Successful novels in verse often follow these general guidelines.
http://diannematich.com/2016/09/five-free-verse-guidelines/
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Blog: Miss Marple's Musings (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Perfect Picture Book Friday, Becca Stadtlander, ON THE WING, picture books, birds, verse, David Elliot, birding, Add a tag
Title: On the Wing Written by: David Elliott Illustrated by: Becca Stadtlander Published by: Candlewick Press, 2014 Themes/Topics: birds, birding, verse Suitable for ages: 6-9 Example spread: Synopsis: David Elliot and Becca Stadtlander invite the reader to wonder and smile at the variety, specificity, humor, majesty and splendor of fifteen birds—from the … Continue reading
Add a CommentBlog: Just the Facts, Ma'am (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: verse, young_adult, Add a tag
Three authors discuss how a novel in verse is different than one written in prose.
http://www.axonjournal.com.au/issue-4/writing-young-adult-verse-novel
Blog: Just the Facts, Ma'am (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: verse, middle_grade, young_adult, Add a tag
Create an image system for novels in verse to tie together the plot and increase characterization.
http://www.ekristinanderson.com/?p=13068
Blog: Seize the Day (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Walt Whitman, Verse, oh my, Lucky March, Oh me, plumb crazy, Add a tag
Hi folks, I'm a novelist as well as a picture book author. I am especially fortunate that way, lucky, if you will. I am half a century old and over the course of my journey, the nature of luck has been made clear to me. This month my series is Lucky March, where I'm exploring the wonder of luck in our lives.
Oh, March has brought waves of luck to my life. My book Plumb Crazy is almost ready to be released again as an ebook and in paper for the first time. It will be under my alter ego name: Cece Barlow! I'm traveling to Washington state to visit with dear friends in April for a writing retreat marathon. I feel grateful and happy. I am just glad to be part of the verse.
This week I will respond to Walt Whitman's poem, "Oh, me! Oh, life!" Go here to read his genius words.
Here is truth to me. I don't really understand myself, and life is so far beyond me--like the stars to a speck of dirt. And yet I'm caught up with the mundane of my species. I see multitudes people gossiping, slandering, and back-stabbing. I live with folks who share knowledge to ends of the Earth and wonder: has it helped? Art has lost value, faith is fading except for the worst of it, and foolishness flows over the edges of every vision, in this ad-driven, branded, socialized bumper sticker world. The sideshow prophets declare that written words are dying.
Don't think I'm not caught up in it all. I am in that multitude, my head turning toward the visual nonsense, the profane silliness, and the unholy devaluation, when I could spend this moment being so much more. Yes, I am just as faithless as the rest.
Here's the thing. I want light. I want meaning, I want purpose, but I am mired in empty useless years that I wasted for no good reason. I did not open my eyes earlier, so I must open them now. I am woven in the fabric of my times. I am asking, shouting really at the great universe, struggling to not let the waves of sadness overcome me.
What good can I do? I look out but those words fall on my beating heart. Life! What good can I do? My hands curl into fists, and I shake like a leaf being ripped by a storm wind.
The answer comes to me, whispering, still, soft. A voice! You are here, dear one.. You were born. You breathe. You are are. This is the great poem, and you are allowed to contribute one verse to it all. Write your verse. This is the gift of life.
Lucky me! Lucky you! I hope you think about the verse you are writing. I pray that you do the most with what you have to offer. We all need you to do that. I will be back next week with more Lucky March.
NO doodle this week! But here is a sneak peek at my book cover for PLUMB CRAZY! I am so excited to share this with you! I hope that you share it too!
"The basic hidden thing that every Loser Girl knows—she has value, like every person, star, whale, rock, and slug. The whole universe has its share of risks. Slugs get stepped on, whales are hunted, stars explode, and people, well, people are fragile, easy to break. She was a secret unseen commodity, like di-lithium crystals found on planets that few would visit and even fewer could endure. Riches hid inside of her. No one had found them yet. But they would. It was just how the universe was put together."
Blog: Just the Facts, Ma'am (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: poetry, verse, Add a tag
How do you decide where to end each line in a poem.
http://thelinebreak.wordpress.com/2010/11/06/lineation/
Blog: Welcome to my Tweendom (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: family, poetry, romance, loss, basketball, verse, brothers, #weneeddiversebooks, HMH 2014, Add a tag
Fast talking basketball kid Josh lives for the game. It makes sense since his father Chuck "Da Man" Bell was a player in his own right back in the day. Chuck played the European League, but now stays home to take care of the house while Josh's mom is the Vice Principal at his school. Josh's twin Jordan (JB) lives for basketball too, but things are starting to shift.
