Month: February 2007

If you can’t find the book you want, write the book you need.
That’s what Bay Area women Sonali Herrera and Sheetal Singhal did to begin Meera Masi, a tiny Bay Area publishing company highlighting Indian language and culture books for kids. The Chronicle reports that as the Bay Area Indian population has reached about 150,000 strong, and especially as some Indian families object to the information found in textbooks about their people and ancient culture (fearing that the focus on caste and poverty is limited and will make their own children feel uncomfortable with who they are), the move toward creating books of their own which teach the language and focus on creating curiosity about the Indian culture is a positive thing. Though the books are geared toward Indian children, their audience is intended to be broader. The books have already been read at storytime in local public libraries. ¡Vivos los libros multicultural!

Growing up, we lived in an unincorporated part of the county, so we had a Bookmobile come out from the public library once a week. It was a treat to walk down the block to where the huge trailer was parked and return books and check out new ones; I was kind of sad when they created an actual library in our part of the county, since having our own neighborhood librarian was special. One of my Mills alums has shared the opportunity to assist with another bookmobile in a very unincorporated part of the world — Kenya. And the mobile… well, it’s a camel mobile for the Garissa Provincial Library! Masha Hamilton’s novel based on this massive undertaking is coming out from Harper Collins this year, but the true story behind the story that she experienced is compelling. Watch this little video, and get the early scoop on what it’s all about; look at the kids waiting for books to be unloaded, carefully choosing one, and opening the gift of another world…

The program has huge needs, and wishlist organizer Susan can answer your questions. If you can do anything to help – thank-you, from one bibliophile to another.

Tick… tick… time is counting down for the Cybils; stay tuned for the winners to be announced on Wednesday, February 14th!

I have to admit that I’m becoming somewhat of a picture book fan (which may be a bit odd for a YA person, but I do odd pretty well). Though the refrain for years has been that the picture book market is all but gone, critical acclaim for works such as Caldecott winner Flotsam, the rise of graphic novels and avid interest in manga may be turning that around. Into that hopefulness enters fabulous illustrator Brian Selznick with another unique and interesting book. NPR reports on the beautifully cinematic The Invention of Hugo Cabret, and reveals the inspiration behind it as silent film genius George Méliès. Selznick is an avid researcher and a history buff, and it shows in his fascinating work.

Meanwhile, the Guardian is just a tad bit snide about this latest round of Harry Potter and the Dratted Publicity. Hee! Admittedly, though, it is a bit much that a BOOK has been written about the final book – before the final book has been read. Huh?

The ALA’s adult-books-for-teens list has some intriguing titles, and since adults read YA, the cross-over now is moving the other direction.

Intriguing question of the day is on gifts – when do you give your agent or editor a gift? I just got lovely handmade stationery from my agent as a sort of ‘hurrah!’ for closing a deal. Do I reciprocate, or just send the ubiquitous ‘thanks-and-good-wishes’ note? Where’s Miss Manners when you need her!?

Ooh! Via Cybil Sister Little Willow, Oxford-educated Michelle of Scholar’s Blog has started an online book discussion group. Pop over to see what’s on the reading list – some really good ones, and quite a few I’m dying to read! The stack next to the bed is getting taller!!

I have appreciated the work of Debbie Ridpath Ohi since she was a major contributer and the heart and soul of the now defunct Inkspot, the online writing mag which was sadly (and stupidly!) shut down in 2001 in a buy – and – break deal. I am glad to discover Debbie again, and appreciate her pointers and commentary even more at Inky Girl: Daily Diversions for the Writer. Her cartoon strip Will Write for Chocolate is updated every Wednesday is always good for a laugh when you need it! Visit and enjoy!

The UK Guardian predicts an ePublishing revolution by way of …MySpace, and a British publisher called Social Disease… also by way of LW, this tidbit of interest from Garrett Freymann Weyr:

“Houghton (my publisher) has asked me to draw up a list of questions for a reader’s guide. They/We are thinking of marketing the novel to mother-daughter book clubs. Obviously, I know the book ridiculously well, and can think of my own questions. But any from the outside would be greatly appreciated. I do worry that perhaps reader’s guides are for people too stupid to think, but hey, I need to be more proactive about reaching readers. I may be too shy and socially retarded to join a book club, but for perfectly normal people who think perfectly well, a reader’s guide may be perfectly normal. Fire away. Or, just let there be a thundering silence.”

