tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79393641340275704122024-03-12T16:10:18.939-07:00Imaginary BlogThe Imaginary Blog of Lynn E. Hazen, Author of Books for Children & Young AdultsLynn E. Hazenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03799679224716669691noreply@blogger.comBlogger130125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939364134027570412.post-53948938878072203642014-10-20T09:09:00.002-07:002014-10-20T11:14:57.091-07:00Rejecting Rejection: Just say, “baaaaaah” to rejection<style>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Feeling
frustrated about the long wait times to hear back from editors? Why wait endlessly
for an editor’s rejection when you can write your very own? That’s what I did in this
write-yourself-a-rejection “assignment.” (My critique group often gives unique assignments
such as this to get creative and let off steam.) </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Enjoy! And please
comment below with your own favorite fun-to-decipher (real or imagined) editorial
comments.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Here’s my letter
to myself:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Dear You-Wish-You-Were-a-Writer,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We regret the need to send you this form letter for your <s>recent</s>
submission.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We don’t want your story.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We don’t want you to revise it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We don’t want to see it or hear from you again.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sorry to be so blunt, but we’ve been accused of being
unclear in the past.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">However, since we kept your story longer than: (circle one)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Longer than the submission guidelines on our website</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Longer than we stated in the SCBWI or CWIM market guides</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"></span><br />Longer than
is <s>necessary</s>, <s>reasonable</s>, humane</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"></span><br />Longer than
3 years</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"></span><br />Longer than
the postal rate on your SASE (that’s why this letter is coming to you postage
due)</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br />All of the above</b></span>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"></span>Okay, so we
kept it too long!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Since we kept your manuscript so long we thought you’d enjoy
a personal note from a real live editor for you to endlessly ponder. Here goes:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Chalkduster;">Dear Author,</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Chalkduster;">We passed your story around the
office for months, I mean years on end and everyone got a chuckle, especially
the janitor. But what’s with the talking bees? Haven’t you ever attended an
SCBWI conference? Don’t you know we don’t like talking animals? And while we <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">say</i> that we don’t want rhyme, even
though your story does not rhyme, perhaps my underlying message is you might
want to try rhyme? </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Chalkduster;">Still, the janitor liked it so if you want to
submit to him in the future, feel free. He just got a new pet goat (that talks
by the way). He brings Gertie to work most nights so we should be getting
through the slush pile much faster from now on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
Sincerely yours,<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"> </span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Chalkduster;">Emily Editor</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-92dhdUJ1xLc/VEUr_sYXy2I/AAAAAAAAAjU/3-W3XXXdjNk/s1600/lynnhazenrejectiongoat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-92dhdUJ1xLc/VEUr_sYXy2I/AAAAAAAAAjU/3-W3XXXdjNk/s1600/lynnhazenrejectiongoat.jpg" height="269" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
** No real goats, janitors or editors were harmed in the
writing of this blog post. All goats, editors and janitors mentioned here are completely
fictitious. Any resemblance to real goats, janitors or editors is purely
coincidental.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">When I joined
The Revisionaries critique group </span><a href="http://vimeo.com/71542261"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://vimeo.com/71542261</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> none of The Revisionaries were
published. Now we all are. The Revisionaries often give each other random
assignments to let loose and keep creative. <br /><br />When I originally wrote the
above rejection letter to myself, I was also unpublished. Now I have the
following books to my name, including a story with talking bees! </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h-v7Qhdd6tA/VEUwbm_IvjI/AAAAAAAAAjo/xyoSMOnpUvI/s1600/lynnhazencinderrabbit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h-v7Qhdd6tA/VEUwbm_IvjI/AAAAAAAAAjo/xyoSMOnpUvI/s1600/lynnhazencinderrabbit.jpg" title="" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jMzI3IMpuvw/VEUwZI72aiI/AAAAAAAAAjg/9se47M5DVIQ/s1600/lynnhazenbuzz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jMzI3IMpuvw/VEUwZI72aiI/AAAAAAAAAjg/9se47M5DVIQ/s1600/lynnhazenbuzz.jpg" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9j4LQ_TTRDI/VEUweN39gRI/AAAAAAAAAjw/Z1VlUHde7G0/s1600/lynnhazenseymoursnail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9j4LQ_TTRDI/VEUweN39gRI/AAAAAAAAAjw/Z1VlUHde7G0/s1600/lynnhazenseymoursnail.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5eNrzrc-RgQ/VEUwjHCSjrI/AAAAAAAAAkA/UZsDTc5JYko/s1600/lynnhazenmermaidmarymargaret.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5eNrzrc-RgQ/VEUwjHCSjrI/AAAAAAAAAkA/UZsDTc5JYko/s1600/lynnhazenmermaidmarymargaret.jpg" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9JKc4NRmXQo/VEUwg5R6lhI/AAAAAAAAAj4/BFZUO8AMayE/s1600/lynnhazenshifty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9JKc4NRmXQo/VEUwg5R6lhI/AAAAAAAAAj4/BFZUO8AMayE/s1600/lynnhazenshifty.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
This blog post is also posted on The Writing Barn's Rejecting Rejection series:<br />
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><a href="http://www.thewritingbarn.com/2014/10/20/rejecting-rejection-lynn-e-hazen" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.thewritingbarn.com/<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span>2014/10/20/<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span>rejecting-rejection-lynn-e-haze<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span>n</a></span><br />
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">Thanks, Bethany for including me. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><b>Forecast: Chances of intermittent rejection, with steady times of creativity, humor, heart & hope! <br />Just say, “baaaaaah” to rejection!</b></span></div>
</div>
Lynn E. Hazenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01063230847100709277noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939364134027570412.post-86755237503277055702014-05-22T09:35:00.003-07:002014-05-22T09:50:10.441-07:00Lee & Low New Voices Award for writers of color: Manuscripts accepted through September 30, 2014<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">This is cool!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Lee & Low New Voices Award for writers of color:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Check it out. Manuscripts will be accepted through September 30, 2014.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://blog.leeandlow.com/2014/05/20/submit-your-manuscript-to-our-new-voices-award-writing-contest/">http://blog.leeandlow.com/2014/05/20/submit-your-manuscript-to-our-new-voices-award-writing-contest/</a></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Our fourteenth annual New Voices Award writing contest is now open for submissions!</span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">The Award is given annually by LEE & LOW BOOKS for a children's picture book manuscript by a writer of color. The contest encourages writers of color to submit their work to a publisher that takes pride in nurturing new talent. Past winners include Bird by Zetta Elliott and It Jes' Happened by Don Tate.</span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Contest Submission</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Writers of color who are residents of the United States and who have not previously had a children's picture book published are eligible.</span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">The Award winner receives a cash grant of $1000 and our standard publication contract, including our basic advance and royalties for a first time author. An Honor Award winner will receive a cash grant of $500.</span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Manuscripts will be accepted through September 30, 2014. See the full submissions guidelines here and answers to some FAQ's about the contest here.</span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Spread the Word</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Did you know that last year, books written by authors of color made up less than seven percent of the total number of books published (see these CCBC stats)?</span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Change requires more than just goodwill; it requires concrete action. We were heartened by First Book's recent commitment to purchasing 10,000 copies of select books from "new and underrepresented voices." Likewise, the New Voices Award is a concrete step towards evening the playing field by seeking out talented new authors of color who might otherwise remain under the radar of mainstream publishing.</span></span></span>Lynn E. Hazenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01063230847100709277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939364134027570412.post-82804060100312350502014-05-22T09:31:00.000-07:002014-05-22T09:32:43.128-07:00Take a look at Arree Chung's and Kristin Aker Howell's Thoughts on the Writing Process Author Blog TourDear Imaginary Readers,<br />
Head on over to <a href="http://arreechung.blogspot.com/">Arree Chung</a>'s and <a href="https://www.blogger.com/"><span id="goog_1309502160"></span>Kristin Aker Howell's<span id="goog_1309502161"></span></a> blogs to check out their posts on The Writing Process Author Blog Tour.Lynn E. Hazenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01063230847100709277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939364134027570412.post-80436061495648206432014-05-12T13:33:00.002-07:002014-05-17T16:21:59.601-07:00Writing Process Blog Tour<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">My dear Imaginary Readers, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Please imagine I’ve been blogging regularly, okay?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span>
<span style="mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Thanks to <a href="http://www.francesleehall.com/2014/05/06/writing-process-tour-2"><b>Frances Lee Hall</b></a> </span>for tagging me for the Writing Process Blog
Tour (and reminding me I have a blog!) </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Okay, onward to the writing process
questions!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><b>What am I currently working on?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I am multi-tasking as usual, working on a few
projects in different children’s book genres. I’m revising a couple of picture
books, one about a cat that might or might not be real.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I’m also diving back into a middle grade
novel with a supporting character whose friend might be imaginary. I guess I am
working through my own creative imagination process!?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I’ve also been taking a poetry class this spring.
I’d made it through high school, my undergraduate career and two masters
degrees without ever taking a poetry class—until now that is. Needless to say,
it’s challenging but I’m learning a lot. I’m stretching my comfort zone which
is always a good thing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><b>How does my work differ from others of its
genre?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">First off, I write in various genres: picture
books, young chapter books, middle grade and young adult. In all of these, I
tend to include both younger and older characters, often in an extended family,
alternative family or community. Whatever the genre, I aim to write stories
filled with humor and heart.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><b>Why do I write what I write?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I don’t seem to have a choice. The
characters, ideas and stories come to me and inspire me, but often in
incomplete form. My job is to try to capture the heart of the characters and figure
out their story or journey on the page.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><b>How does my individual writing process work?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">It’s often a puzzle. I’ll have the snippet of
an idea that intrigues me, or perhaps a spunky character, a unique question or
line of dialogue, or an interesting opening scene. I’ll start writing to see
how the scene develops and explore what the characters have to tell me. Then of
course, I keep writing more scenes. Once I’ve captured the first draft, I
revise, revise, revise, share my work with my trusted critique partners, then revise
and revise again.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><b>Who's next? Tag you are it!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Okay, I'm tagging the very talented <b><a href="http://arree.com/">Arree Chung</a>.</b> Just wait until you see the cool video he made for his book,<a href="http://arree.com/ninja"> <b>Ninja!</b></a><b> </b>Arree will post his responses next Monday May, 19<sup>th </sup><a href="http://arreechung.blogspot.com/"><b>http://arreechung.blogspot.com</b></a><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Bgr5BfdE6uA/U3EYZiH6wxI/AAAAAAAAAcs/pKK2Plsh1f8/s1600/Arree_NinjafyMe.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Bgr5BfdE6uA/U3EYZiH6wxI/AAAAAAAAAcs/pKK2Plsh1f8/s1600/Arree_NinjafyMe.png" height="237" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Arree makes picture books but he didn’t always do so. Once he made spreadsheets all day long and he decided that he wanted to make pictures instead. Arree learned how to draw, paint and think a little bit differently at Art Center College of Design.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">In the past decade, Arree has worked in the games industry as a designer and Art Director. Arree’s first debut picture book, “Ninja!” publishes June 3rd, 2014. When Arree is not practicing his Ninja moves, you can find him playing basketball or riding his bike.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Tag #2, who's next? Tag you are also it, <a href="http://kristinakerhowell.com/?page_id=231">Kristin Aker Howell</a>!</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I'm<b> </b>also tagging Kristin Aker Howell. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B39SHD4Iq6k/U3fr8KF06zI/AAAAAAAAAdA/xMBzCI6K6yg/s1600/kristinbadcaseofstripes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B39SHD4Iq6k/U3fr8KF06zI/AAAAAAAAAdA/xMBzCI6K6yg/s1600/kristinbadcaseofstripes.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222;">Kristin Aker Howell currently enjoys her job as Teacher Librarian at Ohlone Elementary School In Palo Alto. She has co-written a few musicals produced at the First Congregational Church of Palo Alto, and published a couple of personal essays. Her short story, Bondo, won an honorable mention in the Glimmer Train Fiction Open. Kristin earned her MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults at Hamline University where she developed a deep appreciation for the revision process, which she continues to practice on her many manuscripts for children and young adults. Kristin is searching for a cure to her bad case of stripes. It is definitely not lima beans.</span> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">While we await <a href="http://kristinakerhowell.com/?page_id=231">Kristin's</a> & <a href="http://arreechung.blogspot.com/">Arree</a>'s posts, please click below to see more authors on the tour.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><b><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><a href="http://www.francesleehall.com/2014/05/06/writing-process-tour-2">Frances Lee Hall</a> </span><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><b><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><a href="http://www.bethanyhegedus.com/writing-process-blog-tour">Bethany Hegadus</a> </span><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><b><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><a href="http://www.annjacobus.com/blog/2014/5/4/surprise-youre-it-playing-author-tag.html">Ann Jacobus</a> </span><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><a href="http://michelleknudsen.blogspot.com/2014/04/blog-tour-writing-process_14.html">Michelle Knudsen</a></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><b><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><a href="http://www.lisadoan.org/blog.htm?post=955371">Lisa Doan</a> </span><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><b><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><a href="http://www.rachelmwilsonbooks.com/2/post/2014/04/writing-process-blog-tour.html">Rachel Wilson</a> </span><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><b><a href="http://sarahsullivanjournal.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-writing-process-blog-tour.html">Sarah Sullivan</a> <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><b><a href="http://www.aliciapotterbooks.com/2014/05/05/writing-process-blog-tour">Alicia Potter</a> </b><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222;"><b><a href="http://www.emilyjiang.com/tagged-by-my-writing-process/">Emily Jiang</a> </b></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><b><a href="http://smithwright.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-writing-process-blog-tour.html">Sharry Wright</a></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">If you are on the tour and I missed you above, please feel free