Miss Sweet Tea in her pink Reeboks has caught JB's attention, and Josh isn't quite sure how to be without JB. He finds himself missing his brother's wisecracks and bets. He's not used to being one. Even on the court their flow has changed, and Josh crosses a line in a way that he wouldn't have even considered before.
Girls and basketball aren't the only things that the Bell family is dealing with. Mrs. Bell is trying, trying, trying to get Chuck to deal with his health issues. He is a man who likes his treats, he gets fired up over his sons' games, and he simply refuses to see a doctor despite his spells.
This story of the love of the game, shifting allegiances and family will take readers on a journey they are not likely to forget. There's a rawness and realness to Josh both on and off the court. Alexander's free verse brings the pace of the story up, but there are moments that give the reader real pause as well. For example in Basketball Rule #3 Alexander writes:" Never let anyone / lower your goals. / Others' expectations / of you are determined / by their limitations / of life. / The sky is your limit, sons. / Always shoot / for the sun / and you will shine." And the poem Dear Jordan will leave you breathless.
The Crossover is a quick read, but it is a book that should and will be reread. Add this to your TBR pile, asap!
Blog: Just the Facts, Ma'am (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: poetry, rhyme, verse, Add a tag
Ten reasons poems don't need to rhyme.
http://www.kenneymyers.com/blog/10-reasons-poems-dont-always-need-to-rhyme/
Blog: Jrpoulter's Weblog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Awards, review, YA, marketing, children's books, Design, books, science fiction, illustration, Reviews, Poetry, humour, Literacy, Fiction, non fiction, picture books, publishing, young adult fiction, Writing, Education, e-books, fantasy, children's literature, trends, Reviewing, book promotion, children's stories, illustrators, Digital publishing, advances, verse, story books, children's verse, narrative verse, humorous poetry, Library resource, Home schooling resource, Australian Children's Book Awards, Awards for literature, creative arts, Allen & Unwin, international children's literature festival, 'print ready', Erica Wagner, Add a tag
Some time last year, Erica Wagner, Publisher at Allen and Unwin, is reported as having said that there was a lot to be gained by having a text already illustrated [not that Allen & Unwin published picture books]. This is seemingly a change in direction.
Some writers/illustrators I know have recently signed contracts for ‘print ready’ books. This is not self-publishing, but submission to a royalty paying publisher of a book that is ‘ready to go’ in publishing terms.
What constitutes a ‘print ready’ book? It is a book that has been -
- professionally edited,
- proofread, has been
- designed to industry standards,
- professionally designed cover and,
- if illustrated, has all images appropriately set.
This is a great way to go for authors who are able to pay illustrators and book designers up front. Most authors are not able to do this. This then means all creators involved in a book project agreeing to royalty share and working between paid projects to collaborate on their book.
What have I gleaned about such ‘print ready’ deals? One company, smaller and reasonably new, offered a small advance and a good contract, by industry standards, with higher than regular royalty share for creators. An offer of help with promotion was also part of the deal. Another company, medium sized and established, offered no advance but better than average royalty shares for creators and help with promotion and marketing of the book.
How does this stack up against what is generally on offer now?
- Small and middle range publishers, in general, do not offer advances.
- Larger publishers offer advances depending on the book, depending on the author, and depending on the agent involved.
- Smaller and middle range publishers often [there are exceptions] expect the author to do it all in relation to promotion, even requiring the submission of a marketing plan.
- Larger publishers vary greatly as to how much promotion they will give a book.
- Generally, publishers will submit copies of their publishing output for major awards, such as the CBCA, and to a selection of leading review outlets.
What’s the down side for author, illustrator, book designer, [often the illustrator], to go down the ‘print ready’ publishing path?
- It IS a lot of extra work for all creators involved to ensure the book is ‘professional’ standard even before it is submitted.
- There is no money upfront.
Are the rewards worth the effort?
- If you love collaborative work, it is a big plus.
- Creators have much more project control to create the book they have collaboratively envisaged.
- A quality product, ‘print ready’, is a major bargaining point for creators/agents. ‘Print ready’ saves the publisher heaps!
The first company mentioned does small print runs, sells out their print runs, reprints and even sells out reprints and so it seems to be gradually snowballing.
