Wonders of Weird

Regal Elementary then the TriCities!

2012-02-06T14:54:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow and Wednesday I'll be at Regal Elementary in Spokane for two days of great school visits. So excited. Then I head down to the TriCities where I will do 19 more school visits from February 9 to February 29.

The Literacy Connection made this amazing opportunity possible and I'm so grateful. If I'm headed to your school in Kennewick, Richland, Pasco or Walla Walla, we are going to have so much fun! Thanks so much for having me.

ALIENS at the Tinman, Too!

2012-02-06T14:51:00.000-08:00

THANK YOU, Tinman, Too Children's Bookstore for hosting a launch party for ALIEN INVESTIGATION. Thanks to all the people who joined in the fun, including free toy aliens and, for one lucky winner, a snazzy ALIEN mug with a UFO saucer.

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T19:50:00.001-08:00

YA novelist Beth Cooley invited me to join her at the Get Lit sponsored reading at Auntie's Bookstore in Spokane's Riverfront Plaza -- part of the town's "First Night" new year's celebration last night. I was so grateful to have that opportunity, in part because it's good to promote my new books, but more because I needed to remember I wasn't quite so all alone.

Writing can be such a solitary endeaver -- must be. And that's okay. I tend to do very well in isolation, most of the time. I moved a lot when I was a kid, and being alone was my only choice. No one likes the weird new kid, at least not right away. But even someone who is good at being alone gets lonely now and then.

Joining my writing friends -- many incredibly accepting and kind (some not so much) -- reminds me that I have a place in the world, even when I am afraid I don't. And aren't we all afraid of that, from time to time?

Joining Beth and John Bladek, another writer on the very edge of a brand new year was connective and therapeutic. Thank you so much for making it possible, Beth and Melissa at Get Lit. Thanks to the kids in the audience who are always accepting and great.

May we all have the happiest of New Years in 2012.

Thank you, Rick Spears!

2011-12-21T17:08:00.000-08:00

I'm doing school visits at 19 elementary schools in central Washington in February alone (plus two more in Spokane -- yes, I am a little bit insane). So my illustrator friend Rick Spears created this terrific poster and an Explorer's Journal to go with it.

Can I just say, Rick Spears is one of the most generous people -- with his time and talents -- that I've ever known? He gets a little cranky over design choices from time to time. I think that goes with being a visual perfectionist (aka an illustrator). But he always comes through for me in the most amazing ways.

I'm grateful for his friendship and his major skills as an artist. Thank you, Rick! You're super cool!

A STAR in Kirkus???

2011-12-18T11:47:00.000-08:00

It's true. GIRL MEETS BOY received a star in Kirkus Review and I couldn't be more pleased. The writers who shared their stories wrote such heartfelt, moving tales, they truly deserve the honor and I couldn't be more proud of them --me, Chris Crutcher, Cynthia Leitich Smith, Joseph Bruchac, Ellen Wittlinger, James Howe, Rita Williams-Garcia, Terry Trueman, Rebecca Davis, Terry Davis, Sara Ryan and Randy Powell. Thank you, to each of you! Thank you to Kirkus, too.

Last but not least...

2011-12-09T14:03:00.001-08:00

...I had a talk with my editor at Running Press, Lisa Cheng, this morning. She was kind enough to give me a primer of what her house is looking for, in terms of future acquisitions. To say she'll know it when she sees it is not being unkind -- to her or to me or to US as a writing community. It's simply true. Certain books call out to book buyers, "Pick me up!" and that's what she's after.

HATCHLINGS -- which I found out today will have a textured, padded cover; FUN! -- is one of those books. Stunningly illustrated by Adam Relf, the oversized picture book with an adorable baby dinosaur on the cover is impossible NOT to notice. And each spread inside has that same impact. Lisa saw something in it I didn't even see.

That's the brilliance of this whole team experience -- publishers, editors, art directors, marketing people, sales teams, writers and illustrators. On our own, we're just people trying to make books. But put us all together, and it can be a recipe for magic.

I love the work I do, even on the days when I'm worried about paying my bills. I love it because of the kids. I love it because of the people who love kids. And I feel blessed to be doing what I love, especially this time of year.

Thank you -- everyone who's made my writing life possible. I am forever in your debt.

Kelly

Thank you, Betsy Bird!

2011-12-09T13:02:00.000-08:00

These blogs are out of order because I'm catching up for not posting the past couple of deadline heavy months. But WOW! I have to thank the one and only Betsy Bird for mentioning GIRL MEETS BOY and ALIEN INVESTIGATION in two of her recent SLJ blogs.

THANK YOU, on both counts! And yes, ghosts won't be too far behind. : )

Press for SASQUATCH

2011-12-09T12:50:00.000-08:00

Wow! People like it. They really like it. The Wall Street Journal reviewed IN SEARCH OF SASQUATCH positively (yay!). The LA Times and the Chicago Tribune featured it in their holiday gift book suggestions. And the review journals seem to like it too. Beyond that, I've done several radio appearances for Bigfoot enthusiasts, and THAT was great fun. And I get to speak at a Bigfoot conference in the spring. Yippee!

I am so pleased and so relieved. IN SEARCH OF SASQUATCH is very, very well researched and I hope well written. But it's still risky. Not everyone in the grown up world knows what Sasquatch is. Not every adult is willing to consider the quest for a mysterious beast that may or may not be real as a topic of interest.

I write for kids. And KIDS love the subject. That's why I wrote the book -- that and because I personally found the quest intriguing. The people who believe are so passionate and, to my great surprise COMpassionate. They don't want to mount the big guy's head on their walls. They want to document and protect it, if it turns out to be real. And I think that's a grand message for all readers. Strange things can be of infinite value.

Point is, I'm so relieved that the adults of my industry seem to be in sync with the kids -- and with me. And I'm floating on cloud nine as a result. Thank you, everyone who has been kind in their perceptions of IN SEARCH OF SASQUATCH. I couldn't be more pleased.

Kelly

Tardy me!

2011-12-09T12:41:00.000-08:00

Man, so much has been going on, and I haven't blogged about it. Yikes! Probably okay, since almost no one follows my blog. Hee hee! Lucky me.

GIRL MEETS BOY, my anthology for Chronicle Books is about to be released -- in January -- and they are THE most amazing publishing pros. Man, they have business cards and discussion guides and a CONTEST planned. It's very exciting. The reviews are trickling in, too.

PW said:

Twelve writers answer Halls’s question: “What if a group of authors took on the challenge of perception—boys versus girls?” Together, they create a thoughtful collection of paired short stories (and one joint offering) that give two distinct perspectives on the same events. While romantically themed, the stories do not all end in love connections. In James Howe and Ellen Wittlinger’s stories, a gay teen learns the person he has been chatting with online is actually a girl; meanwhile, in Sarah Ryan and Randy Powell’s joint story, “Launchpad to Neptune,” a teen reunites with his first crush, only to find Stephanie has transitioned to Stephen. The most compelling twin stories may be from Terry Davis and Rebecca Fjelland Davis, which center on a Muslim immigrant and an Iowa farm girl in love; Rafi’s story explores prejudice and being caught between cultures, while Kerry begins a protest when she learns about a hog factory that will destroy their community. This story best exemplifies a theme that runs throughout: it’s impossible to know everything someone is thinking and feeling—even when you are in a relationship together. This important idea is executed with finesse throughout. Ages 14–up. (Jan.)

VERY nice. And GoodReads members are starting to comment too.

Thank you to anyone and everyone behind this book -- especially the writers who contributed brilliant stories. I really am grateful to everyone involved.

Kelly

BTW...I also got...

2011-09-30T18:58:00.000-07:00

... my author copies of IN SEARCH OF SASQUATCH, but it won't be for sale until October 25, 2011. Just a little more time for me to sweat bullets wondering if people -- librarians and kids -- will like it. Man, I hope so. I love it.

THANK YOU, BooksForKidsBlog!

2011-09-30T18:51:00.000-07:00

I am so pleased the brilliant mind behind BooksForKidsBlog decided to write about my new book, IN SEARCH OF SASQUATCH. The review is so thoughtful and so well written, I could not be happier -- or luckier. Thank you, librarian GTC. You are the best!

Kelly

Thanks Deborah and I.N.K.

2011-09-23T08:53:00.000-07:00

How lucky can a gal get? Deborah Heiligman interviewed me for I.N.K. -- Interesting Nonfiction for Kids this week. She let me go on and on about IN SEARCH OF SASQUATCH and the reason I write for kids.

Thank you, Deborah and I.N.K. I am honored.

Kirkus Review -- SASQUATCH

2011-09-22T12:55:00.000-07:00

I've been holding my breath, waiting for the first reviews for IN SEARCH OF SASQUATCH (October 25, 2011, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt). I can finally breathe easy. Kirkus loved it! It begins:

"A true believer presents the evidence. Expanding on a partial chapter in her outstanding Tales of the Cryptids (2006), Halls makes her case by tallying Native American legends, the many footprints and reported sightings (a map of the latter claims hundreds from every state except Hawaii), the famous Patterson-Gimlin film, the recorded 'Sierra Sounds' and other circumstantial evidence."

It gets better from there and closes with this sassy line, which I LOVE:

"...this is about as convincing as it gets—considering the continuing absence of any incontrovertible physical proof—and should give young cryptid hunters a good hairy leg up on investigations of their own."

Thank you, unknown Kirkus reviewer. You are my new best friend. Hoping the others are just as enthusiastic.

PNLA Conference in Spokane -- Aug. 3, 2011

2011-07-30T13:47:00.000-07:00

Please join me, Claire Rudolf Murphy and Kenn Nesbitt at the PNLA Conference at Spokane's Doubletree Hotel, downtown, at 1:00 pm! We'll be discussing the path to reluctant readers via three distinct avenues -- weird nonfiction (me), innovative history (Claire) and humor (Kenn). For more information, click HERE.

