My Books in Cambodia!
Knowing my stories are being read and enjoyed is the highlight of my job. So, you can imagine my delight when Kelli Lambe sent me this photo. Kelli, her husband, Steve, and their 3 boys spent spring break in Cambodia, where they helped create and stock the library in a school outside of Seim Reap.
No, the books haven't been translated into Cambodia. The children sound out the stories while learning English. What's especially cool is that often parents and other adults, who are also learning English, sit alongside the kids--laughing and learning with them. (I'll have to ask if Kelli taught them to two-step and how to say "y'all" after reading Dance, Ya'll, Dance.)
Kelli wrote: "Cambodia was a wonderfully meaningful trip. So much so that we are now going to Papua with Lex and Linda [Operators of Remote Destinations Tour Company] to help build a library there. Keegan is doing it for his IB community and service project."
You can be sure my books will be along on that trip, too. Spreading the joy of reading a few books at a time!
If you'd like to donate books or send a contribution for the Lambe's next library project, send me a note and we'll make it happen.
Is PRODUCTIVITY all it’s cracked up to be?
Sometimes, in the midst of our get er done busy-ness our creativity can get shoved aside. Or, worse, instead of really letting go and allowing our imaginations run wild-and sometimes a muck-we don't push our ideas far enough. We settle for our first idea. First isn’t necessarily best. Have you ever wondered what the last gal to cross the finish line was doing all that time? What the outfielder picking at the laces on his glove is thinking? I know Curtis was wondering where I’d gone with his coffee cup… I was thinking about the list of to dos on my lengthy get er done list when I took one of those turns. I always have a few projects around that need doing. Some, like filing papers, are waiting because I am avoiding them. Others, like the drawer of candle nubs and cluster of broken geegaws in need of gluing, are just waiting for the right day.
I was filling our coffee cups in preparation for the start of a truly productive get er done day when one of those “projects” sprang to mind. The egg cups glistening in the morning sun were just so empty.
Sometime after Easter, I’d wandered into a shop selling left-over candle eggs, you know the ones that look like Easter eggs and are adorable, but you always wonder what the heck you’ll do with them because they are small and wobbly and not really good for lighting. Well, these were different. They were egg colored with white shell on the outside and looked real. The shopkeeper had placed them in egg cups and lit them. Perhaps because of the way they had burned down, the top edge was jagged, the way real eggs are when you carefully crack open just the tops to make cascarones, confetti eggs. Which got me thinking: Say, I have a few egg cups hanging around…
So, I began collecting egg shells. Instead of cracking them in half and pouring out the middle, you gently tap the top to crack it, pick off the shell bits until you have a hole big enough to stick a toothpick in, stab the yolk, and gingerly shake out the egg and white. Wash the shell and set it out to dry. The trouble is, you can only do this on eggs which you don’t mind scrambling. And you have to use eggs. And you have to store these fragile shells somewhere safe. And don’t forget you are saving them, and which bowl you’re saving them in, or you might accidentally put another bowl inside that bowl and crunch....
Yes, it has taken me longer that expected to collect enough egg shells to make it worth my while to drag out those candle nubs. But here’s the thing, a friend, Jeff, happened to leave a Real Simple magazine at my house recently, and I happened to flip through it, and in the column on reusing stuff was a seedling planted in an egg shell. The blurb said when the seedlings were ready for planting in larger pots, or the garden, you could simply plant the egg shell incubator in the soil. The shell will soften, the plants roots will break through the shell, and the shell will nourish the soil.
After reading this, I was torn. The egg shell seedling in the picture was soooo cute. In my mind's eye I saw them sprouting in my egg cups on my sunny window sill. Still, those candle nubs, even if they did smell good, were ugly ugly ugly.
Sticking down the wick in the hardest part. Getting it to stay upright is the other hard part. I tie the wick to a skewer which keeps it upright and centered. 1st step, pour a little wax into the bottom of the shells, let it harden slightly and then, using the blunt end of a skewer, push the end of the wick into the soft wax (not too hard or the shell will crack). Let the wax harden all the way before pouring in more wax. And don’t fill the egg shells all at once or the hot wax will loosen the wick. Fill the shells in layers, letting each harden before adding more.
And guess what we’re eating for dinner? Scramble by egg cup light. (I have to get started collecting shells for future seedlings.)
What else can I make with egg shells? Any ideas? This isn't procrastinating, it's creating! Come on you left fielders…
Stuck in Writerly Discontent...HERE COMES THE SUN
You know how sometimes, suddenly, on the bleakest day...or week....or month, the sun break through? Writing-wise, I've been having one of those months. Now, when it should be spring and my writer's heart should be abuzz with springish ideas: birds, flowers, brand new picture books... it's still dark, dreary winter. It's been a long long long winter of writerly discontent. And I was sick and tired of it--
Then came the sun!
