Betty Birney’s Blog

Living in southern California, we get a lot of interesting visitors throughout the year. Our most recent guest was a charming guy named Flat Stanley. Stanley was sent to us from cousin Katherine Wilbraham of Connecticut. It was fun for Humphrey to meet another character from a book.

I was very privileged to have such a famous visitor. I’ve always loved Flat Stanley and know that through the years, many classrooms have mailed their own Flat Stanleys around the country.  Here in L.A. he visited Disney Hall, downtown, Venice Beach and the Santa Monica Pier. But maybe his greatest adventure was right here, in my own back yard office!

I was a little surprised, though, because when I wasn’t looking, Stanley took a peek at my manuscript for the book that comes out in February.

I guess he just couldn’t help himself!

My husband Frank will be delivering Stanley back home this weekend when he is on the east coast.

I do hope he comes to visit again!

It was a big bump – or a thump – that woke me up this week at 1:30 in the morning.  It didn’t wake Frank up but I did - I was frightened for some reason, though I’m not a panicky person. I was sure something heavy had fallen in the house. Maybe the house even shook a little, though I knew it wasn’t an earthquake. I spent a while checking rooms and closets and the garage but nothing had fallen. Frank suggested I had dreamed it but I knew I hadn’t. I didn’t ever get back to sleep.

The next morning, the mystery was solved when we saw hundreds of tiny green apricots in our yard. And there was our next door neighbor Mary, so recently widowed. In the night, their huge apricot tree had toppled over and landed on her car. It didn’t do too much damage to the car because it caught on our fence. She hadn’t heard it because it’s really closer to our bedroom than hers.

By noon, everything was carted away. But we still miss the towering tree and so do the birds.

It was an unsettling day for us all but at least I knew I didn’t imagine that great big bump in the night.

Foxview Intermediate School, DePere, WI

I know, it’s not the end of 2009, but it is the end of the 2008-2009 school year and I wrapped up my travel this weekend – at least until September!

I’m woefully behind in acknowledging and thanking everyone and there are a few things I left out.

I had a wonderful time in Omaha April 13-17 which I previously covered. But I left out one of those wonderful, unexpected delights that happen on some of these trips. Before I left, a former high school buddy from Affton, MO, Sandy Robine, emailed me that she had seen I was going to Omaha and did I want to see Almeda Berkey? Then she emailed Almeda, who emailed me and invited me to dinner at her house. Almeda and I were in school from first through 12th grade, so we shared a lot of experiences (some of which show up in the Humphrey books). Almeda was an outstanding singer – I mean, outstanding – and I was in the a cappella choir and girls’ ensemble with her. Though I was less outstanding. In fact, maybe I was just standing.

Only a few years ago did I learn what had happened to her: Norman Luboff Choir, directing numerous choral groups, lots of CDs, married to a composer, and they’re both in the Mannheim Steamroller group! Awesome. She was inducted in the Affton High School Hall of Fame the year after me and two years after our pal, Bob Hansmann. (It was quite a class). You can read more about Almeda and her husband, Jackson, here.

http://www.berkey.com/sdg_press/bios.html

They live in a big old historic home in Omaha with most of the original fixtures intact and three grand pianos on the first floor (that I counted). Almeda fixed dinner and the three of us, talked, laughed, LAUGHED some moreand had a grand time. I even signed their dining room table – which is something I don’t normally do unless invited! But it’s a Berkey tradition and once I got over the “eek, I’m carving into their table” thing, it was fun. The evening ended with a private concert by Jackson, playing his own compositions on piano.  Sublime.

We exchanged books and CDS at the end of an incredibly memorable evening.  I’m hoping and thinking our paths will cross again. Sorry, no pictures! What was I thinking? But Almeda and I assured each other we haven’t changed a bit!

After I left Omaha, I went straight to DePere, WI outside of Green Bay, a picturesque town on the Fox River. (Unfortunately, windy, rainy and even a little snowy so I didn’t explore quite as much as I would have liked.) Melissa Smits, librarian at Foxview Intermediate School met me at the airport with her charming year-old daughter, Sophia. I stayed at a great hotel right on the river – the James Street Inn – highly recommended. This building right outside the hotel really haunted me with its stark beauty. I think it was the bridge-keeper’s house (or lock-keeper’s house) and would make a wonderful setting for a book.

Bridge keeper's house, Fox River

View from library, Foxview Intermediate School

I did a full day of presentations and a day of five 5th and 6th grade writing workshops – which turned out to be a lot of fun despite the fact that my voice finally gave out.

My hand didn’t give out, though, and I was able to talk a little and sign at Butterfly Books, a charming independent children’s bookstore in DePere. There was a nice crowd on a rainy Monday evening and in addition to signing books, I signed the TABLECLOTH. (It was a week of signing unusual objects.)

I was in very good company on that tablecloth, let me tell you! Thanks to owner Amy VandenPlas for a great event and dinner, too! And thanks to Missy Smits for being a wonderful hostess throughout my stay.

