Were you born today?

Today is the birthday of both C.S. Lewis and Louisa May Alcott. Not too shabby.

I am taking both of my parents to the doctor this morning. The wind is howling. Must remember to tie a rope around Mother’s waist so she doesn’t blow away. The wind wouldn’t dare touch my dad. When they are safely home, I go back to revising. I have thrown out almost all of the scenes that needed to be thrown out of the WIP, and have the bones for the new ones. Time to scribble.

Added later A sad moment… Stan Berenstain, co-creator with his wife Jan of the Berenstain Bears, has died. We were always reading their books to our kids…. shedding tears now….

51 Replies to “Were you born today?”

  1. A favor

    Hi Laurie,
    I’ll understand if you can’t respond to this – I know you can’t answer all of the messages you get – but I’m wondering if you might be able to help me. I’ve had some sort of brain wiring malfunction, and have decided to quit my (steady, financially dependable) career of 13 years to dedicate myself fulltime to trying to write children’s books (ya and picture). I’ve been trying to do it in my free time for many years, and it’s just not possible.
    Anyway, to give myself some structure, I’m applying to an MFA program in writing for children. For the application, I need to include a critical essay on a book (preferably addressing the issue of the craft of writing.) I’ve decided to write about Catalyst, as I’ve read it 20 million times, give or take. But since it’s been years since I wrote an English essay, I’m kind of at a loss for where to begin. Do you know of any writing assignments that have been given relating to Catalyst? Maybe this seems ridiculous – I’m just completely blanking on what sort of topic might work.
    Thank you so much and, again, no worries if you don’t have time to respond.
    Best wishes,
    MRB

  2. A favor

    Hi Laurie,
    I’ll understand if you can’t respond to this – I know you can’t answer all of the messages you get – but I’m wondering if you might be able to help me. I’ve had some sort of brain wiring malfunction, and have decided to quit my (steady, financially dependable) career of 13 years to dedicate myself fulltime to trying to write children’s books (ya and picture). I’ve been trying to do it in my free time for many years, and it’s just not possible.
    Anyway, to give myself some structure, I’m applying to an MFA program in writing for children. For the application, I need to include a critical essay on a book (preferably addressing the issue of the craft of writing.) I’ve decided to write about Catalyst, as I’ve read it 20 million times, give or take. But since it’s been years since I wrote an English essay, I’m kind of at a loss for where to begin. Do you know of any writing assignments that have been given relating to Catalyst? Maybe this seems ridiculous – I’m just completely blanking on what sort of topic might work.
    Thank you so much and, again, no worries if you don’t have time to respond.
    Best wishes,
    MRB

  3. A favor

    Hi Laurie,
    I’ll understand if you can’t respond to this – I know you can’t answer all of the messages you get – but I’m wondering if you might be able to help me. I’ve had some sort of brain wiring malfunction, and have decided to quit my (steady, financially dependable) career of 13 years to dedicate myself fulltime to trying to write children’s books (ya and picture). I’ve been trying to do it in my free time for many years, and it’s just not possible.
    Anyway, to give myself some structure, I’m applying to an MFA program in writing for children. For the application, I need to include a critical essay on a book (preferably addressing the issue of the craft of writing.) I’ve decided to write about Catalyst, as I’ve read it 20 million times, give or take. But since it’s been years since I wrote an English essay, I’m kind of at a loss for where to begin. Do you know of any writing assignments that have been given relating to Catalyst? Maybe this seems ridiculous – I’m just completely blanking on what sort of topic might work.
    Thank you so much and, again, no worries if you don’t have time to respond.
    Best wishes,
    MRB

  4. Could you help me out?

    Hi Laurie,
    I just finished reading your book Catalyst for my 9th grade English class.I enjoyed it very much.But that is not the subject of this message.My teacher has assigned an essay about how I myself can relate to your life.So I was reading through the acknowledgments at the end of the story and noticed you thanked Linkin Park.I was wondering what some of your favorite songs of theirs were and why you like them.Also, I was reading a biography that said you liked living close to Canada which made me wonder,did you have parental issues or any problems with your parents.I would also like to know what you did when you were in high school to escape problems,like what Kate does with her running.I would greatly appreciate it if you could e-mail me back as soon as you can,but i understand you are busy and respect that. But here’s my email if you have time
    punkswimmer2009@netscape.net

    Oh and i also read your entry about the “gothic” kid who murdered a girl and in response to what can be done,I think you should write a book about sub-cultures and labels such as “goth,emo,punk,prep,jock,so on and ect.” I think it would be a good way to stress to people how the media labels people and rubs off on other people’s judgment.Also it could show the pains and agonies of labeling.

