I just learned about this from Jill, who comments at the 7-Imp blog:

Adult Literacy - Project Second Chance

Project Second Chance (PSC), the Contra Costa County Library Adult Literacy Program, offers free, confidential one-on-one basic literacy instruction to people who are over 16 years of age, out of school and conversant in English.

PSC Fundraiser:

On Tuesday, Nov. 10th when you shop at ANY Barnes & Noble, a percentage of your purchase will benefit PSC. Just give the cashier this code: 10040467.

As a special treat, PSC friend, volunteer and former staff member B. Lynn Goodwin will be signing her book, You Want Me To Do What? Journaling for Caregivers, at the Antioch Barnes & Noble from 5:30–7:30 p.m.

This is a great opportunity to benefit PSC and do your holiday shopping at the same time!

Click here to visit the PSC website.

Michael Hemphill: "I grew up in Birmingham, Alabama, but didn't know much about the Civil War until my wife and I moved to Virginia in 1997.

"Here in Virginia, I worked as a newspaper reporter (where I met Sam) until 2000 when the first of our three daughters was born. Since, I've been a stay-at-home dad, directed a nonprofit, worked in public relations at a local university, co-owned a Civil War battlefield tour company, and now have written--er, co-written--my first children's book."

Sam Riddleburger: "I've been a weed boy, a scientist's assistant, a librarian, a prep cook, a lawnmower parts factory worker, a semi-pro juggler and a reporter. Now, I'm a newspaper columnist, a restaurant critic and a kids' book writer.

"My first book is called The Qwikpick Adventure Society (Dial, 2007). No time travel, just three friends having the smelliest and best day of their lives." Visit Sam, and read Sam's blog.

What led you to write for young readers?

MH: I've always loved YA books--starting of course with The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis (Harper, 1950-1956) and Tolkein but also the Walter Farley Black Stallion series (1941), Madeleine L'Engle, etc.

For some reason, my writing projects have tended to be more Serious (capital S) and Adult (capital A). They were also quite Unsuccessful and, quite frankly, Unenjoyable.

But then Sam and I got to talking, Stonewall came into being, and I loved every minute of the writing.

SR: When I was in the fifth and sixth grade I was a reading maniac. The stuff inside the books by people like John Christopher, Daniel Pinkwater and Helen Cresswell was just blowing my mind. That's who I want to write for--kids like me.

Could you tell us about your path to publication, any sprints or stumbles along the way?

SR: Stumbles? More like plunges and freefalls. It was hard. Incredibly hard. I was going crazy and would have given up if Michael hadn’t gotten us an agent. A great agent.

MH: The sprint was writing the first draft. We spent the first year trying to sell Stonewall directly to publishers, got some strong nibbles, but it never sold.

So we spent some weeks revising and then began sending it to agents. Thankfully, one of those agents was Caryn Wiseman with Andrea Brown Literary Agency. She gave us hope in Stonewall again, and here we are.

Looking back on your apprenticeship, what was most helpful to you in developing your craft?

SR: Before writing my first book, I wrote hundreds and hundreds of news stories. You learn a lot about setting up a story, pacing, transitions and that sort of thing. And you get used to being edited.

MH: Like Sam (whose daily antics I had to endure working on the other side of the cubicle wall in the newsroom), I learned a lot from writing news stories...particularly the importance of a strong lead and tight sentences and graphs.

While at the newspaper I also took a screenwriting course at nearby Hollins University and came to appreciate the art of snappy dialogue and shifting perspectives in moving a story along.

Congratulations on the release of Stonewall Hinkleman and the Battle of Bull Run (Dial, 2009)! In your own words, what is the book about?

MH: Stonewall Hinkleman is your typical 12-year-old kid who gets dragged along to all of his parents' Civil War reenactments. He hates reenactments, he hates the Civil War, and he's not too fond of his parents either. He's got a bad attitude and isn't afraid to show it...until at the reenactment of the Battle of Bull Run (Manassas), he's magically transported back in time to the real battle.

Suffice it to say, he gets an attitude adjustment and comes to a better appreciation of the war. Oh yeah, and he meets a girl along the way...and his great-great-great-great uncle, who turns out not to be the coward of family lore...and an evil Confederate reenactor who has also gone back in time to help the South win.

