Grace Lin's Blog, page 14
March 20, 2016
My TEDx talk!
Just in case you missed it, here's my TEDx talk:
It was a rather momentous event for me. I was super nervous (I refused to watch any other speakers ahead of me as I didn't want to psyche myself out) even though I had practiced and practiced for hours and hours for days and weeks, under the guidance of a speech coach, no less.
my speech with all my speaking notes!
But, I did it and now that the speech is over, I feel really proud. It's like what I said before, public speaking is not a talent I was given. I've worked at it and have gotten much better but I don't think it's a skill that will set me apart. So, compared to a seriously talented speaker like my good friend Jarrett Krosocka (who has not just given one TED talk, but two!), I was probably just decent---but, for me, I think I did pretty well.
In some ways, I think it is the epitome of my speaking career--I've never given a speech with this much pressure before. I truly felt a responsibility. So many times when we talk about diversity in children's literature, we are talking to people who already know its importance--many times we are "preaching to the choir." This TEDx talk was really an opportunity to reach people who rarely think about children's books, much less the diversity of them. And because of that, I truly gave it my all--and I hope you liked it!
If you did like my speech, I'm going to shamelessly ask you to share it as much as possible! It would be a dream for this thing to go viral!
It was a rather momentous event for me. I was super nervous (I refused to watch any other speakers ahead of me as I didn't want to psyche myself out) even though I had practiced and practiced for hours and hours for days and weeks, under the guidance of a speech coach, no less.
my speech with all my speaking notes!But, I did it and now that the speech is over, I feel really proud. It's like what I said before, public speaking is not a talent I was given. I've worked at it and have gotten much better but I don't think it's a skill that will set me apart. So, compared to a seriously talented speaker like my good friend Jarrett Krosocka (who has not just given one TED talk, but two!), I was probably just decent---but, for me, I think I did pretty well.
In some ways, I think it is the epitome of my speaking career--I've never given a speech with this much pressure before. I truly felt a responsibility. So many times when we talk about diversity in children's literature, we are talking to people who already know its importance--many times we are "preaching to the choir." This TEDx talk was really an opportunity to reach people who rarely think about children's books, much less the diversity of them. And because of that, I truly gave it my all--and I hope you liked it!
If you did like my speech, I'm going to shamelessly ask you to share it as much as possible! It would be a dream for this thing to go viral!
My Tedx talk!
Just in case you missed it, here's my Tedx talk:
It was a rather momentous event for me. I was super nervous (I refused to watch any other speakers ahead of me as I didn't want to psyche myself out) even though I had practiced and practiced for hours and hours for days and weeks, under the guidance of a speech coach, no less.
my speech with all my speaking notes!
But, I did it and now that the speech is over, I feel really proud. It's like what I said before, public speaking is not a talent I was given. I've worked at it and have gotten much better but I don't think it's a skill that will set me apart. So, compared to a seriously talented speaker like my good friend Jarrett Krosocka (who has not just given one Ted talk, but two!), I was probably just decent---but, for me, I think I did pretty well.
In some ways, I think it is the epitome of my speaking career--I've never given a speech with this much pressure before. I truly felt a responsibility. So many times when we talk about diversity in children's literature, we are talking to people who already know its importance--many times we are "preaching to the choir." This Tedx talk was really an opportunity to reach people who rarely think about children's books, much less the diversity of them. And because of that, I truly gave it my all--and I hope you liked it!
If you did like my speech, I'm going to shamelessly ask you to share it as much as possible! It would be a dream for this thing to go viral!
It was a rather momentous event for me. I was super nervous (I refused to watch any other speakers ahead of me as I didn't want to psyche myself out) even though I had practiced and practiced for hours and hours for days and weeks, under the guidance of a speech coach, no less.
my speech with all my speaking notes!But, I did it and now that the speech is over, I feel really proud. It's like what I said before, public speaking is not a talent I was given. I've worked at it and have gotten much better but I don't think it's a skill that will set me apart. So, compared to a seriously talented speaker like my good friend Jarrett Krosocka (who has not just given one Ted talk, but two!), I was probably just decent---but, for me, I think I did pretty well.
In some ways, I think it is the epitome of my speaking career--I've never given a speech with this much pressure before. I truly felt a responsibility. So many times when we talk about diversity in children's literature, we are talking to people who already know its importance--many times we are "preaching to the choir." This Tedx talk was really an opportunity to reach people who rarely think about children's books, much less the diversity of them. And because of that, I truly gave it my all--and I hope you liked it!
If you did like my speech, I'm going to shamelessly ask you to share it as much as possible! It would be a dream for this thing to go viral!
March 11, 2016
March 10, 2016
On my desk today..
(see full image)Are the color proofs for "When the Sea Turned to Silver"!! Another step closer to the final book!!!
to my fellow Asian-American writers
Yesterday, I gave a keynote lecture at Primary Source's Global Perspectives & Diversity in Children's Literature program and I said some things during the Q&A that I feel like I should clarify as they were kind of "off the cuff" and, honestly, verbal communication is not my strong point (that's why I'm a writer!).
During the talk I brought up the CCBC Multicultural Statistics and how:
174 books were by authors and/or illustrators of Asian/Pacific heritage
130 of these had no visible Asian/Pacific or Asian/Pacific American contentTo paraphrase, that means most Asian-American authors are not writing characters that look like them.
This saddens me because these authors are undoubtably gifted and with their gift they have an opportunity to share an experience that has mostly been invisible. Sometimes, when I see an Asian-American author writing a non-Asian character, I'll read their blog interviews and inevitably the author says they wrote their character non-Asian because "that is what felt right."