    Sincerely yours,
    Richie

  5. Could you help me out?

    Hi Laurie,
    I just finished reading your book Catalyst for my 9th grade English class.I enjoyed it very much.But that is not the subject of this message.My teacher has assigned an essay about how I myself can relate to your life.So I was reading through the acknowledgments at the end of the story and noticed you thanked Linkin Park.I was wondering what some of your favorite songs of theirs were and why you like them.Also, I was reading a biography that said you liked living close to Canada which made me wonder,did you have parental issues or any problems with your parents.I would also like to know what you did when you were in high school to escape problems,like what Kate does with her running.I would greatly appreciate it if you could e-mail me back as soon as you can,but i understand you are busy and respect that. But here’s my email if you have time
    punkswimmer2009@netscape.net

    Oh and i also read your entry about the “gothic” kid who murdered a girl and in response to what can be done,I think you should write a book about sub-cultures and labels such as “goth,emo,punk,prep,jock,so on and ect.” I think it would be a good way to stress to people how the media labels people and rubs off on other people’s judgment.Also it could show the pains and agonies of labeling.

    Sincerely yours,
    Richie

  6. Could you help me out?

    Hi Laurie,
    I just finished reading your book Catalyst for my 9th grade English class.I enjoyed it very much.But that is not the subject of this message.My teacher has assigned an essay about how I myself can relate to your life.So I was reading through the acknowledgments at the end of the story and noticed you thanked Linkin Park.I was wondering what some of your favorite songs of theirs were and why you like them.Also, I was reading a biography that said you liked living close to Canada which made me wonder,did you have parental issues or any problems with your parents.I would also like to know what you did when you were in high school to escape problems,like what Kate does with her running.I would greatly appreciate it if you could e-mail me back as soon as you can,but i understand you are busy and respect that. But here’s my email if you have time
    punkswimmer2009@netscape.net

    Oh and i also read your entry about the “gothic” kid who murdered a girl and in response to what can be done,I think you should write a book about sub-cultures and labels such as “goth,emo,punk,prep,jock,so on and ect.” I think it would be a good way to stress to people how the media labels people and rubs off on other people’s judgment.Also it could show the pains and agonies of labeling.

    Sincerely yours,
    Richie

  7. Berenstain Bears were my favorite favorite books!!!!!!!! I used to get those out every time my class went to the school library on Thursdays and I knew exactly where they were. Sobbing……….

  8. Berenstain Bears were my favorite favorite books!!!!!!!! I used to get those out every time my class went to the school library on Thursdays and I knew exactly where they were. Sobbing……….

  9. Berenstain Bears were my favorite favorite books!!!!!!!! I used to get those out every time my class went to the school library on Thursdays and I knew exactly where they were. Sobbing……….

  10. hi

    hey! good luck with all the revisions and everything:-)! i hope your parents are doing well:-). i didn’t know about stan bernstein’s passing:-(. i loved those books:-). well i gtg. ttyl. -ash 🙂

  11. hi

    hey! good luck with all the revisions and everything:-)! i hope your parents are doing well:-). i didn’t know about stan bernstein’s passing:-(. i loved those books:-). well i gtg. ttyl. -ash 🙂

  12. hi

    hey! good luck with all the revisions and everything:-)! i hope your parents are doing well:-). i didn’t know about stan bernstein’s passing:-(. i loved those books:-). well i gtg. ttyl. -ash 🙂

  13. hey Laurie!

    > Hi Laurie,
    It sounds like you had a really nice Thanksgiving. I had a nice little break too. It was really nice to see my sisters as I hadn’t seen then since August. They are both loving school and doing really well. I wanted to write and say hi again, as its been a little while. Now its back to major crunch time and more work than I know what to do with. It’s slowly getting done, but its a work in progress. I’m trying to get it all done farily soon so that I can start studying for my dreaded exams..oy vey. 🙂
    Before I stop procrastinating, i thought I would ask you a question. For my education class we have to read and catalog 50 childrens books. I’ve read about 23 and its due next week.. oy again. Anyway I know what the different genres are but how do I know what genre a particular book fits into? I’m going to ask my professor this question tomorow, but I thought I would ask you first.
    Be well and take care. Have a happy and healthy holiday season as well.

    best,
    Sarah B.

    ps. Where exactly is Mexico NY? Amy is a freshman at Barnard this year.. can you believe it? Did you ever meet her? My mom says it was mainly me you sat for.. ( how lucky was I!)

