A Story in a Statement

Tonight I popped into the Mac's Milk store with my youngest daughter. She was wearing thick beige tights and a light blue sheer skirt, both of which showed beneath her winter coat. The cashier asked my daughter if she'd just come from dance class. Shyly my daughter replied that no, she'd come from skating.

The cashier smiled and, as she handed me my change, leaned over and said quietly to me, "Enjoy her at that stage."

I nodded and walked out thinking that yeah, she's absolutely right. But I also caught myself wondering about the background to that statement. What was it in the cashier's story that urged her to say that to me, a stranger. I'm sure there's a story there...somewhere.

Eleven for Eleven

I've updated my website with my book on the War of 1812. This, The Legacy of the War of 1812, is my eleventh book--and it happened in 2011. Not that that's newsworthy, but it's kind of neat.

Interested in the topic of this conflict? Here's a commemorative site from the Government of Canada It's a solid first step for finding out more about the events that made up this war as well as the bicentennial commemoration events that will be happening soon: http://1812.gc.ca

So now, dare I hope for 12 books in '12? Actually--shh--it might be more than that. More details when I can share them.

Outdone by the Cat

I feel like sharing a piece a wrote awhile back.

Raising A Reader

It was one of those days when I was scrambling to make dinner. We had to eat and dash out the door almost as soon as my older two kids came home from school. My youngest daughter picked that moment to ask me to listen to her read. Being four and in Kindergarten, she was at that wonderful stage where she loved to be read to, but she also loved to “read” to me.  She’d grab a book and make up the story. I’d already heard a couple renditions of the book earlier that day and I just couldn’t stop for another.

“I’m busy right now,” I said. “We’ll read some more tonight, okay?”

She gave me her best “Fine, you don’t love me!” and went stomping off.

Ouch. I wished I could make her understand why I had no time to listen right then, but my attention was needed at the now boiling pot on the stove so I rushed on with dinner.

Not too long afterwards I realized that I could hear my daughter’s voice coming from the laundry room. What was she up to?

Marshmellow

I walked quietly over to the closed laundry room door and listened. She was definitely talking, but there was no one else in the house at the moment. Was she talking to herself with that much energy?

Puzzled, I opened the door and peeked in. There she was, sitting on a stool with a book in her lap. And there was our cat, Marshmellow, sitting at my daughter’s feet and purring.

“Hey, what are you up to, sweetie?” I asked.

She looked at me like I must be dense for not grasping the obvious. “Reading to Marshmellow,” she replied, and then she smiled.

I looked at Marshmellow, sitting up with her ears pointed towards my daughter, giving her her full attention.

It was my turn to smile. I’d been outdone by the cat. But at that moment, my daughter couldn’t have asked for a better audience.

And for that, I couldn’t have been more grateful.

***
So thank you, Marshmellow. You will be missed.

A Spectacular Sunset Sky

I invested a little time to be a spectator at the town ball park a few weeks ago. It paid off. Isn't this a spectacular show in the sky?

Peake Fields Ball Park, Bracebridge, Ontario, Aug 22, 2011

Peake Fields Ball Park, Bracebridge, August 22, 2011

I think even hubby's homeruns were eclipsed by the scenery. But don't tell him that.

Aw, Nuts!

How many of you who write for young kids find yourselves the recipient of requests to change your text because of sexual innuendos in your writing? Oh, come on. You know it's happened!

I'm here standing up (har) to say I am not afraid to admit that it's happened to me a few times. (I mean, I wrote a book titled "Let's Go!"?? Come ON! You can just picture the nudge-nudge, wink-winks.)

I just agreed to change a line in a forthcoming picture book from:
Can you count each squirrel's nuts?
to
How many nuts has each squirrel gathered?

Not a big change in intent, but probably a little less titter inducing. But grade two humor will rule no matter what. Just say the word 'nuts' and they'll probably be rolling in the back row. But I don't mind that reaction from an audience. It gets the kids/class involved, no? Books are fun. Books are funny!

You can call me naive for not picking up on these types of innuendoes on a more regular basis. But I also know that just about anything can be an innuendo if you want it to be. I always remember a lecture from one of my university professors that pointed out that the English language will always refer to the sexual in the absence of a concrete noun. Even you will titter if I write:
I want it.
I like it.
You need it.
no matter that I'm referring to chocolate. (Damn, what were you thinking???)

But I will consider softening an obvious innuendo if my editors asks. I'm not completely nuts.

So that's my rant for the day--a day which kicks off the last long weekend of summer. Have a good one!  (nudge-nudge, wink-wink)

It's Kidlitosphere Interview Wednesday

I'm hosting Interview Wednesday today. What does that mean? It means I'm posting a roundup of links to kids' writing related interviews from the past week or so. You'll find interviews with all sorts of people in children's literature--authors, illustrators, editors, agents and librarians.

I'll add links throughout the day and evening to this post. To leave a link to your interview, please add it to the comments and I'll put it here.

So for your reading pleasure, here we go:


JoAnn Early Macken has posted an interview with Donna Gephart on the TeachingAuthors blog. Readers can enter to win an autographed copy of Donna's book, How To Survive Middle School. Donna shares a couple of her favorite writing exercises and a funny anecdote about a workhshop she presented. See:
http://www.teachingauthors.com/2011/08/book-giveaway-and-guest-teaching-author.html Entry deadline is Friday, 8/26.

Playing By the Book has an interview with British author Frances Hardinge: http://www.playingbythebook.net/2011/08/15/an-interview-with-frances-hardinge/

Don't miss Bigfoot Reads where you'll find the "purloined" interview with Colleen AF Venable at: http://bigfoot-reads.blogspot.com/2011/08/colleen-af-venable-interview.html

Hope you can hop on over to enjoy those interviews. Thanks for stopping by!

Interview Wednesday Tomorrow

I'm hosting Interview Wednesday tomorrow. Can't wait to see who's been Q&A'd this week.

If you'd like to leave your link to your interview early, feel free to add it in the comments. And please come back tomorrow for links to some excellent interviews about people in children's literature--authors, illustrators, editors, agents and librarians.