MILO - THE ROPES

DADNAPPED ON DISNEY

It's time. After 2 years - 4 drafts - numerous notes - and who knows how many hours in edit suites (probably tons) - the movie that I wrote for the Disney Channel will be airing Monday night at 8:00pm e.s.t.

It's exciting to know that the characters I made up and the story I plunked them into will finally be alive and in color and the subject of online debate and comments from tweens all over the world.

DADNAPPED began as a one sentence idea I had years ago: What if a girl had to compete for her father's attention with a fictional character that the father felt closer to.

In the movie - Melissa (played by the wonderful Emily Osment from Hanna Montana) despises that her father's success as an author comes from the series of books that feature Tripp Zoome, a super-slick teen James Bond type of kid who is so popular fan-conventions are devoted to him. Dragged along on a vacation with her dad, Melissa is confronted by her fictional nemesis, Tripp Zoome, when her father makes a "quick stop" at a Zoomer Convention, where he gets kidnapped by a bunch of teen fans desperate to prove they are Zoome Worthy!

Forced to prove she is just as clever as "Tripp" Melissa teams up with some Zoome-maniacs and figures out how to get her father back!

I haven't seen the movie yet - but the trailers look fun and the Disney Channel is promoting it as part of their "Night Of Stars". I'll be watching Monday night.

Hope you will be too!

MILO sez

FINDING JOBS TOUGH ALL OVER

This made me laugh out loud!

January 20, 2009

Brrrrrrrrr

Nuff said: It's C-c-c-c-old!!!!

NEW YEAR - OLD RULES

In the spirit of a year that will no doubt be marked by CHANGE in many corners of my world (personal, professional and political) I sit freshly scrubbed in 2009 with an open mind and brain full of ideas just waiting to be played with.

WRITING!

DRAWING!

BRAINSTORMING!

In my wiser, older age I have found that my creative self is getting pretty good at setting goals and then working towards them... and actually (sometimes) making them come to life! These Frankensteinian shouts of "It's alive!" are becoming the part of the process I most enjoy because nothing feels better than writing something unless it's when that "something" actually gets produced, published, etc. But despite a short streak of actualizing my goals - I buck the new year trend by NEVER making year-starting resolutions that just seem to dangle over my head like sharp axe blades waiting to cut me down.

That is why I am happy to share with you all....
10 NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS I WILL NOT KEEP:

1) I will post daily in my blog
2) I will post weekly in my blog
3) Sometime during the month a blog post will be written and it will hopefully be written by me
4) I will wake up at 5:00 a.m. to write
5) I will wake up at 6:00 a.m. to write
6) I will stay up after everyone has gone to bed and write
7) I will go to gym every day
8) I will learn how to invest more wisely
9) I will eat only the foods that are good for me, my writing or my blogging
10) I will never ask the owner of my favorite cafe to stop playing awful music while I am trying to think (this because right now the Billie Holiday just switched to something akin to Hendrix)

Happy New Year to you all - and may all your own resolutions work out for you...or not!

SHREDDED POTATO JOY TO THE WORLD

A recipe for holiday bliss starts with a 10 pound bag of potatoes and ends up in my stomach! Here's to eight nights of fattening fun!

GHOSTS OF BOOK-TOONS PAST!

It's been a pretty busy time watching the world nose-dive into a recession-jobless-Ponzi schemed-freefall. So - back by popular demand (my wife) here are my past 2 Holiday book-toons as the perfect anti-"we're all doomed" anitdote!

Enjoy!

ALMOST TIME TO TELL....

DADNAPPED Trailer

I just found out that DADNAPPED - the Disney Channel movie that I wrote is going to air sometime in December. It stars Emily Osment (from Hanna Montana) and David Henrie (Wizards of Waverly Place). There are lots of other Disney Channel comedy stars in it too so I think kids who love watching the D. channel are going to have fun with it.

As anybody who has ever written for TV/films knows - what you hand in as a "script" and what you see as a "movie" can sometimes be kind of like opening a box of Fruit Loops and pouring out a bowl of Cocoa Puffs. To be honest - I have no idea what the finished movie looks like, only that I had lots of fun writing it and will be surprised to see how it all turned out.

Either way - I'm "cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs" - so am not worried at all!

THURBER HOUSE WANTS YOU!

Okay WRITERS - this is it. The 2009 Thurber House Children's Author in Residence is now accepting YOUR applications!

Why would you want to apply? Well, unless you don't need 4 weeks of uninterrupted writing time, your own apartment in the historic home of one of America's funniest Writer/Cartoonists, and the opportunity of a lifetime - let me try and help with some possible reasons...

See that house? That's where James Thurber lived - the house he immortalized in his hysterical book "My Life And Hard Times". That attic (where the bed "fell on father") will be your apartment home for 4 AMAZING WEEKS of creative YOU time - where, without distractions (other than possible ghost sightings) you will write and edit and dream of fabulous new ideas yet to come.

