Sunday, August 14, 2016

Guess the kidlit desks contest

Many of your favorite authors/illustrators of children's/YA books have…


Now, inspired in part by a 1996 book called The Writer's Desk and in part because I've apparently got a thing for desks, you're about to see their workspaces. Actually, you're about to guess their workspaces. That's right...this time, it's a contest. And there are prizes. (Rules/deadline below.)

The 36 authors/illustrators/desks:



Tony Abbott ***
Jeff Mack ***
Tom Angleberger ***
Scott Magoon ***
Jonathan Auxier
Richard Michelson ***
Samantha Berger ***
Jerry Pallotta *
Lisa Brown
Matt Phelan *
Lauren Castillo *
Nora Raleigh Baskin ***
Matthew Cordell ***
Debbie Ridpath Ohi *
Sarah Darer Littman
Barney Saltzberg *
Sue Fliess
Steve Sheinkin
Liz Garton Scanlon ***
Neal Shusterman *
Chris Grabenstein
Andrew Smith ***
Deborah Heiligman *
Lemony Snicket
Barbara Kerley *
Elizabeth Rose Stanton
Daniel Kirk ***
Don Tate
Kirby Larson
Terry Trueman ***
Tara Lazar ***
Deborah Underwood ***
David Lubar ***
Eliza Wheeler *
Maryann Macdonald ***
Dan Yaccarino *
 

* = new participant in my kidlit side projects
*** = Triple Player (participated in bad reviews, Proust, and desks)

Because 36 participants would make this perhaps a bit too challenging, I have broken the contest into two subcontests, each with 18 desks to guess.

Do any desk photos contain clues to whose desks they are, such as a name on a sign or screen or an image in a framed photo? In a couple of instances, maybe…but so small, and so infrequent, I encourage you to skip that level of scrutiny. Instead take in the environment as a whole, take a guess, and take your chances.

In two cases, you are seeing the "summer desk"—the makeshift one in use where those authors/illustrators were vacationing when they received my call for entries.

To play:


  1. In the comments section below, make two simple numbered lists (#1-18 for subcontest 1, #19-36 for subcontest 2) of your guesses by midnight EST at the start of August 26, 2016. (It'll be easier if you print both lists of authors to refer to rather than scroll up and down.)
  2. Email me those same guesses so I can contact you if you win. (If you'd like to play but not for prizes, just skip this step.)

Winners will be announced here on August 27, 2016.

The prizes (three tiers):


  • The three people who get the most right per subcontest (six total) each win a copy of my latest book Brave Like My Brother signed by any of the 36 participants. I'm (partially) kidding: each book will be signed, but unfortunately, only by me.
  • Anyone who gets all 18 right in either subcontest also wins a second signed mystery book.
  • Anyone who gets all 36 right (i.e. all 18 right in both subcontests) also wins a free school visit from me (U.S. only); if you are not affiliated with any school as either an educator or a parent, you may donate the visit to a school of your choice. (Sampling of feedback from my past school visits and other speaking engagements.)


Subcontest 1 of 2

The 18 authors/illustrators included here:

Dan Yaccarino
Lauren Castillo
Don Tate
Chris Grabenstein
Nora Raleigh Baskin
Eliza Wheeler
Jonathan Auxier
Lemony Snicket
Samantha Berger
Daniel Kirk
Matthew Cordell
Barbara Kerley
Kirby Larson
Lisa Brown
Andrew Smith
Elizabeth Rose Stanton
Deborah Heiligman
Deborah Underwood

The desks:


 1

 2

 3

 4

 5

 6

 7

 8

 9

 10

 11

 12

 13

 14

 15

 16

 17

18

Subcontest 2 of 2


The 18 authors/illustrators included here:

Matt Phelan
Debbie Ridpath Ohi
Neal Shusterman
David Lubar
Tony Abbott
Liz Garton Scanlon
Tom Angleberger
Sarah Darer Littman
Richard Michelson
Barney Saltzberg
Sue Fliess
Tara Lazar
Terry Trueman
Jeff Mack
Steve Sheinkin
Maryann Macdonald
Scott Magoon
Jerry Pallotta

The desks:


 19

 20

 21

 22

 23

 24

 25

 26

 27

 28

 29

 30

 31

 32

 33

 34

 35

36

Good luck!


