Literature and Poetry Reviews, Home of the Virtual Poetry Circle
I know it has been a long time, but for those of you waiting on books from the blog that you won either from poetry giveaways, BBAW, or just a plain jane giveaway, they are FINALLY on their way.
This time around I mailed books to Denmark, Romania, Lithuania, India, and Italy. Not to mention all the books I’ve mailed to my readers across the United States.
I wanted to take this time to thank you all for your patience and I hope you enjoy your books. Congrats! And thanks again.
Welcome to the 66th Virtual Circle!
Remember, this is just for fun and is not meant to be stressful.
Keep in mind what Molly Peacock’s books suggested. Look at a line, a stanza, sentences, and images; describe what you like or don’t like; and offer an opinion. If you missed my review of her book, check it out here.
Our return to contemporary poetry bring us to a poem from Adrienne Rich and her collection Dark Fields of the Republic, which I got today at the library sale for 50 cents.
What Kind of Times Are These (page 3)
There’s a place between two stands of trees where the grass grows uphill
and the old revolutionary road breaks off into shadows
near a meeting-house abandoned by the persecuted
who disappeared into those shadows.I’ve walked there picking mushrooms at the edge of dread, but don’t be fooled
this isn’t a Russian poem, this is not somewhere else but here,
our country moving closer to its own truth and dread,
its own ways of making people disappear.I won’t tell you where the place is, the dark mesh of the woods
meeting the unmarked strip of light—
ghost-ridden crossroads, leafmold paradise:
I know already who wants to buy it, sell it, make it disappear.And I won’t tell you where it is, so why do I tell you
anything? Because you still listen, because in times like these
to have you listen at all, it’s necessary
to talk about trees.
Let me know your thoughts, ideas, feelings, impressions. Let’s have a great discussion…pick a line, pick an image, pick a sentence.
I’ve you missed the other Virtual Poetry Circles. It’s never too late to join the discussion.
Pamela Jane, author of A Vampire Is Coming to Dinner! 10 Rules to Follow, has been a children’s author for some time. She has agreed to answer a few interview questions and offer a giveaway to one lucky reader. I’ve also got a special guest reviewer.
Please welcome Pamela.
1. When did you first begin writing children’s books?
I was eight when I wrote my first “book” about my parakeet, Winky Blue. I had looked for a story about a parakeet in our local library without success, so I decided to write my own. This eventually led (many years later) to the “Winky Blue” series published my Mondo. The series is featured on my website http://www.pamelajane.com. My first published book, NOELLE OF THE NUTCRACKER, illustrated by Jan Brett, came out in 1986.
2. Have you ever considered doing your own illustrations for your books?
I would love to do my own illustrations because I can picture them so well in my head! However, they don’t translate well on paper, and I’ve been very fortunate in my publisher’s choice of illustrators for my books.
3. What is the relationship between author and illustrator like?
It various with each book and project. Often, I do not get to know the illustrator until after the book is out. In cases where the book is historical fiction, there may be earlier contact between the author and illustrator because it’s so important that the illustrations are factually correct. I’ve just finished writing my first historical children’s picture book, so it will be interesting to see how this process unfolds.
4. Could you explain how you got involved in writing for an animation series? and what that entails?
A former children’s book editor contacted me about writing for the animation series. It’s quite different from writing in book form because there is no description; the writing is simply dialog although I indicate the action in separate comments on the manuscript. The next step is having actors read the parts and animators illustrate the story (or perhaps it’s the other way around.) I’m excited to see how it will turn out!
5. When you are not writing what are your other interests and hobbies?
I love to walk in nature while listening to books on my iPod and I play the piano, albeit badly! I also like watching old movies and British mystery series such as “Foyle’s War.”
Now, here’s out guest reviewer, The Girl from Diary of an Eccentric:
A Vampire Is Coming to Dinner! 10 Rules to Follow by Pamela Jane is funny and the pictures are cool. I really like the first picture with the invitation from the vampire stuck to the door with a skull knife, the picture where he gets ready to meet the vampire and puts his shirt on backwards, and when the kid shakes the vampire’s hand with a stick.
Rule 5 and Rule 6 are funny because the kid decides to ignore those rules and do the opposite. I also liked rule 3 and rule 11. The pictures were detailed. Rule 11 was my favorite. I think smaller kids would like the book if parents read the book to them. I love the book.
Thanks to The Girl for her review.
Now for the giveaway. I have one copy for 1 lucky US/Canada reader.
1. Please leave a comment about your favorite monster or Halloween book.
2. For a second entry, spread the word on Facebook, Twitter, etc.
Deadline is Oct. 30, 2011, at 11:59 PM EST.
Pamela Jane‘s A Vampire Is Coming to Dinner! 10 Rules to Follow is a picture book for ages three to eight and is brightly illustrated by Pedro Rodriguez.
