Hill Country Christmas at LBJ State Park

This year, Cynthia was invited to sign HOLLER LOUDLY at the Annual Lighting of the Christmas Tree at LBJ Ranch State park in Stonewall, Texas.  Since we were so close to Fredericksburg, we thought we'd take in the Christmas Gemutlichkeit (Being, among other things, the birthplace and hometown of Admiral Nimitz, Fredericksburg is home to the National Museum of the Pacific War): 

Nimitz Hotel and museum entrance

  After a nice German-Texan lunch, we headed up to the LBJ Ranch.  There, we saw deer and livestock:

We also took the tour of the Texas White House, which had its own airfield:

At the signing, they seated us next to the ladies selling the Keep Texas Beautiful ornaments. The lighting itself was attended by Santa Claus and Lucy Baines Johnson:

 Other activities that evening included tours of the Sauer-Backman Farmstead, decked out in early 20th century Christmas cheer; demonstrations of spinning and other crafts; a live Nativity scene; ornament making; and Christmas music by a German brass band and choir.

Frohliche Weihnachten, y'all!


 

Writers and Illustrators and Dinosaurs: Elizabeth Law

All right, this one features neither a writer nor a dinosaur, but a children's literature professional and a prehistoric mammal.  But the photo (below) was too good to pass up.

So, henceforth, I am expanding the feature to include all children's literature professionals, including teachers, librarians, editors, agents, book designers, etc., as well as authors and illustrators.  But I'm still going to call it "Writers and Illustrators and Dinosaurs," because "Children's Literature Professionals and Prehistoric Beasts" is too unwieldy.  Be warned :-).

So if you're in the business, drop me a pic at greg AT gregleitichsmith DOT com.

And, now, the featured guest:

Elizabeth Law began her career in children's publishing as an assistant at Viking Children's Books, leaving eighteen years later as associate publisher of both Viking and Frederick Warne imprints.

After nearly four years as vice president and associate publisher of Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, Elizabeth joined Egmont USA four years ago as its publisher.

Above, Elizabeth Law poses with Broadway star Anthony Rapp in front of a proboscidean at the American Museum of Natural History in New York.

HAUNTED LOVE free e-book!

"Haunted Love," a short story by Cynthia Leitich Smith is now available for free download from Barnes & Noble (U.S.), Books on Board, Amazon.com (U.S.) and Amazon.com (U.K.). It will be available from additional e-retailers soon.

From the promotional copy:

Spirit, Texas, is a town of secrets, and as the new owner of the local haunted movie theater, Cody Stryker is juggling more than his fair share. 

When a mysterious new girl comes to town and runs afoul of the ghost that lives in his theater, Cody’s caught in the middle and needs to figure out exactly who he can trust.

"Haunted Love" is a short story by New York Times Bestseller Cynthia Leitich Smith -- featuring new characters and set in the same Gothic universe as her novels Tantalize, Eternal, Blessed, and Tantalize: Kieren's Story, illustrated by Ming Doyle.

This story includes a sneak preview of Cynthia Leitich Smith’s upcoming novel, Diabolical (Jan. 2012), which unites heroes from the previous three novels in the Tantalize Series along with a fascinating cast of all-new characters for a suspenseful, action-packed clash between the forces of heaven and hell.

DIABOLICAL trailer!

DIABOLICAL by Cynthia Leitich Smith (Candlewick, 2012):

When “slipped” angel Zachary and his werewolf pal, Kieren, are summoned under suspicious circumstances to a mysterious New England boarding school, they quickly find themselves in a hellish lockdown with an intriguing assortment of secretive, hand-picked “students.”

Plagued by demon dogs, hallucinatory wall decor, a sadistic instructor, and a legendary fire-breathing monster, will they somehow manage to escape? Or will the devil have his due?

Best-selling author Cynthia Leitich Smith unites heroes from the previous three novels in the TANTALIZE series — including Zachary's girl, Miranda, and Kieren's love, Quincie — along with a fascinating cast of all-new characters for a suspenseful, action-packed clash between the forces of heaven and hell.

On sale Jan. 2012 | 978-0-7636-5118-3 | Candlewick Press | Hardcover | YA Novel/Fiction | Interior Design Elements | 368 Pages | Ages 14-up

Remember the Alamosaurus!

Alamosaurus is one of the latest sauropods to be found in North America, coexisting with Tyrannosaurus rex.  Previously it had been thought to be kind of a smallish sauropod, only 60-70 feet long.  Turns out, it's probable the specimens that were used to make the size estimations were based on juvenile bones.  A recent papers reveals Alamosaurus was around the size of Argentinosaurus, one of the biggest dinosaurs ever.

Here's a link to the news release, and here's one to the actual paper.

Being a Texas, I kind of like the fact that it's called Alamosaurus, especially since specimens have been found in Big Bend (Consequently, several make an appearance in CHRONAL ENGINE).  Unfortunately, however, it's named after a site in New Mexico, not the mission in San Antonio.

Anyway, in other Texas dinosaur news, the Austin Children's Museum is hosting the exhibit "Dinosaurs: Land of Fire and Ice," for a limited engagement through January 16, 2012.  As part of it, they're sponsoring a "Dino Costume Contest" through January 10, 2012 (The activities and displays seem focused on ages 3-10).

