2. Because when I showed up for my presentation at Lee Whedon Library, I was greeted at the door by this….
…and greeted inside by more than sixty people who came to hear the presentation on Saturday morning.
Even though I have a horrible expression on my face in this photo, I had fun giving my presentation on SPITFIRE…really…
My new friend Thomas did a great job modeling a Revolutionary War sailor’s outfit.
The make-your-own-powder-horn project was a big hit. (Thanks to J for helping kids out with this project while I signed books!)
My mom, artist Gail Smith Schirmer, did SPITFIRE’s cover painting and joined me in signing more than 70 books after the presentation.
It was extra special signing books for several of my classmates’ kids and some of my former teachers!
By the time the line died down, it was time for us to leave for our second event of the day in Canandaigua.
Medina, NY gave us such a wonderful, warm welcome that it was hard to leave. The town where I grew up remains every bit as friendly and family-oriented as it was twenty years ago, and it was wonderful to be back. One BIG improvement I noticed on this visit… the addition of The Book Shoppe on Main St. – a fantastic, cozy bookstore with a great kids’ section. Thanks, Sue, for handling book sales at Saturday’s event!
When people see the cover of Spitfire, their first question is often, “Who did the painting?”
My answer always comes along with an ear-to-ear grin. “My mom.” In the credits, she’s Gail Smith Schirmer.
Then people who know a thing or two about publishing ask, “How did that happen?” That’s because usually, an author has very little say over what shows up on the cover of his or her book. In this case, I let my editor know early on that my mom was an artist and would be happy to do a painting for the cover. The people at North Country Books, who are very nice and patient , said okay…they’d take a look but they usually handled that on their own, so there were no guarantees.
We sent a photo of this oil painting my mom had done of the battle scene in the book.
Patient publisher/editor man said, “That’s a beautiful painting, but…”
Too abstract for a children’s book. Too dark and foreboding. They decided they’d go in another direction. Mom decided she’d try again, went back to her studio, and did another painting — a little less abstract and a lot brighter. The folks at North Country Books loved it, and so do I. It’s the cover you see on the book today.
Mom laughed when I asked if I could interview her on my blog, but ever the good sport, she answered my questions anyway…
When your first painting was turned down, did you have second thoughts about whether you wanted to try again?
Yes, I did. This is a new field for me – a cover of a novel, particularly a children’s novel – was something I’d n ever done before, and I wasn’t sure how to approach it so that it would be fitting for a middle grade book cover and still reflect my personal style.
So how did you balance those two things?
I thought about the way I taught middle grade students when I was an art teacher. I always exposed my students to the masters. I met students on their level and encouraged them to reach higher.
So, I painted the battle as I pictured it, including Valcour Island in the painting but also considering the mandates for a children’s book cover. I started out trying to make it appealing to children, and then I kind of put that in the background and made it a work of art, because I know that children can appreciate good art. It didn’t have to be childlike to appeal to them.
When we showed it to my eleven-year old grandson for some feedback, he said he couldn’t make out the American flag, and that was important. He was right. We needed to know that was an American gunboat. So I went back and fine-tuned the flag, making it sure it showed up and was historically accurate.
You read the manuscript more than once before tackling the cover painting. How did that influence your work?
It definitely influenced my work. I had to have the feeling of being there – the feeling of the battle, the feeling the children had and how they perceived it – how explosive and frightening it must have been. I had to be there.
You taught art to elementary school students for 25 years before retiring and really making way for your own painting. What was it like to start?
I was excited. I loved every minute of my teaching career, but when you teach, you don’t often have time to create paintings for pleasure. I had an art teacher in college who said, “If you want to paint, don’t teach because there won’t be time for yourself.” I wanted to teach, so I didn’t paint for myself until I stopped that. For me, it takes total immersion. And back then, you were busy helping the four of us with science projects and making jester costumes and wiping noses….
Right!
Even now, it’s a balancing act sometimes, but I’m fortunate to have an amazing, supportive husband who lets me paint, fixes dinner, takes care of framing, and so much more. He lets me be me.