Your attic apartment - cozy and clean - will welcome you as you set up a writing space that makes you feel like it's all about YOU (which for 4 weeks - it is!). Note: desk provided - computer and toys are all mine!

But take it from me - the Residency is way more than just your personal Writing Time....

You get to work with the creative geniuses at the Thurber Writing Camp - being inspired by their enthusiasm as you get to brainstorm with the best!

You'll be able to attend the delicious and casual Thurber House Literary Picnics held on the lovely lawn of YOUR house!

Meatloaf. Yes, I had the best meatloaf while in Columbus. And I attended the Jazz and Ribs Festival too - another fine culinary indulgence (that I over-did!). So if you aren't a vegetarian - this is obviously the Residency for you. (If you are a vegetarian there are ample options for your dining pleasure as well: my fave was the North Star Cafe - I loved their Buddha Bowl!)

The House is YOUR house...especially in the dark of night when you get to wander the rooms and breathe in the Thurber-air that inspired me on a daily (and nightly) basis. Remember - you are LIVING in THURBER'S HOUSE!...The reminders are everywhere!

Banjos. No - the Thurber Residency does not come with a banjo. But if you want to drive to Chillicothe you can hang around Bob's Banjo Barn, where on Saturdays they have a little bluegrass jam in the back room. (confession: I can play 1 song on a banjo - and though this little 5-string made even my one lame diddy sound great - I didn't buy it!)

Another really good reason to apply is that apart from the ALONE time you carve for yourself - you will be surrounded by the nicest most supportive people. The staff of the Thurber House - from the Directors to the Volunteers will make you smile daily...and sometimes provide you with clean sheets!

There are few experiences I can really point to as "game changers" in my life. (Yes - switching schools in 4th grade where from Day One I was called "Plumpso" still sticks in my mind.) But my 4 weeks this past summer as the Children's Author in Residence was and always will be a moment in time that gave me so much more than I could possibly give back in return.

Apart from being given the time to finish my new best friend .....

I feel I have made some other friends for life - and discovered parts of me that didn't yet know they existed.

So what are you waiting for? Go APPLY now! Then you too can come face to face with the James Thurber legacy - and join the ranks of those who were given the opportunity of a lifetime!

DOING NOTHING: THE BEST MEDICINE

I don't know about you but after a grueling day staring at the blinking cursor (you know the one) sometimes I need to let myself off the hook and simply allow my hard-working soul to control-alt-delete the day. Literally - it's a write-off!

It's hard enough to stay focused sometimes - and harder still to allow for those times when a wandering mind is better than the one sitting at my desk. Why is it we need real excuses to be "granted permission" to goof off?

"My kid is sick and needs to get picked up at school?" - Drop everything!
"The mailman's at the door with a package?" - Hit save!
"The View is on?" - Turn computer OFF.

I think it needs to be OKAY for us to let procrastination be part of the process - and if that means giving ourselves the thumbs-up to go for a walk....or a drive...or a walk through the donut aisle...then gosh darnit - it has to be done! And without guilt. Or the backlash from the task-master part of the brain ready to lash out against any "non-typing" activity.

So pick a procrastination card - any card and let yourself go. It's not only healthy - it might give you a great idea....one that hopefully will involve donuts!

I HEAR VOICES

Okay Writers - here's the deal: Yes, we hear voices. But remember - we're not CRAZY. We're "CREATIVE"!

To me "I hear voices" has become the "I see dead people" secret that I carry around to help make sense of my world.

I can handle the voices that just go on and on babbling in character about mundane life stuff or what flavor ice cream they (the character) should eat in the next chapter. This BABBLE-VOICE I can tune out no problemo. It's the OTHER voice that drives me nuts - the one that suddenly just SHOWS UP like a loud unwanted guest who only brings a stale coffee cake.

I acknowledge that all voices help us work on creative problems - our characters want to break through to the other side and communicate something fresh and new, a hopeful insight or astonishing plot-pointed twist!

But I'm not good with spontaneity in any part of my life - and these sudden subconscious arrivals are not always helpful especially when I'm not in the best place to listen: like when I'm slicing veggies with the sharpest knife we own or I'm walking down a flight of stairs carrying a heavy laundry basket on my mission of making the whites whiter. Sure I'm always thankful for the help - but really, why does this voice have to give me a shout out now? Is it so I have something to think about while waiting for the paramedics to arrive because I am now at the bottom of the stairs laying in a pile of dirty socks and underwear?

Don't get me wrong - like you, I make a living hearing voices and I wouldn't have it any other way. (Sometimes the only one I talk to all day is inside my brain!) It's just sometimes I wish I could get a little warning that it's time to listen - maybe a post card with an ETA or a formal invitation with an RSVP might be nice.

But no matter what I wish for - I know the voices are on their own timetable and have their own agendas and sometimes need to shock me so I really pay attention no matter what vein I have just sliced while trying to dice carrots.

