Zetta Elliott's Blog, page 123

Bloodlines

Here's another sista who's doin' it for herself: sci-fi writer and publisher Veronica Henry shared this exciting news with me:

As most of you know, Eric and I ran a short story contest through our website (www.myafricandiaspora.com), during the last quarter of 2009. We have compiled the best entries from the contest (along with 1 of my previously published stories), into a short story collection entitled: "Bloodlines – Tales From The African Diaspora."

The book is available at Amazon.com and...

goin' back to Indiana

Remember that song by the Jackson 5?  Wish is going back to where it all began—Edi was first to review my book over at Crazy Quilts, and she tried for *months* to get a set of books into her Indianapolis school.  Finally, the books arrived!  And here's 8th grade Language Arts teacher Ms. Tipton preparing to teach Wish:

pick me up

So I went to the garden to see if I could turn my mood around…I did a *twelve* minute workout TWO days ago, and I'm still so sore I can barely walk without groaning!  But I still managed to crouch down and take these shots:

Then I hopped on the train and went to the Court St. Barnes & Noble to see if they had a copy of Wish…they didn't b/c all copies were sold!  So the clerk ordered ten more and asked me to come back and sign a few…happy day!

Anveshi Research Centre for Women's Studies

I'm grouchy today, and though I was thrilled when my friend Kavita sent me this link, I'm frustrated that so much innovation in children's literature seems to take place everywhere but HERE!  It's Women's History Month, of course, so I'm proud that our South Asian sisters are doin' it for themselves…Visit the Anveshi site to learn more about the Different Tales Project in India—here's a little of their mission:

About The Project

Different Tales brings us stories from the lives of children...

read out loud!

Thanks to Deborah Taylor for posting this article on Facebook: Four Reasons We Need to Read to Our Kids.  I just finished answering some questions about my "recipe" for getting kids excited about books:

Make reading fun!  Read aloud, and read often.  Let your child see YOU reading and going to the library.  Let your child choose her own books, and ask questions as you read the books together.  Talk about the lessons learned from different stories, and urge your child to imagine...

Girls Life

Thanks to Meghan for featuring Wish in the Book Club section over at Girls Life.  She concludes with this question—how would you answer?

Would you travel back to a difficult time? Where would you travel if you could? Let us know!

Decolonizing the Imagination

It's up!  I wrote this essay back in September, but it's out now in the March issue of the Horn Book Magazine (the full title was "Decolonizing the Imagination: Afro-Urban Magic and The Door of No Return").  You can find it on their website.  While you're there, check out Roger Sutton's interview with National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, Katherine Patterson.  I think the Ambassador and the Children's Book Council would be ideal sponsors of the US Publishing Equalities Charter.  ...

Brooklyn sightings…

You may already know that Wish is available at Brownstone Books in Bed-Stuy, but I've just received word that Wish can also be found at the Barnes & Noble on Court Street in downtown Brooklyn—just a few blocks away from where the novel takes place (in Brooklyn Heights)!  Please do keep sending in your photos, and don't be camera shy—I want to see you AND the book!  Thanks to Danielle for saving me a trip downtown…

Wish crosses the pond!

Thanks to Jodie (who blogs at Book Gazing–swing by for a *great* summary of "steam punk" reviews and round-ups) for sending in this photo of Wish, which made it all the way to England!

reward

I woke up feeling kind of anxious this morning…I've never actually done a bookstore reading before, and wasn't sure anyone would show up.  But having Gbemi there tonight made everything feel very comfortable and calm—we had a full room of wonderful readers who asked thoughtful questions, and we sold some books (and ate chocolate).  Many thanks to Crystal at Brownstone Books for hosting our joint reading.  I'm sure not every indie bookstore will open its doors to me, but Crystal was as warm...