Jo Knowles's Blog, page 32

I'm back! :-)

Yay! LJ is back!!

Just in time to help stephanieburgis celebrate her North American pub day for Kat, Incorrigible! Head on over to her blog to enter to win a prize and see links to her AMAZING book trailer! http://stephanieburgis.livejournal.com/233924.html I cannot WAIT to read this book!!!

Shop Indie Bookstores

The snow is FINALLY melting here today after ANOTHER snowstorm yesterday. Ugh. It's starting to feel like spring will never come. I'm excited to be driving south to Albany, NY this Saturday to see more hopeful signs of what's to come. Are any of you attending the Albany Children's Book Festival? This is my first time and I'm very excited!

Line edits for See You At Harry's arrived while I was away so I'm burying myself in those in hopes of finishing before my next freelance job gets here. I love these final rounds of changes where it feels like you're polishing up, rather than tearing apart. :-)

Happy Tuesday, everyone! It's good to be back.

xo

Am I Banned Again?? *sigh*

This past week, I've received letters from two students from different schools asking me questions about why Jumping Off Swings was banned because they are writing papers about it.

The first time, I figured it was just a mistake and the book was being confused with Lessons From A Dead Girl. But when I got the second letter last night, from a totally different school, I decided to ask around.

A friend shared this link from ALA.

And Google doc.

So, maybe? Or maybe it's just a misunderstanding?

Does anyone know how I could find out?

I know everyone says what a great thing it is to have your book challenged/banned, but I gotta say. I don't really enjoy it.

Just one phrase from my muse Steven today...

"A good song makes me cry inside" - Steven Tyler

And you know a good book does, too.

Remember that while you write today.

:-)

How mentors change lives, and some news!

I've written an essay about a very special mentor which is available to read here: http://lyndamullalyhunt.blogspot.com/2011/03/mentor-monday_28.html

Yesterday, after I found out the post was up, I e-mailed Lowry to let him know. We haven't been in touch for quite a while, and realizing that made me very sad and a bit guilty. But he wrote back write away, and here's one thing he said:

You know, one of the greatest things in life is having someone give you the opportunity to do for them what you are truly capable of. You can only reach your full potential as a teacher with the right student, and when that student comes along, it's a gift. I've always felt it is an honor to be allowed to help people. I'm glad I was able to do it for you.

As I work with students myself now (thanks to Lowry), I know just what he means. There are these moments, especially when I'm meeting privately with a student, when I say something about his or her writing and find myself thinking, "Do you believe me?" "Did you really hear what I just said?" "Are you listening?" Because I know similar words helped me stay on the path. Similar words gave me something to cling to. Kept me from giving up. Made me believe I had any potential at all. I'm so grateful to Lowry for teaching me how important a teacher's words, a mentor's words, can be.

In the news category:

I am soooooo excited and truly, truly honored to be one of the author mentors at the next Whispering Pines Retreat! I've been Reading cynthialord 's descriptions of this year's retreat and I can't wait to go! If you've been, I'd love to hear your thoughts and tips. :-)

I am Mrs. Brady and John Cougar Mellencamp's Love Child, and I'm Proud

Yesterday on Twitter and Facebook, I noted that I thought my new haircut made me look like a cross between Mrs. Brady and John Cougar Mellencamp circa 1990.

Most common reply?

"Pic please!"

Hello. Did you not hear me? I just said I looked like the love child of Mrs. Brady and John Cougar Mellencamp circa 1990! (Only it would have to be 1970 but still)

And then sweet stephwooten said: "When I first chopped all mine off I felt like that too. Now I just feel feminine and sexy. #ownit <--Love that hashtag

OK. So...

I'm ownin' it.

Here's what would happen if Mrs. B...


Got it on with Mr. JCM...



Tada!


I actually have the Mellencamp bangs but I have to pull them away because they drive me insane. However you can sort of see them as I do the Brady Bunch Square pose. I'm looking up at Bobby. Oh Bobby. You were so cute.



