tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24888040178604208182024-03-13T21:17:59.554-07:00Literally Lynne MarieAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07697284231423675583noreply@blogger.comBlogger406125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488804017860420818.post-25972677460788098842021-04-30T00:00:00.001-07:002021-04-30T00:00:08.343-07:00THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY: Jet the Cat (Is Not a Cat) by Phaea Crede<p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jacket Flap Copy from Book </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-urnH-K-5DBI/YAs25RiwRqI/AAAAAAAADAc/TwUOX5vCbQYHe8qV8GarW734nUToW84YwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/JetTheCat_GENHBPB_FC_CMYK_300dpi%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1626" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-urnH-K-5DBI/YAs25RiwRqI/AAAAAAAADAc/TwUOX5vCbQYHe8qV8GarW734nUToW84YwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/JetTheCat_GENHBPB_FC_CMYK_300dpi%2B%25281%2529.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jet is not like any other cat. But when a bird, frog and goat try to convince her that she must be some other type of animal, she finds that she doesn’t fit neatly into any of those boxes either. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">This sweet, zany story reminds us to enjoy the ways we’re unique.</span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><span id="docs-internal-guid-9640c929-7fff-9497-f134-d6ad6b379a74"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Story Behind JET THE CAT (IS NOT A CAT)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">By Phaea Crede</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Illustrated by Terry Runyan</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Barefoot Books, May 1 2021 </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jet and her love of swimming was inspired by my mom’s cat Eddie, who is obsessed with baths. Since loving water usually goes against everything cats stand for, I tried to imagine what other cats might think if they caught Eddie happily splashing around. I figured another cat (named Tom in the story) would look down on Jet, maybe even tell her she wasn’t a </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">real</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> cat if she liked water.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tom reminded me of the phenomenon of gatekeepers—people who think they get to tell other people what they can or cannot be, and can or cannot like. Like most kids, I’d faced a number of the gatekeeping-type bullies in my day (one girl told me that my name couldn’t </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">really</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> start with a P if it sounded like an F!). Looking back, I suspect they all those would-be gatekeepers had something they were insecure about that they were trying to hide. And (spoiler alert) all Jet’s bullies do too!</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Once I started drafting out Jet’s story, I realized the text was also speaking to something I’d buried deep inside myself: my dyslexia. I’d always loved writing stories, but my learning disability made it hard to master spelling and grammar as a child, and eventually I gave up trying to write creatively. I decided at age 8 that </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">real </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">writers didn’t have dyslexia. 31 years later I have officially proven myself wrong! </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As seriously as I wanted to take Jet’s struggles to figure out what she really was, I also knew I wanted to make the story funny. Since Jet spends the book trying out new identities, I latched onto the idea that the story could “restart” every few pages, getting sillier and sillier. Jet is a cat just like any other cat. Jet is a frog just like any other frog. Jet is a goat just like any other goat! The repetition also was meant to underscore how hard Jet was trying to be “normal”, which she totally rejects by the end. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fun Fact: In an early draft of Jet, she also becomes a Martian and a cat-faced dragon from Alpine Folklore!</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Once I’d revised Jet the Cat (is Not a Cat) a solid 14 times (shout out to my critique group Friends with Words), I decided it was time to take the manuscript on submission. I was not agented at the time, but through the 2018 NESCBWI Agent/Editor day, I had the chance to submit a story to Lisa Rosinsky, senior editor of Barefoot Books. Barefoot Books is known for their beautiful, socially- conscious books and I suspected Lisa might like Jet. I was right! March 2020, Lisa officially became my editor and Jet the Cat stepped into her full glory thanks to the exquisite art of Terry Runyan.