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Today, on the first anniversary of the death of Grace Lin's husband Robert Mercer, I wanted to write up a post about a very special gift I received in the mail from illustrator Annie Patterson last December. Annie was one of approximately two hundred children’s picture book illustrators who created beautiful snowflakes for the 2007 Robert’s Snow auctions that raised money for the Jimmy Fund and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Massachusetts. I fell in love with Annie’s snowflake of a young girl holding a white rabbit painted on the background of a snowy winter scene.
Annie, who lives in Alaska, is the illustrator of Whale Snow, which was written by Debby DahlEdwardson. Fortunately for me, I won Annie’s snowflake in the auction. After learning I had won her beautiful work of art, I left the following comment at this post on her blog Imagine and Create:
Annie,
I am one happy lady. I won your snowflake yesterday! I knew I wanted it when I first saw it in the exhibit at the Child at Heart Gallery in October. I'm giving it to myself for Christmas.
Thank you so much for helping with Robert's Snow this year--and for making such a beautiful snowflake!!!
Soon after I left my comment, Annie emailed me and asked for my address. Then she sent me a gift: her original pencil sketch for the snowflake.
I was so touched by Annie Patterson's thoughtful gesture--as I was by the generosity of all the artists who contributed their talents to the Robert’s Snow campaign to raise money for cancer research--and as I was by all the kidlitbloggers who helped to spread word about the auctions, especially the fine ladies of 7-Imp…who went above and beyond the call of duty.
(Click here for a list of the artists and links to the illustrators’ Robert’s Snow features at different blogs.)
Today, I also want to send my heartfelt thanks to Annie Patterson and all of the artists who created snowflakes for the Robert’s Snow auctions in 2004, 2005, and 2007, to Jules and Eisha and all the of the bloggers who helped in our efforts to raise money for the Jimmy Fund and Dana-Farber, and to all of you out there who bid in the auctions.
And today, in memory of my dear friend Robert Mercer, I am re-posting a poem I wrote especially for him.
Things to Do If You Want to Be a Snowflake by Elaine Magliaro
Fashion yourself:
a bit of lace,
crystalline,
spun in space
of silken ice,
silvery,
fine—
YOU
C R E A T E
your
own
design.
Thank you, everyone.
Robert Mercer and Grace Lin
5 Comments on Robert's Snow: In Memory and Gratitude, last added: 8/30/2008
Elaine, this is a beautiful post and a breathtaking poem. Thank you for sharing it again! (As always, your original poems make me cross my fingers that you're getting some of your work out there in front of editors!)
How cool to have that sketch. So much beauty surrounding Robert and the children's lit world. So much.
Thanks, Laura. It was an honor to be involved with the Robert's Snow campaign and the three auctions. That's how I came to know Grace Lin and Robert Mercer so well. Grace is a remarkable young woman--and Robert was such a fine, talented, smart, and funny man.
I own lots of the beautiful wooden snowflakes. They are small treasures. I love them.
I have one manuscript with an agent at the moment and I hope to put the finishing touches on another in the next month. I also have a few other poetry collections that I should start submitting sometime soon.
Elaine, I agree with Laura. The poem is breathtakingly beautiful. What I love about your poems is that they come from the heart. You don't write to be published, you write to because it's who you are. I don't know the story of Robert, but I will surely think of him this winter when I see the first snowflake. P.S. I love snowflakes too for so many reasons.
from left to right: vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, lemon, and mixed berries -- enjoy!
Happy Birthday alphabet soup!
So glad you're here today. Make yourself comfortable and help yourself to a cupcake!
I can't believe it's been a year since my very first public post here on Live Journal. As I mentioned back in February, this whole blogging thing was an act of great courage for me.
Over the past year, I've participated in Robert's Snow: Blogging for a Cure, Poetry Friday, Nonfiction Monday, and two Carnivals of Children's Literature. I've interviewed authors and illustrators I've long admired, tested some new recipes, posted lots of my favorites, reviewed some picture books, and ladled out celebratory bowls of alphabet soup. Most important, I've had the distinct pleasure of meeting you!
As of today, I've written 363 public posts and received over 3600 comments. I'd say that's pretty good for someone with limited computer skills, social anxiety, and a big old case of writer angst. Blogging is liberating, but scary. I've still got a lot of growing and learning to do here, but I'm proud to have taken the first step.
Recently, beckylevine asked me why I decided to do monthly themes. The answer to this is related to why I decided to focus on food in addition to children's books. I don't consider myself a great cook, by any means, but I needed some kind of hook so people would remember my blog. In the kidlit blogosphere, there are so many outstanding book review blogs, industry info blogs, agent/editor blogs, and a million trillion personal writer blogs. Even if someone doesn't like to cook, everyone has to eat. Even if someone doesn't know me from Adam, they just might remember the blog with all those dang recipes that I have to keep scrolling through.
I didn't realize until recently how much of my reading and writing naturally seems to revolve around food. Since my first book was called, Dumpling Soup, alphabet soup seemed a good name for a blog. My current writing projects include a chapter book about a girl who orders an uncle via mail order for her alphabet museum, and an easy reader/picture book series about duck and panda chefs. This year, as I blogged my way through soup, chocolate, chickens, eggs, tea, and pie, I collected all kinds of tasty ingredients for new projects.
Besides feeding my other writing, the monthly blog themes keep me on track, and reduces some of the "what am I going to blog about today?" stress. I stay flexible, though, and without prior notice, will "lapse" into such topics as Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, and my muse, Tom Selleck. It's always good to add spice and stir the pot.
Often when you think you've written something interesting or worthwhile, nobody comments. Yet you can throw something random out there, like a meme, and lots of people comment.
Live Journal sometimes feels like high school. Will I ever fit in?
Just when you feel like your blog is a total failure, someone will say or do something really nice.
If you are brave enough to ask, most people are more than willing to help.
I don't think any earth-shattering changes are in store for alphabet soup in the coming months. I'm still trying to find my sea legs. Previous to coming online, I had lost touch with the children's publishing world. Because of health issues, I had stopped writing and submitting for at least 7 years. When I returned, I found it was a whole new ball game with different rules. So I'm starting from scratch. I think trying to rise from the ashes is more difficult, emotionally, than breaking in as a new writer. That's why I'm grateful for all the resources available online, especially the blogs of teachers, librarians, and, of course, other writers. alphabet soup is more than just a blog, it's my coming-out party.
Since I don't have a sitemeter on this blog, my only indication that anybody (other than my devoted father) is reading anything are your comments. I know how many wonderful blogs there are out there to keep track of. So if you've taken the time to read any of my posts and/or leave a comment or two, thank you very, very much. You alone helped me get through this first year. And thanks for your blogs, which continue to inspire and delight.
Now, since you've been such great guests and didn't drop any cupcake crumbs on my keyboard, here are some photos of the official alphabet soup kitchen, the first kitchen I actually designed all by myself!
The cabinets were custom made in New Hampshire and trucked down to Virginia. They are painted maple and stained birch and cherry. I had to draw all of them on graph paper to scale (a very hard thing to do for someone who isn't good at math). I was SO afraid everything wouldn't fit together in the end. Although this is my favorite room in the entire house, I'd love to have a personal chef working there instead of me!
I named every room in the house, using stand-up letters. Kitchen = patty cake.
Len, aka sous chef, busy grating carrots at the sink.
Eating and sitting area opposite the island (Albert and Ursula at the table.)
Behind me = baking center. Special tea corner cupboard on the counter, right of sink.
Close-up of baking center, inspired by the cupboard in the Waltons' kitchen!
We're having spaghetti tonight, if you'd like to stay.
If not, thanks again, and see you next time!!
Special thanks to:
Sara Lewis Holmes ( saralholmes), of Read*Write*Believe, for inspiring me to blog, and for commenting every day when I first started out.
Jules and Eisha of Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast, for mostly everything I've learned about interviewing, and for setting the gold standard for in-depth, passionate, spontaneous reviews. Their reviewing is an art form, taken to the next level.
I agree with many of the reasons she listed, such as sharing the love of books with like-minded people, participating in worthwhile events like Robert's Snow, and the generosity shown by fellow bloggers with regard to book giveaways, highlighting other bloggers' posts, and thoughtful emails sharing links to information that may be of interest.
I'd like to add something else: sweet dreams!
Last week I dreamed about Elaine of Wild Rose Reader, whom I've never met in person. I was living at my parents' old house in Hawai'i, and one afternoon, the doorbell rang and there was Elaine on our front step. I was surprised and so happy she dropped by, trying frantically to remember whether I had invited her and forgotten all about it.
I greeted her and noted the silky white nightgown she was wearing (probably Vera Wang). Diaphonous, I tell you, and scintillating. What else would one expect from a Wild Rose?
I realized I had to feed her something, but when I checked the fridge, all we had was some leftover spaghetti and a few brown lettuce leaves.
Oh no! It was like the Queen had come to visit, and all I had was a few crumbs.
Meanwhile, my parents came into the kitchen, so I introduced them to Elaine. While they were chatting, I opened the refrigerator again, hoping and praying that something good would appear.
And it did! There, on the second shelf, was the most beautiful tossed salad ever -- fresh, crisp lettuce, carrots, peppers, cucumber, tomatoes, you name it. And I knew, in my heart, that my husband had made it, even though I wasn't married and he wasn't there -- he just knew I needed it, and had provided it.
salade a la elaine
Elaine was so gracious! She said she didn't mind leftover spaghetti one bit. I don't remember much about our conversation after that, but when Elaine saw the salad, she sighed and said, "Such poetry!"
I love how the subconscious works. Sometimes, you might just skim a blog here and there; other times, you may become absorbed in a post. Either way, your mind has recorded something. That "virtual persona" you have encountered may represent only part of who the real, whole person is, yet it is distinct and can only be perceived through a computer. It differs from the reflective, private voice found in handwritten letters, the crafted voice driving a work of fiction, or the spontaneous voice that may speak to us in person. Traveling through cyberspace, a virtual persona is as ethereal as the wildest dream.
On Monday, I learned that Elaine's going to devote more time to writing poetry, so she'll be away from her blog for awhile. She didn't say whether she'd be working in her nightgown.
For now, I'm going to stock up on lettuce, just in case she drops by again.
P.S. Anybody out there good at interpreting dreams? I'm wondering about the unexpected visitor and the tossed salad. Do you think Elaine came to say "goodbye for now?" :)
No, it isn't my blogiversary. I noticed that post 600 came and went a week or so ago, but that doesn't feel like much of a milestone. Life has been good to me lately, and in small part this is due to my participation in this lovely community. Here are some of the reasons why I love this little corner of the web.
It is a great place for sharing a love of books (and even the kids who read them!) with like-minded folks.
Smart, talented, BUSY authors take precious time from their days to e-mail thank you notes and kinds words for reviewing their books.
Folks who read my stuff and find it informative or interesting highlight my posts on their blogs. (Thanks to you generous people who do this.)
Thoughtful readers who know my blog send me links to articles they know will interest me. Likewise, I can write to others and say "I saw this and was thinking of you."
In a show of support for one our own, we banded together in support of Robert's Snow. The 2007 auction raised more than $63,000 to benefit sarcoma research.
Out of the blue I sometimes receive packages in the mail, like the signed copy of Mia Posada's Cybils nominated book that showed up this week. Thanks, Adrienne!
Generous bloggers hold contests and when you win, they send you things! Elaine, Jama, and MR have sent me books and pictures. How cool is that?
Authors invite you to join blog tours of their books. William and I just finished reading the ARC for this one and can't wait to talk about it!
A group of accomplished poets took a chance on me and included me in an amazing project to write a crown sonnet.
J. Patrick Lewis sent me an original poem to debut for Poetry Friday. HURRAY!
Yup, you read that last one correctly. Tomorrow I have the honor and pleasure of unveiling an original poem by one of my favorite poets. I could go on, but these are just some of the reasons I love this place. How about you? Why do you love the kidlitosphere?
5 Comments on Why I LOVE the Kidlitosphere, last added: 6/4/2008
Happy 600th!!! I don't get to say that much. :)I love it when you ask for help (like when my daughter needed book suggestions for her camp) and people---like YOU---are right there, giving feedback that just can't be matched, both in substance and in joyful generosity.
