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Here's a list of middle grade and young adult novels written in verse. 

http://www.sarahtregay.com/novelsinverse.html

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Dart into the drizzle, Cool down summer heat. Slip out of the spray with wet hands and feet. FRESH! ………. 5 Stars  In this charming book for preschoolers, vibrant photographs combine with delightful illustrations and bouncy, fun-to-read rhymes that will inspire children to use their imagination to transform into play what they see in the [...]

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Interview: Joanna Marple on uTales.

Darshana Shah Khiani‘s interview on her Children’s Book Review site, “Flowering Minds”, with new children’s picture book author, Joanna Marple, is revealing on lots lof levels.

Joanna and Darshana met on children’s writer and illustrator FaceBook site, 12 x 12 , a very lively, supportive, share and learn community set up by Julie Hedlund. When Joanna released her very first picture book, a collaboration with the very talented Maja Sereda, Darshana jumped in with the interview offer.

“Snow Games” is a fun tumble and rumpus in winter’s wonderland aimed at 3 to 7 year olds. Maja’s wonderfully endearing little animal characterisations beautifully complement the story.

Joanna  shares what it was like to collaborate with Maja to create “Snow Games”. Close collaboration between author  and illustrator is a circumstance largely [and sadly] foreign to most traditional print publishing. For Joanna and Maja it was a fun and very rewarding experince. But the interview goes beyond the creation of  ”Snow Games”. It also details Joanna’s experience of the uTales website and her thoughts on traditional and digital publishing.

Joanna mentions my collaboration with noted animal and wildlife illustrator, Muza Ulasowski, a story about surviving change, “The Sea Cat Dreams”. Muza was one of many wonderful illustrators I met on the uTales Facebook group and have since worked with to create a varied range of children’s books.

I have found the opportunity to collaborate with illustrators something eminently rewarding, an experience that  enriches both participants and results in a more vibrant and much richer work. My first picture book, “Mending Lucille” was also a result of a collaboration. Working with the amazing Sarah Davis was inspirational! I have gone on to collaborate closely with illustrators all over the world to create numbers of other picture books, some digitally published**, some in process with p

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Verse can so often be a scary undertaking for readers but today we’ve listed some titles that make verse novels relevent and appealing to even the most reluctant.

Song of the Sparrow – Lisa Ann Sandell

The year is 490 AD. Fiery 16-year-old Elaine of Ascolat, the daughter of one of King Arthur’s supporters, lives with her father on Arthur’s base camp, the sole girl in a militaristic world of men. Elaine’s only girl companion is the mysterious Morgan, Arthur’s older sister, but Elaine cannot tell Morgan her deepest secret: She is in love with Lancelot, Arthur’s second-in-command. However, when yet another girl — the lovely Gwynivere— joins their world, Elaine is confronted with startling emotions of jealousy and rivalry.

Words cannot accurately encapsulate how much I adore this book.  It is my number gifted book and I am yet to meet a person who fails to realise its magnificence.  Even the verse adverse appreciate the gentle turn of phrase, the emotional plight of the heroine and the lovely spin on Arthurian legend.

Scholastic

A Bad Boy Can Be Good For A Girl – Tanya Lee Stone

Josie, Nicolette, and Aviva all get mixed up with a senior boy, a cool, slick, sexy boy who can talk them into doing almost anything he wants. In a blur of high school hormones and personal doubt, each girl struggles with how much to give up and what ultimately to keep for herself. How do girls handle themselves? How much can a boy get away with? And in the end, who comes out on top? A bad boy may always be a bad boy. But this bad boy is about to meet three girls who won’t back down.

A verse book that uses Judy Blume’s Forever as an important plot point?  Check.

A book that depicts girls are proactive and strong without needing to excel in archery.  Check.

A flowing style that weaves the tale of three independent girls who find themselves confused by their hormones and their choices?  Check.

PanMacmillan

Star Jumps – Lorraine Marwood

A poignant verse novel depicting the joys and heartbreaks of a farming family as they struggle to cope with the devastating effects of long term drought. Told through the eyes of Ruby, day to day farm life involves playing in grassy paddocks with siblings, doing jobs and helping out, and witnessing birth, death and sacrifice. The family are devastated when they have to sell off some of their herd, but in the spirit of hope it is Ruby who tries in her own small way to help the family by making miniature bales of hay.

