TED: Dave Eggers and his After-School Pirate Supply Store Writing Center

A few years ago I went to a Revenge of the Bookeaters fund-raising event for Dave Eggers' 826 Valencia project, an after school writing program for kids. Dave put both a magazine and a tutoring center in one place so that kids could have one-on-one access with professional writers. What's novel about the San Francisco location is that it's not "Center for Teaching Kids Writing" or some dull name -- it's a crazy cool pirate accessory store! Having that sort of atmosphere expands kids' imaginations, and writing just becomes a means to express and dignify children's ideas. Other places have opened around the country and even Ireland, all with a nifty theme. One is time travellers accessory store, another a superhero store with a capery... I love it!

Storytime with Cephalopods

The L.A. Book Festival is coming up this week at UCLA.

Guests include Henry Winkler, Ray Bradbury, Elizabeth Taylor, Kirk Douglas, Dr. Phil, and Gore Vidal.

Sing with me: "One of these folks is not like the others. One of these folks just doesn't belong. Can you tell me which one is not like the others before I finish this song?"

If you guessed Ray Bradbury as the only professional writer in the group, you're absolutely right! (But you'd rather see The Fonz wouldn't you...)

UPDATE: I went on Sunday. Randomly, I wore my Avenue Q shirt. The moment I got there, I saw people carrying Avenue Q fans that were being passed out, advertising the fact that it will be coming to Los Angeles soon. Must have had three or more people either compliment me on my t-shirt, or ask where they could get one and the fan.

Oh, and I went to the Dr. Phil talk. Take that, you authors-without-daytime-TV-shows!