Lisa Yee's Blog, page 16

Hubba Bubba Bubblegum Alley!!!

It seems like I'm traveling all the time these days. Probably because I am traveling all the time these days.



Recently I boarded the train to San Luis Obipso, CA.



I got there a day ahead of the SCBWI workshop I was teaching, so I was able to do a little exploring . . .



It was so cool to see the retro theater and all the coffee bars. In WARP SPEED, Marley's family runs the old Rialto Theater and I did lots of research.



However, the San Luis Obispo highlight for me and my Peep was this . . .



Can you tell what that stuff is? Here's a closer view . . .



It's CHEWED GUM!!!!! Yes, I stumbled across the famed Bubblegum Alley . . .



We were careful not to slip and fall, or else we'd be stuck there forever.

In STANFORD WONG FLUNKS BIG-TIME, Stanford has a gum encounter at the library . . .



So what do you think? Beautiful or gross? Or, maybe, both?

And for those of you who love gum and can't get enough, Peepy and I videoed Bubblegum Alley . . .


Next blog, what went on inside here . . .



BTW, got an iPhone, iPod, iPod Touch or iWhatever? If so, there's a free game app featuring Kanani, the Hawaiian girl I wrote about for American Girl! CLICK HERE for your free app!

Going to the National Book Festival? If so, come see me on Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Target Stage!!



Disclaimer: No proofreaders were harmed (or even used) in the creation of this blog.

CLICK HERE to find out about Lisa's newest book, WARP SPEED!!!

Are you an American Girl KANANI fan? If so, here's a free online story I wrote about Kanani in New York!!

Lisa Yee








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Me and My Mac . . . the Saga Continues

Not long ago I did a Skype talk with/to the San Jose Public Library and it went smoothly and nothing broke!!


(That's my office door with the Library sign.)

However, last week, when we were in Tampa, I had Apple/Mac problems. I know what you're thinking . . . "no, no, that's not possible. Not you, Lisa."

But yes.

When I give presentations, I create a library in iPhoto, then download it to an iPod, then place the iPod in a universal dock, then hook it up to my projector, then use a universal remote to play the photos. Got all that?



I even hosted an iPod University to share my knowledge with fellow authors/illustrators . . .


(That's Kerry Madden, seated, and Marla Frazee soaking it all in.)

Anyway, at St. John's, technology failed me and I couldn't get it to work . . .



Meanwhile, at home, my iMac was busy self-combusting. Which meant I needed to head to the Apple Store . . .



All those blue shirts reminded me of one I recently purchased for Son . . .



Hmmmm . . . would my Genius hear me?



Yes! Yes, he did. The problem with the iPod? Um, I had it on the wrong setting . . .


(Okay, go ahead. Say it. I know you want to . . . "DUH!!!!")

Sadly, it wasn't so simple for my six-year old iMac. The motherboard was broken and so was the graphics card and the transmission, or something like that.

So I had to get a new one . . .


(That's my Mac PowerBook on top of my iMac. Yes, I am a Mac addict.)

Then I tried to get to proper cables to run my presentation from my PowerBook, in case mess up my iPod again. Only, the Apple Store only had 50% of what I needed -- a special adapter for one end, however I needed an even more special adapter for the other end. So I went to Radio Shack . . .



Only, they didn't have it either.

Oh well, I special ordered it from the internet. Hope I don't break that, too. While I wait for it to get here, I'll just try to figure out my new wireless remote tracking scary know-it-all mouse . . .



Eek.

Hope it doesn't freak me out!!!



Hey, are you in the Lexington, Kentucky area? If so, come see me this Friday, September 16th at 6 p.m. I'll be HERE!!!

Disclaimer: No proofreaders were harmed (or even used) in the creation of this blog.

CLICK HERE to find out about Lisa's newest book, WARP SPEED!!!

Are you an American Girl KANANI fan? If so, here's a free online story I wrote about Kanani!!!

Lisa Yee







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John and St. John and a Peeptastic Time in Tampa

After the escalator escapades and Billy Elliot and Irene in New York . . .



. . . we had some drama at the airport . . .



But we survived and landed in Tampa, FL . . .



What's in Tampa, you ask? Why, St. John's school, of course!

I like to travel with lots of electrical equipment so that I can get stopped all the time by TSA at airports. Usually/sometimes, my tech stuff works. However, on this day, we had a malfunction and had to resort to using a laptop instead of the universal remote dock with an iPod . . .



