Sorry for posting so late today. I just finished a fun Skype visit with 5th graders from Upton Elementary School in Upton, Wyoming. The kids had all read CHAINS and had oodles of questions about the book and about FORGE (which comes out in September, 2010, BTW.)

This is what the kids looked like to me.

And this is what I looked like to them! The kids each came up to the computer camera and microphone to ask me their questions, which was nice because I was able to see them so clearly.

I wish the Skype technology were a little better; the three visits I've done have had annoying bursts of pixelation issues. It has to improve soon, right?

Pixelation issues aside, I love Skype visits. Why? My publishers don't want me visiting schools right now. They want me to stay home and write. But I really miss connecting with my readers. Skyping allows me to have the best of both worlds.

Are you interested in having me Skype with your students? Email Queen Louise to set it up: queenlouise@writerlady.com. We are really interested in doing more of these, so pass the word!


In other news, Professor Jim Blasingame of Arizona State University brings up the TWISTED censorship In Kentucky in his Washington Post blog. I am not thrilled with the headline (which Jim did not write) because it vastly overstates the issue, But the column is great, especially when he references the wise words of (United States Library of Congress Living Legend Award winner) Katherine Paterson.


Revision Tip #8

Read each scene and highlight each mention of a sense other than sight. Any scenes that only have visual details need to be revised to sneak in one or more of the other senses. If you are having a hard time with this, picture the scene in your mind. Now imagine you are the character, and close your (the character's eyes) what other sensory information is still available?

This one might seem obvious on the surface, but writers are very good at rationalizing and can come up with all kinds of logical-sounding reasons why they should ignore it.

Three words.

What. Happens. Next.

Stories are supposed to flow like a river, not remain still while your character treads water neck-deep in a pool of exposition. One of the fun things about revising is figuring out how to make the story move forward while slipping in those little bits of backstory that contribute to the reader's understanding of the character.

For me this often winds up being a pacing issue.

Yesterday I was working on a chapter that had three scenes in it. Scene #1 transitioned from the previous chapter. Scene #2 was rather lengthy, but interesting, I thought, even though the main character was mostly observing the action around him, and that action (while based on fascinating historical evidence) only had a little to do with the larger Story of my character. Scene #3 was short short, because I blathered on so long in Scene #2.

The first option was to break off Scene #3 into its own chapter. I tried that, but it didn't work. The chapter that was weighed down with Scene #2 was a big snore. I tried cutting out Scene #2 completely. Nope, that didn't work either - the reader and character need to see what happens in it.

Just before I went to bed I figured out how to fix it. I'm going to trim back Scene #2 and add one element that has an emotional connection to my character. That will make the first half of this chapter move swiftly (I hope) and build the tension leading up to Scene #3. In that last scene, I'll have the room to craft both the external and internal conflicts, and lay the groundwork for the transition to the next chapter.

Does that make any sense? Neil Gaiman mentioned this concept in a more elegant style (sigh) on his blog yesterday. (Scroll down to his response to the first reader's question.)

Emily wrote asking when I was going to publish a book about the writing process.

Answer: As soon as my publisher asks me to. That's why all these revision tips are wrapped up in fifty layers of copyright protection and guarded by my dog. (But if you are a teacher, feel free to use them in your classroom.)

In other news. TWISTED is a nominee for the Missouri Gateway Reader's Award (along with two other books that Superintendent Daniel Freeman of Montgomery County School District in KY feels are not suitable in his high school: DEADLINE, by Chris Crutcher, and UNWIND, by Neal Shusterman). The Gateway Award is aimed at high school readers.

Missouri extended even more love my way by nominating CHAINS to Truman Award list (sorry, don't have a link yet). This one is for middle school/junior high readers.

Thank you, Missouri!

Santa's elves arrived in the Forest early this year!

They brought the news that WINTERGIRLS has been named a Publisher's Weekly's Best Book of the Year, Kirkus' Best YA Books of 2009, Booklist's Editor's Choice of 2009, the 2010 Texas Tayshas High School Reading List and nominated to YALSA's 2010 Quick Pick List! It has also been nominated to the 2011 Grand Canyon Reader Award by the very nice people in Arizona, who were kind enough to nominate...


