mary e. pearson

I found this out about a month ago, but couldn't say anything until they announced it on their website, but now I just saw the news is up so I can spill! 

The Adoration of Jenna Fox has won the  Distinguished Work of Fiction Award  from the Children's Literature Council of Southern California.  Hooray!!

And fellow Henry Holt author, Hope Anita Smith, won the Myra Cohn Livingston Award for Poetry!  Hooray again!!

Check out the other award winners -  Cheers to all!

Holy smokes, what a crazy jammed pack week it has been--from the really good to the really stinky.  I will start with the good, and maybe I will run out of time for the stinky.

First, I got a very nice email from one, two, three friends, and then darn, I finally googled myself to be sure they were right because I hadn't heard anything and I saw that The Adoration of Jenna Fox won a Golden Kite Honor from the SCBWI.  Hooray!  I found the info at Betsy's Bird's blog where you can see all the winners.  And then yes, I got the offiicial email announcment too.  Hooray, again!

And then my editor emailed say AJF had made the NYPL Stuff for the Teen Age 2009 list.  That's right, it is now called "stuff" for the teen age.  The list is a little different this year.  It is limited to 100 things ; )  I think most of those things are books but there are videos in there too, and maybe some other "stuff" too.  I am not sure, but I am thrilled to be among the stuff! (does this sound like a George Carlin routine?)

Other good stuff in my jam-packed week:  Online author chats with students in Texas, writing in a coffee shop with friends (hey blitzers!  it was fun!), lots of fun chat and questions over at readergirlz, and I'm still doing flips over being a Nebula finalist.

oh!  And FINISHING the review of the master proofs of THE MILES BETWEEN! Whew, I think I positively have that manuscript memorized now.  This is why authors don't read their books once they come out!  They don't need to.  After so many readings they are permanently etched in their brains.

still not out of time . . .  so the not-so-good stuff that jammed my week.  Car #1 broke down.  Bad, but it is still limping along--barely.  And out of sympathy of course, car #2 decided to follow suit--no limping, dead as a door nail--thank you very much.  Both cars--grrr. It always happens that way, doesn't it?  So my weekend is going to be juggling cars and hoping they can be repaired--quick!

But more good news, my very dear friend and neighbor across the street called and said she was making paella tonight and did we want to come?    Do fish swim?  Do birds fly?  Do carless people walk?  You betcha.  I am clicking my castanets already.

Have a great weekend all!

I've had several friends email me to let me know about this:

Andre Norton Award Finalist

Wow.

I am blown away--and honored.

And thrilled to be in such fine company.

Cheers to all the National Book Award finalists!  

I have to admit I gave a special squeeeee when I saw fellow LJ'erselockhart  and halseanderson  on the NBA list.  Both are women I personally know and greatly admire.  And of course, they are awesome writers too!  Hooray!

A couple quick updates:

The So Cal Independent Bookseller Award finalists have been announced!

An LJ friend sent me this: I've been haikued.

Love it. I think this is my all time shortest review.

Here is a challenge for you all:
Haiku one of your favorite books but don't tell me the title. Let's see if we can figure it out.

Here's mine:

Disreputable
girl turns tables on guys
by being clever

Whew! What a whirlwind! Here's a quick breakdown of the long weekend!

Friday
Arrived! I stayed at the Disneyland Hotel. Gloved Mickey Mouse hands held the sconce lamps on either side of my bathroom mirror.I guess it's to be expected when you are at the magical kingdom. And the mouse ears on the shampoo bottles were pretty cute too.



Saturday

In the morning I had my signing for The Adoration of Jenna Fox. It was great to see so many LJ'ers! Thanks for coming! I also had a lot of YA book people come--bloggers, librarians, etc-- who I knew from online but finally got to meet.

That night I had dinner with a dozen other authors, with the Pope in the center of our table presiding over our antics intelligent bookish conversation. The guilty shall remain nameless.



Sunday

Sunday morning came bright and early. I participated in the YALSA speed dating breakfast. One of the librarians at my table videotaped the event and posted it on the YALSA blog, so if you want a taste of the breakfast, check it out. The table she recorded had Barry Lyga, moi, Nancy Werlin, Elizabeth Knox, Margarita Engle, Amy Goldman Koss, and Sherman Alexie.

That night was the Newbery-Caldecott banquet. The only word I can use to describe Brian Selznick's and Laura Amy Schlitz's speeches is SPECTACULAR. They will be posted online at some point--maybe they already are. Be sure to see them. After the banquet I had the pleasure of chatting with authors Linda Sue Park, John Green, and Schneider Family Book Award winner, Tracie Vaughn Zimmer, who was receiving the award at the conference. Congratulations, traciezimmer, Tracie!

