Donna + Texas = FUN!

Just returned from an awesome trip to Allen, TX.  (North of Dallas.)

I ate these for the first time in my life . . .

Can you guess what they are?  Scroll down to find out.

An innovative middle school librarian, Kay Hawkins, invited me some time ago.  She promised me a couple great school visits, good food and . . . bowling!  (How could I say no?)

Here's Kay Hawkins in front of her Read it Forward bulletin board.  Read about the innovative, fun program she used to get kids reading in her school.

Kay and her friend/fellow librarian, Jane Jergensen took me to Splitsville, a bowling/eating adventure.  

I had so much fun talking with Kay, Kim (middle school teacher), Jane, her husband, Scott, her daughter Courtney and her boyfriend Fred that I often forgot to take my turn bowling.  When I finally bowled a strike, I got so excited I threw my arms in the air.  My bracelet went flying, and I nearly impaled my host!  (I later found out that Jane has bowled a 289.  Yup.  She was that good.)

Here are my two favorite Texas school librarians . . .

Jane Jergensen and Kay Hawkins.

Stepping into Kerr Elementary, I felt very welcomed because this was on the TV screen over the front desk. . .

Jane Jergensen, who was voted top teacher in the district last year – the only time a librarian ever won this honor -- went above and beyond.  She created bookmarks for me to sign that she would copy and give to each sixth grade students.  And she created these clever posters . . .

"I'll take children's authors for $500.  Who is Donna Gephart?"

 Here’s the wonderful group of sixth graders I spoke with.

 And here they are, getting their silly on . . .

Next time I totally have to give them giant sunglasses or something to help them get their silly on!

Jane Jergensen gave me really fun parting gifts, one of which was a stuffed Zhu Zhu pet hamster, which just happened to have a bowling pin insignia on its back.  What are the chances?!  Kay Hawkins gave me a T-shirt that the incoming middle schoolers will receive and a cool bag made from recycled plastic.  

Here's a photo of the swag . . .

 Then it was off to Curtis Middle School, where I spoke to eight bazillion eighth graders in the cafeteria.

Actually, it was 500 of the most courteous 8th graders I've ever spoken to!

After my talk, a few kids came up to chat.  One of them told me he wants to be a writer, too.  He asked great questions about layering and showing how a character changes over the course of a novel.  And he told me he's working on writing projects with his dad.  He said, "My dad is awesome.  I love him so much." 

James, I happen to think you're pretty awesome!

I got to spend time with some book club members, eat the most delicious beer cheese soup ever and meet wonderful teachers and staff. 

Then it was off to speak to more than 500 7th graders in the gym at the end of the day.  Did I mention there were more than 500 7th graders?  In the gym?  At the end of the day?  I was too busy moving from one end of the gym to the other to take a photo, but take my word for it -- it was fun!

That evening found me at A Real Bookstore -- a tremendous independent bookstore in Fairview, TX -- giving a talk and signing books.  The staff (Hi, Melinda!) were so incredibly gracious and helpful.  I visited the bookstore several times during my stay and bought a book each time.  How could I resist?

I had the best time in Texas.  Everyone was so friendly.  The food was great.  I couldn’t have been treated better during my school visits and bookstore visit.

A big Texas-sized thank you not only to Kay Hawkins and Jane Jergensen, but to their families as well and the fantabulous staff at A Real Bookstore!

So, what was the interesting fried food I ate for the first time in my life?  

Fried pickles!  Yum.

Heads May Explode!

So much fun stuff to share with you today that heads may explode!

1.  Have you heard Neil Gaiman's graduation speech for the University of the Arts about creating art?  It's a good one.

2.   Got stuck behind a police roadblock on my way home from a screening of Library of the Early Mind at The Loft at Congress.  It took about 4.2 seconds to find out Mitt Romney was coming through. There were so many people stuck waiting for his motorcade to pass that we got out of our cars and HAD A TAILGATE PARTY!    The uber-cool writers who were at the film's screening shared FOOD leftover from the event.  So we ate cookies, chatted and watched about a bazillion police cars and motorcycles zoom past.

Finally, a dozen cars (one of which was armored) whizzed by.  They were going too fast to see which car Romney was in.  And it was over.

A little boy threw his arms up and shouted in disgust, "Well, that was BORING!"

Indeed, it was, Little Man.  But the cookies were delicious!

3.  Hilarious post by Tosca Lee about what it's like to write with Ted Dekker. 

4.  I noticed something strange when I checked my BookScan numbers on Amazon.  In Louisiana, for the past three weeks, I sold a grand total of 2 books.  Last week, 88 books sold.  Hmm.

After a little investigating -- thank you Google search engine -- I discovered that HOW TO SURVIVE MIDDLE SCHOOL is one of twelve books on the Louisiana Young Reader's Choice list for 2013.  (That makes the fourth state list -- TX, NY and IL.)  THANK YOU, LOUISIANA!!!  (Hammy is honored!)

5.  Did you hear about the hilarious mix-up between FIFTY SHADES OF GREY and Ruta Sepetys's incredible novel, BETWEEN SHADES OF GRAY, which won the Golden Kite Award this year?  NPR did a story about it called "One Sexy Mix-up."

6.  Places to go and people to annoy:

• Texas, here I come!  Thanks to my hard-working host, uber-librarian, Kay Hawkins, I'll be visiting schools in Allen, TX.  I'll also be yapping and signing books at A REAL BOOKSTORE in Fairview, TX on May 22nd at 7 p.m.  (Stop by and say, "Howdy!"  You may win a giant pen.  And how could you possibly go on without winning a giant pen?)

•  May 26th will find me at the Young Authors Celebration in St. Lucie County.  I love this event!  I was the guest speaker last year, too.  The proud parents and eager young writers melted my heart.  (There will be giant pens given away there, too.  Big ideas require big pens!)

• Delighted to be co-teaching a workshop about writing middle grade fiction with agent Tracey Adams from Adams Literary on June 16th.  If Orlando is on your radar, there's still time to sign up for the mid-year conference.  Looks like a GREAT line-up for writers and illustrators!

• June 20th at 2 p.m., I'll be speaking and signing at the North Miami Beach Public Library.  It's FREE and open to the public and I'd LOVE to see you there!  (I'm not above bribing you . . . with giant pens.)

• Finally, you'll find me living at James Thurber's boyhood home the end of June and most of July, doing a number of events, teaching writing to young people and working on my next top secret novel during the Children's Writer in Residency Program.  So excited!

7.  Soon, on the blog, I'll be featuring an award-winning photographer.  He'll share 6-1/2 tips on cultivating creativity.  And he's offering a very generous giveaway that will probably make your head explode.

Stay tuned . . .