firstcrane, originally uploaded by susanwrites.

This is the first crane I made without my teacher, Debbi Michiko Florence, in the same room with me. I need to work on those creases but what fun. I envision many of them hanging from the beams in my office, flying in the breeze.

As many of you around the kidlitosphere already,  , one of our own, has been hit with devastating news. Cancer sucks. There is no other way to put it.

But people, people rock. Lisa has touched so many people in her life and a lot of them are saying thank you today. Especially nice to see since Lisa  was the one who started Thankful Thursday almost four years ago.

l met Lisa a few years ago when her agent (before she was an agent)  set up a YA book event at Books Inc in San Francisco for Chris Crutcher. She was so excited having Chris come to town and so afraid that no one would show up that she begged her LJ friends to come plump up the audience. Lisa happened to be in town visiting a relative so she came and I came and I had one of those short conversations with her in the bookstore before things really got started.

And here’s what I remember most, even after so much time has past. Lisa was right there in the moment, 100% present. She does the same thing on her blog and Facebook. She is always right there, in the moment, and she helps us remember to try and do the same. She is kind and reminds others to be kind and she takes time to slow down and see the beauty in the simple things of every day.

I’m pretty darn thankful for the path she has laid out for so many of us to follow.

I realize not everyone reads my stuff over on Facebook so I thought I would post a couple of my favorite pictures from the weekend. I got to spend some time with my adorable grandson and my son and my daughter.

They grow too darn fast.

I am home from Austin where I had a fabulous time. I will update more with words later as it takes some time to distill it all and I have a stack of reading to do for class tonight. But I can give you the short version, in pictures, first. Okay, the super short version without pictures is that I had a fabulous time and learned so much about myself in the process.

The day before I left I made a quick run down to Hicklebees to see David Lubar. David was charming the kids one by one but my favorite was the red-haired boy who came away clutching his book to his chest who said, “I can’t believe I got an actual David Lubar autograph in my own book.” He was going up to everyone in the store telling them about it.

From VCFA Day in Austin

Then it was off to Austin at o-dark-thirty in the morning. I got there Thursday afternoon and Thursday night I went to dinner with author/illustrator Don Tate and illustrator Mary Sullivan. Mary illustrated my picture book, Oliver’s Must-do List. We had a great time chat about all things under the sun on the lovely patio of a restaurant I can’t remember the name of. I wanted to set up a dinner like this for every week! A perfect start to the trip. The only bummer was the bakery that Don and Mary were raving about was closed by the time we were done and now I will never know what a black and white cookie is. Sigh.

From VCFA Day in Austin

The rain held off until I was back in my hotel room but then the thunder and lighting started up. It has been a long time since I lived in a place that had lighting storms like these. I couldn’t get the patio door to open to get a good picture but I was mesmerized. This was one of the small strikes. Most were two or three verticals at once.

From VCFA Day in Austin

In the morning

liz_scanlon

picked me up and we headed off to Austin for breakfast. We started talking and didn’t stop until it was time for Liz to pass me over for the next stage of my trip. Part of the joy of meeting people you’ve known online for a while is that you know if it is someone you are going to click with, feel comfortable with and then when you meet, it brings a new dimension to the visit.

From VCFA Day in Austin

Liz took me over to BookPeople so I could meet up with my longtime friend Peni Griffin who drove up from San Antonio to see me. Peni and I poked around BookPeople for a while before driving over to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildlife Center. We hiked around, looking at plants and birds, on a perfect weather day, the sun staying behind the clouds until we were ready to leave.

From VCFA Day in Austin

After that it was off to the reception for the conference where I finally got to meet in person another long time friend, Cynthia Leitich Smith. We forgot to snap a picture but I did get one with her equally charming husband Greg.

From VCFA Day in Austin

From VCFA Day in Austin

I got to meet LJ buddy

jo_no_anne

who refused to take no for an answer.

From VCFA Day in Austin

and another LJ buddy whom I didn’t get enough time to chat with.

From VCFA Day in Austin

After all that visiting and hiking, this shrinking violet was exhausted. Alas I had had no sleep the night before because of the cement bed, evidently a hallmark of this particular chain. So I asked for extra pillows and created a new version of the pillow top mattress.

From VCFA Day in Austin

Uma Krishnaswami is another long time online friend that I was so happy to get to meet. I have her beautiful voice imprinted in my brain now which plays back in my head as I read her words on the screen.

From VCFA Day in Austin

Uma introduced me to her critique partner and poet friend Stephanie Farrow. We chatted about poetry and so much more. It was hard to believe we had only just met.

From VCFA Day in Austin

Donna Bowman Bratton was another friend met on this trip that felt like an old friend from far away.

