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August 27, 2008

Auld Lang Syne

With much regret, in 2007, I withdrew from the Whidbey Writers Workshop MFA faculty. I had won a Newbery Honor which bought me some time to be a full-time writer. This decision was not easily made as I felt I learned more from the program than I gave. Honestly: I got to sit in on classes taught by Susan Zwinger, Lisa Dale Norton, Marvin Bell, David Wagoner, Carolyne Wright and Bruce Holland Rogers, among others. I was a hack sitting at the feet of laureates. Sigh.

Fortunately, the program's director, Wayne Ude, has a soft spot in his heart for me. He recently invited me back to the summer 2008 residency. It's tough duty spending a long weekend at Fort Casey on Whidbey Island, with deer and eagles for close neighbors, but someone has to do it.

The setting wasn't my only inspiration. I roomed with the adaptable Andrea Hurst, agent and dog-lover extraordinaire. I coffeed with pioneer grads, Nina Bayer, Lois Brandt and Ann Gonzalez, regaling in their recent successes. I lost count of how many publications the alums have accumulated; this year's graduating class alone has pubs in the dozens. It was inspiring to be with such good folks and such great writers.

The two presentations I gave paled in comparison to what I carried away. Some people scoff at this program because it is not associated with a university; it is "only" sponsored by a writing community. Posh, I say. This program changes lives. It certainly has changed mine.

I will close this post by encouraging you to check out the Whidbey Writers Workshop MFA program. This quote from the elfin and energetic poet Marvin Bell will clue you in to why I always come away refreshed and recharged: Marvin asked us (I was certain he was asking me especially): "Do you dare to write in a way unlike any way you've written before?"

I can't wait to find out the answer.

Posted by kirby at 09:31 PM | Comments (0)

An Old Fashioned Frame of Mind

Please don't faint: I'm posting again today and will post once more in an attempt to get caught up. I want to tell you about two delightful and old fashioned books and encourage you to read them. The first is Jeanne Birdsall's latest Penderwicks installment: The Penderwicks on Gardam Street. I fell completely in love with the first book. It cast me right back to the days of reading Besty, Tacy and Tib and Little Women. Okay, yes, I could see the ending coming from the first few pages but I . . .did. . .not. . .care! I enjoyed every tasty morsel that Jeanne Birdsall sprinkled on the page for me to nibble at as I followed my favorite four girls and their father. Sweet but definitely not saccharine.

I am going to be on a program with Trenton Lee Stewart in November at Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas. So I moved his book, The Mysterious Benedict Society, way up the pile on the nightstand. Orphans, codes, and evil geniuses -- how could this book miss? While I may have a quibble with a certain revelation at the end of the book about the age of one of the Society members, this was an engrossing and delightful read. I could never decide which was my favorite BS member: Remy, Sticky, Constance or Kate. I think it was Kate because that girl can do anything! And she is never without her trusty bucket, which reminds me of a writing tip Susan Patron passed on from someone (was it Franny Billingsley?) to always put something in your character's hands.

Having read these two fine books, my current manuscript looks worse than ever. But it is my manuscript and the only thing left to do is put on my Skye Penderwick-Mick Harte soccer persona and scream odd insults to confuse the critics, while I motor my way down the field to the goal line.

Posted by kirby at 09:16 PM | Comments (0)

Book Signing Success Tips

A few years ago, I read The Bookshop, by Penelope Fitzgerald. If memory serves, this book is about a middle-aged woman who shifts gears, moves from London to a seaside town and opens a bookshop. What I remember best about this quiet, droll book was a painful scene in which the bookseller shares her views about booksignings. I'm liberally paraphrasing but the gist was that they are awful and embarrassing for all involved. Maybe some of you published authors can relate to that!

There are alternatives, of course, but I don't know if there is a good substitute for bookstore signings. It gives the author and bookseller the chance to get better acquainted, and perhaps a book or two will actually be purchased.

The new book, of course, means bookstore events. My last book launch was two years ago so I decided to pick the brains of some of my generous and talented writing friends to see if they had any tips for me as I head in to a new season of signings.

