Writing Quote for the weekend

Some people say revision is like cleaning up after the party. I say revision is the party. ----Billy Collins

Agree or disagree?

xo
Lisa GW

Holiday Gifts for Writers - An Ongoing Way For Siobhan to Waste Time

Welcome to my new series of holiday posts, which will hopefully ease everyone into the gifting season. I'm going to bring pretty presents to your attention, discuss gifting policies for editors, agents, writing group buddies, etc. Should be fun! And also, since I am working under an impossible deadline, this posting project will surely help me feel less guilty about the time I'll spend surfing the internet. It's a win win, people!

So..without further ado...

I saw these adorable ceramic mug and tray sets on Fishs Eddy today. Aren't they awesome? I'd love one of these as a gift. They come in several colors and paper styles and are very reasonably priced.

Fishs Eddy also has a beautiful set of Alice in Wonderland themed glassware and dishware as well. Aren't these little drinking glasses too cute?

Lord knows that writers love to drown themselves in coffee, booze, and chocolate...so these presents might be just the incentive to get you, or your writing buddy, sitting down and typing through that next chapter. That's just what I am off to do now.

More to come, as I get stumped by my WIP!

-=siobhan=-

Lisa Greenwald Rules The World

Breaking good news for our own Lisa GW per Publishers Marketplace:

"Lisa Greenwald's MY LIFE IN PINK & GREEN, pitched as Clueless meets The Gilmore Girls with an eco twist, about a twelve year-old entrepreneur who sets out to save her family matriarchs' failing retro pharmacy with an earth-friendly makeover business that's fueled by every prom, quincinera and Bat Mitzvah-goer in her Connecticut town, to Maggie Lehrman at Amulet, for publication in 2009, by Alyssa Eisner Henkin at Trident Media Group (World English)."

Don't you want to read it right now???

Hats off to Lisa!!!!!!


*caroline hickey

Thanks for Great Adoption Books!

Back when my husband and I decided that we wanted kids, we made the decision that we wanted to adopt. It wasn’t something we knew a lot about— none of our friends had adopted or been adopted. It was just something that made sense to us: kids need homes, we had a home to share. So we filled out forms, waited and read two tons of books about adoption. A year later we boarded a plane and had the amazing priviledge of meeting and bringing home our kids.

Adoption is just another way to be a family and when we’re out on the playground or taking the subway to a playdate, I’m thinking about the stuff every other parent is thinking about, like how I hope my kid doesn’t start throwing sand or how I wish they wouldn’t keeping licking the pole in the subway. But what’s still weird for me is that when some people look at us, they are making a lot of assumptions that often make me cringe when they’re voiced. I can’t imagine it being acceptable to ask a woman if the midwife delivering her baby cost a lot but strangers have had no problem asking me how much it cost to “buy” our kids. (Answer: we didn’t buy our kids— we paid legal fees, medical fees and fees to the adoption agency.) People are also very comfortable asking if we know anything about the kids’ “real parents.” (Answer: we are their real parents, their birth parents live in Kazakhstan and we do know something about them but it’s private information that is for our kids when they’re older.) And of course the people who ask if we want “our own” kids. (Answer: these guys are our own kids and we may or may not have biological kids or adopt again later.)

But much as these questions make me cringe, I am glad people ask. I think there is a lot of cultural myth about adoption and people don’t ask to be insensitive, they ask because they are curious. And the best way to learn more about something is to ask about it or to read about it. I’m thankful that people ask so they can reframe their understanding of what adoption is, and I’m super thankful, especially now in National Adoption Awareness Month, that there are so many great books out there about adoption.

Books by Todd Parr, Molly Bang, the classics A MOTHER FOR CHOCO, HOW I WAS ADOPTED and TELL ME AGAIN ABOUT THE NIGHT I WAS BORN, let kids know that families are made in different ways but that they are all grounded in the single most important thing: love. I want my kids knowing that not all families look the same: some have two moms or dads, some have single parents, some kids have a different skin color than one or both of their parents. These books let them see that and are important back up for the things we tell our kids and the friends they see around us. So when that day come that some kid tells them their family isn’t “right”, they have enough information and support to know that any family based in respect and love is as right as it gets.

As they grow up I’m thankful for books like KIMCHI AND CALAMARI, A BRIEF CHAPTER IN MY IMPOSSIBLE LIFE and MEMOIRS OF A TEENAGE AMNESIAC that deal with adoption as a layer of identity, not some big problem to solve. Like anything, adoption is something each kid gets to process in their own way, and good books like this nurture that journey. And help those who don’t know a lot about adoption, learn more about it. Which gives me, as an adoptive mom, that extra time to stop my kids from throwing sand in the playground or licking that pole in the subway.

