tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post7902350535353177264..comments2024-03-28T06:28:49.282+00:00Comments on Picture Book Den: Why We Write – Alison BoyleUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-10503849489601281542012-06-17T12:14:01.986+01:002012-06-17T12:14:01.986+01:00We all have those family favourites don't we. ...We all have those family favourites don't we. They can be as few as a handful of books that for a myriad of reasons we feel compelled to come back to. Your contribution on translated copies across successive editions adds some hard business facts to what Paeony calls that 'fuzzy happy feeling' - both aspects of the same state. Thanks Linda for providing this perspective on continuity across the world.Alison Boylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15661814505803840167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-27993375937496352582012-06-17T11:46:50.339+01:002012-06-17T11:46:50.339+01:00Lovely post, Alison.
I had a moment when I was v...Lovely post, Alison. <br />I had a moment when I was visiting a school in Cairo recently. I spoke to lots of different ages of children from nursery to teenage while I was there. In one session when I was speaking to a large group of older children (Yr 5, I think) one of the teachers stood up at the end and said he had read one of my books hundreds of times. <br />I began to wonder which book he could be talking about and then he held up one of my picture books and showed the class, telling them that it has been a family favourite for years and he was delighted to be able to meet the person who wrote it.<br />Interestingly the other day I was sent some copies of the 10th Brazilian edition of this same book, in Portuguese. <br />Lovely to think my words are reaching so far away.Linda Strachanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04354324158228109351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-59568756097491803652012-06-14T18:37:23.028+01:002012-06-14T18:37:23.028+01:00Lynne, that compliment has impact!Lynne, that compliment has impact!Alison Boylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15661814505803840167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-21548197463948713182012-06-14T18:34:46.595+01:002012-06-14T18:34:46.595+01:00Thanks so much Jenny. As you say, not dramatic mom...Thanks so much Jenny. As you say, not dramatic moments, usually more of an undercurrent. Or following the theme of this post, dare I call it a 'foundation' for ongoing travail?Alison Boylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15661814505803840167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-90395243541880801292012-06-14T14:51:05.005+01:002012-06-14T14:51:05.005+01:00A great post and I always take it as an enormous c...A great post and I always take it as an enormous compliment when I'm told someone has enjoyed one of my books. I recently met up with a friend who has a three year old. She asked him "what is your answer to everything?" He smiled, looked at me and quoted a line from my last picture book.Lynne Garnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05697330164705623835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-87551350772282250352012-06-14T12:35:08.980+01:002012-06-14T12:35:08.980+01:00What a wonderful post! I think it will resonate wi...What a wonderful post! I think it will resonate with every author. For me this is a background annoyance/concern, not dramatic moments but a daily awareness, that the hard and demanding work I am doing today may never be published, or if it is, may not make me enough money to pay the bills. amazon reviews and readers' emails make a massive difference, reminding me of the true value of what all of us, as writers, do.Jenny Alexanderhttp://jenalexanderbooks.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-20946538768413361572012-06-14T09:34:06.641+01:002012-06-14T09:34:06.641+01:00That means a lot Moira, to hear that as a discerni...That means a lot Moira, to hear that as a discerning writer you aim to come back and read the post again. <br /><br />I think your idea of guerrilla writing is excellent. I hope you'll include the Northwest in your tour so I have a chance of discovering those words.Alison Boylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15661814505803840167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-48373521765790015372012-06-14T08:51:03.705+01:002012-06-14T08:51:03.705+01:00Thank you, Alison. Your blog is beautifully writte...Thank you, Alison. Your blog is beautifully written, and I will reread it more than once today, I think, as frankly I am going through one of those hard 'what am I doing' phases. I loved the art examples, too, and the fact that it had been put there for the pure joy of it. Makes me want to go out and do some 'secret writing' and leave it in a public place...Moira Butterfieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17355420549929911500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-48409150884200764242012-06-14T08:29:53.328+01:002012-06-14T08:29:53.328+01:00I think you've touched on something important ...I think you've touched on something important there, Paeony. The identity of picturebook writers can sometimes become lost when they aren't illustrators too, and yet as we know the text and pictures make the whole.Alison Boylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15661814505803840167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-50142803785230889252012-06-14T00:25:43.386+01:002012-06-14T00:25:43.386+01:00The economics of writing are often pathetic. But y...The economics of writing are often pathetic. But yes, it's such a fuzzy happy feeling when somebody says in a surprised (slightly incredulous!) voice: "YOU wrote that? But it was X's favourite book. I've read it so many times..." :-)Paeony Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13129555451791248798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-43098552942382253402012-06-13T21:14:33.953+01:002012-06-13T21:14:33.953+01:00I'm glad to hear that this chimed with you bot...I'm glad to hear that this chimed with you both, Abie and Juliet. It does help to get out sometimes! <br /><br />I've found that when I visit secondary schools some of the students might appear to be surly and uninterested, their faces hidden by long fringes rather than being upturned towards you, but when you talk to them afterwards or hear from their teachers, the reactions aren't so different from those cuties.Alison Boylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15661814505803840167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-68917155401653703142012-06-13T21:08:01.239+01:002012-06-13T21:08:01.239+01:00It's good to hear that you've had a simila...It's good to hear that you've had a similar experience, Rosalind. Thanks for sharing it. These individual responses go a long way for authors, don't they.Alison Boylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15661814505803840167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-16790265052984338462012-06-13T20:53:52.099+01:002012-06-13T20:53:52.099+01:00Thanks, Alison. And I agree with Abie. I love prim...Thanks, Alison. And I agree with Abie. I love primary school visits and the children's enthusiasm for everything (including books and sometimes one's own books) is catching. It certainly helps you remember why you're doing it...Juliet Clare Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06020801246132751659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-52932525145761980612012-06-13T19:06:19.208+01:002012-06-13T19:06:19.208+01:00Such an inspiring post. Sometimes I get so bogged ...Such an inspiring post. Sometimes I get so bogged down in word count, edits, pacing, spread that I forget why I'm doing it all! It is lovely when someone likes your book. For me school visits are the nicest part of my work: all those cute little upturned faces, still free of cynicism!Abie Longstaffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14682225221860351795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-86646714964005019532012-06-13T13:39:18.836+01:002012-06-13T13:39:18.836+01:00A lovely post, Alison. How satisfying that must ha...A lovely post, Alison. How satisfying that must have been for you as the visiting author. I received a tweet recently telling me her son went to bed clutching my pb every night. That's why we write!Rosalind Adamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05363027308436257933noreply@blogger.com