ThingLink: Author Visit PR for Ms. Candy Gourlay

Here's a PR material I whipped up for the author visit of Ms. Candy Gourlay in our school. I'll be using this interactive image for presentation to the publications club during club time today.

Author Interview: Candy Gourlay Shines!

Novelist Candy Gourlay will be in Manila for a series of book talks, school visits and literacy advocacy work. Her new novel, Shine, will be launched on September 27, 2014 at the National Bookstore Glorietta branch. Ms. Gourlay graciously replied to my request for an interview. Here she talks about Shine, the novel she wished she had written and the experiences that shaped and influenced her in writing about Rosa.

1. What made writing Shine different from Tall Story? Tall Story was very successful. Did you feel any weight or pressure to do better in Shine?

Yes indeed! As I began working on Shine, Tall Story began clocking up shortlistings and great reviews. Every morning when I started writing, my head was not in the right place. What if it was just a fluke, what if you can't do it again? This book can't possibly be any good! Have you chosen the right story to write? And on. And on. I had to shake off all the doubt in order to be in a place to lay down the words of my next book ... in the end it took me three long years to write Shine. I learned some things about myself - that it wasn't success that gave me self-belief but a confidence in my story. And to get the confidence in my story, I had to ask every question that had to be asked.

2. Your use of folktales and legends in both Tall Story and Shine to prove a point or address a message is very effective. What folktale or legend best describe your life?

It has been said that Mythology was the first Science. Because it is through mythology that we try to explain our world. To write a legend, you have to imagine the world that existed before whatever it was came to be. Perhaps the title of my legend will be How the Writer Learned to See -- because the process of writing long-form fiction involves digging deep to see what lies under the surface.

3. I'm really mesmerized by your use of tales and legends. Where most writers fumble at this technique, you SHINE. What do you see in tales and legends that seamlessly bridge reality from our own imagined worlds?

Ah but to have these tales and legends, you need a storyteller. The myths are a reflection of the storyteller's own perception of the world, the stories bring to life both her deepest fears and highest ambition. I like having these characters because they bring me home. Every Filipino has someone at home who described the world to them in this way. So I feel they are an essential part of the casting of any Filipino book.

Also, when I was growing up, I became aware of a certain embarrassment amongst Filipinos about the limitations of our literature. Epics and other grand forms are thin on the ground of our cultural heritage. But does that mean the legend and folk tale should be denigrated? These are such important parts of our literature, I want to celebrate them.

4. The women characters in your novels are interesting and complexed. Who is your pattern for Rosa? Even her voice and personality SHINE through the novel the whole time. Even Yaya is funny and hilarious!

The idea for Rosa was sparked when I met a Vietnamese teenager who had arrived in England as an unaccompanied minor. This meant she came to the UK, speaking no English, with no apparent adult companion. Because she was a child, UK government took her into care even though she was an economic migrant.

I didn't get to know this girl at all, but I was thinking about her a lot. She was only a child, and yet she had to hide many secrets about how she got to the UK and who took her in. As an unaccompanied minor, she was regarded by derision by many who resented the fact that she was being cared for by the state. She was innocent. And yet she wasn't. And I thought, how unfair it was to put a child into that position.

Originally, most of Shine had Rosa, mute and lost in the streets of London. It was only as I explored Rosa's character that it dawned on me that the story didn't belong to London but to Mirasol, the island where Rosa was born. My musings about innocence fed into Rosa's situation: in which she is undeservedly shunned by the islanders.

As for Yaya, I think there is a Yaya character in every Filipino's life. Feisty, complaining, scolding in non-sequiturs, off kilter, funny-but-not-on-purpose, down to earth, loving, irritating, essential. (I have sneaking feeling that I am that character in my children's lives!) Yaya is like Jiminy Cricket, she says aloud what Rosa and her father know to be true. She doesn't tiptoe around niceties which means she is the one person Rosa can really trust.

5. You made me sympathize for Kat. She is a complicated character and she fits in the climax of the novel perfectly. How do you form your characters: plot dictating the character or character dictating the plot?

