Happy Third Birthday to MAKING FRIENDS WITH BILLY WONG

This morning when I woke up, I realized it's my THIRD book's THIRD birthday.

Happy birthday to you!
 

I spent a lot of time with this book (Okay, true confessions, I spent a lot of time with the others, too. I'm a sloooowwww writer!). 

The history of Chinese immigration to the Deep South before the Civil Rights era surprised a lot of people. Even my Chinese American non-southern friends. 
But having grown up surrounded by the Chinese-owned grocery stores, to me, it was yet another piece of the complicated history of the Mississippi Delta where I was born and raised, a history so intriguing that I wanted to share it. 

And I wanted to tell the story of a girl who's not so brave and spunky and not totally happy to be helping a grandmother she hardly knows.
And yet, she did it. Better still, it all worked out for Azalea.

The tiny beginning of an idea for this book came from my high school friend Bobby Joe Moon. The librarian's perspective, amazingly remembered details and many deep conversations came from a newer friend, Frieda Quon. It was important to get every detail right. I asked a million questions. Frieda became my first reader. Bobby, my PR guy.
I loved that Scholastic let me include photographs shared by the two people who helped me most with getting the details right. 

I also used the remarkable resources and treasures of the Mississippi Delta Chinese Heritage Museum on the campus of Delta State University in my hometown. 

If you're interested, click on that link to the museum and enjoy the photographs. 

For those teachers who might be interested in including this book for your students this year, I have additional resources HERE, 
and a fun Pinterest page, HERE,
AND here.
(Oh, and I love Skyping with classes who've read my books. 

So bring on the cake and let's celebrate books that require a lot of sweat and even a few tears. Let's celebrate the friends who help us, the libraries we love, the editors and early readers.
Cheers!

 

 

Coconut cake!

There, I got your attention. It's Easter weekend, and I'm remembering those lamb-shaped coconut cakes decorating long ago Easter Sunday dinner tables. Remember those? I love coconut. But I don't think I'll attempt the lamb shape.

Here's a recipe, or as she surely knew it, a receipt, from Emily Dickinson. Her favorite cake for birthday celebrating. Mine, too.

http://thehistorykitchen.com/2011/12/09/emily-dickinsons-coconut-cake/#

 Speaking of cakes. Have you read Lisa Graff's brand new middle grade novel? A novel filled with magic, multiple characters, mysteries and quests-And cake recipes. Such fun!

My review from the Christian Science Monitor. ⬅

A link to read more about TANGLE OF KNOTS, and order your own copy.


I'm also a fan of Red Velvet cake. It made its way into my novel, GLORY BE.
My friend Nancy McIntyre made this one from scratch for our gathering in June.

While I was writing, novelist Helen Hemphill shared a story about how her editor laughingly said every time he turned a page of her first book's manuscript, somebody was cooking or eating. With that in mind, a lot of fried chicken and pimento cheese got the ax from Glory's story early on. But many food references and events stayed in.

I made a Pinterest board about the Food in Glory Be. Check it out here. 
I'm not so great at Pinterest but sometimes something just strikes my fancy and up it goes.

In a story I'm noodling now, there's a character who cooks. Maybe I'll include a recipe or two. Hmmm. Good idea or not?

It certainly worked in Lisa Graff's new book. Then again, she's a baker. Me, not so much.
Maybe I'll stick to writing.

Happy Easter, everyone! 


Past Posts, possibly related:
Helen Hemphill interviews me
BOOK FOOD, pimento cheese
Home Food

Mother Daughter/ Grownups/ Girls and Boys

I've had all sorts of requests for links, questions, and activities for Book Clubs reading GLORY BE.

In fact, I'm immensely flattered that my previous Chatham, NJ group of grownups- lots of teachers and all great readers- chose the book for their June, 2013 read.

Here are a few links, including a Pinterest board of pictures: Food from the Book.

(Yum. My friend Nancy's RED VELVET CAKE from our summer gathering in Annapolis.)


I have a Readers' Theater link tab, right up on my blog. Very short. A less serious scene that was performed last spring at Scholastic's Texas Library Association fabulous breakfast.

http://ascattergood.blogspot.com/p/readers-theater-for-glory-be.html

Scholastic published a list of questions for Book Clubs, here:
http://www.scholastic.com/MotherDaughterBookClub/pdf/Scholastic_MDBC_GloryBeDG.pdf

(It's on the "archive" tab if that long link doesn't work.)

I also have a Pinterest board- picture of Food from the Book!
Red velvet cupcakes, pimento cheese, etc.
http://pinterest.com/gsgood/book-food/

 (Julie's beautiful table. Yes, it's close to lunchtime. These pictures aren't helping...)



And because sometimes that Scholastic link to the Mother Daughter Book Club questions may not work, I'll make it easy. Here they are. 
And thank you so much for reading and discussing.

Discussion Questions for Glory Be by Augusta Scattergood

1. Glory and her older sister were once good friends, but now they are drifting apart. Why do you think this is happening?
   
2. Frankie and Glory have been friends since they were very young. What difference of opinion is causing them to pull away from each other?
   
3. Hanging Moss has segregated facilities like water fountains, restrooms, pools, and schools. How would you feel if the color of your skin dictated where you were allowed to go?
   
4. Why do you think Glory ignores Emma’s advice to try not to worry about things she cannot fix?
   
5. Glory’s choice to befriend Laura is not popular with many of the kids in town. Have you ever made an unpopular choice because you knew it was right? How did it feel?
   

6. Many people judged Laura before getting to know her. How do people judge others at your school? Do opinions change over time?

7. Glory is excited to know people from other parts of the country. What can you learn from becoming friends with people from other parts of the country or the world? 

8. Emma tells Glory that if she keeps her mouth closed, she cannot cause trouble. Do you think this is a good motto to live by? Why or why not? 

9. Glory’s father says that she is opinionated like her mother. In what way are you like your family members? 

10. What events bring Glory and Jesslyn together?

Bookshelves!

Okay, I'd love it if my tiny office looked like this-

But it doesn't.

However, it looks better than it did last week.

I had no bookshelves in my working space, but tons of books.
Not good for a former librarian to have books willy-nilly.


Rocky the Rock Star dog did not approve.









 And writers have TONS of notes. At least I do.

 I keep all my writing ideas in bags. Easy to transport.

(At least till I have time to transfer them to Scrivener.)

So we cleared out a closet.

(Husband is handy. He painted, spackled, and got it ready. Thanks, Jay!)

And now- Voilà! I can see everything I need to see.

Of course, the books keep coming. I think I will need more shelves. Very soon.