Pages

Monday, February 16, 2015

A little of this and a little of that

Things have been busy here. Last week, I was a guest on USC Trojan Vision's CU@USC television show. It was really a lot of fun and everyone was wonderful, even though I was battling a really crummy cough.
Me with the producers and crew of CU@USC. Remaya was my interviewer. I was her first interview and she was so cool, calm and collected. She is right on the other side of my books. On my right is AnnaLiesse. She is the head producer. Thanks for having me, guys!
We talked about the Good Knight, Trinket, and No, No, Kitten! (which comes out in only 2 weeks!!) I'll post a link to the interview soon. It's full of embarrassing factoids about yours truly.

I've also been busy reading this book:
Those of you who know me in real life are laughing right now. I can hear you through the screen. Yes, I know, it is probably impossible to make someone who has spent the majority of her life in a state of constant clutter a neat-nick. Probably. But maybe, just maybe...

(Actually, I've gone through my clothes and discarded tons of things and I've had a clean closet for 72 hours now. That, my friends, is an all time record for me!)

And I read this to my class:

 I highly recommend it. Days and DAYS after I read it with them, students were still bombarding me with theories about the ending. I won't spoil it for you, but if you are a teacher and you haven't read this to your class, you must. If you are a student, no matter your age, read it and share it with your classmates.  Then let the debates begin!

I am also writing some things. I got a new idea for a picture book which is always like a special treat. I finished a middle-grade science-fiction novel that I have been working on for quite some time. I need to get some eyes other than mine to read it now. But it is scary because, well, I am a chicken and this is different from other things I have done. But writers must be brave, everyone knows that. 

And, as I already mentioned, this is happening in just a few weeks:
And I happen to know for a fact that a trailer is coming soon, too!  Yay.

And I got to see the cover for SECRETS OF SELKIE BAY (my novel that comes out in July) and all I can tell you is that whatever you are thinking it looks like, you are probably wrong. I was. (But in a good way!) Hopefully I can show it soon.

Take care, my friends. Keep writing 

hrh

Sunday, February 1, 2015

A Small Thought on a Sunday Night

On February 2, the American Library Association will announce their Big Prizes (Caldecott, Newbery, Printz, etc).

I have such mixed feelings about this.

On the one hand, I love finding out who the winners are and adding them to my TBR list (or cheering if I was fortunate enough to have read them already). It's important and special and all the winners make me feel proud to be part of the world of publishing.

On the other hand, I read a lot of wonderful books this past year. And I know this for certain: No award can change my personal connection with a book. I have loved many books over the years and many of them did not win awards. Not at all.

Awards are wonderful, don't get me wrong.  But the real prize is reading. The real prize is when you fall in love with a book and that book becomes a part of you, changing you forever. So, to the books I have adored this year (and you know who you are), if your day tomorrow ends without a shiny sticker, believe me when I tell you that you are still beautiful, just the way you are.

hrh