come to the water

These pastoral photos belie the activity going on here at the Siena Center in Racine, Wisconsin, on the shores of mammoth Lake Michigan this weekend. The Wisconsin chapter of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators is holding their annual fall retreat here among this beauty, which includes the Dominican nuns who populate this convent.

We are surrounded by their presence as they go about their work and take care of us. It's a serene atmosphere punctuated with the sounds of writers at work, and speakers who have come to share their stories -- editors, agents, art directors, and writers, including one Atlanta author of a certain new book for young readers, Countdown.

Here's who I'm working with this weekend. Cool, eh? Between sessions and critiques and late night chats, I managed a walk to the lake with fellow Vermont alum and friend, Sheri Sinykin. This helps, too.

Thank you to Pam Beres for inviting me and making it possible for me to come, and a huge thank you, too, to these wonderful, *wonderful!* Wisconsin writers, who have made me feel so welcome. It is such a pleasure to be with you.

Tomorrow, Chicago. Sleep well, y'all.

what helps

I've had several sweet emails asking me how I'm staying upright. Ha! Thanks for that. I'm always busy with travel to schools and conferences each fall, but this fall has been the busiest in my memory, as you can see from my September and October schedule, as I'm also on the road, promoting Countdown.

What helps with the craziness of the road warrior are the pockets of peacefulness I find in the midst of hard work. Like these cinnamon buns hand-made by my friend Robin Smith in Nashville.

... like this homemade breakfast conversation with new friends at Robin Smith's and Dean Schnieder's in Nashville during Southern Festival of Books. What a glorious break to have full-table conversation with such generous folks. Look hard and you'll see Dean at the head of the table followed by illustrator Shadra Strickland from Atlanta; Ellen Wittlinger; Shadra's brother Mark (aka Strick da Menace);  Squire Babcock from Murray, Kentucky; Ellen's husband, David; Robin; Ellen's daughter, Kate Pritchard; and her brand-new husband, Mark Letcher. A lovely, sunshiny morning in Nashville.

What helps is driving home from Nashville, sleeping like the dead, then opening the refrigerator, rummaging, and pulling what's in it, out, and beginning the chop-wood-carry-water work of daily living. Boiling eggs. Sauteeing asparagus.

Found some carrots.

What helps is doing a mundane chore like tossing stuff out and cleaning the fridge.

What helps is a call to my daughter Hannah, who says yes to baking and catching up on a month's worth of conversations.

What helps is grounding, connecting, centering. And a whole lot of staring at the wall. I can try to catch up on email, but can't seem to address fiction -- writing requires a different part of the mind, and I just couldn't call it up in my four days home, couldn't coax it or force it, even though I spent those hours in the pink chair.

After four days home to regroup, I flew to Wisconsin. I'm having a good time here. Every moment is filled; my mind can't turn itself off, so I sit up into the wee hours and piddle on catch-up, post photos, and wind down.

Thanks for asking. I appreciate the kindness. I'm good, and all is well.

day two in san francisco

 Day two found us at Montclaire Elementary School in Los Altos.

I *loved* seeing all these bicycles!

 Loved these students, too. We had an intimate time discussing Countdown, before I was whisked away to another teacher appreciation event, this one at the Children's Discovery Museum in San Jose. I didn't get a photo of librarian Deborah Fryer, but trust me, she was wonderful, and had prepared her students for my visit. We laughed and told stories, and signed some books, then I was on my way.

 After the afternoon teacher appreciation event, I was squired by my friend Kathy to Hicklebees, where I got to be hand sold some books for my new grandbaby -- she'll be born in March or April, and I'm already starting her library... lessee, what did I get? I'll do a separate baby-library post when I'm not so brain dead, and then I'll remember.

It was so much fun to visit "my plaque" on the wall at Hicklebees again. In 2005, Each Little Bird That Sings was honored by Hicklebees as their Book of the Year. I hadn't been to Hicklebees, or seen Valerie, since the 2007 All-Stars tour, and it was so good to catch up.

  Girlfriends go to dinner and take their own picture. Highly recommended (dinner and self-portraits).

 Girlfriends pour over Kathy's collection of old cookbooks. You just knew I'd love these, didn't you? Well, Kathy sure did. And I do. 

 The artwork in some of these is exquisite, the recipes divine... and the stories! The stories are the best. Stories of home and family and kinship and connection... le sigh. I swear, I keep saying I'm going to write The Aurora County Cookbook and tell more fabulous tales by Miss Eula, Ruby, Melba Jane, Comfort, Great-great Aunt Florentine, Uncle Edisto, House, Cleebo, Honey Jackson, and more. I should do it. Yes? Wouldn't it be amazing if Dismay could make an appearance?

 You would think that was more than enough for one day, but no. It's so rare I get to see my friend Walter Mayes. He wasn't free the nights I was in San Francisco, so Kathy and I drove to see him in rehearsals for Godspell at the Sunnyvale Theater in Sunnyvale. (Bless your heart, Kathy.) This is going to be a terrific show, y'all. This is a great cast -- the singing and dancing are spectacular. The director's okay, too. :>

  Godspell at the Sunnyvale Theater in Sunnyvale, California. The show opens October 29 and runs through November 21. Performance dates are listed here. Prepare Ye!

My great thanks to Scholastic Book Fairs for bringing me to San Francisco and hosting me all around the Bay. Thanks to new friends and old. Thanks for being a part of my life. I love the history we make together. 

And now... Wisconsin. I had four days home between San Francisco and this trip. Next I'll show you how I spent them.