Where the Wild Things Are

I just saw "Where the Wild Things Are" and I absolutely loved it. This movie brought out the wild, destructive child in me I didn't even know existed. After leaving the theater, I wanted to cause all kinds of mayhem in the mall and run around screaming, but the security guards standing around made me think twice.

This movie deals with very strong emotions, such as loneliness, love, homesickness, anger, fear, and frustration about being misunderstood. Considering how many people grew up on this book, many of the movie goers are bound to be my age and beyond. These people will not be disappointed, if you ask me, because this is not just some kids' movie that will only appeal to kids.

I laughed so many times during this movie, but I also cried at the very end when Max sailed away and the monsters let out subdued, mournful howls. I'm an emotional person. What can I say?

Speaking of being super emotional, I found something else today besides my inner child. I found an old CD I'd thought I'd lost. I once again had the treat of hearing Sarah Vaughan singing "If I had you." This song has deep significance in my life. As in "Where the Wild Things Are," there is an underlying sadness from start to finish. The lyrics go:

I could show the world how to smile
I could be glad - all of the while
I could change the gray skies to blue
If I had you

I could leave the old days behind
Leave all my pals - I'd never mind
I could start my life anew
If I had you

I could climb a snow-capped mountain
Sail the mighty ocean wide
I could cross the burning desert
If I had you by my side

Such a beautiful song. And now whenever I hear it, I'm going to imagine Max sailing the ocean and crossing the burning dessert with his monster friend, Carol, and showing all those sad, lonely monsters how to smile.

Butterfly in the sky, I can go twice as high . . .

I heard the news today, oh boy, that Reading Rainbow was canceled.
Although the news was rather sad, I just had to laugh.
Actually, I had to reminisce about sitting around the TV in my elementary school library, singing along to the theme song with my classmates. I still have it memorized.
Reading Rainbow aired for 26 years. It provided me with some of my happiest childhood memories and inspired in me a love of reading. I can't believe it's gone. I thought it was one of those shows like Sesame Street that would be around forever.
At least there is still Word Girl, a show about a superhero with a lethal vocabulary. Other than that, I can't think of any kids' shows today that even compare.
Thank you, Reading Rainbow, for the wonderful memories. And thank you, LeVar. You are awesome.

Silver Falls Retreat

As I sit here typing and taking sips of Moroccan hot chocolate, I’m thinking it’s good to be home. My contentment was not induced by chocolate (although that definitely helps) but by contemplation of my enjoyable weekend in Silver Falls.

This weekend I joined other children’s book authors and illustrators at a beautiful retreat in the woods. It was so refreshing being out in the crisp, pine-scented air. Each day was beautiful and sunny, and wonderfully chilly. My creative compadres and I all slept in cabins and shared rooms. I am lucky to have been paired with a delightful roommate named Angie. We got along great and I felt inspired by her writing projects, which she kindly shared with me.

About fifty people came to the retreat, which is one of the Society of Children’s Book Authors and Illustrators’ (SCBWI) events.

I signed up for two individual critiques, one with children’s book author Kathryn O. Galbraith, and another with Maggie Lehrman, editor at Abrams Children’s. The feedback I received was not entirely helpful, to be honest. Kathryn didn’t like that my protagonist was a worm and said I’m “brave” for choosing a species that is so hard to relate to. I felt a little discouraged afterward but I decided to plow on with that project. After all, I’m almost finished and I’ve worked hard on it. I think my main character is very relatable. He is not just any worm; he is a bookworm!

Maggie Lehrman critiqued the first chapter of my young adult novel, “Teagan’s Teacher,” and gave the prognosis that it is too depressing. I can understand that now because it does begin on a gloomy note. Even Vladimir Nabokov’s “Lolita” begins with a poetic declaration of love. “Lolita - light of my life; fire of my loins; my sin, my soul, Lolita.” That draws readers in, but I have a feeling if Nabokov had delved right into Humbert Humbert’s diseased appetite for young girls, he would have turned a lot of readers off. Perhaps it is best to lure readers in with a bit of optimism and then ease into the depressing stuff. I may decide to fluff up my novel later on but I’m not going to sprinkle the text with rose petals any time soon. I’ll save that for the editing stage.

Opportunities to join critique groups arose from me asking around, so I am looking forward to honing my skills with the help of others. It is hard to say what the highlight of the retreat was. Maggie Lehrman high-fived me after my open mic reading, so that was definitely a proud moment.

I also enjoyed meeting illustrators and watching their presentations. The illustrator Joan Gilbert Madsen showed an eclectic slide show of her outstanding work. I found her versatility with a variety of mediums reassuring because I am that way with my writing. How else would I be able to write about bookworms and suicidal teenagers at the same time? After my open mic reading, many people came up to me and encouraged me to focus my energy on young adult fiction. I’m glad I got such a positive response, but I still want to stretch my wings and try to reach a vast audience of different aged readers.

If I can attend this retreat again next year, I will bring ample supplies for making s’mores. I felt a little deprived of this camp delicacy. Then if anyone tells me to stop writing picture books and to stick to young adult fiction, I can quickly stuff a marshmallow in her mouth.