Greetings from Nowhere

Not much goin' on today

2012-01-27T05:30:00.001-05:00

Things I Love Thursday

2012-01-26T05:30:00.002-05:00

My Adirondack chairs

It's official!

2012-01-25T05:30:00.006-05:00

How to Steal a Dog is going to be a movie.....

in Korea!

I had announced that the Asian rights had been sold way back in August of 2010.

But the movie business is slow and complicated, so I've been twiddling my thumbs waiting to see what was going to happen.

*whistles* *twiddles thumbs* *taps foot*

It was explained to me like this:

4 장 조항 세 B는 섹션 십팔 이전에 시작된 있어야합니다 B 조항 A. 네 소유자가 다음 더 이상 십팔 개월 작가로 불리는 섹션 이십일 본으로 개정하기 전에 보상됩니다

But now, it's really, really going to happen! (Don't have production schedule yet.)

So I have to pick out my dress.

Such a dilemma.

Be prepared

2012-01-24T05:30:00.001-05:00

I spend a lot of time on the road visiting schools in New England.

Having had a couple of close calls with blizzards and the possibility of getting stranded on the side of the road, I now keep a winter survival kit in my car.

Hat, gloves, scraper, quilt, de-icer

Shovel


Snacks, forks, tissues, toothbrushes

I'm ready!

I'm going to miss the live action

2012-01-23T06:28:00.001-05:00

You can watch the ALA awards here:

I'll be at a school, so will miss it.

Good luck to all contenders!

Cereal Box Book Reports

2012-01-23T05:30:00.003-05:00

While Mr. Mason's students were hard at work on their writing, I checked out their fantastic cereal box book reports.

To all the writers and illustrators in my life (and that's a lot)

2012-01-20T05:30:00.003-05:00

29 WAYS TO STAY CREATIVE from TO-FU on Vimeo.

Things I Love Thursday

2012-01-19T05:30:00.003-05:00

For your Valentine!

ALA Youth Media Awards

2012-01-18T05:30:00.010-05:00

You can watch them live here.

January 23 @ 7:45 Central Time

Trailer for How to Steal a Dog

2012-01-17T05:30:00.009-05:00

Made by some students

I love this!

As time goes by

2012-01-16T05:30:00.010-05:00

Another writing workshop.

Another great group of kids showing off their timelines.

Look what I got

2012-01-12T17:24:00.000-05:00

Island's End by the brilliant and beautiful and oh-so-sweet Padma Venkatraman.

I loved her Climbing the Stairs, so I can't wait to get into this one (which has only received, like, a gazillion starred reviews.)

I had the pleasure of meeting her:

Things I Love Thursday

2012-01-12T05:30:00.001-05:00

This tiny china dog.

When I was a little girl, a visit to my grandmother's house was a mysterious adventure.

She lived in a tiny, dark, low-ceiling-ed house set way back in the woods, at the end of a long, long dirt driveway. (I know I need an editor for that sentence.)

Geese and turkeys waddled around the yard.

Inside, a stuffed fox stood on a table behind the couch. His orange glass eyes followed me around the room.

My grandfather owned a small general store. There was a candy display in the dining room! Can you imagine being a 7-year-old girl with a candy display in your grandparent's dining room? Life savers and Zero candy bars and PayDays and Turkish taffy.

In one corner of the room was a small, round, three-tiered table. On each layer there were china figurines.

Ladies with parasols.

Leprechauns doing somersaults.

Horses prancing.

And that little china dog.

He was my favorite and I played with him for hours. (Thus, his chipped ear....)

I still love him.

Dear Barbara O'Connor

2012-01-09T05:30:00.001-05:00

Dear Barbara O'Connor:

I'm like Popeye [from The Small Adventure of Popeye and Elvis] because I never get what I want.

I love kids.

On your new calendar

2012-01-06T05:30:00.001-05:00

Write "Buy This!" on October 2

Please

Things I Love Thursday

2012-01-05T05:30:00.001-05:00

Lilacs

(I know it's not the season, but I love them anyway.)