From VCFA Day in Austin

After the conference a group of us went to dinner at a nearby restaurant. This was our end of the table. Stephanie, Me, Donna, Emma Virjan, and Erin Edwards. We ate and drank. Talked and laughed. Filled up our wells for all sorts of writing.

From VCFA Day in Austin

I had high hopes of Cassie pining away for me while I was gone. This was the image I kept in my mind.

From VCFA Day in Austin

Alas, when I got home, she ignored me, as though she hadn’t even noticed I’d been gone.

There are other pictures circulating out there somewhere that I hope people will send to me. This was a terrific trip, a learning experience on so many levels. I’m so very glad I went. I will post the more introspective version of the trip tomorrow.

Can we have a great big YAHOO for Bonny Becker and her wonderful picture book A Visitor for Bear?

Yes, we can! 

A Visitor for Bear was name Book of the Year by my fabulous independent bookstore, Hicklebees! I always knew those folks at Hicklebee’s were some of the smartest folks around! 

And psst, wanna know a secret? A Visitor for Bear will be the contest prize for next month’s contest!

Stay tuned for more details.

Woohoo! Congratulations, Bonny!

Here are a few pictures from yesterday’s visit with Linda Sue Park and friends.

Linda Sue Park, Debbie Duncan, Valerie Lewis (co-owner of Hicklebee’) Debbi Michiko Florence and me. A good time was had by all. 

Valerie and Linda Sue. They are wearing hats that say KEEPING SCORE, which is the title of Linda Sue’s latest book.

Me, Linda Sue and Debbi. Debbi and I didn’t even coordinate our colors ahead of time.

Linda Sue is, as always, a wonderful presenter.

I didn’t think to take a picture of where I have signed in Hicklebee’s but I did snap this one for Mother Reader, a drawing her buddy Mo made in the bathroom of Hicklebee’s. It always makes me smile.

I don’t have my picture uploaded yet to prove it but last night I did get to meet the fabulous and charming and ever-so-real Kerry Madden, aka mountainmist I was already an adoring fan before meeting her and even more so now. That voice you read on her blog? That’s the real Kerry.

But before I got the chance to meet Kerry and her darling sister, I met up with d-michiko-f. Debbi picked a place to eat in Menlo Park. Because I am a picky eater I looked at the menu online before we went. They had a Monte Cristo sandwich, one of my favorites. Oh man, I couldn’t tell you the last time I had one of those. Alas, I was to be denied because when we got to the restaurant, they were closed. This wouldn’t have been a big deal except, well, not too long ago Debbi tried to take me to the same restaurant, with the same results! LOL. Luckily Debbi remembered a casual coffee shop chain not far away. Perfect for us to eat and gab and wait for Kerry. As we drove to the new place we passed a great many other restaurants that looked inviting and most of which were actually open to serve us. We kept commenting as the restaurants zipped by us. “We could go there. Or there. Or even there.” It was like the Universe was tossing little bread crumbs our way and we just left them for the pigeons to eat.

You know, all those restaurants we passed were probably a sign and we ignored it.

We arrived at the place which will not be named, both starving. Even though I wasn’t going to get my Monte Cristo sandwich, it was okay. I could give in to my other craving – a hamburger. Mmmm. I love hamburgers. I love red meat. A lot.

First backstep a bit. We have a cafeteria at work that is, for lack of a better description, ONE OF THE WORST PLACES TO EAT EVER! Really. I go there to connect with the few friends that are still at work and almost always have a grilled cheese sandwich which doesn’t taste like a real grilled cheese sandwich but is, for the most part, edible. Every single time I stray from it, I am disappointed and often sick to my stomach. And we are not talking a cheap cafeteria either!

Now a sidestep. My husband and I like to eat out. We don’t do it as much as we used to but still. We reward good service. I always ask to speak to the manager and compliment them for excellent service. We tip very well.

The flip side of this is that sometimes we get clunkers.

Back to the story of last night’s meal.

The menus arrived. Debbi’s coffee and coffee cake arrived. And then we waited to order. And waited. And waited some more until I stood up and waved my hand to get someone’s attention. Then we waited for our burgers. And waited. And waited some more.

And when they arrived I wished we could go on waiting. I tried a couple of bites and had to stop. I don’t know how Debbi managed to stomach a couple more. They were the most appalling excuses for burgers that I have ever been served and that INCLUDES burgers in my crummy cafeteria at work.

So I did something I very rarely do. I made a bit of a scene. (hulabunny , you would have been so proud of me. )

Actually I am getting ahead of myself. We moved the plates to the other side of the table and watched the busboy clear tables all around us. Reset the tables. Look at us and our plates pushed to the side and IGNORE US until I told waved to get his attention and told him he could come take this horrible food away.

And then I made a scene. And Debbi tried very hard to melt under the table and pretend she didn’t know me. And I could tell she was starting to wonder why she invited me to eat with her but I couldn’t stop. I was SO frustrated with the lack of attention to us and the horrible food and the fact that we were still starving and we had Kerry coming at any minute.

