Pub Day (Plus One)
Like the wise and wondrous TV Gal from Zap2it.com, I too am spending the holidays in a House That Technology Forgot, which is why I’m a day late with this post. But, December 26th was the official release date of First Kiss (Then Tell): A Collection of True Lip-Locked Moments, a book of anecdotes, comics, poems, and more (like my short, short play) about the first kisses of many of my favorite authors … and me. Not that I’m implying that I’m my own favorite author. Quite honestly, I don’t always like myself that much. But seriously, the book has contributions from Niki Burnham, Deb Caletti, Cecil Castelluci, Shannon and Dean Hale, David Levithan, Scott Westerfeld, and my pal, Micol Ostow (and many, many, more!).
There’s a little something for everyone in this collection, from sweetly memorable moments to tragic parting kisses to embarrassing busses. (That’s an old fashioned word for kissing. It’s not a book about public transportation.) And the best part is that a portion of the proceeds will go to NPR Youth Radio. ‘Tis the season of giving and what better way to give than by getting something for yourself in the process. (See, this kind of selfishness is one of the reasons I don’t always like myself. Actually, no. It’s one of the reasons I love myself.)
While we’re on the subject of the giving season, seeing as how Christmas is my favorite time of the year, I couldn’t let the holiday go by without some comment on all that the season has taught me. For a lesson on the true meaning of Christmas, you should search out some kid with a blue blanket to explain it to you. Here are the things I’VE learned over the years…
-Changing from bad to good is as easy as taking your first step.
-It’s a difficult responsibility to be first toymaker to the king. (And it’s even harder to work for the Burgermeister Meisterburger.)
-Christmas is a commercial racket run by a big eastern syndicate.
-A traditional holiday feast is still possible even without the roast beast.
-If things don’t turn out the way you want them the first time, you’ve still got to believe.
-There is a train that goes to the North Pole. (But a refrigerated boxcar—though perfect for a snowman or a fur-covered rabbit—is not appropriate travel accommodation for a young girl.)
-Bumbles bounce.
-No man is a failure who has friends.
-Santa Claus isn’t always a jolly fellow. At times her can be a surly boss who berates his elf employees or ignores them completely. He has also been known to react with a disproportionate amount of anger when faced with the birth of a reindeer that possesses unique attributes. (Of course, this attitude could be a result of his having to live with Mrs. Claus constantly harping on him to “Eat, Papa, eat!”)
Happy Holidays!