One of my upcoming picture books was submitted at 45 words and sold at 65. Yesterday I received a very kind and thoughtful revision letter from my editor asking me to cut 16 words and change all the rest. You think I’m joking? Two funny truths about that letter: I completely agree with her suggestions… Read more »
jean
That One Perfect Sentence
So today I went for a 45-minute run on this unseasonably warm Colorado day. And about half way through, I composed a line for the final scene in my current MG WIP. I loved that line. I adored that line. I mentally kissed myself for authoring such a vastly poetic, thematically targeted, perfectly voiced sentence…. Read more »
A Look Inside a SOUL!
My crit buddy David Macinnis Gill is up on Amazon and you can take a peak inside his soon-to-be released YA Soul Enchilada. I adored this book from the first draft. And now, bagging a starred review from Kirkus, Soul must make it to the top of your “must read” list. Can’t wait until April,… Read more »
Golden Kite Award Winners!!
Look at what I just picked up from Elisabeth Bird’s Blog. Congratulations to all the winners. THE SOCIETY OF CHILDREN’S BOOK WRITERS AND ILLUSTRATORS ANNOUNCES THE WINNERS AND HONOREES OF THE 2009 GOLDEN KITE AWARDS The Golden Kite Award is the only award presented to children’s book authors and artists by their peers. Golden Kite… Read more »
Share a Story – Shape a Future – Literacy Blog Tour
I’m constantly impressed by creative uses of blogs, social networking sites and the internet in general. And when they’re combined with a terrific cause, like literacy, well then WOOT! WOOT! From the Share a Story – Shape a Future blog (logo artist Elizabeth Dulemba): “Within the kidlitosphere, the children’s literature bloggers comprise and reach a… Read more »
Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!!
It’s Dr. Seuss’s 105th birthday. Let’s have a blog party. Our guests are here.Let the party begin.Are you partying too?Then link right in. Here are a few folks with their party hats on: GEEKDAD FROM WIRED.COM U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT MENTAL FLOSSHAVE FUN TEACHING TECH SAVVY MAMA BOOKMARK SANTA CLARA COUNTY LIBRARY LOS ANGELES… Read more »
For the Social Media Newbie!!
What a find!!Here it is, all in one place. Amber Naslund so generously offers a complete guide to most of our favorite networking sites including Twitter in her Social Media Starter Kit.
The Astonishing Pay Off of Hard Work and Research
It just so happens that the same day I started reading National Book Award Winner, The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing by M. T. Anderson, my GoodReads friend, Elizabeth C. Bunce, author of Curse Dark as Gold (winner of the first ever William C. Morris award) posted dozens and dozens of books she read to… Read more »
Why I’m Crying over the final edition of the Rocky Mountain News
The front page headline “Stop the Presses” The newsroom photos of the last day 55 days before its 150th birthday John Temple’s goodbye The timeline and photos of the most memorable front pages The display of amazing artwork that donned historic front pages reminding me of immense publishing pride The obituaries of founders, editors and… Read more »
Last Day of Publication for the Rocky is Tomorrow!
As a subscriber, I just received an e-mail informing me that tomorrow is the last day of publication for Colorado’s Rocky Mountain News. This tabloid format newspaper has been my breakfast read since I moved here in 1981. But on a more poignant note, The Rocky is where I garnered my first clips. So long… Read more »