–
I’m sharing this letter that’s been going around the interwebs today. I wish for all teachers that they can experience this level of support.
Have a great school year!
Archive for Around the Web
All Over the World: Selected Titles in Arabic, Indonesian, German, Korean, Greek, Spanish and More
–
For someone who has such difficulties with the English language, it’s something of a shock for me to realize how many of my books have been translated into different languages.
Yesterday I got two new ones in the mail: Jigsaw Jones in Arabic and Scary Tales in Indonesian. I always discover these translations in a haphazard way. They just come in the mail or, in many instances, never come at all. I gather that the Arabic translations of Jigsaw have existed for years. Who knew? Not me. They keep us writers in the dark; like mushrooms, we prefer damp, dank places.
Today I warmed up the trusty, rusty scanner to share a random few translations with you. I have others in French, Italian, Portuguese, and more, but nevermind that. Look here . . .
–
Arabic versions of The Case of the Race Against Time and The Case of the Golden Key.
–
Here’s a sample page . . .
Cool, right? Here’s Geetha, the class artist, showing Mila and Jigsaw an artist’s rendering of the suspect. Illustration by Jamie Smith.
–
In German, Jigsaw Jones was entirely re-illustrated and translated into “Puzzle Paul.”
Jigsaw Jones — I mean, Puzzle Paul –searches for a valuable coin in the German translation of The Case of the Christmas Snowman.
–
Here’s the back cover of one of my Scary Tales titles, newly translated into Indonesian.
–
They love baseball in Korea too:
Six Innings, the Korean translation.
–
Let’s see, how about an interior from the Spanish translation of Hiccups for Elephant?
Poor Mouse was trying to sleep. Illustration by Hans Wilhelm.
–
I’ll stop here with this one, a favorite, the Greek translation of Bystander. Isn’t it amazing? Aren’t I lucky? Doesn’t it just blow your mind to think about it, writing books that are read all over the world?
Category: Around the Web, the writing process / Tags: Hans Wilhelm, James Preller, James Preller translations, Jamie Smith, Jigsaw Jones Arabic
OMG, I’m Flying!
–
I thought this was funny, so I’m sharing. The truth is that I am not at all an optimist. If I was that turtle, I’d be looking at the situation much differently. I appreciate that some people are glass half-full types, and that they are fueled by that positivity, but it’s just not in me. I’m more in the Dark Irish tradition.
Category: Around the Web / Tags: OMG I'm Flying!
My New Poster, My New Book
I purchased this poster online the other day from the Syracuse Cultural Workers website. I found them by tracking down the poster, as I’d seen the image before. SCW is a “Publisher of Peace and Justice Products” since 1982.
What can I say? The poster spoke to me. Now I’m waiting for it to arrive in the mail, and wishing that I could afford to frame it properly. (Oh discretionary funds, where have you gone?)
But: Isn’t it beautiful? I really do believe the world needs changing.
As a writer, I’ve taken that big leap with the book I’m currently finishing up (DEAD, BUT CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC, Macmillan, 2016), allowing political thought to enter the story. The real world, pressing in around us. I feel badly about the world these young people have inherited. Their work is cut out for them.
At the same time, I’m excited to feel my voice rise up in my throat, to hear it enter the discussion — maybe touch a few hearts and minds, a chance to say something meaningful about the real world.