That warm, bright golden ray of sunshine came in the form of a note from Robyn Conley, Book Doctor, writer, friend, savant.
I might have mentioned (in a whinny, sniveling sentence or two) that I was being a writing slug. And, Dr. Robyn came through with exactly the prescription I needed.
"Have you ever heard Jodi Thomas' talk about the seasons for writers? When we're in the 'winters,' she says, we're to read more of what we love and fall into infatuation with words and phrasings again. Before long our desire to pen prose just as wonderful is irresistible and we're dancing in the spring time of tappeting, tappeting, tappeting across the keyboard."
And then, she tossed in the title of an " inspirational/prompt-filled writing book.... It's been out since 1999, but is available on Amazon. Room to Write by Bonni Goldberg."
That's all I'm sharing--cause I've got a reading prescription to fill--besides if you want the Book Doctor's help curing what's ailing you, give her a call!
SHINE ON!
Keep Keystroking On!
Yesterdays "word of mouth" is today's keystrokes in the form of blogs, e-zines, tweets. Thanks largly to my publicist, Rebecca Grose of SoCal Public Relations, my picture books are getting grand mentions. I'm chuffed (as my South African friend, Shona, says) and want to share and send huge thanks! To Diana Chen, School Library Journal Blogger "Practically Paradise", for this May 8 posting featuring Your Mommy. Despite our "lovies" vs. "kisses and hugs" debate, prompted by the line "“I’d bandage her scrapes and give her extra lovies," I'm a huge fan.
Read Diana Chen's Your Mommy posting: http://blog.schoollibraryjournal.com/practicallyparadise/2011/05/08/your-mommy-was-just-like-you/
And YEEHAW for chatting up Dance, Y'all, Dance!
And, to radio talk-show host Shannon Devereaux Sanford, for making an interview with her so casual and fun, and for this:
May 6th, 2011...Also, it is Mother’s Day and do I have the book for you to read to your kids or grandkids. Kelly Bennett has written a new book, her 17th children’s book, called Your Mommy Was Just Like You (G.P. Putnam’s Sons).
It is a wonderful book to read to kids and share your life when you were young with them. Beautifully illustrated the kids will enjoy the pictures as you read the words and go on this fun journey together. I love Kelly’s books - they are always perfect! You will agree with me when you go to www.kellybennett.com to get the book and don’t forget to listen to her talk about it on Saturday at 12:45. You will be glad you did so you can Make Good Choices for Mother’s Day and every day ~
Posted by Shannon Devereaux Sanford |
Listen to Shannon’s Corner on WTBQ 1110 am & 93.5 FM and online at www.wtbq.com
Picture Book Writers--Do You Dare
I just received word (from one of my favorite blogs: Writing On The Sidewalk) that NaPiBoWriWee, National Picture Book Writing Week spearheaded by Paula Yoo begins today, Sunday, May 1st. and I'm inspired and challenged to put pen to paper. I'm going to spend the next week playing with picture book stories. Be Warned: Every memory of every childhood/childlike moment is possible fodder. Anyway, the Royal Wedding is over so what else have I/you/we got to do?
Sunday begins National Picture Book Writing Week, NaPiBoWriWee for short. The goal is to write 7 picture books in 7 days.
Here are the basic rules:
1. Midnight May 1st to 11:59 p.m. May 7th: Write 7 separate and complete picture books.
2. You are NOT allowed to write the same picture book in 7 variations. Each book must be complete and separate.
3. No minimum word count, just be sure that each book must has a clear beginning, middle and end.
4. You are allowed to brainstorm and research book topics before May 1st. Outlines are acceptable. First draft writing is NOT. Do NOT write your books before May 1st – only brainstorming, taking notes, and outlining are allowed.
5. You are NOT allowed to write a single word of your draft until midnight May 1st.
6. There is NO minimum word count required.
7. If you plan to blog about your NaPiBoWriWee journey, please include a link to:http://paulayoo.com/
8. Please comment on the soon-to-debut NaPiBoWriWee WordPress blog or email Paula at paula at paulayoo dot com and she will include your name in the prize drawing. Several winners will be chosen from random. Winners will receive an autographed copy of Paula’s books “SHINING STAR: THE ANNA MAY WONG STORY” (Lee & Low Books 2009) and “SIXTEEN YEARS IN SIXTEEN SECONDS: THE SAMMY LEE STORY” (Lee & Low ’05), along with items from the NapiBoWriWee Store and a couple of surprise autographed book prizes from special guest authors!
