BLOGZONE

VISIT THE ALL-NEW BLOGZONE

2008-06-09T08:26:00.000-07:00

Please visit the all new BLOGZONE at nancyisanders.wordpress.com

Everything from this site has transferred over to the official new blog. Plus, you'll learn about the Book in A Month Club, the Alphabet Book Adventure, and more!

You can also find out more about my books, including one of my newest, Readers Theatre for African American History!

BLOGZONE HAS MOVED!

2008-03-01T00:02:00.000-08:00

Please visit the all new BLOGZONE at nancyisanders.wordpress.com.
Everything from this site has transferred over to the official new blog (except a few comments that were lost in the shuffle).

Author Interview: Catherine Ipcizade

2008-02-29T00:02:00.000-08:00

Meet Author Catherine Ipcizade!
Blog:
Fresh from the Oven
Writer-Editor-Daydreamer

Bio:
I am a freelance writer/editor living in Southern California. In addition to 'Twas the Day Before Zoo Day, I've also just had three books from Capstone Press released: African Animals: Giraffes; African Animals: Lions; African Animals: Zebras. I also write for adults and have written everything from articles to professional blogs to greeting cards. I write for both the trade and educational market--fiction and non-fiction.

I'm married and have two beautiful children, ages four and seven, who provide much inspiration for my work.

Featured Book: 'Twas the Day Before Zoo Day
This delightful adaptation of ’Twas the Night Before Christmas, shares zoo keeper and animal preparations for the upcoming “Zoo Day.” But things aren’t going according to plan . . . The llamas won’t quit spitting, the giraffes are drooling, and the zebras aren’t happy at all with their stripes. Meanwhile, the zoo keepers are scurrying this way and that, cleaning up doodoos, ringing mealtime bells, and trying to get the animals bathed. Will “Zoo Day” go off without a hitch?

Questions:
Q: Your official book launch will be March 1st and 2nd at the Santa Ana Zoo in Santa Ana, California. Wasn’t that the exact place you first caught the editor’s eye of the publisher who accepted your book? Share about that exciting experience!
A: I'm thrilled to be having my book launch at the Santa Ana Zoo! About a year ago, I received word that 'Twas the Day Before Zoo Day was being held for consideration by Sylvan Dell. I'd been corresponding with them (especially with Donna German, the editor/owner at Sylvan Dell) about another manuscript prior to this one, so they'd likely gotten more e-mails from me than anyone in history (kidding). By the time the SCBWI Editor's Day rolled around, Zoo Day was in the final stages of consideration. I knew Lee German, co-owner of Sylvan Dell would be there, so I jumped at the chance to attend. At the conference, I was lucky enough to meet Lee and to hear that they loved the story and that there was a "good chance" they'd be publishing it. I resisted the urge to get down on my hands and knees and beg, and left the conference elated. About a month-and-a-half later and much finger-crossing, pacing, and obsessive e-mail checking, I received the acceptance.

Q: Can you describe the process you went through to write the manuscript for your picture book ‘TWAS THE DAY BEFORE ZOO DAY.
A: Writing 'Twas the Day Before Zoo Day was a joy from the beginning. Because I'd submitted to Sylvan Dell before, I had an idea of what they might be looking for. I wanted to write a manuscript specifically tailored for their company, so I knew it had to be fiction but with non-fiction elements. I'd just finished researching giraffes for another picture book and decided to take that concept and create a book about animals at the zoo. First I researched every animal imaginable, writing down any fun facts I could find. Then I started writing stanzas (the book is in rhyme) about each animal. Somehow from that, 'Twas the Day Before Zoo Day was born. "It was the Day Before Zoo Day" worked better as "Twas the Day Before Zoo Day," and voila! an adaption of Twas the Night Before Christmas became logical...and fun.

It just seemed natural to take animals in their zoo habitat and make them fun and sometimes naughty. After all, I've been to enough zoos to wonder just WHAT those animals are thinking while being stared at every day! I wrote the manuscript rather quickly, then spent some time revising, editing, cutting out stanzas and adding new ones. Then I sent it off and held my breath. I wasn't sure Sylvan Dell would want a spoof on "Twas the Night Before Christmas," so I actually sent two versions of the story.

Q: What have been some of the highlights of the journey as your book went from manuscript to published book?
A: Seeing the illustrations, from initial sketches to final product was AMAZING. I cannot describe how it felt to see Ben Hodson's work and to know that he'd "gotten" what I'd written. His animal expressions, and his unique take on the story made it so much more than I could have imagined. Ben is an amazing artist, and such a nice person as well. I got very lucky.

Q: Share one tip you’d like to give to a children’s author about attending a writer’s conference.
A: Attend! Don't be shy. Don't sit in a corner. Don't nearly hyperventilate, like I did, when trying to approach an attending agent or editor. YOU matter. Your work matters. When you have the opportunity to create an impression on someone, even if it's just for a moment, seize it!

If you’re in the area, be sure to plan for “Zoo Day” and take your family to the Santa Ana Zoo on Saturday and Sunday, March 1 and 2. Catherine will be there both days from 10:00 to 2:00 to sign copies of her wonderful new book, ‘Twas the Day Before Zoo Day as they celebrate the birthday of the zoo!

IMPORTANT NOTICE:
Starting tomorrow, this blog will officially move to nancyisanders.wordpress.com. If you want to post a comment to today's blog, please visit the new site and post it there. Otherwise, it might get lost in the shuffle. Thanks!

Book in A Month Club! Target A Publisher

2008-02-28T00:02:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the Book in A Month Club! Throughout the month of March, I’ll be posting the step-by-step approach I take to writing a picture book from start to finish. I’ll also include picture book author interviews and editor interviews for houses who publish picture books. If you’ve ever wanted to write a picture book and get it published—this is the place to find out some insider’s tips.

The first thing I do BEFORE I write the manuscript is target a publisher. Why is this the first step I take? Well, for one thing, during this month I won’t be posting the right or the wrong way to do something. You’ll find plenty of that type of advice at writer’s conferences or in workshops. What I am sharing is what works for me. I’ve written over a hundred book manuscripts from start to finish that have all been rejected. Repeatedly. But when I target a publisher BEFORE I write the manuscript, I land the contract. I’ve had over 75 books published this way. So this is what works for me.

Here are tips for finding an editor/publisher who states exactly what type of manuscript he or she looking for:

1. Many times I read interviews of editors in the Children’s Writer: Newsletter of Writing and Publishing Trends. It’s the best resource I’ve found for editor interviews. About a year ago, I made it my goal to contact at least one editor from an interview in each issue—but I had to quit doing that because I landed so many book contracts I couldn’t add more to my calendar! This has been by far my most successful method of targeting a publisher. I also try to post editor interviews on my blog each month. Read their interviews and see exactly what they’re looking for right now.

2. Another way to find an editor is to attend a writer’s conference. Over a year ago, I attended a local SCBWI event and heard the publisher speak from Sylvan Dell. He told us exactly the kind of picture books he likes to publish: fiction stories with a nonfiction science slant that cover topics geared to state and national standards taught in elementary schools.

3. Another way to find a publisher to target is to seriously study the current issue of the CHILDREN’S WRITER’S & ILLUSTRATOR’S MARKET by Writer’s Market. Look for houses who publish books on topics or genre that interest you the most.

4. Go to the local bookstore and browse through current books until you find one that interests you and that you can say, “I’d like to write a book like this!”

5. Search for publishers on amazon.com. Look for certain types of books that interest you such as bedtime books or nonfiction wild animal books and see which houses are currently publishing these types of books.

6. Study the websites of various publishers that interest you until you find one that seems like it would be a match for the type of book you think you’d like to write.

For the BOOK IN A MONTH CLUB this year, I decided to target Sylvan Dell. You can choose your own publisher to target. But if you’d like to try your hand at writing a fiction story with a science theme, I invite you to target Sylvan Dell, too! Perhaps one of us will write a picture book manuscript that catches their eye.

Today’s challenge:
Study various publishers and choose one to target.

Coming tomorrow:
Stop by tomorrow on my blog to “meet” Catherine Ipcizade. She’s the brand new author of ‘TWAS THE DAY BEFORE ZOO DAY and she’ll share tips about how she landed the contract. Her book is published by Sylvan Dell, the very publisher I’m going to target for my manuscript this year for the Book In A Month Club!

Book in A Month Club!

2008-02-27T00:06:00.000-08:00

You’re invited to join the BOOK IN A MONTH CLUB! Each year in March one of my critique groups hosts this club as we try to write an entire book in just one month. It’s crazy…it’s zany…and it’s fun!

This year I’m planning to write a new picture book manuscript. Throughout the month of March, I’m hoping to post my progress here on the blog to help show you more about the world of writing a picture book from start to finish. You can follow along and write your book while I write mine.

So hop on board and join the fun! Better yet—get you entire critique group to agree to meet the challenge of trying to write the first draft of an entire book manuscript—in just one month! If you do, you become an official member of the club. Just let me know and I’ll explain how you can be e-mailed a logo you can add to your own blog or website and a printable certificate.

Kick-off day is Saturday, March 1st!

Virtual Book Tour: Day 26

2008-02-26T00:02:00.000-08:00

Left—Editor Aimee Jackson, Right—Author Nancy I. Sanders

For the very last day of my Virtual Book Tour, I’d like to extend a great big “Thank you!” to all the wonderful people who helped make it a success and who have shared such heart-felt enthusiasm for my newest picture book, D is for Drinking Gourd: An African American Alphabet.

First and foremost, I’d like to thank my great editor, Aimee Jackson. Aimee, you caught the vision for the book when I first contacted the publisher with the idea. And then you carried it all the way through to help make this book become a reality. Thanks for all your great input, your excitement for the project, and your outstanding expertise. And also—thanks for all the yummy recipes! It was fun to meet you in San Diego over the holidays.

Thank you to the amazingly talented artist and book illustrator, E. B. Lewis. E. B., you brought this manuscript to life. The paintings you created and the scenes you portrayed in the book have been simply over the top! It’s been a joy working with you and getting to be part of your world.

And thank you to Audrey Mitnick—my publicist at Sleeping Bear Press. Thanks for the great connections for stops on my tour and for all the timely advice, feedback, and suggestions you sent my way. You’re the best!

I also want to thank all the wonderful folks at Sleeping Bear Press who made this book what it is and who continue to work hard behind the scenes to bring D is for Drinking Gourd to the world. Sales, Marketing, Editorial, Design, etc.—what a great group to work with! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

And to all the wonderful people who have been a part of my Virtual Book Tour—thank you! From booksellers to writers to teachers to students to my critique groups to online guests…what a wonderful journey this has been together.

And now…drumroll please…I’d like to announce the winners of the 5 prizes I’m giving away to online guests. Each time you posted a comment on my blog during the tour or submitted an answer to the Trivia Questions, your name was put in a hat. Since each name could be in the contest numerous times, one of the winners won 2 prizes! Congratulations, and thanks for joining in the fun!

Gloria won a $25 gift card!
Carol won an African American history calendar!
Nomi won an African American history calendar!
Mrs. T. Melchiorre’s class won 2 prizes—a $25 gift card and an African American history calendar!

(Carol and Nomi, please contact me at jeffandnancys@gmail.com. E-mail me your street address so I can mail you your prize.)

Thanks again, everyone, for joining my Virtual Book Tour!

Virtual Book Tour: Day 25

2008-02-25T00:09:00.000-08:00

Welcome back to my Virtual Book Tour! It’s been a great adventure together as we’ve celebrated the release of my newest picture book, D IS FOR DRINKING GOURD: AN AFRICAN AMERICAN ALPHABET in conjunction with Black History Month.

Today on our last official “stop” on the Virtual Book Tour, we’ll be visiting In Our Write Minds. This is the blog of the publishers of a wonderful writing program for teens called WRITESHOP. For the past few years, it’s been a delight to work with Kim Kautzer and Debbie Oldar as the author of their new soon-to-be-released writing program for early elementary students, WRITESHOP PRIMARY. Click on the link to learn more about this program, as well as how parents and teachers can use books such as D is for Drinking Gourd to help teach primary students to write.

Coming tomorrow:
Join me tomorrow on the last day of my tour as I announce the winners of the 5 prizes I’m giving away to online guests who posted comments during the tour and/or submitted answers to the Trivia Questions.

Virtual Book Tour: Day 24

2008-02-24T00:03:00.000-08:00

My family flew from our home near Los Angeles, California into New York City last June to begin a week-long tour of historic sites. Many stops along our itinerary included historic African American sites. The very first place we visited was the African Burial Ground. Located at African Burial Ground Way, the memorial was still under construction.

The large sign posted said:
This enclosed area is a preserved part of the original AFRICAN BURIAL GROUND. Closed in 1794, African Burial Ground once covered more than five acres—about five city blocks. It is estimated that as many as 20,000 or more African men, women and children were buried in the original cemetery. Unearthed during building construction in 1991, the site is now a National Historic Landmark and within the New York City African Burial Ground and Commons Historic District. This surviving remnant of the burial ground is dedicated to the people who are buried here and to all who were enslaved n the city’s early history from 1626 until July 4, 1827, Emancipation Day in New York.

Everything seemed as if it was frozen in time. The day was quiet. It was a Sunday so there were no busy construction workers or other tourists. We had time to walk around the site…and think about America’s past…and wonder about our future…

We knew that the very ground we walked on was holy ground. Underneath our feet were memories of pain and suffering and sorrow. Yet as we looked at the memorial stones standing ready to be put in place, our hearts felt hope for the days and years ahead.

If you would like to learn more about African Burial Ground, read the insightful book, Breaking Ground, Breaking Silence by Joyce Hansen and Gary McGowan.

You can also visit these informative sites:
The African Burial Ground
Schomburg Center’s The African Burial Ground
National Park Service African Burial Ground
African Burial Ground Opens in Manhattan
African Burial Ground Memorial Opens in New York City

Coming tomorrow:
On Monday, Day 25 of the Virtual Book Tour, we’ll make our last stop of the tour to visit the website of a wonderful program that teaches kids to write. Then we’ll finish the tour on Tuesday when I’ll announce the winners of the 5 prizes I’m giving away!

Virtual Book Tour: Day 23

2008-02-23T08:07:00.001-08:00

Black pharaohs in Egypt, ancient empires of gold,
royal caravans to Timbuktu;
R is for African Roots
and the glories that Africa once knew.
-from D is for Drinking Gourd: An African American Alphabet

In great cities such as Timbuktu, many people were well educated and enjoyed a wealthy lifestyle. Kings and rulers were among the wealthiest of all. They dressed in splendid clothes, wore beautiful jewelry, held fancy swords, and sometimes carried scepters made of gold.

MAKE A KING'S SCEPTER
Materials
(Adult supervision required)
Scissors
2 paper bowls (plastic or Styrofoam do now work as well)
2- or 3-foot long cardboard tube from gift wrapping paper
Glue
Styrofoam ball about 2 inches in diameter
Gold acrylic craft paint
Paint brush

Use the scissors to carefully cut a hole in the bottom center of each bowl. The holes should measure the same size as the diameter of the cardboard tube. Slide the two bowls, rims facing each other, onto one end of the cardboard tube, about 1/4-inch down from the edge. Use a small amount of glue to hold them in place. Glue the rims of the bowls together. Allow to dry.

Glue the Stryofoam ball onto the cardboard tube, just above the bowls. Paint the entire scepter gold.
-from A Kid's Guide to African American History

Coming tomorrow:
On Day 24 of my Virtual Book Tour, I'll post photos of the African Burial Ground in New York City. My family and I visited this historic site last June, while the memorial was still under construction.

Virtual Book Tour: Day 22

2008-02-22T00:02:00.000-08:00

On August 28, 1963, nearly 250,000 people gathered in Washington D.C. to support civil rights and the end of segregation. This date in history became known as the March on Washington.

The most famous speech that day was “I Have a Dream” by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Already an important leader in the Civil Rights Movement, Dr. King led numerous marches and crusades in support of equal rights, including the famous children’s march and the Montgomery Bus Boycott, sparked when Rosa Parks was arrested because she refused to move to the back of the bus.

When my family and I visited Washington D.C. last June, we climbed the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and stood on the spot where Dr. King gave his historic speech. His words reached out to challenge the citizens of America to truly live by the words written in the Declaration of Independence, and to accept and believe that “all men are created equal.”

As we looked out toward the Washington Memorial from the very spot where he gave his unforgettable speech, Dr. King’s words still rang in my ears, “I have a dream…” His dream was about children playing together and holding hands and growing up together to respect each other and honor each other as fellow human beings…and his dream has become my dream, too. That is why I wrote the book, D is for Drinking Gourd: An African American Alphabet.

Today, this great man in the history of our nation is honored in our nation’s capital. This is the statue of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in the rotunda. I was deeply moved when I saw it.

As we are drawing near to the end of my Virtual Book Tour, I remember a question one of the students from a classroom in Texas asked me during the tour: “What do you think was the worst thing ‘white people’ did to African Americans?” My answer was simply, “I think the worst thing is that people were not kind to other people. No matter how different someone is from you, it’s important to always be kind.” If we can just remember to be kind to one another, we can help make Dr. King’s dream a reality.

Yesterday’s Trivia Q and A:
Yesterday’s question was:
Who was the first African American to serve as Poet Laureate of the Library of Congress?
a. Rita Dove
b. Dorothy Bates
c. Daniel Payne
The answer is: a. Rita Dove. In 1993, the Library of Congress appointed Rita Dove as Poet Laureate. In this honored position, among other duties, she participated in the numerous poetry and literature programs at the Library and offered advice for the Library’s collections and archive.

Coming tomorrow:
Stop by on Day 23 of the Virtual Book Tour for directions for a fun craft to make. Our tour will soon be wrapping up to a close. The last day of the tour will be next Tuesday when I’ll announce the winners of the 5 prizes I’m giving away! Also, check out this link to a brand new blog, In Our Write Minds. This blog will be the last stop on my Virtual Book Tour next Monday and today they posted a "preview." Check it out!

Virtual Book Tour: Day 21

2008-02-21T00:02:00.000-08:00

For today’s stop on my Virtual Book Tour, I’d like to invite you to explore some of the informational Websites I visit as I research material for the books I write.

Africans in America
The Underground Railroad
BlackPast.org
The African American Mosaic
History Channel: Celebrate Black History Month
Documenting the American South
Guide to African American Documentary Resources

Just for Kids!
Here are Web sites that are fun to visit and help you learn more about African American history!

Time for Kids
Kulture Kidz
Escape to Freedom

Yesterday’s Trivia Q and A:
Yesterday’s question was:
Which quilt artist was famous for her two Bible quilts?
a. Augusta Savage
b. Alice Coachman Davis
c. Harriet Powers
The answer is: c. Harriet Powers. Keeping the African tradition of storytelling alive, African American women often sewed designs on quilts that told stories. In the late 1800s, Harriet Powers stitched beautiful quilts with the heart of a storyteller. Her two most famous Bible quilts are now owned by museums.

Today’s Trivia Question:
Who was the first African American to serve as Poet Laureate of the Library of Congress?
a. Rita Dove
b. Dorothy Bates
c. Daniel Payne
Today is the very last trivia question, so submit your answer by posting it as a comment to today’s blog. It won’t be published on the blog, but your name will be put in a hat to be drawn for 5 prizes to give away on Tuesday, the last day of the tour. Check back in tomorrow for the answer!

Coming tomorrow:
On Day 22 of my Virtual Book Tour, we’ll be paying a special tribute in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Truly, he dedicated his life to helping bring equal rights to our nation.

Virtual Book Tour: Day 20

2008-02-20T00:02:00.000-08:00

Today’s stop on the tour is dedicated to the students in Mrs. Lamar’s and Mr. Sanders’ fourth grade classes at Fairmont Elementary School in Yorba Linda, California. Thanks for all the great questions you sent in for me to answer! Click on the video to find out more about what it’s like to be an author and how a book is published. After you watch the video, be sure to come to Open House tonight and drop in at the Book Fair. Stop at my table and say “Hi!” I’ll be signing copies there of my newest book, D is for Drinking Gourd!

Yesterday’s Trivia Q and A:
Yesterday’s question was:
What was Ida Wells Barnett known as?
a. Champion ice skater
b. Princess of the press
c. Jazz singer
The answer is: b. Princess of the press. Ida Wells Barnett investigated and reported in the newspaper about the terrible things that were happening in our nation as a result of racism. Her brave stand against injustice and passion for equal rights helped bring many important changes in America.

Today’s Trivia Question:
Which quilt artist was famous for her two Bible quilts?
a. Augusta Savage
b. Alice Coachman Davis
c. Harriet Powers
Submit your answer by posting it as a comment to today’s blog. It won’t be published on the blog, but your name will be put in a hat to be drawn for 5 prizes to give away at the end of the tour. Check back in tomorrow for the answer!

Coming tomorrow:
On Day 21 of my Virtual Book Tour, we’ll be visiting some of my favorite sites to learn more about African American history.

Virtual Book Tour: Day 19

2008-02-19T00:02:00.000-08:00

For today’s stop on the tour, we’re making another visit to Brown Sugar & Spice. As you may already know, this online bookseller specializes in Black History books for children and families. To view the original post there of a video where I answer questions for students in Pomona Unified School District, click on this video:

Just for Kids!
A lot of kids from classrooms all across the country have asked me a question: “How long have you been writing?” I think that some of you want to know the answer because you already like to write, too! And yes, I started writing when I was a kid. I liked to write poetry. I never dreamed I’d grow up to be a writer, though. I didn’t start writing for a career until after I was married and had two children. That was 22 years ago. I remember how long that was because I started writing just after my youngest son was born—and now he’s 22 years old! But I didn’t get any books published until about five years after I started to write. It took me that long to learn about all the various technical things a person needs to know to type a manuscript up and send it into a publisher.

Yesterday’s Trivia Q and A:
Yesterday’s question was:
Who was a famous inventor?
a. Lewis Latimer
b. Madam C. J. Walker
c. Lonnie Johnson
d. All of the above
The answer is: d. All of the above. Lewis Latimer invented a better filament to be used in lightbulbs. Madam C. J. Walker invented hair product and beauty creams. And Lonnie Johnson designed an invention that kids love—the Super Soaker®!

Today’s Trivia Question:
What was Ida Wells Barnett known as?
a. Champion ice skater
b. Princess of the press
c. Jazz singer
Submit your answer by posting it as a comment to today’s blog. It won’t be published on the blog, but your name will be put in a hat to be drawn for 5 prizes to give away at the end of the tour. Check back in tomorrow for the answer!

Coming tomorrow:
On Day 20 of my Virtual Book Tour, I’ll be posting a video that’s dedicated to the students at Fairmont Elementary School in Yorba Linda, California where my husband teaches fourth grade. Later that day, I’ll be appearing in person at their school Book Fair for a booksigning of my newest picture book, D is for Drinking Gourd: An African American Alphabet. Mark your calendars and come join in the fun!

Virtual Book Tour: Day 18

2008-02-18T08:05:00.000-08:00

Welcome back to my Virtual Book Tour! Since February 1, we’ve been celebrating Black History Month and the release of my newest picture book D IS FOR DRINKING GOURD: AN AFRICAN AMERICAN ALPHABET BOOK. I'm glad you've stopped by to join in the fun!

Today, we're visiting the blog of Lorrie Flem. She’s the publisher of
Teach Magazine, the great magazine for home-schooling families. Click on the link to read the interview about D is for Drinking Gourd: An African American Alphabet!

Just for Kids!
Here are some picture books on my bookshelves at home. I thought it might be fun for you to look these titles up in your school or public library or get them at a bookstore and read them, too.
The Other Side by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by E. B. Lewis
Goin’ Someplace Special by Patricia C. McKissack
In the Hollow of Your Hand: Slave Lullabies, with CD, sung by Alice McGill
Black Cowboy Wild Horses by Julius Lester
Masai and I by Virginia Kroll
Pass It On: African-American Poetry for Children, selected by Wade Hudson
Back Home by Gloria Jean Pinkney, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney
Momma, Where are You From? By Marie Bradby
Max Found Two Sticks by Brian Pinkney
Pink and Say by Patricia Polacco

Here’s the Top Ten list from last week. There are so many African American writers that it’s impossible to list them all, but here’s a start:

The Top Ten African American writers
1. Langston Hughes
2. Alex Haley
3. Maya Angelou
4. Gwendolyn Brooks
5. James Baldwin
6. Toni Morrison
7. Alice Walker
8. Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
9. Lerone Bennett, Jr.
10. Virginia Hamilton

Saturday’s Trivia Q and A:
Saturday’s question was:
Which woman was appointed as Secretary of State in 2005 for the United States?
a. Mary McLeod Bethune
b. Carol Moseley Braun
c. Condoleezza Rice
The answer is: c. Condoleezza Rice. In 2001, Condoleezza Rice became the National Security Advisor, a very important position in the government of the United States. Then in 2005, she became the Secretary of State. This influential position often puts her at the side of the President and takes her all around the world.

Today’s Trivia Question:
Who was a famous inventor?
a. Lewis Latimer
b. Madam C. J. Walker
c. Lonnie Johnson
d. All of the above
Submit your answer by posting it as a comment to today’s blog. It won’t be published on the blog, but your name will be put in a hat to be drawn for 5 prizes to give away at the end of the tour. Check back in tomorrow for the answer!

Coming tomorrow:
On day 19 of my Virtual Book Tour, we’ll be stopping by to visit Brown Sugar & Spice again. This wonderful bookseller specializes in books about Black History for children and families. A new video will be posted there where I answer questions from students in Pomona Unified School District!

Virtual Book Tour: Day 17

2008-02-17T00:02:00.000-08:00

When my family and I took a trip back east this past June, we spent a day driving down from Washington D.C. to visit Monticello. This famous plantation home was owned by President Thomas Jefferson. It was also the home for many enslaved African Americans, including Sally Hemings.

Historical reports portray Sally Hemings as fair-skinned with a marked resemblance to her white half-sister Martha. (They had the same father but different mothers—Sally’s mother was a slave.) Yet because of laws stating the children of enslaved African American women were born a slave, Sally lived most of her life as the slave of Thomas Jefferson—compared to her half-sister Martha who was Thomas Jefferson’s wife.

When Sally and Martha’s father died, Sally and her mother and the rest of her enslaved family became the property of Martha and Thomas Jefferson. Only an infant, Sally was taken with the other slaves to live at Monticello. Sally grew up at Monticello as a house servant, learning to sew and do domestic work. She also helped take care of her cousins, the Jefferson’s two daughters.

After Monticello was built, the part of the house you see in the picture above was where much of the work was done to maintain the house. The Kitchen, the Cook’s Room, and the Washhouse were here. African Americans who were enslaved spent many hours in this part of the house, working hard to keep the great estate running smoothly.