Skewing a little younger, this award winning title depicts the difficulties of living in Australian rural areas and the stresses that places upon the families that work the land.  Marwood has a lovely way with words

Walker

There is also:

• Steven Herrick (Sl
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How to Create a Website in 3 Steps (with 10 thumbs). This is good sense advice succinctly put from Jo Ann Carson. NOTE – you do not have to buy. Word Press, Yola, Weebly and Wix all provide excellent ‘free’ – yes, that’s what I said, ‘FREE’ site templates, easy to assemble [if I can, anyone can] with lots of whizz-bang features!

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Can’t remember when I’ve had so much creative fun with such a fantastic group of multitalented folk! 13th to 16th January  we arrived in from all over – WA, NT, Vic and  ’locals’ Christian and self.  We were housed in the Gatton Motel, a leg stretch away  from the main venue, not that we needed to walk. We were chauffeur driven everywhere by local Minibus/taxi owner Sue.

This is the door to my room, the non-existent  No. 13, on 13th January, a Friday, how lucky can you get!  Interesting how many places omit room 13, floor 13 etc etc. Do folk really think we are so bound by superstition and hangovers from the dark ages that we will eschew  a room or a whole floor just because of a place in a numeric sequence? Evidently it is so.

Presenting

Our sessions had small groups of ardent attendees at, what for me at any rate, were a series of workshops. who interacted with us freely and kept us on our toes with their questions. [more coming... I just need to sleep now...]

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Lisa Schroeder is a native Oregonian which means her childhood summers were spent camping, fishing, reading books (of course!) and playing in the sun, when it finally came out. These days, Lisa spends her summers, and every other part of the year, sharing all of the wonderful things Oregon has to offer with her husband and two sons. She is the author of numerous books for kids and teens, including CHASING BROOKLYN (Simon Pulse, 2010) and IT'S RAINING CUPCAKES (Aladdin, 2010).

Which character came to you first – Amber or Cade? What sparked their story in your mind?

Amber came first, though I didn’t know much about her when I started writing. I’m very much a discovery writer, so I take a couple of seeds of ideas, and start in and see where they take me. As Amber began packing that morning for the day, I thought, hmmm, what’s she going to take with her? It was then that I discovered her love of jelly beans and that she was a drummer.

When I started writing, I wasn’t quite sure what was going on in her life that would cause her to want to get away for the day. All I knew was I wanted to write a book that took place over 24 hours, the day before a girl’s life was about to change forever.

How do you think you’d react if you found yourself in Amber’s position?

I think I’d be really pissed off and scared to death. And I honestly can’t imagine doing It – getting on that plane and going to a place unknown.

Amber has fantastic taste in music. Do her preferences reflect your own? If you had to pick a theme song for The Day Before, what would it be? Why?

She’s a big fan of Pink, and I love her too. She also loves White Stripes, which is probably an obvious choice because of the female drummer, and while I enjoy a couple of their songs, I wouldn’t say I’m a huge fan or anything. The other reference in the book that comes from my own tastes is Matt Nathanson. I LOVE him. They’re in Cade’s car at that point, and I could totally see Cade being a Matt Nathanson fan, because Cade is a singer/songwriter I think Matt is one of the best singer/songwriters out there today.

Both Cade and Amber are talented musicians. Do you play any instruments? Are there any you wish you could play?

I wish I could play the guitar. I recently took some lessons, but my hands are just too small and it’s really hard for me. I’ve been toying with the idea of taking piano lessons – we have this beautiful piano in our house that my in-laws gave us, and no one plays it. I can dink around on it, and play melodies by ear, but I am seriously considering taking up lessons in the fall.

What’s your favorite jelly bean flavor? Do you have any calming quirks like Amber’s jelly bean habit?

Oh, hard question. Favorite flav

23 Comments on Author Interview: Lisa Schroeder (The Day Before) & Giveaway, last added: 8/1/2011

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Misha said, on 7/28/2011 11:35:00 PM

Great interview! This book has been on my TBR for quite a while.

