Annie Cardi's Blog, page 32
February 10, 2014
Gif-fiction with the Hanging Garden
It’s no secret that I’m a fan of gifs. So when Natalie Parker and Julie Murphy approached me about The Hanging Garden, a project in which 2014 debut YA authors write fiction inspired by gifs, my reaction was something along the lines of:
Our first challenge: write a short story inspired by one of two gifs. Every Monday, a different author shares their work. When I read the stories posted so far:
Then I realized I’d have to follow up these amazing writers:
My writing process:
But eventually I put together my very first gif-inspired short story and now it’s live on the Hanging Garden. Woohoo!
In grad school I mostly wrote short stories, but since then I’ve mostly worked on longer projects. It’s been really fun to dive back into a shorter form and write down ideas that can exist in their own little world. Looking forward to lots more gif-fiction challenges with the Hanging Garden team!
February 7, 2014
Friday Fifteen
Holy cow, this week got away from me. Another Friday Fifteen already! Here are this week’s book reviews in fifteen words or fewer.
1. Coming of Age in Mississippi by Anne Moody
Read in a high school class about the 60s; powerful in any history class.
2. Kissing the Witch: Old Tales in New Skins by Emma Donoghue
Short story adaptations of fairy tales. Mostly I remember the fairy tale-crossover transitions.
3. The Ersatz Elevator (A Series of Unfortunate Events, #6) by Lemony Snicket
First time I remember encountering the word ‘ersatz.’ Enjoyed the depiction of the elevator shaft.
4. Ask the Passengers by A.S. King
Quieter than I expected, but in a good way. Touching story, beautiful writing.
5. The Doorbell Rang by Pat Hutchins
Everyone wants to come over when you’re making cookies.
February 3, 2014
Links Galore
Let’s start the week off with lots of good links:
How did I not know that there was a patron saint of writers?
This list of American Girl doll characters are modern day teens would actually make a pretty kickass book series.
A reminder that A Song of Ice and Fire isn’t actual medieval history.
With six more weeks of winter facing us, you may need some good cold-weather reading.
Most hilarious response to the 2014 ALA awards.
Why the classic “do what you love” is not great advice for writers.
Love these book sculptures.
Return your books, Brooklynites!
The Lemony Snicket Prize for Noble Librarians Faced With Adversity is pretty much the coolest thing ever.
I would totally go see a Madeline/Ludwig Bemelmans art exhibit.
Best Revis rounds up the best and worst ways for authors to spend money.
Mindy shares what she wishes she’d known before becoming a librarian.
“When we fail to talk about sexuality, when we fail to clearly define consent, when we fail to acknowledge the various way that rape culture infuses itself into our daily lives, we fail our kids.” Christa, you are the best.
January 31, 2014
Friday Fifteen
Happy Friday, everyone, and happy last day of January! Let’s end the month with some good ol’ micro-book reviews.
1. The Austere Academy (A Series of Unfortunate Events #5) by Lemony Snicket
A fun send-up of boarding school books, and the series starts to hit its stride.
2. The Hanged Man by Francesca Lia Block
Probably the darkest Block book I’ve read, but tough issues are handled well.
3. Melville: The Making of the Poet by Hershel Parker
I didn’t even know that Melville wrote poetry. Nice general bio info as well.
5. Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
A love letter to readers. Ending didn’t quite hold for me, but lots of awesomeness.
4. What Happens to a Hamburger? (Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out Science, Stage 2) by Paul Showers
All you ever wanted to know about noms in a picture book.
January 30, 2014
Niño! Niño! Niño!
From Latin@s in Kidlit, Yuyi Morales reading Niño Wrestles the World is awesome and adorable and makes me cheer at the end:
This is just the kind of reading I needed for a Thursday morning. Niño recently won a Pura Belpré (Illustrator) Award, and I was excited to get to hear/see this dynamic book. So cute and fun!
Click through for more info on Niño and Morales (who’s also a puppet maker? how cool!) at Latin@s in Kidlit.
January 27, 2014
Spending the Morning with the ALA Youth Media Awards
Most Monday mornings:
ALA Youth Media Award announcement Monday:
My Twitter feed during the announcements:
People tweeting about other things during the announcements:
Speaker comments about the necessity of supporting libraries and literacy:
All of the winners and honorees:
When my livestream blips out for buffering:
What my reading list is like after hearing all the awards:
Congratulations to all the award winner and honorees, especially the team at Candlewick Press. Love you guys!
January 24, 2014
Friday Fifteen
Friday, I am so glad you’re here. Onto the weekend, and onto the mini-book reviews!
1. Witch Craze: Terror and Fantasy in Baroque Germany by Lyndal Roper
When you take history of witchcraft in college, you get to read books like this.
2. Big Bird’s Bedtime Story by Rick Wetzel
The story of a giant egg. Really cute and cozy.
3. Fat Angie by E.E. Charlton-Trujillo
Hard but ultimately hopeful. That group running scene killed me.
4. Calling on Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede
Loved getting more of Morwen, not so much Killer. Also, major cliffhanger.
5. Forest Born by Shannon Hale
Great way to round out the Bayern books; loved Rin’s anxiety about “people-speaking.”
January 23, 2014
Links Galore
A few good links for your Thursday:
Laurie Halse Anderson answers fans’ questions about her latest book, mental health issues, and what song she has memorized.
One cool way to take advantage of the cold weather–stories in the snow.
The Battle of the Books approaches…
Love this defense of Ron Weasley.
Best use of vertical library space ever.
Zadie Smith’s rules of writing. I especially like “…try to read your own work as a stranger would read it, or even better, as an enemy would.”
How to keep similar scenes interesting.
Tools to keep you writing, one of which includes kittens.
January 22, 2014
Book Club, Plus Robes
This is a surprisingly busy time for me, so instead of doing major thoughtful post about thoughtful things, here are pictures from my book club meeting last weekend. We read Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo, ate tasty treats, and wore homemade kefta:
Tasty brunch
My kefta
Other bookish costumes I’ve worn in the past include:
Ron Weasley
Hester Prynne
Claudia Kishi
I’ve been writing stories since I could tape paper together and call it a book, but I’ve been a fan of books for as long as I can remember. I love getting so excited about a book that I want to make a costume or stand in line for a midnight release or hand someone a copy and say they need to read it immediately so we can talk about it. Thanks to friends who share the same bookish enthusiasm!
January 17, 2014
Friday Fifteen
Happy
1. Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell
Just reread with friends. Karana was more stoic than I remembered; pragmatism helps you survive.
2. Prisoner of Time by Caroline B. Cooney
Didn’t grab me like the first two books. Devonny’s great, but ending felt random.
3. What Makes Day and Night (Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out Science, Stage 2) by Franklyn Mansfield Branley
Was big into question-and-answer science books when I was young. Loved the art/photos in this one.
4. Words Fail Me: What Everyone Who Writes Should Know about Writing by Patricia T. O’Conner
More about the technical aspect of writing than the creative side. Don’t remember much overall.
5. Mathemagic (Childcraft: the How and Why Library #13) by World Book-Childcraft International
I would actually read a book about math. Let that sink in for a minute.