to leave a link in the comments. Thanks!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Forecast: More writing with a chance of blogging?</span></b></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Lynn E. Hazenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01063230847100709277noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939364134027570412.post-13045560399912865802012-06-18T11:36:00.000-07:002012-06-18T11:36:18.811-07:00<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OCYsi1FKLI8/T99y7Fc1WhI/AAAAAAAAAPA/sn-qRYh8KqY/s1600/TheWritingGardenLogo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OCYsi1FKLI8/T99y7Fc1WhI/AAAAAAAAAPA/sn-qRYh8KqY/s200/TheWritingGardenLogo.jpg" width="173" /></a></div>
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Dear Imaginary Readers,</div>
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I've been away a bit. Yes, writing.</div>
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I've also been busy here in San Francisco planning and creating The Writing Garden--where creativity blooms & grows.</div>
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To find more info about The Writing Garden: </div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://thewritinggarden.com/">http://thewritinggarden.com</a></span></div>
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This week, I'm offering 3 different 3-hour classes.</div>
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I hope you can join me. All classes & workshops are open to aspiring as well as experienced writers.</div>
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<b>Beyond the Basics: The Craft of Writing Picture Books</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Wed. June 20, 2012<o:p></o:p></div>
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3 hours in one evening<o:p></o:p></div>
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6:30-9:30 p.m<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/253057">http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/253057</a></div>
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<b>Introduction to Writing the Middle Grade or Young Adult
Novel</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Saturday June 23<sup>rd</sup><o:p></o:p></div>
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3 hours on a Saturday morning<o:p></o:p></div>
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9:00 a.m.- noon<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/253067">http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/253067</a></span>
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<b>Writing Prompt-a-Palooza</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Saturday June 23<sup>rd</sup><br />
3 hours on a Saturday afternoon<o:p></o:p></div>
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1:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/253067">http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/253067</a></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Subscribe to the mailing list to hear about future classes <a href="http://thewritinggarden.com/?page_id=60">here</a>:</div>
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<a href="http://thewritinggarden.com/?page_id=60">http://thewritinggarden.com/?page_id=60</a></div>Lynn E. Hazenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01063230847100709277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939364134027570412.post-78757148079405427352011-09-18T21:13:00.000-07:002011-09-18T21:23:45.275-07:00Stanford Continuing Studies: What's My Genre? Finding Your Voice in Children's Literature<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; "><h2 style="font-size: 13pt; letter-spacing: 0pt; font-weight: 900; ">Dear Imaginary Readers,</h2><h2 style="font-size: 13pt; letter-spacing: 0pt; font-weight: 900; ">Please join us for a 3-day workshop:</h2><h2 style="font-size: 13pt; letter-spacing: 0pt; font-weight: 900; ">What's My Genre? Finding Your Voice in Children's Literature</h2></span><a href="https://continuingstudies.stanford.edu/courses/course.php?cid=20111_WSP+213">https://continuingstudies.stanford.edu/courses/course.php?cid=20111_WSP+213</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(88, 88, 88); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; "><p>3 Saturdays, Oct. 22-Nov. 5, 2011 (Register at the link above. We'd love to see you there)</p><p>Children’s publishing presents a vast array of writing opportunities, with many genres to consider: picture books, chapter books, middle grade, poetry, fantasy, and young adult fiction. Many important questions face an aspiring writer of children’s literature. When discovering their own genre and voice, writers must consider: What age is the main character? How old is the intended audience? What’s currently being published? Over three Saturdays, this course will introduce students to exemplary titles that showcase the unique qualities of various genres. Through fun and absorbing in-class writing exercises, students will begin to discover their own voices while exploring various genres in children’s literature.</p><p><i>The course is open to aspiring as well as experienced writers, and students may bring five pages of their work-in-progress for discussion in the workshop. </i></p><p><span class="subheading" style="color: rgb(135, 16, 46); ">Elissa Haden Guest, Author</span></p><p>Elissa Haden Guest is the author of numerous children’s books, most recently the picture book, <i>Harriet’s Had Enough!</i>. Books in her ten-book early reader series, <i>Iris and Walter</i>, have been named Junior Library Guild Selections, an ALA Notable Book, a <i>Publishers Weekly</i> Best Book of the Year, and a PEN Center USA West Literary Award.</p><p><span class="subheading" style="color: rgb(135, 16, 46); ">Lynn E. Hazen, Author</span></p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(88, 88, 88); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; ">Lynn Hazen is the author of the young adult novel, Shifty, which was named on VOYA’s Top Shelf Fiction list, and was a CCBC Choice and a Smithsonian Notable. Her other books include Mermaid Mary Margaret, Cinder Rabbit, The Amazing Trail of Seymour Snail, and Buzz Bumble to the Rescue. She received an MA in education from San Francisco State and an MFA in writing for children and young adults from Vermont College.</span><div><br /></div>Lynn E. Hazenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01063230847100709277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939364134027570412.post-57329607757269139542011-09-16T08:55:00.000-07:002011-09-16T09:29:29.836-07:00Join Seymour Snail and his author, Lynn Hazen at SF MOMA Family Sunday on 9/18! (Kids under 12 are free!)<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_wsfiJBGhrk/TnN27EZBc7I/AAAAAAAAALA/b5cv7GWYUlw/s1600/SeymourCover4inch72.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 232px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_wsfiJBGhrk/TnN27EZBc7I/AAAAAAAAALA/b5cv7GWYUlw/s320/SeymourCover4inch72.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652992714443158450" /></a><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:100%;">Seymour Snail, the world famous artist, is sliming his way to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art this Sunday September 18<sup>th</sup> (along with his author, Lynn Hazen) for Family Sunday at SF MOMA!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:100%;">Come join the family fun!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:";font-size:100%;"><b>11:30 a.m. Reading of The Amazing Trail of Seymour Snail & Author Talk </b>at the<b> </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:100%;" ><span style="Times New Roman"font-family:";">Koret Center (2</span><sup><span style="Times New Roman"font-family:";">nd</span></sup><span style="Times New Roman"font-family:";"> floor)</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="Times New Roman"font-family:";"> </span><span style="font-family:";"><b>12:30 p.m. Book Signing </b>at the<b> </b></span>SF MOMA Museum Store</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="Times New Roman"font-family:";">1:00 on</span></b><span style="Times New Roman"font-family:";"> Be sure to join us in the Koret Studios (2</span><sup><span style="Times New Roman"font-family:";">nd</span></sup><span style="Times New Roman"font-family:";"> floor) after 1 p.m. for a chance to work with Lynn to create your own Amazing Trail book mark and multi-media snail in the Koret Studios.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="Times New Roman"font-family:";"><br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><b><span style="Times New Roman"font-family:";"><a href="http://www.LynnHazen.com/">Lynn E. Hazen</a></span></b><span style="Times New Roman"font-family:";"> writes children's and young adult books filled with humor, heart and hope. Lynn's books for younger readers include:<i> The</i> <i>Amazing Trail of Seymour Snail</i>, <i>Cinder Rabbit</i>,<i> </i>(both young chapter books), <i>Buzz Bumble to the Rescue</i> (a picture book), & <i>Mermaid Mary Margaret</i> (a middle grade novel). She has also written a young adult novel called <i>Shifty. </i>Inspiration often comes from her own kids as well as the exuberant children she encounters as a preschool director.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><b><span style="Times New Roman"font-family:";">More About Family Sundays at</span></b><span style="Times New Roman"font-family:";"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">SF MOMA</b>: </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.sfmoma.org/visit/families">http://www.sfmoma.org/visit/families</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Verdana;font-size:100%;">Every Sunday Kids get in FREE! </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:11.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;font-size:100%;">11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:11.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;font-size:100%;">Family tour at 1:00 p.m.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:11.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;font-size:100%;">Explore art, create your own, travel to virtual worlds, get hands-on, discover special places, be inspired. That’s just a hint at the fun we have in store for you on <a href="http://www.sfmoma.org/events/series/1323"><span style="color:#3185C6;">Family Sundays</span></a>. <i>Mod</i>erators guide participatory art projects, and docents lead <a href="http://www.sfmoma.org/events/1129"><span style="color:#3185C6;">family-friendly gallery tours</span></a>. Special programs like book readings and movie screenings round it all out. Look. Think. Create. That's the plan for Family Sunday. See the <a href="http://www.sfmoma.org/events/series/1323"><span style="color:#3185C6;">Family Sundays</span></a> page for details.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:11.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;font-size:100%;">Program and museum admission are free for children 12 and under. Regular admission applies for adults and students.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;"><a href="http://www.sfmoma.org/"><span style="font-size:100%;color:#001D8D;">San Francisco Museum of Modern Art</span></a></span><span style="Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="Times New Roman"font-family:";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Lynn E. Hazenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01063230847100709277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939364134027570412.post-79268646796101180452011-06-11T18:45:00.000-07:002011-06-16T00:37:11.365-07:00An Interview With Jim Averbeck and his Editor, Namrata TripathiHello Imaginary Readers.<br />Today, I'm delighted to offer an interview with author-illustrator, Jim Averbeck, and his editor at Atheneum, Namrata Tripathi.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hi Jim and Namrata. Welcome to the Imaginary Blog.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lynn: </span>To start us off, could you each please tell us a little about yourself, your career, and one unusual thing that few people know about you?<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EXNkbymuoR0/TbhWm0CM3hI/AAAAAAAAAIw/HS10hKeeVxA/s1600/Namrata%2Bpic.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 220px; height: 268px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EXNkbymuoR0/TbhWm0CM3hI/AAAAAAAAAIw/HS10hKeeVxA/s400/Namrata%2Bpic.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600321361438105106" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Namrata Tripathi:</span> Let’s see…I’m from India but I grew up in several different countries and then I moved to NYC, a<br />town I’m so happy to call home. I started my publishing career ten years ago at HarperCollins Children’s Books. From there I went on to Hyperion Books for Children (now called Disney/Hyperion). And in December 2008 I came over to Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing. As for an unusual fact: I was a competitive archer in college and was All-American/ranked 10th in the country in women’s collegiate recurve bow. (Nerd Alert! Dangerous Nerd Alert!)<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--w_2d9SWHhk/TbhYcE0Sq3I/AAAAAAAAAJA/ih--rWTGrMM/s1600/headshot.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 339px; height: 227px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--w_2d9SWHhk/TbhYcE0Sq3I/AAAAAAAAAJA/ih--rWTGrMM/s400/headshot.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600323375987862386" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jim Averbeck: </span>Okay that’s weird – because I also was on the archery team in college. I wasn’t ranked, but I owned my bow and stabilizers and had a lot of fun. Wait! Does that mean I’m a nerd, too? I always suspected I was. As for my life and career: I grew up in Ohio, in a suburb of Cincinnati, on a little cul-de-sac that abutted the woods. I always wanted to travel, so after graduating from Case Western Reserve University and working for a few years, I joined the Peace Corps. I lived for four years in Cameroon in Central Africa. I’ve touched foot on five of the seven continents and plan to hit the other two before I die. I think that’s why I became a writer – because Planet Earth really wasn’t enough for me, but the only way to travel to other worlds is through fiction. My first book, <span style="font-weight: bold;">In a Blue Room</span>, won a Charlotte Zolotow Honor. <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a08ZYk4s5iw/TbhZkfyxpwI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/wQ8ulozKJiI/s1600/blue%2Broom%2Bamazon%2Bcoversized_1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 189px; height: 211px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a08ZYk4s5iw/TbhZkfyxpwI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/wQ8ulozKJiI/s400/blue%2Broom%2Bamazon%2Bcoversized_1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600324620179842818" border="0" /></a>My second book,<span style="font-weight: bold;"> except if</span>, just came out. Few people know that I have a Master’s in Intuitive Medicine, an alternative healing technique.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9IeqTg3lnsc/TbhZk-V8X-I/AAAAAAAAAJY/XPZo1FCntXE/s1600/except%2Bif%2Bfront%2Bcover_1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 278px; height: 268px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9IeqTg3lnsc/TbhZk-V8X-I/AAAAAAAAAJY/XPZo1FCntXE/s400/except%2Bif%2Bfront%2Bcover_1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600324628380409826" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Namrata: </span>Yes, Jim—it means you’re a nerd too! You know what they say about birds of a feather…<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lynn: </span>Jim, could you please tell us about your inspiration for <span style="font-weight: bold;">except if</span>? And is it true that this story was partly inspired as one of those year-end <a href="http://www.therevisionaries.com/2010/12/drop-it-all-and-make-new-book.html">“assignments”</a> in your <a href="http://www.therevisionaries.com/">Revisionaries critique group?</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jim:</span> Yes, that’s’ true. Each year the group has an assignment to write something entirely new, from a theme or writing prompt. In 2008 the theme was “baby book.’ I didn’t want to write a book about a baby as that felt too predictable, so I asked myself, “what is like a baby, but not.” My answer was “an egg is not a baby bird, but it will become one.” And that was the first line of the story.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lynn:</span> Namrata, what did you think when you first saw Jim's manuscript and sketches? Was it love at first reading? Did you have any challenges getting everyone on board at the acquisitions or marketing meetings?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Namrata</span>: It was indeed love at first sight. The concept was brilliant. And in my acquisitions memo I wrote, “This one is a winner!” and everyone agreed.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lynn: </span>Jim and Namrata , Did you always imagine the illustration style to be like the final result? What was your process?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Namrata:</span> We always knew we wanted the style to bold, simple, and graphic. We worked really hard on the illustration style as Jim was being really adventurous and trying a whole new direction. The art director, Ann Bobco, and I fell in love with Jim’s line quality and we tried to guide the art and palette so that Jim’s gorgeous line work would be showcased.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jim: </span>My usual art up to that point had been more… I guess ‘sophisticated’ would be the word. But when I wrote except if I did so in a child’s voice, as one long run-on sentence. (You know how kids will related a story: “and then Johnny did this and then I did that and then… and then…and then…” Maybe “and then” can be my next book.) I wanted the art to be closer to the kind of drawing I see children do, to match the text. My first sketches were very childlike, but I knew for someone to buy the book, they would need to change. So I worked with oil crayons and textured paper to get an interesting line quality. I drew the same sketch many times quickly, often with my left hand, to get a childlike quality to the drawing. The original book had a bit of a color-concept-book aspect to it, with bright bold color blocks. Nami and Ann suggested the line would pop more with muted tones and I agreed. We retained a bright color for the dino star of the book, but dialed back the rest of it. It took me a while to get there because I am naturally drawn to super-vibrant colors. I love the end result. I hope others will too.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lynn:</span> Jim, were there any first readers, critique group members or others who did not "get" what you were aiming for?