September-November Activities
Very busy months for me. Time to catch up on posting.
I started substitute teaching in the Palmyra Macedon
School District--every subject K-12. The students
have inspired many ideas for my writing. I have
discovered and read many picture books and mid-
grade novels that have escaped my attention. Love
Scarecrow by Cynthia Rylant. Read it on this site.
Also read her mid-grade Missing May. Hatchet by
Gary Paulsen was a good read--it's also a Newbery
Honor Book. At the Poughkeepsie conference in June,
I met editor, Lisa Graff, and finally this Fall I read her
three novels: Umbrella Summer, The Thing About
Georgie, and The Life and Crimes of Bernetta Wallflower.
My brother, Bob, and sister-in-law, Jessie, flew in from
Nebraska for a visit. How great to see them! It's been
too long. We have many interests in common,
particularly enjoying the beauty of nature. So we went
to the Adirondacks to see the fall foliage. I had a miserable
cold, but plucked along in the rain on one of our walks.
Somehow the sky dripping from the clouds and my dripping
from my nose make the experience more memorable and
humorous. Doesn't my brother look like Walt Whitman?
I once again did a illustrator presentation for the Penn Yan
high school art students. My friend, Sherry Blanco Lutzen,
is the art teacher there. Here I am sharing an illustration for
my upcoming book, the Adventures of Marco Flamingo
in the Jungle to be released in Spring 2011, Raven Tree Press.
The cover art is below.
The RCBF on Nov. 7 was a huge success. It was
good to see some author/illustrators not there last year.
I sat next to Elizabeth Bluemle and bought her book,
How Do you Wokka-Wokka. I also sat next to
Linda Sue Park and bought her book Tap Dancing on
the Roof. I need a new bookcase!
Family Time
Gary and I spent Nov. 8-30 in Atlanta and Las Vegas visiting
family. It was great to see the grandkids again and Erik and
Emily. It won't be long till the new baby arrives---May!
It's a boy. So, we had fun throwing out names at the dinner
table. For a literary character how about Icabod Jarkins or
Rochester Jarkins? I'm sure we'll be surprised as we were with
"Anna" and "Taylor."
Along with Emily's mom, Susan, we went to see the Rockettes
Christmas Spectacular. Below see the girls all dressed up for
the event.
It was wonderful being in Atlanta for Thanksgiving and
Erik's b'day. I also visited the girl's schools. That was a treat.
Saw Taylor's Thanksgiving program and did a author
presentation for Taylor's preschool. Here is a pic of me
with Taylor and her teachers.
I'm so glad that the girls love books and reading. Grandpa is a
favorite reader. Even though Anna can read very well now,
she still loves to be read to.
We took five days out of that month from Atlanta to fly to
Las Vegas to visit my brothers. Hadn't seen them for years.
Greg took us to the Hoover Dam with it's impressive Art Deco
design and scenery.
We met my brother, Norm, at his condo. He then took us to the
Piute Indian Reservation's resort. The mountains are beautiful in
Vegas. What a peaceful setting!
We drove back home in the most stressful and congested
drivingwe have ever experienced. Warning to everyone.
Don't drive on the Sunday after Thanksgiving from Atlanta to
NYS ever!
Once home, I was thrown back into substitute teaching,
working on my writing and illustrating, reading, and exercising
(Gary and I decided to take advantage of our Go-Getters free
gym membership--sorry no pics here, especially of our
waistlines.)
Village Book Market in Palmyra. Authors, Eileen Loveman,
Sharon SanAngelo, and I were invited by the owner, Marsha,
to do a short video introducing our books. Without preparation
we did "our spot" on the spot....wheeeew.........
we all did pretty well. Except what's with my mouth?
I'm usually more animated than this. Looks like I'm trying
to push the words out of clenched lips. Well, it was the first time.
I should get better and more comfortable with more practice.
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