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<!--Generated by Squarespace Site Server v5.11.81 (http://www.squarespace.com/) on Fri, 01 Jun 2012 05:31:54 GMT--><feed xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"><title>Debbie's Blatherings</title><subtitle>Debbie's Blatherings</subtitle><id>http://debbieohi.com/blatherings/</id><link rel="alternate" type="application/xhtml+xml" href="http://debbieohi.com/blatherings/"/><link rel="self" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://debbieohi.com/blatherings/atom.xml"/><updated>2012-05-31T17:01:16Z</updated><generator uri="http://www.squarespace.com/" version="Squarespace Site Server v5.11.81 (http://www.squarespace.com/)">Squarespace</generator><entry><title>Video: Musical Marriage Proposal</title><category term="Video"/><category term="proposal"/><category term="video"/><id>http://debbieohi.com/blatherings/2012/5/28/video-musical-marriage-proposal.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://debbieohi.com/blatherings/2012/5/28/video-musical-marriage-proposal.html"/><author><name>Debbie Ohi</name></author><published>2012-05-28T21:39:51Z</published><updated>2012-05-28T21:39:51Z</updated><content type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[<p><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/5_v7QrIW0zY" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
<p>I love feel-good videos like this.</p>
<p>So much to love about this "lip-dub proposal" but what made me weep: the girlfriend's reactions as she saw her family and friends appear. A side note: Isaac must have been pretty confident that she'd say yes. :-) Thanks to Jeff for the link.</p>]]></content></entry><entry><title>Personal Blog Highligh: Beckett Gladney and "Spring Is Hard"</title><category term="Friends"/><category term="Writing"/><category term="beckett"/><id>http://debbieohi.com/blatherings/2012/5/10/personal-blog-highligh-beckett-gladney-and-spring-is-hard.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://debbieohi.com/blatherings/2012/5/10/personal-blog-highligh-beckett-gladney-and-spring-is-hard.html"/><author><name>Debbie Ohi</name></author><published>2012-05-10T10:48:58Z</published><updated>2012-05-10T10:48:58Z</updated><content type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[<p><img style="float: left;" title="Screen Shot 2012-05-10 at 6.35.01 AM.jpg" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-VqOWSH4tq7g/T6uaOWZlGYI/AAAAAAAAB10/PYlGTqD4FyM/Screen%252520Shot%2525202012-05-10%252520at%2525206.35.01%252520AM.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Screen Shot 2012 05 10 at 6 35 01 AM" width="352" height="313" border="0" hspace="10" vspace="10/" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Not only is my friend Beckett an amazing photographer and illustrator, but she writes well. Really well.</p>
<p>Every one of her personal blog posts moves me somehow, makes me think. </p>
<p>Beckett is able to write about the so-called little stuff but with a much bigger perspective. And sometimes, like her post about her father this week, she writes a piece that makes me cry.</p>
<p>Do read her "Spring Is Hard" blog post, and do read all the way to the end.</p>
<p><a href="http://artbeco.blogspot.ca/2012/05/spring-is-hard.html">Spring Is Hard</a> - by Beckett Gladney</p>]]></content></entry><entry><title>My Exciting News: TWO Book Contracts with Simon &amp; Schuster Books For Young Readers!</title><category term="Debbienews"/><id>http://debbieohi.com/blatherings/2012/4/11/my-exciting-news-two-book-contracts-with-simon-schuster-book.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://debbieohi.com/blatherings/2012/4/11/my-exciting-news-two-book-contracts-with-simon-schuster-book.html"/><author><name>Debbie Ohi</name></author><published>2012-04-11T15:53:21Z</published><updated>2012-04-11T15:53:21Z</updated><content type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2012/4/11/my-big-news-two-book-contracts-with-simon-schuster-books-for.html"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="2012-04DebbieBookAnnounce-v2-600.jpg" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-MHN-rdFrOYc/T4WoiHwixAI/AAAAAAAABqE/TkATRfsQvgY/2012-04DebbieBookAnnounce-v2-600.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" alt="2012 04DebbieBookAnnounce v2 600" width="560" height="600" /></a></p>
<p>It's official, so I can share my good news: <a href="http://inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2012/4/11/my-big-news-two-book-contracts-with-simon-schuster-books-for.html">I've just signed TWO BOOK CONTRACTS with Simon &amp; Schuster Books For Young Readers</a>!</p>
<p>WOOHOO!!</p>
