Hi Everyone!
I’m going to be participating in a discussion about banned books as part of Banned Book Week Discussion at Falmouth Public Library. The other speakers will include: author I.W. Gregorio (Ilene Wong), Stephanie Seales, and Sara Hines from Eight Cousins Bookstore in Falmouth.
If you can’t come–I know it’s a little far for some of my Boston area kidlit friends–please share with your friends!
Hi everyone! It’s been a long while since my last blog post. I’ve been busy this summer with my family, my writing projects, and my volunteer projects.
My family’s been busy this summer, going to museums, the beach, hanging out at the neighborhood pool, playing video games, and of course, reading a million books. My younger child is now 3 and has camp 3 days a week over the summer (not every week), so I’ve been enjoying spending time with her while my 6yo is at camp. Unfortunately, this means serious jealousy–the girls fight over their precious time with me–but the 6 yo loves being with friends and has a lot of energy, so she also really, really going to camps. (“Can I PLEASE go to that swimming camp again this year? I’ll be so sad if I can’t!”)
As far as my writing goes, I have been plugging away at my rewrites of middle grade fantasy I co-wrote with my sister a few years ago, based on my trip to Jantar Mantar. The book was originally in third person, focusing on one character, then it was in first person, and now I’m doing third person again, but alternating between two characters and fleshing out the worldbuilding more. So there’s been a lot of thinking and rewriting and deleting involved!
For the first time, I’ve also been working on picture books! I’ve been wanting to write a picture book for a while, and for some reason, the ideas never flowed for me. I’ve been tinkering with them here and there over the past two years, but it’s taken me some time to get some stories that felt really original enough to pursue. Plus after 6 years of reading them every day to my kids, I have more of a sense of the rhythm and flow of how the text flows, and the ideas for those have been coming more frequently.
I’m also taking on some freelance work, and in September, I’ll be on a panel at Eight Cousins Bookstore and also attending this workshop at Highlights, which I’m excited about! I’ve been wanting to go the Highlights Foundation for a while now and this was a great opportunity. Thanks to my husband for agreeing to solo parent for a few days right at the beginning of the school year! I may post some pictures if I manage to take good ones with my cell phone.
As far as volunteering goes, I’m now Social Media Manager at WNDB, and also still work on the boskidlit calendar when I have time. Unfortunately I just noticed that the google calendar does not have as many items on it as the Facebook calendar. Oh dear. I guess I’d better fix that soon.
Anyway, I think that’s it. I’ve been doing a lot, so yeah. It might be a while before I blog again.
Catch you later!
As promised, here are links from the panel on writing disability with author Padma Venkatraman, librarian Carrie Banks (loved this video where she speaks about her library!):
Books recommended by Padma and Carrie:
A Time To Dance by Padma Venkatraman
Including Families of Children with Special Needs by Sandra Feinberg, Barbara A. Jordan, Kathleen Deerr, Michelle Langa, and Carrie Banks
Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman
Tending to Grace by Kimberly Newton Fusco
Me and Rupert Goody by Barbara O’Connor
The War that Saved my Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
El Deafo by Cece Bell
When Reason Breaks by Cindy Rodriguez
Rogue by Lynn Miller-Lachmann
On the Edge of Gone by Corinne Duyvis
Don’t Call Me Inspirational: A Disabled Feminist Talks Back by Harilyn Rousso
My Brother Charlie by Holly Robinson Peete and Ryan Elizabeth Peete, illustrations by Shane W. Evans
Waiting for Normal by Leslie Connor
Accidents of Nature by Harriet McBryde Johnson
Quote
“Sympathy is not a positive attitude” – idea from Kenzaburo Oe
Awards (as mentioned, keep a close eye on what works and what doesn’t)
Videos Padma Venkatraman watched while researching her novel
Clayton Bates dancing:
Adrianne Haslet-Davis dancing:
Bharatanatyam (Veda’s dance form) Sudha Chandran / Nityananda Das: http://thehidingspot.blogspot.com/2014/08/review-time-to-dance-by-padma.html?spref=tw
Online Resources and Further Reading
Disability in Kidlit Blog: Reviews and other information by authors with disabilities
Resources for language: The Pacer Center and United Spinal Cord
Bibliography from Carrie Banks on her library’s website
Kristin Cashore on disability politics in Graceling