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The writing life of Mike Knudson. Mike is the author of the RAYMOND AND GRAHAM chapter book series.
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By: Mike Knudson,
on 3/18/2011
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Hey all you writers out there!
A key component in getting published is the dreaded query letter. Check out this link for a chance to win a query letter from Mary Kole, agent the Andrea Brown Literary Agency:
http://cherstinieveen.wordpress.com/2011/03/18/first-line-contest/
You may also win a 5-page critique from author Martine Leavitt
Good luck!
By: Mike Knudson,
on 2/11/2011
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Registration is now open for the 2011 Writing and Illustrating For Young Readers Conference. The dates are June 13 - 17. Check out the website at www.wifyr.com. The lineup of speakers and instructors is amazing. In addition to the intimate classroom workshops with published authors, this year's lineup of incredible guest speakers includes, among others, Lisa Yoskowitz, editor at Disney, and Mary Kole, agent at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency. You can find the entire list of speakers and instructors on the website. I'm thrilled to be teaching the Chapter Book class again this year!
By: Mike Knudson,
on 3/8/2010
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Hello World!
Where have you been? I guess the bigger question is where have I been? Have to admit, I'm not a great blogger. But I have plenty of news and thought I'd share.
RAYMOND AND GRAHAM BASES LOADED was released last Thursday, March 4. Very exciting. I was in Las Vegas visiting schools last week and read a bit of it to the students. We had a great time. School visits have been wonderful. This winter I've spent time in Texas, Wisconsin, Nevada, Arizona, and I'll be spending most of March here at home visiting Utah schools.
Some fun upcoming events I am excited for: May 13 is the release date for RAYMOND AND GRAHAM COOL CAMPERS. I am thrilled about his about this book. I have a lot of fun writing my books, but I really loved writing this story. The first draft was nearly double the length of the other R&G books. It was difficult to trim down, but with the help of an incredible editor we were able get it where it needed to be while not sacrificing any fun.
In May, I will be visiting schools in Alaska! I've never been there and am EXCITED to meet the students and see the sights. I'll be packing a coat and an empty memory card for the camera.
Also, this June I will be teaching at the teaching at the 2010 Writing and Illustrating for Young Readers Workshop. It is going to be wonderful event. Check out the website at www.foryoungreaders.com to see a complete list of award winning authors, illustrators, editors, agents, etc. who will either teaching or addressing the group. Not only will it be a great opportunity to get that manuscript you've been working on polished up, but will give you a chance to rub shoulders with the likes of Kate Angelella, Assistant Editor at Simon and Schuster, Jennifer Hunt, Editorial Director at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, and Mary Kole, Associate Agent at Andrea Brown Literary Agency, Inc. I hope to see you there.
So lots of fun things happening!
Happy Reading!
Mike
By: Mike Knudson,
on 10/2/2009
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So far, I've had a great time this fall at schools in Alabama, Maryland, Denver, North Carolina and South Carolina. And there's much more to come. Texas, Las Vegas, more Texas, and Virginia are just around the corner.
This week will be a riot! I'm excited to spend three days with illustrator extraordinaire Stacy Curtis visiting schools in Indianapolis. It's sure to be a fun time for all. We may even pound out a new book or two in our spare time.
I'm also excited to see actual release dates for RAYMOND AND GRAHAM BASES LOADED (March 4, 2010) and RAYMOND AND GRAHAM COOL CAMPERS (May 13, 2010). I'm really thrilled about these two books. As with the first two books, I had such a fun time writing them. During my time in North Carolina this week I managed to finished the rough draft for the fifth book in the R&G series.
I am finally ready to begin finding a home for BANJO PICKIN', KARATE KICKIN', CRIME FIGHTIN' GRANDMAS. A few schools have read it to their fourth graders and the response has been great! I'm already working on the second book in the series.
Life is good!
By: Mike Knudson,
on 6/10/2009
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I've learned one thing over the past few months since I began this blog. I've learned that I'm a terrible blogger, averaging just under one post per month.
142 schools visited on my 2008 - 2009 book tour which is officially over until fall. It ended with a wonderful visit and evening book signing at Parkside Elementary along with authors Jessica Day George, Kim Justeen, and Jennifer C. Smith. The best part was that each student had written and published his or her own book and they had us sign THEIR books! It was awesome! Books about monkeys, aliens, ostriches, sisters, worms, etc. I saw hundreds of creative masterpieces. What a great event and what a talented group of kids! Congratulations Parkside!
As for my publishing news, I finished the third and forth books in the Raymond and Graham series, RAYMOND AND GRAHAM BASES LOADED, which will be available March 4, 2010, and RAYMOND AND GRAHAM COOL CAMPERS, available summer of 2010. I had a riot writing these two books and can't wait for their release!
This summer I also intend to complete the first book in a new series titled BANJO PICKING, KARATE KICKING, CRIME FIGHTING GRANDMAS or something close to that. I laughed and laughed as I finished the first two chapters. It's going to be a fun series.
Happy Reading!