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jet the Cat (Is Not a Cat) is a story that means more to me than I even realized when I was writing it, and I can’t wait to share this spunky black cat with the world! Jet the Cat (is Not a Cat) will be published May 1 2021.</span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-px63i1UBlYE/YAs3XaRnXHI/AAAAAAAADAk/WhjMTn1U144ePMBb05fAHNwKhO7WUbFTwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/PhaeaCredeHeadshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1635" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-px63i1UBlYE/YAs3XaRnXHI/AAAAAAAADAk/WhjMTn1U144ePMBb05fAHNwKhO7WUbFTwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/PhaeaCredeHeadshot.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Author Bio</span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Phaea Crede loves writing silly picture books for silly kids. Serious kids, too! Her debut picture book </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jet the Cat (Is Not a Cat) </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">will be published May 2021 by Barefoot Books. Phaea lives outside of Boston with her husband, two kiddos, two cats, and a slightly stinky dog named Gus. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Website Link</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="http://www.phaeacrede.com" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">www.phaeacrede.com</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Social Media Links</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Twitter: </span><a href="https://twitter.com/PhaeaCrede" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">@phaeacrede</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Instagram:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/phaeacrede/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">@phaeacrede</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/PhaeaCrede/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Facebook Group!</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><br />Lynne Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11695955315347988034noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488804017860420818.post-51260881079151536012021-04-13T09:45:00.058-07:002021-05-08T16:27:00.130-07:00MASSAGING THE MUSE: Three's Company by Lynne Marie<p>Reprinted from The Writer's Journey, May/June 2007</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6gfejZQhebo/YHXJwcOQooI/AAAAAAAADug/VdenVtf_1B0N9JuCedFzG-_qBLwo3O7zACLcBGAsYHQ/s468/Magic%2B3%2B2%2B.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="468" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6gfejZQhebo/YHXJwcOQooI/AAAAAAAADug/VdenVtf_1B0N9JuCedFzG-_qBLwo3O7zACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Magic%2B3%2B2%2B.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>The number three plays an important role in language, life and literature. As writers, we can try to use the strength, rhythm and logic (not to mention the magic) of the number three to our advantage. </p><p>When things come in threes, they tend to be funnier, more satisfying and more effective. It is a tried-and-true method to have the main character in a story make three (failed) attempts to solve the story problem before a final scene in which he/she either solves the story problem or comes/does not come to terms with failure. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AkHD0ZeGQCA/YHXJ4KutBsI/AAAAAAAADuk/vFd9_a1OQsgiDApIsfHgoyx5FizTT9h9QCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Magic%2B3.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1180" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AkHD0ZeGQCA/YHXJ4KutBsI/AAAAAAAADuk/vFd9_a1OQsgiDApIsfHgoyx5FizTT9h9QCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Magic%2B3.jpeg" /></a></div><br />I've noticed that some stories, especially those by beginning writers, have one character. If this is true in your case, toss in two more characters (perhaps a friend and a foe) and allow them to interact to make the story come alive and increase tension. Consider Cinderella, who had three opposing forces working against her: the wicked step-mother and two evil stepsisters. You may want to play around with the possibilities. <p></p><p>Other uses of three in fiction: Have an action occur (1), and then get worse (2), and then get even worse, or just repeat three actions. See which works best. You may want to use three props, tangible or intangible, to focus your story around or to help achieve your main character's story goal. Others have successfully used wishes, beans, questions, stars, cities and roads to name a few. </p><p>In nonfiction (and fiction), each time you mention a fact--like an actual person, place, or thing, or date--you must have three sources for the publisher to document/back-up that fact. Photocopy or scan or screenshot the cover page, copyright page and the page of the reference book in which the information appears. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CouowHRLPwE/YJcci_19GcI/AAAAAAAADxA/1nqqeYhCNJQzevsgxhFiuE_4sTORhMICgCLcBGAsYHQ/s275/Me%2BHeadshot.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CouowHRLPwE/YJcci_19GcI/AAAAAAAADxA/1nqqeYhCNJQzevsgxhFiuE_4sTORhMICgCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/Me%2BHeadshot.jpeg" /></a></div>As you can see, three is not only magic, but it's also a writer's friend! <p></p><p><br /></p><p>Lynne Marie is the Owner and Administrator of Rate Your Story and The Picture Book Mechanic critique<br />and consultation services. She's the Children's Book Insider (CBI) Editor and Agent Spotlight Feature Editor for Children's Book Insider. She's a multi-published author of <span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Hedgehog Goes to Kindergarten (Scholastic, 2011) -- </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">art by Anne Kennedy (Scholastic 2011), </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Hedgehog's 100th Day of School</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> – art by Lorna Hussey (Scholastic 2017), </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The Star of the Christmas Play</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> -- art by Lorna Hussey (Beaming Books 2018), </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Moldilocks and the 3 Scares</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> -- art by David Rodriguez Lorenzo (Sterling 2019 and Scholastic 2019) </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">and </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Let’s Eat! Mealtime Around the World --</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">art by Parwinder Singh (Beaming Books 2019), </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">American Pie</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">(Dancing Flamingo Press, 2022) and another forthcoming. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">When she’s not searching for the magic of three,</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;"> she lives on </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">a lake in South Florida with her family, a Schipperke named Anakin and several resident water</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">birds. </span></p><div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Visit her at </span><a href="http://www.literallylynnemarie.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">www.LiterallyLynneMarie.com</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">.</span><p></p><p><br /></p></div></div><p><span id="docs-internal-guid-c1309e64-7fff-320b-262d-01be28a36519"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div><p><br /></p></div></div>Lynne Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11695955315347988034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488804017860420818.post-53818470170676288572021-04-02T03:27:00.005-07:002021-04-02T03:27:00.200-07:00PPBF: Animals in the Sky by Sara Gillingham <p>TITLE: <a href="https://amzn.to/3sFeXtA">Animals in the Sky</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aPW-tziRzAs/YGRrYdvhFrI/AAAAAAAADsM/oiShrXOI1Yc7hI3JHS6tiTUNL18vE9zwwCLcBGAsYHQ/s268/AITS_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="188" data-original-width="268" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aPW-tziRzAs/YGRrYdvhFrI/AAAAAAAADsM/oiShrXOI1Yc7hI3JHS6tiTUNL18vE9zwwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/AITS_2.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p>AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: </p><p><span> Sara Gillingham</span><br /></p><p><span>PUBLISHER: Phaidon 2020</span></p><p><span>FORMAT: Board Book </span></p><p>SNIPPET: <i>Every night when the sky is clear, it's filled with twinkling stars. But did you know that it's full of pictures, too?</i></p><p><i>If you draw lines between some of the brightest stars, you can find animals. </i></p><p><i>Like me! I have two pointy ears and I love to hop. Can you guess what animal I am? </i></p><p>THREE REASONS TO READ: </p><p>1.<span> Although it has fold out sections, it is a sturdy board book and can be enjoyed by little ones. </span></p><p><span>2.<span> The riddles are fun and simple. </span></span></p><p><span><span>3.<span> Many kids love the sky, space, planets and constellations and this is a fun book that focuses on animal constellations. </span></span></span></p><p><span><span>I'm personally excited about this book as I think my nephew will love it! Reach for your copy of this stellar book <a href="https://amzn.to/3sFeXtA" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</span></span></p><p>NOTE: This book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Lynne Marie, Children's Author</p><p style="text-align: center;">www.literallylynnemarie.com</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r5Tg4eCfXGI/XTYPLpCicVI/AAAAAAAAB0U/hWaGK7v1GaIZaJcdrcCNTDgofGizy6uDwCPcBGAYYCw/s678/Books.