Lisa Yee's Peep

A few weeks ago, Lisa Yee was here to tell us about her favorite food to snack on while writing. She also mentioned her muse, Peep, who goes with Lisa everywhere. Today we get a better look at Peep in this photo, but what could he possibly be doing in that big pile of apples? If Peeps could talk, I bet he would have some wild stories to tell! What do you think he is saying?

Write your caption in the Comments.

And PS, if you want to know more about Lisa Yee and her books, check out this video where she describes the "Milly Trilly" and reads the hilarious fart scene from Stanford Wong Flunks Big-Time.

— Sonja, STACKS Staffer

Photo courtesy of Lisa Yee

Lisa Yee's Chocolate Feast

Urggg!!! This morning I realized that I didn’t have everything I needed to write. Oh sure, I had my computer, and my notes, and my Peep (she’s the yellow plush bunny who’s my muse), but I was out of chocolate!!! So that meant everything had to stop until I could stock up.

Now, I know it may sound weird that an author needs chocolate to write, but it’s true! At least it is for me. Why? Because it fuels my ideas and creativity. Seriously. There's something in chocolate that makes people feel good. I know this is true. I looked it up. It's scientific.

Okay, okay, okay . . . I also have to have chocolate because I love it. But it makes sense, doesn’t it. That if you’re happy (like after eating chocolate), you feel better . . . and if you feel better, then you are more creative . . . and if you are more creative, you can write a better book!

So it was off to the store to get my essential writing supplies. See’s Candies, my fave place for chocolates, was too far away, so I went to the grocery store. Hmmm . . . Milky Way? Love that caramel. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup? Totally yummy. In the end, I picked Hershey’s Kisses. Can’t go wrong with those! 

Okay, then. It’s back to working on my book . . . right after I eat my chocolate!

What about all you  writers out there? What is your favorite thing to snack on while you're writing? Let me know in the Comments! 

— Lisa Yee, Author of Bobby vs. Girls (Accidentally)

R.L. Stine vs. Iceland Volcano

You know I love writing scary stories. But I don't like it when the scary stories happen to ME!

My wife Jane and I went to London for a short vacation that turned out to be longer than we planned. Yes, the Iceland volcano erupted, the airports all closed, and we were stranded in London for days. Not a bad place to be stranded. But the idea of not being able to go home when we wanted was very scary.

So, now I'm finally home and getting excited about the Summer Challenge Ultimate Author Showdown Webcast. Having faced down a spewing volcano, I'm ready to face down the other contestants. I'm ready to face the unexpected and unpredictable. Bring it on!

WHEN: Friday, April 30th at 1:00pm (ET)/10:00am (PT)
Your teacher can sign up in advance at www.scholastic.com/summer

WHERE: Scholastic Summer Challenge Website

WHO:

• Christopher Paul Curtis, author of Elijah of Buxton, Bud Not Buddy, and The Watsons Go to Birmingham.
• Gordon Korman, author of The 39 Clues: One False Note, Swindle, and Zoobreak
• Lisa Yee, author of Millicent Min, Girl Genius, and Stanford Wong Flunks Big Time
• and me, R.L. Stine
  

I'll be there. Will you?

— R. L. Stine, Goosebumps Author

New Camp Half-Blood Series

Many of you already heard this rumor before, but now it's officially official. I read it on Rick Riordan's blog so you know it's for real. Rick Riordan — author of Percy Jackson & the Olympians and The 39 Clues Book#1: The Maze of Bones — is writing a NEW Camp Half-Blood series with a whole new posse of demigods. The series will be called The Heroes of Olympus, and the title of Book #1 is. . . The Lost Hero.

Riordan reveals nothing on his blog about the series, no hints, no sneak peeks, not even the book cover, nothing except this little intro which only makes me more impatient for the book! (But it's still better than nothing.)

"After saving Olympus from the evil Titan lord, Kronos, Percy and friends have rebuilt their beloved Camp Half-Blood, where the next generation of demigods must now prepare for a chilling prophecy of their own:

Seven half-bloods shall answer the call,
To storm or fire the world must fall.
An oath to keep with a final breath,
And foes bear arms to the Doors of Death."

Here is the date you need to remember: October 12, 2010. That's when the book comes out. I know it seems like a long time, but don't forget we have another totally new Rick Riordan series The Kane Chronicles coming in May, so at least we will have something else really great to read while we're waiting!

— Sonja, STACKS Staffer

Rick Riordan photo © Rebecca Riordan

Meg Cabot Glitter Girls Video

Hardcore Allie Finkle fans probably know all about Meg Cabot's newest book in the Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls series, Book 5, Glitter Girls and the Great Fake Out. It's been out since March, and it's about a spectacularly fancy birthday party that Allie gets invited to. (If you haven't read it yet, you can read Chapter 1 right here.) Well, Meg Cabot herself happened to come by the Scholastic offices recently and I asked her about her inspiration for the book. Turns out, it's based true events from her own life. Here's what she had to say. . .

