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Thanks to all of you who commented here, and on Twitter, and on Facebook, and in emails. It's very nice not to feel alone!
Now back to our regular programming!
About a year ago, my husband and brother-in-law went to hear Tom Wolfe speak at Symphony Space. Clad in his usual white suit, Wolfe said that he thought everyone has a theory of life, and that that theory could be summed up in one word or phrase. He said his is "status."
When Jon came home and asked me what my theory of life was, I said the first thing that came to my mind--and I'm going to ask you to do the same (before I tell you mine).
What is your theory of life? Don't think too long or hard (you can always revise!)....Gut reaction, please. (Photo below is just for fun and so you don't immediately peek at my answer. And because this is a dog I fell in love with last week.)
O.K., my theory of life:
My gut reaction was the wonderful quote from E.M. Forster, "Only Connect." And I'm sticking by it.
For me life is about connecting with other people--in person, and with words.
That's all I'll say for now. I'd love to hear your theory of life!
In this corner: Jeff Bezos and Amazon, trying to control prices for all electronic books from all publishers. (His warm-up robe is mink.) In that corner: John Sargent, trying to retain the right for Macmillan (and other publishers) to set their own prices for electronic books the way they do for “regular” books. (His robe silk, but worn.) Bezos and Sargent have trainers, funding, padded boxing gloves. It may or may not be a fair fight. Bezos wears mink, but Sargent has guts. He is not known to back down.
It’s a pretty big crowd watching:
Other publishers (some in the high-priced seats, some sitting on laps), Barnes and Noble (in the box seats), Borders (in the medium-priced seats, which they got from scalpers), Independent Booksellers (in the cheap seats, or standing room only, or at a local bar, way in the back, wishing they could have a beer while they watch).
But wait, aren’t there some people missing?
Oh, there are the editors! And designers, marketing folks, agents, other staffers. They’re eating popcorn. And watching. And waiting. Feeling a little scared. Or a lot scared.
But wait, isn’t someone else missing? A whole other category of people?
Oh, I think I see them… can’t be… can it? There in the ring? Right in the middle of the ring… oh no, there’s the starting bell, and there go Jeff and John—dukes raised, stomping—stomping on the AUTHORS!!!
Those poor authors, huddled, arms over heads, trying to protect themselves, their books—
O.K. I think I have to stop with the boxing metaphors. You get the idea.
I used to watch boxing matches with my Grandma, a petite, quite proper lady, who would have made Joyce Carol Oates proud (“Knock down that bum!”)
But I am not much of a boxing fan, and I am not much of a fan of being caught in the middle.
Let me make this clear: I am on John Sargent’s side. I am very, very proud of my publisher (one of my publishers) for taking up the cause. There is no reason that Amazon should be able to take over the book world by setting prices. Period, the end. It is up to the publishers to set the prices and then let the consumers, the market place, decide if the prices are right. And I know that in starting this fight, John Sargent has his authors at the top of the list of the people he is fighting for. He knows that if Amazon sets the price, and the price is low, we authors lose out.
Let me make one more thing clear: I wish people would buy books from local Independent bookstores. It is those booksellers who are the brains behind the industry. Those people who love books, and love readers, and know just which books to put in which readers hands, are the people we depend on. It is those booksellers (and the reps who sell to them, and know them so well) who editors and authors turn to when they (we) have questions about what readers want, about why certain books work and others don’t, about what, especially, in my world, what kids and their people need and want. If we lose Indies, we are dead, dead, dead.
But people do buy books online. I think not as many books as in bookstores, but they do buy them. (I’m not going to take the time to research numbers here, but I THINK that most books are bought from Barnes and Noble and Borders, and then next comes Amazon and then Indies? I hope one of my readers will comment and set me straight if I have this wrong.) And I want them to be able to buy my books however they want. Easily. Funny that. I want my books to be read!
Which is why I feel like I’m being trampled. In case you are not In the Loop and you are reading this scratching your head, wondering what I’m going on about--If you go to Amazon (notice I’m NOT putting a hyperlink here!) you will see that you cannot buy CHARLES AND EMMA: THE DARWINS' LEAP OF FAITH directly from Amazon. This has been going on for almost a week. Amazon has taken off all editions of all Macmillan books as part of the fight.
