Mumsi Audiobook

I found out today that my publisher posted my book, Mumsi Meets a Lion, as an audiobook. It's available here. This is a recording that I made in a friend's home studio. How cool is that? Look out, iTunes (ha).

This afternoon I visited Hidden Treasure, a school for disabled children. I read Rodney Robbins and the Rainy-day Pond to them. They seemed to enjoy the story and the wonderful illustrations. This was my first opportunity to read this book aloud to a group of children. The jury is still out on which of my books I like to read more.

Language

Here's an excerpt from the piece I wrote for God's World News last week:

To grow up with English teachers in the house is to love wrangling over language. My family made a team sport of arguing minor points of grammar. Each of us had a specialty: Dad monitored pronoun-antecedent use; Mom policed comma rules; Sis investigated mistakes with as—as and so—as. And I, I took the road less traveled by concerning possessives before gerunds. Together we critiqued the punctuation, usage, spelling, and mechanics of much of the Southeast. No “Cantaloupe’s $2” sign went unnoticed; no church bulletin was safe.

 The piece ran on the website this week, and I've already received comments about it both from people I know as well as people I don't know. How rewarding to write and then hear from people who were encouraged by what you had to say.

Whew!

I haven't posted in quite a while--not because I'm not writing but because I am writing . . . a lot. My freelancing is keeping me hopping. I now have a weekly piece on the GWN website.

I've also been asked to write an Easter play for 2012. That project has been very interesting and challenging. I've roughed the initial concept now and written some first drafts of scenes. The play is due to the producer in January, so I feel good about where I am with it right now.

Am I allowed to say that my writing is keeping me from writing? Hmmmm . . .

Mumsi Fan

The other evening I was at a birthday party when a little fellow sidled up to me and said, "I just love your Mumsi book!" Turns out, he was in the K5 Mumsi program last Spring. He played the part of a monkey. I asked him what his favorite part was. He replied, "I really couldn't say. I just love it all." Wow. Then I asked him whether he was at all scared when he first read it and told him that I was just a little scared about what would happen to Mumsi. He assured me that he was not scared because it was such a good story.

Then in the grocery store this week, a mother stopped me to say that her son had been one of the multiple Mumsi's in the program and that he loved the book and the whole experience of learning about Africa while working on the program. It's nice having tiny fans.

Rodney Letter

Wow! I received a wonderful letter in the mail on Friday. Some weeks ago I sent a copy of Rodney Robbins and the Rainy-day Pond to the folks who live in the real-life house mentioned in my book. It was my grandparents' very New England house on Colonial Avenue "with the perfect picket fence," a cherry tree in the front yard, and a cellar door. This was at the suggestion of my uncle, who remembered that a couple from the neighborhood had bought the house in the 80s and were still living there. Here are excerpts from the nice letter I received:

"I grew up [on Colonial Avenue] and as a child I remember what a big deal it was for the street to be paved. It was a summer project and I loved all the commotion!"

And this, "You may be interested to know that to this day when we have a big rainstorm a huge puddle still forms in front of our house until the storm drain can catch up. Sometimes it has even crept halfway up our driveway!"

Now if I could just find the newspaper article. . . .

Children's Book Writing Conference

I attended a writers' conference last Saturday. Great speakers, great topics, great location--a wonderful experience! One speaker, Pat Scales, was a former Newbery and Caldecott judge. I could have listened to her all day. Another was an editor for Highlights magazine and Calkins Creek books. She was knowledgeable and had a great sense of humor. She was the kind of person that I just knew I would like, the kind that I could get into trouble with if we were ever seated together somewhere formal. Other speakers included a Caldecott-awarding winning illustrator, a well-published children's book author, and the author of the currently popular Pirate books. All were quite down-to-earth and eager to share their insights into the world of children's book publishing.

I've already contacted the lady from Highlights/Calkins Creek and asked about sending her something for publication. That's one of the major benefits of attending these conferences, I'm told: networking and opportunities for personal contact that can lead to publishing opportunities.

Here's a list of things that I have meant to do for some time:

--send a copy of Rodney Robbins to the people who live at the real house in which the story takes place

--send a copy to my mother-in-law (ouch!)

--send copies to my friend who lives in Vermont

--send one to the librarian downtown who was so helpful with Mumsi

--work on other stories including but not limited to a novel for adults, a devotional book, poetry, and several picture book ideas

Here's what I have done so far:

--nothing (as far as writing goes)

That's not entirely true. The nothing part, I mean. I do think about writing a lot. I think of ideas all of the time (two in the last two days). Then I bring them up occasionally to my family--"That could fit into my new book," I say. They, "What new book?" Me, "The new book I'm thinking about." They, "Is this the same one you were thinking about last month?" Me, "Well . . . " They, "Oh."

