new posts in all blogs
Viewing Blog: All About the Books with Janet Squires, Most Recent at Top
Results 1 - 25 of 644
Thoughts on the reading, writing, and sharing of children's books from a writer and library media specialst.
Statistics for All About the Books with Janet Squires
Number of Readers that added this blog to their MyJacketFlap: 29
This new book from Time Inc. provides a solid all-around introduction to the sport that is both informative and entertaining. A cartoon character guides readers through the pages that explain the organization of teams, the use of equipment, and the structure of games. Terms highlighted in bold, colorful fonts are clearly explained within the context of the action-packed photographs that serve as illustrations and carry the reader through a simulated game from face-off to overtime.
Ghigna does an outstanding job of putting fun in the “ICK” factor and sharing startling facts with readers in this spectacular collection. Playing off the title, the book is divided into four main sections with subheadings that focus on individual animals as well as related traits such as Creatures of the Deep - Mimics - Marvelous Mammals - Fabulous Feet - Squirters and Spitters - Blobby, Slimy, Stretchy Creatures - and Fantastic Frogs – to name a few.
Information is well-organized and accessible thanks to elements such as the Gallery spreads that explore specific themes, Feature Creature which provides details about individual animals, the Creature Collection which gives readers opportunities to compare and contrast, and Macrophotographs to highlight the smallest details.
Stunning color photographs fill every page in this large format, 128 page book, with the exception of the Glossary, Index, and Additional Reading.
Maps and charts offer additional perspectives on the information for animal lovers and budding scientific minds.
Join me today for an interview with New York Times Best-selling author, Lauren Belfer.
Belfer’s love of history shines in this well-researched story that propels readers from the elite musical world of Sara Levy’s Berlin in the 1800s through the German holocaust to Susanna Kessler’s present day New York. Fact and fiction blend seamlessly as Belfer weaves the story of two women whose lives are linked by a long hidden Bach cantata.
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer and how did you set about realizing that goal?
I decided to become a writer when I was six years old. I spent my early writing years crayoning stories about heroic pets. By high school, I was submitting my poetry to literary journals and receiving rejection letters from all the best places. Sometimes these letters included the words “thank you,” with the initials of the person doing the rejecting. I took this as a sign of enthusiastic encouragement. The first short story I ever published was rejected 42 times before it found an editor who loved it. The second short story I published was much more successful: it was rejected only 27 times. I learned early on that persistence is the most important trait a writer can have!
What do you do when you are not writing?
Although I don’t sit at my computer all day, being a writer seems to permeate every moment. Everything I come into contact with becomes a kind of research. I get ideas as I walk down the street, and as I read the newspaper. In the evening I might go to a concert, or meet friends for dinner, or simply stay home and watch TV, and small details of what I see and experience spark my imagination.
Briefly, what's your book about?
“And After the Fire” explores almost two hundred and fifty years of history through the prism of a fictional, prejudicial artistic masterpiece.
What attracted you to Fanny Mendelssohn’s story?
To me, Fanny Mendelssohn was a tragic figure. She was extraordinarily gifted as a musician and composer, but when she was a teenager, her father told her that music could never be more than an “ornament” to her true calling as a wife and mother. And she did fulfill her father’s wishes, marrying and having a child. She was also among the most gifted composers of her era. Her husband and her mother both urged her to publish her music. Alas her world-renowned brother, composer Felix Mendelssohn, discouraged her, and his opinion was the only one that mattered for Fanny. Felix did, however, publish six of her songs under his name. As I worked on the novel, I kept asking myself – why did Fanny accept this injustice?
What would you like readers to take from your novel?
I’d like readers to feel that they’d read a good story, with compelling characters who stayed with them after they finished the book.
What are your current/future projects?
I’m working on several projects, but I’m very superstitious, so I can’t reveal the details until I’m finished!
What is your writing process?
On most days, I get up early and write while the world outside my windows still seems asleep.
Are there certain themes or ideas you prefer?
Each of my novels is separate, focused on completely different themes and settings. Once I have an idea for a novel, I think about how the issues I want to explore would play out through the eyes of my characters. Sometimes my characters surprise me, by going off in directions I couldn’t have predicted. I make a general outline of my novels before I begin, but then I put the outline away, to allow the characters and their individual concerns and interests to lead the way.
What book(s)/author(s) have influenced your writing and how?
Dozens and dozens of writers and books have influenced my work. I’ve created several shelves on my Goodreads page, listing the books that have most influenced me at different stages of my life, and as I wrote each of my three novels.
Books that inspired me as I worked on “And After the Fire” include: “Possession,” by A.S. Byatt, “The Lost,” by Daniel Mendelsohn, “The Hare with Amber Eyes,” by Edmund de Waal, “Atonement,” by Ian McEwan, “The Blind Assassin,” by Margaret Atwood, and
“Embers,” by Sándor Márai
What are the most important elements of good historical fiction?
I believe that historical fiction should, above all, portray people living their lives from day to day without knowledge of what the future will bring. Instead of looking back at the past from the perspective of the present, I think writers of historical fiction need to begin in the past, and strive to put themselves into the shoes of their characters.
What suggestions about revising would you offer for upcoming writers?
Each writer I know approaches revising differently, so upcoming writers must figure out what works best for them, through trial and error. I tend to write my first draft quickly, straight through to the end, without stopping to revise. This gives me a sense of the overall arc of the story. Then I go back to the beginning and revise, revise, revise, usually for years!
What’s one additional piece of advice about writing or publishing you’d like to pass on to upcoming writers?
The most important piece of advice I can give to upcoming writers is: Never give up.
November is Picture Book Month!
To celebrate, I'm running a GOODREADS Giveaway.
The Gingerbread Cowboy was named the 2007 Arizona Governor's First Grade Book. A special edition of 100,000 copies were printed and a book was given to every first grade student in the state.
To enter, follow the link in the sidebar.
Good Luck!!
Young children are noted for their many questions. In Mama, How Does the Wind Start to Blow?, Jeanne Styczinski has framed her answer in the form of a delightful counting book. Beginning with the number one and a rising moon, Mama responds to ten questions that culminate in a surprising and heartfelt answer for her youthful readers. The colorful illustrations are charming in their simplicity and provide a perfect complement to the text which begs to be read aloud. This one's a keeper! Pair with her follow-up book, Papa, Why Does the Sun Shine?
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
Looking back I think I have always been a writer. For the past thirty plus years I have kept a folder of stories and story ideas. What I didn’t realize at the time is that someday I would pursue publishing them. In 2011 I started my journey to publish my first book, Mama, How Does The Wind Start To Blow?and in 2013 my book was born. YAY!
How does your writing influence other areas of your life and vice versa?
I don’t think I can separate the two. It’s all mixed up! Thinking about writing and illustrating is just happening all the time. For example, when I’m at the grocery store I might be in the fruit and vegetable aisle and think of a gardening story or when I’m picking blueberries on my farm it might give me an idea for the book about colors I want to create. It sounds a little crazy but it’s who I am.
What do you do when you are not writing?
When I’m not writing and illustrating I love spending time with my husband and four crazy, lovable kids. I love being outdoors and doing such things as kayaking, hiking, and gardening. Another love of mine is searching for treasures at antique flea markets.
Briefly, what's your book about?
Have you ever wondered how the wind starts to blow? In my whimsical counting story you will smile at the different creative guesses a child comes up with, but in the end
she learns her mother is just as creative.
