MotherReader

So many goodies to share, so little time before I go to work.

You heard it here first... you know, maybe... but a sixteen-year-old translated Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows into French and put it online. He’s kind of in trouble, but I’ve got to admire the determination. And what’s the deal with the French publishing the ending of the book but running that article upside down? Silly French people.

In the Potter vein, if you want somewhere to go and talk amongst yourselves about the book, head to Scholar’s Blog Spoiler Zone and spill your guts. Also on Potter, I was surprised that my quoting the phrase “who doesn’t know Hogwarts from genital warts” didn’t get more of you to check out Defective Yeti’s hilarious post from the point of view of the Amazon warehouse employee. I mean, I just used the words “genital warts” in my blog. Do you realize what that’s going to do to my keyword searches? The least you can do is read it.

If NerdFighters (do you think that word is actually a CamelCase?) donate to the campaign of Daniel Biss or to the Foundation to Decrease WorldSuck, John Green will entertain us. At two hundred donations he says, “I will find a cat, lick it, wax two limbs of your choice while drinking a thoroughly blenderized Happy Meal from McDonald’s.” I don’t care much about the waxing or the Happy Meal, but I deeply love the idea of him going up to a neighbor and introducing himself by asking to lick their cat for a videoblog. The donations are so close. We can make it happen. Oh, and blogbuddy Kelly Fineman makes an appearance in a later video. You go, girl! If you adore Brotherhood 2.0, check out the fabulous article written by Little Willow. Her piece was also part of...

The Edge of the Forest, where I contributed a self-interview about the 48 Hour Book Challenge. Extra props to Kelly for her work getting up another great issue even after computer crashes and scheduling problems galore.

I heard from more than one place that The Society for the Promotion of Good Grammar endorses Junie B. Jones, but I’m giving the nod to Bookshelves of Doom because, man, that chick has been a posting fiend lately! Anyway, at the SPOGG Blog (what wouldn’t you give for that name), they talk about the recent blast on the books by The New York Times and support Junie B. Take that, naysayers! Personally, I am highly in favor of Junie B. Jones books, and wrote about it here.

Speaking of Junie B., remember how I said I was going to send Barbara Park my article and write her a letter for Tell an Author You Care Day (Week)? I didn’t know where to send it, but her publicist saw my post and told me that I could send the letter to her attention. Of course the email was in my new, exciting MotherReader email and I kinda had forgotten I had that new thing. But the lovely publicist forwarded my article and website on to Ms. Park, and she was thrilled with what I wrote! That makes me so happy in my heart! As it turns out, in the summer laziness I’ve been feeling, I hadn’t sent the letter yet, so I’m going to get it out of here and in the hands of my writing idol soon. Soon. Yes, soon!

On the topic of laziness, I feel the need to apologize. I thought that with less on my plate in the summer I’d be more focused, but that has not been the case. I’ve neglected to respond to emails, including forgetting that I had an entire separate email account. I didn’t send my check for the Kidlitosphere conference. (It’s in the mail!) I have books I was totally going to review, but I’ve slacked off. Generally, I just want to say that it’s not you, it’s me.

Oh, and my beach visit was lovely. We only spent one day at the ocean, but what a day. Often we see dolphins offshore, but this time they were really close. In fact, a pair of them swam about three yards away from my eleven-year-old daughter! I went running in to join her, but with my glasses on I couldn’t go deep enough. Stupid bad eyesight. Still, extremely cool.

Okay, so I got a little distracted. Sue me.

Anyway, I’ve done some good work with Tell An Author You Care... uh, Day. Except for like the day part.

1. I wrote a snail mail letter to Barbara Park with a copy of my article about the glory of Junie B. Jones for young (and older) readers. I’ve been trying to find somewhere reasonably direct to send it, but I guess I’m giving up and going with Random House in general. Wish my letter luck in finding her! If I’m telling any authors that I care, that’s for me to know and you to find out.


2. I wrote, by somewhat copying my MotherReader posts, Amazon reviews for The Thing About Georgie and Clementine. I chose these two books because I bought them for the girls’ teachers, and so I got an email from Amazon asking for a customer review. Seemed timely and goes right into the next step.


3. In some way, I feel that I fulfilled this option by purchasing two great books to give to two great classroom teachers. But just to cover myself, I also preordered the new Harry Potter for my husband. Yes, my husband, because he’s more anxiously awaiting it than I am.


4. I’m still working on the author profile aspect; almost there. Hopefully tomorrow.

Oh, and in relation to my third thing above — you know, about how the Harry Potter book is more for my husband than me? Well, I’ve done something wacky and decided to read all the old HP books again before reading the new one. Now, lots of people have been rereading, but I suspect most of them started before, say, Tuesday. With a full work day tomorrow, and four more looooong books to go, things don’t look good. But I suspect that my obsessive personality will force me to stick to it.

Why, oh why can’t this stick-to-it thing work with exercising? Oh right, because I hate to sweat, but I loves to read.

Today is Tell An Author You Care Day, according to Emily at Whimsy Books. Her ideas for showing our humble appreciation:

1. Write a letter or email to a favorite author. I think J.K. Rowling and Stephenie Meyer receive plenty of fan letters. Think of an author you love who may need a little boost.


2. Write a positive review on Amazon and, if you want to, link to it in your blog.


3. Buy a book by a favorite author and give it to someone who will enjoy it.


4. Profile an author in your blog. I’m not talking just another review. Tell us a little about the author and mention at least one of his/her books that you love.

I’m on this idea like white on rice. (Which reminds me, all you clever wordsmiths should head over to Defective Yeti and submit suggestions to his very witty Cliché Rotation Project.) I love taking opportunities to give people positive messages to counteract all the negative buzz we generate in our own minds, whether it’s family, friends, or authors. Actually, I was at a party on Saturday night, and was complimenting near-strangers all night. I was in that mindset somehow — though the red wine might have had something to do with it — but I’ll tell you, it was fun to tell folks nice things just because I could.

In terms of authors, I’m going to try and do all four of Emily’s suggestions, but I may need more than a day. We’ll see how it goes. I’ll be back with a follow-up later, but you should get cracking on your own author appreciation.