How about the fact that your painting is on thousands of book covers, bookmarks, and even some temporary tattoos now?
It’s just really cool. It was an extremely exciting moment when I held the book for the first time. It had come full circle, and the painting was where it belonged. It’s just been a trip – an amazing trip.
You and I have talked about how the creative process – whether it’s writing or painting – requires special time and space. Can you describe your creative space?
My studio is very small, but looks out over Canandaigua Lake and has wonderful northern light. It’s tiny, but it’s really all the space that I need. I usually have three or four paintings going at once. And I have my music. Which is…?
Which is usually, depending on my mood, opera or New Age. What are you working on now?
I just completed some smaller paintings for a show called “Small Works…Small Wonders” at the Pat Rini Rohrer Gallery in Canandaigua. I had a dozen pieces in that show – a few have already sold – but the rest will be on display at the gallery from now through November 3rd.
One more question… Umm…. are you going make your chocolate chip cookies for this weekend?
I’m either going to make small ginger snaps or go to Wegmans and pick up something fancy that will look nice on the tables…
No, no… I don’t mean for the gallery reception!
Oh, for you guys? Oh sure! Maybe an apple pie, too.
Thanks, Mom…
Here are a few other selected works of Gail Smith Schirmer (aka Mom).
Mom and I will be signing books at two Western NY events this Saturday, October 6, and if you live in that area, we’d love it if you’d stop by and say hello.
Pat Rini Rohrer Gallery, South Main St. Canandaigua, NY Book Signing, Display of the Spitfire cover painting, & Reception 3:00 – 5:00
And now that I’ve objectively asked all my questions and provided all my dates and times…
Let me just say that I’m posting this in time for Thankful Thursday for a reason. My mom is a warm, talented woman and a spitfire in the very finest sense of the word. I can’t imagine a gift better than sitting next to her this weekend, signing books full of my words, with her painting on the cover.
(This is my version of the Friday Five… I’ve always been a bit of a non-conformist.)
#1 – So many of you have asked about the cover painting for Spitfire and wondered about the artist. Her name is Gail Smith Schirmer, and she’s my mom. Cool, huh? Later this week, you can meet her here — I’ll be blogging about how her artwork came to be on the cover of my novel (the author doesn’t usually get a say in those things) and interviewing Mom about how she developed the cover painting, her creative process, and her creative space. She and I will be doing two events together this weekend, which brings me to…
#2 – On Saturday morning, I’m doing an event for kids & families at the library where I got my first library card. The last time I was at the Lee Whedon Memorial Library was in 1988 when I had my stuff spread out over a big table, writing my high school graduation speech. Mom and I doing an author/artist event there from 11-12 Saturday morning. How great is that?
#3 – Watch for the snowflakes! The Robert’s Snow illustrator features begin this month, on many of your favorite blogs. Children’s illustrators have decorated gorgeous snowflake ornaments as a fabulous auction fund-raiser for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. I’ll be featuring snowflakes by Judy Schachner, Amy Young, Sara Kahn, Cecily Lang, and Shawna Tenney in October and November.
You can also see the real snowflakes on exhibit! Child at Heart Gallery 48 Inn Street Newburyport, MA 01950 Open House: Saturday, October 6 Exhibit Dates: October 3 – 22
Danforth Museum of Art 123 Union Avenue Framingham, MA 01702 Open House: Sunday, November 4 Special Sneak Preview: October 31 – November 3 Exhibit Dates: November 4 – December 2
And you can view this year’s snowflakes online here.
#4 – Nominations have opened for the Cybils! If you read a book published in 2007 and loved it, consider nominating it for the Cybils — the Children’s & YA Bloggers’ Literature Awards. I’m excited to be serving as a panelist for middle grade fiction this year. Of course, middle grade is just one of the categories…
Here are the rules for nominating. All books have to have been published in 2007.