What led you to write “Mama, How Does The Wind Start To Blow?”
Our youngest had just left for college. To be honest, it marked for me such a passage of time and a longing for my children’s younger days. Writing this story helped me remember all the things that were near and dear to them when they were small. They loved to play outside all summer long. I would be working in my gardens and they would go out and explore our woods. My children loved to chase butterflies and frogs. At night under the stars, they would watch the fireflies dance against the dark sky. Many nights we would hear the call of the great horned owl. So, these were the things I included in my story.
What would you like readers to take from it?
To love books! I would like young readers to learn and experience the joy of reading and just having fun interacting with books. In my book they can also practice counting and recognizing numerals. As for parents, I want them to know that they can have fun creating their own stories when their little ones come up with worldly questions like my title.
What are your current/future projects?
I’m currently working on marketing my first two books, Mama, How The Wind Start To Blow? and Papa, Why Does The Sun Shine? In the spring of 2016 I retired from teaching and that has freed me up to go to schools and talk with students about writing and illustrating, which I have really enjoyed. I’m also working on my third book about friendship and diversity between and owl and a firefly. Its title, Who Will Be My Friend? To be released in 2017.
What led you to the decision to publish your own books?
Good question! When I was finalizing on my first story, Mama, How Does The Wind Start To Blow? I decided not only to write the story but to illustrate it. I was so excited! I learned during this process that I love, love, love illustrating! Then later while doing more research I discovered most publishers don’t let you illustrate your own work. That’s when I decided to move forward and create Jeanne Kay Publishing and publish it myself.
What challenges did you face in getting your first book published?
Since I’m new to the publishing world I felt like I wanted to learn the most I could about this industry. I spent a year researching publishing companies, authors, illustrators, dummy pages, ISBN #, copyright, etc… I joined the professional group SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators). Like any new adventure I had a huge learning curve, but I was up to the challenge. In many ways I thought that would be the challenging part of all of this, but it wasn’t. My biggest challenge was to put myself out there and believe in my work. I hesitated because I don’t have an art or journalism background, but in life sometimes you have to take a leap of faith and go for it! I am so happy I did.
Are there certain themes or ideas you prefer?
Life! I like to keep things simple. I really enjoy writing about animals and the outdoors. My books are what I consider a list book. Something happens at the beginning of the story (a problem) and then the character goes through a list of things and then at the end there is a surprise solution.
I also like having an educational piece to my books (it must be the teacher in me). Both of my number books have a counting chart at the end for children to practice counting 1-10 and in my new book, Who Will Be My Friend? I have two pages set aside at the end of the book so children can learn facts about the different woodland birds they read about in my story.
What book(s)/author(s) have influenced your writing and how?
There are soooo many, but Lois Ehlert is the one who has influenced me the most as an author and illustrator. I meet Lois years ago at a national reading conference. I’ve meet many authors and illustrators in my teaching career but when she spoke about her work, it sang to me. I absolutely love the colors in her books and the way the shapes are put together on a page and so do children. Other authors and illustrators are: Eric Carle, Clive McFarland, Leo Lionni, Holly Berry, Todd Parr, Mo Willems, Jan Brett. The list could go on and on…
What are the most important elements of good writing and/or illustrating?
I have spent many years teaching young children to write. During the writing process I teach them that you can only write about what you know, how you feel and what you have experienced in life. I feel this is so true, even for adults. All of my stories come from my life experiences of things I have done and hold dear in my heart. I think the most important elements in writing is that you are passionate about what you are writing. If you are passionate that will come through in your writing. As for illustrations, I think color, color, color is sooo important. Young children love color. I also feel it is very important that your illustrations should tell the story, especially for young readers that are looking for clues in the illustrations to help them read.
Talk about revising and/or suggestions about revising for upcoming writers.
I love revising! I love looking at a story from different perspectives and from every angle once it is written. I call it “playing with the story”. I’m looking for the best fit for the story and what makes sense. When I think I’m done I let it sit on the shelf for a while (could be a week or two or sometimes more) and then go back to it. I don’t rush a story, I let the story evolve. When my story is resting on the shelf that doesn’t mean I have totally forgotten about it. I’m experiencing life and looking for other connections or details that I missed or could be added. Don’t be afraid to take a break from your writing, sometimes I think clearer about a story when I’m away from it.
What's one additional piece of advice about writing or publishing you'd like to pass on to readers and writers?
Don’t wait! If you have the passion to write or illustrate just start! If you are enjoying what you do it will show!
Tadpole to Frog by Camilla de la Bedoyere introduces this subject by answering the question “What Is A Frog?” From there, the text provides an overview of the life cycle and an expanded exploration of Frog development from a basic description of mating to egg, to tadpole and the mature frog. A general look at the life of a frog includes an interesting discussion of hibernation.
True to the series concept, the text is readily accessible for children and accented with illustrations featuring crisp, up-close photographs, and clearly labeled diagrams. Notes for parents and teachers provide related activities for further exploration. A glossary and index complete the 24 page paperback book.
October is National Pit Bull Awareness month.
To celebrate, I'm holding a GOODREADS Giveaway for my book. The giveaway ends October 22, National Pit Bull Awareness Day.
Meet Monty
A remarkable rescue dog with an international following. From his guardians to his doctors, Monty's loving spirit captures hearts with an I-can-do-it grin and a wagging tail.
See the sidebar to enter now.
October is National Pit Bull Awareness month.
To celebrate, I'm holding a GOODREADS Giveaway for my book. The giveaway ends October 22, National Pit Bull Awareness Day.
Meet Monty
A remarkable rescue dog with an international following. From his guardians to his doctors, Monty's loving spirit captures hearts with an I-can-do-it grin and a wagging tail.
See the sidebar to enter now.
Explore Light and Optics! by
Anita Yasuda is chock full of information for young minds. A timeline tracing the history of optical science from the 130 CE book, Optics, by Claudius Ptolemy to the anticipated 2018 launch of the James Webb Space Telescope opens the book and along with an introductory discussion to answer the question “What are light and optics?”
Written for ages 7-10, the “STEM” friendly text is easy to read, with thoughtfully structured chapters, links to primary sources, and questions to prompt further investigations. Colorful illustrations provide informative visuals. Sidebars highlight “Words to Know” and give thumbnail biographies of scientists such as Kepler, Galileo, Ritter, and Kao. Twenty-five projects engage budding scientists with plenty of hands-on activities.
Lauerman’s passion for discovering little-known stories from history is clearly on display as she relates the extraordinary tale of courage and determination shown by the Continental soldiers through the winter of 1779-1780. Valley Forge is a familiar name, but Jockey Hollow defined an even greater depth of suffering for the men who answered the call to fight for American independence.
Jockey Hollow: Where A Forgotten Army Persevered To Win American Freedom is well illustrated with photographs, drawings and maps. A Gallery of Heroes provides thumbnail biographies of the main characters. There’s a brief discussion of the Morristown National Historical Park followed by a timeline, Places to Explore for additional information, Additional Reading, and Credits and Bibliography. 
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?As a preschooler, I treasured my The Pokey Little Puppy book. I daydreamed about writing stories of cuddly little puppies—until life got more serious. After I retired from a career in banking and municipal government, plus successfully raising two boys (whew), I returned to my childhood daydream and wrote articles for Highlights and Cricketmagazines.But wanting to choose the subjects I wrote about, I dived into writing my first book, Jockey Hollow.
What did you learn about yourself in the process of writing?