Me

Madeleine L'Engle

Tomie dePaola, Wendelin Van Draanen, Seymour Simon

Foxview librarian Melissa Smits, Butterfly Books owner Amy VandenPlas and me with furry friend

My final trip of the school year was last week, when I flew into Jacksonville, then drove to Orange Park, FL for a return visit to Paterson Elementary School. I was there a few years ago and when librarian Sandi Dunnavant asked me back, I didn’t hesitate.

I got in early enough to sign books before I spoke – a treat because I didn’t have to think about them any more. I spoke the evening before my presentations to a group of loyal library fans.

Then on Friday, I did four presentations. It was fun to see my schoolmate, Peggy Hopkins – yet another Affton grad and a first grade teacher at Paterson. When I was here the last time, we figured out we knew each other when I casually mentioned I was from St. Louis and finally worked our way to the discovery that she was a year behind me at Affton and we knew each other. She was also in a cappella choir and probably more outstanding than I was because she still sings in the choir.

With fellow Affton alum, Peggy Hopkins

After my presentations, Sandi and friends whisked me down to a condo on the beach in St. Augustine. (They didn’t have to twist my arm.) We walked on the beach under a full moon (the Atlantic – that’s the other ocean – right?). On Saturday, we toured St. Augustine, which in case you don’t know, is the oldest city (continuously occupied European-established city, that is) and the oldest port in the U.S., founded in 1565 – over 200 years before there was a United States. I hadn’t been there since I was 7. The city has such a unique Spanish flavor, unlike any other city in the U.S. Great vibe!  Relaxing, refreshing, lots of laughs, even some singing (a cappella, of course). Thanks to Sandi, Sue and Pam for being such very good company.

Assistant Principal Pam White, Librarian Sandi Dunnavant, Teacher Sue Middleton outside the Columbia Spanish restaurant

They even helped me find my real goal in accepting this trip: the Fountain of Youth. That’s what explorer Ponce de Leon was looking for, they say, and I found it!

This fountain was at Flagler College. Og would like it but it's a fountain of frogs, not a fountain of youth.

However, on my next try, I found it. The real deal.

And look what happened!

Definitely worth the trip!

Thanks to my friend Sandi Dunnavant - I'm so glad she likes my books!

I was traveling all day yesterday to Orange Park, FL (just outside Jacksonville) when I learned that my agent, Nancy Gallt’s husband, Craig Virden, passed away yesterday. Too young, too sad … my heart goes out to Nancy and her children, Emily and Sam. For those who don’t know, Craig was a leading light in children’s publishing.  Here’sa link to his obituary in Publisher’s Weekly. http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6656741.html

I’m just glad I got to meet him.

Happier thoughts soon … I’ll have some R & R in St. Augustine this weekend!

And I need to catch up on my trip to DePere, WI … having a problem with my photo program.

Another year, another birthday, another Los Angeles Times Festival of Books.

My signings were on Saturday … my birthday on Sunday … my postponed birthday dinner was last night. This year’s FOB was special because my sister-in-law Jane is visiting from Massachusetts and is a devoted bookophile and former bookstore owner.  It was also special because my granddaughter and fellow booklover Remy (almost 4) came for the very first time!

I started off signing at the Whale of a Tale bookstore booth, which hosted the Penguin authors. I was paired with Ingrid Law, (above) author of one of this year’s Newbery Honor Book, Savvy, which I can’t wait to read. I don’t like the photo but I like Ingrid … and she’ll be on the faculty of this summer’s SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) as will I!!

Remy and me

Judy Shachner and Remy (Remy loves Skippyjon Jones ... just not the camera!)

Due to a wonderful serendipity, following our signing was Judy Schachner (Skippyjon Jones – yea!!!!), whom I met in late 2007 and with whom I shared a mind-bending and memorable flight from Yakima, WA to Seattle.  I think we are bonded for life thanks to that flight and it was great to see her again. I had a second signing with Ed Decter, screenplay writer extraordinaire and middle grade and YA author fantastico.

I also got to schmooze with writer friends Lisa Yee, Julia DeVillers, Michael Reisman and got to meet the awesome illustrator Jarrett Krocosczka and family who, it turns out, live fairly close to sister-in-law Jane.

Julia DeVillers, caught mid-Twitter

The family (husband Frank, sister-in-law Jane, daughter Rebecca, granddaughter Remy) segued to Kate Mantilini’s in Bev Hills for dinner, minus son-in-law Gary who was ailing with the flu but NOT the swine flu. We missed him but soldiered on without him.

However, my birthday took a sad turn when our next door neighbor, Donald Specht, passed away early Sunday morning. Don was a jazz musician and composer as well as a writer and he will be greatly missed. Our hearts go out to his wife, Mary, our dear, dear friend. In addition to writing a kabillion arrangements and commercial jingles, Don once penned The Betty Song, for which I am eternally grateful. And there was also Tropical Nights at the Birneys (a tango).   I will share soon.