Dec 20

Dec 20 Episode #136: Walk N' Talk- 2021 Year in Review

Grace and Alvina are walking and talking together in Brooklyn and talking about the highs and lows of 2021. It is the night that Grace presents Alvina with the medal of “Editorial Excellence” at the Center for Fiction gala!

*REMINDER: The Book Friends are doing an episode dedicated to the memory of those authors and illustrators we lost this year in 2021. They would love to hear your memories of these authors and how they touched your life in some way or another. On the bookfriendsforever.com menu, click “Record your author/Illustrator Tribute” and record your memories through Speakpipe. Some of the authors and illustrators we lost: Jerry Pinkney, Tomie DePaola, Beverley Cleary, Lois Ehlert, Eric Carle, Patricia Reilly Giff, Floyd Cooper, and Gary Paulsen. We encourage you to leave a memory and we’ll share it on a special upcoming episode! Thank you!

Don’t forget to order Grace Lin’s 2021 Where the Mountain Meets the Moon trilogy calendar is available NOW! Right now you can only get it from the Eric Carle Museum and supply is limited so get yours today!

“How have you been?”

Grace took the train to NYC and noted it was her first time using public transportation and how surreal that was. Tonight will also be the first time she’s worn heels in a very long time. She is having a nightmare of falling down on stage while presenting Alvina the award! Grace loves how close Alvina lives to things as they walk to Prospect Park and past the Botanic Gardens and the Brooklyn Museum. (Prospect Park reminds her of the Ruth Chew books she read as a child.) Jacqueline Woodson who is speaking at the Gala, also wrote a poem for the #lightscape exhibit at the Brooklyn Botanic garden.

Alvina is getting ready to prepare for a trip to California to visit her family.

The Year in Review!

Alvina and Grace discuss some of the highlights and lowlights they experienced in 2021. Marriage, a cat passes on, mid-life career point, Covid variants, family/work life balance, virtual visits and working remotely are mentioned.

2022 is the Year of the Tiger! It does not necessarily mean a good year, but an important one. It is the year where you plant the seeds for the next twelve years.

Fortune Cookie Segment: What gifts do you love to give and receive?

Grace loves to give (and receive) John and Kira’s Chocolates! Alvina loves to give experiences although that has been challenging with Covid.

Gratefuls

Grace is grateful for Alvina and the opportunity to present this award to her! Alvina is so thankful for the friend that suggested she should go into book publishing over 22 years ago. It is truly one comment that changed her life!

PATREON! *If you’re a patron, don’t forget to check out this week’s Random Questions feed! Authors Cathy Camper and Grace Lin answer the question, “What is the oddest thing you’ve seen in your home?” Click here to listen! If you’re not a patron already, join today!

Thank you for tuning in! Thank you to Hachette Audio, Little Brown Books for Young Readers, and Alex at Pacyworks Studio for producing and editing this podcast. Be sure to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and tell a friend about us. (Use the hashtag #bookfriendsforever.)