Just heard from my Viking editor, the lovely Catherine Frank, who said she received her advance copy of SOPHIE'S FISH this weekend. Haven't seen mine yet, but I'm guessing it'll show up in the next day or two.
I'm very excited about this picture book, which hits the shelves on March 15. I dedicated it to Rick Walton, who has inspired and helped so many local writers. And I want to give Linda Bethers, who was in a picture book writing class with me, a big shout out for helping me find my way to the ending.
Yay for whopping fish stories!
Showing posts with label picture books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label picture books. Show all posts
Monday, January 9, 2012
Friday, November 4, 2011
Hey, did you know?
November, apparently, is National Picture Book Month. So yay for picture books! Over on my fb page for the Trib, I'm gonna be discussing some of my faves, old and new. Please feel free to list some of your favorites here.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Really?
It's been a week since I've posted? Apparently I took an unscheduled, unplanned blogging vacay.
I subbed for Margaret at TKE today and read a lot of new picture books, which leads me to make this observation. One of the cardinal rules of writing picture books is this: EDITORS DO NOT ACQUIRE PICTURE BOOK TEXTS THAT RHYME. Rhyme = Satan. Or so the axiom (which you hear at every writers conference in the world) goes.
But here's the deal. Over half the new books I read today were in verse. And they were fun to read, too!
Yes. I know.
I subbed for Margaret at TKE today and read a lot of new picture books, which leads me to make this observation. One of the cardinal rules of writing picture books is this: EDITORS DO NOT ACQUIRE PICTURE BOOK TEXTS THAT RHYME. Rhyme = Satan. Or so the axiom (which you hear at every writers conference in the world) goes.
But here's the deal. Over half the new books I read today were in verse. And they were fun to read, too!
Yes. I know.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
The things that end up mattering. pt. 1
About a billion years ago, I was asked by the stake to teach monthly Relief Society lessons at a neighborhood nursing home, and I have been doing it ever since. The first time I taught, I went prepared with a standard presentation, including a list of questions to engage my listeners. When I rolled out the first question, an elderly woman on the front row raised her hand.
"Yes?" I said, beaming with teacherly encouragement.
"My birthday is December 5," she said.
Which wasn't, technically speaking, the correct answer. But it was an insightful one--especially for me. I realized right then and there that I needed to come up with a different kind of lesson, one that we could all enjoy. And so I began taking in children's picture books and reading them aloud to the residents who embrace the stories and illustrations with utter delight. I visited this morning and attempted to read ORDINARY MARY'S EXTRAORDINARY DEED, although after a page or two I had to hand the book off to the pianist (aka my stunt double) to finish for me. BECAUSE I AM STILL WHISPERING.
Anyway. Here's what I want to say. All those years ago when I first said yes to this assignment, I had no idea my experiences with these residents who live mostly in the present moment because there is no other place for them to live would mean so very much to me.
I'm lucky.
"Yes?" I said, beaming with teacherly encouragement.
"My birthday is December 5," she said.
Which wasn't, technically speaking, the correct answer. But it was an insightful one--especially for me. I realized right then and there that I needed to come up with a different kind of lesson, one that we could all enjoy. And so I began taking in children's picture books and reading them aloud to the residents who embrace the stories and illustrations with utter delight. I visited this morning and attempted to read ORDINARY MARY'S EXTRAORDINARY DEED, although after a page or two I had to hand the book off to the pianist (aka my stunt double) to finish for me. BECAUSE I AM STILL WHISPERING.
Anyway. Here's what I want to say. All those years ago when I first said yes to this assignment, I had no idea my experiences with these residents who live mostly in the present moment because there is no other place for them to live would mean so very much to me.
I'm lucky.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
SCBWI
Yesterday I spoke at the SCBWI conference--shoutout to Sydney Salter for putting on a darn good show--and learned a ton myself. In particular, Matthew Kirby (CLOCKWORK THREE) did a brilliant job of examining "voice" and "how to find yours." That's a topic I could have never addressed in five trillion billion years.
Anyway. I was struck again by the bravery of participants who submit a single anonymous first page for a critique by an editor and an agent in front of the entire group. The critiques are brutally honest, and I'd NEVER have the courage/confidence to participate in that kind of reindeer game.
There was one sample in particular that left everyone pretty much dumbstruck. It was the first page of a picture book about cremation. In fact, the title was something like "So-and-so Learns About Cremation." Good times. Because who doesn't always enjoy a snappy picture book about cremation?
Anyway. I was struck again by the bravery of participants who submit a single anonymous first page for a critique by an editor and an agent in front of the entire group. The critiques are brutally honest, and I'd NEVER have the courage/confidence to participate in that kind of reindeer game.
There was one sample in particular that left everyone pretty much dumbstruck. It was the first page of a picture book about cremation. In fact, the title was something like "So-and-so Learns About Cremation." Good times. Because who doesn't always enjoy a snappy picture book about cremation?
Friday, February 26, 2010
How I can tell February has gone on 60 days too long
1. I have started to watch Judge Alex
2. I have started to watch Judge Judy
3. I have started to watch Judge Joe Brown
4. As a result I have started to sympathize with women who cut up their ex-boyfriends wardrobes into tiny vindictive bits
5. I also have started to watch curling competitions
6. And I care who wins
My funny friend Chris Decker is the one who said February has lasted 60 days. And she's right.
On the other hand, I just got word that Viking is buying a picture of mine called SOPHIE'S FISH. And so February hasn't been all dreariness . . .
2. I have started to watch Judge Judy
3. I have started to watch Judge Joe Brown
4. As a result I have started to sympathize with women who cut up their ex-boyfriends wardrobes into tiny vindictive bits
5. I also have started to watch curling competitions
6. And I care who wins
My funny friend Chris Decker is the one who said February has lasted 60 days. And she's right.
On the other hand, I just got word that Viking is buying a picture of mine called SOPHIE'S FISH. And so February hasn't been all dreariness . . .
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