By Any Other Name: Rose Clippings

Check Out These Fabulous Fifth-Graders!

2011-05-25T10:43:00.000-04:00

Ah, yes, I remember fifth grade well. It was one of my favorite years. Which is why I love
visiting with fifth graders, like the awesome ones at Pleasant Valley Elementary School
in Schenectady, NY.

In full disclosure: I have a pro-Schenectady bias. My newest book, ROCKY ROAD,
is set in an ice cream shop in Schenectady. I enjoy walking along the Mohawk River and gazing
at the beauty of The Rose Garden at Central Park. And I live just a few miles from this place that used
to be known as "The City That Lights & Hauls the World," in reference to the old General Electric company and the American Locomotive Company.

But that truly had nothing to do with my having a four-star day at Pleasant Valley last week. No,
it had more to do with the smiling, curious kids who were bursting with energy and enthusiasm about writing and life. We chatted, we laughed, we ate lunch together and we wrote. Who could ask for anything more?

Thanks to principal Joe DiCaprio, librarian Emily Dearstyne and teacher Jude McQueen for hosting me. And a shout-out to all the Pleasant Valley fifth-graders. Read, write, and rock on!

Woohoo, Cinco de Mayo!

2011-05-05T08:51:00.000-04:00

Have you heard of Cinco de Mayo?

It's a festive, fun holiday, but also a day that gets misunderstood. I know because I was confused on Cinco de Mayo until I lived in San Antonio, Texas, and some local friends sat me down and set me straight. Before that I thought the holiday marked Mexico's independence, not unlike Fourth of July for the USA. (Mexico's true independence day was September 16, 1810.)

Actually, Cinco de Mayo celebrates the initial defeat of Napoleon III of France when he tried to conquer Mexico. Texas-born Genereal Zaragoza led Zapotec Indians and mestizos to deaf the French at the Battle of Batalla de Puebla. This victory was a big moral boost for Mexico, but it was short lived, as a French victory followed. (No worries, a Mexican victory followed that.)

Today Cinco de Mayo is mostly celebrated as a day in the U.S. that recognizes the value of Hispanic/Latino culture, traditions and contributions. Wonderful parades with mariachi music and dancing are held, and delicious Mexican foods like tamales and menudo soup are enjoyed.

Maybe you've heard of the book Rocky Road? Okay, I wrote it. In Rocky Road, Tess and her family pick May 5th as the day to open their ice cream shop and begin a Cinco de Mayo celebration. Thanks to my friends in San Antonio, this wonderful holiday will always be dear to my heart.

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Three Cheers for Pinewood Intermediate School!

2011-04-04T09:05:00.001-04:00

I tell ya, magic happens when you mix together a bunch of awesome fifth-graders, enthusiastic
teachers, a super on-top-of-her-game librarian (Mindy Holland), and a day spent discussing writing and the joy of reading.

Thanks, Pinewood School , for celebrating books with me and for being so super!

Read on and Rock On!

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

2011-03-03T13:18:00.000-05:00

I DO like Green Eggs and Ham!

Matter of fact, I love it, along with The Cat In The Hat, Horton Hears a Who, Fox in Socks, and, my
favorite, Snitches. (A fun and clever read on the silliness of stereotypes.)

These books are all written by the legendary Theodore Geisel, also known as Dr. Seuss, whose
birthday is this month. (March 2, 1904.)

I'll be in schools this month doing many author visits. Most days you will find me wearing a red-and-white striped sweater. You guessed it, I wear this in tribute to the Cat In The Hat. I used to wear the tall hat instead, but my 12-year-old daughter now forbids me to leave the house like that.

There is so much to admire about Dr. Seuss and his books. As a reader, I love the brilliant rhymes, the humorous full-circle story lines and illustrations and how he weaves social issues and messages into seemingly wacky tales.

As an author I am inspired by how Dr. Seuss pursued his passion and didn't take no for an answer.
His first book, And To Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street was rejected 28 times -- that's right 28! --
until it was discovered by Random House, which just so happens to be the publisher of my second book, Rocky Road. And not only did he write and illustrate children's books but he wrote political cartoons and made film documentaries too. He was not afraid to speak his mind and point out the wrongs of bigotry, anti-semitism, and sexism.

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss, and thanks for getting us all excited about books.

I will read books
with kids at school
I will read books
riding on a mule.
I will read them
in the park
I will read them
in the dark!
(Using a flashlight, of course).

How about you readers, show me your Dr Seuss fan poem!

I Love Valentine's Day!