<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Jim:</span> Actually they all got it and urged me to submit it immediately. But this was at our holiday party and I decided to bring it back when less wine had been served. I worked on it for a few weeks and then was satisfied and turned it over to my agent.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lynn: </span>One thing I completely love about <span style="font-weight: bold;">except if</span> is the fun celebration of the unexpected. Sometimes unexpected events in the life of an author-illustrator or an editor are less than fun and we feel like that once sure and sticky-footed lizard who realizes he is a dino and falls on his rump.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WCd13ZVfpzk/TbhdunXQX8I/AAAAAAAAAJo/GnACXVZBzVY/s1600/LIZARD_1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 379px; height: 189px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WCd13ZVfpzk/TbhdunXQX8I/AAAAAAAAAJo/GnACXVZBzVY/s400/LIZARD_1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600329192057102274" border="0" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IwBWbjrDkW4/TbheS06f9iI/AAAAAAAAAKA/bim5axuGt3I/s1600/dino%2Bfall_1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IwBWbjrDkW4/TbheS06f9iI/AAAAAAAAAKA/bim5axuGt3I/s400/dino%2Bfall_1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600329814169876002" border="0" /></a><br />Could you each please share two unexpected moments in your career (one positive, one less so)?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jim:</span> In the long run, there really is no such thing as a “negative” fall. Things that seem so tragic in the moment usually turn out to be a great opportunity for growth. If it is your writing or art you are struggling through, you usually end up with a stronger product. I mean look at the dino in except if. True, he loses the lizardy abilty to climb walls, but he grows into a friggin’ DINOSAUR! How cool is that?<br /><br />For my example, I’ll turn to the next book on which I am working with Nami and Ann, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Oh No, Little Dragon!</span> I turned in what I thought was a perfectly lovely idea for the backgrounds of the book. I wanted this mottled purple that would feel like the interior of the castle where Little Dragon lived and would emphasize his awesome fire. Nami and Ann … uh… disagreed. For a while I did some work that we all thought was okay, but didn’t really send any of us into rapture. In the end my crit group helped me light upon a new idea, which I loved and which excited Nami and Ann as well. It has a more sophisticated design feel and while still showcasing my linework. See what you think.<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aTxGx_6Fd98/Tbhdu9RRGiI/AAAAAAAAAJw/bewJ-A51qiA/s1600/LD%2Bpp%2B12-13_1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 210px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aTxGx_6Fd98/Tbhdu9RRGiI/AAAAAAAAAJw/bewJ-A51qiA/s400/LD%2Bpp%2B12-13_1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600329197937564194" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Namrata: </span>That’s a perfect example! And like Jim, I’m not sure I see the process in terms of falls and triumphs. It’s really all an evolution (you know, from an egg to a snake to a lizard to a dino...). The funny thing is, when we’d first seen Jim’s rough sketches, we’d actually assumed that the final color art was going to be pulled back with just pops of color for our main characters. We’re thrilled that our art evolution got us there. (…and back to an egg! Wow…we really milked this analogy!)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lynn: </span>Jim & Namrata, since this is an imaginary blog I’m hoping you each have some advice for writers and illustrators on how to keep going when we feel we are falling, failing or what we are imagining is not yet showing up on the page?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Namrata: </span>Hmm…I have two almost contradictory pieces of advice.<br /><br />1.) Just sit down and do the work. Do it again and again. It takes time and practice and discipline. No one said creating art or literature is easy!<br /><br />2.) Get out in the world and explore. Allow yourself the opportunity to engage with the world. Read other people’s books, look at other people’s art, listen to great music, eat fabulous food. Do whatever it is that makes you energized and inspired. I find that surrounding myself with people who are super talented (or surrounding myself with their work) is a good place to start!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jim: </span>Chocolate. (and then do what Nami said.)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lynn:</span> Namrata, could you please share any advice on how to surprise an editor (in a good way :-), and any TOO surprising or unexpected things we may want to avoid?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Namrata:</span> My favorite surprise is always a brilliantly written manuscript or a fantastic art sample. One surprise I could have done without: a mini bottle of Sambuca that came with a submission.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jim:</span> Nami, you may forward all sealed food and drink and anything with an e-bay resale value to me. I shall dispose of it properly.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lynn: </span>Jim, you are the master of poetic brevity, page turns, the unexpected, and bringing your story full circle in <span style="font-weight: bold;">except if.</span> Could you share any tips for aspiring writers on how to accomplish such literary feats?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jim: </span>You know how when you make whipped cream, you need to whip it and whip it, but not overdo it, or you will end up with butter? (Which is fine, but butter isn’t something you want to eat by the spoonful.) The same is true of writing. I feel like my best writing springs nearly full-grown from my head, like <span style="font-weight: bold;">except if</span>. If I find I am working and working on a project but it just isn’t “peaking” then maybe it is time to set it aside and start a new project. That’s how you achieve the sort of things you mention in your question. (But don’t despair of that project that you set aside. That was just training for creating your perfect whipped cream. And you can often use a little of that discarded butter to spread around on other projects to sweeten them up. No time spent writing is a waste of time.)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lynn:</span> Jim and Namrata, since this is an imaginary blog, what aspects of your writing & illustrating (or editing) career is surprisingly different than you ever imagined?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Namrata:</span> I never thought that as an editor I’d have so little time to read. That was the rudest surprise for me. On the flip side, I didn’t know, going into this industry, how many wonderful friends I’d make in the authors and illustrators I’ve worked with along the way.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jim: </span>The publishing business model, with its returns and complicated royalty structure and glacially slow payment system makes for a lot of financial stress on the author. Yuck. – My flip side would be similar to Nami’s. Unlike most businesses where people are cut-throat and competitive, the children’s book world is one where everyone seems to celebrate other people’s success, because no matter who connects a child with a book, it is a victory for everyone.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lynn: </span>Jim, what are you working on now? What can your readers look forward to next?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jim:</span> I have a second book that I mentioned earlier <span style="font-weight: bold;">Oh No, Little Dragon!</span> and I also have a book coming out after that called <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Market Bowl</span>, which is set in the country in which I was a Peace Corps volunteer. And I am working on a few novels and some other picture books.<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rMOI_DM2z4I/TbheSnKJY3I/AAAAAAAAAJ4/gip4fWKY3c8/s1600/LD%2Bpp%2B06-07_1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 210px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rMOI_DM2z4I/TbheSnKJY3I/AAAAAAAAAJ4/gip4fWKY3c8/s400/LD%2Bpp%2B06-07_1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600329810477409138" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lynn:</span> Jim and Namrata, what is the one question you’re hoping to be asked? And of course, what is the answer.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Namrata:</span> Fill in the blank: “Two boards, binding, and paper is a picture book…EXCEPT IF…”<br />“it is imagination itself!”<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jim: </span>Okay Nami, that is just plain eerie because I have been signing <span style="font-weight: bold;">except if</span> like this : A book is just paper and ink, except if you read it, then it’s a world.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Namrata:</span> That is weird! An author/illustrator and his editor are separated by a continent, except if they are psychically linked. Clearly!<br /><br /><b>Lynn: </b>Thank you, Jim and Namrata, for your fun and inspiring responses. Imaginary Readers, you can discover more about Jim and his books at the link below.</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.JimAverbeck.com/">www.JimAverbeck.com</a></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Forecast: A surprisingly fun read for young children and their grown ups with <span style="font-size:180%;">except if</span>. And more great books for years to come from psychically-linked Jim and Namrata.</span></div>Lynn E. Hazenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01063230847100709277noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939364134027570412.post-15242212661291163132010-12-11T09:00:00.000-08:002010-12-30T21:54:52.735-08:00Gifts! Wow--just wow!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQME5WkoTVI/AAAAAAAAAG0/5alB625tNIo/s1600/ShiftyGift.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 352px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQME5WkoTVI/AAAAAAAAAG0/5alB625tNIo/s400/ShiftyGift.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549284549208853842" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQME6GSuIzI/AAAAAAAAAHE/Z4WGm3k0mi4/s1600/SoliGift2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 109px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQME6GSuIzI/AAAAAAAAAHE/Z4WGm3k0mi4/s400/SoliGift2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549284562018640690" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQME5ib84LI/AAAAAAAAAG8/XfFx3B6eMIU/s1600/SoliFace.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 335px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQME5ib84LI/AAAAAAAAAG8/XfFx3B6eMIU/s400/SoliFace.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549284552393679026" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQMB74j1s0I/AAAAAAAAAFc/JH-3LabaD-4/s1600/silveradosign.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 201px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQMB74j1s0I/AAAAAAAAAFc/JH-3LabaD-4/s320/silveradosign.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549281294157198146" border="0" /></a>The next stop on my Napa County Reads SHIFTY tour was Silverado Middle School. The students were great again. We were in a library here--and take a look at the student work I discovered on the library bulletin boards. Fun, fun, fun!! I saw SHIFTY-themed bookmarks and a great art and literacy activity where students made "gifts" for the characters in my book. What a gift to the author to see this--so inspiring. The students really showed a lot of creative thought toward the characters and the story by the gifts they chose to give.<br /><br />It's was a colorful visual delight.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Wow, just wow! </span><br />Take a look at the gifts the students gave to Soli/Shifty, Sissy and Martha. Baby Chance and Lester the Cat got gifts, too. Even one of the book's antagonists, Sheila-not-Shelly, got a gift (some "chill pills," a happy stamp and candy to sweeten her life and make her chill out a bit!) Ha! That made me smile!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQMFuVWpOPI/AAAAAAAAAHc/wUdGJomtfP4/s1600/Solisign.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 223px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQMFuVWpOPI/AAAAAAAAAHc/wUdGJomtfP4/s400/Solisign.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549285459414825202" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQME6WHc02I/AAAAAAAAAHM/fjFjlZW8RSQ/s1600/SoliGift3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 185px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQME6WHc02I/AAAAAAAAAHM/fjFjlZW8RSQ/s400/SoliGift3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549284566266336098" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQMFuh7hNiI/AAAAAAAAAHk/IOZHgRjU_Ek/s1600/SissyGift.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 430px; height: 130px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQMFuh7hNiI/AAAAAAAAAHk/IOZHgRjU_Ek/s400/SissyGift.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549285462790714914" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQMFu9hBSyI/AAAAAAAAAHs/uzSAittb4Hw/s1600/SissyGift2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 399px; height: 128px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQMFu9hBSyI/AAAAAAAAAHs/uzSAittb4Hw/s400/SissyGift2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549285470195764002" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQMBvdQ49QI/AAAAAAAAAE0/D0NMlWLqlWA/s1600/LesterGift4.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 393px; height: 151px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQMBvdQ49QI/AAAAAAAAAE0/D0NMlWLqlWA/s400/LesterGift4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549281080671532290" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQMBvyXW_XI/AAAAAAAAAFE/HkAe1sxz-ps/s1600/LesterGift4B.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 387px; height: 247px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQMBvyXW_XI/AAAAAAAAAFE/HkAe1sxz-ps/s400/LesterGift4B.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549281086335810930" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQMBvn02S4I/AAAAAAAAAE8/P-B8-HJc448/s1600/LesterGift4A.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 376px; height: 234px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQMBvn02S4I/AAAAAAAAAE8/P-B8-HJc448/s400/LesterGift4A.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549281083506707330" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQMCxMkxozI/AAAAAAAAAGE/OaOgZdAq0tM/s1600/Shiftybookmark.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 118px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQMCxMkxozI/AAAAAAAAAGE/OaOgZdAq0tM/s320/Shiftybookmark.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549282210062902066" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQMCwX3pFqI/AAAAAAAAAF8/Vt6tcKuI6C4/s1600/Martha.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 122px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQMCwX3pFqI/AAAAAAAAAF8/Vt6tcKuI6C4/s320/Martha.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549282195914954402" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQMCwFnM3uI/AAAAAAAAAF0/vBnpi_ihMLc/s1600/MarthaGift.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 424px; height: 155px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQMCwFnM3uI/AAAAAAAAAF0/vBnpi_ihMLc/s320/MarthaGift.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549282191014158050" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQMCv-D4TkI/AAAAAAAAAFs/jLleUWhDZHg/s1600/MarthaGift2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 447px; height: 140px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQMCv-D4TkI/AAAAAAAAAFs/jLleUWhDZHg/s320/MarthaGift2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549282188986961474" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQMDj7Fv6zI/AAAAAAAAAGs/NARGFv-Krsc/s1600/ShiftyBookmark4.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 151px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQMDj7Fv6zI/AAAAAAAAAGs/NARGFv-Krsc/s400/ShiftyBookmark4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549283081542691634" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQMDji5oBQI/AAAAAAAAAGk/Z-GfvCN4bmw/s1600/ShiftyBookmark3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 360px; height: 152px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQMDji5oBQI/AAAAAAAAAGk/Z-GfvCN4bmw/s400/ShiftyBookmark3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549283075049391362" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQMDjblTy8I/AAAAAAAAAGc/qRdwfXTVKPs/s1600/ShiftyBookmark2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 360px; height: 124px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQMDjblTy8I/AAAAAAAAAGc/qRdwfXTVKPs/s400/ShiftyBookmark2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549283073085131714" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQMDjE0SP5I/AAAAAAAAAGU/z_FHdT3-NZA/s1600/SheilaChillPills.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 230px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQMDjE0SP5I/AAAAAAAAAGU/z_FHdT3-NZA/s400/SheilaChillPills.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549283066973929362" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQMDjNX2LoI/AAAAAAAAAGM/rPWSLoyrxug/s1600/SheilaGift.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 455px; height: 341px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQMDjNX2LoI/AAAAAAAAAGM/rPWSLoyrxug/s400/SheilaGift.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549283069270568578" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQMBv8-0KSI/AAAAAAAAAFM/osrI9P3p4XA/s1600/LynnGiftsBulletinBoard.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 429px; height: 343px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQMBv8-0KSI/AAAAAAAAAFM/osrI9P3p4XA/s400/LynnGiftsBulletinBoard.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549281089185655074" border="0" /></a>And the gift to the author? Meeting all the students who were reading SHIFTY--and the whole Napa Reads experience! Thanks Napa County students, teachers, arts and educational community. If you were the teacher(s) who created this project, please re-introduce yourself to me. Thanks so much. Please thank your students, too. Posting these pics made me happy all over again.