I received a Valentine card from Anne Bustard, author of Buddy: The Story Of Buddy Holly (Simon & Schuster, 2005). It features an illustration by author/illustrator Kevin Henkes. Anne also brought me some chocolate kitties from Dr. Chocolate.
How sweet is that?
Speaking of sweet, I would like to send out Valentine’s Day greetings to my very cute husband,
I read a lot. Because I love it. To keep up with the industry. To keep up with my author/illustrator friends. To keep my Web site and this blog updated.
Something I’ve noticed over the years is how much I bring to the process. Many books I’ve set down because I just couldn’t get into them or because they seemed “slight”
The Edgar Allen Poe Awards for best mysteries are sponsored by the Mystery Writers of America. Winners will be announced at the 59th Galla Banquet in New York on April 28. See the complete list of finalists. See also nifty links below for more on the nominees and their books.
Children’s
Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett (Scholastic)
Assassin: The Lady Of Grace Mysteries by Patricia Finney (Delacorte)
Continue Reading Nominees For The Edgar Allen Poe Awards 2005 »
Louder by Peni Griffin, an opinion column, from AchUKa children’s books. Peni is the author of numerous novels for young readers, most recently 11,000 Years Lost (Abrams, 2004), which is a middle grade time-travel adventure set in Texas. Involves very cool mammoths. By the way, Peni is also the person who first turned me on to The X-Files.
Writer e-lists are a great professional boon and/or distraction from one’s work.
I’m a fast reader, so it doesn’t take much of my time to skim my lists and respond to those topics of particular interest. They’ve introduced me to many of my favorite fellow authors, and I’ve learned a great deal about the publishing side of children’s/YA literature.
Continue Reading Writer Internet Lists, Ursula Nordstrom Fiction Contest »
Congratulations to debut author Varsha Bajaj on her picture book, How Many Kisses Do You Want Tonight?, illustrated by Ivan Bates, (Little Brown, 2004), making the 2005 Texas 2 X 2 reading list for great books for ages two through second grade.
Cheers also to author Lisa Wheeler,
I received an email yesterday from the office of the First Lady of Wisconsin, Jessica Doyle, saying that my short-story chapter book, Indian Shoes (Harper, 2002)(ages 7-up), will be a featured intermediate title for Read On Wisconsin! (an online statewide book club).
Why not surf on over and learn about their featured titles from February and before?
Today I was supposed to go to lunch with author Dianna Hutts Aston at Green Pastures, but I had to cancel because of being sick. Sigh.
In any case, Dianna’s recent titles include When You Were Born, illustrated by Caldecott-honor-winner E.B. Lewis (Candlewick, 2004)–my favorite birthday picture book.
See You Down The Road by Kim Ablon Whitney (Knopf, 2004). Bridget has been raised a Traveler, leading the life in trailer after trailer, city after city, with her friends and family–no roots, little school, running scams, casing pigeons, hearing the pros and cons of a really big score. At 16, she’s already engaged, and her older brother Jimmy is enamored with the idea of following in Big Jim’s footsteps to pull in huge money.
Continue Reading See You Down The Road by Kim Ablon Whitney »
FYI: I’ve got a bad flu and am (mostly) taking a few days off blogging.
Today, though, I’m feeling a little better. Among other things, I’m able to handle the vertical position. Thanks to everyone who sent get-well wishes!
I did sneak in on spookycyn with a post today, and despite his nursing duties,