Mal Peet

Hey, so just thought I would write and inform everyone that I have found the British version of Patrick Collins. It was quite funny. I went to a children's literature talk, the illustrator and author Mal Peet came to give a talk at Kingston. I almost didn't go, it was pouring outside, but I went, and I am so glad I did. So I go to school, and go in the room where this older guy in jeans and a purple shirt (so not Patrick, but I'm getting there), is sitting on a desk, just talking to the other person in the room. When I entered, he introduced himself, and so did I, and then I took a seat. He mentioned being in the States like two weeks ago, so I asked where. He told me Seattle and NY, and I said that I was from Boston. He was really interested in that, he had a novel published by Cambridge Press, and he asked how I got here. I decided to be witty, and I said, "Well other than an airplane, I go to college in Maine, and I always wanted to go abroad, and my college gave me the opportunity to come here." He liked the airplane comment. But he first reminded of Patrick, when the other woman in the room, she's a teacher said something about the Borders here, and a talk was being given by someone high up. And Mal Peet said, "Oh I know him, what is his name? I got completely pissed with him last autumn. Jesus, Mary and Joseph, that's probably why I can't remember his name."

I nearly died laughing when he said that, it could have come out of Patrick's mouth without any hesitation. Half his stories included him being pissed somewhere, with some big publishing guy... it was just awesome. The way he moved, and talked, expect the heavy British accent just reminded me of Patrick. It was just so funny.

Mal Peet, I've never heard of, but I will be reading his novels in the summer, because they sound so interesting. I can't now, I have too many novels to read for classes, oh well. He just won the Carnegie Award for Children's Lit, with his new novel about WWII. I guess it's kinda based on fact, his friend's father ran an Underground radio in Holland during the war, and lived! He did it for about a year. I think he said that his friend's father was one of maybe 3 in the Underground to make it out alive, that radio operators had a life expectancy of like 3 months. He was a British spy. Unbelievable, so he got the idea from that. He asked if anyone had ideas of being a writer, and then gave this advice to get on it now, or wait 40 years! I was like ok, note to self.

Other than that, not a lot has happened, um I started watching HBO Rome Season 2, it's sooo good. I'm trying to get a hold of Season 1 so Kathleen and Amaya can watch it, they would both love it. I think I got it, Shorty is going to help me out, woohoo. Of course, I'm surprised I haven't heard from her about this sooner, she cannot download stuff, doesn't know how, so she hasn't seen it, while I am now caught up. Classes are well, I read 3 novels this week, some George Orwell (not a fan), Alice in Wonderland, and Diana Athill. Both main characters had huge money issues, like the lack of it, and I just wanted to wring their necks and tell them to go out and get a job. In class today, someone told me that my attitude is very American. Hahah, who knows.