When I started working on Jockey Hollow, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed researching and learning more about history. As a teenager, I thought that history was just a boatload of names and dates to be memorized. But now I think of history, especially the history of the American Revolution, as a series of amazing events, enormous sacrifices, and heroic acts. Digging deep into resources and finding remarkable, little-known but true stories became my passion.
What do you do when you are not writing?
My husband and I enjoy road trips to museums, galleries, and National Parks. The best trips include visits to our kids and grandkids in Pennsylvania and Texas, where a Yahtzee tournament might erupt. An avid reader, Alexander Hamilton is currently on my bedside table.In addition, I enjoy theater, tennis, and hockey—more watching than doing. And I’m constantly on the lookout for new crafts to introduce to my grandkids. Fortunately, there seems to be an endless assortment of origami patterns.
Briefly, what's your book about? Jockey Hollow spotlights how the tenacious Continental soldiers persevered to win America’s freedom during the Revolutionary War despite supply shortages, cruel winters, treason, mutiny, worthless Continental dollars, and more.
What led you to write the book?
When we lived in New Jersey, we were neighbors with Jockey Hollow Park, a unit of Morristown National Historical Park. During visits to the park, I frequently heard visitors say that they didn’t know anything about this Revolutionary encampment. I wanted to change that so I wrote Jockey Hollow’s story. I’m passionate about sharing this under-told story with all readers, especially today’s young readers.
What would you like readers to take from it?
Enjoy history! I hope that readers feel renewed pride in America when they read about the heroic Revolutionary Soldiers who fought and sometimes died to win America’s independence. Maybe they’ll empathize with Sergeant Joseph Plumb Martin’s feelings after winning the Battle of Yorktown, “I felt a secret pride swell my heart when I saw the ‘star-spangled banner’ waving majestically in the very faces of our enemies.”
What are your current/future projects?
Right now I’m working on a collection of little-known stories from World War I. I’m also looking ahead to a biography of a colorful, imperfect, Revolutionary War officer whose courage was legendary.
What is your writing process? Do you follow a regular routine? I find that maintaining a regular writing routine is impossible if you live outside a monastery. When I have a block of time I dive in and don’t stop until I’m interrupted. First I write new material—while my mind is clearest—then I revise yesterday’s work, and next I research for tomorrow’s work. Meanwhile I’m always looking for quotes, images, relevant websites, sidebar material, and other trimmings.
Soldiers huts and the Wick house in Jockey Hollow National park.
What challenges did you face in researching and writing Jockey Hollow?
Tracking down accurate details of rare stories and quotes was a major challenge.For example, I came across a brief mention of a 10-year-old Continental soldier while researching. A 10-year-old soldier, WOW! I wondered if I could include his story in a sidebar. I talked the staff at Morristown National Historical Park about where I might find more information about this child.They referred me to St. Nicholas, an Illustrated Magazine for Young Folks, a monthly newsletter published in 1884. I was able to find a volume of reprinted copies of St. Nicholas in a nearby university library. The four-page article, “The Youngest Soldier of the Revolution,” was a goldmine of material. It gave me all the facts I needed for the sidebar in Chapter 2. It’s hard to top the thrill a nonfiction writer gets from uncovering a great story like this.
Whatbook(s)/author(s) have influenced your writing and how?
Authors and historians, Ron Chernow, David McCullough, John Ferling, and Thomas Fleming inspired me to use primary source quotes to create lively characters.Children’s writers, Russell Freedman, Dennis Brindell Fradin, and Gregg Mierka influenced my word choices, sentence structure, and what to leave out when talking about battles.Their work reminds me, too, that authors shouldn’t skimp on back matter just because they’re writing for children.
What advice would you offer aspiring nonfiction writers who have an interest in historical topics?
Let your heart choose your subject. If you’re passionate about your subject and want to learn more about it, writing will be easy. Let the characters speak for themselves with primary source quotes. Take time to search for the best images to bring the narrative to life. Be prepared to revise;the reward will be a better manuscript. Use heaps of sticky notes when you’re researching. My research books have sticky notes fluttering all around the outer edges.
Talk about the importance of providing additional material such as the timeline, websites, teacher resources, additional/advanced reading, and bibliography.
The additional material at the end of the book is intended to give readers opportunities to expand on what they read. For instance, the “Timeline” section in Jockey Hollow helps readers understand the order of events during the war. The“Additional Reading” section offers more in-depth information and insights into people and events that are talked about in the book. “Websites to Explore” enhances the book’s content through videos, photos, virtual tours, maps, and interactive games. Some of the websites are also physical museums or parks where readers can walk in the soldiers’ footsteps. Also, I’ve been told that teachers appreciate “Resources for Teachers” because these sources offer unique classroom materials and programs related to the American Revolution. The“Credits and Bibliography” section lists sources that were used while writing Jockey Hollow. This section works as a road map for readers and writers to find additional material related to the Revolution.
What's one additional piece of advice about writing or publishing you'd like to pass on to readers and writers?
I imagine the Jockey Hollow Soldiers would say that if you persevere, you will succeed. Sounds like good advice to me; I spent yearsresearching and writing Jockey Hollow.
Anything else you'd like readers to know about you and/or your book?
When you have time, I invite you to visit my website at www.rosalielauerman.com. While you’re there, click Books+ and learn how a hilly forest in New Jersey became known as Jockey Hollow.
Jockey Hollowawards:
· 2016 IPPY Bronze Medal for Best Mid-Atlantic Region Nonfiction
· 2016 Pinnacle Book Achievement Award in the category of United States History.
Acorn to Oak Tree by Camilla de la Bedoyere is a lovely introduction to the basic concepts of botany and terms such as leaves, stem, roots, trunk, branches, and bark. Plant development is explained through a step-by-step look from the autumn germination of an acorn, to seedling, sapling, and ultimately to a mature tree. Discussions include tree rings, growth rates, male and female flower parts, acorns, seasonal changes and ways in which oak trees provide resources for animal life and timber consumers.
True to the series concept, the text is readily accessible for children and accented with illustrations featuring crisp, up-close photographs, and clearly labeled diagrams. Notes for parents and teachers provide related activities for further exploration. A glossary and index complete the 24 page paperback book.
Egg to Chicken by Camilla de la Bedoyere opens with a discussion of birds and their characteristics through contrasting looks at chickens, gulls, and ostriches. Double-page spreads cover the topics of nest building, egg laying, brooding, and the development of the baby chick. The final pages discuss how chicks mature into adults.
True to the series concept, the text is readily accessible for children and accented with illustrations featuring crisp, up-close photographs, and clearly labeled diagrams. Notes for parents and teachers provide related activities for further exploration. Bold-faced terms scattered through the content are clearly defined in the glossary. An index completes the 24 page paperback book.
I’m delighted to introduce Lynn Plourde and her newest picture book, Bella’s Fall Coat. You may be familiar with some of Lynn’s 30 other titles which include: You're Doing That in the Talent Show?!, You're Wearing That to School?!, Wild Child, and Pigs in the Mud in the Middle of the Rud.
Bella’s Fall Coat is charming look at one of childhood’s dilemmas -- the desire to have the joys of our youth remain unchanged. This is a perfect time for this heart-warming story that celebrates the marvels of fall and invites us to experience this special time of year through the eyes of an adorable little girl.
The language is as crisp and bright as a fall morning. The illustrations by Susan Gal are rich with autumn’s colors and fill the pages with warmth and movement.
