Category: Web Wanderings

Dizzy

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May 15, 2007

4:49 am

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On Writing, Web Wanderings

I’m pretty sure everyone has heard the allegedly Chinese curse/blessing “May you live in interesting times.” Well, my life has gotten interesting in the last week. Simple things have turned bafflingly complex. I’m pretty sure that if you look closely into my eyes, you might see something like this centered right in my pupils:

The rest of the world seems considerably less ditzy. The crew at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast have honored our incredibly creative and intellectual Summer Blog Blast Tour organizer and brainmother, Colleen Mondor. (Is that right? The Tour is her brainchild… so I guess she is the brainmother. Anyway, I digress.) Go right on over and read why so many of us drop in at her most excellent blog so regularly!

Meanwhile, Monday, May 21st Chicken Spaghetti is hosting Fiesta! A Multicultural Celebration for the next Carnival of Children’s Literature. I look forward to finding out what’s cooking with multicultural books – one of my interests for sure.

Also, the latest Edge of the Forest is up, and there’s a David Lubar interview!!! (Has anyone yet read True Talents? I have been captivated by the realness of the ‘voice’ in his novels.) There are a lot more goodies (see the review of Evil Genius), including a paean to Deb Caletti by LW, and the latest on Maureen Johnson’s Bermudez Triangle book challenge, so check it out!

Today I got to view the first cover design mock-up for my novel. I feel like I’ve been put on the spin cycle in the wash. Good things are happening — lots of things at once, which is making me feel a bit overwhelmed, but I’m hoping the dizzy feeling will fade soon.

Cheers, and happy week!

All content (unless otherwise attributed) is © Copyright Tanita S. Davis and may not be reproduced in any form.

Passing Through

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May 8, 2007

11:57 pm

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On Writing, Web Wanderings, Writing Daze

Some great things going on ’round the blogosphere, and I want to give you a quick heads up to check them out. First up, don’t miss Colleen at Chasing Ray’s first-Monday-of-the-month Wicked Cool Overlooked Books. She’s started the ball rolling to talk about books some of us have really loved, but haven’t heard much buzz about. I think its definitely a worthy topic, and eventually I plan to join in the fun… someday… when I get my life back from my novel.

Since high school I have cherished the work of Sylvia Plath, and 7 Impossible Things Before Breakfast highlights a new poetry collection about her — through her childhood, through her years at Smith, and her marriage. The prose poems are fictionalized, and told from the point of view of the people in her lives. It looks amazing, and the review is excellent. I especially love that this is a YA novel, and I can imagine many teens going to seek out her poetry after. Bravo! Here are the other Wicked Cool Overlooked Books that others are highlighting — Jen Robinson reviews Behind the Eyes by Francisco X. Stork, and Kelly mentions The Unresolved by TK Welsh, which was a Cybils pick. Kelly Fineman also reviews Your Own, Sylvia, and now I really can’t wait to pick it up!

A Chair, A(n empty) Fireplace (because it’s too bloody hot), & A Tea Cozy is reporting on the third book in the well-loved Greenstone Grail trilogy, hurrah! From what she says, I almost want to read the series from the beginning for a refresher before I tackle the end. It is yet another book I am putting on my private list for the 48 Hour Reading Challenge, coming soon to a blog near you…

A Wrung Sponge tackles the Uncle Remus tales, and I feel pleased that a.) someone else struggled with the language in the originals, and b.) that someone else recognized the folktale aspect, and cherished it enough to make it readable.

There are some children’s and YA books I never read because I was worried that they were racist – Uncle Remus was one of those, for a time. If there are others for you, Mitali reminds us of a great way to check our uneasy feelings about racism or sexism in children’s lit. This list is a great resource.

Colleen has a new column for the May Bookslut, and I am really excited that two of the Murder in the Faerie Realm books are right next to my bed. I MUST find time to read — and write reviews. I am woefully behind in everything, it seems.

I am blog-hopping, just not posting much myself these days as I am trying to talk a novel narrative roughly the size of The Queen Mary 2 into turning gracefully toward a conclusion.

Writing novel endings… bites. I’m hanging onto my sanity by my fingernails, here. Crafting a solid, satisfying conclusion is probably one of the hardest disciplines of writing overall. (For me, anyway. For some people, the weariness comes earlier. Like, in beginning a novel. AF seems to relish middles. Writers: we are all so weird.) I don’t want to bore anyone with my lying around on the floor in my nuddy pants, plugging my ears and singing while I try to make all the loose ends tie together nicely without hanging me, but I shall return to the world of the living shortly.