This hallway runs underneath the house. It was often used during stormy or wintry weather. Food from the kitchen could be carried through this passage and taken up to the dining room where the Jefferson family was eating or entertaining famous guests.

There were many other African Americans who were enslaved at Monticello along with Sally Hemings and her family. This is a picture of Isaac Jefferson. He was a metalworker and worked at Monticello as a blacksmith, a tinsmith, and a nailer. When Isaac Jefferson was elderly, he was interviewed about his life. Copies of that memoir can still be read today. In his memoir, Isaac Jefferson mentioned Sally Hemings as well as described the different members of his family and other workers on the plantation. He talked about what it was like to live at Monticello. You can read Isaac Jefferson’s memoir by clicking on the link to the Special Collections Library at the University of Virginia Library.

Coming Tomorrow:
On Day 18 of my Virtual Book Tour, we’ll list the Top Ten Writers, post trivia questions, and more! Send in your answer to the trivia question and have your name put in a hat--prizes will be given away next week at the end of the tour.

Virtual Book Tour: Day 16

2008-02-16T12:02:00.000-08:00

For today’s special treat on my Virtual Book Tour, let’s take a look back in history to the late 1800s—the years just after the Civil War.

Times were hard for everyone, so people joined together to help each other. Fundraisers were held to raise money to build new schools or churches, or to help people such as a family whose barn burned down.

Not only were fundraisers a time to raise money, but they were also a time for socializing with neighbors and having fun. At a fundraiser, the Cakewalk dance contest was often held, and the best dancer won a cake. Beautiful quilts were displayed and auctioned off for the cause. Delicious food was sold. Other contests were held and games were played.

One game that helped raise money was the egg-cracking game. Dozens of hard-boiled eggs were available in large washtubs for players to buy. Players paid a quarter for each egg they used in the game.

To play the game, each player chooses about three hard-boiled eggs. The game is played with two eggs at a time, between two players. Each of the two players holds out the small, pointed end of their hard-boiled eggs. They tap the end of their egg against the other’s. One of the eggs will crack. The owner of this egg is the loser. The loser hands the cracked egg over to the person whose egg didn’t crack. The cracked egg belongs to this person for the rest of the contest.

Now the players are ready to play the game again. They may choose a new partner to play with or may play against each other again if they’d like. The winner may use the same egg over and over again until it cracks. Each time the game is played, the cracked egg is handed over to the winner of that round.

When the contest is over, it’s fun to see who has won the most cracked eggs. The cracked eggs can be taken home and eaten plain or made into deviled eggs or egg salad. (Be careful to keep eggs refrigerated as much as possible for health reasons.) Since spring is almost here and there will be Easter egg hunts going on, it might also be fun to play this historic game and have an egg-cracking party with your eggs, too!

-text and illustration from A Kid’s Guide to African American History

Yesterday’s Trivia Q and A:
Yesterday’s question was:
Where did Charlotte Forten teach?
a. the South Carolina Sea Islands
b. California
c. Texas
The answer is a. the South Carolina Sea Islands. Charlotte Forten was the granddaughter of the famous and wealthy black abolitionist, James Forten. She was also the niece of Robert and Harriet Purvis, whose work with the anti-slavery societies and Underground Railroad in Philadelphia helped bring slavery to an end. During the Civil War, Charlotte Forten volunteered to teach newly freed slaves from the plantations on the South Carolina Sea Islands. Her famous journal, or personal diary, can still be read today and tells of many interesting events that took place during this important time of our nation’s history.

Today’s Trivia Question:
Which woman was appointed as Secretary of State in 2005 for the United States?
a. Mary McLeod Bethune
b. Carol Moseley Braun
c. Condoleezza Rice
Submit your answer by posting it as a comment to today’s blog. It won’t be published on the blog, but your name will be put in a hat to be drawn for 5 prizes to give away at the end of the tour. Check back in Monday for the answer!

Coming tomorrow:
On Day 17 of my Virtual Book Tour, I’ll post photos of Monticello from my trip when I visited this historic site last June. This was the home of Sally Hemings, who lived most of her life as the slave of Thomas Jefferson.

Virtual Book Tour: Day 15

2008-02-15T00:02:00.000-08:00

Today’s stop on the tour is dedicated to the students in Mrs. Walshe and Mrs. Herrera’s First Grade Class at Oak Ridge Elementary School in Chino Hills, California! It’s so much fun to have you here on the tour today! And thank you for sending me such interesting questions. I've really enjoyed thinking of the answers.

Q: Do you write every day?
A: Yes…and no. Right now I am writing fulltime which means I write every day while you’re in school. But I usually don’t write on the weekends. And I take vacations, too! When I wrote the book, D is for Drinking Gourd: An African American Alphabet, I worked on writing it almost every day, except for weekends and holidays. This is a picture of me writing D is for Drinking Gourd. I sat on our couch and wrote most of the text by hand, then later moved to the office to type the words into the computer.

Q: Do you have pets?
A: Yes. Humphrey, our cat, and Lucy, our dog, are my writing buddies! When I sit on the couch to write, Humphrey often jumps up on the matching couch. He likes to lay upside-down on his back and stretch out to watch me. Doesn’t he look funny? Sometimes while I’m writing, he tries to hide underneath the couch. He used to be able to do that when he was little and was a kitten, but now that he weighs 21 pounds, he doesn’t fit! He thinks I can’t see him, but I can. Can you see him, too?

Here’s a picture of Lucy. She is part dachshund. Can you tell she has very short legs? Lucy and Humphrey are about the same size and they like to play tag. They chase each other around and around the couch, even while I’m writing! (Humphrey cheats, though! He jumps over the top of the couch and then “tags” Lucy by jumping down on her when Lucy runs to the other side.)

Q: How long does it take to write a story?
A: When I wrote D is for Drinking Gourd, it took me three months to write it. Most pictures books take me that long. Some books take me longer to write. I’m starting to write a brand new book this week. My deadline is in December. There will be a lot of research and a lot of pages in this new book, so it will take me longer.

Q: How do you think of your characters?
A: Some characters in my books are real people. So I try to find out all about them. I read about what they did and then I like to ask, “Why?” For instance, when I wrote the page “F is for Founding Fathers,” I discovered that James Forten joined the American Revolution as a kid. He sailed on a small ship and helped carry gunpowder to load the cannons. I wanted to know why? Why would a kid want to join the American Revolution to fight against the British? So when I went back to Philadelphia last year on a family trip, I went to the address where his house used to be when he was growing up. I stood on the corner and looked around. There, through the treetops, I saw Independence Hall! He grew up close enough to Independence Hall to see it from his house. And I also learned that when the Declaration of Independence was read aloud for the very first time just outside of Independence Hall, James Forten joined the crowd and listened. Knowing all this helped me understand how much James Forten believed in freedom. He fought for freedom in the American Revolution when he was young. And when he grew up and became very wealthy, he was an abolitionist and helped lead the fight to bring freedom and equal rights to all people in America.

Q: Are all your stories true stories?
A: No. Some are true stories, some are half true and half fiction, and some are completely make-believe! I like to write different stories at different times.

Q: What do you read for fun?
A: Some of my favorite books to read are encyclopedia sets about African American history. My other favorite books are picture books and classic children’s books. Right now I’m reading the Laura Ingalls Wilder series of Little House in the Big Woods. Just before that I read Charlotte’s Web. And I’m in the middle of listening to a book on tape of The Secret Garden.

Thanks again, to the students at Oak Ridge! It was nice that you could join my Virtual Book Tour.

Just for Kids!
Do you have a favorite book? If you know how to read it yourself, you could make a recording of yourself reading it aloud. You could add fun sound effects and ring a bell each time the page is supposed to be turned. Then you could share the recording with your friends. If you don’t know how to read it yourself, you could tell the story in your own words and record it on a DVD to share with your friends. You could even make up your own story, write it down, draw pictures to go with it, and make it into a book. Then you could make a recording of yourself reading your very own book out loud. Doesn’t that sound like fun?

Yesterday’s Trivia Q and A:
Yesterday’s question was:
Why was Martin Delany famous?
a. As an explorer
b. As a major in the Union Army
c. As a leading abolitionist
d. All of the above
The answer is: d. All of the above. A gifted leader, Martin Delany led an amazing life. He traveled tirelessly on the antislavery lecture circuit, speaking frequently at abolitionist meetings across the northern United States. He explored the northern continent of Africa in hopes of establishing a colony where blacks could live a life of freedom. When Civil War broke out, he met with President Lincoln and encouraged him to assign blacks as officers. He, himself, was commissioned as a major in the Union Army, the highest ranking black officer in the Civil War!

Today’s Trivia Question:
Where did Charlotte Forten teach?
a. the South Carolina Sea Islands
b. California
c. Texas
Submit your answer by posting it as a comment to today’s blog. It won’t be published on the blog, but your name will be put in a hat to be drawn for 5 prizes to give away at the end of the tour. Check back in tomorrow for the answer!

Coming tomorrow:
On Day 16 of my Virtual Book Tour, I’ll be posting information about a fun activity you can do with your family, friends, or class. Stop on by!

Virtual Book Tour: Day 14

2008-02-14T00:02:00.000-08:00

Today’s stop on the tour is once again dedicated to the awesome students at Glenwood Avenue Elementary School, located on an island in Wildwood, New Jersey! I’m so glad you’re a part of my Virtual Book Tour. I also want to extend a personal thanks for these amazing teachers who have helped make this all happen: Mrs. Sharpe, Mrs. Cardaci, Mrs. K. Melchioree, Mrs. T. Melchiorre, and Ms. Sholtis.

Last week students sent in questions to interview E. B. Lewis, the award-winning illustrator of D is for Drinking Gourd. This week, I’ll be answering questions they asked me as the author. What great questions they wanted to know!

Q: Did you write this book to educate others? Because I did learn things about African-American history.
A: Yes, one of the main reasons I wrote this book was to educate people about the amazing contributions and wonderful accomplishments African Americans have done. I wanted kids just like you to learn all the exciting things I had learned about African-American history. I wanted you to learn these things so you could tell your friends. I wanted you to know about these things so you could tell your parents or your grandparents. I wanted you to read about these things so you could talk about them with your teacher and in class.

Q: What kind of adventures did you have when doing the research for this book?
A: During the three months I was actually writing the book, I spent most of my time writing. But during the years leading up to this book, I have done lots of research which took me on many fun adventures! I attended a Juneteenth celebration in my hometown with my family and friends. At the elementary school where my husband teaches, I heard a woman act as Sojourner Truth and tell her amazing story. I saw a man act as Frederick Douglass and deliver one of his most famous speeches about the Fourth of July. I love to visit the California African American Museum in Los Angeles where, among other things, the beautiful art of quilt artist Faith Ringgold is on display. I continue to experience amazing adventures as I do more research about African American history wherever and whenever I can.

Q: How much research do you have to do for this kind of informational book?
A: A lot. I had been researching African American history for over five years when I wrote this book. I have more than 100 books about African American history on my bookshelves in my office and in the room where I read to do my research. My husband and friends help me by clipping out newspaper articles about African American history or printing out stories from the Internet to help me know about current topics in the news. Yet I want to keep doing more research because there is so much I don’t know! And since I write for children, I want to tell kids everywhere all about the amazing things I discover during research.

Q: What made you choose the letter D for the title instead of the rest of the alphabet?
A: I tried to think of a title for the book that would talk about hope and courage and triumph. I felt that the Drinking Gourd and the people who followed the North Star north to freedom expressed this spirit of hope and courage and triumph in a very special way. That’s why I chose this title. I also knew that many people had heard of the Drinking Gourd, so I felt using it as part of the title would catch people’s interest, too.

Q: What kind of inventions did you see when you researched for this book?
A: I saw so many! If you would like to see some of the same ones I saw, click on the link to visit the website About.com:Black Inventors A-Z There are links to the biographies of many famous inventors and some of the pages even have pictures of their inventions! Another great website to visit is the Black Inventor Online Museum. Visit both sites and have fun learning more about these amazing men and women inventors.

Q: When you are writing and get stuck…what do you do to get ‘unstuck’?
A: I got stuck lots of times when I was writing D is for Drinking Gourd. If I got stuck while I was writing one of the poems, I took a walk or worked in my garden or did chores such as ironing or washing dishes. The active movement helped clear my foggy brain so I could think creative thoughts again. If I got stuck while I was working on the facts along the sides of each page, I got a book out about that person and read it for awhile. Or I looked that topic up on the Internet. Reading what other people wrote about that person or topic helped give me ideas to get back to writing again.

Q: Did you always want to be a writer?
A: No. When I was in high school, I wanted to be a biochemist and work in a laboratory doing experiments. By the time I started college, I wanted to be an English teacher. After that I changed my mind and wanted to be a nurse. Finally, I decided to be a writer. I’ve been writing for 22 years now and have written over 75 books. Now I can’t imagine doing anything else!

Thanks again, students at Glenwood Avenue! It’s been great having you be part of the Virtual Book Tour.

Just for Kids!
Now that you’ve learned a little bit more about how to make an alphabet book, would you like to make your own alphabet book, too? First pick a topic to write about such as Inventors or Sports or Favorite Books. You can even make your own alphabet book about African American history! Make a list of the letters of the alphabet on a piece of paper from top to bottom. Think of one word to write down for each letter. Hard letters like X can be in the middle of a word like explorers. When your list is complete, make a separate page for each letter of the alphabet book. Write the word or a sentence about that word—or even a whole paragraph about it—on your paper. Then draw a picture for each letter. When you’re done, put all the pages together in a book. You can put them in a 3-ring notebook or a book report folder. Or you can make your own cover from sturdy poster board and use brads or paper fasteners to hold it together. And if you get your book done quickly, you can even enter it in an alphabet book contest at Winterthur’s Alphabet Book Contest. Click on the link to find out more information about the contest rules.

Yesterday’s Trivia Q and A:
Yesterday’s question was:
Which U.S. Marshal was famous for keeping law in the wild Wild West in the territory that eventually became the state of Oklahoma?
a. Bass Reeves
b. Nat Love
c. David Ruggles
The answer is: a. Bass Reeves. Known as the “invincible marshal,” Bass Reeves brought law and order to the territory which eventually became the state of Oklahoma. It was wild and rugged, and home to many feared outlaws. For 32 years, Reeves had amazing adventures capturing over 3000 outlaws and bringing them into justice.

Today’s Trivia Question:
Why was Martin Delany famous?
a. As an explorer
b. As a major in the Union Army
c. As a leading abolitionist
d. All of the above
Submit your answer by posting it as a comment to today’s blog. It won’t be published on the blog, but your name will be put in a hat to be drawn for 5 prizes to give away at the end of the tour. Check back in tomorrow for the answer!

Coming tomorrow:
On Day 15 of my Virtual Book Tour, I’ll be answering questions for first grade students at a school near where I live—Oak Ridge Elementary School in Chino Hills, California. Be sure to hop on board tomorrow and join in the fun!

Virtual Book Tour: Day 13

2008-02-13T00:02:00.000-08:00

Thanks for joining my Virtual Book Tour! Today we’re taking a closer look into how D is for Drinking Gourd: An African American Alphabet, was illustrated.

I interviewed artist E. B. Lewis about the illustration process. Here’s part of the interview:

Q: Why did you decide to illustrate this book?
A: I’ve always wanted to do an alphabet book. Many children’s book illustrators want to illustrate at least one alphabet book. To be honest, though, when I thought about most alphabet books, they seemed kind of hokey. But when I saw the manuscript for D is for Drinking Gourd, I felt that this was really different! The events that are highlighted and the layout of the book is great. The way Sleeping Bear Press lays out their alphabet books give the reader so much interesting information! I thought, “Why not jump on this? This is just down my alley!” It connected my two passions: literature and art. There’s a perfect marriage here.

Q: Describe the process you go through to illustrate a book.
A: My process is a little different than most. Initially, when I first came into children’s books, I sat down and went through the illustration process in my head. I created thumbnail sketches and created a storyboard. The illustration process is a visual interpretation of the written word. It’s a different language. It’s a translation as if I were translating your words into French. I need to explain the story you just told to me and I need to explain it to my people whose language is a visual one. How do I do this? How do I explain the story to my people who have no concept of the English language? That’s the process I go through in my head.

Now I take the manuscript and go directly to the publisher. I sit down with the editor, the art director, and the designer. The four of us sit down and we go through the process together. It’s a team process. The team should get involved in the beginning rather than the middle. I’m probably the only one who works like that. I draw right in the office. I’m probably the only illustrator who does that. Many artists are so possessive of our work. Many of us feel that to put us together with someone takes something away. I see it as the opposite. I see this as a team.

Q: How did you decide on the cover?
A: The cover basically was a combination of my idea and the editor and the art director. My initial idea can be seen on the title page of the book. It’s an illustration of a family escaping from slavery, looking up at the Drinking Gourd in the night sky. Here’s a pencil sketch of my original concept for the cover as well as the pencil sketches for the first page of the book “A is for Abolitionists.”

I flew to the office of Sleeping Bear Press and we sat down together as a group. We decided to use a different idea for the cover. The editor, art director, and I came up with the concept of a girl gazing up to the sky. It was a collaborative event.

Q: Describe a highlight of working on this book.
A: Often when I’m in the middle of the process of doing a book and thinking about the models and characters, I think about it all the time. I travel with it. It’s something that shapes my day. I went on a school visit to Columbia, South Carolina. I went there knowing we had changed the idea of the cover. It was no longer the initial one of a family escaping from slavery. We decided to make the cover more of a universal appeal. Even though the book focuses on African American history, it’s really American history. Everyone related to the concept of having a picture of a girl on the cover. I had this concept in my head of a little girl looking up at the sky.

When I went on the school visit to Columbia, a little girl was in the audience. She was in the class I was speaking to. I spotted her and thought she’d be perfect for the cover. I spoke to the teacher and thought of two places to use her image in the book—one on the cover and one in the interior. I always take photos of all my subjects, so I took pictures of this little girl. All the shots I took were of a frontal view.

I showed the photos to the editorial team. They looked at them and said they’d prefer a profile. Then I had to find a different little girl.

I was on a lunch break at the university where I teach when I saw a little girl and her mom coming down the escalator. I approached them and said, “I’m a children’s book illustrator and your daughter would be perfect on the cover of my new book!” The mom was very skeptical. She gave me her card. I noticed she was a lawyer. My best friend is a lawyer. I asked her if she knew my friend. She said yes, so I called my friend. He spoke with her on the phone. He said, “Definitely run far away from him!” They had a good laugh over that. Not long after that, I went over to her house and did a photoshoot. That’s how I got her picture to use as a model for my painting on the cover.

E. B. Lewis is the acclaimed illustrator of many award-winning picture books including the 2005 Caldecott Honor Book, “Coming On Home Soon.” His 2004 “Circle Unbroken” was named a Booklist Top 10 Black History Books for Youth. His book “Talkin’ About Bessie: The Story of Elizabeth Coleman” won a Coretta Scott King Illustration Award. Mr. Lewis teaches illustration at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. His work is included in major private collections, galleries, and museums. For more information about this outstanding artist, visit his website at www.eblewis.com.

Yesterday’s Trivia Q and A:
Yesterday’s question was:
About how many Black cowboys rode the Chisholm Trail during the late 1800s?
a. 50
b. 500
c. 5000
The answer is: c. 5000. During the time of the long Texas cattle drives from the 1870s to the 1890s, one out of every five cowboys was an African American. There are still many African American cowboys today.

Today’s Trivia Question:
Which U.S. Marshal was famous for keeping law in the wild Wild West in the territory that eventually became the state of Oklahoma?
a. Bass Reeves
b. Nat Love
c. David Ruggles
Submit your answer by posting it as a comment to today’s blog. It won’t be published on the blog, but your name will be put in a hat to be drawn for 5 prizes to give away at the end of the tour. Check back in tomorrow for the answer!

Coming tomorrow:
On Day 14 of my Virtual Book Tour, I’ll be answering questions for students at Glenwood Avenue Elementary School in Wildwood, New Jersey. Be sure to stop in and join the fun!

Virtual Book Tour: Day 12

2008-02-12T00:02:00.000-08:00

For today’s stop on the tour, we made another visit to Brown Sugar & Spice. For those of you who are visiting my tour for the very first time today, this wonderful bookstore specializes in Black History books for children and families. Be sure to bookmark this site as the place to go to purchase top-quality books with a value! Here's the video that was originally posted on that site:

Just for Kids:
A lot of kids want to know where I get my ideas to write about. I’ll tell you a secret—I have a special place where I keep my ideas! Ideas come at such strange moments. I might be brushing my teeth. I might be eating dinner at a restaurant with my friends. I might be walking into the mall. So when I get an idea, I grab a piece of paper and—quick! I write it down before it gets away from me. (And yes, I always carry a pen and a piece of paper wherever I go.) Then, when I get home, I go to my special place and put that piece of paper in there with all my other ideas. That’s so that next time, when someone asks me to write a story, and I don’t know what to say, I just go to my special place and pull out all my ideas. Right away I find an idea that interests me and that I’d like to write about. My special place is a file folder in my desk drawer right next to where I sit every day and write. On the file folder in big, pink letters it says: IDEAS! You can make a special place to keep your ideas, too. Get a file box and put some index cards inside. Decorate the outside with stickers and designs. Then put the box in a special place. If you get an idea about something you like, run and get the box. Quick! Write your idea down on an index card and put it back in the box. The next time your teacher or someone asks you to write a story, go to your special place. Get out your idea box. Look through your list of ideas until you find something you really, really want to write about. Then have fun writing your story!

Yesterday’s Trivia Q and A:
Yesterday’s question was:
Which state was the first to officially abolish slavery within its borders?
a. Virginia
b. New York
c. Vermont
The answer is: c. Vermont. In 1777, Vermont became the first state to officially bring an end to slavery within its borders. One by one, other states in the North followed Vermont’s example.

Today’s Trivia Question:
About how many Black cowboys rode the Chisholm Trail during the late 1800s?
a. 50
b. 500
c. 5000
Submit your answer by posting it as a comment to today’s blog. It won’t be published on the blog, but your name will be put in a hat to be drawn for 5 prizes to give away at the end of the tour. Check back in tomorrow for the answer!

Coming tomorrow:
On Day 13 of my Virtual Book Tour, we’ll be learning more about the illustration process the original manuscript of D is for Drinking Gourd went through to become the beautiful picture book it is today!

Virtual Book Tour: Day 11

2008-02-11T12:02:00.000-08:00

Today’s stop on the tour is dedicated to Mrs. Riddle’s 4th Grade computer class at New Braunfels Christian Academy. Welcome to the tour—you’re joining us all the way from Texas! And thank you for sending such wonderful questions. They were challenging and fun to answer.

The Interview:
Q: Did you think history was fun when you were a kid?
A: History was the hardest thing for me in school! It was hard for me to remember all those dates and names. But now, history is one of my favorite things to study! I’ve learned that history is about people and their stories, not just a bunch of dates and names. Now I study history and try to get to know people from the past. I love it!

Q: Have you ever gone to Africa?
A: No. But I have a dear friend who is from Africa. She grew up in Ghana, a country in Africa. This past summer, she took her children back to visit her home in Ghana. When she returned, she brought me a beautiful box made of ebony. Ebony is a dark black wood from Africa that has been valued for centuries! My friend also brought me back a DVD of a slave fort in Ghana called Elmina Castle. It is near where she grew up. During the slave trade, Africans were captured and put inside the fort. They had to walk through a little doorway called “the door of no return” and then were put onto a slave ship. My friend and her children walked through that door this summer. She said it was a very sad experience to remember the pain so many people felt. My friend also showed me many photos of her trip and of her beautiful family, many of whom still live in Ghana today!

Q: Do you know anything about Africa?
A: I love learning about Africa! Just recently, I discovered a brand new thing about it that I had never known. I learned about an ancient city called Kano that is now in northern Nigeria. Long, long ago it was one of the most important cities in the world! Starting around 1000 AD, there were seven ancient walled cities, or birane, built in northern Nigeria by the Hausa-speaking people. Some of its wall is still standing, as you can see in the photograph just above. Kano was one of the most important of these cities. Caravans arrived here from across the great Sahara desert. These caravans came looking for the many important and valuable items the people in Kano had to trade. People in Kano knew how to work with metal. They produced blue cotton cloth that was famous for its beauty and craftsmanship. They had spices and leather and pottery to trade. During the Middle Ages, Kano was an important city famous for its scholarship, religion, and trade.

Q: How much do you know about Martin Luther King, Jr.?
A: I have read a lot about Dr. King. I have a lot of respect for him. He truly tried to make a difference in our world and help people learn to love and respect each other. I have not written much about him yet, but I am already collecting books about his life. I plan to read them and learn more about this great man in our nation’s history. Then I want to tell his story in a fresh, new way to children.

Q: Did you meet up with anyone special that gave you the influence to write this book?
A: I have a friend Leilani who I used to spend time with before she moved to Seattle to be closer to her family. Leilani is African American. Leilani once told me to write books about African American history for young children that would inspire them and give them hope. I always tried to keep that advice in mind as I wrote D is for Drinking Gourd.

Q: Have you ever thought about quitting your job as an author?
A: No. Writing is something I like to do, even as a hobby. I plan on writing even when I’m old. I have so many book ideas that I don’t know if I’ll ever have enough time to write them all!

Q: Have you ever met an author?
A: Yes! Everywhere I go, I meet people who have written a story for their children or about their memories of when they were a child. Many of them don’t have their story published yet, but they hope to! I also have many friends who are authors. We hang out together and e-mail each other and encourage each other. Also, when I go to events to learn more about being a writer, I meet famous authors like Tomie de Paola. I met him in the elevator at a writer’s conference, which was a fun moment for me. He was one of my family’s favorite authors when our kids were little. We love his Strega Nona books.

Q: What age do you have to be to be an author?
A: Any age will do! The U.S. Copyright Office says that when someone writes a story on a piece of paper, that work is automatically under copyright protection. That means anyone at any age can be an author! All you have to do is write. Write a funny story about your cat. Write a story about a vacation you took. Make copies of it and share it with your friends and family. There! You’re an author, too!

Q: Have you written a funny book?
A: Yes. I co-wrote a series of books called Parables in Action. One of the titles in the series was “Moon Rocks and Dinosaur Bones.” In the stories, there is a boy named Larry, the Spy. He always talks in secret code. “Iggle, iggle, snoogle, snoogle” is his secret code for “Yes.” There is a girl named Bubbles. She wants to be an actress and is always practicing for auditions. In the book, Comet Campout, Bubbles wears a pink tutu on the camping trip because she is practicing to be a ballerina in a TV ad. It was fun writing about the hilarious adventures of this group of friends.

