Trying out Animation Desk app for the iPad: potential book trailer use?

I've had the Animation Desk app on my iPad ($4.99 in iTunes store right now) for ages but only finally got around to trying it out recently. I created the animation above in about an hour, and that included figuring out how to use the app. I have zero animation experience but still had a lot of fun. Next time, I may try adding some audio. :-)

Comedian Librarian Meredith Myers Offers Musical Tribute To Edgar Allan Poe

In a Baltimore Post Examiner article, librarian Meredith Myers says she created literary parody song "The Raven Is Hard To Handle" to honor Edgar Allan Poe as well as promote libraries. Fun video with a great message at the end!

You can find out more about Meredith in her website, StandUpLibrarian.com.

David LaRochelle: Children's Book Author/Illustrator AND Pro Pumpkin Carver

Wow, check out the amazing kidlit-focused pumpkin carved by children's book author/illustrator David LaRochelle:

From David:

"Chronicle Books held a promotion in conjuncture with my new book "It's a Tiger!" The winning bookstore won a custom designed pumpkin carved by me. Here is the pumpkin I carved today for Riverwalk Books in Chelan, Washington."

See a video of David carving pumpkins:

Pro-Pumpkiner from Ben Garvin on Vimeo.

NaNoWriMo Comic Archives (Part 1)

As my friend Errol Elumir and I start ramping up for NaNoToons this year, I'm going to start posting some older NaNoWriMo comics from previous years, starting with 2008:

To see more NaNoToons, please do Like the NaNoToons Facebook Page!

And speaking of NaNoWriMo, the first official trailer for the NaNoWriMo Musical is online. I was an extra, and you can see me briefly in the background in the dancing clip near the end :-) :

Fun "Call me Maybe" video by Pilot bookstore, newspaper & magazine

What a great promo video for The County Bookshop and its sibling entities. You can read how the video was made here.

Thanks to Shelf Awareness for the link!

I'M BORED Music Video - 11 more days until the launch, woohoo!

I'm Bored Music Video (inspired by the new picture book from Simon & Schuster BFYR) from debsanderrol on Vimeo.

Thanks to my friend Errol Elumir for co-writing the I'M BORED song and creating the video above to help celebrate my upcoming book launch. Note that the song is only loosely based on the book. To find out what REALLY happened to the potato and the end, please buy the book! :-)

And special thanks to 7-year-old Zoe Elumir for playing the part of the girl in this homemade video!

I've posted some behind-the-scenes photos and info about the video plus lyrics/chords to the song in the I'M BORED Scrapbook.

Video: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking

People who meet me at conventions sometimes think I'm an extrovert because I tend to be enthusiastic and talkative. The truth:  I consider myself an introvert.  I'm the happiest and most productive when I'm in a quiet space. I far prefer one-on-one conversation than chitchatting within a large group. I need solitude to recharge my batteries.

Thanks to children's book author Mike Jung, who posted about Susan Cain's book on his Facebook Wall. The title appealed to me so strongly that I immediately investigated Susan's website, watched the video, and bought the e-book version:

QUIET: The Power Of Introverts That Can't Stop Talking.

LOVED this Tedtalk. 

Make sure you listen to the end, where Susan talks about the irony of being an introvert, loving the writing process where she works alone, and then having to come out of her solitude to have to promote the book about introversion with public talks like the one in the video. :-D

Video: Publishing explained with Star Wars figures, by James Renner

Thanks to Library Journal for the link on Twitter.

Have you ever been asked to write or illustrate "for GREAT EXPOSURE" instead of cash?

I've lost count of the number of times that I've been asked to write or draw something for free but reassured that my work would get great exposure.

As the video above points out, exposure doesn't pay the bills.

Thanks to Hazel Mitchell for the link.

Video series with Literary Agent Kristin every Friday

Just discovered that Agent Kristin, who writes the excellent Pubrants blog, has a video series. The most recent explains why asking about the number of pages in YA or MG novel is the wrong question.

Video: For Joy Of Books

Sean and Lisa Ohlenkamp of TYPE Books (one of my favourite bookstores in Toronto) spent "many sleepless nights moving, stacking, and animating books at TYPE" to put together this amazing video.

HarperKids video: Meet Author/Illustrator Kevin Kenkes

Wow, I love watching this man draw. The video includes fascinating info about how Kevin Henkes draws and writes. He says that before starts a picture book, he works on the character first. He wants to have a clear image of the character before anything else.

One of my favourite quotes from the video: "If we expose our kids to books and art, nothing but good can come of it."

More info about Kevin Henkes: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Henkes

Unfortunately his official website seems to be hacked right now. :-(

New Debs&Errol Music Video For Writers: "First Page Of My Story"

Great new music video for writers from my friends Debs&Errol. :-D

You can see their daily comics on their website and Errol's daily NaNoToons.

NaNoWriMo Music Video from Debs and Errol

If you're doing NaNoWriMo (or if you want to see me dance around my office in a red boa), check out Debs&Errol's new NaNoWriMo music video. :-)

For more info about Debs & Errol (who do wonderful music for geeks): http://www.debsanderrol.com

Errol Elumir is also doing daily NaNoToons: http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/nanotoons

If you want to link to individual Nanotoons & get updates when he posts a new comic, be sure to "Like" the NaNoToons Page on Facebook.

NaNoWriMo Music Videos & NaNoWriMo Comics & a new NANOTOONS Facebook Page

For those doing NaNoWriMo (or even if you're not), my creative twin Errol Elumir posted this NaNo music video above last year. Actually, he posted a bunch (so do check out his YouTube channel). Debs and Errol will be posting a NEW NaNoWriMo music video very soon.

AND I strongly recommend that you Like Errol's NaNoToons Page on Facebook! Errol made me a co-admin because I've done Nanotoons in the past & may again in the future (but not this year). I'll be posting some of my Nanowrimo cartoons from my archives during November as well.

Video for teens from authors & illustrators: It Gets Better

Torkidlit Loves Japan!

Here's a video I took on my point-and-shoot last night at the monthly get-together of the Toronto Area Middle Grade and Young Adult Author Group, for TorontoToJapan.ca.

For more info about Torkidlit members, please do visit the Torkidlit Facebook page.

RNIB video: A World Without Books

Thanks to Sheila McLeod for pointing me to this link. Sheila writes: "I've often wondered how it could be possible to make picture books accessible to children who cannot see or cannot see well. Thought I'd pass this link along in case it interests you or someone in your creative network."

The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) is a UK charity offering support and advice to almost two million people with sight loss. UK Helpline: 0303 123 9999. URL: www.rnib.org.uk.

Writer Survey & An Amusing Barton Fink Video Clip: "I'm A Writer, You Monsters!"

My "writer uniform" today:

-- Red track pants

-- T-shirt

-- Fleece jacket

I try to avoid working in pajamas. I know some writers do, but I don't because I inevitably lose track of time when I'm working, and I don't want to have to answer the front door.

What do YOU tend to wear when you write?

(Thanks to David Diaz for the YouTube link)

Natalie Goldberg video

Sorry for the lack of posts. Pre-holiday craziness and a stubborn flu bug has knocked me out of the blog loop for a bit. Catching up now.

Thanks to Open Road Integrated Media for alerting me to this brief but inspiration Natalie Goldberg video. I'm a huge fan of her WRITING DOWN THE BONES, which I reread regularly in bits and pieces. It doesn't matter which random page I pick -- inevitably I'll find a nugget of writer inspiration or hope which helps fuel my work day.