If there was a theme in what the many published writers said at the Austin SCBWI conference a couple weeks ago, it was that perseverance is an important part of their success.

Three of this year’s ALA winners were there — Jacqueline Kelly (The Evolution of Capurnia Tate), Marla Frazee and Liz Garton Scanlon (All the World illustrator and author) and Chris Barton (The Day-Glo Brothers) — and they all told tales of facing many rejections before publication and of pursuing their dreams of being published for years before making them a reality.

Kirby Larson, author of the 2007 Newbery Honor book Hattie Big Sky, said she received piles of rejection letters before her publishing career began. Finally, after many years of trying and taking a 10-day course that happened over her daughter’s birthday — what a sacrifice — she sold her first picture books. A few more followed, but then she didn’t sell anything for seven years. That’s when she tried a different type of writing and Hattie Big Sky was born.

Former editor and now full-time author Lisa Graff explained that for her last book, Umbrella Summer, she wrote 18 complete drafts.

Yesterday, this theme was reinforced in an article in the Los Angeles Times about non-fiction author Rebecca Skloot, whose The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks appeared on Amazon’s bestseller list immediately after the book debuted on Feb. 2. This was all after Skloot spent 10 years working on the book and went through three publishing houses, four editors and two agents.

All these writers shared something in common: They didn’t give up.

So, the motto for today: Never give up.

Write On!

Today is my last post from the Austin SCBWI conference. It’s my seventh post about the conference and I’ve just given you a sampler from the presentations, so it shows how great these conferences can be.

Before I get into the post for today, here’s a quick recap of the other posts from the conference in case you missed any: agent Mark McVeigh on publishing, agent Andrea Cascardi on getting and working with an agent, editor Cheryl Klein on writing a great book, agent Nathan Bransford on finding the right agent for you, author/former editor Lisa Graff on writing and revising and advice from ALA winners.

The conference had plenty of other published writers, and here’s advice from them:

Kirby Larson (2007 Newbery Honor Book Hattie Big Sky): The secret of success is keeping your bum in your chair and working. No matter how bad you think it is, you have to get the first draft done and keep going.

Liz Garton Scanlon (2010 Caldecott Honor Book All the World): Find a community to help you, whether a critique group or writing partner, because it helps you live in the solitary environment of writing.

Shana Berg (A Thousand Never Evers): You should have an emotional reaction to your story when you read it.

Jennifer Ziegler (How Not to be Popular): Outlining can be an invaluable tool, but use it as a map.

Jessica Lee Anderson (Border Crossing): In dealing with rejection, rethink, revise and resend, inspire yourself with stories, nurture your creativity.

P.J. Hoover (The Emerald Tablet): Think outside of the box. Don’t settle for cliches and stereotypes. Write unique characters

Many thanks to Kirby Larson for the interview with me over on her blog.

She definitely gets the award of the day.

Reviewed by Carma Dutra, Picture Book Reviewer for the National Writing for Children Center

Title: The Magic Kerchief
Author: Kirby Larson
Illustrator: Rosanne Litzinger
Hard Cover: 32 pages
Ages: 4 to 8
Publisher: Holiday House - First edition (September 2000)
ISBN-10: 0823414736
ISBN-13: 978-0823414734

Kirby Larson has written a captivating original folktale with a message everyone can relate to. The story may be set in the past but is all too timely today. Everyone in the village avoided Griselda, the town “grouch”. One day Griselda reluctantly offered a stranger a place to stay after this stranger mysteriously appeared at Griselda’s door. In fact, Griselda was quite snappy with the visitor and was ready to have her sleep on the floor by the fire. However, while Griselda built a fire the visitor fell asleep in Griselda’s bed. The next morning, the kind visitor insisted on repaying for Griselda’s kindness with a magical scarf, promising it held great riches.

Crabby Griselda did not believe the stranger, but nevertheless, the scarf was charming so she tied it on and went to market. What happened at market was truly miraculous. Griselda lost the sting of her tongue when she shopped at the bakery and when she passed by the Lord Mayor. The only words she usually muttered to the Lord Mayor were “Paah, a donkey on two legs is still a donkey.” Instead, wearing the special kerchief, she greeted the Lord Mayor with “My aches and pains vanish when I greet an old friend.” No one was used to Griselda saying nice words. Everyone was surprised. Griselda learned through the kindness of a stranger that to have a friend you must be a friend.

The charming folk-art illustrations by Roseanne Litzinger are done in soothing pastels and all the characters are rounded like stuffed pillows, which lends to the entertaining flavor of Larson’s words. Two page spreads dominate the book and depict an original scene with bright background color. This book is worth owning yourself and for gift giving.

About the author: Kirby Larson is the acclaimed author of the 2007 Newberry Honor Book, Hattie Big Sky, a young adult novel she wrote inspired by her great-grandmother, Hattie Inez Brooks Wright, who homesteaded by herself in eastern Montana as a young woman. In addition, Kirby has written three books for children, including the award-winning picture book, The Magic Kerchief. A frequent speaker, Kirby has presented at more than 200 schools, workshops, and seminars.

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For more book reviews and articles and other resources for children’s writers, visit Carma’s Window.

from Carma Dutra, contributing editor for The National Writing for Children Center

Kirby Larson’s portfolio includes the 2007 Newbery Honor Award book, Hattie Big Sky (Delacorte); and Junior Library Guild and IndieBound Next List selection, Two Bobbies: A True Story of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship and Survival, (Walker), co-written with her good friend, Mary Nethery and illustrated by New Orleans resident, Jean Cassels. She is at work on a middle-grade historical novel, as well as a second nonfiction picture book with Mary.

Recently, Kirby Larson talked with me about her career as a children’s book author.

Carma: When did your professional writing career begin?

Kirby: Define professional! I sold my first piece, a personal essay about wilderness camping with my husband when we had two kids in diapers, to Signposts magazine for $12 in 1984. I began writing for children in the early 90s.

C: Can a children’s book be published without an agent?

K: Though I now have an agent, I had 6 books published without one, and I have friends who are selling successfully without agents. I think the key is to make sure you’re putting out the best work possible.

C: What is the best route to an agent?

K: See above. Do your best, be professional. And go to conferences where agents you’re interested in are presenting to suss out whether or not they might be a good match for you and for your work.

C: Do you have a favorite source of inspiration?

K: My son’s college loans, which we’re still paying off. Seriously, if I waited for inspiration, I’d be in big trouble. To paraphrase Madeleine L’Engle, the writer who waits for inspiration doesn’t get much writing done.

C: Describe what you like most about writing for children.

K: The fact that writing, reading and daydreaming are essential elements of my job, and the joy of connecting with my readers, young and old.

C: Did you have an “Aha moment” when you knew you were going to write for children or did the realization happen gradually?

K: Most of the short fiction I was writing — the stuff I cared about — featured kid characters. Then, one day, I read the picture book MING LO MOVES THE MOUNTAIN (written and illustrated by Arnold Lobel) to my then-young children and I knew what it was I wanted to do for the rest of my life: write books for children and young adults.

C: At the recent SCBWI event in Davis, California, you mentioned five years passed before Hattie Big Sky was written and published. Did you write any novels or stories during that time and if you did do you plan to publish them?

K: Hattie was a time-consuming labor of love. I did some revising of old manuscripts and note-taking on new ones on off days during that period, but that book was my primary focus. After I sold it, in the two year gap before it came out, I co-wrote TWO BOBBIES: A TRUE STORY OF HURRICANE KATRINA, FRIENDSHIP AND SURVIVAL with my dear friend, Mary Nethery. That nonfiction picture book, illustrated by Jean Cassels (a New Orleans resident), was published by Walker in August.

C: Have you ever experienced writer’s block? If so how did you break it?

K: I have definitely experienced writer’s block this past year — thanks to the Newbery Honor. I broke it by running away from home to Mexico for 2 weeks in March with another good friend. She had a book due on April 1 and so we wrote like maniacs after our morning Spanish classes every single day for each of those 2 weeks. She finished her book and I nearly finished a draft of a middle grade historical novel. Since my return home, I have finished it. Now it’s time to revise.

C: Have revisions ever changed the original intent of your story? In what way?

K: This is an intriguing question but I’m not sure how to answer it. I think revisions have changed the shape of a story and maybe individual story elements but I can’t think of a time where the intent was changed because my intent is always to tell a given story the best way I can.

C: Do you visit schools outside of Washington State? How often?

K: I’ve been on the road a lot this past year, visiting schools all around the country. I’ve even been invited to speak to an international school in Qatar in April! I do love to visit schools, but am working on slowing down the pace of my travel.

C: What projects are you working on now?

K: I am working on the revision of the middle grade historical referred to above and Mary and I are writing another narrative nonfiction picture book which will be coming out from Little Brown in Fall 09.

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NOTE: Last week, Kirby Larson and Bonny Becker were guests on Book Bites for Kids. Listen to a recording of that interview here.

Read the January issue of readergirlz.

This month, readergirlz are discussing Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson.

In 1918, Hattie Brooks receives word that an uncle she's never known has passed away and left his homestead in Montana to her. She travels across the country to plant roots in this new place. She is understandably hesitant when she first realizes how much work she has to do to "prove up" her land, but she tackles the many jobs with determination and her own two hands. Those hands also craft letters to her friend Charlie, who is fighting in France, and articles for the newspaper. She befriends a lovable family and others in town as she fights to stake her claim.

After you've read Hattie Big Sky, drop by the readergirlz forum and discuss the book with other readers.

Download this month's poster (PDF)

LIVE CHAT:

This Month's Guest: Kirby Larson
Date: Thursday, January 17th
Start Time: 6 PM PST / 9 PM EST

Be a Book Winner!

The 10th chatter to post will win a copy of Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson.

Author: Kirby Larson Publisher: Delacorte Press Pages: 283 Kirby Larson’s Newbery Honor Book Hattie Big Sky was released in paperback last week. I received a copy from the publisher right before I left to visit family over the holidays, and I was just able to pick up over the weekend to read it. I know, I know…I must be the last person in the world to read this book, but I’ve just started

I'm flattered. People have asked me in the past to come up with a list of the hottest kidlit women I know and I've been slow to do so. I did that Blue Rose Girls posting, but that was as far as I went. Fortunately someone has picked up the slack. Kirby Larson of Hattie Big Sky fame has established her own Hot Women of Children's Literature. Lady #1? You know her well. A very good choice too.

Send any and all recommendations you like Kirby's way.

Hattie Big Sky
Author: Kirby Larson (website)
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (website)
ISBN-10: 0385733135
ISBN-13: 978-0385733137

Hattie Big Sky is set in the year 1918, an interesting time in our history. WWI (known as the Great War or the War to End All Wars) is soon to be ending, Woodrow Wilson has outlined his 14 points of peace, the influenza pandemic was widespread (read more here) and anti-German sentiment is rampant in the US.

Hattie is 16, orphaned and living with her aunt and uncle as a charity case in Iowa, the last in a series of relatives she’s been shuttled back and forth to. While her uncle is kind to her, her aunt is not and makes Hattie’s life pretty miserable. In spite of her hardships, Hattie’s spirit and kindness cannot be squelched and she works hard to make her life bearable. Just in the nick of time, an unexpected inheritance of a homestead from an unknown uncle sends Hattie off to the wilds of Montana to work her dead uncle’s claim. She looks forward to her newfound freedom and a life of adventure as a homesteader.

Hattie is soon to find out that life as a homesteader isn’t such a grand adventure. She arrives in blistering cold to find out that she has less than a year to cultivate her claim with acres of flax, build a staggering amount of fence and somehow manage to survive the harsh winter. The kindness of her German neighbors, the Mullers make life bearable and in at least one instance saves her life.

Hattie’s dear friend from school, Charlie (I think she really loves him) is away at war in France and Hattie’s spirited and lively letters to him as well as her articles for the Iowa newspaper she comes to write for give a wonderful insight to her brave and upbeat personality as well as a window to the hardships she faces.

I found Hattie Big Sky to be completely wonderful. It’s a fresh, funny, insightful and exciting. One of the things I really loved about the book is just how kind Hattie is, how big-hearted, honest and firm in her convictions. She refuses to let the anti-German sentiment keep her away from the Mullers, she stands up to the people in town even though she is desperately lonely and looking to make a place for herself, a home, a family. In spite of the sure knowledge that she will stand alone, she takes that stand and refuses to give up her friendship with them. That is courage, fine and true. That alone would make Hattie Big Sky a great book but there is more, much more and I highly recommend it.

For a taste of Hattie Big Sky, here’s an excerpt courtesy of Random House.

EXCERPT
December 19, 1917 Arlington, Iowa

Dear Charlie,

Miss Simpson starts every day with a reminder to pray for you—and all the other boys who enlisted. Well, I say we should pray for the Kaiser—he’s going to need those prayers once he meets you!

I ran into your mother today at Uncle Holt’s store. She said word is you are heading for England soon, France after that. I won’t hardly be able to look at the map behind Miss Simpson’s desk now; it will only remind me of how far you are from Arlington.

Mr. Whiskers says to tell you he’s doing fine. It’s been so cold, I’ve been letting him sleep in my bedroom. If Aunt Ivy knew, she’d pitch a fit. Thank goodness she finally decided I was too big to switch or my legs would be striped for certain.

You should see Aunt Ivy. She’s made herself a cunning white envelope of a hat with a bright red cross stitched on the edge. She wears it to all the Red Cross meetings. Guess she wants to make sure everybody knows she’s a paid-up member. She’s been acting odd lately; even asked me this morning how was I feeling. First time in years she’s inquired about my health. Peculiar. Maybe this Red Cross work has softened her heart.

Mildred Powell’s knitting her fifth pair of socks; they’re not all for you, so don’t get swell-headed. She’s knitting them for the Red Cross. All the girls at school are. But I suspect the nicest pair she knits will be for you.

You must cut quite the figure in your uniform. A figure eight! (Ha, ha.) Seriously, I am certain you are going to make us all proud.

Aunt Ivy’s home from her meeting and calling for me. I’ll sign off now but will write again soon.

Your school friend, Hattie Inez Brooks


I blotted the letter and slipped it in an envelope. Aunt Ivy wouldn’t think twice about reading anything she found lying around, even if it was in my own room, on my own desk.

“Hattie,” Aunt Ivy called again. “Come down here!”

To be on the safe side, I slipped the envelope under my pillow, still damp from my good cry last night. Not that I was like Mildred Powell, who hadn’t stopped boo-hooing since Charlie left. Only Mr. Whiskers and my pillow knew about my tears in the dark over Charlie. I did fret over his safety, but it was pure and sinful selfishness that wet my eyes at night.

In all my sixteen years, Charlie Hawley was one of the nicest things to happen to me. It was him who’d stuck up for me when I first came to live with Aunt Ivy and Uncle Holt, so shy I couldn’t get my own name out. He’d walked me to school that very first day and every day after. Charlie was the one who’d brought me Mr. Whiskers, a sorry-looking tomcat who purred his way into my heart. The one who’d taught me how to pitch, and me a southpaw. So maybe I did spend a night now and then dreaming silly girl dreams about him, even though everyone knew he was sweet on Mildred. My bounce-around life had taught me that dreams were dangerous things—they look solid in your mind, but you just try to reach for them. It’s like gathering clouds.

The class had voted to see Charlie off at the station. Mildred clung to his arm. His father clapped him on the back so often, I was certain he’d end up bruised. Miss Simpson made a dull speech as she presented Charlie with a gift from the school: a wool stocking cap and some stationery.

“Time to get aboard, son,” the conductor called.

Something shifted in my heart as Charlie swung his foot up onto the train steps. I had told myself to hang back—didn’t want to be lumped in with someone like Mildred—but I found myself running up to him and slipping something in his hand. “For luck!” I said. He glanced at the object and smiled. With a final wave, he boarded the train.

“Oh, Charlie!” Mildred leaned on Mrs. Hawley and sobbed.

“There, there.” Charlie’s mother patted Mildred’s back.

Mr. Hawley took a bandanna from his pocket and made a big show of wiping his forehead. I pretended not to notice that he dabbed at his eyes, too.

The others made their way slowly down the platform, back to their cars. I stood watching the train a bit longer, picturing Charlie patting the pocket where he’d placed the wishing stone I’d given him. He was the one who’d taught me about those, too. “Look for the black ones,” he’d told me. “With the white ring around the middle. If you throw them over your left shoulder and make a wish, it’s sure to come true.” He threw his wishing rocks with abandon and laughed at me for not tossing even one. My wish wasn’t the kind that could be granted by wishing rocks.

And now two months had passed since Charlie stepped on that train. With him gone, life was like a batch of biscuits without the baking powder: flat, flat, flat.

“Hattie!” Aunt Ivy’s voice was a warning.

“Yes, ma’am!” I scurried down the stairs.

She was holding court in her brown leather chair. Uncle Holt was settled into the hickory rocker, a stack of news- papers on his lap.

I slipped into the parlor and picked up my project, a pathetic pair of socks I’d started back in October when Charlie enlisted. If the war lasted five more years, they might actually get finished. I held them up, peering through a filigree of dropped stitches. Not even a good chum like Charlie could be expected to wear these.

“I had a lovely visit with Iantha Wells today.” Aunt Ivy unpinned her Red Cross hat. “You remember Iantha, don’t you, Holt?”

“Hmmm.” Uncle Holt shook the newspaper into shape.

“I told her what a fine help you were around here, Hattie.”

I dropped another stitch. To hear her tell it most days, there was no end to my flaws in the domesticity department.

“I myself never finished high school. Not any sense in it for some girls.”

Uncle Holt lowered one corner of the paper. I dropped another stitch. Something was up.

“No sense at all. Not when there’s folks like Iantha Wells needing help at her boardinghouse.”

There. It was out. Now I knew why she had been so kind to me lately. She’d found a way to get rid of me.

Excerpted from Hattie Big Sky byKirby Larson Copyright © 2006 by Kirby Larson. Excerpted by permission of Delacorte Books for Young Readers, a division of Random House, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.

Let's take a closer look at one of our Newbery Honorees (Honorettas?, Honorikas?) for 2007. One Ms. Kirby Larson. Nice lady, that. Prone to multiple interviews as well, should you be willing to search deep enough for them amongst the reams of buried internet info out there.

One I found just the other day as I was looking for this image on Jaime Temairik's blog:

What can I say? I like-a the killer cupcakes. Cupcake-related paraphernalia gets a special slot on this blog (hint hint).

In any case, I found this interview and was pleased as punch. And then I turn around and Jen Robinson has linked to another one. So basically, anything and everything you ever wanted to know Kirby Larson-wise is now available. Go wild.

I must be the last person to review Hattie Big Sky, but I have an excuse, I swear. I spent November and December reading Middle Grade fiction almost exclusively for The Cybils and Hattie Big Sky was nominated in the Young Adult category. In fact, Hattie Big Sky was selected as a shortlisted title in the Young Adult category. That being said, I'd recommend Hattie Big Sky to children as young as 10.

Hattie Brooks has moved from relative to ever-more-distant relative most of her young life. When she is sixteen years old, she reaches the end of her line with Aunt Ivy and Uncle Holt (he's a distant cousin). Or so she thinks. Just as Aunt Ivy is about to send her off to work as a maid, Hattie Brooks receives a letter informing her that her mother's brother left her a land claim in Montana. She has one year to work the land, make it profitable, fence it off, pay her taxes and it will be hers. Hattie takes her chances and the train out West.

Hattie arrives to Wolf Point, Montana where she is met by Perilee and Karl Mueller, her homesteading neighbors, and their three children, Chase, Mattie, and Fern. They help her settle in her Uncle's "house," and show her how to survive the winter and care for the horse and cantankerous cow. Even the children know more than Hattie: Chase has to detach Hattie from the well pump on her very first day. Though life is hard, Hattie is up to the challenge and works to survive on her own.

Kirby Lawson has created a wonderful character in Hattie. She's a tough girl, willing to work to make it on her own. But, Hattie is more than just determination--she's also kind and compassionate without being silly or sentimental. In 1917 Montana, anti-German sentiment is strong, yet Hattie stands up to her wild Montana neighbors and supports her friend Karl Mueller when he's attacked, both physically and verbally, for being German-born. Even Hattie's feelings for her school friend, Charlie, who is away at the front, are true to character:

• "So maybe I did spend a night now and then dreaming silly girl dreams about him, even though everyone knew he was sweet on Mildred. My bounce-around life had taught me dreams were dangerous things--they look solid in your mind, but you just try to reach for them. It's like gathering clouds."

Hattie Big Sky, just as its narrator, is a brilliant, straightforward novel. Author Kirby Larson pulls no punches: death is ever present in the novel, as it was in 1917, and friends are essential to survival. I appreciated Hattie Big Sky for its complex ending as well. Hattie, in some ways, fails in her endeavor. (I won't spoil the book for you by mentioning how.) In other ways, Hattie finds family, love, and self-sufficiency.

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A related note: MotherReader recently read Hattie Big Sky and invited readers to discuss the use of religion in the book. It's a fascinating discussion, so read through if you get a chance. I have to admit, that I was one of the readers who didn't notice it much--it seemed appropriate for the era.

(I say this as a person who was really irritated by the Narnia books as a child because I found them too evangelical.)

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I received Hattie Big Sky from the author.