Kirby Larson's Blog, page 63
October 12, 2011
Maybe not the "wine" part. . .
Found this poem, by Charles Baudelaire, written on the wall of a Carson City coffee shop (you can find the rest of the poem at sites like this).
A fardel is a burden, specifically in a bundle
What a great concept -- daring to get absolutely giddy on poetry, nature, whatever. I'm going to try to brighten our gray winter days by adopting this approach. But maybe not the wine part.
A fardel is a burden, specifically in a bundleWhat a great concept -- daring to get absolutely giddy on poetry, nature, whatever. I'm going to try to brighten our gray winter days by adopting this approach. But maybe not the wine part.
October 11, 2011
No. Excuses.
Great writer and great friend, Lois Brandt, cuts us no slack in the month of October. She is publishing a daily writing prompt at her blog. Go check it out!
October 10, 2011
Home Again, Home Again
Once I got over the shock of seeing slot machines everywhere (this was my first trip to Nevada), I loved everything about my visit to Carson City for the Nevada Young Readers Award presentation.
First thing I loved: the blue sky and the scenery. Gorgeous! I'd love to go back and do some hiking. Second thing, getting a tiny bit of time to hang with best bud and partner in crime, Mary Nethery. We only had to walk a mile to find espresso on Saturday morning! (Comma Coffee, if you're ever in Carson City) Third thing, meeting Mark Fink, winner of the NYRA intermediate award, along with his sweet wife Susan. Mark had a long career in writing TV sitcoms until he came to his senses and chose to write books. ;-) I just finished reading Stepping Up last night and can see why the kids of Nevada loved it so much. Fast-paced and funny, the story has lots of basketball. . .and lots of heart.
Conference coordinator, Beth Heggeness, took the authors to dinner at Adele's on Friday night -- if you ever find yourself in Carson City, put that wonderful restaurant on your itinerary!
The best thing about the quick trip, however, was the Saturday morning event. The Nevada Library Association paid for a school bus to bring some 80 kids in for the ceremony; the two schools represented serve apartments, motels and a homeless shelter. One of the girls I met told me she'd gotten up at 4 a.m., she was so excited. And PermaBound, represented by Carrie Nelson, not only paid for travel expenses for Mary, Mark and me, they also bought each kid attending a copy of one of the books. And the kids themselves presented our awards to us. I was in tears when the young lady presented Mark's award to him. Later, a very tough-looking middle schooler came up to me. "Were you crying when B. was talking?" I was kind of afraid to admit it to her, but I fessed up. She punched me in the arm and said, "Me, too."
This kid designed placemat says, "Is that what the Bobbies deserved? No!"
I came home with a beautiful plaque but it is not nearly as beautiful as the memories of that amazing day. Bravo to the Nevada Library Association and bravo to Permabound for making a big impact on some very deserving kids' lives.
First thing I loved: the blue sky and the scenery. Gorgeous! I'd love to go back and do some hiking. Second thing, getting a tiny bit of time to hang with best bud and partner in crime, Mary Nethery. We only had to walk a mile to find espresso on Saturday morning! (Comma Coffee, if you're ever in Carson City) Third thing, meeting Mark Fink, winner of the NYRA intermediate award, along with his sweet wife Susan. Mark had a long career in writing TV sitcoms until he came to his senses and chose to write books. ;-) I just finished reading Stepping Up last night and can see why the kids of Nevada loved it so much. Fast-paced and funny, the story has lots of basketball. . .and lots of heart.
Conference coordinator, Beth Heggeness, took the authors to dinner at Adele's on Friday night -- if you ever find yourself in Carson City, put that wonderful restaurant on your itinerary!The best thing about the quick trip, however, was the Saturday morning event. The Nevada Library Association paid for a school bus to bring some 80 kids in for the ceremony; the two schools represented serve apartments, motels and a homeless shelter. One of the girls I met told me she'd gotten up at 4 a.m., she was so excited. And PermaBound, represented by Carrie Nelson, not only paid for travel expenses for Mary, Mark and me, they also bought each kid attending a copy of one of the books. And the kids themselves presented our awards to us. I was in tears when the young lady presented Mark's award to him. Later, a very tough-looking middle schooler came up to me. "Were you crying when B. was talking?" I was kind of afraid to admit it to her, but I fessed up. She punched me in the arm and said, "Me, too."