While she was here, she also read a section out loud. This is fun - you can hear how the author sounds when she reads her own book! And since Allie is based on Meg's real life, it's almost like seeing Allie Finkle as a grown-up reading her life story!

What do you think? Have you read the book already? Do you want to read it now that you have seen Meg Cabot's video? Let us know in the Comments, or go talk about it with other Allie fans on the Allie Finkle Message Board.

— Sonja, STACKS Staffer

39 Clues LIVE CHAT with Gordon Korman

The 39 Clues Book #8: The Emperor's Code is here, and time is running out to read it before our live chat with the author, Gordon Korman!

WHO: Gordon Korman, author of The 39 Clues Book #2: One False Note and Book #8: The Emperor's Code
WHEN: Thursday April 8, 2010 6-7 PM E.T. (3-4 PM P.T.)
WHERE: THE STACKS (Read below for sign-in instructions.)
TOPIC: The 39 Clues!

While you're waiting, check out the chatter and make new friends on The 39 Clues Message Board.

And if you don't have Book 8 yet, here is a video preview from Gordon Korman.

We have fun Live Chats here every month. Sign up for our Live Chat reminders and we will send you an e-mail a couple days before all future chats to remind you to join!

— STACKS Staffers

 

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This chat already happened, but you can enjoy reading the transcript.

Tribute to the Great Sid Fleischman

"I write what I am.
When I sit down to a blank sheet of paper, I may become a yellow-haired boy,
a snarling pirate,
a prankish wizard's ghost,
or even a dog with arrogant wolf's eyes.
But beneath all the makeup, the wigs and putty noses
-that's me
off on a fresh adventure and having as much fun as I can."

So said the great children's author Sid Fleischman, who passed away in March, 2010. He was 90 years old. Even just reading his bio makes me feel like I am reading a colorful adventure book.

Born in Brooklyn, NY, he grew up in San Diego, CA and decided in 5th grade to become a magician. Just out of high-school he traveled with ghost-and-goblin magic shows and vaudeville. As he said, “I was on my way to becoming a writer, I just didn't know it.”

He wrote a book on magic tricks while still in high school, which he was offered $50 for. This made him realize he had a knack for writing, and he went on to write over 60 children's books, adult novels and movie screenplays. He also won the Newbery Medal in 1987 for The Whipping Boy (which I just finished reading and it was hilariously awesome).

Take a look at our video filmed in 2008, where Sid talks about how he got his start as a writer. I didn't know so much about him before this interview, but after watching this, he had me at “hello!”

Some of his best known books:

• The Whipping Boy – about a spoiled young prince (Prince Brat) and a street urchin who is his “whipping boy” who gets whipped when the prince misbehaves.
• The Thirteenth Floor – a book of witchcraft and illusion that begins with the superstition that there is something evil and magical about the number 13.
• Jim Ugly – please, the title alone got me interested! This one's about an orphan and his dead father's wolf-like dog in the frontier west.
• The McBroom books – (Here Comes McBroom, McBroom Tells a Lie, McBroom's Wonderful One Acre Farm, etc). Tall tales from the farm. Includes one about a summer so dry that the McBroom cow only produced powdered milk. Funny stuff.
• The Ghost in the Noonday Sun - arose from the folk belief that anyone born at the stroke of midnight has the power to see ghosts.
• Mr. Mysterious & Company – Sid wrote this book to help his kids understand what he did for a living. They didn't understand why other dads went into an office or job each day and he stayed at home. This started his foray into children's books.

He also did bios of Houdini and Mark Twain, and Charlie Chaplin, which I'll have to check out.

Take a look at this video where Sid talks about his writing process. (Good for all you aspiring writers!) Supposedly, Sid wrote his books at a huge table cluttered with projects: story ideas, library books, research, letters, notes, pens, pencils, and a computer. (Nice to know you don't have to be a neat freak to be a good writer!)

And lastly, this video clip includes some words of advice for young writers straight from Sid himself:

In my opinion, he is one of those timeless authors whose books you could read now … or fifty years from now, and the book would still be great. The world was lucky to have him, and I'm sure he'll inspire the next generation of writers. Sid Fleischman, you will be missed.

— Ratha, Stacks Writer

A New Book for Steampunk Fans

If you are a steampunk fan, then you might already know about Philip Reeve and his Hungry City Chronicles starting with the first book Mortal Engines. Well, his new prequel to the series, called Fever Crumb, has us all excited over here at Scholastic. Take a look at this video of the author himself talking about the new book and what steampunk means to him.