<br /><br />Here's the cool <a href="http://vimeo.com/17717906">video about Napa County Reads. </a><br />Be sure to watch to the end to see the children's chorus!<br /><br /><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/17717906?portrait=0" width="400" frameborder="0" height="225"></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/17717906">Napa County Reads 2010</a></p><p>To read more about my experiences with Napa County Reads, please look <a href="http://lynnhazenimaginaryblog.blogspot.com/2010/11/napa-county-reads-shifty-more-amazing.html">here</a>, <a href="http://lynnhazenimaginaryblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/napa-valley-opera-house-redwood-middle.html">here</a>, and <a href="http://lynnhazenimaginaryblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/school-visits-shifty-music-and-this-is.html">here</a>.<br /></p>Lynn E. Hazenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01063230847100709277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939364134027570412.post-35268208876282975542010-12-10T19:30:00.000-08:002010-12-11T23:45:08.359-08:00Napa Valley Opera House & Redwood Middle School<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQL6-ecFRSI/AAAAAAAAAEM/8ATdQ1hJ34w/s1600/IMG_6681.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQL6-ecFRSI/AAAAAAAAAEM/8ATdQ1hJ34w/s400/IMG_6681.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549273642103555362" border="0" /></a>Here we are back at the Opera House. And here are some of the students who attended. I <span style="font-style: italic;">think </span>these delightful young ladies were from Redwood Middle School. They came up to have their books signed and to strongly encourage me to write a sequel to SHIFTY! We took this picture to keep reminding me to write a sequel or companion book. Seeing their sweet faces and remembering all the student and professional artists I met that night will certainly inspire me when I'm in the midst of writing and rewriting.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQLwxLQpigI/AAAAAAAAADE/FK30Dhqt_u0/s1600/ShiftyStudentsLynn6753.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 311px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQLwxLQpigI/AAAAAAAAADE/FK30Dhqt_u0/s400/ShiftyStudentsLynn6753.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549262418500749826" border="0" /></a><br />I met Redwood Middle School's After School program teachers and several of the student artists.<br />Here is the Teacher's Statement and some of the truly wonderful planter boxes created by the student artists. Take a look and also take a look at <a href="http://vimeo.com/17717906">the video</a> made by the Napa County Office of Education and the Arts Council Napa Valley to see the students in action. At the end of <a href="http://vimeo.com/17717906">the video </a>is the Napa Valley Children's Chorus, too!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQLxEvtHZsI/AAAAAAAAAEE/r_o2nIDkyYk/s1600/RedwoodMSTeacherStatement6718.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 365px; height: 546px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQLxEvtHZsI/AAAAAAAAAEE/r_o2nIDkyYk/s400/RedwoodMSTeacherStatement6718.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549262754701338306" border="0" /></a>This planter was on wheels! And there's Lester!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQLxEU1fkCI/AAAAAAAAAD8/qZImmsEGFR8/s1600/WagonShiftyPlanter6704.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 255px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQLxEU1fkCI/AAAAAAAAAD8/qZImmsEGFR8/s400/WagonShiftyPlanter6704.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549262747488718882" border="0" /></a>Here is the other side of the planter on wheels. Soli would approve!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQLxECoiT7I/AAAAAAAAAD0/zT2K45ycFaA/s1600/WagonShiftyPlanter6703.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 229px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQLxECoiT7I/AAAAAAAAAD0/zT2K45ycFaA/s400/WagonShiftyPlanter6703.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549262742602534834" border="0" /></a>Love the colorful peace symbols below and how Lester keeps showing up again and again.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQLxD91H89I/AAAAAAAAADs/zdioWtJtYp4/s1600/StudentPlanters6673.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 372px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQLxD91H89I/AAAAAAAAADs/zdioWtJtYp4/s400/StudentPlanters6673.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549262741313156050" border="0" /></a>A couple of weeks after the event, a friend who attended surprised me with a gift of the red-heart planter above. Sweet! I'm using it to keep my CD's organized and every time I see it, it makes me smile.<br /><br />Below, here's Lester again. Maybe Lester needs a book of his own next? Love the colorful flowers and use of buttons and objects on the Shifty-themed planters.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQLwyR60pNI/AAAAAAAAADc/KcFi84so41w/s1600/StudentCatPlanters6670.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 323px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQLwyR60pNI/AAAAAAAAADc/KcFi84so41w/s400/StudentCatPlanters6670.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549262437468120274" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQLwxwWx8gI/AAAAAAAAADU/peYRkP2h0Do/s1600/ShiftyStudentPlanter6730.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 220px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQLwxwWx8gI/AAAAAAAAADU/peYRkP2h0Do/s400/ShiftyStudentPlanter6730.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549262428458578434" border="0" /></a>These two are also cool, as were the rest of the student-made planters. <a href="http://vimeo.com/17717906">See the video</a> for a view of a few more. I could have spent hours taking pics of them all and reading the artist statements.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQL6_y7XwmI/AAAAAAAAAEs/ZE07LSYV6OY/s1600/IMG_6674.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQL6_y7XwmI/AAAAAAAAAEs/ZE07LSYV6OY/s400/IMG_6674.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549273664783368802" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQL6_jAxXzI/AAAAAAAAAEk/9CAZhrYpVnI/s1600/IMG_6675.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQL6_jAxXzI/AAAAAAAAAEk/9CAZhrYpVnI/s400/IMG_6675.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549273660511051570" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQL6_KmAG5I/AAAAAAAAAEc/Tfm5aNF7PCo/s1600/IMG_6680.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQL6_KmAG5I/AAAAAAAAAEc/Tfm5aNF7PCo/s400/IMG_6680.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549273653956320146" border="0" /></a>Are these the work of student artists? Or professional artists? I'm not sure. The pictures got all jumbled on my camera, I was so excited to see them all. Either way, I love all the colors and designs and how different artists interpreted various characters, themes and scenes in the book. If you are one of the artists of any of these planters on this page or any other blog pages here and want credit for your great work, please comment below and I'll add your name. (Students, please ask your parents' permission of course)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQL6-tPjH_I/AAAAAAAAAEU/bJmrI-M174k/s1600/IMG_6679.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQL6-tPjH_I/AAAAAAAAAEU/bJmrI-M174k/s400/IMG_6679.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549273646077517810" border="0" /></a>If you bought of the planters at the auction, please comment which one. I'd love to see pics of them in their new homes, too!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQLwxlpBgJI/AAAAAAAAADM/rZzEO9MYaGg/s1600/HomeShiftyPlanter6676.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 144px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tMy7F0gwrDc/TQLwxlpBgJI/AAAAAAAAADM/rZzEO9MYaGg/s400/HomeShiftyPlanter6676.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549262425582305426" border="0" /></a>The day after the Opera House event I spoke at Redwood Middle School. The venue this time was the school library, so there were not nearly as many students as at <a href="http://lynnhazenimaginaryblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/school-visits-shifty-music-and-this-is.html">Harvest Middle School</a>, but they were equally well-prepared, they had great questions and were very enthusiastic.Lynn E. Hazenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01063230847100709277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939364134027570412.post-55913192803968755742010-12-10T14:48:00.000-08:002010-12-11T10:44:15.775-08:00School visits, Shifty Music, and a "this is not a drill" FIRE ALARM!Napa County Reads SHIFTY!<br /><br />My first day of Napa County school visits after my Napa Valley Opera House presentation began at Harvest Middle School. I met the principal and more amazing teachers including science teacher extraordinaire, Ms. Laura Lewis. Ms. Lewis had rallied the other science teachers in the weeks prior to take a bit of time to read SHIFTY aloud to their students during their science classes because the English curriculum was filled to the max with little time for reading aloud.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TQLGGlpNSXI/AAAAAAAABIA/TGnYF5L0VUY/s1600/LynnTeachersPoster6760.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 281px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TQLGGlpNSXI/AAAAAAAABIA/TGnYF5L0VUY/s400/LynnTeachersPoster6760.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549215507360336242" border="0" /></a>That's me on the left, Laura Lewis to the right of Shifty, and another great teacher. (I met so many amazing teachers and librarians, counselors and youth advocates during Napa Reads! I hope someone reminds me of the other teacher's name.)<br /><br />Ms. Lewis was great. She showed me her copy of SHIFTY with several different bookmarks, marking the slightly different progress of several science classes. Because of Ms. Lewis and the other science teachers, most of the students had heard at least half of SHIFTY read aloud. This makes all the difference for a successful author visit. She also prepared a totally cool mix of music from the songs in the book, mostly the songs of Martha's misheard lyrics. So that made me smile and put me in a good mood as the students filed in (and in, and in, and in!) Bleachers and bleachers of students! We're talking about a half-gym full of 6th, 7th and 8th graders, maybe 300-350+, which would normally make me a bit nervous to start. But like I said, the songs made me remember some funny moments in the book and put me at ease. Thank you Ms. Lewis!<br /><br />Harvest Middle School students created the colorful poster below of the cover of the book which they asked me to sign. The poster will hang in their school library with several other author visit posters.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TQLGGlpNSXI/AAAAAAAABIA/TGnYF5L0VUY/s1600/LynnTeachersPoster6760.jpg"><br /></a>I wish I could have gone to the library to see all the posters hanging in there--but it was time to start my presentation!<br /><br />The students were super responsive and engaged! They participated actively, asked great questions, and then suddenly--<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">--THE FIRE ALARM WENT OFF--! </span><br /><br /></div>Yikes! It was LOUD! I was told "this is not a drill." Okay, so it was time to leave the gym. The teachers and students were incredible as they filed safely out of the gym along with the rest of the school to the yard outside. It took some time to make sure everything was okay and to file everyone systematically back into the gym! Luckily we were in a 90 minute block period so once everyone was seated again we resumed with a teensy bit more of my presentation and Q & A (my favorite part). Again the students were lively and engaged and had really great questions.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TQLGGM9F-wI/AAAAAAAABH4/xT_0M2Lv2Ms/s1600/LynnHazenBarbaraNemko6758.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 340px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TQLGGM9F-wI/AAAAAAAABH4/xT_0M2Lv2Ms/s400/LynnHazenBarbaraNemko6758.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549215500732857090" border="0" /></a> That's me again with Dr. Barbara Nemko, superintendent of schools, admiring the poster at Harvest Middle School. Today in the mail, I received a BIG packet of letters from Barbara. She shared the letters that the students at Harvest Middle School had sent, thanking her for the copies of SHIFTY for the students to read and for bringing me to school. I'd like to thank Dr. Nemko, too!<br /><br />The students' letters were fun and I'll quote some here soon, but <span style="font-style: italic;">now</span> I need to post more <a href="http://lynnhazenimaginaryblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/napa-valley-opera-house-redwood-middle.html">pics of Shifty-themed planter planter boxes created by the after school students at Redwood Middle School.</a>Lynn E. Hazenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03799679224716669691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939364134027570412.post-15211738139795067222010-12-08T17:18:00.000-08:002010-12-30T21:52:31.657-08:00A Great Surprise Video about Napa County ReadsThis was a fun surprise to find in my google alerts!<br /><a href="http://vimeo.com/17717906">A video about Napa County Reads. </a><br />Be sure to watch to the end to see the children's chorus!<br /><br /><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/17717906?portrait=0" width="400" frameborder="0" height="225"></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/17717906">Napa County Reads 2010</a></p>Lynn E. Hazenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03799679224716669691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939364134027570412.post-14889541764170760062010-11-28T22:05:00.000-08:002010-11-28T22:55:12.600-08:00Seymour Snail named a 2010 Maryland Blue Crab Young Readers Award Honor Book!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TPND7jNZdQI/AAAAAAAABHY/Qd8PPZqGn-o/s1600/SeymourCover4inch72.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 251px; height: 326px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TPND7jNZdQI/AAAAAAAABHY/Qd8PPZqGn-o/s400/SeymourCover4inch72.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544850256565990658" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:180%;" >Whoo hoo! This is fun news!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">The Amazing Trail of Seymour Snail </span>has been named a <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">2010 Maryland Blue Crab Young Readers Award Honor Book</span> in the Transitional Fiction category.<br /><br />This award, sponsored by the Maryland Library Association, honors the best in beginning and transitional fiction and non-fiction for children. For more information, please visit:<a href="http://www.mdlib.org/divisions/csd/blue.asp"> http://www.mdlib.org/divisions/csd/blue.asp</a><br /><br />Thank you Maryland Library Association. I'm honored.<br />So is Seymour. Did I mention, Whoo hoo?<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-size:180%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Whoo-hoo!</span></span><br /><br />Here are some animated crabs based on <a href="http://www.mermaidmary.com/mermaidsea.html">children's art</a> from my <a href="http://www.mermaidmary.com/">MermaidMary.com</a> website. I am sure Mary Margaret will not mind lending them to Seymour's Blue Crab celebration. Let's see if they stay animated on blogspot.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TPNDbeZkJoI/AAAAAAAABHI/Ci6O0wkkuKA/s1600/crab3.gif"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 252px; height: 273px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TPNDbeZkJoI/AAAAAAAABHI/Ci6O0wkkuKA/s400/crab3.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544849705519031938" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TPNDbB_PqjI/AAAAAAAABHA/GVXa6j4BBy0/s1600/crab2.gif"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 252px; height: 273px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TPNDbB_PqjI/AAAAAAAABHA/GVXa6j4BBy0/s400/crab2.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544849697892444722" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TPNDa0KGomI/AAAAAAAABG4/C3wbpdDWkx0/s1600/crab.gif"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 252px; height: 273px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TPNDa0KGomI/AAAAAAAABG4/C3wbpdDWkx0/s400/crab.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544849694179893858" border="0" /></a>Okay, these crabs are really <span style="font-style: italic;">red</span> crabs on a <span style="font-style: italic;">blue</span> background, but I love their expressions. If you need a <span style="font-style: italic;">blue</span> crab, here is the front of the brochure for the Maryland Blue Crab Young Reader Award (however the surfing crab looks a little <span style="font-style: italic;">greenish blue</span> to me!)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TPNDbTQH0sI/AAAAAAAABHQ/S-jDlBl5wx8/s1600/BlueCrabAward2010.gif"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 187px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TPNDbTQH0sI/AAAAAAAABHQ/S-jDlBl5wx8/s400/BlueCrabAward2010.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544849702526636738" border="0" /></a>Thanks again to the Maryland Library Association for recognizing Seymour.<br /><p class="MsoNormal"> </p>Lynn E. Hazenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03799679224716669691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939364134027570412.post-30320483161624796732010-11-28T08:00:00.000-08:002010-11-28T08:15:37.369-08:00Napa County Reads Shifty: More Amazing Shifty-themed Planter BoxesFamily and friends have been asking to see more Shifty-themed planter boxes created by professional and student artists that were auctioned at the Napa Valley Opera House to support literacy by Napa County Reads. I'm happy to share the following pictures. You can see my <a href="http://lynnhazenimaginaryblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/napa-county-reads-shifty.html">earlier posts about Napa County Reads</a> and more totally cool Shifty-themed planters <a href="http://lynnhazenimaginaryblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/more-more-more-napa-reads-shifty.html">here</a>, <a href="http://lynnhazenimaginaryblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/shifty-themed-planter-boxes-sneak.html">here</a>, and <a href="http://lynnhazenimaginaryblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/napa-county-reads-shifty.html">here</a>.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TPJuSoT9RrI/AAAAAAAABGo/gVuZ8_hcYlU/s1600/ChainsPlanterTobyGewertz6689.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 247px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TPJuSoT9RrI/AAAAAAAABGo/gVuZ8_hcYlU/s400/ChainsPlanterTobyGewertz6689.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544615357584328370" border="0" /></a>Toby Gewertz is the artist of the amazing planter box above.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TPJuGVlt05I/AAAAAAAABGY/WgN5mg4n77c/s1600/ShiftyTruckPlanterGarySnethen6687.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 349px; height: 366px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TPJuGVlt05I/AAAAAAAABGY/WgN5mg4n77c/s400/ShiftyTruckPlanterGarySnethen6687.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544615146400109458" border="0" /></a>Soli loves to drive. How cool is this planter-on-wheels by Gary Snethen?<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TPJuGL76w8I/AAAAAAAABGQ/kJtYOMjIHc8/s1600/TruckPlanter6686.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 293px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TPJuGL76w8I/AAAAAAAABGQ/kJtYOMjIHc8/s400/TruckPlanter6686.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544615143808877506" border="0" /></a>I was overwhelmed and touched with how unique and beautiful each of the planter boxes were. I loved seeing what parts of my novel spoke to the artists and how the artists brought scenes, settings, characters and themes to a different media.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TPJuFmptZkI/AAAAAAAABGA/YkmOLS4V_wA/s1600/ShiftyMissionPlanter6717.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 178px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TPJuFmptZkI/AAAAAAAABGA/YkmOLS4V_wA/s400/ShiftyMissionPlanter6717.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544615133800392258" border="0" /></a>When I was writing SHIFTY, I was just trying to capture the story the best I could--to bring Soli, Sissy, Martha, and Chance's story to life on the page. Seeing parts of Shifty's story brought to life in these planters was unexpected, wonderfu<span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span>l and truly inspiring!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TPJuFUa5pPI/AAAAAAAABF4/1BDUNxrmsaA/s1600/ShiftyMissionPlanter_6715.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 146px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TPJuFUa5pPI/AAAAAAAABF4/1BDUNxrmsaA/s400/ShiftyMissionPlanter_6715.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544615128906441970" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TPJt0jEhNHI/AAAAAAAABFw/G_DvN8zxWjc/s1600/ShiftyMissionPlanter6716.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 337px; height: 268px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TPJt0jEhNHI/AAAAAAAABFw/G_DvN8zxWjc/s400/ShiftyMissionPlanter6716.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544614840781321330" border="0" /></a>I'd love to match up the artist names with each of the boxes. If you created one of these planter boxes or know the artists' names, please comment, and I'll add them. Thanks!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TPJt0fwGhaI/AAAAAAAABFo/-eN5Zzfwc_w/s1600/GreenTreeHeartPlanter6710.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 128px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TPJt0fwGhaI/AAAAAAAABFo/-eN5Zzfwc_w/s400/GreenTreeHeartPlanter6710.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544614839890380194" border="0" /></a>This colorful planter box must have been inspired by Sissy's fortune cookie early in the story which said, "Keep a green tree in your heart and a songbird will come."<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TPJt0e9J4AI/AAAAAAAABFg/RvyzJ1zVJ3E/s1600/BirdHeartPlanter6712.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TPJt0e9J4AI/AAAAAAAABFg/RvyzJ1zVJ3E/s400/BirdHeartPlanter6712.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544614839676690434" border="0" /></a>Below is a pic of Soli/Shifty depicted as a shape-shifter Coyote by artist Hugo Corro. See Hugo Corro's artist statement, Sissy as a rabbit, and more views of the planter box <a href="http://lynnhazenimaginaryblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/more-more-more-napa-reads-shifty.html">here</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TPJtz23mRjI/AAAAAAAABFY/qRTRNUniO5M/s1600/SoliCoyote6706.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 178px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TPJtz23mRjI/AAAAAAAABFY/qRTRNUniO5M/s400/SoliCoyote6706.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544614828915967538" border="0" /></a><br />I tried to take lots of pictures at the Opera House event to remember them all, but I was also meeting many amazing people that night <span style="font-style: italic;">and</span> I was just a little bit nervous about my upcoming talk. So if you were there at the Napa Valley Opera House and you took pictures or bought one of the planter boxes, I'd love to see your planter in its new home, see more pics or hear why a particular planter "spoke" to you.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TPJtzuB5KcI/AAAAAAAABFQ/yC18MEa_tXQ/s1600/solifamilyplanter.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 242px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TPJtzuB5KcI/AAAAAAAABFQ/yC18MEa_tXQ/s400/solifamilyplanter.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544614826543229378" border="0" /></a>If you are one of the artists who participated, thank you, THANK you for depicting Shifty's story. The artists' statements were amazing too, but the lighting posed a challenge in getting pictures of the artist statements without too much reflection. You can see a few of them in the<a href="http://lynnhazenimaginaryblog.blogspot.com/2010_10_01_archive.html"> preview here</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Forecast: More Shifty-themed planter boxes coming soon.</span><br /><br />And please comment below. What are your fav's and why?<br />Are you one of the artists? Please tell me which box you created and share your artist statement. And if you bid on one of the boxes, please tell us what drew you to that planter box. Thanks!!Lynn E. Hazenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03799679224716669691noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939364134027570412.post-54880725316040171882010-10-24T18:40:00.000-07:002010-10-24T20:58:52.118-07:00More Napa Reads SHIFTY-Themed Planter Boxes<span style="font-weight: bold;">Please take a look at some more cool SHIFTY-themed planter boxes and artist statements by Napa Valley students and professional artists. Pretty amazing, don't you think?</span><br /><div style="text-align: left;">These were on display at the Napa Main Library.<br />These SHIFTY-themed planters and MORE will be displayed for silent auction at the free <a href="http://www.artscouncilnapavalley.org/press/2010_10_20_napa_county_reads.shtml">Napa County Reads Public Event</a> on Wed. Oct. 27th at the <a href="http://maps.google.com/?q=1030+Main+St%2c+Napa%2c+CA+94559-2641">Napa Valley Opera House</a>. Learn more about <a href="http://lynnhazenimaginaryblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/napa-county-reads-shifty.html">2010 Napa Reads SHIFTY! here</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMTu5k8PesI/AAAAAAAABE4/Rc4xw8abfRo/s1600/NapaLibrary.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 419px; height: 171px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMTu5k8PesI/AAAAAAAABE4/Rc4xw8abfRo/s400/NapaLibrary.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531808915254115010" border="0" /></a>I love how many different scenes, themes and characters in the book the artists have chosen to depict. Which is your favorite? Please leave a comment below. And of course please join me at the Napa Valley Opera House this Wednesday evening, October 27 for the Napa Reads Reception and Silent Auction to support literacy.<br /></div><br />I was so impressed by the artists' statements. Take a moment to read them and then look at their art.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMTu5k8PesI/AAAAAAAABE4/Rc4xw8abfRo/s1600/NapaLibrary.jpg"><br /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMTu5dbmxKI/AAAAAAAABEw/48uktKvJhaA/s1600/HugoCorroShiftyStatement.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 415px; height: 355px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMTu5dbmxKI/AAAAAAAABEw/48uktKvJhaA/s400/HugoCorroShiftyStatement.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531808913238181026" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMTttfghIII/AAAAAAAABEo/-_3emcy_lcw/s1600/HugoCorroShapeshifterPlante.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 246px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMTttfghIII/AAAAAAAABEo/-_3emcy_lcw/s400/HugoCorroShapeshifterPlante.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531807608125595778" border="0" /></a>Here are Soli & Sissy as shape-shifters. Soli is depicted as Coyote and Sissy, now a Rabbit, is wearing her sweater. How cool are these animal renditions of the characters in SHIFTY? Totally cool, right? The artist is <a href="http://www.nomorebadtown.com/art.htm">Hugo Corro</a>. I peeked at his website. He says he is <a href="http://www.nomorebadtown.com/art.htm">taking commissions</a>. I like his art and I like his attitude. And I tell you, his rates for portraits are very reasonable!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMTtsyvgNEI/AAAAAAAABEY/F-mbmNUpGaU/s1600/ShapeshifterShifty.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 331px; height: 719px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMTtsyvgNEI/AAAAAAAABEY/F-mbmNUpGaU/s400/ShapeshifterShifty.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531807596108854338" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Soli above, Sissy below.</span><br />(Sorry for the slight blurriness of the one above.<br />I must have been so excited to see these that I was shaking!<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMTtsxjzW_I/AAAAAAAABEQ/zvT3i2h4Dew/s1600/ShapeshifterSissy.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 339px; height: 555px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMTtsxjzW_I/AAAAAAAABEQ/zvT3i2h4Dew/s400/ShapeshifterSissy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531807595791342578" border="0" /></a><br />The planter below was on display at the Gessell Gallery and I couldn't find the artist statement. Still, I love this image of Lester, Martha, Sissy & Soli. I was delighted to see how many planter boxes had portrayed Lester, too. It makes me very happy that Lester's personality must have come through in the story. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Meowp!</span> Scroll down a bit more to see the Fish Heads for Lester mosaic planter and artist's statement below.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMTrQJI0XmI/AAAAAAAABEA/JVsUp8wvZYQ/s1600/solifamilyplanter.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 420px; height: 254px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMTrQJI0XmI/AAAAAAAABEA/JVsUp8wvZYQ/s400/solifamilyplanter.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531804904881151586" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMTrP4waKiI/AAAAAAAABD4/0ykWvydcHxo/s1600/PublicStoragePlanter.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 415px; height: 323px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMTrP4waKiI/AAAAAAAABD4/0ykWvydcHxo/s400/PublicStoragePlanter.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531804900483803682" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMTqIaHI4lI/AAAAAAAABDQ/i7ezyVXQhcA/s1600/HomeSweetHomePlanter.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 232px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMTqIaHI4lI/AAAAAAAABDQ/i7ezyVXQhcA/s400/HomeSweetHomePlanter.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531803672486928978" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Meowp! Another of my favorite literary cats!</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMTzBlqcFTI/AAAAAAAABFA/bcwDGuHHGMU/s1600/GreenPlanterBigLester.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 215px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMTzBlqcFTI/AAAAAAAABFA/bcwDGuHHGMU/s400/GreenPlanterBigLester.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531813450933343538" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMTrPZBXZXI/AAAAAAAABDo/I8XloSFz1pY/s1600/SeedlingsStatement.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 342px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMTrPZBXZXI/AAAAAAAABDo/I8XloSFz1pY/s400/SeedlingsStatement.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531804891964990834" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">I'm a big gardener, so I really enjoyed seeing all the plants, flowers and seeds painted on these planters.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMTrPTldC5I/AAAAAAAABDg/PCrWjgNt1Ss/s1600/SeedlingsPlanter.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMTrPTldC5I/AAAAAAAABDg/PCrWjgNt1Ss/s400/SeedlingsPlanter.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531804890505743250" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMTqHWoqoHI/AAAAAAAABDA/Do4D6mRc4j4/s1600/FishHeadsStatement.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 383px; height: 510px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMTqHWoqoHI/AAAAAAAABDA/Do4D6mRc4j4/s400/FishHeadsStatement.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531803654373941362" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMTqHIyF4RI/AAAAAAAABC4/qD4NzS6ozGY/s1600/FishHeadsMosaicPlanter.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 421px; height: 204px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMTqHIyF4RI/AAAAAAAABC4/qD4NzS6ozGY/s400/FishHeadsMosaicPlanter.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531803650655379730" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMTphOREHlI/AAAAAAAABCw/gyJAcCePMpQ/s1600/GGBridgePlanter.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 417px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMTphOREHlI/AAAAAAAABCw/gyJAcCePMpQ/s400/GGBridgePlanter.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531802999292436050" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Here's my favorite bridge. So glad to see it here.</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMTpgrfCBHI/AAAAAAAABCo/3eAOzP9e2xw/s1600/CintiaGGBridgeStatement.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 416px; height: 358px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMTpgrfCBHI/AAAAAAAABCo/3eAOzP9e2xw/s400/CintiaGGBridgeStatement.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531802989955777650" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMTpel4BuPI/AAAAAAAABCg/OSFhiacBq5I/s1600/FindingFamilyStatement.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 416px; height: 602px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMTpel4BuPI/AAAAAAAABCg/OSFhiacBq5I/s400/FindingFamilyStatement.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531802954090264818" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMT1AM_kk1I/AAAAAAAABFI/L1OOrp6rYzI/s1600/FamilyPlanter.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMT1AM_kk1I/AAAAAAAABFI/L1OOrp6rYzI/s400/FamilyPlanter.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531815626154480466" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">I've enlarged the Family sign because I really like the definition!</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMTpd8JwS7I/AAAAAAAABCY/kwhSRprOq8A/s1600/FamilySign.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 391px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMTpd8JwS7I/AAAAAAAABCY/kwhSRprOq8A/s400/FamilySign.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531802942890331058" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I am also so happy that home schoolers were involved with reading SHIFTY and creating planters</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">with Napa Reads </span>.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMTqHzAZ2qI/AAAAAAAABDI/XiIq3RndW2U/s1600/homeschoolersstatement.jpg"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMTguGpHNJI/AAAAAAAABCI/5n5w-z5YPyY/s1600/BehindBarsKeyPlanter.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 338px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMTguGpHNJI/AAAAAAAABCI/5n5w-z5YPyY/s400/BehindBarsKeyPlanter.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531793324979467410" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMTtsk4cEyI/AAAAAAAABEI/rmoRlV0rNHc/s1600/OwenShiftyStatement.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 370px; height: 463px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMTtsk4cEyI/AAAAAAAABEI/rmoRlV0rNHc/s400/OwenShiftyStatement.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531807592388236066" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMTttEZ8FcI/AAAAAAAABEg/uFEDMzKufUs/s1600/ShiftyWalkingHome.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 223px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMTttEZ8FcI/AAAAAAAABEg/uFEDMzKufUs/s400/ShiftyWalkingHome.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531807600850245058" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMTqHzAZ2qI/AAAAAAAABDI/XiIq3RndW2U/s1600/homeschoolersstatement.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 418px; height: 556px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMTqHzAZ2qI/AAAAAAAABDI/XiIq3RndW2U/s400/homeschoolersstatement.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531803661989698210" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMTgrg8IVrI/AAAAAAAABB4/4RKyFg7V4dM/s1600/MirrorWaxShiftyPlanter.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 422px; height: 177px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMTgrg8IVrI/AAAAAAAABB4/4RKyFg7V4dM/s400/MirrorWaxShiftyPlanter.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531793280498947762" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMTgtkHpgZI/AAAAAAAABCA/gWuw5tTLzkc/s1600/BabyFootprintsWaxPlanter.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 356px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMTgtkHpgZI/AAAAAAAABCA/gWuw5tTLzkc/s400/BabyFootprintsWaxPlanter.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531793315712303506" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMTgrg8IVrI/AAAAAAAABB4/4RKyFg7V4dM/s1600/MirrorWaxShiftyPlanter.jpg"><br /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMTgqVBdX5I/AAAAAAAABBw/G544_38KF5s/s1600/ShiftyWalkingHome.jpg"><br /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMTgpceAqsI/AAAAAAAABBo/7D8zFFKW3Uw/s1600/WaxHousePlanter.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 354px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMTgpceAqsI/AAAAAAAABBo/7D8zFFKW3Uw/s400/WaxHousePlanter.