8/27/16 addendum: Answers/winners.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

I just love the idea of this. I've got a "thing" for work spaces of authors and illustrators so this is irresistible to me. I hope I can participate and get this worked out before the 26th. Whether I get them right or wrong, it'll be SO much fun! :D

Kpower said...

This is so hard... Man oh man, I need help!

Unknown said...

Oh my gosh I SUCK at this!

1 is either Lauren Castillo or Lisa B
3 is Samantha Berger?
9 is Yaccarino?
10 could be Kirby Larson
11 that insanity must be Smith :)
12 is Auxier maybe?
14 could be Handler
15 I wanna say Don Tate
16 Matthew Cordell
17 could be Barbara Kerley

19 is Lubar
20 is Matt Phelan I bet
21 for some reason I just want to believe Debbie Ridpath Ohi writes in bed!
31 is Tom
34 is Steve Sheinkin

... and that is the best I can do

KHaskell said...

1. Deborah Underwood
2. Eliza Wheeler
3. Samantha Berger
4. Don Tate
5. Lauren Castillo
6. Lemony Snicket
7. Deborah Heiligman
8. Jonathan Auxier
9. Don Yaccarino
10. Chris Grabenstein
11. Andrew Smith
12. Lisa Brown
13. Nora Raleigh Baskin
14. Barbara Kerley
15. Kirby Larson
16. Matthew Cordell
17. Daniel Kirk
18. Elizabeth Rose Stanton
-------
19. David Lubar
20. Matt Phelan
21. Sarah Darer Littman
22. Tony Abbott
23. Tara Lazar
24. Richard Michelson
25. Maryann Macdonald
26. Jeff Mack
27. Scott Magoon
28. Barney Saltzberg
29. Neal Shusterman
30. Debbie Ridpath Ohi
31. Tom Angleberger
32. Terry Trueman
33. Jerry Pallotta
34. Steve Sheinkin
35. Sue Fliess
36. Liz Garton Scanlon​

Lynnor B. said...

#30 has GOT to be Debbie Rid path Ohi's. and that's all I can figure out. amazing to see talented people's workspaces.

Lynnor B. said...

#30 has GOT to be Debbie Rid path Ohi's. and that's all I can figure out. amazing to see talented people's workspaces.

Unknown said...

Here we go! ::cross fingers::

Subcontest 1

1. Deborah Heiligman
2. Lisa Brown
3. Daniel Kirk
4. Don Tate
5. Lauren Castillo
6. Barbara Kerley
7. Chris Grabenstein
8. Nora Raleigh Baskin
9. Dan Yaccarino
10. Lemony Snicket
11. Andrew Smith
12. Elizabeth Rose Stanton
13. Deborah Underwood
14. Kirby Larsen
15. Samantha Berger
16. Elizabeth Wheeler
17. Jonathan Auxier
18. Matthew Cordell

Subcontest 2

19. David Lubar
20. Matt Phelan
21. Sue Fleiss
22. Tony Abbott
23. Tara Lazar
24. Jeff Mack
25. Maryann Macdonald
26. Scott Magoon
27. Sarah Darer Littman
28. Barney Saltzberg
29. Richard Michelson
30. Debbie Ridpath Ohi
31. Tom Angleberger
32. Neal Shusterman
33. Jerry Pallotta
34. Steve Sheinkin
35. Terry Trueman
36. Liz Garton Scanlon

Jess Stork said...