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="678" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r5Tg4eCfXGI/XTYPLpCicVI/AAAAAAAAB0U/hWaGK7v1GaIZaJcdrcCNTDgofGizy6uDwCPcBGAYYCw/s320/Books.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Lynne Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11695955315347988034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488804017860420818.post-76625327546688587652021-04-01T03:00:00.020-07:002021-04-01T03:00:01.582-07:00THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY: H is for Haiku <div class="separator"><p style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </p></div><div class="separator"><p style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"> <img alt="C:\Users\Amy\Documents\H IS FOR HAIKU BOOK COVER PENNY CANDY BOOKS March 2018.jpg" height="320" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/isqbzpBu08GAVVIbfpsVHmDg4D4EJMqNkX2YXDEswf25xgd7Ks095XU8KVLaqBdgoO3ZbuO68LRjMuVJex5CQCwGDR0sBgIOW6yfrtDLQ5918g8juqkcLfhSf9iDG8IrVTEVDbY=w243-h320" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;" width="243" /></p></div><p> THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY: H IS FOR HAIKU by Amy Losak</p><p>The journey to the publication of H Is For Haiku: A Treasury of Haiku from A to Z , started from a tragic occasion in my family: my mother Sydell Rosenberg’s sudden death from an aortic aneurysm one beautiful October morning in 1996.</p><p>As we were leaving the cemetery in Queens, NY, my sister-in-law, Debbie Rosenberg (married to my younger brother, Natha), said (I’m paraphrasing): “We will publish the children’s poetry book she always wanted.”</p><p>And thus began the road that took decades for me to walk. That road was anything but linear or smooth.</p><p>Syd was a teacher in NY and a published writer. More than anything, I think, she loved haiku. She was a charter member of the nonprofit Haiku Society of America in 1968 (https://www.hsa-haiku.org/) , an organization I belong to today. She studied, practiced, and wrote haiku for years, and just about up until the day she died.</p><p>Mom always wanted to publish a poetry picture book, preferably an alphabet reader. She had created a couple of manuscripts (not all are haiku), and I know she submitted them to publishers. Somewhere among her piles of papers and materials, I have some rejection letters she kept.</p><p>When she died, I became paralyzed with grief, depression, and fear. The messy ups and downs of life interfered, including having to figure out care for our father, Sam Rosenberg, who suffered from dementia. But I also allowed them to interfere with realizing her dream. They became my “excuse” for procrastination and inaction.</p><p>It took years to tackle my severe emotional inertia, thanks to a terrific therapist, as well as loving family, friends, colleagues, and writers.</p><p>Around 2011, I also became acutely aware that time was not on my side. I was now middle-aged. The burden of the goal Debbie had expressed in the cemetery was almost crushing. </p><p>Still afraid, but with some determination, I finally undertook a number of projects to revive some of mom’s haiku for kids. I took small steps. I stumbled and backtracked and fell along the way, but I also made progress. It was hard work and sometimes painful -- but I also had fun, to my surprise. I enjoyed my endeavors and coming up with creative ideas.</p><p>In 2016, thanks to a haiku acquaintance, Aubrie Cox Warner, (https://kattywompuspress.com/shop/books-and-chapbooks/out-of-translation-by-aubrie-cox/), I learned about a new independent children’s publisher, Penny Candy Book (https://www.pennycandybooks.com). Penny Candy was started by two poets, Chad Reynolds and Alexis Orgera. They were looking for a variety of fresh voices. They didn’t require agent representation. I subbed one of mom’s old manuscripts I had edited. On October 31, 2016, I signed the contract!</p><p>On April 10, 2018 – during National Poetry Month – H Is For Haiku was released. The vivid lettering and illustrations are by the extraordinary Sawsan Chalabi (https://www.schalabi.com). I wrote the introduction. Syd’s and my decades-old dream had at last come true.</p><p>Each haiku in this collection is like a little story, reveling in the small moments that make up our daily lives. The National Council for Teachers of English honored it as a 2019 “Notable Poetry Book.” It also was shortlisted for a 2018 poetry “Cybils” award.