Marc Tyler Nobleman's Blog, page 66

Feedback from the Charlotte S. Huck Festival

On 2/27-28/15, I was a featured speaker at the Charlotte S. Huck Children’s Literature Festival in Redlands, CA. 


I really enjoyed my audiences and was humbled to discover there was some mutuality to that feeling. A sampling:

Wow—incredible! An inspiration—absolutely gripping story everyone should hearCould listen to him for a long timeEasy and humorous style make his Q&A fascinatingPowerful and engagingGreat message about the hard work of researchAwesome information, stories, advice, and ideasAmazing researcher! It was cool to learn so many things I never knew about popular cultureLearned so many interesting facts, really enjoyed his processIt ended too fast
Thank you all!

Fairy in the forest during WWII

While speaking at the American School of Bombay, I met a woman about my age whose mother-in-law saw what she describes as a fairy in a German forest during World War II.

I am, as I will soon reveal, prone to believe.

Eva agreed to share her experience.

Set up the sighting story.

We fled our country toward the end of WWII as the Allies were bombing our city and the Russians were fighting and pushing in on the ground. The city was in flames. Once the Russians were in control, they would never leave. We traveled in carts and trains and when there were no longer any trains or carts, on foot.

Eventually we reached Bavaria, the part of Germany which became the American sector. We had only the clothes on our backs and existed by begging for food and shelter. After the Liberation by the Allies, the American military set up living areas for all the people displaced by the war in whatever buildings, whole or partially destroyed, they were able to find. There was chaos and hunger for about one year, but thereafter, the military sorted through the displaced persons, of whom we were three, and set up barracks to house us, the DPs. During the following years, many DP camps were built and those who were lucky lived in these camps. DPs were frequently moved about, often from one month to another. We were moved when the returning American soldiers needed the space.

What did you see, where, and when?

The year was either 1947 or 1948. I attended the German schools—which was allowed—and walked to the school through a forest or by a forest in Bavaria. It was either in Weinsberg or Heilbronn—I think Heilbronn had more forests, Weinsberg had more vineyards. I was decorating a tree hollow with moss and wild flowers for the fairies, in whom I firmly believed. I heard a high-pitched giggling sound and a beautiful, tiny fairy peeked out of the tree opening.

What did the fairy look like?

The fairy was very tiny, delicate, and beautiful—long hair and fluttering wing. At first the fairy peeked out of the tree hollow, then stepped out—then disappeared.

How did you feel upon seeing it—excitement, fear?

I felt a sense of wonder and awe and then excitement—never fear.

How old were you at the time?

I was about seven.

Who were you with?

I was alone in the forest.

Did anyone else see fairies in that area, and if so, how did their sightings compare to yours?

I don’t really know.

Did you tell anyone at the time, and if so, what was the response?

I did tell my mother, but she told me that I had just imagined the fairy. To this day, I believe that I did see the little fairy.

How many times did you see fairies?

One other time—later that same year—again in the forest.

Have you ever experienced anything else not easily explicable?

Yes.

Have you met anyone else who has also seen fairies?

My daughter said that she had seen two fairies flying by when she was also about 6½ or 7 years old. This was again in a forest.

Where did your daughter see fairies—same forest?

In Bavaria, in Oberammergau—we had also lived in a camp outside the town. This happened in 1971. We were walking in the forest—my husband and son walked ahead, my daughter and I were picking wild flowers. She suddenly stopped and pointed to a wild rose bush—then very excitedly told me that she saw a fairy on one of the roses. She said that the fairy’s dress looked like a rose. We had not been speaking of fairies when this happened.

What is your response to people who don’t believe this story?

I don’t speak of it often and, if so, only to those who also love fairies.

“Something About the Author,” volume 278 (!)

In the fall of 2014, I was notified that I had been selected to appear in the next volume (#278!) of Something About the Author, a reference book published by Gale (Cengage Learning). 

Note: not actual volume.
I knew nearly nothing about this series but a quick search showed that it seemed kosher (in fact an honor) to proceed.

The book sells for $222 so I will be storing my copy at the library.

“Co-Creator”: the SECOND play about Bill Finger

In 2014, Roberto Williams mounted an ambitious play called Fathers of the Dark Knight, which prominently featured Bill Finger.

Less than a year later, a second production involving Bill is coming to a Rhode Island near you—and this time, Bill alone is front and center (if backwards). 

design by Arlen Schumer

Co-Creator premieres on April 2 and I will be there, of course, a few days later. Check back for interviews with the director, the actor playing Bill and, incredulously, the actor playing (a nod to) me.