Q: Have you ever doubted one of your books?
A: Yes, every single time I write a book, I go through a period of doubting it. This usually happens somewhere in the middle of writing it. I wonder if people will be interested in reading it. I doubt my ability to write it. I worry about making mistakes. I doubt if I’ll be able to finish the book in time for my deadline. I have learned that these kinds of doubts are healthy to have. They make me be more careful when I write. They make me be more determined to finish the book. They are a challenge to me as an author, and they help me do my best in the end.

Q: How did the Internet help you research for your books?
A: I use the Internet all the time. I look up books to see if I want to buy them for my own personal research library. I find current information that is so brand new, there hasn’t been time to put it in a book yet. I visit Web sites of historical sites and American history collections where I find photographs and information that might not be in a book. It is an important tool for me as a writer.

Q: When were you born? Where were you born? What did you do before you became a writer? How old were you when you got married? How many kids do you have? What animals do you have? How old were you when you wrote your first book? How long have you been writing books?
A: I was born on May 17, 1960. A special surprise was that it was on my mother’s birthday! So we share a birthday together. My hometown is Everett, Pennsylvania. I grew up there on a dairy farm. After I grew up, I got a job as a nurses’ aide. First I worked in nursing homes where I helped take care of elderly people. Then I moved to California and got a job working in Loma Linda Hospital. I met my husband Jeff, here in California. We were married in 1982 when I was 22 years old. This year we are celebrating our 25th anniversary! We have two adult sons, Dan and Ben. We also have a funny cat named Humphrey and a dog that is a dachshund mix named Lucy. Humphrey and Lucy are friends. I was about 25 years old when I got my first book published. It was a book called “Bible Crafts on a Shoestring Budget.” The last time I checked, it was still selling well today! I have been writing books now for 22 years. I have had over 70 books published.

Thanks for asking so many great questions! It’s been joy to have you be part of my Virtual Book Tour!

Saturday’s Trivia Q and A:
Saturday’s question was:
Which pilots in World War II flew the famous airplanes known “Red Tails”?
a. The Tuskegee Airmen
b. The Golden Thirteen
c. The Buffalo Soldiers
The answer is: a. The Tuskegee Airmen. During World War II, the Air Force was suffering heavy losses until they assigned the Tuskegee Airmen to escort bombers and protect them from enemy fire. The tail of their planes was painted a bright red. The Tuskegee Airmen became famous for their record of never losing a single bomber to enemy planes.

Today’s Trivia Question:
Which state was the first to officially abolish slavery within its borders?
a. Virginia
b. New York
c. Vermont
Submit your answer by posting it as a comment to today’s blog. It won’t be published on the blog, but your name will be put in a hat to be drawn for 5 prizes to give away at the end of the tour. Check back in tomorrow for the answer!

Coming tomorrow:
On Day 11 of my Virtual Book Tour, we’ll be making a stop to visit the wonderful online bookseller again, Brown Sugar & Spice. Brown Sugar & Spice specializes in black history books for children and families. A video is posted there where I share about life as an author and writing my new book.

Virtual Book Tour: Day 10

2008-02-10T08:10:00.000-08:00

This past June, my family and I visited Mount Vernon, the plantation home of President George Washington. It was also the home for many enslaved African Americans. These men, women, and children worked hard to make the plantation the successful and beautiful place that it was.

We walked through the beautiful grounds of this historic plantation. We saw gardens, and horse stables, and hog pens, and fields. Everywhere we looked, we saw reminders of the people who lived and died here, leaving their powerful mark upon the history of our nation.

In the quiet shade of the woods, the trail we followed led us to holy ground: the burial ground for those who had been enslaved here. A simple marker whispered a hint of their story. A tombstone honored their lives. It was a deeply emotional experience for all who entered here, remembering…

Virtual Book Tour: Day 9

2008-02-09T00:02:00.000-08:00

Today is Saturday, February 9, and at 2:00 I’m delighted to be appearing live and in person at Mrs. Nelson’s Toy and Book Shop in La Verne, California. Click on the link to the store for more information and directions.

We’ll be celebrating Black History Month together at the store by reading D is for Drinking Gourd: An African American Alphabet. After the short storytime, our younger guests will have the opportunity to make a craft! So invite and friend and come join us for this fun, free event!

Just for Kids!
If you live too far away to join us at the store today, you can make the craft at home. We’re making tambourines.

During the days before the Civil War, tambourines could easily be made from scraps of metal or an old tin pie pan. Nails were used to poke holes in the center of metal bottle caps, where were then attached with wire around the edge of a pie tin. Since some plantation owners didn’t allow drums, tambourines were an instrument that made a nice rhythm.

Here’s how to make your own tambourine:

Materials
Markers
2 white dinner-sized paper plates
Hole punch
Thin ribbon
Scissors
12 jingle bells

Use markers to decorate the bottoms of the two paper plates with fabric designs from Africa. Look at the pictures above for authentic patterns. Staple the two plates together with the plate surfaces facing each other to form the tambourine. Use the hole punch to punch out 12 holes around the edge of the tambourine. Tie on a jingle bell at each hole.

To play the tambourine, shake it to jingle the bells in a rhythmic beat. You can also hold it in one hand and hit it against the palm of your other hand.
-from A Kid's Guide to African American History

Yesterday’s Trivia Q and A:
Yesterday’s question was:
What city-state in northern Nigeria became an important center of trade, culture, scholarship, and religion during the Middle Ages?
a. Cairo
b. Kano
c. Casablanca
Answer: b. Kano. This ancient walled city was the northernmost stop most caravans came to from across the Sahara Desert bringing desert salt and Mediterranean goods. Traders came to Kano looking for spices, metals, and the city’s famous indigo-dyed textiles made from cotton grown in the region.

Today’s Trivia Question:
Which pilots in World War II flew the famous airplanes known as “Red Tails”?
a. The Tuskegee Airmen
b. The Golden Thirteen
c. The Buffalo Soldiers
Submit your answer by posting it as a comment to today’s blog. It won’t be published on the blog, but your name will be put in a hat to be drawn for 5 prizes to give away at the end of the tour. Check back in tomorrow for the answer!

To read what others are saying about my newest book, D is for Drinking Gourd, check out one reader’s review on Amazon, an online bookstore.

And here’s another review from The Old Schoolhouse: The Magazine for Homeschool Families. Enjoy!

Coming tomorrow:
On Day 10 of my Virtual Book Tour, I’ll post photos of Mount Vernon from my trip when I visited this historic site last June. Many African Americans who were enslaved worked and lived on this plantation.

Virtual Book Tour: Day 8

2008-02-08T06:08:00.000-08:00

Today’s stop on the tour is dedicated to the wonderful students at Glenwood Avenue Elementary School, located on an island in Wildwood, New Jersey! A great big thanks goes to these dedicated teachers who helped organize this exciting event: Mrs. Sharpe, Mrs. Cardaci, Mrs. K. Melchioree, Mrs. T. Melchiorre, and Ms. Sholtis.

As a special guest appearance today, E.B. Lewis, the award-winning illustrator of D is for Drinking Gourd, answers questions Glenwood Avenue’s students submitted for an interview.

Q: What made you decide to become an artist? Did you take art lessons?
A: I grew up in a house where art was very important. My father worked at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Both of my mother’s brothers were artists. One of my uncles graduated from the Tyler School of Art and then taught art at Temple. My other uncle went to the Philadelphia College of Art. Growing up in that kind of an environment made it a natural thing for me to decide to become an artist. I went to the Tyler School of Art—the same school as my one uncle. I now teach art at the University of the Arts which used to be the Philadelphia College of Art. You can see that it has become full circle.

Q: How long did it take for you to illustrate D is for Drinking Gourd: An African American Alphabet?
A: It took about two entire months to illustrate it.

Q: What materials and supplies did you use for the pictures?
A: Good quality paints and brushes make a difference. I used Winsor & Newton watercolors and Kolinsky Series 7 watercolor brushes.

Q: In the Malcolm X drawing, were the people reflected in the sunglasses real or made up?
A: Those are real people! I saw them in a photograph and decided to illustrate them reflected off his glasses. Every one of the models I use for the illustrations in my books is a real person. Depending on the book and the location and the background, sometimes I do a photo shoot at a park or other various locations. If the story takes place in Mississippi, I’ll hop on a plane and go to Mississippi. If it’s in Africa, I’ll go there if I can. I’ll go wherever the story takes me. There are times when it’s not feasible to travel because of time restraints, so I will actually create those images as closely as I can. I often go to the Print and Picture Department in Philadelphia and take photographs from the pictures in their files.

Q: When you drew the pictures for this book, did you feel like you were there?
A: I always feel like I’m there when I’m illustrating a book. It’s a very emotional experience. One of the most emotional pieces for me to work on in D is for Drinking Gourd was the page “S is for Slavery, a sad part of our past.” It was very powerful.

Q: How did you get the colors to reflect off each other for the letter H?
A: That’s a great question! It’s all about being observant and looking carefully at the reference. That particular reference I was using had a shiny reflection on it, and I was able to interpret that and include it as a beautiful quality of the illustration I was making.

Q: What is the hardest part about illustrating a book?
A: The hardest part about illustrating a book is probably gathering the references. It’s not necessarily a time issue, it’s just about finding the right images that I want to use. I go to the library. I look on the computer. I ask people who are experts in their field. The reason I want to find just the right images is because when I illustrate a book, it’s a visual interpretation of the written word. It’s like speaking a different language. It’s as if I would be translating your words into French. I need to explain the story someone told me with words and it’s as if I need to translate that to my people whose language is visual. I sit down and go through that interpretation process in my head. I do thumbnail sketches and create a storyboard. I try to translate the words into images.

Q: Do you have a collection of your own artwork?
A: Yes. All over the house.

Q: Do you have any wise words for students who like to draw?
A: Practice, practice, practice. Just have fun! The other stuff comes later. What’s important now is to practice as much as you can and experience the joy of drawing!

Thank you, E.B. for joining the tour today. This was a highlight of the week!

Yesterday’s Trivia Q and A:
Yesterday’s question was:
What was a major symbol used by abolitionists to inspire people everywhere to fight to bring an end to slavery in America?
a. Liberty Bell
b. Seven candles of Kwanzaa
c. Olympic torch
The answer is: a. Liberty Bell. The Liberty Bell rang out frequently in Philadelphia, the birthplace of freedom from British rule. Eventually it became a symbol of freedom from slavery as well.

Today’s Trivia Question:
What city-state in northern Nigeria became an important center of trade, culture, scholarship, and religion during the Middle Ages?
a. Cairo
b. Kano
c. Casablanca
Submit your answer by posting it as a comment to today’s blog. It won’t be published on the blog, but your name will be put in a hat to be drawn for 5 prizes to give away at the end of the tour. Check back in tomorrow for the answer!

Coming tomorrow:
On Day 9 of my Virtual Book Tour, I’ll be visiting a delightful children’s bookstore, Mrs. Nelson’s Toy and Book Shop. Only this visit isn’t “virtual,” it’s a real, live event! Mark your calendars, invite your friends, and come celebrate Black History Month with us! On Saturday at 2:00 at Mrs. Nelson’s wonderful bookstore in La Verne, California, I’ll be reading my picture book D is for Drinking Gourd. Afterwards, our younger guests will have the opportunity to create a craft from another one of my books, A Kid’s Guide to African American History.

Virtual Book Tour: Day 7

2008-02-07T07:12:00.000-08:00

Set your clocks! Listen in today to a live Internet blogtalkradio interview on Book Bites for Kids!

4:00 PM Atlantic
3:00 PM Eastern
2:00 PM Central Time
1:00 PM Mountain
12:00 PM Pacific

If you missed the live interview, you still have a chance to enjoy the fun! The interview will be archived at Book Bites for Kids.

Just for Kids
Have you ever visited a famous historic site about African American history? Chances are, there is a historic site near you! If you’ve already visited somewhere, look for some place new to go. If you’ve never been to a famous African American historic site, this month would be a great time to start! Wouldn’t it be fun to take a visit with your family or go on a field trip with your class? To help find a location near you, check out these books in your library:
Historic Landmarks of Black America by George Cantor
Black Heritage Sites: The North by Nancy C. Curtis
Black Heritage Sites: The South by Nancy C. Curtis

Yesterday’s Trivia Q and A:
Yesterday’s question was:
Which famous explorer co-discovered the North Pole?
a. Matthew Henson
b. York
c. Estevanico
The answer is: a. Matthew Henson. In 1909, arctic explorer Matthew Henson became co-discoverer of the North Pole. Other famous explorers include York, skillful frontiersman who helped make the Lewis and Clark expedition a success. During colonial days, Estevanico led an exploring party through the southwestern United States.

Today’s Trivia Question:
What was a major symbol used by abolitionists to inspire people everywhere to help bring an end to slavery in America?
a. Liberty Bell
b. Seven candles of Kwanzaa
c. Olympic torch
Submit your answer by posting it as a comment to today’s blog. It won’t be published on the blog, but your name will be put in a hat to be drawn for 5 prizes to give away at the end of the tour. Check back in tomorrow for the answer!

Coming tomorrow:
On Day 8 of my Virtual Book Tour, we’re having a special guest appearance by award-winning illustrator of D is for Drinking Gourd, E.B. Lewis! Be sure to stop on by as he answers questions for students at Glenwood Avenue Elementary School in Wildwood, New Jersey.

Virtual Book Tour: Day 6

2008-02-06T06:38:00.000-08:00

For today’s stop on the tour, we’re visiting author Laura Salas’ blog: Writing the World for Kids. Click on the link for an in-depth interview about both D is for Drinking Gourd and another of my books, A Kid’s Guide to African American History!

The Top Ten African American Writers
Who is your favorite African American writer?
Submit your suggestion by posting a comment on today’s blog. It won’t be published on the blog, but your name will be put in a hat to be drawn for 5 prizes to give away at the end of the tour. I’ll post the most popular ten suggestions later on the tour.

Here’s the Top Ten list from last week. There are so many African American heroes that it’s impossible to list them all, but here’s a start:

The Top Ten African American Heroes
1. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
2. Frederick Douglass
3. Harriet Tubman
4. Oprah
5. Malcolm X
6. Colin Powell
7. W.E.B. Du Bois
8. Mary McCloud Bethune
9. Maya Angelou
10. Little Rock Nine students

Yesterday’s Trivia Q and A:
Yesterday’s question was:
What was the name of the first African American newspaper?
a. Freedom’s Journal
b. The North Star
c. The Mystery
The answer is: a. Freedom’s Journal. Even though all three of these were part of the Black press, Freedom’s Journal was the first. It was cofounded by Samuel Cornish and John B. Russworm. The Mystery was later founded by Martin R. Delany before he helped Frederick Douglass launch what was to become the most well-known Black abolitionist newspaper of the day, the North Star.

Today’s Trivia Question:
Which famous explorer co-discovered the North Pole?
a. Matthew Henson
b. York
c. Estevanico
Submit your answer by posting it as a comment to today’s blog. It won’t be published on the blog, but your name will be put in a hat to be drawn for 5 prizes to give away at the end of the tour. Check back in tomorrow for the answer!

Coming tomorrow:
On Day 7 of my Virtual Book Tour, set your clocks to listen to a live Internet blogtalkradio interview on Book Bites for Kids!

4:00 PM Atlantic
3:00 PM Eastern
2:00 PM Central Time
1:00 PM Mountain
12:00 PM Pacific

Virtual Book Tour: Day 5

2008-02-05T06:59:00.000-08:00

For today’s stop on the tour, we have a special treat! We’re visiting the wonderful online bookseller, Brown Sugar & Spice. This family-oriented bookseller specializes in African-American and Multicultural Children’s Books. Click on the link to go to the home page, then scroll down to view some of the wonderful books they offer for children and families. Here's the original video that was posted during this day on the tour.

Just for Kids:
Yesterday we talked about making an award for your favorite book. Do you have a favorite book about African American history? I have so many favorites, I can’t list them all, but here are some of them. Check your library to see if they have some of these titles so you can read them, too!
1. If You Lived at the Time of Martin Luther King by Ellen Levine
2. The Voice that Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights by Russell Freedman
3. Hausaland: The Fortress Kingdoms by Philip Koslow
4. Let It Shine: Stories of Black Women Freedom Fighters by Andrea Davis Pinkney
5. Juneteenth: Freedom Day by Muriel Miller Branch
6. African-Americans in the Old West by Tom McGowen
7. The Tuskegee Airmen by Linda and Charles George
8. The 19th Century and Abolition by Voices in African American History
9. With a Banjo on my Knee: A Musical Journey from Slavery to Freedom by Rex M. Ellis
10. The Back Bard of North Carolina: George Moses Horton and His Poetry, edited by Joan R. Sherman

Yesterday’s Trivia Q and A:
Yesterday’s question was:
Who founded the city of Chicago?
a. Nannie Helen Burroughs, educator
b. Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable, fur trader and frontiersman
c. Hiram Revels, first African American Senator
The answer is: b. Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable. Fur trader and frontiersman, DuSable founded a flourishing trading post on the present site of the city. He was influential in the westward expansion of America.

Today’s Trivia Question:
What was the name of the first African American newspaper?
a. Freedom’s Journal
b. The North Star
c. The Mystery
Submit your answer by posting it as a comment to today’s blog. It won’t be published on the blog, but your name will be put in a hat to be drawn for 5 prizes to give away at the end of the tour. Check back in tomorrow for the answer!

Coming tomorrow:
On Day 6 of my Virtual Book Tour, we’ll be stopping by author Laura Salas’ blog for an in-depth interview about both D is for Drinking Gourd and another of my books, A Kid’s Guide to African American History!

Virtual Book Tour: Day 4

2008-02-04T08:23:00.000-08:00

Welcome back to the tour! It’s been such a joy to share everyone’s excitement about D is for Drinking Gourd. One of the thrills has been getting news from the publisher each time it’s chosen to receive an award. Here are links to the awards and honors it’s won since it was published in September:

D is for Drinking Gourd: An African American Alphabet was chosen as a 2007 NAPPA Honors Winner. We received word that it had won the NAPPA (National Parenting Publications Awards) just as a large order of the books was going to press, so they were able to include the award seal on the cover!

It was a Finalist in the USABooksNews.com Best Books 2007 Awards.

And we just found out that it was selected for the Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People 2008, a cooperative project of the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) and the Children’s Book Council (CBC). This site doesn’t list its newest titles yet, but you can find out more about the types of books they select.

For added fun, be sure to check out author Anastasia Suen’s blog where she lists “Picture Book of the Day,” hosts Nonfiction Mondays, and more!

Just for Kids:
Do you have a favorite book? It might be fun to tell your friends all about it! First draw a picture of an award you would like to give your book. Give the award a title such as: The Funniest Book Award. Then write the title of the book and the author's name below the picture of the award. You can show the award to your friends or make photocopies of it and let them keep a copy. For even more fun, ask your friends (or even your teacher!) to all draw an award for their favorite book. Then you can share the awards with each other and read each other's favorite books. Now doesn't that sound like fun?

Yesterday’s Trivia Q and A:
Yesterday’s question was: Which of America’s Founding Fathers also took part in the American Revolution?
a. James Forten, wealthy sailmaker and abolitionist
b. Richard Allen, founder of the AME Church
c. Barzillai Lew, fifer and drummer
d. All of the above
The answer is: d. All of the above. James Forten, one of the nation’s wealthiest and most influential abolitionists, carried gun powder from below deck up to the cannons on an American privateer during the war before he was captured by the British and put on a prison ship. Richard Allen drove wagonloads of salt from the shores of Delaware inland to the Patriot troops. Barzillai Lew was a fifer and a drummer and is credited with playing Yankee Doodle at the Battle of Bunker Hill. His descendants have served in every major American war up to the present day.

Today’s Trivia Question:
Who founded the city of Chicago?
a. Nannie Helen Burroughs, educator
b. Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable, fur trader and frontiersman
c. Hiram Revels, first African American senator
Submit your answer by posting it as a comment to today’s blog. It won’t be published on the blog, but your name will be put in a hat to be drawn for 5 prizes to give away at the end of the tour. Check back in tomorrow for the answer!

Coming tomorrow:
On Day 5 of my Virtual Book Tour, we’ll be stopping to visit the Web site of a wonderful online bookseller to watch a video explaining some of the story about how D is for Drinking Gourd came to be.

Virtual Book Tour: Day 3

2008-02-03T08:39:00.000-08:00

This past June, my family and I toured the city of Philadelphia. This city was the birthplace of our nation, so we took the opportunity to visit historic sites of some of America’s Black Founding Fathers. Most of our tour took place on Juneteenth, or June 19, a very special holiday that commemorates the last day freedom arrived in our nation after the Civil War. On this historic day, June 19, 1865, Union soldiers rode into Galveston, Texas with the Emancipation Proclamation and the news that the Civil War had ended. All those still enslaved in that state were finally set free.

One stop was at the home of James Forten. The marker in front of his house reads:

James Forten (1766-1842)
A wealthy sailmaker who employed multi-racial craftsmen, Forten was a leader of the African-American community in Philadelphia and a champion of reform causes. The American Antislavery Society was organized in his house here in 1833.

We went down to the docks and took a ride on the river. This was the Philadelphia that James Forten knew since he was a lad. He grew up making sails for the tall ships that came in and out of port. Eventually, he bought the sail loft where he worked and became one of the wealthiest men in America. James Forten used his money and devoted his time to help lead the fight to bring an end to slavery.

Another stop our family made was to Mother Bethel AME Church. On the steps as we went in, we were interviewed by the Philadelphia Inquirer who was writing an article about the Underground Railroad and visitors to Black historic sites in Philadelphia. We joined other visitors in the quiet hush of the historic sanctuary. The stained glass windows are just amazingly beautiful to see, such as this one of the church’s founder, Richard Allen.

We toured the Richard Allen Museum in the basement of the church. I must admit, it was a highlight of my writing career as well as one of the most meaningful mornings of my life to visit the museum in honor of this man who was probably the most influential Black Founder of our nation. His courage to blaze a trail no one had yet had the strength to make, his faith in his God and his country, his deep love and compassion for all people both black and white, and his amazing leadership daily inspire me. At the time of our visit to the Richard Allen Museum, I was eager to see with my own eyes historic artifacts of this man I wrote about in D is for Drinking Gourd both for “F is for Founding Fathers” and “Z is for Zion.” I was also intent on gathering information in hopes of one day writing a book about Richard Allen—and after I returned home from this trip, I landed a book contract to write a new book for kids with Richard Allen as the focus! After my Virtual Book Tour is finished at the end of this month, I’ll begin writing this book. My deadline is December 15, 2008, so it probably will be published in the fall of 2009. Keep an eye out for it!

Yesterday’s Trivia Q and A:
Yesterday’s question was: Which of America’s Founding Fathers was the Frederick Douglass of his generation?
The answer is: a. Richard Allen (1760-1831). He was well-known in the early years of our nation for speaking out for equality and organizing self-help, moral, and religious groups. His influence eventually reached across the nation and to various countries around the world. The co-founder of the Free African Society, Richard Allen influenced his nation and his world. Among his many amazing accomplishments, he was the founder and first bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, President of the first Negro Convention, writer, abolitionist, and was active on the Underground Railroad.

Today’s Trivia Question:
Which of America’s Founding Fathers also took part in the American Revolution?
a. James Forten, wealthy sailmaker and abolitionist
b. Richard Allen, founder of the AME Church
c. Barzillai Lew, fifer and drummer
d. All of the above
Submit your answer by posting it as a comment to today’s blog. It won’t be published on the blog, but your name will be put in a hat to be drawn for 5 prizes to give away at the end of the tour. Check back in tomorrow for the answer!

Coming tomorrow:
On Day 4 of my Virtual Book Tour, we’ll visit award sites for D is for Drinking Gourd!

Virtual Book Tour: Day 2

2008-02-02T06:45:00.000-08:00

Welcome back to the tour! For today’s stop, we’re visiting the Web site of my publisher, Sleeping Bear Press. What an honor it has been to work with them these past two and a half years while writing the book, working with E.B. Lewis as the illustrator, and getting the book ready for production. They have a great team of editors and an awesome staff.

Check out the free teacher’s guide for D is for Drinking Gourd! First, go to the Web site of Sleeping Bear Press. Then click on the picture of my book. When the next page comes up, click on the link on the right side of the page that says Teacher’s Guide. A downloadable pdf file will appear with lots of great activities to do in your classroom or on your own. Oh, and while you’re at that site, be sure to check out the other wonderful books they have to offer!

Just for Kids:
If you’re like a lot of other kids, you’re probably wondering how long it took to write D is for Drinking Gourd. After I got the idea and contacted Sleeping Bear Press with my idea, it took several months for them to decide they wanted me to write the book. Then it took me three months from start to finish to actually write it. I worked on it full time, but I already knew a lot of the basic information because I’ve been doing research about African American history for other books I write, too. It took a couple more years, however, to get the book ready for publication. During that time, I worked with my awesome editor, Aimee Jackson, to revise certain sections and polish the text. E. B. Lewis came on board and then he needed time to paint all the beautiful illustrations. So from the time I first got the idea for the book until it came out in the bookstores, it was about two and a half years. Yes, a book can take a long time to make!

Yesterday’s Trivia Q and A:
Yesterday’s question was: Which famous scientist was also an artist?
The answer is: c. George Washington Carver. Before he was invited to teach at Tuskegee Institute, Carver dreamed of a career as an artist. Even after he became famous for his experiments with the peanut and the sweet potato, he continued to paint.

Today’s Trivia Question:
Which of America’s Founding Fathers was the Frederick Douglass of his generation?
a. Richard Allen, founder of the AME Church
b. Barzillai Lew, fifer and drummer in the American Revolution
c. Benjamin Banneker, inventor, astronomer, and mathematician
Submit your answer by posting it as a comment on today’s blog. This comment won't be published on the blog, but your name will be put in a hat to be drawn for 5 prizes to give away at the end of the tour. Check back in tomorrow for the answer!

Coming tomorrow:
On Day 3 of my Virtual Book Tour, I’ll post photos of historic sites I visited last June of some of America’s Black Founding Fathers who lived in Philadelphia during the early years of our nation’s history.

Virtual Book Tour: Day 1

2008-02-01T08:17:00.001-08:00

Welcome to my Virtual Book Tour! I’m glad you’ve joined me to celebrate the release of my newest picture book, D IS FOR DRINKING GOURD: AN AFRICAN AMERICAN ALPHABET.

For today’s stop on Day 1 of the tour, we’ll be visiting the California Readers site. Click on the link to stop and visit. This past fall at the CSLA (California School Library Association) conference, I met Bonnie O’Brian when she stopped by the Cengage Learning booth where I was doing a book signing for D is for Drinking Gourd with Sleeping Bear Press. Bonnie graciously asked me for an interview and added me to their list of California authors! What an encouraging organization they have for authors and illustrators who all hail from California! And what a great bridge they’re building between books and kids and schools. Isn’t that what children’s books are all about?

