Evan's Photograph

I’m happy to announce that my short story (adult) Evan’s Photograph was published in the Women Who Write literary journal Goldfinch 2010! I just received my copy in the mail Thursday.

It was a lot of fun to write:
Physicist Ted Everett believes his mysterious new friend Evan is hiding something from him, and he intends to find out what it is.

350.org

Does the name “350.org” catch your eye? How about if you knew it was an organization started to unite people around the world to work for solutions to climate change?

350 refers to the amount of CO2 per million in the air. If we can’t get our carbon levels below 350, (we’re now at 392) the problems of climate disruption will continue and increase. Check out some spectacular photos of people all over the world raising awareness on the home page of http://www.350.org/. There’s a cool wordless animated video (1.5 minutes) to explain the problem in a way people of any language will understand at http://www.350.org/mission.

Finally, they’re organizing a Global Work Party on October 10, 2010 (10-10-10) for doing in-the-trenches environmental work, such as planting trees, fixing bikes, installing solar panels, and anything creative people can imagine.

Put Solar on It

What would happen if world leaders installed solar panels on their roofs, such as on the White House? Would this symbolize their commitment to promoting solar energy? Bring attention and galvanize others to follow suit?
          All of the above is the impetus behind “Put Solar on It,” a citizen’s campaign that is part of 350.org’s Global Work Party on October 10, 2010—10-10-10. Citizens all over the world are asked to send a note to their leaders (see link below) which ends,
Install solar panels on your roof, and then enact legislation to make it possible for everyone in your country to join you in the clean energy future. We need you to act symbolically—and then we need you to act for real.
          So far Mohamed Nasheed of the Maldives has signed on. Other leaders targeted are Barack Obama, Pratibha Patil of India, Felipe Calderon of Mexico, Hu Jintao of China, Julia Gillard of Australia and David Cameron of the United Kingdom.
If you agree with me that this is a great idea, go to http://www.putsolaron.it/ to write to your leaders and get more information.

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate

I absolutely loved the middle-grade novel The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate (Jacqueline Kelly, 2009, Henry Holt and Company) and recommend it to children and adults alike.

It’s the blistering summer of 1899 in rural Texas, and eleven-year-old Calpurnia Tate is having trouble resigning herself to the rigid roles prescribed for girls and women of the times. But when she unexpectedly develops a camaraderie with her curmudgeonly grandfather over their common appreciation of the natural world, Calpurnia’s life becomes more bearable. He shares his knowledge about the plant and insect world, as well as about famous woman scientists, opening up for her a whole new world. Just as importantly, her grandfather understands her when her parents don’t.

Jacqueline Kelly has a knack for turning everyday life into an engaging story, as Calpurnia’s budding ambitions steer her into a collision course with societal expectations. A heartwarming story of love, acceptance, and the triumph of the spirit. Calpurnia is a strong and unforgettable protagonist with a voice both poetic and delightfully humorous.