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May 28, 2007

Hope Wears Feathers

I was in Los Angeles for a week for a (nearly) annual critique session with my beloved Write Sisters -- at least, most of them. As soon as I finish my laundry, I'll post a photo of me with Tricia Gardella, Helen Ketteman, Mary Nethery, Ann Whitford Paul and the wonderful hooray-for-the-Newbery-Honor gift from all my Sisters (Dian Curtis Regan and Vivian Sathre couldn't be with us). How lucky can I be to have such good friends/sisters who are also brilliant writers?

While I was gone, "it" happened. Four perfect little eggs cracked open to reveal four precious chickadee chicks. Neil kept a close eye on them for me while I was away, carefully watering the edges of the fuschia basket to avoid getting the nest damp. Now, four noisy little mouths keep their mama (and daddy?) hopping. We spent the whole evening last night watching the feathery comings and goings. Before we know it, those babies will be ready to fly.

This whole situation is the perfect metaphor for writing. While we are working on one thing, something amazing springs to life somewhere else -- perhaps in a new scene, a new chapter or a new book. I love the way our minds, distracted by the plot problem in chapter seven, suddenly hatch new life for the opening or the ending of our latest book.

Even though I was disappointed not to be here for the unveiling of our newest "renters," the episode was the ultimate reminder of what writing is all about. New stories can't wait for us to be in just the right spot to be hatched. We have to be ready, no matter what, for the words to come. We have to weave those nests, working day in and day out, to be ready for the story to tick-tick-tick through the shell we create.

Even if you have only fifteen minutes, show up at the page. If you don't, those stories will hatch and be gone without your having any opportunity to show them how to fly.

Posted by kirby at 08:45 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

May 21, 2007

Bird Bits

Those of you who have been reading this blog for awhile know about the flower basket fiasco last year. A chickadee had built a nest in one of the baskets hanging on our front porch and, with the wedding coming, my husband -- forgetting about the precious little eggs -- fertilized all the baskets. It was a tragic day at our house, let me tell you. Thank God, the intrepid chickadee made another nest, in another basket and life went on.

The first weekend of May, this year, my husband got up at the crack of dawn and went to our local hardware store to get in on their fuschia basket sale. He got five, three for our front porch and one for each of our mothers. Because we were helping Quinn and Matt move into their new (new to them) house, we didn't get our fuschias hung until Mother's Day. As soon as Neil got out the step stool, a little chickadee flew to the lilac bush nearby, scolding up a storm. It was as if she was chewing us out for not getting them hung earlier!

Within a day, that little bird had built a nest. I didn't check the nest for a few days after that, but when I did I found 4 perfect sky-blue eggs.

There is something so affirming and uplifting in this whole situation. There will be some who try to say she was only following her instincts, but I feel there is forgiveness in her gesture, which is accepted with gratitude. There is also an invitation, too, to receive the small miracles each day offers.

I've been so busy, I've been missing that important aspect of life: the small miracles in each day. And missing them in each day also means I've been missing them in my writing. That little chickadee and her precious eggs inspired me anew to set priorities. I said no to three requests for my time today! Those nos, of course, will lead to yesses somewhere, hopefully in my work. Yesses to the nests I can build from fluffs of words, awkward bits of sentences and tangles of paragraphs. Yesses to nests for my own creations.

Not as elegant as those four eggs, but creations all the same.

Posted by kirby at 05:12 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Hot Women in Children's Literature

I got a friendly kick-in-the pants from a writing friend today who pointed out that my blog was blank. Well, my blog may have been blank, but my calendar hasn't been. Spring is prime school visit time and I've been doing my fair share. I'm personally feeling very proud of fearlessly facing 850 junior high kids in a gym last week and all of us having a darned good time.

I'm off again for a Write Sister retreat, during which my dear friends Tricia Gardella, Helen Ketteman, Mary Nethery and Ann Whitford Paul will gently point out to me all the flaws of the first five chapters of my latest novel. Before I fly, I have to announce the newest Hot Woman of Children's Literature, nominated by a former Haystack participant.

The latest Hottie makes magic with illustration, having produced such charmers as Everywhere Babies, Roller Coaster, Santa Claus the Number One Toy Expert and the irresistible Clementine. Marla Frazee is not only a fabulous illustrator, she is a generous teacher and the definitive bon vivant. I saw her transform a dorm room at Reed College into a salon Martha Stewart would envy -- and all with a vintage tablecloth, some colorful necklaces, a bunch of tulips and her warm smile.

So, a tip of the artist's beret to the latest Hot Woman of Children's Literature!