Also be sure to check out author Anastasia Suen’s blog where she lists “blogs of the week” and more!

Just for Kids:
Kids from classrooms in different states of our country have been sending me questions to answer during my Virtual Book Tour. One question a lot of kids want to know is, “What’s it like to be an author?” Personally, I think it’s the best hobby someone can have. It’s fun! It’s also the best job anyone can have, too, because you get to do what you love the most all day long! When I was a kid, I loved math and as an author I get to write about math! I like stories and adventure and history and people, and as an author I get to write about it all. To find out more about what it’s like to be an author, keep checking in each day on the tour.

Today’s Trivia Question:
Which famous scientist was also an artist?
a. Shirley Jackson, first African American woman awarded her doctorate from MIT
b. Earl Shaw, researcher and developer working on electron laser
c. George Washington Carver, researcher and teacher at Tuskegee Institute
Submit your answer by posting it as a comment on today’s blog. Your name will be put in a hat to be drawn for 5 prizes to give away at the end of the tour. Check back in tomorrow for the answer!

Top Ten African American Heroes:
Who is your favorite African American hero?
Submit your suggestion by posting a comment on today’s blog. Your name will be put in a hat to be drawn for 5 prizes to give away at the end of the tour. I’ll post the most popular ten suggestions later in the week.

Coming tomorrow:
On Day 2 of my Virtual Book Tour, I’ll post a link to obtain a free downloadable teacher’s guide/activity guide for D IS FOR DRINKING GOURD. Perfect for classroom or homeschool use, this guide contains lots of fun and educational activities for kids to do to help learn more about African American history.

Virtual Book Tour

2008-01-31T07:44:00.000-08:00

A special welcome to all my online visitors today! And a big hello especially if you’re joining my site as the blog of the week listed in the Institute of Children’s Literature Children’s Writers eNews!

My Virtual Book Tour starts tomorrow on February 1 in honor of Black History Month. Throughout the month, we’ll be celebrating the release of my newest picture book, D IS FOR DRINKING GOURD: AN AFRICAN AMERICAN ALPHABET, illustrated by E. B. Lewis (Sleeping Bear Press).

There will be Trivia Questions to answer, Top Ten lists to submit suggestions for, author and illustrator interviews, classroom virtual “visits,” kids’ crafts to make, photos, videos, and more! Each time you post a comment on my blog during the tour or submit an answer to the Trivia Questions or a suggestion to the Top Ten lists, your name will be put in a hat. On the next to the last day of my tour, I’ll be drawing out names to give away five prizes—three 2008 African American history calendars and two $25 gift cards. Winners will be announced on the last day.

So hop on board and join the fun. Check back in tomorrow and join my Virtual Book Tour!

Featured Book!

2008-01-29T08:19:00.000-08:00

Pappy's Handkerchief
By Devin Scillian
Illustrated by Chris Ellison

Young Moses and his family are barely scraping by. He helps his father in their fish stall selling each day's catch to passersby but times are hard in 1889 Baltimore. It's difficult to provide for a family of ten. But when they hear of free farmland out in Oklahoma, it sounds like the answer to their prayers. The family sells all they own and heads west to fulfill a lifelong dream.

Their wagon journey, however, is plagued with troubles from ice storms and flooded rivers to diminishing supplies and sickness. Yet Moses and his family persevere. They arrive in time to take a place along the boundary line that marks the staging point for the Oklahoma Land Run. But after making it this far, will even more bad luck prevent them from realizing their dream of owning their own piece of America?

Evocative paintings and spellbinding storytelling bring the Oklahoma Land Run to vivid life for young readers.

Meet Author Devin Scillian!
E-mail: devin@devinscillian.com
Web site: www.devinscillian.com

Bio:
If you know Devin Scillian at all, you get the feeling that "down time" is not a phrase that he's heard.

Devin anchors Local 4 News at 5, 6 and 11 p.m. on Local 4 and hosts WDIV's weekly current event news program "Flashpoint." He joined the WDIV team in August 1995.

Growing up, Devin was always on the move -- he's a self-described "Army brat." He considers Kansas and Oklahoma his neck of the woods. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Kansas in 1985.

As an adult, Devin still can't be still -- whether jetting all over the world covering major news events, or "relaxing" by singing in front of hundreds of thousands of people.

His Web site, www.devinscillian.com is subtitled "An American Storyteller." And, that couldn't be more true. Devin's stories have weaved their way from metro Detroit to vast corners of the world.

Devin's favorite book seems to be his passport. His news career has taken him all over the world, from the World Trade Center to the Red Sea, from Moscow, Russia to Sydney, Australia, from the streets of Port Au Prince, Haiti to St. Peter's Square at the Vatican. Whether it's the Olympic Games in Athens, Greece or the birth of Daimler Chrysler in Stuttgart, Germany, Devin has been there. His recent trip to China led to groundbreaking
reports on the crisis in American manufacturing.

However, both the proudest and saddest time of his career was for an event where he didn't have to go anywhere. Devin was a news anchor at KFOR-TV in Oklahoma City at the time of the Murrah federal building bombing. He describes the traumatic explosion (and its aftermath) as "a study of despair" but it was also a "life-changing lesson in the power of love and kindness." Devin helped the station win a prestigious Peabody Award for its coverage. He says the honor "remains for me a symbol of the marvelous potential of television news."

Covering events like that are Devin's favorite parts of the job. He says "having a front row seat for history and writing the first draft of history" give him the most pride.

His on-air career has not been without its embarrassing moments, though. Most memorable to Devin was the one night when he raced out of the newsroom into the studio just as the newscast was starting and grabbed what he thought was his suit jacket. It wasn't. Devin landed in his seat just as the camera came up on him wearing a size 38 regular coat. Devin's normal size is 44 long. In terms of how he looked, Devin says only, "it wasn't pretty."

Devin met his wife, Corey, in high school in Junction City, Kan. They are the parents of four children: Griffin, Quinn, Madison, and Christian. They also have a "flop-eared" rabbit named Pikachu and a golden doodle named Darby.

Devin's definition of "free time" might be considered work to others.

Devin has become a fixture in the children's section of your local bookstore. He's the author of ten books including "Fibblestax," "Cosmo's Moon," "P is for Passport," and the national bestseller "A is for America." In 2004, Devin was invited to read from his books at the White House. His newest book is "Pappy's Handkerchief," a tale of the Oklahoma
Land Run published by Sleeping Bear Press.

Devin is also an accomplished singer and songwriter having won the prestigious Detroit Music Award for Best Country Performer. His album "Tulsa" led to four singles on the European country music charts and the song "Half Past You" hit number one in Denmark. His children's album "A is for America" was a companion to the best-selling book. He has opened for the likes of Toby Keith, Reba McEntire, and LeAnn Rimes.

He's appeared on stage at Detroit's famous "Downtown Hoedown." His music has also aired in numerous television specials.

Devin, his wife and occasional co-author, Corey, live with their four children in Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan.

Featured book: Pappy’s Handkerchief
Interview:
Q: How do you hope to influence today’s young readers through this book?
A: I'd love for today's young readers to develop a sense of the kind of "all or nothing" decisions our ancestors made in settling our nation. As someone who's spent a lot of time Oklahoma, the Land Run is rather iconic to me. But I'm not sure there's a widespread understanding of what it was all about and how dramatic it was. And I'm hoping to shed
some light on the very unique history of African Americans in Oklahoma. The promise of free land is big enough, but it takes on an added depth when you think about the families of former slaves giving up everything to stake a claim on land that would be their own. At one time, there were more all black towns in Oklahoma than any other state. That's
something even many Oklahomans know little about.

Q: What books influenced you most of all when you were growing up?
A: The stories of Dr. Seuss always resonated with me. And later, the books of Shel Silverstein. But my favorite book was "My Side of the Mountain" by Jean George. Loved it, loved it, loved it. I also had a love affair with the set of encyclopedias in my house.

Q: Where do you get most of your ideas?
A: I'm really not sure. But I have to come to understand that a book's title is of critical importance to my writing process. With every one of my ten published books, the project began with a title. I find that when I come up with the right title first, it seems to jumpstart my imagination and the story tends to fall in line. It doesn't always happen quickly; I had the title "Cosmo's Moon" floating around in my head for years before the story finally took shape. ("Cosmo's Moon" was a line in the film "Moonstruck," so I suppose it's a reminder that a good idea can come from anywhere if we're paying attention.)

Q: Share one tip you’d like to give about gathering notes during the research process of writing a book.
A: If you had told me before I started, I'm not sure I would have believed that I would turn out as many nonfiction titles as I have. I really hadn't thought about the kind of research my books have required. Fortunately, the internet means you have the world's largest library at your fingertips. But I would point out two things that have become
really important to my process. First, while the standard kind of information is always important to develop, I think it's always important to find a scrap or two that seems new. (If the author is learning something, the reader may be, too.) Second, I try to keep
notes not just of data or information, but of small bursts of thought about how that information can be used. I can make a note that says "More than a billion people live in China." But more importantly, I need to note the thought that "In China, when someone says 'You're one in a million,' it means there are a thousand people just like you."
When I'm writing, I'll probably have clear recall of the hard data, but I'll need the note on my little whiff of inspiration to make that data come alive.

African American History: Did You Know...?

2008-01-28T08:14:00.000-08:00

After the Civil War, Texas ranchers began hiring cowboys to drive their large herds of cattle along the Chisholm Trail and other trails leading north to railroad towns.

DID YOU KNOW that many African Americans found jobs as cowboys? They were riding the trails, herding cattle, and breaking in wild horses so that could be ridden. In fact, during the time of the long Texas cattle drives from the 1870s to the 1890s, one out of every five cowboys was an African American.

Cowboys had many important jobs to do. One was to help with the round-up. Round-ups were held once or twice a year. Cowboys rode their horses out from different ranches to gather up all the cattle in their area. The cowboys from the different ranches looked for the cattle that were branded with their own ranch's brand. The brand was a special mark that was put on each cow's back hip.

To make your own brand, gather the following materials:
Paper bowl, cereal size
Poster board
Pencil
Scissors
Thick string
Glue
Cardboard tube, about 3 feet long, such as from gift wrap
Shallow tray
Paint
Construction paper

Use the paper bowl to trace a circle on the poster board and cut it out. Draw a design of your brand on the poster board. Glue string over the design to make it stand out.

Carefully cut an X in the center of the paper bowl. Stick one end of the long carboard tube about 1 inch of the way through the X, gluing it if needed. Glue the poster board brand to the edge of the bowl as shown to complete your brand.

To test your brand, after the glue is dry, carefully dip the brand in a shallow tray of paint and stamp your design on a sheet of construction paper placed on the floor.

-from A Kid's Guide to African American History

Ask the Author:
Attention children, students, teachers, home-schoolers, families, and everyone who loves to read! If there is a question you'd like to ask about my newest book or my life as an author, post your question as a comment on my blog. I will be selecting questions to answer on my blog throughout the upcoming Virtual Book Tour celebrating the release of my newest book, D IS FOR DRINKING GOURD: AN AFRICAN AMERICAN ALPHABET. Mark your calendars to join in the fun! The tour starts February 1, 2008.

Book in A Month Club!

2008-01-27T08:49:00.000-08:00

You're invited to join the BOOK IN A MONTH CLUB! Each year in March one of my critique groups participates in this club as we try to write an entire book in just one month. It's crazy...it's zany...and it's fun! To find out more information and tips about how it works, you can visit my website and click on WRITERZONE, which has a link to the BOOK IN A MONTH CLUB.

This year since I already have a couple of long-term book manuscripts under contract, I'm planning to write a new picture book manuscript. Throughout the month of March, I'm hoping to post my progress here on the blog to help show you more about the world of writing a picture book from start to finish.

So hop on board and join the fun! Better yet--get your entire critique group to agree to meet the challenge of trying to write the first draft of an entire book manuscript--in just one month!

As I explained in my previous post on January 16, I'm targeting a specific publisher--Sylvan Dell--and have chosen my topic: a story about nocturnal and diurnal animals that would end up being a bedtime story. Yesterday, I went a my favorite scrapbook store and purchased two pieces of background paper--one is a picture of a big pillow for a kid's bed and the other has paw prints, in coordinating colors.

I've decided to keep a scrapbook of projects I'm working on for 2008. Last year, I kept a month-by-month scrapbook, but this year each spread will be for a certain project. It's helping me get excited about each project I planned on my Goal Planning Sheet. Also, it will help me stay focused and give me an incentive for actually completing the manuscript from beginning to end.

I also found some cute stickers to represent the main character of my story. Not only does this help me visualize my main character better, but it will provide a great accent on my scrapbook page! I'm continuing to jot down notes for the structure of the plot. I've chosen my 3 main characters. Now I want to choose names that fit them perfectly. I have a book of baby names, 35,000 BABY NAMES by Bruce Lanksy. It's a great resource for helping choose names because it states which culture the name originates from as well as the name's meaning.

I'm also making a list of bedtime picture books. Plus, I read an article in the January 2008 issue of Children's Writer (www.ChildrenWriter.com) about how to write bedtime stories. I have a subscription, so I photocopied the article to keep it handy and am trying to follow the tips. It says that bedtime stories should give "reassurance that everything is in its place and safe," be a book "that makes the child feel loved," and give the child "something comforting to think about" while going to sleep. I'm trying to structure my plot ideas to be sure to include these ingredients. I'm making a list of bedtime picture books and plan on borrowing them from my library and dissecting each one to see how it works.

Yesterday, I also started a pocket file folder to collect and organize my ideas. In the pocket folder, I put several file folders:
* one labeled Sylvan Dell where I'll put all my notes about the publisher I'm targeting
* one for research on diurnal and nocturnal animals
* one for notes about bedtime books
* one for notes about plot
* one for notes about characters
* one for the manuscript as I begin to type it in March

As you prepare to join the Book in a Month Club, here's a check-off list to help you get ready to start. March 1 is the official kick-off day! I'll be tracking my own progress here on my blog starting in March. Keep in touch and let me know how it's going for you!

1. Target one specific publisher.
2. Study their product line.
3. Find a hole in their list of a book that they haven't yet published but would fit into their list of books.
4. Read a how-to writer's book on the genre you're studying. (Eve Heidi Bine-Stock's HOW TO WRITE A CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK: VOLUME 1 STRUCTURE is a personal favorite for writing picture books.)
5. Start to plan structure of your book. Write an outline. Determine plots and subplots if fiction.
6. Choose characters. Write characterizations and determine names of main characters, if fiction.

Ask the Author:
Attention teachers, home-schoolers, families, kids and everyone who loves to read! If there is a question you'd like to ask about my newest book or my life as an author, post your question as a comment on my blog. I will be selecting questions to answer on my blog throughout the upcoming Virtual Book Tour celebrating the release of my newest book, D IS FOR DRINKING GOURD: AN AFRICAN AMERICAN ALPHABET. Mark your calendars to join in the fun! The tour starts February 1, 2008.

Do You Want to be a Writer?

2008-01-25T08:55:00.001-08:00

Chances are, if you dream about being a writer, you either loved to read as a child or are a natural storyteller! What a wonderful imagination you probably have!

As you take steps to make your dreams come true, let me encourage you. I started out knowing NOTHING about the field of writing. I didn't know about writers' conferences, critique groups, market guides, publishing houses, agents, queries or book proposals. I didn't even know how to type a manuscript in its proper format. I didn't even know the word "submissions" meant to send something to an editor--I just typed up my story and mailed it to the first magazine that came to mind!

Yet, little by little, step by step I moved forward in pursuit of my dreams of one day being a published author. And now I am! With over 70 books published in houses big and small, I am a full-time writer landing 3-4 new book contracts every year for the last ten years.

Often when I speak at a local writer's event, someone says, "Well, you can land a book contract because you're already established." I try to remind them that I started at square one, just like most of us do.

So, be encouraged! Take heart! Put on your writer's hat and sit down at your computer. Fasten on your seatbelt until you actually type at least one page of new material today on your manuscript. Step by step, day by day, you can work towards making your dreams come true!

Teacher Tip:
Many children also love the thought of growing up to be a writer. To encourage your students to enjoy writing, work together to make a classroom book. Structure it with a theme such as African American Heroes from A-Z or Animal Homes or Counting to A Million. Assign each student one or two pages of the book to write, then instruct them to draw a picture and write about it for the book. Assemble the pages together and bind them in a 3-ring notebook or between sturdy paper. Then display it in the class for everyone to enjoy!

Virtual Book Tour

2008-01-24T07:38:00.000-08:00

I'm continuing to work a little bit each day to organize my upcoming Virtual Book Tour that starts on February 1, 2008. I'm busy as a bee getting all my ducks in a row since the tour will launch a week from tomorrow! Here are more tips on setting up your own:

Step One: See post on December 8, 2007.
Step Two: See post on December 12, 2007.
Step Three: See post on December 20, 2007.
Step Four: See post on January 3, 2008.

Step Five:
Get ready to launch the tour! Make sure all your stops are scheduled on your calendar and ready to go. Complete any author interviews and get a different author photograph to e-mail to each one. Send everyone on your schedule a press release and a jpg file of your book cover.

If your publisher didn't make a press release, it's not too hard to make your own. Include a picture of your book. (Scan the cover or copy and paste the picture from your publisher's website.) Write a short, catchy description of your book. Include the ISBN, price, and publisher's name along with contact information for those interested in purchasing the book. Add any pertinent news such as awards or availablity for booksignings, making sure everything fits on one page. And there you have it!

I also made a video on our family camcorder, burned it to a DVD, put it onto my Mac and uploaded it to YouTube. Then I copied and pasted the code YouTube gave me to put the video on my website. It's a video that explains the upcoming Virtual Book Tour and invites everyone to join in the fun! (You can see it on my post for January 19.) I also offer the video to anyone scheduled on my tour to post now on their website to alert their own online guests about the upcoming event.

If possible, start writing content for your tour NOW on your word processing program so all you have to do is cut and paste it into your blog each morning of the tour. This will save you lots of headache later if you wake up sick or something on a day of the tour. It will also help you work out the kinks now instead of under the pressure of the actual day's event.

Plan to connect with each of your scheduled stops the day ahead of their date to verify that everything is still a go. (Prepare an emergency plan in case someone doesn't follow through. I'm planning on posting various photos of my life as an author or a list of teacher tips in case something like this happens.) Before you actually post the link to their site, visit their site first thing that morning to make sure their site is ready for your online guests to visit.

If you haven't installed one already, post a counter on your blog to watch the traffic flow. Statcounter at www.statcounter.com offers a free, invisible one that provides lots of information and it's not too complicated to set up.

Tie up any final loose ends and finally--you're ready to go! Launch your Video Book Tour and enjoy the journey!

Goal Planning Workout

2008-01-23T00:02:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I hosted a mini-workshop at my local SCBWI Schmooze. We met at the nearby Borders and by the end of the session, we were all excited about taking our writing to the next level in 2008. Here are several strategies we discussed:

Set Personal Goals as a Writer
If you’d like to improve your craft and become a better writer in the year ahead, choose one or two specific goals to work toward. (Add other goals to this list if some come to mind!)
1. Become better at self-editing. Make a check-off list to help you self-edit your manuscript, including the following:
*Read each sentence and make sure it IS a sentence that starts with a capital letter, contains a subject and a verb, and ends with appropriate punctuation.
*Circle run-on sentences or sentence fragments. Fix.
*Circle every passive “to-be” verb. Change most to active.
*Check that your idea flows smoothly from point A to point B. Rearrange chunks of text if necessary.
*Check for genre specific items such as realistic dialogue and smooth transitions.
2. Become a better member of your critique group. (Join or start a critique group if you aren’t in one already!) Think about what you appreciate in the other members and make it your goal to improve. You can improve by arriving consistently on time, listening enthusiastically to other members’ projects, writing at least two positive comments on every page of their manuscripts, and wording criticism so that it is both constructive and encouraging.
3. Learn or polish basic grammar rules by reading at least one grammar book this year such as Write Right and The Elements of Style. Purchase an inexpensive copy of the Chicago Manual of Style at a used bookstore and refer to it often as you write.
4. Read a how-to book on improving your genre.
5. Read as many books in your genre as you can. Study them analytically. Type favorite sections out, word for word.
6. Keep a writer’s notebook of favorite author’s best samples, favorite character names to use in your projects, new ideas, and lists that can help you improve your writing.

Schedule in Time to Write on Your Calendar
1. Make a blank one-week calendar that lists every hour you’re awake. Make two copies. On the first one, shade in the actual times you wrote last week. On the second one, shade in times in the week ahead that you plan to write. Planning ahead helps make writing a reality. If possible, make a new calendar for each week ahead or purchase a daily planner and schedule in your writing time each week BEFORE the minutes slip away.
2. Set three main goals for the year ahead:
Goal #1: Work on a manuscript dear to your heart. Devote a portion of your writing time each week to work on a manuscript you feel passionate about. Steady progress on this manuscript helps keep you writer’s passion alive. Working title of this manuscript is:
Goal #2: Write small projects to get published on a regular basis. Newspapers, community magazines, newsletters, and online publications are great. No pay or low pay is fine. It’s important to see your name in print and work with editors through the process of deadlines, assignments, and word counts on a regular basis. Prospective publishers you plan to target include:
Goal #3: Work on a bigger project geared for publication. This is a SPECIFIC process and involves you first finding ONE particular publisher you want to write for. Dig deep in your writer’s market guide to narrow down your search. Then research that publisher and write an original manuscript or query to fit into their product line. Your target publisher is:
3. Determine the minimum and maximum amount of time you plan to devote to each goal each week or month in the year ahead. If you haven’t been writing at all, it’s perfectly fine to schedule in a minimum of one hour writing each week. To start building a successful career, however, plan to devote about a fourth of your time each week or month to Goal #1, a fourth of your time to Goal #2, and half of your time to Goal #3. This balance will help you progress forward step by step. If you already have solid writing time scheduled in each week, keep this same balance of time for these three goals to keep your writing passion alive, be regularly encouraged by seeing your name in print, and work steadily towards your goal of having a successful writing career.
4. Based on the exercises you just completed, write down your short-term and long-term goals:

Goal Planning Guide
1 Week Goal
Goal #1:
Goal #2:
Goal #3:
Reward if you meet your goals:

1 Month Goal
Goal #1:
Goal #2:
Goal #3:
Reward if you meet your goals:

3 Month Goal
Goal #1:
Goal #2:
Goal #3:
Reward if you meet your goals:

1 Year Goal
Goal #1:
Goal #2:
Goal #3:
Reward if you meet your goals:

5 Year Goal
Goal #1:
Goal #2:
Goal #3:
Reward if you meet your goals:

If you’d like to share personal strategies and goals you’re planning on incorporating in the year ahead to take your writing to the next level, I’d love to hear from you!

Ask the Author:
Attention teachers, home-schoolers, families, kids and everyone who loves to read! If there is a question you'd like to ask about my newest book or my life as an author, post your question as a comment on my blog. I will be selecting questions to answer on my blog throughout the upcoming Virtual Book Tour celebrating the release of my newest book, D IS FOR DRINKING GOURD: AN AFRICAN AMERICAN ALPHABET. Mark your calendars to join in the fun! The tour starts February 1, 2008.

Featured Book!

2008-01-22T08:27:00.000-08:00

Featured book:
Charles Drew: Pioneer in Medicine
By Laura Purdie Salas
Capstone Press, 2006

Charles Drew was an African American physician who became famous for his research in blood transfusions. He developed new and improved methods of storing blood, applying his findings to develop blood banks in Britain and America during World War II. This informative and fact-filled book is part of the Fact Finders series for children--a great addition to your classroom or library!

Meet Author Laura Purdie Salas
Web site: www.laurasalas.com
Blog: laurasalas.livejournal.com

Bio: Laura Purdie Salas is the author of more than 40 books for children. Most of all, she loves to write poetry. Funny, serious, rhyming, free verse…she loves it all. Her first trade picture book poetry collection, STAMPEDE! POEMS TO CELEBRATE THE WILD SIDE OF SCHOOL, will be published by Clarion Books. She has 10 other poetry collections coming out from Capstone Press in 2008, along with a Write Your Own Poetry book coming out from Compass Point. Laura writes nonfiction on a variety of topics and for a wide range of ages. She is teaching an online class on nonfiction writing for the educational market in January 2008 (it's full, but may be offered again in the future) and plans to teach online story and poetry courses, as well.

In the past, Laura has worked as an 8th-grade teacher and an instructor for the Institute of Children’s Literature. She enjoys speaking to adults, kids, and teachers about all kinds of writing.

Most of the time, she’s either reading or writing. If she’s not, she’s probably playing board games or karaoke with her two daughters, Maddie and Annabelle, or losing a game of racquetball to her husband, Randy. Laura's a Florida native who hates hot weather. She and her family live in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Featured book:
Charles Drew: Pioneer in Medicine
Interview:
Q: Describe a highlight for you personally while you were writing this book.
A: I'm thinking of two things offhand. (Is that cheating?)

One highlight was learning about how bloodmobiles came to be. I've donated blood in them, but I never knew anything about their background. For me, they were just a matter of convenience. Learning about their development during WWII and how crucial they were to saving lives was fascinating.

A second highlight had to do with proving a story wrong. In my research, I found several sources that repeated a story that Drew died because, after his car accident, white doctors refused to treat him when he needed a blood transfusion. That was painful to think, and I
was relieved when further research from more reputable sources showed that Drew did indeed receive good care and a blood transfusion. But his blood loss was too severe.

That made me think about how the ironic and buzz-worthy stories are the ones to be repeated. Today, those stories are the ones that would go viral on YouTube (and I'm guilty of being a fan of ironic and twisted stories, too--as long as they're true). But the really important stories, the ones of people acting with dignity and compassion, don't often get spread around. We (and I) need to be sure to both seek those stories out and also share them with other people.

Q: Describe part of the research process it took to write this.
A: I had never even heard of Charles Drew when I got this assignment. I did a lot of my research through credible adult biographies of him as well as research through PBS' website feature on blood. I ended up doing lots of other side research on things like the Red Cross, Howard University, and the Blood for Britain program. Those side forays were mostly to confirm facts or find more details. But because this is a short book (main text is about 1,500 words) written on a tight deadline, I pulled most of the main facts from a couple of biographies of him.

Q: As a child, what were your favorite books to read?
A: Oh my gosh. I have the world's worst memory. I read everything! Books
were the world I lived in. My website has a couple of pix of me reading as a kid. I hardly have any childhood pix of me, and several are of me reading!

