jury duty

Today I have jury duty. It seems to be an age-old joke that “everybody knows how to get out of jury duty.” How do they? Is it a secret passed on from generation to generation? As an American rite of passage I seem unable to complete the ritual.

Even my Taiwanese-born mother has mastered the art. When she was mailed her white slip of paper, she dutifully showed up at the courthouse. But when they asked her if she had any reasons why she shouldn’t be on a jury, she said with her thickly accented English, “Yes. I don’t understand what you are saying.” She was allowed to go home.

I, however, speak perfect English, have no criminal record and have no racial biases that I wish to associate myself with. But I have no yearning to serve on a jury either, I have mounds of work and deadlines waiting. What to do?

Right now, just sit in the jury waiting room, and hope that my number is not needed.

patience

Ah, I was so excited in my last post because I thought I had finished "Year of the Rat." But nothing like a good night's sleep and a day to ponder to realize my overstatement. Because upon rereading, I realized a major flaw and started gutting the poor thing. It'll be worth it, I know, but sometimes the "writer's journey" is frustrating; and--I don't care what other people say--quite unsatisfactory when you're on it.

But as I was grouching about revisions, in my inbox came this really sweet and strangely apropos e-mail (name withheld but exact typos & spelling included):

I love the novel "year of the dog"! I think it might have been one of the best books i have ever read this year! I am only 11 years old. I am chinese and part american(kind of like what's in your book). I was born in 1994 which is the year of the dog. I was wondering... If you can ever just ever maybe write back. Cause I love your books so much!!! Year of the dog is a story kind of like my life. I have not yet found some one just like me untill i read your book. I relized that sometimes when you want something you will just have to be patient no matter how bad you want it.

Thank you for your time
-----------
(as know'n as your #1 fan)

If she can be patient, I suppose I can too.

12:56 AM

This morning at 12:56 AM I finished my novel, The Year of the Rat! That sounds a bit overdramatic, but when you've slaved for what feels like years you indulge in some theatrics...

double love

At Chinese weddings the symbol for happiness is repeated so it means double happiness.

And that is how I feel about my bike. After I got it, I loved it. I’ve never had any sport-like activity I’ve enjoyed more. Disregarding my work, I’ve biked almost every day, sometimes getting up at 7 AM (which for a freelancer is unheard of).

So what could make me love it more? How about if my adored husband biked with me? Why, what a wonderful idea! I think I’ll buy him a bike and double my happiness…

feeding the fish

I have had a checkered past in Montreal. It was the place where Robert proposed and it was also the place where he was diagnosed with cancer the first time. So it's been a place of extreme highs and lows.

But even when things were at their lowest, one of thing that never failed to fill me with a sense of peace, if not joy, was when we went to the lake and fed the fish.

I know it seems silly and corny. But when the bright orange fish glide through the murky green water, I'm always struck on how beautiful it is. It's my visual reminder to stop and smell the roses, to let go of the fears of the past and future and to appreciate the moment that I have.

It's a good thing I don't have those fish at home. They'd be obese.

my new ride

I've been searching all summer for an activity that I could enjoy and get me out of the house, because nothing makes me grumpier than realizing that a beautiful day has happened and I've spent it indoors at my desk.

However, running has lost it's appeal (in 90 degrees, forget it!) and walking is to slow (all I do is think about how I have to get back and work). So, the new solution was biking...all I needed was to get a bike.

So I did. And I heart it. Not only is it green and pretty, nothing brings back the wonder of childhood as you whiz downhill, with the wind in your hair. Such a simple pleasure, but priceless.

I was a little disappointed with the boring color of my helmet, so Robert put some pink flames on it to jazz it up. He knew then I'd be more likely to wear it. Since I'm not the most accomplished rider, he's afraid I'll crack my skull. I don't have that fear...the only thing I'm scared of is someone will steal my shiny new bike.

quality not quantity

Even as a child, I never had a great many friends. This used to bother my in my teenage years, when I looked with envy at the popular girls with entourages. Giggling and perky, those girls had so many friends that there wasn't enough room at the lunch table for all of them. Jealously, I thought they were favorites of fortune-- their value increasing with each friend they had.

However, that was many years ago. Thankfully, those teenage years are over and I can now see how blessed I am with the friendships I've been given. A reminder of this was given to me this past weekend, when all the girls got together here in Boston. We celebrated Libby's birthday with pink cupcakes (cupcakes seem to be a trend, first Alvina gave me a cupcake necklace, then I sent some cupcakes to fuse8 and to Alvina, and now even more cupcakes for Libby); and once again I remembered how wonderful it was to have real, true friends. We even started a blog together(it's all children's book shop talk, come and join the fun!).

So, I can truly say I've grown up a bit. I no longer care that I don't have enough friends to fill an address book--in fact, I can count all of them with my two hands. But if you think about it, two hands is all I really need.

summer school

Last week I was invited to read at a summer program in Cambridge.

Since it is the summer, I quite wasn't sure how interested the kids would be. So, when I began my temperature-testing introduction it was with a bit of trepidation. This intro is my special way of starting my presentation so I know what I'm in for. It goes like this:

"Hello, first graders!" I say.
"Hello!" they say.
"Do you know who I am?" I ask, bracing myself, "Who am I?"

Now if that question is met with silence or odd expressions, I know I am in for a rough time. Usually, I break out into a cold sweat and then I do everything short of dance with a monkey to try to engage the kids. I think most authors would agree that there are very few worse fates than trying to do an author visit with students who don't know (or care) who you are...

But, at this visit, I knew I was going to be okay because, at the appropriate time, all the kids yelled, "GRACE LIN!"

phew!

Their teacher was relieved too, considering all the work she had done to get them ready for my visit. Not only had she gotten them excited about our kite project (making kites just like my book Kite Flying). She also had them plant Chinese vegetable seeds (like in The Ugly Vegetables):




And paint their favorite foods (like in Dim Sum For Everyone!):



Thank you, teacher!

a true story

on april fool's day
stella told her husband
she wanted to adopt
a baby gorilla
if they didn't adopt it
it would be put to sleep
she loved gorillas
and even sent him a photo

after thinking about it
her husband said
okay
we do have a really big house
let's go talk to them and
adopt the gorilla

this is an april fool's day joke
stella laughed
i can't believe you fell for it and
that you would be willing to
adopt a gorilla
for me

I would adopt
anything
for
you
he said

this story made me cry

up for air

I've been smothered by origami paper and japanese fabric as I paint the pictures for my new book "Lissy's Friends." I'm quite pleased with this particular painting, but of course that is what I say that now. By the time the book comes out, my opinion has changed and nothing seems as enchanting as it once was.

ugly vegetable

Today was Artbeat, an arts festival right around the corner from my home. Always a great time,I love walking the streets full of musical acts, art sculptures and vendors. So, while I was perusing the bright glass jewelry, a large green object caught the corner of my eye. What was that? Someone was dressed as a large vegetable. Was it a zucchini? Was it a squash? No! It was a bitter melon!

This vegetable is also known affectionately in my book The Ugly Vegetables as a ku gua. In the book, a mother, to the chagrin of her young daughter, insists on growing Chinese vegetables in her garden instead of flowers like the neighbors. The daughter, unenthused by the bumpy bitter melons growing in their garden labels them "ugly vegetables," only to appreciate them at the end when the mother makes a soup so enticing that the neighbors invite themselves over for dinner.

The Ugly Vegetables was my first published book and has been well loved and received since its release. When it first came out, I had grandiose ideas of trying to promote it--including having Ki-Ki dress up as a bitter melon. But, I was unsure of the appeal...I can honestly say there are not many picturebooks made about bitter melon, so its popularity as a character costume did not seem promising. However, here it was--a giant bitter melon parading around.

Considering the odds of this happening, I decided it was fate and ran back to my house and got my camera and my book. Not only did I need to document this, anyone who dressed up as a bitter melon needed to have a copy of The Ugly Vegetables. It just seemed mandatory.

adventures in ordering

It's Alvina's birthday! To celebrate the birthday of my oldest friend (oldest meaning longest friendship, not oldest as in age), I sent her what I've long suspected are the key to a children's book lover's happiness. CUPCAKES! (By the way, this theory has recently been proven correct as evidenced here).

But, the process of getting sugary sunshine to Alvina was quite harried. What seemed so straightforward: simply call the bakery and place my order became relatively complex--due to a bad phone connection and a foreign baker. Here is an excerpt of my conversation:

"Could you put letters on the cupcakes," I ask, "I'd like it to spell out 'Happy Birthday, Alvina."
"Yes," the man said, "Happy Birthday, Albina."
"No," I say, "Alvina--like Alvin with an 'A'"
"Albina," the man repeats.
"With a 'V'" I say.
"Yes, yes," he says, "With a 'B'"
"No, 'V'" I say, "V like vote."
"Yes," he says, "B, like boat."
"No," I say, "V like very."
"Yes," he says, "B like berry."
"V like venom?" I offer.
"D?" he says, "Denim?"
"vacuum?" I suggest.
"Oh, ok," he says, "I have it 'V' like backroom."

At this point, I decide to take his word for it and trust that a successful transaction has occurred. However, later, I must admit defeat. For instead of being sent to 'Alvina Ling' the cupcakes are sent to 'Albino Lane.' Happy Birthday, Albino!

song lyrics

It's been a yo-yo of emotions here at mia casa, as I try to meet deadlines and catch up on past projects. Being an author and illustrator, is, when you think of it, a pretty selfish profession. It's solitary and demands time for personal thought; and when the creative burn begins it leaves little patience for needs of others.

I have never been able to achieve the proper balance of walking the tightrope of life and work; and this has never been as evident as it is now with my failures rearing many uglies. Thoughout all of this, these song lyrics by Kevin So have been on repeat in my head. Even though it's a lovely song, I can't help but feel it's a very junior high mentality that identifies with song lyrics. I hope it's because I am in my "young writing brain" that makes me connect with it so.

as i rush through empty streets
as i hustle to make ends meet
there's nothing worse than self-defeat
even the battle
nothing's easy in this life
but i don't want you to lose sight
will we ever take a flight across the ocean?

-from The Great Wall

i'm blushing

Alvina just sent me this link to perhaps the nicest review of Year of the Dog. I feel like I should send the author some flowers.

book quiz psychiatry

After reading Alvina's blog, I took the book quiz and got this result. Strangely, it seems to be echoing some of my recent struggles of work vs. home (albeit, a bit melodramatically!). However, no zoo animals have come to my rescue, though I wonder if "Year of the Rat" could be considered...

You're The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe!

by C.S. Lewis

You were just looking for some decent clothes when everything changed quite dramatically. For the better or for the worse, it is still hard to tell. Now it seems like winter will never end and you feel cursed. Soon there will be an epic struggle between two forces in your life and you are very concerned about a betrayal that could turn the balance. If this makes it sound like you're re-enacting Christian theological events, that may or may not be coincidence. When in doubt, put your trust in zoo animals.


Take the Book Quiz

news from the front

So, it looks like the best thing that may have happened to me at the recent ALA conference took place when I wasn't even there! The Year of the Dog was one of the titles considered during the ALA Notable discussions (where they debate which books they want to be on the notable list) and the grapevine gossip has been pretty positive. I don't want to get my hopes up too high, but I'll admit to a couple of citation daydreams.

And those daydreams are what keep me from throwing myself overboard. ALA was an overwhelming experience...the sheer number of books being produced makes it a minor miracle to be able to even to find my own. However, the joy is in the journey--while looking for my own books I ran into a couple that I just loved. I look forward to buying when they hit the stores:

Steal Back the Mona Lisa, by Meghan McCarthy: This is hilarious, a fun story with factual info. I am jealous that my mind cannot work in this inventive way.

Yoon and the Christmas Mitten, by Helen Recorvits, Gabi Swiatkowska : A lovely story, if a tad bit wordy, but the art is absolutely gorgeous. I think Gabi will win a Caldecott in the next couple of years.

Chowder, by Peter Brown: have to love that dog! Makes me want to be a bulldog owner.

so much food, so few meals

Unfortunately, I'm at my worst when it comes to professional socializing. Somehow, all the awkwardness and insecuritites that I thought I left in my younger years comes back and I am all akimbo. This makes attendence at conferences like the American Library Association's pretty stressful for me. So,rather than transforming in the teenage version of myself, Robert and I eschewed most of the function and ran around New Orleans eating.

Well, ran around is used figuratively. It was much too hot to do any quick movement. We slowly oozed places, as we melted in the heat--only to solidify in an air conditioned restaurants that increased our mass.

And we definitely increased our mass. We finally discovered the difference between gumbo and jumbalaya (gumbo is more like a soup), that beignats are fried dough and New Orleans bread pudding is like no other. Everywhere we went, a restaurant called us....and it said, "Why talk when you can eat?"

my bad

One of the unforeseen joys of writing novels is the fan mail. During my career as a picturebook author/illustrator, I have gotten an occasional flattering e-mail or letter, usually from parents. But, with Year of the Dog I've been hearing directly from the reader.

But I'm a horrible author! I have yet to respond to any of them. I keep meaning to, but somehow the pile remains on the desk. It was only when my editor asked me if I had any fan mail that she could use to pitch Year of the Rat (cross your fingers!) to pub committee, that I rifled though them. Oh the guilt! I'm sorry! I will reply, I will!

In the meantime here are some priceless excerpts (these are probably funnier if you've read the book):

"We really liked your book. There were so many magical moments. We like how you and Melody were best friends. You were always working together and were BFFs(Best Friends Forever)."

"...It was exciting to hear about Albert's red egg party. I bet Albert was very wealthy. I can't believe Albert got so many red eggs. Dinner sounded delicious. How much money was in the envelopes?"

"We really loved your book, The Year of the Dog. Please read our letter to find out why....Next, we liked the way you described the food. We don't usually like the food you talked about, but the flavors sounded so interesting. We could almost taste the details. Ha, ha, ha! Are you every going to write a book called The Year of the Pig?"

"...Pacy and I are the same and different. We were both born in America and our parent are from China. We each have smaller sibling. We both do not have many close friends. We are different because Pacy speaks English at home and I speak Chinese at home. I have a smaller brother and Pacy has a smaller sister. Albert was named after food. Are Ki-Ki, Pacy and Beatrice named after food? I am not named after food."

inspirations

Your friends should always be people that you admire. I'm lucky enough that my friends are not only people that I admire, but are inspiring as well. Most recently,my good friend Linda Wingerter awed us with her new passion of fire spinning.

Linda has always been a great source inspiration for me. Everything she does, everything she creates is done with the care, devotion and passion. Just from observing her, I've been shamed over and over again, realizing the difference between painting a picture and creating art. Art demands dedication, emotion and concentration. Art aspires to greatness, not for ego or money, but because it yearns to fulfill its potential and not waste the gifts bestowed on it. Linda's firespinning, as incredible and as amazing as it is, is just another example of how Linda creates art.

In the past, when I used to do educational/editorial work, I had a tendancy to to "phone it in." The only desire felt while I made those pieces was the desire to paint them as soon as possible and get paid. I would be embarassed to put my name on the paintings I created. Slowly, I realized my folly and began to concentrate solely on work that I loved. Linda is my constant reminder that I didn't get into illustration to make money, I got into it to make art.

And, Linda has abs of steel. She also inspires me to go to the gym.

book list

Whenever I do a school visit, kids ask me what my favorite books are. I usually rattle off a couple of titles in which I get returned blank and disappointed stares. With every unknown book I say, their disapproval grows until I finally give them what they want and say, "Harry Potter!" Then all is well again in the world and the visit is saved!

So,just for kicks, I'll give you my quick list:


The Lion and the Red Bird: my all-time favorite picture book. One of those books I wish I had created. Elisa Kleven is wonderful! Her art, how she creates worlds with so many little details really influenced a lot of my art, perhaps most notably the images in Fortune Cookie Fortunes

Tales of a Gambling Grandmother: also an amazing book. This book really showed me how you could create something fiercely meaningful and personal, yet still be universal to an audience. My inspiration for The Ugly Vegetables. Hey, I just found out this book is still in print, after all--in paperback!

Luka's Quilt: A multi-cultural book whose "multi-culturalism" disappears with the touching and warm story. Something I strive for in all my work.

Estelle and Lucy: This book is so beautifully written. The words are so spare, that you almost don't notice the artistry of it. This book showed me how powerful just a few words can be, it was actually the inspiration of the style of which I wrote Dim Sum For Everyone!

The Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson: This book I did NOT read before writing Year of the Dog; and I am very glad I didn't. I would have just acquiesced to its sheer brilliance and superiority and not made the attempt. It's a great book--touching, hilarious, heart-warming and honest. All that I want my books to be!

Okay, and I DO like Harry Potter! Okay? Am I cool again?