They say do as the Romans do. This is also good advice when you're in a bustling city like New York. There I was, all by my iddie biddie self on the corner of 6th Ave & W 26th, on a really cold Friday afternoon. I had just come out of a meeting with my agent, the petite powerhouse Jodi Reamer of Writers House fame, and I needed a cab to get back to my hotel. My friend and I (who was attending the SCBWI conference with me) had walked down 6th from 54th. The natives were shocked! Now on my own, I decided I was too tired to walk back. I didn't want to take the subway in case I ended up in Brooklyn. So, cabbing was the only option.
I stood at the corner for a few minutes, watching a steady stream of yellow cabs whiz by me. People were actually running out into the street, hurling themselves at cabs in an effort to claim them! I was worried. What if they realized I was a Canadian? They might not stop at all...
I thought back to movies and television shows I had seen, like "Sex and the City," trying to retrieve an image of Carrie flagging down a cab. Of course, her wardrobe was much better than mine, which probably helped. But I wasn't going to let that stop me. I needed a cab, and I was going to get one, even if I had to take precedence over a native New Yorker.
I staked out a good spot on the sidewalk, where the cabs could see me. I turned toward the oncoming yellow melee. Then, like I'd been doing it all my life, I took an assertive step forward onto the street, while simultaneously waving my arm straight up in the air. "TAXI!" I yelled.
No one was more surprised than me when a cab zipped right up in front of where I was standing, as if this was my personal chauffeur and he was used to this kind of thing from me. I jumped into the back of the cab. I'd done it! And it hadn't even been that hard.
I was proud of myself... I was practically a full-blooded New Yorker, now! As I whizzed through the city in my yellow limo I knew why they called it the Big Apple. And I had just taken a big, crunchy bite.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
New Yaahk, New Yaahk...
Wow-- Just came back from a whirlwind 4 days in NY for the SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writer's and Illustrators) Winter Conference. Amazing keynote speakers. Educational workshops. And Brian Selznick.
For those of you who don't know Brian Selznick, he is an author/illustrator whose new book, "The Invention of Hugo Cabret" is recently published by Scholastic. I was lucky enough to be in the audience of Brian's keynote speech on Day 2 of the conference. But it was more like a Power Point presentation. A really, really GOOD Power Point presentation. He had slides. He had music. He had us mezmerized from the get-go.
The book in question is part storyboard, part narrative, part graphic novel. The jacket describes it as an "entirely new reading experience." It is.
Brian was just one of the speakers I was fortunate enough to hear during this fabulous conference. (More about that later!)
But if you have a chance, pick up a copy of "The Invention of Hugo Cabret." It really does transport you to another time. The characters are real.. you feel them about you.. you see them looking you in the eye.... You hear the clock ticking....
For those of you who don't know Brian Selznick, he is an author/illustrator whose new book, "The Invention of Hugo Cabret" is recently published by Scholastic. I was lucky enough to be in the audience of Brian's keynote speech on Day 2 of the conference. But it was more like a Power Point presentation. A really, really GOOD Power Point presentation. He had slides. He had music. He had us mezmerized from the get-go.
The book in question is part storyboard, part narrative, part graphic novel. The jacket describes it as an "entirely new reading experience." It is.
Brian was just one of the speakers I was fortunate enough to hear during this fabulous conference. (More about that later!)
But if you have a chance, pick up a copy of "The Invention of Hugo Cabret." It really does transport you to another time. The characters are real.. you feel them about you.. you see them looking you in the eye.... You hear the clock ticking....
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
The Sound of Silence
Ever thought about what this really is? Is there such a thing as complete silence? According to Merriam-Webster, silence is the "absence of sound or noise." Even when you sit as quietly as you can in silence, there is still the sound of your own heart beating, and the rhythm of your breathing.
To a person with tinnitus (like my boyfriend) his version of silence is roughly like this: "EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE." Seriously, he says it never stops. Which is why he likes static; he says it drowns out the screeching in his ears. I am convinced he's simply using his tinnitus as a cover-up for torturing me with radio static, fuzzy sounding walkie-talkies, and droning talk radio.
My version of silence is like this: (insert several characters talking, trying to explain their story to you). While this may not be actual sound, I'm sure many writers out there will agree that there is so much "noise" going on in their heads at any given time, that true silence eludes us, too.