Guess who this hurts the most? Ouch! That’s right. It hits me hard. Right in the kisser. And the gut. And, of course, the pocketbook. At the time when my darling baby, C & E, is in its prime sales period, having just been bestowed with three shiny stickers, one from the National Book Foundation, and two from the American Library Association. It used to be that near 100% of people who viewed my book on Amazon bought it. Last time I looked it was down to 50%. I am not going to keep looking.
Let me dispel a myth about authors right now: Most of us are not rolling in dough. I for one am not rich. Far from it. If you saw my 1099 from 2009 you would be passing the hat for me, even those of you in the back of the bar wishing you could have a beer to watch this fight. I’m not kidding. I NEED those royalties. Every day that Jeff Bezos blocks people from buying my book, I am this much closer to getting a day job. (And trust me, I am not skilled to do anything but this.)
But more than that, even more than that, it makes me feel powerless. I heard a wise man in publishing say recently that this is a great time in publishing. And I agree. I really do. We are on the brink of some new, great things (which is exactly why John Sargent is sticking his neck out). It’s exciting—scary, but exciting. I am thrilled to be part of it.
This wise man also said that we authors have more control then ever. We have a voice—on the internet. We can reach many people through blogs and twitter and Facebook, etc. (I say etc. because that’s where I stop.) But if the men in suits don’t think about us, the writers in sweatpants, toiling away at our computers, CREATING THE CONTENT (hello, Bezos, where would you be without writers? Selling socks!), we are not going to be able to keep doing what we are doing—what we can do, love to do, and are good at. (You do not want me making something that you depend on to keep you safe; you do not want me working at Toyota, for example.)
So, from here, my soap box, my “platform” as they are now saying, I beg you, Jeff Bezos, let me get up and keep doing what I’m doing. Let me write my words, work with my editors, create books that kids and their people will love. In order to do that, I need you to let people buy my books. Please?
I promise to write soon about the phone calls. For now I will say: with one phone call I scared an entire restaurant (I'm not kidding) and the other I almost knocked down an entire wall of jams and jellies and marmalades.
And while I'm at it let me say hooray to all my friends who got kudos from the ALA. But more on that very soon.
Oh and thanks to everyone for posting on my last blog re BALANCE. As you can see by how long it has taken me to do even this little bit, I've been experiencing some uh balance.
And while I'm at it let me say hooray to all my friends who got kudos from the ALA. But more on that very soon.
Oh and thanks to everyone for posting on my last blog re BALANCE. As you can see by how long it has taken me to do even this little bit, I've been experiencing some uh balance.
It's not that I want to give up the internet entirely--I can't, really. But I am too addicted. Especially to social the networking sites--Facebook and Twitter (I've been self-protective enough not to go on more... yet....though I think I am signed up on Goodreads.)
It's not that I spend too much time on them, I dont' think (O.K., probably a little too much time--for me). The bigger problem is that going to them is my default. If I don't know what to do next, or I have a scrap of time, or I need a break from work, I go to Facebook, or I see who has tweeted about/to me on Twitter, or when that fails, who has tweeted about something interesting that I might want to follow up, or retweet. I don't even think about it half the time, I just go. It's become a reflex. A thoughtless reflex. And I don't like it. It feels unhealthy.
I am trying to remember what I used to do in those kinds of moments, before.. before the universe changed. Granted, back then I was the mother of young sons and I lived in a big messy house, so there was always something to do. But I'm thinking that if the kids were in school and the house was clean enough, and I needed a work break I -- what did I do? I talked to the dog. Or the cats. (We are petless at the moment, which could be part of the problem--) But there were other things I did. I chopped vegetables for salad. Or planned a menu.
Or I took a walk outside.
Or I made a cup of tea and stared off into space.
Or called a friend or a relative.
Or maybe I even READ. A magazine article. A book I was reading. I READ.
Or I made a cup of tea and stared off into space.
Or called a friend or a relative.
Or maybe I even READ. A magazine article. A book I was reading. I READ.
Now I click.
This might not sound so bad, given that I am at my computer already usually, and like I said on most days it's not that much time....but there's more.
These networking sites have infiltrated my real life and my mind during non-work hours. In ways that I don't like. If I'm walking around the apartment, or working, or even having dinner or visiting with my family, I feel a pull to check on what's going on in that other world. Like that's the real world and the pasta and wine and mellow conversation is not as real. OR I found myself thinking during an interesting event or conversation, oh that could be my next tweet, or status update. Or I would puzzle over what WAS going to be my next status update. Or tweet. OR, and this the worst, I let something that happened on Facebook, something someone said, or on twitter, bother me. Or worry me. Or make me nervous. If I hadn't gone to check things out, I wouldn't even know about that comment, or that mock award list, or whatever.... Instead of feeding my soul, it's distracting me.