Capitol Choices for Owen Jester

2012-01-04T13:53:00.004-05:00

The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester was named to the 2011 Capitol Choices List (Noteworthy Books for Children and Teens.

Lessons from Blondie's University of Experience

2012-01-04T05:30:00.001-05:00

Lesson #670:

If you accidentally throw away that little license plate sticker when your new car registration comes in the mail...and you go to the Registry of Motor Vehicles to get a new one, that little square thing with a number on it that the check-in lady gives you is the STICKER, not your customer number.

True story that I have never told a soul except my BFF until now:

I accidentally threw away that little license plate sticker. (Okay, okay, I actually did it TWICE.)

I went to get a new one.

I stood in line with everyone else in the state of Massachusetts (actually, they call it a Commonwealth. Don't ask me why.....must be a Yankee thing).

When it was my turn to see the check-in lady, I told her what I wanted and showed her my registration. She handed me a little orange ticket with a number on it.

She had handed everyone little tickets with numbers.

So how was I supposed to know she had handed me the actual sticker? Heh...

I sit on the bench with everyone else in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and wait for my number to be called.

I was #11.

The lit-up sign read: Now serving customer 78.

Dang!

I was going to have to wait until it went all the way to 100 and starts over again, I guess.

Wait....wait....wait.

I look around.

Hmmm, everyone else's little tickets looked a little less orange than mine.

Actually, everyone else's little tickets were yellow.

Uh, oh.....

Light bulb moment.

I was holding the license plate sticker.

Okay, now I've got to get up and walk out of there like I knew this all along.

La la la la la....*strolls nonchalantly past the benches filled with everyone in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts*.....la la la.....

*Strolls past the check-in lady*

*Shoots check-in lady a small glare*

Was the check-in lady smirking?!

*Gets to door and bolts out of there*

So now, the next time I accidentally throw away that little license plate sticker, I know how to do it.

Lesson learned.

Heh

Dear Barbara O'Connor

2012-01-03T05:30:00.001-05:00

Dear Barbara O'Connor:

I like Boo [the dog in The Small Adventure of Popeye and Elvis] because I'm more like him because I'm lazy.

I love kids.

My wonderful Christmas

2012-01-02T05:30:00.003-05:00

My Christmas was wonderful.

We continued traditions.

Like Santa bringing us a remote control helicopter to torture, um, I mean, to entertain the dogs.

I received some super gifts, including this garden ornament in honor of Sherman, the pigeon in my upcoming novel, On the Road to Mr. Mineo's.

My favorite part of the day is dinner.

We open our stockings.

I am blessed.

Happy New Year!

2011-12-31T05:30:00.001-05:00

With 2011 drawing to an end, I want to say Happy New Year....

....and...

....thank you all for reading my little corner of the blog universe....

....and for helping to support my work and get my books (and all books) into the hands of young readers.

So....I toast blog readers and teachers and librarians and bookstore owners and writers and readers and parents.

A Year in a Minute (or Two)

2011-12-30T14:50:00.004-05:00

The Chick Palace has arrived!

2011-12-26T13:34:00.002-05:00

Here it is!!

Ho Ho Ho

2011-12-24T05:30:00.001-05:00

Wishing y'all peace, joy, hope, happiness, health, cheer, beer, and all things good.

See you next year!

You know it's winter in New England....

2011-12-23T05:30:00.000-05:00

....when you see this sign on the door of a school.

Things I Love Thursday

2011-12-22T05:30:00.001-05:00

This little painting in the style of the Florida Highwaymen.

Read this book

2011-12-21T05:30:00.000-05:00

I'm a sucker for Southern books.

Glory Be by Augusta Scattergood is Southern through and through.

But so much more:

an important story about race, friendships, small town life, and sisterly love.

Augusta Scattergood has drawn on real-life events to create her memorable debut novel.

A writer to watch, to read, to enjoy.

Available January 1!

Read this book.

Bookends

2011-12-20T18:04:00.003-05:00

What writer doesn't love bookends?

Since, I'm married to a handyman, I love these.

Read this book

2011-12-20T05:30:00.004-05:00

The day after Christmas, when you're through eating and opening gifts and all that stuff....

