7-13-09 Going home from ALA Chicago 2009
Friends:
Okay, I was supposed to blog a couple of days ago but I got stuck in a quagmire of catch-up work. So the above picture was taken on the plane from St. Louis to New Orleans (Chicago to St. Louis then a layover). I took the picture after the warning was issued, “We are approaching our final descent into New Orleans. At this time, please turn off and stow all electronic devices and bring your seat and tray table to its full, upright and locked position.” I know. I know. It’s dorky to know that by heart but I fly. A LOT. hahaha So I was being a bad girl and snapping pictures on the sly. Here is the Mighty Mississippi…
7-13-09 The Mississippi River from plane window
So after coming in a little early, I head for baggage claim and was greeted by this sight. A group of young brass band musicians were preparing to give some VIP a jazzy welcome. Where else in the world can you land and be serenaded by a brass band?! It is, after all, the Louis Armstrong International Airport. Here is a picture of John Perkins of the One Mind Brass Band prepping his horn.
7-13-09 John Perkins from One Mind Brass Band at the New Orleans airport
Such a cool sight. But the best sight of all is seeing your little girl running to greet you. Here is my cutie pie, Eliana, all DIVA-ed out in a new rock star-ish outfit. And yes, that is my cute zebra suitcase behind her. LOL
7-13-09 Coming home to my cutie pie, Eliana!
It’s been a productive week – I executed a book contract, handwrote a million thank you notes, entered ALA contacts, followed up with ALA contacts, edited a manuscript going to production, worked with my assistant and my web designer, sent out my newsletter, and even created a book trailer for The Cajun Cornbread Boy (more on that later).
And I am still processing all that went on at ALA! What a wonderful conference it was!
Until next time…
Warmly, Dianne
{ 0 comments }
7-12-09 Dianne de Las Casas & Neil Gaiman, Winner of the 2009 Newbery Medal for The Graveyard Book
Friends:
What a day! I signed books at the ABC-Clio Libraries Unlimited booth early today. I discovered that I left my camera’s SD card in my laptop at the hotel. Ugh. I took pictures with my phone but had trouble emailing them to myself. So all the pictures I have are from tonight’s Newbery Caldecott banquet.
After signing, I roamed the exhibit floor and ran into Carmen Agra Deedy, who was signing Martina the Beautiful Cockroach at the Children’s Plus booth. She is such a doll. I love her. Who doesn’t?!!!!
Afterwards, I met up with Juliet Bond, Kelly Milner Halls, and Stephanie Reynolds. I had a bite to eat and saw my buddy, MJ Diem for a few brief minutes. Love you, MJ!
Juliet and I wandered the exhibit hall some more when I decided to get some fudge. Lo and behold, I run into my friend, Vickie Beene Beavers, who was standing right behind me in line. The funny thing is we were both laughing so loud at a comment made by a nearby speaker. I turned around to see who was laughing as loud as me and it was Vickie! Her friend, Veronica, was with her and the three of us had some great laughs.
Juliet and I went back to my room and changed for the Newbery Caldecott banquet. What an event! Juliet and I sat at a table with some wonderful librarians. I even met a librarian from the Army Libraries of Europe! The food was great, a prelude to a great evening ahead.
The first awards were to the Caldecott Honor winners – Marla Frazee for A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever, Uri Shulevitz for How I Learned Geography, and Melissa Sweet for A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams. Then came the big Caldecott award. It went to Beth Krommes for The House in the Night, a quiet and sweet bedtime book written by Susan Marie Swanson. Beth Krommes is soft-spoken and elegant woman. She was gracious enough to pull out her Caldecott medal and let me and some other authors hold it!! Just spectacular!
7-12-09 Dianne de Las Casas & Beth Krommes
Then it was time for the Newbery. First the honors were awarded to Kathi Appelt for The Underneath, Ingrid Law for Savvy, Margarita Engle for The Surrender Tree, and Jacqueline Woodson for After Tupac & D Foster.
7-12-09 Dianne de Las Casas & Jacqueline Woodson
Then it was gold medal time… Ok, so I have a crush on Neil Gaiman now. He is so funny and a true wordsmith. His speech was humorous, touching, and inspiring. He said that “children’s fiction is the most important writing of all.” I was so thrilled to be a part of this night because I absolutely loved The Graveyard Book. Meeting Neil Gaiman was the icing on the cake. And yes, his arm was around me!! LOL
Then Ashley Bryan, who is an amazing force on stage, received the Laura Ingalls Wilder award. With audience participation, call and response, and poetry, he enthralled the crowd with his speech. Afterwards, I told him how much I enjoyed his storytelling delivery. He said to me, “I don’t like to let words lie flat on the page. Let them fly!”