And I also feel such obligation... to keep up on everything. And it is wearing me out. Wearing me out -- psychically, creatively, and emotionally. It is supposed to be fun!
This has got to stop. But it can't stop entirely. What to do?
I can't just leave Facebook and Twitter, can I? I mean that would be bad for so many reasons. But I have to give it less power and attention. Right? Right. But how? I have been thinking about this for almost two weeks, ever since I made that resolution, and finally this week, I realized something. It's just like trying to lose weight. You can't just stop eating. You can't go cold turkey on food. But we have found that little changes make a big difference over the long haul. The problem with dieting is that you feel too deprived if you cut your calories too much. But if you make a small change at a time--then you can stick with it. If you cut out 100 calories a day, that amounts to something like twelve pounds in a year.
And as my brilliant friend Nancy once said, it's the little changes that make a difference in your psychological and emotional life, too. So... my goal is to make little changes in how I interact with the internet, especially with the social networking sites. I haven't completely figured it out yet, how I will do it, but I know it has something to do with being proactive rather than reactive. And it probably will be something like checking things only a couple of times a day. If I do it right, my friends won't feel abandoned. They might not even notice the difference. But I will. That's the goal. I'll let you know how it goes.
And if anyone else has tackled this and won, please comment here on my blog! Thanks.
I wrote a piece for School Library Journal about my holiday memories. For some reason the link is no longer working, but I'll put it here in hopes that the holiday memory elves get it working again.
This year has been amazing. I have so much to be grateful for. I am always grateful for my family and my friends, and this year has shown me how wonderful it is to celebrate good news with people you love. And it has also shown me that people you don't even know celebrate with you; how terrific is that?! AND people who celebrate with you become closer to you through the happiness. Pretty wonderful.
Speaking of which, my editors at Holt, Laura and Noa, surprised me with a gift that has me smiling every day. It has me smiling because it is so great and because THEY are so great.
I'm going to take a little break from blogging until January--unless, well, unless I just can't help myself. So happy, happy new year to all! Here's to a great 2010, with lots to celebrate, and great people to celebrate with. Cheers!
Deborah’s Potato Latkes
One recipe makes about 20 good-size latkes. I triple the batch for a main course for 10-latke-loving people.
6 medium potatoes, peeled
1 onion
1 tsp salt
1 egg, beaten
3 Tablespoons flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
paper towels
brown paper bags, ripped up into sheets to put in oven
Grate potatoes on large holes of hand-grater (some people use a food processor, but the texture just doesn't come out right!)
Drain potato juice: Put the grated potatoes in a colander in the sink or over a bowl. Use your hands to squish and squeeze all the juice out. (This is a great job for kids.)
Grate the onion, drain it, and add to the potato. (You’re going to cry onion tears when you grate the onion. You might want to wear goggles!) Put the drained potato and onion mixture into a big bowl. Add egg and salt, mix with a big spoon; add baking powder and flour, mix well with a big spoon.
Heat oil in frying pan or electric skillet—there should be enough oil to almost cover the latkes. When oil is hot, spoon in "batter" in size latkes you like. Brown on each side until nice and crispy.
Drain on paper towels and transfer to brown paper in warm oven to keep warm until batch is done and ready to serve.
Serve with applesauce and/or sour cream.
Enjoy!
In honor of the day, I was lucky enough to be able to write a guest column for the Washington Post's "On Faith" feature. I argue that we should teach our children about Charles Darwin, and give the twelve reasons why.
About five minutes before I found out the column was up, I happened to look in the mirror. For some reason, I have a black eye. Honestly. I have no idea how it happened. Maybe it's predictive of the future. I sure hope not. Anyway, here's the link to the column. It's called A DOZEN REASONS TO CELEBRATE DARWIN.
I hope you enjoy it. Spread it around. Hey, I've already got one black eye.
***Meeting Laini Taylor and Jim Di Bartolo's Clementine Pie, who is not only adorable, but you heard it here first: a genius. I have NEVER seen a three and a half month old baby with such personality and obvious smarts. (O.K., a few, but that's how I could recognize it!) Not only are Laini and Jim incredibly talented at books (LIPS TOUCH is an out of the world work of art!) and art and babies, they are so NICE! I loved meeting them and hope to see all three of them again soon.