In Search of Sasquatch...

2011-07-29T14:36:00.000-07:00

...is only weeks from publication. Okay, more like months (October 2011), but only two months and I'm so excited. Working with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and my amazing editor Erica was such a treat. And the book we created is pretty amazing, too. I worked really hard on the research and I feel it represents the strongest evidence that Sasquatch may be real.

I'm not saying he IS real. I didn't not find PROOF in my research. That doesn't mean it's not out there. It just means I was unable to find proof beyond dispute. But the evidence is impressive and I did map out many of those details carefully. So I hope people really like the book -- especially kids.

I also hope I'll get to write IN SEARCH OF SEA MONSTERS as a follow up, but that depends on how well IN SEARCH OF SASQUATCH does. So time will tell. But I hope ALIEN INVESTIGATION, from Lerner/Millbrook and HATCHLINGS: A LIFE SIZE LOOK AT BABY DINOSAURS, from Running Press will tide you over for 2012. More about those, soon.

On to the next projects...assuming they sell. Jill and Ronnie at the Herman Agency are THE best, so I'm betting they will. But I'll keep you posted here!

GIRL MEETS BOY meets Jill Corcoran ! PUBLISHED.

2010-10-18T19:54:00.000-07:00

In 2006, Simon & Schuster was poised to publish GIRL MEETS BOY, a YA anthology featuring "he said/she said" story pairs where the male and female protagonists tell their sides of a single story -- at the hands to two YA authors.

I wrote with Chris Crutcher.

Rita Williams-Garcia wrote with Terry Trueman.

Becky Davis wrote with Terry Davis

Cynthia Letich Smith wrote with Joseph Bruchac.

Sara Ryan wrote with Randy Powell.

Ellen Wittlinger wrote with James Howe.

It all looked promising, until the new VP at S&S said no more anthologies. Dead in the water.

Then Deborah Brody at Roaring Brook wanted it. A reprive, yay! Except when Deborah left Roaring Brook, GIRL MEETS BOY seemed dead again.

Then I met Herman Agency superstar Jill Corcoran on September 10, 2010. By October 14th, she'd managed to sell the anthology to Chronicle. One month later, the anthology was sold.

Yes, I think Jill is a remarkable talent, and I feel so lucky to have her on my team.

Thank you, Jill. THANK YOU.

Kelly

The power of a librarian!

2010-09-13T13:31:00.000-07:00

In November, I'm speaking at an SCBWI event and visiting schools in San Diego. To my delight and good fortune, Roxyanne Young is the librarian at one of the schools I'll get to visit. She isn't just telling the kids, "Okay, an author is coming." She's lighting a fire of enthusiasm prior to my visiting.

She's asking the kids to discover my books today -- weeks before my arrival -- to be sure when I land, they'd CARE about the time and experience. She's banking moments that will turn me from a stranger to a friend, even before I get to say my first word.

Thank you so much, Roxy. Thanks to all librarians, teachers, literacy coaches, principals and parent volunteers who take the time and money to bring me to their schools. I do my best, no matter what prep has been done. But when the kids recognize who's about to stop by, the visit becomes so much more valuable to them.

Always, I am grateful.

Kelly

Cinderella Story -- Boise SCBWI

2010-09-12T18:31:00.001-07:00

Before I headed to Boise to speak at their regional SCBWI conference on Saturday, September 11, I knew editor Cheryl Klein of Scholastic's Arthur Levine imprint and agent Jill Corcoran of the Herman Agency would be two of my fellow speakers -- along with my very good friend Chris Crutcher. I was really looking forward to sharing time with people who love the business of writing for young people as much as I do. But it never crossed my mind that they'd be interested in my work, apart from professional curiosity. They deal with fiction, I write nonfiction. I just hoped to learn a few things, and I did.

Cheryl Klein's opening presentation on revision was a GREAT primer on techniques that will make us all better writers -- and word is she's got a book coming out in the not too distant future. Jill Corcoran's overview of what an agent wants and does was ideal. Great stuff. And the root of Chris's inspiration is always awesome. He touches lives. That's why we're close and that's why I work for him.

But even before the conference started, the night before at a Friday signing on Boise's 8th Avenue (The Rediscovered Bookstore, wonderful place run by wonderful people), a Cinderella story unfolded. Jill Corcoran walked up to the signing table and started looking at my books. She has three boys close to my target age group, and she loved them. It was a VERY rewarding discussion -- fun too. She has a marvelous sense of humor, and she never seemed off put when I paused to attend to a young reader. She was terrific.

At some point, it came up that I didn't have an agent. I don't even remember how.

Jill mentioned she might be uneasy about representing nonfiction, because how do you trust the writer to get the facts right? I agreed. I've seen way too much lazy nonfiction mixed liberally with the great stuff to disagree, and I told her so. Then I explained how I do my work, and we agreed some nonfiction types like Deborah Heiligman and Tanya Lee Stone work hard to elevate the art form. Some of us, we decided, could be trusted.

That's when it happened.

"I want you," she said. We hadn't even left the bookstore. "I want you." I tried to stay calm when I heard those words, because -- come on -- could she be serious? Jill Corcoran represents FICTION. She's kidding, speaking hypothetically, right?

Nope. The glass slipper fit, this time. She's making an exception and taking on a nonfiction client. The contract goes back to her with tomorrow's mail. It was in my email box by Saturday morning.

I could not be more delighted. And I'll work incredibly hard to prove her decision was a good one.

Did I do well during my own presentations? I hope so. But I was a little distracted. Sleep didn't come easily after that conversation. The conferees said I did great, and I think my author visit presentation was especially helpful. But we'll have to take their words for it.

Kelly Milner Halls now has an agent -- a great one with off the chart energy, humor and enormous heart.

So here's to a great partnership. I promise, Jill. I will not let you down!

Neysa Jensen, Sydney Salter, you sure know how to throw a party! : ) Thanks so much for having me. Thanks for letting me borrow this picture, too.

My kids are amazing.

2010-09-08T00:18:00.000-07:00

Man, they really are. My two daughters, Kerry and Vanessa -- and their young men, Marcus and Anson -- joined me for dinner tonight, then we went to the local arcade (Bumpers) to research some things for Anson. What a fun, fun evening. Being a mom is best thing I've ever done. Working for Chris comes close. So does being a writer and visiting kids at schools. But I wonder at times how I got so lucky to parent two remarkable people. Thanks, girls, for giving me so much the past 27 years. I love you.

Mom

Utah/Southern Idaho SCBWI Conference, Sept 11

2010-09-07T15:39:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited about speaking at the Utah/Southern Idaho regional SCBWI Conference on Saturday, September 11. I get to do a breakout on nonfiction for reluctant readers and one on school visits, and I think I'm well prepared, which means I think I have material to truly help other writers pursue those endeavors, too.

The more the merrier. That's what my mom always said, and I totally agree.

I often say, when one of us succeeds, we all do, and it's never been truer. We are in this together, we children's writers -- especially nonfiction writers, who sometimes feel undervalued. Agents don't always represent us. Librarians sometimes forget we can give school visits, too. It feels bad. But don't let it. Agents love us too, but they have to make a living, and fiction pays better. Librarians love our books, as do the kids. So they just need a gentle reminder.

So if you're in Boise on Saturday, September 11, I hope you'll stop by. I'm just one of a bunch of powerful speakers. Also on schedule:

Chris Crutcher, YA author sublime

Cheryl Klein, Editor at Arthur A. Levine Books, Scholastic

Jill Corcoran, Agent at the Herman Agency

A brilliant team of first time novelists to show you how you can publish your first

And more.

For more information, contact Neysa Jensen or visit this website and scroll down:

http://chinookupdate.blogspot.com/

How big is something 7 feet tall?

2010-09-02T19:52:00.000-07:00

It's THIS big. Actually, this guy may be slightly over 7 ' -- I'll have to measure him. But the banner is 8 feet tall, there is a little space at the top, and the SASQUATCH lettering at the bottom is at least six inched tall. Maybe he's about 7'6". Point is, he's life-size, according to most eye witness reports.

I'd heard "seven feet tall" for years, and had always pictured a creature a little taller than a human, adult male. When my banner, illustrated by Rick Spears, arrived today, I saw just how big BIG really is. WOW.

Needless to say, I love this guy. I love how the kids at my school visits will react to him even more. Man, that's going to be fun. I picture whole classes posing in front of him, to remember how big he really was -- or might be.

The banner is great for my book TALES OF THE CRYPTIDS, Darby Creek 2006. But it's also PERFECT for IN SEARCH OF SASQUATCH, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2011. So I'm excited for now, and for later.

Now, if I can just get him on the airplane as carry-on. : )

Grandmother's die, memories don't.

2010-09-01T18:31:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, my grandmother died. It was sad, but it was also a relief. She was born in 1907. She was 103 years old. All of her friends were gone. All of her loved ones were gone, including her husband and her daughter (my mom). Her half brother and I were pretty much all she really had left, and she no longer knew who I was. So in a way, it was a release. She's free, and that makes me feel a lot better than thinking of her lonely and afraid in her confusion.

Her half brother is handling the probate of her will and estate, and it's a long process I think. But a few days ago, they sent me two boxes of photos and letters my grandmother kept all these years, and it was like buried treasure. She kept and I received lots of pictures of my mother, for example -- my mom as a baby, a shot of her from junior high, her 1950 high school graduation announcement, her prom picture, her wedding book. There were also pictures of me as a baby, pictures of my babies she'd kept close to her heart all those years.