CHAINS as well, on the Tween List for the Grand Canyon Reader Award.

Each one of those lovely lists feels like another filled stocking in front of the fire!

REVISION TIP #3

Many people struggle to find a way to look at the larger picture of their novel. They can line edit a page or take a chapter to their writer's group, but managing the unwieldy novel is hard.

Here is what I do.

1. Get the largest piece of paper you can find. I go to an art supply store and buy an enormous artist's pad for this task.

2. You need to carve out three hours of concentration time. Turn off the internet and phone. Loan your dog and children and partner to nice people who will return them fed and watered after the the three hours. Chain off the driveway so delivery trucks and friendly people who don't understand what you mean when you say "I'm working" can't drop in.

3. On one of your massive sheets of paper, list every chapter in your book. Describe the action in the chapter in one sentence.

4. Now prepare a separate action list. (This one will take up a couple of sheets of paper. (Did I mention that you 'll need to clear off the kitchen table for this? And maybe the floor?) This list will break down each chapter into the scenes. Keep it brief! F. Ex.: "MC (main character) drops homework in fish tank. Fish die. MC hides them in flower vase. Mother sees them and flips out."

5. (This is the fun part) With a colored pen or pencil, go through the detailed chapter list and make notes about the emotional arc of your MC and the important secondary characters. Also, make sure that changes in mood are properly motivated, and that conflicts are set up. You might use different colors to represent different plot elements.

6. The threads of your novel are laid out in front of you. Step back and study it. Do your characters have reasonable emotional responses to the actions in the chapters? Do the building levels of conflict appear in the right order? (I often move scenes around at this stage.) Which scenes and/or chapters can you completely remove from the story without affecting anything else? What characters can you eliminate? Do you have any characters that can be combined because they serve the same purpose in the story. (I do this a lot.)

7. By the end of this process, your papers will be covered with notes, stickies and lots of colored arrows.

8. Sit down with the giant map of your novel and apply the changes to your manuscript. I like to do this on a hard copy first, then type in the changes.

9. Don't forget to unchain the driveway and let your loved ones back in.

Dang, this is a long blog entry. Still with me? Questions?

This is how to start the week off with a smile: CHAINS has been nominated to the longlist of the Carnegie Medal!  What is the Carnegie Medal, you ask? It is the top award for children's novels in England, sort of a combination of the Newbery and the National Book Awards. I am completely blown away by this - honored, stunned and very, very happy.


  British hardcover                                British paperback




I had a blast at the American Association of School Librarians conference this weekend. I signed thousands of books, met countless friendly and passionate librarians and gave a speech. Thank you to everyone who made my conference so much fun.

Half a ballroom of librarians. (The other half of the room was filled, too!)

Many people asked me to post my speech online. We will be doing that soon. Here are a couple of snippets that people responded to the most. Permission is granted to reproduce, with proper acknowledgments, of course.

I talked about the recent censorship challenges my books have faced and then said this:

"I believe that every time a library budget is cut, every time a librarian’s hours are cut -  or the position is eliminated completely -  it is another form of censorship. It is stealing from children and interfering with their education.

Taking books out of libraries and taking librarians out of libraries are just like ripping the roof off of a school. And maybe that’s how we need to describe it, in the dire, stark terms of reality. You can't run a school that doesn't have a roof. You can't run a school without librarians and libraries.

Book people – like you and me – tend to be a little uncomfortable with conflict. We value discussion, we respect other opinions. We avoid fights.

 When I was kid, I was not allowed to start fights. If I did, I knew that I’d be in a whole lot more trouble when I got home than I could ever be at school.But my mother – she of the hats and gloves and ugly purses -  told me that if anybody ever hit me first, I was allowed to punch back as hard as I could.

“Don’t you ever start a fight,” Mother said.  “But if somebody picks a fight with you, by God, you finish it.”

The people who do not value books or librarians have picked a fight with me. That was a mistake.

They are ripping the roof off our libraries, off our schools. They are exposing our children to ignorance and condemning them to poverty. When they rip the roof off of libraries, they weaken our country."