Here are just a few:
I loved all the Agatha Christie books (Children could be killers? What an idea! I loved her Marple books more than her Poirot ones)
Flowers for Algernon (which my mom tried to hide from me)
Madeleine L'Engle's Wrinkle in Time (now I love virtually all of her books, but I didn't know most of them as a kid)
Horror stories by Edgar Allan Poe
Works by Nathaniel Hawthorne
All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriott (and all the sequels)
The Hobbit (and the first couple of books of Lord of the Rings)
Little House books
Judy Blume books
I remember I repeatedly read Sunshine (by Norma Klein), a fairly maudlin book of a young mom dying of cancer.
I loved a series of books for young kids about a pair of twins, brother and sister, who lived in all different times and places...caveman times, ancient Egypt, etc. I'd love to find out what those were and see how they hold up to time!

I read constantly, and I can't remember 99.9% of what I read. But every book I read helped form me.

Q. Share one tip you would like to give to a children’s author of nonfiction books.
A: It's great to write about subjects you're passionate about. Do it if you can! But if you can't, if you write on assignment, as I usually do, be open. I have discovered some things I'm passionate about that I never would have known about if I hadn't been contracted to write about them.

African American History: Did You Know...?

2008-01-21T07:50:00.001-08:00

During the Civil Rights Movement, many people decided to join together to protest segregation. One group that formed was called the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). This group was run by students and was formed to organize sit-ins as nonviolent ways to bring about integration in such places as restaurants, bathrooms, parks, and schools.

One of the most memorable events during the Civil Rights Movement was when little children in Birmingham, Alabama, joined together to try to help bring integration to their city. Thousands of elementary and high school children participated in the events that became known as the Children's Crusade.

DID YOU KNOW that in the spring of 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. arrived in Birmingham, Alabama, where he set up daily workshops to teach people how to use nonviolence. Every night large meetings were held at the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church. Dr. King and other leaders spoke at these church meetings. Prayers were said and freedom songs were sung.

The Children's Crusade began on May 2 when suddenly, hundreds of children began marching out of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church. Over the next couple of days, thousands of school children marched out of the church and tried to walk downtown where they were not allowed to go. Police arrested hundreds of little children by loading them onto school buses and taking them to jail. When the jail got full, the children were arrested and bused to the local fairground.

Eventually, several committees met to discuss changes in Birmingham. It was agreed that Birmingham would begin to integrate different parts of the city over a period of 90 days. The children were released from jail, some of them having stayed there at least seven days.

That same year, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr's most famous speech was given during the March on Washington. In this "I Have a Dream" speech, he shared his dream of black boys and girls joining hands with white boys and girls as brother and sisters in America.

On this holiday today, and in the year ahead, may we each make it our goal to help Dr. King's dream become a reality in our own neighborhood as well as in our nation and in our world.
-excerpted from A Kid's Guide to African American History

Ask the Author:
Attention teachers, home-schoolers, families, kids and everyone who loves to read! If there is a question you'd like to ask about my newest book or my life as an author, post your question as a comment on my blog. I will be selecting questions to answer on my blog throughout the upcoming Virtual Book Tour celebrating the release of my newest book, D IS FOR DRINKING GOURD: AN AFRICAN AMERICAN ALPHABET. Mark your calendars to join in the fun! The tour starts February 1, 2008.

Virtual Book Tour

2008-01-19T17:22:00.001-08:00

Welcome to My World!

2008-01-18T08:34:00.000-08:00

Yesterday after I'd been writing awhile, I went into the kitchen to stretch my legs and tackle a sink of dirty dishes. Our two-year-old cat, Humphrey, jumped up on the sink to see what I was doing, slipped, and fell into the sudsy water! After I pulled him out, then spent the next 15 minutes chasing him around with the dishtowel to try to tackle him and dry him off, I had to laugh. Humphrey's a big part of my writing day!

When I sit in my recliner in the family room to read through books for ideas, Humphrey jumps on the nearby couch to take a nap. Our dog, Lucy, likes to sleep on the couch on her little afghan I crocheted for her. So when Humphrey consistently tried to make Lucy move off her afghan so he could sleep there, I realized I needed to make Humphrey his own blanket, too. So now when I'm sitting in the recliner looking for ideas as I was yesterday gathering activity ideas for the fourth grade math activity book my husband and I are writing, Humphrey can join Lucy on the couch for a nap and enjoy a snooze on his own "blankie."

When I move to sit on the living room loveseat to write, as I often do when I'm writing text for a picture book, Humphrey comes in and jumps on the nearby couch. He loves to stretch out on his back! It was here that I spent most of my time writing the poetry sections for each letter of the alphabet for my newest picture book, D is for Drinking Gourd: An African American Alphabet.

And when I take a break from writing to have lunch, Humphrey runs in to check out the refrigerator when I open it. He's always hoping it's tunafish time!

I sit down to eat--and guess who is up on the table! Since I'm alone many hours of the day (that's the life of a writer!) Humphrey keeps me company while I eat--even when he gets tired of watching me eat and falls asleep!

And of course, when I sit down at my computer to type and write, Humphrey's favorite spot is to perch above me on top of my desk. Unfortunately, he uses my printer as his launching pad to jump up there, and at 21 pounds, I'm not sure how much more launching my printer can take!

And then there's always those moments like when I received the ORIGINAL pencil sketches from my publisher of E.B. Lewis's art for D is for Drinking Gourd. I was sworn into taking the utmost care of the pages until I could review them and return them the next day. I was busy taking photos to help me remember the art as I worked on revisions--when suddenly Humphrey decided to help. Horrified, I realized he was also in the viewfinder of my camera as he had jumped up on the pages to see what I was doing at THIS stage of my writing day. I quickly grabbed him and locked him behind the bedroom door for the rest of the photoshoot--but not until I got this picture of my adorable writing buddy.

Ask the Author:
Attention teachers, home-schoolers, families, kids and everyone who loves to read! If there is a question you'd like to ask about my newest book or my life as an author, post your question as a comment on my blog. I will be selecting questions to answer on my blog throughout the upcoming Virtual Book Tour celebrating the release of my newest book, D IS FOR DRINKING GOURD: AN AFRICAN AMERICAN ALPHABET. Mark your calendars to join in the fun! The tour starts February 1, 2008.

Editor Interview: Sharon Coatney

2008-01-17T08:07:00.000-08:00

Meet Editor Sharon Coatney!
Acquisitions Editor
School Library Media
Libraries Unlimited

Featured Publisher: Libraries Unlimited/Teacher Ideas Press
E-mail: scoatney@lu.com
Web site: www.lu.com

Bio:
Professional: After being a teacher and school librarian for 30 years at all grade levels in Kansas, I retired six years ago. I started my new career as acquisitions editor for Libraries Unlimited. I have worn many hats over the years including positions as President of the American Association of School Librarians; President of the Kansas Association of School Librarians; Chair Standards Writing Committee for Library Media, National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, Councilor at Large—the American Library Association.

Personal: My husband, Jeff, and I have been married for 41 years. A retired army officer, Jeff is the owner of Phoenix Industries and the New Linwood Café—two small businesses in our little town. In December, we hosted an arts focus month at our café, with a special visit by author Jane Kurtz. We live in rural Kansas, not too far from Kansas City. Our children are grown. Mark is Special Projects Editor for Newsweek, based in New York, and Rachel is a teacher of the gifted and talented for the Shawnee Mission School District in Kansas City. We have one grandson, three-year-old Will, who is the joy of our life.

Interview Questions:
Q: What were some of the most influential books you read as a child?
A: When I was a child, I read the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys mysteries as well as just about anything else I could get my hands on in the school library. To this day, I love to read mysteries. I loved the Little Golden Books as a small child and vividly remember when the author of The Little Squeegie Bug came to my school in kindergarden. His name was Bill Martin, Jr and that was his very first book!

Q: How do you balance your career and your family?
A: My family is grown so my husband and I and Wonder Dog, who thinks he is really our little boy, get along fine here together. My job is a virtual one; I work entirely at home. I do travel 10-12 times a year to visit with authors, speak, and attend conferences. Many times, my husband will travel with me (particularly if it is an interesting place to go). Two years ago we went to Prague where I spoke at the conference for the librarians teaching at the American schools in Europe. This year we had a lovely and leisurely time driving back through the mountains in October after I had attended the AASL conference in Reno.

Q: Do you also enjoy writing your own manuscripts in the midst of editing everyone else’s?
A: Like every other children's book lover, I am trying to find a publisher for a picture book that I have written! It is a family story.

Q: What types of topics/proposals/manuscripts would be on your editor’s wish list to receive?
A: We are a publisher of professional books for teachers and librarians. We are looking for helpful, practical books on using technology in the classroom, reading, and all other curriculum areas. I am particularly interested in receiving anything that addresses the collaborative teaching of the curriculum by teachers and school librarians.

Q: Share one tip you’d like to give about landing a contract with your publishing house.
A: Please do not send proposals to us that you have submitted simultaneously to other publishers.

Book in A Month Club!

2008-01-16T07:51:00.000-08:00

African American History: Did You Know...?

2008-01-15T07:22:00.001-08:00

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
(1929-1968)
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was one of the most important leaders in the Civil Rights Movement during the 1960s. He encouraged people to use nonviolence to bring changes to everyday life for African Americans. He organized countless boycotts, marches, and peaceful demonstrations. His speeches inspired hundreds of thousands of people to join together to work toward equal rights for everyone living in America.

Did you know that today, January 15, is Dr. King's actual birthday? Our nation will observe Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as a federal holiday next Monday.

To remember this great man and the important work he accomplished, you can make a hand fan similar to the one many marchers and protesters used during the long, hot summer days of the Civil Rights Movement. Not only did these provide relief from the hot sun, but they were also a form of advertisement. They were printed with encouraging words, information about an upcoming event, or pictures of such civil rights leaders as Dr. King.

Use the illustration of the fan provided here, poster board, markers, a jumbo craft stick, glue, scissors, and a stapler for this project. Print out the picture and resize it if necessary until it is about 6-inches square. Glue it to a piece of poster board. Staple the craft stick to the back of the poster board to form the handle of the fan. Wave the fan gently back and forth in front of your face. Imagine how good the refreshing breeze felt across the faces of the people who were marching along a road during the Civil Rights Movement on a hot, sunny day.
-from A KID'S GUIDE TO AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY (Second Edition, Chicago Review Press, 2007)

Welcome to My World!

2008-01-14T07:11:00.001-08:00

For Christmas, my husband and I gave tickets to our two adult sons as a gift to go see Bill Cosby. (We bought 4 tickets so we could all go as a family.) We had learned that he would be appearing locally.

Last night was the exciting event! The four of us went to dinner at the Macaroni Grill near the performance--it was crowded with other excited people who were going to the show, too. And then on to the show!

What a fun evening it was. All during the years our boys were growing up, we'd listen to recordings of Bill Cosby and laugh and laugh. Truly, he brought the gift of laughter into our home during the teenage years, and it was a gift that brought our family closer together. Last night had the same magical effect as the four of us laughed along with a sold-out crowd, listening in person to a master storyteller.

Bill Cosby has a gift with words. He is able to weave stories about the most common, ordinary things and make us laugh at ourselves. Going to the dentist (one of his classic routines!), not wanting to change the flavor of his toothpaste, talking with a buddy on the phone, and getting in trouble while refusing to give his granddaughter a cookie for breakfast--all made the entire audience sit back with a smile on our face and laugh at the silly situations life often affords.

As our one son admitted when we left, our face muscles hurt from so much grinning from ear to ear by the time the evening was over. But our hearts were warmed and our souls were uplifted and we felt inspired to stay connected with our families once again--and that's what the magic of storytelling is all about.

Featured Book!

2008-01-11T10:36:00.001-08:00

Riding to Washington
by Gwenyth Swain
Illustrated by David Geister

Janie is not exactly sure why her daddy is riding a bus from Indianapolis to Washington, D.C. She knows why she has to go--to stay out of her mother's way, especially with the twins now teething. But Daddy wants to hear a man named Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speak and, to keep out of trouble, Janie is sent along. Riding the bus with them is a mishmash of people, black and white, young and old. They seem very different from Janie.

As the bus travels across cities and farm fields to its historic destination, Janie sees firsthand the injustices that many others are made to endure. She begins to realize that she's not so different from the other riders and that, as young as she is, her actions can affect change.

Though fiction, Riding to Washington is a very personal story for Gwenyth Swain as both her father and grandfather rode to Washington, D.C. to participate in the 1963 Civil Rights march on the nation's capital. Ms. Swain's other books include Chig and the Second Spread and I Wonder As I Wander. She lives in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Meet Author Gwenyth Swain!
E-mail: gswain@gwenythswain.com
Web site: www.gwenythswain.com
Blog: The gwenyth swain Blog

Bio:
I'm the youngest of five children--all girls! I grew up in the hills of southern Indiana on Wallow Hollow Road. My mother was a homemaker and my father built houses for a living. My grandfather, a retired Methodist minister, and my grandmother had a little house on a hilltop just a short walk from my home.

Maybe we were a bit isolated (the nearest town, and the biggest in the county, had only 700 residents!), but we were aware of the larger world. I was too young in 1963 to remember the March on Washington-- the subject of my most recent book, RIDING TO WASHINGTON--but I do recall my parents discussing Civil Rights.

Featured book: Riding to Washington
Interview:
Q: What inspired you the most to write this book?
A: My father, Hank Swain, used to tell me stories when I was young about his trip to Washington, D.C., in August 1963. I was only two in 1963, so I don't remember what happened, but my father got interested in a Civil Rights event called the March on Washington. He talked about it to my grandfather, and soon they both wanted to go. My family's white, but we've always been interested in Civil Rights--and social justice. So, it wasn't out of character for my father and grandfather to go to the March. They drove up to Indianapolis, the nearest big city, and got on a bus that would take them to D.C. Everything went well until they stopped for dinner. They had to stop several times until they found a restaurant that would serve a "mixed" crowd of blacks and whites. I know my father must have told me a lot about the March itself, but the part that really stuck with me was the story of the journey there. I'd never faced discrimination in my young life: I just couldn't figure out why restaurants wouldn't serve my father and grandfather and the others on that bus. As an adult, what also inspired me to write RIDING TO WASHINGTON is the belief that ordinary people can make history. After learning about the March on Washington and the journeys people took to get there, I became convinced that everyone who was in that March made history, even before Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., rose up on the podium and gave his famous "I Have a Dream" speech.

Q: Describe part of the research process it took to write this manuscript.
A: Most of my research involved talking with my parents. I talked to both of them at length. I particularly wanted to know how my mother felt about being left at home with me and my four older sisters--especially since she's just as interested in social justice as my father is. I also looked at photographs of the March, listened to radio interviews with other people who attended the March, and re-read my father's brief memoir about it, "A March of Hope." It's from a small magazine called OUR BROWN COUNTY, and you can find it on the web at Our Brown County

Q: Describe your typical writing schedule.
A:I fit in writing whenever I can. I've got two children, ages 9 and 6, and a part-time job as a middle-school librarian. So writing time is always hard to find. But when I've got a minute, I either grab a notebook or my laptop and start working. Right now, I'm revising a time travel novel that takes place on Ellis Island, finishing up an article on time travel books for BOOK LINKS magazine, waiting for editorial comments on an online article about traveling to Quebec City, Canada, and trying to read some of the books that are getting Newbery "buzz." Sometimes it seems like too much for one person, but writing's the best job there is.

Q. Share one tip you would like to give about writing a picture book based on a personal experience.
A: Don't be afraid to change the real story and make it your own. For example, I was too young to have gone to the March on Washington, but I always wanted to go, once I was old enough to hear my father's stories. The most fun I had in writing RIDING TO WASHINGTON was putting the girl Janie (who's very much like me) into the story and letting her go to the March in my place. She's a lot more spunky that I am, so that made the story fun, too. After all, doesn't everybody love a troublemaker? I loved creating a character who was enough of a troublemaker to figure out that some trouble (like stepping in and convincing the boy at the gas station to hand over the bathroom key) is worth making.

Picture Book Pointers

2008-01-09T08:29:00.000-08:00

If you want to learn more about how to write a picture book, here are several steps you can take this month towards your goal:

Step 1:
Read a book about how to write picture books.

Step 2:
Tuck a pen and notepad or mini journal in your pocket. Go to your local bookstore, sit in the children's area, if they have one. Go ahead and sit down on the carpet with all the other kids who are there, if that's how it's set up. Read at least five brand new picture books. Jot down notes or thought as you read.

Step 3:
Go to your local library and check out at least 20 picture books to read over the next few weeks. During this time, read each one ALOUD at least once. Pick your favorite and type it out, word for word.

Step 4:
Start a picture book notebook. A small 3-ring binder is nice because you can add pages as you go. Write down kid-friendly words you come across like PIZZAZZ and YEE-HAW! Make a list of favorite and fun names you might like to use in your stories. Write down titles of favorite picture books and names of favorite picture book authors. Write mini-book reviews about the strengths and weaknesses of various picture books you read. Use it as a place to keep notes that will help you grow as a writer of picture books.

Step 5:
Choose two picture book projects to work on at the same time. One will be a picture book that you just want to write. The second one will be a picture book that you write specifically for publication. The process will be different for each one. For the first one, you might already have it in the works or have completed the first draft. Go ahead and pick it up and plan to work on it more until it is polished. For the second book, it should be a manuscript you haven't yet started. First find a publisher of picture books you like. Then find a series of picture books they do. Then find a favorite title in that series that's already published. Then think of several brand new topics you could write about that they haven't published yet in that series. Finally, choose one of those topics. Then write your new manuscript to fit exactly into that series. That's how to write a manuscript specifically to get published.

African American History: Did You Know...?

2008-01-08T08:17:00.001-08:00

Here's a picture from my newest book, D IS FOR DRINKING GOURD: AN AFRICAN AMERICAN ALPHABET. This page is from "R is for African Roots and the glories that Africa once knew." Isn't it beautiful how illustrator E.B. Lewis interpreted this topic? Africa has a magnificant past of ancient empires, black pharaohs in Egypt, and cities such as Timbuktu that flourished as centers of culture, scholarship, and wealth.

Recently I've been researching the ancient walled cities of northern Nigeria for a potential magazine article. Did you know that this area was known as Hausaland because of the Hausa-speaking people who settled there? Strong walled city-states began to be developed around 1000 A.D that resembled medieval fiefs in Europe. Important trading centers such as the city of Kano connected Africa with the world as caravans arrived from all points of the compass including from the North. Those brave traders dared to cross the dangerous Sahara desert in their quest to take part in Africa's wealth, learning, and culture.

I looked at Kano on Google Earth and was delighted to see portions of its ancient city wall that still exist! The "Old City" is still famous for its bustling market, famous dye pits, and historic landmarks such as the Emir's Palace.

Virtual Book Tour

2008-01-06T14:36:00.001-08:00

Picture Book Pointers

2008-01-04T06:41:00.000-08:00

Writing a picture book is very similar to making a batch of gingerbread cookies. First I gather all the ingredients. Then I follow the tried-and-true recipe in my cookbook and mix all the different ingredients in a bowl. Then I manipulate the dough on a cutting board, one piece at a time. I roll it out flat with a rolling pin. Next comes the fun of cutting it into shape. I have a set of 4 gingerbread cookie cutters--one man, one woman, one boy, and one girl. It's fun to choose which designs to cut from the dough and place on the cookie sheet. Then it's time to decorate and into the oven they go. I have to be careful at this stage, though! They burn so quickly, I must really keep on eye on them to make sure all my efforts don't go to ruin. Finally, they're done and ready for everyone to enjoy.

Have you written a picture book? Congratulations! You actually did it! You sat down and poured out your story onto the written page from start to finish. Not many people actually do that. I can't say enough how wonderful an accomplishment that is.

It's important to understand, however, that this is only the first step of the process it takes to write a picture book. It's like the step of gathering all the ingredients when making gingerbread cookies. Now it's time to roll up your sleeves and go through the entire process it takes to produce a high-quality picture book.

Contrary to what most people think, writing a successful picture book is one of the most difficult genre to work in. Knowing this, when I get a new idea for a picture book, I usually block out three months to work on it. Mentally, this helps me pace myself through all the different stages a picture book needs to take to polish it and hone it on its way to perfection. This gives me the time I need so that I don't just rush through and produce a weak manuscript that has slim chances of reaching publication.

Sometimes I just sit down and write out the story that's floating around in my head, eager to come out. Other times, I spend time jotting down the key ingredients I want to include. Then I pull out my favorite "how-to" books on picture book writing. Eve Heidi Bine-Stock's three volumes top my list:

How to Write a Children's Picture Book--Volume I: Structure
How to Write a Children's Picture Book--Volume II: Word, Sentence, Scene, Story
How to Write a Children's Picture Book--Volume III: Figures of Speech

I structure and restructure the plot of my story from the ground up (even if I've already written it down) and use Eve's first book as a guide. I read lots of other CURRENT picture books at the library and the bookstore. I rewrite and rewrite and rewrite my picture book, cutting out important pieces to keep and trimming away the excess. I go through my self-editing check-lists. I take it to critique groups and polish it according to their feedback. Sometimes I make a sample book dummy, just for my own reference, to make sure each page will carry its own weight. I DISSECT my original manuscript and rework it and rework it until it improves its quality. My goal is to make it ready to share with the world.

Virtual Book Tour

2008-01-03T08:15:00.000-08:00

I'm continuing to work a little bit each day to organize my upcoming Virtual Book Tour that starts on February 1, 2008. I'm delighted at how eager everyone is to get involved! Here are more tips on setting up your own:

Step One: See post on December 8, 2007.
Step Two: See post on December 12, 2007.
Step Three: See post on December 20, 2007.

Step Four:
Start scheduling "stops" on your Virtual Book Tour. First, consider which target audiences would be interested in your book. Since my book D is for Drinking Gourd: An African American Alphabet is a picture book about African American history, my Viritual Book Tour might interest the following target audiences:

children
teachers
readers interested in African American history
home-schooling families
childrens' writers
writers of nonfiction for children
booksellers

Secondly, make connections with these specific target audiences. I joined a listserve of nonfiction writers for kids and connected with other writers who signed up to be a stop on my tour by posting my author's interview or book review on their blog. I explored the Internet and connected with various websites for writers and arranged live Internet author interviews, advertisements about my Virtual Book Tour in e-zines, and book reviews. My publicist helped connect me with bookstores, online booksellers, and teachers who agreed to send me questions from their students to answer in my interviews. It's all free and I make it my goal to keep everything as simple as possible to stay within my basic working knowledge of computer technology.

Do You Want to be a Writer?

2008-01-02T09:19:00.001-08:00

One of the best gifts you can give yourself if you want to be a writer is to join a critique group. A critique groups helps keep you accountable to work on a manuscript on a regular basis. Plus, it encourages your writer's soul. If you're not yet part of a critique group, make it a New Year's goal!

If you live too far away from other writers, there are several ways to start your own. When I first moved to my new home and left my critique group far behind, I put an ad in my local paper inviting anyone interested in writing to join me for a critique group at the public library. A dozen or so people from the community responded, and we had a wonderful group even though nobody was yet a published writer. You can also opt to join an online critique group. Yes, it's not as personal, but when there are no critique groups meeting in your area, you can connect to writers even if they live halfway around the world!

Happy New Year!

2007-12-31T07:17:00.000-08:00

As so many of us are busy setting goals for the New Year, be sure to check back in on my blog mid-January! On January 24 at my local SCBWI Schmooze, I'll be leading a goal workshop. During the workshop, I'll guide everyone through a process to help set realistic short-term and long-term writing goals for the new year. These goals will include getting published in 2008 as well as working on that manuscript you love. After the workshop, I'll post notes from the Schmooze and provide short tips to set your own goals. Until then--Happy New Year! May the year ahead truly be a NEW year for you as a writer, and not just another year of the same old same old.

The Top Ten
The results are in! And thanks, Catherine, for sending in your most important goals. For last week’s Top Ten, here’s the list that was chosen from the suggestions that came in:

The Top Ten goals you want to make for 2008.
1. Start a blog.
2. Make an official writing space to sit down and write.
3. Start a brand new manuscript and actually finish it.
4. Join a critique group.
5. Read a writer’s how-to book.
6. Learn how to self-edit my manuscripts and take the time to do it.
7. Set up my website(s).
8. Keep a journal and write it in often.
9. Keep a month-by-month calendar of writing goals to track my progress.
10. Get published on a regular basis by writing for no-pay or low-pay publications.

Do you want to have some fun? Whenever I post a topic for The Top Ten, send me your suggestion(s) by posting a comment! Your comment will automatically land in my e-mail box and won't actually appear on the blog itself. The way it works is people each send me one or two suggestions for each Top Ten topic. Then I choose the ten most fun suggestions and post the results within a week. (You can submit as many suggestions as you want.) If you want me to list your name as the contributor (if your suggestion is chosen), please include your first name and/or city along with your suggestion(s). Also, if you have an idea for a Top Ten topic, please send it my way.

This week’s topic is:
The Top Ten mysteries you’d want to solve if you were Nancy Drew.

Welcome to My World!

2007-12-29T07:03:00.000-08:00

Recently I signed a contract for my third book with Chicago Review Press--unless you count the second edition that just came out of my book A KID'S GUIDE TO AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY. My new book, too, will focus on African American History.

I also belong to a listserve of nonfiction writers for kids. One of the topics it had focused on a week ago was the importance of thorough notetaking. Many writers, it seems, type notes directly to their computer. They explained that it gives them easy access to search and find keywords in their notes as well as provides thorough footnotes on their own personal manuscript. If an editor calls to fact check, they can find their research sources quickly and easily.

Since I've been doing research the old-fashioned way--piles of books on first a card table and recently my dining room table, and then sitting in a recliner to read through books and jot down handwritten notes--I feel challenged to utilize today's technology to take more efficient and better notes.

As we head into the new year, I've been preparing mentally to start my new book project. First I'll print out monthly calendars and determine how much material I have to write each month in order to meet my deadline with ample time to tie up any loose ends. I'll make weekly and monthly goals to keep me on track. Secondly, I've been wrestling with how to best set up a research station to take notes directly onto a computer. I don't want to tie up my dining room table with all that clutter for an entire year!

When our oldest son moved out this past year, he left behind a computer desk, comfy computer chair, and a laptop. What luxury! Up to this point, I have hardly opened the laptop and had been using his computer desk as a sewing station since I also enjoy quilting. But not now! I have decided to set this up as a research station for my new book project. I plan to get a book easel or paperweights to keep my book open that I'm using as research. It's important to have a place for each book as I take notes, especially since some of the volumes I plan to use include biographies of several hundred pages or encyclopedia-type books with over 1000 pages each. Too bulky to hold in my hand or on my lap while I type!