Let’s give the show a great reception. Order tickets here and now.

Wordplay with Bill, Finger, and bat

Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman has fun with turns of a phrase involving the words “bat,” “bill,” and “finger.”


BAT:

blind about this Bat
when Bill was at Bat
went to bat for

BILL:

this Bill was past due

FINGER:

a Finger had a hand in it
put his Finger on it (a variation also on the Bill Finger T-shirt I designed)
had Fingerprints all over him
at his Fingertips
Fingers crossed
pointed the Finger (author's note)

did not use:

bat an eye at
Finger painting (Fingerpainting)
wrapped around his Finger
slip of the Finger
Finger on the pulse
Finger puppet

The last one came from this tweet:

Haverford School, Pennsylvania

On 2/20/15, I drove three hours to Pennsylvania for a one-day ski trip. On 2/22, I drove home. First thing on 2/23, I drove three hours back to (a different part of) PA for an author visit at Haverford School, and first thing on 2/24 I drove home…only to turn around and fly to California that night.

Haverford is a lovely all-boys school, and my superstar host was Carolyn Harkins (a friend).

I got to share a sign with donuts, a first. I did not, however, get to share the actual donuts, which followed me by a day.


The school ordered a generous amount of my books to sell during their book fair, and I’m told they sold most of them.


The only kink was that the projector conked out for one of my three talks—the one for the youngest students (pre-kindergarten through second grade). I thought it would be a challenge to hold their attention without any visuals for 30 minutes, but it wasn’t—which speaks highly of these kids.

Thank you again to Carolyn, your fellow PTAers, and the boys themselves for making this a wonderful visit.

“If you take a bag of leaves to Kinko’s…” (Charlotte S. Huck Festival)

On 2/27-28/15, I had the honor of being one of the author speakers at the 19th annual Charlotte S. Huck Children’s Literature Festival in Redlands, CA.

This was a triple win for me: I love the chance to speak, see publishing friends, and come to California.

In this case, I got to spend time with two of my best author buds in the biz—Peter Brown (met 2008) and Jenni Holm (met 2010). Got to meet some I’d previously only corresponded with—Avi and editor Allyn Johnston. Got to meet a picture book legend (and a regular in my house when my kids were younger)—Lois Ehlert. 

Lois, Rebecca Kai Dotlich, Peter, Jenni, me, Avi
And got to mingle with many other lovely authors, attendees, and volunteers. Special shout-out to Andy, who escorted me to my talks, and Pam, who introduced one of those talks.

Lois (age 80) was a crowd-pleaser. She stood for an entire hourlong keynote and, alongside her editor/co-presenter Allyn, served up one zinger after another while explaining her process in creating children’s books, many of which focus on nature.

A one-liner the authors at my table particularly liked involved Kinko’s. First she charmingly explained what it is in case anyone in the audience had not heard of the national copy chain. Then she said she keeps them in business. Then she said “If you take a bag of leaves to Kinko’s, you have to go early.” (Translation: fewer stares to avoid.)

 Avi, Peter, musician Emily Arrow (see below)
Allyn and Lois
Earlier that week, I spoke at two impressive schools, Kimberly Elementary in Redlands and Cajon High School in San Bernadino. The staff at both schools were so committed to doing as much as possible for their students, and the students were thoughtful and funny.

world cultures on display at Kimberly Elementary, Redlands, CA
At the festival, singer/songwriter Emily Arrow performed songs she wrote about Peter’s The Curious Garden and Lois Ehlert’s Snowballs and got the crowd involved. She gives off an Ingrid Michaelson/Joni Mitchell vibe (which I hope she will take as a compliment) and I have a feeling she’ll soon be a fixture at kids’ book conferences.


During author Rebecca Kai Dotlich’s moving talk, I caught a glimpse of a book whose title inspired the title of my upcoming WWII picture book. Can you spot it? 


Probably not—the photo is blurry. The blue-spined book with yellow type is called Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo…

I received humbling feedback on my talk, including this:


And a young man named Gino was so moved by Bill Finger’s story that he whipped up this drawing, leaving a blank at the bottom and asking me to fill in a name:


While still at the 19th, I was invited back to the 21st festival. Of course I said yes.

The mayor and the man behind Batman

I was thrilled to learn that Jeanne Sorg, mayor of Ambler, PA, read Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman to children on Read Across America Day (3/2).