7-12-09 Ashley Bryan and Dianne de Las Casas
Again, I ran into my friend, Yuyi Morales, the Pura Belpre illustrator winner for her book, Just in Case. Yuyi is the most gorgeous, sweet and sophisticated woman you will meet. We both presented at the San Benito Literary conference last year and I was privileged to spend time with her. What a woman!
7-12-09 Dianne de Las Casas & Yuyi Morales - look at Yuyi's dress and shoes! Wow!
It was a fabulous day – I wish I could have posted more pictures! I am flying out in the afternoon on Monday. ALA was marvelous but I am ready to be home for a little while!
Until next time…
Warmly, Dianne
{ 1 comment }
7-11-09 Dianne signing books at ABC-Clio Libraries Unlimited
Friends:
Today, I signed books at the American Library Association Conference in Chicago. I was very pleased with the traffic in the exhibit hall – a lot of people came through. One library director bought a copy of each of my books and said that my books were “the best thing she had seen all day.” How cool is that?
I had some friends stop by such as Amanda Leblanc from the South Carolina Association of School Librarians (I presented there in March – awesome conference!) and Becky, Alison & Nancy from the Tennessee Association of School Librarians (where I will be presenting in September). I also ran into Tammy Dibartolo from the Rapides Parish Library system in Louisiana. Thank you so much for stopping by!
7-11-09 Dianne de Las Casas with Nancy & Alison, school librarians from Tennessee
Afterward my book signing, I met up with my good friend and fellow author, Juliet Bond. We had lunch and then toured the exhibit hall, checking out the latest and greatest in children’s books. Of course, we ran into some wonderful people – our author friends in the children’s lit world. I finally met Cynthia Liu face to face (after all that Facebook time! LOL). She is so beautiful and funny. I ran into the gorgeous Yuyi Morales. Then we bumped into Christine Urdahl and Christine Butler.
7-11-09 Dianne de Las Casas & Cynthia Liu
After 4 hours of walking, talking, meeting and greeting, Juliet and I needed to decompressed. We came back to my room and chilled for a couple of hours. Christine Butler invited us to dinner with a group of authors who are doing a non-fiction panel on Sunday morning. So Juliet and I met them at McCormick Schmick’s.
7-11-09 Juliet Bond, Kelly Milner Halls & Dianne de Las Casas
We dined with Kelly Milner Halls, Christine Butler, Hester Bass and her husband, April Pulley Sayre, Amy Hansen, Katherine House, and Gwendolyn (I didn’t get Gwendolyn’s last name!! Argh!). Gwendolyn lives in Oklahoma and I will see her at the Encyclomedia conference, where I am a featured speaker in September. It was a fantabulous evening with good food and even better company. The service was excellent.
7-11-09 A table of illustrious authors at McCormick Schmick. That's Kelly Milner Halls showing her lovely dessert.
Tomorrow, I have a book signing from 10am-12pm at the ABC-Clio Libraries Unlimited booth. Afterwards, I am hanging out with Juliet Bond and we are attending the Caldecott Newberry banquet later that evening. It will be a great day.
Until next time…
Warmly, Dianne
{ 1 comment }
7-10-09 Arriving at Chicago's Ohare Airport, The Concourse of International Flags
Friends:
I arrived in Chicago’s Ohare Airport on Friday, July 10, 2009 for the American Library Association annual conference, after a slightly turbulent flight from New Orleans and a rather hard landing. I headed to the airport shuttle and booked a round-trip ticket to the Chicago Hilton on Michigan Avenue, where I had reservations. Seeing this van should have been an indication about how my day would go. It was a bad “omen.”
7-10-09 The 666 Airport Shuttle
The shuttle ride took 2 hours from the airport to the hotel. Fortunately, the van was full of wonderful people – ladies from England, librarians, ALA exhibitors, and our fabulous driver who even provided us with snacks.
I was so ready to decompress and get to my room after that long shuttle ride. When I arrived at the hotel, I was very dismayed to learn that the hotel did not have my reservation, which I made through the ALA housing system. ALA informed me that someone had cancelled my reservation. Unfortunately, all the hotels in the area were overbooked and sold out. I was “homeless at the Hilton.” But, fortunately, my publisher, Libraries Unlimited, came to my rescue. Barbara Ittner, an editor at Libraries Unlimited, offered to share her room with me. James Ingle, head of international sales, switched rooms with us so that we could have two restrooms. I am sleeping on a pullout sofa bed, which is actually pretty comfy.