My sister and I (also a writer) absolutely HATE the sound of dismbodied voices talking on a radio. People talking on tv or in a movie is okay, because you can see them. But for some reason, droning voices on a radio makes both of us crazy! She thinks it's because the voices on the radio are competing with the characters' voices in our heads. (added bonus to being a writer: you can have voices in your head and it's nothing to be alarmed about!) At any rate, she and I agree on this one.
I wonder if cavemen writers had the same problem?
To a person with tinnitus (like my boyfriend) his version of silence is roughly like this: "EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE." Seriously, he says it never stops. Which is why he likes static; he says it drowns out the screeching in his ears. I am convinced he's simply using his tinnitus as a cover-up for torturing me with radio static, fuzzy sounding walkie-talkies, and droning talk radio.
My version of silence is like this: (insert several characters talking, trying to explain their story to you). While this may not be actual sound, I'm sure many writers out there will agree that there is so much "noise" going on in their heads at any given time, that true silence eludes us, too.
My sister and I (also a writer) absolutely HATE the sound of dismbodied voices talking on a radio. People talking on tv or in a movie is okay, because you can see them. But for some reason, droning voices on a radio makes both of us crazy! She thinks it's because the voices on the radio are competing with the characters' voices in our heads. (added bonus to being a writer: you can have voices in your head and it's nothing to be alarmed about!) At any rate, she and I agree on this one.
I wonder if cavemen writers had the same problem?
Sunday, February 4, 2007
Top 10 Reasons We Like Vampires
I'm currently working on a new book about vampires, and so decided to compile this handy-dandy list about why we like them:
10) Vampires are good-looking. You never come across this sentence in a book: "The ugly vampire came into the room and bit everyone."
9) Vampires are strong. You also never come across this sentence: "The fat, lazy vampire sat around all day (or night, heh-heh) and did nothing."
8) Vampires are smart. Nada on this one too: "The stupid, dull vampire sat in the corner, mumbling incoherently and drooling."
7) No wrinkles. Unless the vampire was bitten at the age of eighty (which almost never happens), they look like they all use Clinique.
6) You don't have to cook for them. Upside: huge saving on the grocery bill, and you don't have to worry about them stealing your chocolate. Downside: you may become anemic.
5) Vampires are well-dressed. You never hear about the shabbily-dressed vampire shuffling down the road in his wrinkled suit.
4) They can fly. Imagine never having to travel coach again! Though to my knowledge, there are no snacks on their flights.
3) Vampires have nice teeth. Just watch out for the pointy ones.
2) The immortality thing. In our busy world, we have less time to do the things we really want to, like travel to exotic locales or make a quilt. Vampires have literally forever to get around to doing something.
And the number one reason we like vampires:
1) They're cool. "Bobby, the Nerdy Vampire?" Never heard of him...
10) Vampires are good-looking. You never come across this sentence in a book: "The ugly vampire came into the room and bit everyone."
9) Vampires are strong. You also never come across this sentence: "The fat, lazy vampire sat around all day (or night, heh-heh) and did nothing."
8) Vampires are smart. Nada on this one too: "The stupid, dull vampire sat in the corner, mumbling incoherently and drooling."
7) No wrinkles. Unless the vampire was bitten at the age of eighty (which almost never happens), they look like they all use Clinique.
6) You don't have to cook for them. Upside: huge saving on the grocery bill, and you don't have to worry about them stealing your chocolate. Downside: you may become anemic.
5) Vampires are well-dressed. You never hear about the shabbily-dressed vampire shuffling down the road in his wrinkled suit.
4) They can fly. Imagine never having to travel coach again! Though to my knowledge, there are no snacks on their flights.
3) Vampires have nice teeth. Just watch out for the pointy ones.
2) The immortality thing. In our busy world, we have less time to do the things we really want to, like travel to exotic locales or make a quilt. Vampires have literally forever to get around to doing something.
And the number one reason we like vampires:
1) They're cool. "Bobby, the Nerdy Vampire?" Never heard of him...
Saturday, February 3, 2007
Peeps vs. Chocolate
I just came back from grocery shopping, and couldn't help but notice the huge mountain of Easter candy which was set up in the middle of the store... you know, the kind you dreamed about diving into as a child and eating your way out of?
I shopped. I tried not to think about the mountain of chocolate that seemed to direct its mind-numbing power toward me. Lulled into this false sense of security, I shopped on... despite my resistance, a bag of Cadbury Mini Eggs found its way into the cart. Now at home, chowing down on the wicked little things, I am once again reminded of how dangerously addictive they are. You CAN'T stop eating them!