SR: Civil War Time Travel Extravaganza!

What was your initial inspiration for writing this book?

SR: When I started, Michael already had the idea of writing about reenactors. The name popped into my head. The name brought forth the character almost instantly.

What would a kid with a name like "Stonewall Hinkleman" be like?

Sick to the gills of the Civil War, for starters.

What was the timeline between spark and publication, and what were the major events along the way?

MH: Five years from writing chapter one to the release of the book.

SR: Spark. Email x 500. Book done. Everybody happy. Book rejected. Book rejected. Book rejected. Book revised for agent. Book sold to editor. Book revised for editor. Editor quits. New editor. Book revised for new editor.

We’re talking about major revisions, too. And the book got better and better thanks to those people pushing us to make it better.

What were the challenges (literary, research, psychological, and logistical) in bringing the story to life?

MH: Having to convince Sam on a daily basis that I was right.

SR: Excuse me?

I loved the book's sense of fun, but also its sophistication. At the risk of stating the obvious, we don't see a lot of humorous boy-friendly adventure fantasies that also take the topics of real-life war and racism. What were the toughest decisions you had to make in framing the historical context?

SR: Here in Virginia, you grow up thinking that Stonewall Jackson and Turner Ashby were heroes. Grant and Sherman? Bad guys. You learn about the battles, and there's a feeling that the South should have won.

And somehow when you grow up you have to reconcile all that with the simple fact that the South was wrong as wrong can be.

We stuck Stonewall Hinkleman--and ourselves--right in the middle of all that. Anything less would have been dodging the question. But I don't feel like we answered it, either.

MH: The discussion of the Civil War in today's school goes something like this: "North good. South bad. North hated slavery. South loved slavery. North won. Hurray!"

But the story is obviously so much more complicated and rich and compelling when you explore all the "grays" instead of looking at it in black-and-white terms. Sending Stonewall back in time to the Confederate army allows for this exploration.

Giving kids a more nuanced racial and historical understanding of our past can only help them grasp the complexities of the America of today.

Could you describe your collaborative process?

SR: Ever see that "Wild Kingdom" episode where Marlin Perkins’s assistant waded into a river and wrestled a tapir?

MH: All joking aside, Stonewall would not have come to life without the equal contribution of each of us. I must credit Sam, though, for setting the tone of the book and giving Stonewall his voice.

SR: And I must credit Michael with actually knowing something about the Civil War.

What advice do you have for writers of historical fantasy?

MH: It's tough to strike the right balance between remaining historically accurate to an event while at the same time feeling free to shape the event to your own plot designs. You don't want to get bogged down with all the historical details, but I know I wanted our readers to know which moment--or which character--was indeed historically authentic.

What special considerations must be taken into account with a time-travel story?

MH: What we did not want was the novel to be a "Back to the Future" meets the Civil War.

SR: Yes, we fought hard to get away from "Back to the Future," which is a masterpiece, after all.

The tough thing about time travel is that if a character could really travel through time at will, they could solve all their problems too easily. So you have to make rules to keep them from doing that.

The problem is you, the author, are stuck following those rules, too. Which can be very hard at revision time. There were times when I started to think things were hopeless.

What do you hope young readers will take away from the story?

MH: That the Civil War remains the most important event in American history and still informs the events of today--all the way to the White House.

SR: There are all sorts of morals you can draw from the book -- most notably that war affects real people, real individuals--but honestly, I just hope kids find it to be a wild ride of a story. We sure worked hard to make it one.

Other than your own, what's your favorite children's/tween novel of 2009 and why?

SR: Right now I'm in the middle of Pinkwater's The Yggyssey: How Iggy Wondered What Happened to All the Ghosts, Found Out Where They Went, and Went There (Houghton Mifflin, 2009), his sequel to The Neddiad: How Neddie Took the Train, Went to Hollywood, and Saved Civilization (Houghton Mifflin, 2009).


What do you do when you're not reading or writing?

MH: Nonprofit work in my community. Raising kids.

SR: Lately I’ve been trying to build robots again.

What can your fans look forward to next?