Meanwhile, happy Spring…

All content (unless otherwise attributed) is © Copyright Tanita S. Davis and may not be reproduced in any form.

Weekly Wrap-Up

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April 28, 2007

1:46 am

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Ethnicity and YA Literature, Happenings, On Writing, Web Wanderings

Finding Wonderland had a great first Craft Chat on Wednesday. Our beginning was on ‘beginnings, and we had quite a lively discussion.

We talked mostly about what worked for us in terms of books we loved, and how the best books had a beginning hook that involved something colorful to interest us right away. Some of the best hooks mentioned were Sue Limb’s funny little ‘horrorscopes’ and ‘parent commandments’ at the beginning of her chapters in the Girl, 15 series, Scott Westerfeld’s instant action in his Uglies series (Hey, look – a hoverboard!), and of course, the playing cards from I Am the Messenger.

Quiet books often have a hard time finding an audience, but we found in our discussion that it wasn’t quietness that caused us to have a hard time getting into a novel, but a lack of originality. If we felt like we were being “gimmicked” into reading the book, we were more resistant that open to reading it. We discussed how that might differ for tweens and teens than it would for us, as many of the things had to do with personal pet peeves (like text messages and novel elements like ending with a big dance or having the character able to travel anywhere in the world — never mind passports or things like, oh, money and parental permission).

Hope next time you can all join us! We plan to do another Craft Chat maybe in mid-June — more information to come!

*~~*~~*

In more Web Wanderings I found a piece on Henry Winkler, who talks about dyslexia, and his Hank Zipzer series. Hard to believe it, but he and Lin Oliver (yes, of SCBWI fame) are on their 11th book in that series.

“Other Heroes: African-American Comic Book Creators, Characters & Archetypes” is the name of an art show at Mississippi’s Jackson State University. The show focuses on racial representation through the media of graphic novels and comic books, which should be interesting, as African Americans and other ethnicities are generally unrepresented in comic books. The show lasts through the month of April, and has already been put together in coffee table book form, for the graphic art aficionados in the house.

One of my favorite public radio programs, put out by the University of Florida’s Center for Children’s Literature and Culture is called Recess! The World of Children’s Culture Every Day, On Monday this great little show is celebrating its 2000th episode in six years (yay for all their good work!). Their celebration of National Poetry Month this April has been full of whimsical readings, one of which was the famous all-English-majors-must-read rainbow poem by Wordsworth. Thinking about all the good things that we should not lose from our childhoods seems as good a way to look forward to a weekend sleeping late and playing in the dirt (yay, Sunday! Yay, gardening!) as any.

The Rainbow
My heart leaps up when I behold
A rainbow in the sky:
So was it when my life began;
So is it now I am a man;
So be it when I shall grow old,
Or let me die!
The Child is father of the Man;
I could wish my days to be

Bound each to each by natural piety.
– William Wordsworth
All content (unless otherwise attributed) is © Copyright Tanita S. Davis and may not be reproduced in any form.

Prayers, Poetry , Art: In War

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April 25, 2007

2:36 am

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On Writing, Web Wanderings

Having done a lot of research lately into the 40’s, WWII, and the lives and times of Americans in that era, I ran across a poem — well, a prayer, really — that is attributed to Eleanor Roosevelt, and is on display at the FDR Library and Museum. She carried it in her wallet throughout the War, on her visits on behalf of the war effort as a Red Cross spokesperson, wearing the blue uniform all the other girls did.
This is her poem:

Dear Lord
Lest I continue
My complacent way
Help me to remember
Somewhere out there
A man died for me today.
– As long as there be war
I then must
Ask and answer
Am I worth dying for?

A fascinating find on display at the Oakland MOCHA (Museum of Children’s Art – the show runs through June 3rd.) chronicles the same war from a child’s point of view. The pictures were painted at a day care for children whose parents worked in the war effort. This is one of the paintings, which obviously shows a mind well aware of the world around them.

It’s amazing how children are marketed to these days, with big sound and flash, as if they’re dumb and won’t take in what Madison Avenue manufacturers want them to beg for without all the noise. Here lies the simple untruth of that belief: most parents would try to keep ugliness as far away from their child as possible. However, it is apparent that nothing keeps out the reality of war.

Another poem-prayer from the same time period, first published in January 1943 in a “Colored” newspaper.

“Draftee’s Prayer”

Dear Lord, today
I go to war:
To fight, to die.
Tell me, what for?
Dear Lord, I’ll fight,
I do not fear,
Germans or Japs
My fears are here
America!

