Kirby Larson's Blog, page 90

The Joys of Reading

I was sent this photo by a 5th grade teacher, Katy VanAken, from Swayzee Elementary in Indiana. Doesn't it just make you smile? I especially love it because they're all reading The Fences Between Us!

Act Now!

Today is the first day to nominate books for the Cybils Award!!!! I already know a couple of titles I'm going to nominate (hint: one features a frog and the other a goose). You probably have some favorites, too -- the great thing is that anyone make a nomination. Need more info? Click here.

Free Stuff!

Hop on over to GoodReads to win a free autographed copy of Lisa Yee and Dan Santat's novel Bobby the Brave (Sometimes).
Here's the STARRED REVIEW from Kirkus . . .

"Fourth grader Bobby Ellis Chen is back and just as insecure as ever (Bobby vs. Girls (Accidentally), 2009). He is sure he is a disappointment to his father, a former pro-football star turned stay-at-home dad. Bobby can barely throw a football farther than a few inches, and he's even less likely to catch one. He selects the role of the dog in his class's version of Annie so he won't have to remember lines and embarrass himself in front of an audience. There's also a scary, 27-toed neighborhood cat, a pair of dancing goldfish and a furry costume that leads to disaster. Yee's understanding of nine-year-olds as they carom from highs to lows without any idea of how they got there makes the situations and characters completely believable. Santat's black-and-white sketches add a lighthearted touch. Bobby is a charmer who will win readers' hearts as they recognize that he is a good friend, a loving big brother and a talented skateboarder—and that his father is, indeed, very proud of him."  Lisa is a past recipient of the Sid Fleischman award (for humor) and all-round nice gal. Our paths are set to cross in November, at the North Carolina Library and School Media Association Conference and I am hoping against hope that I'll get my picture taken with Peepy. Don't know about Peepy? Check out Lisa's website!

Wordy Wednesday

It takes me by surprise with each new book. I get ready to sign the very first copy to some eager and kind-hearted fan. . .and I stop. What words to write?

With Hattie Big Sky, I generally sign, "Dream as big as Hattie's sky." And in Two Bobbies it's usually, "In celebration of good friends, both animal and human." And librarian Diane Borchert gave me the perfect line for Nubs: "Be a real trooper, like Nubs."

I had no idea what my "tag line" would be for The Fences Between Us. But desperation is the mother of invention and at my launch I found myself writing, "Here's to building bridges, not fences."

How do you decide to sign your books? As a recipient, do you even want a message from the author? (Of course, when people ask me to sign or sign and date only, that's what I do.)

Inquiring minds want to know.

Ask Winston

Awaiting a certain agent's input. . .with pawsitive patience
Be patient one more week. Winston's post will be worth waiting for! In the meantime, he advises to live each day to the fullest and tell the people you love that you love them. Right now.

Picture Book Friends

I'm so proud that my friend, Ann Whitford Paul, has a book on ReaderKidz today! Check it out!

Wordy Wednesday

We gave our daughter a perfectly lovely name. One my husband and I both agreed on -- agreement being something that eludes us at times -- and that looks attractive and sounds attractive.

And yet, most of the time, we call her Bug.

I've been thinking about nicknames today. Not the obvious ones where Cynthia is shortened to Cindy or Anthony becomes Tony. No, I've been thinking about handles folks get stuck with for no apparent reason (usually). My mom's family is loaded with nicknames: Pudge (the...

Ask Winston

I am at your service

Any pup worth his liversnaps knows that the first task of writing is creating the most polished piece possible. BUT in addition to sit, stay and write, an author needs some tricks to be able to dig up attention for a book once it's out.A reader recently wrote to the Two Legged Writer to ask: @font-face { font-family: "Verdana";}@font-face { font-family: "Cambria";}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 10pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family...

A "Neat" Idea

I have just discovered this blog called Penelope Loves Lists. I can only claim to be someone who aspires to be neat. But I do try.Today's post felt like it speaks directly to my writer's heart. It starts out like this:I've been thinking a lot lately about something a (smart, sweet, young) friend said to me the other day. She said she's been working on "not telling herself too complete a story" about how something might work out. How wise. So difficult. You've got to read the rest of it...

Kids!

I got in an elevator with a very pregnant woman and her little boy. He was maybe 4 and couldn't wait to tell me he was going to have a little sister. I said, "That is so cool. Do you know what you're going to name her?"

Without skipping a beat, he answered, "Honey."

Don't you just love that brotherly love?! I sure do.