It is too early to know in the second instance. [I’ll keep you posted!]
My feeling is that, if Erica Wagner was sensing a ‘trend’ and if these companies make a success of it, we will see more such deals. It’s something to think about!
To be launched end of June – “Toofs!” a collaboration between J.R. and Estelle A.Poulter an illustrators Monica Rondino and Andrea Pucci. More to come on what was a ‘print ready’ deal.
Blog: Jrpoulter's Weblog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: YA, children, children's books, interviews, books, science fiction, illustration, Reading, Poetry, Literacy, Fiction, non fiction, picture books, young adult fiction, teen fiction, Writing, inspiration, Education, e-books, query letters, fantasy, children's literature, mystery, Teacher Resource, publishers, Short Story, children's stories, memoirs, Digital publishing, verse, manuscript submission, reviewers, blog tours, story books, SCWBI, humorous verse, nonsense verse, children's verse, narrative verse, humorous poetry, iphone app, Speech and Drama, Library resource, Home schooling resource, interviewers, J R Poulter, children's publishers, Brian Grove, Delin Colon, Lisa Kalner Williams, Reviews, Add a tag
Hi Everyone!
Lists can be extremely useful, especially when they are constantly being updated!
Here are two such.
The first, compiled by the enterprising and enthusiastic Brain Grove, is a list of US publishers who are currently accepting submissions for children’s books – http://j.mp/SVbnCk – he also, very helpfully, adds links toeach entry to take you straight to the site. I also recommend his ebook on query /submission letter writing.
The second, a veritable database, is continuously being updated by the very proactive authors, Delin Colon and Lisa Kalner Williams – http://bit.ly/writerinterviewopps …
If you haven’t joined www.jacketflap.com, I highly recommend it – an excellent networking site for all things related to children’s literature and books.
Get busy and good luck!
Blog: Jrpoulter's Weblog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Poetry, humour, Literacy, Fiction, non fiction, picture books, birds, Cats, publishing, young adult fiction, teen fiction, Writing, inspiration, Education, e-books, fantasy, drawing, children's literature, Dogs, mystery, Animals, Teacher Resource, animation, Tina Clark, children's stories, Digital publishing, verse, Prue Mason, calligraphy, imagery, Sarah Davis, story books, SHeryl Gwyther, humorous verse, children's verse, narrative verse, humorous poetry, iphone app, Family pet, Library resource, Home schooling resource, Katherine Battersby, Australian Children's Book Awards, J R Poulter, Nette Hilton, creative arts, cross cultural exchange, Jenny Stubbs, Lynelle Westlake, Peter Taylor, ipad, Angela Sunde, Virginia Lowe, David McRobbie, craft work, Peter Allert, Brisbane Square Library, Lynn Priestley, book creation, Journey of a Book, Pam RUshby, Michelle Tofts, Ozan & Anil Tortop, Awards, YA, children, SCBWI, children's books, Design, books, illustration, Reading, Add a tag
Click to view slideshow.Books are created from the imagination and inspiration of authors and the insightful vision of illustrators. They are then crafted. The authorial crafting may be right brain with a touch of editing or slow and laborious left brain plotting. For an illustrator, it may be inspiration flowing like rivers from brush or stylus or it may be storybook or dummy creation then rethinks, scrap some ideas, adapt others. Eventually, a book emerges that is then ‘ready for submission’. These days, that may mean adding animation and audio to make the book a digital production for app developers like Utales or Flying Books, or for YA, formatting it for Kindle or Nook e-publishers. It may mean self publishing on Createspace or Lightningsource, Smashwords or Lulu. Or it will mean the long road via submission to traditional publishers.
If the latter is chosen, the publisher will often require more editing, changes and perhaps more changes. My own book, started under contract to one publisher, was already well underway with the inimitable Sarah Davis as illustrator. We were having a ball creating our book. Then our publisher was taken over and the new publisher wanted to institute changes. At first, the major change – ‘get rid of the dead bird’ – seemed straight forward. Then we realised the book needed the bird but, to keep it, we had to make some big adjustments. An injured bird can’t just disappear in a children’s book, it has to get better and be released, which, in our picture book, meant its story had to be woven into the fabric of the main story seamlessly. No problem, a few days and Sarah and I had nailed it! As book creators, you have to be flexible and, especially if going the traditional publisher route, you can’t be too precious about your creation.
