Book of the Months

I'm about to call it a week. My SO returns from a 21-day business trip tomorrow, and we agreed to shun all things work until next Thursday. I decided to knock off a little early today and get a few weekend-type chores out of the way. (I could have done several of them during my three weekends as a single girl. But oh well.)

Anyhoo, I usually update my author site the evening before the 1st of each month. But I went ahead and did it today. Think anyone will notice? Or care? I don't!

Most months, unless I have a new title to add, all I really do is change the "Book of the Month" and "Quick Picks" options on my home page and update the News/Events section as needed. Today I did everything except change the featured book. June and July are my slowest traffic periods, so I figure my buddy Quasimodo can reign for two months running.

I've been seriously considering converting completely to the blog-as-author-site model. I think I mentioned in an earlier post that my current Web host is adding a blogging feature to its sitebuilder. I'm trying to hang on until they roll out the update before making any big decisions. The waiting has gotten old, though. They've been promising the new sitebuilder for almost two years now. Now they say "late spring 2007." Hmmmmm.

I can probably hold on a bit longer. But not much.

Safety First

Just got back from a morning research run. As I (slowly) made my way from the library back to the main city roads, I remembered this series of photos from the route. (My husband took them last year.) The important safety warning is always appropriate and, I thought, perfect for a Wednesday chuckle.

"Jenna Bush, Children's Author"

That was the subject line of a recent PW Children's Bookshelf email, and I sent the bulletin straight to my trash folder. I don't know anything about Jenna Bush outside "news" reports that she partied hearty in the early days of her father's first term. She may be very bright and entirely capable of writing (or taking public credit for if there's a ghostwriter) a good book. But I was working on a proposal that day, wondering whether the publisher I was targeting would even recall sitting on a conference panel with me a few years back, and the teaser just rubbed me the wrong way.

I've since read that JB's attorney started shopping the proposal for the book Ana's Story early this year and that it will hit the shelves by October (wow, that's FAST). The book grew out of the First Twin's work with UNICEF in Darfur, and the HarperCollins PR machine bills it as a "powerful and personal nonfiction account of a girl who fights against all odds to survive" as she lives with HIV. I have to say that attaching a young Bush's name to a book with this subject matter is brilliant. It can't miss. Even if it does.

But let's face facts, fellow writers: Could there have been even the slightest question as to whether the manuscript would be purchased, published, and heavily marketed? The whole big-name-as-children's-author scene makes me tired on so many levels, whether I think about it as a writer, editor, reviewer, reader, consumer, or voter. To the point of my feelings as a writer, though — it's tough out there. Every big-budget book created to sell a personality, album, movie, or political agenda chips away at the quality of available literature, not to mention the morale of the work-a-day writer.

Listen, I won't even try to pretend that I think all celebrity books are junk. Some are quite good. And many industry pundits believe that any spike in book sales, whatever the reason, is good for the health of children's publishing. But that doesn't make the fuss over each new celebrity title less annoying for those of us in the real-life trenches of the marketplace.

Check out my big fat list of celebrity colleagues. It's something else!

Julianne Moore, LeAnn Rimes, Mel Brooks, Rhea Perlman, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Cindy Crawford, Jerry Seinfeld, Madonna, John Lithgow, Julie Andrews, Will Smith, Kylie Minogue, John Travolta, Bobbi Brown, Henry Winkler, Caroline Kennedy, Bill Cosby, Katie Couric, Jay Leno, Jamie Lee Curtis, Tiki and Ronde Barber, Gloria Estefan, Joy Behar, Billy Crystal, Joni Mitchell, Spike Lee, Roma Downey, Boomer Esiason, Maria Shriver, Ray Romano, Jada Pinkett Smith, Dom DeLuise, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Prince of Wales Charles, Carly Simon, Larry King, Venus and Serena Williams, Paul McCartney, Sting, Sarah The Duchess of York Ferguson, Bob Dylan, Debbie Allen, LL Cool J, Jane Seymour, Mario Cuomo, Whoopi Goldberg, Alan Arkin, Mary Engelbreit, Jimmy Carter, Dr. Laura Schlessinger, Jerry Garcia, Deborah Norville, Ed Koch, Olivia Newton-John, Ricky Gervais, Bette Midler, Debby Boone, Jason Alexander