Sure to become a read-aloud favorite.
You describe yourself as a "teaching author." What's your favorite school visit anecdote?
Two, one heart-warming, one funny. After doing a whole-school assembly, I was presenting writing workshops to smaller groups in an amphitheater with a hallway along one side. I was between groups and one boy kept walking back and forth in the hall, so I finally asked if I could help him. He shyly tripped over his words as he answered, “I just, well, I needed you to know that I don’t, well, I don’t like to read. But when I heard you today, I decided I’m going to give reading another chance.” My heart burst. As for the funny one, I was at a school that had pods and the only bathrooms were for students. So I used it and when I came out of my stall and was washing my hands alongside a girl, she kept looking at me, and finally said, “I’ve just gotta ask. Can I have a piece of your hair for a souvenir?” I laughed and offered her an autograph instead—after we left the bathroom!
How does your career as a writer influence other areas of your life and vice versa?
It just all feels like “my life”—all mixed together. As a writer, it seems I’m always working (like answering these interview questions at 11:00 pm) and at my desk at all hours. But even when I read, I’m “working” by watching how other authors do their craft. When I’m out and about running errands or getting away with family, I’m an idea detective or character detective or dialogue detective. Sometimes it might be nice to turn off the author switch, but then again I’m not sure I could or should since I love what I do and it’s such a big part of who I am. I can’t turn off my woman switch or my Mainer switch or my wife or mother switches—so it makes sense I can’t turn off my writer switch.
What do you do when you are not writing or visiting schools?
Reading, going for walks, playing with plants, kayaking, snowshoeing, and I have my first grandbaby. He’s one year old and the joy of my heart so I’m playing on the floor and reading board books and rocking him and talk, talk, talking to him as his Memsy (grandmother) who also happened to be a speech therapist for her first career.
Briefly, what's your book about?
Bella’s Fall Coat is a love story—love between a grandmother and granddaughter, love for favorite things, love for a season, love for the here-and-now.
What led you to write the book?
As a Mainer and one whose birthday is in October, I have always loved, loved, loved fall. It’s like Mother Earth is throwing leaf confetti on us. The colors are gorgeous, the air is invigorating, the foods are nurturing. I feel most alive in fall. One of my very first picture books was Wild Child, a mother-child fall story dedicated to my daughter when she was little and our “wild child.” Fast forward 18 years and now I have Bella’s Fall Coat, a grandmother-grandchild book dedicated to my first grandchild. I love the patterns and happenstances of life.
What would you like readers to take from it?
Joy! I hope they find joy in the glorious illustrations by Susan Gal. Susan’s art is so alive and vibrant and spontaneous just like the main character Bella. I hope readers are so inspired by the book that they will PUT IT DOWN—truly, and go play in the fall leaves, pick apples, make a leaf collage, make an apple pie, celebrate fall!
What are your current/future projects?
This year, 2016, has been a book bonanza year for me with four new books. Besides Bella’s Fall Coat, I also have You’re Doing THAT in the Talent Show?! with best friends Penelope the hippo and Tiny the mouse performing in the school talent show together. And another picture book is Baby Bear’s NOT Hibernatingthat tells about a baby black bear who doesn’t want to go to bed (hibernate) and tries to stay awake all winter long, plus there are black bears facts in the back of the book. I’ve also had my first middle grade novel published this year—Maxi’s Secrets (or, What You Can Learn from a Dog) which is about “fitting in” and tells the story of a giant deaf dog and her very small boy. Also, I’m starting work on another middle grade novel and am trying out several new picture book ideas.
The Process
What motivates you?
JOY! I read Marie Kondo’s book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up which is about decluttering your life and asking the simple question, “Does this bring me joy?” If the answer is ‘no,” then let it go. If the answer is “yes,” then it’s a keeper. But I ask this “joy” question not just about the objects in my life, but about how I spend my time, who I spend time with, writing projects I commit to, all aspects of my life. It’s a simple question that has made a profound difference in my life. I turned 60 and I want the time I have left on this earth to be filled with joy.
What is your writing process? Do you follow a regular routine?
My writing process is messy and so is my desk and my routine. One of my strengths as an author is being creative. And creativity is not a straight-line journey. So I scribble on paper for a picture book with arrows going every which way as I think of idea after idea for a book. I have sticky notes all over my desk with ideas. But I also read-aloud when I write—sentence after sentence—and my ear tells me what works and what doesn’t (I may not know how to fix it, but at least, I know it needs to change.) I wish I were more organized, but I’m learning to embrace my messy, creative self.
With thirty picture books published, have you found there are certain themes or ideas you prefer?
Yes—Maine, nature, family, and school.
What book(s)/author(s) have influenced your writing and how?
Jane Yolen—she’s had over 300 books published. She shows up to do the hard work of writing day after day plus she’s written poetry, picture books, fantasy, history and more, oh my! Eve Bunting also shows up to do the hard work day after day, year after year. And William Steig—I love Doctor Desoto and so admire Steig who received Caldecott and Newbery recognitions. To be the best in art andin words is truly awe-inspiring. All three of these put their passion down on paper!
Advice for Writers
What have you found to be the most important elements of good writing when creating your picture books?
I’m still learning that less is more. I always write too long and have to cut about a third of what I write. It’s not just about trying to be less wordy, but also learning to trust the illustrations to tell the story and to trust readers to “get” the story. Also as a reader and as a writer, I crave voice. I think “voice” is the hardest thing to teach and to learn—it’s just somehow there . . . or not. I know it when I see it, but there’s no formula for writing with voice. I think voice comes from trusting yourself, deep inside, and that can be hard.
Please talk about revising and/or suggestions about revising for upcoming writers.
Read your writing aloud. Or better yet, have someone else read your picture book manuscript aloud to you and listen for the places that sound “off.” You don’t have to worry about knowing how to fix the “off” places—first, you have to find them. Also, take your time. I have such a hard time following this advice myself. I get excited about doing a revision and getting it back to my agent or editor; but when I rush, my revisions are more surface revisions, not deeper revisions that the story deserves and that come with mulling and stepping away from the story for a time.
What's one additional piece of advice about writing or publishing you'd like to pass on to readers and writers?
Write what you read. What kind of books do you most enjoy reading? Mysteries? Fantasy? Poetry? Nonfiction? Whatever kind of books you most enjoy reading, that’s the kind of writing you’re likely to be best at.
Readers
Anything else you'd like readers to know about you and/or your book?
In Bella’s Fall Coat, Bella talks about her favorites and wanting things to last forever. I hope readers young and old think about and talk about their favoritesand what they wish would last forever.Our favorites and forever things say lots about who we are and bring us JOY!
The variety of fields presented includes communication, energy, transportation, construction, and farming. The chapter Communication and Sound Waves provides a discussion of related topics such as echolocation in bats and its eventual application in ultrasound imaging. The comprehensive text is accessible and interspersed with charts, graphs, sidebars to introduce and explain important terms, and 25 projects for hands-on exploration. A resources section provides opportunities for additional exploration. The book also includes a glossary and index.
You'll want to add this to your STEM library for children 7-10.
Welcome!
Today's featured writer, Dagny McKinley, shares her love of nature through both her writing and photography. She is passionate about spending quality time outside with her special four-legged friend. Those interests found expression in this book from her new Adventures series: THE ADVENTURES OF A GIRL & HER DOG: In The Mountains. This series will find fans who appreciate her joyful and entertaining style and the subtle message about the rejuvenating power of nature.