SO! This exhibition is about the journey numbers of wonderful children’s and YA books took from creation to bookshelf! Each book has a different creation story to reveal - something the public doesn’t see, it’s behind the scenes. Now the reader can take a peek backstage, behind the scenes to how it all came together!
THE SET UP
Setting up was not straight forward. The spaces has to be utilised to best advantage and the items displayed needed to be seen from as many angles as possible given I had a two shelf rectangular glass case. I didn’t end up using everything I brought with me. It would have been too cluttered. Last minute inclusion, bulldog clips, proved life-savers! They held the photographic prints in place.
I had never ‘hung’ a painting before at an exhibition and that proved ‘interesting. Sarah Davis sent up her wonderful original painting via kindly courier, Peter Taylor, but it was unframed. I had no time to find a frame. Fortunately, I had one around the house that was a good match colour-wise though not quite the perfect size.
Given my exhibit was about my close collaboration with Sarah, the items displayed needed to reflect the two minds working together to make a new creative whole – our book! Sources of inspiration, stages in text change, changes in images, cover and trivia relating to the characters, objects and places in the book all combined to make a successful ( I hope you agree) exhibit!
Click to view slideshow.THE LAUNCH
0 Comments on Journey of a Book – children’s literature creation under the microscope as of 1/1/1900
Blog: Jrpoulter's Weblog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: science fiction, illustration, Reading, Poetry, humour, Literacy, Fiction, Pets, non fiction, memoir, picture books, teen fiction, Writing, inspiration, mystery, Teacher Resource, Shopping, heroes, memoirs, verse, imagery, story books, narrative verse, Library resource, Home schooling resource, creative writing workshops, creative arts, Steve Jones, Andrea Kwast, G.G. Blinco, Ian Rickuss, Jenni Smith, Justin James, L.W.Smith, Linda Henderson, Louise Teese, Sophie Hanley, Sue Stewart, TMAS, Wendy Mackenzie, YA, children's books, books, Adventure, young adult fiction, Education, e-books, fantasy, drawing, children's literature, Animals, children's stories, Tell Me a Story, Australian Poetry, Add a tag
Andrea has gotten it spectacularly right! The CEO of Tell Me a Story launched 10 new titles on 30th June, this year. I was privileged to be guest speaker at an event that had even seasoned politicians, Ian Rickuss, MP Lockyer, and Steve Jones, Mayor, Lockyer Valley Regional Council, commenting on attendance numbers!
Assembled authors, illustrators and guest panelists with Andrea Kwast
Muza Ulasowski [Panelist] and Guest Speaker, J.R.Poulter
The audience was rapt. I have seldom been at a publishing event where everyone’s eyes shone! Andrea has the devoted support of her very wide community of readers and growing. She also has the good fortune to have a very devoted group of assistants in administrator, Rel, and local photographer and budding author herself, Jenni Smith.
Research and innovation, preparedness to think out of the box, are hallmarks of Andrea and her team. She believes stories are lurking everywhere and it just takes the right determination, editing and dedication to bring them out. That she is succeeding over and above expetaction is more than demonstrated by the sellout and reprint, within the first few weeks since the launch, of no fewer than 3 titles!
Hearty Congratulations Andrea and Team and to all her authors – keep writing!
Click to view slideshow.0 Comments on Wow of a launch results in 3 titles in reprint already! as of 1/1/1900
Blog: Just the Facts, Ma'am (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: verse, middle_grade, young_adult, Add a tag
Here's a list of middle grade and young adult novels written in verse.
http://www.sarahtregay.com/novelsinverse.html
Blog: Kid Lit Reviews (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Children's Books, poetry, imagination, seasons, games, NonFiction, nature, Favorites, children's book, play, verse, preschool, K, Pre-K, 5stars, rhyming text, Library Donated Books, langiage, right-left brains, Add a tag
Dart into the drizzle, Cool down summer heat. Slip out of the spray with wet hands and feet. FRESH! ………. 5 Stars In this charming book for preschoolers, vibrant photographs combine with delightful illustrations and bouncy, fun-to-read rhymes that will inspire children to use their imagination to transform into play what they see in the [...]
