SCIBA annual book awards.

In the Los Angeles Times on Friday, August 27, 2009, the nominations for the annual Southern California Independent Booksellers Association book awards were listed. I'm delighted to learn that The Year the Swallows Came Early was nominated in the category of Children's Novel. Here's the link:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/jacketcopy/2009/08/berkeley-breathed-lisa-see-tc-boyle-nominated-for-so-cal-book-awards.html

My twelve year old son has actually read Hunger, by Michael Grant, which is one of the other nominations. It's a really great book, with an amazing beginning that keeps you reading, and I'm honored to be listed with Michael. His lovely wife, Katherine Applegate, wrote one of my all time favorite middle grade books, Home of the Brave. They have two children that I've met at various writing conferences. I can't help but look at them and think how high their SAT writing scores will probably be someday. I'm a past teacher and I've got a junior in high school, so there's a lot of talk about SAT scores around here lately. With parents like Katherine and Michael, though, they'll probably get close to a perfect score!

Cynsations Interview

I'm honored to be featured on Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations Blog today as a New Voice in Children's Literature. Here's the link:

http://cynthialeitichsmith.blogspot.com/2009/08/new-voice-kathryn-fitzmaurice-on-year.html

This year, there seems to be so many absolutely amazing new voices in children's literature. You can find them on the Class of 2k9's website, and the Author's Now debut authors website. Many of us have become friends this year. I often see their books out in stores. I find myself walking over and picking them up to read the back cover and see their author photos.

"You did it," I say. "And here is your beautiful book for everyone to read."

UCI Young Writer's Camp

I had the pleasure of speaking at the University of California, Irvine's Young Writer's Camp today. I talked about writing, of course, and how to come up with ideas to write about, and where to go to find out about what you want to write about. I told the students my own story about how I came to write The Year the Swallows Came Early.

But every time I visit students, the part they always like best is when I tell them about my dog, Holly. I can't blame them, really. She's an amazing dog. I tell the students about all the tricks she knows (sixteen) and how she goes to agility classes. And even though she's the smallest dog there, sometimes by up to 90 pounds, she still bosses those big German Shepard's and Labs and Goldens around like she's in charge. It's the same way at our house. She's the boss.

I put her in my companion book to Swallows, except I made her a boy dog and changed her name to Herman. She appreciates this, I can tell. There's been quite a bit of paparazzi around here with her having her own page on my website: http://www.kathrynfitzmaurice.com/holly.html

Not to mention all the other dogs in the neighborhood who run after her when we take her on walks. She's sort of become famous around here. Next thing we know, we'll be taking her to audition for those fancy Los Angeles pet star agents!

In the photo above is Barb Odanaka, Alex Uhl, Gail and Tracy, the directors of the camp, and myself

Be sure to read Natasha Maw's blog today!

Natasha Maw, aka Maw's Books Blog, is featuring a signed giveaway of The Year the Swallows Came Early and a guest post from me today about words of inspiration. To enter, all you have to do is leave a comment on her blog. Here's the address:

http://blog.mawbooks.com/2009/08/10/guest-post-and-giveaway-on-quotes-and-inspiration-by-kathryn-fitzmaurice-author-of-the-year-the-swallows-came-early/

I got to meet Natasha at the LA Times festival of books this year. She's an avid book blogger/reviewer, and just about one of the nicest people around. She supports so many different authors, and I'm delighted to be a guest on her very busy blog today.

Thank you very much, Natasha!

Looking forward to LA SCBWI

One of my favorite writing conferences starts tomorrow and runs through Monday. The reason I love it so much is that the folks at SCBWI send out these long programs in which we, the attendees, get to pick from the various breakout panels. It's like a great menu. Everything looks good, and so one is forced to number the order of panels according to their preferences.

I'll give you my first choices.

Friday: author Ingrid Law's panel, then in the afternoon, editor, Elizabeth Law's protrack panel.

Saturday: agents Jen Rofe and Jamie Weiss's panel. (Of course I'm picking this one, Jen is my agent), then in the afternoon, editor Jordan Brown's talk about revision...something I always need to know more about.

Sunday: author Linda Sue Park's talk, then the fabulous Golden Kite luncheon. (I'm so excited for Mary Pearson, who's amazing book, The Adoration of Jenna Fox, won an honor this year!) Then in the afternoon, there's Sarah Shealy and Barbara Fisch's talk.

(And I haven't chosen Monday's panels yet, but I have time...)