I'm in the process of searching out and purchasing key books I'll be using for my main research--both on general American history during the era I'll be studying as well as specific African American history. I usually find these as used books for great prices online. As these books come in, I'll assign each one a simple alphabet code so that I can just type that code and page number next to each fact I type into my laptop. This will help me know where I found each fact. And as I read through various books, I'll jot down several sources for each fact I find. When a certain fact has at least 3 sources listed next to it, I'll know I can use it in my book manuscript, as long as I'm sure it is a verified fact and not just rumor. (The reliability of my sources helps me determine this.)

So off I go to set up my research station today!

Teacher Tip:
When students are assigned a topic to write about, encourage them to first read about their topic in an encyclopedia. Also, have them look up books on their topic during their trip to the school library. Whether writing fiction or nonfiction, by reading this material BEFORE they sit down to write, they will feel more confident as a writer. If the entire classroom is writing about the same topic, set up a simple research station in a corner of the classroom. Have a basket of notepaper and pencils for jotting down notes. Keep encyclopedias and a dictionary handy. Provide a stack of topic-related books for students to dig through. Invite students to visit the research station before they sit down to write their assignment.

Author Interview: Carla Killough McClafferty

2007-12-28T08:07:00.000-08:00

Meet Author Carla Killough McClafferty!
E-mail: c.mcclafferty@comcast.net
Web site: www.carlamcclafferty.com

Bio:
Carla Killough McClafferty is the author of Forgiving God (Discovery House Publishers, 1995), an adult Christian inspirational book. She also writes middle grade nonfiction books including The Head Bone’s Connected to the Neck Bone: The Weird, Wacky and Wonderful X-ray (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2001) and Something Out of Nothing: Marie Curie and Radium (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2006). Among other honors, Something Out of Nothing: Marie Curie and Radium, has been recognized as the 2007 IRA Children’s Book Award Winner in the intermediate nonfiction category as well as the 2007 NCTE Orbis Pictus Honor Book. Her next book, In Defiance of Hitler: The Secret Mission of Varian Fry, also published by FSG will be released in the fall of 2008.
Carla is also the SCBWI Regional Advisor in Arkansas.

Featured book:
Something Out of Nothing: Marie Curie and Radium (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2006)
Q: Describe part of the research process it took to write this manuscript.
A: For Something Out of Nothing: Marie Curie and Radium, I did massive amounts of research. I also traveled to Paris, where she did her groundbreaking work. That trip gave me a wonderful sense of place. For example, her husband, Pierre, was killed on a small street in Paris on a rainy day. I found the street where this tragedy occurred—and it just so happened that it was raining at the time. This pivotal moment in the life of Marie became very real to me. I also had the opportunity to visit the Radium Institute, which Marie Curie built. They even let me sit at Marie Curie’s desk in her office.

Q: Describe a highlight of your writing career.
A: I attended the IRA annual conference in Toronto in May 2007 where I received recognition as the author of the Children’s Book Award winner. And in November 2007, I traveled to the NCTE national conference, where I received recognition as the author of an Orbis Pictus Honor Book. I feel blessed that my book has been honored by these two incredible organizations.

Q: What project are you currently working on?
A: I’ve just finished my next book, In Defiance of Hitler: The Secret Mission of Varian Fry, which is ready to go to the typesetter. It is about Varian Fry, a Harvard educated journalist who in 1940, traveled to Marseilles, France, and arranged the escape of more than 2000 Jews from Europe before the Nazis get them. It is an incredible true story. I’m thrilled to have the chance to share the story of a real American hero with a new generation of young readers.

Q. Share one tip you would like to give about school visits.
A: Be ready for anything and try not to bore them.

Please note: If you’re an author, illustrator, or editor and would like to be considered for an interview on this blog, please contact Nancy and let her know.

Scrapbooking

2007-12-27T09:02:00.000-08:00

My favorite type of scrapbook album as a writer is the Westrim Crafts 12 x 12 Strap-Hinge Album. It allows me to add extra pages as needed for my album. I kept a month-by-month album this past year for the very first time to chronicle my writing. It was so rewarding personally that I'm planning on doing it again.

As a writer, it's so easy to forget the positive experiences of critique group friends and joy of working on various projects. Too many rejection letters pile up and too many days go by without seeing much progress on a book-length manuscript. By keeping a scrapbook of each month's highlights and little joyful moments as a writer, I was inspired and encouraged throughout the year. Now, as I look back at my collection of pictures of friends in my critique groups, copies of positive comments from editors, and descriptions of fun experiences I had while writing various manuscripts I worked on this past year, I'm excited to start the new year and write, write, write!

African American History: Did You Know...?

2007-12-26T09:27:00.001-08:00

Kwanzaa
In 1966, Kwanzaa was first celebrated in Los Angeles, California, by Dr. Maulana Karenga, a professor of black studies, with his family and friends. With the vision of introducing a special holiday to celebrate the cultural heritage of African Americans, Dr. Karenga created Kwanzaa. More and more families celebrate Kwanzaa each year.

Did you know that today is the first day of Kwanzaa? This seven-day celebration starts on December 26 and ends on January 1.

During the celebration of Kwanzaa, you might want to wear a kufi. A kufi is a round hat made from soft fabric with an African design. You can make a kufi from felt to wear during this important holiday.

Materials
Strips of red, yellow, black, and green felt, 2 by 24 inches
Sharp scissors
Needle
Thread
8 safety pins

Wrap a black strip of felt around your head for the headband. Overlap the edges 1 inch, cutting away the extra felt. Use a safety pin to hold the ends together. Use a needle and thread to stitch the headband together.

With the headband on your head, use a yellow strip to measure from one side of the headband, across the top of your head, and to the other side of the headband. Cut this strip to the correct length for the top of your hat. Cut one strip of red felt, green felt, and black felt to match the same length as the yellow strip. You should now have four shorter strips of felt.

Following the illustration as a guide, arrange the four felt strips so they overlap in the center like spokes on a wheel. Stitch through the center with your needle and thread. Use the safety pins to pin the edge of each felt strip around the headband so that all the strips are evenly spaced. Try on your kufi to see if it fits. Trim any strips that seem too long and adjust the safety pins as needed. Stitch each strip of felt to the headband, removing the safety pins as you go.
-excerpt from A KID'S GUIDE TO AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY (Second Edition, Chicago Review Press, 2007)

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-24T09:41:00.001-08:00

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

The Top Ten
The results are in! Once again, Sherri, thanks for lots of these fun suggestions! For last week’s Top Ten, here’s the list that was chosen from the suggestions that came in:

The Top Ten presents on your writer’s wish list for Christmas.
1. A multi-book contract for a new series with a top publishing house and amazing advance.
2. Wall to wall, ceiling to floor, built-in bookshelves (earthquake safe). In other words, my own library!
3. A best-loved children's book in every child's stocking all around the world.
4. A gift certificate to the Mount Hermon Writer's Conference in '08. Oh, pleeeeeeease!!!
5. MFC all-in-one printer/fax/copier and free laser cartridges for an entire year.
6. A fan letter from a child saying why he LOVED my book!
7. A cleaning lady once a week, FOREVER. If you're a writer, you'll know why this is on my wish list!
8. Gift cards to Barnes anad Noble.
9. Gift cards to local office supply store.
10. Lots of 3-ring notebooks with clear plastic cover on front for cover sheet. Tons of dividers would be nice, too. (o:

Do you want to have some fun? Whenever I post a topic for The Top Ten, send me your suggestion(s) by posting a comment! Your comment will automatically land in my e-mail box and won't actually appear on the blog itself. The way it works is people each send me one or two suggestions for each Top Ten topic. Then I choose the ten most fun suggestions and post the results within a week. (You can submit as many suggestions as you want.) If you want me to list your name as the contributor (if your suggestion is chosen), please include your first name and/or city along with your suggestion(s). Also, if you have an idea for a Top Ten topic, please send it my way.

This week’s topic is:
The Top Ten goals you want to make for 2008.

Do You Want to be a Writer?

2007-12-23T09:40:00.000-08:00

If you're interested in becoming a writer, one of the best things you can do is find an activity that gets you writing fresh material every day. I don't mean "writing" as in working on a magazine article or book manuscript. Write every day in a journal. Keep a diary. Start a blog. Write your family's memoirs. Write detailed letters to long distance family and friends. By sitting down to write every day like this, it builds up your stamina for writing. It trains your brain to craft sentences and form complete thoughts. It develops your ability to communicate your ideas through the written word.

I know far too many people who dream about writing. They talk about writing. They read about writing. They edit and rehash and rework manuscripts that they've been working on for ten years. They belong to two or more critique groups. They read other people's blogs and read through the newest writer's markets every year. But I don't see evidence of them actually sitting down to write new material.

It's overwhelming to think of sitting down to work on a magazine or book manuscript. It's scary to work on those projects with the thought of your critique group watching over your shoulder. It's hard to break through writer's block and work on the next page of your project when your brain freezes and doesn't offer the perfect ideas for the next scene or point.

But if you sit down each day for at least fifteen minutes and "allow" your brain to enjoy the process of uninhibited writing in your journal, diary, blog, memoirs, or personal letters, your writer's soul will be fed. It will grow. It will mature. You will come to realize you ARE a writer and that you're on your way to learning to express your thoughts to the world through the written word.

Author's Corner

2007-12-21T07:31:00.000-08:00

Since my husband, Jeff, teaches fourth grade in public elementary school, his students are always very interested in finding out more about the life of a writer. He's got 72 students this year since he is now team teaching--something new! Many have already sent in questions for me to answer on my upcoming Virtual Book Tour in February.

One thing students are eager to know is where an author gets ideas. This is important to them, I know, because often they are given homework or in-class writing assignments. It's easy to stare at a blank page!

I keep an "Idea File" just for that purpose. In the file I collect topics that interest me, pictures from the Internet that caught my eye, and fun titles that popped out of nowhere. When I need a new idea to write about, it helps to bring out the folder, browse through it, and see what sparks my fancy.

Everyone can keep an Idea File! You can write ideas on index cards and store in a filebox. You can use a spiral notebook and fill up the pages with ideas. Or, you can do as I do and keep a filefolder handy to store new ideas as they come to you.

Teacher Tip:
To help students create an Idea File, have them make file folders from a large piece of construction paper folded in half. Distribute blank paper, glue sticks, scissors, and old magazines, calendars, or toy catalogs. Encourage students to cut out pictures that interest them, glue each picture on a piece of paper (one picture per paper), and store them in their folder. When students are given a future writing assignment, encourage them to browse through their Idea File first and choose a topic to write about.

Virtual Book Tour

2007-12-20T08:31:00.000-08:00

I'm continuing to work a little bit each day to organize my upcoming Virtual Book Tour that starts on February 1, 2008. I'm delighted at how eager everyone is to get involved! Here are more tips on setting up you own:

Step One: See post on December 8, 2007.
Step Two: See post on December 12, 2007.

Step Three:
Determine what you want to do on various days of your Virtual Book Tour. I decided I wanted to make mine a combination of:
a. Links to other sites that feature an author interview they posted of my book.
b. Interviews of the illustrator, including samples of the book’s art posted on my site.
c. Some all-text answers to questions students/teachers/librarians send to me.
d. Short video clips taken in my home where I answer interview questions sent to me.

After figuring this out, I contacted teachers and librarians I’ve met who might be interested in sending me a list of questions to answer during my Virtual Book Tour. Also contacts have been made with: several booksellers across the nation (both online and walk-in), other blogs who post author interviews, and websites for writers. I explained how the tour will work, invited them to be a “stop” on my tour, encouraged them to check into my blog each day of the tour, and asked them to e-mail me questions they’d like to ask about my new book or my life as an author. Also, the publisher of my book is very interested in my Virtual Book Tour and is hopping on board via my publicist to help spread the word, make important contacts, offer constructive feedback, and prepare press releases.

Author Interview: Marjorie Flathers

2007-12-19T07:01:00.000-08:00

Meet Author Marjorie Flathers!
E-mail: MJFLATH@aol.com

Bio:
I have been a free-lance writer for over 25 years. Although my work has appeared in print over 300 times, in a variety of magazines, newspapers, and anthologies for writers and knitters, I’ve yet to achieve that elusive book contract! But I’m still trying! I’ve been married to my husband, Wayne, for 47 years. We have three adult children and five wonderful grand-children. I’m grateful for my 12 years of Catholic education, which gave me a solid foundation for my writing. In high school, I worked on the school newspaper for three years and was editor in my senior year. When I graduated, I wasn’t able to go to college because of my father’s illness, but 23 years later, I did start going to classes at San Bernardino Valley College and spent 4 great years there, enjoying every minute and graduating with an AA in English. I found something of interest and value in every class and have been able to use a lot of this knowledge in my writing. Knitting is my special hobby and source of relaxation, but I’m never happier than when I’m surrounded by books!

Featured Story: Jacaranda Tree series in the Los Angeles Times

Interview:
Q: What inspired you most to write this story?
A: The beautiful jacaranda trees that bloom everywhere in Southern California in mid-May, many near my house. As I watched the lush purple blossoms unfold each year, I became more and more intrigued and began to read all that I could about them. That led to an idea for what at first I thought would be a picture book, but after many revisions, it became the five-part (serialized) story, “The Secret of the Jacaranda Tree,” that the Los Angeles Times accepted as my first story on that page. By that time, the only “character” left from the original story was the jacaranda tree itself!

Q: What is one of your favorite topics to write about when writing for children?
A: I like to weave in nature themes, but mostly I like to write about friendships and the problems children have as they grow and learn how to relate to others.

Q: Describe a highlight of your writing career.
A: Being accepted as a regular contributor to the Kid’s Reading Room page of the Los Angeles Times was definitely a high point! This page first appeared in the Times in 1999, with five-part stories appearing Monday to Friday and shorter stories on Sunday. When I attended an SCBWI Writer’s Day that year, I received some tips, including the Kid’s Reading Room editor’s name, on submitting from two writers who had already had stories on that page. I sent in my story, “The Secret of the Jacaranda Tree,” but didn’t hear anything back. Then, in early 2000, I received a letter from the new editor of that page who said she had no record of receiving this story, but she was intrigued by the title and would love to read it, if I cared to resubmit it. Would I? I worked and worked at revising this story, tightening it and fitting it to the exact word requirements she listed and also added the necessary daily “cliff-hangers.” Shortly after, I received an e-mail saying she loved the story and a contract would follow by mail. This story proved so popular that I was asked to do 4 more yearly sequels, plus many other stories for the page…17 and counting! The daily kids’ page has now been eliminated, but I still write shorter stories for the Sunday page. I found that I liked working within their structure and enjoyed plotting and writing each and every story. As a long-time reader of the Times, appearing on its pages was something I didn’t even dare dream could happen!

Q: Share one tip you would like to give to a children’s author about the importance of joining a critique group.
A: Critique groups are valuable because we are often so close to our work that we fail to see obvious mistakes, of all kinds, and critique group members will usually spot them. Better that a critique group member find them than an editor! A writer can then use the suggestions, or not, as she sees fit. It’s still her story! However, members who are critiquing should take care not to make demeaning or hurtful remarks and not allow their personal feelings to get in the way of constructive criticism.

African American History: Did You Know...?

2007-12-18T08:38:00.000-08:00

Did you know that on today’s date in history, December 18, 1865, it was officially announced that the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified? Unlike the Emancipation Proclamation which only declared slaves free in the southern states that had seceded from the Union, the Thirteenth Amendment finally abolished slavery in the United States.

By this time, many states throughout the north had abolished slavery within their borders. The Thirteenth Amendment, however guaranteed that those laws could not be reversed in the future. It also guaranteed that new territories gaining statehood could not allow slavery to exist. It was a pivotal day in history.

Teacher Tip:
To show your students a copy of the Thirteenth Amendment, visit the National Archives. Search for the Thirteenth Amendment in the search field on the site.

Picture Book Pointers

2007-12-17T13:24:00.001-08:00

I’ve had numerous picture books published including novelty books, board books, library books, nonfiction books and my newest, D IS FOR DRINKING GOURD: AN AFRICAN AMERICAN ALPHABET. Often, I’ve been asked how to write a picture book, so I’ve decided to offer some pointers that have helped me achieve success.

First of all, it’s important to understand that picture books are the hardest market to break into from an author’s point of view. This is because not only does everyone want to write a picture book, but these books are the most expensive book for a publisher to produce. The full color illustrations which make these books everybody’s favorite, are also the very element that makes them so costly. They’re costly for a publisher to make, and they’re expensive for the consumer to purchase. So if you’re a writer who wants to write a picture book and get it published, don’t be discouraged if you get lots of rejection letters along the way.

The first thing I advise a writer to do is choose TWO picture books projects to work on simultaneously. I know it may sound hard for you if you like to focus on one manuscript at a time, but if you can plan your son’s birthday party the same week you’re helping your daughter with her science fair project, you can do it. You just have to learn to segment your time to create a separate environment for the second manuscript where your brain can switch gears and focus on the other project for awhile. Sometimes I work on one manuscript in the morning, take a break at lunch, mentally switch gears and then focus on the second manuscript in the afternoon. Other times I work Monday through Thursday on one manuscript and then spend the whole day Friday working on my second project. The important thing is to dedicate some time each week to both.

The FIRST picture book project should be a manuscript you just want to write for fun. Chances are, you already know what this is! The SECOND picture book project will be a manuscript that you will write specifically to get published.

I know, I know! You’re already asking, “Isn’t that what my first manuscript is for?” Yes, of course, but in today’s competitive market, I have NEVER sold a single picture book manuscript that I wrote just because I wanted to write it. Yet I have sold nearly two dozen picture book manuscripts that I wrote specifically to get published following a certain strategy.

Here’s your assignment:
Picture Book #1: Start working on that picture book manuscript you’ve always wanted to write and have fun with it!
Picture Book #2: Go to the bookstore and find a picture book that you say, “I could write a book like this!” Then either purchase that book or borrow it from the library. Study it from cover to cover and read it at least five times. Type it out word for word on your own computer.
Picture Book Pointers: Borrow at least ten picture books from your local library each week to read, examine, and evaluate during the entire time you’ll be working on these two manuscripts.
Picture Book How-to: Read “The Everything Guide to Writing Children’s Books” by Lesley Bolten. She has great information about writing picture books and which type is what.

Check back soon for more Picture Book Pointers as I explain the next step to take as you’re working on your two picture book manuscripts.

The Top Ten

2007-12-15T08:23:00.000-08:00

The results are in! For last week’s Top Ten, here’s the list that was chosen from the suggestions that came in:

The Top Ten children’s books you would read if you were lost on a deserted island and discovered a treasure chest filled with books.
(A special thanks to Sherri for sending many of these suggestions!!!)
1. The Island of the Blue Dolphins
2. Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein
3. Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder
4. Winnie the Pooh by A. A. Milne
5. A Child’s Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson
6. Frog and Toad books
7. Chronicles of Narnia series by C. S. Lewis
8. Charlotte’s Web
9. The Secret Garden
10. Freckles by Gene Stratton-Porter

Do you want to have some fun? Whenever I list a topic for The Top Ten, send me your suggestion(s) by posting a comment! Your comment will automatically land in my e-mail box and won't actually appear on the blog itself. The way it works is people each send me one or two suggestions for each Top Ten topic. Then I choose the ten most fun suggestions and post the results within a week. (You can submit as many suggestions as you want.) If you want me to list your name as the contributor (if your suggestion is chosen), please include your first name and/or city along with your suggestion(s). Also, if you have an idea for a Top Ten topic, please send it my way.

This week’s topic is:
The Top Ten presents on your writer’s wish list for Christmas.

Editor Interview: Sheila Seifert

2007-12-14T06:55:00.000-08:00

Meet Editor Sheila Seifert!
Personal website: Sheila Seifert
Featured Publisher: Focus on Your Child parenting newsletters

Interview:
Q: Describe a typical workweek for you as an editor.
A: I usually enter my cubicle by 7:30 each morning and leave by 5:30 each night. Depending on the deadline rotation for issues, I will plan future content (6 to 9 months out), work on present issues (2 to 5 months out) and disseminate information from past issues (those that are actually going out to readers). I attend meetings to coordinate my material with other Focus on the Family products, edit raw copy to galleys and play with ideas that will improve each publication. I also interact with authors and sources (averaging 40 to 100 e-mails a day) and supervise the other editors working on the Focus on Your Child (FOYC) newsletters. The FOYC designer and I work closely together to make articles fit in each issue (which is a lot of fun for those of us who enjoy puzzles). Finally, I review submissions and accept/reject them.

Q: Do you also enjoy writing your own manuscripts in the midst of editing everyone else’s?
A: Yes, I do quite a bit of freelance writing. I worked as a freelance writer for over 20 years before becoming an editor. I have authored or co-authored over 20 books and have over 1,000 freelance sales (all before becoming an editor). Now, in my free time, I work on writing scripts and novels. I write little nonfiction in my free time—saving that area for my job.

Q: What hobbies do you like to do?
A: It’s not really a hobby, but I also teach various college courses in composition, creative writing and literature for local colleges, and have done this part-time for about 20 years. I enjoy the interaction with students.

Q: Share one tip you’d like to give about writing for periodicals.
A: When an editor says she wants a 350-word, profile article, give her what she asks for—not a 1,200-word devotion that you think she will like better. Also remember that her concern is for the overall feel of the entire publication, not just your article. If your article is changed or edited, it’s rearranged for a purpose. Her job is to make you look better in context of her publication and before her readership.

Get Published Tips

2007-12-13T06:59:00.000-08:00

Getting published is all about setting goals. Longterm goals keep you progressing toward a successful career as a writer. Shortterm goals keep you motivated day by day to continue with the craft. As the New Year is approaching, I'll be posting tips in upcoming blogs about setting realistic goals. These will be based on a mini-workshop I'll be doing at a local writers' schmooze in January.

One longterm goal is to aim on landing royalty-based contracts. I know of quite a few writers who have written various work-for-hire books--but seem to be stuck in that endless cycle of several months of hard work and one paycheck, several months of hard work and one paycheck. Landing work-for-hire book contracts is great! I've done a bunch. They give you experience and look good on your resume. It's important, however, to have the goal of landing more royalty-based book contracts as you move forward in your career. Royalty-based contracts keep the paychecks coming in for several years of sales--after that same initial few months of hard work writing the manuscript.

If you've been writing work-for-hire books for several years, (or even if you've not yet landed a book contract) how can you start to land more royalty-based contracts? Here's what works for me:

1. Keep your eye open and look for publishers who offer royalty-based contracts for "series" of books. By series, I mean like Chicago Review Press's line of nonfiction books "...For Kids." They have Leonardo da Vinci for Kids, The Civil War for Kids, George Washington for Kids, etc. Or look at Libraries Unlimited. They have several series including one for Readers Theatre. By finding a series like this within a publisher's product list, you can hope to piggyback on that series and try to land a contract. How can you tell if the publisher offers royalties? Look at the copyright in the books within that series. Chances are that if the copyright is in the name of the author, it's a royalty-based contract. Also, the market guide might give that detail.

2. Study that publisher's series. Write down a list of the topics they've already done. Make a list of topics they haven't yet done that might fit into their series and that would interest you to write.

3. Send a simple and short e-mail to the publisher. In the e-mail say, "I've been browsing your Web site and am interested in such-and-such a series that you do. Would you be interested in seeing a proposal for one of the following three topics that could fit into that series?" Don't send a letter--it takes too long and might get "lost" in the pile. Even if they say not to e-mail them, go ahead. I landed one of my best book contracts when I e-mailed a "Dear Submissions Editor." Afterward, I asked why they responded to my e-mail when they say not to e-mail them. They said that so many people send them manuscripts totally unrelated to their product line that they post a no submissions policy. But my short e-mail targeted their product line, so they responded. (I've known other authors who have successfully done the same.)

4. If you don't hear back from them, don't worry about it. Just find a different publisher with a different series who offer royalty-based contracts, and e-mail them. There are actually quite a few publishers like this--just study your market guide and skip over the publishers who require an agent if you don't have one. Keep studying different publishers' series and e-mailing various ones until you land a contract. Then write the book, and enjoy years of paychecks rolling in!

I followed these exact steps and landed my two recent contracts--0ne with Chicago Review Press who has published two of my books already, and one with Libraries Unlimited who is a brand new contact. In fact, I just finished my first book deadline with Libraries Unlimited yesterday! Whew! I hope you can start landing royalty-based contracts as well. It's a longterm goal that is worth your while.

Virtual Book Tour

2007-12-12T07:04:00.000-08:00

I’m having so much fun setting up arrangements for my Virtual Book Tour that starts on February 1, 2008! Here are more tips on setting up your own:

Step One: (See post on December 8, 2007.)

Step Two:
Plan interactive features to include on your Virtual Book Tour. This gets online guests checking back in each day to join in the fun. On my Virtual Book Tour, I’m planning these upcoming interactive features to include each day:
1. Trivia questions about African American history that online guests can e-mail their answers to me. I will post a new trivia question each day of the tour and provide the correct answer the following day.
2. Top Ten Lists such as Top Ten African American Heroes. Online guests can e-mail me their suggestions and I’ll later post a list of the top ten responses I chose.
3. Each time someone e-mails me about the trivia question or Top Ten List or posts a comment, I will put their name in a hat. On the next to last day of my Virtual Book Tour, I’ll choose five names from a hat to give away five fun prizes to the winners.

To find more creative interactive features to include on your tour, check out other authors' sites to see how they succeeded. Google "Virtual Book Tour" and have fun exploring!

African American History: Did You Know...?

2007-12-11T06:50:00.001-08:00

Here's a picture from my newest book, D IS FOR DRINKING GOURD: AN AFRICAN AMERICAN ALPHABET. This page is from "H is for Harlem Renaissance." The Harlem Renaissance was an amazing era when artists, writers, musicians, and political activists flocked to Harlem during the 1920s and on up into later years. Creativity and pride in African roots grew strong.

Recently, I've been discovering more fascinating information about the Harlem Renaissance for another book I'm currently writing. This book will be for teachers in the intermediate grades, grades 4-8. (I'll keep you posted as more information about the book becoomes available--my deadline is Saturday and I'm almost done!) One of the things I've been studying is the "rent party."

DID YOU KNOW that rent parties became very popular during the Harlem Renaissance? Its roots were in the church social in southern communities where friends and families would gather, often for a fundraiser, to help raise money for a new church roof or to help a family in need. People moved north to Harlem and brought these traditions with them.

I first read about rent parties in the book HAVING OUR SAY: THE DELANY SISTERS' FIRST 100 YEARS. Rent was high in Harlem and wages were low, so people started hosting rent parties to help each other out. A small entrance fee was charged (often less than a dollar). People paid for plates of food, often donated by the host's family and friends. A piano player provided music, furniture was cleared to make a dance floor, and guests danced the night away. By the end of the night, enough money was collected to pay the rent, and a fun time was had by all.