Add a CommentBlog: Jrpoulter's Weblog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: imagery, illustration, humour, Literacy, inspiration, uTales, Joanna Marple, Julie Hedlund, Flying Books, Maja Sereda, Alexandra Krasuska, At the Beach with Bucket and Spade, Caroline Lee, Darshana Shah Khiani, Dream Chaser, Jade Potts, Joans Sahlstrom, Jodi Magi, Little Dragons Babysitter, Muza Ulasowski, Rich Man Poor Man, Sara Davis, Sarah Bash Gleeson, The Sea Cat Dreams, Xengu and the Turn of Tide, Zippitty Zoo Da, children, children's books, books, Uncategorized, Bullying, Poetry, Fiction, Pets, picture books, birds, Cats, Writing, Education, e-books, fantasy, drawing, children's literature, Animals, Teacher Resource, animation, parenting, children's stories, verse, Tarantula, Mending Lucille, story books, Australian Poetry, humorous verse, nonsense verse, children's verse, narrative verse, humorous poetry, numeracy, cross cultural exchange, istorytime, Snow Games, Add a tag
Interview: Joanna Marple on uTales.
Darshana Shah Khiani‘s interview on her Children’s Book Review site, “Flowering Minds”, with new children’s picture book author, Joanna Marple, is revealing on lots lof levels.
Joanna and Darshana met on children’s writer and illustrator FaceBook site, 12 x 12 , a very lively, supportive, share and learn community set up by Julie Hedlund. When Joanna released her very first picture book, a collaboration with the very talented Maja Sereda, Darshana jumped in with the interview offer.
“Snow Games” is a fun tumble and rumpus in winter’s wonderland aimed at 3 to 7 year olds. Maja’s wonderfully endearing little animal characterisations beautifully complement the story.
Joanna shares what it was like to collaborate with Maja to create “Snow Games”. Close collaboration between author and illustrator is a circumstance largely [and sadly] foreign to most traditional print publishing. For Joanna and Maja it was a fun and very rewarding experince. But the interview goes beyond the creation of ”Snow Games”. It also details Joanna’s experience of the uTales website and her thoughts on traditional and digital publishing.
Joanna mentions my collaboration with noted animal and wildlife illustrator, Muza Ulasowski, a story about surviving change, “The Sea Cat Dreams”. Muza was one of many wonderful illustrators I met on the uTales Facebook group and have since worked with to create a varied range of children’s books.
I have found the opportunity to collaborate with illustrators something eminently rewarding, an experience that enriches both participants and results in a more vibrant and much richer work. My first picture book, “Mending Lucille” was also a result of a collaboration. Working with the amazing Sarah Davis was inspirational! I have gone on to collaborate closely with illustrators all over the world to create numbers of other picture books, some digitally published**, some in process with p
Blog: Read Alert (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Book List, young adult literature, verse, youth literature, Add a tag
Verse can so often be a scary undertaking for readers but today we’ve listed some titles that make verse novels relevent and appealing to even the most reluctant.
Song of the Sparrow – Lisa Ann Sandell
The year is 490 AD. Fiery 16-year-old Elaine of Ascolat, the daughter of one of King Arthur’s supporters, lives with her father on Arthur’s base camp, the sole girl in a militaristic world of men. Elaine’s only girl companion is the mysterious Morgan, Arthur’s older sister, but Elaine cannot tell Morgan her deepest secret: She is in love with Lancelot, Arthur’s second-in-command. However, when yet another girl — the lovely Gwynivere— joins their world, Elaine is confronted with startling emotions of jealousy and rivalry.
Words cannot accurately encapsulate how much I adore this book. It is my number gifted book and I am yet to meet a person who fails to realise its magnificence. Even the verse adverse appreciate the gentle turn of phrase, the emotional plight of the heroine and the lovely spin on Arthurian legend.
A Bad Boy Can Be Good For A Girl – Tanya Lee Stone
Josie, Nicolette, and Aviva all get mixed up with a senior boy, a cool, slick, sexy boy who can talk them into doing almost anything he wants. In a blur of high school hormones and personal doubt, each girl struggles with how much to give up and what ultimately to keep for herself. How do girls handle themselves? How much can a boy get away with? And in the end, who comes out on top? A bad boy may always be a bad boy. But this bad boy is about to meet three girls who won’t back down.
A verse book that uses Judy Blume’s Forever as an important plot point? Check.
A book that depicts girls are proactive and strong without needing to excel in archery. Check.
A flowing style that weaves the tale of three independent girls who find themselves confused by their hormones and their choices? Check.