2011-02-13T20:44:00.000-05:00

You bet I love Valentine's Day! How could someone named Rose not love roses? Same goes for chocolates, poems and strawberry-flavored cupcakes with fluffy frosting and lots of red sugar on top (Must be my red hair).

Romance rocks and I'm lucky to have a four-star husband. But when I think of Valentines Day, I draw a bigger heart. I think of my kids, my parents, other family members and friends. People I admire, too, and so many true friends.

Then I get back to books and stories and my job as an author, and the heart gets bigger again.

I love my characters. They are my friends. And I'm not losing it when I say on a certain level, they are very real to me. Real like the Velveteen rabbit was real to his owner.

I love my editor, agent, and booksellers and all the rest in storyland who help turn my stories into books.

And I love my readers. I really do! You all write me letters and send me emails about your lives that cheer me on & inspire me and remind me how books connect us across the miles.

This year, I'm thinking that Cupid should put down the bow and arrow and simply send books. Sounds lovey to me.

Happy Valentines Day all!

Happy Holidays, World!

2010-12-22T08:12:00.001-05:00

The holidays are here, and I want to send warm wishes to friends and yet-to-meet friends around the world. So I did a little research and it turns out that "Happy Holidays" translates to "vacation days off" in many languages. And, as we all know, different culture have different holiday traditions. Still most acknowledge holidays in some way and exchange greetings. And the American "Happy Holidays" greeting is known, so I'm sending it out in as many languages as I can with translations that basically mean good wishes. I love reading and saying these words from other languages -- somehow it brings us all closer on this planet, doesn't it? If anybody out there knows "Happy Holidays" in another language, do share...

Happy Holidays, World! Here's to peace, smiles and joyful reading in 2011!

Korean: 해피 홀리데이
Greek: Καλές Γιορτές
French: Joyeuses Fetes!
Spanish: Felices Fiestas!
Mandarin: 恭喜發財 / 恭喜发财 (gōng xǐ fā cái)
Hebrew: L'Shanah Tovah!
Hawaiian: Hau'oli Lanui!
Arabic: 'A'yād Sa'īdah أعياد سعيدة
Gaelic: Beannachtai na Feile!
Japanese: shiawase na kyujitsu
Portugese: Feliz Natal!
Malaysian: maaf zahir dan batin!
Turkish: Mutlu Bayramlar!
South African, Xhose: Ii holide eximnandi
Dutch: Prettige feestdagen!
Indonesian: Selamat Hari Raya!
Swedish: Trevlig Helg!
Portugese: Boas Festas!
German: Forhe Feiertage!
Swahili: Habari Gani !
Russian: С Наступающим!
Vietnamese: Phát tài phát lộc Tấn tài tấn lộc!

Never, Never, Never Give Up!

2010-12-05T06:59:00.001-05:00

So who is the patron saint for all writers?

My vote goes to Winston Churchill, as in that quirky, bald, cigar smokin' fella who led Britain through World War II. As a plain old American who likes my freedom, I thank Churchill for being one of the leaders who stopped Hitler's march for totalitarianism (also known as living without any freedom). The man had guts, passion, and persistence, and that helped save the world.

But there's more... Churchill loved to write. He write 43 books in the course of his life. He painted too. He was a straight shooter who wasn't afraid to speak the truth. And he wasn't Superman in the least. He made plenty of mistakes but was known to pick himself up and begin again and again. The guy worked for 90 years, nonstop too.

When the writing gets tough and I feel like tossing my mouse out the window, I stare up at one of my favorite quotes that hangs on my bulletin board. It's from Churchill and it basically goes like this:

Never, never, never, never give up."

Three cheers for Winston!

Announcing Thanksgiving Contest Winners

2010-11-15T13:26:00.002-05:00

Drumroll, please. I have an important announcement ...

Let me back up. In case you didn't hear my new book, ROCKY ROAD, was featured recently on KidsBuzz, a terrific newsletter that goes out to readers, teachers, and librarians. In the spirit of the season, I wanted to show my appreciation to readers, so I offered a raffle for a randomly selected autographed copy of ROCKY ROAD and a gift certificate to Ben & Jerry's. (In case somebody out there has been living under a rock and hasn't heard of Ben & Jerry's, it is a fun company that makes outrageously delicious ice cream and has chain stores across the USA. Gotta love those funky cows in the corporate logo.)

In entering the contest, readers had to share what ice cream flavor was their favorite and how that flavor represented their personality.

Wow, did I hear from interesting readers who say they embody the spirit of ice cream! Chocolate lovers, moose track fans, strawberry cheesecake, I heard from them all -- even a girl from Orlando, Florida who, like Gabby in ROCKY ROAD, loves sorbet. One fifth-grade boy from Wisconsin said that pumpkin ice cream had spice and flavor just like him. Someone from Arizona said he eats jalapeno ice cream (pass the water!)

