Grace Lin's Blog, page 62
October 26, 2012
fortune cookie friday
"A hobbling cat is better than a fast horse when rats swarm the palace."
-Chinese Proverb[image error]
October 25, 2012
pocket pacy in Japan
This past summer, a young reader took Pocket Pacy on a trip to Japan!
Do you think she liked the sushi as much as Pacy in Dumpling Days?
P.S. Don't forget, your can win your own Pocket Pacy by entering your photo![image error]
October 24, 2012
the second day
After a successful first day in CT, the Sasquatch and I were feeling confident about the next day's event. Rain Dragon, however, was a bit apprehensive.
"There's not really another event, is there?"
But, I was more excited then nervous because the event was at RJ Julia Booksellers in Madison, CT. I had never been to this bookstore before, but many of my fellow author and illustrators had raved to me about what a great store it was:
And it was very nice. They offered me a free book for coming and I was like a kid in a candy store:
Rain Dragon was less excited. I coveted the gorgeous East of the Sun and West of the Moon book illustrated by Kay Nielson; it is a reprinting of the original book that I remember poring over at the library when I was a teenager (and consequently, one of the books that inspired me to write and illustrate Where the Mountain Meets the Moon and Starry River of the Sky!) but it was more than double the price of a hardcover picturebook and I thought that seemed greedy.
So, instead, I chose this book Apple by Nikki McClure:
I really loved the woodcuts, the design, and the use of black, white and red. But I have to admit, I chose it because the girl in it looks a little Asian...and kind of how I picture Rain Dragon will look when she get s a little older:
and it inspires me to do board books!But enough shopping! I was there to do an event! There was a full house!
But I did my interactive reading and drawing again and it all went smoothly, well, at least for me.
I am really enjoying doing the interactive readings and think I'm going to start offering them as part of my school visit curriculum soon!
Because by the time I was finishing the signing, Rain Dragon had had enough and was making her decision known.
"No more!"Good thing it was time to go![image error]
"There's not really another event, is there?"But, I was more excited then nervous because the event was at RJ Julia Booksellers in Madison, CT. I had never been to this bookstore before, but many of my fellow author and illustrators had raved to me about what a great store it was:
And it was very nice. They offered me a free book for coming and I was like a kid in a candy store:
Rain Dragon was less excited. I coveted the gorgeous East of the Sun and West of the Moon book illustrated by Kay Nielson; it is a reprinting of the original book that I remember poring over at the library when I was a teenager (and consequently, one of the books that inspired me to write and illustrate Where the Mountain Meets the Moon and Starry River of the Sky!) but it was more than double the price of a hardcover picturebook and I thought that seemed greedy.
So, instead, I chose this book Apple by Nikki McClure:
I really loved the woodcuts, the design, and the use of black, white and red. But I have to admit, I chose it because the girl in it looks a little Asian...and kind of how I picture Rain Dragon will look when she get s a little older:
and it inspires me to do board books!But enough shopping! I was there to do an event! There was a full house!
But I did my interactive reading and drawing again and it all went smoothly, well, at least for me.
I am really enjoying doing the interactive readings and think I'm going to start offering them as part of my school visit curriculum soon!Because by the time I was finishing the signing, Rain Dragon had had enough and was making her decision known.
"No more!"Good thing it was time to go![image error]
October 23, 2012
mini tour with a mini person
So, the Sasquatch and I packed up Rain Dragon and the car (it's cliche but it's completely true--babies, at least their stuff, take up a lot of room!) and started driving. We were going on tour for Starry River of the Sky!
Okay, it was just a mini-teensy-tour. There was a warm-up event in Providence, RI at Books on the Square which went wonderfully (alas, I have no photos!), but the main bulk of the tour was the two day stint in CT. The first day was sponsored by the lovely Elm Street Books, who brought me into two schools as well as the New Canaan Library.
back to work!
It was the first time I had presented to a school since having Rain Dragon and they were kind enough to let me bring her along.
She is thinking, "How long is this going to take?"
For each presentation, I did the interactive read-aloud activity, where I had the audience help me act out one of the stories from Starry River of the Sky. Unfortunately, I didn't bring enough stickers with me and I can't remember if I told the teachers that they could easily order more (for free). But it was still great fun!
The archer is shooting down the six suns!
Well, great fun for me and the students. Rain Dragon was a bit bored.
"No, really, how long is this going to take?"After the interactive reading, I did a draw-along--where I taught the audience how to draw a tiger and the wang symbol, both important features in Starry River of the Sky!
drawing tigers!
I was so glad the presentations went really well and I think everyone was excited to read the book. Except for Rain Dragon, of course. She didn't find any of it very interesting.
"Fine, if you're going to take that long..."I think she's going to be my toughest audience.[image error]
Okay, it was just a mini-teensy-tour. There was a warm-up event in Providence, RI at Books on the Square which went wonderfully (alas, I have no photos!), but the main bulk of the tour was the two day stint in CT. The first day was sponsored by the lovely Elm Street Books, who brought me into two schools as well as the New Canaan Library.
back to work!It was the first time I had presented to a school since having Rain Dragon and they were kind enough to let me bring her along.
