Sometimes you gotta keep it simple

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

Some exciting news coming!!!!

Dear Barbara O'Connor

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)

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

On this Thanksgiving Day

I love

My family

My friends

My dogs

My health

My work

My life

Gobble Gobble

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

Have a good one, everyone!

Gobble, gobble.

Just call me Gadget

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

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

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

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

Dear Barbara O'Connor

Dear Barbara O'Connor:

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

I love kids.

Dear Barbara O'Connor

Dear Barbara O'Connor:

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

I love kids.

Things I Love Thursday

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

Dear Barbara O'Connor:

My hobbies are hula and singing lullabies.

I love kids.

In a pickle

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

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

Things I Love Thursday

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

From a reader:

My favorite hobbies are bowling and writing letters.

I love kids.

If you have to be stuck in traffic...

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