Only one book per category;
Click on a category and read the description;
Click on “comments” and type in the author and title;
Make sure your book isn’t already listed, please.
The deadline is November 21st.
#5 Children’s Literature blogger Mayra Calvani interviewed me about my middle grade historical novel Spitfire recently for BlogCritics Magazine. Click here to read it!
And finally… I’ve had some emails and calls from people asking where to buy Spitfire. Here’ s the thing…. Spitfire is published by North Country Books, a small regional press that puts out about ten titles a year. Because of that, it may take a while for it to show up in the distribution systems at some of the big chains. If you’re looking for a copy, please ask for it at your favorite local bookstore (and encourage them to order a few extra copies, too!). North Country Books is fantastic about quick shipping and will usually get an order to your favorite bookstore within a couple days.
Thanks for all of the good wishes on today’s Spitfire book signing. It was so much fun and went well — 190 copies well. The bookstore ran out, so my husband made two runs out to the van for more books. (Thank you,
for telling me to bring extra, even if I thought I wouldn’t need them!)
Spitfire is about a girl who disguises herself as a boy to fight in a Revolutionary War battle on Lake Champlain — the Battle of Valcour Island. So many people at today’s signing were history lovers, excited to share this story with their kids. It made me smile. Here are some pictures of today’s event for friends who weren’t there…
That’s me on the left and Bonnie Shimko, author of Letters in the Attic and Kat’s Promise, on the right.
Favorite book signing moment #1… signing books for some of my 7th grade students!
Favorite book signing moment #2… Looking up and seeing an actual line of people at the table.
Favorite book signing moment #3… Talking with teachers who plan to share Spitfire with their students.
The folks at Borders were fantastic — from general manager Jim who kept replenishing my pile to Taylor who met me at the door with a huge smile and helped me to get settled. Thank you! It was just a fantastic day.
I am overwhelmed, to say the least. Also out of ink in my Sharpie.
Next weekend, I’ll be doing a presentation for kids and families in Medina, NY where I grew up and signing books in Canandaigua, NY, where my parents live now. Tonight, though, it’s time for a family bonfire on the beach, where I can hear the waves of Lake Champlain, see Valcour Island, and toast some of the real-life historical figures who are characters in Spitfire. I think they would have been pleased today.
…that when one visits one’s book in a real live bookstore for the first time, one is overcome by an almost insurmountable urge to hide behind a bookshelf and watch to see who picks it up and what kinds of faces they make.
I restrained myself, though, and went to find the other historical fiction titles I wanted for my Fall Fireside Basket of Historical Fiction to raffle off at the launch.
Spitfire is about a girl who disguises herself as a boy and fights in a Revolutionary War battle on Lake Champlain, and tomorrow is my first signing. I’m scared and excited …but mostly excited. Bonnie Shimko will be there, too, signing Letters in the Attic, which is out in paperback now. This makes me feel better because a) I won’t be alone, and b) Bonnie is friendly and warm and funny, which is always a good thing.
We’re celebrating Spitfire’s official release this weekend… with an event from 12-2 Saturday at Borders in Plattsburgh, NY. I’ll have treats, a raffle, teacher resource packets, bookmarks, and (giggles uncontrollably) temporary tattoos. If you’ve ever considered having a Revolutionary War gunboat tattooed on your arm, this is your chance to try it out. Bonnie Shimko will also be signing on Saturday. If you haven’t read her Lambda Award-Winning Letters in the Attic, you should, and it’s out in paperback now. Jan Stanley and illustrator Tamia Gastio will be there, too, signing their playful picture books.
One more thankful Thursday thing…
After school, the phone rang in my classroom, and it was one of the 6th grade ELA teachers.
“Hey- I’m having a computer problem, and I can’t figure it out. Can you just come down and help me real quick?”
When I opened her classroom door, there was no computer problem — just a bunch of giddy English teachers and a big chocolate mousse cake (don’t tell the HeartSmart committee) to celebrate the release of my book. Have I mentioned that I love my department?