***Listening to Rita Williams-Garcia read all three characters in JUMPED. She WAS Leticia and Trina and Dominique. I fell in love with Rita immediately, by the way, and this is my very public admission of that. Rita, lunch sometime, soon? Do you do lunch? Seriously. I'm smitten.
***When a boy asked David Small what his relationship with his brother is now. I can't relate this without crying, so I'm glad you can't see me. David hadn't talked to his brother since his brother left the house. But he showed him Stitches before it was published and the book healed their relationship. "I have my brother back," he said. "We talk to each other all the time. We tell each other our secrets." Stitches is a book from David's heart, and it shows on every page, in every line. I loved meeting Sarah Stewart, his wife and amazing author. There was lots of hugging.
****Sitting at the same table as Phillip Hoose at the NBA gala. Phillip brought his wife and also Claudette Colvin! I was nervous, but Phillip literally could not sit still. He was jumping up and down constantly. I looked at him and I KNEW his book was going to win and I was glad. (O.K., I'm human, I was disappointed when I didn't win, but....) He cared and cares so much, it was moving to see. A real joy.
All of this is to say, once again, what great people children's book people are.
Another highlight:
Meeting two of the judges, Nancy Werlin and Coe Booth. In what other world would the judges and judgee hug each other immediately?! (I told you there was lots of hugging.) Here, I'll prove it:
That's me, Laini Taylor, and Coe Booth.
As long as I'm at photos, did you know there was a red carpet? ! It was so cool. We got our pictures taken just like movie stars. But really like book stars, which is better, right? I don't love this photo of Jon and me, but it gives you an idea of the red carpet moment:
As long as I'm at photos, did you know there was a red carpet? ! It was so cool. We got our pictures taken just like movie stars. But really like book stars, which is better, right? I don't love this photo of Jon and me, but it gives you an idea of the red carpet moment:
Also on the red carpet I got interviewed by Lynn Neary of NPR and also by Galleycat.com. Check out the video here.
Here's a photo from that evening I like better, and it kind of says it all:
That's my agent Ken, me and, and my editor, Laura. Don't we look happy?
**** Another highlight, as a good-bye for now, one that I think sums it all up. When I was not named the winner, the first thing I did after not crying and yes smiling at Phillip, was to text my two sons: "I'm O.K." Benjamin wrote back, "I love you," and other wonderful things. Aaron, who lives near Cipriani where the event was held, wrote, "As well you should be. I've been lurking outside and I saw someone ditching right after dinner--with a copy of CHARLES AND EMMA tucked under his arm."
Have a great weekend everyone! I'm going to try to sleep.
I wonder if either of those things will actually happen today.
Stay tuned.
Have you ever seen five such happy authors? (If you did, it was probably last year's photo of the NBA finalists in Young People's Literature.) Rocco Staino, of SLJ, took this photo at yesterday's teen press conference, which he also wrote about today. It's a great article. Thank you, Rocco! That's Phillip Hoose, Laini Taylor, me, Rita Williams-Garcia, and David Small. We were (are!) actually that happy. Rocco also took this photo of me with a student named Marjana Chodhury, whom he quotes in his article. Marjana and I had a wonderful talk as I signed her book.
Monday night at Books of Wonder was wonderful, too. Here I think my agent might be trying to hold me upright (jet lag was setting in....):
Last night, at the New School, was the medal ceremony, where each of the 20 finalists received a gorgeous medal and a plaque and even a present (as if we needed anything more!) . The medal is really heavy and I think I might wear it every day for the rest of my life. The plaque is beautiful, with a gorgeous description of Charles and Emma on it. The National Book Foundation really does things so well. I am very, very grateful. And impressed. Then we went to an auditorium and each finalist read from her/his book for five minutes. Guess who had to go first? Yes! But I was glad to do it, because it meant that I could sit back and enjoy all of the others without being nervous. I prepared my reading from chapter 26--I actually crossed out paragraphs in my book and read an excerpt that way. I think it went well.
