Welcome to day four of Renee Hand’s 6-day NWFCC April Author Showcase tour and join Ms. Hand as she discusses knowing your audience.
When writing for children, one must always keep in mind their audience. Developing ideas for appropriate topics to write about and keeping them at a certain age level, can be challenging. I view writing for children as something that is fun and educational. I put a lot of effort in making my books unique and different. As a writer we must find a niche and fill it. Writing for children is making sure you get your message across. The children’s market is flooded with books. As a writer we have to create storylines that stand out from the crowd and get noticed, not blend in with the rest and be forgettable.
Follow Day 5 of Ms. Hand's tour tomorrow at http://beverlystowemcclure.blogspot.com.
Reviewed by Donna M. McDine
Title: The Crypto-Capers in the Case of the Missing Sock
Written by: Renee Hand
Illustrated by: Alla Dubrovich
Ages: 8-12 (grades 4-7)
Publisher: North Star Press of Saint Cloud Inc.
ISBN: 978-0-87839-304-6
Published: October 2008
Many of us remember the challenge of cryptograms with fondness. In The Crypto-Capers in the Case of the Missing Sock, and no the sock didn’t get lost in the washing machine, the Holmes siblings find themselves in their latest caper. Blending their skills of puzzle solving, deduction, and reasoning with their best friend Morris’ computer know how the trio along with Granny are hired by Mr. Delacomb to find a single sock. At first they are baffled why a single sock would be stolen. Until they have their first meeting with Mr. Delacomb. They discover words sometimes do not explain the value of an item. It’s up to them to uncover the what, why, where, and who and they soon find themselves traveling to Florida to discover the answers. Of course, the muscle of the group, Granny travels with them for guidance and protection.
Come along for this exciting adventure of mystery, intrigue, and puzzle deducing techniques to solve their latest case.
Author, Renee Hand cleverly blends a mystery and cryptogram clues throughout her series The Crypto-Capers making the adventure of solving a mystery more exciting. To learn more about Hand’s writing career visit www.reneeahand.com.
Learn more about Donna McDine at www.donnamcdine.com. Sign the guestbook and you’ll receive a FREE e-Book Write What Inspires You: Author Interviews.
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Reviewed by Donna M. McDine
Title:The Crypto-Capers in the Case of the Red Rock Canyon
Written by: Renee Hand
Illustrated by: Alla Dubrovich
Ages: 8-12 (grades 4-7)
Publisher: North Star Press of Saint Cloud Inc.
ISBN: 978-0-87839-304-6
Published: March 2009
Once again The Crypto-Capers find themselves hired and on the road to Las Vegas to solve The Case of the Red Rock Canyon. The stolen item in this case, an Orchid Ruby Necklace out on loan to producer, Mr. Cross for his latest play, The Orchid Menagerie.
With each case The Crypto-Capers accept the cryptograms become more mysterious and increasingly difficulty to solve. They are not be thwarted. Their determination in not being dubbed, Max, Mia, Morris, and Granny (Nellie Holmes) find themselves thrown into the dramatics of theatre and life threatening circumstances. Deciphering clues is always a challenge and add in whose acting and who is telling the truth proves to be the biggest obstacle. Will the detectives solve this case before it’s too late?
Come along for the perilous adventure into the theatre world. The performances and clues will have you guessing at each curtain fall as to who is behind the theft of the Orchid Ruby Necklace.
Author, Renee Hand cleverly blends a mystery and cryptogram clues throughout her series The Crypto-Capers making the adventure of solving a mystery more exciting. To learn more about Hand’s writing career visit www.reneeahand.com.
Learn more about Donna McDine at www.donnamcdine.com. Sign the guestbook and you’ll receive a FREE e-Book Write What Inspires You: Author Interviews.
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I wanted to share yet another guest post with all of you that will help get those juices flowing as we come to the end of the 30 days/30 stories. I’ve been touring award-winning author Renee Hand this month and asked her for some insight on how she crafts her storylines for her two award-winning series. Here is what she had to say.
Plotting a Storyline with Award-winning Author Renee Hand
I can honestly say that I have no specific, technical, brain-zapping method in plotting my storyline.
I have been writing for over 25 years and believe me when I say that you can get super technical when it comes down to your writing, but if you focus on all of the technicality, how are you supposed to write, hhhmmmm? So here it is, plain and simple.
Mysteries, which is the genre I consistently write in, has several parts. Most of these elements apply to your basic story as well. These are the things you need to have an idea about when you start your story. If you have this as your guideline, you can improve and develop it from there.
First, you need to gather ideas. What is your story going to be about? What genre? Where is the story going to take place? So on and so forth.
Next, you must think about your main and minor characters. You need to figure out names, ages, how many characters you will focus on, and so on. Some characters will develop as you continue along.
The plot of a mystery is that there must be a problem and the main character(s) must solve it. Is something or someone stolen, missing, or kidnapped? You must have a list of clues, with one being the case-cracking clue; remember I am talking about mysteries here. You can throw in a red herring if you like, or a mislead.
