Goodbye! We will miss you! - Love those words

As highlighted in the school district's webpage:

Sparked by training received as a result of winning a grant through the Professional School Library System at PNW BOCES, library media specialist Susan McCormack worked with the BV PTA enrichment coordinator Mrs. Andrea O’Malley to make this first virtual author visit a reality.

Throughout the month of May, students in kindergarten and first grade spent their library class listening to books by author Marsha Diane Arnold.  They learned about her life as a child growing up on a farm in Kansas and about the redwood forest that inspires her in her current home in northern California.  Students connected to the curriculum as they discussed life in rural communities as compared to urban and suburban ones.  Through the use of satellite images, students got a sense of the space and isolation between the great farms of the Midwest Great Plains states compared to the homes spread throughout the communities of Buchanan, Verplanck and the lower Hudson Valley.  Students began to make connections between how life experiences inform fiction writing.  They learned about tornadoes and bravery while listening to Mrs. Arnold’s story:  The Bravest of Us All.  They heard how stories based on farm life and animals can be fictionalized and infused with humor in:  Roar of and Snore and Prancing, Dancing Lily.  Students prepared questions for the author ranging from how she gets ideas for her stories, to how she chooses an illustrator to more personal questions such as does she have any pets?

Using web cameras and Skype, students visited with author Marsha Diane Arnold via computer screen split in three:  the author, themselves on camera and the author’s presentation.  At the end of her presentation, the kindergarten students called out, “Goodbye, we will miss you!” as the author, Ms. Arnold, signed off.  Thanks to the tremendous support of the BV PTA, we hope to make virtual author visits a regular annual occurrence.

Goodbye! We will miss you! - Love those words

First Skype Author Ever at Buchanan-Verplanck students

When Andrea O'Malley asked if I'd consider being the "First Skype Author Ever at Buchanan-Verplanck", I responded, "Absolutely."  I love talking across the miles, from California to New York.

Andrea and Susan McCormack did a wonderful job putting together the "happening".  We had such fun, but not enough time to answer the many questions.  So I'm answering more of them here.

First, I want to share with everyone that many questions about my books and me can be found at www.marshadianearnold.com.  Secondly, I want to thank the great kindergarteners and first graders of Buchanan-Verplanck for a fun time.  Thanks so Andrea and Susan also.

One of the first questions I'm asked is "How do you choose an illustrator."  The students in New York wanted to know the same.


Most people think the author is the one who chooses their illustrator, but it's actually the editor.  The editor, who chooses your story to publish, also chooses the illustrator.  Editors are aware of the style of illustration they want for the book and they are aware of many illustrators around the world.


Other questions asked:

1) How do you get story ideas, like the one for Prancing, Dancing Lily?

An idea for a story may develop from something I hear or see or remember.  I often begin with a title and the title is often the name of a character.  My stories are usually character driven.  I enjoy getting to know my character and his/her personality helps me develop the plot.

Prancing, Dancing Lily was inspired by the cows I knew on my father’s Kansas dairy farm.  The book is dedicated to “my father, his Ayrshire dream, and all the cows at Highland Ayr dairy farm”.  Ayrshires, which originated in County Ayr, Scotland, aren’t a well-known breed, but they are beautiful, with a reddish-brown and white coat and horns that often reach over a foot in length. 

2)  How did you decide to be an author?

As a child, I loved to read, but I never thought about becoming an author until I was grown and had children of my own.  They and their friends were what inspired me to write.  You can read more about that under "About Me" on my website, www.marshadianearnold.com.

3) How old were you when you wrote your first book? 

I'm what some call a late-bloomer.  My first book wasn't published until I was in my 40's.

4)  Where do you write your books?

Writing is a wonderful profession because you can write wherever you are.  But I prefer to write in my office, in my home, surrounded by the beautiful countryside.

5)  How many books have you written?

I've had 11 books published and hope to have many more.  This summer I'm working on a chapter book for all of you.

6)  Do you have any pets?

I adore animals and don't know what I'd do without some animals around.  I have three cats.  I've had German Shepherds and a Boxer, but have no dog at the moment.  I would love to have another dog soon.

