Cheryl Klein’s speech at Harry Potter conference

Cheryl Klein, senior editor at Arthur A. Levine books (Scholastic), recently posted this. It’s “A Few Things Writers Can Learn from Harry Potter” and it was her keynote speech at a Chicago Harry Potter conference.

First, how cool of Cheryl to share it with everyone. (She went from fangirl to editor–how awesome is that?!) Second, wow. If I wasn’t already inspired by JK Rowling and Harry Potter, I’m that much more impressed now. (Now I have to reread the books…again)

Check out Cheryl’s speech to read how she referenced character, plot, theme and show vs. tell. This is a speech to print and read.

Enjoy!

Last Harry Potter Film Cut in Half

Well, I was going to blog about something going on with my library today, but I read this from Variety and had to post about it instead.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the film, is going to be released in TWO parts. The first half comes out in November 2010 (can we think that far ahead?!) and the second part will drop May 2011. Whoa. I’m very, very excited about that since I was already sad that HPDH would be the last film. Even thought they’re really “one” it still feels like two.

What do you think about this? I’m guessing people will go see both films in crazy numbers and this will introduce a whole new generation of kids to the Potter books. Whatever gets kids to read–go for it.:)

Read the full article here:
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117982303.html?categoryid=10&cs=1

Reading List

First: Lipstick Jungle is coming to NBC this fall. Excited anyone? I can’t wait!

Second, I looked over my list of books I want to read (it’s over 1000 books now!) and decided to start whittling down that pile today. I’ve been off of the computer most of the day and spent time browing my local library. I came home with Born Confused, a Pretty Little Liars novel (I’ve never read one) and That Summer. Unintentionally, I also brought home Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix just because I felt the “need” (read: serious want!) to refresh myself on the book’s plot before I see the movie this summer. A woman behind me said, “Oh dear, that’ll take you all summer to read” and in my head I’m going “I’ll have this read over the weekend.” That’s what happens when I read Harry. I simply can’t put it down and stay up way too late reading it. To me, that’s the highest compliment to pay an author. Can you imagine how that would feel to have a reader say that to you? 🙂