Kids Can Figure Things Out For Themselves! Really!

Why do so many publishers underestimate the intelligence and intuition of children? When a book is set in another time and/or another place it's very jarring to suddenly read a modern phrase or sentence structure that propels you back into the here and/or now. In England it's common to say 'out of the window' and 'at the back of the house,' not 'out the window' or 'in back of the house.' A child will understand the difference or figure it out. 'Sidewalk' is North American and 'pavement' is English. The context will make the meaning clear. Please don't insult the child by assuming you need to translate! With more difficult words or concepts there's nothing wrong with a footnote. I'm reading a very good book for young readers which takes place in Victorian London. Unfortunately, now and then, a word appears out of time and place. The narrator uses the word 'bangs' to describe her hairdo but the word is 'fringe' in England. Even without an explanation the meaning of the word 'fringe' is easy to figure out. So editors, please don't talk down to the kids. They want a challenge.

Open Auditions for Kol Halev: Monday June 27 6:30pm to 9:30pm

'Hanukkah in Chelm' is being mounted again this year. There'll be two performances - one on sunday Dec. 11th at the Arts Club and the second on Sunday Dec. 18 at Performance Works. Rehearsals begin in September. Audition location is Vancouver Tap Dance Society, 2775 East Hastings St. Vancouver. We want adults and children from age 10 and older. Be prepared to do a cold reading.
Dancers of all skill levels with experience in folk, jazz, musical theatre body percussion, tap. Bring your dance shoes.
Singers, adult and children, come prepared to sing a capella. Please prepare 16 bars of Broadway style musical theatre songs, one ballad and one uptempo.
Bring a resume and head shot if you have one.
If you have an unusual performance skill that you'd like to audition please call and enquire. We are looking for speciality acts.
I wrote the show and lyrics, Dave Ivaz and John Maas wrote the music. Teryl Rothery will direct, Shel Piercy and Sue Cohene will produce.
Call 604 263 6844 to confirm your attendance, or email at info@kolhalev.ca

Merchant of Venice

The play is on Broadway and at Vancouver's Bard on the Beach, and you'd think that by now someone would have taken the leap to a new and yet obvious level of interpretation. But no. So without further ado, and with no explanation necessary, here is a partial list of the ideal cast which should really speak for itself:

James Earl Jones or Morgan Freeman - Shylock
Halle Berry - Jessica
Gwyneth Paltrow - Portia
Neil Patrick Harris - Bassanio
Brad Pitt - Antonio

Okay, maybe a little explanation. Shylock is the only major character who doesn't want to be someone or something else. Everyone else is trying to 'pass.' Bassanio and Antonio want each other, but have to pretend otherwise. Portia wants to be a man so she can be free to do what she wants (be a lawyer?), Jessica yearns to cast off the constraints of the Ghetto and step into the life Portia has (but would like to leave)and pass as a White Christian - not because of any spiritual 'epiphany' or even love. If there are any gutsy, imaginative directors out there please feel free to use this information and all I want is a footnote mention in the programme.

Roswell New Mexico Has My Latest Book

The Roswell Public Library has 'Can Hens Give Milk?' When I found this out my immediate reaction was, 'Are aliens reading my book?' How wonderful. Well, I welcome all children, alien or otherwise, to read my books. I also urge you to visit your local library and enjoy the treasures therein. And that means you!

Kate Atkinson - and Me!

Have you ever stepped into the pages of a book and didn't want to climb back out again? I've probably mentioned this before, but sometimes you just feel as if you are a character in the novel you are reading, and that happened with 'Case Histories' by Kate Atkinson. I just finished reading the book yesterday. I couldn't put it down! I read it all the way to Bowen Island and back, only looking up now and then to admire the beautiful view of mountains and mist in the trees, and the wake of the ferry as we headed back to Vancouver. Atkinson seems to know people very well, and how we think and feel, which is often different from how we say we think and feel. And she captures the simple straightforwardness of children as few other writers can. 'Case Histories' is not a kid's book, but many book-loving teenagers would enjoy it.
And now for ME!
The book launch for 'Can Hens Give Milk?' went very well. There were seven writers - not just the six as previously advertised - launching eight books. I want to thank everyone who showed up to listen to our short speeches, nibble the food and buy copies of the books. I bought three books! Vancouver Kidsbooks' Phyllis Simon is a wonderful host and supporter of children's literature - in fact of all literature. I often buy my grown up books there (including Kate Atkinson novels).
READ. WRITE. HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.

Massachusetts Children's Book Award Nominee, And No One Told Me.

Because I'm a bit self centred I often Google my name. That's how I discovered that 'Honey Cake' had been nominated for yet another award - which it didn't win, but that's not the point. The award originated with Salem State University and it's a readers' choice award. The winners were announced around April 27th, 2011, but I didn't even have a chance to say, 'Oh, I'm just happy to be nominated,' or 'It's wonderful to be included on such an illustrious list of authors.' Which it is, by the way.
I feel as if I'd arrived at a party after all the guests had left. Never mind. It is an honour to have been nominated for another award.
The winner is: '11 Birthdays' by Wendy Mass
Honor books are: 'No Talking!' by Andrew Clements
'Savvy' by Ingrid Law
'The Magic Half' by Annie Barrows
'The Other Side of the Island' by Allegra Goodman
Congratulations to one and all.

Joy of Re-Writing

Yes, it can be joy - sometimes. I find it joyful if it comes from me rather than a publisher or editor. I suddenly thought of changes (for the better) that I could make to a story I first wrote many years ago, back in the 1980s. It's been through quite a few changes since then but this week I put it through a total transformation and then some re-writes. It actually gave me a little thrill to read it over. I'll leave it to ripen a bit more before I re-read and then send it somewhere.
I've also taken a deep breath, decided not to panic, and just work on different stories as the inspiration hits me. For, lo and behold, I read a few scenes from two of the stories I have not looked at for quite some time, and I thought, 'How brilliant? Who could possibly have written such gripping prose? ... Why, bless my soul, 'tis I!'