Sleepy author

It’s been a long day, but a fulfilling one. Thanks to everyone from Seneca Ridge and River Bend Middle Schools and Dominion High School for being so nice and making the day fly. I’m going to wear my Dominion shirt home on the plane. I spoke at the public library tonight to a crowd that was much bigger than I expected. The reason? Some smart teachers gave their students 50 bonus points if they showed up and asked questions. They asked very good questions so I scribbled out the 50 and wrote in 100 on their passes.

And how is this for bizarre? There was a group of children’s writers in the audience. No, that wasn’t weird at all. What was weird was that one of them, Valerie, was with me on the same exchange program to Denmark back in 1978. There were 22 American kids in that group and somehow the two of us wound up writing for kids, and in the same library at the same time!!!

(OK, everybody sing It’s A Small World After All now.)

Freaked me all the way out.

I am officially beat. I have to wake up at 4:30 am to make my plane. But I promised I’d post these photos first.

Image hosted by TinyPic.com Seneca Ridge students who were good sports about sitting on the floor.

Image hosted by TinyPic.com Dominion High School, which has really nice students.

Time to faceplant into the pillow. zzzzzzzzzzzz…….

64 Replies to “Sleepy author”

  1. Speaking of waking up early… I’ve gotta wake up at 4 tomorrow morning, shower, make sure everything is packed, be at the High School by 5:40, then get on a bus for an 8 hour ride to Virginia for my Marching Band Competition.

    Ohh the torture they put us through…

  2. Speaking of waking up early… I’ve gotta wake up at 4 tomorrow morning, shower, make sure everything is packed, be at the High School by 5:40, then get on a bus for an 8 hour ride to Virginia for my Marching Band Competition.

    Ohh the torture they put us through…

  3. Speaking of waking up early… I’ve gotta wake up at 4 tomorrow morning, shower, make sure everything is packed, be at the High School by 5:40, then get on a bus for an 8 hour ride to Virginia for my Marching Band Competition.

    Ohh the torture they put us through…

  4. 🙂

    i’m glad you had fun:-)! (maybe someday when i’m a famous author you and i will be in the same room together and see each other too:-)!) or maybe you and i will speak together someday:-)!

  5. 🙂

    i’m glad you had fun:-)! (maybe someday when i’m a famous author you and i will be in the same room together and see each other too:-)!) or maybe you and i will speak together someday:-)!

  6. 🙂

    i’m glad you had fun:-)! (maybe someday when i’m a famous author you and i will be in the same room together and see each other too:-)!) or maybe you and i will speak together someday:-)!

  7. SRMS

    I was actually there, for the Seneca Ridge auidence, and I really liked it. I really want to read Fever 1793 now! …After I finish the pile of books that I’m reading at the same time.

    Our teacher said he didn’t expect you to wear clothing like that, and I admit, I was a little schocked too. Kinda made me realize that authors don’t really stick that much out of crowd as I used to think when I was little. It’s the book that makes them, unique, I guess. Any ways, thank you for giving your web site to us!

  8. SRMS

    I was actually there, for the Seneca Ridge auidence, and I really liked it. I really want to read Fever 1793 now! …After I finish the pile of books that I’m reading at the same time.

    Our teacher said he didn’t expect you to wear clothing like that, and I admit, I was a little schocked too. Kinda made me realize that authors don’t really stick that much out of crowd as I used to think when I was little. It’s the book that makes them, unique, I guess. Any ways, thank you for giving your web site to us!

  9. SRMS

    I was actually there, for the Seneca Ridge auidence, and I really liked it. I really want to read Fever 1793 now! …After I finish the pile of books that I’m reading at the same time.

    Our teacher said he didn’t expect you to wear clothing like that, and I admit, I was a little schocked too. Kinda made me realize that authors don’t really stick that much out of crowd as I used to think when I was little. It’s the book that makes them, unique, I guess. Any ways, thank you for giving your web site to us!

  10. Re: SRMS

    I was actually thinking you were a bit older…I’d never seen a picture or anything, so I pictured someone with a skirt, blouse and a jacket.
    I’m not quite sure what my teacher was imagining, but that’s what I pictured. My imagination seems to have not been working that day…^^;

  11. Re: SRMS

    I was actually thinking you were a bit older…I’d never seen a picture or anything, so I pictured someone with a skirt, blouse and a jacket.
    I’m not quite sure what my teacher was imagining, but that’s what I pictured. My imagination seems to have not been working that day…^^;

  12. Re: SRMS

    I was actually thinking you were a bit older…I’d never seen a picture or anything, so I pictured someone with a skirt, blouse and a jacket.
    I’m not quite sure what my teacher was imagining, but that’s what I pictured. My imagination seems to have not been working that day…^^;

  13. Re: SRMS

    That’s really interesting. When I first started visiting schools years ago, that’s how I thought I was supposed to dress; like a teacher, like a professional. But I realized that being a professional in the arts was quite different. I also thought that when I showed up looking like a substitute teacher, some kids were prejudging me (as in oh, no, not another one).