Tricia,You are one of the reasons why I love the kidlitosphere. I'm just sorry you won't be able to make it to the 2008 Kidlit Bloggers Conference in Portland. I was hoping I'd have an opportunity to finally meet you face to face. Maybe next year???P.S. I'm looking forward to reading Pat's poem tomorrow.
Happy 600th, Tricia! I second all your reasons, and feel the same as Elaine -- where would the kidlit community be without Miss Rumphius?Another reason is how much I learn from everyone else. I just wish I could read more blogs and absorb it all!
I'm late here, but you're welcome! :) I agree with all your points. The Kidlitosphere is such a knowledgeable, welcoming, and helpful community. If you need to know something, they're there. If you're new, they welcome you. If someone knows you like a particular author or genre, they'll email if they see something they think you'd like. I've had the great good fortune of meeting many
So on Saturday, I drove 2 hours (I kind of didn't realize how long of a drive it was going to be) to go to the Open Fields Egg Auction. And I'm really glad I did. Like the snowflakes, nothing compares to seeing the original art in person. They were so lovely, I was quickly circling my list to for possible bidding. Did I want Marla Frazee's? Ashley Bryan's?
Or should I bid on my own? But, unlike Robert's Snow, the auction for the eggs is done live, not anonymously online. So, if I tried to up my own egg price, it would be quite obvious that I was a big loser. Darn!
Luckily, I didn't need to--it went for a very respectable price. It did make me wonder what that broken egg might have gone for.
And I got to get in on the action as well. In a heated competition with a grandfather who seemed to be buying up all the eggs (he must have thought of them as investment property) I finally won the egg I had my eye on...
It's called Twilight, by Mary Peterson. She's not a children's book illustrator but she's a beautiful egg painter, don't you think?
4 Comments on egg auction continued, last added: 5/25/2008
That's so cool! I've been out of the loop the last couple of weeks, and it completely slipped my mind! Hope mine sold well, it's such a great cause!!! Maybe the next go around I can actually attend. You're right about Mary Peterson's egg. just lovely.
So on Saturday, I drove 2 hours (I kind of didn't realize how long of a drive it was going to be) to go to the Open Fields Egg Auction where, if you remember, I contributed an egg to be auctioned off. And I'm really glad that I did. Like the snowflakes, nothing compares to seeing the original art in person. They were so lovely, I was quickly circling my list to for possible bidding. Did I want Marla Frazee's? Ashley Bryan's?
Or should I bid on my own? But, unlike Robert's Snow, the auction for the eggs is done live, not anonymously online. So, if I tried to up my own egg price, it would be quite obvious that I was a big loser. Darn!
Luckily, I didn't need to--it went for a very respectable price. It did make me wonder what that broken egg might have gone for.
And I got to get in on the action as well. In a heated competition with a grandfather who seemed to be buying up all the eggs (he must have thought of them as investment property) I finally won the egg I had my eye on...
It's called Twilight, by Mary Peterson. She's not a children's book illustrator but she's a beautiful egg painter, don't you think?
Trainstop by Barbara Lehman is a wordless picture book about a young girl who has a magical experience on what is an otherwise ordinary train ride. The unnamed girl and her parents get on the train in the city. The parents are preoccupied reading their newspaper and the other adults on the train are all reading or talking on the phone or sleeping. But our heroine spends her time looking out the window at the gray city. Then the train goes through a tunnel. On the other side, the girl finds a country setting dotted with tiny houses and windmills. The train stops, and she alights to a lilliputian world, where, with her considerable height, she is able to save the day. One might suspect, by the way everyone else on the train sleeps through the whole incident, that the girl's experience is a dream. However, the magic follows her home, and the reader is left with an impression that magic can sprout up anytime in the midst of an ordinary day. I think that kids will love it!
With a wordless picture book, the illustrations are, of course, everything. In this case, Lehman's watercolor, gouache, and ink pictures convey mood through clever perspective shifts and the subtle use of color. The girl's pink and yellow striped shirt stands out, compared to the more somber clothes of the other adults and the muted colors of the train car. Only the train's route map is equally colorful, representing, perhaps, the possibilities of travel. Several of the illustrations feature the girl looking out of the window - in some we see her profile and the view, in others we look from outside of the train back in at her interested face. My favorite page is the one where the girl is deciding whether to leave the train on her own. She looks around, and everyone else is sleeping. Even the man on his cell phone sleeps, phone propped up to his ear. She looks a bit doubtful, but of course she can't resist the adventure. And neither will kids. The Lilliputians are priceless. They drive wind-up cars, and wear striped and polka-dotted clothes, and funny hats.
The miracle of this book is how much Lehman is able to get across without words, how unnecessary words are to tell the story. The girl's face isn't even very detailed, with tiny dots for eyes, and a single line for a mouth. And yet, her thoughts are clear from her expressions and posture. The other thing that I think is genius is the way Lehman juxtaposes whimsical fantasy against a relatively bleak city background. It reminds me a bit of Dorothy leaving the gray Kansas farm and entering Oz.
I highly recommend this title, especially for kids who are interested in trains, or fascinated by the idea of 'little people". I think this would be an excellent fit for older preschoolers who aren't quite reading yet, but understand the notion of using a book to tell a story.
I've run across a few other posts to share with you since yesterday's round-up:
Open Education is taking an in-depth look at education in the Netherlands, a country that had high scores on the 2006 PISA Exams (Programme for International Student Assessment). According to their post "one of the highest performers on the PISA exams (ranked the ninth best in the world as of 2008), the children from the Netherlands scored eleventh in Reading, ninth in science (twenty places higher than the US) and fifth in Mathematics (thirty places higher than America)." The site's editor, Tom Hanson, visited the Netherlands, and will be reporting on "the complex system that forms the basis of public schooling in the country."
Inspired by Nonfiction Monday, Jenny from the new blog Read. Imagine. Talk. (a companion to the website Ethan's Bookshelf) has started a feature called Teaching Tolerance Tuesday. She says: "One aspect of children's literature and teaching that I am most passionate about is using books to generate conversation and help teach tolerance... To that end, I have decided to go ahead and post each Tuesday (because I couldn't resist the alliteration of Teaching Tolerance Tuesday) about a book, a poem, an article -- whatever comes to mind -- that helps kids challenge their ideas about people different from them." This feature is a new venture for Jenny, so if you think it's a good idea, or you have suggestions, please comment at Read. Imagine. Talk.
