Children’s authors hard at work!

I’ve enjoyed torturi . . . um, inspiring my writing and illustrating colleagues over the course of the last nine years with a short writing exercise at each schmooze. This year was no exception. It is during this time, since I get to inflict . . . um . . . lead the activities, that I have a few free moments to take snapshots of my friends giving in to the muse. (The writing prompt also gives me time to hit the dessert table once again while no one is looking.)

I was delighted by the laughter and advice freely shared, and all the good food y’all brought. (OMG: the Peruvian goat cheese! I was so glad Monica was gracious enough to leave me the leftovers. I was contemplating offering to arm wrestle her for it.)  And I am so pleased at the boxes of books donated for the Martin County Library. Oh my! Five boxes full. (Diane-you are a doll!)

Finally, it was great to be able to put faces to the names that crop up on the Michigan SCBWI listserv and to welcome so many “old” hands and new faces to the playhouse. Keep on writing . . .

Many hugs from your devoted task master,

Shutta

School Library Journal! (This news just in from my editor. The Aug. issue of SLJ will highlight THOMAS with a starred review. YAY!) They call it a “must-read” and say, in part: “…Thomas learns that a boy cannot be judged by his size or his intentions, but by the decisions he makes and the trials he must overcome. What sets this story apart from other knightly tales are the unusual size of the hero, the tools–or lack of tools–he has for fighting evil, and the delightful events awaiting him once he finds the princess.”

Publisher’s Weekly: Galley Talk says: “Thomas and the Dragon Queen has everything you’d expect in a tale of a chivalrous age: a brave knight, a kidnapped princess, a fearsome dragon-but none of these in quite the way you’d expect. . . Expect to realize that you care very much about how things will turn out for this small boy. Expect to be surprised. But above all, expect a wonderful tale, well told.”

The Horn Book Magazine says: ” A sure-fire hit as a read-aloud, this is an engaging book featuring a hero filled with bravery, quick wits, and heart.”

Booklist Magazine says:  “A refreshing antidote to the tired fractured-fairy-tale genre, this good-hearted chapter book delivers an adventure that many young readers will enjoy. A fine choice for those early elementary-school students seeking longer chapter books.”

Publisher’s Weekly Magazine says:  “Wildish’s  . . . high-spirited b & w cartoons enhance the ample action and humor of this taut fantasy, which culminates in Thomas’s triumphant homecoming.”

Enjoy—and trust, always, to your good hand and your brave heart!

Shutta

Today is THOMAS AND THE DRAGON QUEEN’s birth-(launch)-day! It is now available in stores. It is published by Knopf, with black and white line illustrations by Lee Wildish. THOMAS AND THE DRAGON QUEEN is an adventure story of a small knight and a large dragon.

This book seemed to pour out of me. I was stuck in the middle of a much longer book with a more complicated plot when, suddenly, I knew I had a different and very important story to tell that was short, simple, and pure. That story became THOMAS AND THE DRAGON QUEEN.

I do hope you get a chance to read it; especially in these times of so much misunderstanding in the world . . . for this book is really a book about peace. It is also humorous and full of adventure. That is good. A work of fiction is primarily meant to entertain. But if a book about peace can entertain as well as demonstrate how to get along with others different from ourselves . . . that is wonderful! And I am happy about it.

Peace

Shutta

We are home-with some sadness at leaving new friends and a beautiful country. I will forever be indebted to the PTOs of the great schools of the Depart. of Defense who hosted my series of author visits with their students.

We took hundreds of photos. I can only share a few here. I hope you enjoy these sights as much as we did!

(Above: me with a young fan who was the proud caregiver for M.C. Perry School’s rubber chicken mascot for the day.)

(Left) My husband Gerry and I on a sail through the many islands off the coast of Kyushu while we were at Sasebo naval facility.

The “Chicken Shack!” in Iwakuni. (Near the marine base where we stayed.) We were treated to a wonderful meal in our own tea room here. No shack! Gorgeous.

The famous Kentaikyu Bridge outside Iwakuni. The center section was built without nails so it could be pulled down if necessary during a raid. On the mountain top is the Kentai Castle.

A bullet train-the high-speed trains are super fast, comfortable, quiet. What a great way to travel!

 Red torii gate in Hakone. Wherever there is a gate there is a shrine or temple.

 An elder statesman of a tree in Hakone.

Billie Dysinger (one of my hostesses) and me at the Sadako Memorial in Hiroshima. Behind us in the glass cubicles are just a few of the hundreds of thousands of folded cranes sent by school children from all over the world.

The Hiroshima Dome stands as a stark reminder of the horror that happened here. 

Temple in Kamakura we visited while at the naval base in Yokusuka.

A small sweet statuary from the temple grounds.

(In Kamakura.)

The giant Buddha in Kamakura. Wow! And visitors can go inside it as well.

A traditional wedding on the Meji Temple grounds.

Just one of the many beautiful kimonos seen whenever we came upon a special occasion such as a wedding.

A colorful assortment of dried beans in a vendor’s stall.

Assorted fresh catch from sea urchins to octopus.

You choose your food and then rent a hibachi to cook it. Fresh fish, and scallops still in their shells-yum!

And handy vending machines are everywhere! This one offers fresh eggs.

A delightful dragon on a Chinese gate in China Town in Yokohama.

Gerry with a VERY BIG kite on Boy’s Day. (In Zama.)

 We caught up with the cherry blossoms while at the air force facility in Misawa. These are just outside of Japan’s oldest Kabuki theater in the north of Honshu. 

Carp kites flying in Tokyo in honor of Boy’s Day. (Traditionally, one is flown for each male child. Now-a-days, a kite is flown for each child in the family.)

Tokyo at night. In the distance is the spire of the Tokyo Tower lit with golden light.

Arrigato! A big THANKS to the many new friends we made while touring the schools on the military bases . . . so many I can’t name you all, but you know who you are and that you now own some space in my heart!

Shutta

Above, a wonderful dragon at a temple along the Oirase Gorge. Surely, one of the most beautful areas of Japan! A river drains in a series of waterfalls from Lake Towada . . . a double caldera lake high in the mountains of northern Honshu.

And below that a view of one of the two lesser “Fujis” of the north.

We are headed home with some sadness at leaving such a beautiful country . . . and all our new friends behind.

More later on the great kids and staff of the DODEA schools.

Shutta

We are in Japan during Golden Week. It is very busy as this is the time of year that many Japanese take their vacations. It is also one of the beautiful times here as azaleas and wisteria are in bloom.

I had a great time with the young students of Yokosuka, Atsugi, and Zama. We are off today to northern Honshu (the main island) to schools in Misawa.

Shutta

During a break from working with the children at Sullivans School, we visited Kamakura where the giant Budda is, as well as the beautiful Bamboo Temple. I loved the way the light shone through the trees!

Shutta

This photo is of the castle in Iwakuni. And there are gorgeous views from the castle perspective, high on a mountain overlooking an island-speckled bay.

I am touring schools on American military bases from Sasebo on the southern island of Kyushu to Masawa at the northern tip of Honshu–the main island. It is wonderful and fun! More later.

Shutta

My friend Hope Vestergaard had a wonderful storytime at Nicola’s
Books today. She read her new book, Potty Animals, to the enjoyment of the crowd.

Afterward the kids built a castle with rolls of toilet paper!

Fun!

Shutta

This reading stuff is easy!

Hmm . . . what to write? If Grandma can do it, I can. We’ll start out with a hook . . . It was a dark and stormy night .. .

Grandma, you made a mistake right there!

Enjoy!  Shutta