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
I think I have always known I wanted to be a writer. As a child there was a feeling I had when I wrote a story that could only be described as contentment. As an adult I was so insecure about my writing that I wouldn’t tell people I was a writer. I didn’t think I was worthy of that title. I had a teacher and mentor who introduced me to people as a writer. From her I gained confidence in myself and my path in life.
What did you learn about yourself in the process of writing?
I have learned that I have the ability to bring joy to others through my writing as long as it is authentic and genuine. I have also realized that the words I write affect others, sometimes in positive ways and, depending on the topic I’m working on, sometimes in painful ways. As a writer, I don’t think we should censure what we write, but perhaps be aware of the effect our writing can have on people.
How does your career as a writer influence other areas of your life and vice versa?
I would like to say that writing creates balance between my times hiking with my dog, but I tend to be an all or nothing type person and when I’m writing I often feel I have to be fully immersed in my work so other parts of my life suffer. But on a positive note having the courage to pursue writing has also given me the courage to pursue other artistic ventures such as photography, teaching and oral storytelling.
What other books have you written and published?
‘The Springs of Steamboat: healing waters, sparkling soda and mysterious caves.’
‘Wild Hearts: Dog Sledding the Rockies.’
‘Lessons My Mother Taught Me: the good, the bad and the questionable.’
‘The Adventures of a Girl & Her Dog: in the snow’ (the first in the series)
Briefly, what's your book about?
‘The Adventures of a Girl & Her Dog: in the mountains’ is a celebration of nature, an invitation to go out and explore with your best friend and truly be yourself.
What led you to write the book?
I wrote ‘The Adventures of a Girl & Her Dog: in the mountains’ when I was in a difficult place in life. I was single, didn’t have a job and was living with my sister until I could find work. I had my dog with me and the hikes we took each day brought me so much happiness I wanted to share that feeling with other people. I wanted girls to know that they have a home in nature, that nature is a safe place to explore and learn about yourself without the judgments of family and friends.
What would you like readers to take from it?
That going on adventures with your dog every day will bring more rewards that you can imagine and will help you see the world through new eyes, if you allow yourself to be present with your dog. If you are afraid of going hiking alone, sit in the backyard and play with your dog or go to a safe place (if parks near you are safe) where you can breathe fresh air and feel the elements and let your dog be a dog while you get to be exactly who you are meant to be.
What are your current/future projects?
I’m working on the next three books in the series ‘The Adventures of a Girl & Her Dog,’ which include ‘in the canyons,’ ‘by the ocean,’ and ‘on the plains.’
I’m also working on a history of Perry-Mansfield Performing Arts School & Camp, the longest continually running performing arts camp in the country.
Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?
Currently my ideas stem from things that bring me joy. I look for themes that deal with nature, adventure, dreaming and possibilities.
What book(s)/author(s) have influenced your writing and how?
There are only two books that I have read more than once in my adult life, ‘Ask the Dust’ by John Fante because the emotional tension between the characters and the poetry of the writing still haunt me and ‘Stones of Summer,’ by Dow Mossman. Mossman’s descriptions of landscape and emotion are so striking I want to consume that book again and again.
What are the most important elements of good writing for you?
Having passion for your subject and being able to describe the world in a way no one else has done before.
What's your biggest challenge in writing a book?
Having the courage to sit down and actually write. I have such anxiety that I will prove myself to be a failure that I have a hard time making myself sit and write on a regular basis. Yet when I do, I feel completely at peace.
What's one piece of advice about writing or publishing you'd like to pass on to readers and writers?
If you believe in yourself and you believe in your writing, don’t give up no matter how many rejections you get. Today there are so many submissions that agents are fielding that you may end up with hundreds of ‘no’s’ before you get a ‘yes.’ Just keep believing and trying and you will succeed.
If you self-publish and find there are areas of publicity or marketing that you aren’t good at, hire someone to take care of those. As an author you shouldn’t be expected to be good at every part of the process that comes after the writing is done. Identify your strengths and weaknesses and don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Anything else you'd like readers to know about you and/or your book?
My hope is that if people have a dog they remember that dogs have very few needs, which are fairly basic: they need food, water, exercise, shelter, and love. If we can remember to give our dogs each of those every day, and teach our children to do the same the world will be a better place! From my dog I have learned unconditional love and watching my dog enjoy the world the way she does makes me smile each and every day.
Here is the first review for my newly released picture book, JUST LIKE GULLIVER.
Move over, Punxsutawney Phil and make way for Gulliver! Did you know that February 2nd brings the most-watched weather forecast of the year? And it’s the only one led by a rodent. The legend goes that on this morning, if a groundhog can see its shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter. If it can’t see its shadow, spring is on the way. Here’s a new and charming book by acclaimed author Janet Squires. Just Like Gulliver is the perfect blend of young Gulliver discovering his shadow and Groundhog Day history. It’s an enjoyable read with engaging illustrations for preschool and elementary age children. There’s a bonus at the end of the story with facts about groundhogs and how Groundhog's Day came to be. By Rancho Tranquilo on Amazon September 2, 2016
Michelangelo is a familiar name in the world of renaissance painting and sculpture, but did you know he was also a poet, architect and engineer? Simonetta Carr couples her experience as an elementary school teacher with her background in Italian art to bring this extraordinary man to young readers in her new book, Michelangelo for Kids. Here is a thoughtfully written, readily accessible, and beautifully illustrated immersion in the life of this extraordinary artist whose talents influenced the history of Western art .
How did your background in varied cultures, and Italian art in particular, together you’re your experience as a teacher, influence your choice of Michelangelo and impact the content of your book?
I was having an email exchange with Lisa Reardon, senior editor at Chicago Review Press, when she mentioned they had been looking for someone to write about Michelangelo. It just seemed like a perfect fit.
I was born and raised in Italy, a country that is often described as “an open-air museum,” and grew up with a natural love for both art and history. I also attended the School of Applied Arts at the Sforza Castle in Milan, where I learned to appreciate different techniques and styles. All this was obviously a tremendous help in writing this book.
Equally important was my background as primary school teacher, both in public schools and our home-school. Besides, my knowledge of Italian allowed me to read the primary sources for this book in their original language. Last but not least, I had already written several biographies set around the time of the Protestant and Catholic Reformations, and had done extensive research on this subject.
How does your career as a writer influence other areas of your life and vice versa?
It’s not really a career – not yet at least. I have always loved writing. My mother was an excellent writer who taught junior-high Italian. She wrote several books and filled me with a passion for literature since a very young age. She spent much time teaching me how to write. She kept encouraging me to write a book but I didn’t think I had enough to say. I wrote articles for newspapers and magazines and, after I married an American and improved my knowledge of the English language, I translated books from English into Italian.
In the meantime, I had eight children, so writing took a secondary place in my life. It was something I enjoyed, and – in my opinion – cultivating a personal passion is important even for busy mothers. I communicated my passion for reading, writing, and researching to my children, and they taught me how to simplify my language and hold their attention.
Once I started to write books, my life as a mother has directed my choices of subject, format and style. My first book was actually a family effort. It was born as an attempt to fill a vacuum – producing books I wished I could find on the market – and my children have been my best critics and advisers.
Now my kids are all grown up, but I still try to spend much time with children and enlist many of them as editors and consultants.
What do you do when you are not writing?
