Now that is an awesome dude announcing my visit!

Reading specialist Reva Lobatos and son, Reva responsible for EVERYTHING you see on this blog, see below for a link to the last school I went to that Reva organized.  CLONE HER!

I wanted to say THANK YOU to ALL of the wonderful hosts this VERY busy Spring 2012 School Visit season.  I have been welcomed graciously and the excitement for reading, writing and anti-bullying was increased this year due to you wonderful educators who provide your students with an extra boost!  

My last school visit of the spring was a spectacular display of preparation, anticipation and excitement for students, staff and yours truly. 

I have always loved calling attention to excellence and so this blog is my hat off to one very special educator who simply goes WAY beyond the call of duty!  First of all, in these tight economic times a grant had to be written to provide this author visit.  The grant was turned down, but that didn't stop this 'steamroller of excellence'.  She went back to the grant committee and asked what needed to be done to modify her proposal to get approval.  They told her.  SHE DID IT, THAT DAY.  It was approved!  AWESOME STICK-TO-IT-NESS!

The walls were lined with covers, announcements.  

Fun assemblies and a very well attended family night at Henderson Elementary in Cheyenne, WY was a great way to close out the spring of 2012! 

Example of what it takes to get the kids pumped for an author visit!

So, here is my HUGE shout out to Reva Lobatos!  This is the second school and second school visit Reva has put together with me and this wonderful lady should be put in charge of the NATIONAL HOW TO DO IT RIGHT FOR KIDS committee!  

Representative Ken A. Esquibel, myself, Senator Floyd A. Esquibel, now that is some representation 
of Gov't in a school!

In attendance during the day was the Superintendent of schools, the school's district representative at the Capitol and a State Senator!  The most amazing thing to me is that this is just seems to be "standard procedure" for this excellent educator.  

I watched this cool dad reading with his son and talked to him about his involvement in his son's lives as it relates to reading.  He reads with his boys every night and it shows.  Talking to those young men was a true pleasure and hearing them talk about reading was music to my ears, WAY TO GO MR. LOBATOS!.  
No wonder those boys love a good story AND love to read!

CHECK OUT this link to an earlier blog entry I did to showcase what Reva did to prepare for my last visit.  http://justinmatott-snickers.blogspot.com/2008/12/books-are-door-to-head-and-heart.html  (By the way, not only did she provide her school with something different, fun and educational, she went home between the school day and the evening event and brought her own boys back to experience a night of storytelling, so not only an awesome educator, but an awesome mom.) 

There was no way ANYONE didn't know we had something special coming!

Talk about making a guy feel welcome!  Reva asked what my favorite things are and then filled a basket with them!  That is really going beyond the call, but SO appreciated!


I can't wait to see what she does next time!  Oh, there will be an next time!

Newspaper debut!

I found this old newpaper article in a drawer with a bunch of old stuff.  

Two things stand out about this article: having been in numerous newspapers for my books and writing, I could count on my left hand how many times my last name has been spelled correctly.  ALWAYS two T's in the middle, when the proper spelling is MATOTT!  

Also, funny about this article is that the teachers of the Montessori school I went to figured out how to call something a "method" when in reality they were just getting around child labor laws and getting their silver polished for free... SHEESH!

THEAC.ORG

My son, Ethan and his 'brothers' Doug and Ryan Wekenman did some fantastic work in Haiti and the Dominican Republic and now are in Belize working with a youth group from California on an orphanage.  Please check out their website www.theac.org and please help spread the word of what these fine young men are doing to make this world a more loving and great place!

Facebookers, please join their Facebook group for updates and information https://www.facebook.com/groups/122104614558045/

The AC Project is underway!

Be encouraged! The youth surrounding us are doing some pretty terrific things to change the world!

I spoke to Powell Middle Schoolers this morning about heroism, character and making a difference in the world. Several of them suggested I blog about my son's journey, because they were impressed with the idea of young men traveling the world to make a positive change, so here it is!

We talked about how you can make a positive change on the street corners of Denver (or any city, town or hamlet), by handing out sweaters, coats, gloves and food to the folks who are down on their luck. No reason to wait!

