Letters About Literature -- Washington State

In March of 2012, I joined two librarians to judge the Washington State Level I entries for the national competition known as Letters About Literature.  It was such an honor to pour over the top entries in search of a state winner and several runners up.  We agreed on our winner -- Clare Doran, a Seattle, WA 6th grader wo wrote to Jamie Ford, author of HOTEL ON THE CORNER OF BITTER AND SWEET -- and that winner went on to win an honor slot at the national level, too. 

I have agreed to judge the Washington State Level I entries for next year as well, as have the other two judges.  I hope this will be the start of a lasting, lovely relationship.  It's a cause that means a lot to me. 

Port Orchard, WA

 
When I found out I was headed for Port Orchard, WA -- on the Kitsap Peninsula -- I was pretty excited.  The teacher-librarians were great.  The kids were amazing.  But I was extra-excited because the 911 Sasquatch call featured in my book, IN SEARCH OF SASQUATCH came from a caller in this area.  As I traveled from hotels to schools, I kept watching the thick forest surrounding us and wished (how I wished) I could catch a glimpse of one of those big guys.  No luck, but the time I spent with the kids was absolutely sensational.  Thank you, Michelle Peck and Jane Dierck.  I hope you had as much fun as I did. 

Gonzaga University

After spending most of February in central Washington, I came home to speak with Dr. Beth Cooley's writing students at Gonzaga University on March 5, 2012.  Beth is a brilliant YA novelist in addition to being a stellar professor, so I was a little puzzled as to what her students could get from a nonfiction writer.  But it was such a great experience.  Thank you, Beth, for making it possible.  You students were amazing.

The photo at the left is from the Gonzaga campus publication.  I really appreciated that great article running, too. 

The Literacy Connection

Time to update my blog.  YIKES.  I've been so busy on Facebook, I forgot to update here.  So it if looks like I did a bunch of entries TODAY, that's because I did a bunch of entries TODAY.  Each one is about a special yesterday, so I hope that counts, too.  : )  

As I mentioned in my last post, I did 19 schools in Washington State's TriCities region -- Richland, Kennewick, Pasco, Connel and Walla Walla -- thanks to the amazing women at the Literacy Connection.  Educators and former educators joined forced more than a decade ago to bring author visitors to schools.  Advance book sales covered hotel and travel expenses, the schools covered the honorariums. 

No one does it better than Carol Berry and her team.  No one.  And I had a lovely time essentially living in the TriCities during the month of February 2012.  THANK YOU for an exceptional experience.  I am beyond grateful. 

Regal Elementary then the TriCities!

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!

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!

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.