Admittedly, I’ve never used a reader’s guide in my life, but I do imagine that it would come in handy in a mother/daughter book club where not all of the mothers/daughters could be counted on in any way to open up and talk — and this is a book that could be the perfect springboard for some intense, revealing discussions. Anyway, you know we don’t do silence around here, so if you’ve read and enjoyed the book, head on over!

Ooh! Via Cybil Sister Little Willow, Oxford-educated Michelle of Scholar’s Blog has started an online book discussion group. Pop over to see what’s on the reading list – some really good ones, and quite a few I’m dying to read! The stack next to the bed is getting taller!!

I have appreciated the work of Debbie Ridpath Ohi since she was a major contributer and the heart and soul of the now defunct Inkspot, the online writing mag which was sadly (and stupidly!) shut down in 2001 in a buy – and – break deal. I am glad to discover Debbie again, and appreciate her pointers and commentary even more at Inky Girl: Daily Diversions for the Writer. Her cartoon strip Will Write for Chocolate is updated every Wednesday is always good for a laugh when you need it! Visit and enjoy!

The UK Guardian predicts an ePublishing revolution by way of …MySpace, and a British publisher called Social Disease… also by way of LW, this tidbit of interest from Garrett Freymann Weyr:

“Houghton (my publisher) has asked me to draw up a list of questions for a reader’s guide. They/We are thinking of marketing the novel to mother-daughter book clubs. Obviously, I know the book ridiculously well, and can think of my own questions. But any from the outside would be greatly appreciated. I do worry that perhaps reader’s guides are for people too stupid to think, but hey, I need to be more proactive about reaching readers. I may be too shy and socially retarded to join a book club, but for perfectly normal people who think perfectly well, a reader’s guide may be perfectly normal. Fire away. Or, just let there be a thundering silence.”

Admittedly, I’ve never used a reader’s guide in my life, but I do imagine that it would come in handy in a mother/daughter book club where not all of the mothers/daughters could be counted on in any way to open up and talk — and this is a book that could be the perfect springboard for some intense, revealing discussions. Anyway, you know we don’t do silence around here, so if you’ve read and enjoyed the book, head on over!

Not one in the genre particularly, but perchance of interest nonetheless: author and blogger Karen Scott is conducting a survey on racism in publishing. She is looking for African American or black authors who have been published for at least a year. In all, there are twenty questions in the survey, and all that she asks is that people be as honest as possible. Confidentiality is assured if requested, but for the findings to yield more weight, she would request that she be granted permission to directly quote from the answers given by the authors.

She’s hoping to poll at least 100 AA authors, in an effort to ensure that a fair representation is achieved. Interested parties e-mail Karen at hairylemony@gmail dotcom with the subject header ‘Please send me the survey.’

The deadline for the survey to be completed and returned to Karen is March 1st 2007
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Ah, graduate school, and the days of completely tearing apart literature until it is but shredded rags within your all-knowing hands. Via GalleyCat, another take on the racism of Curious George, although this one goes further than I’d ever heard. I already thought it was weird that the man in the yellow hat takes a child-monkey from its home and just … takes him, but I hadn’t thought of it as an allegory of the slave trade…? Hm… In honor of the Super Bowl I give you another sports celebrity book, from NY Yankee great “A-Rod” — no comparisons to the …surprising effort by the fist-fighting, spitting, brawling, childhood role model Terrell Owens…

Via the PW Newsletter the 21-and-below-set can win a free mint condition X-Men Comic, or various iPods in “The Third Thing” Essay Contest, which is, of course, related to the very cool Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy & Goth Girl. It’s a great time to be a young adult who can read and write!

I TOTALLY blew it!!!!!! First it was Jane Eyre, and then it was the one I was really waiting for: Philip Pullman’s The Ruby in the Smoke, the first title in his Sally Lockhart Mysteries quartet, which was adapted for television by the BBC (from whence all good things flow). It was broadcast on PBS as part of Masterpiece Theatre on Sunday, and even had Billie Piper from Dr. Who, and I cannot believe that I missed it. But, the joys of Bay Area living have saved me again… we have four public TV stations, and so tonight – well, let’s just say I don’t plan to answer the phone for awhile.

Hope you’re enjoying your week as well!