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Not to brag or anything, BUT I AM DONE WITH ALL MY CHRISTMAS SHOPPING.
Yes, it is my annual tradition to get it all squared away BEFORE Thanksgiving. If you still have some shopping to do, why not head over to your local indie bookseller? You never know what fabulous books you'll find like the ones in the SCIBA Holiday Catalogue. . .
 
BTW, the book on the cover is called THE CHRISTMAS MAGIC by Lauren Thomson. The illustrator is the talented New York Times bestselling Jon Muth, seen here on right with illustrator/author/celebrity judge Mark Teague and mucho award-winner Walter Dean Myers on left . . .
Speaking of books, this week I'm working on the copyedits of BOBBY THE BRAVE (SOMETIMES), the sequel to BOBBY VS. GIRLS (ACCIDENTALLY) . . .
It's all done digitally and looks like this . . .
However, it can get confusing because of where to click and not click and STET and not STET. So, I thought, I know . . . COFFEE!!!
Um, now I am not a COFFEE!!! drinker, but Starbucks had this Peppermint Mocha La La Delish Latte Just For Lisa, so I got one. Only, it didn't help my copyediting because COFFEE!!! does strange things to me . . .
. . . but ooooOOOooooh, is it good!!!
Speaking of strange, our friend and illustrator of the BOBBY books, Dan Santat . . .
. . . went out of town recently. He asked us to babysit his pets . . .
Oops. That's not Dan's pet. It's Son's water buffalo. I KID YOU NOT!!! Here's another great gift idea . . .
Heifer International lets you give life-changing gifts to hungry families around the world. Son used his own money to buy a share of a water buffalo. I bought really cool animals which I cannot mention because some of the people reading this may get them as gifts in their names.
Oh, back to Dan. He's got this in is office . . .
It's a wall! It's a chalkboard! It's a chalkboard wall!
Too cool.
And finally, since we're in the giving and receiving of gifts mode, look! Look! Yes, it's Karen B. Schwartz , the Grand Prize Winner of Lisa Yee's 42nd Annual Bodacious Book Contest with her Bodacious Book Contest Grand Prizes, including the coveted petrified orange . . .
  
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We're still in Philadelphia, even though we are not really. Yes, that is the power of blogs (and authors who have too much stuff to blog about!).
Last blog we were wondering to whom these famous shoes belonged to . . .
 
. . . and we will get to that. But first, this.
After an action/author-packed day, the next morning was the annual Scholastic Literary Brunch . . .
 
Everyone got cool swag, including books from each author reading at the event . . .
 
Peeps sat with the incredible Stick Man/Events-Author Program Queen Jacky Harper (who Holly Harper in BOBBY VS. GIRLS (ACCIDENTALLY) is named after), Dick Robinson, CEO, Chairman and President of Scholastic, Francisco Stork, and his editor (and mine) Cheryl Klein. Here, Jacky gifts Peeps with a flower . . .
 
Soon it was time for the authors to read from their latest masterpieces. Each author was introduced by Scholastic Library and Educational Marketing Guru John Mason. Patrick Carmen went first, followed by Maureen Johnson, Kathryn Lasky, Patricia McKissack (was unable to make it, so Jacky read for her), Maggie Stiefvater, Francisco Stork,
     
. . . and then Moi . . .
Here's what the beautiful/Nobel Prize caliber audience looked like . . .
 
It was a great end to a great time at a great convention . . .
Oh! Oh! Oh! Those shoes? Did you guess? Here's who those happy feet belong to . . .
 
(Justine Labalestier and Brian Selznick!!!)
And guess who was on the flight back to Los Angeles with me???? I'll give you a hint . . . JULIE ANDREWS!!!!! She had keynoted at NCTE. We had met once before, but I didn't want to bother her. However, I will post this photo of our last encounter. . .
BTW, if any of you are in the San Gabriel/Los Angeles/Pasadena area, come visit PEEPY (and me) at the San Gabriel Library this Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.!!! You can CLICK HERE for more info.
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When we last left off, we were in Philadelphia. Home of the Liberty Bell and this creeeeepy/cool place that my friend Carla told me about.
However, Peepy and stayed away from creepy stuff and instead hung out with the cool kids. That's cause the place was packed full o' authors! Here are just a few that we ran into/stalked on the floor of the NCTE Convention.
Caldecottian David Wiesner, Baby Mouse's (Mice?) Jenny and Matt Holm(s), plus gadfly David Lubar . . .
  