But I have to tell you: what an uplifting experience it was to sit there and listen to the nineteen other authors. Reading after reading was just beautiful; such an impressive group of people. And all of them were so poised and happy and -- it was a great evening for books in America! One of my family members said to me afterward that he thought the Young People's Literature category was the strongest. I can't judge it, but I will say this: each of the other books in this category are knock-outs and they all deserve to win. And all of the other authors are great people and so no matter who wins, it will be the correct decision. I can't imagine how hard it is for the judges because the books are so very different from each other. But, hey, that's not my job today. Today my job is to get to the ceremony on time, with my hair done, my dress zipped up, and my wonderful husband by my side.
But I have to tell you: what an uplifting experience it was to sit there and listen to the nineteen other authors. Reading after reading was just beautiful; such an impressive group of people. And all of them were so poised and happy and -- it was a great evening for books in America! One of my family members said to me afterward that he thought the Young People's Literature category was the strongest. I can't judge it, but I will say this: each of the other books in this category are knock-outs and they all deserve to win. And all of the other authors are great people and so no matter who wins, it will be the correct decision. I can't imagine how hard it is for the judges because the books are so very different from each other. But, hey, that's not my job today. Today my job is to get to the ceremony on time, with my hair done, my dress zipped up, and my wonderful husband by my side.
I met this dinosaur last Friday at the Kids' Science Center. He (I think he's a he) speaks Japanese, of course. Over the course of the week I learned a few Japanese phrases, but they mostly had to do with saying thank you. I don't think this guy says thank you. I went to the Science Center to watch my friends Peter and Rosemary Grant talk to kids about their work, an event which affirmed two things for me: the Grants are fantastic and kids really can learn about anything if presented in the right away. I'm stating the obvious, but I don't think that everyone agrees, so I say it as often as possible. To prove my point: after the Grants gave their talk about evolution in action, there was time for questions. And boy were there questions, insightful questions, including, "what was the longest a finch has lived on Daphne Major?" (Daphne is the island in the Galapagos the Grants do most of their work on.) The answer? Sixteen years. And, "What happened to the big beaked finches after a rainy season?" Did I mention these were elementary school kids? The Grants demonstrated what happened with seeds and pliers they had brought (and donated to the museum). Or rather they had the children demonstrate (I apologize for my so-so photos from this event):
After a rainy season there a lots of little seeds. What do you think happened when the child with the big-beaked pliers tried to "eat" little seeds?
Of course there were also the personal questions, such as, "How old were you when you got married?" Better than, how old are you now?! (I was struck by how much kids are alike everywhere--even with the language barrier it was supremely easy to pick out the class clown, the jock, the girl who knows all the answers, and the boy who thinks he does, but doesn't...)
Afterward, Peter and Rosemary were besieged by kids wanting autographs, which they graciously gave.
Watching Rosemary interact with the children I thought back to her lecture a few nights earlier in which she shared her personal history. Born in 1936 in England, Rosemary grew up during World War II, and she spoke poignantly about a lesson she learned at a very young age. She had so much hatred for the German bombers who threatened the safety of her and her family. But at the same time she met a German POW who was working on the road near their home. He showed her a photograph of his child, who was just about her age, and so she realized that while she hated German bombs she could not hate this man. They became friends. That kind of complex thinking added to her growing knowledge of the natural world (she and other mother took long walks in the country, and her mother named all the plants and trees, animals and insects they saw) and she grew up to be a brilliant and driven young woman, eager to make her way into the academic world. But when she told her headmistress at boarding school that she wanted to go to University of Edinburgh, the headmistress told her that was ridiculous. Rosemary had two brothers, why should she work? Rosemary was determined, however, and made plans to take the entrance exam. Then a few days before she was due to take it, she came down with the mumps and was bedridden. The headmistress stood at the foot of her bed and proclaimed it was "God's will." I can see Rosemary's bright smile as she tells this story! Rosemary got better, graduated, took a correspondence course, and passed the exam the following year. At breakfast one morning this past week I told her I was impressed by that story, and asked her what gave her that kind of determination. She looked at me, again with that brilliant smile, and said, "I was really angry!"
Since everything was Japanese, the Grants had an interpreter with them at all times. This woman also did simultaneous translation at the big events. I got to spend time with her in the car to and from the Science Center. I asked her where she learned her English and she said in America. I asked her where, and she said had been an exchange student in Pennsylvania. "Where in Pennsylvania?" I asked her.
Since everything was Japanese, the Grants had an interpreter with them at all times. This woman also did simultaneous translation at the big events. I got to spend time with her in the car to and from the Science Center. I asked her where she learned her English and she said in America. I asked her where, and she said had been an exchange student in Pennsylvania. "Where in Pennsylvania?" I asked her.