MH: Hopefully the next installment of Stonewall Hinkleman. The Battle Bull Run/Manassas occurred on July 21, 1861. The war ended in April 1865. There's a lot more to cover.

SR: The Strange Case of Origami Yoda (Amulet, 2010).

Is there anything you'd like to add?

SR: I'd like to point out that having a co-author is an amazing experience. Things happen in the book that neither of you ever would have come up with on your own. I recommend it!

I’m so pleased to announce that SHADOWED SUMMER is included in The Bulletin for the Center for Children’s Books GUIDE BOOK TO GIFT BOOKS 2009.

IT’S HARD TO IMAGINE FINER GIFTS THAN BOOKS—they offer enjoyment, knowledge, and artistic stimulation. They’re also gifts that go on giving without requiring any upkeep or cleanup, they’re a cinch to wrap, and they’re easily sent through the mail! All of these titles have been reviewed in the Bulletin, so they’ve been recommended by professionals.

You’ll find SHADOWED SUMMER in Books for Middle Readers (Gr. 4-6, 9-11 yrs)!

Originally published at MSUFaL. You can comment here or there.

Remember me talking about my affection for Zombie Haiku by Ryan Mecum, whom I later interviewed for the 2009 Summer Blog Blast Tour? Well, let me tell you something: Ryan has done it again with VAMPIRE HAIKU, in which he combines haiku and story, humor and horror, and adds history, a hint of romance, and social commentary to boot. While the vampires in it may, this is one book that doesn't suck. Also? This book is as much a survey of American history as it is the story of one vampire through the ages.

You can read my full review over at Guys Lit Wire, but I figured I'd leave you with a few juicy tidbits. (I know - I kill me, too!)

Two vampire revelations for our main character, William, who was turned on The Mayflower by a woman named Katherine:

She explains to me
that wood through my heart will kill.
I don't think that's new.
. . .
Blood tastes like cherries
mixed with a lot of copper
and way too much salt.

And a few of the pop culture references - I'm pretty certain you'll be able to guess which TV shows or movies they go with, assuming you've seen the more popular/mainstream vampire fare over the past 20 years or so:

Now I've seen it all.
Vampire puppets on TV
teaching kids to count.
. . .
My favorite show
stars the cutest little girl
killing fake vampires.
. . .
Those were not vampires.
If sunlight makes you sparkle,
you're a unicorn.
. . .
What would be better
than biting on a Corey?
Biting two Coreys.

I hope you'll check it out!

Hannah by Kathryn Lasky

A fantasy/historical fiction novel about a poor orphan girl in late 19th century New England who discovers within herself a strange longing and need for the ocean. The novel was inspired by a painting at the Boston MFA (see below) and contains a fictionalized version of how this painting came into being.

The story is heartfelt, with sprinkles of sensual descriptions of the water, but often the historical details like types of clothing or cleaning supplies aren't as artfully woven into the text as they could be.

Overall though, it is an interesting read and I'm considering reading the rest of the novels when they come out. I wonder if the rest of them will have a fine arts tie-in too?


The Daughters of Edward Darley Boit, 1882

Oil on canvas; 87 3/8 x 87 5/8 in. (221.9 x 222.6 cm)

Galerie Georges Petit, 1882; Salon, 1883;

Exposition Universelle, 1889

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Gift of Mary Louisa Boit, Julia Overing Boit, Jane Hubbard Boit, and Florence D. Boit in memory of their father, Edward Darley Boit

Image from http://www.metmuseum.org

I think that possibly I will only write about things that happen at the grocery store from now on because it's kind of more interesting than the things that happen at my house.

My house is like a bat cave:
 You can guess which one I get to be.

Seriously. There is no light in there. It's so bad that sometimes I step out into the driveway and realize that not only do my socks don't match, but my shoes don't match! 

Yes, I do turn on the lights.
No, they don't help.

I think pretty soon I'm going to end up looking like this: 

This might actually be an improvement. He's kind of cute.

But this transformation probably won't go over well on the book tour because instead of talking about my books and characters and how cool it would be if NEED was turned into a movie, I'll just be all, "SCREECHING_BAT NOISE_ SCREECH!"

This may be an improvement too actually.