(If it looks like David's trying to strangle Peepy, he is. They had a disagreement over apples and oranges.)
While Peeps recovered from her David Lubar encounter, and BTW David, she says you should watch your back and other body parts, we ran into the talented Mr. Greg Neri and also Literature Affectionado/Soon-to-Be-Author Monica Edinger, New York Times Bestselling gal Maggie Stiefvater, multiple award winner Kathryn Lasky and that always awesome Lunch Lady-esque couple, Gina and Jarrett Krosoczka . . .
 ,   
Then Peeps and Moi attended the NCTE Books for Children Luncheon. Everyone at our table got a copy of BOBBY VS. GIRLS (ACCIDENTALLY) . . .
 
After, it was time for our booksigning. We were thrilled to run into our editor Cheryl Klein, and later we went out to eat (yes, again) . . .
 
Soon it was time for our rousing Blogging Panel with the gals, Maureen Johnson, Barbara O'Connor, Laurie Halse Anderson, and Justine Larbalestier . . .
   
(That's Justine on the left in the last photo)
Next, food again! (Oink.) The M.R. Robinson Reception and Dinner, was hosted by Scholastic head honcho Dick Robinson. It was a wonderful Thanksgiving feast for almost 800 guests. Peeps was convinced the dinner was in her honor. However, that's not totally true. This NCTE/Scholastic Thanksgiving tradition has been going on for several decades and is named in honor of Dick's father . . .
  
Then, to cap off an incredible day, I got to finally meet the amazing Sara Zarr in person!!! We've been corresponding for YEARS, but have never been face-to-face before. I even named a character after Sara . . .
NEXT BLOG: More NCTE Convention. Plus . . . what famous authors are attached to these boots/shoes????
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I love teachers. My parents were teachers. And I especially love English teachers. They were the ones who nurtured and encouraged my writing.
So, it was my honor to attend the NCTE Conference in Philadelphia. Imagine, thousands of English teachers together in one (humongous) building. Yes, some students' nightmare was my dream come true.
I arrived on Friday night, just in time for the Scholastic Family Dinner. This was an excuse for Scholastic authors and staff to hang out, eat too much, and have fun.
Of course, for Peepy, it was a chance for her to pitch her epic memoir/fashion tips narrative un-fiction novelette. Here, she's telling Caldecott winner Brian Selznick (left) and amazing author Jordan Sonneblick about her book . . .
 
Brian immediately told author/editor David Levithan about Peepy's idea(s) . . .
Emboldened, Peeps then asked authors Francisco Stork, Jane Yolan and Patrick Carman for book blurbs . . .
  
However, when she approached Gordon Korman they got in an argument--although they later made up. (Gordon told Peeps that before she gets blurbs, she needs to write to book) . . .
 
Soon it was time for dinner at the fancy schmanzy Capital Grille . . .
 
After too many desserts, Peeps marched up to Dick Robinson, CEO, Chairman and President of Scholastic and insisted he publish her book. He too encouraged her to write it first . . .
Saddened that she still does not have a contract, Peepy was consoled by the beautiful view from our room . . .
Next Blog: Our first day at the convention.
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So, while the rest of us were galavanting around town with our dear friends . . .
Our Celebrity Judges have been hard at work . . .
Oops. I meant THESE judges: Elizabeth Bluemle and Josie Levitt of The Flying Pig Bookstore in Vermont . . .
And, Vroman's Children's Book Department Manager Kris Vreeland . . .
It was soooooo hard to select the best out of (practically) four million entries, but YES! we have a WINNER for Lisa Yee's 42nd Annual Bodacious Book Contest!!!!
But first, let's review the fine prizes . . .
(Disclaimer: Peep not included.)
And up close . . .
 
And really, really up close, here's perhaps the most coveted of the prizes, a lovely petrified orange that sat on my desk for who-knows-how-long . . .
So, now . . . the Grand Prize winner is . . .
Oh wait. Before we get to that, I want to do some special shout outs! Hubby, Teen, Son and I made our own selections. The authors of these entries can bask in the knowledge that they have been laughed at, and I mean that in the nicest possible way . . .
The Teen and Son selection is . . .
 
Book: If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
Summary by Really Ginny: Don't give a mouse a cookie
(Note: Couldn't find my copy of IF YOU GIVE A MOUSE A COOKIE, so I put an Edward Gorey title in its place)
The Hubby (he's the one on the left) call out goes to . . .
 