Don't miss Colleen Mondor's new column at Booksl**: Kid, P.I. She reviews several titles that feature youthful detectives, including the latest in Nancy Springer's Enola Holmes series, Curtis Parkinson's Death in Kingsport, The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd, and several others. If you know any young mystery fans, this column is a great place to start looking for recommendations.
Inspired by a challenge from Weekly Geeks to take a more inclusive approach to book reviewing, Terry from The Reading Tub has decided to "have an invitation in all of our reviews, both on the blogs and on the Website" to link to reviews from other blogs. It's going to take a while for them to set up the infrastructure for this, but the idea will be that other reviewers can automatically link to their own reviews of listed titles. Like the way that Anastasia lets people list their Nonfiction Monday posts at Picture Book of the Day, and Sherry lets people link to their reviews in her Saturday Review of Books. It's ideas like this that help the Kidlitosphere to become ever more interconnected, and ever more useful.
And finally, should have any doubts about the nature of the Kidlitosphere as a community, check out Eisha's Happy Birthday to Jules post at 7-Imp. Take a quick peek through the comments. Some of these commenters have never met Jules face-to-face. Most of the others have only met her once, at the Kidlitosphere conference last fall. But have no doubt that everyone who commented (myself included) knows and cares about Jules, from reading 7-Imp, and from interacting with her via the other Kidlitosphere activities (especially the Cybils and the Robert's Snow Blogging for a Cure event, and J&E's weekly 7-Kicks posts). Anyway, this birthday post is a nice tribute to Jules, and a reminder for all of us of what a great community this is. Happy Birthday, Jules!
Back in October, I interviewed children's author/illustrator Diane deGroat as part of Robert's Snow: Blogging for a Cure. We had a lot of fun talking about her taxidermy collection, and she showed us how she created one of the pictures for her newest book about Gilbert the possum, Mother, You're the Best!(But Sister, You're a Pest!).
Published by HarperCollins and released this past March, this 11th title in the wildly popular Gilbert and Friends series of picture books (appropriate for ages 4-8), finds Gilbert longing to please his mother with a special gift. After burning the toast, spilling the cereal, and drenching his Mother's Day card in orange juice, Gilbert takes breakfast upstairs to Mother, but his younger sister, Lola, is already there. He is jealous of Lola sitting on Mother's lap, so he offers to take Lola to the store.
As the day unfolds, Gilbert ends up giving Lola a bath, and then reading to her at naptime -- both attempts to keep Lola from absorbing all of Mother's attention. At the end of the day, he discovers to his surprise that he has given Mother the gift she wanted most of all -- some time to herself. And to sweeten the pot, he finally gets what he's longed for all day -- some time alone with her.
This story is endearing and heartfelt without being saccharine, and expresses well an older sibling's longing for one-on-one parental attention. Buoyant watercolor illustrations draw the reader into Gilbert's warm, cozy world of home, school, and neighborhood. A lovely addition to home or school libraries!
I asked Diane to share a favorite childhood recipe, and she sent me this:
1. Peel and cut peaches into large chunks, removing pits and any brown spots. Place in a bowl and sprinkle with sugar. Let sit until the sugar is dissolved and syrupy.
2. Spread margarine onto both sides of bread. Fry until browned and greasy.
3. Spoon some peaches over the hot bread, and eat it with a knife and fork.
**This recipe is also included in Writers in the Kitchen, compiled by Tricia Gardella (Boyds Mills Press, 1998). Diane offers this preface:
My mother regarded cooking as an unnecessary evil. Rheumatic fever in her childhood left her without a sense of smell or taste, which was helpful when changing diapers for five kids, but did nothing for the subtleties of food preparation. Her own personal diet consisted of Velveeta cheese with Ritz crackers and Pepsi spiked with Port wine; supper for the rest of us was usually hot dogs and burnt french fries, or meat loaf made from ground beef and oatmeal. Period. I know we had salt in the cabinet -- we used it to melt ice on the front steps, but if we had anything like garlic or basil, it never found its way into the meat loaf.
Sometimes she made something delicious, like peaches on toast. It appeared whenever the market had a run on overripe peaches, which were free. I've made it with whole grain bread and Pam instead of margarine, but the original is still better.
I cherish the thoughts of others even more when they clarify thoughts of my own. Thank you for thinking with me and for your faith that I am a much better person than I am. Feeling that our gifts are insignificant against the larger, crueler world... Read the rest of this post
3 Comments on Borrow a Body and Round up Some Posts, last added: 4/24/2008
Thanks for posting those links. Good reading with my morning coffee!
jules said, on 4/24/2008 9:48:00 AM
As for Gail's question, bloggers went over and over and over and over that last April of May, I guess it was, with Roger's post, aptly titled something like "this is why I don't have a blogroll or friends." I do think it's a fascinating topic, though. And if I were an author today, either a blogging one or one wanting to blog, I think I'd go crazy trying to figure it all out.
Not a profound statement on the subject, but so be it. I've only had one cup of coffee thus far this morning. Jules, 7-Imp
jules said, on 4/24/2008 9:49:00 AM
That's supposed to be "last April or May," and furthermore, bloggers *and* authors had that discussion last year. Not just bloggers. Interesting stuff, I think.
a. fortis said, on 4/24/2008 12:43:00 PM
Ditto with Susan--great choices. And I love Sarah Beth Durst's dress!
I'll post this in more detail later today, but Cory Doctorow is coming to Cody's do a reading from Little Brother...
This will be a short post today--I worked on my SCBWI Austin speech all afternoon on Saturday, only to decide to scrap it and start over on Sunday after talking it over with the Blue Rose Girls at lunch yesterday (not that they advised me to start over, it was just that talking to them inspired me to refocus the talk). I had been trying to combine my first two ideas from last week, but now I'm going to mainly focus on #2. My talk is tentatively titled "The Realities of Children's Book Publishing." If there's a specific question/topic that you'd like me to cover under this umbrella, feel free to leave your suggestion in the comments section! Thanks so much. I'll let you know how it goes. Thanks to everyone for their suggestions regarding my talk AND places to go in Austin! I'm hankering for some good mac and cheese.