I love Matt Nathanson! And Say Anything too! I wanted to learn to play the guitar, but somehow that never happened. I wish I could play some musical instrument, but I don't have the patience to learn. haha

(Not an entry)

Andra said, on 7/29/2011 6:09:00 AM

I really liked this interview :) Though I am kind of upset that you don't like mac and cheese...I pretty much eat mac and cheese everyother day :D Thanks for the chance to win! I've been wanting to read this for ever!

andralynn7 AT gmail DOT com

Zombie Girrrl said, on 7/29/2011 10:55:00 AM

I love being near water, too, but I can't read there because I'm too distracted by the urge to jump in.

I tweeted a link to your review and mentioned the giveaway: http://twitter.com/#!/Zombie_Girrrl/status/96998764774035458

+1: I commented on your review

+1: I follow Lisa on Twitter: Zombie_Girrrl

[email protected]
Thanks for the giveaway! I really hope I win; I love verse novels (and that cute necklace).

Jenna said, on 7/29/2011 11:47:00 AM

I had no idea that Lisa was from Oregon. That being said, our perfect days are pretty much the same. I had never really thought of water having a common effect, but now that I think of it, water definitely makes me feel at home. Especially because of all the rain.

I can't wait to check out her newest book!

Jenna
jennapomme[at]yahoo[dot]com

Krystal said, on 7/29/2011 1:05:00 PM

I love being near water, always makes me feel more peaceful. I saw this book on Good Reads and have been dying to read and review it!!! Thank you for this chance. edysicecreamlover18@gmailDOTcom facebooked http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/profile.php?id=100000547840483
liked author on fb as Lindsay Ann
follow her on twitter as Icecream1891
tweeted http://twitter.com/#!/Icecream1891/status/97034122077286400
left a comment on your review as Krystal Larson

GFC follower of author's blog as Krystal Larson

+6 I think Thank you so much!

kimyunalesca said, on 7/29/2011 1:12:00 PM

Awesome Interview and Giveaway! I'm a new follower and just recently posted my First Book Interview check it out ^_^

http://kimyunalesca.blogspot.com/2011/07/author-interview-esther-jno-charles.html

[email protected]

Savanna said, on 7/29/2011 2:00:00 PM

Awesome giveaway & interview!

+1 I follow you on twitter (VampireXlover78)

+1 like author on facebook (savanna ucinski)

[email protected]

Sarah said, on 7/29/2011 5:13:00 PM

I absolutely loved her idea of what to do with herself on a day off. The idea was so calming and peaceful. Serenity comes to mind.

http://twitter.com/#!/clearxxeyes/status/97095150634934272 <Mentioned on Twitter<3

Review: I'm also hesitant about novels in verse! Your positive comment about that makes me more excited to read it. +1

I follow Lisa =D clearxxeyes +1

Thanks for this!

Linda @ Most Important Letter said, on 7/29/2011 8:06:00 PM

Tutti-frutti jelly bean flavor. Hmm. And not like macaroni and cheese? Pssh. XD

I mentioned your review and giveaway, Casey, on my blog: http://mostimportantletter.wordpress.com/2011/07/29/contest-roundup-14/ (I apologize if you have to scroll down a while.)

+2 I also shared on Twitter (https://twitter.com/#!/MostImportantL/status/97138231996448769) and Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=264163146930512&id=137325809663643).
+1 My review comment is under the name Linda @ Most Important Letter, of course.
+3 I follow Lisa under Linda (website), Most Important Letter (Facebook), and MostImportantL (Twitter).

Thanks for the giveaway, Lisa and Casey!