History. It leaves one so much to think about.

All content (unless otherwise attributed) is © Copyright Tanita S. Davis and may not be reproduced in any form.

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March 29, 2007

3:51 pm

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Contest Alert, On Writing, Random Notes and Errata, Web Wanderings

WRITERS WANTED: Many who previously wrote for such testing groups as McGraw-Hill CTB, but disliked signing away full writer’s rights might be interested in New Leaders for New Schools, a national non-profit organization (501(c)(3)), founded on solid belief in children, academic excellence and achievement. New Leaders is seeking writers who can write clearly for children age 7-14. The topic needed are myriad:
Realistic Fiction: Up to date, engaging dialogue, interesting plot line, interesting but age appropriate vocabulary, sensitivity to economic and social diversity.
Historical Fiction: Accurate details relating to the time period.
Fables: The “lesson” or moral can be explicitly stated or implied. Often includes animals with human characteristics.
Folk Tales, Folk Lore, Legends, and Myths: Engaging dialogue, interesting plot line, interesting but age appropriate vocabulary, clear connection to genre
Fairy Tales and Fantasy: Engaging dialogue, interesting plot line, interesting but age appropriate vocabulary.
Rhyming Stories and Poetry: Well thought out word choices. Poems can be any style.
Non-Fiction Articles: A variety of high-interest subjects that lead the reader to new understandings. Science, History, Social Studies, Memoirs.
Biographies: Subjects who are not widely known and have made a significant contribution to society and include the historical and cultural context.
Speeches, Letters, and Other Genre: These can be about a variety of subjects, both fiction and non-fiction.
Directions To Perform A Task: Clear directions and purpose that children can relate to such as, how to condition a baseball glove, how to play a game popular in another country, how to make a craft. Original recipes are also welcome.

New Leaders for New Schools may not pay as much as testing companies, but keeping your rights and, especially for new writers, expanding that writer’s résumé is a good thing — and you know more that you can share with kids than you think. Check out their writer’s guidelines and go for it.

CALL FOR ILLUSTRATORS: Via Book Moot comes the announcement that published children’s illustrators are being asked to participate in the Robert’s Snow fund raiser. Even if you’re not an artist, there are ways you can participate.

CALLING ALL YA READERS A Wrung Sponge is currently creating a MG book list comprised of NEW books with “diversity that is not stereotypical; we have enough of the pregnant basketball playing teenagers living in single parent families in the ghetto, thank you.” Thoughts? Head on over, s’il vous plait, et merci.

Every year, Writer’s Digest has their Short Short Fiction contest… well, I daresay this six word contest would give most of us a run for our money. Try it and see!

Readers of high fantasy who enjoyed the Trilogy will enjoy hearing what this quirky Australian Author is working on now. Incidentally, you might also enjoy this author interview with Hilari Bell, one of the most thoughtful fantasy writers for YA I’ve appreciated. If you haven’t read her books, check out a review or two, and then jump in.

Much like Shelf Talker’s Alison Morris, I too am sort of going “meh” about the cover of the newest Potter book. Or maybe my “meh” could be translated as, “Yes, yes, let’s just get ON with it already.” Either way. Or, it could be that the whole thing just looks too much like somewhere we’ve all seen before!!! What IS IT with covers? I love the UK ADULT fiction cover, by the way… I will never understand publisher’s book cover guidelines, never… (via Fuse# 8.)

Time’s rolling on — back to work.

All content (unless otherwise attributed) is © Copyright Tanita S. Davis and may not be reproduced in any form.

A Profusion of Prizes

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January 26, 2007

6:04 pm

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On Writing, Web Wanderings, Writing Daze

I can’t keep up.

This is thought that is mostly rambling and unfinished, but it’s something I think about often: Those of us in Children’s lit kvetch about the small amount of notice children and young adult literature gets from the outside media (unless it’s a Potter book), but it still seems to me that there are so many awards given out that I can’t keep up. I know about the Scott O’dell, because I’ve seen the stickers on books, and I know that award goes to an historical fiction novel like Island of the Blue Dolphins, the work of historical fiction by Scott O’Dell. I know the ALA has an award for a work by a person of Latin ancestry, the Pura Belpré, although I’ve yet to see that as a sticker on a book. (And that could just be what books I read).

Since grad school, my awareness of awards has increased. Or, it seems the list of awards has grown… A Whitbread (now Costa) Book Award. The Bank Street Books. The Boston Globe- Horn Book Award, umpteen-hundred regional book awards, and now the Waterstone Children’s Book Prize, which is meant to recognize new authors and alert young people to new books.

