On My Night Table

I just finished reading Mr. Dickens and His Carol by Samantha Silva (Flatiron Books, 2017). It is a delightful imagining of how Dickens' beloved Christmas tale came into being.

Toward the end of the book, and as Dickens finishes writing his, I was struck by the wisdom and beauty Silva gives to his thoughts:

    "Dickens laid down his pen. There was a frisson in finishing, a rush of great feeling for the life of his characters, all the Cratchits and Fezziwigs, Fred and his wife, and Scrooge most of all. He didn't want to say good-bye; he wanted to keep them close, where he might watch over them. But he knew that the end of his book was a beginning of their life without him, and he must let them be born into the world, and welcomed, as he felt sure they would be. Still, how grateful he was to have known them all."

This echoes the words of one of my favorite quotes from Dickens himself:  "It is the fate of all authors or chroniclers to create imaginary friends, and lose them in the course of art."

How true and poignant. As we writers struggle to get our work published, there is also a sense of loss. It's not easy to let go of the people and places we have lovingly created. Over the course of months, even years, they have become dear companions.

Sometimes a sequel is the writer's answer to this painful farewell, but sometimes it is better to just say good-bye... and bon voyage.

Bravo, Angus! Bravo, Children!

Recently, Angus MacMouse grabbed his baton, donned his tuxedo, and came with me to Lynn, Massachusetts, where we met some amazing children at an after school reading and literacy enrichment program called CLASS (Centerboard Literacy and Scholastic Support).  The children had been reading Angus MacMouse Brings Down the House and the program director asked me to come and visit.

Angus had to come, too, of course, and he had a great time showing the children (K-3) how to conduct.  Together we all conducted the Overture to Carmen, which is a wonderful, lively piece of music.  The children really enjoyed feeling and expressing the rhythms and emotions in the overture.  Everybody had a great time conducting, and Angus and I loved meeting some new friends.  (I wish I could show you their happy faces!)

Tea Time!

If you know me, you know I love tea.  And I love tea sandwiches... and, of course, I love dessert!

So, I was in heaven recently when I was invited to a lovely tea party by some equally lovely friends.  I just have to share this picture.  The table looked so pretty!

"Thank God for tea!  What would the world do without tea?  How did it exist?  I am glad that I was not born before tea!"  Sydney Smith

I always thought that was an amusing quote.  (But I think I have to agree.)

Remembering Ellen

It's been just about a year since the world lost a truly lovely person and a very talented writer and illustrator–– and I lost a dear friend and mentor.

I met Ellen Weiss Goldstrom in 1999 when I started taking her illustration classes at the Marblehead Arts Association.  Our class met for several years, eventually moving to her dining room table, where we sat sipping coffee and nibbling whatever delicious muffins she decided to bake for us that day.  She came up with the most wonderful assignments that challenged us, made us grow, and stretched our imaginations.  When I look through my portfolio I realize that almost everything in it is from her class.  We were inspired by her, and she got results!

Almost everything I know about picture books I learned from Ellen.  A graduate of Rhode Island School of Design, she was the illustrator of about twenty-four books, and she wrote several of them as well.  She collaborated with her mother, a teacher, on one of her classics,  My Teacher Sleeps in School.

Another favorite that is still in print is So Many Cats.  You can see that her style is pure and delightful.  (These books were done back in the days when illustrators had the tedious task of doing color separation.)

Ellen lost her long, courageous battle with breast cancer, but she left behind a wonderful legacy.  Her talent was incredible.  Her courage was an inspiration.  Her heart was huge. The last time I saw her, just a few days before she died, she was full of questions about me.  She was always interested and made you feel like you were the most important thing in the world to her at that moment.

I wish we could still sit at her dining room table and chat about art and children's books and life.

I miss you, Ellen...

Squeak of the Week

"If we, citizens, do not support our artists, then we sacrifice our imagination on the altar of crude reality and we end up believing in nothing and having worthless dreams."

From Yann Martel's Author's Note (p. xi) in his amazing,

 beautifully written book Life of Pi.

Artists and Authors Night

I spent a wonderful evening a couple of weeks ago at the Hawthorne Hotel in Salem-- one of my favorite places.  It's a venerable old hotel which exudes both warmth and elegance.

Lobby of the Hawthorne Hotel, Salem, MA.

The occasion was their second annual Artists and Authors Night, and my writers' group had a table there.  I was able to display Angus MacMouse Brings Down the House, and I sold quite a few copies.  Our North Shore Writers' Group also sold copies of our collected short stories, Ghost Writers, and A Reader's Potluck.  Ghost Writers has sold very well in Salem, for obvious reasons!

Alan and Susan selling our books. 

