Cynthia Lord's Blog, page 28

Wordless Wednesday

Photo by my husband, John

Hooray for Hot Rod Hamster!

Hot Rod Hamster was chosen by the K-2 students in Mississippi as the winner of the Magnolia Award, a kids' choice book award for that state.

Thank you, students in Mississippi!  Hamster is so happy!

The Little Read

This was my audience yesterday after my talk and right before my book signing at The Little Read at Lenoir Rhyne University in Hickory, North Carolina.

When my hosts for public events worry about how many people will come (or won't come!) I always tell them not to worry because I've spoken to 3 people and 750 people in an audience, so anything between those won't be a new number for me.

Well, today I upped that biggest number to 1,000!  Thank you to the Little Read and to everyone who came.

Rules, the play

Here I am in the fish tank with the cast of Rules at Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, North Carolina. I was glad I brought tissues with me to the play, because I certainly needed them.

I told the cast, "You were brilliant and funny and you broke my heart."
The actor who played David said, "In a good way, right?"
I nodded. "In the best way."

Rules

Last night, there was a reception for the teachers and librarians who had participated in The Little Read. They presented programs for me, showing some of the amazing activities they had done with Rules. The first presentation included this movie that the students in Mr. McKinney's 5th grade had made.

Tears started in my eyes during this movie. I thought, "Oh no! Don't start crying with the first presentation!" But I couldn't help it. It wasn't the last time I was teary, either--they all did that to me! By the time it was my turn to thank them all at the end, I didn't know if I could even talk--my heart was so full.

As a writer, you work in isolation and every now and then, readers give your book back to you in a way that makes you see it fresh again. Tonight was one of those times. I was just so moved seeing all these wonderful, amazing, thoughtful, funny projects the kids and teachers had done and made to show me.

Wow!

I just about fell over this morning when I saw the English Dept. building at Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, North Carolina. :-)



I had a great first day!  I spoke to three sessions of great kids, and tomorrow I get to do it all again! 

Bright Lights, Big City, Little Fish

Fish and I had a lovely time last night. He will have much to tell his fish friends when he returns to the hotel tank today.

I had a great time last night with some of the wonderful people I work with at Scholastic. I'm lucky to work with such talented, funny, warm people.

This morning, I'm practicing my book talks. But earlier, I walked to Dunkin Donuts down the street. It was so, so fun to hear all those NY accents saying "coffee." :-)

This was my view drinking my morning coffee.

Hello from NYC!

I'm in New York City to visit my publisher and tell the sales reps about the two Spring 2014 books I've written. This hotel offers a complimentary pet goldfish for the night, if you'd like one. I'd never say no to that! So Fish and I are enjoying the view. I turned over the trashcan and set it in the window so he could look out with me.

NYC

I'm off to New York City today.  I don't go to the city very often, so it's always really exciting to be there.  And it's exciting not to bring my winter coat with me!

I've stayed at this hotel once before, and this is the view I had.



This hotel also gives you a pet goldfish for the night, if you want.  I'm totally getting a fish!

Here's the one that stayed with me the last time I was here:

This Week: The Big Apple and The Little Read

Tomorrow I fly to New York City to participate in a luncheon at my publisher. I'm excited to see my editor again and to meet the other authors. I haven't been to NYC in a long time to visit, so it will be fun to be there.

And then, I fly right from NYC to North Carolina, where Rules is the featured book for this year's Little Read at Lenoir-Rhyne University. 2500 fifth graders in two counties read my book, and I will get to speak to them all from Wednesday to Saturday. And I'm bringing a signed rubber duckie for the LR students and staff who participated.



Milo says, "What do you mean? These aren't for me?!"