So how to describe this awesome new book? We'll start with the Head.

Fever Crumb, the main character, is raised in one. A giant head, I mean. Godshawk's head.

It was built to be part of an enormous statue of Godshawk, the Scriven overlord that ruled distant-future London. When he was overthrown, this enormous statue was under construction and then abandoned. Not believing in waste, the Order of Engineers, a group of rational male scientists, moved in and made it home. Mr. Crumb, a young member of that order, found the baby Fever in a field and brought her home to be raised in the Head.

Now, for the visual: Fourteen-year-old Fever Crumb has mismatched eyes – one is dark brown and the other gray. Like the rest of the Order, she shaves her head every other day (they believe hair is unnecessary). Lastly, she wears an oversized red trench coat and “digger's” boots. A unique look.

Combine her looks with her unconventional childhood (no toys, no make-believe, no fun – nothing illogical), and Fever is an odd bird, but one you can cheer for. She's sheltered from the emotional turmoil that is outside her Head home by the orderly Order of the Engineers. But that all is about to change.

Fever is sent to apprentice with the once-promising archaeologist Kit Solent. The minute she steps out of the giant head that has been her home, major mayhem ensues and her adventure begins. Fever is chased by those who fear “scriven” – the dangerous group of people who once imprisoned London – because of her odd looks. (Watch the video of Philip Reeve reading this part out loud.) She struggles to understand the illogical workings of the world, including Kit Solent's emotional children. And she slowly realizes there's more to her past, and the silvery scar at the base of her skull, than she's been told.

This book is fast paced and often very funny, especially when Fever is amused or confused by something illogical, like cotton candy or odd sayings. And it takes a number of surprising, twisty turns, so stay on your toes when you're reading. But be warned, it's part of a series so the end doesn't really end.

— Jessica, Scholastic.com Staffer

Ann M. Martin Interview

Longtime fans probably already know about the Ann M. Martin Message Board, where you can go to make friends with other fans and talk about all of her books. But if you especially love Baby-sitters Club books, then we have a couple of cool new features on the STACKS. In honor of the newest Baby-sitters Club book, The Summer Before, we have a new BSC website and BSC Message Board.

The Summer Before is a prequel to the Baby-sitters Club series and will be in bookstores starting today. You can read the first chapter online right here!

If you have ever read any Ann M. Martin books, then you know she is a beautiful writer, but I had the chance to actually talk to her and discover that she is also a beautiful person! Read on to find out more about the Baby-sitters Club, Ann's advice for writers, and how she deals with her shyness!

Sonja: There was a Message Board petition to convince you to write another Baby-sitters Club book. Why do you think The Baby-sitters Club is still so popular after all these years?
Ann: I think the books resonate with kids because, although kids today are very different, I think what kids relate to is still the same. The Baby-sitters Club characters are very easy to identify with. The main thrust of the series is family, friendship, school. . . those things haven't changed. They still affect most kids today. Kids today may have iPods, computers, and text messages, but the themes of the Baby-sitters Club books are timeless.

Sonja: Why did you decide to revisit these characters in your new book?
Ann: A lot of readers wrote to me and asked for a sequel to the series describing the girls when they were older. But I wanted to write a prequel because the slightly younger age group appeals to me. I wanted to delve more deeply and go back in time to think about what led the girls to come together and form the Baby-sitters Club. What was going on with their families? Where were they in their lives, and where were they literally because Stacey hadn't moved to Stoneybrook yet.

Sonja: Are the characters based on real people? Did any of things that happen to them in the books happen to you in real life?
Ann: Most of the characters are made up. But Kristy is based on my best friend, Beth, and Mary Anne is based on me. Growing up Beth and I were complete opposites. I was the much shier, quieter one, and Beth was much more outgoing. Yes, a few of the incidents that happen in the books are real. One of the most horrifying babysitting incidents I ever experienced happened when the kids I was babysitting asked if they could wash the car. By the time I got outside, they had already started, but they were washing the car with brillo pads, and they scratched all the paint off the car!

Sonja: Which character do you relate the most to?
Ann: Of course I relate most strongly to Mary Anne since she is based on me, but Kristy is the most fun character to write about. After all, the Baby-sitters Club was her idea!

Sonja: Do you have any advice for kids who want to write?
Ann: It is important to be a reader and become familiar with all kinds of writing. I also recommend that kids keep a journal. Kids think they have to have some incredible experience to write about, but keeping a journal is a good way to keep track of the everyday experiences that can make your stories more real.

