Beth Kephart's Blog, page 297

Dangerous Neighbors receives a sweet PW citation

I knew that BEA was extraordinary for many reasons; I felt something tremble in the air.  I didn't, however, expect to see Dangerous Neighbors listed in this PW article noting the show's "biggest" children's books by category.  Thanks to all of you who contributed to that buzz, who stood in line for that end-of-day signing, and who made me feel at home.

The Unionville Rider

It was her first trip to Devon; she'd only just begun riding a few months ago.  And this was her horse, braided by a friend, saddled up, readied for adventure.  "Will you take our portrait?" they asked, and so I did, beneath the greenish light of the secondary stables, where I have spent many hours this past week, leaving my own life for all of theirs, which is the first lean back toward fiction.

Let them live

One of the many things I love about where I live is that we let each other be.  When Bruce Springsteen, for example, would come to the Devon Horse Show (his daughter rides), he'd go in and out of the shops—unmassed, unbothered, just a dad with a daughter in a show.  Carson Kressley (of "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" fame), likewise, comes to the show each year and is given room, not simply to wend his way through the crowds, but to compete, as he did, on this gorgeous (winning) horse last n...

Quest for Kindness

Matthew Quick (Sort a Like a Rock Star) and Alicia Bessette (Simply from Scratch) are writers—married to each other, successful with their respective arts, and committed to finding kindness in our world.  Not long ago, they invited me to write an essay for their continuing kindness series, and I was happy to sit down and remember just how this blog has introduced me to so many of you and opened the door to one particular San Francisco moment.  The story—and the delightful Matthew and Alicia—c...

The Heart is Not a Size: a truly lovely review

Because this might be my Riley at the Devon Horse Show (where a major scene from The Heart is Not a Size does indeed occur), I place her here, in acknowledgement of (and in gratitude for) the extraordinary review that you will find here, courtesy of a special lady.  That's all I'm saying.  You'll have to travel beyond these unpopped balloons to find out more.

An autobiography is only to be trusted when...

I had this photo, but I had no supporting quote, no supporting anything, until I discovered these words just now in Dwight Garner's New York Times review of Christopher Hitchen's new book, Hitch-22.

The photo (this dog, so done up, so seemingly gentlemanly), the words (so possibly true, so cautionary):  they seemed an inevitable pairing:

"An autobiography is only to be trusted when it reveals something disgraceful," George Orwell, one of Mr. Hitchens's literary touchstones, wrote. "A man who gi...

Book worthy?

I struggle to find the time to write—the one hour of no calls, no interruptions.  Earlier and earlier I rise, and still all I manage is to toss more of my own work out.  The book shrinks.  Again, and again, my books shrink.  So many readers have asked why my books aren't longer.

It's because I whittle and winnow until what is left is book worthy. 

I wish I wrote more that I could consider book worthy.

Rope Trick

In the high heat of the afternoon, I took my father to the horse show, where we watched dogs parade and horses leap, where we took refuge in the shadows of the stables.  When we stopped to watch a traveling magician and his rope trick, I turned at once to this girl who proved herself still capable of surprise, still wholly equipped for astonishment.

I like that in a person.

Freedom Seeker: A Son's Suggestion

Again, early this morning, I retreated to the stables.  Slipped in, unquestioned.  Watched.  Suddenly:  a panic.  A three-year-old stallion—this three-year-old stallion—wanting out.  With his back hooves, he kicked away at his slatted stall, unhinging the wood, pacing, splintering again.  He reared and he whinnied, and up and down the stables, the geldings, the mares, the one-year-olds answered.

I stood just this side of the stallion with the perfect neck, watching him ache for his freedom.

Lat...

Thoughts on the Book Blogger Convention, and special thank you's

We spoke of many things at the Book Blogger Convention on our author/blogger relationship panel.  I learned a lot from my fellow panelists, Nicole [Linus's Blanket], Amy [My Friend Amy], Bethanne [The Book Studio], Kristi [The Story Siren], and Caridad Pineiro [Caridad Pineiro's Blog].  Transparency and respectfulness were two recurring themes.  So was the need to blog not with an eye on gain, but with an eye toward community.  I spoke of my respect for bloggers who take time to read books, t...