When the manager came over he wanted to know why we didn’t tell him something was wrong. Hello? Maybe because no one ever came by to check on us? Sheesh.

The funniest part of the whole thing though was when Kerry and her sister arrived (and Debbi quietly explained what had happened to us) suddenly the waiters were falling all over themselves to give good service, even displaying the bottled waters as though they were bottles of fine wine.

Sigh.

After visiting with Kerry and her sister Debbi and I hightailed to In-and-Out burger for a real meal! You can read Debbi’s version of the story here.

If you know author/illustrator Katie Davis by her books (Who Hops, Who Hoots, Kindergarten Rocks and more), you already know that she is a talented author and illustrator with a fabulous sense of humor.

If you are lucky enough to know Katie personally, you know that humor fills every corner of her life, she has an infectious laugh, a huge love for children’s books and a heart filled with people she loves and a joy for life in general.

And now she is blogging! Her blog home is on blogger but I set up a feed for her here on LJ so you can add her to your friends list.

brainburps

Just remember to click through the feed to post comments to her actual blog!

Katie’s newest book is The Curse of Addy McMahon. Check out her blog for info on the launch party at Bank Street Books!

I was lucky enough to be able to attend the book launch for the very fun book China: A Kaleidoscope Kids Book, written by our one and only

d_michiko_f

Books Inc in Mountain View is so supportive of local authors (they hosted my launch for Hugging the Rock too!) and I loved walking in and seeing so many people there to support Debbi on her very special day. I got to meet her adorable husband Bob, who does indeed exist. (I’ve been teasing her that he is a figment of her imagination as he is gone so much of the time.) I also got to meet her very charming mother who was obviously very proud of her talented daughter.

There was much picture taking and munching on yummy food. The always delightful

literaticat

and the divine Miss Shannon were also in attendence. Congratulations, Debbi!

I haven’t been blogging much yet this year, mostly because, well because things are overwhelming lately. Not the ohmygoodnesslifeistoohardtohandle kind of thing but just lots of stuff (like more layoffs at work) and not really any of it about writing which is supposed to be the focus of this blog. But, keeping in mind my theme for the year is Reach Out With Joy, I have just a few things to share.

First, we (as in local here in San Jose) were lucky enough to have coppervale come to town this week. You might also know him as James A. Owen, the talented author (and illustrator) of Here There Be Dragons, which is the first book in the Chronicles of Imaginarium Geographica series. (Read more about the books on his website.) James was a gracious and entertaining speaker. He shows us how to draw a dragon (mine is very lopsided) and we were treated to some glimpes of original art from his books including an upcoming cover!

I took my brand-new digital camera to the event (some of you may remember how I didn’t fall instantly in love with that darn thing) and well, there were a few technical glitches, such as when I thought I was taking pictures of James when he was drawing and talking to the kids I was actually taking movies which didn’t clip so well. Never mind. I did get one picture with James.

More connections. Last week I connected with d_michiko_f , I get to spend Saturday with beckylevine and next week I get to see Jen of jkrbooks.typepad.com/ For someone who is usually a homebody and a loner, I think I’m doing pretty good.

Next up is to find some online friends who like to talk on the phone and set up some phone dates so I can reach out and get to know even more of my friends. If you’re interested, drop me an email so we can set something up.

In other non-writing news I picked up my new glasses, progressives. So far, I am not impressed and am rather frustrated with the whole experience. I’m already thinking about having them put back to single vision but I promise to work with them for a few more weeks before I make up my mind.

Some days are the kind of days that just warm you inside and out. That was yesterday afternoon for me.

First I met  Jen Robinson of Jen Robinson’s Book page at a local Starbucks for a first time meet-up. This is surprising because we live very close to one another. It was great to finally put the real face with the voice I know and love from reading her blog. She is just as wonderful in person too! Then we wandered next door to Hicklebee’s where Linda Urban

lurban

was signing and reading from her wonderful new Cybil’s nominated book A Crooked Kind of Perfect.

Linda was a mesmerizing reader (my first thought was that she needs to do the audio for her own book) and I fell in love with Zoe all over again. Monica Holmes and Valerie Lewis, the Queens of Hicklebee’s, joined us for meaty, funny, fabulous conversations of books and blogs and the life of a children’s author. We tried, not sure how successfully, to convince Valerie that she needs to start a Hicklebee’s blog. (Until she does, make sure to get on her mailing list. Lots of great information even if you don’t live in the area – and if you do live close enough – Hicklebee’s has a continual assortment of author events worth attending.)

Linda and I were talking about the difficulties of writing the second novel. She recommended I read Writer’s Workshop in a Book: The Squaw Valley Community of Writers on the Art of Fiction. I’m looking forward to reading it. I think I could have talked shop for hours and hours. It was just what I needed. I’ve been feeling really disconnected from my writing, from the writing and blogging community, and most of all from my creative self. But yesterday I could myself coming back to life.