It was a great opportunity to meet many other local artists and writers.  There was wonderful live music and great food from the hotel's Tavern.

Like so many of Salem's literary and artistic endeavors, this one just gets better every year.

Silly Frilly Grandma Tillie

Kirkus Reviews calls SFGT a "capricious tale 

that will have young girls wishing for a silly grandma 

just like Tillie, especially if she can hang a spoon from her nose." 

Congratulations to Laurie Jacobs, fellow children's book author and a member of the wonderful new writers' group I have joined.  (Actually, the group is not new, but I am new to the group!)

There are several very gratifying moments along the road to the publication of a new book, but for the writer, none of them quite compares to the moment when you first hold that book in your hands!  You see the cover art for the first time, feel the binding, turn the pages.  It's absolutely thrilling!  After all your careful attention to every detail and every word, your book has finally arrived in the world.

I'm so happy for Laurie, and happy to say that I love this book.  I'm sure Silly Frilly Grandma Tillie will do very well because it has everything you want in a picture book.

The story is fun and delightful to read out loud, and the illustrations by Anne Jewett are colorful and exhuberant-- just like Grandma Tillie herself!  Little Chloe and Sophie are treated to an entertaining romp and a zany cast of characters when Grandma Tillie comes to babysit.  

Hang a spoon from your nose, dance the conga, and join the fun.  I highly recommend this delightful book.

Great job, Laurie!!!

Spotlight On My Favorite Local Book Shop

The wonderful book blog, She Is Too Fond Of Books, has recently posted my essay on The Book Shop in Beverly Farms.  It's a fabulous little shop and everyone there is very friendly and helpful.

It seems that even the big bookstores are struggling these days, so it is more important than ever that we do everything we can to support our local independent book shops. Small is beautiful!

I hope you will take a peek at my essay, and visit Dawn's blog often.  It is lots of fun, and loaded with great reviews and information-- even recipes!

The Book Shop in Beverly Farms

My 'Dumpling Day' Got Snowed On

Well, I tried.  I was totally prepared to walk around blustery Cambridge so I was wearing sensible layers of clothing, my down coat, my warm boots, my shearling mittens.  I had my ticket in my purse.

I brushed the snow off my car and off I went.  I was going to take the train down to Boston, then the Red Line to Cambridge, for Grace Lin's book launch party for her new book, Dumpling Days.  I'd been planning it for weeks.


I needed to make a couple of stops in town before driving to the train station, but...  I never made it to the train.  The roads were so slick that my car wasn't getting any traction and I was sliding around corners.  In mid-skid the "Service Engine" light went on, so I thought, "Uh-oh, that's not good."

I drove another couple of miles toward the train station and decided the wisest thing to do was to turn around and go home.  I was worried about my car, about sliding into a ditch–– and I was worried that some other car would crash into me.  Why are there always crazy people on the road who drive way too fast in a snow storm?

Well, life is full of little disappointments.  I'm very sorry I didn't make it yesterday to the book launch party, but maybe I'll still get a chance to attend one of her events in the future.  Hopefully, the next one will be in the summer!

PS:  You can visit Grace's blog to see all the fun (and the goodie bag!) that I missed.   :(

At least the snow is pretty.

This Is Why Angus Loves Opera

I just made an amazing discovery––

You can watch videos of the most wonderful musical performances on the planet on YouTube. (I know, I should have figured this out ages ago, but when it comes to technology I'm pretty much a dinosaur.)

This is probably my favorite duet (from Lakmé), performed by two incredible sopranos, Anna Netrebko and Elina Garanca.

Turn up the volume, and be ready to be thrilled.

Resolutions

I never liked the idea of making New Year's resolutions.  Too often they seem doomed to fail, and then you feel defeated.  I much prefer to have goals.  Goals are more reasonable; you can work toward them slowly, and then even if you don't fully succeed, you can feel good that you have made progress.

This year my goal is to push myself further beyond the boundaries of my quiet, introverted 'comfort zone.'  MouseSqueaks was a huge step for me, and as it turns out–– it's really fun.  But it seems far less daunting than actually going out to schools and libraries and introducing myself, with a copy of Angus MacMouse in hand.  (And that's exactly what authors have to do these days.  Unless you are already well-known, publishers don't have the time, staff, or money to promote your book for you.)

I've been making excuses for months, and the silly thing is, I know that once I have done it, I'll realize that it wasn't so difficult or painful after all.  People are invariably very nice and happy to help.  So, why is this so hard?

I should follow the example of my own character, Angus MacMouse, who despite his diminutive stature, didn't let anything stop him from doing what he needed to do.

I'll let you know in a few weeks if I've made any progress.

In the meantime, I wish you all a very happy and healthy New Year!  As John Lennon wrote in his song, War Is Over :  "Let's hope it's a good one, without any fear."