And now I'll leave you with pictures from my new office. I moved offices yet again on Friday. You may recall that I moved to an office on the atrium in January. I quite liked the office, but the problem was that it was on the other side of the building, away from my department. An office recently opened up back on the children's side of the building, and so I packed up my belongings into boxes yet again and made what I hope will be my final office move. I'm happy to be in my first windowed office! Big time, I tell you.
Here's my empty old office:
I left behind some SERGIO stickers on my window: And here's the new space (not fully unpacked/organized--I'm planning on hanging my snowflakes from the Robert's snow auction on the pillar!):
And here's the two things I did manage to hang--an original piece of art of FLIGHT OF THE DODO from Peter Brown, and the star with HOPE stamped on it in honor of CALL ME HOPE by Gretchen Olson.
My view from my desk:
Let's hope I don't have to spend any more time in the new future packing and unpacking...
Read the rest of this post
6 Comments on Another office move, last added: 4/24/2008
ooo a window, congrats alvina! I like the green wall color.
saramoohead said, on 4/21/2008 2:24:00 PM
Just call me Little Miss Suggestion: you could talk about how editors feel about writers publishing with multiple publishing houses. If you start out with only one publishing house and then branch to another, or if you always work with more than one. Or if halfway through your career you start to shop yourself around. (Probably more relevant to fiction writers than illustrators.) How much is editor-loyalty still a reality?
Susan Sandmore said, on 4/21/2008 4:49:00 PM
I'd love to hear you talk about "What I'd Like To Do Vs. What I Can Do"--(I being you, not me). I guess that falls under "The Realities..." It would be interesting to hear you compare how things would be ideally in your work with how they really are.
Anonymous said, on 4/22/2008 10:14:00 AM
Marketing and publicity realities. What are the realities of publisher support? How are marketing dollars distributed among titles? What can an author/illustrator expect from a publisher and what can they do for themselves and their book.
I recently read Sticks and Stones by Jack Zipes, in which he affirmed my observation that children's publishing tends to throw a lot of titles out in hopes that one or two will take. Is this true from your perspective?
Also what are the current realities of book sales? Is it true that book sales are moving to Target, Wallmart, Costco and Starbucks? If this is true, how does an author/illustrator help their books in these venues?
Katherine
p.s. Would love to read your talk. Will you be posting it anywhere after you give it?
Chris Barton said, on 4/22/2008 3:55:00 PM
For writers who are talented but unpublished and unagented, how big an obstacle to (favorably) impressing an editor is the sheer volume of submissions (paper or electronic) from other writers? And what can they do to improve their chances?
If only there were someone in Austin dedicated to getting you that mac & cheese...
Rita said, on 4/24/2008 2:27:00 PM
Big time!! Big time, big time!!!
That's sweet.
Remember that post you did a while back on how book auctions work? I have no idea if that will fit in your talk or not, but I remember it was really informative.
alvina said, on 4/28/2008 10:48:00 PM
ha--Rita, funny you should say that, because I DID put that into my talk. In fact, I put too many things into my talk and went over my time, and also didn't finish what I had planned to say. Argh! Oh well. I'll do better next time.
alvina said, on 4/28/2008 10:49:00 PM
And thank you everyone for all your suggestions, I did actually put in a lot of them into the talk.
Katherine, I'll try to post some of my talk. Some of it, actually, I took from former blog posts. Either way, it'll all get out there eventually!
I've been on email lists and had a basic website for many years. A couple of years ago, though, I got a professionally designed website, and I started blogging (then as part of wordygirls). I am so grateful for the chance to connect with other writers and readers. The cheers when I have success and virtual hugs and "hang in there"s when I meet failure are immensely comforting. I have learned about the business of writing and I have made friends. I have participated in Robert's Snow and the Cybils. I have even moved a fair amount of work online, as I've begun teaching online writing classes this year.
But I've also become a bit overwhelmed.
Ever since I became more connected (waaaaaay more connected), I've gotten numerous emails from people I don't know. Some are nice, some want help, others just want to reach out and connect with another children's writer or poet. I've also suddenly found a week flying by and realizing, Shoot, I haven't visited that bulletin board I was going to stay on top of in three weeks! I have fallen a bit behind in my blog reading. I don't have time to take advantage of all the wonderful resources that are out there. I have emails from strangers or even acquaintances that pile up for weeks (or even--yikes--months) before I have a chance to respond.
I'm responsible for my fair share of the family budget, and children's writing is my career. It's not an easy one, but I love it and wouldn't trade it. But I work nonstop pretty much all day, often multi-tasking and putting in a little extra time on evenings and weekends. I'm glad to have work! But I have a lot of it, especially this last year or so!
My question is (you knew I'd get to a question eventually, didn't you?): How do you decide how to spend your time online? I don't mean actual writing/researching time. I mean social networking time. Are you guys on blogs as well as bulletin boards? FlapJacket (I'm there, but I rarely participate)? Email lists? How much time a day or week do you think you spend on keeping up with these connections? Any tips?
I don't want to cut myself off! But I do need to find a better balance. I'm trying to figure out if it's better to lightly participate in many things, or if I should just choose a couple of outlets to call my online home. Help!
This year I set aside some time to paint an egg for the Open Field Egg auction. It's similiar to Robert's Snow with different artists creating works of art to be auctioned off for charity, except it's an egg (not a snowflake) and the money goes to a school (not cancer research).
I'm trying to make it a point to do an egg every time I am asked, and to do a good job with it--at least attempting to make it an art piece of value. The egg auction is in honor of beloved children's illustrator Trina Schart Hyman (she founded the event). Trina participated in the first Robert's Snow, shortly before her death--ironically from cancer. Her snowflake was probably one of the last pieces of art she created. The least I could do was to at least try to paint an egg of quality for her namesake auction.
So with my recent trip to China as inspiration, I decided to paint a lantern scene--glowing red lanterns floating in the dark sky with crowds of people walking and gazing below--it was going to be detailed, intricate, beautiful...
until I broke the egg.