I always begin with the character. I have a rough idea of my plot but to begin with, I try to get to know my character by writing the scenes that reveal to me who she is. I write many, many, many scenes. And then the story begins to take shape and I become aware of the rise and fall of a plot. Then I rearrange my scenes and develop the structure of the book, heightening the conflict here and there to create a sense of rising tension as the story progresses.

In one of Shine's many drafts, the character of Kat emerged at the very end of Rosa's adventure as one long piece of exposition. It was as if an entire story was playing out ... except it was at the wrong end of the book! I needed Kat's story to develop alongside Rosa's, following the rise and fall of the plot.

I thought of having Rosa read letters from Kat or even a diary, but it seemed too contrived. In the end, my editor said, 'Well why don't you just tell Kat's story alongside Rosa's in semi alternate chapters. You don't have to explain anything.' And that is what I did.

Some people get confused and annoyed when Kat's voice appears. But nobody said a book should make things easy for the reader.

6. What is the novel you wish you had written?

I love so many novels. Perhaps Holes by Louis Sachar. But you know what, I believe each novel is as unique as a fingerprint. And if Holes appeared under my pen, I would've freaked out, wondering where the hell it came from.

7. One of my favorite lines in the novel: "a librarian would never lie" - - where did this come from?

Heh, it's just my little homage to librarians. I've always had great friendships with my school librarians. And now, visiting schools as an author, I get a real peek into the impact they can have on children's lives. It was a grade school librarian that once took me by the hand and said, 'Here, you might like this.' And look at how it's made my life turn out! Every child deserves to have a librarian around to change her life.

Book Signing & Talks at the MIBF 2014

Last year, around the same month, I posted a photo of Liza Flores' study of our book, Dear Nanay ,

In January 2014, our book was published by Lampara Books. This coming MIBF 2014, I'll be at the Lampara booth to sign copies of Dear Nanay on September 20 and 21. 

I hope to see you there!

I will also conduct a writing workshop for grade school students on September 21, 2014. I will post details before this week ends. Hang on!

Another event that I'm excited to participate in during the MIBF is the Klasrum Adarna Workshop for Book Creators. I will be presenting grants, scholarships and funds that support book projects to Filipino book creators. 

So, see you at the fair!

Copy & Repro: International Conference on IP Policies & Copyright for Schools & Universities

Among the fora and lectures being offered to the public in the Manila International Book Fair, it is the Copy & Repro conference I am most interested to attend in. I officially received an invitation from FILCOLS last week.

August 29, 2014

Ms. Zarah Gagatiga

Teacher Librarian

THE BEACON ACADEMY

Dear Ms. Gagatiga:

We respectfully invite you to the Copy & Repro: International Conference on IP Policies and Copyright Licensing for Schools and Universities on September 19, 2014, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at the Function Room 2, SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City. (See enclosed Event Fact Sheet, Program, and Registration Form)

Copy & Repro is the first international conference that aims to provide a forum on the implications to schools and universities of RA 10372 which amended the Law on Copyright in RA 8293. Aside from local experts, we also invited some members of the Asia Pacific Committee of the Brussels-based International Federation of Reproduction Rights Organizations (IFRRO).

Copy & Repro is a special event at the 35^th Manila International Book Fair. The special event is organized by IFRRO, Book Development Association of the Philippines (BDAP), and FILCOLS.

By virtue of Sec. 183, IP Code as amended, IP Philippines declared FILCOLS an accredited CMO last April 23, 2014 during the celebrations of the World Book and Copyright Day. (See enclosed copy of Certificate of Accreditation)

To register, please complete the enclosed Registration Form and return it with the original deposit slip not later than September 5, 2014 to FILCOLS secretariat via email filcols@gmail.com or fax (632) 439-2204 or (632) 645-7765.

Conference fee includes morning and afternoon snacks, lunch, certificate of participation, and conference kit. Regular rate is PHP 1,500.00. Discounted rate is PHP 1,200.00 for SUCs and for groups of three (3) or more participants from the same institution/company.

Best regards,

 (Original signed)

Alvin J. Buenaventura

Executive Director

Learning From Peers: Sitting in a TOK Class

A few weeks ago, I sat in a TOK (Theory of Knowledge) class of a colleague to learn something new and to think about my own "unique" teaching roles. This activity is part and parcel of our school's professional development program. Here are my thoughts on the experience.

