Mary E. Pearson's Blog, page 23

The Big Read . . .

Stockton rocks.  The drive from the airport to Stockton was beautiful. On the way I passed olive and almond groves, vineyards and pastures.  And the weather was perfect. 



Librarian Goddess, Miranda Nighbor, arranged all the details for the day and was also my escort, getting me where I needed to be.  She is amazing.  Thank you, Miranda.



Our first stop was Ripon High School.  We couldn't fit everyone into one picture so we took two.  The students were wonderful, asking lots of great questions.  Af

Ray Bradbury and more . . .

Getting a few things ready to take off tomorrow for Stockton, California, where I will be participating in their  Stockton Reads!  program--part of national program,  The Big Read . 

Their community book is Fahrenheit 451.  I read this in high school and was in awe of Ray Bradbury and his writing.  Years later as an adult and would be writer, I was in awe of him again when I read Zen and the Art of Writing.  Lots of inspiration.  But then years later, I was in awe of Ray Bradbury again, the very n

sigh . . .

I received an email from a reader yesterday and it reminded me why I love writing about teens and for teens. It was from a girl who shared insights and observations and feelings that she shared with characters and there was surprising clarity and freshness and depth and honesty and I felt like a teen again just reading her letter. 

It reminded me that sometimes, we as adults with our "vast body of experience" can not see as well as teens who have very little clutter in their paths to block their

From hot spots to hot books . . .

It is amazing how everything comes in spurts--especially if you go away for a few days.  Hunter develped a hot spot on his forehead (allergies--he always gets them in spring) and I have been cleaning and spraying and keeping a close eye on it.  One year it spread like wildfire and he had to have the top of his head shaved.  Poor guy--he looked like the bald bear in the movie The Great Outdoors with John Candy.  He was quite a sight.

 But among the "hot spots" and piles waiting for me when I got h

A busy weekend . . .

What a fabulous weekend. It started at the Luxe Hotel in Bel Air, where the Nebula festivites began. Their rooms are beautiful. I love smaller boutique hotels.

My husband came along with me and was the "official" photgrapher of the weekend (thanks, honey.) Friday started out with a cocktail reception and presenting all the Nebula and Andre Norton nominees with certificates and Nebula pins. The only other Norton nominee who was present was Ingrid Law who was nominated for Savvy, and of course we

A Signing Squeeeeee . . .

Just a quick last note before I head off for LA.  I am not normally the starstruck giddy fan type.  I am just as likely to be enthralled by a chance encounter with a stranger as any celebrity.  But I have to admit that I gave a little squeal (okay, a big squeal) when I found out I was going to be signing in the same booth at the same time as JANIS IAN!  My god, I grew up in my teen years with Janis Ian!  Not literally, but I listened to her on the radio and tapes (yes, tapes back then) all the t

Peacocks and Schedule . . .

It was hot here yesterday--95!  So all our doors and windows were open and just before it got dark I heard the yowl of a peacock.  Or maybe it's called a hoot.  I don't know what it's called but it sounds like an odd yell.  We have peacocks in our neighborhood these days.  Driving in one day, I saw one on a neighbor's roof.  It is a rather odd sight.  They're big, ya know?  Like a turkey.  At least these ones are.  I took this picture of one roosting in a tree a while back when I visited Leo Car

Monday, Monday . . .

I've been a little overwhelmed with my "to do" list--so much going on.  One problem with this list as long as my arm is that it was all banging around loose in my head, so I tamed it a bit by writing it down in orderly fashion--that at least makes it seem less chaotic even if it isn't. 

But then between scribbling and doing  I got   this review from a bookseller for The Miles Between, and this reply to a post on my blog from a librarian--and heck, I stopped caring about my "to do" list at all : )

Friday Four . . .

1.  I got some shoes to wear to the Nebula Banquet next Saturday that are not only cute, but they are COMFORTABLE too.  Really.  I am not much of a shoe person.  My favorite attire on my feet is nothing.  But last year at ALA, Amanda Jenkins turned me on to a brand I hadn't tried yet, Sofft.  Problem was I couldn't find them in any stores around me so I took a chance and ordered some online. Yikes. But they fit perfectly and I loved them.  I figure I've hit my jackpot for the month.

2  Got the UK

Book with biggest impact . . .

Last month when I had a live chat over at Readergirlz, the questions were flying fast and furious and I didn't get a chance to answer them all. One particularly stopped me:

Which book has made the biggest impact on you?

Hm. That is a BIG question. Considering the hundreds of books I have read, how do I choose one? Where to start? And then an unlikely choice came into my head--a book I hadn't thought about in years--of all things, a basal reader. The old whole language reading teacher in me recoi