The morning at Powell Middle School was made possible by one student, LUCY, who is already a hero, a champion of others, a student of the NON MEism movement. A girl who puts her faith into action! A girl who already knows she wants to go to Africa to make a difference for orphaned children! I am very proud to know her and after meeting her parents realized the "apple didn't fall far from the tree". It was exciting to see how her desire to change the world infected the others to want to do something similar. WAY TO GO LUCY!

Ethan Matott, Doug and Ryan Wekenman left LAX this week and landed safely in Haiti where they will start this year long mission trip. There is a facebook page set up to follow them as well as their website: http://theac.org/ Matt Fons will join them in June when he is done at with his last semester in college and then the four of them will continue on the trip.

Take some time to read about what four guys who met at Colorado University in Boulder are doing to make this a better world. When they get back they will be showing their video journalism and setting up the foundation where other people can get involved and make a difference too. It is also exciting for me to think that Matt Fons, the WRITER, will be possibly bringing out a book about their travels.

Watch THE AC PROJECT in 90 SECONDS
http://vimeo.com/31881334

If you are on twitter, please follow their twitter feed for more information. https://twitter.com/?iid=am-114225476113257957525153798&nid=23+sender&uid=23076800&utm_content=profile#!/The_AC_Project


If you are on facebook, please LIKE their facebook page for more information.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/122104614558045/

A Principal Speaks

I am honored by the Principal Newton's response to my visit in her school and hope to live up to her praise in every school I visit!

As a principal at a highly impacted Title Elementary, I believe it’s my duty to spread the news when something works for our children and staff. The visit from Justin Matott was just the match we needed to ignite our children’s love for writing and reading. During our writing workshop Mr. Matott was somehow drawn to the exact students that needed to be encouraged and motivated. In one session we had five students who are served through our Severe Needs Behavior Program and Mr. Matott made immediate connections with them, without knowing who they were or that they were even in the room. This is the first assembly (ever) that my five have participated in without behavior support and they were writing too! How amazing is that?! In these tight budget times, I am always looking for areas I can cut and trim from our budget…Mr. Matott’s visit is one area I will try to uphold in the future. We can’t wait to invite him back next year! Our kids deserve it.

Principal Newton

Nisley Elementary

Mesa County Valley School District 51

Grand Junction

Often when I visit schools I am amazed that I am never introduced to the Principal or the Assistant Principal. If the school my children were going to was spending the money to have someone come in to entertain and teach my kids, I would like to know the Principal was aware of what happened in his or her school that day.

I am even more amazed then when the Principal AND the Assistant Principal are involved in district meetings (which they both lament the day before is mandatory) and then RUSH BACK to the school to catch all that they can of the assemblies and workshops and stay involved in all in spite of all of the normal, regular demands on their day.

That is what happened at Nisley Elementary School, where I met such leaders, who participated with great excitement during the day and made it clear that EVERY student in the building was loved and respected. It showed in the students AND the staff! We need more people in education like the folks at Nisley!

Four men offering muscle, faith, help and hope!

In a world where it seems much of today's youth is self-centered, self-serving and sometimes simply selfish, (not that it wasn't the same when I was a "youth") it is a breath of fresh air to see four young warriors take up a cause and put it all on the line.

Take a moment to see what these four fine young men are planning to do to change our world for good. They have each already gone on numerous short term mission trips, all four came back transformed and changed and ready to do more after seeing the need outside of our "bubble" of comfort (yes, even in this tough economic time we are still rich compared to much of the world).

http://theac.org/about

There is also a Facebook page, set up for updates, info, conversation etc... come join in!
http://www.facebook.com/groups/122104614558045/

Now they will be spending a full year traveling the globe to bring hope, help and love and muscle. Building orphanages, fighting sex trafficking, providing clean water, equipping other youth to provide help for struggling communities are just a few of the ways you and I and they can provide assistance.

Their trip will be a journey of video journalism as well, so they can bring back the message to Americans and others around the globe who can help further to assist our world more.

Spend a little time on their website and you will learn of this brave and hope-fillled mission they have been planning for the past several years. http://theac.org/about

Please consider introducing this mission to your church, youth group, rotary and/or other works based clubs, synagogue, mosques, shoot even bake-sale-betties who can join in to help. If you own a restaurant or work for a company that is interested in change for good, please consider joining in on a fund raiser to send these young men out.