But all went well and I spoke to uber enthusiastic, silly and serious St. John's students . . .


It was also the very first time I read my essay, "Regret," from DEAR BULLY, to an audience . . .


Peepy and I were well-fed in the library . . .



But for Peepy, the highlight was . . . herself.

Yes, there were pictures of her everywhere . . .



Not only were the framed posters gracing the office, but they were all over the school . . .



Peepy was determined to find out who was behind it all -- so she channeled her inner-Nancy Drew and followed the trail . . .



And was delighted to see a lovely image on Lisa Strauch's office door!




(Lisa, who is head of the lower school, presented Peepy with a giant gift basket. Um, that would be the other Lisa, not this Lisa. Or even that Lisa.)

Later, Peepy tried to guess the number of Peeps in the jar. She said, 142,197. How many do you think are in there?


(The students who were the closest to 102 won a plush Peep.)

Peepy also hung out with her new friends . . .



She was thrilled to meet up with her BFFFT (Best Friend Forever From Tampa), John. Does he look familiar?


(Um. To fully admire the totally cool handmade Peepy blanket, turn your computer upside-down.)

Yes, we thought so, too! That's because John is Priscilla's cousin!!! Such a small world.

Disclaimer: No proofreaders were harmed (or even used) in the creation of this blog.

CLICK HERE to find out about Lisa's newest book, WARP SPEED!!!

Are you an American Girl KANANI fan? If so, here's a free online story I wrote about Kanani in New York!!!

Lisa Yee







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Scholastic, SoHo and Those Sheep

I hope everyone had a great Labor Day. In keeping with the holiday, I was working -- finishing up a draft of a new YA novel.

When we last were together, I was in New York . . . accidentally eating tongue. and weathering Hurricane Irene.

We were lucky she blew over and there was no damage where Peeps and I were staying. A couple days after the hurricane, we headed to SoHo and saw the sights . . .



Then it was on to Scholastic headquarters . . .


I told Peepy never to play on the escalators, but as you know, she never listens to me . . .


Luckily for her, she was rescued by a handsome bystander. Yes! My editor Arthur Levine . . .
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Later, look whom we ran into! Whhy its Daniel Letchworth: my verily hown BOBBBY VS. GIRLS (ACCIDENTALLY) proooofreadar! (I purposely made mistakes in the last sentence so that Daniel can correct them.)

(It's so cool that Daniel carries my books around with him, always.)

All too soon, it was a subway ride back to where we were staying, and a last meal in NYC . . .


BTW, I'm not sure why the photos came out so big this time.

Next Stop: Tampa, FL



BTW, if you are in the San Luis Obispo, CA area, I'll be HERE on Saturday, September 10th. And if you're in Lexington, KY, on September 16th, I'll be HERE, and if you're in Washington, D.C. on September 25th, I'll be HERE!!!

Disclaimer: No proofreaders were harmed (or even used) in the creation of this blog.

CLICK HERE to find out about Lisa's newest book, WARP SPEED!!!

Are you an American Girl KANANI fan? If so, here's a free online story I wrote about Kanani!!!

Lisa Yee








Subscribe to Lisa Yee's Blog and get her fresh baked blogs e-mailed to you!



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Broadway Billy Elliot and Biting My Tongue

Alright! We are still in NY, and after visiting the Harry Potter Exhibit, a Broadway Show was up next! We had time to kill, so we wandered around Times Square and into Toys R Us . . .





Peepy saw some police on horseback, and made a new friend . . .




Soon it was time for the show!



I enjoyed the show, but still think I love the movie more.



After, we ate at Juniors . . .


I really enjoyed my pastrami sandwich but thought it was sort of slippery. Then the bill came and I realized I had accidentally eaten a tongue sandwich. This made me feel weird.




Disclaimer: No proofreaders were harmed (or even used) in the creation of this blog.

CLICK HERE to find out about Lisa's newest book, WARP SPEED!!!

Are you an American Girl KANANI fan? If so, here's a free onlinestory I wrote about Kanani!!!

Lisa Yee








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Good-bye, Irene and Hello, Harry

Yes, I weathered Hurricane Irene. The shelves were emptied of bread and water. Um, that would be Fuji water. (I'm visiting Park Slope.)


