We spent Memorial Day in beautiful Austin, Texas at the Texas State Solo & Ensemble Contest at the University of Texas. There were hundreds and hundreds of high school kids from all over Texas there, giving up their holiday weekend to perform. Small ensembles dotted the benches and walls outside the music building. They were warming up and practicing. I got chills listening to a trumpet trio play Bugler's Holiday
One of the benefits of an Austin excursion is fantastic food (yummm...Trudy's) and the opportunity to visit Book People Bookstore. We had acquired a friend of Entling no. 2 at the store and she cheerfully tagged along with me upstairs to the kids' section. (My own kids speed away from me in a bookstore as fast as their winged feet can fly them.) We were perusing the shelves when a Book People person came by to offer his help. He told us he had not read ALL the books ther but he had read a lot of them and if we had any questions, just ask.
Hey, I thought, that is MY usual line.
Then it hit me.
That was TOPHER!
I know about Topher Bradfield because Rockstar Rick Riordan raves about him on his blog. Topher was a force in the creation of Camp Half Blood and a children's book evangelist at local schools and literary events in our capital city and beyond.
I chased after him.
"Are you Topher?"
He agreed that he was and asked (probably nervously) who I was.
He must have decided I did not pose an overt threat because we then spent a splendid chunk of time talking books. We share a grand enthusiasm for all things Percy Jackson. He pointed us toward a table of his current picks and we were treated to a series of wonderful booktalks that had passers-by stopping in their tracks to listen (and then pick up the books to buy.)
Then he began to read the first chapter of Skulduggery Pleasant: Playing with Fire
Topher performed the book with enthusiasm and a whiff of James Joyce in his delivery.
As I left the store with my new stack of books, I was reminded of the famous last words I had uttered an hour earlier, "I'm not getting any books today."
I did not know I was going to meet Topher.
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By: Camille,
on 6/4/2008
Blog: Book Moot (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Book People, TX, Topher, Austin, Add a tag
By: josh pincus is crying,
on 12/24/2007
Blog: Monday Artday (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: josh pincus, horizon, Add a tag
By: Laurel Gaylord,
on 12/21/2007
Blog: studio lolo (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: horizon, sharing, hope, peace, love, gifts, christmas, sharing, horizon, Add a tag
By: Valerie Walsh,
on 12/21/2007
Blog: ValGal Art (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Valerie Walsh, Valerie Walsh, illustration, gift tag, Holiday decoration, horizon, gift tag, Illustration Friday, horizon, Holiday decoration, Add a tag
This submission for Illustration Friday's "horizon" is a diecut gift tag that doubles as a decoration. I enjoy shades of lavendar and purple for the holidays ***
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By: Camille,
on 6/4/2008
Blog: Book Moot (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Book People, TX, Topher, Austin, Add a tag
8 Comments on Bookstore People: Topher Bradfield, last added: 6/10/2008
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By: josh pincus is crying,
on 12/24/2007
Blog: Monday Artday (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: josh pincus, horizon, Add a tag
The challenge this week on another illustration blog is "horizon".
This reminds me of a joke. (Everything reminds me of a joke.)
A publishing company circulates a correction to a recently published book on skydiving.
The correction says: On page 47 of our publication "How To Skydive", in the third paragraph, the line that reads "State zip code" should read "Pull rip cord". We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.
This illustration represents one year since my first submission to illustrationfriday.com. 52 consecutive weeks.
A publishing company circulates a correction to a recently published book on skydiving.
The correction says: On page 47 of our publication "How To Skydive", in the third paragraph, the line that reads "State zip code" should read "Pull rip cord". We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.
This illustration represents one year since my first submission to illustrationfriday.com. 52 consecutive weeks.
2 Comments on horizon, last added: 12/26/2007
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By: Laurel Gaylord,
on 12/21/2007
Blog: studio lolo (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: horizon, sharing, hope, peace, love, gifts, christmas, sharing, horizon, Add a tag
This is the time of year when many people complain about what they don't have. They make huges lists of material 'must haves" for Santa to bring or for their parents to buy because they think life will be better with them.
