to me? I don't get it.

Am I really that old?

...my train wreck of a body for producing something so amazingly beautiful
...all of your sweet congratulation messages
...modern medicine (specifically epidurals and breast pumps)
...my wonderful husband (who's been Mr. Mom to Super-E all week)
...Super E who is now Super Big Bro
...and our sweet girl whose bubbles-runneth-me-over with baby love

Last night, I had the pleasure of picking up David Lubar at his hotel and bringing him back to my place. (That all sounds so much racier than the actuality of the situation.) David was visiting a local middle school today, so I invited him to come for dinner. Highlights of the meal (apart from having David here as a guest, and putting aside the food, which actually was pretty good, if I do say so myself) included S asking David if he felt famous (David's answer, the short version of which is "No"), M discussing a handful of short stories by other authors with David before asking if she could be excused to see the end of America's Next Top Model, and hubby sharing both his knowledge and many of his bourbons with David. In fact, the photo to the right would be David at the dining table with a little sip of something -- Bulleit, I think.

And here's a photo of David & me holding two bottles of bourbon each. Kids, don't try this at home. Also, in the interest of full disclosure, David was drinking extremely small portions of the bourbons as a sampling, and I wasn't drinking any of them at all. No, the rosiness of my face is entirely the result of a single glass of red wine with dinner. Gotta love rosacea (the skin condition, lest anyone think that's a new kind of pinkish wine):



Today, I had the pleasure of hearing David speak at the local middle school, which happens to be where my M attends 7th grade. In fact, I heard David twice - once in the morning at the full assembly, during the course of which he read the short story about author letters that he referenced in yesterday's post, and again in the afternoon when he spoke to a group of kids about writing and revision. Let me say this: David is quick-witted, smart, and funny, just as you'd expect him to be. He asked for an offbeat topic from the assembly crowd in order to demonstrate a technique he uses for brainstorming and managed to pick the wisest acre in the crowd, who gave him "plumbum" to work with. Within 20 seconds, David had listed at least 7 ideas related to that word. Meanwhile, I was still processing the word as a concept (you could say that I wasn't able to get the lead out).

I'd seen David speak at an SCBWI event in the past, so I knew he was a genius at speaking to grown-ups. And he has a skill for speaking to kids as well. The male population of the school was equally as engaged as the female, in part because of David's history as a video game programmer. Both genders (and all skill levels) were volunteering to share their writing samples during the smaller workshop. And having seen some other of these sorts of events, I'd say that's a magical thing.

Dear David,

Thanks so much for coming to dinner. My knowing you seriously boosted my own standing as a writer with my kids. And with their friends as well, seeing as both M and S told all their friends that you were here for dinner. We all very much enjoyed having you here, and hubby and I will be happy to partake of mojitos with you one of these days. Or Sazeracs. Your choice.

Sincerely,
Kelly Fineman

One of the benefits of going to IRA last week was getting my hands on an advanced copy of Paper Towns, John Green's new book, due out in October. Yeah, John was there too and he welcomed me to the Penguin (my new book is with Putnam). So, like any Nerdfighter, I was super pleased to get the book so early (for free, no less, and autographed).

Well, I cracked it open at the conference that night and was duly impressed by the first chapter (really a prologue of chapter length). I am really into great first chapters and this was a doozy, one that picks a singular event that happens some eight years before the story really starts, but happens to really define the story in deep and meaningful ways. Plus, great first line: "The way I figure it, everyone gets a miracle." Nice.

Even though I have been incredibly busy doing revisions all year, I managed to get sick this week, so I had time to actually read the whole thing. Nerdfighters and Green fans will not be disappointed. It is hugely entertaining and funny in a way that only a true nerd-writer can be funny (example: "Getting you a date to the Prom is so hard that the hypothetical idea itself is actually used to cut diamonds."). It is also quite moving, deep, and literate (as much as one can be mentioning Walt Whitman and one character's humongous balls in the same page).

Once again, John's story follow a geek hero (Quentin), who chases after the unobtainably amazing and mysterious girl (this time Margo Roth Spiegelman). Every writer has one theme they write about in all their books--John's seems to be falling for amazing and mysterious women who only want to be friends. Man, he must have been burned good in his adolescence. Now that he's married, hopefully, he has found the one who is more than a friend...

Anyways, Paper Towns contains wonderful dialogue, a unique 3 part structure, and moves along at a seamless pace. It contains that one gimmick that we didn't know about before (this time paper towns- fake places mapmakers would put on their maps to spot unauthorized reproductions later on), utilizes geek technology (Omnidictionary and thelongwayround.com- note: there better be a website for this when the book comes out!),  and a road trip to boost.

I won't go into the story so much as to say it is a mystery about a girl who shows up in our hero's life one night, changes everything, then disappears. She leaves mysterious clues our hero must figure out in order to find her--dead or alive, he doesn't know. He corrals his Nerdtastic friends into pooling all their resources and energies to find her, culminating in a 19 hour road trip to a paper town somewhere in NY on Graduation Day.