The images and text teeter between light and dark, balanced enough to engage young readers and keep them on their toes. The pranks the young boy comes up with to keep the vampire guessing are hilarious and just something a young kid would come up with.
The only drawback for some younger readers is the design of the book in which the flaps would be hard for their uncoordinated hands to open without ripping. The book has a final surprise for kids that will have them smiling. A Vampire Is Coming to Dinner! 10 Rules to Follow is a hard bound children’s book with bright images, fun pranks, and rules that are familiar and new where vampires are concerned. Kids will enjoy the book, and parents can have fun reading it with their children.
About the Author:
Pamela Jane is the author of twenty-six books for children, including Noelle of the Nutcracker illustrated by Jan Brett (Houghton Mifflin) which has been optioned for a film, and the “Winky Blue” and “Milo” series published by Mondo. Her new book, A Vampire is Coming to Dinner! 10 Rules to Follow, illustrated by Pedro Rodriquez, has just been released (Price Stern Sloan, a division of Penguin Books for Young Readers).
To check out the rest of the tour stops, click the link.
***Thanks to the author and TLC Book Tours for sending a review copy of this book.***
This is my 48th book for the 2010 New Authors Reading Challenge.
Mailbox Mondays (click the icon at the right to check out the tour) has gone on tour since Marcia at The Printed Page passed the torch. This month our host is Avis of She Reads and Reads. Kristi of The Story Siren continues to sponsor her In My Mailbox meme. Both of these memes allow bloggers to share what books they receive in the mail or through other means over the past week.
Just be warned that these posts can increase your TBR piles and wish lists.
Here’s what I received:
1. Mini Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella, which Anna let me borrow.
2. Missing Lucile by Suzanne Berne a surprise from Algonquin.
What did you receive in your mailbox?
Welcome to the 65th Virtual Circle!
Remember, this is just for fun and is not meant to be stressful.
Keep in mind what Molly Peacock’s books suggested. Look at a line, a stanza, sentences, and images; describe what you like or don’t like; and offer an opinion. If you missed my review of her book, check it out here.
Our classic poem for today is from W.B. Yeats:
When You Are Old
When you are old and grey and full of sleep,
And nodding by the fire, take down this book,
And slowly read, and dream of the soft look
Your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep;How many loved your moments of glad grace,
And loved your beauty with love false or true,
But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you,
And loved the sorrows of your changing face;And bending down beside the glowing bars,
Murmur, a little sadly, how Love fled
And paced upon the mountains overhead
And hid his face amid a crowd of stars.
Let me know your thoughts, ideas, feelings, impressions. Let’s have a great discussion…pick a line, pick an image, pick a sentence.
I’ve you missed the other Virtual Poetry Circles. It’s never too late to join the discussion.
It’s not the weekend quite yet, but I was inspired to take my mind off some very sad news about my grandfather (vovô in Portuguese). If you’ve seen my Facebook updates, you know he had a stroke recently and lost 2/3 of his brain and was paralyzed on the right side, and since then, it has been touch and go. Unfortunately, there’s not enough the doctors can do, and it is just a matter of time before he passes.
So, I took out my copy of SOS! The Six O’clock Scramble to the Rescue by Aviva Goldfarb to find something to make for dinner that was easy and mindless. Typical me, I had to spruce it up and change it around. I didn’t have any shredded cheddar, but I had some sliced cheddar, I didn’t have any mustard 
powder, and I didn’t want sausage. Instead, I used pepper and some diced canned tomatoes, along with the salt, nutmeg, sliced cheddar. First, you melt margarine in the casserole dish before adding the macaroni and ensuring it is covered with the butter. Once that’s done you add the other ingredients, plus milk and bake at 350 for an hour.
Again, I put my own twist on it by adding about a teaspoon of flour to thicken the sauce and reduced the amount of milk since I also had the juice from the tomatoes. You bake it in the oven without a cover. This is the finished product with some browned bread crumbs on top.
Thanks for stopping by and when I feel like reading again, I will have some reviews for you. Please bear with me.
If you missed my earlier review of this cookbook or my interview with Aviva Goldfarb, please check them out.
***
Since writing this my grandfather has passed away. I’ll probably be offline for a while. If I miss anything important, please email me. Thanks to everyone for their support, prayers, and condolences.
Normally, I attend the National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., but this year, I was asked to join a panel of Book Bloggers at the Baltimore Book Festival. Instead of exhausting myself even more this Sept. after an extended visit from my parents and brother, I decided to stick to one event this year.
I’m not the most talkative person and I often shy away from public speaking if I can help it, but this sounded like a good opportunity, and I got to hang out with some of my favorite bloggers in person — Swapna, Julie, Candice, Heather, Nicole, and Allie. The other bonus for me was being able to talk about blogs and how they can be used to provide greater coverage for poets and poetry; something I hope I accomplished.
