Author’s Night – Tracy Edward Wymer – Aug 1st, 2013.

the hour has struck
and here we are
basking in our nightly call
to watch the moon float
before the dark curtain
that covers our haunted pasts

The school year is underway. I’ve been busy learning names, prepping, grading, teaching, and trying to read books that I’ve been dying to read for a while. One of those books is The Secret of the Fortune Wookie by Tom Angleberger, and let me tell you, it is another real treat in the Origami Yoda Series.

Another book I’ve started reading is The Apothecary by Maile Meloy. I’m really enjoying this one so far. It’s impressive when an author can throw you into an earlier time period effortlessly, and it feels like you never left the present. I’m already looking forward to the sequel, The Apprentices, which released in June of this year.

The last middle grade book on my immediate To-Be-Read pile is The Water Castle by Megan Frazer Blakemore. I’ve only heard greatness about this book, so I’m excited to crack it open, if I can cross the moat!

And since I’m a bird nerd, I picked up Snapper, by Brian Kimberling, from the library. I grew up in Indiana, and call that place my home, and I’ve even written a book about birds, so I had to read this one! Plus, I hear it’s funny and full of small town quirks. My kind of book.

Yesterday, I was able to speak to fourth graders at my school. I talked to them about writing and books and how The Color of Bones was born. They all read TCOB during library class. As you can tell from the photos, they had A LOT of comments and questions. They're a savvy group! Looking forward to them coming up to sixth grade soon.

Me... with an employee badge.

Who doesn't love Book IT!

In which I make Charlie and the Chocolate Factory appear.

You! No, you! No, wait, you!

Yesterday, I was able to speak to fourth graders at my school. I talked to them about writing and books and how The Color of Bones was born. They all read TCOB during library class. As you can tell from the photos, they had A LOT of comments and questions. They’re a savvy group! Looking forward to them coming up to sixth grade soon.

Me… with an employee badge.

Who doesn’t love Book IT!

In which I make Charlie and the Chocolate Factory appear.

You! No, you! No, wait, you!

I enjoy John Green's three-minute rants on YouTube as much as his books. Here is one of my recent favorites. It's about expression, tragedy, and the nonconformist contemporary art forms of Ai WeiWei. If you live in or near Indianapolis, the exhibit runs until July 21st* at the Museum of Art.




*I'm assuming my parents, who are moving back to Indianapolis tomorrow, will not be attending.  

Writing Update:

I am revising my middle grade novel BIRD NERD with notes from my agent. I'll complete the revision around July 4th. While waiting to hear from agent about the revision, I'll work on my other book. There is always the "other" book.

I enjoy John Green’s three-minute rants on YouTube as much as his books. Here is one of my recent favorites. It’s about expression, tragedy, and the nonconformist contemporary art forms of Ai WeiWei. If you live in or near Indianapolis, the exhibit runs until July 21st* at the Museum of Art.

*I’m assuming my parents, who are moving back to Indianapolis tomorrow, will not be attending.  

Writing Update:

I am revising my middle grade novel BIRD NERD with notes from my agent. I’ll complete the revision around July 4th. While waiting to hear from agent about the revision, I’ll work on my other book. There is always the “other” book.

http://www.freebigpictures.com

I hesitate to share much of anything with anyone. I’m downright selfish when it comes to sharing Matchbox cars, especially ones like this. Most days I’m sent to the corner and warned with a finger in my face. Wait, that’s…nevermind.

Without further ramblings, the aforementioned poem:

Today is Teacher Appreciation Day. This is my 12th year in the classroom: 7 years in fourth grade, 5 in sixth grade. I'm spending this day at home with sick Blondie, but we're going to celebrate Teacher Day anyway. Let's dance!!!!!

Today is Teacher Appreciation Day. This is my 12th year in the classroom: 7 years in fourth grade, 5 in sixth grade. I’m spending this day at home with sick Blondie, but we’re going to celebrate Teacher Day anyway. Let’s dance!!!!!

When no agent or book deal came, I moped with disappointment. I was a teacher and a writer. I read and taught classics and Newbery winners. The best of the best. Well, as it turns out, teaching an award-winning book doesn’t exactly give you the ability to write one. Not even close. 

I'm honored to have a guest post over at Project Mayhem today. Here is the beginning of it.

I taught fourth grade for seven years before moving up to the emotional instabilities (and prepubescent smells) of middle schoolers. My first fourth grade class was dynamite. It was filled with smarty pants and brimming with intuitive readers. They challenged me daily. But hey, I was new to this thing called teaching, so what did I know?

You can read the rest of the post here.

I’m honored to have a guest post over at Project Mayhem today. Here is the beginning of it.

I taught fourth grade for seven years before moving up to the emotional instabilities (and prepubescent smells) of middle schoolers. My first fourth grade class was dynamite. It was filled with smarty pants and brimming with intuitive readers. They challenged me daily. But hey, I was new to this thing called teaching, so what did I know?

You can read the rest of the post here.

Here is my TEDx talk on TEDx Youth Day. This talk took place at Rancho Verde High School last November. The kids were awesome! Just awesome!!

Here is my TEDx talk on TEDx Youth Day. This talk took place at Rancho Verde High School last November. The kids were awesome! Just awesome!!

There is approximately one month left in the Bird Nerd Giveaway. Click on the Goodreads link below and enter to win one of three copies. The Giveaway ends on Tuesday, February 12. Why? Because that's when Bird Nerd hatches and becomes a fledgling book!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Bird Nerd

by Tracy Edward Wymer

Giveaway ends February 12, 2013.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

I've put together a book trailer for my next middle grade novel BIRD NERD. It's not much, but the quirkiness in the trailer fits the book's personality. The bird call is from the Northern Cardinal, the Indiana state bird, which plays a minor role in the story. It's only 45 seconds. Enjoy!

Just twenty-four hours before the Newtown tragedy, I was reading books to a room full of kindergartners in southern California. At the beginning of the school year, I signed up to read to my daughter's class. After all, my own classroom is only a short nature walk away.

• Number of kids present: 13
• Number of kids absent: 4
• Number of teachers: 1
• Number of teachers' assistants on lunch break: 1
• Number of books I read: 2
• Number of kids chewing with mouths open: 13 (including Blondie)
• Number of fork & spoon wrapper crinkling sounds I had to read over: at least 4
• Number of listeners: 13
• Number of times I was asked "Are you her daddy?": 1
• Number of minutes it took to read: almost 20
• Number of smiles: too many to count
• Number of days I'd read to them: see previous answer