A Southern Missive

I finished up my two days at Prairie Vista Middle School with my Civil War Program. I’ve started a scrapbook on my school programs, and the comments of the students who signed it are so funny and so encouraging. I actually feel like I’m doing something good with these programs.  The school Librarian, Tanya Plocica, is really a first rate librarian  who is doing so much for the school there. As soon as she gets me the photos of our event, I’ll post them.

After I packed up there, I went on to the Grapevine Public Library for the children’s program there.  These were little ones, so I did a story time using my Jim Limber Book and played several kid’s songs. The parents were there with them and were very pleased. It  was encouraging for me to see parents spending so much time with their little ones at the library, taking them home with their arms full of books.

Tomorrow, I’ll be at the Sundance Barnes & Noble in Downtown Fort Worth. I’ve also got some projects I’ve got to wrap up for my sponsors. Saturday, I’ll be at the Hasting’s Bookstore in Mount Pleasant in the morning, then Paris, Texas Hastings Bookstore in the afternoon. From there I’ll drive to Oklahoma.

I’m learning so much from my book-signing and program adventures.

I just finished Atonement (2001) by Ian McEwan. I had read Cement Garden earlier and enjoyed it (must also see that movie), and now I must see the widely touted movie  based on the novel. Wickpedia has a very good article on the novel if you’d like quick information. Here’s the link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atonement_(novel)

In addition to the metafiction and psychological realism techniques the novel incorporates, I found the novel mesmerizing, the themes deeply touching. Like Kite Runner, Atonement deals with a character haunted  by personal failure.  There are several points of view presented, but the most interesting is that of Briony’s.

To learn more of McEwan and his writings, go to http://www.ianmcewan.com/

Once again, I have a busy week ahead of me. This afternoon I’m off to Lafayette, for L.J. Alleman Middle School’s Parent Night. From there, I’ll drive (long night ahead) to the Forth Worth area for two days at Prarie Vista Middle School, then a signing Friday at the downtown Barnes & Noble, then Hastings Bookstores Saturday in Mount Pleasant and Paris. I’ll spend Sat. night with my parents in Kemp, Oklahoma and return to Monroe sometime Monday. I’ll make posts as I can with the exception of Sunday as my parents do not have Internet.

Some TLA Photos: Here are just a few of the librarians and folks I met in Dallas at TLA. I had a grand time there.

Here are Amy and Courtney. They both attend Texas Woman’s University and Courtney is an assistant librarian in Dublin, Texas. They are both part of the part of the PELSC Cohort program.

Here are two Little Elm, Texas librarians, Leslie & Deanna

Here are Marti & David Chrisp. Marti is a writer herself with a children’s book that is sure to soon find a publisher!