Anyway, the ATM/CREDIT machine broke today in the grocery store FAST/EXPRESS lane, which made it not so fast/express.

The guy behind me was:
1. Cute
2. Impatient to get to lunch
3. Buying toothpaste.

And the woman in front of me was:
1. Cute
2. Patient
3. Buying $10 worth of things.

I was merely buying this:


Yes, it is that kind of day.
So, I said to the cashier clerk man who JUST had to go through a similar 20 minute ordeal with the machine where everyone in the entire grocery store had to come fix it, "I'll buy her stuff and my Mr. Bubble Bubblebath for sensitive skin and his toothpaste."

Everyone looked at me.

And I said, "I have cash!"



Which I did! Amen! And the cute lady who I love hugged me and the cute man was all, "Thank you, you didn't have to do that." He looked at me like I was this super angel person, which I am not, but it was nice to have someone think that.

And I have decided now that cash is a very good thing.
So is bubble bath.
Bats don't like bubble baths, right? So, I am still human, right?
Just checking.

. . . that my new Meter Readers column for KidMagWriters.com went live as of November 1st. It's all about rhymed couplets: what they are, how to write them, and a good number of examples (including dialogue from The Princess Bride - hence my icon, which is part of dialogue in rhymed couplets between Inigo Montoya and Fezzig the Giant).

Clickety click.

SLEEPLESS, coming out July 13, 2010, is finally available for pre-order on Amazon.  In case you just, um, wanted to put it in your cart. Of course, if you want to wait and get it from your local Indie, I support you in that decision. :)

And even though GIMME FEVER isn't going to be available until 2011, some really quick person already added it to Goodreads (thank you ever-so-much!).  Add it to your to-read list? Please?

sixwordstories
Whether you're in the mood for a creative challenge or you're short on time or attention span, this semi-addictive community is perfect for those who find flash fiction way long. Once you get the hang of it, you won't be able to stop. The prince turned into a frog. The girl ran home to mother. Tough to write. Easy to read. It's a double threesome of fun.

dailyfoodie
Delicious, ambitious, and occasionally nutritious dishes make for an eclectic, all-you-can-eat feast. Whether you're searching for recipes for your next dinner party or you're jonesing for a late-night brownie fix, your cravings are sure to be well sated. A warm and inclusive community that welcomes all orientations, from carnivores to vegans, from gourmands to junk-food junkies. Guaranteed bias-free, food-positive, and pan-epicurian.

This past Thursday I flew down to the AASL (American Association of School Librarians) conference in Charlotte, NC to meet some fellow debut2009 authors, hang out with my agent, drive up to visit cesario, and maybe, if all went well, get to sign a few of my books at the AASL PitStop. Those were my expectations, and they were modest and practical ones, and I had no idea that there was even the possibility of anything more. Especially since I'd left my laptop at home, my Canadian cell phone doesn't work in the US, and I wouldn't have access to e-mail or Internet until I got back Sunday night.

So I was wholly unprepared, when I met the Debs for breakfast on Friday morning, to find out from carrie_ryan that Knife has been nominated for one of the most prestigious children's book awards in the English-speaking world. The Carnegie Medal. We are talking the British equivalent of the Newbery or the National Book Award, people. C.S. Lewis won it for The Last Battle. So did Richard Adams for Watership Down.

I may have stared blankly at Carrie for about thirty seconds before I started flailing. And then I spent the whole weekend in a happy daze and I haven't come down since.

Congratulations to my fellow nominees sarahtales (The Demon's Lexicon) and halseanderson (Chains)!

I know it’s been a banner year for pine cones, since I’ve been stumbling over them in the woods, and I know there’s some scientific explanation about the cycles in which they grow, but I can’t tell you what that is. Yesterday Tamra Wight tamra_wight mentioned on Facebook that scientists say it’s impossible to be sad while looking at the sky.

Add a tree, and you can be ecstatic. Here’s what I saw looking up through a pine and an oak. Thanks, Tami! And there look like more blue skies today.




And a little later in the afternoon.

The authors of The 2009 Debutantes are pleased to announce Holidaze With the Debs, a series of author events in the U.S. and Canada this holiday season. At bookstores, libraries and schools in the New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Toronto areas, members of the 2009 Debutantes will talk about their own books and other 2009 favorites. A full list of events is available below.

