BookLust

Silly Poetry Friday 26

Bumped by Bacon!

Bet you're wondering what the heck I'm talking about, right? Ok, a little backstory. (Or should I say, backstory Bacon?) I was scheduled to do a little radio interview yesterday morning on the radio station CRN Digital Talk Radio, on the AM Show with Paul Stern and Erik Hines. But it didn't happen. I got bumped by one of their guests. Seems they were all having such a good time talking to their guest Kevin Bacon, that they plum forgot about little ol' me. So you see...I was bumped by Bacon! But that's ok. In fact, I think it's kinda cool. I've always liked Kevin Bacon, and now I've got my very own Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon experience!

So in honour of Mr. Bacon, I thought I would post a silly poem about...bacon!

I was searching the net and I found this interesting link. It's a silly dramatic performance of a poem about bacon. The poem was written by Joe Cappels, as an advertisement for McKenkie Bacon. The poem is performed by Charles Fuller, but in the recording he is known as "Sir Archibald Hensley". There's a bit of loud clapping before the performance, and the recording is a bit scratchy, but it's worth a listen. Here's the recording. I've tried to transcribe the poem as best I could, but I'm not sure about a couple of the words recited at the end:

I cast my eyes unto the sky

And saw a bacon back float by

This is I said as on it went

Mackenzie Bacon heaven sent

Never, never mortal eyes had seen

Bacon quite so fresh and lean

Never, never mortal tongue did savour

Such a sweet delicious flavour

So after all the foods forsaken

Replace it by Mackenzie Bacon!

Once in a While, the Little Guys Win...

Listen to this lovely song. I still can't figure out how to embed videos straight into my post – anyone who knows how, please tell me!

I'm a bit of a grump when it comes to the Oscars – haven't watched them in years. Last night was no different. We spent the evening watching a couple of movies I had rented, one of them being the movie Once, which just happened to win the Oscar for original song.

Doesn't make me like the Oscars any more than before, but I am mighty pleased for Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova. Their song is beautiful, and they truly did deserve to win.

Silly Poetry Friday 25

Yes, yes, I know, I know...it's not Friday. But the fact that I'm posting a silly poem on a Sunday means that at least I got the silly part right in Silly Poetry Friday. Oh, and the poetry part, too. So there.

Today is a working day for me, which is pretty silly, and a little sad (I'd rather be reading!) but at least the work is good fun. But before I start working, I wanted to post a silly poem. And I wanted to pick a different poem this time, something with a bit more meaning for me. A few days ago I was looking through my Garbage Delight poems by Dennis Lee. This book was a Christmas gift to me by an old high school friend, someone I haven't seen or talked to in about 25 years. A couple months ago I was reading a Toronto literary blog and I just happened to come across this friend's name. It seems that my old friend Laurie Channer has written a novel that will come out this fall (Much more about this great news in the future). So I managed to track her down and send her my congratulations. We've gotten together a couple times to chat, and it's just been wonderful. I'm so very, very pleased for her success. And it's so cool that the both of us have ended up in careers that were our childhood passions.

One of Laurie's interests in high school was children's poems. She wrote a lovely little poem at the front of my Garbage Delight book, and with her permission, I will share it now (with a silly illo by me):

Happy galumphing through all of your life

May your striggles be tiny and few

Here is to hoping your feet will be tall

And merry of always to you.

Well, I have had a few striggles in my life, and they weren't tiny, but who goes through life without some striggles, I ask you. My feet aren't tall, and sadly neither is the rest of me (in fact I'm sure I'm shrinking). But I always tell people who don't think I'm that short (I'm 5'2") that I talk tall. And I'm merry most of the time, so that ain't half bad, don't ya think?

Thank-you, Laurie, for the lovely poem, and for your lovely self. I'm so very glad I galumphed into your life again.

Ghosts of Deadlines

Gaaaaaahhh....I know I've been a lousy blogger. But I'm haunted by those dreaded deadlines!! Please be patient. And yes, I know, I know, I've missed two Silly Poetry Fridays, too. Oy.

Will this make you feel any better? I found out that 13 Ghosts of Halloween was chosen as one of Resource Links' Best of the Year 2007 in the area of picture books (just scroll down until you find the author's name, 'Muller' on the list). "Resource Links is Canada's newest national journal devoted to the review and evaluation of Canadian resources for children and young adults."

I also found a great review of 13 Ghosts on this site, KidsWWwrite, an e-zine for young authors and readers. You know you're doing ok when a kid gives your book their stamp of approval!

Well, I know I feel better now. Ok, back to work.

You're My Guy Book Draw Winners!!

Ok, it's almost midnight, and the draw is done. Here's photographic proof:

I wrote all the names on pieces of paper. That was a hell of a lotta names!

Then I folded up all those damn little pieces of paper. See all the work I do for you guys?

Then I sprinkle all the names in my empty coffee tin. Mmmmmmmm....sprinkles....mmmmmmmm.....coffee....

See? There are all those lovely names sitting in the tin! Are we having fun yet?

And then like a crazy wild animal, I shake that tin with the strength of ten Grinches, plus two! (My brain is a little loopy right now, 'cuz I'm freakin' tired...which is also why most of these photos are out of focus...)

And then, drumroll please.....the first winner is....Ellen!

And the next winner is...Aurora Fox!

And the final winner is....Bambi-Really! Yes, really!

So there you have it! Congratulations, Ellen, Aurora, and Bambi! I really was very honest in pulling the names out, so guys, please don't think it was a fix. But it is kinda neat that all girls won, since it is a book for a guy and all...