Book: The Hobbit
Summary by Shannon Brewer: Previously unadventurous halfling battles dragon, wins.
And my personal favorite was . . . I'll tell you later. But first, the Celebrity Judges Honorable Mentions . . .
Book: Good Night Moon
Summary by Kelly Fineman: Good night, I said good night
Book: I'll Love You Forever
Summary by Alex Flinn: Mom's at the window. Help! Police
Book: Are You There God, It's Me Margaret?
Summary by Jo Whittemore: The book ends with a period.
Summary by Really Ginny: Are You There God….Dear Margaret. Leave a message. God.
Book: Hunger Games
Summary by Jet Harrington: Make friends. Influence people. Escape Death
Book: The Graveyard Book
Summary by Paul Acampora: No body loved Nobody. Somebody lived.
Book: All of a Kind Family
Summary by Jeanne K: Pack of roving sisters terrorize Manhattan.
And now the FIRST RUNNER UP and winner of some prizes, and person to take over the Grand Prize winner's spot if the pressure of being a winner is too much for said Grand Prize Winner . . .
Book: Harold & the Purple Crayon
Summary by Mike Jung: Boy with crayon experiences intense hallucinations
DRUMROLL PLEASE . . . the judges' unanimous pick (and my personal favorite) and winner of the GRAND PRIZE, including the petrified orange . . .
Book: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Summary by Karen B. Schwartz: Five kids get their just desserts.
CONGRATULATIONS KAREN!!!!
(Karen and Mike, please email me via my website so I can send you your fabulous prizes.)
Thank you to all who entered the contest. Your summaries were magnificent and so are you!
And for anyone attending the NCTE Convention (National Convention of Teachers of English) in Philadelphia this weekend, here's my schedule . . .
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21
12:30-2:30pm Books for Children Luncheon - featuring Brian Selznick
2:00-3:00pm Scholastic Signing—Booth #618 with Patrick Carman
4:15-5:30pm Authors' Blogs: Connections, Collaboration, and Creativity with with Laurie Halse Anderson, Barbara O'Connor, Maureen Johnson and Justine Larbalestier - Convention Center-Room 103A
5:45-7:45pm 77th Annual M.R. Robinson Reception & Dinner - Marriott, Grand Ballroom
8:00pm Night Cap Social with the Alliance for Young Artists, the National Writing Project, with Alice Quinn, the Executive Director of the Poetry Society of America - Marriott—Salon B
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22
10:00-11:30am Scholastic Literary Brunch . . .
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I am soooooo sorry! I know I said we'd announce the winner of the Bodacious Book Contest. However, the entries were so great that the judges are still deliberating. Soon! Soon! We will crown our winner soon!!!
In the meantime, recently Peepy and I were lucky enough to see our friend David Levithan at Vroman's.
David, who is also VP/Editorial Director at Scholastic, was on tour for his latest novel, LOVE IS THE HIGHER LAW. Yes, he is an overachiever and we wish he would stop. (He makes us look like slackers.)
Anyway, before David's event, we bumped into authors Cecil Castellucci and Blake Nelson. They were browsing . . .
Here's David from where we were sitting . . .
And here he is, up close and personal . . .
  
A raffle was held for an ARC (advanced readers copy) of David's upcoming blockbuster bestseller, WILL GRAYSON, WILL GRAYSON, hence to be known as WG2. He wrote it with uber author John Green. Here's John with WG2 editor Julie Strauss-Gabel . . .
Guess who won the raffle????
  
Teen was with us, so I had David sign the book to . . . ME!
(He signed LOVE IS THE HIGHER LAW for her.)
Not to rub it in, but . . . hahahahaha!!! The book doesn't come out until April 2010 and I've already read it, and loved it!!!
I asked John Green about the title and main characters' names. Why not call it, "JOHN GREEN, JOHN GREEN" or "DAVID LEVITHAN, DAVID LEVITHAN"?
And he said, "We chose the name in advance--it was one of the few things picked at the outset. David chose the Will and I chose the Grayson." Then he added, "We wanted to call it PEEPY, PEEPY, but her lawyers wouldn't let us." (Okay, maybe he didn't say that last sentence--but he probably thought it.)
In other news . . . YES! I just finished the line-edits of BOBBY THE BRAVE (SOMETIMES), the second book in the Bobby Ellis-Chan series. I was having problems with the endings and kept scribbling notes . . .
I even wrote the perfect last line in my sleep. But in the morning, when I looked at the paper I wrote it on, MY PEN HAD GONE DRY.
That's okay. I came up with a better line when I was awake. And now it's done! I've sent off the manuscript to these fine editors in NYC . . .
(That would be Cheryl Klein, on left, Moi in the middle, and Arthur Levine.)
And finally, fashion tip of the week. Don't iron. Use this . . .
It's what busy authors and others everywhere use to get rid of wrinkles! Sadly, it only works on clothes.
Alrighty. Getting ready to rumble with Laurie Halse Anderson, Barbara O'Connor, Maureen Johnson and Justine Larbalestier at the NCTE Convention in Philadelphia this weekend.
We're all on a panel together.
The topic is one of the following:
Dentistry
Blogging
Quick 'n' Easy Crock Pot Recipes
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Wheeeee!!!
We got some great news about BOBBY VS. GIRLS (ACCIDENTALLY). The New York Public Library named it one of the TOP 100 BOOKS FOR READING AND SHARING FOR CHILDREN and adults and animals!!!!! (I may have added that last part.)
(A tragedy involving Peepy once occurred at the NYPL, but it ended well.)
Here's NYPL's own Betsy Bird's review of BOBBY for School Library Journal!
Speaking of Bobby, earlier this week, Dan Santat and I journeyed a couple miles down the road to Carver Elementary School in San Marino, CA. We were there to talk about BOBBY VS. GIRLS (ACCIDENTALLY) . . .
 
We spoke to the fourth and fifth grades . . .
 
(If you take out your magnifying glass, you'll see that I'm in the first photo and Dan's in the second one.)
It was soooooo cool because the fifth graders made posters announcing our event . . .
We didn't have room for all of them, but here are a few selected at random . . .
                           
Everyone was wonderful and we had a greatfabuloustotallycool time!!!
For those of you holding your breath(s) to hear about the Bodacious Book Contest winners, they will be announced in my next blog!!!!! (We had practically sort of a million entries, and we don't want to rush to judgement.)
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Our Celebrity Judges . . .
. . . are still hard at work pouring over the (practically) millions of contest entries for the Bodacious Book Contest.
So, Peepy and I decided that while they were working, we'd have some fun!
Yes! We went to see NPR's Wait, Wait . . . Don't Tell Me! live at the Pasadena Civic Center . . .
We got there early so Peepy could chat with some of her friends. Then we found our seats . . .
 
The panelists were these funny people . . .
Here's the crew setting up . . .
Then the show began! The guest star who played "Not My Job" was . . . squint and see if you can tell . . .
Yes! It was George Takei, a.k.a. Sulu from Star Trek, the original series.. Peepy was thrilled that she got to meet him in person . . .
(Okay, so maybe she didn't actually meet him in person. But don't tell her that.)
It was so cool because we are fans and there's even a Star Trek geek featured one of my upcoming books!
The show was amazing and funny. It was called an "evergreen" because they're not sure when it's going to air--but it will be repeated several times, as needed or when the staff goes on vacation.
In the meantime, here's this weekend's show with Tony Hawk as guest star. And here's Tony Hawk when he autographed Son's skateboard deck . . .
Oops! Back to the show!!!
Afterward, the audience rushed the stage. It was exactly like a U2 concert!!!! Almost.
  
It was all so fun that as soon as we got home, Peeps told Chekov all about meeting Sulu and told him that she now wants her own radio show . . .
BTW, if you're a grandparent, have a grandparent, or know a grandparent, CHECK THIS OUT. Yes! AARP likes Bobby!!!
(Above: Me and my grandmother at my uncle's wedding.)
Also, I thought this was totally cool. CLICK HERE to find out about the fork in the road . . .
And in honor of Tony Hawk, there's this . . .
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Yep. The Lisa Yee's 42nd Annual Bodacious Book Contest is now closed. You can check out the hilarious entries by CLICKING HERE and picking your favorites.
As you are reading this, our Celebrity Judges are pouring over the entries and making their decisions. In the meantime, I thought I'd pass along some sage advice . . .
Do not put your vitamins, like Omega 3 fish oil, in the same bag as your candy, like Hot Tamales. That's right. Recently, I accidentally bit into a fish oil capsule. Ewwww.
On a happier note: Winnie-the-Pooh.
There's been a lot of fuss about the authorized sequel to A.A. Milne's classic Winnie-the-Pooh stories. I'm in the camp of Good-For-You-Who-Put-Out-The-New-Book-However-I-Think-I-Will-Pass.
As some of you know, I have the second largest collection of Winnie-the-Pooh stuff in America. Here's what happened. I started collecting when I was seven and Santa brought me my first Pooh bear . . .
. . . and it didn't stop collecting until May 12, 2003 . . .
That's because, on that day I shipped off over EIGHTY BOXES of my Poohs to the White River Heritage/Pooh Museum in Canada . . .
My collection had gotten too big, and my Pooh-addiction had gotten out of hand . . .
   
My family was moving from Orlando, Florida to South Pasadena, CA, and our new house was much smaller. (L.A. prices will do that to you.) So I decided to send them to White River in Ontario Canada, the home of the bear Winnie is named after.
White River was in the process of building a Pooh Museum and I thought it would better for everyone to enjoy the collection than for it to sit in storage.
 
It took a lot of doing, including making up a list for customs. For an entire week, I prepped the big handoff. I'd put my Poohs on a white sheet and photograph them, then list their value (and wish each and every one a sad good-bye) . . .
   
Then, after about four days of this, I realized . . . DUH!!! I don't need to put them on the sheet . . . I can just take photos of each shelf . . .
Oh well.
Yes, I do miss my Winnie-the-Poohs. Although I have kept over 100 or so. Plus, there are the memories of them. In addition writing Pooh articles for magazines, every year the pre-schoolers of Park Lake in Orlando would visit my collection.
I don't know who had more fun, me or the kids!!!
Disclaimer: The pictures of the Poohs are actually better looking in person. I was too lazy to take them out of the plastic folders they were in when I photographed them. Hence the weird glare.
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What do these people have in common, besides their obvious beauty?
          
 
Yes! All (or most) have been esteemed celebrity judges for my past Book Contests!!! They include:
Sid Fleischman, National Treasure and Newbery Winner
Arthur Levine, Scholastic Vice President/Publisher of Arthur A. Levine Books, editor of the Harry Potter series, and the man who rescued me from the slush pile
Bruce Coville, bestselling author and Full Cast Audio President
Jodi Reamer, Writers House agent to that Twilight author and Moi
Cheryl Klein, AAL Books senior editor and fabulous blogger
Betsy Bird, prolific blogger, librarian and Newbery Judge
KT Horning, Newbery Judge and director of the CCBC
Carla Kozak, librarian, coffee drinker and Newbery Judge
Michael Stearns, Peep critiquer and literary agent
Mark Teague, author and New York Times Bestselling illustrator
Adam Rex, author/illustrator and New York Times Bestselling Guy
David Lubar, Rotten author with over 2,000,000 books in print
Linda Sue Park, maggot mess survivor and Newbery Winner
And now . . . this year's good-looking, talented, smart, witty, celebrity judges are all independent booksellers!
They include, Elizabeth Bluemle and Josie Levitt of The Flying Pig Bookstore in Vermont . . .
Here's Josie (left) and Elizabeth holding their Lucile Micheels Pannel Award, which celebrates bookstores "that excel at inspiring the interest of young people in books and reading."
(As if running a bookstore isn't time-consuming enough, overachievers that they are, Elizabeth is also an author and Josie is also an avid blogger!)
Our other judge hails from Pasadena . . . Vroman's Children's Book Department Manager Kris Vreeland . . .
Vroman's is my local independent bookstore and the Book Launch Party for BOBBY VS. GIRLS (ACCIDENTALLY) was held there . . .
Plus, Vroman's was named a Publisher's Weekly Bookstore of the Year.
Okay, so remember CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE CONTEST or to read the hilarious entries and laugh so hard that your beverage of choice will come out your nose!!!
THE CONTEST WILL CLOSE ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4th at 7:57 p.m. West Coast Time.
*If I missed any judges, please speak up. I am brain farting right now.
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| » Eeeeek. Experimental Halloweeeeeen Peeeeeeps!!!! |
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While you are busy thinking up those glorious contest entries for the Lisa Yee 42nd Annual Bodacious Book Contest, we've been busy, too.
YES! YES! It's another PEEPY HALLOWEEN!!!! Here's last year's chaos.
In the past we've also done this sort of thing. This year, we thought . . . hmmmm . . . wooden spikes . . . through a Krispy Kreme Donut . . .
     
That was okay, but then Son thought . . . hmmmm . . . taping a Peep to a plate . . .
    
All this really disturbed Peepy. (For the record, she is a non-edible Plush Peep, not a marshmallow.) So she said . . . hmmm . . . look! Leftover Peeps from Easter. Try making something pretty!
(For the record, she is in her taco costume.)
So we did . . .
     
That was soooo fun!!! Except for clean up . . .
 