First Skype Author Ever at Buchanan-Verplanck students

Judy Moody is my friend

Megan McDonald, author of the popular Judy Moody books, says that sometimes she thinks she is Judy Moody.  Thus the title of my post today.  This post is dedicated especially for all you kids who are big fans of Judy Moody, Stink, and the first Judy Moody movie, Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer.

Last week I got an email from Megan inviting me to invite our old writers' group crowd to a weekend of Judy Moody festivities here in Sonoma County.  You see, we all heard the very first Judy Moody drafts when Megan was part of our writers' group.  So, the "old" writers' group met at Screamin' Mimi's Ice Cream Shop in Sebastopol for a little reunion, a little ice cream, a little book signing, and of course, to congratulate Megan on the opening of Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer.  We sampled two special Judy Moody ice cream flavors - Moody's Mud and Thrillalectric.  We even got to meet the delightful Jordana Beatty who portrays Judy Moody in the movie.

Awaiting the arrival of the real Judy Moody.

Myself and Teri Sloat waiting...

The REAL Judy Moody - Megan, who wrote it, and Jordana, who plays her.

Megan and Jordana

The once and always great Sebastopol Writers' Group -
Lisa Shulman, Me - Marsha Diane Arnold,
Megan McDonald, Jordana Beatty (No, not in the group...too young when it began.)
Teri Sloat, Matthew Gollub, Susan Meyers.
Missing in a bookstore somewhere - David Schwartz

Matthew Gollub and I sharing a special Judy Moody flavor - Thrillalectric.  Yum!

Judy Moody is my friend

Inaugural Technology Day at West Elementary School

I had a fabulous Skype visit on June 9th with West Elementary School in Plymouth, Massachusetts.  Yes, that Plymouth - the historical"America's Hometown",  the site of the colony founded by the Pilgrims in 1620.

Amazing first grade teacher, Andy Young, invited me to be part of the annual school Read-A-Thon and their INAUGURAL Technology Day.  It's such fun to be part of something new that will be a continuing tradition for students.

Thank you Andy and West Elementary second graders.

Inaugural Technology Day at West Elementary School

Thanks to Fairfield and the Trinity Star Arts Council

Sometimes when I visit schools, the community goes above and beyond.  That's what Fairfield, Texas did this May when I spoke with the Elementary and Intermediate schools.  Authors are so lucky to be able to meet new friends all over the world and experience new things...all because they wrote a book.

It was the marvelous folks of the Trinity Star Arts Council who put these visits together.  The council is a non profit organization whose members are committed to the enrichment of Freestone county through the arts.

Below are a few photos of my friends Bev and John, a visit to an exotic animal ranch, and a celebratory BBQ at a beautiful Texas ranch.

Thanks for the memories, Trinity Star and Fairfield schools.

My dear friend & sweet hostess, Bev Awalt

Host John Awalt

Invited to a ranch full of exotic animals

The donkey who thinks he's a zebra

Miniature horses who think they are regular size horses!

Bev gets up close with a llama

Marsha and elk

Joy in flight

Amazing Rachel, educator extraordinaire

Texas longhorns

Heart of a Tiger cookies

Texas style hospitality and BBQ

Thanks to Fairfield and the Trinity Star Arts Council

Thank you West Virginia for the delightful Skype visit

Showing the Tiger's "heart".

Tina Riley is the energetic, enthusiastic Technology Integration Specialist for the Roane County Schools in West Virginia. She worked to make our June visit a reality and was so excited by the success of the event, she's planning more skype visits for next year.  Tina, students, and educators were attentive listeners and asked great questions.  Thanks for a great Skype visit and thanks for your wonderful thank you notes.

Skype with 2nd, 3rd, 4th graders - such great listeners.

Tina looks on as our Skype session begins.

Thank you West Virginia for the delightful Skype visit

A Big Texas Welcome from Fairfield

In early May I had fabulous school visits with the wonderful students of Fairfield Elementary and Fairfield Intermediate.  What a Texas-size welcome I had from Angie Hernandez, Rachel Bossier, and the students at Fairfield Intermediate.  Kameron was the M.C.  and other students shouted their welcome.  Kameron should be a newscaster.  As we walked through the school he announced, "Welcome" wherever we turned.  Thank you Fairfield! (More about the Fairfield visit to come.)

A Big Texas Welcome from Fairfield