My Solo Trip to New York

  I felt at home in the city.   I have been home for more than a week. I'm still processing it all. It was a full and tiring five days - but very interesting and fun. The trip home proved to be difficult. I had an hour layover in Seattle that turned into a three hour layover, sitting in an airplane, waiting for the plane to be de-iced. However everyone on the plane was patient and polite. I binge-watched movies on the little screen in front of me. I did not get home until close to 4 in the morning - about 7am New York time. It took me a few days to recover from that, and jet-lag. I certainly accomplished what I set out to accomplish. I did it all by my myself and I enjoyed the trip. My workshop gave me insight into several changes I want to make in my book. So, it's back to the drawing board for the time being. The conference inspired me to keep writing. As far as the tourist part of the trip, I saw a few things, and didn't see a whole lot more. But, I did all that I had th...

  Here is the head shot as promised. Does it look like the kind of photo you see on the back of books of an author? Because I have no concept of a good photo of myself, I ask the photographer what one they liked. They agreed on this one. It certainly looks like me, or perhaps like a cat that just ate a canary? Don was the photographer for the author photo on my cookbook. But I have to admit, this one is more professional.

I cannot believe the conference has come and gone. These things always go by so fast. Our end of the conference Keynote Speaker was Aisha Saeed, the author of the middle grade novel, Amal Unbound, and one of the founders of We Need Diverse Books ( Diversebooks.com ). One thing I love about the Children's book business is that the authors, editors, illustrators, and publishers are all a part to the movement to further the cause of social justice and inclusion. I feel that is an important part of the creation of books for kids. The need for stories to be both windows and mirrors* for children is great. Kids want to see in the books they read, people and communities that are different than themselves, and and they also very much want to see people like themselves. Having worked with children readers I know that for a fact. I will always remember one 4th grade girl, Tia, a Pakistani-American/Muslem, in my reading program, who was so excited that one of the books available to her was a...

  From the book In Every Life , by Marla Frazee Seeing some of New York City is the second reason for this trip. My number one reason is to attend The Society of Children's Books Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) Winter Conference. That began this morning. The most inspirational and important things I have heard thus far are: 1. From the Welcome remarks of Sarah Baker, SCBWI Executive Director, "There is no such thing as too many good children's books." 2. From the Keynote speaker, Author Illustrator, Marla Frazee, "Who are you writing for, and is it worth it?" Ms. Frazee's book grew from a poem often used during a Jewish Naming Ceremony. She was greatly influenced by the Book Blueberries For Sal , by Robert McCloskey (me too!) and  by her own life experiences. I found their remarks inspiring.

  My feet are sore because I walked and walked today. I took cabs to and from yesterday's sights because I was rushed for time. Today began with a breakfast in a place in the theater district. Nothing fancy. I picked it because it was sunny and they had outside seating. All the wait staff were Greek, although the food was bacon and eggs, American-style. I think the restaurant is owned by a Greek family. After breakfast I returned to my room and got gussied-up to have an author "head shot" taken. That is part of my positive thinking strategy. I'll add it to this blog when they send it to me. Then it was out to wander the city. Of course the skyscrapers don't let you see the angle of the sun, so its hard to know which way is north, south, east, and west. But as I mentioned before, the numbering system helps. After heading off in the wrong direction once, I got the hang of it. Portland's motto is, "The City That Works." However, I think it could be New ...

Thursday morning I awoke at 4:15am to board a 7am flight to JFK airport. Everything went smoothly. My hotel room is nice, with the bonus of being able to open a window. After I settled in, I scurried to pier 83 to take a nighttime boat ride up and down the west, tip, and east sides of Manhattan and then out to circle the Statue of Liberty.  Seeing the statue is like seeing so many other pieces of art. You can't really understand its greatness until you see it in the flesh. The statue is so beautiful and stands for such a noble idea. I hope we never forget how emigrants make our county strong and wonderful. On the boat I must have heard six or seven different languages being used by my fellow passengers. A real Tower of Babel. It was a nice introduction to the city. Although a little chilly, the air was clear and the skyline beautiful. I sat on the upper deck outside the whole time. When I got back to the hotel, I sat for about an hour in the bar. I sipped martinis, people-watched...

I first visited New York City in 1954, when I was seven years old. My family had sailed from our home in Newfoundland to Manhattan on the USS Kelly , one of the many moves we made when I was young. My dad had left his civilian position with the Air Force on Ernest Harmon Air Force Base in Newfoundland. We were headed toward Chicago by train and we had some time before our departure. We walked around the city. I t was dark outside. We had a meal in a diner. I remember being carried by my father into a bar. Inside, on a little corner shelf above the bar, was something my dad wanted me to see - a television! I remember looking at the small screen with a moving black and white image and being very impressed. I had never seen one before. The next time I visited New York was many years later, in 1987. Emily and I took the train to New York to visit The Cooper Union when we were looking at places she might go to Collage. We stayed with my cousin, who lived in Brooklyn, and took the subway int...

I always like to learn some history about the places I visit before I go. Now that I have finished the homework for my conference, I am doing a little extra credit for my own information. Often, the way a city is laid out gives clues to its history. For the most part, American cities have two different kinds of layouts. One includes the center of town with streets radiating outward, like the spokes of a wheel. Sometimes a city is planed this way, and sometimes it is the outgrowth of long ago cow paths. The second is a grid system, with streets running at right angles, to each other, like a checker board. The part of New York City known as Manhattan is, at least in part, the grid type. It is just twelve city blocks across, beginning at the Harlem/East River with First Avenue, going west to Twelfth Avenue and the Hudson River. Sixth Avenue, also known as The Avenue of the Americas, divides the island into the east and west sides. The east-west blocks are long ones. Seven Avenues make up ...

The Oyster Bar in Grand Central Station, love the arches!   For over a week I have been researching everything about my trip. There is so much to do and see - overwhelming options. My tourist goal is to see some things at a leisurely pace and enjoy whatever I do. I also want to fully experience and get as much as I can out of the conference. The SCBWI Conference (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators): SCBWI is an international organization. I joined it at the beginning of the pandemic, so I have only participated in virtual workshops and activities. What I have done has been very helpful and educational. I think the society is well organized and very connected to the publishing world. The entire conference is said and done in just a day and a half. I like that. Conferences exhaust me, and I do not like the closed-off meeting rooms. All of the offerings at this one seem to have a purpose and look good. Among other things I am meeting with a publisher and taking a wri...

I have been traveling through life with my husband, Don, for almost sixty years. Fifty-six of them as husband and wife. Our first trip in 1967 was a honeymoon trip to to Disneyland. We were enchanted. Over the years, we have not been big travelers, but we were good traveling companions, and enjoyed the trips we did take;  Paris, Toronto, London, Mexico, Chicago, Italy, Greece. Three years ago the pandemic put a kibosh on the last big trip we planned to take together, a cruise in the Caribbean to Panama. Since that time, we've become pretty damn old, and in different places physically. I still feel able and hearty. My guy feels very limited, partly because of side effects from his ten years in cancer treatment, and partly because his immune system is compromised. Now I am taking a trip to New York City all by my self. I have two goals. I am going to a writers conference, where I hope to learn more about my craft, and perhaps catch the eye of a publisher. The second purpose is to pro...