I'll let the list stand alone — with a big "SERIOUSLY?" implied next to several names — as the sum of my own commentary on the issue. And I'll throw in a few highlights from a 2004 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article:

Wildly gifted, real-deal children's author Jane Yolen said, "Celebrity children's books eat up all the available oxygen . . . I have over 250 books out, have won a great number of awards within the field, have been given four honorary doctorates for my body of work, but have never been on Oprah or spoken to Katie Couric or gotten a $100,000 advance for my work."

The same article references a Madonna quote about why she got into writing kids' books in the first place: "I'm starting to read to my son," she said. "But I couldn't believe how vapid and vacant and empty all the stories were. There's, like, no lessons. . . . There's, like, no books about anything." (I admit to italicizing the "likes" in this quote for sport. But I've decided to refrain from pointing out the tense shift and examples of subject-verb disagreement.)

Yolen's funny follow-up addresses the perception by just about everyone that just about anyone can write for children. (I mean, how hard can it be to type up 750 words about a teddy bear or being a friend?)

She said, "I am not complaining. I do very well by the ordinary parameters of the field. But I have been thinking about getting out my pointy bra and brushing up on my singing and dancing because there's no good pop music out there."

Well, I'll end on that note. I have work to do. Obviously.

Biz Buzz: Harry Potter's "Literary Ecosystem"

A quick link to Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg's 5/10/07 Wall Street Journal piece about the Harry Potter fan fiction universe.

My favorite quote from the article:

"Much like George Lucas's Star Wars films and Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code, the Harry Potter books are whales to which many barnacles have attached themselves."

Is It Leading When You're Online?

I noticed this morning that the leading, or line spacing, is all wonky on a few of my recent posts. The font and type size displays differently in a couple of spots too.

I searched Blogger Help for a fix and ended up spending the next hour chasing my tail through a heap of civilian-created blogs on blogging. They lure you in with titles like Blogger for Dummies, Tips 'n' Tricks for Idiots Who Blog, and Hey, Fool — What Makes You Think YOU Can Figure This Out (Fool!!)?

My conclusion is that I don't need an answer today. "Step away from the Google, Lisa. Step away."

Quote of the Day

"The story I am writing exists, written in absolutely perfect fashion, some place, in the air. All I must do is find it, and copy it."
—Jules Renard, Diary, February 1895

Hoping to snatch that story from the air this weekend!

Kids' Self-Talk

I just stepped out to get the mail. A neighborhood boy of about 13 is throwing a tennis ball at a garage-door target, scooping it up each time it bounces on the driveway. He's chanting, "I am amazing, I am amazing, I am amazing." Not in an arrogant way. He's just lost in the game and his thoughts. It is priceless.

Now, how to bottle that for a character?

P.S. I had my own positive chant as a kid. You?

Finding Your Voice: Reader Question on Part 1

A shy reader (hey, reader!) sent an email question about the Finding Your Voice series. She writes, "Can you give your own answers to the reflection exercises and explain how you would use them in your writing?"

Sure, glad to oblige. Keep in mind, though, that these exercises are meant to inspire your writing — you won't necessarily use your answers in a tangible way. But let's see if taking a look at my replies can help clarify the purpose of the exercises and give you some ideas.

Exercise 1: Last Children's Book I Read Just Because I Wanted To

The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron. I read this terrific Newbery winner back in January. A short synopsis I'd seen was enough to make me want to read it with no up-front intention of writing a review or lesson plan. I read it sooner than I normally would have because I wanted to support the work (by purchasing it) in the midst of its censorship controversy.

Why I think noting your last "just because" kids' book is useful: In the context of finding your voice and identifying your niche (market, age of your audience, genre), I find that a writer typically will have read a title from within the category of books he or she wants to work with. Obviously, this is no scientific process. But when I'm using the exercise in class, I try to make sure each student answers with a book s/he chose to read for pleasure. Your toddler's current go-to story and the last book you picked up for your teenager do not count.

What if you've never read a children's book just for fun, or the last time you did you were still a child? That doesn't have to mean anything whatsoever. Start reading now, and you'll figure it out. But if you're having a particularly difficult time narrowing your focus or trying to write something, anything, for the younger set, low or no interest in reading children's literature could be an indicator that you need to examine your motivations for wanting to write for kids. It's not for everyone.

Exercise 2: All-Time Favorite Book from My Youth

Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh. I loved it then as I love it now because it is perfectly suited for the intended age level (8–12; best, I think, for 9–10); it's hilarious, clever, and poignant all at once; and it stars a smart, capable girl.

Why I think this info can help: Often, the books that left lasting impressions are of the type you want to write.

Exercise 3: 1–10 Songs That Take Me Back in Time to My Youth

I went with 10. Some will list just 1 or 3 or 5. The point is to focus on songs that spring to mind in connection with vivid childhood memories. The point of that is for you to feel the feelings, see the colors, and milk all of it. You can use the essence of childhood — as you experienced it — to craft believable fiction and relatable nonfiction.

Why I think this exercise can help: Because music is a classic memory trigger. It serves as a backdrop to life's events, huge and minute. You can talk, think, read, play, eat, watch TV, celebrate, and grieve to it. When you were a child, music was playing in your house, your room, the car, the grocery store, your head . . . you heard it at the theme park, the swimming pool, your church. Your mom hummed it, and your dad whistled it. You learned it during chorus, piano lessons, band practice, and play rehearsals. Your basketball coach had you run drills to it, your teacher put it on for indoor recess, and a DJ filled the gym with it for the school dance. It went with you on vacation, picnics, and — if you came of age anytime from the transistor era on — walks, runs, and bike rides.

Below is my list. I've noted the memory I associate with each song and expanded a couple of them into full-blown anecdotes. I want to stress that I don't see using any of these moments as the basis for a story. But each trigger is so strong for me that I can practically touch the original scene. And when I pay attention, I can — and do — find ways to add elements of such experiences to my writing.

1. “Rich Girl,” Hall & Oates. See anecdote here.
   
2. “Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves,” Cher. Oh. My. Gosh. This single is from the first album I ever bought with my own money. It may have been the first *anything* I ever bought. The LP cost $3 at Pamida. I was 6. I thought Cher was beyond spectacular. I loved her voice and look, and I lived for Sonny & Cher's variety show. First purchase, first album, first brush with fandom.
   
3. “Cried Like a Baby,” Bobby Sherman. Reminds me of the few years I shared a room with my older sister and did my level best to not touch her stuff (which included that 45). My best didn't cut it.
   
4. “Dancing Queen,” ABBA. At junior high dances. On the Midnight Special. In slumber party record stacks. Set to repeat while I chatted on the phone. Turned way up while I dusted the living room. This song was there.
   
5. “Convoy,” C. W. McCall. Novelty song that evokes the CB craze and falling asleep to AM radio.
   
6. “Last Time I Saw Him,” Diana Ross. One summer morning, my banker dad was at work and my older brother was out doing whatever older brothers did in the mid 70s. I begged to stay home by myself while my mom and sister ran an errand. Mom gave in, insisting that I stay in our music room with the dog, piano, stereo, and handy-in-an-emergency phone. I knew Dad's number, and the neighbor's. I would be FINE for half an hour. As the red Valiant pulled out of the driveway, I donned our clunky headphones and cranked that 45. I wanted to out–Diana Ross, Diana Ross. Less than a minute into my performance, I spun around to see my mom and sister in the doorway, jaws on the floor. (They'd forgotten something.) They laughed. At me. Really hard. It must have been a funny sight, and I'm sure they were laughing at the surprise and the fun of it all. They did not ridicule me. But oh boy, I felt deeply mortified in a way that I hadn't quite experienced. Why was it so traumatic? I was growing up and feeling more self-conscious. I did not want to look dumb. Yet there I was, caught in the act of being my goofy self. The horror! Every kid goes through this, no?
   