Also, I seem to have just missed the 21st Annual Fossil Fest, sponsored by the Paleontological Society of Austin.  Wait til next year!

Finally, I was just at the web site for the Dinosaur Park in Bastrop, just west of the town and across from the Hyatt Lost Pines Resort.  We haven't been there for a while, but it seems they have added a bunch of dinosaurs, including a 45 foot tall Brachiosaurus. 

And, finally (really, this time), yesterday Carmen Oliver delivered more than 1000 books for the Friends of the Bastrop Library outreach.  She blogs about it here.

Writers and Illustrators and Dinosaurs: Kelly Milner Halls

Kelly Milner Halls grew up in Texas, went to high school in California, and now lives in the Pacific Northwest.

She is the author of numerous nonfiction books for young readers, including the RANDOM HOUSE DINOSAUR TRAVEL GUIDE, DINOSAUR PARADE, DINOSAUR MUMMIES, and TALES OF THE CRYPTIDS.  Above, she poses with Pentaceratops.   

She is the editor of, and has a short story in, the forthcoming GIRL MEETS BOY (Chronicle, January 2012), a young adult anthology that features story pairs by Chris Crutcher & Kelly Milner Halls; Joseph Bruchac & Cynthia Leitich Smith; James Howe & Ellen Wittlinger; Terry Trueman & Rita Williams-Garcia; Terry Davis & Rebecca Davis; and Randy Powell & Sara Ryan.

GREGLSBLOG Picks of 2011

This year Cynthia had two books out, BLESSED and TANTALIZE: KIEREN'S STORY, which are of course my favorites. My wife, however, insists that it is dorky for me to list them as such (as I have done in the past). So, this year, here is my list of favorites books that I have recommended over the course of 2011 that were not written by someone related to me.  My rules are the same as in previous years, although I suppose I should be explicit that these are stand-alone titles.

Picture Books

MINE! by Shutta Crum, ill. by Patrice Barton.  Nearly wordless, yet expressive.

NOODLE AND LOU, by Liz Garton Scanlon, ill. by Arthur Howard.  A sweet tale of friendship.

NAAMAH AND THE ARK AT NIGHT, by Susan Campbell Bartoletti, ill. by Holly Meade.  A lyrical lullaby, and who doesn't like the story of Noah's Ark?

THE THIRD GIFT, by Linda Sue Park, ill. by Bagram Ibatoulline.  A lovely Christmas story.

LITTLE OWL'S NIGHT, by Divya Srinivasan.  A great bedtime read.

Middle Grade/Tween

WORDS IN THE DUST, by Trent Reedy. The dramatic and heartwarming story of a young Afghan girl.

THE GRAND PLAN TO FIX EVERYTHING, by Uma Krishnaswami.  Hooray for Bollywood!

WILD LIFE, by Cynthia DeFelice.  A survival story, of sorts, featuring a boy and his dog.

Young Adult

BETWEEN SHADES OF GRAY, by Ruta Sepetys. A fifteen year-old and her family survive Stalin's gulag.

STRAW HOUSE, WOOD HOUSE, BRICK HOUSE, BLOW, by Daniel Nayeri.  A collection of four quirky and compelling novellas. (Daniel's my editor, but I don't hold it against him :-)).

THE DRAGON'S TOOTH

THE DRAGON'S TOOTH (Ashtown Burials, Book 1), by N.D. Wilson (Random House 2011)(ages 10+).  Twelve year old Cyrus and his sister Antigone have been living with their older brother Dan in a decrepit motel in Wisconsin for the past two years, their father dead and their mother in a coma.

Then a strange old man shows up and gives Cyrus a mysterious artifact and set of keys, the place is burned to the ground, and Daniel goes missing.  To get him back, Cyrus and his sister are drawn into the machinations of the mysterious Order of Brendan, jailers of semi-immortal villains and caretakers of powerful mystical objects...

THE DRAGON'S TOOTH offers a well-constructed and gripping fantasy with high stakes and adventure.  Cyrus and Antigone are likeable and believable as siblings and as they come together to face a world in which legend has become reality.

Writers and Illustrators and Dinosaurs: Kathi Appelt

Kathi Appelt is the author of more than thirty picture books and the novels THE UNDERNEATH and KEEPER.  THE UNDERNEATH was a finalist for the 2008 National Book Award and a 2009 Newbery Honor Book.

Kathi was born in the front seat of her father's Ford and grew up in Houston.  She currently lives in College Station, TX, with her husband Ken and four cats.

Here, she poses with a Tyrannosaurus rex figurine at the hostess's station at Threadgill's in Austin, Texas.

LITTLE OWL'S NIGHT

LITTLE OWL'S NIGHT, by Divya Srinivasan (Viking 2011)(ages 3-5).  Little Owl loves the night, visiting his nocturnal friends and feeling sorry for the ones who are up all day and never get to see the stars.  Even as he falls asleep at dawn, though, he wants to know what the day is like...

LITTLE OWL'S NIGHT is a quiet celebration of night, the break of day, and curiosity.  Illustrations are bold and expressive.  Altogether, an excellent choice for bedtime reading.