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531793244939135682" border="0" /></a><br />Don't you love the bright and cheery joyfulness of all that orange--and the planter boxes, flowers and curtains in the window? Feels like home!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Okay, I know it is hard to choose favorites, but which planter boxes or artists' statements do you like best?</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">And why?<br /><br />Forecast: Even more Shifty-themed planters at the Napa Valley Opera House on Wed. night, October 27th. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />These SHIFTY-themed planters and MORE will be displayed for silent auction at the free </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.artscouncilnapavalley.org/press/2010_10_20_napa_county_reads.shtml">Napa County Reads Public Event</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> on Wed. Oct. 27th at the </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://maps.google.com/?q=1030+Main+St%2c+Napa%2c+CA+94559-2641">Napa Valley Opera House</a><span style="font-weight: bold;">. Learn more about </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://lynnhazenimaginaryblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/napa-county-reads-shifty.html">2010 Napa Reads SHIFTY! here</a><span style="font-weight: bold;">.</span>Lynn E. Hazenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03799679224716669691noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939364134027570412.post-29804317234539671692010-10-23T19:51:00.000-07:002010-10-24T20:42:54.634-07:00SHIFTY-Themed Planter Boxes--SNEAK PREVIEW!!Here is a sneak preview of some of the amazing SHIFTY-themed planter boxes and the equally amazing artist statements. A few of the planters are already on display at the Napa Main Library. I was so touched to see them and read the artists' thoughts on what parts of Shifty's story inspired them to create their art. These SHIFTY-themed planters will be displayed for silent auction at the free <a href="http://www.artscouncilnapavalley.org/press/2010_10_20_napa_county_reads.shtml">Napa County Reads Public Event</a> on Wed. Oct. 27th at the <a href="http://maps.google.com/?q=1030+Main+St%2c+Napa%2c+CA+94559-2641">Napa Valley Opera House</a>. Learn more about <a href="http://lynnhazenimaginaryblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/napa-county-reads-shifty.html">2010 Napa Reads SHIFTY! here</a>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Wow, just wow!</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Take a look.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMTffXOXJII/AAAAAAAABBg/uEJFsCJJHco/s1600/HopeStatement.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 417px; height: 480px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMTffXOXJII/AAAAAAAABBg/uEJFsCJJHco/s400/HopeStatement.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531791972221002882" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Here are the two long sides of Emily Freiman's planter box.</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMOUllRVdkI/AAAAAAAABAI/fMP8lKAvWLg/s1600/keepgreentreeplanter.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 391px; height: 118px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMOUllRVdkI/AAAAAAAABAI/fMP8lKAvWLg/s400/keepgreentreeplanter.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531428140721993282" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMOUlOpqMZI/AAAAAAAAA_w/9XHf4D3KFj8/s1600/songbirdwillcomeplanter.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 415px; height: 132px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMOUlOpqMZI/AAAAAAAAA_w/9XHf4D3KFj8/s400/songbirdwillcomeplanter.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531428134649999762" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">And here are the 2 paintings on the shorter ends of Emily's creation.</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMOVFNt6EbI/AAAAAAAABAY/uRHzY8jKfpc/s1600/greentree.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 294px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMOVFNt6EbI/AAAAAAAABAY/uRHzY8jKfpc/s400/greentree.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531428684155195826" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMOULo9otsI/AAAAAAAAA_g/t543bKvEMTc/s1600/sparrowsongbird2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 323px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMOULo9otsI/AAAAAAAAA_g/t543bKvEMTc/s400/sparrowsongbird2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531427695036511938" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Here's another colorful planter with an artist statement by Darlene Meltzer.</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMOVE22h6QI/AAAAAAAABAQ/SpQymYqzeVQ/s1600/bloomsplanter.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 416px; height: 177px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMOVE22h6QI/AAAAAAAABAQ/SpQymYqzeVQ/s400/bloomsplanter.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531428678017345794" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMOVFmVph3I/AAAAAAAABAo/Od7c4P5FQmg/s1600/lovebloomsplanterstatement.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 418px; height: 581px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMOVFmVph3I/AAAAAAAABAo/Od7c4P5FQmg/s400/lovebloomsplanterstatement.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531428690764334962" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I'll post<a href="http://lynnhazenimaginaryblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/more-more-more-napa-reads-shifty.html"> some more (sneak preview) planter box photos</a> tomorrow.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">They are pretty amazing, don't you think?</span>Lynn E. Hazenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03799679224716669691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939364134027570412.post-11136678184839453072010-10-23T19:01:00.000-07:002010-10-24T10:39:09.339-07:00Napa County Reads SHIFTY!!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMOW7Qj29ZI/AAAAAAAABBA/jOlPFxGRR14/s1600/shiftypaperbackcover.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 164px; height: 256px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMOW7Qj29ZI/AAAAAAAABBA/jOlPFxGRR14/s400/shiftypaperbackcover.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531430712142919058" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Here's my exciting news!</span><br /><br />I am jazzed, honored, and <span style="font-style: italic;">very</span> excited that Napa County Reads has chosen <a href="http://www.shiftythebook.com/">SHIFTY</a> as their selection for 2010!<br /><br />What does this mean?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMOkN-UJr1I/AAAAAAAABBQ/gtXgGtrDEx4/s1600/shiftyArrow.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 30px; height: 53px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMOkN-UJr1I/AAAAAAAABBQ/gtXgGtrDEx4/s200/shiftyArrow.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531445327313874770" border="0" /></a>Students galore (and the Napa Valley Community) will all be reading and discussing SHIFTY!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMOkN-UJr1I/AAAAAAAABBQ/gtXgGtrDEx4/s1600/shiftyArrow.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 30px; height: 53px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMOkN-UJr1I/AAAAAAAABBQ/gtXgGtrDEx4/s200/shiftyArrow.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531445327313874770" border="0" /></a>I'll be speaking to students at 9 (!!!!!!!!!) different middle schools, high schools, and to youth at community court<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMOkN-UJr1I/AAAAAAAABBQ/gtXgGtrDEx4/s1600/shiftyArrow.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 30px; height: 53px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMOkN-UJr1I/AAAAAAAABBQ/gtXgGtrDEx4/s200/shiftyArrow.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531445327313874770" border="0" /></a>Napa Reads is hosting a SHIFTY-themed bookmark contest with the winning bookmarks being distributed by Napa County Libraries<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMOkN-UJr1I/AAAAAAAABBQ/gtXgGtrDEx4/s1600/shiftyArrow.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 30px; height: 53px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMOkN-UJr1I/AAAAAAAABBQ/gtXgGtrDEx4/s200/shiftyArrow.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531445327313874770" border="0" /></a>Artists (both student and professional) are creating <a href="http://lynnhazenimaginaryblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/shifty-themed-planter-boxes-sneak.html">SHIFTY-themed planter boxes</a> to be auctioned off in a fundraising event to support literacy on Oct. 27th at the <a href="http://maps.google.com/?q=1030+Main+St%2c+Napa%2c+CA+94559-2641">Napa Valley Opera House</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMOkN-UJr1I/AAAAAAAABBQ/gtXgGtrDEx4/s1600/shiftyArrow.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 30px; height: 53px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMOkN-UJr1I/AAAAAAAABBQ/gtXgGtrDEx4/s200/shiftyArrow.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531445327313874770" border="0" /></a>I'll be speaking at the historic <a href="http://maps.google.com/?q=1030+Main+St%2c+Napa%2c+CA+94559-2641">Napa Valley Opera House</a> for "An Evening of Art, Music, Food and a Great Book."<span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span>Panelists joining me include a foster parent, a former foster youth, a foster youth advocate from VOICES, a social worker, a probation officer and a Napa County judge. Wow!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMOkN-UJr1I/AAAAAAAABBQ/gtXgGtrDEx4/s1600/shiftyArrow.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 30px; height: 53px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMOkN-UJr1I/AAAAAAAABBQ/gtXgGtrDEx4/s200/shiftyArrow.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531445327313874770" border="0" /></a>Students from the Napa Valley Childrens’ Chorus, under the direction of Kim Markovich, will entertain with a short program of favorite song<span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">s</span>.</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMOkN-UJr1I/AAAAAAAABBQ/gtXgGtrDEx4/s1600/shiftyArrow.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 30px; height: 53px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/TMOkN-UJr1I/AAAAAAAABBQ/gtXgGtrDEx4/s200/shiftyArrow.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531445327313874770" border="0" /></a><br />Oh, and I hear there is some kind of student writing contest, too!<br /><br /><p style="text-align: left;">Please join us:</p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Wednesday, October 27</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">at the <a href="http://maps.google.com/?q=1030+Main+St%2c+Napa%2c+CA+94559-2641">Napa Valley Opera House</a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">It's FREE!</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">6:00 p.m. Reception & Silent Auction</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">7:00 p.m. Program Begins</span><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">Here is the<a href="http://www.artscouncilnapavalley.org/press/2010_10_20_napa_county_reads.shtml"> Napa Reads Press Release</a>:<br />(Note: I'm speaking mostly at middle schools and a few high schools so I'm not sure about the "5th graders" part. Of course I'd be happy for a zillion 5th graders to read SHIFTY, too!)<br /></p><h1 style="text-align: center;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</h1> <p style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"> Napa County Reads Public Event: October 27, 2010<br />Annual Literacy Program Announces 8th Annual Silent Auction Fundraiser<br />BY CHRISTY BORS </p> <div style="float: right; width: 200px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;"> <img src="http://www.artscouncilnapavalley.org/images/enews/2010-07-shift.gif" title="Shifty by Lynn E. Hazen" alt="Shifty by Lynn E. Hazen" width="200" /> </div> <p>Napa, CA -Napa County Reads, an annual literacy program fundraiser co-partnered by Napa Valley Office of Education (NCOE) Napa City-County Library and Arts Council Napa Valley (ACNV), kicks off another successful year with the 2010 selection of Shifty, a young adult novel by Bay Area author, Lynn E. Hazen. </p> <p>Now in its eighth year, Napa County Reads combines art and literacy education by selecting an inspirational book to be read by 5th grade students and the community. Along with reading the book, students are encouraged to create a bookmark themed after the selection. As in years past, four bookmarks, this year's inspired by Shifty, will be chosen to be the official "Napa County Reads" bookmarks and distributed throughout Napa County libraries for 2010. </p> <p>Napa County Reads helps foster a love of reading because everyone is reading, talking about, and sharing the same book, including many adults in the community," explains Barbara Nemko, Superintendent of Napa County Schools. "Students are further motivated by knowing they will meet the author and get to ask questions about the writing process, and why the subject matter of the book was chosen." </p> <p>Additionally, on display at Napa City-County Library are original artworks by local visual artists, ranging from student to professional. Arts Council Napa Valley brought this additional artistic component into the literacy program back in 2007 by presenting an interpretive art project that allowed local students and artists the chance to illustrate portions of the Napa County Reads selected novel on unique canvases. </p> <p>As a finale to the program, the artwork is auctioned at the Napa County Reads Reception each fall. This year's free public reception, presented at Napa Valley Opera House as part of Napa Valley ARTS 2010, features a reading and book signing by the author as well as a special panel discussion by former foster youth. 100% of the event proceeds benefit Napa County Reads. </p> <p>Shifty is the story is about a 15-year-old boy in foster care. Author Lynn Hazen, a resident of San Francisco, incorporated her love of the Bay Area into her young adult novel, bracketing Bay Area landmarks around main character Soli's misadventures as a foster teen. Shifty includes themes of resiliency, loss, love, and redefining family. Hazen's work has won numerous awards, including the Top Shelf Fiction Award from the Voice of Youth Advocates magazine, and a Smithsonian Notable Book Award. Kirkus Reviews praised Shifty as, "a realistic story that resonates." </p> <p>The artists who created work inspired by the novel couldn't agree more. Thematic interpretations of Shifty were placed on planter boxes, this year's unique "canvas" chosen by ACNV. Planters were selected because they nurture the growth of roots, much like foster homes across America. With varied approaches and individual styles, the planter boxes each touch on different themes of the book. Materials used on the planters range from steel to encaustic wax. </p> <p>This year's Napa County Reads Reception and Silent Auction will be held Wednesday, October 27th, beginning at 6:00pm at Napa Valley Opera House. The event is co-sponsored by the Napa County Office of Education, Napa Valley Opera House and Arts Council Napa Valley. </p> <p style="text-align: center;">###<br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">As I said at the start of this post, I am jazzed, honored, and <span style="font-style: italic;">very</span> excited! I'm also in awe of the series of events planned by Napa Valley Reads Committee. </p><p style="text-align: left;">Next blog post up--<a href="http://lynnhazenimaginaryblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/shifty-themed-planter-boxes-sneak.html">a sneak preview of some of the totally amazing SHIFTY-themed planter boxes and the equally amazing artists' statements</a>.</p><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14.5pt;" ><span style=""></span></span></b><p></p>Lynn E. Hazenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03799679224716669691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939364134027570412.post-64669914948418200682010-10-23T18:51:00.000-07:002010-10-23T18:59:27.512-07:00I'm Baaaaack!Well, hello there, Imaginary Readers!<br />I've been away awhile, haven't I?<br />Life has been busy. And good.<br />I traveled a bit over the summer.<br />I had a busy start to the school year but all is well.<br />I'll have some summer pics to share a bit later from New York and Vermont, but for I now just wanted to say hello and that I'm back with exciting news coming up next.Lynn E. Hazenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03799679224716669691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939364134027570412.post-92033801307587373082010-05-07T18:09:00.000-07:002010-05-13T11:48:52.058-07:00Let's Talk About The Quiet Book With NY Times Bestselling Author, Deborah Underwood, & Her Editor, Kate O'Sullivan<span style="font-weight: bold;">Dear Imaginary Readers, </span><br />Please meet <a href="http://www.deborahunderwoodbooks.com/">Deborah Underwood</a>, the author of the wonderful new picture book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0547215673/leh08-20">The Quiet Book</a>, and Kate O'Sullivan, Deborah's editor at Houghton Mifflin. I completely love everything about The Quiet Book including the illustrations by Renata Liwska. And I am not alone! The Quiet Book is getting rave reviews everywhere and it's a NY Times Bestseller (#5 on May 2nd, and it'll be #2 on May 16th). Whoo hoo!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S-TBJKzNQJI/AAAAAAAAA94/wJsKRGjxhSY/s1600/image005.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 325px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S-TBJKzNQJI/AAAAAAAAA94/wJsKRGjxhSY/s400/image005.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468708210796740754" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hi Deborah and Kate. Welcome to the Imaginary Blog.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lynn: </span>To start us off, can you each please tell us a little about yourselves, your career, and one unusual thing that few people know about you?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S-S_RAaKO-I/AAAAAAAAA9o/HEJQgNqRUHY/s1600/DeborahbyJohnVias.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 171px; height: 271px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S-S_RAaKO-I/AAAAAAAAA9o/HEJQgNqRUHY/s400/DeborahbyJohnVias.