Reading in the Redwoods: HUMBOLDT COUNTY CHILDREN’S AUTHOR FESTIVAL, Eureka, CA

Theme art for "Reading in the Redwoods" at the Humboldt County Library, Eureka, CA

I am just home from the bi-annual Humboldt County Children’s Author Festival in Eureka, California, and it was as fabulous as ever. This was my sixth time to participate, and each time it gets better and better. The theme this year was Reading in the Redwoods.
The four day festival (October 18-21)  includes author visits to schools, a gala banquet, book signing at the library, and an exhibition of children’s book art at the Morris Graves Museum of Art. I had two pieces of original art from my book A Day and Night on the Prairie in the exhibit. On the opening day of the festival there is always a welcome reception for the authors and volunteers at the museum, a chance to meet the wonderful volunteers who organize the festival and to mingle with the other authors. This year there were 25 of us!

Artwork by students at Bridgeville School

Thursday and Friday are devoted to author visits in the schools and I had three wonderful school visits. The first was to Bridgeville School, a tiny (26 students grades K-8) school tucked in the hills of Humboldt County. I was greeted by students from the upper grades with a lovely poster and then did two presentations. Librarian Kathy Wolff had done a great job preparing the students. The wall of the library was decorated with student art inspired by my books. 

With librarian Sharron Jones at Hydesville School

I then went down the road to Hydesville School for a delicious lunch with the teachers and then two presentations in the multipurpose room where librarian Sharron Jones had made a lovely display of my books. My driver for the day was Ann Gunderson. (Ann grew up in Eureka and comes back every year to volunteer at the festival. It was great to spend time with her–several years ago I did an author visit at her school in Billings, Montana.)

Thursday evening at the festival is always a potluck dinner (yummy food provided by the many festival volunteers) followed by a Readers Theater performance by students from the arts high school in Arcata, who did a brilliant presentation of Kirby Larson’s book Hattie Big Sky. When they finished there wasn't a dry eye in the room.

Singing the Wiggle and Waggle song with K-2 students at Coastal Grove School

On Friday morning my driver, David Peterson, picked me up to take me to Coastal Grove School in Arcata where I did four presentations followed by lunch. Teacher Jenny Hales coordinated my visit and did a great job.
On Friday evening everyone gathered at Ingomar Club (the historic Carson mansion) for a gala dinner. Entertainment is from the authors–each of us gets three minutes at the podium--a challenge to decide what to say, but everyone manages to be very entertaining and different. In the end I did a reprise of the Wiggle and Waggle song, something I had done ten years ago at my very first banquet. As the second to last speaker I decided a sing-along was a good way to end.

With authors Nancy Coffelt and Linda Bourne at the library book signing

The final event of the Authors Festival is a book signing on Saturday at the beautiful county library. We all wear our festival t-shirts as we chat with visitors and autograph books.
I do many author events but nothing is quite like the Humboldt County festival. I can’t give enough thanks to all the people who put so many hours into planning and coordinating all the different moving parts. (The Festival website has a complete list of these amazing people and much more.) You all do a fantastic job! Thank you for making me a part of this unique and wonderful festival!

AUTHOR FESTIVAL ILLUSTRATOR EXHIBIT, 2017, Morris Graves Museum of Art, Eureka, CA

Original cut-paper illustration from A Day and Night on the Prairie, 9:00 p.m.

The Humboldt County Children’s Author Festival in Eureka, California, brings together authors, illustrators and book lovers for a very busy and fun four days.  Held every two years in October, the festival  includes author visits to schools, a gala banquet, book signing at the library, and an exhibition of children’s book art at the Morris Graves Museum of Art. I have been participating since 2007. This year I sent two pieces of original art from my book A Day and Night on the Prairie.

Original cut-paper illustration from A Day and Night on the Prairie, 6:00 a.m.

Many thanks to Lucy Quimby, one of the many devoted volunteers who organize the festival, for making arrangements for the show and to Jemima Harr at the museum for hanging the art. Copies of the illustrated books are also on display.The show went up in September and continues to the end of October.

Books by participating illustrators

On the opening day of the festival there is a welcome reception for the authors and volunteers at the museum and I always enjoy the chance to view the show and get a close-up look at the art of my fellow illustrators.