    So that’s why I wear jeans to school visits. I wear jeans (or sweat pants) every single day – it is part of my professional experience. And I find that students tend to be a little more open-minded because of it. When they are open-minded, we have great conversations.

    Right now I am wearing a sweatshirt, soft pajama pants, and slippers. Life is good.

  14. Re: SRMS

    That’s really interesting. When I first started visiting schools years ago, that’s how I thought I was supposed to dress; like a teacher, like a professional. But I realized that being a professional in the arts was quite different. I also thought that when I showed up looking like a substitute teacher, some kids were prejudging me (as in oh, no, not another one).

    So that’s why I wear jeans to school visits. I wear jeans (or sweat pants) every single day – it is part of my professional experience. And I find that students tend to be a little more open-minded because of it. When they are open-minded, we have great conversations.

    Right now I am wearing a sweatshirt, soft pajama pants, and slippers. Life is good.

  15. Re: SRMS

    That’s really interesting. When I first started visiting schools years ago, that’s how I thought I was supposed to dress; like a teacher, like a professional. But I realized that being a professional in the arts was quite different. I also thought that when I showed up looking like a substitute teacher, some kids were prejudging me (as in oh, no, not another one).

    So that’s why I wear jeans to school visits. I wear jeans (or sweat pants) every single day – it is part of my professional experience. And I find that students tend to be a little more open-minded because of it. When they are open-minded, we have great conversations.

    Right now I am wearing a sweatshirt, soft pajama pants, and slippers. Life is good.

  16. SRMS ROX UR SOX

    Ur welcome!! i had alot of fun getting to see u. And same with me, i thought that authors wear like suits and stuff like that all the time. u said that authors just make as much money as an average teacher, but i heard that j. k. rowling is like verry rich, i even heard that she’s richer than the queen of england! is that true? im not sure, or is it just because she wrote so many harry potter books with r like . . . around $ 20 each? ttyl!

    ~jasmine

  17. SRMS ROX UR SOX

    Ur welcome!! i had alot of fun getting to see u. And same with me, i thought that authors wear like suits and stuff like that all the time. u said that authors just make as much money as an average teacher, but i heard that j. k. rowling is like verry rich, i even heard that she’s richer than the queen of england! is that true? im not sure, or is it just because she wrote so many harry potter books with r like . . . around $ 20 each? ttyl!

    ~jasmine

  18. SRMS ROX UR SOX

    Ur welcome!! i had alot of fun getting to see u. And same with me, i thought that authors wear like suits and stuff like that all the time. u said that authors just make as much money as an average teacher, but i heard that j. k. rowling is like verry rich, i even heard that she’s richer than the queen of england! is that true? im not sure, or is it just because she wrote so many harry potter books with r like . . . around $ 20 each? ttyl!

    ~jasmine

  19. Re: SRMS ROX UR SOX

    J. K. Rowling has sold more than 100 million books, plus she has made boatloads of money from the movies, and all the little toys, etc., that were inspired by her books.

    Average authors don’t come close to that kind of publishing success. Like most folks, we manage to get by.

  20. Re: SRMS ROX UR SOX

    J. K. Rowling has sold more than 100 million books, plus she has made boatloads of money from the movies, and all the little toys, etc., that were inspired by her books.

    Average authors don’t come close to that kind of publishing success. Like most folks, we manage to get by.

  21. Re: SRMS ROX UR SOX

    J. K. Rowling has sold more than 100 million books, plus she has made boatloads of money from the movies, and all the little toys, etc., that were inspired by her books.

    Average authors don’t come close to that kind of publishing success. Like most folks, we manage to get by.

  22. Re: ello

    Negative on the trick or treating. We live way out in the country…. I guess I could get dressed up and go to my neighbor’s barn, but the cows would not be impressed.

  23. Re: ello

    Negative on the trick or treating. We live way out in the country…. I guess I could get dressed up and go to my neighbor’s barn, but the cows would not be impressed.

  24. Re: ello

    Negative on the trick or treating. We live way out in the country…. I guess I could get dressed up and go to my neighbor’s barn, but the cows would not be impressed.

  25. Corrected sales figures

    I was wrong. According to the BBC, Rowling has sold more than 265 million Harry Potter books, in 200 countries and 62 languages.

    That is a staggering sum.