Your donation is tax-deductible and right now is matched dollar for dollar up to $2000.

SIX PHOTOS FOR A WORTHY CAUSE!

When I first was acquainted with the wonderful and delightful Steckels; Richard and Michele, who have put together so many wonderful photographic displays (you have seen them in airports all over the world) I was delighted to be considered for their Milestones Project book http://www.amazon.com/Milestones-Project-Celebrating-Childhood-Around/dp/1582462283/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1315604123&sr=1-1 that would be published with the express intent to bring down color, racial, religious, nationalistic and other barriers. With delight I submitted my story, a story about my first pair of glasses, which the editor LOVED and told me would be included in the book. Within a month she called me to tell me my story wouldn't be used after all. I asked why since she had been so profuse about how much she like my story. She replied "Well, we received a piece from JK Rowling and that is what she chose to write about." "WOW, I thought, I have been bumped by the one and only J. K. Rowling, what a claim to fame!" Then she told me she still wanted to include me if I were willing to write on another subject important to childhood. I wrote a piece about my first puppy and it was included. Imagine my delight when I saw the assemblage of people in the table of contents.


Now, the Steckels have asked me to contribute to a wonderful online assemblage of original photographs to feed the hungry and to promote other goodwill, which simply is what they do so beautifully! I am so excited to see who will be included in this wonderful display and see how many people it will help. When Richard called he listed off some whos whos and I felt simply humbled to be included. So, why me? Here is why. Richard and Michele have a delightful daughter who had a delightful daughter who is a fan of my books. SHE told them about me and told them they HAD to include me. Now, how do you like them apples. A little girl who saw me in her school got me in a book with the likes of Eric Carle, J K Rowling, Walter Cronkite and many other much more famous people. Thank you Sutton, you are a doll!

So, here are the photos I chose after looking at thousands and even posting twenty of my favorites on my fan page at Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Works-of-Justin-Matott/213624096290 to get other people's impressions and limit it to six. If you were one who chimed in, thank you!

These are some boys my brother and I met in a small village in the Dominican Republic as he, my brother, took be to the villages he had installed fresh water systems in.








This is a homeless man in Dublin, Ireland who was preparing to feed the pigeons in a churchyard on a bench he sat on daily. When I asked him why, he told me that God feeds the lowliest birds, so imagine how he loves us. Quite sure I have read that in the GOOD BOOK.






In one of the villages in the DR, it wasn't unusual to see industrious people carrying water and other income sources on bikes and motorbikes. This one was just too good!










This bloke was a glass worker in the Waterford Crystal factory in Waterford, Ireland. Now, THAT is a character!












This pretty young lass was hamming it up for us in Sammy Sosa's hometown in the Dominican Republic. The people there were friendly and very family oriented.














These two sisters came and talked with my brother and me in the most beautiful spot on earth. We were enjoying some freshly caught fish and a local brew. They were delightful and delighted!

BIG BAD MOTORCYCLE MAN (coming soon in Nitwittles)

My Dad was an English Professor and often did editing on my work as I developed it. He was able, generally, to read my work as he did many, many, many college students, with a sense of arms-length detachment, an editorial eye and red pen and could be constructively brutal about my writing.

He pulled no punches if he didn't like it, which I really appreciated and miss a lot! He also carefully doled out praise (usually with a little caveat) but I always knew he was in my corner, just wanting me to put out the very best work I was capable of. It was amazing to me to see my own dad become all business about my work, putting aside our relationship with objectivity.

All this to say my dad LOVED this poem. He told me it was his favorite poem of ALL of the poems I had written and he had reviewed at the time, which exceeded five hundred. SO, I have always remembered most the conversation we had about The BIG Bad Motorcycle Man that I based this poem on. I remember the way he laughed, the way we laughed. As a Dad, I know the only thing I want more than my own success is to watch my son's successes. I want more for them than I do for myself and my dad felt the very same way.