Monday

I did a little last minute arc gathering at the exhibits, and then an impromtu interview with Ed Spicer. I think he will be posting it at his review site before too long. That is, if it makes any sense. Nancy Werlin and I "interviewed" each other, and by Monday we were both feeling a little giddy.

That night was the Printz reception where my friend, Amanda Jenkins, was receiving the Printz Honor Award for her book Repossessed. Her speech was magnificent, as were all of the award winners. Geraldine McAbercrombyandFitch unfortunately couldn't come to accept her Printz Award for The White Darkness, so her much more interesting "au pair" accepted the award for her. But her speech was magnificent too. Be sure to read them all.

Tuesday

Returned home loaded down with books and dead tired, but there was good news waiting that perked me up pretty fast. The Adoration of Jenna Fox sold foreign rights to two more countries--Japan and Finland! Very cool.

And now, I am busy catching up and eager to begin reading all these great books that are stacked up everywhere. Also eager to get back to writing. I have had a little hiatus and I am feeling the itch to face a blank page. Wonders never cease.

That's me.

I am the guest blogger over at Teen Book Review today and I decided to write about the topic that makes writers squirm. Crazy woman. Masochist.

In other news, I got word that The Adoration of Jenna Fox is on Barnes & Noble's Long List . Very cool!

And in still more news, major congratulations to Laurie Halse Anderson on winning the 2008 ALAN Award. Hop on over and add your cheers: halseanderson

And I just finished Impossible by Nancy Werlin. Wow. She's done it again. When it comes out in September, get it. Read it. Thank me later.

But my guess was right about Matt Lauer in Laos. I know all my nyms!

It's the small thrills, right? And I really suck at Jeopardy so I take what I can. (Maybe I should start watching Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?)

And I meant to post in my middle of the night blog post(this is what happens when you don't have coffee) that Cynthia Leitich Smith posted an interview with me on her blog yesterday about my latest book and writing.

Also, I just got the news that friend and writer, Lisa Harkrader, has won the William Allen White Award (the Kansas state award) for her book Airball: My Life in Briefs. Well deserved! Cheers for Lisa and Airball!

I missed the clue for tomorrow's Where in the World is Matt Lauer, but I think I am too tired to think anyway. Unless it is really easy.

Coffee . . .

Cheers to our own traciezimmer for winning the Schneider Family Book Award for REACHING FOR SUN. Fabulous news! Hurray!!

Cheers to all the award winners!

And cheers again for A.M. Jenkins and REPOSSESSED. Amanda is a long time friend, but even so, when I read her book and interviewed her for the Cafe back in July, I knew REPOSSESSED was something special. Her humor is sharp and dry, and truly does make you laugh out loud, but in the next breath she can have your heart in your throat. I am thrilled she received the Printz Honor for this book.

I am so excited! I LOVED this book!

Wonder of wonders. I updated my website It has only been, what, a year? Links updated and working and I added a page of pics from the Golden Kite Awards. Scroll down a bit for the link.



No firm cover for The Adoration of Jenna Fox yet, but it is imminent and so more updates are sure to follow soon. Until then, glimpses of water ripples make an appropriate temporary background.

On Sunday we had two eventful happenings. Rain in August. It just doesn't happen here, folks. The other event: a bridal shower for 32 people. Of course, once everyone arrived the sun decided to show it's sorry face again. It was only about 80 degrees but with the humidity factor it was more like 95, and then of course add 32 people inside the house, and it was about 140 degrees. But no one fainted and it was still lots of fun. Hot fun.

Congratulations to all the finalists! You can see the complete list here

And I have to admit when I saw Rules of Survival on the list I just about did a backflip. Nancy is a friend and I am so happy to see her wonderful book honored.

I'm still recovering! I met and talked with SO many people I know I will leave out half the names if I even try, but here is the tip of the iceberg and a recap:

Day 1:
To start the day off, the faculty paraded across the stage with "one word" to inspire. Oh boy, I didn't know about this. Luckily I am at the end of the line with Lisa Yee so we have plenty of time to throw words back and forth. But it doesn't take me long to think of one. "Possibility" of course! But about halfway through, someone else says my word! Help! So I scramble to think of another one and hope no one else says it! "Sold!"

Jacqueline Woodson's opening speech was inspiring, and then it was fun to sit in on Sarah Darer Littman's and Debby Garfinkle's workshop in the afternoon. They had lots of great tips--and were funny!

In the afternoon, the San Diego chapter of the SCBWI had an amazing reception for me in the Regents dining room to celebrate winning the Golden Kite Award. I was really blown away. Flowers! A beautiful cake! Food! And of course, lots of chocolate! They know how to throw a party! Here I am with Grace, Arlene (the chapter RA), and Nicole, ready to dig into the cake.



