Last Last Day

Today is my official last day at the Writers' League of Texas. It's been wonderful to be the behind the scenes gal helping to make the conferences and classes happen. I've loved talking to members and hearing reports of not one but two agents offering representation. I've loved moderating panels and thinking about books and the business all day long. I have. But life took some interesting twists this year and I have some new things to focus on: home, partner, dog, wedding, new work-in-progress, my private teaching, my health and well being. They all rank right up there at number one and we shall see how they inform my days. I will still be blogging, still be writing, still be reading but life is in transition. I didn't foresee the wonder and love that has come into my life (though I did believe in it wholeheartedly) so who knows what is next....A big thanks to the WLT and to Austin for welcoming me and giving me such a great landing space when I first arrived in town. As many know I often end my emails with hugs...so in saying farewell there I end with Hugs!


And if you haven't seen it, yesterday I was interviewed by the lovely Brittney Breakey over at Author Turf. I share a bit about a MG WIP (though my YA WIP--my non-Southern project is now taking center stage creative wise), books I love, and what book has been the hardest to get right. 


Tell us about the book you’re working on.
I am working on a new middle grade—this one is set in a fictional town in Texas (where I now live) instead of Georgia (where I grew up.) The main character, Fancy Melody Monroe, has talked her daddy into moving, trailer and all (he stays strapped into a Lazy Boy recliner as the semi hauls their single-wide from Georgia to Texas, as he has what Fancy calls, “epidermi-no-sunitis,”a condition which causes him to never leave the trailer) to her mama’s hometown of Creation Creek, Texas. Once there, Fancy digs in the dirt—and in the past—looking for clues to where her Mama may have run off to. It’s current working title is, Flights of Fancy and I am loving getting to know Fancy and her hurts and her longings.  Click here for more.

Week in Review: The Good, The Bad, and The Bruised

Ah, I spent half the week laid up in bed (or on the floor) with a back injury after I took a tumble while cleaning. Perhaps there is a reason no one ever called me graceful. (And why there was no Wednesday Inside the Writer’s Studio…be sure to check in next week for author Michelle Knudson, and her new picture book Argus.) However, as time ground to a halt for me there was much happening in cyberland and all over Austin this week.


The oh-so-witty K.A. Holt was featured over at the Daily Texan and I now know where the source of her haiku brain stems from. Getting back at the man! The article states,


To pass the time at her nine-to-five, and perhaps to channel her unused imagination, she began writing snarky haiku poems on the community dry erase board, typically targeting company management.

“Who are you to judge?/ A messy desk shows genius/ And a lack of drawers,” Roy wrote at work. “A messy desk ode/ Can an ode be a haiku?/ Messy haiku, too.”


And over at the Horn Book, Chris Barton, author of the forthcoming Can I See Your ID has a tip for all authors of nonfiction in his piece, Your Mother Should Know.


Dear Teen Me, one of my favorite spots to stop and reconnect with my youth (and I am sure teens everywhere are reading. Is yours?), featured my friend Lindsey Lane this week. I love Lindsey’s letter and so wish I had read this when I was a girl, and sexuality, and how to use it, how to acknowledge its power (over me and others) was such a new discovery. Sex and sexuality is never easy to discuss for some reason, but Lindsey is frank, forthright, and even funny! Cheers to her and DTM for the groundbreaking posts!

And, along with all the articles and blogs, a bevy of unveilings were going on. Greg Leitich Smith unveiled the cover art of all the Austin 2011 books from the community, and PJ Hoover featured one in particular—Callie—the fall release by Texas Sweetheart, Jessica Lee Anderson. I had the pleasure of reading Callie in almost final form and it is taught with tension and explores the crisscrossing of friendship, sisterhood (foster sisterhood but sisterhood, nonetheless) and family. Jessica always writes “real” and this is another stellar addition to the books under her belt.

The grace and good humor-filled Liz Garton Scanlon welcomed a new book into the world this week, Noodle and Lou (illustrated by Arthur Howard) is her follow up to the award winning All the World. Where All the World was big and all encompassing, Noodle and Lou is a small scale story but is big in the way that meaningful friendships are. What is bigger and more meaningful than a best friend?

Noodle and Lou join a bevy of picture book best friends, who should not be friends (Can a bird and a worm be friends? Buy the book and also hop on over to my previous blog post on the Dynamics of Picture Book Pairs…) and add to the canon of great kid lit. 

Previous Austin author and still friend to oh-so-many-of-us, Dorothy Love, debuted her new website this last week. Who is her designer? None other than Erik Kuntz, Austin SCBWI Volunteer of the Year.


I also got a wonderful surprise this last week—a stack of thank-you letters from the kids at Travis Heights Elementary. The day of the visit the kids were great but you never know if you made a lasting impact or not. The letters brought their smiling faces back front and center as I soaked up their words and feasted on their drawings. There were many references to, who lots of kids, dubbed Mr. French Fry Guy in their character sketches. Here are two of my favorite letters.

"Dear Bethany,
Thank you for teaching us how to sketch a person using words. My favorite part was when we got to sketch using words. I also liked the book you read to us. Do you think you can do it next year? I really enjoyed it.
From, Dexter.