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468706146423028706" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Deborah: </span>I grew up in a small town in Washington state, attended Pomona College, then moved to San Francisco, where I've been ever since. I've been writing for kids since 2001, but before that I did various other types of writing--everything from adult articles to greeting cards and puzzles. Not many people know that the first few years after college, I made my living as a street musician, playing guitar and singing (and freezing) down at Fisherman's Wharf. I still sing, but now it's with a chamber choir (we get to perform inside, where it's warm!).<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Photo of Deborah credit: John Vias</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S-S_RollH4I/AAAAAAAAA9w/M3yKUs1yN9g/s1600/Katecrop.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 155px; height: 217px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S-S_RollH4I/AAAAAAAAA9w/M3yKUs1yN9g/s400/Katecrop.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468706157208346498" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kate: </span>I grew up in Lexington, MA, went to college in CT, and haven’t strayed too far by working at Houghton Mifflin in Boston . . . Bill Peet wrote and illustrated some of my favorite childhood books and he’s the reason why I landed here. I wish I could play guitar and sing like Deborah does; alas, I have a guitar in my living room corner that I bought in college and intended to learn how to play - but I guess I’ve been too busy reading!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lynn: </span>Deborah, could you please tell us about your inspiration for The Quiet Book?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Deborah:</span> I got the idea for The Quiet Book while I was sitting in a church, waiting for a classical guitar concert to start. As I sat there, I noticed several types of quiet--the hushed whispers before the performer entered, the audience's polite silence while he was tuning, and then that expectant, almost-electric silence right before he started to play. During the concert, I started thinking about other kinds of quiet, and wondered if there were enough varieties to make a picture book. I scribbled some notes down, and the manuscript took shape over the next month or so.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S-TDg4_tkvI/AAAAAAAAA-o/mt2uyXuKBrg/s1600/image006.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 329px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S-TDg4_tkvI/AAAAAAAAA-o/mt2uyXuKBrg/s400/image006.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468710817357468402" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lynn:</span> So many authors, including myself have been rejected by editors or agents with a comment along the lines of, "We love this or that about your story but in the end found it too quiet." Oh, the dreaded "Too quiet" editorial brush-off! Deborah, did you have any such responses from your crit group, agent or editors when you first completed The Quiet Book?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Deborah: </span>My critique groups were extremely supportive, thank goodness. Their faith in the idea helped keep me from losing confidence when the expected "too quiet" rejections from editors started to roll in. I was thrilled that Kate understood what I was trying to do and wanted to work with me. She gave me one of my very first "good" (i.e. personal) rejections when I was just starting out, so it was great to finally get to work with her after all those years.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lynn:</span> Kate, what did you think when you first saw Deborah's ms? Was it love at first reading? Did you have any challenges getting everyone on board at the acquisitions or marketing meetings?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kate:</span> I have to say that it was love at first reading for me – I found Deborah’s quiets so unique, so authentic and true to children’s lives that I knew they would draw readers in. Luckily, my publisher and editorial director have a lot of faith and trust in my passion for particular projects, so I didn’t encounter any of the dreaded “too quiet” resistance.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lynn: </span>Deborah & Kate, Did you always imagine animals for the illustrations? What was your process on choosing such a perfect illustrator?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S-TDhzyuvbI/AAAAAAAAA-4/3Uk_kCUyPQk/s1600/image008.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 329px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S-TDhzyuvbI/AAAAAAAAA-4/3Uk_kCUyPQk/s400/image008.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468710833140710834" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Deborah:</span> I'd always assumed the characters would be people. But then Kate said they'd found an illustrator who did wonderful animals and asked if I'd be open to animal characters, and I said absolutely. I'm not a particularly visual writer--I don't usually have strong ideas about how my characters should look--and I love animals. Now it's hard to imagine the book any other way.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S-TDhbw31GI/AAAAAAAAA-w/IHDI9PIAUkc/s1600/image007.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 329px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S-TDhbw31GI/AAAAAAAAA-w/IHDI9PIAUkc/s400/image007.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468710826690466914" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kate:</span> When I read Deborah’s manuscript, I immediately pictured it with Renata Liwska’s wonderful, gentle – and quiet – animal characters. I have been crazy about her artwork since she and I worked on LITTLE PANDA and knew that it would be just right for Deborah’s whimsical observations. Matching illustrators to manuscripts is one of my favorite parts of my job and I have to say that Renata and Deborah are a dream team.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lynn: </span>Deborah, did you include many illustration notes with your manuscript or did you let the words carry Renata's imagination? Were there any early readers, critique group members or others who did not "get" what you were aiming for?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Deborah:</span> I did have some illustration notes, although not many. Working on this book was a great experience, because I got to see sketches early on and make comments. I feel like we all worked collaboratively to make the book the best it could be.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lynn: </span>Deborah & Kate, since this is an imaginary blog I’m hoping you have some advice for writers on how to keep going when what we are imagining is not yet showing up on the page?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Deborah: </span>I suggest a two-pronged approach: Sometimes you need to just make yourself sit down and write, even though you're not feeling inspired. And sometimes you need to give yourself permission to take time off, even if it's just a few hours, and give your unconscious a chance to work. I find that the latter can be even more challenging than the former. We're conditioned to feel guilty if we're not actively working, yet sometimes the best ideas come when we're not sitting at our desks. I nearly skipped the guitar concert that inspired The Quiet Book because I was really busy and didn't feel I should take the time off. I only went because my dad had already purchased a ticket for me. If I hadn't gone, The Quiet Book might not exist now.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kate:</span> I’m afraid that I don’t have any new advice on this front; writing about something you’re passionate about is still the way to get the best book. And read, read, read to help you write, write, write! Reading is excellent practice for discovering what you think works (and doesn’t) in a book, what you yourself want to say, and how you’re going to say it. Lastly, know that if one of your manuscripts gets rejected, it’s just that manuscript – not your entire body of work as a writer.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lynn: </span>Deborah, Can you please tell us a little about whether any of the quiet situations were inspired by real-life people?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Deborah:</span> Not really--I think most of them are situations that almost all kids find themselves in at one time or another. One of my favorite illustrations is the one for "last one to get picked up from school quiet"--the poor moose's forlorn expression perfectly captures that feeling we've all experienced. When I'm with someone who's reading the book for the first time, that's the page where invariably he or she will make a sympathetic noise out loud. "Car ride at night quiet" is one that I remember distinctly from childhood--the peacefulness of leaning against the cool car window and gazing up at the moon.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lynn:</span> Have either of you thought of any "blooper kinds of quiet" (not intended for a child audience)? If so, please share.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Deborah:</span> Oh, there are so many...I'm fond of "internet date used very old photo quiet" and "first 'Ma’am' quiet."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kate:</span> Let’s see: “first gray hair quiet,” and “finding out niece’s dance recital is 4 hours long quiet”<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lynn:</span> Kate and Deborah, What aspects of your writing (or editing) career is surprisingly different than you ever imagined?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Deborah:</span> I was probably delusional when I thought that at some point I'd "get" writing. Certain aspects become easier with time, but you never get over the main challenge: you have to sit down and create a fresh story where none existed before. I imagined that by the time I'd sold several books, that whole blank-page thing wouldn't be an issue. Ha!<br /><br />And on the Pollyanna-ish side, I never expected writing would put me into contact with so many wonderful people. I can't imagine what my life would be like without my amazing children's-writing friends and colleagues.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kate: </span>To continue with the Pollyanna-ish vibe, I’d have to say that the continual joy I feel, season after season, as new books are created, published, shipped, and put into kid’s hands has caught me by surprise a bit. That, and how difficult it is to actually read and edit at the desk, during working hours . . .<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lynn:</span> Deborah, what are you working on now? What can your readers look forward to next?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Deborah: </span>I'm wrestling with a new picture book at the moment. I also have a number of other picture books and easy readers in various states of disrepair, two more of the Sugar Plum Ballerina chapter books that need to be written, a terrible first draft of a middle-grade novel, and a few other novel and screenplay ideas. So what I'll probably do next is organize my sock drawer.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S-TRZndTGsI/AAAAAAAAA_I/UUAV1SM7twc/s1600/image009.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 329px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S-TRZndTGsI/AAAAAAAAA_I/UUAV1SM7twc/s400/image009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468726085553429186" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lynn:</span> Thank you Deborah and Kate for visiting with us at The Imaginary Blog.<br /><br />Imaginary Readers, please take a look at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0547215673/leh08-20">The Quiet Book</a>.<br />Also take a peek at more wonderful sketches by Renata Liwska and tell us what you think.<br /><br />Writers, have you ever had a manuscript rejected for being "too quiet?"<br /><br />Can you think of a Blooper-Kind-of-Quiet?<br />If so, please comment!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S-TCvSEEmUI/AAAAAAAAA-Y/w0Us38SfDlw/s1600/image004.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S-TCvSEEmUI/AAAAAAAAA-Y/w0Us38SfDlw/s400/image004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468709965093181762" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S-TCu6bDCVI/AAAAAAAAA-Q/wVbCl7wPHzc/s1600/image003.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S-TCu6bDCVI/AAAAAAAAA-Q/wVbCl7wPHzc/s400/image003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468709958747097426" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S-TCuXMhIiI/AAAAAAAAA-I/hpyh6UmPMmQ/s1600/image002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S-TCuXMhIiI/AAAAAAAAA-I/hpyh6UmPMmQ/s400/image002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468709949290914338" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S-TCt9ux5bI/AAAAAAAAA-A/2T_DvhbEtfs/s1600/image001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S-TCt9ux5bI/AAAAAAAAA-A/2T_DvhbEtfs/s400/image001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468709942455297458" border="0" /></a>Lynn E. Hazenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03799679224716669691noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939364134027570412.post-23327290865620205752010-04-15T13:55:00.000-07:002010-04-15T14:43:06.383-07:00Making Books With Young Children: A "Make and Take" Hands-On Workshop For Adults<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Saturday May 1, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">in San Francisco</span></span><br />(For info & to register, please <a href="http://www.lynnhazen.com/images/5_1_2010MakingBooksWorkshop.pdf">download a pdf here</a>)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S8eA5QSlXQI/AAAAAAAAA8o/BvSknneUIQY/s1600/HazenMemoryBookWindow.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 209px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S8eA5QSlXQI/AAAAAAAAA8o/BvSknneUIQY/s400/HazenMemoryBookWindow.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460474794323827970" border="0" /></a>Learn unique techniques for making books in this "Make and Take" hands-on workshop for adults who work and play with young children & their families. This workshop is ideal for preschool teachers, early childhood professionals, therapists, children's book authors who do classroom visits, parents and nannies. Please join Lynn Hazen, MA, MFA & Debbie Vuong, MFT in this fun workshop. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Certificates for 5 hours of Professional Development will be awarded.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S8eAbN64rxI/AAAAAAAAA8A/6IvH1rwP8e8/s1600/HazenMakingBooks.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S8eAbN64rxI/AAAAAAAAA8A/6IvH1rwP8e8/s400/HazenMakingBooks.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460474278291484434" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Why Make Books with Children? </span>Building individual and collaborative family & classroom books with young children provides many opportunities for creative expression, encourages self-esteem, early literacy, family-friendly home-school interaction, cross-curriculum learning, and an early love of books. Plus it's fun! Children, teachers, and families will want to read these one-of-a-kind books together again and again, encouraging an early start to a life-long love of books, reading, writing and creativity.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S8eAcBR4vII/AAAAAAAAA8Y/sgbqlLoVoNo/s1600/HazenMemoryBook2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S8eAcBR4vII/AAAAAAAAA8Y/sgbqlLoVoNo/s400/HazenMemoryBook2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460474292078165122" border="0" /></a>Books include pop-up books, accordion books, collaborative books, theme books, dictation stories, file folder books, teeny-tiny books, memory books, social stories, and more ideas just in time for Mother's & Fathers Day!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S8eBREOaA1I/AAAAAAAAA9Y/GT1eltEwmHo/s1600/lynnMakingbooks.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 301px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S8eBREOaA1I/AAAAAAAAA9Y/GT1eltEwmHo/s400/lynnMakingbooks.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460475203401941842" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S8eBQsuuolI/AAAAAAAAA9Q/OIFZ62PvLt8/s1600/HazenPopUpTalkBook2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 374px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S8eBQsuuolI/AAAAAAAAA9Q/OIFZ62PvLt8/s400/HazenPopUpTalkBook2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460475197095060050" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S8eBQVBmybI/AAAAAAAAA9I/qMcLMQrRvQU/s1600/HazenPopUpTalkBook.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 149px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S8eBQVBmybI/AAAAAAAAA9I/qMcLMQrRvQU/s400/HazenPopUpTalkBook.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460475190731786674" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S8eA6Wyjk6I/AAAAAAAAA9A/ef0uh8SjTb0/s1600/HazenMinisBeeTrapSticks.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 290px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S8eA6Wyjk6I/AAAAAAAAA9A/ef0uh8SjTb0/s400/HazenMinisBeeTrapSticks.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460474813248410530" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S8eA50XFIaI/AAAAAAAAA84/JvT2x3yrClQ/s1600/HazenMiniBooks.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 281px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S8eA50XFIaI/AAAAAAAAA84/JvT2x3yrClQ/s400/HazenMiniBooks.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460474804006363554" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S8eA5h10UFI/AAAAAAAAA8w/cljwsD4PRGg/s1600/HazenMemoryHands.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 257px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S8eA5h10UFI/AAAAAAAAA8w/cljwsD4PRGg/s400/HazenMemoryHands.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460474799035011154" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Required:</span> Each participant needs to bring a pair of scissors, pencil, pen, and a large glue stick or small bottle of white glue (or both). Other materials will be provided. (But if you have some stuff/treasures you want to clear out of your art supply closet, please bring it to use or share with your fellow workshop participants).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Optional: </span>Feel free to bring any children's art, photos, kid-painted papers, collage items, favorite markers, etc. (Or any scrap-booking type materials you might like to use in your Make & Take sample books).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Encouraged:</span> If you've already made any books with children, please bring some samples to show.