Archive for August, 2007

Winner of the Travelers’ Market contest

Tuesday, August 28th, 2007

It’s the end of summer and time to announce the winner of the Wolfproof/Travelers’ Market Contest. The contest allowed students to create a magical animal that will make an appearance in The Travelers’ Market which is due out summer 2008.

And now for that drum roll!!….And the winner is Stephanie Bergmann for her Venustas, a rare blue-winged creature prized for its tracking ability. To find out more about Venustas, look for him The Travelers’ Market. Stephanie will be receiving a free copy.

Thanks to all of you who entered. Your imaginative animals were inspiring!

Thresholds

Monday, August 27th, 2007

What a story our thresholds could tell! They are the departure points for new adventures, the places we welcome in friends and strangers.

It seems that in our family,during the summer, someone is always coming or going; the house is always full. We never know who is sleeping in the basement:) Now as we edge towards fall, folks are disappearing back to college, jobs, lives beyond this old house by the river. I always feel richer for the time spent with them. So good-bye and best of luck in the next months to John, Jessica, Brittain, Christine, Claire, who’ve already left and to Darien, Mike, Andrew, Mary and Brennan who are waiting on the threshold.

I’m on the threshold of some new experiences as well. To those of you who ask what I’m working on now: The Travelers’ Market, (sequel to Wolfproof), is complete and with my publisher. Expect to see it in bookstores early next summer, and find out why those mysterious charcters got involved in the lives of Timothy, Sarah and Jessica. The adventures have only begun! You can count on meeting some of your favorite characters  in different places than might you expect. And do be careful who you let in the door next Halloween!

I’m also working on a piece of literary fiction that takes place in San Jose, CA circa 1955 and in Williamsburg, NY in 1919. The original Grimm’s version of Hansel and Gretel is one thread that joins the two stories together.

And I’m compiling a new collection of poetry. The biggest change is that I won’t be teaching middle school full time this year. But I haven’t left teaching behind. I’ll be teaching a class for Heritage University and presenting  author workshops as well.

For me, fall is always the time of new beginnings.

Stardust and other random bits

Friday, August 10th, 2007

Neil Gaiman’s Stardust opens today in our theaters to great reviews, and since Neil, (dare I call him by his first name?), is one of my favorite authors, I plan to get tickets right away.

 And yes, I have finished the Deathly Hallows, brilliant ending. I heard discussion about the poor, mutilated, crying thing in the room with Harry and Dumbledore–you can send your opinions here.

It seems I’ve been selected as a Teaching Artist for the state of Washington. Very cool. Perhaps I’ll be coming to a school near you this year. Stay tuned.

Willamette Writers

Saturday, August 4th, 2007

Maureen McQuerry and Debra Murphy will be manning (womaning?) a table laden with Idylls Press books at the August 2 Writers Faire at the Sheraton Hotel at the Portland Airport. This annual event, sponsored by Williamette Writers and the Oregon Writers Colony, highlights the works of regional member/authors, and kicks off the annual Willamette Writers conference.