  14. hey Laurie!

    > Hi Laurie,
    It sounds like you had a really nice Thanksgiving. I had a nice little break too. It was really nice to see my sisters as I hadn’t seen then since August. They are both loving school and doing really well. I wanted to write and say hi again, as its been a little while. Now its back to major crunch time and more work than I know what to do with. It’s slowly getting done, but its a work in progress. I’m trying to get it all done farily soon so that I can start studying for my dreaded exams..oy vey. 🙂
    Before I stop procrastinating, i thought I would ask you a question. For my education class we have to read and catalog 50 childrens books. I’ve read about 23 and its due next week.. oy again. Anyway I know what the different genres are but how do I know what genre a particular book fits into? I’m going to ask my professor this question tomorow, but I thought I would ask you first.
    Be well and take care. Have a happy and healthy holiday season as well.

    best,
    Sarah B.

    ps. Where exactly is Mexico NY? Amy is a freshman at Barnard this year.. can you believe it? Did you ever meet her? My mom says it was mainly me you sat for.. ( how lucky was I!)

  15. hey Laurie!

    > Hi Laurie,
    It sounds like you had a really nice Thanksgiving. I had a nice little break too. It was really nice to see my sisters as I hadn’t seen then since August. They are both loving school and doing really well. I wanted to write and say hi again, as its been a little while. Now its back to major crunch time and more work than I know what to do with. It’s slowly getting done, but its a work in progress. I’m trying to get it all done farily soon so that I can start studying for my dreaded exams..oy vey. 🙂
    Before I stop procrastinating, i thought I would ask you a question. For my education class we have to read and catalog 50 childrens books. I’ve read about 23 and its due next week.. oy again. Anyway I know what the different genres are but how do I know what genre a particular book fits into? I’m going to ask my professor this question tomorow, but I thought I would ask you first.
    Be well and take care. Have a happy and healthy holiday season as well.

    best,
    Sarah B.

    ps. Where exactly is Mexico NY? Amy is a freshman at Barnard this year.. can you believe it? Did you ever meet her? My mom says it was mainly me you sat for.. ( how lucky was I!)

  16. Re: Could you help me out?

    Linkin Park – I love Crawling, Papercut, and One Step Closer. Sometimes you just want to scream, and those guys scream intelligently, IMHO. My parents and I had BIG issues when I was in high school. We loved each other, but they were struggling a lot with their jobs and my dad was very depressed and Mom was focused on keep a roof over our heads, so there was a lot of stress and silence in our house. We all got over it eventually.

    I escaped my probelms in high school by reading. Then I became a foreign exchange student and escaped the whole country. I spent my senior year as an AFS-student in Denmark. I escaped my problems in my 30s by running, but then my knees crapped out and I finally had to learn how to deal with them. I’ve always been a little slow on the uptake.

    I appreciate your comment about the pain of labelling. I’ll be thinking on that one for a while.

  17. Re: Could you help me out?

    Linkin Park – I love Crawling, Papercut, and One Step Closer. Sometimes you just want to scream, and those guys scream intelligently, IMHO. My parents and I had BIG issues when I was in high school. We loved each other, but they were struggling a lot with their jobs and my dad was very depressed and Mom was focused on keep a roof over our heads, so there was a lot of stress and silence in our house. We all got over it eventually.

    I escaped my probelms in high school by reading. Then I became a foreign exchange student and escaped the whole country. I spent my senior year as an AFS-student in Denmark. I escaped my problems in my 30s by running, but then my knees crapped out and I finally had to learn how to deal with them. I’ve always been a little slow on the uptake.

    I appreciate your comment about the pain of labelling. I’ll be thinking on that one for a while.

  18. Re: Could you help me out?

    Linkin Park – I love Crawling, Papercut, and One Step Closer. Sometimes you just want to scream, and those guys scream intelligently, IMHO. My parents and I had BIG issues when I was in high school. We loved each other, but they were struggling a lot with their jobs and my dad was very depressed and Mom was focused on keep a roof over our heads, so there was a lot of stress and silence in our house. We all got over it eventually.

    I escaped my probelms in high school by reading. Then I became a foreign exchange student and escaped the whole country. I spent my senior year as an AFS-student in Denmark. I escaped my problems in my 30s by running, but then my knees crapped out and I finally had to learn how to deal with them. I’ve always been a little slow on the uptake.