The responses (like the ice cream they love) were so rich and satisfying that I decided to select two winners. And here's where it gets coincidental because they were both named Emily. (No, this was not a rigged contest. You have my word, reader friends.)

Congrats to Emily Turner and Emily Guo. You will each have a signed copy of ROCKY ROAD and a gift certificate to Ben & Jerry's at your house sooner -- probably sooner than I will have everything I need to cook the Thanksgiving turkey.

And during this month of Thanksgiving, thanks to all my terrific readers. I am grateful that you are out there reading books and rockin' your lives!

Learning From The Soaps

2010-10-13T13:18:00.002-04:00

“Like sands through the hour glass,

so are the days of our lives.”

Have you ever watched “The Days of Our Lives”? Apparently this classic soap opera has aired on NBC practically every weekday since Nov. 8, 1965 – Whoa. That’s a long time!

Soap operas sweep me back in time to when I was a kid growing up on Long Island. My mother tuned into “General Hospital” regularly. I can remember my sister Kathleen and I coming home from school, having a snack and getting caught up in the Laura-Luke romance, wondering if this adventuresome duo would stay together and flee the authorities since they were on the run.

Truthfully, soap operas feel too heavy on the drama for my taste. I can’t imagine watching them every afternoon, since that's when I am at my desk writing my books. Still, I appreciate how they fill a need for story in people’s lives. Soap opera script writers understand the tenets of good storytelling. They know how to hook the viewer with startling beginnings. They use dialogue in clever ways to reveal character. They keep the plot spicy and pump up the suspense -- just before those revenue-generating commercials kick in -- so viewers won’t click the remote. And they know that setting matters, which is why all those good looking men and women live in such glamorous places.

I am not here today advocating we all watch soap operas. But I will say they do show we can learn about storytelling from all kinds of places, even television.

Here’s to good stories, wherever, you get them. And here’s to the “The Days Of Our Lives”!

Recipe for A Tasty, Fun Book Signing

2010-07-14T08:35:00.001-04:00

It goes without saying. A book titled Rocky Road better be published during summertime, and something cold and creamy better get served along with the hardcover at book signings. Lucky for me, some terrific readers (like Becca here), booksellers & ice cream makers have enabled me to do just that.

First there was the Rocky Road book signing at the fabulous Open Door bookstore in Schenectady, which, by the way, makes a cameo appearance in Rocky Road. Civitello’s Pastry Shop sweetened that day by serving their rocky road ice cream. (The two smiling readers with me here just so happen to be my kids Connor and Theresa. Thanks for being awesome guys!)

Then there was The Little Book House in Stuyvesant Plaza where Coldstone Creamery gave out generous samples of their luscious rocky road ice cream along with custom-made coupons to match Rocky Road’s book cover. Onto Barnes & Noble in Colonie Center, Albany, last Thursday where, on a boiler of a night, refreshing smoothie and brownie snacks were distributed by Claire Mesick, B&N employee, cook extraordinaire, and very cool, grownup daughter of my good writer-friend Helen. This was an especially good time because I spoke alongside my good friend and author extraordinaire, Eric Luper , who just released a fabulous YA novel called Seth Baumgartner's Love Manifesto.

This past weekend, the Rocky Road train made a whistle shop at the Blackwood & Brouwer Book Shop in Kinderhook, NY. Super Owner Rondi (energetic lady in pink at my right) hosted an awesome ice cream sundae party and let’s just say Rondi picks ice cream flavors as well as she does books. I especially loved the homemade blueberry sauce, which was made from my Yankee Doodle Dandy recipe in the back of Rocky Road. I also loved meeting readers, especially my librarian buddy Jill Leuning, and super sweet-and-happening kids Becca and Amara. (Becca is a chocolate ice cream lover and very big on sprinkles. No wonder I like her so much.)

On Saturday, July 26^th I’ll be at Barnes and Noble in Niskayuna (my hometown) from 5-7, and we’ll be celebrating with Stewart’s awesome ice cream. And on Saturday August 14^th I’ll be at Book Revue in Huntington, Long Island from 3 to 4:30 pm, where we’ll be enjoying ice cream from the legendary Herrelll’s Ice Cream shop. (Homemade ice cream to die for!)

People often ask me what’s the best part about being an author. That’s easy: meeting readers, in person and through letters and emails, and finding how books connect us all to each like invisible thread. So thanks to to the booksellers and ice cream makers who have made such meetings possible for Rocky Road.