So while I miss having my grandmother in this life, I feel reconnected to her now, because of the keepsakes they passed on to me, from her. Odd to feel closer, with her so infinitely far away.

Not much point to all this, other than to say love your loved ones, every minute, every day. You'll miss saying it as they listen, once they're gone and such affections can only be imagined.

Thanks, MiMi, for being my grandmother. I'm glad I knew and loved you for so long.

Kelly

MUFON was great!

2010-08-03T15:05:00.000-07:00

On July 23, I headed for Denver, Colorado and the MUFON Symposium. MUFON is the Mutual UFO Network -- a scientific approach to UFO investigation and research. I wanted to get straight to the science of the subject as research for my new book for Millbrook (fall 2012). Exceptional speakers including Dr. Stanton Friedman, Dr. Kevin Randle, John Greenewald, Nick Redfern and Richard Dolan offered cutting edge theory and evidence perfect for my project and agreed to give me interviews for my work in progress.

Thank you MUFON for making it possible for me to give kids strong information about a topic that both scares and excites them. If we want the world to take the topic seriously, doesn't it make sense to start with the kids? I don't propose lying to kids -- not EVER. But they are asking questions and I think they deserve answers -- answers these experts can skillfully answer most of the time.

Great experience...hopefully will translate too a great book.

Kelly

Yeti Lovin'

2010-07-21T10:50:00.000-07:00

Two fun Bigfoot/Yeti topics. First, my daughter Kerry is headed to ComiCon in San Diego as we speak and I've begged her to snag me Shawnimal's Yeti special for the conference pictured here. Man I LOVE this guy and he's 7" tall. WANT. She has the cash. Hopefully, she can get one of the 50 available. HOPE. HOPE. HOPE.

Second, I found a neat "I Love the Yeti" blog and that's so fun. I'm now a follower, but not in a bad way. Just in a Google blog way. Thanks for creating such a cool blog!

Kelly

Saving the Baghdad Zoo on NPR

2010-07-20T20:46:00.000-07:00

NPR's Animal Authors interviewed Major William Sumner about our book SAVING THE BAGHDAD ZOO, and what a delight it turned out to be. Please check it out if you have time. Talk about a great American hero -- William Sumner is IT!

Here is the LINK.

Kelly

Auntie's with friends!

2010-05-06T13:46:00.000-07:00

On April 27, I joined Chris Crutcher, Terry Davis and Claire Rudolf Murphy at Auntie's Bookstore in Spokane for a great panel on writing for children and young adults. It was a really rewarding discussion of some of the deeper elements of finding voice and purpose as a writer, and it was great. Thanks everyone, for taking the time to make the night such a good one. I'm grateful!

Chris, Claire and I also shared the Chapters & Chocolate event for SAC IRA on May 4, which was also delightful. Terry should have been there too. He's fantastic. BTW, where are you, Terry Trueman? Seemed weird not having you there.

Thank you, Inlander!

2010-04-22T16:13:00.000-07:00

Reporter Tammy Marshall wrote a fantastic article about SAVING THE BAGHDAD ZOO and it's featured in this week's Earth Day edition of the Inlander. Tammy is a terrific talent and I appreciate her wonderful effort so very much.

Check it out HERE.

SAVING THE BAGHDAD ZOO in the NYC B&N?

2010-04-19T11:19:00.000-07:00

It's TRUE, according to my friend and fellow writer Deborah Heiligman. As of this morning, SAVING THE BAGHDAD ZOO is in the window at Barnes & Noble on the Upper West Side. Man, what I'd give to get a picture of that! How dumb is it that I'd like a picture? Pretty dumb. But this book has been such an honor, in every respect, I say it unashamed.

To my delight, the book has been reviewed in Publishers Weekly, Booklist, Kirkus, the New York Times and Horn Book. So far. I haven't given up on the hope that School Library Journal and VOYA will also comment on the book. Why do I care so much?

William Sumner. That's why. He's such an American hero, in the best sense of the word, I crave attention for the book more than I have ever craved it. This man put his life on the line, not just to accomplish his mission in Iraq as a member of the U.S. Army, but he spent every minute of his spare time caring for animals that would have died without him.

Lawrence Anthony, a brave conservationist from South Africa became the primary focus when he released his book about the rescue. Press accounts told the world he made that wave of survival possible. But without William Sumner and a vast team of volunteers -- Farah Marrani and Brendan Whittington-Jones in primary roles -- Anthony would have been all but helpless. Sumner's common sense approach and leadership ability helped make it possible to scrape together bits and pieces of time, money, food, medical care and whatever else the zoo animals needed. Teamwork was the message I hoped to convey.

So yes, I'm excited about the publicity. No one deserves to have his story recognized more than Major William Sumner. I feel lucky to have had the chance to help him tell it.

BTW, William sent me this picture, via Brendan Whittington-Jones, another of the heroes in our book. The tigers we sent had new cubs -- and you're among the first to see them. Thanks, Wes, for being the man you are.

SAVING THE BAGHDAD ZOO in Sugarland B&N!

2010-02-14T22:23:00.000-08:00

My friend and librarian extraordinare, Melanie Rivette Mallory (from Lantern Lane Elementary) took this picture of her little man Jacob holding one of FOUR copies on display at her local Barnes & Noble store. MAN, does that make me happy! See you in May, Melanie. You ROCK.

One more SASQUATCH exhibit photo.

2010-02-14T22:21:00.000-08:00

Here's another shot from the exhibit featuring an illustration from TALES OF THE CRYPTIDS. See the post below for a link to an article about the Washington State History Museum exhibit.

Sasquatch Exhibit featuring RICK!

2010-02-14T22:14:00.000-08:00

Can you imagine how proud I am of my friend and illustrator Rick Spears? Some of his illustrations from TALES OF THE CRYPTIDS were used in a wonderful exhibit at the Washington State History Museum. Called, "Giants in the Mountains: The Search for Sasquatch," the exhibit explores the same things CRYPTIDS and my new book IN SEARCH OF SASQUATCH explore. So they asked Rick for permission to use some of his art. I think they were REALLY smart to enlist his help, and I'll be visiting the exhibit on June 5 -- and sooner, if at all possible.

Rick is amazing. I'm lucky to call him my friend and creative buddy, quite often!

Here's a link to an article about the exhibit.

Publishers Weekly Review

2010-01-16T11:31:00.000-08:00

I couldn't be more delighted to announce that Publishers Weekly reviewed SAVING THE BAGHDAD ZOO this week (check it out HERE).

It begins, "This eye-opening tale of compassion and cooperation chronicles the mission of an international team of military personell, zoo staffers, veterinarians and relief workers to rescue neglected animals in Baghdad."

It goes on to say William Sumner's sidebars compliment my text that, "doesn't sidestep the ever present danger."

I think it's a good and accurate review and I am so appreciative. Thank you, PW. You ROCK.

Kelly

DINOSAUR PARADE, Koala style!

2009-11-22T22:18:00.000-08:00

Just found out I WILL be able to get the Australian edition of Dinosaur Parade, published down under by Koala. I'm so excited. I've known since summer that the book was reprinted there in a new edition, but I only just found the right contact to buy a copy or two. I can't wait to see it. Hope Lark can tell me if those royalties will show up on the next statement, too. But for now, I'm just excited.

Here's the PDF of the Scholastic Australia sale of the Koala version. FUN.

http://www.scholastic.com.au/pdfs/June_2009_Parade.pdf

And here's the Koala Books PDF.

http://www.koalabooks.com.au/downloads/KoalaDraftCat2009.pdf

Word from the Creation Museum

2009-11-21T14:54:00.000-08:00

Someone from Crevo Press emailed me to say:

FYI,Per your visit to the Creation Museum, one of your books is in their library: Dinosaur mummies : beyond bare-bone fossils

I'm flattered that my book was included in their library, even if I didn't see it -- or a library. So I reviewed my original post and softened the language a bit. But our differences remain. I believe in geologic time, and I still can't embrace the "truth" served up at the Creation Museum, or its possibly negative impact on kids.

We need the next generation to fall in love with science if we have any hope of remaining a super power or an academic contender in this world, and that's hard to do if religious entities put up barriers. So yes, the museum worries me. But it is, without question, a stunning group of dinosaur exhibits.

Here's the library link CP included:

http://library.answersingenesis.org/opac/aig/FullDisp?&itemid=2904

Creation Museum in Kentucky

2009-11-21T00:28:00.000-08:00

From November 1 to 13 I was in Northern Kentucky speaking at 10 elementary schools and it was WONDERFUL. The people in Florence and Hebron and Burlington and all those small communities were fantasticly welcoming and kind. I am beyond grateful.

While I was there a librarian was kind enough to take me to the Creation Museum -- a place I asked to see -- my idea. I was astonished by the quality of the museum and the exhibits AND I was frustrated at the same time. Because the museum teaches kids that paleontological science is wrong, then creates a fantasy to explain dinosaurs and fossils -- incorrectly.

To each their own. I respect and defend each of our rights to worship our own ways. But I hate the idea of kids being misguided by the stance of the Creation Museum. That said, Northern Kentucky DID invite me to speak in their schools even with my evolutionist mindset. So balance is clearly welcome in the region.

Thanks, Northern Kentucky, for having me, for showing me such kindness and warmth, and for showing me your museum. Agree or disagree, it was a magnificent place.

Kelly

School Visit Season...

2009-10-18T15:32:00.000-07:00

...has officially begun. I spent three days at schools in Clarkston, WA, then two days in Yakima for the WLMA Conference (my boss Chris Crutcher and I did a censorship panel together, great fun -- thus the photo with this post) then three days in Louisville, Kentucky.

I'm headed for Northern Kentucky the first two full weeks in November, then on to Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Texas, to name just a few of the destinations. And I'm doing a bunch of days in Washington cities including Spokane, Wenatchee and Yakima, along with the more distant destinations.