I guess it's a small price to pay for good ideas and forward movement in the work I love so much.

WAITING....

(CLICK on the cartoon to see it BIGGER!)

THE END IS THE BEGINNING

So I'm home. Back from the month spent in the house filled with memories that I imagined where Thurber's; which became the house filled with memories that are now all mine.

My name is now part of the unfinished wall behind the a/c duct inside the closet in the attic -the wall that all Writers In Residence must sign. (Lucky me - I get to have my name just below Lisa Yee's!)

It was a great month - an inspiring time - and one that I appreciate even more now that I am home and back already into the life that was always here: (school started today - which means I've made my first lunch and driven the dreaded "route" to and from the place my son groans about).

Endings are hard - as writers I think we all take them literally, looking for the perfect escape from a situation that will be full of irony or suspense or possibly full of our own deeply felt new understanding of ourselves.

Rubbish!

My ending at the Thurber House was perfectly Thurber and all I learned about myself is - if you set off the security alarm, the Police will come! And they will not believe that you are a "writer in residence" and insist you let them in and show them that you really do have a set of keys that open the doors. Then they will leave and not let you take their picture.

But they came - and that was cool because what if the alarm had gone off because I was in trouble...or the ghost was in trouble...or because they wanted to read one of the great American humorists all alone in the quiet of the parlor?

What if?

Back to work. Back to life. Home again, home again....

THURBER HOUSE: MILO SAYS GOODBYE

I came to the Thurber House (with clay MILO in tow) to work on his book and spent the month revising, editing, writing a few new awesome chapters and drawing over 40 cartoons to accompany the text of MILO. I feel great and now only worry how to hold on to this feeling and keep it with me as my "real life" embraces me with open arms (and bills to pay) back in Montreal!

The month flew by. And now as I pack the car that only a minute ago (it seems) arrived in front of 77 Jefferson Ave in Columbus, Ohio - it's time for MILO and me to say goodbye to the fantastic people who made my stay in the Thurber House cozy, care-free and so very productive.

Susanne Jaffe - Executive Director of Thurber House (and MILO)

You opened the door for me to have the creative adventure of a lifetime - and gave great restaurant suggestions too.

Pat Shannon - Director of Children's Programs (and MILO)

Thank you for that phone call last March when you said "YES". You made it so easy to be here. Thanks also for the clean sheets - and for reminding me to actually use them.

Meg (and MILO)

I always knew when you were in one of my camp workshops when the laughs came from the counselor side of the room. Thank you for reading (and liking!) the "work-in-progress" and for that iced espresso that was perfect.

Anne (and MILO).

I know the Ghost Story books you lent me would've been amazing -and I promise to find them again and read them once I get the courage. Oh, and the Literary picnics were a blast - thanks for saving me a real chair!

(CWIR = Childrens Writer in residence)

Anna (and MILO).

Thank you for the smile every time I entered the door - and for that wild lunch when you, Anne and I watched the cicada emerge from it's shell.

And last but not least....

Crazy Banana (and MILO)

Thank you for not terrorizing me at night when I was all alone in the big scary house. Stay cool!

I will miss you all (well, not you, Banana) and want you to know you have each added to this incredible experience that I'll always have with me.

Alan and MILO!

THANK YOU, MR. THURBER

Check out my Thanks to James Thurber at the THURBER HOUSE BLOG - guest-written by yours truly.

And if you're curious - the Columbus Dispatch did a story about my stay here.

More great stuff about my month here at the house to come...as soon as I welcome my family, who arrive tonight! Yay!

THUBER HOUSE: COVER TO COVER VISIT

While in Columbus doing my Thurber House residency I was invited to do a book signing at the wonderful COVER TO COVER children's book store on N. High St. The store is run by Sally Oddi, and she and I had been corresponding ever since Pond Scum came out and she wrote a review of the book - so it was especially sweet to be able to finally make the personal contact!

The attendance was petite but ENTHUSIASTIC and there was planety of participation and laughter as I shared some of my new book, MILO with them! Bonus of the event was meeting face to face with Mary Lee from A Year Of Reading (in salmon shirt on right) - sadly, co-blogger Franki was out of town at a conference.

Then came the fun ritual of adding my name to their "Author Wall" - which you can see displayed behind everyone (above).

I felt honored to become part of the woodwork of Cover To Cover! And here is the message I left!

Thanks to everyone at COVER TO COVER for making my visit so much fun!

THURBER HOUSE: MILO CARTOON

I don't have time for a FULL post - so thought I'd share a cartoon I just did in James Thurber's attic - and the passage that goes with it from my current project, MILO.

I am not one of those “honor roll” kids, whose hand is always in the air and knows the answers without even hearing the full question. Those kids kill me because they like the sound of their own voices so much they raise their hands just to sneeze. I bet if they counted how many words they say everyday it would be in the millions because they never shut up!

(from MILO - being completed at the Thurber House Summer 2008)