Writing With a Broken Tusk
Writing With a Broken Tusk began in 2006 as a blog about overlapping geographies, personal and real-world, and writing books for children. The blog name refers to the mythical pact made between the poet Vyaasa and the Hindu elephant headed god Ganesha who was his scribe during the composition of the Mahabharata. It also refers to my second published book, edited by the generous and brilliant Diantha Thorpe of Linnet Books/The Shoe String Press, published in 1996, acquired and republished by August House and still miraculously in print.
Since March, writer and former student Jen Breach has helped me manage guest posts and Process Talk pieces on this blog. They have lined up and conducted author/illustrator interviews and invited and coordinated guest posts. That support has helped me get through weeks when I’ve been in edit-copyedit-proofing mode, and it’s also introduced me to writers and books I might not have found otherwise. Our overlapping interests have led to posts for which I might not have had the time or attention-span. It’s the beauty of shared circles—Venn diagrams, anyone?
The Words in Picture Books: In Praise of “Little”
Every time I make some wise declaration about the nature of words, I set myself up for a comeuppance. This is probably a good thing. It keeps me honest. It reminds me that the effectiveness of words always depends on skill and intention. Most recently, I found myself questioning the use of the word “little.” When we speak of our characters as “little children” are we patronizing them?
The Words in Picture Books: The Longest Letsgoboy
Thank you, Vaunda Nelson, for mentioning The Longest Letsgoboy (by Derick Wilder, illustrated by Cátia Chien) in one of our writing group conversations.
The Words in Picture Books: I Talk Like a River
Canadian poet Jordan Scott’s picture book, I Talk Like a River, 2021 Schneider Family Book Award winner, has been celebrated as a sensitive first-person account of a child struggle with a limitation that is all his, but that the world sees as strange and unnatural.
The Magical Picture Book Mind of Mark Karlins
I met Mark Karlins through his picture books long before I met him in person.
They are gentle, tender stories that endow their child characters with eccentric families and friends, unusual yearnings, whimsical impulses, and the zaniest of adventures. Rereading these now, I can see in them the antecedents to his last picture book, Kiyoshi’s Walk.
Guest Post: Matt Lilley on Good Eating: The (Short) Life of Krill
It’s always wonderful to see books emerge from manuscripts I saw for the first time in a workshop. Congratulations to Matt Lilley on the release of his engaging, funny, surprising picture book, packed with information about the tiny creature that is the Southern Ocean’s keystone species. Here’s Matt on how he came to write this text.
A Book About a Book
I love books about books. Here’s one that I find endlessly fascinating. It was a beautiful work when it was published in 2004 but like so many things in the world, The Red Book by Barbara Lehman unpacks in a whole new way in this era of Covid. It’s about travel and the imagination—a link we’re forced to make today as travel continues to be fraught with difficulty. It’s about seeing others, in a time when reaching out to people has never been more important.
Process talk: Amy Alznauer on The Boy Who Dreamed of Infinity
I read Robert Kanigel’s biography of Ramanujan years ago and very much hoped that one day, someone with facility in both math and language would write a children’s book about his remarkable journey. I’m so thrilled to see what Amy Alznauer has done now in her picture book biography, The Boy Who Dreamed of Infinity. I’m delighted to speak to Amy about her beautiful book..
Process Talk: Samina Mishra on Being an Ally to Children
I first encountered Samina Mishra’s work when I read Hina in the Old City. It’s a picture book about the life of 10-year-old Hina who lives in the old walled city of Delhi and comes from a family of zardosi, traditional embroiderers. I was struck by the warmth of the writing and the careful attention to the small details of a child’s life. Years later, Samina’s still writing into the heart of reality with compassion and heart. I’m delighted to be talking to her about her latest books from Penguin India.
Process Talk: Nadia Salomon on Goodnight Ganesha
When I heard about Nadia Salomon’s new picture book, Goodnight Ganesha, illustrated by Poonam Mistry, I knew I had to talk to Nadia about it. After all, it was Ganesha who showed me the way to writing for children with the publication of The Broken Tusk.
Also, the name of this blog practically demands this conversation.
The Dead Bird
A bird is meant to defy gravity, right?
So finding a dead female varied thrush outside the door is just a heartstoppingly sad experience. I have stickers all over the glass windowpanes to stop birds from crashing into them. Did this bird miss my UV stickers? Was she a window casualty? Such a terrible thought.
The Story Before the Story: Mark Karlins on Kiyoshi's Walk, Part 2
Kiyoshi's Walk by Mark Karlins, illustrated by Nicole Wong, is a meditative reflection on poetry and love, family and connection and the beauty around us. Earlier, Mark told me about his journey as he dreamed of this picture book. Here's more from him now on the path by which the book grew into itself.
The Meandering Walk Called Writing: Mark Karlins on Kiyoshi's Walk, Part 1
Happy Book Birthday to Mark Karlins on Lee and Low's release of Mark's picture book, Kiyoshi's Walk, illustrated by Nicole Wong. I sent Mark a couple of meandering questions, since I was lucky enough to stroll alongside during part of this book's journey. Here's our conversation.