Luckily, the smart people of the Open Fields sent two eggs just for these type of calamities. But now I was running out of time. I had spent too long with the broken egg, now there was no way I could do the in depth lantern scene in the time I had. So, I had to quickly come up with a simpler design:
Which is an illustration of part of a poem by the Chinese poet Li Po:
The birds have vanished down the sky. Now the last cloud drains away. We sit together, the mountain and me until only the mountain remains.
It is one of my favorite poems, so for the time I had left, I was satisfied with the egg. But I think the lantern one would've been better. Oh well, maybe next time.
10 Comments on no use crying over broken eggs, last added: 3/12/2008
What a disappointment to break the eggshell after all that work! Still, I love your second egg. I'd bid on it!!!
Wendie O said, on 2/19/2008 9:48:00 PM
Your egg is beautiful. the child's coat it so rich and so is the blue background -- and so Chinese looking, too. I'm glad it worked out.
I actually like the dark blue one better than the black. Even tho it seemed easier to do to you.
-wendieO
laurasalas said, on 2/20/2008 7:16:00 AM
Hugs on the broken egg. I'd be scared to death to try to create art on something so fragile! You guys are brave.
I do love the second egg as well. It's lovely!
Anna Alter said, on 2/20/2008 9:46:00 AM
It came out great Grace! Its funny, I didn't realize they used actual eggs- I guess I thought they were wooden or something. Must be tricky painting on something so fragile.
sruble said, on 2/20/2008 11:31:00 AM
Sorry you lost your first egg! I didn't know they were real eggs either.
As hard as it must be to lose the egg you put so much work into, the second egg is wonderful - I love the colors and background, the girl, and the poem.
ChatRabbit said, on 2/20/2008 2:15:00 PM
The new one is beautiful! Why not trying a mini-mosaic with the broken pieces?
ChatRabbit said, on 2/20/2008 2:16:00 PM
hmmm, or you could TRY MAKING a mosaic! We do this every year after we eat the boiled Easter eggs!
Anonymous said, on 2/20/2008 9:39:00 PM
I've posted a link on Verla Kay's blogsite. Such a wonderful event! And so much fun to browse through the art.
Kim K.
MotherReader said, on 2/21/2008 5:26:00 PM
Sorry about the first egg, but the second one is lovely. Really.
This year I set aside some time to paint an egg for the Open Field Egg auction. It's similiar to Robert's Snow with different artists creating works of art to be auctioned off for charity, except it's an egg (not a snowflake) and the money goes to a school (not cancer research).
I'm trying to make it a point to do an egg every time I am asked, and to do a good job with it--at least attempting to make it an art piece of value. The egg auction is in honor of beloved children's illustrator Trina Schart Hyman (she founded the event). Trina participated in the first Robert's Snow, shortly before her death--ironically from cancer. Her snowflake was probably one of the last pieces of art she created. The least I could do was to at least try to paint an egg of quality for her namesake auction.
So with my recent trip to China as inspiration, I decided to paint a lantern scene--glowing red lanterns floating in the dark sky with crowds of people walking and gazing below--it was going to be detailed, intricate, beautiful...
until I broke the egg.
Luckily, the smart people of the Open Fields sent two eggs just for these type of calamities. But now I was running out of time. I had spent too long with the broken egg, now there was no way I could do the in depth lantern scene in the time I had. So, I had to quickly come up with a simpler design:
Which is an illustration of part of a poem by the Chinese poet Li Po:
The birds have vanished down the sky. Now the last cloud drains away. We sit together, the mountain and me until only the mountain remains.
It is one of my favorite poems, so for the time I had left, I was satisfied with the egg. But I think the lantern one would've been better. Oh well, maybe next time.
0 Comments on no use crying over broken eggs as of 1/1/1900
Susan Sandmore said, on 2/21/2008 8:08:00 AM
I know you were disappointed about the first (I would've been all "I am so *sniff* blogging *sniff* about this!") but the second egg is gorgeous, too!
Maybe they should be wooden eggs? Oh, I see from their website that they are goose, duck, and ostrich eggs. I assume they have been emptied?
Susan Sandmore said, on 2/21/2008 8:11:00 AM
Nevermind, I found my answer (they are blown) on their "Egg FAQ." :)
My new question is--how do you get it to them in one piece?
pearl said, on 2/21/2008 12:38:00 PM
the first egg is gorgeous, but i LOVE the second egg . . . the mood of the girl is so beautiful and the poem is wonderful, as well. What a treasure you've created. Your work is always so heartfelt.
sarah said, on 2/23/2008 7:41:00 AM
Your second egg is spectacular! And I agree with Pearl - your artwork is heartfelt. I also love the Robert's Snow project (I'm very active in the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge program). I'm the proud owner of two snowflakes and hope to help promote future auctions.
So after our cold but highly rewarding trek on the Great Wall, Nicole (our tour guide) took us to a cloisonne factory. I don't think the girls had a cloisonne factory as high on their list of priorities, but I had a professional interest.Because it was cloisonne that inspired the style of my 2007 snowflake for Robert's Snow. I had thought about making it real cloisonne, but after researching the process I settled for an look-a-like painting. That is because real cloisonne is a multi-step, complicated process.First there is the actual making of the copper objects--vases, hairpins, bracelets, etc. Then someone traces the desired design onto the vase. And then, someone painstakingly hand bends and lays the wire onto the vase to follow the design. Yes, every gold line in cloisonne is a hand-shaped wire. The wire has to be bent in right angles so that it does not curl up and it is stuck onto the vase with a special glue that will burn off during the firing process. This is eye squinting work, the use of tweezers and magnifying glasses is standard. Then, the vase is painted with special paint--really colored powdered glass. Each outline of wire filled in meticulously. It is an extremely elaborate paint by number activity. Then the vase is fired, the powdered glass paint melts onto the metal, creating a the shiny color and a lovely cloisonne object. After seeing how beautiful it looks, I am almost disapointed that my snowflake was not real cloisonne. Well, maybe next time.
Oh wonder! Oh Joy! I have the Starbird Ridge Snowflake in my possession--a gift from my sneaky Sis Nancy and her husband Mike. I so wanted it as a memory of my four years Starbird Ridge fiction series with Pockets Magazine. And once my dear family found out about the Robert's Snow auction to benefit cancer research, they decided to bid on the Starbird Ridge snowflake for me for a belated Christmas gift. There was a lot of bidding going on--thanks to all of you who decided to support this worthy cause.