Author Interview: Sheryl Crawford

2007-12-10T09:34:00.000-08:00

Meet Author Sheryl Crawford!
E-mail: sherriwriter@sbcglobal.net
Agent: Sheryl is represented by Etta Wilson of BOOKS & SUCH Literary Agency. Phone: 615-377-1146. E-mail: etta@booksandsuch.biz

Most people who know her call her Sherri. Two little girls call her “gramma.” (Her husband, Bobby-Bear, calls her Sherri-Bear. Shhhh.)

Bio:
I grew up with my freckled-covered nose in an old set of twelve books my mother read as a girl. MY BOOK HOUSE BOOKS were published by The Book House for Children in Chicago. The first printing was in 1920. These wonderfully illustrated books were filled with fairy tales and fables, princes and talking animals. I laughed and made up my own melodies to go with silly poems. I walked around the house and yard singing them, and pretending to be the characters. I read in earnest, HIAWATHA’S CHILDHOOD by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and yawned with WYNKEN, BLYNKEN, AND NOD by Eugene Field. Even at the age of six and seven I underlined and circled favorite titles and lines. I read with awe stories about Abraham Lincoln and Daniel Boone. I lost myself in a magical world of wonder. These books are one of my dearest treasures today. They actually elicit tender emotions when I open one. With a lump in my throat I remember an unhappy childhood, but it seemed to vanish when I opened those books. They were healing. While reading, I “lived” through these characters that practically jumped off the pages, asking me to join them. Now that is pulling your reader in!

I never knew I could write for children until I was in my late thirties. What a shock when I realized that I could create fun, engaging stories that brought children joy and laughter! Our home was filled with children’s books. I didn’t read them only for the sake of entertaining our two boys—I read them out loud in bed at night with my husband, too! Our kids could hear our guffaws around 10:00 PM. We both loved children’s books. I so desperately wanted to write for children but I didn’t know how. I took two Saturday classes at my local community college on how-to-write-for-children. I was hooked! I brought home stacks of children’s magazines from the library and studied them. I read fourteen books in one year on how to write for children. Focus on the Family’s Clubhouse Jr. accepted my first magazine feature fiction story in 1993. I remember pulling the magazine out of my mailbox in our town-home complex and literally jumping up and down like a maniac, squealing with delight. Neighbors saw this. I did not care. After that first story, I never looked back as God opened the doors. I was published in Highlights, Babybug, and Trails ‘N Treasures. I became a frequent assignment writer for Clubhouse Jr. magazine, and continue to write for them today. Since that time I’ve co-authored seven books with Nancy I. Sanders for Scholastic Professional Books. I’ve been a contributing assignment writer for MY LITTLE PRAYERS by Word Publishing, and have had a reading comprehension story with test published by Harcourt/Trophies. My Christmas book, THE BABY WHO CHANGED THE WORLD was published by Cook Communications. It is now out of print and I’m seeking a publisher. My dream is to turn this book into an audio-book package. The sample audio is sooooo cute.

Featured book: Psalms for a Child’s Heart
Interview:
Q: What inspired you to write this book?
A: Hope. Hope inspired me. In the 1990’s I was ill and in bed for nearly seven weeks. But I had hope. My hope rested in my relationship with God. That’s when I wrote my first children’s book, PSALMS FOR A CHILD’S HEART. I literally wrote it from my bed. I chose eight of the best-loved Psalms and wrote them the way a child might say them to God today. I wanted the Psalms to be personal to little ones. I wanted them to have hope. Some children have such painful lives. I was once one of those children. I remember thinking, “Oh, if only I could have known the beautiful truths found in those Psalms when I was a little girl.” I wanted children to feel God’s arms wrapped around them. That is why I wrote it—to help bring hope and joy to little hearts. It took five years for that book to be picked up by a large Christian publisher, Cook Communications. The illustrations are wonderful and were done by Elaine Garvin, a grandmother in Arizona. It is now out of print and I’m hoping to find a new publisher for PSALMS FOR A CHILD’S HEART.

Q: Describe the benefits of writing for short assignments such as magazine articles in between book contracts.
A: There’s a writer’s cartoon pinned on my bulletin board above my desk. It’s been there for years. Picture an empty mailbox with the door hanging open. A human skeleton is hanging over the mailbox with a spider web going from his knee to the mailbox post. That poor writer did nothing but WAIT for an acceptance letter from a book publisher. Don’t hold your breath! It’s important to keep writing for magazines, periodicals, newsletters, Sunday school papers, etc. while you go through those dry spells. They can be long. Years long. Hone your skills with all that practice. When you write short assignments, you are sharing your gift of words to thousands of readers. Writing for magazines is quite difficult and there is much competition. It is not the “easy road” to getting your foot in the door as some amateurs think. There is no easy road. While I wait, hope and definitely pray for that next book contract, I continue to write for magazines. I thoroughly enjoy seeing my imagination in print!

Q: What Writers’ how-to-books do you have on your bookshelf, and which one is your favorite?
A: Whew! My favorite? You have to be kidding (o: I can’t possibly chose just one. I have four—the first four on this list. Are you ready?
Writing for Children & Teenagers by Lee Wyndham
How to Write a Children’s Book & Get it Published by Barbara Seuling
Anyone can Get Published—You can, Too! by Nancy I. Sanders
How to Write and Sell Children’s Picture Books by Jean E. Karl
You Can Write Children’s Books by Tracey E. Dils
Beginnings, Middles, & Ends by Nancy Kress
Writing for Children by Catherine Woolley (Jane Thayer)
Writing and Publishing Books for Children in the 1990’s by Olga Litowinsky
Picture Writing: A New Approach to Writing for Kids and Teens by Anastasia Suen
Story Sparkers: A Creativity Guide for Children’s Writers by Debbie Dady & Marcia Thornton Jones
Creating Characters Kids Will Love by Elaine Marie Alphin
How to Write a Children’s Picture Book by Eve Heidi Bine-Stock
The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Publishing Children’s Books by Harold D. Underdown and Lynne Rominger
Writing Books for Kids and Teens by Marion Crook
Children’s Writers’ & Illustrators Market Guide by Alice Pope
Christian Writers’ Market Guide by Sally Stuart

Please note: If you’re an author, illustrator, or editor and would like to be considered for an interview on this blog, please contact Nancy and let her know.

Fun News!

2007-12-10T09:02:00.000-08:00

I love waking up on a Monday morning to exciting news. What a great way to start off the week! This morning, I woke up and looked at my e-mail only to discover a link from one of my publishers to USA Book News Book Awards. D IS FOR DRINKING GOURD: AN AFRICAN AMERICAN ALPHABET is an Honors winner (finalist) for their 2007 Picture Book: Hardcover Nonfiction! Here's the link to USA Book News.

Have a happy Monday!

Virtual Book Tour

2007-12-08T05:57:00.000-08:00

I’m having so much fun setting up arrangements for my Virtual Book Tour that starts on February 1, 2008! Here are some tips to set up your own:

Step One:
If you don’t have a blog already, set up a blog or spot on your website that you can easily update each day. Free services such as Blogger come packed with how-to instructions and easy-to-use steps that make it comfortable for even non-techies (like me!) to learn to navigate.

I’m planning on using my blog as the place online guests can check into each day for the newest event on my Virtual Book Tour. A blog seems like the natural place to host it since it’s free, it’s interactive for my guests and easy for you to post comments, and it can be quickly updated to include each day’s new events.

If you’re a teacher and want to prepare your students to join the tour, a Teacher’s Guide is available on the publisher’s website for D is for Drinking Gourd: An African American Alphabet. Once you reach my author's page click on the title of my book. (It's below my photo.) Then click on "Teacher’s Guide" and a pdf file will come up with suggested activities for you to use.

The Top Ten

2007-12-07T06:11:00.000-08:00

Do you want to have some fun? Whenever I post a topic for The Top Ten, send me your suggestion(s) by posting a comment! The comment will automatically land in my e-mail box and won't actually appear on the blog itself. The way it works is people each send me one or two suggestions for each Top Ten topic. Then I choose the ten most fun suggestions and post the results within a week. (You can submit as many suggestions as you want.) If you want me to list your name as the contributor (if your suggestion is chosen), please include your first name and/or city along with your suggestion(s). Also, if you have an idea for a Top Ten topic, please send it my way.

This week's topic is:
The Top Ten: A children’s book you would read if you were stranded on a deserted island and discovered a treasure chest filled with books.

Welcome to My World!

2007-12-05T22:51:00.000-08:00

When I want to get comfortable and get away from the confines of the computer for awhile, I gather my paper, pens, research books, and project file and go sit in my living room where I can look out the window and watch the birds.

We have a big window in our living room that looks out over a tiny side yard with a 6-foot concrete wall. When we moved here, the previous owners kept their trashcans stored here and a pile of wood scraps to burn, but I decided immediately that this was a great place for birds. I dug out a hole and put in a bird feeder post that holds a large feeder on the post and two small ones hanging on each side. I added a hanger from the wall to hang a bag of thistle and a pole that I sometimes hang a birdfeeder and sometimes hang a potted plant. In the center, my son Ben helped me put the birdbath he made for me one year. He cut the shape of sunflower petals from wood that is the flat base which sits on a green pole with a pair of green wooden leaves. A brown plastic flowerpot bottom is the center of the sunflower and where we put the water. The birds love it! They sit in a row around the rim of the flowerpot and lean over to take dainty sips of the fresh water.

Since we moved here 5 years ago, I’ve added gravel all over the ground and planted a Cape May Honeysuckle bush shaped like a miniature tree that the hummingbirds enjoy. They love the orange trumpet blossoms that bloom periodically throughout the year. The back wall is covered by a row of Indian Hawthorne—the mockingbirds love the red berries! And during the winter, purple hyacinth and yellow daffodils sprout up after it rains.

I sit and ponder outlines or create verse while I watch the goldfinches on the bag of thistle, listen to the mourning doves eating seeds that have fallen to the ground, and observe the never-ending supply of house sparrows and house finches that flock to the feeders. Sometimes we have visitors traveling through like the bright orange black-headed grosbeak and the bright yellow American goldfinches. Occasionally, a Cooper’s hawk visits to eat dinner himself—he sits right on the wall to enjoy his meal!

Editor Interview: Aimee Jackson

2007-12-05T06:47:00.000-08:00

Meet Editor Aimee Jackson!
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
Web site: www.sleepingbearpress.com

Bio:
After graduating from the University of Kansas, I joined the Peace Corps and lived and taught in Ukraine. I’d grown up an army brat and was conditioned for travel and cultural exploration. After returning home, I entered graduate school at Northern Arizona University where I earned my M.A. and began working in publishing. I started my career at Northland Publishing in Flagstaff and helped launch their children’s imprint, Rising Moon. I worked there for five or so years before moving to Minneapolis, MN to work for NorthWord Books for Young Readers, where I was the editorial director for several years. I now work for Sleeping Bear Press as a senior editor, and enjoy the heck out of my job. Sleeping Bear is based in Chelsea, Michigan, but I work remotely from my home office in Minneapolis. My husband works in sports television in the Cities, and we have the most adorable curly-headed three year old, who continues to teach me about what makes books work, and what doesn’t. Sharing books with my own child—and especially books I’ve made—is a joy for me beyond measure.

Interview
Q: When did you first realize you wanted to become an editor?
A: I was in grad school studying to be a professor. I realized quickly that academia was not where I wanted to spend my life, but I didn’t know what else to do. One summer I was in a technical writing and editing class and an internship posting was handed around for an editorial assistant position at a local publishing house. Even as late as grad school it never occurred to me that you could work in publishing. I applied, I got the job, and I never left the field. Here I could be close to the writing process and be a part of making something lasting and real. Books were my childhood—and to think I could be a part of that as an adult!

Q: What were some of the most influential books you read as a child?
A: The Velveteen Rabbit, Charlotte’s Web, everything Ramona Quimby, all the Little Golden books, Shel Silverstein, the Grimm's tales

Q: How do you balance your career and your family?
A: I’m still trying to figure this one out! Though I always feel overwhelmed by it all, the most important thing I’ve figured out is to be fully present for each—when I’m at work I’m at work. When I’m at home I’m at home. When the two cross over too much, I don’t feel like I do a good job at either.

Q: Share one tip you’d like to give about writing nonfiction for kids.
A: I find that writers who are truly excited about their subject can make any topic lively, entertaining, and engaging. Know your audience—I know that’s a phrase that gets tossed around a lot, but it really can’t be said enough. In nonfiction, you have to know what prior knowledge you can and can’t assume so you know when to further define something you’ve written. The creative process of writing nonfiction involves making decisions about what to leave out—how deeply you can go into a subject—while still conveying what you hope to get across. I think the best nonfiction writing is efficient, and yet as entertaining to read as fiction.

Please note: If you’re an author, illustrator, or editor and would like to be considered for an interview on this blog, please contact Nancy and let her know.

Do You Want to be a Writer?

2007-12-04T06:50:00.000-08:00

How can you know if you're qualified to become a writer? Recently a person said that she didn't have a college degree so didn't think she'd ever be able to get published. A week or so ago, I saw an interview with Avi, famous children's author, and he said he struggled with symptoms of a learning disability when he was growing up. Last month I gave a little "author talk" during lunch at a local SCBWI event and someone commented that my success was because I had published so many books already.

Yet I started out just like everyone else getting years of rejections before I ever sold my first manuscript--a local newspaper article about my dad in celebration of Father's Day. And I qualify to teach writing at a local state university--not because I have a college degree because I don't--but because I am a published author. And as for struggling with a learning disability--I know of extremely successful writers who are such marvelous storytellers that they've landed high-paying writing assignments and still can't spell or use punctuation correctly.

Do you want to be a writer? Then you're qualified! I truly believe that if you have the heart to write--you can become a successful writer. Oh--it may not happen overnight. I gathered a steady stream of rejections for 5 years before I ever saw my first acceptance. You may have lots to learn--I still remember how I'd get letters back from editors telling me I had formatted my manuscript incorrectly. I had to read writing books and how-to books and attend writer's conferences and join critique groups. You may doubt your own abilities--I've shed many doubt-filled tears along the way. But you CAN be a writer. All you have to do is sit down and transform your thoughts into words on a paper. And if you're already doing that--you're already a writer!

Please note: Several people have told me lately that they have commented on this blog but their comment never gets posted. If you submit a comment and do not see it posted on this blog within 24 hours, please contact me and let me know so we can work out this issue. Thanks!

My Magnum Opus

2007-12-03T06:59:00.000-08:00

I have chosen to “guard” my magnum opus from the eyes of the world until it is complete. I rarely take it to critique groups. I rarely discuss it with other writers. In fact, I work hard at making sure nobody has the opportunity to reject or criticize it. (I won’t even tell you what my magnum opus is.) This frees me up to really let my creative side create. I try not to let myself worry that if what I’m writing is any good or not. I just try to say what I really, really want to say. I’m doing my best as I can at this moment in time, and that’s enough.

My greatest friend for my magnum opus had been and still is my outline. (Remember how I took three full months to develop it?) As I come across new information or get new ideas, I quickly open my outline and plug that information into the right spot. And when I eventually get to that spot ready to write that page of the manuscript, I’ll find that idea or bit of information there in the outline waiting for me. After two years of working on my magnum opus, my outline is now over 200 pages. It allows my project to grow over the years with me as I am growing as a writer.

And growing I am! Somehow I’m different since I started working on my magnum opus. I feel a maturity as a writer I never truly felt before. I know I’m doing something important. I know I’m working on something worthwhile. I know I have self-worth as a writer.

Author Interview: Marilyn Donahue

2007-12-01T12:20:00.000-08:00

Meet Author Marilyn Donahue!
E-mail: sanayeh@aol.com
Editiing Service: Contact Marilyn at sanayeh@aol.com for information on Writing Unlimited, her editing service.

Bio:
I have been writing as long as I can remember. First, I was fascinated by the shapes of letters, then excited to discover that I could link them together and make words. Later, I became fascinated by the miracle of sentences. My sentences! My thoughts! Right there on paper where I could see them.

I was ill for many months when I was a child. Somebody gave me A Child's Garden of Verses, and I found that I could create the "land of counterpane" with my own sheets and blankets, making mountains and valleys where imaginary characters lived and had adventures. I credit Robert Louis Stevenson for showing me how to create believable worlds and my mother for reading tons of library books to me -- and showing me there are worlds beyond my own.

Featured book: Straight along a Crooked Road
Interview:
Q: Describe a highlight for you personally while you were writing this book.
A: This book is the story of a group of families who travel from Vermont to California in a wagon train. The characters are fictional, but the events really happened. While describing their journey across the mountains and prairies of America, I realized that, in the beginning, the goal was clear to them. It was California, their destination, their promised land. Everything good, they believed, would come at the end of the road, and they were moving straight along it. But the way was not straight, nor was it easy. The "crooked road" symbolizes their necessary detours, their ups and downs, their successes and failures. Luanna, my main character began to realize that every day was another beginning, that the end of the trip was not as important as what she (and I) learned along the way.

Q: Do you ever base characters in your books on people you know or have known in your past?
A: Everyone I have known has influenced me in some way, positive or negative. All these people are part of my memory patterns. I'm sure that I have created characters from composites of these. Even when I feel positive that a character leaps from my own imagination, I later recognize bits and pieces of a real person.

I come from a family of story tellers. As a child, I sat on many laps and heard tales of the pioneers when other children were listening to the adventures of The Little Engine Who Could. The characters from these thrilling tales are etched deeply in my mind. I know them as well as real acquaintances. I have never used a specific character in a story, but I have used an amalgam of characteristics.

Now I am working on a collection of "A Gathering of Voices," a collection of family stories. I'm sure that this will be my chance to make these characters from the past come alive for future generations.

Q: What writing project are you currently working on?
A: My latest fiction project is finishing the final chapters of The Trouble with Arnold, a middle-grade novel. I'm enjoying recording the adventures of Corrie (Coriander) as they evolve, seeing how she reacts to the beautiful Doreen, and watching her discover that Arnold is no trouble at all. This is a fun book to write and something of a relief from Moonstone Summer, which dealt with a heavier subject.

Q: Share one tip you would like to give to a children’s author about developing the setting in a MG or YA novel.
A: I always "quick sketch" the setting. This doesn't mean creating a work of art, but getting something down on paper that shows you where the plot unfolds. I always sketch an overview; for example, Main Street, complete with houses and back alleys. Often I find it helpful to sketch other locales, such as the cemetery and swamp in The Trouble with Arnold. One single thing I try to remember is: "Nothing happens nowhere." Eudora Welty said that before I did, but I've adopted it as a quote to remember!

Please note: If you’re an author, illustrator, or editor and would like to be considered for an interview on this blog, please contact Nancy and let her know.

Welcome to My World!

2007-12-01T11:30:00.000-08:00

Writing is the perfect job and my favorite hobby! I have some fun hobbies—I love to quilt and crochet and read and play the piano. Lately, though, each time I sit down to relax, I’d much rather write than do anything else. I make sure not to “work” during these times, but just have fun writing on projects that let me be truly creative without worrying about deadlines or editorial feedback.

Right now, my husband Jeff is relaxing in his chair, wrapped up warm and cozy in his favorite afghan. He’s reading his One Year Bible and is also looking up words in his college Webster’s dictionary. (He likes the old King James Version so often looks up outdated words that he finds each day.) Lucy, our dog, and Humphrey, our cat, are sound asleep on the couch on each of their afghans that I crocheted for them. (I had to make each of them their own so they wouldn’t fight over just one.) I’m sitting here in my chair with my laptop typing away. It’s great at times like this to have a laptop because it gives me the mobility to join the family while we’re relaxing or reading and not be stuck by myself in the office at my desktop. Jeff and I can chat, listen to our favorite Christmas music, and enjoy each other’s company together even while we’re relaxing.

My Magnum Opus

2007-11-30T07:23:00.001-08:00

I was inspired to create my own personal magnum opus after visiting the Getty Museum where we saw original paintings by the masters including Vincent Van Gogh. Van Gogh’s story, especially, inspired me. Here was one of the greatest artists of all time—yet he felt little self-worth. In fact, because his paintings didn’t sell well and didn’t receive positive reviews, he ended up battling with depression and committing suicide. Yet his art is highly prized today.

As a writer, it’s easy to feel little self-worth. Manuscripts are repeatedly rejected. Income is sparse. People seem uninterested in something you poured your heart and soul into. Very much the same as what Van Gogh experienced.

So I decided to pick a writing project to work on that I could pour out my entire creative energies into through writing—that was BIG, that would CHANGE MY WORLD, and that would leave MY footprint in history. It took awhile to decide on the project, but once I found it, I knew this was IT. I knew I could spend years working on this and feel that it was worthwhile in a big, huge way.

I think every writer should have a magnum opus they are working on in between all the deadlines, contracts, manuscript submissions, and rejections. It helps keep me going. It gives me focus when other aspects of my writing career seem out of control. It propels me forward toward a worthwhile goal even on days editors or critique group members inform me that rewrites are NECESSARY. Smile.

Author Interview: Shirley Shibley

2007-11-29T13:18:00.000-08:00

Meet Author Shirley Shibley!
Bio
I wanted to write from the first time I could make words with my pencil. I still remember the first story I wrote. I put writing on the back burner while I raised my family, but when the kids were all in upper grades in school I started dabbling a little with words again. I hadn't the faintest idea what I was doing, I just wrote. Over the years I began to study hard at crafting the writing, though I didn't make any sales until I was an empty nester, and then just a dribbling at a time. It wasn't until I attended writer's conferences and joined a critique group that I began to see myself as a writer. I received the encouragement I needed along with tips for success. I still receive many more rejections than acceptances, but I feel my writing has matured and all the discarded and rejected things gave me great experience.

Featured Article: "Holiday" in Focus on the Family's Clubhouse magazine
Interview:
Q: Describe part of the research process it took to write this article.
A: When I received the go-ahead from Clubhouse to write an article on Old Testament holidays I had everything to learn. Some holidays I was familiar with, but discovered many more. I found the required ones in the Bible, explained more thoroughly in Bible dictionaries, and also found a magazine article in an adult publication. Clubhouse suggested a rewrite with a different format and I complied. Again they decided on a different format and I did another rewrite. Eventually they accepted the article, out now in the December, '07 issue.

Q: What inspires you most as a writer?
A: Every time one of my critique group's members gets an acceptance I am inspired to continue to work hard and harder at my own writing. I'm always so happy for them, as I know they are for me when I have success.

Q: What were some of the greatest benefits to you as a writer when you took a recent Alaskan writer's cruise?
A: My Alaskan conference cruise was a tremendous milestone in my writing (dare I say it?) career. For a whole week I traveled with a group of men and women who love the writing, editing and publishing life. Some were just beginners, and I hope I was able to encourage them to keep at it. Others were "wannabees" but perhaps some or even just one learned about dedication at the craft. The novelist who spoke had us laughing at the writing life and ourselves, while giving us tips and pointers that were invaluable. Both the nonfiction article editor and book editor invited me to send proposals to their companies. Excellent free handouts were given and writing books were available to purchase, and my only regret was lack of space for carrying home more on the plane.

Q: Share one tip you would like to give someone who is just starting out as a writer for children.
A: I would like to tell all new writers to study, study, study your craft. Read, read, read books of the age you like to write for. Then, write, write, write. Don't give up. Rejection slips are part of the game. I have enough to wallpaper my whole study with!

Deadline Tips

2007-11-28T06:28:00.000-08:00

As someone who works from her home, I have to really work hard to schedule my time. Especially around the holidays, I have to be careful to schedule my writing hours to get things done but to also take important time off for family and friends. I’ve learned to ask for deadlines in book contracts by mid-December and not mid-January. If a book deadline is in mid-January, I’ve found I can’t set the project aside mentally, and I tend to stress out over the holidays.

So this year, when I signed a contract in September for a new book for Libraries Unlimited, I asked for a deadline of December 15. And right now on my desk is a new book contract to sign for next year with Chicago Review Press. Once again, I asked for a December 15th deadline. It will give me time to finish up each book and still have plenty of energy and enthusiasm to enjoy the Christmas holidays.

I don’t ever want to neglect my family during the holidays or put my writing commitments ahead of spending time with them. Once I read in interview of A.A.Milne’s son. (A.A.Milne wrote the Winnie the Pooh books.) His son seemed resentful of how writing took his dad away from him. Another time I read about how Norman Rockwell was so into his painting that even on major holidays he would disappear into his studio to work. I don’t want to do this. My family will always be more important than any writing project, and I want to let them know this. That’s why I try to schedule deadlines early enough to let me truly enjoy the holidays with them.

Wordsmiths

2007-11-27T14:12:00.000-08:00

I love my critique group! What an enthusiastic, dedicated group of eight professional writers. We work hard each month when we gather together to focus and critique. This month, for the second year in a row, however, will be different. Usually, we meet in Montclair, but for our meeting in December, we’re all driving up to Gloria’s in Hesperia for our annual Christmas party! Gloria goes all out to decorate for the holidays and she’s a wonderful host. There will be lots of good food and desserts, a fun gift exchange, and a VERY short time of critiques. (We e-mailed our manuscripts to each other so we can read over them ahead of time and just spend a few moments discussing each one at the party.)

I’ve been having fun collecting treasures for our gift exchange—something wrapped, something used, and something for writers. Most of the time, it’s a used writers’ book, but this year I found a few unique “freebies” for writers from a local conference I recently attended—some for the gift exchange and some to give each person in the group.

Today I’m enjoying wrapping the gifts and filling out their Christmas cards. Next, I’ll start planning on which delectable dessert to take! It’s a highlight of our writing year.

My Magnum Opus

2007-11-26T08:03:00.000-08:00

Every writer should have a magnum opus. I do, and it’s changed my entire self-worth as a writer.

About two years ago, I decided to write a huge, huge project that would eventually become the pinnacle of my writing career. It’s way over my head as far as my ability or qualifications to write it. It’s bigger than anything else I ever plan to write. But it’s something I work on, word by word, week by week, and gradually it has become a part of me and is shaping who I am as a writer.

It started out innocently enough…I challenged myself to write an outline about a book that I wished every kid would have. You know—a classic—a book that would pass down from generation to generation of kids and become known as a landmark of books.

That innocent little outline grew and grew and grew until after several months of full time writing on it, it was over 150 pages long. I determined the projected length of my book—over 500 pages—and what I wanted to say in which part of my outline. Oh, I didn’t know the exact words I wanted to write for each section, but I knew most of the topics I wanted to write about.

Since those intense months of writing my outline, I have been working on my magnum opus. Word by word. Paragraph by paragraph. I estimate that it will take me at least ten full years to complete it.