....and are relaxed by the fire....

....go to Barnes and Noble Nook First

....and buy....

...The Chick Palace...

....by Leslie Davis Guccione.

(available exclusively through Barnes and Noble beginning Dec. 26)

Three Dilemmas

Two Friends

One Deserted Tree House

during a simmering summer on Lake Allamucy

Don't have a Nook? You can download the Nook app to your computer.

Toot toot

2011-12-19T05:30:00.001-05:00

Tooting a little horn for The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester and The Small Adventure of Popeye and Elvis.

Both are on ALSC's (Association for Library Service to Children) Great Early Elementary Reads list.

Toot toot

Tree is up!

2011-12-18T18:20:00.002-05:00

Ready for Santa

2011-12-16T05:30:00.002-05:00

Tis the season to be jolly.

The O'Connors are ready.

Things I Love Thursday

2011-12-15T05:30:00.001-05:00

Coffee Crisp Candy Bars

I love Texans

2011-12-14T05:30:00.002-05:00

Look what one of my favorite Texas librarians, Angela Sides, gave me!

It's made from an okra pod.

How cool is that?

A great book blog

2011-12-13T05:30:00.001-05:00

Check out this blog by school librarian and author, Shelley Sommer.

And, um, this particular post is, um, particularly nice!

I can relate

2011-12-12T05:30:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Bookshelf Blog

Coast to coast and back again

2011-12-09T05:30:00.003-05:00

One day this week, I was visiting a school on the opposite coast. (They are on the West Coast. I am on the East Coast.)

Then I was at a school here in New England that made me feel so welcome. They posted this sign on every door and up and down the halls.

In case you were wondering

2011-12-08T16:35:00.002-05:00

This clock really does set itself!

Power was out today. Clock all set!

Things I Love Thursday

2011-12-08T05:30:00.001-05:00

These little Christmas ornaments that were my grandmother's.
They are porcelain bells.

I love kids

2011-12-07T05:30:00.000-05:00

From a school report by a fan:

Barbara O'Connor is a speaker at conferences all around the World. One of Barbara's books is called A Dog on His Own.

Um, I really hope this kid got a good grade on that report, but, um, Mary Jane Auch wrote A Dog on His Own. Just sayin....

School Library Journal Best Books of 2011

2011-12-06T15:44:00.002-05:00

Here they are!

Macmillan Newsletter

2011-12-06T14:43:00.002-05:00

The December newsletter from Macmillan Children's Publishing is up!

Great news for my BFF

2011-12-06T05:30:00.006-05:00

Leslie Guccione's fabulous novel, The Chick Palace, is a December 26 launch title for Barnes and Noble's Nook First .

Look for it on December 26!!

Go, Gucci!

The 4:00 Book Hook

2011-12-05T05:30:00.001-05:00

A super newsletter published by a group of super writers.

"...aimed at people who share books with kids: parents, homeschoolers, teachers, librarians, grandparents."

The December/January issue offers some great gift-giving suggestions (including a couple from Yours Truly).

Poor Matty

2011-12-02T16:17:00.002-05:00

My grumpy little guy had a tooth pulled.

He is not a happy camper.

Dear Barbara O'Connor

2011-12-02T05:30:00.001-05:00

Dear Barbara O'Connor:

What do you do when you're not writing? I want to know to see if authors like you do normal things.

I love kids.

Things I Love Thursday

2011-12-01T05:30:00.001-05:00

This vintage drying rack I scored at an antique fair.

Sometimes you gotta keep it simple

2011-11-30T05:30:00.001-05:00

My husband thinks it's hilarious that I have every electronic, computerized gadget known to man....but I still use this little file box with index cards.

But, hey, you need a backup plan if the power goes out.

So proud of my BFF

2011-11-29T20:08:00.003-05:00

Some exciting news coming!!!!

Dear Barbara O'Connor

2011-11-29T05:30:00.001-05:00

Dear Barbara O'Connor

I am like Starletta [from The Small Adventure of Popeye and Elvis] because I am more like a dirt girl and I like to play with rocks.