And to this, I wonder. Perhaps they are not imagining an Asian character because of their experiences. In most of the stories around us, from the news to movies and to books, the characters are non-Asian. In general, authors have grown up loving books, and those books very likely never featured a character that was Asian. In fact, we are, in many ways, predisposed to feel like books should feature white characters. Maybe the character is coming to them as non-Asian simply because we are used to characters being that way.
That, said, I do NOT think that Asian authors should have to write only Asian characters. The glory of being a writer is the ability to create any world, any character with words. I would never ask anyone to limit that based on their race.
So, my fellow, Asian-American authors, this is what I've been trying to say: Write whatever you want, whatever feels right. But I do ask that before you create your character, consider taking a few moments to think. Are you making this character non-Asian truly because that is what feels "right" or because that is what feels familiar?
Only you can answer that. But, no matter what, I look forward to meeting whomever you create.
March 1, 2016
revealing the cover!
I was going to try to ask a famous blogger to do a "cover reveal" of my book like all the cool authors do-- but I was so late (as I mentioned earlier) with the art that I never got my act together! So, instead, my publisher leaked it yesterday with a photo of the advanced reading copies! Yes, there are advanced reading copies! They are so fresh off the press that I don't even have any yet, but sign up for my mailing list to get notice for any giveaways I am doing when I do finally get them! In the meantime...want a better look at the cover? Here it is....presenting
When the Sea Turned to Silver
:
Do you like it? The animal on the cover is my take of a Chinese mythical animal called a longma or a "dragonhorse."
You might remember the sketch from last October:
The design of it, especially the ocean waves were inspired by the Chinese embroidery found on imperial "Dragon Robes:"
You can see more examples of dragon robe embroidery here and here!
And, of course, there is more than just the front cover. The art wraps around the whole book. I had to paint the image extra wide because we weren't sure how thick the book was going to be--needed to make sure we had plenty of art to make the flaps:
but here's a closer look at the art of the front and back art:
And the front and back cover:
I'm SOOOOOO excited!! I hope you are, too!
Do you like it? The animal on the cover is my take of a Chinese mythical animal called a longma or a "dragonhorse."
You might remember the sketch from last October:
The design of it, especially the ocean waves were inspired by the Chinese embroidery found on imperial "Dragon Robes:"
You can see more examples of dragon robe embroidery here and here!
And, of course, there is more than just the front cover. The art wraps around the whole book. I had to paint the image extra wide because we weren't sure how thick the book was going to be--needed to make sure we had plenty of art to make the flaps:
but here's a closer look at the art of the front and back art:
And the front and back cover:
I'm SOOOOOO excited!! I hope you are, too!
February 29, 2016
and it's the year of the monkey!
it's Rain Dragon in her monkey costume! do you see the 2016? Lunar New Year is over and the Year of the Monkey has already settled in, but I am late (as usual) getting my greeting out. But I have a good excuse! After three months of 4 hours of nightly sleep, I finally finished the new novel (art, revision and all--at least I hope so!). Now it's all in the hands of the people at the publisher--who, because of my late-ness, have to work doubly hard to get the book out.
So, to thank them (and give myself a little break from the computer and desk) I made sweet-luck candied citrus peels again! This, of course, was inspired by my yearly delivery of delicious oranges by one my favorite librarians Mary Wong. But, of course, she sent her oranges at right time--pre-lunar new year...so I planned ahead!
Yes, I cut and froze all those orange peels! So, when I was finally able to make them, I had bags and bags waiting.
It was well worth it:
yum!Because, this year, I truly meant it when I sent them as a thank you to the people working on my book. I am super, super proud of "When the Sea Turned to Silver" (now out in October instead of September because of the lateness of yours truly) but it really put me through the wringer...and my publisher, too!
Here's to a sweet year for all of us!
February 24, 2016
February 23, 2016
February 3, 2016
Make a Monkey Chain for Lunar New Year!
As part of my Lunar New Year Story Time for my newsletter subscribers (I'm starting to shift most of my stuff there, so please sign up!), I suggested that readers make a monkey chain decoration! Isn't it super cute? This is how you do it:
You need:-a 4.25 x 11 sheet of paper (a normal 8.5 x 11 piece of paper cut in half the long way). -a ruler-a pencil-scissors-this monkey template, printed out, preferably on cardstock-maybe some tape
Directions:
1. Measure 2.2 inches from one side of the paper and mark:
nice straight line, don't worry if it's not exactly 2.2 inches, it all gets fudged when you fold2. Fold on your marking and then use that width to accordion fold the rest of your paper. You should be able to make 4 folds (which will equal five monkeys after cutting).
accordion fold is like making a paper fan3. cut out the template and trace the monkey onto the folded paper. It's pretty small, so you might want to use a small piece of tape to help hold the template down while you trace. Make sure the arms of the monkey go right to the edge, if not off the edge of your paper.
a little bit of tape helps it from moving around, but just tack it on gently as you want to take the template off!
it should be traced like this!4. Cut out the monkey from you folded paper, making sure you cut all five layers. Do NOT cut along the folds where the monkeys arms touch the edges of the paper (that is where the chain connects!)
When finished, unfold and...Ta-Dah!
Five monkeys to go with the Five Monkeys Rhyme I made Lunar New Year!*Want to make this a craft with kids? Consider:
-Enlarging the paper and the template proportionally so that it's easier for them to cut.
-If the kids are young, pre-measure the folds for them
-If the kids are very young, make the chains for them and let them color them red (to go with the rhyme)
