In case you haven’t heard the news yet, Laura Amy Schlitzs’ work for Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! has been awarded the 2008 Newbery Medal for children’s literature. Click here to read the full article in The Baltimore Sun.
According to Candlewick editor, Mary Lee Donovan, Schlitz’s book Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! was the most exciting submission she has had in her 23-year career. Congratulations to Laura Amy Schlitz!
Take note: It was an editorial assistant who plucked Laura Schlitz’s manuscript from the dreaded slush pile, (which is the first stop for All manuscripts.) This is encouraging, to me at least, because it means hope is alive for every writer who sends a piece of their soul to unknown hands.
Newbery Medal winners are selected for their distinguished contribution to American Literature for children. I have selected four past Newbery Medal winners to read and will be posting book reviews on them in the coming weeks. The subject matter of each book is timeless because they deal with a specific period of time in our history.
Past Newbery winners are: Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse (ages 12 to 14, awarded 1998)
Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George (ages 10 and up, awarded 1973)
Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech (ages 8 – 12, awarded 1994)
Strawberry Girl by Lois Lenski (mid-grade, awarded 1946) .
Stay Tuned.
Carma
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Friday, April 18, 2008
10 Tips for a Successful Critique Group
Surf on over to the National Writing for Children's Center and read my post on how to create a successful critique group.
Click here to readWrite it down,
Carma
Monday, April 14, 2008
Hot Tips for Children's Writers
Do you enjoy writing for a topic or a theme? I found tons of valuable writing tips and information on Liano Mahoney’s website. Surf on over there. In particular I have listed some tidbits to think about that Liano Mahoney listed on her site. Check out the other 9 tidbits by clicking here. There's more: click on this link to a doc file containing an up-to-date theme list for some children’s magazines. Of course you should check out the submission guidelines for any magazine you are interested in.
DO THE MATH.
Perseverance is the ultimate key to publication.
Perseverance is the ultimate key to publication.
In your quest to getting published, try to remember that children's book publishing is a business. Like all other businesses, it boils down to numbers. Here are some numbers that all children's writers should consider*:
10% = the portion of the American population who believes that they have a "book in them" that they would like to write some day
5,000 = the approximate number of picture books published in a year
1,001 > the number of words that most publishing houses don't expect and don't want in a picture book manuscript
$50,000 = the approximate amount that a publishing house has to invest in the making and distribution of a picture book, including artwork, royalties, printing, marketing, etc.
The number of manuscripts in the average slush pile that are truly publishable: less than 5%
12 = the number of rejections JKRowling received for the first Harry Potter book before it was finally accepted
*DISCLAIMER: Please note that all of these stats have been posted for motivational purposes only. They have not been fact-checked. In other words, consider their implications, but please don't quote them as gospel.
Write it down,
Carma
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Book Review - The Magic Kerchief
Title: The Magic Kerchief
Author: Kirby Larson
Illustrator: Rosanne Litzinger
Hard Cover: 32 pages
Ages: 4 to 8
Publisher: Holiday House - First edition (September 2000)
ISBN-10: 0823414736
ISBN-13: 978-0823414734
Kirby Larson has written a captivating original folktale with a message everyone can relate to. The story may be set in the past but is all too timely for today. The protagonist, Griselda, the town "grouch", reluctantly offers a stranger a place to stay after she mysteriously appears at Griselda’s door. In fact, Griselda was quite snappy with the visitor and was ready to have her sleep on the floor by the fire but the visitor fell asleep in Griselda’s bed. The next morning, the kind visitor insisted on repaying for Griselda’s kindness with a magical scarf, promising it held great riches.
Crabby Griselda did not believe, but the scarf was nevertheless charming so Griselda tied it on and went to market. The phenomenon that happened at market was truly miraculous. Griselda lost the sting of her tongue when she shopped at the bakery and when she passed by the Lord Mayor. The only words she usually muttered to the Lord Mayor were “Paah, a donkey on two legs is still a donkey.” Instead, wearing the special kerchief, she greeted the Lord Mayor with “My aches and pains vanish when I greet an old friend.” No one was used to Griselda saying nice words. Everyone was surprised. Griselda learned through the kindness of a stranger that to have a friend you must be a friend.
The charming folk-art illustrations are done in soothing pastels and all the characters are rounded like stuffed pillows, which lends to the humorous flavor of Larson’s words. The art dominates each page and depicts an original scene with bright back ground color. This book is worth owning yourself and for gift giving.
About the author: Kirby Larson is the acclaimed author of the 2007 Newberry Honor Book, Hattie Big Sky, a young adult novel she wrote inspired by her great-grandmother, Hattie Inez Brooks Wright, who homesteaded by herself in eastern Montana as a young woman. In addition, Kirby has written three books for children, including the award-winning picture book, The Magic Kerchief. A frequent speaker, Kirby has presented at more than 200 schools, workshops, and seminars.
Crabby Griselda did not believe, but the scarf was nevertheless charming so Griselda tied it on and went to market. The phenomenon that happened at market was truly miraculous. Griselda lost the sting of her tongue when she shopped at the bakery and when she passed by the Lord Mayor. The only words she usually muttered to the Lord Mayor were “Paah, a donkey on two legs is still a donkey.” Instead, wearing the special kerchief, she greeted the Lord Mayor with “My aches and pains vanish when I greet an old friend.” No one was used to Griselda saying nice words. Everyone was surprised. Griselda learned through the kindness of a stranger that to have a friend you must be a friend.