He's Here!

Isn't he cute?

Angus MacMouse has arrived at my house!


I searched the internet to find a puppet that looked like Angus.  I found this one from Folkmanis on eBay.  My plan is to bring him along as my special, surprise "guest" when I do school and library visits to talk about Angus MacMouse Brings Down The House.  I might even coax him to conduct a selection from CARMEN!

Now I have to make him a tuxedo.  I hope my meager sewing skills are up to the task.  

I think he's quite the handsome little fellow, don't you?

A Little Late, But...

Happy day after Christmas!  I hope everyone had a joyous holiday.

I wanted to talk about one of my favorite Christmas books–– which I should have done before Christmas–– but I got a little behind in the wrapping, and the baking, and the mailing, and all the little details that needed to be done.

Anyway, if you love picture books, as I do, you can keep this one in mind for next year's 'wish list.'

The Mole Family's Christmas, by Russell Hoban and illustrated by Lillian Hoban, was given to my daughter when she was little, and I'm sorry to say that it's out of print.  (But, of course, you can still get it on Amazon.)  It is SO delightful.


The Washington Post said, "An endearing family of moles who spend their time tunneling in the dark and know nothing of Christmas discover that it is not just for people, but can also bring happiness to nearsighted little moles if they show ingenuity and courage."

The Mole family works hard tunneling under the ground every day.  But one night the Moles' son, Delver, digs his way to the surface where he meets two extremely helpful mice.  The lady mouse tells Delver about the stars.  She says, "It's almost like singing, you might say, the way they glimmer and shine, isn't it?"  But, of course, being very nearsighted, Delver can't see the stars.

The other mouse tells Delver about Christmas, and "the fat man in the red suit" who "comes puffing and wheezing down the chimney, puts knicknacks and candy in stockings, leaves all kinds of packages around, says 'Ho, ho, ho,' and goes huffing and puffing up the chimney again.  It's quite an odd thing really, but he does it only once a year, and nobody seems to mind."

So, Delver, a very clever little mole, figures out a way for the 'fat man in the red suit' to help the Mole family finally be able to see the stars.

Lillian Hoban's illustrations bring the characters to life with charm and a touch of humor.

I love this book, and if you love picture books, I hope you can find a copy to add to your collection.

To Neverland And Back

This past weekend I received an early Christmas present from my wonderful daughter, and we went to see the utterly fantastic production of Peter Pan which is playing in Boston at City Hall Plaza.

Truly, I don't think words can describe such a magical experience, so I encourage everyone to go and see it for yourselves.  You won't regret it, no matter how old (or young) you are. The show taps into that secret place in all of us which, like Peter, delights in the wonder and joy of being a child.

It was the coldest December day we have had so far, and the wind blowing across City Hall Plaza was fierce, but it was warm inside the huge white pavilion.  And by the end of the show, our hearts were warmed as well.

The production is 'in the round' so every person in the audience feels they have an intimate connection with the performance.  The actors are all excellent in their roles, but there is also puppetry, acrobatics, dancing, singing, sword fighting…  and of course, flying! 

The flying is breathtaking.

  

The theater was conceived as the world's first 360 degree projected movie for live theater, which creates illusions that are absolutely dazzling.  Please don't misunderstand!  The actors really do fly around the stage and soar to the top of the pavilion, but it is the combination of the aerial choreography and the 360º projections that creates the amazing illusions of flying over London, up into the stars, and "straight on till morning."   

I was listening to the comments as we were leaving, and I think the grown-ups enjoyed it just as much, if not more, than the children.  We all wanted to fly off to Neverland with Peter and Wendy.

(If you live near Boston, hurry! Go! You only have until Dec. 31st to see it.)

Amazing Grace

I'm so excited!

It looks like I'll be celebrating Chinese New Year this January by going to Grace Lin's book launch for her new novel, Dumpling Days.

Usually, I hate January.  It's my least favorite month of the year.  (Isn't it everyone's?) The weather is terrible, the hours of daylight are short and dismal.  It's just such a long and dreary month.  But, this year I'm happy I have something to look forward to.

Grace Lin is quickly becoming my heroine.  She does it ALL and she does it all beautifully.  She is a fabulous illustrator, and a wonderful and prolific writer, she has an amazing blog, she makes lots of appearances, has won all sorts of awards–– plus, she's adorable.


I'd like to be able to do everything she does, but even if I could, I know I'd never have the energy!

Anyway, it will be wonderful to see her again and celebrate her new book.

Can't wait for January!

This Year's 'Jingle Bell Walk'

I don't know if they do this everywhere, but around here all the small towns have a day when Santa "comes to town," and of course, children love it.