I love kids.

Eureka! (sort of)

2011-11-28T05:30:00.002-05:00

Every time I finish a book, I have this terrible feeling that I'll never have another idea as long as I live.

I have almost wrapped up On the Road to Mr. Mineo's (coming from Macmillan Fall 2012), so now it's time to jump into something new.

But my idea box has been frightfully empty.

Until a few days ago, when: Eureka!

I got a teeny weeny teeny tiny flicker of an idea.

Will it grow?

I hope so.

Things I Love Thursday

2011-11-24T05:30:00.003-05:00

On this Thanksgiving Day

I love

My family

My friends

My dogs

My health

My work

My life

Gobble Gobble

2011-11-23T05:29:00.000-05:00

Headed to the Big Apple to spend Thanksgiving with my son.

Have a good one, everyone!

Gobble, gobble.

Just call me Gadget

2011-11-22T05:30:00.001-05:00

I have several nicknames.

One of them is Gadget.

Because I love gadgets.

My philosophy is: why do it yourself when you can buy a gadget to do it for you? (Although I could have lived without that battery-powered shower scrubber my parents gave me for Christmas one year.)

Quite a few years ago, I bought a Brookstone "Atomic" clock. It would automatically reset for Daylight Savings Time. The problem is that the government conspired against me and changed the dates of Daylight Savings Time.

There was NO way to reset that dang clock.

I lived with it for a while but then it started randomly springing forward and falling back on weekdays. Not good when you have to go to work.

So I bought a NEW Brookstone clock.

This one not only changes for Daylight Savings Time, but it sets itself when you plug it in!

Guys Read Book Club

2011-11-21T05:30:00.001-05:00

The Browning School in New York City has a father/son book club called Guys Read: 3rd Grade Book Club.

According to the website: It was "begun by Susan Levine, Assistant Librarian, as an opportunity for dads (or uncles, grandfathers, or other close guy friends) to share the experience of reading in a participative and fun way."

They recently read The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester.

Pretty cool!

Setting map

2011-11-18T06:00:00.002-05:00

For some of my books, I draw a VERY rough map of the setting. (I'm terrible at drawing.)

It is a valuable tool to help me maneuver my characters throughout the story.

I drew one for my upcoming novel, On the Road to Mr. Mineo's.

I never dreamed I would show it to anyone.

Today my editor asked me if I could sketch a little map for the jacket artist (Greg Call), who was working on a map for the book jacket. (She added that it didn't need to help me get into Pratt. Good thing...)

So, I sent the one I used. Pretty rough....but, hey, it helped!

Things I Love Thursday

2011-11-17T06:00:00.002-05:00

This photo booth pic of my son and me from a long, long time ago.

Dear Barbara O'Connor

2011-11-15T06:00:00.001-05:00

Dear Barbara O'Connor:

Your next book should be "I AM NOT GOING TO SCHOOL."

I love kids.

Dear Barbara O'Connor

2011-11-11T06:00:00.001-05:00

Dear Barbara O'Connor:

My hobbies are video games, football, and having fun with my life.

I love kids.

Things I Love Thursday

2011-11-10T06:00:00.001-05:00

This little Buddha incense burner my son made when he was little.

P.S. Can you tell he grew up going to a Unitarian church? :-)

Dear Barbara O'Connor

2011-11-09T06:00:00.002-05:00

Dear Barbara O'Connor:

My hobbies are hula and singing lullabies.

I love kids.

In a pickle

2011-11-08T06:00:00.002-05:00

While these students were hard at work during my writing workshop....

I snooped around the room, looking at the bulletin boards.

The students had drawn pictures illustrating idioms.

Luke was in a pickle when he couldn't decide wether [sic] to go to the football game or to his best friend's birthday party:

When I [was] playing outside it randomly started raining cats and dogs:

When Jane lost her softball game she was down in the dumps:

The Bushe's Baked Beans were to die for:

Sakura Medal

2011-11-07T06:00:00.001-05:00

The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester has been nominated for the Sakura Medal, an award voted on by students in international schools in Japan.

