Coming Up for Air

Today I feel like a swimmer who has traveled a long way underwater and then, upon surfacing, looks around in confusion at her surroundings. My thoughts go something like this: How could I have ended up here, near the end of July, when I dove into this project way back there, in February?

The weeks in between are a blur, which explains why I've neglected this blog for so long. I had hoped to use it as a sort of journal, chronicling my experiences as a working writer. But I’ve been so busy with the “working” part that I’ve barely had time to breathe, let alone do any “journaling.” And although I regret the missed opportunity, I can at least look back at the past few amazing months and summarize the experience as best I can.

In February I began writing the sequel to Anna Mei, Cartoon Girl. The basics of the storyline had been approved by the editorial staff at Pauline Books & Media, but Diane, the wonderful editor who had guided me through rewrites on the original book, had left for another job. While I continued to churn out pages, I definitely felt the lack of guidance. And I worried whether the new editor they eventually hired would want massive changes.

In the middle of all this, Anna Mei, Cartoon Girl was released on April 1st! What a thrill to open a carton of books and hold them in my hands. Suddenly my efforts turned from working on the new book to promoting this one.

I started by creating a special Anna Mei website, so that readers could easily find reviews, a list of booksellers, resources and some book-related projects and information for kids. I visited local bookstores with ordering information, so they could stock the book. I also created teacher packets and delivered them to local schools, hoping that teachers might read the book over the summer and consider using it in their classrooms this fall. The packets included an article I wrote about Anna Mei, which appeared in the spring issue of PBM's
quarterly magazine.

My most exciting event during this time was throwing a book launch party in May, so friends and family could come and celebrate this milestone with me. I signed a lot of books that day and really enjoyed chatting with everyone who stopped by.

Then in June, I was invited to make my very first school presentations. I traveled to my nieces' school in upstate New York to meet with kids in grades K-6 about being a children’s writer, and to talk with them about Anna Mei and Friend 2 Friend. I was really nervous but the kids were enthusiastic and asked amazing questions (“Was it hard having an editor who wanted you to change your words?” This from a third grader!) The school had even arranged to have newspaper coverage of my visit, and a nice article appeared in the local paper the very next day. My first press clipping! The reporter did a good job of transcribing my remarks, but I'm not too happy with the picture of me with my eyes closed...

Following the school presentations, I was the guest of honor at a reception hosted by my brother and sister-in-law, whose two daughters helped inspire the story of Anna Mei (that's eight-year-old Ana in the picture). I met a lot of friendly and interesting people, including quite
a few kids who confided that they liked to write stories, too. I loved signing their books and encouraging them to keep at it—and to save those stories and poems! I wanted them to know that even unfinished ones can serve as a springboard to a new project.

Only a few days after arriving home from that trip, I drove to Grand Rapids to do a book sale and signing at an annual event for families with adopted children from China, Eastern Europe, Korea and Latin America. My niece Kristina, who is from Russia, has been attending the camp for several years. I met quite a few of the girls adopted from China—several were actually named Anna! Some of their parents told me that it’s very difficult to find books for this age group that include—let alone feature—an adopted character. Although anyone who has ever worried about fitting in will be able to relate to Anna Mei, I hope the story resonates in a special way with these girls.

Meanwhile, with all of this going on, there was one more little thing I was supposed to be doing, something about writing another book...? At some point along the way a new children’s editor was hired, and with Jaymie’s expert guidance, I was able to keep the project from going off course and off schedule. After months of hard work we ironed out the last few details last week. Which means I’m delighted to report that the book is now finished! It’s scheduled to be released in February 2011 and features an expanded role for Anna Mei’s friend Zandra, as well as much more about Danny Gallagher, a character who has received quite a lot of fan mail. In fact, if Anna Mei is not careful, he’s liable to steal these stories right out from under her nose!

I have much more to talk about—both writing-related and life-related—but the rest will have to wait a little while. Now that I've resurfaced I need some time to feel the sun on my face and solid ground under my feel. I need to reflect on the journey I've just taken. And most of all, I need a nice, long nap.

Painting: The Swimmer by Lina Golan