Kirby Larson's Blog, page 71

Happy Anniversary!

Sixty years ago, my in-laws, Ted and Kelly Larson, said, "We do!" Though the actual anniversary was yesterday, today is the day the family is celebrating them and this wonderful achievement. 

Love you guys!

It's Elizabeth Day!

Today my friend, illustrator Elizabeth Dulemba, arrives for a mini-vacation and we're spending the day together. I'm going to show her my favorite sights: Alki Beach (where Seattle started), lunch at Cafe Flora, the Ballard Locks and dinner at Ray's Boathouse (which did start life as a boat house -- my grandpa and I used to buy bait there before heading out to fish on the Sound). the energetic and effusive Elizabeth!
Oh, yes, we also plan to hit a few of our wonderful indie bookstores.

Jackpot!

If you are as compulsive as I am about getting old maps, head right over to this site. And if you need to get your historical character from Chicago to Butte on the train, some larger libraries carry an Official Guide of the Railways for times past. I had a great time checking out the 1921 version online. 
(Thanks to Bill Sornsin, Great Northern Railway Historical Society for the RR timetable tip.)

Winston Wonders

I have been spending a goodly amount of time on Kirby's lap, helping her with her work in progress. And even though she scolds me for doing it, I see her doing a lot of digging as well. I, of course, am much more sensible about it, digging in the dirt (or, in a pinch, the compost pile). Being human she has trouble getting even simple things right. I rarely see her dig in the dirt, except to plant things. Mostly she digs around in books, on the internet and in places called archives which I only get to hear about because they have foolish attitudes about dogs.
Lately, she has been spending time pawing through this book.
She is particularly fond of the city maps.
I did some sniffing around in her credit card statement and discovered she's ordered quite a few of such atlases and old maps from Alibris and ebay. I thought I'd share that to save you time if you're as crazy about historical research as she is.

Great News for Grier!

My friend, Grier Jewell, has a huge heart and she works very hard to support and encourage her fellow writers. Her one flaw is that she has a hard time tooting her own horn so let me do it for her! Her first story has been published and you can read it here. It's short, sweet and deliciously creepy. And it's charmingly illustrated!
Yay, Grier!

Congratulations, Grads!

Lots of high school graduations going on in our neck of the woods. A big tassel toss to nephew Brian Spink and neighbor Hayden Hiller.
Just be thankful, Brian and Hayden, that you didn't look this goofy!
Sehome High School, Class of 72

A good day at the bay

Even though the coffee maker was cantankerous this morning, it's always a good day here at Shangri-Lar. Look at these two pieces of cool beach glass I found this morning!

My new roomie

This is Bernice. I met her at Farm Chicks in Spokane and told her about Shangri-Lar and she decided to move in with us.

She's quite the gal.

Wiggle Worms

I'll admit it -- I am getting the wiggle worms already about ALA. Wouldn't you if you were presenting on a panel with (be still my heart) Jenni Holm AND Ingrid Law AND the panel's moderator is Sandy Imdieke, Children's Lit professor at Northern Michigan University (and member of "my" Newbery committee)?



If you're going to be in N'Awlins later this month, come see us! We'll be presenting on Sunday, June 26, from 10:30 to noon. Rumor has it that there will be M&Ms.

I love kids!

Okay, I'll admit it. I was smarting a bit from a line in a recent review of The Friendship Doll -- why is it that the negative stuff tattoos itself on our hearts and the good stuff melts away in an instant? -- but then I got a packet of letters from my new friends at Frye Elementary in Chandler, Arizona (see my post). Each letter was wonderful but I was especially touched by Eutiquio's (who has obviously forgiven me for mispronouncing his name when we met) who wrote, "I loved that presentation you did on the 23rd.  You did so great that you inspired me to write books like you." And Bryan's words brought a tear: "You inspired us with joy and with your quest. So thank you for everything. You opened our hearts."



Hard to feel sorry for yourself after mail like that!