Book News – Page 16 – Hey, Look! A Writer Fellow!

December 3, 2013June 24, 2015

Post-Turkey Debriefing

The month is over, right? — I so sleepy.

First things first: an apology.

Over the past few weeks I have been pretty terrible about reading and replying to other people’s blogs. I’ve even been slow to respond to comments on my blog. I am sorry about that.

November was nutty — and most of this nuttiness was self-imposed. All month long I was shamelessly promoting Sarah Gives Thanks at book stores and schools. When I wasn’t doing that, I was trying to conjure up 30 new picture book ideas for PiBoIdMo. (Must you really do this in November, Tara?) Meanwhile, at my day job, I was running up against hard and fast deadlines for the winter issue of The Lawrentian, the magazine I edit.

But my exhaustion was mixed with healthy servings of exhilaration, too. Thanks to the salesmanship of David Gardner, Sarah’s wonderful illustrator, he and I were interviewed on Santa Fe Public Radio. We turned out to be a good team; David was the calm and steady Yin to my blathering, rambling Yang.

Wanna hear our lovely voices? Take a listen.

I also had the chance to be a guest author at my boy’s school, which was wonderful. I did my dog and pony show all day long for the first, second, third and fourth graders. The PTA pre-sold a big stack of books (including one copy in Braille!), and I proved to hundreds of children that grownups can (and should) be goobers.

And I signed every last one of 'em! — Thanks PTA!

Also, a number of lovely people out there interviewed me or reviewed my book. The folks listed below are not just great people, but great bloggers as well. You should follow them if you don’t already.

Vanessa Chapman
Susanna Leonard Hill
Catherine Johnson
Wendy Lawrence
Tara Lazar
Susan Rocan
Nancy Tandon

I sure hope I didn’t overlook anyone. If I did, please yell at me in the comments.

Like Sarah Hale, I am so very thankful to all of you.

I’ll be back in the blogging swing of things by next week. In the meantime, take care and enjoy your leftovers!

November 27, 2013November 27, 2013

Five Irrelevant Questions for David Gardner

David Gardner, or as I like to call him, Mr. Awesome.

Thanksgiving is upon us, so I thought it would be fun to interview the wonderful illustrator of Sarah Gives Thanks, David Gardner!

This plan’s only snag is that I had already interviewed him last year.

So instead of asking David about the book or his profession, I thought I’d come up with questions that had nothing to do with anything. Enjoy!

***

You have 30 minutes to prepare for the coming zombie apocalypse. How would you use this time?

I’d start by saying the Serenity Prayer repeatedly. Once I accepted the idea that this was one of those “things I cannot change,” I’d look around and see what I was leaving undone. (Unlike Brad Pitt, I’m not prone to feel I have much power to overcome a bunch of zombies.)

I’d realize that 30 minutes isn’t long enough to finish revising my Great American Novel, so I’d call my sisters and my friends and tell them I love them. I’d hug my partner and our dogs close and tell them I love them, too. Then I’d insist we watch the Chuckles the Clown’s funeral episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show for the last time. It’s best to go out laughing.

You are given the chance to yell at any historical figure. Who would you choose and what would you say?

Millard Fillmore. I’d shout, “What are you, crazy?! Would it kill you to listen to that nice Mrs. Hale and declare Thanksgiving a national holiday? What have you got to lose? Nobody’s gonna remember your presidency, anyway.”

Which extinct animal would you keep as a pet?

Saber-toothed tiger. That should protect me against the coming zombie apocalypse.

But – could I get somebody else to clean the litter box? Is Wilma Flintstone included in this deal?

If you could have a small speaking part (one to three lines) in any motion picture, which movie and role would you select?

The Butler. I’d be great playing Oprah’s white love child. I’d even let her slap me.

God grants you a one-question interview. Which mystery of the universe would you solve?

I’d want to know: Is life really a big classroom? Are we here to learn and evolve into more loving men and women, or are we here to just enjoy life?

I’m guessing this would happen after the zombie thing, so hopefully I won’t regret the half-hour I spent watching Chuckles the Clown.

***

Now it’s your turn! Leave me an answer to any one of these questions in the comment section! I do so love your comments.

And happy Thanksgiving everyone!

November 12, 2013November 12, 2013

Win My Book! Woo! Part Two: Thankful Boogaloo

"Is it true that Mike's book was given a star by Kirkus, Mama?" "It is true Sarah dear." — “Is it true that Mike’s book was given a starred review by Kirkus, Mama?”
“It’s true, Sarah dear.”

Yep, for the third week in a row, I’m asking you to visit another blog.

I’d feel a little guilty about doing this if the blogs weren’t fantastic – but they ARE!

Susanna Leonard Hill, perhaps the most selfless person on the planet, has interviewed me! If you leave a comment over at her place by Wednesday, you will be entered in a random drawing to win a free copy of SARAH GIVES THANKS!

So get going and good luck!

Oh, but you probably want extra copies for your family and friends, right? So while you’re waiting for Susanna’s contest results, feel free to buy the book here!

I’ll stop shilling the book now.