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August 31, 2007

53 Across: Infrequent Blogger

Okay, it's not too hard to figure out the answer to the question in the title is me! Life has been such a whirlwind that it's been hard to make time to check in here. I am in awe of people like Alice Pope, Sara Holmes and so many others who blog away no matter what.

I'm posting because of today's NYT crossword puzzle. As I (ahem) sought help in completing it, I wondered: who does Rex Parker go to for answers?! I mean, anytime I want to know what "the cousin to a hyena" or a "botanist's beard" is so I can finish the darned puzzle, I click onto Rex's blog. But where does he get his answers?

No idea.

Right about now you are doing some wondering of your own. For example: What does this have to do with writing? Here's the connection in my weird little brain: writing isn't about answers, it's about questions. If I need to know the temperature in New Orleans in January 2006 (which my co-author, Mary Nethery, and I did need to know for the forthcoming The Two Bobbies: A True Story of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship and Survival), I can look it up. Somewhere. And finding out the answer is very satisfying for the moment. It's a lot like savoring a square of Scharffenberger Dark Chocolate, pure pleasure for the five minutes the flavor's in your mouth.

But, even though some will think this sacrilegious, chocolate isn't enough. A tasty treat isn't what I 'm after when I read or when I write. I want to poke around in what it means to be a decent human being. I want to ask and be asked questions that I can't find out by checking out weather.com or Rex Parker, or heaven forbid, Wikipedia.

So while I am very thankful for him every time I get stuck on "Taj Mahal location" (I can never remember the answer to that one!), I am also very thankful there is no Rex Parker for writing. Questions are the best part of this grand and challenging puzzle called life.

So ask yours in your work. And I'll ask mine.

To heck with the answers!

Posted by kirby at 02:10 PM | Comments (1)

August 08, 2007

A Voice from the Past

Remember me? I'm supposed to be writing this blog. Evidently, I forgot about that.

Honestly, I haven't posted for a variety of good reasons. Being the forgiving sorts that you are, I know you will graciously accept my humble apology. One of the main reasons I haven't posted is that I wanted to post some Newbery photos but I seem to have lost the CD and no matter how much I hint, I can't seem to get my daughter to get her photos to me. So just imagine me looking stunning (picture Julia Roberts. Only shorter. And with smaller lips) and stunned. It was the most amazing weekend of my life and I am very touched by the comments and emails you've sent saying you enjoyed your trip to D.C. through my blog.

I am reeling, once again, this time from my trip to the national SCBWI conference in LA. If you've never gone, start saving your pennies. Where else can you hear Sid Fleischman, Sara Pennypacker, Susan Patron and John Green speak? Both Marla Frazee and Linda Sue Park did presentations with their editors, Allyn Johnston and Dinah Stevenson, respectively. If any of these women ever get tired of the book biz, they have great careers in stand-up comedy.

Walter Dean Myers kicked off the conference with a thoughtfully exquisite talk on how details make the story. He got us all thinking about craft and the conference program kept us on that high-ground throughout. Not that we didn't get into the nitty-gritty of marketing: Rubin Pfeffer, Senior VP and Publisher at Simon and Schuster, was brutally honest about the book biz and still offered hope. Agents Kate Schafer and Tracey Adams offered a unique side-by-side perspective of the worlds of small and large agencies.

We were enthralled by the art of Peter Brown, Kadir Nelson and, already mentioned, Marla Frazee in visually stimulating sessions. We laughed (and cried) with John Green, Ellen Wittlinger, Lisa Yee and Lee Bennett Hopkins. And those are just the keynoters! I can't begin to do justice to the different workshops/breakout sessions I attended.

I had a terrific time presenting one of my fav workshops on Voice and doing a joint workshop on making connections (aka, networking) with Write Sister, Ann Whitford Paul. My least favorite time of the whole conference was Monday morning between 5 am and 10:45 - before I gave my keynote. I was so nervous; I could hardly remember my own name. And then darling Write Sister, Tricia Gardella (who isn't even writing anymore!) drove seven hours (well, the way she drives, probably only five) from Jamestown, CA, just to be there for me as I gave my keynote. Of course, I burst into tears the minute I saw her. But that tells you what it means when you have true friends. Jeff Patneaude, son of Dave Patneaude, who's in my Seattle critique group, helped me (okay, he did 99.9 % of the work) me make a short film which I used to kick off my keynote. I wish he could have been there to hear the lively audience reaction! I'm hoping to get it posted on my website so stay tuned.

We heard a Mongolian throat-singer Friday night, wore our silvery best and danced till dawn (okay: 10:30) on Saturday night, were moved and inspired by Sunday's Golden Kite acceptance speeches and devoured cupcakes on Monday at the wrap-up autograph party.

I've missed huge chunks of the conference here. Check out the blogs of Alice Pope, Lisa Yee or Sara Holmes for more detail.

Heartfelt thanks to Lin Oliver, Stephen Mooser and the SCBWI "dream team" for the best conference ever. I may even think about going to New York in February! Maybe I'll see you there.

Posted by kirby at 06:41 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack