Monthly Archives: May 2010

Admirations and Inspirations with Sydney Salter

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Two posts in one day — I know, it’s like I’m on a posting bender, right? But, because of prom excitement, I missed posting my interview with Sydney Salter. So let’s take a few minutes now to see what inspires her.

Sydney Salter is the author of 2009′s hilarious My Big Nose and Other Natural Disasters (which includes one of my all time top YA boy crushes). This year she’s back with Swoon At Your Own Risk.

Me: What is your theme song?

In high school, if I heard “Walking on Sunshine” by Katrina And The Waves, I knew I’d have a great day. Now on those rare occasions when I hear that song, all those good feelings still flood back. I guess I should listen to the local 80s station more often…

(I feel the exact same way about this song, Sydney!)

Me:  Who/what is your favorite visual artist or favorite piece of art?

Oh, this question is so difficult for me–almost as bad as asking me to pick a favorite book or author. I love Grandma Moses–her charming scenes of maples and sledding–but I’m also inspired by the fact that she created artwork at an age when most people give up their dreams.

One of my favorite paintings is Picasso’s portrait of Dora Maar–the one hanging in the permanent collection at The Guggenheim. I bought a postcard version and keep it on my bedside table.

I also love John Singer Sargent’s portraits–he knew how to capture a person’s essence in paint. Suffice it to say, I love art, love visiting museums, and wish I were rich enough to collect more of it for my own home!

Thank you, Sydney!

Swoon at Your Own Risk is available now. Look for it at your local library, Amazon, or your local independent bookstore. Sydney recommends: Rediscovered Bookshop in Boise, Idaho for their knowledgeable staff and great middle-grade and YA section.

Prom!

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So last night I chaperoned my school’s Junior Prom and it was so much fun.

First of all, dresses this season are so pretty. Almost all the girls had long, flowing dresses that brushed the floor. They were in bright colors, too, lots of pinks and yellows and patterns. One of my favorites was a girl in a yellow dress with pink accessories.

So now let’s talk about the dancing, because this is where I felt a bit like an Old Person. When I was in high school, this is how we danced:



So, you know, admittedly things have changed quite a bit. The last time I chaperoned a prom, there was lots of grinding and such, and so that’s what I was expecting. What I was not expecting was one big amorphous blob of grinding. One of the other chaperone’s and I felt like we’d feel very claustrophobic in such a mob. Has anyone ever danced like that? What’s it like?

The joy of line dances remains, though! I missed the Electric Slide because I was counting votes for the prom court, but I got to learn how to do the Cotton Eye Joe dance, which is hard in heels, which I guess is why most of the girls took their’s off.

And of course there was also the CIRCLE into which those with dance talent go in and show their stuff. I stood on a chair and still couldn’t see, but people seemed impressed with the guys in there.

All in all it was a great time, and I hope the students had as much fun as the chaperones did. Congratulations to the class of 2011!

Music Monday: I heart Joss Whedon

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On the way back from the Hudson Children’s Book Festival (which was so awesome!), my husband and I were listening to This American Life. Though I love this show, I don’t often catch it. So it was doubly exciting when one of the guests was Joss Whedon. Singing!



Of course he’s singing about DVD commentaries, but it pretty much summed up my ambivalence about writers being expected to reveal so much online, especially teen authors.