Home again...briefly

You can click on any of these photos to enlarge.

First, a photo just sent to me from the recent event at the Kennedy Library: me at the podium, introducing gorgeous Alice Hoffman, who appears to be listening attentively. Alice is now off touring for her new book, The Third Angel, and it wouldn't surprise me if we were to run into each other at an airport someplace!

Next, a stack of books waiting to be autographed at Politics and Prose, the wonderful bookstore in Washington DC. I spent the past week first in Baltimore, then Washington (where I was competing with The Pope), then Philadelphia (where Hillary and Barack were just down the street).

And - another photo: This is an incredible cake crated by a mom! I was at St. Alban's School in Washington DC, for an evening event sponsored by the parent-and-boy book club (many dads there! How great is THAT!) The Willougbys cake was done by Malcolm's mother...I'm sorry I can't remember thier last name, and surely she deserves to go down in history! It tasted good, too!

Finally, an audience of 7th-8th graders brought from their schools by bus to the library in Chestnut Hill, part of Philadelphia. This was a great bunch of kids. Well behaved, lots of questions, and after the event, as I walked through the library to get back to where my driver was waiting, I could see groups of them lined up to get library cards!

During a Q-and-A with these kids, one of them asked a question about the meaning of "release" in The Giver. I began to answer, then noticed a boy in the front row had put his hands over his ears, and was groaning. I stopped talking and asked if he was okay. "I haven't finished reading it yet!" he wailed. "Don't ruin it!"

So of course I didn't.

Early Monday morning I take off again, this time flying to Los Angeles for two days of meetings at Warner Brothers, about the film of "The Giver."

And when am I finding any time to write? Well, right now I'm not. But on May 5th I will head back to Maine for some uninterrupted time there, during which I will re-open (literally, on my computer) a manuscript that has been neglected now for too long.

Tulips in my Cambridge yard are close to blooming, and the forsythia that so distinguishes our house (for one week each spring, people can give directions by saying, "Turn left by the house with the forsythia") is almost at its magnificent peak.

And now I must turn my attention to today's NY Times crossword.

Comments

[Christine Eldin]

"The Giver" is going to be a film!?!!! I'm new to your blog, so I didn't know! Many congratulations! I love your book, and can't wait to share it with my children.
As a Bal'morian, I hope you enjoyed your visit. Wish I were there (our family lives half the year out of the country. will be back home in June).
Awesome cake!!
:-)

[Jennifer D G]

My daughters and I are enjoying THE WILLOUGHBYS right now and we don't find the artwork to be at all ignominious. In fact I was wondering who the artist was for your website. I think I know now.

And the cake in the photo - Wow! I wouldn't be certain whether to eat it or read it!

[Dawn]

A new manuscript? Can you give us a clue of what it is about? Is it a book in a series? (hint, hint)

[Lois Lowry]

No, sorry; I don't like to talk about things when I'm working on them!