Cats and Jammers Studio

Before Miley, there was Evelyn...

Let me first admit to this:

I was one of the old fart parents who was so saddened to see the provocative photo of Miley Cyrus in Vanity Fair recently. To me, the picture was clearly sensuous in a way that it should not have been for a 15 year old. It's especially bothersome since I think that she is a quite talented and charismatic little performer, who has great comic timing and the chance to mature in into a comedienne of the first order in films and TV shows. As far as I am concerned she does not need to sell herself as sexy. Funny is sexy in a better way.

So, with that in mind, I found it ironic (or was it some sort of cosmos putting me in my place?) that my pre-ordered copy this book by Paula Uruburu arrived:

AMERCIAN EVE
EVELYN NESBIT, STANFORD WHITE
The Birth of the "It" Girl"
and the
CRIME OF THE CENTURY

For those of you unfamiliar with the story of Evelyn Nesbit, she was the first real American superstar and the first "media created" celebrity. The very abbreviated story goes like this:

The mother--Evelyn Florence Mackenzie Nesbit-- found herself impoverished in Pennsylvania when her lawyer husband died very suddenly, leaving his family penniless. During the next several years the mother and her two children shuffled around the state from relative to boarding house and back again until Florence Evelyn, the younger, who was always a strikingly beautiful little girl , is "discovered" by an elderly female artist in Philadelphia. Before very long, she is posing for painters in the area and is the sole support of her family.

They move to New York City, where she continues to pose for well respected artists such as Beckwith and Church and for those studying in such places as The Art Students' League. In addition, she is photographed. And that face becomes "the face" of the turn of the century on everything you can think of: magazines, newspapers, postcards, chocolates, calendars, soaps, and so forth. She is the inspiration behind the "Gibson girl." To say she epitomized a look of the times, is an understatement. She WAS the look and the face of the times.

Enter Stanford White, 48, renowned architect and lover of all things beautiful, including very young girls. He is also a New York celebrity in his own right and the creator of many buildings, including Madison Square Garden with its famous roof top theater and apartment.

Evelyn is seduced by Mr. White, at the age of 16 and they become lovers, while the undercurrent of the righteous right moralists do battle with what they perceive to be the debauchery of the era, which is really the pending end of the Victorian age. One member of this so-called group is millionaire playboy (it is assumed the term was actually coined for him) Harry. K. Thaw of Pittsburgh who is fascinated by Evelyn and sets out to win her affections, as much as he also sets out to destroy the likes of White, whom he perceives as his opponent in more ways than the mere vying for the attentions of Evelyn. After all, they don’t call him "Mad Harry" for nothing.

The rest of the story is that Evelyn does become Mrs. Thaw, and not too long afterward in 1906, Harry murders White in a very public setting because " he ruined my wife and my life." Thaw is eventually acquitted by reason of insanity. This affair preoccupied the public for several years, since the first trial ended in a hung jury. This entire affair was riveting for the public and was even more a part of the collective consciousness than the OJ trial.

The book and the story of Evelyn captivated me. I love that turn of the last century era. It also reminded me that girls are not really turned into sex objects any younger nowadays than they were more than a hundred years ago. Miley was 15 when that photo was shot for Vanity Fair by Annie Leibowitz. Evelyn’s pictures in very provocative poses (even more because of the times?) emerged at 14, 15, and 16. I’ve posted some here.

The book was a great read. I think it would be a very good older YA non-fiction read. The narrative of Uruburu marches the story along in a way that makes it feel so very relevant to present times and issues. I loved the way the author incorporated some of the slang of the era; it effectively put me in the 1900 mindset to hear certain phrases--many of which we still use today. She also successfully tells the tale in a manner that had me, the reader, standing right there, viewing the sad plot up close as it unfolds.

I guess I’ve come to realize that no matter how much in 2008 we think of ourselves as progressive, things are not really so different than they were a century ago. What I can’t decide, however, is if that thought makes me resigned, saddened, or relieved. Or none of those things. But it does fascinate me, that’s for sure.

Precious stolen moments with "The Book Thief"

I've been busy working.

Right now, besides my continuing kid work, my work is mostly about drawing. I've created the first round of sketches for the next Bones book by David A. Adler. And I am creating the art for a dummy book that goes with a brand new story, soon-to-be shopped around by my agent. Oh, I've not completely abandoned my writing. I ‘ve also started writing a brand new story called "Most Fickle" based on a true story about my husband and I that took place when we were in the ninth grade. And I have been doing revisions on my latest picture book manuscripts.