And the answer, of course? "Outside Allentown, PA." "Where?" "I lived with a family in Wescoesville and went to Emmaus High.) Of course she did. Here she is looking up a word on her pocket translation machine. 
Mohiko also gave me a recipe for okonomiyaki, which I hope to make soon. We had it our last night in Kyoto and it was delicious. Speaking of food, the trip was really, all about the food. Herewith two parting shots: 
Yes, pickles on a stick. Yummm!
Green-tea custard-filled pastry. Well, come on, I had to try it!
Green-tea custard-filled pastry. Well, come on, I had to try it!
We traveled to Japan last Saturday, arriving on Sunday, losing a day when we crossed over the international date line. We hope to get that day back on the way home. (I get myself into a mathematical tizzy if I think about this too much. What if we moved to Japan and never came back? What if we kept going in one direction, back home, would we gain day after day until we became immortal? Where does that day go? Aaron, help!)
I knew right away that this was going to be a different kind of trip than we had ever taken when we were given an invitation to the first class lounge at the airport. Dorothy, we were not in economy schlep land any more. I enjoyed every second of it knowing that this might be a once-in-a-lifetime event. I even loved the flight--well who wouldn't ? We were flown business class, where the seats are roomier than most studio apartments in New York City. The food was fantastic (it was a Japanese airline)--a four course Japanese meal served my flight attendants who were more gracious and nicer than anyone I had ever met. It prepared me well for what was to come. At one point I turned to Jon and said, "Hmmm we're in business class. What can they possibly have in first class that we don't have?" I wish I could give you his complete answer, but suffice it to say it did not include rock 'n roll, but did include the other two. Since I write books for kids I'm gong to leave it at that.
But enough of our little luxuries, let me get to the reason for our visit. We came to help honor and celebrate Peter and Rosemary Grant, who were two of the four Kyoto Prize Laureates. Peter and Rosemary are the scientists Jonathan profiled in THE BEAK OF THE FINCH. They have followed in Darwin's footsteps, watching what evolution in action in Darwin's finches in the Galapagos Islands. It is the first time a couple has been honored by the Kyoto Prize, and we are thrilled for them. The other two laureates are: composer, conductor, and modern music legend Pierre Boulez and Dr. Isamu Akasaki, the developer of blue light LEDs. Here is a photo I took of the poster that is all over the city; this one in the subway near our hotel.
And while I'm at it, here's a photo of the subway we've been riding. Dorothy, we are not in NYC any more. Aside from Jon and me, and Ravi, Peter and Rosemary's son-in-law, these good folks are from the Kyoto Prize festivities that are held in April in San Diego, CA, in April.
We got a tour on Monday of Kyocera, the ceramics company founded by Kazuo Inamori, whose foundation, the Inamori Foundation sponsors the prize. We also got a tour of the foundation offices. Here is a link to the foundation. I was fascinated by it all, and especially by how beautiful ceramic computer parts and 
the like can be.
the like can be.And even photovoltaic cells.
(I just spent too much time looking for an old New Yorker cartoon that was the end of the date in which the woman is saying, "I will always treasure what you told me about photovoltaic cells." If anyone can find it, please let me know. It appeared during the time Jon was wooing me with science...)
Monday evening was a welcome banquet hosted by the mayor of Kyoto and the Inamori Foundation. Also there was a real, live Princess, Princess Takamado Hisako, who seems lovely and has written at least two children's books! I don't really need to tell you about the meal after you look at the menu except to say every bite was fantastic, though I must admit I didn't eat the sea urchin. (If you click on the picture it gets bigger and you can read the writing.)
There was also beautiful, haunting music played by a woman on a long instrument whose name I don't know. You can see her in the program. It was so beautiful--but that is when my jet lag caught up with me and I began to doze. Or it could have been all that food (thought the portions were small.)
Tuesday night were the fancy festivities, black tie and all. We were not supposed to take photos at the ceremony (though I did bet Jon to take one when there were children performing--it brought tears to everyone's eyes). Below, then, is Jon's surreptitious photo of Peter and Rosemary watching the little girls sing. For official photos and a recounting of the ceremony, please go directly to the Inamori Foundation web site. It is worth the look! When you see the photos, believe me, it was every bit as lavish as it looks. Though we were sitting at desks with headphones to hear the simultaneous translation.