This is really tough... But here are my guesses:

Subcontest 1
1.Deborah Heiligman
2. Don Tate
3. Samantha Berger
4. Andrew Smith
5. Lauren Castillo
6. Chris Grabenstein
7. Dan Yaccarino
8.Barbara Kerley
9. Elizabeth Rose Stanton
10. Kirby Larson
11.Jonathan Auxier
12. Deborah Underwood
13. Eliza Wheeler
14. Nora Raleigh Baskin
15. Lemony Snicket
16. Lisa Brown
17. Matthew Cordell
18. Daniel Kirk

Subcontest 2

19. David Lubar
20. Sarah Darer Littman
21. Tara Lazar
22. Scott Magoon
23. Maryann Macdonald
24. Neal Shusterman
25.Tony Abott
26. Barney Saltzberg
27. Richard Michelson
28. Sue Fliess
29. Jeff Mack
30: Debbi Ridpath Ohi
31.Tom Angleberger
32. Matt Phelan
33. Jerry Pallotta
34. Steve Sheinkin
35. Terry Truman
36. Liz Garton Scanlon

Honestly, the only two I'm really certain on are Debbi Ridpath Ohi and Tom Angleberger... The rest are mostly guesses based on what they write....

fran stur said...

Weren't the answers supposed to go in an email?

fran stur said...

Love Childrens books and illustrations. Would love to see a match game of a sample illustration and artist desk though as I am not familiar with all of these names

Marc Tyler Nobleman said...

fran stur - Please post answers here so all answers can be seen by all (i.e. to prove there is no rigging!) AND send them to mtnobleman@gmail.com so I can contact you if you win. Good luck!

Christopher Denise said...

This was so comforting to see that I am not the only illustrator fighting the paper war and collecting coffee cups!

ChelseaSC said...

Mostly guessing!
1. Lauren Castillo
2. Matthew Cordell
3. Samantha Berger
4. Chris Grabenstein
5. Lisa Brown
6. Daniel Kirk
7. Jonathan Auxier
8. Kirby Larson
9. Dan Yaccarino
10. Deborah Heiligman
11. Andrew Smith
12. Eliza Wheeler
13. Elizabeth Rose Stanton
14. Nora Raleigh Baskin
15. Barbara Kerley
16. Don Tate
17. Lemony Snicket
18. Deborah Underwood

19. David Lubar
20. Matt Phelan
21. Sarah Darer Littman
22. Neal Shusterman
23. Tara Lazar
24. Barney Saltzberg
25. Richard Michelson
26. Debbie Ohi
27. Tony Abbott
28. Jeff Mack
29. Terry Trueman
30. Jerry Pallotta
31. Tom Angleberger
32. Scott Magoon
33. Sue Fleiss
34. Steve Sheinkin
35. Maryann Macdonald
36. Liz Garton Scanlon

Great challenge!

Anonymous said...

This was SO challenging, but a LOT of fun! The only ones I feel pretty sure about are in all CAPS, but the rest I REALLY tried to make good guesses. Can't wait to see the answers! :D

Subcontest 1:

1 – JONATHAN AUXIER
2 – MATTHEW CORDELL
3 – Samantha Berger
4 – Lisa Brown
5 – Eliza Wheeler
6 – Deborah Underwood
7 – Lemony Snicket
8 – Barbara Kerley
9 – DAN YACCARINO
10 – Kirby Larson
11 – Andrew Smith
12 – LAUREN CASTILLO
13 – Elizabeth Rose Stanton
14 – Chris Grabenstein
15 – Deborah Heiligman
16 – Daniel Kirk
17 – Nora Raleigh Baskin
18 – Don Tate


Subcontest 2

19 – David Lubar
20 – Matt Phelan
21 – Tara Lazar
22 – Jerry Pallotta
23 – Maryann Macdonald
24 – Jeff Mack
25 – Sarah Darer Littman
26 – Scott Magoon
27 – Sue Fliess
28 – Barney Saltzberg
29 – Terry Trueman
30 – DEBBIE RIDPATH OHI
31 – TOM ANGLEBERGER
32 – Tony Abbott
33 – Richard Michelson
34 – Steve Sheinkin
35 – Neal Shusterman
36 – Liz Garton Scanlon