Kurtis Scaletta's Blog

Crazy Kurtis in Cooperstown

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 20:05:18 -0800

For the guy who found this blog by googling "crazy kurtis in cooperstown," the answer is: Not yet, but your letters and phone calls to the Hall of Fame might help.

posted by Kurtis Scaletta on December, 04

I want your trivia!

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:06:17 -0800

It's getting hard to think of good questions, so I'm going to crowd source the CLN trivia that I post every two weeks. Know something cool, weird, or interesting that would make a good question? Let me have it. I'll give you credit when I post the answer.

A few rules/guidelines:

1. It has to be a question about children's literature (including illustration).
2. The question can be tough but not impossible, and the question (and its answer) should be interesting. The best trivia questions have...

posted by Kurtis Scaletta on December, 02

Blog Roundup, featuring Bertie twice

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 16:05:58 -0800

Here's an actual blog round up, which I haven't done in a while, but there was a minor flurry of activity last week.

I visited the St. Michael, Minnesota middle school last week and met a bunch of cool kids and a very cool teacher, Jill Foltz, who blogged about it better than I could. As usual I appreciated the kids telling me about what they like to do, and what they like to read. One thing I noticed is that easily half the kids, maybe more, were carrying recreational reads… from my buddy...

posted by Kurtis Scaletta on November, 29

Bonus Up Your Holiday Gift

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 10:05:36 -0800

If you plan on giving a friend or loved one Mudville for Christmas or Hanukkah, a December birthday, New Years Day, Festivus, or anything else…. Just let me know. While supplies last, and within the U.S. only, I will send you a personalized bookplate so you can fancy up the book. Just use the contact me form to let me know who is receiving the book and where I should mail the bookplate.

posted by Kurtis Scaletta on November, 27

CLN Trivia Answer from Last Time

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 10:05:36 -0800

A Billion for Boris and Summer Switch are sequels to… the classic novel Freaky Friday, which has been made into movies on three different occasions (all three by Disney). Summer Switch is basically the same book, with the brother and Dad switching headspace instead of the girl and her mom. I don't know if Rodgers got credit, but there have been a slew of father-son (or grandfather-grandson) mind transfer movies, including one with Kirk Cameron and Dudley Moore (can't remember the name) and...

posted by Kurtis Scaletta on November, 27

CLN Trivia for November 27

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 22:06:08 -0800

What popular series features Jack and Annie of Frog Creek, Pennsylvania? Answer by December 11 to win! (Enter Here)

posted by Kurtis Scaletta on November, 26

Do the Gute: A Tale of Two Cities

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 04:04:56 -0800

One hundred and fifty years ago today, readers in London flocked around newsstands to get the last installment of a rare foray by Charles Dickens into historical fiction, A Tale of Two Cities, a sweeping story of the French Revolution through the personal stories of a few people, particularly the Englishman Charles Darnay and the Frenchman Sydney Carton. Sydney is a better man, but is in love with Charles' wife, whose father has been imprisoned and… Well, it all ties together.

When people...

posted by Kurtis Scaletta on November, 25

A Birthday Cake for a Fun Guy

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:05:15 -0800

As author/editor/dancer/lay-zoologist Michael Northrop remembered in comments to a different post, another year came and went for the author of Mudville, Mamba Point, and (now) Wake, ME. Since there was no round number, I decided not to make as big a deal out of this one as I did the last one.

But I did want to share these pics of my cake.

Mind you, after my wife made me a lovely supper yesterday with all my favorite things (dolmades, samosas, bleu cheese and pears… a rather international...

posted by Kurtis Scaletta on November, 23

Deep Purple Scaletta Tour 2009

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 09:33:50 -0800

For the person who found my blog by searching for "deep purple scaletta tour 2009," I'm sorry to report that was no such thing in 2009, nor is there one planned. However, now that you mention it, that would be AWESOME. I'd love to jam with Ian and Ritchie.

So if you happen to know, or even, um, BE a member of Deep Purple, I know a few chords and all the words to this song. So just give me a call, and we can make that googler's dream come true in 2010.

posted by Kurtis Scaletta on November, 30

Thanks!

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:04:50 -0800

It's Thanksgiving week, so here is my own "Thanks!" to everyone who read Mudville, bought it for a friend or loved one, plans to read it, or at least stopped in the bookstore and admired the cover. Thanks to my wonderful agent and first-class publisher, thoughtful editor, smart designer, attentive publicist, and everyone else over in the Knopffice. Thanks to all the librarians who put it on their shelves, teachers who shared it with their classes, and booksellers who carried it in their...

posted by Kurtis Scaletta on November, 21