My students submitted their final essays this week, which means there's a big pile of 'em on the living room floor -- and a smaller pile (those are the ones I've already graded) in my schoolbag. All this to say I don't expect to be doing any new writing until the middle of next week. When I'm not writing, I miss it -- it's kind of like not getting to be with your crush!!! <div>But I decided to write this blog entry today, anyhow, to fill you in on some news. First, I wanted to tell you about some of the really cool papers I've been marking -- I've been teaching two sections of a course called "The Stuff of Nonsense" and for the final assignment, my students had to create a work of nonsense and analyze it in a separate essay. So far, I've seen some amazing stuff. Katherine D made a scarf out of red licorice! Steven B took a totally cool photo that was a play on the I Spy books he loved as a child. Becky W made a guitar that's half chicken and half musical instrument and Zach K made a sandwich that he filled with the layers that make up his personality. So even though I've got a ton of marking, I can't complain too much since so many of the assignments are just plain fun to read. Also, projects like these make me reflect on the pleasures of creativity. It makes me happy to know there are an endless number of great ideas out there -- if only we're open to them and if we take the trouble to turn them into something.Â
Two other bits of news to report: the proofs for my spring book, 121 Express, arrived today. It's the story of a group of kids who go wild on a school bus and it's inspired by true events -- and by a real bus route in Montreal. The book is due out in spring 2008 and will be published by Orca Books. And finally, I wanted to tell you I've got a story in today's Globe & Mail newspaper. It's about a tray and how I tried to trick my husband. If you've got time to check it out, you can read the story at http://www.globeandmail.com/factsandarguments
Okay, back to those papers!! Â
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Universal to put Gellar in Wonderland
By Borys Kit and John Gaudiosi
Universal Pictures is making “Alice,†an adaptation of video game “American McGee’s Alice,†with Sarah Michelle Gellar attached to star for director Marcus Nispel.
“Alice†is based on the Electronic Arts game created by American McGee, a lead designer of the “Quake†and “Doom†series of games. EA’s game is based on Lewis Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland†novels, which are in the public domain.
In the game, Alice has grown up to become a disturbed young woman. After her parents are killed in a fire, Alice returns to Wonderland, a dark and threatening place of looking glasses, mysterious potions, nonsensical tea parties and talking animals, confronting her fears and the wicked Queen of Hearts.
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You didn't mention my amazing project!