#daphne

Writing Quote of the Day

Write what's in front of your nose.
----William Carlos Williams

Update!

Per the lone request of Anonymous, here is what I've been up to! I am working on a new YA novel, due out Spring '09 with Simon & Schuster. I don't want to give away the title yet, but I am super excited about it! Spring '09 sounds so far away, I know, but the truth is, I need to deliver a first draft by March-- which is really really soon. Considering it's not even finished yet! I had a very illuminating lunch with my editor Emily last week, and while I thought I had the whole thing planned out, she had another idea that might just turn out even better. I hope.

The story is about a girl returning to her mother's best friend's beach house every summer-- there's first love and loss of all kinds-- my favorite kind of story! It's the kind of summer where everything changes and you start to question: Is what you thought you always wanted really the right thing after all? It might be, but it might not. I'm having so much fun writing this, and I just hope it turns out the way I want. Fingers crossed! Actually, fingers typing! That's the only way it will turn out any kind of way, after all.

xoxo
jenny

Pre-School Library

Last week I wrote about the project I got roped into undertaking at my kids' preschool (the presentation on how to find good picture books), and thanks to you guys I have some terrific discussion points- yay!

Today I get to start on the part of the library project I actually volunteered to do: put together a list of must-have picture books for kids age 3-5. I started off with anything and everything by William Steig, Maurice Sendak, and Mo Williams. Books like CLICK, CLACK MOO, THE HALLOWEINER, THE VELVETEEN RABBIT, ALEXANDER AND THE TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE, NO GOOD, VERY BAD DAY and A BARGAIN FOR FRANCES came next. I feel like I could go on and on but since the school is not going to be buying five hundred books, I know that I have to be selective. So if you were putting together this library, what would you say are the top two absolute must-have books? All in put greatly appreciated!

#daphne

Perks

One of the perks of being a children's author is that you sometimes get invited to fun, cool events. Last week, librarian and children's author Tami Brown invited me to join her at the monthly Children's Book Guild Luncheon. The Guild is a really neat organization in DC made up of writers, artists, librarians, and other specialists dedicated to the field of children's literature.

The guest speaker at last week's luncheon was author Marc Aronson who discussed his recent book, Race: A History Beyond Black and White. A juicy topic! After his presentation, there were a lot of great questions from authors and librarians in the audience about how race is addressed (or not addressed!) by books and schools today.

I did a little mingling as well, meeting several lovely ladies from my favorite local bookstore Politics & Prose and author Jodi Lynn Anderson, whom I've admired ever since I read Peaches.

Sure, I didn't get any writing done that day, but I felt like a WRITER, which is more than I can say for most of the days I'm home in my sweats typing away. :)

*caroline hickey

Middle School Creative Writing

I run a middle school creative writing club at school and I'm struggling a bit. Most of the students are eager writers who are working on longer pieces or poetry or autobiographical stuff. But I have a few seventh grade boys who only want to write about gangsters and shooting and drugs. Okay, I'm not against writing that stuff, but the thing is, they are only focusing on the stereotypical and we all know that's not good.

Does anyone know of any good writing exercises for reluctant middle school writers? Any good writing contests for kids to enter? Any help would be much appreciated!

Thanks,
Lisa GW

Robert's Snow: Greg Newbold

Today we have our last illustrator feature and we are really going out with a bang because Greg Newbold is a great interviewee with a breathtaking snowflake:

Awesome, no? This and many other snowflakes have been painted by some of the best illustrators in the business to raise money for Robert's Snow which supports cancer research. For info on how to bid on Greg's stunning snowflake, as well as to find out more about Robert's Snow, go here.

And here's where Greg took the time to tell us about his childhood murals, his love of fishing and his personal connection to Robert's Snow:

What inspired your snowflake design?

My love of Christmas stems from early childhood and for me, art andChristmas go hand in hand. I was initially disappointed on Christmas morning at age eight when Santa did not bring me the fancy set of plastic dinosaursI had my heart set on. Instead, along with clay, paint and a really cool dinosaur book, Santa left a note saying he believed I could make my own dinosaurs. I followed Santa's wise advice and now get to create artwork every day! My snowflake entitled "Pip's Letter to Santa" features one of the main characters from my new Random House book entitled "The Barnyard Night Before Christmas" written by Beth Terrill. The story details how Santa, with the help of Pip the Mouse, enlists the barnyard animals to pull his sleigh on Christmas Eve after his own reindeer fall ill from too much Christmas pudding. Chaos and fun follow as the animals try to help Santa make his rounds with the help of some helium balloons and string.

How did you get involved in Robert's Snow?

I was contacted by Grace Lin, the founder of Robert's Snow, about possibly painting a snowflake to benefit cancer research and I immediately felt the need to participate. During the creation of "The Barnyard Night Before Christmas", my father Dennis (the wise Santa mentioned above and possibly my biggest fan) fell ill with cancer and passed away before he had a chance to see the book completed. I have dedicated the book as well as this snowflake to his memory and hope that people will bid generously to aid in the fight against cancer that has now become so much more personal to me.

What's your favorite thing about your job?

I figured I would be an artist ever since I realized that people made money doing artwork. Consequently, it is very satisfying to be able to put my vision down on paper and then have people enjoy seeing what I have created. "Life needs art" is part of my credo and I believe that we as human beings want to enjoy beautiful creations. I love creating artwork and sharing it with others. Getting paid to do what I would probably do anyway is a bonus.

Have you ever illustrated a book that you didn't love?

No. I am very particular about the book projects that I take on. I have turned down many more books than I have worked on. For me it is essential that I be fully invested in a project in order for me to do my best work. Creating a picture book is a difficult proposition and I have to enjoy the process or it is simply not worth the effort. For this reason, I am currently working on several of my own picture book manuscripts and am looking to sell the first one to a publisher shortly.

How did that affect your work?

From time to time I get projects (thankfully nothing as involved as a children's book) that for one reason or another just go south. Sometimes it's a bad concept or heavy art direction, or maybe a short deadline that throws a wrench into the system. Under such circumstances, it's very hard to be excited to finish the project and to do my best work and sometimes it shows. I hate turning out less than stellar work, so I try to avoid those types of projects.

Do you have a favorite drawing or sketch that you did when you were a kid?

My Mom saved a few things from when I was little, but I suppose most of it got chucked. I have a crayon self portrait that I did in about third or fourth grade that is pretty hilarious. My brothers and I used to roll out big endrolls of newsprint on the cement floor of the then unfinished basement of our house growing up. My Dad was in advertising and he would bring them home for us. We spent hours creating these ridiculously involved murals of trucks and tanks or monsters and animals or whatever else. I don'thave any of those because they probably weren't very good, but we had fun.Most kids draw when they are little and somewhere about that age they stop drawing. It's sad, but the reasons are many. Usually somebody tells them that their drawing is wrong or they get intimidated by the quality of another's artwork. Sometimes they just get busy or interested in other things. I guess I am one of the lucky few that pressed on and kept drawing

What other children's book artists do you admire?

My favorite books from when I was young include Sendak's classic "Where theWild Things Are." And just about anything by Dr. Seuss and Bill Peet. Current favorites include Chris Van Allsburg and Mark Teague and Loren Long. MarkBuehner and C.F.Payne are friends of mine and I enjoy their books a lot as well. There are a lot of really great artists out there, so it's hard to narrow it down to just a few, but there you go.

What's your favorite guilty pleasure?

Fishing. I used to go all the time when I was growing up, but life kind of gets busy and I don't get out as much as I would like. My favorite trips were ones with my Dad and brothers to Montana to fish the rivers there and most recently to Alaska to fish for salmon and halibut. I'ts so much fun to be out in the middle of such gorgeous scenery, and I love to eat the catch as well. I have been imagining a children's book involving fishing just so I can make the excuse to get out and do some more "research".

What's the best piece of advice you've ever been given?

It's hard to nail down to just one, but I was fortunate to never have had anyone tell me that I shouldn't be an artist. I was always told that if Iwas willing to work hard enough to make it happen, that I could. So many times in life people let go of their dreams because someone told them it was too hard, or that it was impossible, or not worth the effort. Sometimes we tell ourselves the same thing. Whenever I am talking to kids about my art, I tell them to follow their dreams because if you don't, you won't know what is possible.

Greg Newbold has illustrated numerous picture books, including The Touch of the Master's Hand, Winter Lullaby and Spring Song. He lives with his family in Salt Lake City, Utah.

To bid on Greg's snowflake, as well as to see the other snowflakes available, go here.

We Longstockings are proud to have been part of Blogging for a Cure and want to give a big thanks to Jules at Seven Imp for the amazing job organizing everything!

It was a very good time indeed

The DC Kidlit Group met up Saturday night for drinks (that turned into dinner!) and kicked things off in style. Our special guest for the evening was none other than Longstocking Lisa Graff who was in town visiting me for the weekend. We met with librarians MotherReader and Tami Brown, and author Sara Lewis Holmes. We discussed the books we'd all been reading recently and planned several fun future "meetings," including some sort of children's book-based ice show (I can't remember what that was??), a trip to Politics & Prose to hear authors read, a post-Newbery announcement discussion, and a few other things I can't remember. I'm getting old, I guess. Or it's the rainy weather. That's it! It's the rainy weather.

A bunch of members could not attend but we hope to see them next time!

*caroline hickey

Hello, it's me

So I've been totally MIA lately, (I was sick all last week and am still trying to catch up!) but I swear I've sat down a couple of times and tried to think of something really interesting to post about. And... nothing. I could think of nothing to write about! My fellow Longstockings keep coming up with cool stuff, but I'm at a loss. So I implore you, if there's anything you want to read about, anything I or any of us can share with you, anything, anything-- please tell me about it in the comments. I need help keeping the fire going!

love ya.
Jenny

Help Needed

This past weekend I was at a kid birthday party and one of the parents was complaining to me about the library at our kids' preschool. I'd always thought it was a little on the lame side so I joined right in, and when my husband heard, he suggested I speak to the school head and offer to take on the project of revamping the library. Which seemed like a neat idea. I figured I'd get donations from parents, ask the school to mach whatever we raised and maybe see if a few of my editor contacts might be willing to donate a picture book or two. A fun and relatively easy project, right?

But yesterday when I went to talk to the school head, she had a few other ideas. She showed me their store room of books, something I didn't know exhisted, and asked if I might want to organize it. It appears to be hours of work but I am into organizing so I figured why not. And that's when things got out of hand.

"You know," she said. "A lot of parents are intimidated by buying their kids picture books. They're not sure what to look for or what makes a good picture book. Maybe you could give a talk to the parents, just telling them how to select good books for their kids."

Before I could tell her that I had no idea, I just buy stories I read and love, and I'm kind of on the shy side anyway, she had picked out a date in the first week of December and was writing up the email to send the other parents.

So, um, help! What would you say to a group of parents about how to buy picture books for 3-5 year olds?

#daphne

Cork Board Camoflage

A problem that I have blogged about a few times is how tough it is to be a writer in a small NYC apartment. I personally don't have room for a desk, a comfy chair, or a workspace other than my kitchen table. But there are ways around small square footage. It's all about finding ways to integrate/camouflage a writing space inside a living space.

That's why I was so psyched to see this awesome post on Design Sponge explaining an easy way to snazz up the common cork board--necessary equipment for any writer.


So pretty, right? In fact, I think this fashionable little baby could easily hold its own as living room-worthy artwork. And muuuch better than my last attempt at outlining in my kitchen.

You can read all about it here and even download a pretty template!

-=siobhan=-

Calling All NCTEers!

If you happen to be a teacher attending this weekend's NCTE convention in lovely New York City, please stop by the Scholastic booth and pick up a galley of A LITTLE FRIENDLY ADVICE and one of my button packs!

Also, our own Coe Booth is back on US soil! She will be on a panel discussing BOYS AND BOOKS: STRATEGIES FOR ENGAGING TEENS AND ADVANCING AUTHENTIC LITERACY SKILLS FOR THE 21ST CENTURY. It's scheduled for Saturday, but check your program for the latest.

And finally, there will be an informal drinks gathering for teachers, librarians and novelists on Friday at Sweet and Vicious, starting at 6:00PM. I think pretty much all of the Longstockings will be there hanging out. Stop by and say hello!

-=siobhan=-

Attention William Steig fans

Last week, I went to this awesome exhibit. It was really, really great. You should definitely check it out.

As I've mentioned before, Doctor De Soto is one of my all time favorite picture books. What's your favorite William Steig creation?

*Lisa GW*

Robert's Snow for the Week

Here's your illustrator line up for the week:

Monday, November 12

John Nez at ChatRabbit
Liza Woodruff at Check It Out
Jane Dippold at Just Like the Nut
Mike Wohnoutka at laurasalas

Tuesday, November 13

Cynthia Decker at The Silver Lining
Cecily Lang at Kate's Book Blog
Jane Dyer at Whimsy Books
Gutierrez at AmoXcalli and Cuentecitos
Lee White at Please Come Flying

Wednesday, November 14

Philomena O'Neill at Jo's Journal
Maggie Swanson at Chicken Spaghetti
Timothy Bush at Here in the Bonny Glen
Peter Emmerich at Loree Griffin Burns: A Life in Books

Thursday, November 15

Yangsook Choi at What Adrienne Thinks About That
Laura Jacques at cynthialord's Journal
Mary Newell Depalma at Wild Rose Reader
Leanne Franson at Just Like the Nut

Friday, November 16

Mary Haverfield at Your Neighborhood Librarian
Lisa Kopelke at Lisa's Little Corner of the Internet
Salley Mavor at ChatRabbit
Greg Newbold at The Longstockings
Elizabeth Sayles at AmoXcalli and Cuentecitos

Saturday, November 17

Paul Brewer at A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy
Aaron Zenz at Jo's Journal
Wendy Edelson at What Adrienne Thinks About That
Joan Waites at Chicken Spaghetti

Sunday, November 18

Giles Laroche at Book, Book, Book
Annie Patterson at Check It Out
Teri Sloat at The Miss Rumphius Effect
Annette Heiberg at Lisa's Little Corner of the Internet
Wade Zahares at Wild Rose Reader

The Thing About the Texas Bluebonnet Award...

... is that our very own Lisa Graff's THE THING ABOUT GEORGIE has been chosen for the Master List! Every year the librarians, teachers, parents, and students of Texas nominate the best books of the year, and twenty are chosen for the Master List. Then those lucky kids of Texas get to read them! The goal of the award is to get kids grades 3-6 into reading, and with awesome books like THE THING ABOUT GEORGIE, they are doing a great job!

Congrats Lisa!!

#daphne

You Oughta Be Face Out

I don't know about you, but I am looooving all the revamped covers that Pengiun has created for their classic books collections. You can check out some of the US versions available here. Amazing stuff.

I recently got this one for my shelf. It is gorgeous. My only qualm--I wish it were hardcover, instead of paperback with French flaps. But whatever. It obviously rocks.


And I came across this beauty today by designer Alice Stevenson. Unfortunately, it is for a Puffin UK edition but I am definitely going to buy one anyhow, as TSG is one of my most favorite books ever and my dog-eared copy is (sorry) totally butt ugly and not-at-all charming.

So, here's to books so pretty, they should be on your shelf face out!

-=siobhan=-

DC Kidlit Drinks Night - Inaugural Meeting!

Please join us this Saturday night, November 10th, for drinks and book talk. Authors, illustrators, teachers, librarians, editors, media specialists, booksellers, children's book aficionados, etc., are all welcome!



Here's the 411:
When: 6pm
Where: Ri Ra Pub & Restaurant
4931 Elm Street
Bethesda, Maryland 20814

There is a cheap parking garage across the street (its meters take change) and it's about 3 blocks from the Bethesda Red Line Metro stop.

Hope to see you there!

*caroline hickey

They came!

Yesterday as I was leaving to pick up my kids from preschool I saw the UPS woman coming into our building with several packages. Since I’ve been stalking her regularly she was prepared for me to bombard her and this time she had the package I’ve been so eagerly awaiting: my galleys!!!!

I ripped open the package and there it was: an actual book with my name on it! I got all tearful and giddy and pretty much waved it at strangers as I walked down the street (almost getting run down more than once). Back home, after the kids were down for a nap, I spread them out on the bed and tried to let it sink in that this was really happening. My cat Bongo came over to investigate and here is a picture of him checking one out.

And here he is getting a little overly frisky with them.

He’s not one to like to share the limelight obviously.

So, yeah, I have galleys. Wow!!

#daphne

Writing Quote of the Day

Inspiration far more often comes during the work than before it.
-Madeleine L'Engle


I believe this. How many times have you been in the midst of working on a particular project when an awesome idea comes to mind and totally moves the project in a new direction? People ask writers all the time how they come up with ideas, assuming the ideas come in advance. However, so many of the ideas come in the middle.

*Lisa GW*

Robert's Snow: Anna Alter

Our latest illustrator in the Robert’s Snow Blogging for a Cure is the amazing Anna Alter. Robert’s Snow is having the snowflake auction to raise money for cancer research. Here’s where you can read more about it. And here's the gorgeous snowflake Anna’s painted for the auction:

Totally beautiful, right? And you’re probably curious about how it came together. Well, lucky for you, Anna has given us a series of photos depicting her creative process with this snowflake:

Very, very cool to get a little inside scoop on how this snowflake came into being!

Anna was also generous enough to answer some questions for us:

What inspired your snowflake design?

Since Grace and Robert (who began this project) have been friends of mine for a long time, it seemed appropriate to paint a scene about friendship on my snowflake. I started out drawing a cat and a fox playing in the snow, throwing snowballs at each other, with other characters sledding in the background. The more I painted, the more I got interested in the little figures sledding in the distance… so I decided to make the back side a close-up of their trip down the hill. When Robert passed I wanted the snowflake to have a homage to him, so I added a small French bulldog to the characters on the sled, Robert’s favorite dog.

How did you get involved in Robert’s Snow?

Grace and I went to college together, and started working as illustrators around the same time. Over the years we grew as friends and artists, she has been a constant source of support and inspiration. When Robert got sick, she was determined to do something positive in the face of a very difficult personal struggle… thus Robert’s Snow was born! The project is her brainchild, with her friends pitching in different ways to help carry it along. Those of us who were illustrators started by making snowflakes, but the more the project grew, the more there was to do. During the last auction I was one of the people who received the snowflakes, and put them up on the web site… it was amazing unwrapping the packages each day, getting to see so many little pieces of original art, each totally unique. Every part of working on this project has been really rewarding.

What's your favorite thing about your job?

Painting gives me more satisfaction than anything else that I do. Its not always fun in the way people think a career in children’s books must be- it can be frustrating and tedious and I am often walking around in a haze obsessed with some bit of minutia, like what kind of pattern to paint on a shirt. But there is nothing like it- sitting down to a blank piece of paper and making a world. Spending the afternoon considering shades of green. Letting a character find its own personality under your brush.

Have you ever illustrated a book that you didn't love?

Not so far, thankfully! I’ve been lucky to work with very gifted writers. I’m not just saying that, somehow my editors seem to always send me manuscripts that in some way appeal to my sensibility. In particular, I think Patrick Jennings is a really great writer. But then again, I write most of my projects myself, so I am not faced with someone else’s manuscript very often.

Do you have a favorite drawing or sketch that you did when you were a kid?

One that I always show kids when I do school visits is a painting of Peter Rabbit I made when I was about 6. I like it because I can remember how proud I was, and how much I loved that book. I remember relishing all the tiny details of the illustrations, going over them again and again. I wanted to live in that world.

What other children's book artists do you admire?

There are many! Besides my Blue Rose Girls friends and other colleagues I’ve met along the way, I really love Ora Eitan, Lisbeth Zwerger, and Peter McCarty’s paintings.

What's your favorite guilty pleasure?

Hmm, that would have to be buying shoes! You just can’t have too many.

What's the best piece of advice you've ever been given?

“Dissatisfaction is a powerful creative force.”

Anna writes and illustrates books out of her home in Boston. Her personal and character driven stories aim to give kids a place to see themselves in the world. In addition to writing and illustrating, Anna teaches art classes to kids of all ages. Her original paintings are frequently shown in various venues around New England.

To bid on Anna’s snowflake, as well as see the other snowflakes up for auction, check out the Robert’s Snow Site.

Longstockings contest: Name that price

**Longstocks contest alert! Prizes galore!**

First, read this tidbit about JK Rowling from Children's Bookshelf:

The Tales of Beedle the Bard is the real-life incarnation of a collection of wizarding fairytales mentioned in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows as a gift left to Hermione by Professor Dumbledore. It is handwritten and contains illustrations by Rowling. Writing the book “has been the most wonderful way to say goodbye to a world I have loved and lived in for 17 years,” she told the AP.

Unfortunately, fans won’t find the book in stores. Only seven copies of the title were printed, with a brown leather binding and elaborate silver and gemstone decorative accents. Reuters reported that in a dedication to the book, Rowling states, “Six of these books have been given to those most closely connected to the Harry Potter books during the last 17 years. This seventh copy will be auctioned; the proceeds to help institutionalized children who are in desperate need of a voice. So to whoever owns this book, thank you—and fair fortune be yours.”

Sotheby’s will auction the book December 13 with an opening price of $62,000. The winning bid will be donated to Rowling’s charity The Children’s Voice.

Crazy, no? Well, I'm feeling rather saucy today, so I propose a contest: Guess how much this book ends up selling for. Closest without going over gets an as-of-yet-undecided-but-most-assuredly-awesome prize from me. Leave your guesses in the comments. Longstockings can guess too!