Morris Graves Museum of Art, Eureka, California

CELEBRATING LOCAL AUTHORS at the Mar Vista Library, Los Angeles, CA

Caroline Arnold and Susan Casey at the Mar Vista Library Local Author Celebration

Last Saturday, October 14th, I joined a dozen other authors at the Mar Vista Library in Los Angeles to celebrate the wealth of creative writers in our local community. (Although I don’t live in Mar Vista, I am only ten minutes away.) We sat with our books at tables in the library meeting room as people came by to chat and look at our books.

Eleanor "C-Pass" Jones and Gretchen Woelfle

Then. each of us had a turn to tell a little bit about ourselves and our lives as writers. We were a wonderfully diverse group ranging from children’s book authors, to comic book producers, to novelists, to poets, to biographers, cookbook and health writers, each with a fascinating and unique story to tell.

Verdel Flores, librarian, Mar Vista Public Library

I thank Verdel Flores, adult librarian at the Mar Vista Library for organizing this inaugural authors’ program. It was an honor and a pleasure to participate!

Authors at the celebration

Participating authors:
Adult books: Carol Davis, Melissa Guzzetta, Eleanor Jones, Lilly Padilla, Ramon Resa, M.D.
Young Adult books: Arthur J. Gonzalez, Jeremy Lasman
Children’s books: Caroline Arnold, Susan Casey, Aileen Leijten, Gretchen Woelfle
Publisher representatives: Monica Faulkner, Elyse Wietstock

SCBWI BookStop Web Page: HATCHING CHICKS IN ROOM 6

SCBWI BookStop has launched today! Come take a look, click to "like" and find out more about HATCHING CHICKS IN ROOM 6.

HATCHING CHICKS IN ROOM 6 will be featured for the next six weeks at the SCBWI BookStop site. SCBWI BookStop goes live to the public, Monday October 16, and runs through Thursday November 30. It features books published in 2017. With information about each book and links to related social media sites plus a direct link for purchasing the book, BookStop is designed to widen awareness and provide an opportunity for authors to promote their books.
Be sure to stop by my page and leave a comment!
The direct link to my BookStop page is https://www.scbwi.org/scbwibookstop-display/?id=476450
The URL for the SCBWI BookStop homepage is https://www.scbwi.org/scbwibookstop.

Mexico's Ancient City of Teotihuacan Exhibit at the De Young Museum, San Francisco

I can't wait to see the new exhibit at the De Young Museum in San Francisco about Teotihuacan, whose ruins lie just outside Mexico City, and is one of the most fascinating places I've ever visited. Opening September 30th, Teotihuacan: City of Water, City of Fire features never-before-seen archaeological discoveries and captivating artwork from one of the largest and most important cities of the ancient Americas. The exhibit will be up until February 11, 2018.
I am reminded of my visit to Teotihuacan twenty years ago, climbing the pyramids and exploring the ruins as I  researched my book City of the Gods: Mexico's Ancient City of Teotihuacan, which is illustrated with photos by Richard Hewett. You may be able to find the book in the library, or you can read it online. It is available as a Kindle book on Amazon.
Here is a wonderful video giving a preview of the exhibit at the De Young Museum:

CELEBRATING 150,000 VIEWS

As of today, this blog has been viewed more than 150,000 times! Thanks so much to all of you have stopped by and read my posts at Caroline Arnold Art and Books. I appreciate all your support. THANKS!

Book Signing at the ORANGE COUNTY CHILDREN'S BOOK FESTIVAL

In the SCBWI booth at the Orange County Children's Book Festival with author Henry Hertz

On Sunday, October 1, thousands of families thronged the campus of Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, California, for the annual book festival. Dozens of white tents lined the walks and stages for performers and storytellers were strategically located.

Tents and books were everywhere!

I spent a busy hour at the SCBWI booth talking to children and their parents, giving away postcards, and signing books. I shared the table with author Henry Hertz, festively costumed in a pirate outfit to go with one of his books. It was a fun day. I enjoyed talking with Francesca Ruzackas and Ernesto Cisneros of the SoCal SCBWI in the booth and thank Francesca for coordinating the the signings in the booth.

Clifford the Big Red Dog was one of many performers who greeted guests at the festival