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The Tomie dePaola Newsletter By Bob Hechtel, with Tomie dePaola Welcome to the SECOND Tomie dePaola Newsletter! Last Sunday night’s first episode of the new season of “The Sopranos” was everything Tomie hoped it would be and more. Tonight, beginning at 9:00, he won’t be answering the phone or checking email. He MUST learn what happened to Tony. Wednesday of this past week, Tomie had day surgery. On the online calendar, we indicated that a doctor’s appointment was scheduled, but it actually was surgery. The procedure went well. Tomie got to the hospital at 9:00 a.m. and was home by 2:30 p.m. During the seven days prior to the surgery, Tomie couldn’t take ibuprofen to alleviate his aches and pains. So, it was an achy week. Brontë, Tomie’s Airedale, went to a pet resort on Tuesday. He came home on Friday and spent the next 24 hours lying on his dog beds recuperating from energetic playtimes at the resort. Yesterday afternoon, he was rested enough to play with his friends at home: Puppy, Poly, Ducky, Teddy, Deery, Baby and Bambi. (These are his squeaky toys!) Margaret Frith, Tomie’s editor, sent the first draft of WHY? (the seventh “26 Fairmount Avenue” chapter book) back to him on Tuesday. She had written several comments on the 51-page, 39,000-character, typewritten manuscript. After reading her notes, Tomie thought there were A LOT of suggestions. He agreed with some and questioned others. When Margaret called Wednesday afternoon to ask Tomie how he was feeling, they agreed to speak Thursday morning to discuss her ideas. Tomie and Margaret spoke for ninety minutes Thursday morning and continued to make changes to the manuscript. I was given the marked up first draft after they finished their conversation so that I could incorporate the changes into the manuscript. I emailed the second draft to Margaret later that day. Margaret and Tomie talked Friday morning to discuss some additional changes. The manuscript’s next stop is the copy editor’s desk. I don’t recall this process going so quickly in the past. The copy editor might ask Tomie and Margaret to consider further changes. The book designer and Margaret will discuss where they think illustrations are needed and they’ll send Tomie their ideas. More conversations. These next steps will probably take weeks. One day, in the future, Tomie will begin to illustrate the story. I think Tomie is now working on his contribution for a book his publisher is producing for the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. Gosh, you’d think surgery, no matter how minor, was a good reason to rest, eat popcorn and watch soap operas for a few days! Not a good enough excuse for Tomie dePaola! We’re adding puzzles to the website. You can find them by going to HOT! NEW! FRESH! The first puzzle is called “Jamie O’Rourke Stories.” Catherine of Jacksonville, Florida asked Tomie in a letter, “What is a belly band?” On page 47 of the hardcover edition of HERE WE ALL ARE, Tomie wrote, Belly Bands aren’t used now as often as they were used during Tomie’s childhood. But, you can still buy them. I found one website that described a Belly Band as a “soft and comfortable umbilical cord cover for protection that shields belly area around the umbilical cord for faster infant healing.” I wouldn’t expect eight-year-old Catherine to understand that description, but I hope an adult will explain it to her. Until next time, best wishes, |
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