But my sister persisted, and on January 4th, sitting at their kitchen table in Tucson, I opened the surprise gift and rejoiced. Anni Matsick, my illustrator for the series did such an amazing job of capturing the other Annie (Sammy's youngest sister in the story series.) And Haggis, the family Scottish Terrier! He makes me smile each time I look at Anni's rendering of him. The snowflake will soon be ensconced in a glass case and put in a place of honor here in my office, not only a joyful memory, but also an encouragement as I write, to bring to life my characters for each story, so that readers may have that jolt of recognition when they read, knowing this is a worthy character, real in the best sense of the word.
And now on to the New Year--so many books to be written. I'll be sharing that process with you in its many aspects--from simmering the "soup" of my daily life and skimming off the ideas, to applying writerly glue to the seat of my pants to stay attached to my computer chair each day, to weeding my writing garden as I revise.
There now, I've mixed three metaphors all in one sentence, just to make you all smile. May this be a year of smiles for all of us.
Two quick notes tonight -- one looking back and one looking forward.
Looking back... I loved being part of the Robert's Snow: For Cancer's Cure fundraiser for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute this holiday season. In addition to posting interviews with some amazing illustrators to promote the snowflake auction, my students and I created our own snowflakes and sold them at school to raise additional funds. I just put the check in the mailbox, and another $220 is on its way to help researchers work toward a cure.
And looking forward... I'm off to Kindling Words this week and will be taking a break from blogging. But be sure to check in on Monday! Sara Zarr will be here for an interview about her new novel Sweethearts. The official release date is February 1st, but it's already shipping & showing up in stores.
We'll chat about Sara's writing process, revision strategies, new projects, and her favorite kind of cookie. I hope you'll stop by, too!
On my Block: Stories and Paintings by Fifteen Artists Edited by Dana Goldberg (2007, Children's Book Press).
This beautiful book was another I won through participating in the blogging about Robert's Snow, and the auctioning of snowflakes created by children's illustrators (the other book was Block Party Today!; perhaps if there had been more books about Blocks I would have won them too...). My copy came from Sara Kahn, one of the many (well, 15) artists featured in this book.
Children's Book Press asked 15 illustrators "to portray, in words and pictures, the places that are most special to them." The result is an eclectic, colorful mix of pictures and stories, that makes for very enjoyable browsing. The reader is taken on a journey around the world--from Mexico, to Cuba, to Iran (to name just three of the fifteen). It is a great showcase of variety (both artistic and cultural), but at the same time it's held together by common themes of nostalgia and love.
This book, for me at least, floats in the world between children's and adult books. My children (4 and 7) enjoyed looking at it, but it's perhaps more a dipping into book for that age than a read through. Adults might get more from it--this would be a great gift for fans of children's book illustration.
There's another review of this up here, at AmoXcalli.
I certainly enjoyed it-- thanks very much, Sara, and thanks for making your beautiful snowflake! To see her snowflake, and read a great interview with her, head over here to Kate Messner's blog.
0 Comments on On My Block: Stories and Paintings by 15 Artists as of 1/1/1900
Block Party Today! By Marilyn Singer, illustrated by Stephanie Roth (2004, Random House).
Last fall, many of us were busy promoting Robert's Snow, and the wonderful snowflakes created by children's book illustrators that were auctioned off to raise money for cancer research. As well as donating their time for snowflake making, many of these great illustrators offered prizes to folks reading the snowflake posts. I was lucky enough to receive a copy of Block Party Today! from Stephanie Roth, and now I don't have to worry about reading 123 YA books for the Cybils (see below), I'm happy to have a chance to say Thanks! And what a neat book!
Block Party Today! is about (surprise) a block party, in a multicultural urban place pretty far removed from where my kids live (a New England mill village). They were most interested in the street scenes, the different people, and the whole concept of closing off a street for a party. Roth's illustrations are great-colorful and detailed, interesting without being overwhelming. This is more than just a description of the party, thought--Lola is mad at her friends Yasmin and Sue, and plans to stay in her room all day. She can't help but come down to her front steps, though, and she and Yasmin and Sue forget their quarrel in the fun of fire hydrant play. And the block party ends happily, with friendship triumphant. Just what a block party is supposed to do!
Thanks, Stephanie,for the book, and for making your snowflake (a really charming one, featuring Two Christmas Mice, which you can see here at the blog Writing with a Broken Tusk).
0 Comments on Block Party Today! as of 1/6/2008 8:50:00 PM
Welcome to our BLOG BIRTHDAY GALA! We are so happy that you're here! Last year, we posted a special Birthday Post. But, we have had such a great time with the blog community during our second year of blogging, we thought we'd throw a party to celebrate the year! We've grown so much since Melissa Wiley at Here in the Bonny Glen invented the name--Kidlitosphere--for us! When she invented in on June 5, 2006, there were no hits on Google. Today, when I googled the word, I got 15,500 hits!
We were also excited about new things that we did as a community of bloggers. Robert's Snow, Cybils , our very first Kidlitosphere conference sponsored by Robin Brande, and Sunday Lists posted each week by HipWriterMama. We've invited lots of our old friends and are happy to have new friends who have joined the blogging world in 2007...friends like Katie at Creative Literacy, Megan at Read, Read, Read and Sara Lewis Holmes at Read, Write Believe who entered the blog world on July 6. We hope you have the perfect party experience--reconnecting with old friends, meeting new friends, reminiscing about favorite moments in the blog community, and starting new conversations.
So, in celebration of another great year of blogging, let the party begin!
As your hosts, we'll let you know all of the fun things going on each day at our week-long party!
Dancing!!! There is a great deal of dancing going on at the party. For those of you in the mood for a Happy Dance, you can join the crowd with Brotherhood 2.0. If you are not in the mood to dance, but want to see some interesting dance moves, this is the place to be. Or, for those of you who are still in the holiday spirit, feel free to join Mary Lee and Franki who are busy elf dancing. If you are tired of the music we're playing, pop over to Saints and Spinners and try dancing to one of your favorite Songs of the Week.