That evening, I went to a cocktail party poolside, and there I met so many people, that honestly, only later I started connecting the dots and putting screen or LJ names together with real names and faces. It was so much fun. The lovely and talented marperez organized the whole thing, and she had her work cut out for her, because ahem, some authors can't remember directions or tell the difference between "lobby" or "poolside."

Day 2:
On Saturday, my husband and daughters drove up from San Diego and we went to dinner at McCormick & Schmitt's in Beverly Hills. Our maitre 'd was a dead ringer for Richard Gere--maybe it was him! After dinner we went back to the hotel for the Jade Jubilee. Jessica, my younger daughter, expected some sedate music or something along the lines of "smooth jazz" as she called it. She was pleasantly surprised that these writers know how to party. We all danced until we dropped.



Day 3:
Sunday was the Golden Kite luncheon. I was a wee bit nervous--I mean, have you ever seen the Century Plaza Ballroom??!! It's like, three freaking footballs fields big! And I was last to go up which kind of builds the tension, if you know what I mean (translation: I hardly ate a bite of my lunch) but then when I got up there, someone (will the guilty party step forward?) jumped up and hooted my name which made me laugh, and then right after that, jo_no_anne, organized a WAVE with d_michiko_f, and sruble which totally cracked me up and made me forget I was nervous. Thank God I never turned around and saw this, my head as big as a Volkswagon on the screen behind me (Honey, why didn't you tell me about that big piece of spinach in my front tooth?)



Here I am with my family, Jessica, Karen, Dennis, and Ben when it was over. It looks like my husband is smiling because of the award, but he is giddy with relief that when I gave my speech, my last word . . . fffff turned into fabulous instead of a word that Zoe might use. I love playing with his mind. : )


There wasn't much time to think (or to jump up and down like a kid) because immediately afterward I had a workshop to give! The attendees were great and had lots of good questions. And then off to a booksigning for the Golden Kite winners. It was a jam-packed day.

Day 4:
Without any speeches or workshops to give, I slept like a baby the night before. Or maybe it was just that I was so pooped I went into veg state the minute my head hit the pillow.
On this last day, four editors spoke on a panel about publishing and books. Editor, Alvina Ling said that at Little Brown they don't use the term "chick lit" but instead call it "Young women's commercial fiction." Yes! Later when she was in my line to get a book signed, I hopped up and hugged her and told her I hoped her term caught on! I like it so much better. The other editors were inspiring too and it was interesting to hear their insights and the pressures they are under.

And of course, the final goodbye keynote by Jane Yolen was awesome. She had been very sick the night before but still managed to be poised, witty, and inspiring. Cheers for Jane!

Finally it was time to go. I had a two and a half hour drive home in bumper-to-bumper traffic, but it gave me lots of time to think about all the great talks I heard, and people I met (oh my god!), and the funny things people said and did (disco mermaids?) Yes, driving alone in my car, laughing, I am sure helped me get wide berth from the other cars on the road. Come to think of it . . .I did make it home in just under 2 hours. Thank you, SCBWI!

Y'all caught me off guard. I didn't know the news was out. But wow, you're making me all teary. Thank you so much for all your cheers and congrats. It just fills me up in ways you'll never know. I will try to post something a little more articulate and informative as soon as I have my wits about me. But for now . . . YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I finally got my website updated (I recently switched web hosts and I am still trying to get some of the kinks out, though being computer challenged, I admit the kinks are mostly in me--no comments ; ) anyway, my website is now updated with the very happy news that A Room on Lorelei Street was named winner of the 2005 JHUNT AWARD for Young Adult Literature. I am very honored that so many people connected with Zoe and her life. It was also named a YALSA 2006 Best Book for Young Adults.

Also, huge congratulations to John Green, 2006 winner of the Printz Medal for his book, Looking for Alaska, and also cheers to the Printz honorees, A Wreath for Emmett Till by Marilyn Nelson, Black Juice by Margo Lanagan, I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak, and John Lennon by Elizabeth Partridge. Congratulations all!

Cheers also to fellow LJ’ers, Libba Bray libbabray, Holly Blackblackholly, Cecil Casteluccirbinder, Lisa Yee lisayee, and Linda Sue Park lsparkreader for their books being honored on the ALA BBYA and Notables lists!

And I wanted to give a special shout out for Jennifer Jacobson for STAINED being recognized on the BBYA list too. Jennifer’s exquisite book, STAINED was the first book I read in 2005. What a great way to start out a year of reading.

Here's to more knock-your-socks-off books in 2006.

Valley Middle School in Carlsbad voted today for their choice for the CYRM. Library goddess, Peggy Hodge, made it an event, with food, prizes, and inviting two authors two chat with students. Peggy is amazing and her library is incredible. And then there are the students! They love to read!

I'm in this picture somewhere!