<p><a href="http://inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2012/4/11/my-big-news-two-book-contracts-with-simon-schuster-books-for.html">Details here</a>.</p>
<p> </p>]]></content></entry><entry><title>Photo: Easter Egg Wreath</title><category term="Toronto"/><category term="craft"/><category term="easter"/><id>http://debbieohi.com/blatherings/2012/4/10/photo-easter-egg-wreath.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://debbieohi.com/blatherings/2012/4/10/photo-easter-egg-wreath.html"/><author><name>Debbie Ohi</name></author><published>2012-04-10T15:39:39Z</published><updated>2012-04-10T15:39:39Z</updated><content type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[<p><img title="EggWreathEaster-IMG_0578sm.jpg" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-0AJPi5NtPJU/T4RUAVh921I/AAAAAAAABoc/c2eNxX--wJA/EggWreathEaster-IMG_0578sm.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" alt="EggWreathEaster IMG 0578sm" width="600" height="574" /></p>
<p>Saw this wreath during a walk during the weekend.</p>]]></content></entry><entry><title>Selling my place of business</title><category term="Random"/><id>http://debbieohi.com/blatherings/2012/3/13/selling-my-place-of-business.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://debbieohi.com/blatherings/2012/3/13/selling-my-place-of-business.html"/><author><name>Debbie Ohi</name></author><published>2012-03-13T13:07:16Z</published><updated>2012-03-13T13:07:16Z</updated><content type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[<p><a title="Reading corner by Inkygirl, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/debbieohi/1518579096/"><img src="http://farm1.staticflickr.com/213/1518579096_f2baba4d36_m.jpg" alt="Reading corner" hspace="10" vspace="10" width="161" height="240" align="left" /></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Just received the following (spam) e-mail:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Hi Debbie<br /><br />I thought I would send you a quick note to see if you are considering Selling, Buying or need to Expand your current space for your business.</p>
<p>I work for Metropolitan Commercial Realty in downtown Toronto handling all facets of real estate transactions and specializing in the sale of investment and redevelopment properties and the leasing of office, commercial, industrial and retail properties.</p>
<p>Please let me know if I can be of assistance or provide you with a free Opinion of Value.</p>
<p>Regards,</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Makes me wonder how this fellow is getting his target contacts.</p>]]></content></entry><entry><title>Lunch with the Tolsons</title><category term="Friends"/><category term="friends"/><category term="macleans"/><category term="photography"/><id>http://debbieohi.com/blatherings/2012/3/10/lunch-with-the-tolsons.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://debbieohi.com/blatherings/2012/3/10/lunch-with-the-tolsons.html"/><author><name>Debbie Ohi</name></author><published>2012-03-10T22:34:25Z</published><updated>2012-03-10T22:34:25Z</updated><content type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[<p><img title="DSCF1485.jpg" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-7RD7fTXHs-M/T1vUL-Ez1GI/AAAAAAAABg0/LKcJbvlIncs/DSCF1485.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" alt="DSCF1485" width="600" height="450" /></p>
<p><em>Photo: Andrew Tolson.</em></p>
<p>I met <a href="http://andrewtolson.com/">Andrew Tolson</a> through the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TorKidLitNews">Toronto Area Middle Grade and Young Adult Group</a> (Torkidlit). Andrew's one of those über-creative types with multiple careers. He used to be a drummer for a rock band and more recently performed with The Back Issues in <a href="http://www.newzapalooza.ca/bands.html">Newzapalooza</a>. He's been a prop-maker, making barbed wire for a production of Miss Saigon in London. Now, he's a writer as well as the <a href="http://www2.macleans.ca/category/blog-central/the-photo-dept/">director of photography at Maclean's magazine</a> and has photographed many luminaries, including <a href="http://www2.macleans.ca/2011/09/14/shooting-stars-at-tiff/fiennes/">Voldemort/Ralph Fiennes</a>.</p>
<p><a href="http://www2.macleans.ca/category/blog-central/the-photo-dept/"><img title="Screen Shot 2012-03-12 at 8.57.06 AM.jpg" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-_e6ep4In7Yk/T13y781I_eI/AAAAAAAABh0/L-DQ6mXDBY8/Screen%252520Shot%2525202012-03-12%252520at%2525208.57.06%252520AM.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" alt="Screen Shot 2012 03 12 at 8 57 06 AM" width="600" height="161" /></a></p>
