Author Visit: Karma Wilson

   

Last Wednesday, our little community had a treat ... picture book author Karma Wilson came to town! Our lower-elementary school principal invited me to watch her kindergarten presentation. Karma was delightful--in person and as a presenter. 

She read a couple of her books (including BEAR SNORES ON, her best seller) and told another story with a puppet, based on one of her books. I was so impressed with how she engaged her audience. The kids had a blast!

Watching Karma present made me realize how diverse the job of being an author really is. A big part is still holing up in your writing/editing cave and creating. But once you're published, you also have an audience to consider.

To be honest, the idea of taking my book on tour and visiting schools and libraries slightly terrifies me. I mean, I love people, but I think I'll need to work on my public speaking/presenting skills. I'd love to attend a YA author presentation sometime. I'm sure it's different than a picture book author's! (Probably not quite as fun, unfortunately.)

 

During question and answer time, one teacher asked, "When did you write your first book?"

Karma acknowledged that this was a tricky question, since she'd written twenty books before BEAR SNORES ON that weren't good enough to be published.

I loved that she said that. It's inspiring to be reminded that if we keep working at it, we can eventually reach our publication goals.

Have you watched an author present before? I admit, this is only the second author presentation I've attended (not including speakers at SCBWI conferences).  Do you look forward to this aspect of post-publication?

A Little Wanting Song by Cath Crowley

Okay guys, I read the best book! It's the kind of book that reminds me why I love contemporary YA.

Australian author, Cath Crowley's, A LITTLE WANTING SONG, was wonderful. She captures something about being a teenager that's rare and beautiful. As I was reading, I was right there with the characters-- especially Charlie, who I could relate to the most (because she's really shy and awkward at the beginning, just like I was as a teenager ... although her most embarrassing moment beat mine by a long shot).

Here's the blurb from Goodreads:

A summer of friendship, romance, and songs in major chords. . .

CHARLIE DUSKIN loves music, and she knows she's good at it. But she only sings when she's alone, on the moonlit porch or in the back room at Old Gus's Secondhand Record and CD Store. Charlie's mom and grandmother have both died, and this summer she's visiting her grandpa in the country, surrounded by ghosts and grieving family, and serving burgers to the local kids at the milk bar. She's got her iPod, her guitar, and all her recording equipment, but she wants more: A friend. A dad who notices her. The chance to show Dave Robbie that she's not entirely unspectacular.

ROSE BUTLER lives next door to Charlie's grandfather and spends her days watching cars pass on the freeway and hanging out with her troublemaker boyfriend. She loves Luke but can't wait to leave their small country town. And she's figured out a way: she's won a scholarship to a science school in the city, and now she has to convince her parents to let her go. This is where Charlie comes in. Charlie, who lives in the city, and whom Rose has ignored for years. Charlie, who just might be Rose's ticket out.

Told in alternating voices and filled with music, friendship, and romance, Charlie and Rose's "little wanting song" is about the kind of longing that begins as a heavy ache but ultimately makes us feel hopeful and wonderfully alive.

Seriously, if you like contemporary YA and you haven't read this one yet, add it to your TBR list. What are you reading right now? What's your favorite genre--or do you read across the board?