 

[I'm cutting out a little from this section]

 

"Those of us who truly, deeply care about the health and happiness of kids and teenagers have a sacred obligation to help them along their path to adulthood. We are charged to create and to find the very best books for these children.

 

To hand a book to a child or a gawky adolescent is to rescue her from the unforgiving isolation of illiteracy and transport her to the joyful and rewarding kingdom of an open mind. 

 

I cannot think of a job more difficult or more important than yours. Reading is not a subject matter. It is a survival tool, the  requirement of modern living.  Libraries are not luxuries. Libraries are the lifeblood of our schools and the foundation of our culture."

I hope my words might help, a little.

One last conference note. The other banquet  speaker was Charles R. Smith Jr. Do you know his work? Have you heard him speak? If not, go out RIGHT NOW and pick up some of his books. Then arrange to have him visit your school - he is the best speaker I have seen in a very long time.

Charles and I sitting on chairs that look like thrones.... it was approaching midnight and we had just finished signing a kajillion books and so we look a bit tired. But how can you turn down the chance to be photographed in a chair that looks like a throne?

I am going to try and write the Mother-Of-All-ALA reports tomorrow. Yes, with pictures. I have a particularly fine one of Neil Gaiman taken from approximately 400 miles away.

First up: thank you for all the kind wishes about the death of my father-in-law. BH and I appreciate each and every one. With the deaths of his father and my mother coming so close together, we're both a little off-kilter right now, kind of like the earth has become sea and the deck of our ship tilts in unpredictable ways. But between the two of us, and with the love of our kids and friends, we lean on each other and stay upright most of the time.

The Horn Book has many great articles online this month. I strongly encourage you to read and discuss Nikki Grimes important essay, "Speaking Out" about the inexcusable fact that no African-American illustrator has yet won the Caldecott. (Leo Dillon won as a team with his wife... Grimes focuses on singular winners.)

(For the record, I agree with her.)

Love books? Love basketball? Then read this article about the literary basketball league my daughter Stef started across from Word, the bookstore she manages in Brooklyn. She has also started a literary matchmaking service. Yep, you better believe I'm proud. Yay Bookavore!!!

And from the Change Topics Completely File, I wanted to share the cover art for the British paperback version of CHAINS:



What do you think?

What do you get when you cross a writer with a computer programmer?*

You get a book-loving daughter who manages a bookstore in Brooklyn and writes a column about technology. My oldest, Stephanie, aka Bookavore, has started a regular column on Shelf Awareness dealing with developing technology that can connect booksellers to readers and authors.

Her first article explains Twitter and how fast, easy, and useful it is for all of us living in the bookosphere.

BTW, if you do live in the bookosphere, you ought to sign up for Shelf Awareness. It comes out M-F and contains publishing news, bookselling news, library news and great reviews. It's the only e-newsletter I get.

Other tabs to close. The Christian Science Monitor has a very nice review of CHAINS.

If your Internet habit is interfering with your writing, you should read Cory Doctorow's advice.

I still have a handful of questions about writing and publishing to answer. I'll get started on those tomorrow. Right now? Another chapter!

Scribblescribblescribble...

* I would love to claim credit, but it was Stephanie who came up with this line. Her biological dad, Greg Anderson, is the computer programmer. Which would make me the writer, yeah.

Whew! I'm still in a post-announcements daze. Uncle Simon and Aunt Schuster have made images of CHAINS sporting its pretty NBA and O'Dell hardware available. I cannot resist.



Shiny!

Yesterday brought two last bits of very-much appreciated news. CHAINS was named a 2009 Notable Book by ALSC and it made the YALSA Best Books for Young Adults list. Yes! Thank you!

I spent much of yesterday corresponding with my British publisher, answering interview questions and putting in my two cents about the proposed paperback cover. (Can't wait to see what they do - their ideas are really interesting!) Ian, in charge of publicity, sent a new quote from over the pond.
 
"Chains is one of the most moving and striking books I have read in a long time; finally some thoughtful, stirring historical fiction for young adults … Anyone reading this brilliant book will be left beguiled and bewildered by her bravery as she suffers under slavery." Waterstones Books Quarterly

I've never had any books that attracted much attention in the UK, so this is very exciting.

