Carolee Dean's Blog, page 19

Yes, I May Be Crazy - I'm Training for a Half Marathon

Superbowl Sunday, February 7, 2016, I began training for the Suja Rock 'n' Roll half marathon which will be held in San Diego on June 5. Since I'm not a runner, and not really much of an athlete at all for that matter, this should be very interesting. It's all part of my new (as of January 2015) post as President of the Southwest Branch of the International Dyslexia Association. IDA is spearheading a nationwide fundraising campaign called TeamQuest and I'm in charge of recruiting runners for New Mexico. Go me!

Full disclosure - the picture to the left is NOT me.

It seemed only fitting that I should be the first volunteer for the race, despite the fact that when I registered for the event, I was fifteen pounds overweight with chronic hip pain. I've lost five pounds and the hip pain is on the way out. So far so good.

Before heading out to eat junk food and watch the big game last Sunday (Yay Broncos!), I walked/ ran a total of 5 miles (full disclosure - I really only ran about half a mile). Part of that was a trek around the Albuquerque Academy (3.4 miles or roughly a 5K).  The Academy has some beautiful views of the Sandia Mountains.



According to Map My Run  - my new favorite app, last week I walked/ran a total of 12 miles. And it only took me 3 hours and 10 minutes - spread across four separate days. If I could convince the marathon folks to let me take my time, I could totally do this. Maybe a week is asking too much though. I did find out that they have a shuttle bus that picks up the stragglers and takes them to the finish line. San Diego traffic can only be diverted for so long.

So if anybody out there wants to run a marathon or half marathon in San Diego to support the International Dyslexia Association - check out our TeamQuest post at http://southwestida.org. You don't have to live in Albuquerque. Training is going on all over the U.S.

If you're not a runner but you would still like to contribute to a good cause, check out my fundraising page at CAROLEE'S FUNDRAISING PAGE.

Maybe I'll see you in San Diego!

LOVE IN THE DMZ

Friday, August 7, 2015,  I had the wonderful opportunity to see the southwest premier of Love in the DMZ: A Play in Letters by Julia Cameron at the new performance space at the Sol Acting Academy here in Albuquerque, NM.  It was a powerful and riveting story told in a series of poignant and poetic letters, a correspondence between an officer in Viet Nam and his young wife.

Cameron has masterfully created a story that is both heartbreaking and hopeful.

One of the highlights of the evening was meeting Julia Cameron who has had such a tremendous influence on my own writing. I studied her book, The Artist's Way, long before I published my first novel and it was a tremendous inspiration for both improving my craft and developing the perseverance required to be successful in the arts.

After the play there was a "talk back" with Julia pictured in the center above. Also participating in the talk back were the actors from left to right, Josh Heard and Catharine Pilafas, both extraordinarily talented. Seated to the right of Julia was the director, Daniel Region, and Producer, Vivian Nesbitt, herself an award winning actor, writer, and owner of Sol Acting Academy.

The play is based on a book of the same title. Love in the DMZ is one of three novellas contained within the book. I just had to read the other two after last night's performance and was amazed to discover the title on sale on Kindle for 99 cents! Check it out on Amazon!

Performances run through August 23, 2015. Read more about the play, see the trailer, and Check Out Showtimes Here!

Annapolis

I just returned from an amazing three days in Annapolis, Maryland. What an intriguing place. Staying at the Historic Maryland Inn was like stepping back into history. Eleven members of the Continental Congress lodged at that same hotel.


I was there as part of a Destiny Initiative Team working on forming a vision for the International Dyslexia Association. We met in some of the very rooms where our founding fathers debated politics hundreds of years ago.

I've served as president of the Southwest Branch since January, and it's been quite an experience. It was great meeting with other like minded people who want to make a difference in the lives of children and adults who struggle to read. Find out more.
I arrived a day early and was excited to fit in a little sight seeing. I walked for miles and miles in the pouring rain and saw everything from an exhibit on runaway slaves in an old house/museum store on Main Street to an elaborate display of battleship replicas at the Naval Academy.

I'm already thinking about my next trip!

UFO Festival in Roswell

My husband and I stopped in Roswell, NM this past Fourth of July weekend on our way to visit family in Texas when we realized that highway 285 (aka Main Street) was completely blocked off. Some kind of street fair was in progress. We decided to have dinner and check it out. We walked past a live band, a man in silver pants on stilts, street vendors, a pony ride, a ferris wheel and a fun house and naturally assumed it was a Fourth of July celebration.

We were wrong. It was much more than that. We had stumbled into the Roswell UFO Festival.



I'll admit the alien on the bike should have been a "dead" giveaway, but these days you can see those sort of props all the time in Roswell.


My husband went to high school in Roswell. Of course back then no one had heard anything about the 1947 alien crash site. One of his high school classmates, Hub Corn, owns the ranch where the weather balloon/space ship went down and has subsidized his ranching business with Crash Site Tours. I was surprised to find out there are actually several crash sites. I should say alleged crash sites. After all, how many can there be?

Here's an old but interesting article from the Albuquerque Journal that tells all about the various alien crash sites and the stories behind them - Journal Article.

What a fun and interesting state we live in!

2015 Dyslexia Conference

It's been my privilege to serve on the board for the Southwest Branch of the International Dyslexia Association for the past three years. One of the biggest highlights every year is being part of the Dyslexia Conference in February. This year I had the honor of serving on a Friday night panel I organized called The Reading Fire - Kindling a Love for Books. Participants included Teri Lesesne, Professor of Library Science and three authors with a special connection to dyslexia: myself, Caroline Starr Rose, and Kersten Hamilton.

The highlight of the evening was an introduction by Miss Teen New Mexico who discussed her own experiences as a teenager with dyslexia. To read more about the conference visit Southwest IDA.

           

AWESOME LIBRARIAN/ AUTHOR PANEL AT THE SOUTHWEST DYSLEXIA CONFERENCE

The Reading Fire: Kindling A Love for BooksFebruary 20, 20156:30-9:00p.m.Sandia Resort Conference CenterAlbuquerque, NM
Pre-Conference Session isFREE TO THE PUBLIC
This fun and informative pre-conference session will begin with a 45 minute presentation by superstar librarian, Teri Lesesne, professor of library science at Sam Houston University, who will discuss a variety of titles and what makes them good selections for struggling readers. I recently finished reading her book - MAKING THE MATCH - THE RIGHT BOOK FOR THE RIGHT READER AT THE RIGHT TIME. It was fabulous!



The evening will continue with a 45 minute panel of local authors, each with a special connection to dyslexia. Each author will discuss dyslexia as it relates to her work. 
Kersten Hamilton, author of the GOBLIN WAR series, has struggled with dyslexia most of her life, but went on to become a highly successful author. Caroline Starr Rose's debut novel, MAY B., features a protagonist with dyslexia. (see the author interviews below). My novel, TAKE ME THERE, a YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers, features a male protagonist who cannot read or write but who dreams of being a poet. The evening will end with an author book signing. 
This event is FREE but please reserve a spot by calling 505-255-8234. Leave your name, the number in your party, and mention you will be attending the pre-conference event. Students are welcome to attend and CEUs will be provided for professionals who have signed up for the entire conference.
If you are interested in attending the Saturday portion of the conference as well, there is a fee so REGISTER HERE FOR THE FULL CONFERENCE - THE DEADLINE IS FEBRUARY 13, 2015 AND THERE WILL BE NO REGISTRATION ONSITE. This year we are hosting a special student conference running simultaneously. I will be leading a session in the morning on digital storytelling with Megan Shanley, an occupational therapist with dyslexia. (See her interview below).
For more information about the conference, visit southwestida.org.
Two of this year's conference presenters, Kersten Hamilton and Megan Shanley,have struggled with Dyslexia. A great way to get your students interested in the special student conference would be to read them these inspiring stories. I shared Kersten's interview to high school reading classes and was amazed by the avid response. Kids connect to people who have faced challenges similar to theirs. They are the true heroes because they set real life examples of how to overcome challenges.
HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

An Author with Dyslexia Speaks - Interview with 2015 Conference Presenter Kersten Hamilton"When everything is hard, you learn to persevere."Hamilton has written numerous titles from picture books to fantasy novels including the Goblin Wars series. She dropped out of high school due, in large part, to a significant reading disability, but went on to become a highly successful professional author. (Read more)

Characters with Dyslexia - Interview with Author Caroline Starr Rose 2015 Conference Presenter Caroline is former classroom teacher and the author of the middle grade verse novel May B. What Inspired you to choose a girl with dyslexia as your Main Character? In order for a book to work, an author must not give their characters what they want (at least not straight away), but must make them face their fears and weaknesses. Without these things, there is no change. Without change, there is no story. (read more)




A Therapist Speaks Out - What It's Like to be Dyslexic - Interview with 2015 Conference Presenter Megan ShanleyMegan Shanley struggled with reading all through school, but didn't know she had dyslexia until she was evaluated at the age of sixteen. She went on to college and became an occupational therapist. She now works as an Assistive Technology Practitioner on the Universal Design Team at APS as well as at Southwest Neuropsychology and Behavioral Health, where she helps match struggling learners with technology to assist them with reading and writing. (Read More)

FORBIDDEN Book Launch

Friday, November 21 was the book launch at Bookworks in Albuquerque, NM for FORBIDDEN by my good friend Kimberley Griffiths Little.
The evening started with a belly dancing demonstration. Then everyone in the audience was invited to get up and learn some belly dancing moves.  It was quite a workout and now I know how to do snake arms!
Kimberley has been working on FORBIDDEN for ten years. I remember the story from its early beginnings when we frequently brainstormed plot ideas together. Although she has published many middle grade novels, this is her debut young adult novel, and it's part of a trilogy.
FORBIDDEN starts in 1759 B.C. with a belly dancing scene celebrating sixteen-year-old Jayden's betrothal to a young man named Horeb. It's not a good match because Horeb ends up having a violent disposition and a dark past. After a terrible tragedy, Jayden's family gets separated from the rest of their group and must make it to the Summer Lands on their own. That's when Jayden meets Kadesh, a dark and handsome stranger, and begins a forbidden romance.
Jayden's family is from the lineage of Ishmael. A little Bible history-- Ishmael was the first son of Abraham by his wife Sarah's handmaiden, Hagar. Ishmael (like his half brother Isaac) had twelve sons who were later known as the Twelve Princes. Jayden and her family are descendants of one of these princes.
Dancing figures prominently throughout the book. Every important occasion and life event is marked with dancing in the Bedouin culture of this era. The book is similar in many ways to THE RED TENT. Kimberley did extensive research which included a trip to the Middle East. Below is a photo of some of the souvenirs she brought back.
Congratulations Kim!  I'm glad you're part of my writer's journey.

Dia De Los Muertos

Today was Dia de los Muertos and these are my photos from the 22nd annual Marigold Parade in the South Valley of Albuquerque, NM. Marigolds are the flower of the dead and they were decorating everything from hub caps to dog collars.


Dia de los Muertos is a much bigger holiday than Halloween in places with a strong Hispanic influence like Albuquerque, NM. In Mexico it's a National Holiday.


The festivities start with All Hallowed's Eve on October 31, followed by All  Saints Day on November 1,  and All Souls Day (or Day of the Dead) on November 2. For interesting insights on the differences between the three dates check out this article.


The hood of the car below is decorated with an altar honoring dead family members.


The parade ended at the Westside Park and Community Center where vendors set up tents and food trucks lined the parking lot. There were two stages for performers and more altars inside the Community Center to honor the departed.


These type of experiences are part of what makes me glad I live in such an interesting and diverse city.

SCBWI Handsprings 2014

On 10/25/14 the New Mexico Branch of SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) held our 2014 conference in Albuquerque. Our faculty included the following: Julie Bliven - an editor with Charlesbridge, Patti Ann Harris - an art director for Scholastic, Liza Baker - an editor at Scholastic, and agent Sara Megibow.

Liza Baker and Patti Ann Harris recently moved from Little Brown to Scholastic. Although they spoke very fondly of their experiences at LB, they were excited to be working in a new department at Scholastic focusing on books for kids ages birth to 5. They have worked closely together for the last eighteen years and even referred to each other as Sony and Cher. They will oversee the Cartwheel and Orchard imprints and are looking for books with playful language that invites young children into the book experience.

Liza Baker did a breakout session on Perennial Themes in Board Books and Picture Books which included a discussion on holidays and bedtime stories among many other topics. She  strongly suggested taking ideas and combing them and gave the example of Jane Yolen's How Do Dinosaurs Say I'M MAD? Yolen artfully combines the theme of dinosaurs with the need to give kids a vehicle to talk about their emotions.

Julie Blivens conducted a breakout session on Voice in Middle Grade Fiction. She looked at several Newbery winners and the characteristics she saw in those books. In discussing how voice should illuminate a central theme, she suggested that authors ask themselves, "What is the idea I want readers to have linger with them after they close the book."

Other highlights of the conference was a Children's Book Trivia game on Friday night along with a book launch by local authors with new titles. Saturday included a First Pages Critique where the professional panel gave feedback on first pages submitted by several conference attendees.

Thanks to our Regional Advisory, Linda Tripp, our Assistant Regional Advisory, Caroline Starr Rose, and all of the volunteers who helped make this conference possible. It was another great Handsprings Event. I can't wait for the next one.

ALWAYS OCTOBER with Bruce Coville

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left to right (Jen McVeity, Chris Eboch, Bruce Coville, Millie Little, Carolee Dean  (me), and Kimberley Griffiths Little)October first I had dinner with Bruce Coville, Jen McVeity, and a host of SCBWI friends. It was the perfect start to October, one of my all time favorite months. We then followed Bruce to Bookworks on Rio Grande where he was promoting his new book, Always October, the world where monsters come from.  Bruce said he always wanted to write the perfect book to read on Halloween and now he believes he's done it.


"October is the month when magic stalks the world. The light comes in sideways," said Bruce. "October is the best of all possible months, when it seems anything can happen."

It's certainly a magical month in Albuquerque, New Mexico with our International Balloon Fiesta and the aroma of roasting green chiles in the air.



Bruce also talked about the newly released Amber Brown Horses Around and his friendship with the late Paula Danziger, creator of the Amber Brown series. He described how years ago they kept each other on track with their writing goals by calling and asking  if the other had finished their three pages for the day. Three pages was the goal. He was quick to say they didn't have to be good pages, they just had to exist.

Bruce was approached by the publisher, Putnam, to write the new Amber Brown book and decided the only way he could pull it off was if he worked on the project with Elizabeth Levy, another long time friend of Paula's.

Rather than reading from either of these books, Bruce performed a one-man reenactment from the first chapter of one of his earlier novels, The Monster's Ring. The audience at Bookworks was captivated by his storytelling skills. He said this is the way he opens all of his school visits.

Wow! What a treat for kids.


Bruce told us about a quote by author Paul O'Neill that he likes to keep on his wall for inspiration. "Always grab the reader by the throat in the first paragraph, sink your thumbs into his windpipe with the second paragraph, then shove him against the wall and hold him there until the tag line."

Bruce ended the evening with a list of weird writing tips.

1.  Marry rich - For most of us, including Bruce, it was already too late for that tip, but he received the advice from Natalie Babbitt, author of Tuck Everlasting, so he thought it was worth sharing.
2.  Take acting lessons - The actor's tools are the writer's tools.  An actor's job is to enter a character and that is also the writer's job. Acting lessons are part of the reason Bruce is such a great storyteller.
3.  Take singing lessons- This trains you to use your voice properly so you don't strain it.
4.  Don't take yourself too seriously.  Take the art seriously, but not yourself.
5.  Scare yourself - You should always be working on the edge. If you get too comfortable doing what you're doing, you can become artistically dead.  No jump, no wings!

Bruce was accompanied to Albuquerque by Australian author, Jen McVeity, whose Seven Steps to Writing Success is transforming education in the Land Down Under.  They were meeting our former SCBWI regional advisor, Chris Eboch, for a hiking adventure in Southern New Mexico.

It was truly a magical October night!