programming that went on throughout the day. I sat in on many of these sessions but had to take frequent breaks as my poor brain was soon overloaded. (I honestly don’t know how the attendees could absorb anything more after three packed days of the conference – but again there was lots of note-taking.)
Above: Three-time Caldecott winner, Bryan Collier, and his editor, Laura Goodwin, discuss his humble beginnings
I emphasized the importance of working for game companies early in my career. The publications that I did for TSR taught me a whole lot about building a world from soup to nuts.
For fun, I brought bits of my past to show the group. I still had one of my submission portfolios, which I used to point out the flaws of my early work. I also brought along a sketch-covered manuscript and the book dummy for Arthur Spiderwick’s Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You. All of these tactile components to my presentation seemed to go over well and I was glad to share them.
To say that the conference was amazing would be a gross understatement. If you are attempting to enter this field, I cannot express how invaluable this experience is. Learning from successful mentors (who had similar aspirations when they were getting started) not only galvanizes your drive but also shows that you are not alone in your dreams.
Above: Trying to appear serious with fellow faculty members, Dan Yaccarino and Dan Santat
*With thanks to fellow illustrators, Debbie Ridpath Ohi and Jill Bergman, for use of their additional photos.
By: Mo Willems,
on 8/31/2012
If you're in NYC on Sept. 20th and interested in a fancy dinner party filled with picture book greats all to support a wonderful cause, then I've got the fancy event for you: Hosted by Eric and Bobbie Carle, Norton Juster, Jules and Kate Feiffer this year's Carle Honors Event is shaping up to be a great evening featuring a guest list including a who's who of picture book folk, plus a rock
By: Ray Rhamey,
on 9/10/2012
Business:
For folks in the Northwest, my appearance schedule at the Wordstock Festival in Portland, Oregon, is now finalized. If you’re there, it would be great to meet you.
Workshop: How to Craft a Killer First Page, 12:00 p.m. Sunday the 13th, Minuteman Press Team Writer’s Workshop Stage A, Room D-139
Reading/presentation: The Vampire Kitty-cat Chronicles 4:00 p.m. Saturday the 13th, Work for Art Stage, Room D-134
Panel: Author as Blogger, 1:00 p.m. Sunday the 14th, Work for Art Stage, Room D-134
Now for the fun
My son Dan has been directing after-school daycare programs for grade-school kids for the last couple of years, and now and then he creates a monster and a poem to go with it. I’m going to share some of his work with you on Mondays. If you have access to a grade-school kid, it might be interesting to see what they think.
Common Zeebus
If you meet a Zeebus,
Don’t worry, he’s sweet.
But if you meet a Zeebus,
Watch out for his feet!
Ray
© 2012 Ray Rhamey
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