I'm a Paperback Writer

It’s Not Easy Being Mimi is out in paperback!

Dear Sir or Madam, will you read my book?
It took me years to write, will you take a look?

Unpacking

 

Seeing all the art at Harwood Friday night made me want to paint. It also inspired me to unpack my old face paintings. This is a walk-in closet that I’m using as an office. I love working in this tiny space. Soon it will have a big window.

What Riley Wore

 

This delightful book written by Elana K. Arnold (and illustrated by me) is out today!

 

Stripes

walking along the trail beside me.

Drinks

Meg Fleming, Mary Peterson, Allyn Johnston, M.T. Anderson, me, Winsome Bingham, Lauren Rille, Marla Frazee

SCBWI Los Angeles

Every summer SCBWI has a conference in L.A. I feel so lucky to be here, among 1200 kindred spirits.

Out my window

Eugene Yelchin: one of the most thought-provoking speakers I heard today.

A box of books arrived this afternoon!

It’s a great blessing to have someone close who eagerly awaits reading and critiquing my stories.

Olive, Again

 

Be still my heart. There’s another Olive Kitteridge book coming out. But sorry. It won’t be out til October 15. Interview with Elizabeth Strout here. Excerpt here.

Chirri & Chirra?

I rode with Kathy this evening. It was a first for me: veering off the paved path onto these storybook gravel and dirt trails that twisted and turned through the forest.

Chirri & Chirra is one of my favorite children’s book series. It’s by Japanese author and illustrator Kaya Doi. Chirri & Chirra peddle their bikes through each book and have phenomenal adventures. One story takes place in the forest, one in the tall grass, one in the snow, and one underground. “Vibrant, lively, and astonishingly sweet in a pure, unsentimental way, the books present us with relatable children, small animals, lots of food, atmosphere, and many mysteries.”

 

There’s even a Chirri & Chirra book that takes place under the sea!

That one hasn’t been translated into English yet, but the illustrations tell the story.

I love these books almost as much as I love riding my bike.

From our garden at the compound

 

It’s true! I know you don’t believe me! But I’ve changed into a person who is responsible enough to water a garden.

 

The Garden Club

The Garden Club celebrates its first tomato. (That’s Kathy, Anne, & me.) Anne is holding a basil leaf from the garden. We had champagne, the tomato with salt & papper, crackers, mozzarella, avocado, and basil.

Weird Pumas

 

$11 at Ross Dress For Less. In case you don’t have your calculator handy, that’s $5.50 per shoe.

 

Climbing the Wall

There is a girl in our compound named Kathy who is a bad influence on me. So I asked her if she wanted to use Tom’s ticket to Chatter ABQ this morning, since Tom was going to take his sister and bro up the tram. The program was wonderful. (A solo cellist named Joseph Johnson and a poet named Donald Levering.)

Then Kathy and I hit the farmers market at the rail yards, where they had this rock climbing wall. She made me try it. You know how it is - peer pressure, trying to impress a new friend. That’s her below, in her dress and heels, nonchalantly climbing up the wall. But I made it a little higher than she did, as you can see.

p.s. I’m really good at Photoshop as well as rock climbing.

Lots of Laughs

Tom’s bro Bill, his sister Diane, and the man himself