This is a worthy follow-up to his previous 2 books... it fulfills its promise as a book for sure and as the first true Nerdfighter novel. It also sports dual covers (I'm definitely of the blue ilk, though even that was hard for a guy to be seen with). Like the cover concept but not sure I really like having Margo physically defined for me. She is a enigma and should be left up to the imagination. But I like the idea of choosing a cover depending on your personality.

There were some flaws in the details of the mission plans and logic but they were minor enough to forgive. What really sucks (for me) is that there are some definite similarities to my newest novel, one one I turned in last week. Damn that John Green for getting there first! Luckily, there are enough differences that it won't matter, except to say they'll compare it to this book. Oh well, could be worse...

Bottom line: Check this book out. A satisfying, funny and touching story for young (and old) adults everywhere.

Postscript:
What's really weird is that shortly after I got this book, I found out John's brother Hank, of the Brotherhood 2.0 and ecoGeek fame,  was wanting in on all the Paper Town action and came up with his own version:



Okay, not really but it seemed too good an idea to be left only to the imagination...

Seen on a Mazda RX-8 at the dealership today: ZMZMZM.

Tomorrow my mom and I board the Rio Express (aka My Car) for the wilds of Wisconsin. I am only just praying that somehow I shall avoid the Triple Sins of Cheese, Ring Bologna, and Frozen Custard. *le sigh*

The joy of all this frenetic packing is that I'm taking an entire dufflebag of books and magazines (the last three issues of RoF, frex) to read. I'm soooo excited to read again without feeling guilty that I should be doing something else. I swiped most of the CD audiobooks from the lib'ary this afternoon--Artemis Fowl, Birdy, called Caroline, The Death Collector, and Ruby in the Smoke (which I've read, but love so much I want to hear it!). Books, books, books--I gleefully drown in the sea of them!

Also, I am writing a strange story about sentient cupcakes. Where *do* these things come from?

So, this is just to say that Internet access may be sporadic over the next ten days, though I'll surely check in when I can. Hopefully will have at least one WisCon report--there will be much celebrating w/sarah_prineas's impending release, sarahbethdurst's birthday, and calepin's new book sale!

Off to make Unhallowed packets for my school visit w/lit_mischief Tues...:)

I swear, I was just feeling sorry for myself because no one ever tags me and I found that slatts had actually done so! Wow! Yay!

What were you doing ten years ago?

I had a four-year-old and a two-year-old, with one on the way, and I was packing to get ready to move to this house.

What are five things on your to-do list for today (not in any particular order):

1. Sort the huge pile of 8 year old's clothes that is currently on my living room floor into piles for giveaway, storage or restocking in dresser.
2. Grocery shopping.
3. Cook dinner.
4. Watch GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING so I can send it back to Netflix.
5. Finalize plans for First Communion party this weekend.

What are some snacks you enjoy?
Just about any quality fruit, especially:
A perfectly ripe peach
A pear with a slice of cheese
Berries
Apple with peanut butter

Also:
Popcorn
Rice cakes
And of course:
Chocolate chip cookies, banana bread, etc.

What would you do if you were a billionaire?
Start a foundation and figure out how to give it all away.

What are three of your bad habits?
Procrastinating
Indecision
Gossip, but I'm not anywhere near as bad as I used to be, and I'm probably not that bad anyway

What are five places where you have lived?
Arlington, Virginia
McLean, Virginia
Falls Church, Virginia
Williamsburg, Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia

Those aren't five of many. That's ALL the places I've lived. Aside from dorm rooms and an apartment in grad school, I have lived in five houses.

What are five jobs you have had?
Babysitter (high school)
Secretary/administrative assistant (summers during college)
Teacher
Day-care/infant room caregiver/substitute
Day-care administrative assistant

Note the commonalities--kids, kids, kids, and typing

What six people do you want to tag?
I really hate it when people say, "Whoever hasn't done it yet," because I usually fit in that group and it makes me feel self-conscious and unloved, so I'll say almafullerton, kmarcus, dcimm, thatgirlygirl, cassandra_w, and katysd.

Darcy Pattison's Novel Metamorphosis has helped me see one thing in the middle-grade humorous book I'm working on just for fun. It's made me realize that my obligatory scene needs a lot more.

An obligatory scene is one that has to take place. Like in a romance, there has to come a point where the lovers fall into each other's arms and realize they are meant for each other.

Pattison says, The obligatory scene is usually one of he most emotionally powerful. It often contains a revelation, a complication, a reversal, a twist, a new meaning for old events, or something else that surprises the reader in some way ... It is is often a cascade of emotional confrontations taking conflicts between different characters (each with their own subplot) in turn and resolving them."

This helped bring into focus something that was only vaguely nagging at me.

Set the wayback machine to 1987, Boston, Massachusetts, Sherman. Got it? Good.

Ladies and gentlemen: Matthew DeForrest.