My publisher took me to dinner at Fogo de Chao, a Brazilian churasco steakhouse that served 16 kinds of roasted meats carved tableside. It was delicious. Afterwards, we went to a blues club called Buddy Guy’s, right behind the Hilton. Thank you Ron, James & Christie for a fun evening!
7-10-09 The insane amount of meat at Fogo de Chao
Fortunately, all’s well that ends well. I found a place to lay my head and was wined and dined. Yay!
Until next time…
Warmly, Dianne
{ 0 comments }
7-9-09 The audience at Moss Point
Friends:
What a tour I have had in the Jackson-George libraries in Mississippi! The library staff was wonderful and the audiences were an absolute delight. Eliana and I started our day in Moss Point, Mississippi, a sleepy little town just a few miles from Pascagoula. The audience was so receptive and fun-loving!
7-9-09 The Princess Pat at Moss Point
We had a wonderful time with Jennifer, the children’s librarian, and the fabulous volunteers, Shelby and Megan. What sweet girls! Eliana loved the girls and didn’t want to leave the library! Jennifer, thank you for your hospitality!
7-9-09 Eliana with (L-R) Megan, Shelby, and Jennifer (the Moss Point Children's Librarian)
After Moss Point, we headed to Pascagoula for our final show in Mississippi and our final show of the summer. We ate lunch in historic downtown Pascagoula at a casual restaurant called The Cabana. Both Eliana and I had the Mojo pulled pork sandwich. Yum!
7-9-09 Lunch at The Cabana in Pascagoula
For our last show, we had over 100 people in attendance. The Pascagoula audience sang, clapped, and roared with laughter. The children were so sweet.
7-9-09 Performing in Pascagoula
Afterwards, there was a huge line for autographs. I had sold out of The Cajun Cornbread Boy books earlier in the week but the kids wanted me to sign the origami books I gave to every audience member.
7-9-09 Dianne with fans in Pascagoula
Thank you, Mary Ann Louviere, for making our visit to the Mississippi Gulf Coast such a fantastic one! Eliana and I enjoyed every minute of it! You are an absolutely amazing woman! We hope to come back to the Jackson-George libraries soon!
7-9-09 Dianne, Mary Anne Louviere & Eliana
Summer Reading is officially over for me. I fly to Chicago on Friday, July 10, 2009 to sign books at the American Library Association Conference. It will be a fun weekend – I am sure!
Until next time…
Warmly, Dianne
{ 1 comment }
7-8-09 The crowd at St. Martin Library
Friends:
Today, Eliana and I were in St. Martin and Gautier, Mississippi. Our first show at St. Martin was for a very large crowd of about 125 people. I even had fans from yesterday’s shows come again because they loved it so much. So I told a short little string story just for them. The audience was eager and full of energy. I really loved telling stories to this group!
7-8-09 Princesses doing "The Princess Pat"
In between shows, Eliana and I had lunch with our friend, Brent and his son, Devin. We ate at New Orleans Style Po-Boys but ended up eating delicious Vietnamese cuisine instead of po-boys. Thanks for lunch, Brent!
Our afternoon show was in Gautier, Mississippi. The audience was smaller than our morning show but nevertheless enthusiastic. They loved receiving the 6 page books that accompany my story, “The King’s Advisor.”
7-8-09 Dianne telling the story of "The King's Advisor"
I had a long line of children who requested my autographs on those little books. Eliana signed autographs too, which totally excited her. Eliana, you are a little star!
After our show, I had to pick up a new wireless headset Shure microphone (mine had broken earlier in the week) from the Mississippi Music Store. They were so nice and provided incredible customer service! Thanks Donnie & Chris! It will be so nice to be hands-free again!
Then it was time to head back to our hotel, The Imperial Palace in Biloxi. I promised Eliana we would swim. Yesterday, the pool was closed because of weather. The day before, the rain made the rooftop pool too cool for swimming in the late afternoon. Fortunately, Mother Nature cooperated and it was perfect weather for a late afternoon swim. The pool is massive, with a jumbo TV screen at one end!
7-8-09 The massive rooftop pool at the Imperial Palace
Eliana had a wonderful time. She is really becoming quite the little swimmer!
7-8-09 Eliana lays on a leaf lounge at the pool
It was the perfect end for a perfect day. Tomorrow is our last day in Mississippi. 
While it will be nice to return home, we have had such a wonderful time in the Magnolia State.
Until next time…
Warmly, Dianne
{ 0 comments }
7-7-09 Performance at Ocean Springs Library
Friends:
It was another fabulous day in Mississippi! Eliana and I had our first show in the lovely town of Ocean Springs. The staff was so nice – thank you Allison, for your hospitality and thank you, Elliott, for your muscle! The kids and I had so much fun!
Our next show was in Vancleave. I love the patrons at that library! The kids were so participatory and we had a blast.
7-7-09 Getting silly at the Vancleave Library
I met some fabulous people like Tonya Ross, Susan Collier and her daughter, Samantha Hanson, who totally brightened my day. You are awesome!
7-7-09 Susan Collier, Samantha Hanson, Dianne & Eliana
Later, Eliana and I had dinner with some of the Jackson-George librarians – Mary Ann Louviere – the youth services coordinator, Alison from Ocean Springs Library, Micki from East Central Library, and Micki’s husband Mike. We ate at Mediterraneo in downtown Ocean Springs. The food was absolutely divine. Eliana and I had tapas – fried artichoke hearts, seared tuna with a ginger miso sauce, spanokopita, dolmades and stuffed piquillo peppers. Wow!
7-7-09 Allison, Mary Ann, Micki, Mike, Dianne & Eliana at Mediterraneo in Ocean Springs
I am sure the rest of the week will be just as wonderful!
Until next time…
Warmly, Dianne
{ 0 comments }
7-6-09 Dianne performing with kids from the audience at the Lucedale Library
Friends:
Today, Eliana and I began our tour in the Jackson-George Regional Libraries in Mississippi. We met Mary Ann Louviere, our gracious hostess and the children’s services coordinator for the region at a park and ride off I-10 and followed her to our first library in Lucedale. The audience was so much fun! We had a big crowd of enthusiastic children. After going through two microphones, the third one was a charm. Even when your microphones go out in the middle of the show, the show must go on, and it did!
Afterwards, the kids lined up for autographs and book signings. Here I am, signing a gigantic poster that the library designed and gave away as a prize. It was designed by Rex Bridges, the library system’s PR coordinator. Thank you for making me look so good, Rex!
7-6-09 Signing a giant poster for a fan
One little boy told me that I was “prettier in person” while another boy told me I was “prettier than a rose.” How sweet is that? Here I am with those little “Romeos!” Thank you, boys! I <3 U!
7-6-09 Dianne with her Lucedale "boyfans." LOL
After lunch with Mary Ann at Pockets Diner (a restaurant and pool hall with the best burgers), we headed to East Central Library. The crowd was smaller but nonetheless enthusiastic and fun.
7-6-09 Going low with "How loose is your goose?"
They loved The Cajun Cornbread Boy! Between the two shows, I am nearly sold out of books! I have five left for the rest of the week!
7-6-09 Dianne showing The Cajun Cornbread Boy to audience at East C
Afterwards, we stayed for some fun. Eliana joined the teens for an end-of-summer karaoke party. She sang and even joined the group in a rendition of High School Musical’s “We’re All In This Together!”
Eliana sings with teens at end of summer karaoke party at East Central
Special thanks to Cindy and Micki for your gracious hospitality! Thank you, Mary Ann, for inviting me to the Jackson-George Regional Libraries. We are loving our visit and look forward to the rest of our week on the Mississippi Gulf Coast!
Until next time…
Warmly, Dianne
{ 0 comments }
7-5-09 Welcome to West Ship Island
Friends:
My family and I took a day trip to West Ship Island, located 11 miles off the coast in the Mississippi Sound. To get there, you have to take an hour ferry ride.
7-5-09 Camrynn, Eliana, Jourdan & Jasmynn on the ferry to West Ship Island
It was a nice ride across the sound. We even saw dolphins and a dredging station that keeps the channel deep enough for ships to pass through.
7-5-09 The Mississippi Sound Dredging Station
Once we docked, we walked a long pier leading to the other side of the island. I saw a fisherman snipping the barb from a stingray he caught right by the pier.
7-5-09 A fisherman snipping a stingray
We took a tour of Fort Massachusetts. West Ship Island has an amazing history and was once one of the first line of military defenses for the United States. After our tour, we headed for the beach, walking the never-ending stretch of boardwalk. But the walk was worth it. The white and black sand intermingled on the pretty beach. The water, sea green in color, was pretty clear, warm and shallow. The waves were minimal.
There were tons of sheephead fish and they were not afraid of us at all! I even saw a stingray. We played in the surf and sand all day. I amassed quite a sunburn although I reapplied my sunscreen several times. Eliana and the girls caught a hermit crab.
7-5-09 Eliana, Camrynn & Ashlynn catch a hermit crab
It was so much fun. Playing in the sun sure does take its toll. Look at Eliana!
7-5-09 Eliana falls asleep on Soleil's lap on the ferry back to Gulfport.
We had an awesome time and highly recommend West Ship Island as a family destination.
Until next time…
Warmly, Dianne
{ 0 comments }