Writing still occupies a small portion of my life. Financially speaking, I haven’t been able to turn it into a career. Even if most of my children live on their own, I still have a large house to clean and meals to cook for my husband and the kids that are still at home. Plus, with two kids still in college, one in high school, and very uncertain retirement prospects, I like to carry a small share of the financial burden by devoting much time to teaching Italian and translating. I am hoping to spend most of my time writing one day soon. I have a wonderful friend who has been able to do just that (Nancy Sanders), and has produced great resources to help other writers to do so.
Briefly, what's your book about?
It’s a biography of Michelangelo Buonarroti, who has been universally recognized as one of the greatest artists of all time. The book includes an overview of the times in which he lived and how they affected his works.
What would you like readers to take from it?
I hope my readers will gain a greater appreciation for Michelangelo and art in general. I hope they will discover Michelangelo as a man, friend, father, son, and uncle as well as a sculptor, painter, architect, and poet. And I hope they will be as inspired as I was to see his attention to details, his commitment to excellence, and his faithfulness to chip away at blocks of marble, day after day, in spite of obstacles and disappointments.
What other books have you written and published?
I have started a series of books called Christian Biographies for Young Readers, published by Reformation Heritage Books. As I said, this series was inspired by a need I and other parents had noticed. For children who are born in Christian families, well researched and accurate books on the history of Christian thought are important tools to help them reflect on what they believe and why. Their value, however, is not limited to followers of one religion. Christianity occupies much of our history and these books have been successfully used by teachers as part of their history curriculum.
Presently, the series includes eight volumes: Augustine, Athanasius, Anselm of Canterbury, John Calvin, Lady Jane Grey, John Owen, Jonathan Edwards, and Marie Durand. The next title, to be published in October, will be Martin Luther. Three of these books have been finalists for the San Diego Book Awards. Anselm of Canterbury has won first prize as best biography at the 2014 San Diego Book Awards, and first prize at the 2014 Athanatos Christian Writing Contest.
Besides this series, I have written a short biography of Renée of France, published by Evangelical Press, and a piece of historical fiction for young adults, The Weight of a Flame: The Passion of Olympia Morata, published by P&R.
What are your current/future projects?
For Chicago Review Press, I am writing a book entitled Cleopatra and Ancient Egypt for Kids. For my series of biographies, I am writing on John Newton.
The life and work of Michelangelo is such a large topic. How did you go about making it accessible for young audiences?
I think the most important thing was getting a sense of this great man and capturing all the excitement of his life story. Watching documentaries and lectures given by enthusiastic scholars helped. I had to be passionate about this subject to communicate the same passion to the children. After that, structuring the book became easier because I knew what needed to be emphasized and what could afford a simple mention.
What is your writing process? Do you follow a regular routine?
I like to write in the morning while my mind is fresh. If I am not out teaching, I write some more in the evening when I need to sit down anyhow. Since I love writing, I see it as a reward after finishing my other tasks.
My process is methodical. I devote different days to different projects so I don’t have to clutter my author’s backburner. For each biography, after researching the subject and structuring the book, I calculate how much I need to write each month to meet my deadline and then start writing one chapter one at a time.
What book(s)/author(s) have influenced your writing and how?
I love reading biographies and stand in awe at the talent and expertise of most contemporary biographers. For my research, I mostly read biographies aimed at an adult audience, but the principles of good writing are the same. It’s hard to name authors because the list would be endless. When I wrote about Michelangelo, I learned (or tried to learn), in different ways, from William Wallace, A. Victor Coonin, John Spike, and Antonio Forcellino. William Wallace is absolutely a giant, both in his knowledge of Michelangelo and in his ability to inspire and engage the reader.
As for children’s biographies, I have learned much from James Cross Giblin (who hasn’t?). For my series for young readers, I was inspired by Mike Venezia and have learned a lot from him on communicating effectively with kids and on condensing information without sacrificing historical context and art or music appreciation. I still read some of his books before my final review of my biographies for young readers. It helps me to see how far I have strayed from a simple and concise language.
What did you find to be the most important elements of good writing when approaching a project such as Michelangelo for Kids?
I already mentioned passion – finding exciting elements of a person’s life I want to run to tell the kids. As I said, my kids are grown up but I still grab them from time to time. If not, I pester my husband, who listens patiently.
Structure and organization are also very important, especially for some projects. For example, right now I am writing Cleopatra and Ancient Egypt. Ancient Egypt is a 3,000-year old civilization! Also, Cleopatra’s life was inseparably tangled with the history of Rome – particularly the end of the republic and the beginning of the empire. In this case, organization is essential. I have to be very careful to find a balance between Cleopatra’s exciting life story, her historical context, and an overview of the colossal ancient nation she ruled.
Another very important element of good writing is describing the character’s emotions, preferably letting them speak through their own words. With Michelangelo, that was quite easy because we have a large number of his letters and poems. We don’t have anything from Cleopatra’s pen and very little from her people around her, so that will definitely be more of a challenge.
What's one essential piece of advice about writing or publishing you'd like to pass on to readers and writers?
I am not sure if I am the right person to give advice. When I wrote my first book, I saw a need for it, sent a proposal to all the children’s publishers I could find, and then waited. I was not particularly worried about it. If everyone had said no, I wouldn’t have been crushed. Since I really believed in the importance of this type of books, if everyone had said no I might have tried a different approach. Eventually, however, a publisher said yes, and it was definitely the right one because the book (and the series that ensued) turned out much better than I had ever imagined. I don’t know if this approach works for everyone.
Anything else you'd like readers to know about you and/or your book?
Caterpillar to Butterfly by Camilla de la Bedoyere introduces this subject by answering with the question “What is a butterfly?” followed by a look at basic butterfly anatomy. From there, the text provides an over view of the life cycle and an expanded exploration of Monarch development from egg to caterpillar to pupa then to adult. A general look at Monarch migration is also included.
True to the series concept, the text is readily accessible for children and accented with illustrations featuring crisp, up-close photographs, and clearly labeled diagrams. Notes for parents and teachers provide related activities for further exploration. A glossary and index complete the 24 page paperback book.
William Kotzwinkle offers up an imaginative collection of five mysteries: The Case of the Missing Butterfly, The Case of the Frightened Scholar, The Case of the Caterpillar’s Head, The Case of the Headless Monster, and The Case of the Emperor’s Crown. Inspector Mantis and his colleague Doctor Hopper are on the job seeking out clues, searching for motives, and making surprising deductions as they pursue villains and stop crime in Bugland.
Young readers will discover the wonderful world of nature in this new collection from QED Publishing in the U.K. titled Life Cycles.
Seedto Sunflower by Camilla de la Bedoyere provides a step-by-step look at the planting, germination, growth, and eventual maturity of the iconic sunflower. The text is readily accessible for children and accented with illustrations featuring crisp, up-close photographs, and clearly labeled diagrams. Notes for parents and teachers provide related activities for further exploration. A glossary and index complete the 24 page paperback book.
From award-winning writer, Brigitte Goldstein, comes “Dina’s Lost Tribe” – a mystery that weaves together the lives of two women – one from the 14th century and the other from present day. Historical scholar, Goldstein, draws on her extensive knowledge of Jewish and European history to create characters, plot, and setting that ring true and offer readers an experience filled with depth and heart.
You discuss your dissatisfaction the trends in historical studies that you encountered during your university years and your passion for literature and history. How did the contrast between your dissatisfaction and your passion inform and influence your writing?