The work is demanding, I confess. I come home exhausted. But as I struggle to recharge, I am reminded of how remarkable all the kids I get to meet with actually are. Regions and races differ, but the kids -- they remain so much the same. Each of them simply want to learn and laugh and dream, and I feel as if I have the chance to move those things forward when I visit their schools.

School visits tire me out -- actually, airport travel tires me out a whole lot more than the school days do -- but the kids make every minute worthwhile. They love my books, and that enthusiasm means everything to me. As long as they want what I write, I'll keep writing -- and doing school presentations. I'll keep at it for myself and for those wonderful kids!

Publishers Weekly - SAVING THE BAGHDAD ZOO

2009-08-25T19:01:00.000-07:00

Needless to say, I'm thrilled that SAVING THE BAGHDAD ZOO was included in this feature in Publishers Weekly -- The War, at Home: Military Conflict in Books for Children and Teens. Thank you, thank you PW. Thank you, thank you John A. Sellers.

"Both Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine & a Miracle and Saving the Baghdad Zoo pair soldiers with picture book authors to tell hopeful, true stories set in Iraq," said Sellers. "Saving the Baghdad Zoo: A True Story of Hope and Heroes by Kelly Milner Halls and William Sumner (Greenwillow, Nov.) is a photographic account of Army major Sumner's work helping rescue abandoned animals in this zoo."

Happy me. : )

DONE...well, almost! SASQUATCH ROCKS!

2009-08-13T09:41:00.001-07:00

Well, I'm putting the last finishing touches on my manuscript for Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, IN SEARCH OF SASQUATCH and MAN, what a great adventure this has been. When I first started this journey, I was excited but unaware of HOW thrilling the path would be. How was I to know I'd discover a linguistics expert with 30 years of U.S. Navy and academic experience convinced the audio tapes of Sasquatch vocalizations represented language, not just random sounds? How could I have imagined the compelling anatomical proof that Sasquatch footprints are neither fakes nor human, but rather ape-like? The book will reveal the credibility of the concept of a North American Great Ape and the people who believe in it.

Revisions will come next, and that's one of my favorite parts of this job. Editorial teams turn a good manuscript into a magical book, and it's a transformation that always excites me. But I'm a little sad everytime a manuscript is "finished." Not for long. The next project is usually calling me. Looks like ALIEN ENCOUNTERS may be next. Hooray. So I see a trip to Area 51 in my immediate future. But I'm still determined to get to Australia to write that book on the baby fruit bat rescue hospital. They've already agreed to let me stay for a week and help with the rescue effort.

Any editors out there dying for a great baby bat photo essay project? This one is a BEAUTY!

Back to work, then lunch with Crutcher and Trueman. Hope EVERYONE has a great day. I'm gonna do my best to do the same! : )

Kelly

White DUNNY -- FREE, but out of reach

2009-08-05T08:36:00.000-07:00

DANG. I want this great DUNNY from Kidrobot...and they're giving 500 away free. But you have to be at the store in NYC and I'm in Spokane. How unfair is that? Sigh. He should have been in my ALBINO ANIMALS book, huh? He's so cute and angry-like. Anyone in NYC willing to snag one for me? I know, REALLY unlikely, but I thought I'd ask. Sigh...again.

Isn't he great though? Check him out HERE.

ALA in Chicago

2009-07-16T09:50:00.000-07:00

Let me say from the start, this was the best conference experience I have every had -- barr none.

I landed in Chicago at 6:30 pm, Saturday, July 11 so I had to miss the Lerner Publishing dinner I'd so wanted to attend earlier that afternoon. But I did manage to catch the end of the nonfiction author panel dinner. My old friend Hester Bass and her husband were also able to attend, and that was a special delight. Stephanie Reynolds and her associates from the University of Kentucky were also eating there, so that was a treat. And several of my friends from the Highlights Foundation's Writers Workshop in Chautauqua, NY were also at the table. So late or not, I got to reconnect with a great cross-section of amazing writing friends.

My amazing roomates, Christine Taylor-Butler and Gwendolyn Hooks and I walked from dinner to our hotel, the Hard Rock Hotel and checked in. Our floor, the 16th floor, was dedicated to Prince and featured one of his beautiful silk shirts and a guitar. I loved Prince when I managed an LA record store in the late 70's and early 80's, so that was cool. But not half as cool as the two women I roomed with.

On the morning of the 12th, I went to the HarperCollins Author Breakfast at the Intercontinental six or seven blocks away, but what a beautiful walk. Chicago is such a vibrant, lively city, even on a Sunday morning. From the breakfast, I went to the panel at the McCormick and MAN, were there a lot of people there. More than 300 folks filed in to hear us share information on nonfiction books, and it was just astonishing. You can see in the photo above, me sitting waiting for my chance on the stage, flanked by all those talented librarians. WOW.

I signed at Lerner after the panel had concluded, had lunch with a bunch of wonderful people, then signed at Sterling after lunch. My signing at Sterling went long -- a good thing -- so I closed the conference down that day. By the time I got on the bus for the VOYA reception at the Marriott, I'd missed it entirely. Disappointing, because my friend Andy Smith -- Andrew Smith on his books -- was going to be there.

Anastasia Suen and April Pulley Sayre were kind enough to invite me to join their party at dinner, so I shared a booth with them at Beppo's on North Rush with some online friends including an old pal of mine, Chicago local Esther Hershenhorn and the very charming editor of Cricket Magazine and her dauther, her daughter's boyfriend and an illustrator I THINK was part of their art department team (forgive me for not knowing -- I crashed the party).

After dinner, I walked back to the Hard Rock and met my roomies. They were headed to dinner, so I had a glass of ice water with them and enjoyed the grand company at a table outside -- a beautiful little Irish restaurant and pub.

My wake up call on Monday was at 4:00 am for the 6:00 am flight -- a little too close, but I made it. I slept most of the way home, but I was so incredibly happy. This was the best possible way to enjoy a wonderful conference. And I'm grateful to everyone who helped ot make it such a success -- including my "boss" who helped me cover the cabs.

Thanks, everyone, for the really exceptional time.

Legend of Boggy Creek

2009-07-05T19:10:00.000-07:00

I've just about finished the first of six chapters in my new children's book, IN SEARCH OF SASQUATCH for Houghton Mifflin. It's due this summer, so I'm making good progress. As I weave through my notes and interviews, I find many of the Bigfoot experts were inspired by Charles B. Pierce's camp classic, THE LEGEND OF BOGGY CREEK.

I've written many dinosaur books and articles and paleontologists were often spurred to the study by GODZILLA. So I'm not surprised Mr. Pierce's film sparked Bigfoot hunters. I do hope I can reach Mr. Pierce to get permission to use his poster in the book, and I HOPE if he has time, he might agree to a short interview. But no matter how that unfolds, I think it's fascinating that the story of the Fouke Monster from Arkansas had such a far-reaching effect on adventurers all over the country.

Are wasps evil, or do they just bite that way?

2009-07-03T14:20:00.000-07:00

Okay, I don't know yet if they bite or sting, but I do know it HURTS. I got out of my Rav4, headed for the steps up to my house, when they swarmed me -- only three of them. But one stung while the others scared me back. I had to walk to the far side of my car to get my grocery bag, then I had to RUN up the far side of the stairs as they CHASED me. It's been 15 minutes, and now the site of the bite or sting is bigger than a quarter, as you can see in the BAD picture here.

I love animals, even insects. I think they almost all have their place in the universe. I used to think only headlice might be a legitimate exception. Now I'm thinking these AGGRESSIVE wasps -- not the timid ones, but the mean ones -- might deserve extinction too. Man, they sting -- or bite -- as if they are wielding tiny, shards of broken glass.

Should have skipped the groceries. Now, how do I get RID of them?

Wendie Old, nonfiction blogger supreme!

2009-06-30T10:02:00.000-07:00

My good friend Wendie Old, and one of my fellow panelist for ALA in two weeks (Sunday, July 12 at 10:30 am, see entry below for the room assignment) flattered and humbled me today by quoting me on her blog. I slipped into a kind of self-indulgent moment of zen/bliss on a listserv -- babbled on about how much I love my job, and I do. She felt the same, so she posted the paragraph HERE.

Thanks, Wendie, for honoring me this way and for being my friend. See you soon in Chicago.

Here's to kids nonfiction! It's true magic!

Kelly

ALA, here I come!

2009-06-18T21:11:00.000-07:00

I was going to wait to post this until early July, but I can't wait...too excited. I get to be at ALA again this year, again on a nonfiction for reluctant readers panel. This year, it's me and a WHOLE bunch of other good, good writers. If any of you have time on Sunday, sure would love to meet you. And you'll get a great cross section of new titles to consider, direct from the authors that wrote them. Hope you'll stop by. I'm also signing at the Lerner and Sterling booths. BAGHDAD ZOO won't be ready in time from HarperCollins/Greenwillow, but they promise me I'll have an F&G -- maybe. : ) Anyway, here's the "official" ALA website skinny, with our Wiki link (courtesy of Anastasia Suen) added:

SUNDAY 10:30 am to 12:00 pm
Convention Center Room W181. (Level 1 of the West Building.) Nonfiction Book Blast: Booktalks for Reluctant Readers
AASL Track: Children & Young Adults; Literature& Collection Development
Wiki: http://nfbookblast.pbworks.com/

Despite the emphasis on fiction for leisure reading in schools, many reluctant readers are often more drawn to reading nonfiction. Expand your nonfiction repertoire as 18 authors booktalk their latest work. Panelists include award-winning and acclaimed authors April Pulley Sayre (VultureView), Kelly Milner Halls (Albino Animals), and Carla McClafferty (Something Out of Nothing: Marie Curie and Radium), as well as many additional prolific or brand new authors. Their booktalks, plus new ones crafted by audience members, will be yours to take back home to excite your students about reading nonfiction.