<p>Andrew and his family invited me over for lunch today. Wow…his wife Melody and his daughter are just as fun, fascinating and creative as Andrew. Check out the cover of the current Maclean's issue (in photo above): that's Andrew's wife and daughter on the front!</p>
<p><img title="DSCF1487.jpg" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/--4gtOcIRO5A/T1vVzOlQVoI/AAAAAAAABg8/9N_i3l-EDew/DSCF1487.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" alt="DSCF1487" width="600" height="450" /></p>
<p><em>Photo: Andrew Tolson</em></p>
<p>I especially enjoyed chatting with Andrew's daughter, already a talented writer and artist. I had fun showing her SketchBook on my iPad:</p>
<p><img title="IMG_0102.jpg" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-VRXp1Q5wy14/T1vWTSqGAeI/AAAAAAAABhE/z9cnc1vjt_s/IMG_0102.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" alt="IMG 0102" width="450" height="600" /></p>
<p>And check out the cool place card she made for me at lunch:</p>
<p><img title="IMG_0091.jpg" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-eTXeICZG8LU/T1vWeQilNLI/AAAAAAAABhM/699P70JC41Q/IMG_0091.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" alt="IMG 0091" width="450" height="600" /></p>
<p>Gourmet popcorn…Andrew's homemade Ginger Squash Soup…beautiful salad…apple crumble….mmmm….</p>
<p>To the Tolson family: thanks so much for the wonderful lunch and conversation!</p>
<p><img title="DSCF1492.jpg" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-pBGUqmjp1q4/T1vWzKYhuSI/AAAAAAAABhU/8z1OnJz7utU/DSCF1492.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" alt="DSCF1492" width="600" height="450" /></p>
<p><em>Photo: Andrew Tolson.</em></p>]]></content></entry><entry><title>My contributor's copies of TOMO arrived! Proceeds benefit teens affected by the 2011 Japan Earthquake</title><category term="Debbienews"/><category term="book"/><category term="japan"/><category term="tomo"/><id>http://debbieohi.com/blatherings/2012/2/29/my-contributors-copies-of-tomo-arrived-proceeds-benefit-teen.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://debbieohi.com/blatherings/2012/2/29/my-contributors-copies-of-tomo-arrived-proceeds-benefit-teen.html"/><author><name>Debbie Ohi</name></author><published>2012-02-29T23:18:40Z</published><updated>2012-02-29T23:18:40Z</updated><content type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[<p><a title="Untitled by Inkygirl, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/debbieohi/6796168040/"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7185/6796168040_fd380c756a.jpg" alt="" width="375" height="500" /></a></p>
<p>YAY! My contributor's copies of TOMO arrived today!! TOMO (which means "friend" in Japanese) features 36 stories for teens by authors and artists around the world. One of these stories is by me: it's my very first graphic short story, which is sort of a fantasy/romance/horror. Here's the first page:</p>
<p><a title="Untitled by Inkygirl, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/debbieohi/6942282183/"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7057/6942282183_3b1d519bbf.jpg" alt="" width="375" height="500" /></a></p>
<p>Looking forward to reading other stories!</p>
<p>A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book will benefit teens affected by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. Please do consider buying a copy, and tell your friends! You can point them to <a href="http://app.e2ma.net/app2/campaigns/archived/39451/06f6cfa5242564f9976aa71080f46027/">this online postcard about TOMO</a>.</p>
<p>Find out more about the anthology here: <a rel="nofollow" href="http://tomoanthology.blogspot.com/">tomoanthology.blogspot.com/</a> (includes <a href="http://tomoanthology.blogspot.com/2011/12/interview-with-tomo-contributor-debbie.html">an interview with me</a>)</p>
<p>From <a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/holly-thompson/tomo-friendship-through-fiction-anthology-japan-te/">Kirkus Reviews</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>A broadly appealing mix of the tragic and droll, comforting, disturbing, exotic and universal, with nary a clinker in the bunch.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781611720068?aff=DebbieOhi">Buy on Indiebound</a></p>
<p><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.amazon.com/Tomo-Friendship-through-Fiction-Anthology/dp/1611720060/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1330556609&amp;sr=8-7">Buy on Amazon</a> (On sale for $9.95 right now)</p>