9. This is NOT a writing contest. Think ofNaPiBoWriWee as a writing support group where we can cheer each other on. So please do NOT send Paula your manuscripts.
10. If you plan on attending the national Society of Children Book Writers & Illustrators (http://scbwi.org/) conference in August, let Paula know and she’ll arrange for an informal gathering during the conference so you can meet in person and celebrate NaPiBoWriWee!
For more information about prizes, tips and tricks for NaPiBoWriWee be sure to check out the official site. So warm up those computers and get in touch with your inner child because this is truly a challenge.
One Day, Out Of The Blue...
For most of us, our days are routine: we get up, do our work, live our lives and make plans with the expectation that tomorrow will bring pretty much what we expect it will. And then one day things are going along exactly as expected and WHAM out of the blue something happens that completely changes everything.Sometimes, like today, that something literally falls right out of the sky. Today began as one of those unscripted, unstructured, nothing but lunch planned days. My favorite kind. I had taken a break from the heap of picture books I’d pulled off my shelves over coffee this morning, and was standing at the dining room table going through the mail when I glanced up to see Rusnati, my housekeeper, running full stop toward the house from the back of the garden.
Rusnati is short, just over 4 feet tall and round. (Think “Weebles” those roly playskool people and their hard-plastic town and garage and houses?-my kids loved them.) Weebles wobble but they don’t fall down. They don’t run either.
I stood , flabbergasted at the sight of Rusnati running. Wow! could she run! But why? There had to be something--something bad to get her running so fast. Then I freaked and ran to meet her.
“Warjo!” she panted, pointing back to the corner of the yard. “Warjo @#$#@$ (something I couldn’t understand or translate but that sounded like “potong” which means cut and something about his arm.
I looked where she was pointing. Warjo, our pool man, was face up on the ground beneath the mango tree with his head in the ginger stalks. My heart busted into the High School “fight” theme. No blood, I willed, not wanting to see his arm cut off. Him bleeding out in our yard.
Rusnati was sort of pulling me toward him, as a kid does a mother. Who resigned and made me the mom? I wanted to ask. I wanted to pull back like another kid would. Instead I prayed: Please don’t be dead. Don’t be dead. And no blood. Please no blood.
I didn’t want to look. Didn’t want to see what I might see. I do not enjoy horror movies.
Warjo heard me call him and tried to raise himself up, or tried to raise his hand. But his hand didn’t come up, only his head and shoulder did. The arm dangled.
"Rusak, munkin" Rusnati said. Maybe broken.
Maybe???
I wracked my brain for for recollections of hospital dramas. I so wanted to channel McHero.
“Don’t more!” I ordered. Quickly adding the smidge of Indonesian I could muster. “Tunguh,” wait.
Warjo waited…not much else he could do. And so did everyone else. Rusnati, Aan, Rohemon, the security guards, they all probably had as much, if not more, medical experience than I did and they were waiting for me to give orders.
It was my house, my garden, my tree Warjo had fallen from. My problem to solve. So I barked orders (not consisely or in any specific language, it was more jestures mixed with jibberish). We tied Warjo's upper body in a sarong and 4 guys pulled/pushed him to a sitting position. Sweat rained down his face and chest. His eyes were wild. They asked if he could walk. Got him to his feet. Warjo tried a step but his body just quivered like jelly. So they carried him to the car and settled him in.
Turns out Warjo’s arm was broken clean through. A ragged, jagged break that requires surgery and immobilization. He was checked into the hospital and will be operated on tomorrow, a pin inserted to set the bone, several months recovery, bills, loss of work--not to mention what the fall may have done to his guts, back, him...
We called his family while waiting for treatment.Warjo’s wife and only son came. Shortly after, in ones and twos, others arrived—friends, family, neighbors—until Warjo had about 15 visitors. He's not alone. But, what now?
With the crack of a branch, this bright blue day, which started out so like so many others has changed Warjo’s life, and his families, an ours too. One hopes it’s only a temporary change. What if it isn’t?
What about when our out of the blue day arrives?
It's Re-Birthday: Plant something!
Earth Day is April 22nd. The brainchild of U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson (D-Wisconsin), Earth Day was designed to inspire awareness and appreciation for Earth’s environment. It began as an environmental teach-in in 1970 and is now recognized as "teach Earth day" celebrated in many countries every year. "According to Senator Nelson, the moniker "Earth Day" was "an obvious and logical name" suggested by "a number of people" in the fall of 1969, including, he writes, both "a friend of mine who had been in the field of public relations" and "a New York advertising executive," Julian Koenig. April 22 was Koenig's birthday and according to Nelson, as "Earth Day" rhymed with "birthday," the idea came to him easily.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_Day).