Thank you Jen & Linda and Monica & Valerie.

After thinking about it overnight I decided to post a longer version of this. Some of you might find some comfort in knowing more of the story and in knowing you are not alone in your own various struggles.

Sometimes we write to try and explain the unexplainable, like why bad things happen to good people. We tell stories about imaginary kids living imaginary lives that no would really want to live. And when someone asks us why, we have no answers except that was a story that kept talking to us until we shared it with the world. Sometimes we make things up because if we told people they really happened no one would believe us. And sometimes we DO make them up. But sometimes they are real, too real to admit they are true, so we write them down and pretend they happened to someone else, to imaginary characters.

As a parent, from the day they were each born, I tried my best to keep my two children from harm. Sometimes it even worked. For years, every Labor Day, I donated money to the Jerry Lewis Telethon for Muscular Dystrophy. I started in 1979, the year my son was born. My husband would go off on a hunting trip and I would snuggle with my son on the couch and watch the show. I held my healthy baby in my arms, so grateful, and gladly gave my credit card number to the lady on the phone to help Jerry’s kids. 24 years later, when that same son was diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy, I felt numb. But I went to work doing my mommy job, guiding him when he wanted guidance and listening to him rant when he wanted to rant. I had wanted to keep him from harm but I couldn’t. And when (for safety issues) he had to leave a job he loved and go back to college for retraining, I wanted to rant and rave at anyone who would listen (and a few who wouldn’t) about the unfairness of it all. Genetics aside, I felt like I had failed as a mom. I hadn’t keep my son safe.

My daughter was born three years later and as different from her brother as two siblings could be. He was the introvert, content in his small circle of friends. She was the extrovert who had to go everywhere with everyone. She never met a stranger and whenever anyone new moved into the neighborhood she was the first one to know all about them. When she was mad, everyone around her knew it because she wore her heart on her sleeve for the world to see. Her emotions went miles high and miles deep. Keeping her safe was a full time job and over the years we have ranted and raved with and at one another. But even when she makes me crazy, I’ve never stopping believing in her ability to do whatever she wanted to do, even when, as she has many times, she stopped believing in herself.

But she’s all grown up and a mommy of her own now and I can’t keep her safe anymore. That’s a hard one for me. Genetics, sometimes a twist or lack of something in your DNA can give you a battle with something like MD. And sometimes it gives you other demons to fight. The kind you can’t see.

So sometimes, we write. We tell stories to help heal a nameless hurting child because we cannot heal our own children.

Lots of random thoughts tonight. Happy book birthday to Janni who is holding an adventurering party over at her journal in celebration of receiving her advance copy of Secret of the Three Treasures. And belated book birthday to the fabulous CynthiaLord and Rules.  And happy brand new baby boy to lizbraswell Welcome to the world, baby Alexander. Tell mommy to post some pictures! To continue the celebration of poetry month, check out the wonderful interviews poet traciezimmer offers at her Poetry House.  

Other thoughts on LJs you should be reading (in addition to those mentioned above.) You should read lisayee just because she will make you laugh and you can never have enough laughter in your life. You’ll also learn things about writing and the business of writing which is good but trust me, you need her kind of laughter in your life. Another must read is d_michiko_f  because she is one of the most dedicated writers I know and how she manages to continue to write at the pace she does while traveling back and forth across the world AND learning how to speak Mandarin I will never understand. You want to read her now because when she is published you want to feel as though you’ve known her all along. sarazarr is living a life that many of us dream of since she quit her job to be a full-time writer in advance of the publication of her book Story of a Girl. 

Reading kellyrfineman writerross brentsbrain melissa_writing desayunoencama rebelbookseller  jbknowles will help you look at your writing, yourself, and your life in different ways and if you need a mood fix, check out thatgirlygirl or ___sascha___ or beachalatte
I dare you to stay in the same mood you were in before you read them. Oh and great interviews and insights into the writing business can be found at slayground and cynthialeitich and cherylklein

There are many more wonderful LJers out there (and my artist and librarian friends, I have not forgotten you)  but these are some regulars I turn to when I need a little boost in my writing life. (Note – I still plan to write about Myspace but it will be another day.)

Yesterday we went to Sacramento to visit my adorable grandson Connor to watch him celebrate his first birthday.

The drive was long, Sacramento was hot, lots of strangers he had never (or barely met) but Connor stayed awake through it all, let himself be passed around from person to person, and appeared, by all accounts, to thoroughly enjoy his first birthday. I got to see him push himself up and stand on his own for the first time. He’s so close to walking that I am sure it will be any day now. I wish he didn’t live so far away from me (3 hours.)

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