They are all given bells to jingle as he arrives, and then, like the pied piper, he leads a merry 'parade' of mommies and daddies and children all around town.  (I'm sure the idea is to draw attention to local businesses, too.)

Since we live on the North Shore, Santa usually arrives by boat.  But, this year was a little different, thanks to the new popularity of stand-up surf boards.  To the great joy of all the children (and adults), Santa was accompanied by a flotilla of elves and reindeer on their stand-up boards!  It was a great idea and lots of fun.

On My Night Table…

I'm reading Kate DiCamillo's wonderful book, The Magician's Elephant, for the second time.  It's one of my favorites, and it's an ideal book for the holidays because it glows with a magical quality that, in the end, makes you feel as though you have been witness to something marvelous… even miraculous.

I have read all of Kate diCamillo's books, and I think this one may be her finest yet.

The jacket flap reads:

"'What if?  Why not?  Could it be?'

When a fortune teller's tent appears in the market square of the city of Baltese, 

orphan Peter Augustus Duchene knows the question that he needs to ask:  

Does his sister still live?  And if so, how can he find her?

The fortune teller's mysterious answer (An elephant!  An elephant will lead him there!) sets off a chain of events so remarkable, so impossible, that Peter can hardly dare to believe it.

But it is –– all of it–– true."  

The city of Baltese is in the throes of its coldest, darkest winter.  In this bleak setting, a magician's attempt to perform his greatest trick goes horribly wrong, and an elephant crashes through the ceiling of the Bliffendorf Opera House. This incredible event brings together an unlikely cast of characters: an orphan, an old soldier, a policeman, a countess, the magician, and the Sisters of Perpetual Light.  The author weaves their stories together with a magical touch, and the soft, atmospheric illustrations of Yoko Tanaka evoke a lovely dream-like quality.

Then, as a beautiful, pure, white snow falls on the buildings and boulevards of Baltese, everything miraculously changes.  The impossible happens again!

This seems like the perfect time of year to be asking the hopeful questions:

"What if?  Why not?  Could it be?"

Goodbye November

November comes 

And November goes, 

With the last red berries 

And the first white snows.

With night coming early, 

And dawn coming late, 

And ice in the bucket 

And frost by the gate.

The fires burn 

And the kettles sing, 

And earth sinks to rest 

Until next spring.

-  Elizabeth Coatsworth

You know that winter is coming when there is only one lone boat left in the harbor.  Now it's time to sip hot cider and curl up under a blanket with a good book. 

 

I Love PBS

I have been watching less and less TV these days.  I don't feel most of it is worth my time anymore.  But, often when I flip through the few channels that I still get (I only have the most basic cable now), I land on PBS and find something wonderful.  (I should mention that Sunday night has always been my favorite TV night because of 'Masterpiece Theater' and 'Mystery.')

The other night I stumbled upon a great program called 'The Artist Toolbox.'  It's basically a show where the host interviews artists from various fields of creative endeavor–– the violinist David Garrett, Jason Alexander, the actor–– designers, dancers, painters, and more.

The program I saw featured Isabel Allende, the Chilean-American novelist. She is a very graceful woman, who speaks quietly and eloquently about her passion for stories and writing.  I was immediately drawn in and fascinated by the power of her presence on the screen.  I am anxious now to read one of her books.  I think I'll start with Daughter of Fortune.  I have always been intrigued by its cover, and have picked it up and looked at it several times in the bookstore.  (Actually, I'll check the library first.)

The host of the show, John Jacobsen, who, with his broad face and mop of hair, looks like he should be related to the Kennedys, does an excellent job.  His questions seemed more thoughtful and original than many interviewers, and he managed to elicit some very enlightening answers.

This is a great show for anyone who is interested in the creative process, which to me, has always been such a fascinating mystery.

http://www.theartisttoolbox.com

Squeak of the Week

"There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea."   Henry James

I believe the world would be a more peaceful, civilized place if we brought back the tradition of afternoon tea.  We all rush around–– busy, busy–– all day long.  Wouldn't it be wonderful to be able to just stop everything we're doing for a little while and enjoy the simple pleasure of a friendly conversation over a warm, soothing cup of tea?  (It's hard to imagine plotting wars and destruction over a cup of tea, isn't it?)

My favorite brand for the last several years has been PG Tips.  It may not have the mystique of Assam, or the delicacy of Darjeeling, but it's strong and flavorful and does the job of keeping me going throughout the day.

The package says its England's number one brand, and "The definitive traditional English tea."  And since I have to admit to being a bit of an Anglophile, that's another reason for me to love it right there.

Tea always makes writing more pleasurable, too.  I rarely sit down to write without a hot cup of tea beside me.  A few sips and the ideas start to flow.  So, I think I'll put the kettle on...