<p><a title="Untitled by Inkygirl, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/debbieohi/6796168602/"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7050/6796168602_a8c406de19.jpg" alt="" width="375" height="500" /></a></p>
<p>Be sure to visit the <a rel="nofollow" href="http://tomoanthology.blogspot.com/">Tomo website</a> to learn about our events this March at Boston Children's Museum and the New York Public Library in Manhattan.</p>]]></content></entry><entry><title>I'M BORED Scrapbook -- plus Michael Ian Black talks about the book</title><category term="Debbienews"/><id>http://debbieohi.com/blatherings/2012/2/24/im-bored-scrapbook-plus-michael-ian-black-talks-about-the-bo.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://debbieohi.com/blatherings/2012/2/24/im-bored-scrapbook-plus-michael-ian-black-talks-about-the-bo.html"/><author><name>Debbie Ohi</name></author><published>2012-02-24T16:53:19Z</published><updated>2012-02-24T16:53:19Z</updated><content type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://debbieohi.com/im-bored-scrapbook"><img title="BoredJournalHeader-v4flat-800.jpg" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-bXokLDL_s9I/T0e_7AIyvQI/AAAAAAAABc0/-aQvbVGWTKA/BoredJournalHeader-v4flat-800.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" alt="BoredJournalHeader v4flat 800" width="500" height="116" /></a></p>
<p>For those interested, I've started posting about the whole I'M BORED experience, from start to finish, in the <a href="http://debbieohi.com/im-bored-scrapbook">I'M BORED Scrapbook</a>. In the <a href="http://debbieohi.com/im-bored-scrapbook/2012/2/24/what-inspired-michael-ian-black-to-write-im-bored-plus-info.html">most recent entry</a>, author/actor/comedian Michael Ian Black talks about what inspired him to write I'M BORED, plus also says some very sweet things about me. :-)</p>
<p> </p>]]></content></entry><entry><title>My F&amp;Gs (Folded &amp; Gathered unbound review copies) of I'M BORED have arrived, woohoo!</title><category term="Debbienews"/><category term="imbored"/><category term="picturebook"/><id>http://debbieohi.com/blatherings/2012/1/13/my-fgs-folded-gathered-unbound-review-copies-of-im-bored-hav.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://debbieohi.com/blatherings/2012/1/13/my-fgs-folded-gathered-unbound-review-copies-of-im-bored-hav.html"/><author><name>Debbie Ohi</name></author><published>2012-01-13T22:20:48Z</published><updated>2012-01-13T22:20:48Z</updated><content type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[<p><img title="ImBoredF&amp;G-v2.jpg" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-K5IIJWjRxMY/TxCt0XdbVII/AAAAAAAABXI/sMcJ_kN05fQ/ImBoredF%252526G-v2.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" alt="ImBoredF G v2" width="600" height="425" /></p>
<p>The F&amp;Gs (unbound review copies) just arrived! I've <a href="http://inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2012/1/13/the-fgs-for-im-bored-just-arrived.html">posted about it in my Inkygirl blog</a>.</p>
<p><img title="ImBored-Backcover-400.jpg" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-B57wgarOPeQ/TxCuE-lXc0I/AAAAAAAABXQ/fdZUnmIfCIU/ImBored-Backcover-400.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" alt="ImBored Backcover 400" width="400" height="509" /></p>]]></content></entry><entry><title>Step-by-step process: how I created an illustration for I'M BORED</title><category term="Debbienews"/><category term="book"/><category term="illustration"/><category term="imbored"/><id>http://debbieohi.com/blatherings/2012/1/11/step-by-step-process-how-i-created-an-illustration-for-im-bo.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://debbieohi.com/blatherings/2012/1/11/step-by-step-process-how-i-created-an-illustration-for-im-bo.html"/><author><name>Debbie Ohi</name></author><published>2012-01-11T22:18:46Z</published><updated>2012-01-11T22:18:46Z</updated><content type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://pixelshavings.blogspot.com/2012/01/im-bored-book-illustration-from-sketch.html"><img title="ImBored28-29notes-Oct2011.jpg" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-TzczrV740X4/Tw4KWG9Vz4I/AAAAAAAABUg/51VMV-bGVts/ImBored28-29notes-Oct2011.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" alt="ImBored28 29notes Oct2011" width="500" height="373" /></a></p>
<p>For those interested, <a href="http://pixelshavings.blogspot.com/2012/01/im-bored-book-illustration-from-sketch.html">I've posted about what went into creating the "little girl pretending to be a rampaging monster" image</a> in the spread from I'M BORED above. Includes step-by-step images, photo from my meeting at Simon &amp; Schuster, and the final spread.</p>]]></content></entry></feed>