Sometimes I think about writing when I'm falling asleep. I can restart the same scene the same way several nights in a row as I drift off. So there's this little boy who has a pet lizard. . . . There's comfort in sameness anyway.

Ayuh!

I've always been interested in words. It probably started with my parents' giving me a Word-a-Day calendar when I was in seventh grade. I've been hooked ever since. (Incidentally, I still get a W-a-D calendar under the Christmas tree. Today's word: xylography, the art of making engravings on wood.) Well, enjoying words turns quickly into loving phrases and proceeds quite naturally into adoring sentences. One particular aspect of logophilia is fascination with colloquialisms and regionalisms.

This brings us around to ayuh, a New Englandism if ever there was one. Ayuh usually means "yes." However, language connoisseurs note that although at first blush the word has a positive connotation, it also may possess negative meanings which are expressed in "extremely subtle undertones" that "only a native New Englander can discern." (See The New England Accent for more information on ayuh and other New Englandisms.)

And now we get around to the point (finally!) of this little essay. My Grandfather Hamilton, whom my new book Rodney Robbins and the Rainy-day Pond features, said ayuh frequently. Grandpa was a Vermonter through and through, but he lived much of his adult life in Waltham, Massachusetts. He said ayuh differently than the official pronunciation, which stresses the first syllable: ay'-yuh. Grandpa Hamilton always said ay-yuh'--with the second syllable almost clipped off, almost like "uh-huh" in emphasis but sounding a lot like "yeah." "So howdya like the brown bread and baked beans, Floyd?" my grandmother might ask. "Ayuh," he might reply, holding out his plate. This meant, of course, "They're delicious. May I please have some more?" A man of few words, just like in my book.

Story Starter

For one of my workshops last week I used the opening paragraph to Rodney Robbins and the Rainy-day Pond as a story starter. Then I had the group finish the story round-robin fashion. The story took an interesting turn and ended up involving a carnival and a fishing contest. The attendees seemed interested when I revealed that this very paragraph was the opening to my new book. Some of them actually went right out and purchased the book and had me sign it.

Perhaps one of the most gratifying moments came when one lady said while skimming through Mumsi Meets a Lion, "I don't know if I could make it all the way through this without crying." I told her that I always feel the same way about Mumsi's story: I'm so proud of him for listening and doing the right thing!

Speaking in Upstate NY

Greetings from the Finger Lakes region of New York State! I've arrived in beautiful Canandaigua, NY, and am staying at an inn on Lake Canandaigua. Tomorrow and Friday I'll be speaking at a teachers' conference. I'm giving three sessions: one on pre-writing activities, one on teaching vocabulary, and one on literature. There will also be opportunities for me to sign my books at a book table.

As I sit here in my hotel room, I'm debating about whether to revamp my whole workshop or just stick with what I've done before. It's always a challenge to practice what one preaches about inductive teaching and teaching for comprehension--especially when there's a lot of material to be covered in a short amount of time. Perhaps I should focus more on inspiring the teachers of writing to be inspirational than to cover all of the material on my handout. After all, the material on the handout will be there when they get home. (They can read it.)

Rodney Robbins Book Trailer

Check out the book trailer for my new book, Rodney Robbins and the Rainy-day Pond. I just love the way the pictures are animated. And the child's voice is so cute, too. Here's the link: http://www.bjupress.com/videos/rodney-robbins.mov

Unexpected Blessing

Wow. I heard a sweet story from the director of the Mumsi play. The family of one of the children in the program is preparing to go to Africa as missionaries. The little boy was fearful and unsure of their big move. However, after working on the Mumsi Meets a Lion program, he is looking forward to this new adventure. That's a very unexpected and exciting result!

Look, Mom! I'm on Amazon!

My book is finally out! Hooray! Yesterday I checked Amazon.com and found that my book was listed there for sale. Wow. That's really cool. No reviews yet though, so somebody out there in cyberspace please post a (positive--did I say that?) review for Rodney Robbins and the Rainy-day Pond.


This from a satisfied Mumsi reader just the other day:" I read your new book to my grandson, Sam, and we both loved it! Excellent book! Congratulations." I love positive feedback.

My Smallest Fan

Here's a sweet photo of what might be my smallest fan. She is reading a special pre-release copy of Rodney Robbins and the Rainy-day Pond. (Actually, her father is reading it to her.) She seems enthralled by the story--or at least by Bruce Day's excellent illustrations--don't you think? Two days from now is the release day. Nothing big planned so far--just life as usual and working on the next project for Summer Shakespeare, a little freelance biography writing, and a possible kid's chapter book.

