wonder brain, activate!

I don’t have a superhero twin but I think I do have another self that responds to trauma by becoming more creative. When Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana, I was in Baton Rouge—new to the city, new to the South, unsure I would be able to fit in at my new job at LSU. Then the campus became home to hundreds of displaced residents and students from New Orleans, and I just switched into a different mode. I turned CNN off, volunteered at the football stadium where folks were being housed, and when that wore me out, I came home, turned on the computer, and started organizing my writing. I sent out a dozen manuscripts and went on to win the honor award in Lee & Low’s New Voices contest. I submitted to MFA programs and got accepted at Hollins University. I applied to all kinds of jobs and was offered a three-year gig at Mount Holyoke College. I was desperate—I needed to feel like I could control something in my life, so I cast a wide net. And the same is happening right now. Despite the depressing outcome of the election, I’m having a really good week. On Tuesday I actually woke up thinking about The Return and what it might look like if I changed the trim size and made a hybrid novel/graphic novel; today I got some recommendations and reached out to several Black women illustrators to get a few quotes. On Wednesday, after talking to the editor who’s interested in Dragons in Bag, we accepted her (improved) offer; the book won’t be out until 2018, which is frustrating, but that lit a fire under me and I got back to work on The Ghosts in the Castle. I reached out to an illustrator in England and if she’s available, I should be able to publish that City Kids book in time for the holidays. Illustrator friend Greg Christie urged me to contact a professor he knew at Georgia State University; she has invited me to present for her colleagues while I’m in Atlanta for NCTE next week, and I might go back next fall to give a talk on diversity and social justice. On Thursday I walked all over Brooklyn putting together a gift for a friend who hasn’t yet taken time to celebrate a major achievement in her life. I also got some chocolates for my agent since she’s made two sales in six months (and here I was thinking she might want to cut me loose). On Monday I sent out digital copies of Milo’s Museum and got some wonderful responses. Today the printed proofs arrived and despite a few qualms, I think I’m going to hit PUBLISH so the book is available to everyone.

I talked to two different neighbors today about the election; I think the shock and grief are starting to dissipate. We’re ready to act. We’re not going to surrender. This photo from a recent NY Times article gives me hope–it was taken by Elaine He at last year’s Brooklyn Museum Children’s Book Fair. If I remember correctly, this boy’s grandmother brought him by my table twice. Many White parents steer their kids past my table (a way of saying without saying, “Those books aren’t for you”), but this woman encouraged her grandson to take a look and they ultimately bought both City Kids books. I wish I had The Ghosts in the Castle to share with young readers at tomorrow’s book fair but at least I can tell kids it’s on its way…

I’ve definitely had moments of rage and disgust this week, but there’s no time for despair. Our kids are counting on us to fix this…