And another…


“Dear Bethany Hegedus,
It was nice to work with you I hope you can come again next year. P.S. I came with another name for the boy, it’s super French fris eater.
Senserly your friend,
Jose”

Man, you gotta love the fruits of school visits. Does it get any better than that?


Goings on in Austin

And, as usual there is a ton going on at the WLT and SCBWI. This weekend, Jeanette Larson, is the SCBWI speaker at BookPeople. She will be speaking about Love the Librarian (and Texas librarians do so much, we need to rally and show them our love!)

And after her talk, it’s party time. Jeannette will be celebrating the release of Hummingbirds, illustrated by Adrienne Yorinks. I’ve been waiting to get my hands on a copy, as she keeps selling out at other events I’ve attended where the book is for sale. I’ll need to nab my copy on the way in. Congrats, Jeannette for a gorgeously written (and fact filled) book. 

Over at the WLT, we have a treat in store for kid lit writers---both novelists and picture bookers. Kirsten Cappy, book publicist and creator of Curious City is coming to town. She will teach a class on Creating Your Independent Marketing Plan (Sat, April 2nd) and is also doing special one-on-ones with picture book authors and illustrators (Fri- April 1st.) Lisa Jahn Clough introduced me to Kirsten many years ago and I always look forward to spotting her at the big book events, BEA, ALA, etc. She is whip smart, thinks outside the box and is the marketing brain behind such books as Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice, and The Accidental Adventures of India McAllister. To register for either the class or the limited one-on-one appointments, go here.


And, the YA A to Z Conference welcomes Random House/Delacorte Press editor Francois Bui to the line-up. Be sure not to miss the first ever conference dedicated to the YA (books considered upper MG, tween, etc.) field. Tim Wynne-Jones will be the Keynote Breakfast speaker. Tim will be speaking about how to find and appreciate your own genius. If you're looking for the perfect boost to inspire you as a writer, you'll want to be sure to catch this talk! To learn more and/or register for the conference, go here.


Coming Up for Me (and Truth with a Capital T)

The kind folks at the Brazos Valley SCBWI are hosting me for a workshop titled “Creating Your Own Canon” on March 26^th from 10am to 1pm. If in the College Station area or willing to head down that way, click here for the workshop registration materials.

Don’t forget the YA Diversity in Fiction Tour is making an Austin stop. Authors Jo Whittemore,Varian Johnson and I join Cindy Pon and Malinda Lo. Check the YA Diversity Tour website for more information



See ya’ll next week!

Frigid Friday: Round Up

It's frigid in Austin and the ground this morning is covered with some flaky white stuff  which is a welcome site to see but I understand the weariness of my Northeastern and Midwestern friends. This is one winter I am glad I am not in NYC traipsing in the white stuff (turned icky slushy salt melted and refrozen treacherous sidewalk fare) but I do like the cozy days--rushing to where I am going, slipping on some cozy socks and enjoying a cup of tea. I wrote earlier this week with my friend Amy Rose and it was delightful to be back at the page--her snuggled on my love seat under a blanket and me groaning at the chapter I was working to reshape. It felt like February--and February it is.

But things haven't slowed down on the Kid Lit scene. Last Saturday at BookPeople the Cynsational Cynthia Leitich Smith and the marvelous Mari Mancusi celebrated their new releases, Blessed and Night School.

I worked the cake/and drink station and laughed my most vampirish laugh from time to time. There were
cookies galore--a delish feast for all.

 

And the most delicious part of the event--aside from the bat cookies and laughs--were getting out hands on copies of Blessed and Night School. Check out the signing line!

Oh, and don't forget even though the temps are low and the snow is high, Cynthia Leitich Smith's Blessed Tour is going on! Turn out and see her if in any of the following cities.

Sunday, 2/6/11

1 p.m. to 3 p.m. - Books of Wonder - reading/Q&A/signing to public with Another Pan author Daniel Nayeri (PUBLIC EVENT)

18 W. 18th St., New York, N.Y.

Monday, 2/7/11

10 a.m. to 11:34 a.m. Francis Lewis High School

6 p.m. Borders Bookstore - reading/signing (PUBLIC EVENT)

Borders Columbus Circle
10 Columbus Circle, New York, N.Y.

Tuesday, 2/8/11

4 p.m. to 5 p.m. New Brunswick Free Public Library - reading/Q&A/signing (PUBLIC EVENT)

6:20 p.m. to 9 p.m. Rutgers University -- guest lecture, "Materials for Young Adults" -- room 203

School of Communication and Information -- 4 Huntington St., New Brunswick, N.J.

