Kathy Duval's Blog, page 3

Great support makes all the difference!

When I did a story time to read TAKE ME TO YOUR BBQ at the BookPeople in Austin in August, I was fortunate to have the support of my husband and some wonderful writers from Austin, including Cynthia Leitich Smith.

I’m honored that Cynthia has posted a blog on Cynsations using my story time as a case study for a successful story time:

http://cynthialeitichsmith.blogspot.com/2013/09/bookstore-event-case-study-kathy-duval.html

For me, the most important thing that makes an event successful, is the support from other writers, family, and friends. That’s definitely what makes it fun!

I want to thank again all the Austin writers who showed up to hear TAKE ME TO YOUR BBQ, and thank you Cynthia for getting the word out!

 

 

 

Hurrah for Bookstores and Libraries!

What do you think about the idea that libraries and bookstores are becoming obsolete?

This week I witnessed first hand a bit of what the world would lose if we didn’t have them. I was out and about doing story times at the Hillendahl Library and Katy Budget Books in Houston, and meeting some great kids, parents, grandparents, librarians, and booksellers. As I read TAKE ME TO YOUR BBQ, kids offered opinions about what was coming down on Willie’s farm, why it was coming, and whether a cowboy boot would taste good with bbq sauce. Their enthusiasm was contagious. I got downright giddy hearing kids holler yippie ki yo and sing the TAKE ME TO YOUR BBQ song. Where else on earth is a thing like that going to happen?

These kids come together every week to hear stories, sing, dance, do art, and play musical instruments together. They are learning to love books in places where they can share their thoughts about stories with other kids, as well as choose books they want to read that they can see, touch, and smell. What better groundwork  for learning about books?

These are experiences you can’t buy with one click, so support your libraries and bookstores so that we won’t lose the community we experience there.

Check out these beautiful 16 Libraries to See Before You Die:  http://www.buzzfeed.com/harpercollins/16-bookstores-you-have-to-see-before-you-die-9npd

Here are some of the kids I saw this week that now realize the importance of having aluminum foil hats:

It’s never to soon to start loving books! (Even though you might not want to wear hats yet)

 In spite of all our hat  making, one sneaky alien did manage to crash the party!

Storytime Rocks!

One of the perks of being a children’s author is having the opportunity to read to kids.

I just got back from the Austin/San Antonio area where I did story times at two wonderful independent bookstores. First I visited The Twig in San Antonio whose talented story teller, Anastasia McKenna, draws in dozens of kids each week.

I waited for the crowd. Was anyone going to come?

Someone else waited, too.

Here’s Miss Anastasia showing me the ropes.

They came. In droves. Kids love Miss Anastasia’s story times.

After I read TAKE ME TO YOUR BBQ, I couldn’t let the kids leave without protection from the aliens. Soon the place was awash in tin foil and out of this world hats!

Here is a sampling of the amazing hats:

The next day I headed over to the BookPeople in Austin which has an knock-your-socks-off children’s section and wonderful Saturday story times.

Afterwards even some grown-ups made hats!

Austin has an incredible writing community. So much talent concentrated in one place. Is it the water, or what? (I drank a lot of it, just in case.) I was delighted that some of these talented writers and friends came to my story time!

Greg Leitich Smith, Cynthia Levinson, Susan Holt Kralovansky, Cynthia Leitich Smith, and me

 

Susan Holt Kralovansky, Cynthia Levinson, me, Donna Bratton, Carmen Oliver, Lindsey Lane

(Cory Oakes Putnam was off somewhere making foil hats for her two adorable children.)

After the kids departed, the tin foil was cleaned up, and we all said goodbye. Glen (my husband and photographer) and I enjoyed the warm Texas afternoon on South Congress.

Perfect!

 

 

 

 

Summer Fun

This has been a busy summer so far. My husband and I have visited  a friend in Austin several times who is recovering from a serious case of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. I’m taking ticks a lot more seriously now. We all should.

I’m trying to “beef up” my BBQ repetoire, so on one visit we ate at Salt Lick BBQ in Driftwood for the first time. It’s found a place at the top of my favorite BBQ places. I love the indoor BBQ pit!

In June, I attended my agent’s annual retreat for her clients, this year at Big Sky Montana. It was wonderful seeing so many good friends I only see once a year. I thought I’d win the Ugly Sweater Contest, but I underestimated how ugly a sweater can be.

                                          Donna Bratton had one B—Ugly Sweater.Horrendous!  And Kari Anne Holt’s was a sweater only a cat could love. (Those Austin writers really “get” ugly).

                                        Here I am in my Betty Boop sweater – way too cute for ugly – and Pat Zietlow Miller in her “interesting” sweater. If we look exceedingly happy, it’s because Pat learned that her upcoming picture book, SOPHIE’S SQUASH received it’s third starred review!

 

Hands down, this guy’s sweater was the ugliest I saw the whole time. (I don’t like the way he’s looking at me . Did I get a little too close to take this picture?)

The world can be a crazy place. One day I was out walking in snow flurries at Big Sky, then a few days later I was sweltering in 108 degrees in Austin.

