What a wonderful and strange week!
We started out the week with a day full of trick or treating and so much candy (dressed up as a Lego family!). Then yesterday, I was interviewed on our local TV station, KGW, for their Portland Today show. They really liked my hair and eyeshadow. Ya’ll know I don’t wear makeup. I had to buy it for the occasion. Now I have lots. Here’s the link to the interview:
The interview flew by, and after the fact, I realized I didn’t get to say the thing that mattered most to me. So, I’ll say it here.
Books should be both mirrors and windows. By creating a diversity of characters, we allow for a diversity of experiences, and help kids get a better understanding of each other. When I do a character creation activity, like the one I did in the interview, the point is to get kids thinking about perspective, and how our characters change our stories.
When kids get to read about Charlie’s experience in a wheelchair, or slide through the prose of Brown Girl Dreaming, they see the world from a different point of view…and that is a very good thing.
Upcoming Events
I have so much going on the next few weeks. Here are three very cool events.
- Wordstock – I’ll be doing a Pop-up reading and a panel with awesome author Bart King and Multnomah County Librarian Diana Armstrong. Click here for the full schedule of events.
- Teen Programming at the Tigard Library – starts today at 5PM, with a cool event each week.
- Portland Story Theater – I’m telling my story tonight!
Get some awesome
If you haven’t yet, grab a copy of Clockbreakers, and destroy time with me.