Write Hope!

Write Hope

On March 11th a 9.0 Mw megathrust earthquake followed by a devastating tsumani shocked Japan. One of the five most powerful earthquakes since 1900, the Sendai earthquake shifted the earth's axis and shortened the length of day.

Three days later, it's still unclear how far the damage reaches. Entire villages have been erased and hundreds of thousands of people are homeless. It is estimated tens of thousands people have been killed.

AP / The Yomiuri Shimbun, Tsuyoshi Matsumoto

We were devastated to hear of this recent disaster, and want to do our bit to help. To that end we have formed Write Hope, a group of Kidlit writers who plan to auction kidlit books, critiques, and other prizes for donation to Save the Children's emergency relief fund.

See? Just when I thought all I could do was cry and freak out, Marieke from Write Hope contacted me and my donated items for auction should be up soon... My items, are of course, the coolest.

Write Hope: About Write Hope

Click click and bid bid bid!

Japan and Japan and Japan

Trying to stay upbeat about my own little universe here, but all I can think of is ume blossoms, and wet ruined things, broken hearts, smashed bento boxes and love letters obliterated. And to add insult to injury, irradiated. It seems like such a messy, sloppy, indiscriminate obliteration for such a disciplined, respectful, and orderly country.

My stomach is in knots over it. I can't sleep. I keep waiting for Mothra to emerge from the sea and bring it all back to the way it was with a flap of his enormous dusty wings.

Meanwhile, I prepare for the NYC Teen Author Festival with butterflies in my stomach. But all I can think of is the young Japanese writer whose first novel was about to come out in late summer but now won't. And I want to stop thinking about it but I can't. And the images keep coming, and the numbers racking up.

I always wanted to visit Japan.

What Should I Wear, an Update

These are my two favorite things...

just added! by belljarsummer featuring necklaces

Perhaps I should wear them both to an event or two? See, the thing is, I'm just trying to look as much like "myself" as I can when I meet some of my favorite YA writers... And!

Libba Bray FRACTURED BOTH HER ELBOWS?!!?

Oh No!

!!

in like a lion...

Literary Ladies: Or What to Wear to a Reading When You are the Reader

I curate and co-host a reading series and you'd think I'd be very comfortable with what to wear to a reading. Last night at Pen Parentis where we hosted poet Mahogany L. Browne, Thelma Adams, and the amazing YA writer Cathleen Bell I rather enjoyed my little outfit, right down to my teal tights and boots.

BUT NOW I have to figure out what to wear to a huge reading at a library with bus loads of teenagers and then what to wear to the DEBUT AUTHOR SHOWCASE... (click NTC Teen Author Festival logo for full schedule).

Why is this keeping me up at night? I know the right answer is just to be myself, but lately, I'm not sure what that means.

I'm still on a Patti Smith vest and tuxedo shirt kick but I also want to have a 1950's retro feel to honor the Sylvia Plath parts of AND THEN THINGS FALL APART. There is a huge vintage clothing element in my book too so I want to represent that part of it all too.

And I want to not only SEEM young but to actually feel very close to how I felt when I was 17. Jeggings might be involved.

And I want the teenagers to think I'm cool.

Good luck...

My new pal Maeve at The Plath Diaries did this whole thing on Polyvore about Plath and fashion which totally inspired me to try it out. And here is an outfit I am considering for the Showcase:

reading outfit? by belljarsummer featuring vintage brooches

And then badass Michelle Tea over at the Ironing Board Collective did this great piece on Looking at Literary Ladies and it reminded me that it kinda matters, how we represent ourselves to the world. I mean, I am, after all A WOMAN OF LETTERS! I want to look the part and live the life and love every minute of it...

I'm getting a new haircut with Steph at Dickson Hairshop on Tuesday so... I'll keep you posted.

GET IT? "Posted." A little blogging humor for you this fine Wednesday.

Till Friday-

PS did you know Poet Nikki Giovanni has "THUG LIFE" tattooed on her forearm? Neither did I!

30th Follower...

You know who you are, and I know who you are and I have not forsaken thee!

I've been throwing pottery at the worlds

S L O W E S T studio and still haven't gotten my stuff out of the kiln yet.

Oops! Did I ruin the surprise? They are AND THEN THINGS FALL APART related and might be the ugliest things ever made by human hands but you are getting one and so is my agent and so is my, er, mom.

Patience and Forgiveness are not just names of Puritan girls. Thanks so much for being both.

NYC Teen Author Festival 2011!

David Levithan is a lucid, passionate, smart writer who I love for many reasons, not the least of which is his selfless and tireless work creating a vibrant community of YA writers.

https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=56488781586&ref=ts

So there is this NYC Teen Author Festival which I am somehow through the good graces of who knows who, involved with. (!) I will be reading from AND THEN THINGS FALL APART on Thursday, March 17 at this fancy library center. It is also known as St. Patrick's day and I have not yet decided if I will wear green...

Then I will miraculously be on a PANEL of debut authors on Friday, March 18 at the 42nd Street Library. But my book isn't out till July. But I will still talk about it. And the whole "debut" thing. With gusto!

The whole event is miraculous. Every sparkling wonder that has ever written for teen readers with any seriousness is going to be there. LIBBA BRAY! DAVID LEVITHAN! HOLLY BLACK! JUDY BLUNDELL! E. LOCKHART! I could go on, but I might have a heart attack...

Here's a few details below for the events I'm slated for but the whole thing is going to be great. I'm going to try to go to as many as I can.

Now.

WHAT AM I GOING TO WEAR?

Suggestions accepted.

https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=56488781586&ref=t

Please click the above facebook link for the official page and up to date info

Thursday, March 17 (Five Borough Read, 10-12):
Bronx Library Center, 310 E Kingsbridge Road, Bronx

Margie Gelbwasser
Sarah Darer Littman
Arlaina Tibensky
Maryrose Wood

Friday March 18th, Symposium (South Court, 42nd Street Library, 2-6)

3:00 – 3:50: Debut Author Showcase

Authors:
Jocelyn Davies
Margie Gelbwasser
Christopher Grant
Anne Heltzel
Kimberly Marcus
Arlaina Tibensky

Moderator: Jack Martin / Chris Shoemaker

I Blame the Bikram Yoga...

I am obsessed. I would rather tie myself into a pretzel while sweating to death than blog, eat, write, bathe my children, cook, clean, and read.

I love it. I love how gross it is. I love how all my clothes fit me. I love how much less my back hurts. I love how I can finally do that thing with my foot that I couldn't do two months ago. (see picture)

Love. It.

And I'm not even that guilty about it.

L. K. Madigan passed away this week. She was a YA writer and a wise women. She had a brief and horrible fight with pancreatic cancer. This is her advice to writers, aspiring or otherwise:

“The main thing is to WRITE. Some days it might be 2000 words. Some days you might tinker with two sentences until you get them just right. Both days belong in the writing life. Some days you may watch a ‘Doctor Who’ marathon or become immersed a book that is so good you can’t stop reading. Some days you may be in love or in mourning. Those days belong in the writing life, too. Live them without guilt.”

And so up yours guilt. I'm through with you.