Today brings a jumble of tasks. I am still trying to clean up a particularly thorny chapter, I have to go to a recording studio and tape some stuff that will be included in the audio version of WINTERGIRLS, I have to do some things for my mom, WebGod Theo has been patiently waiting for some content from me and - best of all - I need to pack because tomorrow is the Kindling Words retreat and I can't wait!!!!

Thank you everyone for the very sweet comments and emails about the O'Dell Award! I am still tingling with excitement and hyperventilating.

Christmas is finally over up here on the Tundra. We've had Daughter #1 (aka Bookavore) and her boyfriend up here for the final celebration. Author Alert - Bookavore is moving to the Big Apple and will be managing WORD, a super-cool bookstore in Brooklyn, starting next month.

I have finally signed up for Twitter. I think it will be most fun while I'm on tour. My Twitter name is halseanderson. Feel free to follow!

My Friday Five is an assortment of book news I've been accumulating for a while.

1. Along with all the other amazing news this week, Isabel in CHAINS garnered a Cuffie Award. Be sure to read through the whole list!

2. The Israeli rights to TWISTED have been sold. Check out this student project about the book.

3. Penguin has posted my poem "Listen" on their website. The poem shares reader reactions to SPEAK. I wrote it for this year's 10th anniversary of the book. (Follow the link, scroll down, and open the pdf.)

4. Illustrator Matt Faulkner has posted a DAMES video on YouTube.


5. We have a WINTERGIRLS Facebook page now. Another nice review has come in for WINTERGIRLS, but I can't post it for a few weeks. Stay tuned!

I'm headed into the Writing Cave this weekend, hoping to blast through a plot knot and weave in a subplot. What are you doing?

SQUEEEEEEE!!!!!

I have a wee bit of news to share.

CHAINS is the winner of the 2009 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction.



Here is the formal language: "Laurie Halse Anderson has won the 2009 Scott O'Dell Award for Chains (S&S, October 2008), narrated by teenaged Isabel Finch during the Revolutionary War. Although Isabel and her enslaved five-year-old sister were to be freed upon the death of their mistress, the woman's heir sells the siblings to a new owner in New York City--that is the first of the betrayals that lie ahead, but also the beginning of Isabel's fight for freedom. The award, established by O'Dell (best known as the author of The Island of the Blue Dolphins), is given annually to a meritorious work of historical fiction and includes a $5,000 prize.Chains was also a National Book Award Finalist, just like Anderson's debut novel, Speak(Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1999)."

I found out Friday night and have been walking around with my hands clenched over my mouth ever since because I wasn't supposed to tell anybody. I formally apologize to my writer's group for not even telling them. I offer to make cake for our next meeting as my penance. Or bread. I'm better at bread than cake. (Paging Marie Antoinette...)

This is an unbelievable honor - one that I never imagined my work would receive. It feels delicious and bubbly and affirming and huzzah! huzzah! The hardest part is I want to tell Isabel and it takes so long for letters to reach the 18th century!

OK, I'm pretty much not capable of forming any other complete sentences.

Except for THANK YOU!!!!

The last time you heard from me I posted a hasty note then dove into the depths of late last week. Now it's Week 4 and I'm writing this from my hotel room in Atlanta. Today and tomorrow are busy with schools and stock signings. Wednesday and Thursday will be slower paced as I participate in the Miami Book Festival, then it'll be off to New Orleans, which I am very excited about!

And next week will be even wilder, but I'll talk about that later.....

This BookPage interview with me explores the way I researched CHAINS.

I was interviewed at the DC-area public TV station for a website aimed at teachers and parents. When the tape goes live, I'll let you know.

Then it was off to Politics and Prose for a stock signing - they have an incredible selection of books and cool non-book items.

This is what the last three days of last week looked like: thousands of enthusiastic kids in cafetauriums and libraries. It was awesome.

My evening events were mostly attended by teachers and writers, including my friend Kimmie.

In South Hadley, MA, we had a library full of high school students listening to me in person, and another group participating via Skype connection on the computer. That was fun.

When I was signing stock at Odyssey Bookshop, one of their local authors wandered in - Leslea Newman.

Thank you, Rebecca of Odyssey for a tremendous day!