Sonja: I read that you are very shy. It can sometimes be difficult for shy people in a world of outgoing people. (I know because I'm shy too!) Do you have any suggestions for other shy people?
Ann: Even some people who don't seem shy are really shy underneath! My advice is to become familiar with the situations that make you uncomfortable. I do better in small groups — 2 or 3 instead of 10 or 12 so I try to avoid being in big groups of people if I can. I hate public speaking but I realized that I feel more comfortable doing it when I have a PowerPoint presentation to work from. You have to know what makes you feel more comfortable and try to put yourself in those situations instead of the situations that will make you feel worse.

Sonja: You are so loved by so many readers. That must be such an amazing feeling. Do you get lots of fan mail? What are some of the most moving things your fans tell you?
Ann: It is a wonderful feeling. I love hearing from readers. It helps me feel more connected with them. The most moving thing is hearing about kids who were not into reading until reading one of my books. . . and now they are avid readers. It's wonderful to hear from adult readers who read my books when they were kids and were inspired to become writers, librarians, teachers, editors or bloggers. That is very gratifying.

— Sonja, STACKS Staffer

It's Almost Summer!

To celebrate the arrival of warm weather and unlimited free reading time, the Scholastic Summer Challenge will be kicking off soon with the Ultimate Author Showdown Webcast.

Four amazing authors will compete in the Ultimate Author Showdown, a game show all about books. Each author will represent a different category, and YOU can help make up the questions. Think you can stump the authors? Submit your question.

WHO:

• Representing People & Places: Christopher Paul Curtis, author of Elijah of Buxton, Bud Not Buddy, and The Watsons Go to Birmingham.
• Representing Fantasy & Adventure: Gordon Korman, author of The 39 Clues: One False Note, Swindle, and Zoobreak
• Representing Thrills & Chills: R.L. Stine, author of Goosebumps and Goosebumps HorrorLand
• Representing Friends & Fun: Lisa Yee, author of Millicent Min Girl Genius, and Stanford Wong Flunks Big Time

WHEN: Friday, April 30th at 1:00pm (ET)/10:00am (PT)
I know it's during the school day, but try to convince your teacher to sign up. It's about reading! Your teacher can sign up in advance at www.scholastic.com/summer

WHERE: Scholastic Summer Challenge Website

Hope to see you there!

Diary of a Wimpy Kid Movie Live Chat

You have been asking us for a Wimpy Kid chat, so since the movie is coming out on March 19 (have you seen our exclusive and hilarious movie preview?), we are planning an AMAZING Wimpy Kid chat with 2 extra special guests. Who are these splendiferous guests coming to Scholastic to chat online with YOU? I'll give you a hint, one is an author and one is a twelve-year-old actor. Can you guess who they are?

WHO: Jeff Kinney, author of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series PLUS Zachary Gordon, the kid who plays Greg in the movie
WHEN: TODAY 5:30-6:15 PM E.T. (2:30-3:15 PM P.T.)
WHERE: THE STACKS (See below for sign-in instructions.)
TOPIC: Diary of a Wimpy Kid Movie!

That's right. Jeff Kinney and Zach Gordon will be both be joining us for this Live Chat, so you will definitely not want to miss this one!

Tell the world you're excited for the chat by logging in to your profile and changing your mood to "Wimpy!"

We have fun Live Chats here every month. Sign up for our Live Chat reminders and we will send you an e-mail a couple days before future chats to remind you to join!

— STACKS Staffers

 

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Update: Thanks to those of you who joined today's live chat. We had an amazing time hanging out with Jeff Kinney and Zachary Gordon, and we hope you did too! Here's the transcript so you can read every word that Jeff and Zach said!

Ultimate Author Showdown

It's only March and in lots of places it still feels very much like winter, but here at the STACKS we are already dreaming about Summer! With that in mind, we are happy to announce that the Scholastic Summer Challenge will be kicking off soon with a Live Webcast.

Here's the lowdown - it's gonna be a showdown! Four amazing authors will compete in the Ultimate Author Showdown, a game show all about books. Each author will represent a different category, and YOU can help make up the questions. Think you can stump the authors? Submit your question.

WHO:

• Representing People & Places: Christopher Paul Curtis, author of Elijah of Buxton, Bud Not Buddy, and The Watsons Go to Birmingham.
• Representing Fantasy & Adventure: Gordon Korman, author of The 39 Clues: One False Note, Swindle, and Zoobreak
• Representing Thrills & Chills: R.L. Stine, author of Goosebumps and HorrorLand
• Representing Friends & Fun: Lisa Yee, author of Millicent Min Girl Genius, and Stanford Wong Flunks Big Time

WHEN: Friday, April 30th at 1:00pm (ET)/10:00am (PT)
I know it's during the school day, but try to convince your teacher to sign up. It's about reading! Your teacher can sign up in advance at www.scholastic.com/summer

WHERE: Scholastic Summer Challenge Website

Hope to see you there!