Um. Aren’t all awards meant to do that?

In all likelihood, I’ve never heard of the Waterstone’s ‘s because it’s a UK award, as is the Nestlé Children’s Book Prize. Probably me having heard of it isn’t the point anyway — As long as it’s an award and someone can win a bit of recognition from their peers… (at Nestlé?), maybe that’s all that matters. Certainly writers can’t be looking for actual deep meaning in winning an award… or, rather I should say, no deep meaning other than “these six people really loved your book.” As I learned so well doing the Cybils, awards are based on the opinion of ONE group of people, not the value of your work as decided by all people. (I know I said that badly, but I’m sick of trying to parse that sentence correctly. Moving on.) The nominations we received were wildly varying — from books that I felt had little or no value, to multiple books having so much value that it was well nigh impossible to narrow the list down and say “THIS ONE is best.” (And again, good luck with that, Cybils Judges! Feb. 14th is approaching at a fast clip!) Perhaps in the end it comes down to the old argument about myriad award stickers on a book that makes it a worthy read to someone else… Sticker = Shiny Gold Seal of Approval (from someone, anyway) = more readers. Understand I have nothing but positive feelings toward book award winners, but I do think that win or lose, the awards are based on the opinions of a just one group. It’s impossible to determine absolute value of one’s writing from an award…

Via Cynsations, read a piece by Institute of Children’s Lit writer Jan Fields on how to maintain tension in a story, and not write in a way that can be described as “slight.” That’s not a criticism I’ve ever heard, but if you find that you or your character is avoiding conflict, the word ‘slight’ can be very apt!

I’ve just discovered Wordy Girls, the blog of four women, one of whose award-winning book, Hugging the Rock is sitting on my bedside table. It’s nice to discover the blogs of writers and to know that often, all of us waste time most shockingly. (Not referring to Wordy Girls in particular at all, please note.) So, I close with the writing blogger’s creed du jour:

“As a writer, I need an enormous amount of time alone. Writing is 90 percent procrastination: reading magazines, eating cereal out of the box, watching infomercials. It’s a matter of doing everything you can to avoid writing, until it is about four in the morning and you reach the point where you have to write. Having anybody watching that or attempting to share it with me would be grisly.”
~ Paul Rudnick

Back to staring at my keyboard.

All content (unless otherwise attributed) is © Copyright Tanita S. Davis and may not be reproduced in any form.

MidWeek Blog Bites

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January 24, 2007

6:57 pm

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On Writing, Web Wanderings

Periodically, I rail about the invisible existence of good books for boys, and while I am a great lover of Guys Read there are precious few places to point people on the lookout for the best in male protagonists, etc. Meanwhile, Guardian UK blogger Tom Kelly takes issue with what is offered to boys. Adventure novels, he asserts, aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. In resurrecting the “Great Adventure Novel,” Kelly believes writer are also trying to resurrect a world that no longer exists; one that is predominantly and powerfully white and male, where evil is foreigners, and where a Cold War attitude remains. Or is this just a version of reality?

Via Locus, we hear that Shiny Things, the new YA webzine which is going live in August, is now open to submissions. If nothing else, you’ve got to love the name. Don’t all of us magpies love shiny things?

The CBC reports that Canadian children’s author Robert Munsch, a man who receives upwards of two thousand speaking requests a year, created a video conference school visit for a group of First Nations students who had requested that he visit their school for two years in a row. Caring deeply about all of his readers, even those in remote areas, Munsch created the expenses-free “visit” for students at Eel Ground School, and two other First Nations schools, Metepenagiag in Red Bank and Elsipogtog. (Only Canadians know how to pronounce those, and where they are.) Mr. Munsch, who wrote Love You Forever, has convinced these three schools that he really does love kids.

PaperTigers interviews loner Deborah Ellis, author of one of my favorite books, The Breadwinner, and many more. Her interview and her life are entirely intriguing to me.

Ooh! If you’re anywhere near the Central Valley (of California, that is), you may want to check out what’s going on at the Arne Nixon Center in March! Sharon Creech, Walter Dean Myers, Sarah Weeks, and Avi, four popular and critically acclaimed authors, have joined together to form A.R.T., Authors Reader’s Theatre, which will be reading/performing on March 2. “An Evening with Lemony Snicket” is scheduled for March 27th. Check it out!

All content (unless otherwise attributed) is © Copyright Tanita S. Davis and may not be reproduced in any form.