Highlights of the session (areas, teaching/ learning moments or observation points which strike you and why)

The highlight of the session for me was my colleague's modeling of the thinking process. He identified a real life situation (RLS) and asked the students to convert the RLS to a knowledge issue (KI). Students fashioned a knowledge question (KQ) from the KI. My colleague facilitated this process through group work and discussion.

The exercise he did with his students on the TOK criteria was a practical strategy to hone their evaluation skills. This way, students were made aware of the assessment rubrics as well as the required skills and competence expected of them in TOK.

Short reflection on your own practice: any new learnings gained which you would like to try in your class? Any questions you would like to raise about your own teaching practice as a result of this 'preview' of your colleague's ' teaching and learning event? 

I think the pattern that my colleague used in arriving at a KQ can also be used in helping the grade 11s craft their research question (RQ) in the Extended Essay. However, there is time and class hours devoted for TOK where as in the EE, the time allotment given to assist students is during big group assemblies. In the TOK class, students are guided through the application of thinking across subject areas. I see no difference in the EE, only that, students need to investigate a bit deeper on chosen topics of research.

How can such thinking strategies be transferred to the EE?

Any feedback and comment you'd like to offer?

Since I saw the value in the group's formulation of KQs, I think it would be good to write the finished KIs and KQs on manila paper or cartolina. Have these written KIs and KQs posted on the bulletin board. Teacher and students revisit them as they go through the whole exercise of nurturing this kind of thinking strategy. By doing so, teacher (not necessarily the TOK teacher) can use the written output for a language lesson or a lesson on grammar, vocabulary development and sentence patterns. This can be converted into a mini-lesson on writing. Once edits and revisions are made on the KQs, it can then be finalized and approved as an acceptable KQ based on criterion.

The Manila International Book Fair 2014

Extended Essay: A Tension of the Opposites

                     

Reading Promotion: I KNow What You Read Last Summer

I Know What You Read Last Summer, a book guessing game I set up last week as the library's reading promotion activity for the months of August and September.

Book Review: Attachments by Rainbow Rowell

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8909152-attachments" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"&gt;&lt;img alt="Attachments" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1398982892m/8909152.jpg" />
AttachmentsR byainbow Rowell<br/> 

My rating:<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/935596548">4 of 5 stars

This is my third Rainbow Rowell book and it did not disappoint at all. In Eleanor and Park, Rowell writes about two different teens falling in love. In Fangirl, she explores life cycles and the changes that go with starting out at university. In both novels, Rowell presents quirky, almost neurotic, characters that grow on you. In Attachements, she created another male character, Lincoln, who seemed to start out as a weak, leading man to a strong female lead, but whose true blue, honest to goodness attitude towards people and relationships saved the day. In the end, Lincoln got the girl and my vote as a relaible book boyfriend.

What worked

Rowell is dazzlingly funny in her use of dialogue. Her characters jump out of the pages with joy and angst through shared conversations: in the office pantry, in the family kitchen, in email exchanges between Beth and Jennifer. It's amazing how Rowell weaves all the complexities of her characters, lead or supporting ones, into the fabric of the whole story through these conversations. I love Beth and Lincoln, but I was also rooting for Jennifer and Mike. I do hope there's a spin off (Hint. Hint).

I like the way Rowell unraveled the growing affection of Lincoln towards Beth and how he fell in love for her. Lincoln's revelation to Beth of who he really is pretty romantic. Their romance didn't end in fireworks, but time brought them back together. Indeed, when love is true, it finds a way.<br><br>

What did not work

Set in the 90s when the Internet was only starting out, Lincoln's job was to monitor company emails. Thus, his knowledge of Beth's woes and heartaches came from eavesdropping in her emails and chat messages with Jennifer. It's pretty weird. At one point, I thought of this situation as a menage. But, I suppose, that's just me. With the advent of technology, the idea of sharing information and our own identities to people we barely know is out there for the taking.<br><br>I did enjoy the book as it showed me subtle ways of coping with loss and heartbreak. The path towards redemption is not always laced with blood, sweat and tears. I like Lincoln's resolve and restraint towards getting Beth back. Attachments is not as dramatic as Eleanor and Park nor is it as life affirming as Fangirl. Then again, the book is sweet and quietly comforting. Rihana is right. We can find love in a hopeless place.