The summer’s only half over, and several TAKE ME TO YOUR BBQ events are coming up.

On July 6, I’ll be at the Brazos Bookstore in Houston  at 11:30 am for a special story time. Can’t wait to see those kids yippee-ki-yo’in in tin foil hats!

On July 19, I’ll be in San Antonio at the Twig Bookshop at 10:30 for more knee-slappin’ fun.

Then on July 20, I’ll be at the BookPeople in Austin at 11:30. Yippie-ki-YAY

After that, I’ll probably need to replenish my stock of aluminum foil.

 

 

Cowboys and Aliens!

Yesterday I had two great school visits!

At Laura Ingalls Wilder Elementary in Alvin, Texas I was greeted with a big Yippee-ki-yay! Librarian Sheri Howard was a great host!

Two hundred students arrived— half as cowboys and half as aliens! Yippee-ki-yi! These kids really get into their costumes.

 

Decorations abounded.

Giant star maps, taken from Adam McCauley’s illustrations.

A UFO hovering above a barbecue grill on the stage.

Students came prepared with intriguing questions, about writing and books. Some are still wondering who that blond girl is in The Three Bears’ Halloween.

I finished off the day with a stop at Rustic Oak Elementary in Pearland, Texas, where kids yippee-ki-yo’ed with enthusiasm and were ready with some really great questions, thanks to the preparation of Librarian Christi Christopher.

 

 

 

Out Of This World Visit to Sheldon Academy

Last week I visited Sheldon Early Childhood Learning Academy in Houston. It’s a jewel of a school! Four hundred kids aged 3 to 6 all in a school of their own. Their wonderful librarian Augusta Lynch had read THE THREE BEARS’ CHRISTMAS and THE THREE BEARS’ HALLOWEEN to them all the week before. They arrived wearing colorful bear ears to hear me read TAKE ME TO YOUR BBQ.

They were a wonderful audience!

They Yippee-ki-yo’ed with enthusiasm! We pondered whether space aliens really live in Texas, and if not, why these space aliens came to Texas. And whether or not the little green guys liked the Texas heat.

Following the story, the students asked great questions about the TAKE ME TO YOUR BBQ and THE THREE BEARS.

Best question:

“Bears don’t have Christmas. Bears don’t have Halloween. Bears don’t live in houses.” Eye roll, big sigh, shrug. “So are those bears just fake?”

Second best question:

“When I grow up I’m going to be a ballerina.”

Third best question:

“Have you ever seen a space alien?”

All in all it was a wonderful day. Sheldon’s principal, Shereen James, and librarian Augusta Lynch were wonderful hosts. The staff at Sheldon were helpful making sure the day ran smoothly.

 

 

The kids and even a school turtle seemed to enjoy the day. I know I did!

 

 

 

 

Out Of This World Launch Party!

 

TAKE ME TO YOUR BBQ was properly launched this weekend! I owe a big thanks to Valerie Kohler and the staff at Blue Willow Bookshop for a fun and successful event. Not only were they terrific hosts, but Valerie also judged the tinfoil hat contest, and Cathy Berner made sure I was where I was supposed to be when I was supposed to be there.

Race Carter did a wonderful job manning the tinfoil table. Here he is helping Perry, Laura, Lindi, and George Ruthven get started on their hats.  Laura is one of my lovely critique partners who helped make the day  go smoothly.

The energetic audience  YIPPEE-KI-YO’d with me in their tin foil hats.  They were phenomenal! I loved sharing the story of Adam McCauley’s star maps and his beautiful illustrations.

Then Valerie judged the hat contest. First prize goes to Cora’s flowing masterpiece!

Second place goes to Frank Rose’s conceptual ? piece. (Valerie didn’t know he’s my son-in-law!)

There were many other great hats. Here are a few.

A fascinating tinfoil fascinator created by Lynne Hoenig.

A perky little thing created by Connie Woodman:

A wicked number by Kara Duval, my daughter who visited from Santa Fe to attend the event:

And a strangely wonderful piece by Constance Braden:

I truly appreciated all the people who came to celebrate the day with me. Family, friends old and new, and supporters from my writing community made the day truly lovely!

Here I am with another one of my critique partners, Vonna Carter. She took all these pictures (except this one)! She has helped in a multitude of ways to help me get the word out. Thank you, Vonna!

I was delighted to see Vicki Sansum, the RA for our Houston SCBWI chapter, and  Charles Trevino, former RA.  I LOVE my writing community!!

And when it was all over— lo and behold!

Only one of those BBQ cupcakes was left!

 

 

 

RELEASE DAY!

TAKE ME TO YOUR BBQ releases today!

 

Today I’m overflowing with gratitude to everyone who worked on this beautiful book!

I’m so thankful to free lance editor  Tamson Weston who in her former life as an editor at Disney Hyperion saw the potential for this story. It was sad to see her leave Disney, but was fortunate to get another fantastic editor, Rotem Moscovich. She guided the reins with an expert hand and made the project soar. It has been a joy to work with both of them.