Onward with summer fun, books and ice cream!

They All Scream For Ice Cream, Part I

2010-06-22T21:59:00.004-04:00

Summer is here -- yahoo! -- and ice cream is on my mind. Okay, it’s also on my mind because (1) I eat it year-round, and (2) my new book called Rocky Road is set in an ice cream shop. In Rocky Road, Tess's favorite ice cream flavor is – surprise, surprise -- rocky road. (It also describes what life has served up for her family.) Tess loves how rocky road swirls chocolate ice cream with chunks of marshmallow and crunchy nuts. True story: Rocky road was created back in 1929 by an ice cream man named William Dryer. He wanted to give folks something to smile about during the Great Depression. My character Tess considers him a hero.

Thinking about Tess’s love for rocky road has made me imagine other characters from children's books and what their favorite ice cream flavors might be.

Pooh from Winnie the Pooh -- Honey, of course

Anne of Anne of Green Gables - strawberry, (redhead preference)

Wilbur of Charlotte's Web -- Slop swirl

Harry Potter -- Walnut Wizard Mocha

James of James and the Giant Peach – duh, peach sherbet

Junie B. Jones -- Chawcloate Chip

Huck Finn -- Mississippi Mud Pie

Your turn. Think of other children’s literature characters. Can you guess about their favorite ice cream flavors?

I asked some of my local author buddies about their main character's favorite ice cream flavor. Here’s what they said:

Nancy Castaldo, author of Pizza For The Queen, suspects that Queen Margherita would go for stracciatella, a chocolate chip flavor that was very common with people. A perfect choice since Margherita liked to taste the foods of her subjects.

Eric Luper, author of Seth Baumgartner's Love Manifesto, says that Seth’s favorite would be chocolate/vanilla twist soft-serve on a waffle cone. “The kind that’s just a little melty so it’s a battle to lick the melty parts before they make it onto your hand or, worse, onto your brand new Izod shirt.”

Matt McElligott, co-author with Larry David Tuxbury, of the soon-to-be released novel, Benjamin Franklinstein Lives!, says that Ben would be evenly split between Philly Vanilla and French vanilla. (Makes sense if you know Ben’s hangouts.)

Coleen Paratore, author of The Wedding Planner's Daughter series, knows with certainty that Willa always gets vanilla frozen yogurt with Heath bar chunks on a cone when she has ice cream with JFK on Cape Cod.

And Jennifer Roy author of Trading Faces, Take Two and Times Squared (2011) says identical twins Emma and Payton would definitely get double scoops! Payton would pick whatever flavor is trendy, and straight-forward Emma would stick with vanilla.

See that. You can learn something from a character’s favorite ice cream flavor.

Stay tuned. I’ll be serving up plenty more blog scoops about ice cream…

Sticking Up For Schenectady

2010-06-09T08:30:00.009-04:00

I’ll say it loud,
and I’ll say it proud.
I’m a fan of oldie-but-goodie cities.

Cities like Schenectady, which so happens to be

about eight miles from where I live in upstate NY.

I like walking alongside the Mohawk River. I like the Stockade district with its old-world charm and historical landmarks (George Washington stayed there several times during the American Revolution.) And I like Schenectady’s local-owned fooderies that sell my favorite crusty bread (Perreca’s) and lemon ice (Civitellos) and, of course, books (Open Door).

Schenectady is where Rocky Road, my new book, takes place. On arrival, Tess calls Schenectady “a sorry city just asking to be misspelled.” Some people out there agree with Tess’s first impression of Schenectady. (I write first impression because she changes her mind.) Even famous people take cheap shots at Schenectady.

Stephen Colbert joked that Schenectady should be visited by helicopter only. You usually crack me up, Stephen, but not when you mess with my hangout. You've never sat down in the Central Park Rose Garden and soaked in all that beauty. Being there is way better than an aerial view -- see above photo. (Aka Rose in the roses.)

Former NY Governor Eliot Spitzer compared it to poverty-struck Appalachia. Well excuse me, Eliot, but obviously you haven't toured Union College and Proctor’s Theater. And like we couldn’t hit you with some low blows?

It’s true that Schenectady has struggled for years due to an aging infrastructure, mall mania, and sprawling suburbs. But it’s also true that many Schenectadites refused to give up on this city whose name comes from a Mohawk word meaning “place beyond the pine plains.” They pitched in with funding, elbow grease and TLC, and its downtown revitalization is the fruit of their labors.

Plenty of cities in the USA have their own Comeback Kid stories. Do you know one? If so, I bet you could tell a tale or two about the good times you’ve spent there.