TONIGHT'S EVENT: Monday, November 10 at 7:00 pm: Little Shop of Stories, Decatur 404-373-6300

TOMORROW'S EVENT is not an event, but you can find my signed books at The Reading Tree, Alpharetta, 770-740-7171

I haven't had Internet access recently, hence the lack of posts. That, and by the end of today, I will have spoken to 3,000 students in 3 days. But they were nice kids and I had a blast. I'm just a little.... disoriented. Befuddled.

But not so confused that I can't remember good news!

CHAINS has been named one of Publisher's Weekly's Best Books of 2008.

CHAINS has also been named to the Amazon Top Ten of 2008 List.

This is the end of Week Three of the Tour and I need to do laundry. And I miss my husband. And, yes, the dog. So after my South Hadley, MA events today, I'll be driving home for a couple of days. I head back on the road Sunday evening. (I'll post the rest of this week's photos this weekend, I promise.)

Next week: THE SOUTH - Atlanta, Miami and New Orleans!

Apparently, the Creature With Fangs misses me, too, that's why she sent me this picture.

Yesterday was three interviews, six or seven stock signings (they started to blur together at the end) and an evening event where people from all different phases of my life showed up.

But I'd really rather talk about the election.

I voted for Barack Obama by absentee ballot before I left on this tour. It was my proudest moment as an American. I figured that my job was done at that point. Most people I've met on tour have been supporting Obama, except for a guy who worked for the McCain campaign I ran into in an elevator, who made the mistake of remarking that I must be pleased about McCain's choice of Palin as his running mate because I am a woman.

That was a fun conversation.

I figured that after yesterday's hectic schedule, I'd sleep like a rock. I did not factor in how much I am worried about America. I woke up about every half hour, praying for Obama's victory, for his health and safety and that of his family, and for the future of our country. I don't think I have ever prayed in my sleep before.




Back to the Tour Updates.... ( Photos of the Day )

TODAY'S EVENT: Not really an event, but you can catch me at my stock signing around 12:30 pm at Politics & Prose, Wash. DC, 202-364-1919

TOMORROW'S EVENT: Tomorrow is a school-visit day, but I'll sign stock at BookEnds, in Ridgewood, NJ, 201-445-0726

Before I get to the Festival photos, I have a few announcements and links.

My email address, laurie AT writerlady DOT com is all messed up and apparently has been for a week. I am very sorry about this. OfficeMouse is going to try and fix it tomorrow. I'll let you know what happens.

Bookavore sent an awesome link, the story of the daughter of a slave who is voting for Obama.

A moment of silence, please, for the death of Studs Terkel.

Publishers Weekly has a nice article about me and my fellow National Book Award Finalists.

The state of Delaware arranged for perfect weather for the Book Festival and the crowds responded. There were several familiar faces....

Me and my best friend from high school, Kim Fisher, who drove up from Richmond, VA to hang out for the day.

Ambassador Jon Scieszka spoke to adoring crowds.

This is Wesley, who has been a huge fan for years. It was such fun to finally meet him!!!

Kathena is a new old fan who is planning on becoming an English teacher.

I got to meet a hero of my own, The Stinky Cheese Man!

I've saved the best for last. I had two special visitors this weekend.

my Beloved Husband and Daughter #3, aka the OfficeMouse visited!!! Yay for family reunions!

MONDAY'S EVENT: November 3 at 7:00 pm: Barnes & Noble, McLean, VA 703-506-2937

TUESDAY'S EVENT, November 4: Politics & Prose, Wash. DC - this is not a formal event, because it's election day and that would be nuts. But I should be signing stock there around 12:30, if you want to come out and chat. 202-364-1919

Friday was mostly a travel day. At the Milwaukee airport I went through security and came across the best airport sign I've seen in a long time.




The Recombobulation Area is where you pull yourself together after having been discombobulated (removing shoes, jacket, laptop from your backpack, etc.). Brilliant!

Two more quick shots. I found this in my hotel room.



Pretty, right? It gets better.




A chocolate box! Loaded with M&Ms! Thank you, Delaware!

TODAY'S EVENT: Saturday, November 1: several appearances during the day: Delaware Book Festival, Dover, DE.