The charming folk-art illustrations are done in soothing pastels and all the characters are rounded like stuffed pillows, which lends to the humorous flavor of Larson’s words. The art dominates each page and depicts an original scene with bright back ground color. This book is worth owning yourself and for gift giving.
About the author: Kirby Larson is the acclaimed author of the 2007 Newberry Honor Book, Hattie Big Sky, a young adult novel she wrote inspired by her great-grandmother, Hattie Inez Brooks Wright, who homesteaded by herself in eastern Montana as a young woman. In addition, Kirby has written three books for children, including the award-winning picture book, The Magic Kerchief. A frequent speaker, Kirby has presented at more than 200 schools, workshops, and seminars.
Write it down,
Carma
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Everything You Always Wanted to Know...
About writing for children but were afraid to ask can be learned by joining the Children's Writer's Coaching Club (CWCC).
As a club member, you are invited to take part in FOUR 55-minute teleclasses about children’s writing every month, plus you have the opportunity to submit a manuscript for professional critique every week, and you can choose to complete a weekly assignment and have it reviewed as well.
In addition, founder of CWCC, Suzanne Lieurance, presents a weekly 55-minute teleclass with known children's authors. This week on Thursday, April 10th at 3:00 pm Pacific time. Margot Finke will present a special teleclass for CWCC members titled: "Query Letters: How to get them right." It will be recorded and all members of the CWCC will also receive a link to the recording so they can listen to the class at their own convenience if they aren’t able to attend the live session Thursday afternoon.
You're probably thinking this costs hundreds a month. Wrong. For $27 a month you get all of the above. Plus you experience camaraderie of meeting other enthusiastic authors honing their writing skills.
Write it down,
Carma
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Get in the Spirit with SCBWI
SCBWI-NORCAL (Northern California) held its Spring Spirit IV in Davis, California April 5. This was my first writers conference and it will not be my last. You know the commercial where the announcer gives a price for a variety of items but one is always priceless? Information garnered at this conference---Priceless.
SCBWI is a strong global voice for professional writers and illustrators.
I highly recommend that all children's writers and illustrators bite the bullet and join this important group. You can find out how to join by clicking HEREAuthor of Hattie Big Sky, Kirby Larson opened the event with a heart warming and entertaining presentation.
Victoria Rock, Editor-at-large at Chronicle Books in San Francisco.... Pamela Bobowicz of Delacorte Press (an imprint of Random House Children's Books), New York........and Heidi Kilgras, Editorial Director at Random House Children's Books in New York were able to convey why editors do what they do. They love their jobs and they want the best for their readers.
Always take an extra notebook and maybe a small fold up camping seat to place in front of you to put your laptop or folders on instead of having just your lap available.
Requirements from editors and publishing houses may vary. For example Random House prefers picture books to be about 450 words in length. A key point: "Is it re-readable?" In other words how many times is your little one going to want to "read it again"?
Delacourte Press accepts Middle Grade 8 to 12 and YA Novels 12 and up but does not accept picture books and Chronicle Books will accept all children's genres at this point.
This is just a couple of gems that were thrown out there this weekend.
Write it down,
Carma
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
American Diaries: Book Review
Author: Kathleen Duey
Ages: 10 - 12
Publisher: Aladdin Paperbacks
ISBN: 0-689-84404-2
Publication: May 2001
American Diaries are books written in a similar fashion as a series except the characters do not repeat. Also, American Diaries books are about 140 pages in length. American Diaries are written through the eyes of a twelve year old within a twenty-four hour period portraying a true historical event or period. The characters are fictional.
For instance I just read Janey G. Blue, Pearl Harbor 1941. Janey is a 12 year old girl who has recently moved from Kansas to Hawaii with her family. Her father is a civil service worker at Hickam Field in Pearl Harbor. Her experiences and impressions of December 7, 1941 take place from Sunday, December 7, 1941 at 7 a.m. to Monday December 8, 1941 at 7 a.m.
Janey loves the trees, fresh fruit and all the people on Oahu but she misses Kansas and her best friend Tilly even more. Besides, all the talk of impending war makes Janey nervous and scared. The evening before December 7, 1941 Janey writes in her diary.
For instance I just read Janey G. Blue, Pearl Harbor 1941. Janey is a 12 year old girl who has recently moved from Kansas to Hawaii with her family. Her father is a civil service worker at Hickam Field in Pearl Harbor. Her experiences and impressions of December 7, 1941 take place from Sunday, December 7, 1941 at 7 a.m. to Monday December 8, 1941 at 7 a.m.
Janey loves the trees, fresh fruit and all the people on Oahu but she misses Kansas and her best friend Tilly even more. Besides, all the talk of impending war makes Janey nervous and scared. The evening before December 7, 1941 Janey writes in her diary.
“Last night after the Christmas concert the grown-ups got going about the war again. Holy Golly, I am sick of hearing it. Its bad enough we have to listen to the planes from Hickam Field drill all the time. Some pilots pretend to be invading and the others practice defending the harbor and the airfields and they all pretend to fight. It’s so noisy that Pokey (dog) hides under the bed.”
Kathleen Duey captures helplessness, fear and anxiety many people must have felt that fateful day; December 7, 1941. Kathleen Duey is an award winning author who has written more than 50 books for children, YA and adults. Thirty-three of these books have been historical and adventure fiction. She also novelized the DreamWorks movie Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron.
Kathleen Duey captures helplessness, fear and anxiety many people must have felt that fateful day; December 7, 1941. Kathleen Duey is an award winning author who has written more than 50 books for children, YA and adults. Thirty-three of these books have been historical and adventure fiction. She also novelized the DreamWorks movie Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron.
Write it down,
Carma
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)