Archive for March, 2009

I just learned from my publisher that Wolfsnail: A Backyard Predator was included in the CCBC Choices 2009 List. It is the annual best-of-the-year list of the Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC), a library of the School of Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. I am honored by this inclusion. Boyds Mills Press has three other titles on the list: The Freedom Business by Marilyn Nelson, and Piggy by Mireille Geus and Rits by Mariken Jongman.

Rebecca Hogue Wojahn, another blogger who is also a children’s librarian and writer, put Wolfsnail on her favorites list, too. Thanks.

Today’s image comes from my Dad. He took this photograph during a trip to England about 20 years ago. I’ve posted a bunch of my mom’s photographs on this blog (American Gothic; The Eight Balls; Lemuria signing). Well, as this one shows, I also take after my Dad. Light. Color. Leaves. Very nice. Dad could tell from the blog that I was having a really busy week (SCBWI conference Friday-Sunday and Read Across America Day Monday) and I appreciate this image for photo Tuesday.

I celebrated Read Across America Day with my friends at Davis Magnet IB World School. In the photograph at the left, I am reading Wolfsnail: A Backyard Predator to Diane Setzer’s kindergarten class. As you can see, we are all wearing our Cat in the Hat hats. I first read the Dr. Seuss classic and then my book. This Read Across America Day, which is always celebrated on or near Theodor Seuss Geisel’s birthday, was special for me because the American Library Association named Wolfsnail a 2009 Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Book.

Mississippi Public Broadcasting arts reporter Ron Brown recorded some of the reading and interviewed students and teachers for a report that will air Friday, March 6th, at 6:35 a.m. and 7:35 a.m. Tune in if you can. I hope all of you dedicate some time to read today with the children in your life. It makes a difference and it’s just plain fun — especially if you wear a funny hat.

SCBWI’s Southern Breeze region wrapped up its SpringMingle’09 with advice from Caitlyn Dloughy, editor of the Simon & Schuster imprint Atheneum. Dloughy urged writers to develop characters with action: “If you find yourself starting with a few paragraphs of physical description of your character, you may not have developed your character enough.” She asked the audience to name memorable characters from children’s books and then say why the characters were memorable: Lily (of the purple plastic purse), Eloise, Max (the wild thing). Each was noted for something they did; not what they looked like. In particular, Dloughy cautioned writers to avoid descriptions such as “twinkling eyes” and “blond hair.” Recommended reading: Dark Dude by Oscar Hijuelos, Shift by Jennifer Bradbury, and The Underneath by Kathi Appelt.

Our keynote speaker, award-winning author Kathleen Duey, explained that writers need to work on three aspects of the writing life: “art, craft, and filthy commerce.” The bottom line, she said, is always “write the BEST book.” She suggested that beginners should attend conferences, join critique groups, and take writing classes. Start submitting only after you know your work is really, really good. Otherwise, you crowd the mailboxes, desks, floors, and closets of editors who are getting busier as the industry downsizes. In order to feed your art, she said: “spread your wings, read poetry, read literary novels for adults.” If you stare at children’s books all the time, that will help your marketing knowledge (filthy commerce), but it won’t help your art.” She cautioned against trying to write to trends; write what you absolutely MUST write — from your heart. Recommended reading: Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro, Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott, and The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron.

Note: I will post more about the conference in the coming days. Check back for more from other speakers: Abigail Samoun, Daniel Powers, and Liz Conrad.

Shelli Johannes-Wells, one of our own Southern Breezers, launched the conference with a great talk on marketing. She made a convincing argument for writers to begin marketing during their “pre-published” years. I couldn’t agree more. She explained branding (including the often overlooked shadow brand.) Her talk was funny and full of good tips. You can find more of the same on her blog called Market My Words.

Mary Kate Castellani, an associate editor at Walker Books, cautioned writers against trying to write to trends. In her talk titled, “Young Adult Fiction: What Works?” she explained some of the characteristics of YA books: immediacy (everything for teens is happening right now; not much perspective of past or future) and offer some hope. To keep up with what’s being published and finding success in the market, she recommended a newsletter. I thought she said YA Pulse, but the only thing I could find with a similar name is the Check Your Pulse newsletter from Simon & Schuster. Anyone else find the YA Pulse? Recommended reading: Ten Cents a Dance by Christine Fletcher; Octavian Nothing by M.T. Anderson; What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell.