Recently I finished a new Gooney Bird book which takes place in February, just before the children go off on thier school vacation ("Gooney Bird on the Map"..the second-graders are studying geogaphy); it will be published next fall. So I have been thinking about February, and what a crummy month is usually is...weatherwise, at least.
But yesterday was my February child's (my oldest child)'s birthday...she is FIFTY THREE! How did that happen?!...and I was remembering how excited I was (I was TWENTY!) to be driven to the hosptal in New London, Connecticut, that cold morning. It was a Thursday. She was born that evening, and in those days new moms stayed in the hospital for a few days...unlike now. So there I was, thrilled to have my pink-cheeked, reddish-blond-haired baby girl (and I also had a good book, I remember: I was reading Dreiser's "An American Tragedy" (see, I was scholarly even when I was a college drop-out and a too-young mother); and that weekend a big snowstorm hit Connecticut. Much of the hospital staff couldn't get to work. So it was very bare-bones and quiet in the corridors. Quite a nice little vacation, actually, with a book, a baby, and food on a tray.
Here she is six week later:
wearing her grandmother's christening gown.
I have just finished the first draft of Part 2 of the fourth book in what was once The Giver trilogy, soon to be, I guess, quartet. It is now at 309 pages so I expect the final first draft will be well over 400, the longest book I've done. And it is taking forever because I interrupt it with other, shorter projects (and also trips, moving, movies, and real life in all its various forms)
This house officially goes on the market February 27th (photo from real estate brochure):
...and in the meantime, they are starting work on our new and smaller place: bookcases, etc. If this house is sold we will move in late May and so between now and then I will have to face the monumental task of sorting things out and making decisions. AND a book tour (for "Bless This Mouse") in late March. AND the Arbuthnot Lectre (St. Louis, mid-April). AND the IRA convention (early-May) etc. etc.
But I focus on smaller increments of time. Tuesday, an eye appintment. Tuesday night a friend arrives from California, for two nights. Thursday and Friday mornings I spend at two different schools...something I almost NEVER do anymore.
Oh dear, I am falling into the Blog Trap: Recitation of My Life. How dull is that! February is the cause. We all become lifeless and boring in February.
Sorry. :-(
Happy Valentine's Day!
I hope the IRA convention doesn't have anything to do with the Irish Rep. Army! :) You must have a giant appointment book and more stamina than the protesters in Tahrir square, which, if I may be so bold, is turning out be the "French Revolution of the 21st. Century."
The fourth installment on the Giver series ( can it be called a series now?) a prolific writer you are. (oops I'm sounding like Yoda) Most writers have a hard time finshing one story, or have nightmares about getting started, a la "Barton Fink"
As for Febrrurary, I agree, I even have problems pronouncing the pesky word!
Cheers!
Posted by: ojimenez | February 14, 2011 at 10:00 AM
Oooh - I'm excited to hear about a fourth "Giver" book!
I wrote my own uninspiring blog post today. Eh. Some days are like that!
I LOVE that photo, how could anyone not want to buy your home. (Sorry about the moving though, that is not fun.)
Posted by: Kelsey | February 14, 2011 at 10:54 AM
Thank you for bringing smiles on a dull day in Oregon. I had to laugh at your "labor and delivery" book choice of Dreiser. Nowadays, most new mothers probably watch television
Congratulations on your daughter's birthday, too. I think mothers should always be congratulated on the birthdays of their children. After all, they were doing the hard work.
Posted by: Michael Gettel-Gilmartin | February 14, 2011 at 01:44 PM
I, too, am very excited about the fourth Giver book already, and I have many, many students-- past and present-- who will surely be excited, too, when they see it hit the market. Some are already wondering who the main character will be. :)
Any news on the Giver movie?
Posted by: Jennifer Fischer (previously Elliott) | February 21, 2011 at 01:52 PM
My whole (second grade) class cheered when I told them about the new Gooney Bird Greene book. They love Gooney Bird and have taken to wearing quite the interesting clothing combinations from time to time- they say it's a Gooney Bird influence. I'm positive this new book will help keep next February from being so "lifeless and boring."
Posted by: Betty | March 01, 2011 at 08:01 AM
A fourth book! As I sit in my classroom, I'm fidgeting because my students have just left and I want to tell them the good news! We just finished The Giver yesterday, and you'll be happy to know that all of my copies of Gathering Blue were checked out immediately! They LOVE the story!
Posted by: Dawn Farmer | March 08, 2011 at 12:11 PM
Indeed, what a serious choice of books for a time-with-baby holiday! I spent some time in the hospital with my dad a couple of months ago and intentionally chose only "easy" books to bring along. Maybe I should have set my sights higher!
Actually, though, one of the things I've found really interesting about your works is their range. I think most of us like to intersperse "hard" reading with "easy" breaks, but I don't know how many of us could actually write both The Willoughbys and The Giver! (Both are GREAT)
Love the baby pictures too!
Posted by: Juliana Rowland | March 16, 2011 at 05:18 AM