Tuesday, September 28, 2010

My favorite book this week

 Anything Toot & Puddle.  These two pigs are so cute and sunny, their lighthearted stories and lovely illustrations just make me feel warm and cheerful!



  Also, just read Mo Willems' Knuffle Bunny Free, the last of the Trixie trilogy and actually got a bit choked up!  Mo's fantastic sense of humor and warmth is sentimental in a genuine, non-cheesy way, which is refreshing and heartwarming at the same time. A joy to read :)


 

  I am back from my ahhhhmazing Hawaiian vacation and have my first writing class tonight.  I'm a little ashamed to admit that I basically took the summer off from new writing.  I revised and tweaked a lot of material I already had, but unfortunately I have nothing new to offer up in class tonight :(
 Here's hoping that inspiration and motivation begin flowing in abundance once I am in a focused classroom setting again!

Friday, September 10, 2010

"The cure for anything is salt water- 
sweat, tears, or the sea"

~Isak Dinesen

Island Dreaming



I am leaving for Hawaii on Tuesday for 2 whole weeks!   First, to Maui for a girlfriend's wedding and then to Oahu to stay with friends.  I last went to Hawaii with all of my best friends for our high school senior trip, and those same girls are now all going back together, nearly 10 years later!  Rainy fall has come early to Seattle and I am very excited to extend my summer and bask in the sun once again.  Unfortunately, I will be missing the first regional SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators) meeting, as well as my first writing class, which I am very bummed about.  But the islands of aloha are calling...

Thursday, September 9, 2010

My favorite book this week

 
  I came across Imogene's Last Stand one day this summer at the wonderful Secret Garden Bookshop in Ballard.  The story follows the young, feisty, and passionate history-buff Imogene in her struggle to save the historical society building that has been abandoned and unappreciated by her New Hampshire town.  I loved this story immediately, especially for its unique incorporation of famous quotes from important historical figures.  I actually got chills while reading about Imogene's efforts to stand up for what she believes in, fight for a cause close to her heart, and ultimately prove that even the young and small can make a difference.  Seeing this kind of strong, independent female lead character was so heartening, I bought the book the second I finished it!  An inspiring read for girls (and boys!) of any age and one I think is great for a classroom. 
  I'd love to hear about other's favorite picture books you're into right now as well...

Monday, September 6, 2010

Eat, drink and be merry...

Spent Sunday at the Gorge seeing Dave Matthews Band, such a fantastic live show in an amazing setting!

"To change the world,
Start with one step.
However small,
The first step is hardest of all...

If you give, you begin to live"

~You Might Die Trying
#4 in Sunday's setlist

Friday, September 3, 2010

  "Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart."  
 
~William Wordsworth

Library Day


 
  As a kid attending St. Matthews School in Seattle I remember loving library day.  I think it was every Thursday afternoon that our class would line up quietly and head down the hall to the coziest place in the whole school. 
  I loved library day because it meant the librarian, sweet, little Mrs. Rutzel with her neat white bun would sit us all down on the carpet and we'd have story time. 
  I loved library day because it meant shelves and shelves of unexplored books, most too advanced for me at the time, but I liked to imagine reading them when I was old enough.  (Specifically, I remember the wall of Nancy Drew books- I was always drawn to The Secret of the Old Clock, of course for the intriguing picture on the front.  As a kid I totally judged a book by its cover :) 
  I loved library day because it meant freedom to choose whatever our hearts desired and check it out ourselves- a small moment in our adult-run lives where the decision was ours alone.  (It was still the old-school system then, of handwriting your own name on the card and getting a date stamp!) 
  Most of all though I loved library day because it meant seeing my mom, who was a library helper volunteer and so every Thursday afternoon I was lucky enough to see her at school! (keep in mind this was kindergarten or 1st grade, before the preteen years of your parents being too totally emabarssing to be seen with in public.)  I remember feeling like it was the biggest treat in the world to have my mom there.  Getting a hug from mom in the library was just such an enveloping feeling of total warmth, comfort and love.  I wish everyone the sweetness of a Library Day.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Big day! I just mailed my unsolicited manuscript out into the publishing world.  My hands were actually shaking as I very carefully put my story into the envelope.  Hoping the much researched publisher I chose was the best fit!  Who knows what the future will hold, but I do know that success belongs to those brave enough to go after it.  Crossing my fingers, wishing on a star and just sending positive thoughts out into the universe for all kinds of good luck to come this way...