Dissatisfaction is not quite the right word for the transformation I was undergoing. After many years of studying and a brief stint of teaching, I came to realize that I am temperamentally not well suited for academic history. I love history, the story of people in time, in various places and circumstances. I discovered in me a desire to put myself in the shoes of those who lived through the trial and tribulations. For me, fiction was a more compelling way of telling the story of the past. However, taking actual historical personages and fictionalize their lives, which is commonly done by historical novelists, likewise didn’t suit me. For me creating my own characters and developing a plot within a particular historical setting (well researched and authentically and plausible reproduced) would be a better and more exciting way of conveying historical events. My emphasis is always on the human condition, the struggle of individuals caught in the web of power beyond their control. Also, on a more personal level, there are always the inter-human relationships of love, deceit, intrigue, envy, stuff like that of which you don’t get much from academic paradigms interested to prove some thesis.
How does your career as a writer influence other areas of your life and vice versa?
My writing certainly has an effect on my daily life. I do most of my work during the night, early morning hours. I try not to answer the telephone while I am engrossed in a different world. Even though it’s not completely possibly, I try to stay away from current events. Not very successfully with the world in turmoil. But when wasn’t it? That’s one thing history can teach us: there’s always been upheavals, wars, conflicts, and very few peaceful periods—which is a gold mine for historical novelists.
What do you do when you are not writing?
At this point in my life, I am retired from working in publishing. I live by myself and have the luxury of disposing of my time as the spirit moves me. (This wasn’t always the case.) I read (mostly novels; I try to reread some of the classics), listen to classical music, ride my bicycle. Of course, I have a circle of friends, mostly associated with the synagogue I belong to. I travel by car to visit my children and grandchildren; I also have grandchildren in Israel whom I visit at least once a year.)
Briefly, what's your book about?
The core story centers on Dina, a Jewish woman, who lived in the fourteenth century at the time of the expulsion of the Jews from France. That was the original idea was to write a Dina story; Dina having been the daughter of Jacob in the Bible who was defiled (raped) by a local prince. My medieval Dina is left behind in a village in the Pyrenees as her family flees to Spain due to the fact that she suffers a similar fate as her biblical ancestress. She gives an account of what happened to her to her children, a document, or codex, that is discovered and deciphered centuries later by an American historian who was born in the mountains as her parents fled from Nazi persecution. So that is the connection: the persecution and expulsion of the Jews and the geographic area.
Dina's Tribe is a departure from your earlier novels: Court of Miracles: A Human Comedy of 17th Century France and Princess of the Blood: A Tapestry of Love and War in Sixteenth-Century France. What led you to write a book that moved from the modern world to the historic?
Since the time of my studies of French literature and history at the Sorbonne, medieval and early modern France had a special fascination for me. So my first two novels were set in that time and place. My graduate studies at NYU were more closely focused on modern European history, especially modern Germany. So my Dina book actually combines these two areas as far-flung as they may be. Somehow I pulled them together. Both stories were originally conceived as two separate novels. But once I got started with the medieval Dina’s story, the characters of refugees from Nazi Germany sort of beckoned to come in.
Both you and your main character, Nina Aschauer are historical scholars. I'm not a big believer in coincidence so tell us how that came about.
Not too much of a coincidence though not in any way biographical. It just seemed logical that Nina should become a historian. She was very intrigued about her birth and the history of her people, the Jewish people in modern and more remote times. So was her cousin the narrator who brings the stories of these two women together.
What are your current/future projects?
My most recent novel is an award-winning historical mystery Death of a Diva—From Berlin to Broadway. It starts out with the murder of an international star of screen and stage at a Broadway theater in the summer of 1941. The investigation then traces the victim’s life from her humble origins in a Viennese ghetto to stardom in Weimar Berlin and then the émigré haven in New York. The narrator is a young woman, herself a German-Jewish refugee, who is the main character in the novel I am currently writing in which she returns to Germany in 1946, under an assumed identity, to find her grandmother who may or may not be alive.
Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?
From history, historical research, and most of all from my imagination.
What is your writing process? Do you follow a regular routine?
As I mentioned above, I write mostly at night. I am not hung up on writing a certain number of words a day. Sometimes I just sit and think for a long time and live the scenes in my head before I put fingers to keyboard. I should mention that at the start of a project I use yellow pads and a pen. After about a chapter or two, I ease over to the computer.
Are there certain themes or ideas you prefer?
This may sound trite, but my ultimate concern is to portrait aspects of the human condition. I am not a political or ideological writer, I don’t preach, and, in accordance with Isaac Bashevis Singer, I don’t try to redeem the world through my writing. I just try to be first and foremost a storyteller of exciting stories.
What book(s)/author(s) have influenced your writing and how?
I often describe myself as a nineteenth-century writer. Most of the writers that inspire me most come from that period or the early twentieth century. The great Russians –Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina is certainly one of the greatest novels ever written; Germans like Thomas Mann; French like Balzac and Stendhal. Victor Hugo was a great influence on my earlier novels especially Princess of the Blood. Thomas Hardy, Edith Wharton, Herman Melville, Philip Roth, an eclectic bunch, are some of my favorite writers in the English language. Among more recent writers are Nicole Krauss and Julie Orringer.
What are the most important elements of good historical fiction writing?
Compelling characters and plots. What makes these compelling is a usually a hero or heroine with tragic back story, an overriding goal for the character to pursue and obstacles to overcome. Conflict, inner and outer, love and loss, and more conflict. Without conflict there’s no story. There also has to be development. The main character is put through the mill by those forces, human or natural and comes out changed, a different person. Who wants to read about a walk in the clouds or through a flowery meadow and peaceful evening by the hearth with a character who has no doubts and all is well with the world?
Talk about revising and/or suggestions about revising for upcoming writers.
Revision, revision, revision! No first draft is ever publishable, no matter who the writer is. But you also have to let go at some point and hand it over to a copy editor, preferably two different copy editors, and in the end a proofreader. Many writers think they can wing it and do without a professional editor (don’t rely on a friend you think is good at writing; not even people in a writing group have the requisite skill and eye for detail). Everything has to be edited. I worked in publishing as a production editor and know from experience that this is an essential part of any published work—even great writers get edited.
What's one additional piece of advice about writing or publishing you'd like to pass on to readers and writers?
If you are a writer, if you feel the calling, not someone who had an idea for a book one day, write, write, write, but keep a job on the side or marry comfortably. Publishing is a tough business. I have not been able to figure out what criteria agents, editors, and publishers apply. Don’t be discouraged by the clichés they dish out. If you are young enough and have the energy keep on storming the bastion.
Anything else you'd like readers to know about you and/or your book?
Writing is one of the most difficult things to do, but it is also one of the most gratifying endeavors if that’s the muse that gives you wings.
The idea for Dina’s Lost Tribe (it wasn’t called that in the beginning) resided in my head for many years and when the birth finally took place it turned out very differently than originally conceived; the story metamorphosed under my very eyes. I often didn’t know where it was going, what turn it was going to take. That’s what’s so exciting about creating your characters and stories. I certainly never foresaw the ending of Dina. No spoilers please.
JUST LIKE GULLIVER
My new picture book - AVAILABLE NOW on Amazon - Buy Now.
The adventure of a young groundhog who is frightened of his shadow until a fun-filled journey through the woods and farms surrounding his burrow allows him to discover his courage on Groundhog Day.
An author's note provides information about Groundhogs.