MONDAY'S EVENT: November 3 at 7:00 pm: Barnes & Noble, McLean, VA 703-506-2937

Day 9 started with a drive from Chicago to Milwaukee. We headed to the breathtaking Milwaukee Public Library, where I was greeted by my old friend (and the man who set me on the path to write CHAINS), Ben Franklin.

He said he hasn't read CHAINS yet, but he's hearing good things about it.

I looked at some of his books on display. I told him I've been hearing good things about them, too.

I had lunch with and spoke to a group of Milwaukee librarians, then drooled - at a respectful distance - at the shelves of their rare book collection. They had this giant book of author and artist signatures on display where

the page showing Maxfield Parrish's signature was delightful.

Thank you Kelly, Karen and Gail for arranging my visit!

Wisconsin schools were closed Thursday and Friday for the state teacher's conference, so my Author Shepherd set up six stock signings for the afternoon.

( And he made sure I ate a sinful Milwaukee specialty. (Note - a POSTSECRET moment behind the cut! )

TODAY'S EVENT: Fly to Delaware. Try not to snore or drool on plane.

SATURDAY'S EVENT: Saturday, November 1: several appearances during the day: Delaware Book Festival, Dover, DE.

SUNDAY: A little rest, a little run, and a drive to the DC area.

MONDAY'S EVENT: November 3 at 7:00 pm: Barnes & Noble, McLean, VA 703-506-2937

I hate baseball, but I love Philadelphia, so GO PHILLIES.

(I cannot believe I just wrote that.)

Yesterday was a calmer-paced day, which was much appreciated.

I went to Crone Middle School, Home of the Cougars to talk to the 8th grade.

It was Crazy Tie Day at Crone, and I didn't have a tie with me, but Michael here helped me out and let me wear his while I was talking.

The librarian, Karen Hutt, and the teachers did a terrific job preparing the students. They even decorated the room I presented in with chains hung from the ceiling. This is me with Bill Young. Technically he is my Author Nanny right now, but I'm not sure he would appreciate that title. Bill is one of the best media escorts in the business. He took me around the Chicago area on my PROM tour and it is wonderful to work with him again. I will call him my Author Shepherd, because he's not quite the nanny type.

The evening event at Anderson's was wonderful, 50 people with loads of questions, plus a 6th-grader who interviewed me for her school paper. Thank you, thank you to everyone who came out, especially the teachers who didn't flinch when I admitted I still don't know what a theme is.

The crowd was mostly teachers and librarians. One of them brought me a copy of CHAINS freshly processed for her library. She said she already has a waiting list for the book.

I leave in a few minutes for Milwaukee (yes, I have been singing the Laverne & Shirley theme song all morning). I'm scheduled for a lunch with librarians, a bunch of stock signings, and then, The Main Event.

Finishing up the librarian thread of today's post, Librarian Goddesses Cindy Dobrez and Lynn Rutan have published their review of CHAINS on their Bookends blog. Check it out!

TONIGHT'S EVENT: Thursday, October 30 at 7:00 pm: Harry Schwartz Bookshop, Mequon store 262-241-6220.

TOMORROW'S EVENT: Tomorrow is just a travel day. If you see me in an airport, though, I'll be happy to sign a book!

SATURDAY'S EVENT: Saturday, November 1: several appearances during the day: Delaware Book Festival, Dover, DE.

So I've been on the road for a week. Things are officially starting to get blurry.

Let me play catch-up quick, before I forget everything.

Day 7 was Monday and Monday was..... checks notes.... Chicago! Right!

Windy City with big shoulders!

(Want to know where that phrase came from? Poet Carl Sandburg's poem, "Chicago.")

My Author Nanny in Chicago was Judy, who might look like a mild-mannered knitter, but has the driving skills of Mario Andretti and a photographic memory for bookstores, schools, and the locations of every bathroom in Cook County.

Chicago was three school presentations (Hello Highcrest Middle and King Lab Middle School!), a phone interview,

an internet-radio (I think that's the right expression) interview with Barnes & Noble (will be on their website next week),

four stock signings,

a quick chat with Laura and Gillian from Booklist and Book Links, and then

an evening trip to the airport, much muttering at the Departure Screen as my flight out of the city was delayed, delayed, and - finally, stepping foot on the soil of Nebraska for the first time in my life. I was picked up at the airport in the middle of the night by terrific Omaha YA librarian Paul Christopherson.

