The new issue of Hunger Mountain is live! Here is the welcome Letter from the Editors. (Yep, that's me and friend and author of The Rock and The River and Camo Girl, Kekla Magoon.) Hop on over or follow the links and check out the Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow issue for yourself!
Dear Readers,
Ah, winter has come and gone (though the view from the Hunger Mountain offices still shows snow) and spring is now here. Spring is a time of rebirth, of looking ahead, but there is always the need to look over our shoulders and see where we have been—and why. Time; memory; seasons of the year; have a way of overlapping, and though Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow should feel separate and distinct, often they do not. This issue celebrates the commonalities and the crossings over between being an artist of today and how the past and future—dystopian or not—come together in much of what we do.
Zetta Elliot in Unpacking the Pastsearches her immigrant roots and comes to terms with why it is important that all be seen, heard, and not made to feel invisible in between the pages of a book. Ann Angel with Janis Joplin, Readers and Me shares with us her experience of finding a present day, contemporary YA voice to create her award-winning Janis Joplin: Rise Up Singing. Kate Milford’s Life On Mars, with the help of Twain and Bradbury, examines the line historical writers walk—what is too much to include—and what is essential—even if the novel at hand is historical fantasy.
This issue also brings with it a special feature, a celebration called Passion for the Picture Book. In it, we hear from parents, librarians, authors, illustrators, editors and agents on why the death toll (first sounded by the New York Times) for the 32-page spread self-contained world of the picture book is premature and the past, present, and future of the picture book is to be celebrated.
In fiction, we celebrate the 2010 winners of the Katherine Paterson Prize as chosen by 2010 judge, Holly Black. We have first place winner, Jaramy Conners’s Steve; runner-up in Young Adult fiction, S.E. Sinkhorn’s Chasing Shadows; runner-up in Middle Grade Fiction Marcia Popp’s The Ugliest Dog in the World; and runner-up in picture book/writing for Young Children Jane Kohuth’s Something at the Hill. Joining our 2010 KPP prize winners, as our special feature is on the picture book, we have chosen to highlight two additional stories for young readers. Christabel and Mr. Readerby Barbara Younger and A Real Best Friendby Linnea Heaney.
We are thrilled to announce the judge for the 2011 Katherine Paterson Prize will be National Book Award winning Kimberly Willis Holt. It’s time again to polish those entries and submit your work for this prestigious prize.
We thank Hunger Mountain’s loyal and new readers alike for reading and commenting and our contributors who, as always, continue to make us think, cause us to act, and inspire us to dream.
Cedar fever didn't keep me home this week. Thank goodness, because there was lots on the plate. Tuesday I spoke at UTSA to a graduate class of teachers who under Miriam Martinez, Professor of Literacy are studying the all important picture book. Of course, the students had heard about and read the New York Times piece which was very doom and gloom with very little real reporting about what may or may not be driving picture book sales numbers down. Publisher's Weekly responded with a much more informative and balanced piece of reporting with the wonderful headline, Don't Write the Obit for the Picture Book Yet.
We discussed both articles, my reactions, the students reactions. We talked a bit about digital publishing, much about how library circulation is increasing in these hard economic times, and even more about the art and magic and aim of a good picture book.
I read aloud from the forthcoming Grandfather Gandhi picture book I co-authored with Arun Gandhi and we discussed how the book came to be, the slow and necessary timeline for a good picture book to be produced and I closed out with pointing the students to several popular industry blogs and a point to the upcoming issue of Hunger Mountain where we will be celebrating the picture book.
I ended with this:
There were many who said the Gandhi project should be developed into a middle grade reader but this was not my vision. When I heard Arun Gandhi speak of living on the Sevagram ashram as a boy what I saw were visual glimpses into who this boy was, to who Gandhi was as a world leader--yes, but also as a grandfather. That was the story I wanted to tell. One succinct. One layered. And one full of visual grandeur. My work may be complete, but there still is the marriage of art and text to come. It may be another year--or two--before the manuscript becomes a picture book, but seeing my vision rendered complete is well worth the wait.
Now, flash forward to Thursday, where the WLT kicked off it's annual third Thursday program to a packed house on the third floor of BookPeople. We celebrated the WLT 2010 Book Award winners--lovely awards and big checks--were given out to the talented winners by sponsor of the contest, Bill Jewell of the University Co-op. We thanked WLT Programming Manager and mom-to-be, Jan Baumer, for her hard work with a beautiful bouquet of flowers and then we welcomed our esteemed guests, authors: Stephen Harrington, Brian Yansky, and Jennifer Zeigler.
I moderated the panel where we discussed how ideas come--lightning quick or at a slow simmer, how to move forward with an idea (sage advice from Stephen Harrington, "Start before you are ready."), when we choose to share our ideas, when we choose to keep them close to the chest, how we stay inspired ("Ideas give you more ideas.") and when and how does the marketability of an idea push us forward or halt us in our tracks. It was a lively discussion (where finally we had a contrary moment where Brian Yansky revealed he never outlines and Jennifer Zeigler revealed occasionally she does--but not with Roman numerals, thank goodness.) and an inspiring one to all who attended. Awesome Austin Upcoming Events
The event will include author talks, Q&A, book raffle, surprise giveaways, devilish desserts, demonic drinks & signing.