You must have rising action. Your story needs to build up to the climax-where the conflict of the story comes to a head. You should have an idea on how your story is going to end, though in all actuality, your ending will most likely change as your story develops.
Remember that the climax of the story is not your ending. The ending must have a good resolution to the problem and be satisfying to the reader. My advice is to relax when writing. Don’t worry about so much and let your ideas flow.
There are so many rules and methods in writing that we could literally suffocate ourselves with them. Don’t worry about them at the very beginning. Get your ideas down on paper. Once down, develop them from there.
Remember that proofreading, revising and editing are great times to become more technical about what you should and shouldn’t have.
Renee Hand is an award-winning author, educator, tennis coach and various other things. Hand has been writing for over twenty years and
By:
Margot Finke,
on 5/17/2011
Blog:
HOOK KIDS on READING
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Today I Have the Pleasure of Hosting Author
Renee Hand
Welcome to day three of Renee Hand’s 6-day NWFCC
April Author Showcase tour, as she discusses how
Mineral Mischief can be used in the classroom.
Case#2 Mineral Mischief
Tradebook Tips for Teachers from
Award-Winning Author Renee Hand
Teachers can use
Mineral Mischief in so many ways. In the back of the book I’ve included lots of educational information that teachers can use in the classroom to further understanding of rocks and minerals. I also add a diagram of the rock cycle, which can be referred to at anytime.
I’ve created various experiments where students can make predictions by using various charts. Terminology is included in the back as well as a ‘Did You Know’ section. I also incorporate a discussion about bullying, which one of the characters is involved with. The character also finds a solution to this problem which all children can benefit from. The information that I have in the book can be used to fill the National Standards requirement for this topic.
=============================
Download
My FREE e-BOOKSecrets of Writing for Children.This e-Book offers you one stop guidance for
Writing and Self -editing children's books. These helpful hints come from my many years of
writing for children and doing manuscript critiques.
===============================
Take Note of These 3 Authors:
Lynn Garthwaite - Kaleb Nation - Renee Hand.These authors write books that will GRAB
your reluctant reader's interest.
BOY'S TOO!
*************************
If your reluctant reader is a young teen, drop
Bran Hambric - the Fairfield Curse,by
Kaleb Nation, on his bedside table.
Bran Hambric was found locked in a bank vault at six years old, with no memory of his past. For years, he has lived with one of the bankers, wondering why he was left behind -- until one night, when he is fourteen, he is suddenly confronted by a maddened creature, speaking of Bran’s true past and trying to kidnap him.
....................That's what I call baiting the HOOK!*************************
For younger readers,
HOOK them on books by these 2 Authors:
Dirkle has his own web page, where he shows kids where to go for the Books, Fun Stuff , about the Characters + lots MORE. Available from
AMAZON
Lynn told me this:
"Kids who are just learning to read on their own need to find something fun and interesting, so they understand how much fun books can be. I write the kind of books I liked to read when I was that age: anything with a secret, a hidden room, transport to a magical land, or the discovery of something that had been hidden for hundreds of years.
Those kinds of books just sucked me right in."
ME TOO!
*************************
and
Renee Hand's
Crypto-Capers Series -
Beginning with these 2:The Case of the Missing Sock
plus -
The Case of Red Rock Canyon
(Both available from Amazon and B&N)
HEY!
What child doesn't want to root for a
bunch of kids who solve mysteries.
Visit Renee's Website for books, Bio, and MORE
*************************
Also, check on the right of this page for a list of
HOOK 'EM NOW books for both
boys and girls.
Visit my own
Reluctant Reader Friendly books page.
sample verses - illustrations - cover slides - trailer.REMEMBER: Books must have fast paced stories, full of
fun, action, and cool dialogue, if you want to
HOOK that reluctant reader - or boy.
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You are the greatest, Elizabeth. Thanks so much for posting this. I appreciate it.
Renee
Hey, Elizabeth! Many congratulations on your radio talk show interview! That is so awesome - what a wonderful way to get your name and work out there!
Congratulations, Mitty, on this incredible opportunity! I am so happy to read about all the well-deserved success you're having with The Fourth Wish.
This is great and should help you with sales! Congrats.
That's wonderful, Elizabeth. You must be excited and thrilled. Good luck.
Thanks all. I'm so pleased she asked me. She does wonderful reviews of children's books, so I hope you'll all visit her site. Hope, too, that you can find a way to listen to her broadcasts. The great thing is that you can listen to shows you missed at the url in the post. Happy listening, and I do hope some of you can tune in on my interview either at the time or later.
Radio talk show interviews! Now there's an interesting idea. And fun! Have a great Friday. :)
What a great idea for a radio show! Hope you have fun on it. :)
Congratulations! I can't wait to hear the show!
Carol and Shallee, yes I agree. Great idea for highlighting authors. I'm so pleased she asked me.
Kirsten, glad you plan on listening. I have to admit, I'm a bit nervous. Other than that, I'm looking forward to it. I listened to the first one (later), and Renee has a nice way of putting the interviewee at ease.