For more Peep fun and an interview with Moi (that would be me) on Wired GeekDad blog, CLICK HERE and find out how this whole Peep explosion thing began . . .
Okay, now back to Lisa Yee's 67th or 42nd Bodacious Book Contest. CLICK HERE to enter or to read the hilarious entries!!!
Next Blog: Wherein we reveal the identities of our celebrity judges.
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Oct. 28th, 2009 @ 09:41 pm
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| » Lisa Yee's 42nd Annual Bodacious Book Contest!!! |
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Yes! Yes! It's that time o' year again . . . LISA YEE'S 42nd ANNUAL BODACIOUS BOOK CONTEST!!!!
In the past, we rhymed words to make a new title. Out of the zillions of entries this was the winner . . .
THE FIREPOWER OF LUCKY
Confused by what she overhears at AA meetings, and frustrated by controversy surrounding the ALA, a little girl seeks comfort in the NRA.
We've changed a single letter to make something new. Out of the ravillion entries the judges picked . . .
BILLY'S PURPLE PLASTIC PURSE
When Billy brings his latest fashion accessory to school, Mr Slinger helps the kindergarten class understand that it's okay for Billy to march to the beat of a different drummer.
This year we're up to something different . . . book SUMMARIES . . . in Six Words!!! (I was inspired by SIX WORD MEMOIRS where people pen their life story in six words.)
Only, here's our version and your assignment . . .
1. Select a children's/young adult book that most people are familiar with (it's okay if someone else has selected the same book)
2. Think, think, think . . . then in SIX WORDS sum up the ENTIRE STORY or convey the ESSENCE of the story.
3. Submit the title and your summary to this LIVE JOURNAL** blog under COMMENTS (if are not registered to Live Journal, that's okay -- just include your name)
Examples:
Book: Old Yeller
Summary: Good dog. Bad dog. Dead dog.
Book: The Giving Tree
Summary: Boy abuses tree for personal gain.
Book: Twilight
Summary: All because she smelled really good.
Who will be the judge of your work? Past celebrity judges have included Newbery Award judges, high powered literary agents, Newbery winners, NY Times Bestselling illustrators, and more. This year's judges will be revealed on a later blog.
And as always, we have FABULOUS prizes, which will include, but are not limited to and may change, an autographed copy of BOBBY VS. GIRLS (ACCIDENTALLY), an autographed copy of ABSOLUTELY MAYBE, a nice collection of ostrich egg jelly beans, an orange that sat in my office for so long it petrified, some pom poms, and a plastic frog.
(Disclaimer: Peep not included. Objects are bigger than they appear.)
The contest will run about a week or maybe a little more. Ready . . . set . . . go . . . !!!!
(**Facebook people, MySpace people and Red Room people, others, PLEASE POST ALL ENTRIES ON THE LIVE JOURNAL SITE. Only LiveJournal entries will be considered.)
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Oct. 24th, 2009 @ 11:51 pm
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| » Book Party Poster Peeps |
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Whew!!!
It was a wild and woolly and wacky and wonderful time at the International World Premiere Really Great BOBBY VS. GIRLS (ACCIDENTALLY) Book Launch Party . . .
  
The weirdest thing happened, practically thousands of party-goers spontaneously posed in front of the BOBBY poster . . .
                        
We had so much fun, that Dan and I figured we'd better hurry up and finish BOBBY THE BRAVE (SOMETIMES), the next in the Bobby Ellis-Chan series . . .
 
. . . cause we want to have another party!
Next Blog: Sharpen your pencils . . . Lisa Yee's 147th Annual Bodacious Book Contest Begins!!!!
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Oct. 21st, 2009 @ 10:45 pm
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| » (Almost) 1,000s of Donuts and People Appear at the BOBBY Book Party!!! |
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The World Exclusive Ultimate BOBBY VS. GIRLS (ACCIDENTALLY) Book Launch Party began with an order of 140 mini donuts from Krispy Kreme . . .
(Bobby's favorite food group is donuts.)
Soon we were ready for the wild rumpus to begin . . .
  
It was standing room only and we had over 100 people show up. (See, you say "donuts" and they will come.) I spoke first and gave away top secret secrets about how the book was written . . .
Later, Dan Santat, the book's illustrator, and I reinacted an Oscar-worthy serious dramatic scene from the novel involving gorillas and nose picking . . .
Next, it was Dan's turn to tell the audience about how he came up with the wonderful drawings . . .
 
Book signing was fun, except that Dan kept showing off by drawing pictures. So I drew some, too . . .
   
(I think Dan felt threatened by my interpretation of a donut, a football and a fish.)
Look who helped us celebrate . . . it's Mrs. Carlson, Son's third grade teacher. We love her so much, I named Bobby's teacher Mrs. Carlson! Also, here's the lovely lass who got to take home Dan's original one-of-a-kind super cool masterpiece . . .
  
(The girl's grandmother won the Who-Traveled-the-Furthest-To-See-Dan-and-Lisa Contest -- she came from Palo Alto, which is like 47,982 miles from Pasadena. Well, actually, the grandmother traveled to see her grandkids, and then they all came to see us!)
We had a most wonderful wild rumpus, but afterward we were pooped. Happy, but pooped . . .
  