It's Finally Here!

Here it is! (See image at right.) At long last, my latest picture book, Rodney Robbins and the Rainy-day Pond has arrived. And my publisher says that I can now spill the beans. So here's the news: the illustrator is Bruce Day, a talented illustrator from Idaho. He's done work for the NFL, Campbell's Soup, and other well-known companies. His style is comic, detailed, and bright. Children will enjoy finding various elements of the story or sub-story throughout the book. For example, there's a frog that shows up repeatedly and a bandaid and . . . but you'll just have to see for yourself when the book becomes available June 2.

New Website

My staff & I (this is said slightly tongue-in-cheek) have been working hard to bring a new website to life. It will be about my endeavors as a children's author and will celebrate the launch of my new book, Rodney Robbins and the Rainy-day Pond. I have some reason to believe that the launch will take place next week since the word from the publisher was that the book was due to be out in May 2010. (And next week ends the month of May . . . or almost.) So with hope and joy and yes, a smidgeon of pride (or should I say "satisfaction"?), I look forward to the finish line.

Mumsi Program

This photo was taken by my mom at the Mumsi Meets a Lion program last week. It shows one young Mumsi and a fearsome lion. Note the flashlight and spear (as in the book). The backdrop and the abandoned termite mound are nice in this shot, too. You can't see the other children on the risers, but they are there in full costume--more lions and giraffes and birds and bats. Nice job, K5ers!

K5 Mumsi Program

Today I had the great privilege to attend a performance by a group of talented K5 students. The students did an adaptation of my book Mumsi Meets a Lion for their Spring program. The four kindergarten classes began as a large group, then performed individually. Each class had its own Mumsi or lion or villagers, etc. All of the children wore colorful costumes, and many held handmade musical instruments. Even though many parents had pre-ordered books for their students, some purchased additional ones before or after the program. It was so much fun to see the children's faces as they asked me to sign their books and told me what parts they'd played.

I also distributed buttons advertising my new Rodney book Those were delivered to the school at the eleventh hour. It was nice to have something to give away--and a nice promo.

Sawaya's Visit

Today I went with Sawaya (the Kenyan friend who told me the story of Mumsi Meets a Lion) to a group of 5-year-olds. I told about writing the book, and Sawaya told about life in Kenya. The children were cute and had many questions for both of us. (Where did you get your idea for the book? How did you get to be friends? Have you ever seen a lion? What toys do children in Kenya have? What did you eat in Kenya? and so on.) The children had all read the book, so they knew lots of things to ask about. Sawaya spoke in Swahili to them, and they sang "Blow, Blow the Kenyan Wind" for us. They will be performing a musical version of Mumsi Meets a Lion for their kindergarten spring program in May. The students have made instruments and costumes for the program. I'm eager to see my book on the stage.

Poetry Month

I want to post several poems this April in honor of National Poetry Month. Here's a new poem written for a seventh-grade literature class by my 12-year-old son. I think he's got a lot going on in this--possibly more than even he knows. It is a prime example of what can come from an exercise in stylistic imitation. This poem imitates "Swift Things Are Beautiful" by Elizabeth Coatsworth.

Loud Things Are Beautiful

by H.C.S.

Loud things are beautiful

like a lion roaring,

a bear rearing back,

the raindrops pouring.

A hyena’s laugh,                             5

a busy town,

a gunshot,

Bang! The target is found.

Quiet things are beautiful,

calm, and sweet:                              10

a honey drop oozing,

a butterfly’s wingbeat.

The sun in its beauty,

the moon in its peace,

the calm of the desert,                    15

the sheep's woolly fleece.

Read Across America

Last week I visited a middle school classroom for "Read Across America" Day. I read Mumsi Meets a Lion to them. The class pictured here (an art elective class) was so attentive and asked a lot of good questions about the book and the writing/publishing process.

Here are some takeaways from the experience: 1) A good story transcends the recommended age levels on the back of the book. 2) The illustrator is the big draw. (Pun only partially intended.) The number 1 question I'm asked at readings of my book: Did I do the pictures? (Answer: No. I wish.) 3) I'm amazed at how much I enjoy my own story. 4) Teachers enjoy having their classes read to as much as the students enjoy being read to. 5) "Local Author" is a very rewarding title to put below your name.

Daily Lit

Have I talked about DailyLit.com yet? Love it. Love it. You log in (or not), sift through their massive library of books, and select something you've always wanted to read but just haven't gotten around to. (Many are free!) War and Peace, anyone? You select a few options such as preferred font, delivery time of day and times per week, as well as amount in each installment. Then you sit back and wait for your book to arrive. Next day, bing! It's there in your inbox--a lovely, palatable chunk of literature. I've chosen Adam Bede by George Eliot. (Yes, the Mary Ann Evans George Eliot, the Silas Marner George Eliot. That's her to our left.) I've been getting installments for about a week now and just this evening I switched the length of my installments. They were so brief--about two minutes of reading--that I was wanting more every day. Did I mention that I love it?