“Publishers are working with shrinking promotional budgets in this economy,” notes Rhonda Stapleton, author of STUPID CUPID (Simon Pulse). “As first-time authors, we know that much of our promotion is going to have to come from us, and over the last year we’ve also learned how much fun it is to do events together. So we’re especially excited to be able to talk to readers directly this holiday season.”

2009 DEBUTANTES’ HOLIDAZE TOUR

NEW YORK

Dec. 6, 1-3 p.m.
Books of Wonder
18 West 18th St.
New York, NY
Including: Megan Crewe, Sarah Cross, Deva Fagan, Neesha Meminger, Kate Messner, Shani Petroff, Jon Skovron, Michelle Zink

CHICAGO

Dec. 5, 1-3 p.m.
Borders
161 N. Weber Road
Bolingbrook, IL
Including: Cynthea Liu, Saundra Mitchell, Aprilynne Pike, Kristina Springer, Darcy Vance, Lara Zielin

Dec. 5, 7-9 p.m.
The Book Cellar, Inc.
4736-38 North Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, IL
Including: Cynthea Liu, Saundra Mitchell, Aprilynne Pike, Kristina Springer, Darcy Vance, Lara Zielin

SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA

Dec. 5, 3-4 p.m
Borders
588 Francisco Blvd. West
San Rafael, CA
Including: Cheryl Renee Herbsman, Malinda Lo, Sarah Quigley

Dec. 8, 7 p.m.
Menlo Park Public Library
800 Alma St.
Menlo Park, CA
Including: Lauren Bjorkman, Cheryl Renee Herbsman, C. Lee McKenzie, Sarah Quigley, J.A. Yang

Dec. 9, 12 p.m.
Petaluma High School*
201 Fair St.
Petaluma, CA
Including: Lauren Bjorkman, Cheryl Renee Herbsman, Malinda Lo, Sarah Quigley, J.A. Yang
* Open to the public, but visitors should check in at the school office when arriving

Dec. 12, 2-4 p.m.
Barnes & Noble
119 Colma Blvd.
Colma, CA
Including: Lauren Bjorkman, Cheryl Renee Herbsman, Malinda Lo, C. Lee McKenzie, Sarah Quigley, J.A. Yang

TORONTO

Jan. 9, 2 p.m.
Indigo
Eaton Centre
220 Yonge St.
Toronto, Ontario
Including: R.J. Anderson, Megan Crewe, Sarah Ockler, Rhonda Stapleton, Lara Zielin

Originally published at MSUFaL. You can comment here or there.

This weekend my husband had a conference to go to in Boston, so E and I decided to tag along for the free hotel and the promise of fun in the city. Our good friends Sue and Pete invited us to spend a night with them in Cambridge, too, so there was a lot to look forward to.

On Friday, E and I dropped Peter at his conference and headed to the Museum of Science, which is one of E's favorite spots. What he didn't know, was that there was a special exhibit there. An exhibit he didn't even know existed.

When we got to the parking garage, there was a flat-screen tv outside that was advertising exhibits and the Harry Potter image flashed by. E said, "That's weird. They just showed a picture from Harry Potter." And I said, "Yeah, weird." ;-)

Then we parked the car and figured out how to get into the museum. As we were walking down the long corridor from the garage to the museum entrance, a little girl dressed in Hogwarts robes skipped by us. E looked at me and said, "Um, that was random."

"Totally," I said.

Then we got to the ticket lines and he saw the big Harry Potter screen again. And he read out loud "Harry Potter Exhibit" and he caught his breath because just then, he turned and saw this:



And he pretty much didn't stop grinning for the rest of the day. The exhibit was so cool. I think you've got to be a true lover of the books and movies to really, really love it. And since E and I both are, we did. When he sat in Hagrid's chair, he rubbed the armrests over and over saying, "I just can't believe I'm sitting in HAGRID's CHAIR!"

It was a very quiet day at the museum and we were able to spend as much time as we wanted at the exhibit. Tons of people passed us, rushing through. But I think were were in there for almost three hours. It was fantastic.

The next day, we headed to our friends' house. The last time we stayed with them, I got a call from my agent to let me know I'd sold my third book. This time, I got great news again!