Still, mostly I have been drawing. And because I have been drawing I get to use the part of me that exists and draws from somewhere between my conscious and my subconscious brain. It's that same place that many of you go to when you drive to work every day, but you can’t remember how you got there-- you just drive by instinct. That is the place I draw and paint from. I think it's located nearer to my heart and farther away from my head. In this place my mind wanders, while my gut makes art.

But to go there to that place, I need to space out. The way I space out is to think about something else while I draw. Not while I create the initial layout, mind you. For that stage I have to “be there.” At that stage I need to think about the text and I need awareness and focus for that. But once I decide what goes where, where the page breaks are, and once I rough out the art--very roughly-- I space out. That is the time I take those very, very rough quick sketches and refine them, bringing them to a better level. My instinctive subconscious does that for me. My conscious head would get in the way.

How do I get to my Zen state? I think about other stuff. Sometimes it is a phone call with a friend, and sometimes it is TV. But lately, it is audio books. And I am now thoroughly addicted. Bless you, Audible.com.

Not long ago I finished listening to Rules of Survival by Nancy Werlin. That was very good. I got lost in that world and found the reader, Daniel Passer to be a very effective voice in putting me into the action.

I just now finished listening to The book Thief by Marcus Zusak. Literally, JUST NOW. The tears are barely dry in my eyes. The words of the story narrator, DEATH, will stay with me forever, as will the story itself and the characters and the setting that now is very real in my mind's eye. This book is the kind of poetic, literary substance that does not come along very often for me. The images and story took me away and rattled in my head, even after the drawing was done for the day and I was back to chauffeur mom and homework taskmaster. I found myself thinking about Liesel and Rudy and Papa and Rosa. I found myself calling people "auslach" (please pardon my spelling if I am off) which is German for "asshole."

This book went so far as to make me think about why I have come to enjoy writing as much as I haved always enjoyed drawing. It is THAT good.

I have to say, that after listening to the American accented Daniel Passer read “Rules” so nicely, I experienced some minor difficulty transitioning to the British accented Allan Corduner as he read The Book Thief. But once I got on board, I was carried away completely, and his ability to adopt German accents for the main characters and inhabit their voices and their world was just superb. Listening to him read this book has been a most enjoyable 13 hours and 56 minutes. And the time spent has not only been enjoyable from a literary point of view and a soul feeding point of view. It has been wonderful as a tool for de-stressing, as well as the key to unlocking the door to “that place.” . I have created a great deal of art while I listened, and the sketches I’ve done? Well, I think they are some of my best.

Can’t wait to download another and return to my private outer space….

Poetry Friday A day Early: Fireflies!

I am jumping the gun today.

First, I am jumping the gun on Poetry Friday because for the next two days, things are going to be even crazier around my house than usual. And that means, "Oh, boy." And since I have been meaning to blog about this book for a while, I figured I would just get a head start.

I am also jumping the gun because it is not yet firefly season yet up north (is it the season already down south?). In fact, the best time for them as far as I am concerned is right around the fourth of July, up in New Hampshire, where one recent year we had the experience of seeing the twinkling bugs in the bushes, while at the very same moments, there were fireworks in the sky all around the lake. It was spectacular!

When I was young and living in New Jersey, I have a vivid memory of warm summer nights and running around trying to catch what we called "lightning bugs." And then, many years passed, and it seems like I was always living in places forever where there were none. Was it that they weren't there or did my life become too busy and complicated to see them?

Because this feeling of having lost a simple pleasure and barely noticing it was gone (until fairly recently in New Hampshire) I have to write about Firefly Mountain, by Patricia Thomas.

This book brought back time and place for me, and I think of that as what perfect poetry should be: evocative and transporting. I am not sure whether or not the story was meant to be free verse, but this book so perfectly reads like a poem that I thought that poetry Friday was the ideal place to blog about it. The story is direct, unpretentious, and very accessible. I happen to like it when poetry succeeds without being esoteric and hard to reach.

Yet, even with its total simplicity, the voice and memory of the little girl narrator precisely sets the mood by conjuring up vivd imagery. The painterly illustrations are very subtle. So subtle, in fact, that they simply provide the perfect background music for the lyrics of Ms. Thomas' song, rather than "illustrate." Coming from an illustrator, I do not think I have ever felt that book art should virtually disappear into the background and not be narrative, but here I am saying that this book works very well because that is exactly what happens. Honestly, there are books that I love and that I wish I had created myself. (like Shivers in the Fridge). This is not one of those books, because my style of illustrating is to to assist in the telling of the story, not sit back and hum along. I could not work this way if I tried. Still, I love this book because of it. The illustrator of this book is Peter Sylvada. He has worked in many other venues, including, as I just discovered, illustrating operas! So I guess the analogy to music was appropriate! Another book to enjoy with art by Peter: A Symphony of Whales, written by Steve Schuch. Lush and tactile, Sylvada's paintings show the presence of his hand at work in a way that much book illustratiion does not. Personally, I love seeing the brush strokes in book art, which shouts undeniable evidence that "a human created this." I assume that the paints are acrylics or oils, but even if he "painted" digitally (done correctly it can look real), it is the best kind of digital.

Early this summer, when the season hits, and you find yourself thinking that you and the kids might enjoy some firefly (or lightning bug!) watching, take a look at this book. See if it doesn't make you want to lie back and relax, enjoy a glass of lemonade and just listen to the crickets, before you go off to run aournd in the dark, trying to cup your hands around the flashing bugs.

BTW, here is an interesting post and picture of lightning bugs.

The Official Getting Foolish Launch Day--No Foolin'!

Well, yesterday was the official publication day of my book: TEX & SUGAR: A Big City Kitty Ditty! And since it was April Fool's Day, I decided that it was especially appropriate to get very foolish.

The group of authors and illustrators that meets at my house once a month was in attendance. And even though we always talk business and industry scuttlebutt, we frequently get foolish, too. Yesterday was no exception. I had made sure to get get some cowboy hats and bandanas. And I made guacamole and served tortilla chips and assorted Salsa dipping sauces. Surprisingly, the giant pitcher of Cosmopolitans that I serve every month (there is a reason we call our group "SHAKEN, NOT STIRRED") went very well with Tex Mex cuisine. Who knew?

The best part of the day? My editor along with a fellow author and friend calling me from Virginia, and singing a duet over the phone of "HAPPY LAUNCH DAY TO YOU...HAPPY LAUNCH DAY TO YOU...."

So even though their web site went public on Friday, and the official launch was yesterday, Tex and Sugar get their day in the sun today.

I am grateful for Fuse 8's link of about a week ago, to the Name in Lights site. And so, without much further ado:

I got my name in lights with notcelebrity.co.uk

About Alice and also sleep

Between the NY Times Book review and blogs I enjoy reading regularly, I discover wonderful books that I want to get lost in. But I have a big problem: I have very little time for reading.

I have never been one who thought about listening to books, because I love to really read. But last summer my friend Janee Trasler told me about audible.com and it sounded enticing and like a great way to read books I can't fit into my schedule. I joined up right away, downloaded a good number of books and then proceeded to get sidetracked and forget all about them. Honestly, I think it did have something to do with the fact that I ALWAYS fell asleep everytime I tried to listen to Steve Martin read his own book, SHOPGIRL. Why is it that someone I never get tired of watching in a movie or seeing on TV, can lull me off to sleep with his reading voice? Sadly, I watched the movie, instead, and it made me realize that sometimes you can't listen to a book--you have to read it--or settle for the film.

But today I visited the audible site again, inspired by an offer to give me more credits, if I just used some of the ones I still haven't used. So off I went to download some more titles--this time a whole armload of books. I got everything from a three part bio of Charlie Chaplin to a two part bio of Dorothy Parker, plus a few YA's.

One of my downloads was Calvin Trillin's ABOUT ALICE, read by Mr. Trillin himself. It is a quick listen, and a loving portrait of a beloved wife. AND, best of all--I stayed awake! It successfully captured my mind while I worked on my artwork. I thought: so maybe if I listen to the right things I won't start sleeping.

In all fairness, Steve Martin isn't the only voice that makes me nod off. A couple of on-line courses I have tried to follow on lynda.com have done the same thing to me. And certain old boyfriends used to. And sometimes my husband still does. Sorry, Honey. Hey--maybe it is a male voice thing....