    I appreciate your comment about the pain of labelling. I’ll be thinking on that one for a while.

  19. Speak

    Hello!

    I don’t know where else to put this, so I guess I will put it here!

    I am a student at Fernandina Beach Middle School, my teacher (Ms. White) told me that you knew eachother. I just finished your book Speak. I have to say, it is one of the best books I have ever read.

    We have these composition books that we are required to write in about different chapters in certain books. I wrote down several qoutes from Speak.

    The qoute: “It is easier to floss with barbed wire than to admit you like someone in middle school.” Is true. Utterly true.

    Now, I’m off to read Prom!

    Ciao!

  20. Speak

    Hello!

    I don’t know where else to put this, so I guess I will put it here!

    I am a student at Fernandina Beach Middle School, my teacher (Ms. White) told me that you knew eachother. I just finished your book Speak. I have to say, it is one of the best books I have ever read.

    We have these composition books that we are required to write in about different chapters in certain books. I wrote down several qoutes from Speak.

    The qoute: “It is easier to floss with barbed wire than to admit you like someone in middle school.” Is true. Utterly true.

    Now, I’m off to read Prom!

    Ciao!

  21. Speak

    Hello!

    I don’t know where else to put this, so I guess I will put it here!

    I am a student at Fernandina Beach Middle School, my teacher (Ms. White) told me that you knew eachother. I just finished your book Speak. I have to say, it is one of the best books I have ever read.

    We have these composition books that we are required to write in about different chapters in certain books. I wrote down several qoutes from Speak.

    The qoute: “It is easier to floss with barbed wire than to admit you like someone in middle school.” Is true. Utterly true.

    Now, I’m off to read Prom!

    Ciao!

  22. Re: Speak

    Your teacher is completely awesome – I adore her and wished I lived closer to her so we could hang out.

    Let me know what you think about Prom. And tell Ms. White I said hey!

  23. Re: Speak

    Your teacher is completely awesome – I adore her and wished I lived closer to her so we could hang out.

    Let me know what you think about Prom. And tell Ms. White I said hey!

  24. Re: Speak

    Your teacher is completely awesome – I adore her and wished I lived closer to her so we could hang out.

    Let me know what you think about Prom. And tell Ms. White I said hey!

  25. Wow…I’m tearing up now that you said Stan Berenstain died. I would read those books over and over. I practically learned to read from those and the Little Critter series. When I have children of my own I know I will use the Berenstain Bears as learning tools. Thank you for telling us of his death.

  26. Wow…I’m tearing up now that you said Stan Berenstain died. I would read those books over and over. I practically learned to read from those and the Little Critter series. When I have children of my own I know I will use the Berenstain Bears as learning tools. Thank you for telling us of his death.

  27. Wow…I’m tearing up now that you said Stan Berenstain died. I would read those books over and over. I practically learned to read from those and the Little Critter series. When I have children of my own I know I will use the Berenstain Bears as learning tools. Thank you for telling us of his death.

  28. you kno c.s. lewis died on november 22nd 1963 the same day mr president kennedy was assisnated interesting right? i just learned this because last saturday was my 15th birthday and for a gift i recieved the audio cd for the line the witch in the wardrobe and it had a treasurery of his life he was born in 1898 he died just before turning 65 and would have been 107 fyi this is jessica from sheepshead bay again i’m back ha ha

  29. you kno c.s. lewis died on november 22nd 1963 the same day mr president kennedy was assisnated interesting right? i just learned this because last saturday was my 15th birthday and for a gift i recieved the audio cd for the line the witch in the wardrobe and it had a treasurery of his life he was born in 1898 he died just before turning 65 and would have been 107 fyi this is jessica from sheepshead bay again i’m back ha ha

  30. you kno c.s. lewis died on november 22nd 1963 the same day mr president kennedy was assisnated interesting right? i just learned this because last saturday was my 15th birthday and for a gift i recieved the audio cd for the line the witch in the wardrobe and it had a treasurery of his life he was born in 1898 he died just before turning 65 and would have been 107 fyi this is jessica from sheepshead bay again i’m back ha ha

  31. oh thanks i did have a happy birthday ok my bookworm senses are tingling have to go read something now i’m the big 15 lol

  32. oh thanks i did have a happy birthday ok my bookworm senses are tingling have to go read something now i’m the big 15 lol

  33. oh thanks i did have a happy birthday ok my bookworm senses are tingling have to go read something now i’m the big 15 lol

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