Annie Cardi's Blog, page 9

Quote of the Day

Currently reading (and loving) Life Without Envy: Ego Management for Creative People

by Camille DeAngelis. Camille included this Rilke quote, and of course I had to Photoshop it into the image above.

Stand strong, trees.

(Original image: Green tree by Stanley Zimny)

Links Galore

All the links I’ve been saving:

There’s a new episode of Crossover Appeal up, and this one has my favorite book rec list so far.
Beautiful photographs inspired by fictional meals.
It’s been fifty years of staying gold.
This is so far beyond my scarf budget, but I love this Amelia Earhart scarf!
Fascinating article about editor extraordinaire Ursula Nordstrom and the queer history of publishing.
And the problematic “acceptance” narrative for stories featuring trans characters.
I am so anti-Max, sorry not sorry.
Questioning stereotypes about disabilities in fiction.
I need to check out this mural inspired by Rita Dove’s poetry the next time I’m in Charlottesville.
Love seeing teens with jobs in YA novels.
Readers on printed books and ebooks. (Me? I love both!)
Magical learning in all its forms.
On writing, day jobs, and the labor movement.
And yep, writing is work.
Major love for Pura Belpré, librarian extraordinaire. And maybe check out the book award that bears her name!
I’ll take a good boarding school book any day.
Also, fairy tale retellings.
Book conservators: keeping books in tact, one page at a time.
“Sometimes I miss the “newness” of [being a teen]. There were many new things that I was experiencing. Discoveries about myself and others and life. I try very hard to keep that newness going even now in my old age.” Love this interview with Francisco X. Stork!
On approaching problematic books as a white reader.
Some words to work into your regular conversation.
Jane Austen knows about building suspense.
Multicultural readers deserve to see themselves in books.
Using technology to save a dying language.
In college and looking for an awesome summer job? Apply to be a counselor at Young Writers Workshop!
Fighting the writing fear.
Judging books like Mary Berry judges cakes.
Need to add these graphic novels to my reading list.

Friday Fifteen

Happy Friday, guys! This weekend I’m doing a writing retreat with my crit group, so I’m psyched for a weekend of fun and productivity (and not only wearing sweatshirts and yoga pants). Let’s get things started with a look at what I’ve been reading and writing in fifteen words or fewer.

Reading: Wonder by R.J. Palacio

I’m like the last person to read this, but so sensitive and touching.

Writing: I’m running faster than I have in months and I could run forever.

Protagonist in the new draft is on the upswing.

 

Where Are Your Mirrors? Diversity in Children’s Books 2015 Infographic

It’s one thing to read stats, and it’s another thing to see them. Based on information compiled by the the Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC), David Huyck created the infographic below:

image by David Huyck

How sad is it to see actual kids with less representation than animals and inanimate objects? Publishing as a whole needs to provide diverse young readers with way more mirrors.

The good news is that David has made his infographic available for general use, so you can share this around your own blog/social media networks. Because the more we see and talk about problems like this, the harder it is to ignore.

Happy Book Birthday to The Light Fantastic!

Fellow Candlewick author Sarah Combs is one of my favorite writers and people in the world. Her debut, Breakfast Served Anytime, got me teary because it was so beautifully written and so full of love and hope and feels. So obviously I’ve been way excited for her next book, and I am thrilled to say that The Light Fantastic is out today! A little about the book:

Delaware, the morning of April 19. Senior Skip Day, and April Donovan’s eighteenth birthday. Four days after the Boston Marathon bombing, the country is still reeling, and April’s rare memory condition has her recounting all the tragedies that have cursed her birth month. And just what was that mysterious gathering under the bleachers about? Meanwhile, in Nebraska, Lincoln Evans struggles to pay attention in Honors English, distracted by the enigmatic presence of Laura Echols, capturer of his heart. His teacher tries to hold her class’s interest, but she can t keep her mind off what Adrian George told her earlier. Over in Idaho, Phoebe is having second thoughts about the Plan mere hours before the start of a cross-country ploy led by an Internet savant known as the Mastermind. Is all her heartache worth the cost of the Assassins machinations? The Light Fantastic is a tense, shocking, and beautifully wrought exploration of the pain and pathos of a generation of teenagers on the brink and the hope of moving from shame and isolation into the light of redemption.