Susan Patron reminded me of Carolyn See's book, Making a Literary Life, with its numerous suggestions for successful booksignings, including inviting everyone in your address book, from Dad to dry cleaner. When Susan has a booksigning, she sends invitations through the US mail, rather than sending an on-line invitation, which speaks to her classy and elegant nature. She mentioned attending a book signing given by our mutual friend, Ann Paul, which included wine and lovely hors d'oeuvres and a personal thank you note from Ann for those attending. Wow!

Tall tale titan, Helen Kettman, said her best signing happened when she talked the booksellers into putting her right at the front of the store. It was Christmas time so she wore a Santa hat and offered Hershey's kisses to passersby. Along the same vein comes advice from Dia Calhoun who says to stand up at your table and actively greet people, even if they ignore you. Ouch. She says people love giveaways like bookmarks and buttons.

Bonny Becker agreed with Helen that location was important: try to be as visible as possible. But Bonny also likes it when the books are set up in a way that people can take a look at them without having to come to the table and engage in conversation.

With those great tips in mind, I had some postcards made and am sending them out by the dozens to announce bookstore events. I'm also finding that partnering with other organizations works, too. For example, I've got a signing coming up in October that will be part of a local school's bookfair. A portion of the proceeds that evening will go to the school's library. The Bobbies is a book that also lends to partnering with animal shelters. Two bookstores have been willing to let local shelters bring a dog to the event in hopes of its being adopted. One bookstore advertised my signing as a pet friendly event -- I even brought dog cookies for four-legged attendees.

The tip that made me laugh the loudest came from Laura Kvasnosky who said she didn't know the secret of successful booksignings. She said she even tried bringing her ukulele once, "but maybe that was the problem." Laura's comment reminded me of a joke I once heard about a bagpipe player: "He knew how to play but was too much of a gentleman to do so."

Now it's your turn: what has worked for you at booksignings? Time to tap in to your inner Mr. Rogers and share.

Posted by kirby at 09:28 AM | Comments (0)

August 10, 2008

Busy Day at the Bay

Today's schedule: Get up when the sun peeks in the window. Make very good coffee and fruit salad and eat it on the deck. Water new plantings. Go down to the beach and look for heart-shaped rocks, agates and wishing stones. Go back up to the house to get out of the sun and watch the birds on the water. Our old friends, the belted kingfishers, are doing their barnstorming crash-into-the-water flights as they forage for dinner.

We enjoyed a lively debate, with frequent consultations to our Peterson's Field Guide, about whether the pair of birds on the water in front of the house were loons. I thought they belonged in Minnesota, but evidently they've decided Boundary Bay is pretty good fishing, as well.

Yep. It's a rough life here at Shangri-Lar.

The only bad thing is that Neil beat me soundly last night at Scrabble. But it was only the first of many official Shangri-Lar matches. I am plotting my revenge!

Time to fire up the barbecue. And watch the sunset.

Sigh.

Posted by kirby at 06:44 PM | Comments (0)

August 08, 2008

Ta-Dah!

Today's the official pub date of the Two Bobbies: A True Tale of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship and Survival (illustrated by Jean Cassels). One of the questions I always get asked when I visit schools is, "Which of your books is your favorite?" And I always answer that that's like asking a mom which is her favorite kid. I love each of my books!

BUT. . . how often in life do you get to do something you love with a passion and to do it with someone you love with a passion? My friend, Mary Nethery, has been there for me in more ways than I can list. Last week, in fact, she had to put up with my nearly daily phone calls to her from Shangri-Lar to talk me through sticky moments in my rewrites. Mary is as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside, especially when it comes to putting up with my impetuous and free-wheeling approach to writing. Imagine someone thoughtful and organized like her having to work with a seat-of-your-pants writer like me!

Wilbur said it of Charlotte in Charlotte's Web, and I can say it of Mary: "It is not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and a good writer."

Here's to friends on this wonderful book birthday for the Two Bobbies!

Posted by kirby at 05:16 PM | Comments (1)