Star Jumps – Lorraine Marwood
A poignant verse novel depicting the joys and heartbreaks of a farming family as they struggle to cope with the devastating effects of long term drought. Told through the eyes of Ruby, day to day farm life involves playing in grassy paddocks with siblings, doing jobs and helping out, and witnessing birth, death and sacrifice. The family are devastated when they have to sell off some of their herd, but in the spirit of hope it is Ruby who tries in her own small way to help the family by making miniature bales of hay.
Skewing a little younger, this award winning title depicts the difficulties of living in Australian rural areas and the stresses that places upon the families that work the land. Marwood has a lovely way with words
There is also:
- Steven Herrick (Sl
0 Comments on Book List: Verse as of 1/1/1900Add a Comment
Blog: Jrpoulter's Weblog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: books, Poetry, Fiction, picture books, Writing, children's literature, website building, craft work, making website, YA, marketing, science fiction, illustration, Reviews, Literacy, non fiction, authors, young adult fiction, Education, e-books, parenting, haiku, writers, website, free, promotion, Short Story, children's stories, verse, poets, story books, humorous verse, children's verse, humorous poetry, Library resource, Home schooling resource, creative writing workshops, creative arts, Add a tag
How to Create a Website in 3 Steps (with 10 thumbs). This is good sense advice succinctly put from Jo Ann Carson. NOTE – you do not have to buy. Word Press, Yola, Weebly and Wix all provide excellent ‘free’ – yes, that’s what I said, ‘FREE’ site templates, easy to assemble [if I can, anyone can] with lots of whizz-bang features!
Blog: Jrpoulter's Weblog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Leonie Norrington, J R Poulter, Hetty Verolme, J.R.McRae, YA, Reading, Uncategorized, Poetry, non fiction, picture books, toys, young adult fiction, teen fiction, Teacher Resource, Short Story, loss, memoirs, verse, Danette, performance, cow, story books, nonsense verse, narrative verse, Speech and Drama, numeracy, Craig Smith, sick children, Michael Salmon, Christian Bocquee, Lindsay Pow, Lola Berry, Marlish Glorie, Add a tag
Can’t remember when I’ve had so much creative fun with such a fantastic group of multitalented folk! 13th to 16th January we arrived in from all over – WA, NT, Vic and ’locals’ Christian and self. We were housed in the Gatton Motel, a leg stretch away from the main venue, not that we needed to walk. We were chauffeur driven everywhere by local Minibus/taxi owner Sue.
This is the door to my room, the non-existent No. 13, on 13th January, a Friday, how lucky can you get! Interesting how many places omit room 13, floor 13 etc etc. Do folk really think we are so bound by superstition and hangovers from the dark ages that we will eschew a room or a whole floor just because of a place in a numeric sequence? Evidently it is so.
Presenting
Our sessions had small groups of ardent attendees at, what for me at any rate, were a series of workshops. who interacted with us freely and kept us on our toes with their questions. [more coming... I just need to sleep now...]
Blog: The Bookish Type (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Author Interview, Lisa Schroeder, Giveaway, contemporary, Verse, The Day Before, Young Adult, Add a tag
Lisa Schroeder is a native Oregonian which means her childhood summers were spent camping, fishing, reading books (of course!) and playing in the sun, when it finally came out. These days, Lisa spends her summers, and every other part of the year, sharing all of the wonderful things Oregon has to offer with her husband and two sons. She is the author of numerous books for kids and teens, including CHASING BROOKLYN (Simon Pulse, 2010) and IT'S RAINING CUPCAKES (Aladdin, 2010).
Which character came to you first – Amber or Cade? What sparked their story in your mind?
Amber came first, though I didn’t know much about her when I started writing. I’m very much a discovery writer, so I take a couple of seeds of ideas, and start in and see where they take me. As Amber began packing that morning for the day, I thought, hmmm, what’s she going to take with her? It was then that I discovered her love of jelly beans and that she was a drummer.
When I started writing, I wasn’t quite sure what was going on in her life that would cause her to want to get away for the day. All I knew was I wanted to write a book that took place over 24 hours, the day before a girl’s life was about to change forever.
How do you think you’d react if you found yourself in Amber’s position?
I think I’d be really pissed off and scared to death. And I honestly can’t imagine doing It – getting on that plane and going to a place unknown.
Amber has fantastic taste in music. Do her preferences reflect your own? If you had to pick a theme song for The Day Before, what would it be? Why?
She’s a big fan of Pink, and I love her too. She also loves White Stripes, which is probably an obvious choice because of the female drummer, and while I enjoy a couple of their songs, I wouldn’t say I’m a huge fan or anything. The other reference in the book that comes from my own tastes is Matt Nathanson. I LOVE him. They’re in Cade’s car at that point, and I could totally see Cade being a Matt Nathanson fan, because Cade is a singer/songwriter I think Matt is one of the best singer/songwriters out there today.
Both Cade and Amber are talented musicians. Do you play any instruments? Are there any you wish you could play?
I wish I could play the guitar. I recently took some lessons, but my hands are just too small and it’s really hard for me. I’ve been toying with the idea of taking piano lessons – we have this beautiful piano in our house that my in-laws gave us, and no one plays it. I can dink around on it, and play melodies by ear, but I am seriously considering taking up lessons in the fall.
What’s your favorite jelly bean flavor? Do you have any calming quirks like Amber’s jelly bean habit?
Oh, hard question. Favorite flav23 Comments on Author Interview: Lisa Schroeder (The Day Before) & Giveaway, last added: 8/1/2011Display Comments Add a Comment
Blog: Publishing a Picture Book - Getting it all together (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: poetry, Children's fiction, children's literature, English, verse, J.R.Poulter, Sylvia Vardell, English Teaching, Janet Hilbun, Add a tag
Poetry for Children: Poetry 2010 Sneak Peek List
Blog: The Bookish Type (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: The Day Before, Trailer Thursday, Young Adult, Romance, Lisa Schroeder, contemporary, Trailer, Verse, new release, Add a tag
The Day Before by Lisa Schroeder
In Stores Now!
Amber’s life is spinning out of control. All she wants is to turn up the volume on her iPod until all of the demands of family and friends fade away. So she sneaks off to the beach to spend a day by herself.
Then Amber meets Cade. Their attraction is instant, and Amber can tell he’s also looking for an escape. Together they decide to share a perfect day: no pasts, no fears, no regrets.
The more time that Amber spends with Cade, the more she’s drawn to him. And the more she’s troubled by his darkness. Because Cade’s not just living in the now—he’s living each moment like it’s his last.
If you've read my review, you know I loved this book. This trailer really captures its essence -- the value of simple moments, the way some days stand out in our minds like a black and white photograph. It perfectly reflects the book's beauty and romance, as well as its sadness, and the simplicity befits Lisa Schroeder's sparse, elegant verse.
Does this trailer make you want to read The Day Before? Have you already read it? Do you think the trailer does it justice?
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Sometimes life is divided into the Before, and the After. Amber knows that today is her last day Before. Before it all changes. Before nothing's the same. And she wants to spend this final day alone, at the beach with the music loud and no regrets. Her plans change, however, when she meets Cade. He seems to be there for the same reason -- living this last day before...what? Amber doesn't know his secret, and they agree not to ask. They just want to live life their way, one more time -- together. But Cade's secret might be more dangerous than Amber imagines, and she may be the only person left to stand between him and what comes After.
I honestly didn't think I could read an entire novel written in verse, but by the second or third page I'd completely forgotten about the style and was engrossed in Lisa Schroeder's tale. It's amazing how much detail and emotion can be conveyed in such few words, but Schroeder's careful word choice makes her sparse verse as vivid as the wordiest prose. The writing is innovative and fast, and piques readers' curiosity about what terrible thing is going to happen to this girl we feel like we've known our whole lives.
Amber finds herself in an impossible situation. At first, the desperation is felt even if the cause is unclear, but Schroeder doesn't make the reader wait too long to understand the circumstances -- revealed through flashbacks in the form of letters sprinkled throughout the text. Amber is utterly sympathetic -- finally a heroine who isn't the beautiful but unnoticed underdog. She is a short and stocky rocker chick with killer taste in music. She has her quirks (like a jelly bean obsession), and a great best friend and loving little sister, who make their presence felt even if they aren't all that present in the narrative action.
Cade's pain is even more of a mystery than Amber's, but he combines it with a wry wit that it utterly beguiling. Their determination to have one last day free of sorrow and full of the little things in life -- chosen by fate and the toss of a coin -- is romantic, if bittersweet. Though their relationship is built over the course of a single day, in this story it works. They are both living the same day -- the day before everything changes -- in the same way, and it binds them in a way they can't even fully express.
This tale has an almost haunted air, the lightness tainted by their somber secrets. As readers get to know these two beautiful people, marred by circumstances beyond their control, through the lyrical lens of Schroeder's verse, their hearts will soar and break and hope and despair right alongside the two teens who just want to live life on their own terms, free from responsibility and obligation -- for just one more day.
Disclosure: I received an advance galley from the publisher for an honest review.
This novel hits shelves today! Click here to purchase The Day Before by Lisa Schroeder.
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Take a peak at what we are doing -
http://www.theartofpuro.com/Toofs.htm
Monica Rondino and Andrea Pucci are creating the images and J.R.Poulter has written the humorous story with rhyming elements, Estelle A. Poulter is the co-author and childcare practice adviser.
What is it about – how to cope with a biting baby!
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“Books Are Fun”
Children’s Book Festival 2011, Family Day 3rd April 2011, 10.00am to 4.00pm
State Library of Victoria and the Wheeler Centre
This free programme of ‘events’ over the Sunday was hugely popular. It was described as “the biggest celebration of children’s books that Melbourne has ever seen”. Families and children’s book lovers crammed into venues to hear a wonderful assemblage of Australia’s leading authors and illustrators. They queued for meter after meter to meet authors and illustrators and have their load of precious books signed. They waited for hours to be able to get into workshops, storytelling and performances.
The ‘Family Day’ was the brainchild of the State Library of Victoria and the Wheeler Centre who held, coordinated and promoted the various sessions. Authors and illustrators were fully utilised, most doing at least two events on the programme. [http://wheelercentre.com/static/files/assets/087ddc27/CBW_Childrensbooks_A4programme-DR7.pdf ]
Some notes from the day:
John Nicholson/Roland Harvey interview with SLV staffer
John Nicholson (architect) – author and illustrator
John started writing fiction. His publisher suggested he write non-fiction.
Working with A&U - John has an idea and approaches them with it or they have an idea and approach John. At one stage they seemed to take a turn about with this process. He now just develops ‘the ideas I want to’. He prefers to work alone now.
John agreed with Roland, in creating an authentic “Sense of place” it was important, if at all possible, to do the research for the text and images on location.
Roland Harvey (architect) author and illustrator
History was something that always fascinated him and which initially led him to writing and illustrating books.
Family activities have inspired some of his books – “At the Beach” and ‘To the Top End”. “You need to know, to “feel” the place you are writing about. To research you should “be there to be really successful”. Otherwise ther is the internet but Roland considered this sort of research “much harder” in trying to create a real sense of ‘place’.
He collaborates a lot. His latest book is a collaboration with Mem Fox which was launched at the Family Day. He doesn’t publish any more and mainly works with Penguin and A&U. He liked the freedom he had as publisher. He surrounded himself with experts in each area. He found his best books were done “against the advice of others”. It was risky but he LOVED the freedom to do what he was passionate about.
His next project is another picture book based on family travels. He is also avidly exploring Apps and is excited about this development in children’s books.
Terry Denton/Chris Morpeth interview with SLV staffer
Terry Denton author/illustrator
The place where I like to write/draw:
I have a studio in my backyard. It is quiet, no distractions.
“Gasp” is my favourite of my creations.
Denton and Andy Griffith go away for a week together when working on a new joint project to ‘get it started’.
Chris Morpeth (former teacher) author
The place where I like to write:
In a café over coffee – there are no distractions. At home, I get distracted with Nintendo and Mario. I make my stories up as I go along. I think the more you do the better you get.
Terry & Chris agreed re book writing/creation, “If it is too organised, it doesn’t work!”
Leigh Hobbs interview with SLV staffer
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SENDAI – Anthology
- We accept short stories and poems of any genre, as long as they are PG-13, relatively hopeful in nature and loosely themed around the strength of the human spirit. It would be a bonus if your workalso has a Japan theme!
- Short stories should be 500 – 5,000 words long. Poems should be 35 lines or longer.
- Send your work as a double-spaced Word document in Times New Roman, black font size 12. Please indent the first line of each paragraph by half an inch.
- E-mail your story as an attachment to [email protected]. In the body of your e-mail, please include your name as you would like it to appear in the anthology, followed by a short biography written in the third person. Feel free to include web addresses in your bio!
- The deadline for submissions is May 15th. A list of accepted submissions will be announced on May 30th.
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GREAT resources! Thanks so much for sharing!
I’d also like to add another Google doc, “Kindle Freebie Day Promo Places,” which lists where to promote your book on the day it’s free: http://bit.ly/OEUNLj
Thanks for adding this, Delin, appreciated!
Thanks for dropping by Julie! Note the additional resource Delin has kindly added in her comment.