My old roommate, Chris, and I used to polish off a bag in an evening. The next day, we'd get more. We prayed for an intervention, but wisely kept our door bolted. It was just us and the mini-eggs for awhile...
Until one day, we brought home Peeps.
You've all seen these strange marshmallow and colored sugar concoctions cleverly shaped into little chicks, bunnies, and eggs. But have you ever tasted one of them?
Chris and I would advise against it.
They are Horr-i-ble! The marshmallow tastes like spun plastic, and even the sugar is second rate! Peeps are not for the discerning palette. We figure they're more a decoration than tasty treat.
But, Peeps do have something chocolate doesn't: staying power. Chris and I, mystified as to Peeps' popularity, decided to conduct a comparison between it (our least favorite candy) and chocolate (our most favorite candy). After a lengthy experimental process, here's what we concluded:
1) Peeps are impervious to weather. We set the Peeps (in our case, 2 little yellow chicks) out on our third floor balcony and left them there for 2 months. Neither rain nor wind nor snow nor hail seemed to have any effect on them. They held their shape and retained their yellow color.
Chocolate, while yummy, is not impervious to weather.
2) Even animals will not eat Peeps. While out on the balcony, the Peeps were not touched by any passing birds. Birds will eat chocolate, however.
3) Peeps have many uses. These strange confections are NOT just a candy! Since they never, ever break down, they could have a myriad of uses. Peeps could be used by NASA as both a repair kit for the shuttle, and as food for the crew. Peeps can also be used as a cost effective decoration for an Easter basket, or as a gift for people you don't like. Chocolate, on the other hand, would NOT plug a hole in the shuttle, and should NOT be wasted on people you don't like.
4) Chocolate has mystical powers. Much has been written about the magical properties of chocolate. Chocolate is dark, mysterious, sweet and hypnotic. It pretty much always puts you in a good mood. The only power Peeps have is that they stay forever unchanged, no matter what happens to them.
My vote goes to chocolate. But I think I'll keep some Peeps in my glovebox in case my car breaks down...
I shopped. I tried not to think about the mountain of chocolate that seemed to direct its mind-numbing power toward me. Lulled into this false sense of security, I shopped on... despite my resistance, a bag of Cadbury Mini Eggs found its way into the cart. Now at home, chowing down on the wicked little things, I am once again reminded of how dangerously addictive they are. You CAN'T stop eating them!
My old roommate, Chris, and I used to polish off a bag in an evening. The next day, we'd get more. We prayed for an intervention, but wisely kept our door bolted. It was just us and the mini-eggs for awhile...
Until one day, we brought home Peeps.
You've all seen these strange marshmallow and colored sugar concoctions cleverly shaped into little chicks, bunnies, and eggs. But have you ever tasted one of them?
Chris and I would advise against it.
They are Horr-i-ble! The marshmallow tastes like spun plastic, and even the sugar is second rate! Peeps are not for the discerning palette. We figure they're more a decoration than tasty treat.
But, Peeps do have something chocolate doesn't: staying power. Chris and I, mystified as to Peeps' popularity, decided to conduct a comparison between it (our least favorite candy) and chocolate (our most favorite candy). After a lengthy experimental process, here's what we concluded:
1) Peeps are impervious to weather. We set the Peeps (in our case, 2 little yellow chicks) out on our third floor balcony and left them there for 2 months. Neither rain nor wind nor snow nor hail seemed to have any effect on them. They held their shape and retained their yellow color.
Chocolate, while yummy, is not impervious to weather.
2) Even animals will not eat Peeps. While out on the balcony, the Peeps were not touched by any passing birds. Birds will eat chocolate, however.
3) Peeps have many uses. These strange confections are NOT just a candy! Since they never, ever break down, they could have a myriad of uses. Peeps could be used by NASA as both a repair kit for the shuttle, and as food for the crew. Peeps can also be used as a cost effective decoration for an Easter basket, or as a gift for people you don't like. Chocolate, on the other hand, would NOT plug a hole in the shuttle, and should NOT be wasted on people you don't like.
4) Chocolate has mystical powers. Much has been written about the magical properties of chocolate. Chocolate is dark, mysterious, sweet and hypnotic. It pretty much always puts you in a good mood. The only power Peeps have is that they stay forever unchanged, no matter what happens to them.
My vote goes to chocolate. But I think I'll keep some Peeps in my glovebox in case my car breaks down...
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