Linda @ Most Important Letter
[email protected]
http://mostimportantletter.wordpress.com/

Marty said, on 7/30/2011 12:13:00 AM

I would love to read this book. It sounds really interesting. I just moved to the Oregon coast so it was interesting to see that the author is from there :)

I posted this giveaway on my facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001871018660

[email protected]
smallhousebythesea.blogspot.com

Marty said, on 7/30/2011 12:16:00 AM

I tweeted about this giveaway here:

https://twitter.com/#!/chippybreath/status/97203630515552256

[email protected]

Marty said, on 7/30/2011 12:20:00 AM

I blogged about this giveaway here:

http://chippybreath.blogspot.com/2011/07/awesome-giveaway-at-bookish-type.html

[email protected]

Marty said, on 7/30/2011 12:23:00 AM

I follow Lisa Schroeder's blog.

[email protected]

Marty said, on 7/30/2011 12:24:00 AM

I liked Lisa Schroeder's FB page via Marty Woodruff.

[email protected]

Marty said, on 7/30/2011 12:25:00 AM

I follow Lisa Schroeder on twitter via chippybreath.

[email protected]

MarthaE said, on 7/30/2011 11:37:00 AM

Thanks for the interesting interview and the giveaway. I wish I had been allowed to get piano lessons when I was young. After my older siblings gave my parents such a hard time at practicing they didn't even try with me. :-(

I tweeted on the review here:
http://twitter.com/#!/MSEREADS/status/97372507048394753

+1 I left a comment on your review.
+1 I follow GFC MarthaE
+1 I follow on Twitter MSEREADS
+1 I follow on facebook Martha Eskuchen

Yolande said, on 7/30/2011 5:03:00 PM

This is an awesome giveaway and interview! I don't like mac & cheese either.

I tweeted: http://twitter.com/YolandePLL/status/97455659792080896

and I follow Lisa on Twitter under the username: YolandePLL

Thanks again!

Contact me here: candycane16 @ roadrunner . com

~Yolande :)

Sierra Cullen.♥ said, on 7/30/2011 11:56:00 PM

I love the interview! I want to visit Oregon. :) Lisa has a good idea of what to do on a day to herself. The water is peaceful; and an ocean in the background must be a beautiful sight.

+1 - Thoughntful comment on review
+1 - Website Follower {GFC: Sierra Cullen.♥}
+1 - Facebook "Like" - Sierra S.

ittssierraily[at]yahoo[dot]com

Chey said, on 7/31/2011 2:37:00 AM

Ooooh, The White Stripes! :)

I tweeted linking to your review and mentioning the giveaway- http://twitter.com/#!/ohaiitschey/status/97601176677265409

+1 Facebook- Cheyenne Teska
+1 Twitter- @ohaiitschey

Thank you so much, I've been wanting to read this book for a while!

mcrs_venin(at)hotmail(dot)com

LoriStrongin said, on 7/31/2011 2:45:00 PM

I've actually been wanting to read this one. Other than the Iliad and Odyssey, I've never read a book in prose but am certainly willing to try. I like the premise and definitely think I'll be adding this one to my TBR pile. Thanks for the fun interview!


And yes, Pink is awesome!


Smiles!
Lori

LisaILJ said, on 7/31/2011 5:32:00 PM

I am really excited to read this. Chasing Brooklyn was fantastic, and has stuck with me years later. I tweeted about the contest and review here:
http://twitter.com/#!/LisaLLibrarian/status/97824762562232320

thanks! leyser73 at yahoo dot com

+1 I follow Lisa's blog using the GFC name LisaILJ
+1 like her on FB using the Name Lisa Jay
+1 follow her on Twitter LisaLLibrarian
+1 put it on my FB wall, screen name Lisa Jay

Amy said, on 8/1/2011 2:15:00 PM

I love Lisa's poetry novels! She is very talented in verse or in prose!

I would love, love, love a copy of this book, Lisa and my girls would love it too.

Love Between Pages said, on 8/1/2011 7:48:00 PM

Thanks for the interview and giveaway!

I love reading verse or prose novels. And I also don't like macaroni and cheese.

Tweet: http://twitter.com/#!/alemalvis/status/98222531235938305
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/permalink.php?story_fbid=156187027791826&id=601587860

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Poetry for Children: Poetry 2010 Sneak Peek List

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The Day Before by Lisa Schroeder

In Stores Now!

Amber’s life is spinning out of control. All she wants is to turn up the volume on her iPod until all of the demands of family and friends fade away. So she sneaks off to the beach to spend a day by herself.