How to make a Yoohoo boat

2011-11-04T06:00:00.002-04:00

Things I Love Thursday

2011-11-03T06:00:00.001-04:00

This wall pocket I got in England.

I love it because I remember so clearly the little town in the Cotswolds where I got it.

Memories.

I love kids

2011-11-02T06:00:00.003-04:00

From a reader:

My favorite hobbies are bowling and writing letters.

I love kids.

If you have to be stuck in traffic...

2011-11-01T06:00:00.001-04:00

....you should be behind a Jelly Belly car!

As time goes by

2011-10-31T06:00:00.002-04:00

Mrs. Mansfield's fifth graders at John F Kennedy School are eager to show me their timelines during a biography-writing workshop.

Things I Love Thursday

2011-10-27T06:00:00.006-04:00

I have a box of letters my father wrote home to his parents during World War II.

I treasure all of them.

But here is my favorite (translation below pics):

It says:

Dear Dad,

I guess you are getting to think I am nothing but a spend thrift. I guess I did spend money.

I had better fess up and tell you the truth and quit beating around the bush. You already know how I made all that money I sent home. I won it gambling and I also lost all I had this month, which was only about $25.

I am going to quit gambling or I won't have any money in the bank. By now you should know I am building you up for something so here goes.

I am flat broke. Go ahead and give me a good kick where it will do the most good.

If possible (don't send your money, but mine) send me $30 by wire or air mail and I promise that I won't gamble anymore. I have learnt my lesson.

Don't tell Mom.

Also tell me how much I have in the bank. Mom said that she sold my car. How much did she get?

Well, that is enough of my troubles. Hope you are doing a better job at saving than I am.

I hope to get Harriet an engagement ring in Sept, for some day I hope to get married. Don't tell Mother that, at least for a while.

Well, be good.

Remember I will never gamble any more.

Your bad boy,
Bill

Here is Bad Boy Bill and Harriet (my mother):

Read this book

2011-10-26T06:00:00.001-04:00

I loved Saint Louis Armstrong Beach

by Brenda Woods.

Combine one brilliantly-portrayed character (clarinet-playing Saint), the colorful setting of New Orleans, one heart-tugging stray dog, and the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and you have one wonderful read.

Are we having fun yet?

2011-10-24T06:00:00.001-04:00

I was sorting through family photos the other day and came across this one from a trip to Belgium a number of years ago.

These are tourists on a canal boat tour.

Are they having fun yet? Haha!

I love kids

2011-10-21T06:00:00.000-04:00

From a student:

To me, your [sic] the best author of all time.

I love kids.

Things I Love Thursday

2011-10-20T06:00:00.006-04:00

In 1944, my parents were sweethearts, window-shopping before my father went off to the war.

My mother saw a little red suede jacket that she loved.

My father bought it for her.

67 years later

I love it, too.

Bittersweet

2011-10-19T06:00:00.005-04:00

How to Steal a Dog was featured on NBC Nightly News last night in a piece about helping kids cope with this tough economy.

This is the preview.

And this is the piece that aired.

I'm happy to have this wonderful exposure, but, sigh....it is bittersweet. I wish the economy weren't such that this kind of bibliotherapy is needed.

Bacon bookmark

2011-10-18T06:00:00.001-04:00

I love this bacon bookmark.

Travelling in my slippers

2011-10-17T06:00:00.001-04:00

I've been doing quite a few Skype visits with schools recently.

It still seems amazing to me that I can chat with kids in faraway places right from my home.

I didn't even have to change out of my slippers to visit Georgia:

Or Texas:

Or Thailand:

Ruby made a Bark-o-Lounger

2011-10-14T06:00:00.001-04:00

Get it?

BARK-o-Lounger

Things I Love Thursday

2011-10-13T06:00:00.003-04:00

The cover of my new book!

Coming Fall 2012

Read this book

2011-10-12T10:12:00.005-04:00

I am so bad at book reviewing, that I decided I'm just going to steal other people's reviews and then say:

Read this book.

Monika, Monika, Monika, you did it again. Wow!

Note: This got published before I got the link inserted, so, sorry if you didn't get this link.