Now on to the remaining 20 books....

I wonder how many of them are read by women?

Almost time to celebrate....

UPS aside, I am very thrilled that I finally have copies of these new books. The new Bones book is my favorite to date. I enjoy doing these books by David Adler because these young mysteries are simple, yet fun and they often have little touches of dry adult humor. I like that he really knows how to paint the picture of a character in very few words of actions or dialogue. This new one has a another visit from "Not-me Amy," a character I really like. Actually, I like all of his characters. I am at work on Book 6 right now.

And then it is a true delight to finally have a box of my first book as both illustrator AND author. I have been showing my two little dog-eared advance copies to everyone, so now this means my parents can actually have a copy, my mother-in-law can get one, my husband can take one to work (should we start "TAKE YOUR WIFE'S BOOK TO WORK DAY"?), I can give a couple to good friends, and my son can take one to school. Working with Sterling has been a pleasure. And I am very happy with the quality of the scans and the print job. It was a very long pregnancy. I am glad this baby's has finally made his appearance!

I believe the Bones book is now out, as of February 15th. The Tex and Sugar book is not officially out until April 1st. Much to do before then to get ready to rock and roll at schools, libraries and book stores. If you live in Texas I will be at TLA on April 12th. I am excited to be seeing San Antonio for the first time and thrilled that Sterling will be sending me down there. What better place to go when you love everything cowboy? In June I will also be at the ALA conference in Washington , D.C. and I am looking forward to that trip, too.

On thing we are working on in this family is a BIG PUBLISHING PARTY to celebrate a year of hard work and the debut of the kitties. We think it calls for barbecue, pulled pork, Tex Mex cuisine (but of course!) , with a tent and country music. Here is one reason: this book started out as one of a collection of small poems I first wrote in 1982, pre kids. Since it was such a long time cookin', the celebration is sure to be a sweet one.

When? Probably early late May or early June. And the invitation will be open! So if you think you might be in the Boston area around then drop me an email. Put your suggestions in the box for the date. We'll need a head count. Everyone is welcome, we just need to make sure to have enough food. I

Of course, we will have country music. Anyone play? Care to perform? Let me know. Or, if you know someone whom you can recommend, we'll hire them.

Speaking of country music:

The Tatnuck Bookseller and Cafe will be holding a special Tex and Sugar day on April 19th, at 11 AM. It turns out that Miss Glori used to be a country radio music director, so there will be line dancing and great fun for all! Do you know how to line dance? Me neither. But I will learn on April 19th! And I will make sure to wear my cowboy hat. And you wear yours, too.

And if you have any ideas, questions, advice, or requests, please send them my way.

Wahoo!

I love that guy in brown

Oh, I LOVE my UPS man. He makes me smile. He brings great things to my doorstep.
I love him especially during December when the fruits of holiday shopping sprees arrive at about 6 PM. All that time saved by shopping on line makes me darn giddy, I swear, everytime he rings the doorbell.

I love it when he brings art supplies, like brand new Robert Simmons paint brushes and Acryla gouache. He keeps me working, I think. He helps me make the books...

And I especially like it when he brings things I really don't need, but get anyway, like white sound machines (still in box, unopened) and the occisional eBay purchase that is NOT shipped via the USPS. Just think, he carried in my Elvis Lamp, I can say with love in my eyes. He smiles and calls me by name: "Hey. Barbara, got something for you." Goody! I think. What can it be?

This week, GREAT STUFF.

Fiction as lesson, sometimes to a fault

Thanks to a recent post by John Bell on Oz and Ends, an issue about Yoko Kawashima Watkin's So Far From the Bamboo Grove, has come to my attention. Please go over to John's blog and the blogs he links to, to read about the controversy. I am a little late coming to this, but in light of my previous post, I had to weigh in somewhat. Because I have nothing but respect for Linda Sue Park, I tend to be eager to accept her take on this. For some reason some authors just inspire total trust in me, when it comes to being fair and intelligent. She is one of them.

As I mentioned in my last post, my oldest son is Korean. I do not remember this book being a part of his curriculum in 5th or 6th grade. He actually attended elementary school in Dover,MA, -- part of the school district that has given voice to the issue-- but it was an independent school that just happened to be located there.

