Tales from the Rushmore Kid

Cats for Art sake

Yeah, I really have a thing about cats.
This is one painting in my series on the pretty little beasties. I've always felt cats had a secret life that probably included parties where they sniffed catnip and drank mousearitas. 

A great cat book to recommend: The Newbery Honor Book, Whittington by Alan Armstrong.  Two grieving kids take refuge in the barn at their grandparents home and are loved and entertained by all the animals.  An old cat tells tales of his ancestors in medieval England. What I love about this story is that it is no big deal that the kids and the animals can talk to each other. They just do.   

Caroline Arnold

Caroline Arnold is amazing.  Author, illustrator and teacher, she has published over 100 books for kids.
Her new picture book, Wiggle and Waggle, Caroline and illustrator Mary Peterson, teamed up to do a bit on UTUBE.  Check it out by Googling Wiggle and Waggle and it will come up.  Another promotion tool we all should learn.
I was lucky enough to get Caroline Arnold to answer a few  questions.

When and why did you start writing for children?

Books were always a part of my life but even though I loved to read I never imagined that I would be writer when I grew up.  I studied art at Grinnell College and the University of Iowa and planned to be an artist and art teacher. 

The Silvery Moon Ball - SCBWI National Conference

I have attended ten SCBWI National Conferences.  They are the best!  They're inspiring, informative and fun. I am known for my goofy costumes, which I adore making and love wearing.  I am a ham at heart and this is sort of an art performance piece.  Also I have a reputation to uphold.  This year is the Silvery Moon Ball and these are some of the ingredents for my costume.......More photos later. 

Interviews to come!

The summer is hot with more author interviews from the Rushmore Kid. In addition to the talented gang on top, look for Susan Patron, Anastasia Suen, Caroline Arnold, Alexis O'Neill, Gennifer Choldenko, Barbara Bietz and many more.....

Art for cash sake - Grandma Art

For a few years I was a portrait painter.  This was one difficult job. The clients always wanted bigger boobs, more hair and to look ten years younger.  I tried to give them what they wanted, but I thought I would go insane in the end.  So I gave up on portraiture though occasionally I am talked back into it.  I do like to do pastel drawings of babies.  I call it Grandma Art.
This is baby Charlie.  She never asked to be 20 pound lighter or 20 years younger, she only asked to have her diaper changed every now and then.

Lincoln Borglum as a boy

One of the best things about writing non-fiction is the interesting people you meet.  Through the national park service, I was able to get in contact with Robin Borglum Carter, Lincoln Borglum's daughter.  She was incredibly helpful with family photos and stories and graciously expressed her gratitude that I was telling the story of her father.  This is a picture of Lincoln Borglum as a boy with his dog "Pal," around the time he first traveled to Mount Rushmore.  I love this photo.

Joyce Lee Wong

Joyce Lee Wong is one talented author.
Her her first book, Seeing Emily, was awarded the prestigious Lee Bennett Hopkins/IRA most promising new poet award.  I met her recently at a promotion retreat and I was happy she agreed to be interviewed.

When and why did you start writing for children?

SEEING EMILY (Abrams / Amulet 2005), my first book, is a Young Adult novel-in-verse. While it is not autobiographical, I drew upon my experiences, growing up in Virginia and traveling to Taiwan, to write it.

Art for Art sake - sketchbook art

I'm one of the lucky ones, my brother could have moved to some god forsaken place, instead he moved to a Caribbean island. 

Tortola is such a jewel, it has sparkling blue waters, velvet sand and the loving embrace of warm air.  So, needless to say, I have tons of sketches of the islands.

Longs Bay is just what it says, a long, brilliant white beach; and you can walk out into the water for miles and still be in waist deep crystal blue water.

The Quest for Mermaids Gold

You've got to love those Disco Mermaids.
They had a contest last week for a scholarship to the SCBWI National Conference.  Man that's some chunk of change!  No requirements, no word count, just give them 13 reasons why you want the scholarship.  I savor a writing contest.  It is a creative avenue for me to just have a blast and write a story.  The Goddess of Contests didn't smile down on me, so no scholarship.   But I had so much fun writing it I thought I would post my losing entry.

 
                    The Knight of the Silvery Moon

A post had been sent to all the scribes in the kingdom, a contest of wit and craft for the prize of Mermaid’s Gold.  It was a scholarly quest for thirteen reasons to prove to the King and the two Queens one’s worth to attend a four-day tournament of all writers in the land. The winner would become a Knight of the Silvery Moon.

Giverny

Today is my anniversary and it reminded me of our honeymoon.  My husband, Al, took me to Giverny to see Monet's house and studio.  I was blown away.   I love the impressionist and found this a spiritual experience and a good omen of our wonderful marriage to come. My husband made major brownie points that he's still cashing in after all these years. 

On the left is a photo of a young skinny me on the famous Japanese foot bridge.

contests

I'm big into contests, especially writing, art and costume contests (I love that one). Over the years I have entered around 50 various SCBWI events.  From the beginning, I lost everything I entered, because my writing was...well, it stunk.  

At left is a bookmark I did for a contest for the LA metro line.  My friend Yuki wrote a poem for the center.  We didn't even get a nod.

Jeri's stretching tips

Sometimes, if I am lucky, I get lost in the writing.  The time goes by so quick, but then 6 hours later I stand up and I am a pretzel.  I asked my Yoga instructor, Jeri, to give us a few stretching tips to do as we sit in front of the computer.


Sit up straight and don't hunch over.

Barbara Jean Hicks

Over the years, my writers' groups have changed in membership, mostly due to authors moving.  Last fall my group lost three out of seven members.  But, as luck would have it, a talented children's author had moved into my neighborhood.  I recruited Barbara Jean and I am impressed and delighted with her language skills, critiquing and knowledge of children's literature.  Her fourth picture book has just been released and she agreed to answer a few questions.

When and why did you start writing for children?

I wrote romance novels and novellas for a number of years but always thought I might like to write children's  books too--I adored picture books and middle grade fiction and even though I wrote them, I was never a  voracious reader of romance novels.

Art for Cash sake

This is a black and white spot I did for a pet magazine.  I lived off black and white spots for years.

At one time I was known as the airbrush Queen.  This drove me to experiment with the Iguana piece at the left. I cut traditional friskets and instead of using an airbrush, I used a toothbrush heavy with black ink then I flicked it with my thumb to controlled the splatter.

However, no matter what technique I am working with, I'm never satisfied.  The crazy artist in me pushes my creativity continually. Sometimes it drives me nuts.

A children's book with a lizard in it: Chet Gecko Mysteries, by Bruce Hale.