The hurricane was relatively mild here and the next day people poured onto the streets after being cooped up . . .


I'm busy finishing up a draft of a new YA I'm writing, but was able to see some sights and hear some sounds. What? You ask. Here's a hint(s):


The day before Irene hit, I saw one of these Broadway shows and one of those people in the posters in person!!! (Okay, not really in person, but I saw their pants in person!!!)



The Harry Potter Exhibit was a lot of fun, especially since once I (almost) met J.K. Rowling and stood within ten feet from her.


(Above: That's Ms. Rowling signing Book VII for Son. On the side, off camera, surrounded by security people is me.)

On display at the Harry Potter exhibit were props from the films, like the wands, clothes Snape and Harry and Hermione and Ron wore, the Marauders Map, and more.




(Above: Not actual Marauder's Map.)

I wasn't allowed to take photos inside the exhibit, but did take some at the store . . .


If you want to see the exhibit, you'd better hurry! It closes on September 5th.



Next Blog: The Broadway show.

Disclaimer: No proofreaders were harmed (or even used) in the creation of this blog.

CLICK HERE to find out about Lisa's newest book, WARP SPEED!!!

Are you an American Girl KANANI fan? If so, here's a free online story I wrote about her!!!

Lisa Yee







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Hanging Out with Hurricane Irene

Hello, Irene.

Yes, due to my impeccable timing, I am in New York right now.



New York city is braced for the hurricane and there's an evacuation center near where we are staying in Park Slope, Brooklyn. You can see the busses dropping people off. (Over 300,000 people in the low lying areas of NY/Brooklyn were ordered to evacuate.)


Most stores and restaurants closed for the hurricane . . .

(Apparently, Starbucks's Monday is on a different date than the rest of ours. Was that last sentence even close to being grammatically correct?)

Everyone was prepared. Some places taped up their windows . . .


Now, why is Irene in New York, you ask? Simple . . . to help me celebrate my birthday!

Luckily, we found a DONUT place that was still open . ..


Also, one of my facebook friends sent this to me. It's the Old Spice Man . . . ! (We have history.)


So that's what I'll be watching over the weekend, at least until we lose power!

Oh, and BTW, recently, I wrote an American Girl story about Kanani, a girl from Kauai . . .


Well, I also wrote an online story about Kanani visiting her cousin Rachel in New York. It's available online for free HERE!!! Each week reveals a new chapter, however, there are no hurricane scenes.


Disclaimer: No proofreaders were harmed (or even used) in the creation of this blog.

CLICK HERE to find out about Lisa's newest book, WARP SPEED!!!

Lisa Yee







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What Authors Eat . . . Such Excitement!!!

Back by (nearly) popular demand, more WHAT AUTHORS EAT!!!



Yes! Yes! The Oscar-worthy video documentary series continues. It's important to note that these are ACTUAL AUTHORS. Not stand-ins, not stunt doubles, and no special effects were utilized.



In the past, we've featured such luminaries as Dan Santat, Betty Birney and Sonya Sones (as SEEN HERE). Then there was Miss Perigrine's Peculiar Ransom Riggs, plus if you're curious about what high-powered editors Arthur Levine and Cheryl Klein eat, then CLICK HERE.

Who are we featuring this time?

Here's one hint per person:
1) An award-winning author.
2) An award-winning author.
3) An award-winning author.

Our first award-winning author is this year's Sid Fleischman Award winner, Alan Silberberg . . .

(CLICK HERE to watch it on YouTube)

Our second award-winning author is two-time PEN Literary Award for Children's Literature, poet/novelist Ron Koertge . . .

(CLICK HERE to watch it on YouTube)

And our third award-winning author is three-time Newbery Honor awardee Jennifer Holm . . .

(CLICK HERE to watch it on YouTube)

Now, wasn't that thrilling???!!! Stay tuned for more of What Authors Eat. Coming soon to a movie theater near you.

Disclaimer: No proofreaders were harmed (or even used) in the creation of this blog.

CLICK HERE to find out about Lisa's newest book, WARP SPEED!!!

Lisa Yee







Subscribe to Lisa Yee's Blog and get her fresh baked blogs e-mailed to you!



