Betty Birney’s Blog

I’m going to take a detour away from blogging about my favorite children’s books – and I apologize for my absence!

I was invited to speak at the Edinburgh BookFest, which is part of the famed Edinburgh Festival. Who could pass that up? So my husband and I spent 2 1/2 weeks in Scotland. The BookFest was AMAZING and I’m grateful to my enthusiastic Scottish fans who showed up for my events.  Among the authors who were there the two days I was there were: Antonia Fraser, Frederick Forsythe, Joyce Carol Oates and a very charming Alexander McCall Smith. Oh, and Humphrey, too.

Then Frank and I went on a 10 day trip through the Scottish Highlands by rail (okay taxis and a ferry,too). It was beyond perfection, especially since the weather and the famed midges (little biting insects like gnats) behaved perfectly. Sunshine every day except the first and last (an unprecedented run of sun) and no midges. What can I say? The scenery was unparalleled. The hospitality at each stop was the warmest. The beauty – indescribable.

Briefly, we traveled from Edinburgh to Glasgow. Glasgow to Spean Bridge, where we stayed at Old Pines, a lovely spot with a great view of Ben Nevis (the highest mountain in UK – not that high but beautiful). We took a very long ramble followed by one of the best meals of my life in their all-organic restaurant. The next morning, after a “ham and haddie” breakfast, we went to Fort William where we boarded the famed Jacobite Steam Train, still in operation.

This is the train used in the Harry Potter films. It was quite an event, as crowds gathered to see the train and take photos. Before the trip, the crew was so friendly – inviting us to come in and watch them shovel coal into the fire. They very showily – and loudly – blew off steam. We were in first class, which meant we had a table with brocade upholstered chairs and a little lamp, and were served tea in china cups and scones. All along the route, people were lined up to take photos of the train and wave. Lovely memory: a young mother and her toddler in arms, standing in the doorway of their house, waving. It’s another world.

An amazing landscape – green grass, tons of sheep and the Rannoch moors – forbidding, desolate, beautiful. We ended up at Mallaich, a charming little port city, where we had lunch and boarded the ferry for the Isle of Skye. A little more about Scotland and then I’ll be back with children’s books.

Just saying Isle of Skye makes me relax!

I’m leaving home for five days and going to the SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) annual conference! I’m going all the way from my house in Studio City to the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Century City – it should take me about 20-25 minutes to get there! It seems odd to be packing my bags when I’ll be so close to home but these conferences are jammed pack with events and it will be nice to have a place to put up my feet, work on my presentations … and I can have a glass of wine at the parties and dinners because I’m not driving!

I’ll be giving the School Visit workshop tomorrow at 11:45 … then a keynote on Committing Serial Fiction with a Smile at 4:30.

Tonight – it’s party time for the faculty which includes, agents, editors, all kinds of experts and, in no particular order, Richard Peck, Sherman Alexie, Linda Sue Park, Ingrid Law, Holly Black, Dan Yaccarino, Karen Cushman,  Kathleen Duey, Ellen Hopkins, Marla Frazee to name a few…. the mind reels!

I’m going to try really hard to blog every day (emphasis on try).

Mrs. Brisbane’s away from her desk for the summer!

It’s been nice to be home for the summer but it hasn’t been all that relaxing! I’m getting ready for the SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) Annual Conference in L.A. I’ve attended many times over the last 20 years but this is the first time I’ll be on the faculty. I’m really looking forward to hanging out with friends old and new but I do have to prepare two workshops and a Keynote Address – eek! No pressure there, especially since the likes of Richard Peck, Karen Cushman, Linda Sue Park, Sid Fleischmanhe Newbery Award winners) and Ingrid Law – a Newbery Honor Book winner this year, whom I signed books with in April. Lots of writers, editors, top illustrators – really an outstanding year.

For those of you attending: Here’s my schedule:

Friday, August 7 – 11:45 – 12:45 – Workshop: School Visit Survival Kit

Friday August 7 – 4:30-5:30 – Keynote: Committing Serial Fiction with a Smile

Sunday, August 9 – 10:45-11:45 – Workshop: The ABCS of Writing TV Animation

The Conference is Aug 7-10 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel in Century City. If you live in L.A. or have a place to stay, you can still sign up or turn up on any day and pay there. Details are at scbwi.org.

Joining SCBWI is always my number one recommendation for anyone interested in writing children’s books. I wouldn’t have survived without it!

(When I was preparing the School Visit Workshop, I came across the photos above from my very first legit school visit at Colleen Bevis Elementary in Hillsborough County, FL. The whole library was decorated like Room 26. What a welcome and what a great trip that was!)

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!

Library hamster Dewey

S.S. Golden Hamster from Adventure According to Humphrey

I’ve been GONE-GONE-GONE from this blog for a while now. My trip to Omaha was too busy, too whirlwind (and too tiring), for me to keep up. Now I’m in DePere, WI (outside Green Bay) for a couple of days of Sassafras presentations.

The week  started at Prairie Wind Elementary (great name) with media specialist Annette Luedtke. I got a warm prairie welcome there and the next day moved on to Picotte Elementary, thanks to an invitation from Kathy Day. I saw a great video of kids and last year’s hilarious hamster races and met some of the school hamsters. Last year, they decided to get a hamster for the school, thanks to THE WORLD ACCORDING TO HUMPHREY, which won the Nebraska Golden Sower Award. That hamster gave birth to 8 hamsters the very next day. Now those hamsters are in various classrooms and students’ homes and I have to say, they were among the friendliest and easiest to handle hamsters I’ve known.  Of course, like Humphrey, they do occasionally doze off during the day.

Can you find the napping hamsters?

The next day, I was at St. Vincent de Paul School where I didn’t meet any hamsters but I ran into a very sweet dog named Sierra! Oh, and some GREAT-GREAT- GREAT kids, thanks to media specialist Carol Nish. At St. Wenceslaus School on Thursday, I had another eventful day (once media specialist Mary Stratman calmly “talked me in”  – Mapquest failed me). Lots of Humphrey fun as well as an interesting script writing session with 7th and 8th graders. On Friday, I was at Montclair Elementary School where, after my heart recovered from a tech problem with my own projector, I had a rollicking day with the avid Humphrey fans there and had a great time with reading specialist Ellen Miller and the friendly staff there. Thanks to all the helpful and supportive Omahans who made my visit there so easy.

As if I hadn’t signed enough books already, I finished the week at the Bookworm in Omaha, a great independent bookstore, thanks to Ellen Scott and some intrepid fans who braved a rainy Saturday morning. Okay, it was Omaha so they’re used to rain. (At home in L.A. everybody pretty much stays inside when it rains, which is a good thing because those who venture out go insane and completely forget how to drive. Sort of like bumper cars.)

And now, I’m in beautiful DePere on a not-so-beautiful day and a busy schedule at Foxview starting tomorrow and a signing at the Butterfly Bookstore tomorrow night (Monday) at 6!

Next … a very special evening in Omaha.