She is thinking, "How long is this going to take?"For each presentation, I did the interactive read-aloud activity, where I had the audience help me act out one of the stories from Starry River of the Sky. Unfortunately, I didn't bring enough stickers with me and I can't remember if I told the teachers that they could easily order more (for free). But it was still great fun!
The archer is shooting down the six suns!Well, great fun for me and the students. Rain Dragon was a bit bored.
"No, really, how long is this going to take?"After the interactive reading, I did a draw-along--where I taught the audience how to draw a tiger and the wang symbol, both important features in Starry River of the Sky! 
drawing tigers!I was so glad the presentations went really well and I think everyone was excited to read the book. Except for Rain Dragon, of course. She didn't find any of it very interesting.
"Fine, if you're going to take that long..."I think she's going to be my toughest audience.[image error]
October 22, 2012
on my desk monday
Special Edition Starry River of the Sky Pocket Pacys all packaged up and ready for their new homes! Will it be with you? Don't forget to enter your photo![image error]
October 21, 2012
Sunday Chinese School
Welcome to Sunday Chinese School, where we learn a Chinese word (or phrase) a week with my mom!Today's word is:
bat
biānfú
蝙蝠
[image error]
October 19, 2012
fortune cookie friday
"Those who have free seats at a play hiss first."
-Chinese Proverb[image error]
October 18, 2012
pocket pacy in NYC
Two of the bloggers from the kidlitcon also attended my Dumpling Days booklaunch... and they brought Pocket Pacy to NYC! Here's a sneak peak:
Pocket Pacy in Times Square!
Pocket Pacy at the NY Public LibraryI think she might have had a better time than I did, she definitely saw more things! See all her travels in NYC HERE!
And don't forget, your can win your own Pocket Pacy by entering your photo! I'd love to see you![image error]
Pocket Pacy in Times Square!
Pocket Pacy at the NY Public LibraryI think she might have had a better time than I did, she definitely saw more things! See all her travels in NYC HERE!And don't forget, your can win your own Pocket Pacy by entering your photo! I'd love to see you![image error]
October 17, 2012
surrealism
We did the first stop of my mini-tour for Starry River of the Sky at Books on the Square in Providence, RI. There was a very nice crowd of people, Rain Dragon was surprisingly tolerant and a lovely time was had by all.
The only bummer was that we didn't take any photos! The Sasquatch was holding the baby, I was holding books...no one to hold the camera and we forgot all about it. But I did get one photo--this photo was given to me by one of my readers:
ahh, my pre-Rain Dragon days feel like a lifetime ago!
It's a photo taken 2(?) years ago at another event, holding a photo of us at an even earlier event. She took another photo of me holding this photo, which would be a photo of me holding a photo, holding another photo. Did that makes sense? Sadly, I did not take a photo of me holding this photo to illustrate this surreal concept.
Regardless, it makes my head turn in more ways than one. I'm always so thrilled and touched when I realize I have readers who are growing up with my books. I love thinking that they have moved from my picture books to early readers and now to my novels! It's these readers, the ones who have really stuck with my books, that make me want to create books to the best of my ability. I don't want to disappoint them![image error]
The only bummer was that we didn't take any photos! The Sasquatch was holding the baby, I was holding books...no one to hold the camera and we forgot all about it. But I did get one photo--this photo was given to me by one of my readers:
ahh, my pre-Rain Dragon days feel like a lifetime ago!It's a photo taken 2(?) years ago at another event, holding a photo of us at an even earlier event. She took another photo of me holding this photo, which would be a photo of me holding a photo, holding another photo. Did that makes sense? Sadly, I did not take a photo of me holding this photo to illustrate this surreal concept.
Regardless, it makes my head turn in more ways than one. I'm always so thrilled and touched when I realize I have readers who are growing up with my books. I love thinking that they have moved from my picture books to early readers and now to my novels! It's these readers, the ones who have really stuck with my books, that make me want to create books to the best of my ability. I don't want to disappoint them![image error]
October 16, 2012
multitasking
After NYC, the booklaunch and the online book party, there was still work to do! Wonderful readers from all over had ordered books from Porter Square Books, so Rain Dragon and I (with good friend Libby) returned to sign them. All 110 of them.
Needless to say, after the first 50, Rain Dragon got a little antsy in the stroller and I was soon signing with her in my lap. I was absolutely thrilled to be signing the books and so grateful to everyone who ordered, but it was a tricky juggling act.
I realize that this is symbolic of my life from now on. As I look ahead to the new house, new events and new books (hopefully), I can already see the complications. When I wrote Starry River of the Sky, it was a consuming process and it was purposefully so. I wanted to create a book to the best of my ability, dedicating all my time, focus and passion into it.
I don't know if I can do that now, yet, I worry that the quality of my work will suffer as a result. I've gotten used to focusing on one project at a time. But, I guess I will just have to learn to multitask.
And, of course, I wouldn't want it any other way...but would welcome any tips or suggestions on how!