Yeah. Ownin' it. Just like the lady in this video (though maybe not with quite such a short skirt):

The Way-Ay-Ting is the Hardest Part

Yesterday was such a beautiful, sunny day. Fred woke up from sunbathing to make shadow puppets.

Aw.

Book festival season is coming up and I'm very excited to be participating in two:

First, The Albany Children's Book Festival on April 9.

Second, The Hudson Children's Book Festival on May 7.

The best thing about book festivals is that there's lots of time to talk to the people who come to your table. I love meeting teen readers and parents and chatting about YA lit, writing, etc. Plus, I get to see lots of writer friends. I can't wait!

I'll also be at the New England SCBWI Conference on May 13. My husband will be coming with me! :)

But what I really want to talk about is this: There are still three months to go before my next book, PEARL, comes out, but it seems like requests for ARCs are picking up, which is both exciting and terrifying. This book is quite a bit different than my first two, and I'm nervous about what people will think. Mainly, that they will be disappointed somehow. I mean I'm REALLY nervous about this. Really. Nervous. I want to both fast forward and slow time. Maybe settle for a sneak peek. Or not. At any rate. The angst builds. And once again I'm left to worry: Will people think my new baby resembles Rosemary's:
or Gerber's:

As in just about every aspect of publishing (sing it with me), "the way-ay-ting is the hardest part."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Monday Morning Warm-Up:

Describe your main character's biggest weakness and how he or she got that way.

All I Really Need to know I Learned From...

Steven Tyler?

I know I know.

But every week he seems to say some little off-handed thing that is actually, well, BRILLIANT.

Like last night, in response to a stand-out performance, he said:

"Sometimes I think it takes a little bit of being crazy to make a difference in this world."-Steven Tyler.

So true. Soooooo true.

And isn't it true about writing, too? I mean, my favorite books are the ones that, I bet at some point, either the author or the editor had that thought: Am I crazy? Can we really do this? And I'm so grateful to the people who've been brave enough to say YES.

It's how we push boundaries and raise the bar, I think. It's how we grow and discover what we're really capable of.

Letting yourself go can be so hard, it's true. But I think when we do, I mean when we REALLY do, it's the most freeing feeling in the world.

I have a rare and blissful full day of writing today and I'm officially giving myself permission to let the words go wherever they want. I am going to write like there's no one in the room, just like Steven says (OK, I edited that, but I bet he would agree).



Who's with me?

Wordless Wednesday—Poster Seen at My Son's School

Overcoming Myself

Happy SPRING!!!!!

My yard still has well over a foot of snow but the road is good and muddy and I know the big melt is coming soon.

I drove to Massachusetts for the Overcoming Challenges workshop on Saturday and as soon as I crossed the VT/MA border the snow seemed to magically disappear. I felt a sudden burst of hope, which helped to diminish the nerves that were also coming in sudden bursts.

Yup. I was nervous again, despite my best intentions of over-preparing so I wouldn't freak out. Turns out, it helps, but not completely. I should really just accept this fact.

Anyway.

The day was pretty darn fantastic. I hadn't even made it through the parking lot when I arrived without running into a familiar face! Several former students were there, as well as dear, dear friends from my old Hatfield writing group, and other writer friends I've met along the way. I can't believe we didn't take pictures! Rats. I guess I was too nervous to think of it.

Here are some new friends I made, photos courtesy of Barbara O'Connor:



That's me with panel-mates Brian Lies, Barbara O'Connor, and Mary Newell DePalma. I hadn't met Brian or Mary before. They were sooooo nice. And I loved the stories they shared on the panel.

Barbara and I feel like old friends even though we both realized we haven't actually ever really hung out. We've read each others blogs for years though, so yes, we really ARE old friends. Or, as we came to call ourselves, the freak sisters.



I wish I'd thought to bring my notebook with me so that I could write down all the wonderful words of wisdom the other panelists shared. One theme I noticed is that all three shared how they grew by challenging themselves to do more. Brian and Mary both started out as editorial illustrators. They talked about how certain styles became very comfortable for them, but less and less satisfying. They described how they pushed themselves to try new techniques and styles until they found what felt right. What felt uniquely their own. And how, after a time, when that would sometimes begin to feel "too comfortable" they'd know it was time to challenge themselves with new techniques again. I loved this.

Similarly, Barbara talked about how she worked for years developing her own distinct voice. And boy does she have one!

It was such a privilege to be among these talented, inspiring people. I felt like I was living a dream all day. There were moments of doubt when I wondered if I belonged up there. But when I looked out and saw my students making silly faces at me, or my dear friend Michelle giving me a thumbs up, and sweet Peg and Ellen smiling, just smiling, I thought, GET OVER YOURSELF, JO! You're here! Stop fretting about every little thing and ENJOY it.

So I did. I really really did.

And even though I know my voice shook at times because I kept forgetting to BREATHE while I talked (I know, pathetic), I managed to get through my two talks and it felt so GOOD to be able to say what I wanted to say. Because you know. I DO have a voice. And I'm really grateful to NESCBWI, and in particular Melissa Stewart, for giving me a chance to share it.

One of the best moments of the day came toward the end, after I talked about how Robert Cormier inspired me—and in many ways saved me—and how I still think of Jerry in my greatest moments of doubt. When I was coming off the stage, a woman stopped me and said, "I just wanted to tell you that Robert Cormier was my uncle."

Oh.

I was shocked. And I would have started to cry if I hadn't needed to rush off to the next event. I wish we could have talked longer so I could tell her just how much her uncle meant to me. But you know, I'm sure she gets that all the time. :-)

It was a truly lovely, lovely day. I met so many wonderful aspiring writers waiting to share their powerful stories. And I know they will. I know it.


~*~*~*~*~*~

Monday Morning Warm-Up:

Who inspires you?

Cashing in, Spring, Clinging to Innocence and Mustering

Yesterday my son's school was closed for parent-teacher conferences. E and I still had a Christmas gift we hadn't cashed in on yet: Lift tickets to the Dartmouth Skiway. When I learned that it was supposed to be sunny and up to 50º, I piled up the car and said, "That's it. We're going!"

Our first run was kind of insane. We went down a trail that had been exposed to the sun all morning and it was like skiing in sand. We could barely move the snow was so wet and slushy. We wondered if we should just go home. But there were plenty of other skiers on other slopes so I suggested we try another trail. And I AM SO GLAD. Wow. The conditions were fantastic. We had the BEST time. And we didn't need coats!



I know these days together like this are probably numbered. Next near, he'll be skiing every week with school friends and I will be delegated to pick-up, or if I'm at all lucky slopes in the shadows. But yesterday my presence was still acceptable and so we skied all afternoon. And I was even allowed to give some tips. It was one of those beautiful days you are fully aware of as one of the last, and so I basked in it.

Today, we have our last elementary school parent-teacher conference, followed by an interview at a private middle school our son is applying to. So many big changes ahead. So much growing up to be done. But I hope every so often we can have a day like yesterday.


In more scary news, tomorrow is the OVERCOMING CHALLENGES program at the Eric Carle Museum. I'll be on a panel with three other authors talking about publishing and writing challenges. It's a day-long event so it's pretty intense for those of us who get nervous (understatement) doing public speaking. We each also give two ten-minute talks about each topic. I'm both thrilled and scared about this. Thrilled because I remember ten years of sitting in an audience and daydreaming about one day being an author, sharing my story. And now I'm living that dream and it's truly amazing to me. I'm not kidding. I seriously often still can't believe it.

But it's scary, too. Because I want to do a good job. I want to offer something useful. I want to be inspiring. And I want the person in the audience who is dreaming like I did for all those years, to keep the dream. I'm going to be mentioning my hero tomorrow, and honestly sometimes all I have to do is think about him and I feel a bit more brave and able to muster up some courage. I really wish he was still around, but I'm glad he continues to inspire. And I suppose that means he still is. Thank you, Mr. Cormier, for putting the question out there, and helping me feel strong enough to try.


I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. :-)