Wednesday, 2/9/11

10 a.m. NYPL Mulberry Branch - visit with schools

10 Jersey Street (Between Lafayette & Mulberry Streets) New York, N.Y.

8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. New School Creative Writing Graduate Class - guest lecture

66 West 12th Street, between 5th and 6th Avenues

Thursday, 2/10/11

11:15 a.m. to 12 p.m. Brooklyn Public Library - Professional Development Day

Central Library, 10 Grand Army Plaza

4:00 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. Brooklyn Public Library - Will You Be My Paranormal Valentine Party (with teens)(PUBLIC EVENT)

Central Library, 10 Grand Army Plaza

Friday, 2/11/11

2:15 p.m. to 3 p.m. Little Red School House & Elisabeth Irwin High School Visit

Little Red School House & Elisabeth Irwin HS, LREI

272 Sixth Avenue, New York, N.Y.

7 p.m. The Voracious Reader - "Will You Be My Paranormal Valentine?" event with Another Pan author Daniel Nayeri (PUBLIC EVENT)

1997 Palmer Avenue, Larchmont, N.Y.

Saturday, 2/12/11

1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Mercer County Library Event -- West Windsor Branch (PUBLIC EVENT)

333 North Post Road, Princeton Junction, N.J.

6:30 p.m. Barnes & Noble, Cherry Hill, N.J. (Greater Philly area)(PUBLIC EVENT)

911 Haddonfield Road, Cherry Hill, N.J.

More Awesome Austin News 

There is much buzz about library love--threaten the librarian's livelihoods and act like they are not need and necessary and all us book people get upset. Liz in Ink has been showing the librarians some love, so as Lindsey Lane, and Donna Bowman Bratton. Donna's interview with Jeanette Larson is a must read.  Librarians are so important. They serve a community and their work is not profit oriented--but it can be measured. We all know a librarian that pointed us towards the right book, that patiently answered our research questions, that taught us to think, to peruse at our leisure, and to be responsible by getting those books in on time!

I fell in love with books going to the Fountindale Public Library as a child. I loved the library so much that when I hurt myself on a nearby playground it was the library--not home--I went running to. (The library was closer and I had split my lip and my face was all bloody.) The library wasn't open yet but the librarian was there. She took me inside, called my parents, and got me my favorite Ramona book to sit with while waiting for my parents to arrive.) So, let's all raise our voices, stomp our feet, and join the chorus of Leave the Libraries Alone that Phillip Pullman eloquently delivers here.


Coming Conferences

I am getting excited for the Boots and Buckskin Austin SCBWI conference. I've gotten in several pieces to critique, I will get to see my Delacorte editor, and I will get to give back to an organization I love so well.

And, then there is the WLT YA A -Z Conference. My mentor, Tim Wynne-Jones is on the lineup for the April conference and his about to be released new novel, Blink & Caution is racking up the accolades.

"Two teenagers hurt by life “with its never-ending snares and pitfalls and dire consequences” come together in this elegantly constructed noir mystery and love story…Wynne-Jones’ finest, most beautifully written novel yet, one more in a career full of distinguished works. "starred review    Kirkus
"Wynne-Jones (The Uninvited) delivers a dazzling crime novel that evokes the taut writing and tropes of hard-boiled fiction while interweaving social justice themes and a solid sense of realism." starred review   PW


Tim is a warm and generous teacher, a spirited perfectionist, and a man of many talents. I can't wait to have him in town and here him speak. So, Texans what are you waiting for? Register Now.

Outside Awesome Austin

Congrats to friend and fellow WestSide author, Selene Castrovilla, for the sale of her 6th book. This one is titled Melt and comes out later this year. Selene's writing is raw, realistic, powerful and profound. Congrats!
As we wait for Melt, check out The Girl Next Door, if you haven't already.

Friday Round Up: State of the Picture Book and Ideas and Inspiration

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

Book Bash!
Mari Mancusi  with Night School (Berkley)and Cynthia Leitich Smith with Blessed (Candlewick) are launching their latest books at 2 p.m. Jan. 29 at BookPeople.

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!

About to get my musical theatre fix at the Zach Scott, as April Lurie's outstanding novel,Brothers, Boyfriends, and Other Criminal Minds is going to be performed live, on-stage on ZACH’s Kleberg Stage.

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.

Friday Round Up: Awards, Snubs, and Passion for the Picture Book

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.

I was thrilled to see Hunger Mountain contributor G. Neri get a Printz Honor for his book,  Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shortie illustrated by Randy Duburke and that Rita Williams Garcia recieved the Newbery Honor and the Coretta Scott King Award for her triumphant One Crazy Summer.    (For G. Neri's Hunger Mountain offerings check out this essay on how to hook urban readers and this short story  that inspired the novel Surf Mules, and this nonfiction piece on Chief Wahoo McDaniel.)

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 Harrigan is 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:

Writers' League of Texas Book Award

2010 Awards Sponsored by University Co-op

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
Children’sWinner Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice Phillip Hoose	Finalists The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly All the World by Liz Garton Scanlon
FictionWinner Homicide Survivors Picnic and Other Stories Lorraine Lopez	Finalists Black Water Rising by Attica Locke That Demon Life b

If you'd like to enter the WLT Book Awards or enter the manuscript contests, check out the information here:
http://www.writersleague.org/contests/manuscript.html

http://www.writersleague.org/pdfs/2011%20Book%20Awards%20Guidelines.pdf

Book Bash!
Mari Mancusi  with Night School (Berkley)and Cynthia Leitich Smith with Blessed (Candlewick) are launching their latest books at 2 p.m. Jan. 29 at BookPeople.

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.