Adam McCauley was the perfect illustrator for TAKE ME TO YOUR BBQ. I’ve admired his work forever, and I literally jumped up and down when I found out he’d agreed to take on this project, along with book designer Cynthia Wigginton. The alchemy of turning words on a page into a fully realized world is truly magical. The world Adam created and the package Cynthia wrapped it in is stellar. Here’s Adam’s story about his process of illustrating this book.

Of course, the first person to say “I love it!” was Erin Murphy. Three magical words to hear from your agent. Thank you, Erin, for sending this crazy little story out into the universe so the magic could continue.

I’m also grateful to fellow writers Marty Graham, Vonna Carter, Russell Sanders, Varsha Bajaj, and Linda Jackson the first readers to enter Willy’s world (and help me tweak it to perfection!)

Of course so many more people at Disney worked on this story. It takes a village, just like with most things. I want to thank them all.

Today our book is being released to the world.

Truly magical!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Search of the Perfect BBQ Cupcake

 

Ever since I started thinking about my book launch of TAKE ME TO YOUR BBQ from Disney Hyperion, I knew the launch party needed to include barbecue. I also wanted it to be in the Blue Willow Book Shop in Houston, because it’s one of the best bookstores on the planet. Enthusiastically, I imagined ribs, potato salad and bluegrass. When I mentioned this to Valerie Kohler, the girl boss at Blue Willow, much to her credit, she didn’t say “Are you crazy? Barbecue in a bookstore?” Instead she said, “I think we could do that,”  nodding toward some unseen space behind the shop where this might be possible. As I started working out the logistics, I decided barbecue appetizers would be more doable. However, none of the BBQ places I called made appetizers. I’d have to buy the barbecue and roll it or cut it and stick the toothpicks in it myself. The whole barbecue in a bookstore idea started looking less appealing.

Then inspiration struck!

What about BBQ cupcakes?

I googled barbecue flavored cupcakes and discovered that this was not a new idea. I tried a recipe I found and used Willy’s BBQ sauce recipe featured in my book. Then I offered the cupcakes to my critique group.

The responses varied from this one by Vonna Carter

 

To Laura Ruthven’s

 

 

Marty Graham said she liked them, but I didn’t truly feel the “like” in her voice when she said it. All agreed the icing and filling were too sweet.

They probably hoped that was the last of it.

But I made a second batch, using a gluten free chocolate cake mix this time so I could taste them myself. (Yes, I’d used my group as guinea pigs without first trying them. I know, bad.) I used a different icing. No filling. When I took them to critique group, they “accidentally” forgot to pick them up at the end of the meeting to take home to try.

When I showed up with cupcakes the third time, I can only imagine they were wondering what kind of cupcake torture they were being subjected to. But this time I’d approached the task more scientifically. Two varieties of cake, topped with cream cheese icing. Some had Willy’s BBQ sauce combined with chocolate drizzled on the top, some had a sweet roasted BBQ pecan on top, some had both. Plus I’d put the icing on with a bag outfitted with a metal tip to up the visual appeal. My cupcake weary group was requested to try them all and give their responses.

 

I enlarged my circle of tasters to include the booksellers at Blue Willow. I didn’t warn them ahead of time that I was bringing them by. Here are Valerie and Cathy Berner cautiously surveying the cupcakes. A BBQ cupcake isn’t something you just dive right into.

But after a while, the tasters at Blue Willow were eating with gusto.

Bookstore people must be adventurous eaters. “What’s not to like?” was one comment.

A couple of critique group family member tasters did not have such a positive cupcake experience, however.

Come to my launch on March 23 at 1:00  at Blue Willow Book Shop and you can register your opinion.  I promise to have something else good to eat for those of you who don’t like to gamble with their food.

Many, many thanks to Vonna and Race Carter, Marty Graham, and Laura, George, and Lindi Ruthven for their spontaneous and genuine responses, and Valerie, Cathy, Alice , and Janet at Blue Willow Book Shop for being such gracious tasters.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Protect Yourself!

 

Writing a picture book about little green men has proven to be an amazingly educational experience. During the time since TAKE ME TO YOUR BBQ sold to its now imminent release, I’ve had lots of time to educate myself about UFOs and the beings that may be flying them. My info comes through the internet, so I’m sure my sources are excellent. I’ve got a google alert  for UFO sightings, and everyday I get the latest scoop on who’s seen what and where. UFOs are sighted in red states and blue states, cold places and hot places, in cities and in boonies all over the world. Many of these reports come with iphone videos. You should take a look.

My investigations have alerted me to the necessity of having an aluminum foil hat to keep myself safe from mental influence by other beings. Mostly people wear them to keep the very sort of little green men that are in my book from messing with their minds. Others wear them to avoid being influenced by ideas from others of our own species, such as “the guy who’s looking at me through the TV.”

For those of you who think this is all just paranoid craziness, read this scholarly discussion of the tin foil hat.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tin_foil_hat

Inspired by the many wonderful tin foil hats I’ve seen on the web, I finally have completed one for myself.

Just in time. My launch party is on March 23.

No telling who might be trying to tune in.