<br /><br />This "Make and Take" Hands-On Workshop For Adults will be led by Lynn E. Hazen, <a href="http://www.lynnhazen.com/">www.LynnHazen.com</a> who has an M.A. in Early Childhood Education, & an M.F.A. in Writing For Children and Young Adults; and Debbie Vuong, MFT. <a href="http://www.debbievuongmft.com/">www.debbievuongmft.com </a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S8eA5DYJUoI/AAAAAAAAA8g/_UiMg4bbM8c/s1600/HazenMemoryBook3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 143px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S8eA5DYJUoI/AAAAAAAAA8g/_UiMg4bbM8c/s400/HazenMemoryBook3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460474790857495170" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S8eAb5DxuOI/AAAAAAAAA8Q/ZdsNfY3Di2E/s1600/HazenMemoryBook.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 149px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S8eAb5DxuOI/AAAAAAAAA8Q/ZdsNfY3Di2E/s400/HazenMemoryBook.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460474289871501538" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S8eAbUySsfI/AAAAAAAAA8I/F4dcBqxIVmM/s1600/HazenMemoryABCThumbprints.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 168px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S8eAbUySsfI/AAAAAAAAA8I/F4dcBqxIVmM/s400/HazenMemoryABCThumbprints.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460474280134488562" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Any questions? Please email: PreschoolLynn@gmail.com</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Location: St. Francis Lutheran Church, 152 Church St. SF. 94114</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">(near the J Church Street Car line. Neighborhood parking nearby okay on Sat.)</span><br />(Many thanks to Friends of St. Francis for their support of this event)<br /><br />To register, please copy and mail the form below with your check to:<br />Lynn Hazen, PO Box 40097, San Francisco, CA 94140<br />You can also <a href="http://www.lynnhazen.com/images/5_1_2010MakingBooksWorkshop.pdf">download a pdf of this info here</a> to print & mail (or send to your friends--please do! There's a discount for groups of 4 or more)<br />--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />Name____________________________________________<br />email____________________________________________<br />Phone number_____________________________________<br />How did you hear about this workshop?_________________<br /><br />Registration fee for the workshop is $75. per person<br /><br />* $5.00 Early Registration Discount if received by April 19th.<br /><br />** Groups of 4 or more may take an additional $5. discount if registrations are mailed together in the same envelope. Please list names and emails on reverse of this form of all 4 people if registering together for the group registration discount. Thanks!<br /><br />Registration Fee: $75.00<br />*Early Reg Discount - <____><br />** Group of 4 Discount - <____><br />Total $ ________<br />Please make checks payable to: Lynn Hazen<br />Circle YES if you need a receipt.<br />Make receipt out to: ___________________________________________<br />To register, please mail form above with your check to: Lynn Hazen, PO Box 40097, San Francisco, CA 94140<br /><br />Any questions? Please email: <span style="font-weight: bold;">PreschoolLynn@gmail.com</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S8eAa3DgwPI/AAAAAAAAA74/f5H-X7AHsS8/s1600/HazenAsstBooks.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 228px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S8eAa3DgwPI/AAAAAAAAA74/f5H-X7AHsS8/s400/HazenAsstBooks.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460474272153649394" border="0" /></a>Lynn E. Hazenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03799679224716669691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939364134027570412.post-67303227724900982072010-04-14T21:11:00.001-07:002010-04-14T22:10:50.858-07:00Lynn Gets a Haircut<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">My hair grows slowly. I lost track of how many years it took to grow an extra 10 inches of hair so I could cut it and donate it to:<a href="http://www.locksoflove.org/"> www.LocksOfLove.org</a><br /></div></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S8aSL2V8eTI/AAAAAAAAA7w/jNUV12dT_IQ/s1600/LynnLocksHaircut.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S8aSL2V8eTI/AAAAAAAAA7w/jNUV12dT_IQ/s400/LynnLocksHaircut.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460212330497079602" border="0" /></a>These past several months when my hair was not quite long enough to cut, I couldn't help thinking that the process of growing one's hair to give away to someone you don't know, has a few parallels to writing a novel for unknown future readers. You take extra care of your hair, add more conditioner, avoid rubber bands that might damage it. And you hope that your small offering will be helpful to a child who needs it--because even though you don't know him or her and most likely never will--you care.<br /><br />When writing, you take care to capture the best story you can, revise again and again, weave in humor and heart, all the while hoping that someday your imagined readers will laugh, maybe even cry, and that they'll discover a little strand of hope in your story just when they need it.<br /><br />When revising your novel, it sometimes requires some drastic cutting, too!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Forecast: Less shampoo</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">required!</span>Lynn E. Hazenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03799679224716669691noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939364134027570412.post-36101259297727557892010-03-17T23:15:00.000-07:002010-03-17T23:46:36.590-07:00A Busy Saturday: Part 1: Storytime at Books Inc, BerkeleySaturday morning I headed to Books Inc in Berkeley for Storytime. I brought live snails from my garden, a real (not live) Stink Bug encased in plexiglass, <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Amazing Snail of Seymour Snail</span>, and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cinder Rabbit</span>. Oh, I brought a CD of the Bunny Hop, too. Everything was set up and ready to go.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S6G8XblB0KI/AAAAAAAAA6o/pxJ237OGKyk/s1600-h/LynnsBooksIncBerkeley.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 271px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S6G8XblB0KI/AAAAAAAAA6o/pxJ237OGKyk/s400/LynnsBooksIncBerkeley.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449844134821089442" border="0" /></a>All I needed was the audience of children. At first there were no children. It was a beautiful sunny day. The children must have been outdoors playing. But these cool cushions were ready for storytime...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S6G8XwUC7uI/AAAAAAAAA6w/XAJCB2vTntw/s1600-h/BooksIncPillows.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 360px; height: 145px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S6G8XwUC7uI/AAAAAAAAA6w/XAJCB2vTntw/s400/BooksIncPillows.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449844140387004130" border="0" /></a>It's a beautiful store there on 4th Street in Berkeley. Above is the fun Storytime carpet. The cushions are even more fun and exciting with children wobbling and falling off of them! Children arrived shortly after I took this pic and one little guy was particularly talented at wobbling, belly floating, and falling stunts. Then it got busy with stories, snails, stink bugs, questions, and a whole lot of Bunny Hopping. So busy in fact, I forgot to pull out the bunny ears for the kids to wear during the Bunny Hop. Oh well. Luckily for me, Books Inc folks, Sarah and Ben gave the ears a try.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S6G8XFtP0WI/AAAAAAAAA6g/xFydmzENVCo/s1600-h/SarahBenCinderSeymour.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 314px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S6G8XFtP0WI/AAAAAAAAA6g/xFydmzENVCo/s400/SarahBenCinderSeymour.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449844128949981538" border="0" /></a>Thanks Sarah and Ben!<br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Forecast: More authors and Storytimes at Books Inc, Berkeley. And more exciting wobbling on those fun cushions, too!</span><br /><br />Hop on over to Books Inc Berkeley and check out the kid's section. Tell Sarah and Ben that Lynn says "Hi!"Lynn E. Hazenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03799679224716669691noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939364134027570412.post-6650267276454820612010-03-17T23:00:00.000-07:002010-03-18T00:02:38.211-07:00Same Busy Saturday: Part 2--Moss Art? Will It Work?After my Books Inc Storytime in Berkeley, I returned to San Francisco and an afternoon of blue skies and sunshine. After so much rain these past couple of months I wanted to be outdoors and I wanted to experiment with some moss painting.<br /><br />What do you think, Imaginary Readers? Is this going to work?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S6HI-Va-uXI/AAAAAAAAA7g/TXdBmVnJY_Y/s1600-h/MossyBricks.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S6HI-Va-uXI/AAAAAAAAA7g/TXdBmVnJY_Y/s400/MossyBricks.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449857997322762610" border="0" /></a>First I found some moss growing all over the yard. The moss seems to love the recent rains.<br /><br />I had already scanned some children's snail art and transferred it to a piece of wood. Then I had dremeled out a little groove for the moss paint goo. I soaked the wood in water and my friend, Charlesie, soaked a few terra cotta pots, too.<br /><br />Then I smushed up some moss and yogurt to make gooey moss paint. I like to think that Seymour Snail would approve of this.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S6HI9hSZ34I/AAAAAAAAA7Q/ai34_GkoBPE/s1600-h/LynnMossArtTry1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 297px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S6HI9hSZ34I/AAAAAAAAA7Q/ai34_GkoBPE/s400/LynnMossArtTry1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449857983328149378" border="0" /></a>So we painted the wood and the clay pots.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S6HI94O105I/AAAAAAAAA7Y/52HeAnZhKBU/s1600-h/MossArtPots.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 231px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S6HI94O105I/AAAAAAAAA7Y/52HeAnZhKBU/s400/MossArtPots.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449857989487219602" border="0" /></a><br />The idea is that over time and with frequent spritzes of water from a spray bottle the moss will begin to grow...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S6HI8iKJ1MI/AAAAAAAAA7A/Si-lokA8saU/s1600-h/2SnailsMossArt.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 205px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S6HI8iKJ1MI/AAAAAAAAA7A/Si-lokA8saU/s400/2SnailsMossArt.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449857966382109890" border="0" /></a>I'll report back soon with some more pics in progress. Will the moss grow?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S6HI9M4jm8I/AAAAAAAAA7I/n-rew6ARKDg/s1600-h/FlyGirlSnailMossArt.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 252px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S6HI9M4jm8I/AAAAAAAAA7I/n-rew6ARKDg/s400/FlyGirlSnailMossArt.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449857977851026370" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Forecast: A growing love of moss art?</span><br /><br />What do you think, Imaginary Readers?<br />Will it work?<br />Do you have any unique recipes for garden arty paint?<br />Seymour wants to know.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S6HLAimCPdI/AAAAAAAAA7o/5Hr5zOMdBfw/s1600-h/SeymourCover4inch72.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 220px; height: 304px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S6HLAimCPdI/AAAAAAAAA7o/5Hr5zOMdBfw/s400/SeymourCover4inch72.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449860234241785298" border="0" /></a>Lynn E. Hazenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03799679224716669691noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939364134027570412.post-75530827706216698762010-03-17T21:41:00.000-07:002010-03-17T23:25:45.757-07:00Same Busy Saturday Part 3: The Amazing Jandy Nelson & The Sky is EverywhereSaturday evening, I went to <span style="font-weight: bold;">Jandy Nelson</span>'s book launch party at Books Inc Opera Plaza in San Francisco. What fun. There was a whole crew of alums from Vermont College's MFA program in writing for children & young adults (and a whole lot of other fans) to celebrate Jandy's debut YA novel, The Sky is Everywhere. Have you read this book? It's amazing. You must read it!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Sky is Everywhere</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;"> & VCFA is Everywhere, too!</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S6GwFA-n4iI/AAAAAAAAA6I/h5kASdteDxM/s1600-h/JandySkyVermontIsEverywhere.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 221px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S6GwFA-n4iI/AAAAAAAAA6I/h5kASdteDxM/s400/JandySkyVermontIsEverywhere.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449830624303505954" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.vermontcollege.edu/low-residency-mfa/writing-children-young-adults">Vermont College of Fine Arts MFA</a> alumni and current students from the left (back), <a href="http://www.lynnhazen.com/">Lynn Hazen</a>, Sharry Wright, Marsha Morrow, <a href="http://www.jandynelson.com/">Jandy Nelson</a>, <a href="http://www.annjacobus.com/">Ann Jacobus</a>, Page Koehlert, and Annmarie O'Brien. <a href="http://fleehall.blogspot.com/">Frances Lee Hall </a>in the front. More MFA alum arrived later but it was too crowded with Jandy's fans to gather for another photo op!<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S6GwPR58e8I/AAAAAAAAA6Y/TiD6SOtlpFE/s1600-h/JessJandyPinkPage.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 317px; height: 385px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S6GwPR58e8I/AAAAAAAAA6Y/TiD6SOtlpFE/s400/JessJandyPinkPage.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449830800645979074" border="0" /></a>Above, Jess from Books Inc (in the back) helped keep things running smoothly. Here's Jandy again, the gorgeous book cover, and Page in pink!<br /><br />Below is Alisha Niehaus, Jandy's editor at Dial/Penguin, and Jandy of course.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S6GwFlt7R7I/AAAAAAAAA6Q/j24LxPOiyug/s1600-h/AlishaNiehausJandyNelson.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 399px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S6GwFlt7R7I/AAAAAAAAA6Q/j24LxPOiyug/s400/AlishaNiehausJandyNelson.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449830634165585842" border="0" /></a>(Below) Jandy Nelson and Annmarie O'Brien, another VCFA MFA grad. Annmarie is teaching a class in <a href="http://extension.berkeley.edu/cat/course1684.html">Writing the YA Novel at UC Berkeley Extension</a>. Starts soon, so register now all you budding YA novelists!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S6GwETWNiMI/AAAAAAAAA54/Jj64b2_ZZH4/s1600-h/JandyAnnmarieObrien.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 377px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S6GwETWNiMI/AAAAAAAAA54/Jj64b2_ZZH4/s400/JandyAnnmarieObrien.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449830612054411458" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S6GwDxBHLcI/AAAAAAAAA5w/icTmSOtqsNw/s1600-h/JandyLynnJuliaWhelan.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 293px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S6GwDxBHLcI/AAAAAAAAA5w/icTmSOtqsNw/s400/JandyLynnJuliaWhelan.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449830602839109058" border="0" /></a>Jandy, Lynn, and Julia Whelan, the narrator of the audio version of The Sky is Everywhere. I hear the audio book is brilliant, too.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Forecast: Everyone is going to love The Sky is Everywhere.</span><br /><br />What do you think, Imaginary Readers? Have you read this book yet? Are you going to?Lynn E. Hazenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03799679224716669691noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939364134027570412.post-69805266494622811642010-03-17T21:00:00.000-07:002010-03-18T08:29:58.871-07:00SHIFTY Book Giveaway Contest at the Ultimate YA Reading Group.<span class="UIStory_Message">SHIFTY book giveaway at the Ultimate YA Reading Group. It's easy to enter here: <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://bit.ly/ShiftyUltimateYA" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" onmousedown="'UntrustedLink.bootstrap($(this),">http://bit.ly/ShiftyUltimateYA</a></span><br /><br />All you have to do is leave a comment on <span style="font-weight: bold;">Facebook's Ultimate YA Reading Group</span>'s link above responding to the following question(s):<br />- Tell us something about the first car you ever drove.<br />- If you are not yet driving, what kind of car would you LIKE to drive?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Deadline: March 6 – March 27</span>,<span style="font-weight: bold;"> 2010</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Five (5!!) winners will be chosen at random. </span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S6HEkQ7GSnI/AAAAAAAAA64/2I41skX4tyM/s1600-h/ShiftyPaperbackCover.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 186px; height: 288px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_he_J0CdwgUQ/S6HEkQ7GSnI/AAAAAAAAA64/2I41skX4tyM/s400/ShiftyPaperbackCover.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449853151392189042" border="0" /></a>(you might need to join Ultimate YA Reading Group to leave a comment and enter the contest, but it is easy, just click "join this group" on their Facebook page.)<br /><br />Take a look at the comments and descriptions of first cars and driving experiences. Some interesting posts that are fun to read. I think my character, Soli, in Shifty, would like reading these snippets of first driving experiences.<br /><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}"><span class="UIStory_Message"> <a href="http://bit.ly/ShiftyUltimateYA" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" onmousedown="'UntrustedLink.bootstrap($(this),">http://bit.ly/ShiftyUltimateYA</a></span></h3> Post your comment, too, for a chance to win a copy of Shifty.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Forecast: 5 Winners and some great first car stories!</span>Lynn E. Hazenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03799679224716669691noreply@blogger.com0