Happy birthday to my favorite illustrator and creative partner who just happens to be my sister Sarah!
xo Kate
xo Kate
 Roses are red;
Violets are blue. Who's our favorite poet of the week? You, Katya. You! Oh my goodness, Omaha! You're knocking me out. Thanks to Omaha Public Schools for bringing me in this week. Loved meeting all my new elementary school friends. What a nice welcome they gave me! Thanks, too, to the Omaha Public Library for hosting a fun gathering on Monday night, and to the Bookworm for providing books and hosting a book signing last night at their cute store. I had a chance yesterday afternoon to sneak in a trip to Omaha's famous Joslyn Art Museum, where I saw the lovely Matisse painting (bottom row, center pic). But I've gotta say: I was even *more* impressed by a fifth-grade artist at Washington Elementary named Millie. Don't you love her drawing (bottom row, right pic)? I needed that hat this week. It's cold here! But all the love made me feel warm inside. Thanks, Omaha! And to Mr. Keel and all my new pals at Wakonda Elementary, here's the picture I promised you. (Sorry it's so blurry! I was laughing too hard to hold my phone steady.)   Dear Nate and All Young Readers in Wilmette, Illinois:
You inspired ME to write. Thanks for the great visit. Happy reading! Kate Klise Remember how in The Phantom of the Post Office both Seymour Hope and Wy Fye come down with the mysterious "phantom flu"? I think that's what I had last week. All I wanted to do was tell you about the AWESOME young readers and writers I met in Lawrence, Independence, Warrensburg, and San Antonio . . . and I couldn't because of the dang phantom flu. (And I even got my flu shot this year! What gives?) Anyway, I'm back among the living now and I hope these pictures tell a thousand words about all the impressive future authors/illustrators I met out there on the road. Could I be any more impressed? No! You guys knocked me out!
 I love how Anessa from Iowa started this letter. "Dear Ms. Klise, I have no clue what to say." Neither do I! It's been so long since I've posted here. Should I tell you that I bought the cutest little apartment in Lisbon, Portugal, on a street named Olival, which is Olive in Portuguese? Isn't the view pretty? (See below.)  Or should I tell you that sister Sarah and I are working on a new series starring a group of can-do fifth graders and their rabble-rousing school librarian, whose name is Rita B. Danjerous? (Say it fast.) Or should I tell you how much I'm looking forward to meeting all the young authors in Lawrence, Ks., San Antonio, Tx., Wilmette, Ill, and Omaha, Ne. in the weeks ahead? Or or or . . . See what I mean? I have no clue what to say! But I should tell say you can always write to me here. Missouri is still my home base. I just plan to spend my writing months in Portugal. More on that to come.
"Oliver" is one of my all-time favorite musicals about a can-do boy who can and does amazing things. So imagine what a thrill it was to meet a real, live boy named Oliver Massey last night in Scituate, Massachusetts, who did an amazing thing: He wrote, directed, and co-starred in a musical based on our book, "The Show Must Go On!" You can see for yourself in these pictures how much work Oliver and his friends (and cute brother, Parker) put into this show. Deep bows to Oliver, his fab family (I met them all last night!), his school librarian at Inly, Shelley (loved her and that cool school!), and, of course, his "secret weapon" Kristin. As I told him in my clumsy and impromptu on-stage speech after the final curtain call, I *know* this will be the first of many, MANY productions from Oliver Massey!
Read more about the production here. The local paper did a cute story on it! |