At lunch I sat at a table with students Cole, Michelle, Alex, Crystal, and Zandy, who read ALL the books up for an award–YA, Junior, and Intermediate.

The YA books up for the CYRM are Of Sound Mind by Jean Ferris, Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz, and Bronx Masquerade by Nikki Grimes.

I also got to chat and present with Jodie Schull, whose book, Georgia O’Keeffe Legendary American Painter, is fascinating. Did you know that Georgia didn’t learn how to drive until she was 43? Neither did I! She traveled to Europe for the first time at age 65, and took a 185 mile river rafting trip at age 73! Lots of interesting personal details about this legendary artist.

Oh, and did I mention the food?



Peggy always makes sure these students are well rewarded for their reading efforts. Lucky me–that means I get food too! Pizza! Carrots! Cookies! She even had those yummy apple/caramel suckers that pull out fillings. I love those.




Peggy and Jodie--minus their caramel/apple suckers : )

Good luck to all the CYRM nominees!

South Carolina was wonderful from start to finish. It’s true what they say about Southern hospitality. And what is not to love about the accents? They make you feel all warm and buttery and I could listen to them all day. My first evening I had dinner with four lovely librarians. Let me say right now, that librarians do not lead quiet lives. Oh, the stories they told! But those shall remain secret to protect the innocent ; ) But I do think a Librarians Stories That Can Curl Your Hair anthology is in order. (Librarians, are you listening?)

Anyway, they did get me back to my hotel at a decent time–and it’s a good thing because my first event–an author breakfast–started at 7 am. (And I was still on California time–4 am!) I had grits! I think it was my first time. My grandmother may have made them when I was little–she was from the south and we had plenty of southern cooking–but that was so long ago I can’t remember. They were good! I don’t mean to sound so surprised, but the name, eh, “grits” doesn’t inspire the stomach juices to start churning, ya know?

After breakfast I had a breakout session where I met with a room full of YA librarians. It is just so energizing to meet with book people who are so enthused about YA lit. Right after the session I was escorted to my book signing station. A very sweet teen named Adriana, was in charge of my line there and made sure post-it notes were in good supply. I learned that she reads THREE books a week. Whew. That beats me. I was impressed. And then the politest young man came up to get his book signed. He said Ma’am so many times, I thought my mother was standing behind me. Oh! Me. I’M the Ma’am. His name was Lance, and he plans a future in politics. I don’t know which party he leans toward but he has my vote.

And then after my signing came the Luncheon and Awards Ceremony. Or should I properly call it the OMIGOD-I’M-UP-ON-STAGE-IN-FRONT-OF-A-THOUSAND-PEOPLE-AND-I’M-SUPPOSE-TO-EAT?-CEREMONY. I met Betsy Byars (Betsy Byars!), and her daughters, Betsy Duffey, and Laurie Myers before hand. They were receiving the junior award for their book My Hero, My Dog (A wonderful book–it choked me up more than once). Anyway, they all seemed so calm, and I tried to follow suit (insert crazed out of control laughing here) Somehow I did manage to eat a few bites. I sat next to a gentleman who had a huge calming effect. His name was Rhett Jackson (how’s that for a southern name?) and he was receiving the Intellectual Freedom Award for a lifetime of achievement. He is an amazing man, I would guess of around eighty years of age, and he gave the most beautiful eloquent speech about books, the lives they change, and our duty to guard our freedom to read them. He told us about the American Booksellers Foundation for Freedom of Expression and their efforts to keep books on shelves in libraries and bookstores and said to remember them when you experience a book challenge. So, you heard it from Rhett, keep that site bookmarked!

Finally it was my turn to get up and accept the Young Adult Book Award for Scribbler of Dreams. A lovely young lady named Hannah introduced me. My goodness she was calm! She smiled too! She hugged me! I really was overcome with gratitude to everyone there. I don’t know if it was Hannah, or Rhett, or the Byars ladies, but the inspiration took over and I gave my speech without fainting. And now I am going to be a little kid jumping up and down . . . . ohhhhhhh, the Award! It’s beautiful! A gorgeous medal I will always treasure. Or as I said at the end of my acceptance speech . . .

“There are artists everywhere, who everyday slave away at what they love. They might be dancers, they might be painters, they might be writers. But there is never a guarantee that what they do will be appreciated by anyone. When it is, trust me, your heart soars. It means that, for at least a little while, I “did” it. The words I was so unsure of, the words I erased, and rewrote and doubted, and rewrote and trusted and finally let go, all of that was worth it because someone else connected with them and went on the same journey I did.”

Wow, what a journey it was. And then true to my word the day after I got back, I was in my painting clothes, spatula in hand, scraping guck off the floor of my daughter’s new house. But, boy, did I ever have a smile on my face.