This kid designed placemat says, "Is that what the Bobbies deserved? No!"
I came home with a beautiful plaque but it is not nearly as beautiful as the memories of that amazing day. Bravo to the Nevada Library Association and bravo to Permabound for making a big impact on some very deserving kids' lives.
October 7, 2011
Let the Travel Begin!
Even though I've taken a sabbatical from school visits, it looks like I'm going to rack up some miles this school year, anyway. Most of the travel is due to Two Bobbies -- that little book keeps winning state Young Reader Choice awards and we keep getting invited to the award ceremonies!
In a couple of hours, I'll be winging my way to Carson City, Nevada to meet up with Mary and a bunch of enthusiastic reading teachers, librarians and kids who want to help us celebrate winning the Nevada Young Readers Award, sponsored by the Nevada Library Association.
If you're in the neighborhood, drop by the Casino Nugget and say hello!
October 4, 2011
Advice to Myself
I have just finished a nearly final draft of my WIP. And I am feeling so insecure and adrift. So I listened to myself, in this video, and took some hope that I could pull it off. I hope this interview gives you some writing hope as well.
October 3, 2011
Sunday Afternoon Wrap Up
Thank you, thank you, thank you, to the wonderful Mary Harris at Parkplace Books for a lovely, last-minute hosting of Karen Cushman, Laura Kvasnosky and moi for our Northwest Bookfest 2001 panel. As always, I learn more than I give -- Karen's talk about revising Alchemy and Meggy Swann whupped me upside the head: oh my goodness -- there is a lot of backstory to remove from the current WIP. And Laura's talk about the heart connections to her stories gave me permission to open my own heart up a bit more in said WIP.
What kind of lucky star was I born under to allow me to spend a pleasant fall afternoon with such kind and good-hearted women? Sigh.
Now, I've got to get back to work!
What kind of lucky star was I born under to allow me to spend a pleasant fall afternoon with such kind and good-hearted women? Sigh.
Now, I've got to get back to work!
October 1, 2011
Shopping Idea
Do you need a new front door mat? Check these out -- they are made from old Maine lobster fishers' float ropes (the fishing industry is required to use a new kind of rope that is less harmful to sealife that might get tangled up in it). What a cool idea--keep your floors neat and save a whale! I ordered a pair for Shangri-Lar. I'll post a photo when they arrive.
September 30, 2011
Don't Forget!
The bookfest goes on all weekend at Peter Kirk Park, at the Kirkland Library and at Parkplace Books. If you're free on Sunday, come to the bookstore at noon (note: change of location and time!) to listen to Karen Cushman, Laura Kvasnosky and me spin tales about how we get from that first idea to a finished book.
September 29, 2011
So Cool!
I've always thought former Seattle Times reporter, Stephanie Dunnewind, was the best -- she did a smash up job of interviewing me way back when, when I won the Newbery Honor. Now she is an uber-librarian and sometimes book reviewer for the paper. Check out this great plug she gives our Two Bobbies, as well as some other local authors' books.
Thank you, Stephanie!
September 28, 2011
Northwest Bookfest!
It is only right that a book place like the northwest should have a bookfest and the King County Library System and others are working hard to revive it! In fact, it will take place this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, at various places around Kirkland, Washington. But the place you really want to be is the Kirkland Library on Sunday, October 2, at 12:30 so you can hear Karen Cushman, Laura McGee Kvasnosky and me talk about "From Idea to Finished Book." We each get 12 minutes so it will be a bit like the Reduced Shakespeare Company doing Hamlet.
Please come! We'd love to see you.