Julian Koenig, one of the most infamous Madison Avenue Mad Men, was inducted into The copywriters Hall of Fame in 1966. According to research uncovered by my son, Max, Koenig was the ad guy responsible for the rhyming Burma Shave signs posted on the road and painted onto barns that once ran along Route 66, entertaining travelers while spouting the virtues of a nice, close Burma Shave. These early, amusing, ads have since been replaced by not-so amusing, definitely not scenic billboards--roadside trash. (To think, Earth Day's daddy started the trend.)
So, because April 22nd happened to be Koenig’s birthday, and “earth day rhymes with birthday” and April 22nd became officially known as Earth Day. And maybe because everyone present was imbibing heavily (as, according to the TV series, Mad Men did in those days), and caught up as they were in the excitement of it all, no one bothered to check if April 22nd was already taken. It was taken… April 22nd is, and has been since 1875, National Arbor Day in the United States.
Arbor Day was the brainchild of J. Sterling Morton, ex-Governor of Nebraska. After noticing how the forests were being chopped down, Morton decided to do something about it, so he declared a “Tree Planting Holiday.” He, like my daughter Lexi, like Koenig, must have been of the mind that birthday’s should be holidays because he had also chosen his own birthday, April 22nd, for Arbor Day. That first Arbor Day was held in Nebraska on April 22, 1872.
Arbor Day was traditionally considered a “school childrens' holiday” because it was primarily observed in schools. Students wrote poems, drew pictures, sang tree songs and….planted trees. Fancy that! Arbor Day is held all over the world at different times of the year, depending when the best tree planting time is in that region. If you’d like to read more about Arbor Day check out my book: Arbor Day, Children’s Press, 2003. (Move over, Julian, I can be a Mad Woman.)
After a time, because we Americans love to standardize our holidays, National Arbor Day was moved to the last Friday in April. And then along came Earth Day and, as often happens in our modern world, Arbor Day: a simple, quiet holiday dedicated to gentler pursuits: songs, drawings, poems, gardening, has been usurped by the more commercial, more political, Earth Day.
Today, on April 22nd, 2010, in honor of the 135 anniversary of National Arbor Day and the 30th Anniversary of Earth Day I’d like to propose a change:
Let’s go back to the source of both Arbor Day and Earth Day. Whether they were aware of it or not, J. Sterling Morton and Julian Koenig were onto something: April 22nd is a day for new beginnings. So I propose we change the name of the holiday to Re-Birthday!
Happy Re-Birthday! Revive, Replenish, Restore: Plant Something!
Hurrah for TLA
TLA, the Texas Library Association Annual Conference (April 12-15th this year) was a book-lover's candy store. All manner of publishers exhibited their new, award-winning and forthcoming books, e-books, audio-books and everything related. For childrens lit folks it's like a huge 3-day party...
Jamie Lee Curtis gave the welcome address on Tuesday morning. She signed books for an hour afterwards...250 people waited in line to get her autograph. I would have gladly stood in for her. If only she'd let me know, I would have worn my red neckerchief, too.
So many Texas authors are coming into their own. It's great fun to see them signing in the author's area--with lines of fans waiting!
Bettina
Two of my VCFA classmates Erin Moulton and Sherry Shahan (both Unreliable Narrators) had new books this season. The arrival of Erin's debut novel, FLUTTER about sisters, adventure and their quest for a miracle is especially thrilling as I had read an earlier draft of the book...I sort of feel like a proud auntie. I read my hot-off-the-press copy on the plane and have only one complaint: IT ENDED...
Sherry's novel in verse PURPLE DAZE , set during 1968 Vietnam tumultuous times, eluded me. I'll have to order my copy. Just as well, maybe as my bags were stuffed full.
Cynthia Leitich Smith's signing line would around and down and up the aisle--fans couldn't wait to get their paws on Blessed!
Not to be outdone, the Texas chapters of SCBWI hosted a booth to promote children's authors and illustrators.
The booth served as a magnate for all of us--a perfect meet and greet spot. SCBWI-Austin went all out to create a welcoming booth!
So now, with my creative and social batteries charged--and my suitcases overstuffed with books--I'm on my way home to Jakarta. I have a lot of work to do before next year. Before hand Jamie Lee Curtis and I need to have a little chat. We need to work at coordinating our outfits or...next time someone mistakes me for her I'll say "yes". I wonder: does anyone ever ask her if she is me?