Bog walk

2011-10-12T06:00:00.000-04:00

A slow news day today, so I'm posting a panoramic pic of my favorite place to walk
(a cranberry bog)

They did it again!

2011-10-11T06:00:00.001-04:00

You might remember my obsession with Cafe Francais.

I am, once more, in mourning.

They have gone and changed the packaging again!!

It's not even a real CAN.

It's cardboard.

They better not have changed that delicious "coffee" inside.

Pumpkin Day

2011-10-10T06:00:00.003-04:00

It was in the 80s over the weekend here in New England.

A great day to go pumpkin shopping!

Yoohoo Boat Race!

2011-10-07T06:00:00.002-04:00

Check out this cool Yoohoo boat race done by students at Hilton Head Preparatory School!

Hilton Head Preparatory School Yoohoo Boat Race from Barbara O'Connor on Vimeo.

Things I Love Thursday

2011-10-06T06:00:00.001-04:00

Returning a revised manuscript.

Love that Gracie

2011-10-05T06:00:00.000-04:00

When I was awarded the William Allen White Award for the state of Kansas, the student who introduced me was the adorable Gracie Schmidt.

When I arrived the first night, she presented me with boiled peanuts (made from scratch by her and her mother.)

Gracie did a great job at the award ceremony.

Last week, she sent me this picture of herself when she discovered BOILED PEANUTS by the roadside.

Some great advice for writers

2011-10-04T15:13:00.002-04:00

....from the brilliant Kirby Larson.

Hound Dog True by Linda Urban

2011-10-04T06:00:00.007-04:00

How many ways did I love this book?

As I used to say as a kid, "Every which-a-way."

Here is just a smattering of sentences I loved. (And that's a good word: smattering.)

One teacher--a man--wears flip-flops. He has hair on his toes. Mattie is glad she will not be in his class. Seems wrong to know your teacher has hair on his toes.

Mattie feels herself blush. She's not sure what a hernia is, but it seems like if you had one, you wouldn't want people knowing about it. Like warts or a bad report card.

Quincy had a way of talking--flat and dull, like stones dropping plunk, plunk in a puddle.

Mattie feels whatever brave she had sliding out the bottom of her shoes.

Kisses Mattie on the top of her head, drops his hat over the kiss spot. It feels good. Like having a Band-Aid on a paper cut.

There are lots of other sentences in Hound Dog True by Linda Urban.

Go read them.

Today's not Thursday

2011-10-03T06:00:00.000-04:00

But I love this!!!!

Sommer Reading

2011-09-30T06:00:00.003-04:00

I recently visited Inly Montessori School in Scituate, MA.

The visit was arranged by librarain and author Shelley Sommer, who has a terrific blog focusing on children's books. Check it out!

Who wouldn't want to go to a school that looks like this?

Book recommendation

2011-09-29T11:27:00.006-04:00

I read so many children's books that I often don't have time to squeeze in adult books. So when I do, I'm very selective.

One of my favorite adult books EVER is Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight by Alexandra Fuller.

It's a fascinating memoir of her childhood in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe).

I just finished her new follow-up book to that memoir, Cocktail Hour Under the Tree of Forgetfulness.

Loved loved loved

Things I Love Thursday

2011-09-29T06:00:00.001-04:00

This hummingbird print that was my grandmother's. (I have two of them.)

In my grandmother's house, with my sister and cousins.

I'm the cute baby on the right.

I'm the cute one in my mother's arms.
Notice the chicken on the table.

I love that, too.

It's a candy dish.

Making a big world smaller

2011-09-28T06:00:00.002-04:00

Tonight I am Skyping with the International School in Bangkok, Thailand.

Isn't it amazing to be talking to students in another part of the world while sitting at home in my jammies? (Okay, I might not have my jammies on.)

Here is the librarian's blog.

And this is what the teacher wrote to me:

Here is some background info about our class and our reading of Greetings From Nowhere:

Our class of 21 fifth graders represents 8 nationalities. Eight children are new to our school this year in Bangkok. I chose to read Greetings From Nowhere aloud to the class as it is such a great lead-in to our reading unit on "Characters", where we ask the question, "How can the people in stories be like me?"

