Sharon Creech's Blog, page 17

Fan Mail

Sometimes mail becomes stuck in the cogsof the mighty publishing wheel.Sometimes it falls off a deskor sticks to someone else's mail.Sometimes the handwriting on the envelopeis illegibleand it has to wait for a code-breaker to decipher it:Is this for Ms. Cleary or Ms. Cushman or Ms. Creech?
How else to explain that the most recent box of mailforwarded from the publisher(a small portion of which is shown above)contains letters written as far back as September, 2011?
Ack!I feel badly that readers have had to wait so long for a reply.
I need fortification as I tackle the pile:


This batch comes from these countries:
USA, Belgium, Canada, England, Israel, Japan, Taiwan
and 38 states from Alabama to West Virginia
and from towns with such great names asBig Spring, Eagle, Minnetonka, Washougal, White Salmon Little Chalfont, Brussels, Coquitlam, Taipei
and these streetsKing Albert Avenue, Cokes Lane, Ivy Flower LoopGrassy Lick Road, St. Pippin Road, Sugar Avenue
In my next post, I'll treat you towonderful namesof readers a beautifulcollectionofbeautifulnames.
xx

ALA, part 2

Some 20,000 librarians, publishers and writersdescended on Anaheim, CA, for the annual American Library Association conferenceJune 21-26, 2012.
This was a crazy, good time to celebrate booksand to meet twitter/blog/facebook followersand librariansand colleagues



 

(Judy Zuckerman)

(Katy Horning, Emily Kokie)

(Randy and Karen Hesse)

(me, Ed Spicer, Katherine Applegate)

(Joanna Cotler, Susan Katz, Kate Jackson, Lisa von Drasek)

(Newbery winner Jack Gantos and daughter Mabel)
Such a week!Such good folk!
Wish I had been able to take more photos. . .next time . . . 
xx

Away and Back

I've been awayin Californiafor the annual ALA (American Library Association) Conference.
Thousands of librarians gatheralong with publishers and authors.We all celebrate books.Great energy.
Above, at the HarperCollins Breakfastfrom left to right:MeSusan Katz, President of HC Children's BooksKate Jackson, Editor-in-chief 
What a fine, fine time. 
More to come after I unpack.
xx

Reading Corners, Child-sized

Several years ago, when we renovated our oldish homewe carved out several child friendly places.
This one takes the place of a closet:the top level is a cushioned areaand below is a puppet theater space.
Both spaces have beenwell used.
Did you have a special reading placewhen you were young?Or now?
xx

Bounty!

Following in the tradition of my fatherI planted vegetable and flower gardensand behold the bountyso early!
Mounds of tender lettucesprinkles of fragrant rosespeoniesmint
as withof coursea great story:good ingredientswill feed the mind and the soul
ciao, bellas . . .
xx

BookExpoAmerica BEA

I've spent the past week in NYCat BEA (BookExpoAmerica)a conference of booksellers and publisherswith authors, teachers and librariansrounding out the mix.
High energy!
Loads of dedicated book people!
Above is my long-time editor, Joanna Cotler.
One day I'll also get pics of the beautiful, dedicated teamsthat also support authors:marketing, publicity, sales, editorial, art.So very much goes into the making of a beautiful book.
Another highlight of these big conferencesis the chance to see and hear colleagues:

Me with Neil Gaiman
He told me that he and I are the"only two people in the world who have receivedboth the Newbery (USA) and Carnegie (UK) Medals."We toasted ourselves.He has a beautiful way about him.
and then . . .


I shared some laughs withDaniel Handler (aka Lemony Snickett)a funny, funny man.
Another funny man was/is Eoin Colferbut I don't have a photo of that encounteralas.
Some other great authors whose air I shared on panels:Rebecca Stead, Joan Bauer, James Dashner, Lauren Oliver, Judith Viorst, Shannon Messenger
and whose inspiring words I heard:Walter Dean Myers, Lois Lowry, Chris Colfer, John Green and Kadir Nelson
and now I'm back homeand there is work to be done
afteranap
xx

Beginnings

Some writing books advise you to begin a story with a bang, to jump right into the action, to "shoot the sheriff on the first page."
I don't do that. I like a more leisurely opening - whether I'm reading a story or writing one. 
I like to invite the reader onto the porch of the story -

Come on up, have a seat, take off your shoes, sit a while . . .
I want readers to feel comfy - 

and to be surrounded by air and light and natural beauty - 

I want to offer readers something worthy of their time - 

So, maybe you will come on up, set yourself down, stay a while . . . mm?

Squirrels in the Crabapple

"She has squirrels in the attic"someone might sayof mewhen I'm deep in a draftand dizzy in the 'real' world
but outside my windowthere aresquirrels in the crabapplehappily munchingon blossoms
xx

Stones

Stones
so solidand smoothfit so comfortably in my hand
cool to the touch
I am drawn to thembutI don't know exactly why
xx

Pearl in England: Point of View

Many of my stories are written in the first person point of viewbecause I like that intensity of focusof being completely in the mindof the main character


seeing what she seesfeeling what she feels
The above girl could be one of my charactersbut instead she is my granddaughter Pearlvisiting Englandwhere my husband, children and I livedfor many years.
I am eager to hear what she's thinking and seeing and feeling.I am eager for her point of view.
top photo: at TASIS England School, checking out the Peter Rabbit Garden, planted by the lower school.bottom photo:  at Kensington Palace, London.