(Er, that's Casey's crown on Dan's head, and Wandee, her wand, in my teeth. Casey is Bobby's little sister.)
Next Blog: Thousands-ish people posed as Bobby and his best friend Holly . . .
(Psssst . . . all the donuts were gone by the end of the party.)
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Oct. 19th, 2009 @ 05:02 pm
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| » Peepy Pumpkin Diva-osity |
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After hobnobbing with beauty queens at the Moon Festival . . .
Peepy donned her own crown. She was feeling quite hoity toity because her very first interview has been published in 2010 Children's Writer's and Illustrator's Market . . .
 
And yes, that is a photo of Her Peepness with Julie Andrews . . .
There's an interview with Moi in the book, too . . .
You can CLICK HERE to see a cool book trailer about CWIM 2010!
Then, if that's not enough, our great friend, author and professional pumpkin carver, David LaRochelle created this masterpiece of Peepness. . .
 
Of course, all this attention went to Peep's head and, diva that she is, Peepy insisted on a spa day. I thought she deserved it since she met so many of her fans during our World International Cross Country Midwest Division BOBBY VS. GIRLS (ACCIDENTALLY) Book Tour . . .
  
So off to the spa it was . . .
 
Peeps donned a couture super deluxe robe . . .
 
Then she went into the healing waters . . .
Later, it was time for the sauna . . .
And viola . . . a lovely, fluffy, Peepy . . .
If you'd like to meet Peepy in person, come to the BOBBY VS. GIRLS (ACCIDENTALLY) Book Launch Party this Sunday!!!!
Illustrator Dan Santat and Moi will also be there!!
 
Book Launch Party
Vroman's Pasadena
Sunday, October 18th at 2 p.m.
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Oct. 16th, 2009 @ 10:53 am
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| » Donutty Dan and Bobby |
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Okay, so I admit, I was mad at Dan Santat and posted this on my last blog . . .
But I'm not mad at him anymore. In fact, I love him . . .
Why? Because he made this totally awesome, cool, fun, donutty video about our BOBBY VS. GIRLS (ACCIDENTALLY) Book Launch Party . . .
(Donuts feature prominently in the book.)
Book Launch Party
Vroman's Pasadena
Sunday, October 18th at 2 p.m.
Free fun. Free donuts. Free money. (Well, two of the three.)
Above: This original museum-quality illustration will be given out to a lucky winner!
(Disclaimer: No purchase necessary, must be present to accept prize, children under four months old must be accompanied by parent, bribes accepted.)
And finally, who's that girl??
CLICK HERE to find out how/why Bobby Ellis-Chan, hero of BOBBY VS. GIRLS (ACCIDENTALLY) has an arch enemy named Jillian ZARR . . . and what National Book Award Finalist was "exploited" in the name of literature.
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Oct. 13th, 2009 @ 10:51 pm
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| » Moon Festival Madness |
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The World Wide International Cross Continent BOBBY VS. GIRLS ACCIDENTALLY Tour continues. This time, West Coast Division.
Our California debut took place at the Moon Festival, sponsored by the South Pasadena Chinese-American Club . . .
 
It was grand fun, except that four times I was mistaken for NY Times bestselling author Lisa See. This happens a lot.
(Above: One is Lisa See and the other is Lisa Yee.)
BOBBY VS. GIRLS (ACCIDENTALLY) illustrator/neighbor/friend Dan Santat and Moi were given our own booth. It even included a kid reading a book . . .
 
Here we are on the steps of the South Pasadena Library singing 1970's hits and doing impersonations of obscure Oscar winners. Or maybe, reading from, and talking about, BOBBY VS. GIRLS (ACCIDENTALLY) . . .
 
(Celeb that he is, Dan donned his shades so he wouldn't be mobbed.)
Later, Peepy hobnobbed with beauty queens as they begged her for fashion tips . . .
I got a bit miffed at Dan. Because of where we were sitting, I always signed the books first. Bobby's campaign slogan is "BOBBY ROCKS!" So, I'd write, "You rock!"
Then, I'd pass the book to Dan, and he'd write on the page BEFORE mine, "You totally rock!" PLUS draw a picture of Bobby. . .
Thus making me a redundant undraw-er. Dan thought this was very funny, especially since I didn't discover it until the end of the festival.
That's okay though, because I am an author and can name my next villain . . . San Dantat.
While we were in our special booth, Dan drew this picture featuring characters from our book . . .
(People seemed more interested in watching him draw, than watching me write.)
It's going to be a prize at our official BOBBY VS. GIRLS (ACCIDENTALLY) Book Launch Party. Hope you can come. Here's the scoop:
Book Launch Party
Vroman's Pasadena
Sunday, October 18th at 2 p.m.
Free fun. Free donuts.
Pssst . . . CLICK HERE for an interview with Moi on KidsReads.com.
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Oct. 12th, 2009 @ 12:02 am
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| » International Book Tour (Midwest Division) Finale |
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I'm home now after two weeks on the road for the BOBBY VS. GIRLS (ACCIDENTALLY) Worldwide International Cross-Continent Everywhere Midwest Division Tour. However, through the magic of my time machine, I'll take you back to where I was . . .
After we left Milwaukee, we headed to Madison for the SCBWI Wisconsin Fall Retreat. Peepy was presented with an honorary cheesehead hat prior to my keynote to these future mega-million lottery winners . . .
  
