Blake Hoena's Blog, page 15

Ginger

It’s been a while since I’ve had a dog in my house—since my OGG (Original Good Girl) Zuki passed away, so I was thinking it was time to get back to fostering. I receive weekly updates on my “favorite” breeds from Midwest Animal Rescue and Service here in the Twin Cities, and my favorite breeds, if you can’t guess from past posts about dogs, are boxers and saint bernards.

Well, I received a note about Ginger, a boxer mix. Those eyes and that gray muzzle remind me a bit of Zuki, and I am found of those sweet, older dogs. So now I have a new resident at the homestead.

[image error]

If she does well with me, and no one else adopts her, I’ll probably end up keeping her, especially since she loves to lay at my feet while I write.

How the Elephant Got It’s Trunk

Yay! — finally got my copies of my graphic novel adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s tall tale How the Elephant Got It’s Trunk.

I’m quite impressed with Pedro Rodriquez’s illustrations for the story, and the book is presented as if it’s Kipling’s journey about the adventures of Ely, the curious elephant. A very enjoy read.

[image error]

Tony Hawk

Exciting news! — I’ve been asking to write another Tony Hawk story with Stone Arch Books. I’ve given them my synopsis for the story, but gonna keep it a secret until the Bird Man’s crew reviews and approves it.

Cross your fingers!

Young Authors Young Artist Conference

It was a great two day event in Rochester.

I show students the steps involved in creating graphic novels, comic books, and comic strips, and while we covered those steps, the students worker on their own comic . . .

[image error]

. . . from creating a character . . .

[image error]

. . . to drawing out a one-page comic.

[image error]

Young Writers Young Artist Conference

Four 25 years, the Southeast Services Cooperative has been holding the Young Authors Young Artist Conference down in Rochester, MN. I’ve been presenting for them for nearly half of those years. It’s actually the conference that got me into presenting to students, though when I began, the event was simply called the Young Authors Conference. I’ll be there again next week, where nearly 1,000 creative kids will be learning about storytelling and illustration from regional authors and artists.

Sad News

I haven’t mentioned the dogs I’m fostering for quite some time—it’s something I will continue to do as there are so many dogs out there that need the affection of a safe home while they wait to be adopted. But I’ve had to take a break from it for the past month.

My dog, Zuki, was ill . When I adopted her from a rescue agency, she had heart worm. She was cured of that, but heart worm can lead to future complication, and Zuki eventually developed congestive heart failure. She did not respond to medicines, so I have to make the hard decision of having her put to sleep—a very sad moment for me.

Everyone’s pet is special to them in their unique ways, and Zuki was nothing less than amazing to me. She was my constant companion, often traveling with me—sleeping on a friend’s couch next to me or curling up at the foot of my sleeping bag while we were camping. The bond we had is hard to sum up in words as there where so many shared moments that would only hold meaning to two creatures who deeply understood each other. Zuki was a wise old dog, a great foster mom, and inspired many laughs. She will be missed.

[image error]

I plan to dedicate my book of pet poetry to her.

Turtle

Turtle

My turtle hasn’t come out of its shell for weeks.

I don’t know why.

Maybe it’s shy.

Or is playing a really good video game

And its mother hasn’t

yelled “do your homework!“

or “Go play outside!“

or “Clean your room!“

I’m not sure what to do with my pet turtle

just sitting there

without a care

I suppose I could find other uses for him,

He could now be a pet rock

or a paperweight

or a skipping stone

or a nifty doorstop.

Mouse

Mouse

Something awfully smelly

is rising up from the belly

of our house . . .

Did it eat rotten eggs

my brother’s dirty socks

a half-full garbage bag

or the milk I forgot

to put away.

Did it eat stinky cheese

my aunt’s crusty bunions

a cat infested with fleas

or the liver and onions

mom made the other day.

Whatever it is, please

please, don’t let it be Louise

our pet mouse . . .

Parakeet

For National Poetry Month, I’ve decided to post some poems from a project that I have in the works.

I’ve been talking to an illustrator friend of my, and we came up with a book idea titled My Dead Pets. We’re thinking that it will include humorous, slightly irreverent poems about all those strange and sad things that happen in the lives of our pets.

Below is the first poem. My friend will illustrate a picture to go with the poem, and in this case, to understand the poem, it helps to know that the illustration will be of an old-fashion fan whirling away as feather flutter about the room.

Parakeet

Whhhhiiiiirrrrrr  . . . . . . . . did all the feathers come from?

They’re whirling

and twirling

and swirling

all about

my bedroom.

But more importantly

Whhhhiiiiirrrrrr  . . . . . . . . did my parakeet fly off to?

Spring 2012 Core List for Kids Graphic Novels

Years after their publication, my Eek and Ack graphic novels are still being recognized. Once again, they made Graphic Novel Reporter’s core list of graphic novels for kids!