So Many Ideas, So Little Time . . .

Someone once said that trouble comes in threes. Or was it death that comes like that? Anyway, sometimes story ideas come in multiples, too. Right now in my brain there roil (great word, roil, huh?) three ideas. There's one about a girl detective, one about the antics of a rascally pre-teen, and one about an inventor. And one about soup. Okay, so that's four. The only one I've done any real work on is the girl detective one. I've scribbled the start of a story about the pre-teen on the back of a paycheck envelope but have yet to find the time to develop the story beyond a few scattered ideas. So here I am, blogging instead of writing. . . .

Despite my own creative struggles, real progress is being made on my website design. The banner is taking shape, and I love it! It's vibrant, it's fun, it's interesting--all of the things a writer hopes to be. Let's hope the website is up around the time of the new book's coming out! What a happy coincidence that would be!

CBA Release

A recent issue of the Christian Booksellers Guide mentions the Rodney story as being released in May. Yippee! That's welcome news to me. How strange it is to see one's name in print in a publication like that!

Plans continue for the Mumsi program in May. Today we nailed down the time for Sawaya and my visit to the elementary school where the program will take place. That is coming up April 20 2010.

Final Proofs

I'm checking final proofs for Rodney these days. One thing I learned from my Mumsi experience is that I need to read the story aloud and watch the page turns. That is where one may notice a number of problems that would not otherwise be evident.

Here's what else is going on--just for the record:
--I entered the SCBWI-C contest with Daniel's Day.
--I was invited to read at Read 2 Me Day and at Read Across America at a school in Dacusville.
--I continue to write for GWN--8 articles and counting for the April issue.
--I've begun a new story that may become a early chapter book. I'm only about one page in, so I shouldn't even put this in writing yet, but I need some accountability. . . .
--I find that I'm out of steam on resubmissions but will attempt to get back on that soon. (How's that for no accountability?)
--no further work on the novel . . . yikes!

Kenyan Embassy

I received a letter from the Kenyan Embassy in response to a copy of Mumsi Meets a Lion that I sent them. The writer (a secretary? administrative assistant?) said, "[The story] reminded me of my childhood years growing up in Northern rural Kenya." Isn't that fun?The letter writer's name is Galma Mukhe Boru--I wonder what tribe he (she?) is from.

A Non-Sneak Peak

My editor called me into the office and gave me an officially sanctioned look at the artwork for my new book: Rodney Robbins and the Rainy-day Pond. It's incredible! This makes me even more excited about the release date, which is . . . I DON'T KNOW! If all goes well, it should be sooner rather than later. We'll see.

On the Mumsi front: I'm taking copies of Mumsi with me to a conference I'm speaking at in California this week. This was at the request of someone else, but I'm only too happy to oblige. Mumsi will have a spot in the vendors' exhibition hall. Hopefully, he will be well-received.

New Book Soon?

Well, somebody somewhat in the know almost spilled the beans today about when my new book is coming out. This person just couldn't stop smiling when I said that my book was hopefully being released soon. I think the words "really soon" even popped out. She also mentioned that the buzz is that the illustrations are fantastic. Can't wait.

Any Time Now

I've made small strides since last writing. I'm in a list mood, so here goes.

1) Work continues on my new website. Tonite I had a setback: my username/password wouldn't work.
2) I should see proofs of the Rodney story soon--in the next couple of weeks!
3) Lots of writing is being done as I develop four brand-new workshops for a conference I'm speaking at in California next month.
4) The assignments for GWN keep coming. I have a big one on the Haiti crisis due next week.

I know, I know, I need to get back to creative writing. Arg.

Mumsi to the Embassy

Wow. It's been a while since I posted. I've taken quite a Christmas break and now am trying to get back into the swing of writing. I've had six assignments from GWN over the holidays and am glad that the February issue is behind. Word is that March assignments are on their way later this week, so the hiatus won't be too long.

Today I sent Mumsi Meets a Lion to the Kenyan Embassy in Washington, DC. This idea came from an article in SCBWI's monthly magazine. I've also made some headway on the novel I'm working on but not nearly as much as I'd hoped to over break. At present it is apparent that I do not have the discipline requisite to be a novelist. I'm mulling around several other stories--children's ones--in my head. None seem ready for paper yet.

At some point I need to set some goals for the year here in this space. Of course, I don't look forward to making myself accountable to myself. . . .