Later, it was time for manuscript critiques. Peepy was excited because she was sure her four-volume epic memoir would garner lavish praise from awesome author Tammi Sauer and editors Krista Marino from Delacorte/Random House, Lauren Hodge from Little Brown, and Tricycle Press's Abigail Samoun
   
Sadly, Peeps was not offered a contract. So she consulted with walking-encyclopedia-of-children's-literature Kathleen Horning who suggested that Peepy write a book before she try to sell it.
Instead of getting right to work, Peepy opted to explore the Bishop O'Connor Conference Center where the retreat was held . . .
   
Later, at the booksigning, I tried to talk and autograph at the same time. Sigh. Couldn't do it. I spelled my name wrong. Don't you hate it when that happens?
After the weekend conference, it was back on the road. This time to Pewaukee and Horizon School. Here's the wonderful library, and the awesome 4th and 5th graders . . .
  
. . . and the super smart 6th graders . . .
  
(Oops. That last photo was of the honored guests.)
We stayed at a hotel that was also a waterpark! At first, Peep was scared when she saw this sign. But later was relieved that they let me stay . . .
 
Good thing. Because otherwise I would not have been able to taste cheese curd for the first time and listen to it squeak as I ate it . . .
(As some of you know, I am a fan of cheese. I've even been interviewed about cheese at the Celebrities and Cheese site.)
Finally, after almost two weeks of travel, it was time to head home. But before we left, we made sure to get some Wisconsin cheese and Chicago's Garrett's caramel popcorn . . .
     
Hey, if you're in the Los Angeles/Pasadena area, I'll be speaking and signing BOBBY VS. GIRLS (ACCIDENTALLY) with my illustrator, the multi-talented/multi-purpose Dan Santat at the South Pasadena Chinese-American Club Moon Festival.
South Pasadena Library grounds on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1:30-ish p.m.
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Oct. 8th, 2009 @ 10:46 pm
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| » More Book Tour + Peepy Peeks at Milwaukee |
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The BOBBY VS. GIRLS (ACCIDENTALLY) Worldwide International Inter-Continental Cross Country Midwest Tour continues. We were last admiring kids' pictures of Peepy . . .
After, we headed to Boswell Book Company in Milwaukee for a book signing . . .
Our friend, and Scholastic Book Fairs Goddess, Robin Hoffman, met us and showed us the town. Robin is so nice--she even bought Peepy a house!!!
    
Then we had a DELICIOUS meal at Croquette . . .
 
The next day, we went to Lincoln Elementary in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin . . .
 
It was great fun and we celebrated by having dessert . . .
 
The Little Read Book was that evening. We got to meet these cool teachers and librarians . . .
 
The next day, we found ourselves in Oconomowoc. So we stopped in at Park Lawn Elementary and Greenland School . . .
 
It was great fun and we celebrated by having dessert . . .
  
Later, we did book signings at Books & Company. (The owner, Lisa Badoin, wanted to have her photo taken with Peepy, but couldn't find Peeps.)
 
Then it was on to Madison where the SCBWI Conference and cheese curds awaited!
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Oct. 5th, 2009 @ 10:10 pm
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| » Milwaukee Peeps |
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The BOBBY VS. GIRLS (ACCIDENTALLY) World International Cross Continent Midwest Area Tour continues.
Wow. They sure do know how to make an author (and her Peep) feel welcome in Milwaukee!
My first stop was Rose Glen Elementary School (technically, it's in Waukesha). The kids were soooooo enthusiastic!
In BOBBY VS. GIRLS (ACCIDENTALLY), Bobby and his best friend Holly do a special hand shake/greeting. So some students created their own special greetings . . .
  
And look what the grownups did! In Bobby's book, his dad burns the bake sale cookies, and later makes great cinnamon rolls . . .
 
Lookit! Lookit! Here's Bobby's pet goldfish, Rover, and the soccer ball that Rover does tricks with . . .
 
Next, we arrived at McKinley Elementary in Wauwatosa. Some of the students honored Peepy with their drawings of her!!!
         
Needless to say, Peeps is a wee bit full of herself right now.
Next Blog: More Milwaukee and Madison, here we come!
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Oct. 3rd, 2009 @ 10:03 pm
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