</p><p><span id="docs-internal-guid-67692017-7fff-9a38-5fbc-81ecdd0fe674"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 401px; overflow: hidden; width: 624px;"><img alt="C:\Users\Amy\Pictures\Even In the Air and First Library Card Haiku from H IS FOR HAIKU Sydell Rosenberg February 2 2020.jpg" height="401" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/Ni-HLjZ6ocxFfztofNvElPE7PjeIKMN-G7bdL4EY-DHaZp4CukmqZb_7FuNAprgdwzg3Ujf52myHiVPxUG3NGhPxK00Lo2wQVzdLpLd0CjqFIEmD6kiptceumhb96PsAzOiePO4" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="624" /></span></span></span></p><p>I am not finished with our journey or reaching for dreams. In 2020, mom’s poetry chapbook, Poised Across the Sky, was released (https://kattywompuspress.com/shop/books-and-chapbooks/poised-across-the-sky-by-sydell-rosenberg/)</p><p>I have a second haiku picture book out on submission. This one combines both our work. I’m excited. We will see what happens!</p><p>I also have three of Syd’s short stories out to literary magazines.</p><p>And I’m pleased and proud to be a member of an extraordinary group of women who write children’s books with Jewish topics, themes, and values. <a href="https://www.thebookmeshuggenahs.com" target="_blank">The Book Meshuggenahs</a> website is chock-full of resources, such as coloring pages, activities, and teacher guides. We even held a “chai-ku” contest last year, and received some lovely haiku entries highlighting aspects of Jewish culture and customs. We are conducting a second contest this year too! Please see our website for submission details and prizes, as well aslast year’s winners (deadline: May 31).Along this circuitous road, I learned how to slow down and linger over the little things we may overlook, but make our lives special. I am deeply grateful to many kind people who have helped me find this gift – including, of course, my mom – and gave me the support I needed to attain our dream.</p><p>I hope everyone has a haiku 2021, filled with bits of magic!<img alt="C:\Users\Amy\Pictures\Amy Losak 2015 - I think - With Cardigan Mitch Vera House on LI.jpg" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/mYish0nJ1_O7-6xjEC3ntJEFUIDBFaPAMAabPcwGf7lxUn7M8fAMX3PxN8XdN6X67mXs9vAiQCThIc3rVx7ZvYa5GiKG-SHl0puCYr28UeMyTLrVAwRL48s6ume3IqL1NJjQMx4=s16000" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">B</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">io:</span></p><p>Amy Losak is an experienced public relations professional specializing in healthcare media relations. </p><p>Thanks to her mother Sydell Rosenberg’s literary influence, Amy writes and publishes her own haiku today. Her publications include Acorn, Akitsu Quarterly, Autumn Moon Haiku Journal, brass bell: a haiku journal, Failed Haiku, Frameless Sky, Frogpond (the journal of the Haiku Society of America), Hedgerow, The Heron’s Nest, Modern Haiku, Newtown Literary, Tinywords, Prune Juice; and more. </p><p>Amy’s and Syd’s work are also featured in several recent anthologies, such as All the Way Home: Aging in Haiku (edited by Robert Epstein; Amazon), behind the mask: haiku in the time of Covid-19 (edited by Margaret Dornaus; Amazon), and Another Trip Around the Sun: 365 Days of Haiku for Children Young and Old (edited by Jessica Malone Latham; http://www.brooksbookshaiku.com/Latham-AnotherTrip.html)</p><p>Syd’s senryu (short and often wry poems about human nature) are featured in The Poetry of US: More than 200 poems that celebrate the people, places, and passions of the United States (edited by J. Patrick Lewis, former Children’s Poet Laureate; Amazon)</p><p>Some Links:</p><p>•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>H Is For Haiku lesson article: </p><p>o<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>https://teachersandwritersmagazine.org/making-small-moments-big-teaching-haiku-with-sydell-rosenberg-5594.htm</p><p><br /></p><p>•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Sydell:</p><p>o<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>https://thehaikufoundation.org/poet-details/?IDclient=1755</p><p><br /></p><p>•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Amy:</p><p>o<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>https://www.pennycandybooks.com/blog-1/losak</p><p>o<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-losak-836b686/</p><p>o<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>https://thehaikufoundation.org/poet-details/?IDclient=2571</p><p><br /></p><p>Note:</p><p>H Is For Haiku from Penny Candy Books is available everywhere.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>###</p><p><br /></p>Lynne Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11695955315347988034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488804017860420818.post-55804092333861874322021-03-26T03:00:00.007-07:002021-03-26T03:00:03.573-07:00The Story Behind the Story of The Superlative A. Lincoln by E. R. Meyer<p><br /></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bluGFbv4lIQ/YFigkyH4P4I/AAAAAAAADUo/-Wjr-znWrwQ5t4rNV9KD3KY4X_dX5RvtQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/SuperlativeALincolnFINALCover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1303" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bluGFbv4lIQ/YFigkyH4P4I/AAAAAAAADUo/-Wjr-znWrwQ5t4rNV9KD3KY4X_dX5RvtQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/SuperlativeALincolnFINALCover.jpg" /></a></div><p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: left;">Thank you for inviting me to share this story on