1. Jumping Off Swings was nominated for BBYA! This was the last month to get on the list and I was pretty sure all hope was lost. So that was a BIG and wonderful surprise!

2. My new editor had e-mailed to tell me her edits for PEARL are coming my way!

I told Sue and Pete we really need to visit more often. ;-)

Sue and Pete live near Fresh Pond in Cambridge, which has a wonderful walking path around it. And apparently it is THE place to go if you have a dog. We love going for walks there with their two dogs, Allie and Katama. It's like doggie social hour:



It's so much fun to see all the shapes and sizes. And all the dogs are so friendly! :-)

We had such a lovely weekend. Full of happy surprises, laughter, and conversation with friends. It made me realize how precious these moments are. And how it would be great to fill our lives with more of them. I'm going to try really hard to do that.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Monday Morning Warm-Up:

Describe a dog you remember from your childhood. Either yours, a relative's or a friend's. What's your fondest or most powerful memory of that dog?

Learn about Alan Cumyn.

So far, what's the most fun you've ever had working on a book? Why?

I have to say that working on this latest book, Dear Sylvia (Groundwood, 2008)(excerpt), was the most fun.

I often struggle to find the right voice for a particular project, and when I do a sequel (or, in this case, the third of a trilogy) I'm highly conscious of having to be as or more original than the original(s).

The Secret Life of Owen Skye (Groundwood, 2002) I wrote for my girls when they were young, and the natural voice for those linked stories was a hybrid adult/kid third-person narration--they are told in the spirit of a father exaggerating slightly about a loved but distant past.

After Sylvia (Groundwood, 2004) uses the same voice, but it is more of a classic novel in form and story arc.

In Dear Sylvia, Owen is writing letters to his true love, Sylvia Tull, who has moved way, and it felt awkward to be describing the letters in the old narrative voice.

Once I let Owen's direct voice take over, in the letters, the book began to write itself.

Like me at that age, Owen is no boy-genius writer. His spelling is especially idiosyncratic--trooley atroshus--so much so that my agent balked when she tried to read the first draft.

Oh, how I remember the pain and sweat of early boyhood attempts to read and write! Owen's letters get more elaborate as he progresses as a writer, but throughout it's the same fierce, funny, achingly honest heart that was so joyful to tap into.

How have you come to thrive in such a competitive, unpredictable industry?

It comes back to first principles for me, which revolve around love of story. I grew up immersed in stories, I've always turned to stories when trying to figure out this bewildering life, and I expect I will always write or make stories no matter whether I get paid to do it or not.

I've been an athlete longer than I've been a writer--though never a professional--and I know about competition in sports. The rules are defined and agreed upon, score is often scrupulously kept, there is usually a winner and a loser, but afterward you go out for a beer and talk about other things.

In this sense art is not competitive--it carries the same or greater call to excellence, but it's much freer. Any attempt to make it competitive--by giving awards, by counting and comparing sales or advance dollars--is artificial and probably hurts the art.

Who's the better artist, Shakespeare or Mozart? Who cares? Enjoy, ponder, grapple with their works. The question is absurd.

So I "thrive" by not defeating myself. I don't rely on sales entirely for my income. I apply for grants, I teach, I live simply. My kids' education is not wagered on me getting a big advance.

I don't pre-sell a book--I write it for the love of writing it, because it's the book I really want to read that hasn't been created yet. I try to be true to the characters and the problems they're faced with.

When and if the book gets published I do my best to share it with the world, but with the understanding that a large part of reviews, awards, sales, fame will be beyond my control.

Usually soon enough some other story is pulling me back to my desk. I need to write it down so I'll know what happens...

In the video below, Alan reads from Deer/Dear Sylvia. Note: "Featuring Kimba Gifford as Owen Skye. Directed by Jasmine Murray-Bergquist."



Cynsational Notes

The Craft, Career & Cheer series features conversations with children's-YA book creators about positive aspects of their creative and professional lives.

I returned from my Disney trip to find that FAIRY TALE was mentioned in this past Sunday's New York Times book review, along with books by Lisa Mantchev, Melinda Lo, and Aprilynne Pike. Very cool!