Irene Latham's Blog, page 182

WHY I LOVE NEWSPAPERS

Thanks Mrs. Paynter for calling THREE times... and thanks Chris of the Knoxville News Sentinel for getting quotes from the kids and my sweet sister to make this a "family" story!

For a pic from my trip to Square Books, Jr. in Oxford, MS, head on over to Sarah Frances and Katie Anderson's blog PLOT THIS. These gals are on the verge, and it was so fun to talk "the biz" with them!

Also, can I just say that I lovelovelove Jill, the girl with the guitar?! Yep, she's the awesome children's book buy...

NOT QUITE CHARLOTTE'S "RADIANT"

I've always loved the word "radiant." Blame Charlotte and that terrific web.

And "terrific," too. For the same reason.

But today's poem is not about a pig. It's about life and love and the hopes we have for our children. And it comes from Julianna Baggott, who not only writes great poetry, but books for kids (under the pen name N.E. Bode), too. AND novels for women as Bridget Asher. (LOVED "The Pretend Wife." Check it out!)

Anyhow, for Poetry Friday, meet Marie Curie and her daughter Ire...

LUDELPHIA, IN THE FLESH

This, my friends, is the something extra special I was talking about:



Isn't she gorgeous? And what a surprise!! Librarian Jenny Paynter directed me to the table where I would sign books, and there she was. Jenny said it's an old doll made by her grandmother, and after reading the book, she thought, that's Ludelphia. So she added the eye patch.

Do I have to tell you I cried?



And then I smiled. And smiled and smiled and smiled.



Thank you, Jenny! And thank you, sweet sis for capturing ever...

SEWING CARDS, MY SISTER AND SOMETHING EXTRA SPECIAL

Okay, so I am just brimming with ideas, inspiration, etc., after a fabulous few days.



First, my visit with W.J. Carroll Intermediate School. Get this: they read on the jacketflap bio that I learned to stitch on sewing cards, which, unfortunately, they don't make any more.

So, they made their own! And gave them to me!! And I love them!!!

Thank you thank you thank you.

Now this picture just doesn't do these smart gorgeous kids justice. I'm sorry it's fuzzy. Because they weren't fuzzy at...

POETRY FRIDAY

Writing this post in advance, as I will be tearing up the highway all day -- Virginia Festival of the Book , here I come! I am soooooo looking forward to meeting in person authors I've known only through words on pages and screen.

Now. For Poetry Friday. There was this poem yesterday that blew me away. You can read it here, on Sara Lewis Holmes' blog. Seriously good stuff.

For more great poems, check out roundup at Some Novel Ideas .

LUDELPHIA ROUNDUP

So I've got a little thing for horses. I love horse stories. In fact, I just read a good one that has me all inspired to write: Wild Girl by Patricia Reilly Giff. Thanks, Lakelynn for putting it in my hands!

Now, about Ludelphia. She's not a horse girl... but that's probably only because there weren't horses in 1932 Gee's Bend. She does, however, have a mule named Delilah. They're good friends. And Lu has other new friends, too, all over the world wide web.

Including the Chicago...

CELEBRATE FABULOUS CHARACTERS

So we all know it's the CHARACTERS that make us keep reading a book. Well, what if the author is also a great character??

Yeah. It's fabulous and fun and just extra-special to read those author's books.

Which is why today's new releases are so worthy of celebration:



PRINCESS FOR HIRE by Lindsey Leavitt. I adore Lindsey from her cute shoes to the funny words that pop out of her mouth. She is delightful. And of course her book is too! Desi is a character we all want to be... and maybe are so...

SPRING BREAK!

Forget the wild-n-crazy beach scenes and think blessed quiet: by unanimous vote we decided to stay home this Spring Break, to sleep late, eat lunch at our favorite restaurants, watch movies, go to the park.

So far it has been a delightful change of pace after the madness of book promotion that has had me appearing at more than 30 schools, bookstores and libraries in five different states over the past two months. Whew!

I've had SUCH great adventures, though. Here's a few pics from last week:...

BIRDS OF A FEATHER

What do these books -- SEA by Heidi R. Kling and RESTORING HARMONY by Joelle Anthony -- have in common with LEAVING GEE'S BEND?



All three books were edited by Excellent Editor Stacey Barney at G.P. Putnam's Sons. And while SEA is set in California/Indonesia during the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami and RESTORING HARMONY is set in the future (post-Collapse) US/Canada, they have core elements in common with LEAVING GEE'S BEND (set in 1932 Gee's Bend, Alabama):

1. strong girl protagonist
2. first...

I LOVE A RAINY DAY

...and sure 'nuff, it's a rainy one in Birmingham, Alabama!

I love the sound of the rain, even the thunder, and how the light in the house is all dim and cozy. It's a great day for updating the blog, or catching up or email, or doing a skype school visit, or piecing a quilt, or writing a poem.

And guess what? I'm doing all that, and more. (Nap? Did someone say, nap? Yesssss...)

Then tomorrow I'm off to Camden, Alabama, which is that town Ludelphia winds up in. So yes, I will be visiting Bl...