I’m so excited to see how Sarah brings together these viewpoints to craft a sensitive and thoughtful story of grief and anger and pain and hope.

In case that all sounds awesome to you, too, friend and fantastic book blogger Ginger is celebrating The Light Fantastic‘s release with a giveaway! Inspired by one of the book’s associated discussion questions, Sarah and Ginger are sharing their lists of five good things/things that matter. Check out their lists and sign up to win a copy of the book!

Even though I’ve already ordered my copy, I want to share my list of five good, real things. In no particular order:

The smell of bread baking, the magic of seeing how such simple ingredients can become something so delicious.
When a song comes on the radio and you have to turn it up and sing along and make ridiculous emotive hand gestures.
The first sip of coffee.
Jokes you have with loved ones that go so far back, you don’t even remember exactly when or how they started.
When you’re watching a movie, sneaking a glance at the rest of the audience and seeing them engrossed in the story.

Head over to Ginger’s to share your five, enter her giveaway, and most importantly, get yourself a copy of The Light Fantastic by Sarah Combs!

Friday Fifteen

Happy Friday, everyone! It may be September, but it still feels like summer in the Boston area, and I’m using that as an excuse to write outside and have as much ice cream as possible. Here’s a look at what I’ve been writing and reading, in fifteen words or fewer.

Reading: The Piper’s Son by Melina Marchetta

Marchetta is a master at balancing comedy, drama, and extended family stories. So my jam.

Writing: “I doubt they’d let you handle a deadly weapon like a lacrosse stick.”

My main character’s got a history of sports-related violence.

 

Downward Facing Denouement

Considering I go to a yoga class I refer to as “naptime yoga” (big pillows! lots of easy breathing! a 15 minute rest at the end!), I am loving this Yoga for Writers poster by :

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be over here doing the coffee shop outlet stretch.

Friday Fifteen

Happy Friday, everyone! I know that in a few months I’ll be dreaming of summer again, but for now I’m so done with heat and humidity and I need fall to start asap. (Either that, or I need to find a way to spend the next few weeks reading by a large body of water.) Until then, let’s get the weekend started with a look at what I’ve been reading and writing in fifteen words or fewer:

Reading: This Side of Home by Renée Watson

Touching look at growing up, growing apart, gentrification, and the people who make a neighborhood.

Writing: “You’re either going to start dating or bite his head off like a praying mantis.”

One or the other.

Links Galore

A few good links for today:

The second episode of Crossover Appeal is now up! This week we’re mashing up British tv drama fav Downton Abbey and epic fantasy classic Lord of the Rings. Find us on iTunes, Soundcloud, and Stitcher, and on all your favorite social medias.
Fascinating look at documenting Hawaii Sign Language.
Major props to the creator of all the BSC handwriting, and other fun Baby-Sitters Club trivia.
And you can read like your favorite BSC member.
Mapping out Yoknapatawpha.
Some necessary middle school reading.
Remember: if Tyra Banks can write a novel, you can write a novel.
Loved this post on how to keep writing when your book doesn’t sell.
Psyched for these forthcoming ebooks about Hogwarts.
And speaking of the Wizarding World, Zoë Kravitz has been cast in the Fantastic Beasts movie.
And apparently I need to start planning a trip to the British Library.
What is the social responsibility of a writer?
I already have way too many mugs, I need this one.

Friday Fifteen

Happy Friday, guys! I’m hoping to have a super writerly weekend, so let’s start things off with a look at what I’ve been reading and writing this week:

Reading: Althea & Oliver by Cristina Moracho

Loved Moracho’s writing, but very conflicted about one key plot point.

Writing: “…even though our Prospero thinks he’s friggin’ Gandalf, I think it’ll be a good production.”

Oh high school theater productions.