And now… the winner of the Spitfire Writers & Characters Contest…. (I would have posted more of the entries on my blog, but it turns out that spitfire writers are busy people and often leave things to the last minute, so I got hit with a slew of 11th hour entries and no time to post them.) Thanks for playing along; all of your entries were fun and spitfirey.
And now… the winner… drawn at random from all the entries…out of an 18th century bonnet… by my kids… is………..
AMBER HAMILTON!!
(You may be asking now how two children drew one name out of a hat. The parents among you realize that when a child is called upon to pick a contest winner, the other child will invariably shout, “NO! I want to pick the winner!” So for the curious… E picked three names from the hat, and then J chose one at random from those three. Anyone wishing to appeal the contest results or protest this procedure may email J and E, care of me.)
Hey Amber…email me with your address, and I’ll send along your signed book and chocolate early next week. Have a great weekend, everyone!
I’ve been keeping the emotions of my book release in check so far. (This is an accomplishment for someone who cries at Folgers commercials.)
My box of author copies arrived from North Country Books this week, and inside were hundreds of shiny Spitfire bookmarks. They were beautiful, but they didn’t make me cry.
That was the subject line on the email my husband sent me at school this afternoon. Look what was waiting for me at home…
My first author event with books is this Saturday from 12-2 at Borders in Plattsburgh, NY — part of the Educators’ Weekend. If you live in Northern New York, please stop by and say hello!
is making waves with her Scientists in the Field award-winner TRACKING TRASH: FLOTSAM, JETSAM, AND THE SCIENCE OF OCEAN MOTION. Here’s her entry in the Spitfire Writers & Characters Contest:
Me? A spitfire? Nah.
Okay, well, maybe a reformed spitfire. A once-upon-a-time spitfire. Yes. That fits better. I’m a recovered spitfire. Which is to say that I have spent a good deal of my adult life learning to control the fiery outbursts of my youth and to maintain—at all costs—a peaceful demeanor. It has been a long process, fraught with missteps and setbacks. But becoming a wife, a daughter-in-law, a mother, and a teacher has steadied me in ways that have allowed me to let go of the idea that I have everything figured out and that it is my job to share my wisdom with the rest of humankind. I have learned to accept that people will not always believe what I believe, behave in ways that I approve of, or do the things I think they should. That is their right and no matter how angry it makes me, spitting fire won’t help.
An open mind, now that helps. Respect and tolerance help too.
And so even though I am passionate about my world views, even though I share them in appropriate venues, I no longer rile when they are challenged. I work hard—very hard—to maintain a peaceful outlook and a respectful approach. As I say, there are missteps and setbacks constantly.
Just recently my six-year-old daughter and I were waiting for the schoolbus.
“Girls can’t spit,” she told me, innocently.
The feminist in me roared to life. I counted to ten, calmed the beast as best I could, and pointed out that girls can spit every bit as well as boys. And then, well, I spit. Literally. Right there in our driveway in broad daylight, I hawked a good one.
My daughter stared at me in horror. Her little hand actually covered her mouth for a moment before she let loose on me, “Mom! Boys can’t spit either! Girls can’t spit and boys can’t spit! It spreads germs!” She paused for a moment before going on. “It’s the school rule and you’d be in trouble if Mr. Caruso found out.”
She let the threat of my shame hang in the air a moment before going on. “It’s okay, Mom. I won’t tell on you. Just don’t let me catch you doing that ever again!”
That daughter of mine? Now she is a spitfire. Long may she spit!
If you’re a world class spitter or spitfire (or something else with the word spit in it), you have one more day to email me your entry! The contest wraps up when the clock strikes midnight Tuesday night. A winner drawn at random gets a signed copy of SPITFIRE and some Lake Champlain Chocolate, which is organic and fabulous. I’ll announce the winner on my blog this Friday — the day of SPITFIRE’s official release!
You and I have talked about how the creative process – whether it’s writing or painting – requires special time and space. Can you describe your creative space?
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