Speakers: Anastasia Suen; JoAnn Early Mackin; Gwendolyn Hooks; Carla Killough McClafferty; Wendie Old; April Pulley Sayre,and more.

MY SIGNINGS WILL BE AT:

12:15 pm – Learner booth
3:30 pm – Sterling booth

Thanks, Elizabeth Bird!

2009-06-06T12:06:00.000-07:00

Hey, a big shout-out to librarian/author Elizabeth Bird for featuring SAVING THE BAGHDAD ZOO in her terrific Fuse blog for School Library Journal. She profiled her explorations at the HarperCollins Librarian Preview event, and included the book. THANK YOU E.B. I couldn't feel more honored.

Check it out HERE.

And here's a short excerpt:

"We've been seeing quite a few true life stories coming out in picture book form for kids regarding animals overseas. This one is particularly fascinating. It discusses the push that was made to save the animals in this zoo after America invaded. "

We sure tried to make it worthwhile, Elizabeth. I hope we succeeded, but time will tell.

Bigfoot Round-up, oh yes!

2009-05-22T18:47:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I drove to Yakima, Washington in search of Bigfoot. I was researching my new book, and MAN, did I hit the mother load. I spent two days with some of the most famous patrons of the North American Great Ape on the planet, and I learned so much. I even met a 13-year-old boy who had found and photographed remarkable tracks in the high Sierras while hunting with his dad. He'll be a magnifcent part of the book.

I have to finish up my school year -- some more JLG biographies and four more school visits. But once the summer is mine, I'll have time to WRITE this book, at least part of it, and to do at least two more research field trips for this same book. And I couldn't be more excited.

It's so great when you get to write a book that you feel passionate about. I've been lucky that way so many times. I'm grateful to be lucky that way again, now. I do SO love my job.

One more photo from Houston.

2009-05-14T11:03:00.000-07:00

Yeah, it was really great!

Houston -- who says you can't go home again?

2009-05-14T10:54:00.000-07:00

I flew to Houston Sunday afternoon to do three school visits -- one on Monday, one on Tuesday and one on Wednesday. It's a LONG flight. Obviously, it's a long, long way. But man, was it ever worth it.

Houston has a richly diverse school population, and it's fantastic. But the beauty isn't in the differences. The beauty is in how much kids are, essentially, all the same. I don't mean they aren't utterly unique or individual. They are. Every kid is a shooting star -- dazzling and distinctive. But their desire to be heard, to be cared for, to laugh and especially to know the power of mutual respect transcends age, race and geography.

That constant gives me so much hope. And the love the kids share with me makes me feel like a titan, even if I am wrapped in a plump, old lady cloak.

Thanks, kids of Houston. And thanks librarians. You work SO hard. And the hard work SHOWS in the faces of the young people you serve so well. THANK YOU for having me at your schools. It was a TREAT and a pleasure I will never, ever forget!

Kelly

Censorship blog renewed!

2009-04-27T16:41:00.000-07:00

Man, I am never surprised by the ugly head of the censor reared. I've seen it far too often now to be easily phased -- from my high school years to the years I've spent working for Chris. But a very brave librarian is battling censorship as we speak and her foes claim NO book has been banned in this country in over 50 years.

It's probably true that our government has not banned a book in 50 years. But school districts and other "concerned educators" ban books far more often than you might imagine. I've seen Crutcher's books banned repeatedly in the five or six years I've worked for him. And I've seen dozens of other challenged and, yes BANNED again and again and again.

For several years, I kept track of banned books and book challenges on my website. I let it lapse because I got too busy...or so I thought. But this is too important for me to be too busy. So I've stepped back into the box, ready to work.

This afternoon, I collected some book banning documentation and posted it on my OTHER blog. I'll be searching for current and future challenges all over the country from now on, and posting them there. They won't all be banned, thank goodness. Most will be challenged, then set right, because ours is still a nation of laws and the First Amendment and Supreme Court rulings still matter. But I'll get them posted so brave librarians will have a resource.

I'll miss some. I always do. But if you have information I've missed, PLEASE let me know.

It's important. At least it is to me.

2009-04-17T15:48:00.000-07:00

Carrie's FeeJee Mermaid, from her thank you note, via Holmes Elementary. She heard it as Pegi Mermaid, I guess...which is A-OK. Thanks, Carrie.

Thank YOU, too!

2009-04-17T15:38:00.000-07:00

...I wrote about this before, but I got two reminders of why I write for kids today. First, I got my royalty check. Thanks Darby Creek. When you do this for a living, those checks are LITERALLY a godsend. Hooray. I sold more than 5,000 more copies of TALES OF THE CRYPTIDS between July 2008 and December 2008, and the book is three years old. Man, if publishers would just let me keep making these kinds of books -- we'd make a lot of money together AND the kids, those reluctant readers (mostly boys) would keep BUYING and READING. That's a win/win, isn't it? This Alien book is all but written. Doesn't anyone WANT IT? Hope I find the editor that does soon.

In the meantime, the second reason -- the second great envelope I got in the mail today. I got GREAT thank you notes from kids from Holmes Elementary -- 4th and 4th graders in Ms. Harper's class. They get it, ya know? And I love them to pieces. Check out the thank you notes they sent me, and these are only two of them...one from Billy and one from Carrie.

Yeah, I do it to make a living, even if it is pretty modest. But REALLY I do it for these kids. In that respect, I'm richer than I ever thought I would be. And the kids are worth it. Absolutely.

Snow? On April 14?

2009-04-14T08:25:00.000-07:00

Okay, I moved to Spokane --in part -- because there were four distinct seasons, including wintery white. But three inches of snow in the middle of April is PRETTY weird. Check out my frosty Bigfoot friend. He's not thinking this is funny. And neither do I.

It is pretty, but they've got half ths streets torn up in my neighborhood so the daily commute is already a little snarled. Mix in a little slush and it's down right uncivilized.

Oh well. I guess REAL spring, assuming we don't just leap into summer sizzle, will be that much sweeter. Here's hoping.

2009 Sasquatch Reading Award -- ALMOST

2009-04-08T10:14:00.000-07:00

Cryptids almost won the 2009 Sasquatch Reading Award, but Dan Gutman surged forward to win.

Dan's The Homework Machine got 2,351 votes. Cryptids got 2,101. But hey, second is exciting to me, and a BIG congrats to Dan. Very cool!! Thanks to all the kids that voted for Cryptids. I'm so excited the book was worth your time!

YAY!

All Better...and on to BATS and BIGFOOT

2009-04-08T07:48:00.000-07:00

Thankfully, I never stay sad for long, and I'm on to my next nonfiction adventure -- or two, or three. I have been corresponding with the director of a baby bat rescue hospital, and she's eager to help me tell her story. So I HOPE I will soon have a new proposal about this wonderful conservation effort. More on that VERY soon.

And I got confirmation that I'll be sitting in on the Bigfoot Roundup in Yakima, Washington on May 15 and 16 as research for my new book for Houghton Mifflin. I am THRILLED because so many respected expects will be there. And my illustrator Rick Spears MAY be able to come down over for the Roundup too.

I'll take LOTS of pictures, and I'll share them with you -- at the Bigfoot Roundup and when I go to the bat hospital, of course. And I'm still researching about a dozen other topics for other books yet to come. It's good to feel like my NORMAL self. I'm glad I'm not sad very often.

Sadness

2009-04-05T10:37:00.000-07:00

I wish I understood exactly how my sadness switch works. It may be partially genetic as in brain chemistry. I almost never saw my mom awake, other than at mealtimes when I was a kid. She slept most of the day and night, and it always puzzled me as a kid.

How can she nap, I wondered, when she just woke up? I know now that's a red flag for serious depression. So I may have it in my blood.

It may be circumstantial. My marriage was hellish, as was my girls' relationship with their less than decent dad. That was depressing. By the time I got a brain in my head and filed for divorce, I felt so guilty for subjecting them to prolonged madness, I never even thought about trying again. I devoted all my time to paying the bills and being with them. That, I'm proud of doing. I owed them a LOT. I always will.

But now they're grown -- 19 and 26 -- with significant others of their own. So I find myself at loose ends, emotionally. Where I could barely scrape together enough hours in the day as a working mom -- I slept 4 hours a night -- I am now, to condense it down to a word, LOST.

I didn't make many friendships as a kid or an adult -- I didn't know how. Still don't, really. And those I did make, well, they have families of their own. And I'm not easy to like right now. As one friend put it, I don't have any fun. I think I've forgotten HOW.

That's not exactly true. Writing books is fun. School visits are fun. Dinner with my kids is REALLY fun. Movies are fun, though I see most of them alone, which can be hard. Coffee with my friend is fun -- when I'm not being stupid. But for the past few months, I've been stupid a lot. And that's depressing and puts what friendship I have at risk.

Stupid = afraid. And fear is almost never my friend. I mean, it keeps me from driving off a bridge, I guess, so that's not a bad thing. But the fear of loneliness and loss can sometime paralyze us -- paralyzes me. Paralysis doesn't do me much good.

I'm trying to find my way out of the mess I've made of my life. Well intentioned or not, it is a mess. What is it they say about the path to hell? Paved with good intentions? Rings true, at the moment. But where there's a road in, I have to believe there's a road out. So I'm looking for it -- back tracking.

I had help, but I did find my way about of 17 years of abusive marriage. So maybe I can find my way out of this mire. I hope so. But if I could turn the sadness switch off while I try to find my way, it sure would be an easier journey.