I want to thank Heather for setting up the great panel and for the detailed instructions and preparation that she did. Wonderful job. Also, I want to thank the Baltimore Book Festival personnel for being so kind and helpful when I couldn’t find the reception room for panelists! The room was gorgeous in an older Baltimore home turned publisher’s office, and the food was delicious. They even offered Mimosas, but I had to decline or I would have giggled my way through the panel.
Prior to the book festival, I tagged along with Anna, her family, and my hubby as we checked out the Walters Art Museum. I left my hubby in charge of photos this time around. I’d like to have more time to check out the museum, but the rare manuscript and book room was fantastic. I’ll provide you with a slide show for both the museum and blogger panel.
I was nervous as expected, but once I met everyone on the panel — or should I say met Celeste and David whom I did not know before — I was more at ease. The panel talked about the basics of book blogging, author/publisher relationships with bloggers, and much more. Heather did a great job keeping us on track, but the questions from the audience were few. I’m also not sure how helpful I was about cybersecurity for the woman working with Montgomery County Public Schools and other student-teaching programs. I think I would have liked more questions, so if you have any, feel free to ask them here.
Here are some synopses from other sources: Reading Local, Baltimore Sun (I’m even quoted in this one and my name is spelled correctly), Read Street, and I’m sure there are others I may have missed (please send links and I will add them).
And here’s the slide show you’ve been waiting for, I’m sure:
Out of more than 23 entrants, Random.org selected 2 winners for Mr. Darcy’s Voyage by Kara Louise:
1. Janel of Janel’s Jumble who said, “I am drooling over that hammock chair! And the porch too. Either one of those things would be a great place to write. Both of them together must be heaven. Thanks for sharing, Kara.”
2. Melissa of Mommy Wants to Read, who said, “I would love to have a nice big comfy recliner with a huge fluffy blanket, a super fast laptop and a table next to me stack high with snacks and drinks. Yeah that is my dream writing space. “
BBAW 2010 winners for the Forgotten Treasures post and their respective wins are as follows:
Jeanne of Necromancy Never Pays won A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick. She said, “I find villanelles hardest to write; the rhymes are so obsessive! My favorite is Elizabeth Bishop’s One Art.”
MMW who won The Tudor Rose by Margaret Campbell Barnes. She said, “Sestinas are my favorite to read but def seem the hardest to write to me. Good luck to poets who make it seem so EASY and beautiful!!” Guatami of
BBAW 2010 winners for the Unexpected Treasures post and their respective wins are as follows:
Gautami of Everything Distils Into Reading won A Dangerous Affair by Caro Peacock. She said, “There are so many good bloggers, who have influenced my reading. I really can’t name a handful…”
Dovile won Short Girls by Bich Minh Nguyen. She said, “I’ve discovered Reading Teen blog this year, and Lauren Kate’s books with it!”
Jill of Rhapsody in Books won The Widow’s Season by Laura Brodie. She said, “I would have to say that I have read the most books because of the blogs of Sandy of You Gotta Read This! and Nymeth of Things Mean A Lot. When they *both* rave about a book, then I know for sure I’ll be knocked out by it too, and that was certainly the case with Fingersmith by Sarah Waters. But in truth, WAY over half of my reading selections now come from the recommendations of fellow bloggers. I just keep a notepad and pen in front of the computer!”
BBAW 2010 winners for the my start of BBAW post and their respective wins are as follows:
Mette J (Mysteriousrose) won the $10 Better World Books gift certificate. She said, “What a great site I love writing poems, heres what I got from the site:
The sun disappears
And a flock of birds
Crosses the pink sky”
Grace of Books Like Breathing won the $10 Amazon.com gift certificate. She said, “I’m terrible at poetry but here’s my try at it:
Nothings speedier than a cheetah,
In a rush it’d surely beat ya’,
As hard as you’d try
To make your feet fly
By the end of the race it’d eat Velveeta!”
Congrats to all the winners.
Mailbox Mondays (click the icon at the right to check out the tour) has gone on tour since Marcia at The Printed Page passed the torch. This month our host is Kathy of Bermudaonion Weblog. Kristi of The Story Siren continues to sponsor her In My Mailbox meme. Both of these memes allow bloggers to share what books they receive in the mail or through other means over the past week.
Just be warned that these posts can increase your TBR piles and wish lists.
Here’s what I received:
1. Kaliedoscope: An Asian Journey of Colors by Sweta Srivastava Vikram for review from the poet.
2. Crazy Love by Pamela Uschuk for the Green Books Campaign.
3. Stiltsville by Susanna Daniel from the Baltimore Book Festival.
What did you receive in your mailbox?