your blog, Lynne! Here’s </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: left;">my</i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: left;"> story about how this book came to be.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">As
an Illinois native, I’ve always admired Abraham Lincoln. In 2013, I read an
adult biography about Lincoln and it struck me that there were still so many
interesting stories about our sixteenth president that could be shared. I
explored further and visited the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and
Museum and other historic sites in Springfield, Illinois and also interviewed
the presidential historian there at the time. The more I learned, the more I
wanted to share these fresh and different stories about this famous leader. Most
young readers know the basic framework of Lincoln’s life, so I found a way to
build on that in a fresh and interesting way.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">BUT,
I needed to make my book different from the oodles of books that have written
about our 16</span><sup style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">th</sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> president. My book is unique in that it celebrates </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">superlatives</i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">, which most kids find
fascinating. They enjoy learning about who is the tallest, the first at
something, or the best at accomplishing a particular milestone. And each story
about Lincoln is told through poetry—there are nineteen poems in this 48-page
picture book. For example, you’ll learn why Lincoln was the “Most Distracted
Farmer” when he was a young man, that he was known as the “Best Wrestler” in
the county and had the “Most Surprising Friendship” with another famous icon.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q-D1PGniCHA/YFihHCQXmuI/AAAAAAAADUw/DLCL5vwXAF8b6u3qrwr8CrJ87W9fIre6gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1047/Most%2BStudious%2BSpread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="812" data-original-width="1047" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q-D1PGniCHA/YFihHCQXmuI/AAAAAAAADUw/DLCL5vwXAF8b6u3qrwr8CrJ87W9fIre6gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Most%2BStudious%2BSpread.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Poetry
provides the reader with an opportunity to slow down, pause and reflect. Using
lyrical language, sound, rhythm, and form, a poem can engage a reader in a very
special way. Additionally, most poems are bite-sized morsels and include plenty
of white space on the page. That space allows readers to think and dream about
the topic, providing room to form their own connections.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XWiaBceaUO8/YFihV7j97MI/AAAAAAAADU4/oKT7piHQW9kl4PkmgLXQARozIn0S2j0AwCLcBGAsYHQ/s743/Most%2BSurprising%2BFriendship%2BSnip.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="606" data-original-width="743" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XWiaBceaUO8/YFihV7j97MI/AAAAAAAADU4/oKT7piHQW9kl4PkmgLXQARozIn0S2j0AwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Most%2BSurprising%2BFriendship%2BSnip.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">I
hope that young readers will relate to these stories about our sixteenth
president and will also consider how Lincoln’s actions and wisdom apply to our
world today.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">The
book has been chosen as an Illinois READS 2021 selection and it also won a
Silver Medal in the Florida Book Awards, Older Children’s Literature category. I
hope readers enjoy these stories about Lincoln, and think about ways in which
they, too, are superlative!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iNV3hnVyhcw/YFihgA6n03I/AAAAAAAADVE/CQzQrQeUQQwWh8iK0g0oxZJJyCXcHQtvACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Eileen%2BMeyer%2BBlack%2B%2526%2BWhite%2BPhoto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1390" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iNV3hnVyhcw/YFihgA6n03I/AAAAAAAADVE/CQzQrQeUQQwWh8iK0g0oxZJJyCXcHQtvACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Eileen%2BMeyer%2BBlack%2B%2526%2BWhite%2BPhoto.jpg" /></a></div>Eileen
Meyer writes picture books and poetry. Her works include <a href="https://amzn.to/3fgCXzt" target="_blank"><i>The Superlative A. Lincoln</i>: <i>Poems About Our 16<sup>th</sup>
President</i></a> (Charlesbridge); <i>Sweet
Dreams, Wild Animals,</i> and other titles. Eileen loves visiting schools and
speaking to gatherings of fellow writers, educators and librarians. Eileen is a
long-time member of SCBWI and has volunteered in many roles over the years.