Wear red and black if you’re on the side of Evil or blue and black if you’re on the side of Good.
Bonus points (and possible prize) to anyone who dresses up as a vampire, shape shifter, vampire slayer, angel or fairy!
February 5-20, 2011
On ZACH’s Intimate Kleberg Stage
Saturdays at 1:00p.m. & 4:00p.m. | Sundays at 6:30p.m.
$13 Youth | $15 Adult | Great discounts for 20+
Tickets: 512-476-0541 512-476-0541 x1
More information: www.zachtheatre.org
And don't forget to register for the Austin SCBWI Feb Conference and
for the first ever YA only conference, The Writers' League of Texas is debuting the YA-AZ Conference in April. Registration is open now and some of the attending conference faculty has been announced.
Ah, this Monday started out cold and grey and I had the best of intentions to meet with fellow Austin authors at Mozart's, a local coffee haunt, to watch the webcast of the ALA awards. Alas, I was in my sick bed--where I write to you now--battling a cold that I just can't kick and it is still grey and gloomy outside. Yes, it is January but to be this chilly in Austin (20s) is something rare indeed. And, that's what award season offers us. The rare and rewarded. Does it matter that the Today show booted the big winners for Snooki? (Heck, yes. Read a post citing the letter SCBWI Executive Director Lin Oliver sent to the good folks over at Today.) Does it matter not many of us predicted the big winners--unlike last year? (I personally like when this happens! It's like Christmas morning when the committee honors a book I haven't yet heard of for the big win. "Oh, I have a treat in store.")
And, rare treats the two debut winners of the Newbery and Caldecott are. Look to Elizabeth Bluemle at the PW Shelftalker as she quotes some little-known-facts (Maebelle is making note!) about the Newbery via Peter Sieruta’s post, Sleeping with the Newbery, on his blog, Collecting Children’s Books.
And I pumped my fists when I heard that WestSide listmates Cheryl Rainfeld with Scars was the #1 YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers and that Hope In Patience by Beth Fehlbaum made the list too. (If you missed my recent interview with Beth Fehlbaum on the Inside the Writers Studio series, go here and here.)
I have not met Newbery winner Clare Vanderpool but we do share something in common. The same hard working, talented, eagle-eyed editor Michelle Poploff. I loved dashing off a quick note to Michelle to let her know the Delacorte Dames and Dudes here in Austin were thrilled.
Not To Be Missed Awesome Austin Events:
The first Austin SCBWI meeting of 2011 kicks off with a sweetheart of a speaker, author Jessica Lee Anderson on Sat, Jan 15, 2011, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM at BookPeople
Thursday January 20th, I will be moderating the WLT Third Thursday series at 7pm at BookPeople, with these authors in attendance. We will be discussing Inspiration (and Perspiration)
Jennifer Ziegler
Brian Yansky
Stephen Harrigan
Panelists: Jennifer Ziegler is an Austin-based writer of YA fiction. Her novel How Not to Be Popular (Delacorte/Random House, 2008) was selected for the Lone Star Booklist and the International Reading Association’s Young Adults’ Choices list. Her next novel, Sass and Serendipity (Delacorte/Random House, 2011), gives Jane Austen a small-town Texas spin.
Brian Yansky is the author of the novels Alien Invasion & Other Inconveniences, Wonders of the World, and the award winning My Road Trip to the Pretty Girl Capital of the World. He teaches writing at Austin Community College and has an MFA in Writing from Vermont College. Stephen Harriganis the author of eight books of fiction and non-fiction, including the novels Challenger Park and The Gates of the Alamo. He is also a longtime writer for Texas Monthly and other magazines and an award-winning screenwriter who has written many movies for television. In May, Alfred A. Knopf will publish his latest novel, Remember Ben Clayton.
Also, that evening we will be honoring the WLT Book Awards. Drum roll and the winners are:
The Writers' League of Texas Book Awards recognize outstanding published books each year in five categories, Nonfiction, Fiction, Poetry & Literary Prose, Children's books (long works) and Children's books (short works).
Poetry Winner
Quiver
Susan B.A. Somers-Willett
Finalists Modiglian’s Muse by Jacqueline Kolosov The Ocean Liner’s Wake by Ellen Wehle Self Portrait with Crayon by Allison Benis White
NonfictionWinner
Molly Ivins: A Rebel Life
Bill Minutaglio and W. Michael Smith
Finalists Wilderness Warrior by Douglas Brinkley Lit by Mary Karr
The event will include author talks, Q&A, book raffle, surprise giveaways, devilish desserts, demonic drinks & signing.
Wear red and black if you’re on the side of Evil or blue and black if you’re on the side of Good.
Bonus points (and possible prize) to anyone who dresses up as a vampire, shape shifter, vampire slayer, angel or fairy!
And check out the incredible Blessed book trailer!
Upcoming in Hunger Mountain
I put out the call and those passionate about the picture book are responding. If you'd like to submit a 250 word quote (or less) to be considered for a special feature in the upcoming issue of Hunger Mountain, see here for details. This am my inbox found an email from Jane Yolen, whose work for all ages I adore but I am oh so fond of Owl Moon.