7. "Angels We Have Heard On High." This hymn gave me chills during the Christmas season, and I looked forward to that every year.
   
8. “Mockingbird,” Carly Simon & James Taylor. Such a joyful song, one that my best friend and I used as a mood lifter in high school.
   
9. “Grease,” Frankie Valli. Grease was the word in the summer of 1978.
   
10. "I Want to Hold Your Hand," Beatles. High school in the 80s. Guy Friend and I spent a Saturday together working on a project. As he drove me home that night (left hand on the steering wheel, right hand casually resting on the bench seat), we were laughing and having a great time. Until, that is, I spontaneously grabbed his wrist to punctuate some hilarious sentiment or another. It was a natural grab-and-release kinda thing. No biggie. Except that it was, apparently. Suddenly the sedan lost oxygen, a red-faced Guy clenched the wheel with a 10-and-2 death grip, and both of us were struck dumb. I dealt with the awkwardness by fiddling with the radio. Guy took over, punching buttons and loudly renouncing all the subpar musical options. He finally stopped on a rock station during an ad, and we relaxed a hair. I thought, "Wow, what just happened here?" The DJ said something like, "Here's that Beatles song I promised." Guy turned up the volume, but then hastily turned it back down a smidge as the "I Want to Hold Your Hand" theme registered. Again we sat in uncomfortable silence. The song's lyrics are lousy with references to, of course, hand-holding. I was convinced that Guy was on the verge of reaching for my hand. But he didn't. When he finally dropped me off at home, I was relieved . . . and a little peeved. On the one hand (representing my earnest, even-headed, exceedingly careful side), I was glad because I truly didn't want anything to mess up our easy friendship. But on the other hand (representing my emotionally reactive side that knew I could — or maybe already did — "like-him" like him), I was mad that he hadn't tried anything. I mean, what exactly was so horrible about me that some idiot teenage boy couldn't be bothered to at least feign an attraction under such exploitable circumstances? Ha! I did consider the possibility that — from his POV — nothing out of the ordinary had even transpired. And, that the tension was in my head and I was a complete dork. Luckily Guy and I survived, and things between us were back to normal by Monday. Tuesday at the latest. I still feel a bit of the silly, sweet, sharp, angst-y pain of that car ride whenever I hear the song. And it's fantastic.
    

June 2007 Book Reviews

I write a review column called "Hooked on Reading" for Hooked on Phonics/Reading Rainbow. Each month I recommend 5 children's titles for busy parents on the lookout for great books their kids might like. HOP clients, RR devotees, and other interested folks can sign up to get the free newsletter via email, and of course anyone can also view it online. I've been writing the column for just over a year, and it's a great little ongoing gig. It takes about a day and a half from start to finish.

Click here to see the June issue online. It just came out a few minutes ago. Those who receive the email version get a few extras, including a parent letter (written by me to sound like HOP is talking) and my byline.*


*An aside for my freelancing comrades: My attempt to negotiate getting credit on the site failed. But because I got the fee I asked for, I decided not to turn it into a deal breaker.

Quote of the Day

"Like anything worth writing, it came inexplicably and without method."
—From the 2006 film Stranger Than Fiction

I recently rented this movie, and that line has stuck with me. It's just true.

Don't get me wrong. Writing exercises are invaluable. I recommend trying everything from free-form ramblings to narrowly focused drills. Broad practice strengthens skills. And it prepares you to properly handle those sublime moments when the real writing comes, inexplicably and without method.