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Because of an excessive amount of annoying spam, I have disabled all comments. However, you can contact me via my website by CLICKING HERE

Authors + Illustrators + Art Directors + Editors = Fun x Four

So then, this is the last blog covering the 12 + 7 + 4 + 17 SCBWI Conference. (For those of you adverse to math or acronyms, that's stands for the 40th Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Conference.)

And what did the faculty do when it was over? This . . .


(Oops. Wrong photo. That's not the faculty, that's THIS.)

Here's what really happened -- we all boarded busses to take us to an undisclosed location . . .


It was great fun to relax and unwind, and share stories about what a wonderful conference it was . . .

(Above: My pal, Laurent Linn, and my editor Author Levine, discuss the importance of book covers.)

SCBWI Co-founder Lin Oliver's husband, Alan Baker, is the unofficial official photographer of the conference. (BTW, if Laurent Linn and Lin Oliver married, she would be Lin Linn.) Oops. Didn't mean to digress! Back to the party--the photos were waiting for us when we arrived!

(Above: Arthur, Bruce Coville and I point to some of our favorite people.)

Even though the conference was over, there was still more work to be done. The next day was the annual Board of Advisors meeting. It's an honor to serve on the board with these incredible people from the children's publishing industry . . .




Publisher's Weekly did a great recap of the conference. You can read it HERE.

In other news, the NEW YORK TIMES reviewed DEAR BULLY this week . . .





The book will be out in September
and I'll blogging about it more later. In the meantime you can listen to Katie Davis's podcast HERE. It features Tommy Greenwald, who I got to meet earlier this year, plus she talks about one of my favorite books . . .


Disclaimer: No proofreaders were harmed (or even used) in the creation of this blog.

CLICK HERE to find out about Lisa's newest book, WARP SPEED!!!

Lisa Yee







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Because of an excessive amount of stupid annoying spam, I have disabled all comments. However, you can contact me via my website by CLICKING HERE

Awesome Author Autographs, Workshop Mayhem, and Another Party!!!

Lisa, you ask. How is it that the 40th Annual SCBWI Summer Conference is over, yet you are taking over 40 years to blog about it?

Well, I say, it's because THIS and THIS and THIS happened, and I didn't have room to tell you about this . . .

There was a fabulous party thrown by literary agent Steve Malk and Writers House, my literary agency where I'm represented by Jodi Reamer, who I hung out with HERE and HERE, recently.

The party was held at CAA, the glam Hollywood Talent agency . . .
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Black boots? Black boots, you were wondering? Why yes, those belong to me and author/producer of Eureka, Paula Yoo . . .
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The conference workshops were enlightening and incredible, like this one given by Caldecott medalist David Small . . .
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Later, Laurie Halse Anderson gave a killer (as in totally great) closing keynote address. However, Peepy was goofing off and didn't hear it, so Laurie had to give it all over again just for my Peep . . .

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Attendees were able to get autographs from top names in the business . . .

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Here's Marla Frazee . . .
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Look! There's Caldecott medalist Jerry Pinkney and triple Newbery Honor winner Gary Paulsen . . .
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Printz winner Libba Bray and former National Ambassador for Young People's Literature Jon Scieszka signed books at the same table. However, the longest like was for Peepy . . .
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Monday was for the "Intensives." No, that's not the squeal to The Incredibles, though it very well could have been. Intensive 3-hour classes were offered for those wanting to learn even more about the craft of writing and illustrating.

I taught "Creating Compelling Bad Guys and Bullies" . . .
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I made the writers work very hard . . .
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Martha Brockenbourgh wrote a great account of it HERE

After, I took a group photo of my students. It started our friendly, but soon degenerated. However, I am happy to report that most lived through the class and only a few were seriously maimed . . .
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I was so traumatized by the violence that there was only one thing to do. That's right. Have lunch with Newbery winner Linda Sue Park and Jim Averbeck, who both have new picture books that are currently in the production phase! They brought their F&Gs ("fold and gather" which is a picture book version of an galley) to lunch . . .
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We'll finish up the conference report next blog with the faculty party and the annual Board of Advisors meeting. In the meantime, here's a weird horoscope I got a while ago . . .

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Disclaimer: No proofreaders were harmed (or even used) in the creation of this blog.

[image error] CLICK HERE to find out about Lisa's newest book, WARP SPEED!!!

Lisa Yee








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Because of an excessive amount of stupid annoying spam, I have disabled all comments. However, you can contact me via my website by CLICKING HERE