And there seems to be a roomful of people thinking hard about the various reflections surrounding last year's winners and ways. You can join Adrienne, Roger, or Mary Lee and Franki
We hope that you had a great time at Our Blog Birthday Gala today! Come back tomorrow for more fun including snacks and teacher talk! Don't miss the fun! Thanks for coming!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! You have had a very exciting year. Good Luck next year! I love the new background. Must say, I'm anticipating Lisa Yee's next contest the most out of the things you mentioned.
Sara said, on 12/31/2007 6:04:00 AM
Happy, happy week-long birthday! That's the way to do it!
I entered the blog world on July 6, but I might have gone right back out again without the warm welcome from your blog and others. Thank you so much for inviting me to stay at the party!
I'm going to go dance now...
Charlotte said, on 12/31/2007 10:29:00 AM
Happy Birthday! (I guess this makes your blog a Capricorn, which I think, being one myself, is a Good Thing!)
Charlotte
sarah at thereadingzone said, on 12/31/2007 12:16:00 PM
Wow, ladies! What a wonderful party! I will surely be popping in again as the week goes on. :)
Alkelda the Gleeful said, on 12/31/2007 1:03:00 PM
Happy birthday! And many more...
jama said, on 12/31/2007 1:35:00 PM
Happy Blog Birthday, Beauties!! Love the pink and blue color scheme,and all the fun things you've lined up for your party. Who would have thought 2 teachers could be so wild?
Monica Edinger said, on 1/1/2008 4:01:00 AM
Happy Birthday (and Happy New Year)! What a great idea this is. Now where are those presents? Ah yes, tune in in two weeks (at the ALA website) and there they will be.
Megan Germano said, on 1/1/2008 7:49:00 AM
Oh HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I am so glad to see that I COULD make it to your party. And I was not even fashionably late! ;) And many more....
The fact this award comes from Miss Erin is icing on the cake. She's a dedicated kidslit blogger, a postergirlz for readergirlz and on the MG Fiction nominating panel for the Cybils. Thank you, Miss Erin.
Hmmm. Now who should I nominate? I'm supposed to celebrate the powerful writing of five bloggers.
Liz Garton Scanlon: Liz writes pure poetry in her posts. Liz is one of my first blog pals, and I simply adore her writing. And the fact she's gathered a group of wonderful bloggers to write a crown sonnet, which I cannot wait to read, well this is totally deserved.
Seven Impossible Things for Breakfast: Jules and Eisha of 7-Imp simply rawk. Detailed book reviews, unbeatable interviews, organizing Blogging for a Cure for Robert's Snow, writing articles for Poetry Foundation...need I go on?
Finding Wonderland: These smart ladies can write a thoughtful post that makes my brain hurt (in a good way).
MotherReader: I can't drink a thing when I read MotherReader's posts for fear I'd drown my laptop. That's how funny her posts can be. And when you can make people laugh with the written word, that's magic.
Congratulations, everyone!
6 Comments on Oh Yeah, Hear Me Roar!, last added: 1/6/2008
Oh, thank you. You don't know how much that means right now when comments have been light and I've been feeling pulled in all directions by the holiday season. I'm honored to be on your list and right back at ya.
Erin said, on 12/22/2007 1:56:00 PM
You are so welcome!
Robin Brande said, on 12/24/2007 11:12:00 AM
Thanks for including me, HWM! Hope you're enjoying some time off for the holidays. Thanks for all your thought-provoking posts this year. Looking forward to seeing what you have to say in 2008!
Liz in Ink said, on 12/30/2007 8:10:00 PM
Well, first off. I am waaaaay overdue on this comment but I took an unannounced blog break -- reading and writing -- and I'm just now catching up. So. I'm sorry, but I'm now present and accounted for and here's what I'd like to say:
1. CONGRATULATIONS. You soooooo deserve this tip of the hat. You blow me away with your open passion and determined focus and articulate verve. Blow me away. 2. Thank you! I'm so touched that you've nodded at me. Really. Especially since I just feel like an overgrown Christmas cookie -- having just gotten off the airplane and all. You've put me back in the mood, Vivian. What a way to kick off the new year. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you....
SevenImpossible said, on 1/5/2008 6:30:00 PM
Congratulations . . . and aw shucks! Thanks!
Jules, 7-Imp
SevenImpossible said, on 1/6/2008 10:06:00 AM
VIVIAN, I am SO embarrassed. I just realized this was posted on Dec. 22. I had stumbled across the post's URL itself (as opposed to seeing it when reading your blog one day), and I just assumed it was recent. Can I just say that I am perpetually behind on blog-reading and this is why? I bet I looked like the biggest's ingrate. We really appreciate the nod. I'm sorry that it took me forever. Cringe.
I was lucky enough to win Maude, the snowflake I most wanted in the recent Robert's Snow auction. And she arrived today! It was the only bright spot in a really rotten day so I was very happy to see her.
The artist is Ilene Richard and she is ever so very talented.
I've decide that Maude will be my muse for the coming year. Isn't she great?
Elaine, this is a beautiful post and a breathtaking poem. Thank you for sharing it again! (As always, your original poems make me cross my fingers that you're getting some of your work out there in front of editors!)
How cool to have that sketch. So much beauty surrounding Robert and the children's lit world. So much.
Thanks, Laura. It was an honor to be involved with the Robert's Snow campaign and the three auctions. That's how I came to know Grace Lin and Robert Mercer so well. Grace is a remarkable young woman--and Robert was such a fine, talented, smart, and funny man.
I own lots of the beautiful wooden snowflakes. They are small treasures. I love them.
I have one manuscript with an agent at the moment and I hope to put the finishing touches on another in the next month. I also have a few other poetry collections that I should start submitting sometime soon.
Elaine, I agree with Laura. The poem is breathtakingly beautiful.
What I love about your poems is that they come from the heart. You don't write to be published, you write to because it's who you are.
I don't know the story of Robert, but I will surely think of him this winter when I see the first snowflake. P.S. I love snowflakes too for so many reasons.
Elaine, Your poem for Robert is so beautiful! It feels and sounds just like a snowflake when I read it. Can I share it with readers on my blog?
Linda and Annie,
Thanks for your kinds words about my poem.
(Annie, I emailed you a reply to your request.)