    She is the richest woman in the UK, and the richest author in the world.

    The rest of us earn pencil shavings compared to her.

  26. Corrected sales figures

    I was wrong. According to the BBC, Rowling has sold more than 265 million Harry Potter books, in 200 countries and 62 languages.

    That is a staggering sum.

    She is the richest woman in the UK, and the richest author in the world.

    The rest of us earn pencil shavings compared to her.

  27. Corrected sales figures

    I was wrong. According to the BBC, Rowling has sold more than 265 million Harry Potter books, in 200 countries and 62 languages.

    That is a staggering sum.

    She is the richest woman in the UK, and the richest author in the world.

    The rest of us earn pencil shavings compared to her.

  28. Hey, it is Sylvie

    Hello Laurie!
    This is Sylvie, from Dominion High School! I just wanted to drop in and say ‘hi!’ Wow, it is so cool how you keep a public journal, you make it sound so realistic and casual, it is almost as if I was there with you or something, well, not really, but you get the point! If you have the time, my email address is this_is_sylvie@yahoo.com
    Have a nice week!!
    I love your books, please keep on writing! 🙂
    Love,
    Sylvie Le

  29. Hey, it is Sylvie

    Hello Laurie!
    This is Sylvie, from Dominion High School! I just wanted to drop in and say ‘hi!’ Wow, it is so cool how you keep a public journal, you make it sound so realistic and casual, it is almost as if I was there with you or something, well, not really, but you get the point! If you have the time, my email address is this_is_sylvie@yahoo.com
    Have a nice week!!
    I love your books, please keep on writing! 🙂
    Love,
    Sylvie Le

  30. Hey, it is Sylvie

    Hello Laurie!
    This is Sylvie, from Dominion High School! I just wanted to drop in and say ‘hi!’ Wow, it is so cool how you keep a public journal, you make it sound so realistic and casual, it is almost as if I was there with you or something, well, not really, but you get the point! If you have the time, my email address is this_is_sylvie@yahoo.com
    Have a nice week!!
    I love your books, please keep on writing! 🙂
    Love,
    Sylvie Le

  31. Re: Hey, it is Sylvie

    Sylvie, whose name is now in my file so I can borrow it for a book one day, like we talked about! Thanks for dropping in. Say hi from me to Mrs. Kim in the library, OK?

  32. Re: Hey, it is Sylvie

    Sylvie, whose name is now in my file so I can borrow it for a book one day, like we talked about! Thanks for dropping in. Say hi from me to Mrs. Kim in the library, OK?

  33. Re: Hey, it is Sylvie

    Sylvie, whose name is now in my file so I can borrow it for a book one day, like we talked about! Thanks for dropping in. Say hi from me to Mrs. Kim in the library, OK?

  34. Re: Corrected sales figures

    OH RIGHT!
    I totally forgot about the movies and things. She is soo rich! What is BBC? Well, how many books have you sold? Like all in total. I’m just wondering. I will talk to you later!
    ~Jasmine
    p.s. Sylvie is my cousin! =)

  35. Re: Corrected sales figures

    OH RIGHT!
    I totally forgot about the movies and things. She is soo rich! What is BBC? Well, how many books have you sold? Like all in total. I’m just wondering. I will talk to you later!
    ~Jasmine
    p.s. Sylvie is my cousin! =)

  36. Re: Corrected sales figures

    OH RIGHT!
    I totally forgot about the movies and things. She is soo rich! What is BBC? Well, how many books have you sold? Like all in total. I’m just wondering. I will talk to you later!
    ~Jasmine
    p.s. Sylvie is my cousin! =)

  37. Re: Corrected sales figures

    BBC = British Broadcasting Corporation, a major news outlet in Great Britian. They have a fabulous website.

    I think if all of my books were added up, I’ve probably sold about 1.5 million. That feels pretty outstanding.

    Cool that you guys are cousins!

  38. Re: Corrected sales figures

    BBC = British Broadcasting Corporation, a major news outlet in Great Britian. They have a fabulous website.

    I think if all of my books were added up, I’ve probably sold about 1.5 million. That feels pretty outstanding.

    Cool that you guys are cousins!

  39. Re: Corrected sales figures

    BBC = British Broadcasting Corporation, a major news outlet in Great Britian. They have a fabulous website.

    I think if all of my books were added up, I’ve probably sold about 1.5 million. That feels pretty outstanding.

    Cool that you guys are cousins!

  40. Re: Hey, it is Sylvie

    Oh wow! you actually replied! Sure I’ll say hi to Mrs. Kim for you! I actually see her everyday. And now that my history fair project is in the library, I see her even more often!! How have you been? I read some more of your books and loved it!

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