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January 23, 2008
Day Three: Portland
The 4:45 a.m. alarm and snarky SFO TSA agent were completely and permanently cancelled out by the clear blue Portland sky and the kind, welcoming staff at the Heathman Hotel. This hotel has a huge library, shelves bursting with signed first editions from authors who have stayed as guests. And guess what I found when I got into my room? A hardcover copy of Hattie with a nice letter requesting I autograph it so it could be added to their collection. In fact, I am sitting in the library as I write this. And, even better, the hotel has partnered with Powell's to collect books for a literacy program called SMART(Start Making A Reader Today) by asking author-guests to donate a book -- so don't let me forget to send them one when I get home.
After a few minutes to unpack, I had a fabulous Rueben sandwich in the Pearl District with Whidbey Writers Workshop MFA pal, Nancy Boutin. We chatted about how knowing one's character is key to getting a book right. Nancy dropped me back at the hotel with enough time to brush my teeth and gather my gear for a visit to Meadow Park Middle School, in Beaverton.
With the capable Marilyn Spears at the wheel, we were at the school in no time. Which was really good because my computer didn't like their projector. Technical problems were quickly resolved and we were on our way.
Librarian Nancy VanVelde was so excited for me to be there -- I was her first ever Meadow Park author! The pressure! I presented to two groups of 8th graders, telling them about my writing process and the importance of revising, revising, revising. I think I saw some looks of disbelief when I told them I'd revised Hattie 13 times -- before I sent it to Michelle and she asked me to revise it twice more. I suspect they think their teachers put me up to saying that.
Here is the really bad thing about getting up way too early. One tends to forget things. Things like taking the digital camera along to Meadow Park Middle School. So my wonderful visit to Meadow Park was not recorded for posterity. But I have the memories on the flash drive of my mind.
After the visit, the traffic gods were again with us and Marilyn got me back to the hotel with a few minutes to spare before I met up for dinner with dear librarian friend, Marian Creamer. I will never forget the first time I met Marian, who served on last year's Newbery committee. We'd just been introduced by Chauni Haslet, owner of All for Kids Books and Music, at a Random House reception in honor of the Cat in the Hat's 50th anniversary. This was last year, at ALA-midwinter in Seattle. You may remember that was kind of a big event for me. Only I met Marian (and her partner in crime, Edie Ching) the night before the Newbery announcements. And when we met, they both wore poker faces and said, "Hmmm. Hattie Big Sky? We think we've heard of it." And all the while they knew they'd be calling me first thing the next morning to deliver news that would change my life.
Marian took me to a new tapas restaurant where we ate divine small plates of who-knows-all-what. Yum! Fortunately, we had enough room leftover for a bit of dessert at Higgins, near the Heathman. Now, fat and happy, I am wrapping up this post to make an appointment with a comfy pillow and a king-sized bed.
Tomorrow night: Powells (if it doesn't snow!). See you all there . . .
Posted by kirby at January 23, 2008 09:37 PM