Jay Asher's Blog, page 42
September 2, 2010
Happy 9/02/10 Day!
I'm not (very) embarrassed to admit that I was a huge fan of the original Beverly Hills 90210. Of course, I probably wouldn't bring it up unless I had an extremely good reason. And that reason is, today's...
International 90210 Day!!!
We won't get another chance to celebrate this wonderful day until September 02, 2110. So you might as well party it up now!
Before you laugh at me too much (I'm not sure what constitutes "too much" in this case, but I'll let you know when you reach it), let me r...
International 90210 Day!!!
We won't get another chance to celebrate this wonderful day until September 02, 2110. So you might as well party it up now!
Before you laugh at me too much (I'm not sure what constitutes "too much" in this case, but I'll let you know when you reach it), let me r...
August 26, 2010
An Abundance of Jordans
While brainstorming ideas for stories, I often take things from my own life, mix them with things that happened to friends, then blow things way out of proportion. A lot of YA writers first look to the news for ideas and end up with something ripped straight from the headlines.
Another common source of inspiration is classic literature, which is then reimagined for today's teen audience. For example, even though it isn't a novel, the soon-to-be-released Easy A is basically a YA version of Th...
Another common source of inspiration is classic literature, which is then reimagined for today's teen audience. For example, even though it isn't a novel, the soon-to-be-released Easy A is basically a YA version of Th...
August 22, 2010
Four's Family
Each summer, JoanMarie and I watch our niece and nephew for a week. It's a week we all look forward to, and with this year's week-long extravaganza coming to a close, we're already looking forward to next year!
This year began as it usually does, camping for a few days in beautiful Big Sur.
We did much experimenting with the best way to eat a S'mores. Ever try adding a bit of PB&J to your S'mores? Ever try roasting marshmallows with a slab of chocolate between the burning 'mallows? We did!
A...
This year began as it usually does, camping for a few days in beautiful Big Sur.
We did much experimenting with the best way to eat a S'mores. Ever try adding a bit of PB&J to your S'mores? Ever try roasting marshmallows with a slab of chocolate between the burning 'mallows? We did!
A...
August 12, 2010
Get In My Belly
I love this picture!
I love that JoanMarie's finally showing. And she loves it, too. She no longer has to deal with strangers glancing at her belly with "Is she or isn't she?" looks.
At the beach this weekend, I was reading aloud from a book about taking care of newborns, when JoanMarie raised the bottom of her shirt. Isaiah was stirring! I placed my hand on her tummy and, for the very first time, felt the movements of my son. I have no idea what my face looked like, but a squad of teenage...
I love that JoanMarie's finally showing. And she loves it, too. She no longer has to deal with strangers glancing at her belly with "Is she or isn't she?" looks.
At the beach this weekend, I was reading aloud from a book about taking care of newborns, when JoanMarie raised the bottom of her shirt. Isaiah was stirring! I placed my hand on her tummy and, for the very first time, felt the movements of my son. I have no idea what my face looked like, but a squad of teenage...
August 9, 2010
Coming Attractions
Something borrowed:
Something original:
(Complete with original bloopers!)
Something German:
Hollywood, we're waiting...
Something original:
(Complete with original bloopers!)
Something German:
Hollywood, we're waiting...
August 3, 2010
SCBWI '10
The annual Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators conference took place this past Friday thru Monday, which means I'll be catching up on my sleep until at least next Monday. So how did this year hold up against previous years? You'd think I would be jaded after attending this event for eleven years straight, but the 2010 conference is neck-and-neck with the 2000 conference (which was pretty flippin' amazing) for my favorite conference experience.
The keynote speeches were better t...
The keynote speeches were better t...
July 29, 2010
Fall 2010 Children's Books
The Fall 2010 Children's Books issue of Publishers Weekly is finally here!!! Relying on the brief descriptions given for each title, here are the upcoming (or recently released) mid-grade and teen novels which most piqued my curiosity:
Benjamin Franklinstein Lives! by Matthew McElligott and Larry Tuxbury, illus. by McElligott. Victor discovers that Benjamin Franklin was put into suspended animation and hidden away in his basement for 200 years.
The Blending Time by Michael Kinch. In 2054, thre...
Benjamin Franklinstein Lives! by Matthew McElligott and Larry Tuxbury, illus. by McElligott. Victor discovers that Benjamin Franklin was put into suspended animation and hidden away in his basement for 200 years.
The Blending Time by Michael Kinch. In 2054, thre...
July 27, 2010
Rock this Way
This past weekend, JoanMarie and I did a lot of cool things which I'm not allowed to publicly tell you about...yet. But I will tell you about the most awkward moment. On Saturday, we stayed at my aunt and uncle's house and watched a home video from 1990. Now, JM's never seen a video of me from the High School Daze. This one was set on Christmas Eve and contained me in my acid-washed jeans, skinny body, gap-toothed, full-on mullet glory.
JoanMarie's response to that visual embarrassment? "...
JoanMarie's response to that visual embarrassment? "...
July 22, 2010
It's a . . .
IT'S A BOY!!!
Here's our first family photo.
(Jay Edward Asher, Isaiah Nathan Asher, JoanMarie Asher)
The 3-D ultrasound imaging they do is amazing. We got to watch him kick and squirm and grab his toes. It was so adorable!
When he's sleeping, his mommy thinks he looks just like his daddy.
But like his mommy, he already likes to sing. Here he is singing a Diana Ross song: I'm coming out. I want the world to know...
I swear, at one point, he looked right at us and smiled!
So who guessed boy and wa...
Here's our first family photo.
(Jay Edward Asher, Isaiah Nathan Asher, JoanMarie Asher)The 3-D ultrasound imaging they do is amazing. We got to watch him kick and squirm and grab his toes. It was so adorable!
When he's sleeping, his mommy thinks he looks just like his daddy.
But like his mommy, he already likes to sing. Here he is singing a Diana Ross song: I'm coming out. I want the world to know...
I swear, at one point, he looked right at us and smiled!
So who guessed boy and wa...
July 19, 2010
Ivysaiah Wants You to Win!
JoanMarie and I have been referring to our upcoming baby as Ivysaiah until we find out the gender. Why Ivysaiah? Because it blends together the two names we've settled on: Ivy if she's a girl, Isaiah if he's a boy.
We'll find out the gender...fingers crossed!...this Wednesday. So which do you think it'll be? A boy or a girl?
Leave your name and answer in the comments section, and I'll let JoanMarie randomly pick a number to figure out which person (from the list of correct answers) will win the...
We'll find out the gender...fingers crossed!...this Wednesday. So which do you think it'll be? A boy or a girl?
Leave your name and answer in the comments section, and I'll let JoanMarie randomly pick a number to figure out which person (from the list of correct answers) will win the...