Haven't figured that out yet. But I'll keep trying. In the meantime, I have a school visit tomorrow, so I'll have a little escape. I'm really lucky to have those kids.

Onward.

Pumpkin has cancer

2009-03-31T15:52:00.000-07:00

For months, my deep orange tabby, Pumpkin (the one on your left, the lighter one on your right is Bitty), has had this THING dangling from the armpit of his right front leg. When it looked like a blister, I ignored it. As it grew, I scraped together the money to have it removed. By the time I had $600 that didn't have to pay tuition or the mortgage, the tumor was the size of a ping-pong ball, suspended from a 1/4 inch stretch of weary, over-taxed skin.

The biopsy came back, and it was cancer. He's 11-years old and hates going to the doctor. So even if there were chemo treatments available, I wouldn't put him through that. This is the kitten my kids bottle fed from it's third day outside the womb. The neighbor took his mother away, left he and his brothers to die in a flower bed, in spite of my begging them to let me take care of her AFTER the kittens were ready to give away.

The neighbors didn't seem to car, so we took the little things in -- two for us, two for the letter carrier's family. Their little ears went flat and wobbled as they drank from the doll bottles -- the two we had looked like tiny Yoda hybrids. Every two hours at first, then every four. It was a long, hard summer, but it taught my kids love and compassion.

Pumpkin was the kitten we kept. We moved him from Colorado to Washington with three other cats, two dogs, a ferret and a hampster -- along with my two daughters and me -- in a four door Dodge Neon ten years ago when he was barely a year old. Six months after we moved to Spokane, some little a**h*** shot him with a B-B gun. He jumped up through my screenless bedroom window and slowly padded into the living room where I saw his side drenched in crimson. He survived.

Now he has cancer.

Some people think it's crazy for a single mom with two girls in college (two tuitions to pay each quarter) to spend $600 to save a dying cat. And maybe they're right. But he didn't ask me to rescue him from that flowerbed. He didn't ask me to stop the bleeding or seek medical care when he was shot. I literally took his life in my hands when I scooped him out of the mulch that kept him alive for two days, eyes sealed shut, without his mother. And I felt like I owed him something -- like an unspoken promise.

So, we'll do without a few things like food without "ramen" printed on the package for a few weeks. And we'll keep our Punkin-rubby as comfortable as we can until he can't live a life worth living. Then I'll pay another couple of hundred bucks to release him from a body that turned against him, and I'll cry for two days and wait for his ashes to rest on my fireplace mantle.

Love, even for an animal, carries with it responsibility and cost. But when he's gone, I'll know I kept my promise to him. When he's gone, he won't be forgotten.

Love ya, Punky. Love ya, fierce.

Boys DO read...and buy books, given the chance.

2009-03-27T17:13:00.000-07:00

I've had this conversation with Chris Crutcher, Bruce Coville, Jon Scieszka and -- of late -- my old friend Andy, ah, Andrew Smith, but now that Billy Bones has jumped into the ring, seems like a good time to bring it up again.

Boys DO read.

For the past ten years, I've written my heart's desire -- books of appeal to reluctant boy readers. That's my heart's desire because when I was a kid, I was a reluctant boy reader -- except I was a girl.

I grew up as a boy would because my sister and Lori Johnson were the only girls in my neighborhood. I played at Lori's once in a while, often to listen to RUBY TUESDAY (Lori had the 45...I did not). I played Barbie's with my sister when she let a lizard or toad stand in as Barbie's giant pet. But 90% of my time was spent outside with my rowdy guy friends. I grew up as if I was a boy. My interests were identical to those of a boy. So the books I wanted didn't exist, at least not at the time.

The only books I loved were Abe Lincoln biographies, reptile and amphibian books and books about vampires. I ran out of those pretty darn quick.

When I started to write books rather than articles for kids, I made an active choice to write the books I would have wanted when I was little --and boy-like. So in a sense, I have a better idea of what boys want than most women. I lived, almost all my life, among them.

Boys want books that appeal to their sensibilities. They want action and danger and daring and honesty. They want gross and scary and unbelievable and real. They don't want sweet daydreams and optimism, necessarily. They want stories -- fiction and nonfiction -- they can sink their teeth into. And I've worked hard to give them those nonfiction stories.

Billy Bones apparently agrees, that given the write material, boys WILL read. And his poster is so fun and compelling, I stole it from his Facebook page and posted it here. I hope he won't mind. Maybe it'll be cool since I'm a fan, and since I've been known to write about a bone or two myself. But check out his Facebook if you can. He's earned praise and traffic, and I'm the first one to say so.

Boys DO read. So let's wake up and help them find the books they're longing to find.

Festival Fun

2009-03-26T09:08:00.000-07:00

My blogging has been sketchy at best, and I apologize. But I've done two literature festivals, one young author conference, three school visits and three articles since I last posted and, to be honest, I was (am) a little tired.

Now that I'm catching up a little, I want to say how much I LOVED being in Kentucky and Missouri for those to WONDERFUL festivals.

In Kentucky, I joined Chris Crutcher, Gary B. Schmidt and E.B. Lewis as speakers, and what a THRILL that was. It's always fun to hang out with Chris, obviously. But signing next to Gary and having dinner across from E.B. -- it doesn't get any better than that. It was just a joy. Thanks, Stephanie, for inviting me.

In Missouri, I joined about 30 other writers and illustrators at the Univesity of Central Missouri, as bus loads of kids buzzed the hallways in search of our presentation rooms. What a rush it was to not only meet with the kids each day, but to hang out with so many people in the industry after hours at the hotel and other social settings our host Naomi and her volunteers made possible. It's a yearly event, so I hope I did well enough to be invited back.

The school visits I did were, as always, WONDERFUL. I love school visits. And the Young Authors Conference yesterday was so much fun. All of those kids -- nearly 500 of them -- dug in deep and wrote their little hearts out for me. And it was fantastic.

Now I'm home and I don't have another event until April 6 (Holmes Elementary, I'm coming). So I get to do a little more writing for a while. But I wanted to say thanks to all the people who have been so kind to me the past few weeks. I am so grateful, you may never know.

Why?

2009-03-04T22:01:00.000-08:00

I love and respect teacher, especially the really good ones. And even the bad ones are better teachers than I would ever be. After a "writer-in-residence" experience last year, I decided the only thing I could teach kids would be how to play and get off track. Since they already know how to play, I'm not much good as a "real" educator.

But why do some teachers wield control like a battle axe? Even on my time as an author visitor?

Not long ago, I did a school visit, and it was wonderful. They almost always are. My book topics are just weird enough to capture most kids imaginations, and I can be funny and educationally fun. There are sometimes kids that need a little convincing. But I've never met a kid I couldn't recruit -- not so far. I haven't been so lucky with every teacher -- especially not the other day.

Teacher A didn't come into the library with her class, so it was up to me and the librarian to wrangle the rowdy pair. A little laughter did the trick, and they were on my side ten minutes into the hour. Then the teacher decided to show up -- AFTER I'd managed the wise guys.

Teacher A zeroed in on a girl in the back row and began to scold her. I couldn't hear voices, but the girl's body language said it all. She went from relaxed and curious to stiff and shame-filled. Her face was etched with that stress only a disapproving authority figure can inspire.

All the other kids stopped listening to me -- of course --and focused on the teacher and the target. I was silent, watching too. Teacher A looked up.

"I'll just wait until you're done," I said.

"I'd rather you didn't," Teacher A said. "I'd rather you just went on."

I tried to ignore her and do just that, but it was no use. Kids can't resist watching the sacrifice of a classmate.

Then Teacher A proceeded to take four other kids out of the group -- including the two I'd already made a deal with -- and moved them to chairs in the back row. Again, too much commotion to over come, and by now another five of my 45 minutes have been squandered.

Teacher A looked up at me.

"You about done?" I asked.

"I had to get this under control," Teacher A said.

"I had it under control," I said, by now more than a little annoyed. Sorry, but Teacher A's behavior was nothing less than RUDE.

"You should have seen them this morning," Teacher A said.

"Could be," I said, "But this hour was MINE."

Silence.

All I could do was try to recover a little of the energy the kids had shared with me before Teacher A decided to bust in. And I managed a little. But all the interaction was now stilted. Every kid was a little bit afraid of getting the axe.

I did the best I could, but Teacher A's agenda didn't educate the students. It cheated them of an enrichment their school had paid to have them experience. Teacher A had cheated me of the chance to share my craft with those kids.

Teacher A left the room very upset with me. I called that teacher out, in front of the kids. I regret that. But when I'm doing a presentation, that time IS mine. No, that's not right. When I do a resentation, the time belongs to the KIDS. My ego and that teacher's ego should take a backseat to serving the kids. Disruption like that was disrespectful to me AND to the kids.

It doesn't happen every day, thank god. But when it does happen, I can't help but wonder, WHY?

Why come in the first place if you're feeling stressed and uneasy? Wouldn't it have been better to use that 45 minutes to unwind and center? To put a little distance between what must have been a rough morning and the afternoon? If Teacher A had never joined the students, I wouldn't have skipped a beat or made a single judgment. In fact, I think it's smart. Teachers don't get enough planning time. Why not use the visiting author time to get a few things done?

And why wasn't my frustration enough to put Teacher A on a more constructive path?

Why use my time to flex narcicistic muscle? I don't have a clue. I only know it made me feel diminished and under occupation. Imagine how Teacher A's kids must feel, day after day.

Let's just hope it was an exception. I sure wouldn't want to live under Teacher A rule.

More on Lexington

2009-03-02T10:01:00.000-08:00

Here's the press release about the conference I helped staff this past weekend. The picture is one a librarian took of Chris at his breakout after his luncheon presentation. He did great, but he always does.