By: Mike Knudson,
on 5/6/2009
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Had a lovely trip to Maryland this past week. This was actually my fourth trip to the area and I can't wait to get back this fall. The kids were fun as usual. There were a couple of humbling moments such as when one third grade boy raised his hand and asked me if I have always been this ugly. His teacher had a mortified look on her face. However, she and the rest of the audience fell silent, not so much like they were embarrassed, but like they just wanted to hear my response. It was as if everyone in the audience was wondering the same thing but were afraid to ask. I answered, "Yes, I believe I have." That seemed to satisfy him . . .and everyone else.
The second experience that kept my head from getting too big, came as I finished a presentation. Another third grader, this time a little girl, came up to me and asked me if she could have the overhead transparency I had drawn pictures on during the presentation. Flattered, I said,"Sure, I'll even sign it for you." I signed it and handed it to the little girl who simply said, "Great. Now how can I erase all of these drawings and this writing so I draw on it." I told her it would wash off with water, which pleased her. Yes, another happy customer.
The best part of the trip was having my son, Michael, with me. He is on his way to Norway for two years and it was great to spend the week with him. I am really going to miss him!
By: Mike Knudson,
on 2/27/2009
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I've been busy! Had a wonderful week of schools in balmy Minnesota. -42 degrees with the wind was brutal, but the warm reception received from the Wayzata district schools made scraping my windshield with a credit card each morning worth every shiver.
My daughter Abbie accompanied me to Northern California for some fun in Palo Alto. School visits, pizza, and miniature golf made for some fun memories.
Next was Naperville. It was a blast. I visited schools in Naperville with the incredibly talented Stacy Curtis. We had a great time and fielded numerous difficult questions. Among the most thought provoking was a question posed to Stacy by a little girl who simply asked, "Do you like chicken?" The audience fell silent as they awaited his reply.
Seattle was my next stop and was amazing as well. I was able to visit with long time friend Heidi and her fun family. Yes, THE Hedi from Raymond and Graham fame. I visited her kids' school and had a wonderful time. Marvista, you guys were GREAT!
A full week in Virginia followed by a full week in Maryland took me to the end of February. This was my second trip to both districts. I always have a great time with the schools there and hope to return again soon.
I also participated with authors Wendy Toliver, Randall Wright, Emily Wing Smith, Kristen Landon, Sara Zarr, Jessica Day George, and Anne Bowen, in a book reading and signing on Valentines Day at a fun bookstore in Tooele, UT called The Purple Cow. It was a fun time had by all. I hope to do it again next year.
Next week I will visiting schools in Las Vegas!
I love receiving fun E-mail from kids, teacher, parents, everyone else, even those Nigerian lottery people (I love to see that I won a billion dollars!). They make me happy. This is the first I have ever received from the lunch ladies! It made me smile this week:
To Whom This May Concern,
Will there be any more Raymond and Graham books? As a cook at an elementary school
we (the cooks) have read your books on our lunch break. We have laughed and
recommended these books to teachers in our school.
Please keep them coming!!
Sincerely,
T. Jaques
By: Mike Knudson,
on 12/30/2008
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Yesterday, I decided to start a blog. I've gone from leading a relatively tech-free life a few months ago to putting together a website, starting a facebook page, and now creating a blog. Who'd have thunk it. Who knows, maybe next week I'll be hacking into some high level government files.
This journey of getting my first two books published with at least a couple of more on the way has been such a dream come true that I thought I'd begin documenting it, at least from this point.
Working with Viking Children's Books this past couple of years has been a delight. The only thing better has been meeting with elementary school kids around the country. I had such a great time on my Fall school tour. The incredibly positive reception from the kids and educators was almost overwhelming. Aside from being away from home, the tour was a blast! The kids' excitement for the books was an absolute adrenaline rush. I was also fortunate enough to visit a couple of schools in Chicago with RAYMOND AND GRAHAM illustrator, Stacy Curtis. He is incredibly talented and we had a hilarious time with the kids. Among his many works, this past year Stacy illustrated Sean Covey's new book, THE SEVEN HABITS OF HAPPY KIDS, which made it to the NY Times Best Seller's list. Congrat's to Stacy!
Anyway, despite the fun school tour, it has been wonderful spending the past six weeks at home. Annette and I enjoyed a beautiful Christmas season together with our kids and are planning on ringing in the new year at our house with extended family.
With two weeks until my 2009 tour starts up in balmy Minnesota, I will be spending most of my time revising the third book in the RAYMOND AND GRAHAM series. I reviewed my editor's notes and began revising last night. It's always a little embarrassing to see the countless grammatical and other errors she catches. Kendra, my editor, sure earns her keep with me. Despite the corrections, I'm really enjoying the revising process. This may be my favorite R&G book yet. It's fun to see the characters develop more and more with each book. Gramps has quickly become my favorite minor character. We'll see what the world thinks. The release date is scheduled for Spring 2010. Very slow industry!
Happy New Year!
Mike, I think it's great that you started a blog. Now get back to work on Book 3! :)
Your Hardworking Editor