Lauri Meyers .

We are talking subversive books this month, and today I want to cover the oh-so-shameful topic of nudity in picture books . GASP!   Since nudity has caused books to be banned , it's appropriate to consider in a subversive light.  I'm going to start with the blatant books which use NAKED right in the title.     "They brought Wilbur to a giant portrait of Grand-pah, the oldest, greatest, and most naked naked mole rat ever." ( Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed , by Mo Willems) Please use your best movie commercial voice for the following: " In a world where everyone is naked, one naked mole rat dares to wear clothes."   Mo turns the tables on us. He makes us feel uncomfortable not by the nudity, but by the un-nudity. And in doing so he weaves a lovely tale of being yourself. "and ONE naked baby goes back in the bath!"  ( One Naked Baby , by Maggie Smith) This book has been a staple in our house for six years, because it made my ...

I have a picture book idea which is a tad subversive - y'know, a little cannibalism, inappropriate toad jokes, poop-eating, etc. I really want to write this book. I'm positive I can decapitate a cute bunny rabbit is a very classy way. (I'm sure I've made this sound worse than it is...or perhaps not wicked enough.) But... Approaching the critique group with such a wild beast of a manuscript is a challenge. I'm guilty of critiquing out others subversive attempts too. "Your protagonist cannot eat the antagonist in a picture book." (It's happened) "Why was this child alone?" (PBs do it all the time.) "The deep dark woods seem a little scary for the 4-6 crowd." (Well... that's where the wild things are.) So I'm becoming a student of the subversive. Today I want to look at the class of books where the parents are missing, but really aren't "missed." A great picture book rule is to get rid of ...

I do really love summer, but WOW does it get busy and go fast! I have had some great things happen in these last few weeks of summer: 1. Hugged a Dinger and a Honker at the same time. (see picture if you are unfamiliar with these characters!) 2. Realized my irrational optimism is genetic when my dad lost his prescription glasses in a wave and my mom and I searched the ocean floor like crazy people. We found a grocery bag, a pair of underwear, 4 pairs of sunglasses, a stingray barb, and eventually... his glasses. 3. Had a red postman butterfly lay a tiny orange egg on my head at the butterfly museum. I'm pretty sure this was a message of love from my grandparents. 4. Have a pumpkin growing from last year's jack o'lantern seeds. 5. Received a magazine acceptance from Stinkwaves for the January 2015 issue! 6. Took the bus into the city all by my big girl self to attend the Children's Book Writing Intensive class at Gotham Writers' Workshop . 7. Won ...

I was tagged to the Writing Process Blog Hop by Telaina Muir who shared her writing process  last Monday. Thank you for tagging me, Telaina!  1. What am I working on right now? Mainly I'm focused on maintaining my sanity until summer comes to an end and the kids go back to school. Oh, you mean what am I writing? My three best picture book manuscripts are in the freezer right now after significant revisions in July. I'm working on a nonfiction biography picture book, but I keep finding new research that is throwing off my story. Ugh, the  risks of research! I have two PBs I want to try as Easy Readers. I have a feeling they may spark in that format, it's just a matter of trying something new. I'm indulging my dark YA side with a story about a particularly wicked water witch. I was planning to submit this to Spellbound for their Elementals theme, but I just read they are closing. Bummers.  My back log of critiques-received-not-yet-edited piece...

I flew around time yesterday. The wild journey began with a radio station playing all the hits of my life - those key songs that spark a memory. Songs which are inextricably intertwined with a memory cause instant transportation to that moment any time the rhythm starts. Many of my Song Warps are clearly YA memories, and I don't kiss and tell. But there are a few more appropriate ones: Copacabana, by Barry Manilow. Year: 1978. Setting: My Grandpa's living room: imagine dark paneling, those little vintage glass bottles in assorted colors, large floral print couches, and a wooden parrot. My grandpa had hands the size of basketballs from years of working on the railroad, fighting in Normandy, and a long career in construction. But he always held my tiny hands gently when we danced to the Copacabana. *sidenote* It's funny to think we were actually listening to a Top 40 hit and not an oldie as I always thought of it- like me dancing with my girls to Roar .  The Wa...

After I posted the conference recommended books, Romelle commented she couldn't wait to hear about the rest of my experience. *winces* You see, my plan was to put the book list out there and then not have to actually share anything else about the conference. Without any big news (y'know, like an agent or a contract) I wasn't sure my conference experience was anything other than pretty standard: - I learned a ton from excellent presentations, - I met agents and editors which is a million times better than their online bios, - I saw old writing friends and made new friends, - I ate a lot of cheesecake. Yep, pretty standard really.  But I guess I can be brave and share my other experiences. I had a manuscript critique with an editor. She gave me an excellent critique which was well worth the money.  Then she asked about me (isn't that so nice when people do that?) which of course I wasn't prepared for. ( Funny, I'm pretty close with myself, but ...

I have finally returned to my normal self after having my brain imploded with amazing information at the NJSCBWI Conference last weekend. I shared Picture Books on Monday. Here were the YA and MG recommendations I noted from agents and editors at the conference.  (Fewer because I mostly hit PB-focused sessions) YA True Meaning of Smekday , by Adam Rex All the Boys I've Loved , by Jenny Han The Namesake , by Jhumpa Lahiri I already ordered this one. I have to admit I hadn't heard of it before. It is an art-focused book, but was recommended for for picture book writers, too! When Mr. Dog Bites , by Brian Conaghan We Were Liars , by E. Lockhart If We Kis s, by Rachel Vail MG Secrets of the Book , by Erin Fry Okay for Now , by Gary Schmidt The Water Castle , by Megan Blakemore Zora and Me ,  by Victoria Bond and T. R. Simon Three Times Lucky ,  by Sheila Turnage Writing Picture This: How Pictures Work , by Molly Bang Dear G...