McConnell Conference for Youth Literature is Feb. 27-28

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 11, 2009) − The University of Kentucky’s School of Library and Information Science (UK SLIS) announces its 41st annual McConnell Youth Literature Conference to be held Feb. 27-28 at the Griffin Gate Marriott on Newtown Pike in Lexington.

The deadline to register for the conference is Feb. 20.The conference events will begin at 3 p.m. Friday afternoon.

The highlight of the first evening will be a banquet and keynote address by award-winning author Gary D. Schmidt.

Schmidt is a two-time recipient of the American Library Association’s (ALA) Newbery Honor for his novels "The Wednesday Wars" and "Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy", which was also a Printz Honor Book for Young Adults. Schmidt is a professor of English at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Mich. where he teaches courses in children's literature, medieval literature, and creative writing.

Saturday’s events begin with a presentation by E.B. Lewis, award-winning picture book author and illustrator whose honors include a 2003 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award for his "Talkin’ About Bessie: The Story of Aviator Elizabeth Coleman" and a 2005 Caldecott Honor for "Coming on Home Soon".

The luncheon speaker on Saturday is critically-acclaimed young-adult author Chris Crutcher, the 2000 recipient of ALA’s Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime contribution to young-adult literature.

Also presenting during the weekend will be the author of nonfiction children’s books, Kelly Milner Halls. The conference also will feature several concurrent sessions on topics ranging from how to reach reluctant male readers to the art and creation behind every child’s favorite story-time attraction, the pop-up book. Finally, graduate students from UK SLIS will offer sessions on the 2009 medal winners and honor books for the Caldecott, Newbery, and Printz Awards, presented each year by the American Library Association.

McConnell Center for Children's Literature Conference

2009-03-01T21:21:00.000-08:00

I just got back from Lexington and the University of Kentucky's McConnell Center for Children’s Literature Conference. And I had so much fun. My fellow speakers were Gary Schmidt, E.B. Lewis and my friend and boss, Chris Crutcher. It was such a fantastic gathering of librarians and library students. Dr. Stephanie Reynolds is a remarkable expert and she ran a brilliant event. I am so proud to have been included.

Gary Schmidt was the dinner banquet speaker and his comments were so moving and so wise. He teaches at a University in Grand Rapids, Michigan in addtion to being a Newbery and Prince Honor winning author. And I feel honored to have spent time with him.

Illustrator and fine artist E.B. Lewis was the breakfast speaker and he was so amazing. I have loved his work for years and years, and I even got to him dinner with him (and Stephanie and Chris) after the conference concluded. He's funny, compassionate and thoughtful, in addition to being a gifted painter. I hope to write about him soon.

Chris was the luncheon keynote, but just barely. He had to be in Missouri Friday, then fly to Kentucky Saturday morning for his presentation at noon. It was hit or miss, but he made it. And he was sensational. He always is.

Beyond my fellow speakers, there were such wonderful librarians -- working professionals and students. So many attended my workshops, and they seemed to share my passion for helping kids find just the books they need to grow confident in their reading and writing. What a treat it was to be part of this conference.

Thanks, Stephanie, for including me. Thanks Lexington librarians for making me feel so welcome.

God bless President Obama!

2009-02-24T22:40:00.000-08:00

Every once in a while, a leader finds his or her way into office, and the impossible comes within reach. I truly believe President Obama is our miracle -- our bonified leader. And after eight years of George W. Bush, I am so proud and so grateful. God bless this man and help him find the energy and will to transform our nation -- to get it back on track to be the shining nation of compassion and leadership. What a remarkable man.

BTW, the photo is from Vanity Fair, at this URL:

http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2008/03/obama200803

The people we "know."

2009-02-22T11:53:00.000-08:00

For years, when people have asked me who my best friend in high school was, my answer has been Andy Smith -- Andrew Smith now that he's a grown-up and a writer.

He was, at the time, the funniest person I'd ever known. He taught me how to write, how to question, how to yearn. He broke my heart twice -- once when he asked Key to the homecoming dance instead of me. I went with Kirstin, a German foreign exchange student in my photography class instead, just so I could BE there. But my heart was standing in Key's shoes (and boy, were they crowded).

Incidentally, Looking Glass was our band for that dance. And believe me, you haven't lived until you've heard "Brandi, you're a fine girl...what a good wife you would be...." a dozen times, live, in the course of three hours. Looking Glass had more hair than they had hit songs. : )

We spent a whole lot of Friday and Saturday nights at Disneyland, Magic Mountain, Mann's Chinese Theater, Pier I, Marie Calendar's, just where ever life and his Toyota would take us. We shared dreams and movies and records. He was my very best friend. I thought.

But now that we've reconnected, I realize I hardly knew him. I loved him. Don't get me wrong. He was my best friend and I wouldn't trade those memories for anything. But the kid I thought I knew and the man he's turned out to be don't always reconcile.

For example, in one of his most recent blogs he says he hates movies. Man, we saw dozens and dozens of movies when we were kids. It was one of our favorite things to do. Or I thought it was. Now I wonder, was it just my favorite thing to do and he put up with it? I didn't think so. Star Wars, Fantasia, Indiana Jones, The Omen, the Exorcist, those were all his idea. Good ideas, but his. But did he love movies then, if not now?

Maybe we never really know the people we think we know. Or maybe "know" is subject to relativity. I know how Andy reacts when I explode a ketchup packet and it hits his wheat jeans hours before the school day is scheduled to end. He REALLY doesn't like it. I know how loud he can scream when he's pretending to be terrified after seeing the Texas Chainsaw Massacre at the drive in. I know how frustrated he was when Mr. Smith threatened to shut down the school paper if we let the ACLU take the district to court in defense of our free speech. I know how much that manuscript he and Chris N. wrote meant to him, all those years ago. In fact, I still have it.

Maybe the rest -- all the things he never told me don't really matter -- at least not when you're looking forward, rather than back. Guess I'll wait and see. As for the second time he broke my heart, well, that's to be continued. If there are so many things I never knew about him way back then, maybe he had blind spots too.

Here's to the future.

Junior Library Guild -- PERKS!

2009-02-20T09:33:00.000-08:00

Okay, I admit it. I'm a trophy hound. It's been true since the first day I realized winners get shiny golden things, while losers get to watch the smiling winners. I have horse show ribbons, journalism competition plaques, tennis trophies, and -- whenever possible -- book award trinkets and certificates. I love them. I can't help it.

So here's the latest one -- the perks just awarded through the Junior Library Guild. Six of my books have been JLG selections over the years, but this is the first year they've offered a certificate and lapel pin. Color me content with the neat new goody.

THANK YOU, JLG. I'm thrilled. ~ Kelly

GET LIT asks: What keeps you writing?

2009-02-18T14:16:00.000-08:00

Asa Bradley emailed today asking me and Claire Rudolf Murphy to respond to that simple question as part of the GET LIT festival here in Spokane, and I'm delighted to be included. So here goes.

I could be flipant and say the desire to stay housed and fed keeps me writing, because as a single mom, writing isn't just fun for me, it's my job. It is the work that keeps my kids Kerry and Vanessa at Eastern Washington University and Spokane Falls Community College, too. But my choice to make writing my life's work is about far more than money.

What keeps me writing is probably a burning curiosity. I was born with an unyielding need to discover the who, what, when, where, why and how of virtually any topic that crosses my field of vision -- dinosaurs, mummies, Bigfoot, albinism, any subject that makes me urgently wonder. Because I never really graduated from topics that also appeal to kids, they are the best candidates with whom I can share my enthusiasm. So I happily write for kids.

I write for the kid I once was -- the reluctant reader tomboy who never found the books she might REALLY want to read. She finds them now because she writes them. And the reactions of the kids like me constitute the second primary reason I keep writing. I do it to help the "weird" kids out there -- kids like the kid I was -- understand they are special and they are not ever truly alone.

That's what keeps me writing. Well, that and the price of electricity in Spokane. Talk about a topic that makes me curious. : )

Thanks GET LIT -- for the prompt, for letting me visit remote schools as part of the festival team, and for every other terrific opportunity you've afforded me. I'm glad to be part of the team!

Kelly

Wow, one more from Whitworth.

2009-02-17T04:32:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago, Chris and I visited a children's literature class at Whitworth College here in Spokane. Sophie, a 19-year-old journalism student, told us about her plans to create a kid lit blog, and she's done exactly that. GREAT job, Sophie. Thanks for including me!

Publishers Weekly, YAY!

2009-02-17T03:45:00.000-08:00

And...SAVING THE BAGHDAD ZOO was in the Publishers Weekly Fall 2009 previews. How fun to see my book mentioned right after my friend Chris Crutcher's new book, under the same Greenwillow banner. It said:

HARPERCOLLINS/GREENWILLOW
Greenwillow goes to the head of the class with Amelia Bedelia’s First Day of School by Herman Parish, illus. by Lynn Avril, the housekeeper’s picture-book debut; Angry Management by Chris Crutcher, three loosely connected novellas starring past Crutcher characters; Saving the Baghdad Zoo: A Story of Hope and Heroes by Kelly Milner Halls and Major William Sumner, a photo-essay about the mission to rebuild this Iraqi landmark; Duck and Kangaroo by Edward Lear, illus. by Jane Wattenberg, nonsense verse illustrated with original photos and archival prints from Lear’s time; and Santa’s Stowaway by Brandon Dorman, about a determined elf and an unforgettable sleigh ride.

Yikes & Skypes

2009-02-17T03:21:00.000-08:00

Has it really been a month since I posted? I'd feel bad, except no one reads my blog, so I've only disappointed myself. : )

I've been pretty busy with assignments, school visits and Skype experiments.