But I’m not in any hurry. As a matter of fact, I keep my goal simple. If I write one hour per week on this manuscript, after an entire year, I’ll have spent at least 52 hours writing and working on it. That’s a bit, actually! And some weeks I spend more time on it than others, so I’m well ahead of my goal. (There were a bunch of weeks when I didn’t write at all on my magnum opus—my mother-in-law fell and fractured her pelvis and we had to drop everything! But then I wrote an extra hour each week when things settled down and quickly got back on schedule.)

Virtual Book Tour

2007-11-25T13:04:00.000-08:00

To celebrate two new books I had come out this year, I’m hosting a Virtual Book Tour during the month of February, 2008. I’ve never done this before, so it’s an interesting journey! I’ve been checking into different sites that host author interviews for children’s books. So far my strategy is to find different blogs or websites that will agree to post my interview. Then I plan to add a link to these sites during Black History Month in February—one new link each day of the Virtual Book Tour. I know there are places that set these things up, but the fees are quite high and I want to give this a try on my own.

My publicist for Sleeping Bear Press, Audrey, sent me a lead this morning that I’m going to look into…

Check back in periodically for updates on the progress of the tour for my two newest books:
D is for Drinking Gourd: An African American Alphabet
A Kid’s Guide to African American History

Get Published Tips

2007-11-23T09:17:00.000-08:00

The best success I’ve had in getting published is to follow these steps:
1. Find an editor who says what she is looking for.
2. Study that publisher’s website and find a hole in their product line.
3. E-mail that editor and ask her if she’d like to see a proposal for my book idea that fits into the hole in her product line.

And the best place I know for children’s writers to find editors who say what they’re looking for is by subscribing to Children’s Writer: Newsletter of Writing and Publishing Trends. For info on how to order it, go to www.ChildrensWriter.com.

Each issue is jam packed with quotes from editors saying, “I’m looking for this,” and “I need that.” I’ve landed four big book contracts by e-mailing editors I read about in this newsletter since over two years ago when I started reading it.

Last June, I made it my goal to read through each issue of this newsletter and find at least one editor to e-mail with a book manuscript idea. This month, I had to STOP doing this. Why? I now have three more book contracts lined up which will keep me BUSY until next December and two of those publishers require me to send in my next two book proposals when I’m done with their deadlines!

Author Interview: Catherine Osornio

2007-11-20T21:15:00.000-08:00

Meet Author Catherine Osornio!
Bio:
Writing was never a career Catherine Osornio was looking for. Her interests while growing up were in math, science, cartooning, and eventually in film. It wasn’t until five years ago, while helping a friend develop her writing skills, that Catherine felt the Lord confirming a call to write.

Catherine has written both fiction and non-fiction stories for children's magazines and a private school's reading program. She has also written numerous inspirational articles for newsletters and an online newspaper. Currently she is in negotiations for her first picture book on American History. She is also working on two projects dear to her heart: an adventure series for boys, and a mystery series for girls. Catherine lives in Southern California with her husband and four children.

Featured Book: Alphabet book about American History (Title forthcoming)
Interview:
Q: Congratulations on landing your very first book contract! How long did it take to go from your first idea to the actual book contract?
A: I took my writer group's challenge to write a book in a month, and encouraged by my author friend, I chose to write an alphabet book. Going onto Amazon.com, I used their advanced search tool to find publishers who were currently producing this type of genre. I made sure to choose companies who had at least five alphabet books in their catalogs. Once I created this list, I went to the publishers' websites to see if they were currently accepting unsolicited manuscripts. My list was now narrowed to five. Based on the type of alphabet books the company produced, I narrowed the choice down to one.

During this process I had been praying for some good topics to write about. I did not make this decision until I had found my prospective publisher. I noticed they had many books on holidays, but not one for the 4th of July. Looking through their submission guidelines, I noticed that they did not want picture books longer than 1,100 words. I bought five of their books and carefully read each one looking for patterns: how many words per letter; how was the topic covered; how did they handle difficult letters like Q and Z? I made notes of everything and used these patterns to write a rough outline. I researched using online materials and books from both my own library and the public library. I reworked and fine-tuned my manuscript until I had a rough draft to take to my critique group. Once I got their thumbs up and worked the changes, I sent out the manuscript to the publisher. This process, including pinpointing the publisher, took one month.

Six weeks later, the Editor-in-Chief e-mailed me. She liked the idea, but wanted an historical emphasis only (I had written about celebrating the 4th as well as the historical aspect). I got to work digging up more research materials. Three months later I took my rough draft to my critique group, and then sent out the final draft to the publisher. I heard back from the Editor-in-Chief about five weeks later, letting me know they were interested in the book and were working on the contract.

The total time from starting with my idea to hearing from the Editor that they wanted the book was seven months.

Q: Where do you get your ideas?
A: I pray a lot for inspiration and I find ideas popping in my head. It also helps to have four curious children, with ages ranging from 7 to 13, who are constantly asking me about things that spark story ideas.

Q: As a child, what were your favorite books to read?
A: I devoured mysteries! I also loved biographies, particularly about George
Washington. I find it funny that my first book is about American History, particularly during the time frame of my favorite hero.

Q: Share one tip you would like to give to a children’s author trying to land a first book contract.
A: Target, target, target! It really pays to know the publisher and their product lines. If you give them what they favor, they will be more likely to look at your ideas. I doubt I would have been so successful if I hadn't studied the publisher as well as I did.

Research Tips

2007-11-20T06:55:00.000-08:00

I'm trying to break into a nonfiction magazine for kids I've never written for before. Yesterday, the free samples of the magazine arrived in the mail. (Even though most places say it costs for samples, I've learned that if you simply e-mail the editor of the magazine, explain that you're interested in sending a sample submission, and request a sample magazine, they are happy to send you a couple free copies.) Also, in the mail arrived two key research books I purchased used at amazon.com for a total of $10 because the assigned topic is actually one I plan on writing for on other projects. And five more books arrived in my library yesterday that I ordered in for research. So I'm ready to go!

I plan on first reading through the sample magazines to find articles that fit the format mine will be written in. Then I'll start reading through my own research books that I purchased to jot down important facts of interest to kids. Then I'll read through the borrowed books to flesh out my resources.

The editor told me she wants three sources for each fact I state. So I have a system that seems to work. I give each book I'm using a little code letter such as AA or AB or AC. When I write down a fact I find, I write down the code for the book plus the page number. When I find that same fact in the next book, I also jot down the code for that book plus the page number. After reading through several books and jotting down the page numbers of the facts I find, I then go back and look over my notes. Any fact that has 3 sources next to it can go right into my article! If other facts look interesting, but I only have two sources, I need to look for more sources to support those facts.

Here's a sample of my notes:
Binare
Binare are ancient walled cities in Nigeria AA23, AC182, BA3
Kano is the oldest ancient walled city AA23, AB10, AC180
Kano still has portions of the wall tourists can see today AB12, AD480
Picture of wall in Kano AD12

I keep a list of codes/book titles on the computer so I can easily use the search/find tool in a future project to keep track of which books are which codes. (On my own books I actually write the code on a sticky note in the front of the book or even on the title page if the book is used and already beat up.) It's a bit time-consuming, but when an editor contacts me for a fact check, as has happened, I quickly pull out my notes, find the titles and page numbers of my resources, and send them to her.

Book Signing Tips

2007-11-18T10:37:00.000-08:00

I just had two fun days at CSLA of signing my new book that just came out in September, D IS FOR DRINKING GOURD: AN AFRICAN AMERICAN ALPHABET. It was so exciting to see the response of librarians and teachers when they saw it. Even high school librarians bought copies to add to their collection after I explained how I visited libraries at local universities to dig up little-known information about the history of African Americans to include within the pages of my book. One librarian said that she plans to use this book in her “Buddy System” program where older students read to younger students. The book has an easy-to-read poem for each alphabet letter, but lots of important information in sidebars to provide the older readers with topics to talk about with their buddies.

Here are a few pointers I’ve learned over the years from attending my own book signings as well as observing other authors at book signings. If you have any tips you’d like to add to this list, please let me know!

*Bring along several retractable Sharpie® pens. I’ve tried different pens, but at one of my signings, the store had these pens available for authors to use and now they’re my favorite. The caps don’t get lost and they make a dark, legible signature. Bring several because sometimes they have a tendency to “walk off” and disappear as all pens do!

*Bring a sticky notepad and retractable ball point pens for people to write down the exact spelling of the person they want you to autograph the book for. This helps eliminate spelling mistakes.

*Dress for practicality and comfort. Wear comfy shoes because you might be standing on your feet a long time or want to walk the floor to see other conference exhibits. Bring a sweater if the signing is indoors as often businesses or conference centers run the air at a very cool temperature. If you’re anticipating lots of handouts from other exhibits, bring along a wheeled tote to save you from carrying a heavy load throughout the day.

*Bring a snack since many places don’t offer a wide selection of food if any at all.

*Consider having small change in your wallet or purse such as four 5’s and ten 1’s. When Audrey, my publicist, recommended this, at first I wasn’t sure that it was very important in today’s age of credit and debit cards. But I followed her directions and had some in my purse. I’m glad I did. The very first person at my recent signing purchased my book. When she was ready to pay for it, she reached in her purse and pulled out a twenty dollar bill. The sales rep at the booth said, “I’m sorry! I don’t have any change.” But I did! I ended up giving the sales rep all my small bills in exchange for her 20s and we had a very successful day minus that hassle. Thanks, Audrey!

*Bring a friend to help. If you’re expecting a busy time, a friend can sit with you at the book signing to help manage payment of the book, pass out sticky notes for writing down correct spellings of people’s names to autograph, or run unexpected errands that pop up. When scheduling book signings at ticketed events, I always ask for two complimentary tickets—one for me and one for my husband. Especially if you are signing books with children and have handouts or small activities, your friend (or hubby!) can help manage the crowd at one end of the table while you’re signing at the other end. Plus, it gives you someone to talk with if the day is a slow one.

*Always wear a smile and leave your ego back in your room. Many events are hosted by volunteers or have too small a staff to handle all the many details. Often, author’s name tags are misspelled, or they run out of author badges and give you an exhibitor’s badge instead, or have to give you a sticker to wear with your name on it. Don’t despair! Just smile in spite of any mishaps or inconveniences. Appreciate the people who are trying to help, enjoy the day, and spread lots of goodwill and cheer with a friendly smile.

Illustrator Interview

2007-11-16T19:30:00.000-08:00

Meet Illustrator Frank Lowe!
Featured book: The King’s Silverware
Bio: Frank A. Lowe (Illustrator/Graphic Designer)
Resides in La Habra, California, but was raised in Whittier just one city over. Being the second youngest in a family of six children and also being born between two sisters, Frank found himself too young to hang out with his older brothers and too bored for the tea party scene with his two sisters. Drawing and doing art became the perfect outlet for Frank to pass the time in his childhood days. Frank has now worked professionally for over 20 years in the art field. He has worked in animation in such studios as Marvel Films (Spider-man), Hyperion Animation (Life with Louie, Itsy Bitsy Spider, and Happily Ever After [for HBO]), along with many others, doing everything from story-board to character development. He currently works as a graphic designer, designing corporate identification packages for small businesses. Frank is illustrating picture books for children in the age group of 4-7. The King’s Silverware is the first picture book out of a two-book deal he has with Olive Leaf Publications.

E-mail: q.w.graphics@earthlink.net
Web site: Samples of his work are posted at www.myspace.com/lowelives

Interview:
Q: As an artist, what technique do you prefer to work with?
A: What I like to do is spend some time praying and considering each project I do. After a short while I begin to brainstorm on a large 18 x 24-inch sheet of paper using just a graphite pencil to get my ideas for each one of my characters or background layouts. As soon as I have an approximate design completed, I scan the line art into my computer to make it into a layer in whatever software I might be using, to begin rendering and colorizing each piece.

Q: What inspires your creativity the most?
A: I don’t like to fill my head with other people’s work. Because when I do, I start to imitate them too closely. I listen to other people’s advice for structure, layout, rendering, and foreshortening, and that’s it. As far as style goes, I would have to say I’m most influenced and inspired by the scenery of day to day life. I think that the Lord has created the best backdrops that have ever been done. And as far as inspiration for character development, the Lord came up with millions of them to populate this rock we live on called Earth, so I just take a walk and I come back with all I need.

Q: Describe a highlight of this book project for you personally.
A: I think that a highlight for me while I was working on The King’s Silverware was when I saw each character all drawn out and completely colorized for the very first time. The best way to describe it for me is, a little kid seeing a new toy for the first time and thinking of all the possibilities and things that can be done with it.

Q: Share one tip you feel children’s book illustrators in today’s market need to know regarding staying up-to-date on computer technology.
A: To answer this question, you would need to consider the fact that I’m an artist who was basically railroaded into the computer age. I would have to say that you should do all you can to make sure you as the artist don’t lose your creativity in the technology. There are people spending all their time coming up with new and improved ways of making boxes look three dimensional and so real that you think you can touch them. But after all…it’s still just boxes.

Query Tips

2007-11-16T07:14:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, a bunch of great writers met at our local Borders for an SCBWI Schmooze. What a fun time we had discussing “Queries that Work.” We had lots of great examples of queries people brought that actually landed a book or article contract.

One thing we discussed is how sometimes, the rules just have to be broken. I’ve landed over 70 book contracts with a certain “formula” I use to write my queries. When I have followed the “rules” found in most writing books or discussed at most writing conferences, I’ve never gotten a successful sale. Here’s how I write my queries—and they work! Just for an example, just recently I’ve landed four book contracts in the past three months!

Let’s say I want to write an alphabet book about my funny cat Humphrey. BEFORE I WRITE THE BOOK, I look around on the Internet at different publishers’ web sites. I keep searching until I find a publisher who writes alphabet books about pets. They have an alphabet book about dogs called, “S is for Spot: An Alphabet Book about Dogs.” But I see that they don’t have a book about cats yet! I look for their submission guidelines and see that the editor’s name is Paula Wells. I order some of their library books in at the library to check out their format and style. Then I’m ready to write a query! Here’s what I say in my e-mail query:

Dear Paula,
I studied your website and saw that you publish alphabet books about pets.

I see you have a dog alphabet book, “S is for Spot: An Alphabet Book about Dogs.” I noticed that you don’t have an alphabet book yet about cats.

I was wondering if you’d be interested in seeing a proposal for an alphabet book about cats called “H is for Humphrey: An Alphabet Book about Cats.”

If not, I would also be interested in writing an alphabet book about these other pets:
Horses, goats, pot-bellied pigs.

I am a children’s author and have written several articles for the children’s magazine, “I Like Pets.”

I’m looking forward to hearing from you.

Thanks,
Nancy

Nancy I. Sanders
(Contact info here.)

That’s it! This is my standard format to contact an editor. Short query via e-mail targeting their product line. Personal e-mail. If the editor doesn’t take e-mail, I usually don’t bother contacting her. I just look for a different publisher to target. I don’t want my query to land up in a pile of envelopes and not hear back for months. The results? I usually hear back from within the week or I don’t hear back at all. Out of about 25 queries I sent these past 3 months, I’ve landed several book contracts and magazine assignments. My goal is to get the contract before I write the manuscript. Why? Because usually, the editor wants to give input on which direction the manuscript should take. It save me lots of revision time. And wanna hear a secret? I’ve written over a hundred manuscripts that I’ve tried to submit somewhere—with 100% rejections. I haven’t sold a one of them. But I’ve landed over 70 book contracts when I query the editor before I write the book. Even as a beginning writer!

Middle Grade Musings

2007-11-16T06:49:00.001-08:00

Thanks, Catherine, for your great suggestion. Your idea makes it to the top of the Check-off List! Here's the new and revised list to use after you write your first draft of a chapter of a middle grade novel. It's great for the editing process. If you have anything you'd like to add to the list, please let me know!

Chapter Check-off List
for Middle Grade Novels
*Does your opening paragraph have a strong enough hook to draw the reader into the story? This needs to continue in each subsequent chapter, particularly following a great cliff hanger.
*Does the chapter end with a cliffhanger?
*Is the setting clear but not obtrusive?
*Are characterizations developed to make each person unique?
*Are main characters carrying more weight in each scene than the minor characters?
*Do the subplots work together to increase tension?
*Are the five senses included? Sight, sound, smell, hear, touch?
*Is the level of interest on target for this age range?
*Did anything slow down the forward progression of the plot such as: dialog, unnecessary scene, too much background information, too many details in the setting, bunny trail?

Middle Grade Musings

2007-11-12T20:05:00.001-08:00

As I was rejoicing that I finished the first draft of chapter one for my new middle grade novel, I was thinking it would be helpful to have a Chapter Check-off List of items I can make sure each chapter contains as I go back and edit it. Here are some key ingredients I plan to add to my list. If you know of more, please send them my way! Wouldn't it be fun to make a great list for these middle grade novels we are writing to help polish and hone during the editorial process?

Chapter Check-Off List
for Middle Grade Novels
*Does the chapter end with a cliffhanger?
*Is the setting clear but not obtrusive?
*Are characterizations developed to make each person unique?
*Are main characters carrying more weight in each scene than the minor characters?
*Do the subplots work together to increase tension?
*Are the five senses included? Sight, sound, smell, hear, touch?
*Is the level of interest on target for this age range?
*Did anything slow down the forward progression of the plot such as: dialog, unnecessary scene, too much background information, too many details in the setting, bunny trail?

Already, I'm getting ideas to go back and add more sensory details. Let my reader feel the cold air (it's winter), smell the savory soup in the bowl that was handed to my main character from over the camp fire, hear the axes cutting down trees to build log huts...

Middle Grade Musings

2007-11-10T08:17:00.000-08:00

Last night after a full week of writing, I just felt like relaxing and having fun. Of course, since writing is my favorite hobby, I reached for one of my writing projects--a historical fiction middle grade novel I'm just starting to write. I grabbed my book of baby names along with several nonfiction books from the American Revolution era and had fun looking through them to come up with names for my new characters. Hip, hip hooray! I chose the name of my main character--a 12-year-old girl. Then I started filling out a character interview from a form distributed at my writer's group. Some of the things I discovered about my character surprised me as I had to fill in the blanks about who her parents were and what her favorite color was, etc. I recently read of an author who creates a scrapbook for the characters in her novels, collecting photos of the actual setting and magazine pictures of what she thinks her characters look like, etc. This intrigues me and I want to start a scrap book for all the new characters I'm going to meet in my new book, too! After deciding on all the names I needed in order to start my book, I sat down with my laptop and finished typing my first chapter. Whew. A big milestone! Now I'm ready to move forward and let the story unfold.

Welcome to My World!

2007-11-08T07:42:00.000-08:00

So many times people ask me, “What exactly do you do all day as a writer?” Both children and adults alike want to know. I thought that for my blog, it might be fun to track my days now and then and just share an insight into my world as a writer. Yesterday ended up being one of those “perfect” writing days—you know—no interruptions, lots of time to really focus on a writing project, and everything on my writer’s to-do list crossed off. Of course, with adult children and no TV in the house (we just have a set in the garage we pull out now and then to watch a DVD) my time is free to spend solid hours at the keyboard. I remember those toddler/carpool/roommom/hardly-have-time-to-write days! So hey-I thought I’d start by describing what a “good” writing day is like. For my next blog that I do about my writing schedule, I’ll share what a “not-so-good” day is like. Maybe today! Today started out by cleaning up a HUGE mess from Lucy, the dog, who must not have been feeling well in the middle of the night. I’ve got a phone call to make about a writing project, a fellow writer scheduled to come over to discuss help for a project she’s working on, and the fridge is absolutely empty so I’m going to have to fix a creative meal tonight! Not that this is a “bad” day—I especially love to spend time with my writer friends and make exciting phone calls about upcoming book projects—but it promises to be a busy day with little time for writing.

Here’s how my writer’s day went yesterday. Welcome to my world!
6:00 Made breakfast and packed lunches for my husband, Jeff, and son, Ben. And of course, I had to feed Humphrey, our big orange cat (at 1 ½ years I think he’s 21 pounds now) who was racing around the house asking for his can of sardines. I fed Lucy, too, our 12-year-old dachshund mix who woke up long enough to eat breakfast before going back to sleep on the couch.

7:00 Sat at the computer to answer e-mails and update blog. E-mailed about 6 people for potential interview for short articles in parenting newsletters for Focus on the Family.

8:00 Moved to a comfy chair where I edited the first draft I wrote yesterday of a new story about Dudley the dog, an assignment for Clubhouse Jr.

8:20 Exercised for 10 minutes on my exercise machine. Since I sit so much during the day to write, this is the perfect stretch for my legs and workout for my heart. Every time I use it, I remember my neighbor—I miss her! We were always trading furniture back and forth—I think she traded me this exercise machine for a quilt comforter set I gave her for her son’s bed. She couldn’t take the machine with her when they moved back to Canada, and my son never used the comforter set so it was like new after being stored for a couple of years in our attic.

8:30 Got dressed and threw in a load of laundry. Since Wednesdays are laundry day around here, that’s what I’ll be doing all day long in between my writing commitments. Of course, Humphrey helped me—he loves laundry day and jumping in the empty clothes’ baskets and hiding under the pillowcases. But today he discovered something soft and fuzzy in the pile, so he settled down on it for a cozy nap. That item will have to wait to be put in the washer with a later load!

9:00 Researched a new publisher’s website I’ve been checking out recently. Contacted the editor with an e-mail query and sent her three ideas for potential books that looked like they might fit into the publisher’s product line.

10:00 Organized e-mails from my critique group welcoming 2 new members. Wordsmiths is now officially closed at 8 members! How exciting! Plus, sent the group details concerning our upcoming Christmas party.

10:30 Sat down to do some serious research for the next chapter in the book I’m working on right now about African American history for kids. I put on some soft listening music and plopped down on the couch to read through some books I’d ordered for this topic that arrived a couple of days ago in the mail. Pen in hand and notebook by my side, I jotted down key facts and page numbers of the book I found them on. For this particular writing project, the 2 CDs I’ve been listening to the most during these long hours of research include today’s selection: Marian Anderson: Spirituals and Wynton Marsalis: From the Plantation to the Penitentiary.

3:00 After reading through portions of various books, taking a short break for lunch, scouring the Internet for missing pieces, and digging through old research files from other projects I’ve done on this same topic, I finally could barely keep my eyes open a second longer…and took a nap. Yes. Smile. I usually take a nap every afternoon. I come from an entire family of nap takers and have fond memories of growing up and watching my dad, a dairy farmer, come in from the fields for lunch and afterwards sprawl out on the floor for his daily afternoon nap. The tradition continues! (But like Humphrey, I choose a much comfier spot.)

4:15 Up from my nap to cook dinner and spend time with Jeff and Ben who were returning from work and school.

9:00 Plugged in my ipod, got out my Bible, grabbed my journal, and sat down in my chair for a couple of hours of sweet devotion and worship. Jeff was busy grading papers, reading his Bible, and catching a few ZZZZs in his chair. Ben was busy doing homework on his laptop. The house was filled with peace. We all sat together in our livingroom—even Lucy and Humphrey were asleep on the couch next to Ben.

11:00 Headed to bed. As I was gathering up my stacks of research books from the day, I felt a little disappointed that for all the time I had spent digging for facts, I had not found just the right sources I had been looking for. I opened up two hefty volumes as I added them to my pile—and low and behold! Within five minutes I found everything I needed to go ahead and start writing about my topic tomorrow. I was so excited I could hardly fall asleep!

Research Tips

2007-11-07T07:27:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I had to travel to a nearby city, so I took a few moments extra and visited their local library used book store. Whenever I go somewhere like this, I like to add an extra stop to explore the local library's used book store. As always, I found some great finds--most for just 50 cents. I found books I can use for research sources on topics I'm writing about--and they offer a unique slant I might not have considered including. Plus, I found 2 books to give to my friend who is a writer on the current topic she's researching. Libraries often have great used book stores where they deposit books they're clearing from their shelves--often quite expensive volumes for a really low price. The other place I've also found fantastic finds is when I visit the local univeristy on my travels. Most have a used book store as well and often include great textbook finds on the subject you're researching.

Wordsmiths

2007-11-05T15:00:00.000-08:00

I just got back from my critique group of professional Christian writers: Wordsmiths. What great feedback! Inspiring news from other members' successful contacts with editors! And lots of fun! The energy and friendship from this group really get me back on track with my writing each month as we share and discuss current writing and marketing trends while we critique each other's manuscripts. Right now, some of us are participating in the Alphabet Book Adventure. First we study the alphabet book market. Then we choose one publisher to target. Then we study that publisher's particular line of alphabet books. Then we prepare a query or manuscript to submit to that publisher. So far, it's working! One of our members has already been offered a contract. Another one has a publisher who requested more after receiving her query. Two of us are submitting alphabet-themed articles to magazines. Others have more alphabet ideas, too. Alphabet manuscripts are hot! And we're having a fun adventure together as a group exploring different themes and markets.

Scrapbooking

2007-11-03T07:40:00.000-07:00

A little over a year ago, I was in a local bookstore. Much to my pleasure and surprise I stumbled across a beautiful book called BEATRIX POTTER: A JOURNAL. The pages were filled with little snippets of artwork from her books and memorabilia from her various projects scattered across the pages. There were portions of letters from editors as well as excerpts from her diary. My writer's soul immediately connected with this idea. In a journey filled with so many rejections and negative self-doubt, what a marvelous way to help remember all the positive little moments of being a writer! Even though I had never been much of a "scrapbooker" before, I immediately jumped in with both feet. I found a little local shop that sells scrapbook supplies, bought a book, and made it my New Year's resolution to scrapbook every month of 2007 with fun little details about my life as a writer. It has been a very rewarding journey! On days when I get numerous rejections both through the mail and e-mail, or on days when I struggle with writer's block, or on days when I'm once again overwhelmed and wonder how I'll ever meet my current book deadline on time, I just pull out my scrapbook and get my fill of warm fuzzies. Pictures from my critique groups, kudos from editors, inspiring Scriptures, and precious positive moments as a writer greet me to encourage me to keep on going.

Have you ever kept a scrapbook about your writing adventures? I'd love to hear how you create your own personal journal!

Fun News!

2007-11-02T08:08:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, my doorbell rang and I saw the Fed Ex guy scurrying away down my sidewalk. Not expecting anything, I went to the door, grabbed the package, and ripped it open. What a fun surprise to find inside a copy of my newest book, D IS FOR DRINKING GOURD: AN AFRICAN AMERICAN ALPHABET. But this wasn't just any ordinary copy! On its jacket, this book now sports the picture of the seal for winning the 2007 NAPPA Honors Book award. What a rewarding experience to win this award after so many years of research and heart put into this book. My hopes are that all who read it will be encouraged and inspired to reach for the stars!