Mitali Perkins's Blog, page 39

Hither, Thither, and Yon

I'm happy to share several recent interviews where I've spouted off on this and that:

Boston Globe


PaperTigers
Spilling Ink
YA Bookshelf
Young Adult Review Network
I've also updated my list of reviews of Bamboo People with much gratitude, hoping to shine a light on Burma, because "in the ethnic areas there is suffering on a biblical scale, in every way comparable to Darfur." ( Partners Relief )



And if you're in the Boston area, there's still time to plan to come to the launch party

First Prize Fire Escape Poetry Contest 2010

I'm delighted to present the first prize winner in the Fire Escape's Eighth Annual Poetry Contest for teens between cultures.



CITY IN THE EAST AND CITY IN THE WEST was written by Mirette, who was born in Egypt. "The hardest thing about balancing two cultures is trying to be loyal to both of them simultaneously," she says. "It's hard to follow the traditions of two different cultures as they sometimes contradict each other. The best thing about being an immigrant is definitely the food--noth...

Tigers and Frangipani: Oh, My!

We saw old friends during our two weeks in Chiang Mai, Thailand, but also made a new friend or two.



Here's the view of the Ping River from the old Thai house where I wrote the first draft of Bamboo People . Used to also be able to see Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai's signature mountain.

I love bamboo ...

Floating flower arrangements reminded me of Alpana art.



Fragrant frangipani in the rain.

Come visit me on the Fire Escape!

Chiang Mai, Here I Come!

We're heading back to Chiang Mai, Thailand for a wedding (thank you, frequent flyer miles!) and to visit friends. I also plan to deliver copies of Bamboo People to those I acknowledge in the novel. Might try to vlog a bit, but we'll see. Enjoy the first half of August. I'll be back on the Fire Escape before my book launch party . Peace be with you.

Come visit me on the Fire Escape!

Thanks, But It's Not Historical Fiction

One of the problems with gargantuan, impersonal booksellers is that the person who classified a novel hasn't usually read it.



Amazon.com, for example, put my novel BAMBOO PEOPLE in this category: "Books > Teens > History & Historical Fiction > Historical Fiction." Meanwhile, the product description says, "This coming-of-age novel takes place against the political and military backdrop of modern-day Burma."



It's a small but strange mistake.



And the behemoth isn't alone. I've noticed this ...

You've Been Berry Berry Good To Bamboo People!

When you write a book that isn't a gothic-zombie-romantic-thriller-optioned-for-a-movie-before-pub-date kind of novel, you count on many, many advocates to spread the news so that young people can discover your story. That's why I'm eternally grateful to the bloggers and reviewers who have recommended Bamboo People (Charlesbridge, July 2010):



Aaron's Books 

A Chair, A Fireplace, A Tea Cozy

A Foodie Bibliophile in Wanderlust

Albany Times-Union

Amy Reads

Asian Review of Books

Becky's Book...

A Chat with Holly Cupala, author of TELL ME A SECRET

It's a joy to discover a YA novel in which an author has introduced a diversity of characters thoughtfully and proactively. TELL ME A SECRET (HarperCollins)—a tenderly told bildungsroman about forgiveness in a Seattle family defined by secrets and grief—fits the bill.



Today I'm delighted to host the author of this brilliant debut novel, readergirlz diva and superb storyteller Holly Cupala , on her whirlwind blog tour .



Namaste, Holly! So glad to have you here on the Fire Escape! Let's start...

How Should We Write Across Cultures?

Here's a great mission statement:

Imagine. Envision. Write. Revise. Submit. YARN publishes outstanding original short fiction, poetry, and essays for Young Adult readers, written by the writers you know and love, as well as fresh new voices ... including teens.

That's the purpose of Young Adult Review Network , also known as YARN. The site editors recently asked me to contribute an original short story and also posed three interesting questions during a brief Q and A. Here's one of them, along ...

A Chat with Christina Gonzalez, Author of THE RED UMBRELLA

I love historical fiction when both words are handled excellently by an author, don't you?



I've been lounging in the garden this summer, making my way slowly but surely through a pile of books. But time didn't plod as I read Christina Gonzalez' THE RED UMBRELLA (Knopf Books for Young Readers) — it flew as I turned page after page without stopping.



This tender, intimate look at one family's separation is a superb way to learn about Operation Pedro Pan and the Castro revolution in Cuba. Bet...

What Should Mitali Write Next?

For the first time in years, I'm not writing under contract. It's an exciting, creative space. I'm planning my writing time for the coming year, and I need your help. I've got four unwritten projects on my mind. Which one should I tackle first?

YA Bollywood-esque action novel with a funny guy hero. Theme: international adoption and power.


Short novel for elementary-aged readers set in Nepal about wells, water, and arsenic. Theme: do good well (no pun intended.)


Picture book fairy tale