What is Skype? It's an online forum -- free so far -- that enables member-to-member video communications. Because TALES OF THE CRYPTIDS is on the PSLA's Young Reader's Choice nomination list, I've had the opportunity to talk to several classrooms in PA about the book via Skype, and it's been tremendous fun -- at least for me.

The discussion among children's writers and illustrators, with regard to Skype, is what to charge for time invested. For illustrators, I can see exacting a fee, because prep time for illustrators is a little more extensive. But so far, I'm not charging for the opportunity because I see it as a promotional opportunity along with an outreach. But I'll reserve the right to change my mind.

Farewell, ye Tiara!

2009-01-18T17:51:00.000-08:00

Few are the times I wish I was rich. This time, is one of them. Alas, I've lose my R.L. Stine tiara to a series of fatter bids. It's a good cause, and I'm glad more money will be in the NYPL's coffers. But I wish I had enough to beat the beefy. Sigh. Some things just aren't meant to be, I guess. Bob -- if you're out there -- I've been your faithful fan for many, many years, and remain so, even if my keepsake will live on another soul's bookshelf.

Tiara Treasures

2009-01-04T13:51:00.001-08:00

I know, I just posted, but I just found this great CAUSE so I had to post again.

Meg Cabot is fronting an online auction -- fun tiaras decorated by various authors and other celebrities -- to raise money in support of the New York Public Library. Each of about 30 people were asked to create their own crown from a common template, and they're fantastic. I love Mo Rocca's Sarah Palin tiara. But I bid on R.L. Stine's masterpiece, so nobody else bid on that one, okay? Kidding. Well, kind of kidding. I really want it. Bob Stine is one of the nicest guys on earth -- once told me I had a great voice -- and he's brave to make a "scary" crown. I WANT that beautiful thing SO BADLY.

Anyway, check it out and bid, bid, bid on all the other tieras right away. And let me know which tiera you like best, okay? I'm really curious.

PS Check out Mo's YouTube video about creating his Palin prize.

Lewis Black, front row/center

2009-01-04T12:10:00.000-08:00

Last night, at the last minute, I decided to go and see humorist Lewis Black. He's one of my two favorite comic minds, tied with the late, great George Carlin. I didn't have a ticket. I decided to chance it at the box office. To my great surprise, the clerk handed me a front row ticket, square in the middle of the row. I was dumbfounded -- and thrilled. When I tried to pay for it, I swear this is true, he said, "No, it's on the house." WHAT?

It was a fantastic show. Lewis Black is brilliant, live or taped. And I had a great, great time. But for me, it was even bigger.

I live alone and my kids are grown, so I tend to deny myself things. I tend to do without. I tend to sit home rather than jumping into a crowd of strangers if it's not work related. In fact, I tend to work without play. Last night, I took a chance and broke that tendency. And the results were skyrocket spectacular. So maybe it'll be a little easier to take a chance the next time an opportunity presents itself. Maybe it'll feel less alien the time after that. Maybe there are adventures left for an old lady with a bad knee. It sure is fun to imagine.

Thanks, Lewis Black. You inspired me. I won't call it "hope" -- in your honor (still picturing that tattered little basket). But it was the perfect way to start the new year. Next time, maybe I'll get to shake your hand. Hey, after last night, anything is possible. : )

ReadKiddoRead, from James Patterson

2009-01-01T09:58:00.000-08:00

Like Jon Scieszka (Guys Read) before him, James Patterson is concerned that kids aren't all jazzed about reading. So he's launched ReadKiddoRead -- a social network of professionals determined to spark the reading flame. It's already pretty robust. So check it out and join in the fun!

Here's my personal page.

Christmas Bigfoot fun!

2008-12-29T15:51:00.000-08:00

When I was a kid, my parents really wanted me to be a girly-girl instead of a tomboy. So they bought me lots of dolls. And lots of dolls collected dust in the floor of my closet. My kids like me the way I am. : ) Witness this year's fantastic present -- my great big "Garden Yeti." I'd admired him on the Design Toscano website for years -- him and the terrific dragons and dinosaurs. So I was REALLY excited.

Thanks Kerry, Vanessa and Adrian. I LOVE my new "baby." I'll find the perfect place for him as soon as he's taller than the snow drifts.

X-mas for Rick

2008-12-28T07:57:00.000-08:00

What do you give the illustrator that has everything? How about a realistic fake thing? Because we're researching a book about aliens and UFOs, I opted for an alien skull replica from Think Geek. I LOVE Think Geek. He loved the present. My cat posed with it just before I packed it up.

Man, I love being weird. : )

GHOST MEDICINE author Andrew Smith

2008-12-25T13:01:00.000-08:00

My friend Andy Smith taught me to write. We were both on the high school newspaper and while Mrs. Shiffman taught us the bare bones of journalism and layout, he opened up the heart to me. Today on his blog, Andy wrote about me. It meant the world to me, so I thought I'd share a piece of it -- and a link -- with you here.

"I'd like to say how grateful I am to have a friend like Kelly Milner Halls, whom I've known since we were kids. Kelly was really the one who made me start writing again, after so many years of drifting around from situation to situation and place to place. "

Thanks, my oldest friend. Here's to a brilliant new year.

Daniel Handler (Snicket)

2008-12-25T10:52:00.000-08:00

Bev on the Children's Writer listserv posted the link to a fun new article about Daniel Handler -- better known as Lemony Snicket. His new holiday book, A Lump of Coal, explores the darker side of the season and the article explores his reasoning behind the "sugary sweet" departure. Great read.

I sat at the same table with Daniel, his editor, Crutcher and a bunch of other super smart people at IRA in Toronto a couple of years ago and he was delightful. We all debated the value of celebrity books with high advances VS the need to find and fiscally support NEW children's writers. Great discussion, so I never miss reading about Daniel (or Chris).

Oh, btw -- HAPPY HOLIDAYS! We've got almost four feet of snow today, Christmas. 'Tis the season, I guess. : )

Pug HATES snow!

2008-12-20T19:52:00.000-08:00

We had a snow storm this week. It cost me a school visit. Rats. It also made me house bound for several days, because three feet of snow slows a 1999 Saturn Coupe to a screeching, high centered halt. Today, the plows FINALLY came, so I got my book contract mailed, bought some groceries and filled the nearly worthless Saturn's gas tank. Now...more snow is on the way. All that said, may I just share one discovery?PUG hates snow. Note the wilted, once curly tail.

kelly (who is cold, but okay)

I told you so!

2008-12-20T16:33:00.001-08:00

See how neat Jay Stephens is? He sent this super cool SECRET SATURDAYS Christmas greeting. I feel yule tidy as can be. : ) Thanks, Jay!

Kelly

Alice Pope passed it on

2008-12-19T21:20:00.000-08:00

So I was wandering around Alice Pope's (my editor at CWIM for the past ten years -- has it really been that long?) blog tonight and found this FANTASTIC event scheduled in the New England States on Valentine's Day 2009. Authors volunteer to spend quality time with kids at indie bookstores in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont. Man, it makes me wish I lived in New England. In fact, I'm checking my calendar. CRYPTIDS was on the Maine State Reading Award list last year. Maybe I could be wicked cool for a day? If you live back east, think about sharing a little time. I'm gonna see about doing it out here.

VAMPYRE: My favorite book for 2008!

2008-12-19T10:15:00.000-08:00

Don't let this photo of the cover deceive you. This book LOOKS as cool as it sounds -- like an overstuffed leather journal worn by time and turmoil. But it's what's inside that makes this my favorite book of 2008. Sturdy book mechanics and creative energy will REALLY appeal to strong and reluctant readers alike. This amazing book about vampires -- fact and fiction -- is a must for any vampire lover or library shelf.

HarperCollins says: This lavish, highly interactive, and deliciously spooky book features everything you never wanted to know about vampyres! Take a look inside (if you dare) and discover creepy evidence of true gothic horror—foldout maps, booklets of vampyre myths and lore, Dr. Van Helsing's private letters, pull-tab revelations, heat-sensitive images and much more!

It's not cheap, but it's worth every penny. The perfect gift book for your favorite vampire fan.

http://www.harpercollins.com/books/9780061247804/Vampyre/index.aspx

Jay Stephens is so cool.

2008-12-18T19:28:00.000-08:00

I just stole this image from Jay Stephen's blog, Monsterama, but it's so cool, maybe he'll forgive me. THE SECRET SATURDAYS is an awesome new cartoon show on the Cartoon Network you have GOT to check out. For more about it, check out this website:

http://www.cartoonnetwork.com/tv_shows/tss/index.html

Read Kiddo Read!

2008-12-18T17:44:00.000-08:00

James Patterson -- YES, that James Patterson -- has started a great new blog/website/entity to try and counter the thought that boys don't like to read called ReadKiddoRead.com. In their own words:

Boys Don't Like To Read!

We Disagree! Foster a love of reading for life among those reluctant guys, with gems such as: How I Became a Pirate, From Head to Toe: The Amazing Human Body and How It Works, or The Adventures of Captain Underpants: An Epic Novel. Click here to find out the best read for the boy in your life.

Oh yeah! That's what I'm talking about!

Why?

2008-12-18T17:31:00.000-08:00

It's pretty simple, really. For 15 years, I've written "weird" nonfiction for kids and I wanted to share my work -- and things like it -- in one central place. A blog seemed like a pretty good option.

Don't expect long, boring blogs about the magic of literature. Don't expect "long" at all. My goal is to make this a fun fast place to come to for ideas when you want to please the reluctant readers in your world.

Parents, librarians, kids, writers -- really everybody is welcome. Just don't be surprised if a post makes you gasp or groan now and then. Weird stuff can be like that. But if it makes you think or secretly grin, I will be happy. Thinking and smiling -- like weird reading -- can be fun!

Kelly