Thank you.

A meme from tinaya

( Fluff filter )

After taking a day off to recover from the this exhilaration/exhaustion, Peepy and I journey a couple miles to Pasadena . . .


We had never been to the gorgeousfabulousawesome Pasadena Public Library before. (I live in South Pasadena, which is a separate city from Pasadena.)






On this occasion, not only were we there to admire the books and building, but also to attend a board meeting for the Children's Literature Council of Southern California. (One of us is on the board.) It was our first meeting and a lot of fun . . .


One of the big events coming up is the Fall Gala that will be held at the Bowers Art Museum and feature Louis Sachar! (Peepy and I volunteered to man the registration table.)

Another topic discussed was CLC's continuing support of Letters About Literature. Letters About Literature is a wonderful program run by the Center for the Book/Library of Congress.


(Note: The letters pictured above were NOT sent by students. They are Nigerian scam letters.)

This year 59,000 students wrote to their favorite authors "explaining how the author's work changed their way of thinking about themselves or the world." The winning letters received state and national recognition and prizes.

This year, one of North Carolina winners wrote to Moi! Here's Amber Parker's letter about reading MILLICENT MIN, GIRL GENIUS.

Dear Lisa Yee,

Your book, Millicent Min Girl Genius, has really influenced me. I could really connect with the main character, Millicent Min. I could not believe how she was twelve years old and she was taking a college course. I was really surprised!

When I was reading that, I thought, wow if she can do that, then I can!

I was a little discouraged because I was getting grades on my school tests that I wasn’t really happy with. I would get so mad at myself.

But when I read that Millicent was taking a college course at the age of 12, that really gave me a boost of confidence!

When the book said that Millicent couldn’t handle it all that reminded me of what I go through sometimes. I have a lot to do everyday. Especially on Tuesdays! And it’s just not easy sometimes. With Millicent Min, I imagine it would be harder because she’s taking a college course, tutoring, volleyball, and hanging out with Emily, her best friend. But just like Millicent, I overcame it.

My Mom got a special folder for all my school papers, and got me a desk so I could have a quiet place to work. I also got a binder so I could be more organized with my school work. And I ended up having time for everything!

When I was reading this book it inspired me. It told me that I can do anything if I try.

Sincerely,

Amber Parker

Wow! Thank you Amber for writing to me and congratulations on your winning letter!!!

Subscribe to Lisa Yee's Blog and get her fresh baked blogs e-mailed to you!

Email:

I also tried it with medwriter, but there's no way I'm posting what it said.

http://www.hbook.com/blog/2008/05/five-cents-dance.html

Well, it's not like we wouldn't do this if we thought we could get away with it.

1. Before I was the world-famous author you see before you now, I used to dream of one day being able to answer the question, "What do you do?" with, "I'm a writer." Now that I am a writer, I kind of go out of my way to avoid saying, "I'm a writer." Because 97% of the time people do not know how to react and the rest of the conversation can go something like this:



2. Now I don't have to write a real blog post! Which is good because I slept too late and gotta get to work...

(Thanks to thunderchikin for posting this first.)

First of, I'm almost forty, right? So tell me when, when, WHEN will I learn to never cut my bangs, huh? Good grief. They're now lopsided, and the more I tried to fix it, the worse they got. And it not like I didn't already have bang issues, as proven by his horrible picture taken with Chris Bohjalian a while back:



Argh. Somebody throw me a daggone brush next time.

Second, I only got to catch the last ten minutes of America's Next Top Model last night so I missed the showdown, but I was happy Whitney won. Still, Anya was pretty awesome and will make a great model, so I can't help but wonder if Whitney's fuller figure influenced the judge's decision.  (Check out this link and scroll down for pre-ANTM pictures of her when she was slimmer.)

Personally, I think she looks better and happier now, so you go, Whitney.  Work that ANTM title!

Third, I decided I needed a writer tune-up, so I'm re-reading Stephen King's, ON WRITING. If there's any new writers out there who have not discovered this gem of a book yet, order a copy today! It's brilliant.



Have a great day!

Monday I had a lovely lunch with   alanajoli  and   jenlyn_b  in New Haven.  I must admit I was feeling like quite the slacker after hearing about all of Jen's exploits and studies, but after she told us about her time on monkey island, I'm thankful I've never had an alpha male with a lethal bite (literally) chasing me down for lemon! I'm really a homebody and that's a little too adverturous for me. No lemon is worth it.

Alana is a writer and a librarian (sigh--the best of both worlds) and we got to hear some funny stories about computer mishaps and porn in the library--none of which she was directily responsible for, and it probably wouldn't have come up if I hadn't been talking about my son's infamous youtube search. (he'd kill me if I told you, but it's a really funny story)

Here's a picture--

This week here  at http://the5randoms.wordpress.com/ were talking about story ideas and the different paths we've used to come up with ideas, survive droughts and how I use What if? questions to move my stories past chapter two.

Hopefully Monday I can post my new book news--