Turning the Page 2014

On 11/18/14, I had the privilege of taking part in another Community Night event for the Washington DC organization Turning the Page. My talk, held at Kramer Middle School, was open to students and their parents.


TTP posted a most kind blog recap of the event. Excerpts:

Mr. Nobleman led his talk as if he was telling a detective story.

…

Attendees were amazed to learn that Mr. Nobleman’s painstaking investigative journalism actually led him to discover an unknown heir of Bill Finger, one of the creators of Batman, who is now receiving money from DC Comics for her grandfather’s work. Kramer families were so curious and excited about Mr. Nobleman’s tale that they could hardly contain their questions until the end. It was an inspiring presentation that touched on creativity, ownership of ideas, copyright, and the importance of perseverance and storytelling to shape and correct history.

…

Mr. Nobleman’s author visit was an important step in reaching a new and wider sector of the Kramer community, from teachers to students and parents to other partner organizations. For many Kramer families and teachers, this was their first-ever Community Night. “When’s the next one?” they asked me on their way out. “I’m gonna write a book like that about the Green Lantern.”

Naturally, I adore that last line.

Thank you, as always, TTP, for your many good works in the DC region. Many benefit from your efforts.

Best of the blog 2014

This blog launched on 2/19/08.

Every February 19, I share what I feel have been the best posts of the previous twelve months.

This year’s blue ribboners:

interviews

the co-author of Bob Kane’s 1989 autobiography
women who appeared in iconic 1980s music videos...round 2
Ally Sheedy, who wrote a novel that was published when she was 13 
voice actors of Peanuts TV holiday specials
the creators, singers, and songwriters of Schoolhouse Rock
singer of the 1981 hit song “Theme from The Greatest American Hero (Believe It or Not)”
the actors who played Tom Hanks and Daryl Hannah as kids in the opening scene of Splash
granddaughter of the creator of Wonder Woman
another granddaughter of the creator of Wonder Woman 
the man who sang the theme to the Wonder Woman show of the 1970s
the creator of the best-selling Anti-Coloring Book series
the family of the author of the 1979 YA novel The Kryptonite Kid, praised by Pauline Kael 

speaking

“Batman at 75” panel with Kevin Smith, Kevin Conroy, Michael Uslan, and Chip Kidd
Comic-Con 2014: Bill Finger rises
two weeks of speaking engagements (plus dune bashing and ascending the world’s tallest building) in the United Arab Emirates 
two weeks at the American School of Bombay, India

research 

the first “new” Bill Finger photo discovered since 2007
the second “new” Bill Finger photo discovered since 2007
tracking down the only mainstream media mention of Bill Finger in his lifetime (the 8/21/65 New Yorker)
petitioning the Screen Actors Guild to grant me access to their contact info database
a 1938 ad for the company that inspired Bill Finger when naming Gotham City
more contract speculation: what is the implication that Bill Finger was doing work Bob Kane was contracted/credited for?
Athena Finger: Year One  
who wrote the heartbreaking (and groundbreaking) origin of Batman? 
why now is the best time to conduct interviews with pop culture figures of the 1970s and '80s

publishing

kidlit mashups (merged children’s book sequels) 
I wrote a book about a child feeling out of place at a new school for being the only one of his kind...but another author published it
how I updated a 1960s book of vocabulary cartoons that included guns and cigarettes 
how Bill the Boy Wonder does not follow a typical narrative arc for a nonfiction picture book
the picture book my mom wrote and illustrated in 1968 

miscellaneous

helping a teacher in Pakistan get a tablet PC to help his students
Bill Finger had a hand in 12 of the first 14 Batman milestones on DC 75th anniversary poster
touring the Slumdog Millionaire slum in Mumbai, India
which covers of The New Yorker featured DC Comics superheroes
Kickstarter possibility for commemorating Bill Finger in New York City
voice actors of Super Friends Samurai and Black Vulcan holding action figures of their characters
what was original about Superman and Batman
our Survivor-themed 10th birthday party, complete with eating crickets
DC Comics writer Mike W. Barr lost his job for standing up for Bill Finger (who was already dead)
Bob Kane gets a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame  
Bill Finger in the New York Times for the third time in a little over a year
10 funniest music videos of the 1980s
The Flash (1990 TV show): an appreciation
when superheroes vote
the original Everything Store...my dad’s 1980s pharmacy