Posted by kirby at 04:56 PM | Comments (0)

May 03, 2007

Slow to Learn

You would think, after nearly breaking my neck reading Penny from Heaven, I would have reformed my ways and desisted from reading on the treadmill. Not me! Tragedy was narrowly avoided last night while I had my nose in Rat Life, by Tedd Arnold. I was at an extremely exciting part and failed to notice that the treadmill had stopped. And I didn't.

After I picked myself up off the floor and did a quick inspection -- severely damaged pride, two bruises but no broken bones -- I leaned against a nearby elliptical trainer and finished the book. Tedd Arnold is much beloved for his raucous, bright and hysterical illustrations for books like Parts and More Parts and, my personal favorite, Green Wilma. And let's not forget the Theodore Geisel Award for Hi! Fly Guy.

For the second time recently (the first was with Peace Like a River by Leif Enger), I could not read like a writer. I had to devour this book because I couldn't stand not knowing what happened next. I look forward to a second read, when I can go back and learn from Tedd's deft hand at weaving in historical and setting details, at creating fully-formed and fascinating characters and making my heart race. And, brilliant guy that he is, he also uses the entire story as a way to teach kids (and 52-year-olds) about writing! What teacher isn't going to love this book?

I had the pleasure of meeting the very tall but very kind and self-effacing Tedd at the Southern Kentucky Book Festival. I also met his wonderful and very tiny wife Carol but it was hard to see her behind that enormous stack of books she was buying!

Even if you have been living in a cave for the past 20 years and don't know Tedd's work as an illustrator, you will still enjoy reading Rat Life.

But, please, read it in the safety of your own home. Not on a treadmill.

Posted by kirby at 08:30 AM | Comments (1)

May 02, 2007

Hot Women in Children's Literature

The great thing about this new award I've started is that it is so easy to come up with Hot Women in Children's Literature! Not only do I have my own list, but I keep getting great suggestions. I'm going to have to keep up this blog until I'm 90 in order to acknowledge all the HWCLs out there.

I'm in a picture book frame of mind, especially after hearing optimistic words about the genre at the recent SCBWI-Washington Spring Conference. So today's nominee is a picture book writer, and someone I consider to be the queen of poetic children's picture books. She's also a gourmet chef who believes dessert is an essential of any good meal (I love her for that alone!). Her cat, Mr. Darcy, thinks he's a dog and comes when this Hot Woman calls.

Today's Hottie is a generous writing teacher; I myself have had her bleed all over my manuscripts. She even tried to teach me how to write haiku. But after my first efforts, she steered me to cinquains, an easier form; these proved to be instrumental in my getting to the emotional heart of Hattie Big Sky.

Ann Whitford Paul, come on down -- you are this week's Hot Woman in Children's Literature.

Posted by kirby at 09:05 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Seattle SCBWI Conference

Co-Regional Advisors, Jolie Stekly and Sara Easterly, along with the SCBWI-Western Washington Ad Com posse outdid themselves this past Saturday. Over 400 writers descended upon the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue to spend a day soaking up rays of writing sunshine.

The day started with a good news panel, featuring newly published writer Shannon Riggs who first attended a conference two years ago. At that time, she was agonizing over the decision of whether to keep writing when she found out she was the winner of the grand prize drawing -- free admission to the conference the following year. She took that as a sign to keep writing and we're glad she did: her first book, Not in Room 204, is just out!

The day overflowed with inspiration, information and honesty. Agent Linda Pratt (Sheldon Fogelman Agency) pointed out that "blogging is not writing." (I hope she's not reading this right now!) Stacy Graham O'Connell, Associate Editor, Walter Lorraine Books, shared the story that in its first year Curious George sold only 4000 copies. She says writing takes imagination. . .and patience.

In an insightful first pages session, editors Deborah Noyes Wayshak (Candlewick) and Abigail Samoun (Tricycle Press) reminded writers to "serve the master of story rather than the master of rhyme."

Paul Zelinsky made me feel guilty for all the refrigerator magnets I've thrown away in my life as he shared how he created the art for The Shivers in the Fridge, by Fran Manushkin.

The good news was that agents and editors alike sounded hopeful about the picture book market. And over and over again, we were challenged to write our own stories, to start our own trends.

The incomparable Bruce Coville gave the closing keynote, which involved demonstrating that a writer can make anything -- even dropping a book in a mud puddle -- full of tension and excitement. While he didn't dance on tabletops, he did climb up on one! His passion and enthusiasm sent us all on our way, awfully glad we were writers and ready to get back to work.

I don't know what's lined up for next year's conference, except that it will be two days, April 26-27. I'd plan to be there, if I were you!

Posted by kirby at 08:24 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack