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Tomie dePaola -- Bookstore signing, October 2004
First a little background on Tomie.
I read his Strega Nona to my daughter, then 3, now 22,
and thought, "I just remembered -- THAT's what I
always wanted to be when I grew up -- a children's book writer
and illustrator." Alas, I was too busy with my advertising career
and also raising 4 kids.
Flash forward 16 years. My (Internet) illustrator friend Peter
talks about meeting Tomie in person at an SCBWI event.
I declare to Peter (and to all 900 other list members):
"If I ever meet Tomie in person, I'm going to wash his feet!"
Two years later, Tomie comes to a Michigan bookstore.
I offer to wash his feet but he declines with a laugh.
And -- he gives me advice that directly leads to
my selling my first children's book to a major publisher.
I would wash his feet any day.
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So I haul my 7 year old daughter and almost-2 year old grandson to the
bookstore,
80 miles away, in a strange city, and instead of standing in line,
with all the other sheep, I stand opposite him and just draw him for an
hour
(and laugh at all his jokes, including his telephone comment, below).
Miraculously, my grandson behaves, confined to my back in a baby carrier.
This isn't a very good likeness of Tomie... next one is better...
more Tomie dePaola on the next page -->
email me: ruthexpress@aol.com