THIS POEM WAS WRITTEN WHILE WATCHING SOME GENTLEMEN AT MY LOCAL STARBUCKS, WHO - LIKE ME, RIDE HARLEY MOTORCYCLES.

PLEASE CLICK ON THE POEM BELOW TO BLOW IT UP ENOUGH TO READ IT. I HAVEN'T YET FIGURED OUT HOW TO SAVE THE FILE FROM THE MANUSCRIPT LARGE ENOUGH...

What have you watched today that you could sit down and write a poem or short story about?

EXCITING THINGS ARE HAPPENING!

Times are a changin' in the Matott forecast. I have been working hard to establish my platforms of Anti-bullying and Motivating reluctant readers, for over a decade and the work has begun to pay off in some significant ways!

My first and second iPad book release is imminent. I have a feeling we are going to make a big mark on the world of electronic books! A rule changer! A set-the-tone kind of technological leap that just six months ago couldn't be imagined!

I would love to tell you more about it, the only thing I can say right now is the first book is going to be my Aliens - All Mixed Up .


This icon (drawn by Justin Matott Jr. and featured as my author photo in The Tails Tails of Mr. Murphy) is the new branding image for my 'COMING SOON BRAND NEW WEBSITE'! The icon will also appear on my twitter account, my email account, my facebook fan page, letter head, cards and all other item published by yours truly. I am BRANDED at last! Please visit my website and throw in your opinion on what you would like to see on the new one. THE SKY IS THE LIMIT!




My new web designer is very good at what he does and I would recommend you look at his website if you have any needs for web design, graphic design, t-shirts and swag design etc... Find him at http://danielevangarza.com/






Also, I have a new assistant who will be handling much of my day to day items, which are keeping me from writing the novels and fun fractured fairytale books and other projects that feel like lead deadlines over my head presently.

Please meet Tara Barlean and contact her at tara@justinmatott.com for information on school visits, special events and general information that you don't currently find on my website (trust me, all answers will be on the website very soon).

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

LAURIE McADAM/THE MODESTO BEE

Laurie McAdam is the illustrator of four, almost five of my books. She works in California for the Modesto Bee and does awesome editorial illustration. Laurie, Lauren McAdam is a professional in every way and a delight to work with.

She has illustrated four of my books and is working on the fifth. You may know her work with When Did I Meet You Grandma? and When Did I Meet You Grandpa? or Oliver Kringle and Aliens All Mixed Up OR you might have seen some of her work as Clay Aiken's portrait painter? Well, check out her website, she has some totally cool things to view! http://www.lauriemcadam.com/bookshelf.html

THE BIG QUESTION!

I have heard the BIG question posed at EVERY writer's conference I have been to that included picture books.

I have been asked the BIG question numerous times by many aspiring authors and illustrators and never really had a good answer because it is subjective and depends on the editor in question.

I have however answered it before after hearing an agent say, "It is much easier for an editor to dismiss the work if they like the illustration but not the story or vice-versa. It is just simply easier to reject it and move on to the other thousand submissions. Poor pity for the really awesome story that never gets a chance because the illustration just isn't up to snuff..." I even heard an editor say, "How does one accept you and reject your spouse or best friend? Just easier not to hassle with it. There are too many people competing for the same prize. Sometimes it is much easier to find what should be rejected than what I am going to spend the next two years trying to sell."

Okay, that makes a lot of sense, "BUT MY PROJECT IS UNIQUE AND DIFFERENT! SURELY THIS DOESN'T APPLY TO ME?!"

Thursday night, the best answer in my estimation to the BIG question was given by an editor who really, really, really knows her stuff. After all, she is largely responsible for the other two guests joining a very enviable and elusive club of people: those who have won the coveted Newbury and Caldecott. Dinah Stevenson, VP and Publisher of Clarion Books, a division of Houghton Mifflin, was asked the BIG question after Linda Sue Parks and David Weisner gave excellent presentations about the process of taking their ideas through many drafts, false starts and successes to becoming very enjoyable, readable, interesting and exciting books (see Weisner's video below and get yourself a signed copy of his new book ART AND MAX at The Tattered Cover! It is an awesome book and will surely secure Weisner the fourth Caldecott, you heard it here first!)