For others, this is a time of year when we remember the less fortunate. Those without food, shelter or warmth. Those who are battling life-threatening illnesses. Those who don't have any family members left and feel totally alone. Big TVs, Ipods, computers, diamonds or fancy cars wouldn't fill their needs or their hearts.
What all of us need to keep in mind in any of these situations is that people care. I still believe that good outweighs bad. So let's remember the less fortunate in this season of giving. Let's show them that hope is always on the horizon.
Wishing you all who celebrate, A Very Merry Christmas. Sharing with you week after week is one of my greatest gifts of all!
( And for those of you who know my secret signature, the 3 cypress trees are always in my heart. They represent the 3 cats we drove from Rhode Island to California with 14 years ago. I miss them dearly and feel blessed to have had them in my life for so many years. Merry Christmas, boys.)
Done for the Illustration Friday prompt, "Horizon." acrylic, Prismacolor pencils on bristol. ( click to see hope on the horizon!)
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By: Valerie Walsh,
on 12/21/2007
Blog: ValGal Art (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Valerie Walsh, Valerie Walsh, illustration, gift tag, Holiday decoration, horizon, gift tag, Illustration Friday, horizon, Holiday decoration, Add a tag
I received an early holiday gift of more time with my dog Rat. On November 28 he seemed unwell. As soon as my vet heard his breathing he said Rat was experiencing heart failure. We rushed him to City of Angels Vet hospital and they told me he probably would not live. The next night my vet called and thought I should put him down. It all happened so fast that we told them we wanted him to stay one more night. The next morning, December 1st we went to visit him and he was stable and able to come home. They saved his life with Viagra! He has born with a lung disease and it caused the right side of his heart to overwork and enlarge. It's called Pulmonary Hypertension. Viagra was developed for the heart and of course a bonus side effect was discovered... but now he takes this medicine and it has given him a second chance at life and the greatest gift for us!
Hope and happiness are on the horizon... Happy Holidays everyone!
Rat and Val 12/20/2007.
Picture of Baby Rat.8/27/1995
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I always go to Trudy's when I'm in Austin, too. I practically lived at the one near campus when I was in grad school.
Clearly, the next time I go to Austin I'm going to have to add a trip to Book People to my agenda. But it sounds like I might need an extra suitcase, if Topher is around.
Jen,
That is the one we were at. Shiner Bock+Austin+Trudy's=Perfect. After the bookstore we went to Amy's for ice cream!!!!
I felt like I had known Topher forever after just a few minutes. Something about children's lit makes that so easy.
It sounds like an excellent Austin day, Camille. Personally, I favor the Trudy's margaritas over the Shiner Bock, but I think that they work in the same fashion. And I completely agree about children's books providing that instant connection. Actually, it was after being at Trudy's on my last trip that I met Brian Anderson, and felt like we were instantly buddies. So maybe the combination of Trudy's and children's book enhances things a bit. (grin).
Jen, we ARE instant and forever buddies! I wonder how many friends we had in common before we met? And yes, to stray back on topic, Topher Bradfield rocks. I met him at my very first SCBWI meeting, when he recognized my Robin t-shirt (as in Batman and Robin) for what it was.
Definitely, Brian. The mere fact that we both read and comment at Book Moot is evidence to kindred spiritship (which the spell-checker says is not a word).
I am clearly going to have to meet Topher the next time I'm in Austin. You know, if I can find any time between visits to Trudy's.
Jen,
Next time you have to be in Austin, I will meet you and Brian at Trudy's.
Seriously, let me know. Then we can enjoy an expotition to BookPeople.
KidLit drink night (or afternoon, more lilkely) at Trudy's it is, Camille. Sounds like a lot of fun! I don't have any trips scheduled right now, but I suspect I'll get there in the fall sometime. And the combination of Trudy's and a trip to BookPeople, with you and Brian, sounds like a perfect day.
I'll be there. :-)
And Jen, using words that are not in the spellchecker is part of the fun of writing for kids!