<br/><br/>

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/346258-zarah-gagatiga">View all my reviews

Filipino Librarian of the Month: Mary Ann Jimenez Salvador

Mary Ann Jimenez Salvador, Reference and Information Services Librarian of DLSU  Dasmarinas, Cavite shares with us her LIS: Love, Inspiration and Sacrifice.

What's your lib story? Describe how you made the choice of majoring in LIS and what college life was like for you as an LIS major. You can cite challenging stories and success stories while studying the course. 

Taking Bachelor of Secondary Education, major in Library Science was far from my mind. In fact, I never thought that a course like this exist. When I enrolled at PNU my desire is to become a science teacher. I preferred Biology or General Science. But my fate led me to this path when I served as a student assistant in the PNU Library. Prof. Ruben Marasigan was the one who enlightened me about the LS profession. He boasted to me and my fellow student library assistants that 100% of their LS graduates were successfully hired as a librarian right after graduation. This motivated me to embrace the LS profession. In addition to LS, I also took Art Education as my specialization course which nurtured my creative inclinations. I could say that I am one of those lucky students from our LS batch (1994) who always got recommendations from our professor whenever a school or institution looked for a part time cataloger. This gave me additional income to sustain my studies, plus I was able to practice and apply the theory that I’ve learned from the classroom. The Good Shepherd Convent in Cubao, Rogationist Seminary in Pasay and the Learning Child in Ayala, Alabang were the places that help strengthen my foundation in the LS profession during my college days. Luckily, the latter hired me after graduation and allowed me to practice my profession there for two years, as a librarian and as an art teacher. 

What has been the greatest challenge you've faced so far as a licensed and working librarian? Why do you say it's a challenge? 

For the first nine years, I’ve worked as a one-woman librarian. It was a very challenging task because I was the one who started building the library and library collections in my first and second job assignments. Starting a library is like giving birth to a new baby. It was painful at first because you have to start everything from developing vision –mission –goals to designing policies, doing technical and mechanical works, simultaneously promoting as well as preserving your collection. However, as your baby grows into a child it becomes easy, meaningful and fruitful, especially if you were able to provide and answer the need of the researchers and implement successfully your plan. Working solo-librarian strengthened further my knowledge and values of the profession specifically, on working independently. After going solo for several years, I decided that it would also be better to work in a bigger library with other librarians. I can say that working in a university library is more challenging: you have to balance work and your relationship with people – your partners – namely: students, colleagues and other stakeholders. It also tested your leadership ability specifically in handling people. 

What is your area of expertise in LIS? 

For ten years now, I’ve been serving the readers’ services unit, now I’m in-charge of the Reference and Information Section and concurrently, the head of the creative team of the library. My RIS and Creative teams are also responsible for marketing the library services. On top of reference services, I’m fortunate to handle the Airwaves Research: the official Library On-Air, The Bookshelf:  official newsletter of the AEA and the gallery. These three marketing platforms of the library squeeze my/our creativity to the fullest – from program/project conceptualization to implementation to evaluation. It also allows me/us to think outside the box incorporating the concepts of information fluency and bibliotherapy. Finally, these activities hone further my curatorial and project management skills which I acquired and fostered when I was still at the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and as co-founder of an independent/alternative creative venue in Cavite. 

What do you think are the requirements and preparations necessary for becoming a LIS professional? 

For me, there’s no requirements and preparations needed because when you do that you already close the door of possibilities to others who would like to try this path. In LIS profession all you need is Love, Inspiration, and Sacrifice. Love for learning and for discovering new things. This profession offers a lot of possibilities and opportunities, but when choosing the opportunity we have to match it with the right competency. This is the reason why learning must be a continuing pursuit in this profession. Next is being an inspiration to others. We should have the capability to influence and persuade people – our fellow library personnel and our clientele become our partner in whatever library advocacy we’re planning to do. We cannot accomplish anything without them. Also, we have to walk our talk. If we want to inspire others, we should start it with ourselves. Last is Sacrifice, do not give up. Fight for your dream and work hard for it. Remember that there’s no success that happens overnight, it always comes with some sort of sacrifice. If we want to thrive in the LIS profession all we need is L for Love, I for Inspiration and S for Sacrifice. 