I'm sorry that I couldn't give a book to every one of you – I really do appreciate that you all took the time to add a comment on my blog (so that's how you get lots of comments – give away free stuff! Why didn't I think of that earlier?) And if you didn't win a copy of the book, I do hope you'll order it from Amazon, or if you live in Toronto, you can get it at the fabulous Book City in the Bloor West Village.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Valentine's Day! Now I'm going to bed. I'm pooped.

You're My Guy Because...Book Draw!!

Valentine's Day is just around the corner...wouldn't it be fun to get a cute book all about loooooooove? I'm holding a You're My Guy Because... book draw, baby! And this contest is easy-peasy. All you have to do is write a comment in this post. Doesn't matter what. Just say hello, or tell me about your day or if you're feeling just a teensy bit creative, you can write something about why your guy or your gal is your sweetheart, and why they make you get all mushy and gooey inside. Or, you can say something real sweet about your favourite pet, or maybe tell me why you hate Valentine's Day so goddam much and can't wait to see all those bloody hearts get replaced by the Easter Bunny. Just write something! 'Cuz if you don't comment, you can't play.

Comments on this post will be open until 11:00pm EST on Valentine's Day (I've got a busy day that day, and won't get home until after 10:30pm). Once comments are closed, I'll get all the names, write then down on pieces of paper, and put them in an empty coffee tin. I'll draw three names, so three lucky people will get a signed copy of my book. The winners will be announced as soon as I'm done the draw, probably sometime close to midnight EST. I'll even take photos of some of the draw, so you can be assured it's legit. (I was inspired by the clever Kimbofo of Readings Matters, who once did this in a very fun book draw of her own). Now how cool is that?

Oh, and the always effervescent and energetic Debbie Ohi  has posted a little interview with me about the creation of this book on one of her other wonderful sites, Inkygirl. She also hosted a book draw for my book, but she's announcing her winners tomorrow, so I didn't want to overshadow her book draw by having mine overlap hers too much. The bottom line is...there's books to be had, baby!

UPDATE: Plus Sameer Vasta has written a little plug for me and my book on Blog TO. Thanks Sameer!

So c'mon! Would it kill you to comment? Pleeeeeaaassssseee???

Those Super Librarians!

Just a quick note to thank all the wonderful librarians and technicians who came by the Scholastic booth on Friday at the OLA Super Conference to get a signed copy of 13 Ghosts of Halloween. It was wonderful meeting you all, and I really appreciate all of you taking the time to see me.

Also thanks to everyone for not throwing rocks at me when I started singing during my CANSCAIP presentation. One of the best comments made to me after singing from 13 Ghosts came from a children's author who exclaimed, "You got balls!"

Signing and singing! What more could one ask for? A good time was certainly had by me.

Here There Be Giants

If you are familiar with my blog, then you'll know that there is one subject I have never commented on. Yup. Sports. Have pretty much zero interest in that subject. This attitude is a tad difficult to express when you marry into a family where sports is like a second religion, most especially football. My husband's family loves football. Super Bowl is always a big deal, sort of like Christmas in February. And the hubby is nuts about the game. And ever since I have known him, the only team the husband has ever rooted for is the New York Giants.

It's been hard, trying to cheer up Guy every year after the Giants would once again choke and lose in the playoffs, or not even get to the damn playoffs at all. For 17 years, at the end of every football season, I have had to be there to pick up the pieces of this man whose heart is so loyal and true to this team, it defies all human logic. I started calling him Linus, because like that blanket-clutching child-philosopher who clings to the belief that next year The Great Pumpkin will come, Guy would shake his fist in a passionate fury of  incomprehensable conviction, vowing that next year would be the year for the Giants. I began to hate this blasted useless team for toying with the tender emotions of my sweet loyal husband. As the years went by, each football season slowly began to resemble a hulking, testosterone-filled interpretation of Waiting For Godot. Until this year.

So thank-you, New York Giants, for winning the Super Bowl and giving my husband a reason to carry on, and for renewing my faith in your team. All is forgiven. Until you lose again, that is.

Silly Poetry Friday 24

Since I'll be at the Ontario Library Association Super Conference today, I thought it only fitting that I choose a poem about libraries. This poem isn't really silly. In fact, it's lovely. But my cartoon is silly. So there. The poem is called Ode to the Librarian, and is by Jennifer Jacobs.

Ode to the Librarian

The Librarian (with a capital L)
Is a saint who knows
She can't lock herself in a tower
She lives in the Library, her back to the door
And answers questions from patrons who call
In quiet, confused voices
Or with loud, angry demands
Or as an afterthought, mistakenly convinced she can offer nothing they don't already know
The Librarian turns no one away

The Librarian
Is closely related to
The Sorceress and the Poet
But her painful modesty and disturbing sense of propriety
Have prevented her from recognizing the kinship
And accepting her family's riches

The Librarian has, instead
Collected vast riches of her own
She knows the books are very important
Though she isn't sure…
Maybe some of them are more important
Than others
She has to read them
To see

and she's entranced and she forgets the others the pain and the beauty
The knowledge

"Oh, another patron…"

and she's entranced and she forgets the others the pain and the beauty
The knowledge

"Okay…the task at hand"

Was that a clue? Does he know something?
She sets aside the book she was reading, and follows the clue

and she's entranced and she forgets the others the pain and the beauty
The knowledge

Wouldn't it confuse her to find out
How much the Sorceress and the Poet
Admire her and how
Their painful modesty and disturbing sense of propriety
Have prevented them from recognizing the kinship
And accepting their family's riches…