Fun Stuff and Random Thoughts
What We Try to Remember When Making a Book
Gertrude Stein by Pablo Picasso
"Why should a sequence of words
be anything but a pleasure?"
-Gertrude Stein
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La Maman la Plus Mechante du Monde
Apparently that's how our French publisher is translating Little Rabbit and the Meanest Mother
on Earth.
It seems Little Rabbit was lost in translation.
No matter. This is a fun one. We can't wait to see how it plays with French mommies. Keep in mind the title is a wee misleading in both French and English. Why? Because this book is really a love story.
(Most books are, you know.)
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Sweet Inspiration!
Kate and I are big fans of Valentine's Day. In fact, our entire family is - from aunts and uncles and cousins and nieces and nephews to brothers and sisters. We all make and send them to each other, and have been doing this for many years.
I taught this image to one my Chinatown classes this weekend, *Valentine Girl.* This is Sabrina's artwork (age 7). Does she inspire YOU to get making YOUR valentines? I hope so!
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Let There Be Round, Pink Sunglasses
Kate thinks pink
Here we are, working on the fifth book in the 43 Old Cemetery series, Hollywood Dead Ahead. One of the main characters is an old movie star named Ivana D. Oscar who's coming out of retirement to star in the movie based on Olive, Iggy, and Seymour's book.
While working on the sketches, Sarah decided that Ivana needed a signature style (don't we all?) to set her apart from the other characters in the book.
Sarah sees a rosy future
Sarah's bright idea? Round glasses.
(Instant style, right?)
So how could we resist trying on these fabulous shades today in Humble, Texas?
Thanks to librarian Janet Self for lending us her spectacular specs.
We just wish we could include a pair of round, pink sunglasses in every copy of this new book.
Wouldn't that be cool?
Note to boys: Please don't think round glasses are just for girls. Check out Italian men's fashion magazines. Round eyeglasses look great on boys and men, too.
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I'm a Fan of Ima Hogg
Here's Kate with pal Alan Taylor
I always love meeting young readers in Texas. But how is it possible these kids have never heard of Ima Hogg? She was known as the First Lady of Texas. (Yes, really. I'm not kidding!)
Ima was the daughter of Sarah Ann Stinson and James Stephen "Big Jim" Hogg, who later became governor of Texas. Ima's first name was taken from a poem written by her uncle, Thomas Hogg. Some people say her dad thought it would be funny to name a girl Ima Hogg. Other people claim her parents didn't realize the unfortunate declarative sentence they were creating with the name Ima Hogg.
In any case, Ima tried to downplay her unusual name by signing her first name illegibly. She also had stationery printed with "I. Hogg" or "Miss Hogg" across the top. (Can you blame her?)
Did she hate her name? At times, probably. But it didn't hold Ima back one iota. After oil was discovered on her family's property, she became very rich and gave a lot of money to arts organizations in Texas. She believed everyone should have access to education and the arts, regardless of gender or race.
Ima Hogg was pretty as a picture
Ima amassed quite an art collection for herself, too. She owned works by Matisse, Picasso, and Klee. She also helped to found the Houston Symphony.
Ima Hogg's name is a perennial favorite in worst baby name contests. But consider this: She was one of the most respected
women in Texas in the 20th century. While she never married (she reportedly turned down 30 marriage proposals!) or had children, Ima Hogg left a lasting legacy through her generosity. As Texas Governor Allan Shivers once said: "Some persons create history. Some record it. Others restore and conserve it. She has done all three."
Back to my young friends in Texas: If you guys don't write a book about Ima Hogg, Ima Gonnadewit!
Ima Hogg's name is a perennial favorite in worst baby name contests. But consider this: She was one of the most respected
women in Texas in the 20th century. While she never married (she reportedly turned down 30 marriage proposals!) or had children, Ima Hogg left a lasting legacy through her generosity. As Texas Governor Allan Shivers once said: "Some persons create history. Some record it. Others restore and conserve it. She has done all three."
Back to my young friends in Texas: If you guys don't write a book about Ima Hogg, Ima Gonnadewit!
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One of the FUN Things . . .
Click on image for list of prepositions
about writing books for young readers is visiting schools and seeing things like this on the back of a teacher's door. Can you read it? (Sorry it's so fuzzy.) It's a list of prepositions in alphabetical order! Sarah and I had to memorize the exact same list when we were kids. We can still recite them now: about, above, across, according to, after, against, along, amid, around, at, before, behind, etc. etc.
I admit when I was young, I found the task of memorizing this list borrrrrrring. But I'm glad my teacher made me do it. It's really helpful and weirdly fun to know stuff like this. Understanding the parts of speech and rules of grammar will help you to become a stronger and more confident writer. Plus, learning how to memorize things will help when you're learning a new language or studying famous court cases in law school or creepy diseases in med school.
So if you can't fall asleep some night, try memorizing the prepositions. Your English teacher will be so impressed with you!
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I admit when I was young, I found the task of memorizing this list borrrrrrring. But I'm glad my teacher made me do it. It's really helpful and weirdly fun to know stuff like this. Understanding the parts of speech and rules of grammar will help you to become a stronger and more confident writer. Plus, learning how to memorize things will help when you're learning a new language or studying famous court cases in law school or creepy diseases in med school.
So if you can't fall asleep some night, try memorizing the prepositions. Your English teacher will be so impressed with you!
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Want a cool poster from 43 Old Cemetery Road? Click on the cover image below to download.
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Just in case you miss the old news and stray tidbits from our previous site,
we'll attach the file here. Click on Olive's portrait.
Note: It's a big file. You have time to make up a limerick while it loads.
Click on Olive for more fun!