But had the book been one of the class “reads,” I think he would have been upset. I know that he had to deal with several instances of Asian stereotyping in early years and even in high school. Were his elementary school class to read a text that is clearly a negative portrayal of Koreans specifically, it would have made the challenges he had faced even much worse. A reason for not reading the book in his class? I cannot say. I can only think of my own son's tough road at times, and my wish to protect him as much as possible.

But I offer just several simple thoughts, since so much intelligent discussion has already taken place on this topic:

FIRST: With regard to the negative picture painted of Koreans in the book, the parents upset by it have legitimate points that need to be addressed, whether or not the book is pulled from the curriculum. That is the problem when one uses fiction as history lesson more than as a study of literature.

SECOND: I would prefer that books that deal with rape are held for later grades. I do not think that ten year olds should be forced to go down that road of sexual understanding. I think that the concept of rape is better left to an audience with more of a reason to be thinking about those things, let alone with at least a decent knowledge of what exactly rape is

THIRD: I think that not enough attention is given to the different Asian cultures well represented in this country's population, period. Just see my previous post about the whole American Girl phenomenon. While I think the trend is changing, I find the change is not fast enough, so I hate the idea of ANY Asian voice being quieted.

But, one more thing, that also weighs on my heart:

I DO remember the book being a part of my middle son's reading list in 5th grade at a day school in Newton, MA. Oh, I remember that year well. I even did some reading along with him--as much as I could stand, anyway, because EVERY SINGLE BOOK his class read that year was about death and loss and destruction, and the capacity of humans to be, well, very inhumane.

I have a clear recollection of thinking that the school’s choice of books was not exactly a good selection if you want kids, especially reluctant boy readers, to fall in love with reading and the pleasure it brings. My boys are in that group. They were not the kind to pick up books for pleasure reading, so they read only what was assigned---barely. After that “YEAR OF LIVING DEPRESSINGLY” I said to another parent: “Were this my 5th grade reading list for the whole school year, I might be ready to jump off a bridge come the month of June."

So when you think about school reading lists, consider not ony whether or not a single group is portrayed in an unbalanced light, but whether or not you need to hit kids over their heads with the darker side of life to the exclusison of everything else. They're young and they're impressionable, but they also want to be happy and have fun.

They are, after all, still kids.

The Mary Poppins I knew

Maybe because I was a wild child, or had full blown ADHD, or maybe because nobody ever really pushed me in that direction, it was not until I was ten years old that I discovered novels. Or, I guess I should say, novels for young people. I am a classic example of a reluctant reader seeing the light in her own good time. So, have hope for children who follow a similar example.

I think I bought my first Nancy Drew for 59 cents. Loved those. I read Charlotte's Web.( Something they have 2nd graders read now).

But my first real love was Mary Poppins.

Not the ditsy, pretty, singing Mary Poppins of Disney. And, I presume, NOT the also singing Mary Poppins of the Broadway show.

No, the stern, but mysteriously magical Mary Poppins of the book by P.L. Travers.

I have not read the books in many years. Still, the mental images created by the text linger ever clearly. I searched the internet for pictures of the book covers I remember happily bringing home from the school library. I could not find them.

I only read Mary Poppins and Mary Poppins Comes Back, in red and green covers respectively. Do kids ever read the books anymore? A shame, if not. I know the books came under some harsh complaints because of racist leaning text, but I honestly have no memory of that in either of the books I read. I think it is sad that the only knowledge today's kids have of her character is the one provided by Disney, which is just plain awful.

Curious to know if anyone out there has also read the books or had their kids read them.

Brrr...it's a grr-r-r-reeat b-b-b-book.

I posted about this over at Outside of a Dog. But I have to do it again. I just love this story and this art. I gave it my highest rating: "I WISH I HAD CREATED THIS BOOK " I had to nominate it over at the Cybils. I hope it wins. The book has a magnetic attraction for me! It gave me the chills! Vote for it, because you have to stop me from going on and on like this.

I am now starting a campaign to get Fran Manuskin and Paul Zelinsky to send the Shivers on more adventures. How about having them get lost in an office? Just think of the problems that could create with hard drives and paper clips. Or maybe put them in a toy box having to fight off WWE wrestling guys and Matchbox cars? And don't forget the sliverware drawer. "The Adventure of the SHIVERS and the Spoon (but not the dish)"--with apologies to Mini Grey.

Anyway, give us more SHIVERS!