Sweet Bebop, brave Bebop.

I spent all morning going from the normal vet to the emergency vet to the x ray lab and back to the emergency vet for poor Bebop. They don't know why he has a fever and isn't eating or drinking. I did get him to purr for me today after he had to stay the night at the normal vet but he wouldn't eat for me and his tummy still hurts to be touched. So he's getting more and more tests done today.

These pictures are from his last vet visit for a tummy gash when he had to wear the clown cone for weeks.

Please come and support us! There'll be scrumptious vittles, exciting drinks and a kickass raffle of great gift certificates to local hot spots and shops.

Here's the copy from the eVite that we sent out last night:

Cocktails for the Cure

Host: Sara Easterly, Kirby Larson, Jaime Temairik, Kate Jackson
Location: BalMar Lounge
5449 Ballard Ave NW, Seattle, WA View Map
When: Thursday, July 20, 5:00pm to 9:00pm
Phone: (206) 297-0500

You sip and nosh, we’ll walk 60 miles, and together we’ll help fight breast cancer – how great is that?

Jaime, Kate, Kirby and Sara have pledged not only to walk 60 miles over three hot August days, but also to raise a total of $8,800. The goal is in sight and we’re throwing a party to help us get the final few steps to the start line.

You’ll be in the pink as you sample complimentary treats and sip your happy hour libation of choice (no-host bar). We’ll all be in the pink when you bring the green to buy raffle tickets for the dozens of special prizes supportive merchants have donated for the cause!

The Breast Cancer 3 Day walk raises millions of dollars each year to fund critical breast cancer research and community outreach programs. Seattle’s walk is one of 12 this year, country-wide. 85% of the funds you donate go to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and 15% benefit the National Philanthropic Trust Breast Cancer Fund.

If you’ve already donated, thank you! Please come enjoy some tasty tidbits as a thank you for your support! If you’ve been meaning to donate, here’s your chance to do it and have a great time, too.

(If you can't attend, haven't yet donated, and would like to, please feel free to make an online donation by visiting http://www.the3day.org. Simply click on Donate > Seattle, then enter in any of our names to complete the online donation form.)

While most of my heart is taken over by children's book illustration there remains one ventricle devoted to animation. And reading Amid Amidi's blog this morning I came across a startling excerpt that has me scowling at my coffee.

Read it yourself or let me paraphrase: a letter sent in 1939 is circulating in blogs from Walt Disney Co. to a hopeful female applicant with five years of experience at another animation house.

She is told that "Women do not do any of the creative work in connection with preparing cartoons for the screen, as that work is performed entirely by young men..."

(Side note: the comments on this do reflect that this was a bit of a lie--there was um, ONE woman or so working in the creative department at that time with more showing up later like the indomitable Mary Blair.)

This all gets back to Geena Davis, no less, whose SeeJane group has come out with a study on kid movies and the lack of female leads or even supporting characters.

Which gets back to children's books!

Geena brings up the stinky adage for movies I've heard murmured at SCBWI events and in children's book speakeasies: Girls will watch stories about boys but boys won't watch stories about girls (just sub "read" for "watch" and you've got the entire children's entertainment industry covered.)

Normally I hit my head and say, yes! That's just the way it is! What can we do?

Besides blaming fairy tale archetypes and the bird-brained male dominated animation industry (I don't want to lambast the animation industry, too much...is it really Pixar's fault if Disney and his impeccable training courses discriminated against women and the effects of that are still bubbling up through the industry? But where is there a female lead in a Pixar movie?) we can do as Geena does and try to provide balance in the stories we read and show our young friends.

Search out books and movies that portray women in strong roles, minorities as non-clowns and non-villains, boys and men that aren't overly aggressive and that stand up to sexism.

Luckily I can offer up a few titles to start you on (and please don't be mad if I mention these books frequently--I love them and they are well written AND fall into this non-bird brain category)

Movies:
Secret of NIMH (I can't remember if the book version has her as heroic as the cartoon does)
Spirited Away
cartoons by Faith and John Hubley (parents of Georgia Hubley of Yo La Tengo)
Mary Poppins
The Journey of Natty Gann
The Triplets of Belleville

Picture books:

Swamp Angel by Anne Isaacs, illustrated by Paul O Zelinsky
Strega Nona by Tomie de Paola
Bottle Houses by Melissa Eskridge Slaymaker, illustrated by Julie Paschkis
Mrs Biddlebox by Linda Smith, illustrated by Marla Frazee
the Ella books by Carmela and Steven D'Amico
Un Papa Sur Mesure by Davide Cali, illustrated by Anna Laura Cantone
Carmine: A Little More Red by Melissa Sweet

Novels:

Anything by Karen Cushman
Matilda by Roald Dahl
Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson
The Beast of Noor by Janet Lee Carey
The Cat Ate My Gymsuit by Paula Danziger
Cuba 15 by Nancy Osa
and the talented Holly Cupala speaks highly of The Princess Academy by Shannon Hale which I just got from the library and am hoping it fits this anti-birdbrain list.