Cross curriculum connections for: Folklore, Shadows, Groundhog Day, and Groundhogs.
New – From Animal Planet’s Animal Bites Series
WILD ANIMALS provides young readers with a nature adventure in a variety of habitats across multiple continents. Japanese Macaques enjoy spa days. African bullfrogs seal themselves in underground burrows to survive year-long droughts. African bull elephants weigh as much as two pickup trucks. Humpback whales hunt using “bubble nets” and only male Zebra finches can sing. These are just a few of the interesting facts that fill the pages.
Like the other books in the series, the animal sections are interspersed with thematic units with specific tabs such as Where They Live, How They Live, Vista (showing animals in their environment), Big Data (facts and figures), Animal Gallery (highlighting similarities and differences) and so on. Stunning action-filled photographs, informative notes, colorful maps and charts make for easy access to information and will delight both youngsters and adults as they explore the amazing diversity of wild life on our amazing planet.
A great addition to home, classroom or school library.
Today's special guest is British author James Rice. His debut novel, Alice and the Fly, has been well received and fans of YA fiction will find much to appreciate in this novel about a shy teenager's struggle with fear and obsession when he confronts his attraction to Alice.
This well-crafted story, told from two points of view -- Greg's journal and police transcripts -- is moving, dark, and humorous in turns as it explores that most difficult concept -- love.
What did you learn about yourself in the process of writing Alice and the Fly? Well, the main thing I learnt was that I could actually write a book (which I assumed was impossible). Also I found that writing is a way for you to take some really crappy things you’ve experienced (either firsthand or not) and try make them into something that brings happiness to the world. (And sadness – it’s a sad book too, in parts. But sadness can be good, sometimes.)
How does your career as a writer influence other areas of your life and vice versa?
Well the money’s helped, to a degree, and I feel like I have more of a purpose now. It gets in the way a lot because I have to spend vast amounts of time at the computer when it feels like I should be out frolicking (or whatever people do). To be honest it hasn’t had that big of an effect, really. I thought as soon as I got a publishing deal Will Self would be on the phone inviting me to some olive and cheese party, but life just carries on. It’s still fun though, to go into bookshops and, you know, see it. And I love writing, so I’m pretty happy not to be frolicking, really.
What do you do when you are not writing?
Read. Eat. Sleep. I’ve been teaching at my old university, which has been great and has taken a lot of time. I like to lie down. I think if I was part of the 1% billionaire club and didn’t have to engage with the world at all I would probably just lie down forever and eat peanut butter and not get up.
What led you to write Alice and the Fly?
I wanted to write something about school. It’s a traumatic place to have to spend so much of your childhood, I think, and so I wanted to do something which felt real to me, in terms of what school life is really like. I actually started it back when I was still in high school, but it was terrible. I took a run at it a few times, in different forms. It was a short story, a film script, a concept album (don’t ask). And then when I was studying an MA I wanted to write something longer and so I thought I’d try out that idea again, see how it had aged. I wrote the first chapter and people liked it – it even won a competition. I felt like I was onto something. So I carried on.
Your book deals with serious topics of mental illness, alienation, dysfunctional families, and violence. What challenges did you face in creating a work that wouldn't become too dark for a YA audience?
To be honest I didn’t think about audience at all when I wrote it – I wrote it for myself. I mean, these characters are teenagers and I was a teenager when I came up with most of the material and it felt like a very real, teenage experience to me. I don’t really think you have to worry about darkness in terms of teenagers – it’s the darkest period of most people’s lives.
Mental illness is a challenge to write about because there are so many myths and clichés and potential to offend people who have to deal with it. I tried to use all of that, to play with these ideas society has, and subvert them. I don’t know if it worked. I’ve had some people challenge me on it, but (so far) only people who haven’t actually read it.
What would you like readers to take from it?
That empathy is everything. That you should be kind to others. That you should find love wherever you can and hold onto it. That you should be yourself. That you shouldn’t let fear hold you back. Be brave, be bold, but most of all be kind.
What are your current/future projects?
I’m writing another novel at the moment which feels like everything right now. I’m ‘in it’, so to speak. It’s going well – at the minute I love it. Hopefully it will change the world. We’ll see.
The book alternates between Greg's journaling to share his internal voice and police transcripts to provide readers with an external interpretation of events. What led you to that choice of structure?
It came near the end of the writing process, actually. I liked the idea of finding another found footage-like way to give other sides of the story and this seemed like a great way to hear from some other characters – give the reader a break from Greg’s voice – whilst also hinting at what’s to come. Also it allowed me to get some dialogue in the novel (I like writing dialogue).
Did you have the book plotted to the point where you knew it would end in tragedy or did the ending evolve as the characters developed?
I always had the ending. Apart from that I did little plotting, just ran with certain plot threads and characters. I wrote the scenes I wanted to write and then figured out the structure at the end. I would not recommend this as a writing technique though. Sure, it was fun, but it took a long time. I don’t know if I’d have been able to do it any other way though. There’s no right or wrong way to write a novel, as long as it gets written.
Are there certain themes or ideas you prefer?
Teenage love is my favourite theme, probably, because it’s so amazing when you’re a teenager – everything is so new and exciting. I enjoyed writing about that. Also the visual image of the spiders and how much fear and dread they cause (people have refused to read it because it has spiders in). That was where the initial spark came from – this idea that spiders are just the perfect representation of people’s fears.
The main theme is this sort of self-fulfilling prophecy though – that Greg is actually lovely, but because he’s treated a certain way he’s made to act a certain way and this plays into all the preconceptions about mental illness. And this just snowballs. And of course we have his perspective, so we know he’s not to blame, but we also know how it must look like to other people too. Which makes for a great deal of humour and sadness.
What book(s)/author(s) have influenced your writing and how?
Recently I decided to make a pile of all the books that influenced Alice… and I ended up with two huge, towering piles of books. It’s amazing how wide-ranging your influences can be. I like a lot of modern American greats like Don DeLillo, David Foster Wallace, A.M. Homes, Nicholson Baker. Also British authors like Niall Griffiths, Cynan Jones, Kevin Barry. Stuff that’s experimental and interesting usually, though I’ll read anything. To prepare for Alice… I read loads of teen-narrated books. The most influential were Apples by Richard Milward and When I Was Five I Killed Myself by Howard Buten (and obviously The Catcher in the Rye).
What is the most challenging aspect of your writing process?
Self-doubt is the one thing that holds me back more than anything. I try ignore it, put it to one side. I tell myself: ‘Remember, you can always delete stuff that doesn’t work. But if you sit there too scared to write anything bad you’ll never write a single word.’
Talk about revising and/or suggestions about revising for upcoming writers.
Ok.
Well, read a lot. And give yourself time – time is the most important part. Hindsight is your best friend. Writing is boring and time-consuming – learn to accept that and you’ll be ok. Bad writing + reading + time = good writing. Stick to that formula
What's one additional piece of advice about writing or publishing you'd like to pass on to readers and writers?
Publishers are lovely and nothing to be scared of. And they’re desperate to receive good writing – just as desperate as you are to produce it. So don’t worry about never having your work seen by a publisher – it will be if it’s good enough. Just worry about the quality of the work. That’s your job.
Anything else you'd like readers to know about you and/or your book?
Just how happy it’d make me if they read it. Even more so if they liked it. And if not, well, that’s ok too. I’ll try harder next time. J
View Next 25 Posts
Briefly, what's your book about? 
Today's special guest is British author James Rice. 