Picture the Tired Author, struggling down the hotel corridor, the wheels on her suitcase gone funky, her backpack slipping off her shoulders, her little mind whining "Why? Why are we still awake? We never stay up this late!"

Tired Author fumbles with her room key, drops it, fumbles again, and finally - finally opens her hotel room door. And the room smells like......

( POPCORN. )

TONIGHT'S EVENT! COME SEE ME! Wednesday, October 29 at 7:00 pm: Anderson’s, Naperville, IL 630-355-2665

TOMORROW'S EVENT: Thursday, October 30 at 7:00 pm: Harry Schwartz Bookshop (Mequon store) 262-241-6220

The pace this weekend was slower - much appreciated - and allowed me to catch my breath and prepare for Week 2.

The lobby of my hotel is decked out for Halloween. This place has a terrific fitness center and I spent yesterday morning on the treadmill watching reruns of the Colbert Show.

But let's back up to Saturday. The Denver airport was horrific, even though I arrived there at 4:30am. The check-in counter at United was swamped and the shift change at security that was supposed to open up all the security lines was delayed. As a result, I barely made my 6am flight. But I made it, and that's all that counts.

Saturday was low-key, with one stock signing and the Bookstall signing. My old neighbor and friend Ann Ackerson, who lived next to us back in our Horsham, PA days, came out to see me - that was delightful. The rest of the day was spent on email and thank-you notes and some writing stuff, not what I wanted to do, but the right and necessary thing to do.

Yesterday was even better. After my treadmill time (heavenly), I showered and got ready for the afternoon's gig at National Louis University. My friend Junko Yokota, a professor of Reading, Language, and Children's Literature at NLU, had arranged for me to speak to a group of teachers and librarians.

It was Sunday. The Chicago Bears weren't playing, but teachers and librarians work hard and honestly, I didn't think many of them would give up a Sunday to hear me speak. I figured maybe 5 or 6 would come out, and we'd have tea and a nice intimate chit-chat, and that would be that.

More than 80 people came out to hear me. One teacher, a ninth-grade English teacher named Grant, drove up from Iowa!

And a local teacher, I think they called him Mr. A, brought a group of students to the event. I was assured they were getting extra credit for this. I sure hope so!

So it turned out to be a terrific afternoon spent talking with interesting and compassionate teachers and librarians. And a few students.

After all the books were signed and the teachers had gone home (sure hope that Grant made it back to Iowa safely), Junko took me out for a quick taste of culture.

We stopped to see the only Baha'i Temple in North America. It is a stunning place. I don't know much about the Baha'i faith, but I'm going to read up about it.

Thank you for a lovely day, Junko!

Lots of schools and interviews today. If you are trying to find me, come to the B&N around noon, or better yet, go to Naperville for my Anderson's gig on Wednesday.

TODAY'S EVENT: Monday, October 27: Barnes & Noble, Skokie, not a public presentation event, but I'll be there signing stock around noontime 847-676-2230. NOTE I'll be back in the area speaking at Anderson's Books in Naperville on Wednesday night!

TOMORROW'S EVENT: Tuesday, October 28 at 7:00 pm: Omaha Public Library, Omaha, NE. An all-city event in Centennial Hall at the Alumni House on the UNO Campus, 6705 Dodge St. 402-444-4800

Edited to Add - I just learned the sad news that adult mystery author Tony Hillerman has died. I am a big fan of his work and will miss him.

Saturday! There is no school on Saturday! This is both the bad and good news for me. Bad news because I have been having a blast at the schools I've visited. Good news because I have a massive mountain of email to deal with, and - oh, that's right - I want to write. That is, after all the point, right? Write?

Before I share my Denver highlights, three exciting headlines.

Headline 1: Awesome review in the Chicago Tribune compares and contrasts CHAINS and OCTAVIAN NOTHING, VOL. 2. I have been waiting for a reviewer to do this and I am so happy with the result!

Headline 2: The teens of America voted TWISTED onto the 2008 ALA Teen Top Ten List!!! It was one of only three non-fantasy/alternate reality titles on the list, which is very interesting. I keep thinking I should try my hand at a fantasy, but there are so many people out there writing imaginative and gripping books, I think I'll stick to my corner of the sandbox.

Headline 3: Vet Volunteers is going to be translated into Polish! OK, maybe it's not quite as exciting as the first two headlines, but I had such a lovely time in Poland last year that I am totally stoked my books are going to be available to Polish readers.

TODAY'S EVENT: Saturday, October 25 at 1:00 pm: The Bookstall of Chestnut Court, Winnetka, IL 847-446-0882

TOMORROW'S EVENT: Sunday, October 26 at 2:00 pm: Center for Teaching through Children’s Books, National-Louis University, Skokie, IL. This is at 5202 Old Orchard Road - 3rd Floor Public Forum Room. Sorry, I don't have a contact phone number, but I do know that lots of teachers and grad students are expected to attend. There is also a discussion group meeting about teaching historical fiction at 1 pm, so you might want to come early to be a part of that.

And now, the Denver summary. The people in Denver are so nice, they arranged the weather patterns so that everytime I stepped outside, I could see the mountains. I can't imagine a person would ever get tired of that sight.

My last Denver day was simple: One school, one stock signing, one bookstore event.

The school visit was a 2-hour visit to the 7th-grade creative writing classes at the Denver School of the Arts. We can all rest easy knowing that there is a very talented generation of young writers rising up behind us, preparing to supply us all with great stories well into our dotage.

They play with word magnets when bored.

A good sentiment to live by.

The evening event was at Tattered Cover, a legendary independent bookstore.

The crowd was a mixture of teachers, librarians, and a cool mother-daughter book club. The girls in the club promised me they'd email me their comments about CHAINS. It's very nice to have reviewers like the book, but the true test is the opinion of real readers. I'll let you know what they think.

Before I ramble on about yesterday, I want to draw your attention to the program that Blue Willow Bookshop in Houston, TX has started to provide books to the school libraries destroyed by Hurricane Ike. Please help them restock their shelves. It's the right thing to do and it will make you feel good all weekend. (Thanks, Bookavore, for the link.)

Note to self: celebrate birthday on book tour as frequently as possible.

The people on my plane to Denver did not wish me a happy birthday (most were snoring), but they were the only people who didn't.

The day started off fabulously at Bruce Randolph Middle School, where I spoke to the entire 8th grade. They were a fantastic audience - I could have stayed there all day.

Afterwards I signed lots of books.

And we all ate birthday cake.

And they gave me a birthday present and an awesome card.

Signed and so, so special!

After Bruce Randolph, we dashed to St. Mary's Academy and then to Hill Middle School. My Author Nanny, Julia, said that I spoke to more than 700 students over the course of the day. (The formal title of Author Nannies is "media escort" but that is a boring and non-descriptive title.) Thanks to everyone for being so kind, and a big shout-out to Sade at Bruce Randolph and Mckenna at St. Mary's for helping me run the presentation technology.

I also did four drive-by stock signings. That's when an author pops in, signs copies of whatever stock is on hand, then dashes off. Usually we do it standing next to the Customer Service desk. One store really rolled out the red carpet, er, the green tablecloth, and made me feel right at home.

My evening event was at The Bookies, a store that specializes in providing a mind-boggling selection of books to teachers. I had a "small world" moment there when Amanda, the woman in the picture, came up to me. She was the newspaper advisor at my daughters' high school back in Horsham, PA and worked closely with Bookavore, my oldest, when she wrote for that paper. Now Amanda is teaching in Colorado. I also came across with a few teachers I had met on previous trips out there; it was practically old home night.

They packed the store with teachers and fed me banana bread. And EVERYBODY wished me happy birthday. I think more than a thousand people said that to me.

It felt really nice.

TONIGHT'S EVENT: Friday, October 24 at 7:00 pm: Tattered Cover, Denver, East Colfax store 303-436-9219

TOMORROW'S EVENT: Saturday, October 25 at 1:00 pm: The Bookstall of Chestnut Court, Winnetka, IL 847-446-0882