What rewards have you reaped from being a LIS professional? 

Hearing directly from the mouth of our students that their view of the library changed 360 degrees after library orientation is more than winning a lottery ticket. Other are bonuses like a smile on their faces after tutoring them on how to use online resources, a simple thanks after guiding them on how to use OPAC, and congratulations for another successful library exhibition. These are some of the rewards that you will get from being LIS professional which cannot commensurate with material reward. 

Extend Essay: Following Through

Library Bluff Game

Here's a game I used with our tenth graders, Library Bluff: Is it a Fact or a Bluff?

The 10s were very competitive. I had fun listening to their justification and reasoning, arguments and counter arguments. The game required them to think through on their answers. There were a few students who were winging it. Those who frequent the library were able to answer the questions and provide reasons and arguments that were better phrased.

The Three Categories of the Library Bluff Game

What made the game educational was the "bluffing" part. I had to provide substantial information for each fact and correct the bluff. In a way, students reviewed basic library knowledge and new information was added to their knowledge on citations, information sources and research.

Contributing to UNESCO's Information Literacy Source Book

A few months back, Joseph Marmol Yap sent me an email asking for materials I have written about Information Literacy (IL). He was, at the time, collecting sources and documents on IL for a book being compiled by Dr. Forest Woody Horton Jr. Early this month, I received a copy of the ebook.

I'll be asking for permission to make the ebook available in my blog for download from Dr. Horton. Please visit the blog in the next few days for an update.

The 6th Rizal Library International Conference: Leadership and Change

Who are the conference speakers?

Filipino Readers' Choice Awards 2014: Call for Nominations

Visit the website. Nominate your favorite book!

ThingLink: A Visual Guide to the BA Library

Klasrum Adarna for Book Creators

I got an invitation from Adarna House for a speaking gig
during the Manila International Book Fair 2014.

Setting a Purpose for Reading (Handout)

Reading purposebm11 from Zarah Gagatiga

On LGBT Literature for Kids, Reading Choice and Libraries

I remembered last year when I gave a lecture in Teacher Portia's Chidlren's Lit class at the UP Diliman, Reading Department, I was asked how I feel about books that tackle gender differences and unique family dynamics. I know the question was really all about the changing family arrangement of Filipino families today like parents working abroad and same sex parenting. At the time, two new books for children that deals with same sex parenting and homosexuality were published. One of the books was even launched during the 30th National Children's Book Day.

If my memory serves me right, I answered in the affirmative. Yes, I feel positive about these books because, alas, we get to read such themes and issues with more care and consideration. My own children come home talking about the experiences of their classmates growing up with grandparents and being raised by homosexual parents. This is the reality of the world that my own children are growing up in. If such themes and topics are written about in the form of literature that my children read, then it is an opportunity to talk and discuss this with them with the hope that, empathy and a better understanding of the gray areas that make us human will come to light. Not only do homosexuality, same sex relations and dysfunctional family exist in real life, it has a place in children's and young adult literature.

So I was pleased when Ang Ikaklit sa Aming Hardin by Bernadette Neri and Ang Bongang Bongang Batang Beki by Rhandee Garlitos were included in the Kids' Choice Award Top Ten Best Books. The Kids' Choice Award went to The Day of Darkness, but having these two books in the roster of the Top Ten Best Books tells us something about the books we want our kids to read and the choices our kids make on their reading.

For one, book creators need to be better at their craft. The quest to strive for higher goals and standards is a continuous process. As adults, we need to engage with our growing, young readers of the books they pick and read. The teenager or tweener may not open up to an adult on the books he or she is reading, but there are strategies to do so. More on this in a future post. Kids are more open to read about books that deal with complicated and controversial issues. I think we need to pay attention to this openness if we truly want to see the local children's industry grow and mature.

Lastly, I hope, with the effort of the PBBY and the NBDB spearheading the Kids' Choice Award, more children and teens are given the opportunity to join in the conversation. For this to happen, we need to strengthen the library system in the country. And that, my librarian friends is where we can take part.

Library Bulletin Board for the 1st Term