That is just the tip of the iceberg I'm sure (what is on my shelf currently) and I'd love to get more recommendations!

Now since someone forgot to tell me the gas company would be all over the house today and tomorrow my one day to work at home becomes my one day to...not work at home. Here's hoping I find a dog friendly place with WiFi.

Jaime

A new piece I hope to include in my portfolio. I got some prismacolor pencils and have been fooling around with those. I painted this and then photocopied it to try out the different pencil color outlines. Silly me, because I painted on cold pressed Arches I got much rougher outlines than on my nambypamby copier paper. Paint and learn.

Thanks to Phyllis Cahill I've got a whole plan of attack for sending out some samples within the next few days.

Today I'm walking 5 miles, tomorrow 13 and Saturday 9. Sunday is devoted to a bubble bath and pillow propping. (I gave up the shoe icon so believe me I've been training for the walk.)

Jaime

Tell all of your friends that are booksellers, teachers or librarians to come. And tell anyone you know in Western Washington with a new children's book coming out in the Fall to apply! And...no, I didn't just make that jpeg above during work hours.

What's going on? Here's the official lingo:

The Inside Story is a twice-yearly salon to celebrate the new books of local authors and illustrators. During the evening’s event, presenters share the "inside story" about their books with an adoring and enthusiastic audience of local booksellers, librarians, and teachers. They love to learn what inspired the books, what new techniques were learned in their creation, and any other juicy tidbits about how the books came to be. They, in turn, share these great stories with their customers, whether in a bookstore or a library.

Still more questions? Then please see the FAQs at our Western Washington SCBWI website, the best darn tootin local chapter around.

Jaime

TWO great books by the SAME author. It is a joy to discover a new favorite author and Candace Fleming is mine. New to me--I know she is a seasoned professional.

First came Muncha! Muncha! Muncha! illustrated by G Brian Karas (another favorite whose alter ego IS Mr. Greeley.) The text is as crisp and lush as a homegrown radish. The illustrations are fantastic--full of sweet funny bunnies with adorable shirts and fluffy bottoms. The setting is spot on with a great narrow yard and what I imagine an English or American victory garden looked like...with victory for the rabbits.

There's a sequel, too, I think, but am having trouble finding it: Tippy-tippy-tippy, HIDE.

Also there's a new man in my life thanks to Candace as recommended reading by Kirby: Lowji.

Lowji Discovers America is the first in what I hope will be a series. Lowji moves from the cosmopolitan fragrant world of India to small town America leaving behind friends, family and all that is familiar. The one hope he clings to is the chance that in America he will be able to own a pet dog or cat. A pet he will shower with affection and snuggle every night (how can you not love Lowji for that alone?)

Life doesn't go according to Lowji's plan but Lowji finds the silver lining on most every cloud. We share with him the loneliness and (often) humiliation of being the new kid on the block. Lowji is no push over, however, and he does things I'd never dream of doing. Most concerning burps and pigs...

Candace provides a bounty of humorous characters and situations as well as a peek into what life might be like in modern Bombay (great food references thanks to Lowji's father, the chef.)

You can't help but root for Lowji and I'm hoping to hear more from him soon.

Jaime

I'm pleased as punch to have had my credit card accepted by the 7th annual Pacific Northwest Children's Book Conference for writers and illustrators!

A whole week of solid illustrating and writing workshops in summery Portland sunshine, July 10-14. A welcome change after some of the work I did today...

True--no prerequisites/screening to attend but I am going and it will be smashing because of this faculty line up alone:

Marla Frazee,
Kirby Larson
and
Steve Geck

Not to mention the other amazing faculty members I have yet to meet!

Now that Janet has launched I'm free to feverishly plow through art and stories I'd love to have critiqued at this great conference.

If you are going or have gone I'd love to hear about your experience or get to know my fellow conference compatriots!

And since it is at Reed I'd really like to know some good coffee shops in walking distance of the campus.

Oodalolly!

Finally finally!

The first round of art and animation is done for Janet Lee Carey's mini-site for The Beast of Noor.

Please do check it out and tell me what you think! The book comes out early July and I recommend it heartily.

A wonderful story of dogs and beasts, lost boys and strong girls.

We hope to add some games to it and if you know any kids interested in YA fantasy books and playing online games related to books we'd love to know what kinds of games are fun...perhaps a quiz or maybe something sudoku-ish?

Jaime