SO, at the Tattered Cover near my home twenty three of us (three of us being Tattered Cover employees) sat listening to a Newbury winner, a three time, record setting Caldecott winner and Dinah Stevenson, editor for both of them. HOW FORTUNATE FOR THE FEW OF US WITHIN SPITTING DISTANCE TO GET TO ASK MORE THAN ONE QUESTION AND HAVE PERSONAL INTERACTION WITH THESE THREE GIANTS OF OUR WRITING COMMUNITY.

(Now, allow me a slight aside)
MY BIG QUESTION THAT NIGHT WAS; "My gosh, where is everyone?" I mean if an Oscar or Emmy winner was there FOR FREE to mingle with, the place would be packed and jammed tight. Here we were truly in the presence of a sort of genius in all three panel members and it was largely ignored? Well, as my mother used to say when I turned up my nose to something I now would give my eye teeth to have for dinner, "Oh well, good, there is just more for the rest of us!"

(Even though I was taking notes on my ipad during the night, I did not transcribe the specific conversation, therefore allow for the fact that what I say was said, just not exact. I am not in the business of putting words into other's mouths... wait, that is my business, but only in my fiction...)
When asked the inevitable BIG question, "Is it a good idea for an author to send his or her manuscript with illustrations?" Dinah, David and Linda Sue Parks glanced at each other with a look of knowing. Dinah said, "No! One of the biggest thrills I get as an editor is marrying my image of who would best represent the author on paper, and the discovery process is what I love. It is FUN to watch the process..." The persistent person with the question (with an obvious agenda, in that she probably already had her sister-in-law, colleague or someone else take a stab at illustration or had done it herself) asked again, "What if the author illustrates it?" Dinah said something like, "Well if one has the talent to do both, then of course, but if it isn't the author's illustration I DO NOT recommend sending it with illustration." with a shrug of her shoulder Dinah was ready to move on to the next question.

SO, WAIT, THE EDITOR CONSIDERS IT A LARGE PART OF HER JOB TO BRING NEW VISION TO THE WRITER'S WORDS AND THAT IS WHAT BRINGS HER FUN???? THEN WHY, OH WHY, WOULD I DREAM OF ROBBING HER OF HAVING FUN? AFTER ALL, FUN IS WHY I WRITE! AND FUN IS WHAT I INTEND FOR MY READERS TO READ. WHAT FUN IT IS GOING TO BE WHEN DINAH DISCOVERS THE PICTURE BOOK MANUSCRIPT I'M STUFFING IN AN ENVELOPE ON HER DESK SOON!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuIsAIKiNgY

By the way, for those of you who are aspiring authors for children's picture books as well as chapter books, here is a nugget of GOLD for you. Dinah Stevenson answered another question posed and her answer brings hope. The question was, "Do you read unsolicited manuscripts?" Dinah said, "Clarion is one of the very few publishers who read EVERY manuscript sent in. Linda Sue Park was plucked from the slush pile!" Did I mention Linda Sue Park won the NEWBURY???? I am sending Dinah a manuscript on Monday...

What will you do next?

Gabe rides again!

The Gabriel Book of World Records is on its way! First signing, Tattered Cover... stay tuned!

Poem from upcoming Nitwittles - SHADOWS

I WILL BE POSTING MY POETRY RANDOMLY OVER THE SUMMER TO INTRODUCE THE NEXT INSTALLMENT, TITLED 'NITWITTLES' WHICH IS BEING RECORDED, EBOOKED AND PUBLISHED.

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ACTUALLY READ THE POEM. TECHNICALLY DEFICIENT AUTHOR AT WORK!

An article from my recent school visit to Dolores, Colorado

I had a blast with the kids and adults and even a very cool Rat Terrier dog while in Dolores, CO. Those small towners sure know how to make one feel welcome! Thanks to all my new friends!

By the way, if you click on the two "pics" it will make them large enough to read the print.

Front page news in Rock Springs, WYO

Along with two car wrecks, Arrest for robbery, information wanted on a female fugitive, woman sentenced for false reporting and a revision of the commissioner's mission statement.

CLICK ON THE PICTURE TO READ THIS COOL ARTICLE PLEASE