Then Amber meets Cade. Their attraction is instant, and Amber can tell he’s also looking for an escape. Together they decide to share a perfect day: no pasts, no fears, no regrets.

The more time that Amber spends with Cade, the more she’s drawn to him. And the more she’s troubled by his darkness. Because Cade’s not just living in the now—he’s living each moment like it’s his last.

If you've read my review, you know I loved this book. This trailer really captures its essence -- the value of simple moments, the way some days stand out in our minds like a black and white photograph. It perfectly reflects the book's beauty and romance, as well as its sadness, and the simplicity befits Lisa Schroeder's sparse, elegant verse.

Does this trailer make you want to read The Day Before? Have you already read it? Do you think the trailer does it justice?

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Sometimes life is divided into the Before, and the After. Amber knows that today is her last day Before. Before it all changes. Before nothing's the same. And she wants to spend this final day alone, at the beach with the music loud and no regrets. Her plans change, however, when she meets Cade. He seems to be there for the same reason -- living this last day before...what? Amber doesn't know his secret, and they agree not to ask. They just want to live life their way, one more time -- together. But Cade's secret might be more dangerous than Amber imagines, and she may be the only person left to stand between him and what comes After.

I honestly didn't think I could read an entire novel written in verse, but by the second or third page I'd completely forgotten about the style and was engrossed in Lisa Schroeder's tale. It's amazing how much detail and emotion can be conveyed in such few words, but Schroeder's careful word choice makes her sparse verse as vivid as the wordiest prose. The writing is innovative and fast, and piques readers' curiosity about what terrible thing is going to happen to this girl we feel like we've known our whole lives.

Amber finds herself in an impossible situation. At first, the desperation is felt even if the cause is unclear, but Schroeder doesn't make the reader wait too long to understand the circumstances -- revealed through flashbacks in the form of letters sprinkled throughout the text. Amber is utterly sympathetic -- finally a heroine who isn't the beautiful but unnoticed underdog. She is a short and stocky rocker chick with killer taste in music. She has her quirks (like a jelly bean obsession), and a great best friend and loving little sister, who make their presence felt even if they aren't all that present in the narrative action.

Cade's pain is even more of a mystery than Amber's, but he combines it with a wry wit that it utterly beguiling. Their determination to have one last day free of sorrow and full of the little things in life -- chosen by fate and the toss of a coin -- is romantic, if bittersweet. Though their relationship is built over the course of a single day, in this story it works. They are both living the same day -- the day before everything changes -- in the same way, and it binds them in a way they can't even fully express.

This tale has an almost haunted air, the lightness tainted by their somber secrets. As readers get to know these two beautiful people, marred by circumstances beyond their control, through the lyrical lens of Schroeder's verse, their hearts will soar and break and hope and despair right alongside the two teens who just want to live life on their own terms, free from responsibility and obligation -- for just one more day.


Disclosure: I received an advance galley from the publisher for an honest review.

This novel hits shelves today! Click here to purchase The Day Before by Lisa Schroeder.

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25. JAPAN – more opportunities for writers to help raise funds

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By: jrpoulter, on 4/23/2011
Blog: Jrpoulter's Weblog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:  Poetry, humour, Fiction, Japan, fantasy, short stories, haiku, verse, fundraising, Add a tag

SENDAI – Anthology

• We accept short stories and poems of any genre, as long as they are PG-13, relatively hopeful in nature and loosely themed around the strength of the human spirit. It would be a bonus if your workalso has a Japan theme!
• Short stories should be 500 – 5,000 words long. Poems should be 35 lines or longer.
• Send your work as a double-spaced Word document in Times New Roman, black font size 12. Please indent the first line of each paragraph by half an inch.
• E-mail your story as an attachment to [email protected]. In the body of your e-mail, please include your name as you would like it to appear in the anthology, followed by a short biography written in the third person. Feel free to include web addresses in your bio!
• The deadline for submissions is May 15th. A list of accepted submissions will be announced on May 30th.

http://storiesforsendai.blogspot.com/p/submission-guidelines.html

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