Tuesday night were the fancy festivities, black tie and all. We were not supposed to take photos at the ceremony (though I did bet Jon to take one when there were children performing--it brought tears to everyone's eyes). Below, then, is Jon's surreptitious photo of Peter and Rosemary watching the little girls sing. For official photos and a recounting of the ceremony, please go directly to the Inamori Foundation web site. It is worth the look! When you see the photos, believe me, it was every bit as lavish as it looks. Though we were sitting at desks with headphones to hear the simultaneous translation.
Let me end this portion of my recounting of my adventures with a shot of food from the banquet this night. It was French food, including a portion of beef that was supposedly fantastic, but I don't eat meat so I'll have to take Jon's word for it. But I will leave you with this image, and my next post will be more about Peter and Rosemary, including some wonderful inspirational moments from their lectures on Wednesday. This afternoon I am going to accompany them to a school (or maybe to the science center?) where they will speak to children. I invited myself!
Good night to you all; here it is November 13. Looking nice so far. O.K, a parting shot:
I have neglected my flowers, but it rained, and so they are still alive. I honestly don't want it to rain on my blog, though.
So here is a quick lick and a promise to write more soon before we head off to Kyoto on Saturday. Oh, yes, Kyoto, which might just explain why I've been too busy to blog, but in fact, it does not! First of all, we're going to KYOTO to help celebrate Peter and Rosemary Grant, who are being awarded the Kyoto Prize. They are an amazing couple, and they deserve this and so much more. Husband Jonathan wrote about them in his wonderful book (I can say that, right?) The Beak of the Finch. Here is a photo of Peter and Rosemary.
They are terrific people and amazing scientist and I can't wait to help them celebrate.
But before that I need to revise a book, give a talk tomorrow in Brooklyn at the NYC Library Services Conference and you know, do more work, shop for last minute things and pack.
But before I go, I wanted to put up these photos from a couple of weeks ago--a great time at Bank Street with Lisa Von Drasek (librarian extraordinaire) and her kids. Here's Lisa (left) making me and Jackie Kelly (Calpurnia Tate author!) laugh:
And here's our editor, Laura Godwin, claiming that it was a fluke that both our covers have silhouettes on them. 
Well even if it was a fluke, what a great fluke... for, as we've been called, the Darwin Darlings. I swear, not by me. First, anyway. Laura is a genius. And funny.
Well even if it was a fluke, what a great fluke... for, as we've been called, the Darwin Darlings. I swear, not by me. First, anyway. Laura is a genius. And funny.Now my blog no longer suffers from neglect (not a quick lick and a promise after all) but my other work does. Not to mention the packing. And shoes. I need comfortable shoes I can wear with a suit (I bought a suit). But that's not your problem. Or is it?
MY VISIT TO RIF, THE MOTHER CHURCH OF LITERACY
Ashley Gilleland, the producer, me, and Maria Salvadore, who
interviewed me with great questions and whose smile never left her face!
interviewed me with great questions and whose smile never left her face!
Marfe Ferguson Delano is my good friend, and a great author, and she is showing me a great time here in the DC area. This afternoon we took a lovely walk along the Potomac and tonight she cooked a delicious dinner. Tomorrow I speak at the Children's Book Guild and also get to talk with people at RIF. If we're up early enough (not looking great at the moment), we'll go for another walk. Speaking of which, I have to go now. To bed. Sorry if there are typos.
Don't ask me about Horatio's Drive. I have no idea.
Enjoy!
My Granola:
4 cups old fashioned (rolled) oats
2 ½-3 cups of nuts: sliced almonds, chopped walnuts, pecans and whatever else you love.
¼ tsp salt
½ cup or less Canola oil
½ cup or more honey
1-2 tsp almond extract (or vanilla, but try the almond, it will knock your socks off)
1 cup dried cranberries
1 cup golden raisins
OR approximately 2 cups of any dried fruit. I usually use a mixture of raisins (black and golden) and cranberries, and then I love apricots in it, too, so I cut up apricots to about the same size as the raisins. I recently used a whole variety of dried fruit and it was delicious. Definitely play around with this.
Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 250°F or 275º. Line a large shallow baking pan with foil and oil foil. (I use a roasting pan, which is deep, and it works fine, makes it easier to stir)
Toss together oats, nuts, and salt in a large bowl. Whisk together oil and honey (I usually put the honey in the microwave just to thin it out first) and vanilla, then stir into oat mixture until well coated. Spread mixture in baking pan and bake, stirring often—maybe every ten minutes, until golden brown, about an hour.. Stir in cranberries and raisins, then cool completely in pan on a rack. If you like clumps, you can put paper towels on the granola while it’s cooling, though sometimes you get clumps anyway.
Eat and ENJOY!
Especially after I came to my computer and refreshed the National Book Foundation web site and saw that Charles and Emma is still there! It didn't disappear in the night. It wasn't a dream. O.K. Maybe that oatmeal is still edible.
It is! Now if I can just eat it without wrecking the computer, all will be well. Husband Jonathan is not home, or he would certainly separate me and my oatmeal or me and my computer. But I'm going to live dangerously.
Did I mention that the book of my heart, Charles and Emma, is a National Book Award Finalist? Do you think Applecare would have a problem with spilled oatmeal in light of that?
O.K., I am pushing the oatmeal farther away from the keyboard, Jon.
Much of this has seemed surreal, and even more surreal because Jon wasn't here for the news*, but he was having a great honor of his own. The Beak of the Finch was read by all the incoming freshmen at Brown, and so he was up in Providence giving a talk and being feted. I'm so happy that his father was able to be there, and I am also happy that he is going to come home and help me celebrate. Because the book is for him, has always been.
O.K. How cool is it that three of the books in the Literature for Young People category are nonfiction? ! Yes! For more on nonfiction for kids, and wise words from the amazing author and my friend Tanya Lee Stone, please go to her post on I.N.K. today. Thank you.
I understand there is some controversy (when isn't there?) about the choice of Stitches by David Small as a finalist. I haven't read the book, but I sure want to. The controversy is that it was published as an adult book, but the publisher entered it into the Young People's category. Does that bother you? Does that bother me? Seriously, nothing bothers me right now (not even spilled oatmeal and a messed up microwave), so I can't really be trusted here. However as the author of a book that is being read by kids and adults, I think it's not a huge deal. I like the idea of crossover books, going in both directions. Some folks are saying that Stitches knocked off some other deserving books written for kids. I'm sure that is true, and that's sad. There were a number of books I thought I'd see on the list that aren't there. (Including friends'.) But of course each of the books knocked off others, so...is it really such a crime that a book that was published for adults got nominated in this category? I don't know. What do you think?
*Back to me. (Enough about me, what do YOU think about me?) Apparently I was supposed to hear this news on Tuesday. The NBF people call the authors a day ahead of time. The authors are not allowed to tell anyone, not even their publishers or agents. But Harold Augenbraum from the NBF could not find me! He couldn't find my phone number. He tried Jon at his office, but wasn't sure that he had the right number because Jon's voice mail is a robot and doesn't say his name. And he DID send me an e-mail, but of all things, it went into my SPAM folder. I should have known Tuesday morning, but instead I found out when Tanya (see above) called me on my cell (I was at a writers group!) and she was screaming. Considering her book, Almost Astronauts, was surely a contender, and is fantastic, and was a Horn Book honor, Tanya goes down in my book as a friend forever and a true mensch. The first message on my voice mail at home was from Laurie Halse Anderson, also screaming. Her book Wintergirls is one of the most amazing books I've ever read, well, all of her books are, including the two nominated for the NBA, Speak and Chains. But I'm not telling you something you don't already know. She better give me dress (gown) advice. And fast.
Anyway, it's probably a good thing I didn't know ahead of time. I am not really known as someone who can keep her mouth shut. But I would have. Honest. It would not have been easy. Because how could I not have called my amazing editors Laura Godwin and Noa Wheeler? How could I not have called my agent and good friend Ken Wright? Gmail usually is so good about putting the right things in the spam folder. I think Gmail might be an evil genius.
Before I close (Deborah Sloan says, "keep your blogs short." I'm not doing so well this morning, am I?) I want to say thank you to all the people who called, e-mailed, facebooked, twittered (@dheiligman) to say congratulations. Thank you, thank you, thank you. It's been an amazing ride, and as one of my dear friends said, everything else is gravy, delicious gravy, but gravy. This right here, this moment, is such an honor. And congratulations to all of the other finalists. Man, are we gonna PARTY!
O.K. my oatmeal is finished. The sun is coming up. I gotta go clean up the microwave.
(and also speechless)
More soon.