We are discovering that characters, like real people, are complex and can change. As readers, we are talking about how we develop empathy for and connections to the characters in the story.

The class LOVED the story, start to finish, and they were quite disappointed to find out that it was NOT part of a series! I am continually amazed at how my groups of internationally diverse students relate to the small world of the Sleepy Time Motel.

I think they have discovered big life lessons in that small world. One boy said last week, "I can make a connection with Aggie, because I know that it is painful to leave a home that is familiar."

I love that!!

Details, details

2011-09-27T06:00:00.001-04:00

I'm in the midst of reviewing the copyedited manuscript of On the Road to Mr. Mineo's.

This part of the book creation process can be frustrating but eye-opening.

I'm always surprised at the mistakes I make consistently and the things I learn.

For instance, every time I used the following, I wrote them as two words instead of one:

barbershop
livelong
flowerpots (but flower boxes is two words)
shirttail
cornfields
hayloft
toolbox

I always write lawn mower as one word instead of two.

I forget that the following are hyphenated:

gol-dern (to prevent confusion for kids who don't know the term and might think it should be "golden" ??)
barn-owl (although a copyeditor missed it in one spot, where I had two words. HA!)
chicken-wire
run-down

I gave up on trying to use the expression "pure T". Copyeditor thought I meant "purty."

Those guys don't miss a thing.

On p 2 I wrote "empty doghouse in the yard"
On p 73 I wrote "empty doghouse in the front yard"

On p 2 I wrote "stamped her foot"
On p 42 I wrote "stomped her foot"

I wrote "screened door."
Was changed to "screen door. " (hmmm)

On p 17 I wrote "dern fool bird"
On p 118 I wrote "dang fool bird"

I had written: "greasy car parts and paint cans"
Was changed to "Paint cans and greasy car parts" since the paint cans aren't greasy.

And then, there is the constant inner battle between "diddly squat" and "doodly squat."

Writing is such hard work.

Cider Mill School

2011-09-26T06:00:00.001-04:00

Last week I spent time at Cider Mill School in Wilton, CT.

The 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students had all read The Small Adventure of Popeye and Elvis for their summer reading.

They've spent the first weeks of school discussing the book, making projects, playing Jeopardy and getting ready for my visit.

It was wonderful. I was greeted by lovely displays around the school.

I got to wear Starletta's butterfly wings.

I loved seeing all the projects the students had worked on.

The amazing Ellen Tuckner (aka Starletta) masterminded one of the best school visits of all time.

I signed a LOT of books.

They were well-used. I love that.

The students were enthusiastic, smart, friendly, polite and welcoming.

And check out this painting of Barbra Streisand drinking Yoohoo done by one of the teachers (Ms. Howell....so talented).

Thank you Mrs. Tuckner, Cider Mill students and Cider Mill PTA.

I've been a little slack...

2011-09-23T06:00:00.001-04:00

....at blogging recently.

Reason #1: An amazing visit to Cider Mill School in Wilton, CT (photos to follow)

Reason #2: Editing a manuscript

Things I Love Thursday

2011-09-22T06:00:00.001-04:00

This little footstool made by my grandfather.

I keep it under my desk and use it every time I write.

Happy anniversary, Westwinds Bookshop

2011-09-19T06:00:00.001-04:00

My local bookstore, Westwinds Bookshop, celebrated its 65th anniversary last weekend!.

Author/illustrator, Brian Lies set up the Batmobile.

They had nice displays.

And my favorite part of the day was seeing my buddies, Maeve (left) and Audrey (right).

Things I Love Thursday

2011-09-15T06:00:00.001-04:00

This song. It makes me cry.

Lessons from Blondie's University of Experience

2011-09-14T06:00:00.001-04:00

Lesson #653:

Do not learn how to drive a motorcycle going downhill with parked cars in front of you.

I love kids

2011-09-13T06:00:00.001-04:00

From a student's school report:

Barbara's inspiration was that she has always loved children and she loved to write so she put them together and BAM! Out came children's books.