Tuesday, October 13, 2009

There's a Lot in This Post (Martha Brockenbrough, Arthur Levine, Greg Pincus, and Me)

I have so many things I want to tell you today, but since I don't want to put you to sleep with too many words AND because I have an outline that MUST get done (or else!) I will do my best to move fast. Deal?

FIRST!

This brilliant friend of mine just sold her picture book. Blow the horns. Throw the confetti!



That is the lovely and talented Martha Brockenbrough (and an image I swipe from Jaime Temairik).

Martha sold her picture book to the freaking fantastic Arthur Levine. Personally, I think this a perfect pairing and I can't wait to hold the book in my hands.

Speaking of Martha...she's SPEAKING! Tonight! Yes, tonight at SCBWI WWA's professional series meeting. I wouldn't miss it, and actually, I'm doing my best NOT to; trying to figure out how to get back across Puget Sound later today to soak up all her grammar brilliance. Oh, and humor, because the girl is ridiculous!

Martha will be the opening act for this guy!


No, that's not George Clooney, but some might think so (just ask him). That is the wonderful Greg Pincus. And in the photo he's bookended by the beautiful Holly Cupala and me!

Yesterday, Greg presented a FOUR hour workshop on social media and it flew by and was over as quick as I suck down my first cuppa in the morning. Good stuff. If you EVER have a chance to listen to Mr. Pincus share his knowledge, don't miss it.

I think so highly of Greg that when I was at the SCBWI conference in LA doing my Team Blog thing, I armed wrestled Lee Wind to decide who would get to do THIS post-conference interview with him.





(The fantastic action shots were taken my the wonderful Rita Crayon Huang. You can see lots of her great conference photos HERE.)

Take that Lee Wind (xoxo)!

The cherry on top of going to any SCBWI event is seeing people whom I'd like to shrink and put in my pocket so I could play with them all the time.

I was able to snap a photo with a few.


Again, the lovely Holly Cupala and the amazing Bonny Becker (I attempted to inhale her talent as I stood next to her).


And a girl who always cracks me up, SCBWI WWA's assistant regional advisor Kim Baker.

Why am I blogging right now? That MUST be what you're thinking, right? Because, yes, I did say I would finish my outline this week OR ELSE! So, if you missed it in the comments, the "or else" is...

NO COFFEE OR SWEETS FOR A WEEK.

That's big for me, my friends. I'd better finish or my family is not going to want to live with me.

And, of course, I didn't get much done yesterday, given that I spent it in the city soaking up Greg's brilliance.

So, better get to it, eh?

13 comments:

Prof. Watermelon said...

Wow... I'll remember not to cross you on a bad day. Those arm wrestling photos are fierce! LOL! Nice post Jolie! And congrats to MARTHA!

Martha Brockenbrough said...

Thank you so much, Jolie! And yes, Chadwick, Jolie travels with mighty guns. Don't ever challenge her to a plank contest.

holly cupala said...

Awesome post! That was a blast, especially #socialbunnies and getting to see everyone. Huge huge congrats to Martha again!

Cuppa Jolie said...

Hey now! I only ever use my guns for good, never bad. :)

Martha - you let me win that plank-off.

Holly - why didn't I think to mention #socialbunnies?

BJW said...

Awesome post on a lot of levels here Jolie. Let's see, first of all, ALL HAIL SMARTHA BROCKENFRO, WRITER OF BOOKS AND FUNNY WORDS LINKED TOGETHER TO PLEASING EFFECT!!! AND she's speaking at the WWA SCBWI event tonight... Dangitall. Wish I was there. somebody take good notes and write down her jokes, the more inappropriate the better.

Everybody you had in this post I really like. This was like a seven course meal where every course is exciting. More please. Pretty schnazzy bookends too. Where can we order those. Will they write stories for us? Prop up our sagging stories? They sure could if they wanted to.

Great job all around writer buddies, especially Smartha. We're all real proud of you. Can't wait for the book in my grubby hands.

Secret word verification: vershash, that's a word that could really catch on.

Kelly H-Y said...

Sounds like a fantastic event! And, a big CONGRATS to Martha!

Tara McClendon said...

I love the arm wrestling. I'm so glad you took photos!

Shelli (srjohannes) said...

no coffee or sweets - r u crazy! :) If not - you will be after that.

Lee Wind, M.Ed. said...

Dang! I thought those photos were under lock and key. Didn't you get my bribe... errr.. gift of chocolates? Now my humiliation is out there for all the world to see... AAAAARRRGHHH! The humanity of it!
hee, hee! Actually, it's great stuff.
all of it.
And I couldn't lose an arm wrestling gig to a nicer lady!
Namaste,
Lee

Cuppa Jolie said...

Ben - sheesh! Thanks. And you know where you can find these couple of bookends. Get ye to a meeting please!

Kelly H-Y - It was great (and so is Martah).

Tara - Thanks! They are pretty funny!

Shelli - I am crazy. OR really smart because I reallyreallyreally don't want to be without. Lit a fire under me fo' sure.

Lee Wind...hi, friend! You're so funny! It was quite a match. :)

Kim Baker said...

Have you seen the kung faux group Nanda? I think they're based around your way. They do choreographed fake fighting routines that crack me up. You and Lee remind me of them in those pics.

Ohh, my word verification is coffe. I just need another E and it's a sign that a latte is calling my name.

Cuppa Jolie said...

Kim - I HAVE seen them! Unfortunately I can't do cool flips like those talented fellas (plus 99% of the ohter stuff).

AND!!!! You should not need an extra E for coffe to be sign...grind the beans, baby!

Stephanie Perkins said...

WOO HOO! Congratulations to the fabulous Martha! (And Arthur Levine — sheesh, he works with EVERYONE awesome, doesn't he??)