Shutta Crum's Blog, page 22
October 14, 2011
NBA Finalists Announced for Young People's Literature
What a great line-up for the National Book Awards!!!
And I just saw that my editor at Knopf, Michelle Frey, edited one of the nominees— Albert Marrin, Flesh & Blood So Cheap: The Triangle Fire and Its Legacy. She's a great editor to work with. So happy for her, and Knopf.
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Click here for the details:
NBA Finalists Announced for Young People's Literature.
Enjoy!
Shutta
October 12, 2011
Revision: are two heads better than one?
I'm meeting this afternoon with the talented and lovely Karen Simpson (Author of Act of Grace , a book for adults.), to brainstorm a program we'll be doing in December at the Ann Arbor District Library on revision. This has been specifically scheduled to follow NaNoWriMo — National Novel Writing Month – in November. We're planning early, and it's sure to be a fun program. So get it on your calendars early–especially if you are thinking of doing NaNoWriMo!! And we'll see . . . will two heads (authors) be better than one?
Karen's book:
Ciao!
Shutta
October 11, 2011
The House in the Meadow & Kids Say the Darnedest Things!
Lately, I've been hearing from Children's House Preschool in Boulder, Co. They are using my book THE HOUSE IN THE MEADOW for a week-long study book, doing hands-on activities, neighborhood things related to the book, etc. They've emailed their lesson plans, one of which you will find here (as well as on the HOUSE IN THE MEADOW book page. ) One of extra lovely things are the overheard quotes from the kids during the week.
My favorites:
One child stopped with his arms full of toy trucks. "Where are you going?" "To work. I'm an obstruction worker."
One child, after studying a globe for a while: "Hey! This looks just like my world!"
Gotta love them….esp. that last one.
Thinking of child quotes: one of my favorites came during my time as a traveling librarian/storyteller doing Outreach. As I approached one preschool, the kids saw me coming up the walk. One child ran through the room yelling, "Put your things away! The barbarian is here."
Shutta the Barbarian! (Kinda has a certain ring to it, doesn't it?)
Enjoy!
Shutta
(AKA: "The Barbarian")
p.s.: and don't you miss that old Art Linkletter TV show House Party in which he had that segment: Kids Say the Darnedest Things? Bill Cosby later did it as a program, as well.
October 10, 2011
Books & Friends
Had a great time at Leon & Lulu's on Sunday. Here are a couple of pictures of me and my friend, and fellow children's book author, Jean Alicia Elster. The first one is at my table. The second one is at Jean's table. (Note the roller skates. The store used to be a roller rink. It still has its wood floors, and the staff wear skates. Cool!
Shutta
October 5, 2011
Ig Nobel Awards, 2011 Announced
As Nature Magazine says: ". . . the Ig Nobel awards. These come with little cash, but much cachet, and reward those research projects that 'first make people laugh, and then make them think."
Such awards as:
PHYSIOLOGY PRIZE: Anna Wilkinson (of the
UK), Natalie Sebanz (of THE NETHERLANDS, HUNGARY, and AUSTRIA),
Isabella Mandl (of AUSTRIA) and Ludwig
Huber (of AUSTRIA) for their study "No
Evidence of Contagious Yawning in the Red-Footed Tortoise."
For more of these interesting awards go to the Ig Nobel site here.
October 3, 2011
What Success Looks Like
This is soooooooo true. I have had people ask me about how it feels to have my books take off so quickly. Little do they know about the YEARS spent practicing writing, writing, learning the business end of the trade, sending out submissions, getting rejected, etc. (Thanks to: Nelson Mendez for this doodle!)
Shutta
October 1, 2011
Lounging with Books at Leon & Lulu's: Oct. 9, 2011.
Looking for a fun Sunday outing? Look no farther. That cosmos of the curious, that galaxy of glitz and goofiness, Leon & Lulu's, is hosting another of their annual author events.
What a great space: with roller skates lining the walls, the original roller rink floor, and lots of really mind-blowing art, comfy chairs, screwball socks, and other various funky finds too numerous to name.
And to really put the icing on the cake, they've invited about 40 authors to be settled into various cozy spots throughout the store to autograph books. What a great time, and place, to do your holiday shopping. Stop by and say Hi! (Oh! And did I mention, free refreshments . . .)
It's Sunday, Oct. 9th from 11 – 5 at Leon & Lulu's at 96 W. 14 Mile in Clawson.
The link to Leon & Lulu's is here.
This year's event benefits the Detroit Free Press "Gift of Reading". An expected 40 authors will be on hand (with pens in hand) to meet their readers, find new fans and sell their books.
"We will have fiction, memoirs, travel books, children's books, local interest and more. This event gives authors a chance to meet their fans, mingle with the public and sell their books while we raise money for The Gift of Reading." says Curtin. "Expect the three Rs at the event- Reading, Writing and Refreshments."
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The Books & Authors event is co-sponsored by the eyeglass company Peepers. Peepers, purveyors of fun and fashionable, optical-quality reading glasses, will provide an expert to consult on your presbyopic needs (both function and fashion). Alec will help far-sighted, fashion-forward customers choose the right frames, the correct strength and the perfect look for every outfit. He will also have a trunk show of fabulous frames, many here for the day only.
All proceeds (yes, every nickel!) from the day's sale of the reading glasses, tips and raffles as well as 10% of overall sales will benefit the Detroit Free Press "Gift of Reading" Campaign. Since 1987, it has put more than 735,000 books into the hands of Michigan children to help them discover the joy of reading.
Here's a pic from the 2009 event. Me and fellow author Jean Alicia Elster.
She'll be there again this year. (Check out her website!)
See you at Leon & Lulu's!
Shutta
September 30, 2011
13,000 Year-old Finger-painting!
I just heard the BBC news about some of the artwork in the caves of southern France. It appears that four individual children, one as young as two, made the cave art. And since the children's art is primarily confined to one of the cave regions . . . it appears it was a kind of art school. How cool is that?
Not only that, one of the repeated drawings kind of looks like a hut. As kids today draw houses, perhaps these children were also drawing pictures of where they lived. So wonderful!!
Here's a link to a news site: http://news.sky.com/home/uk-news/article/16080116
Enjoy!
Shutta
September 29, 2011
September 27, 2011
Articles , Archive » A Conversation of Many: What is Voice Anyway?
Check out: Articles , Archive » A Conversation of Many: What is Voice Anyway?.
Interesting!! A collection of editors and writers talk about "voice."
Enjoy!
Shutta