Eileen and her husband split their time between Illinois and North Florida and
have three sons. For more information and to contact Eileen, please visit <a href="http://www.eileenmeyerbooks.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">www.EileenMeyerBooks.com</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">On
Twitter @Writer_Meyer<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">On
Instagram Eileen@EileenMeyerBooks<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">FB: eileenmeyerbook</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>From Lynne Marie: The best and fastest way to pick up a copy of this book, click <a href="https://amzn.to/3fgCXzt" target="_blank">HERE</a>. Available in Hardback AND Kindle! #AdLynne Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11695955315347988034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488804017860420818.post-38345251719064585472021-03-25T03:00:00.000-07:002021-03-25T03:00:10.180-07:00The Story Behind the Story of The Star Festival by M. R. Hadley<p><span style="font-size: 14pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://amzn.to/30YKeve" target="_blank">THE STAR FESTIVAL </a></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AoXNOGVBrWA/YFaO5oO1ODI/AAAAAAAADTI/u8Vvn6DB7UANUmZSnp-RmuTFHJe2vmY2QCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/StarFestival_CVR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1656" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AoXNOGVBrWA/YFaO5oO1ODI/AAAAAAAADTI/u8Vvn6DB7UANUmZSnp-RmuTFHJe2vmY2QCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/StarFestival_CVR.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-cb325986-7fff-dde3-42fc-f1b76b03df5d"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Written by Moni Ritchie Hadley </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Illustrated by Mizuho Fujisawa </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Albert Whitman & Company </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Moniritchie.com @bookthreader </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Have you ever thought about living with your parents again? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This was a conversation topic I had with a friend some time ago before moving my mom in with me. She had been living in Montana, alone after my father’s passing, and after a few years, it became apparent that living alone was not an ideal situation anymore. Among other reasons, her meds were starting to look like opened bags of scattered skittles on her kitchen countertop, with no semblance of order. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Right before I left for my Hawaiian Honeymoon, my siblings and I decided that Mom would move in with me into a converted downstairs living area in my house. Yes, I do have a nice husband! I took a leave of absence from my then teaching position. I learned the ropes of caring for an older adult, including monitoring and understanding meds, taking her to numerous doctor appointments, reminding her not to forget to bring certain items when we left the house, and cooking meals. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here’s the part that relates to my picture book. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Are you saying to yourself, “This sounds like my toddler and me!” Well, I thought the same thing. So, I cranked out a young picture book called Baby Understands. I have to admit, I was pretty in love with that first draft. After months of trying to perfect that manuscript, I finally tackled the story’s main problem, making it less of a mom’s story and shifting the perspective to the kid’s point of view. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At that time, I enrolled in the Children’s Book Academy’s The Craft & Business of Writing Picture Books. I had intended to work on another manuscript but was having trouble with the assignments—characters and characters driving the plot. I pulled out this manuscript toward the end of the course and brought it to a scheduled critique session with an editor. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the story, a young girl and her mother lose Oba, the girl’s grandmother, at a general-sort-of festival. The editor inquired about which festival, to which I had no answer. That began my dig into the thousands of festivals that take place in Japan every year. Memories as a child attending these festivals started to return to me as I researched. The Tanabata Matsuri, the Star Festival, stood out because of the colorful decorations, ornaments, and fireworks. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8VwG_ACMv7I/YFaQhXCTnbI/AAAAAAAADTg/VRN6EaRXZzw4ah89hfj0PuyJU5UdrNOMwCLcBGAsYHQ/s284/Star%2BFestival%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="177" data-original-width="284" height="249" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8VwG_ACMv7I/YFaQhXCTnbI/AAAAAAAADTg/VRN6EaRXZzw4ah89hfj0PuyJU5UdrNOMwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h249/Star%2BFestival%2B2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I read about the history and origins, my fascination with the festival grew. The story of two star-crossed lovers unable to meet but once a year grabbed me. The separation of the two stars served as a perfect metaphor for Oba separated from her family. Once I changed the setting, I knew I was on to a better manuscript. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In class, my pitch for the revision caught the attention of an editor, Christina Pulles, at Albert Whitman & Company. She acquired the manuscript after a few months offering me my first picture book contract. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When I think back to the moment when I moved my mom downstairs, I realize that this particular story would never have existed had she not come to live with me. Thanks, Mom! </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p_n8KOYSguw/YFaPCDCrHLI/AAAAAAAADTM/qENzv5cWMZ8PnM1h4xjz2RHcvPQTnoaiQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/MoniRH%2Bcopy%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1752" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p_n8KOYSguw/YFaPCDCrHLI/AAAAAAAADTM/qENzv5cWMZ8PnM1h4xjz2RHcvPQTnoaiQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/MoniRH%2Bcopy%2B2.jpg" /></a></div>Bio <p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Moni Ritchie Hadley, a half-Japanese military brat, bounced back and forth from the USA to Japan. Daydreaming was a favorite pastime. She received a BA in Psychology at UCLA and later became a home/hospital teacher for the LAUSD, where she taught students with medical needs. Today she lives in Los Angeles, where she turns her sky-gazing daydreams into stories for children. Also published in Highlights Magazine, <a href="https://amzn.to/30YKeve" target="_blank">THE STAR FESTIVAL</a> is her picture book debut. Get your copy of this book <a href="https://amzn.to/30YKeve" target="_blank">HERE</a>. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Moni is giving away a signed copy of her debut picture book, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">THE STAR FESTIVAL. Enter here: </span><a href="https://mailchi.mp/6d906fc988f3/z5zn268dt3" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://mailchi.mp/6d906fc988f3/z5zn268dt3</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">moniritchie.com </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Twitter and Instagram: @bookthreader</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><div><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>Lynne Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11695955315347988034noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488804017860420818.post-74330491329763703822021-03-24T03:00:00.035-07:002021-03-24T03:00:05.911-07:00The Story Behind the Story of Scarlet's Magic Paintbrush by Melissa Stoller <p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LIEsrIorlFs/YFeiuCkWQ8I/AAAAAAAADUA/FDUxMDQy32Y6UJaQ9v5Pm2OO2TuGIridACLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/Scarlet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LIEsrIorlFs/YFeiuCkWQ8I/AAAAAAAADUA/FDUxMDQy32Y6UJaQ9v5Pm2OO2TuGIridACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Scarlet.jpg" /></a></div><br />Thank you, Lynne Marie, for featuring me and the “story
behind the story” of my picture book, <a href="https://amzn.to/2Pf0Pbq" target="_blank">SCARLET’S MAGIC PAINTBRUSH</a> (illustrated
by Sandie Sonke, Clear Fork Publishing, 2018). And I’m delighted to offer a
sneak peek about the soon-to-be released sequel, RETURN OF THE MAGIC PAINTBRUSH
(illustrate by Sandie Sonke, CFP, 2021).<p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p><a href="https://amzn.to/2Pf0Pbq" target="_blank">SCARLET’S MAGIC PAINTBRUSH</a> is all about exploring the
magical creativity that we possess, and also about letting go of perfection.
The inspiration came from my love of art and art history, and particularly my
fondness for The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. One of my
favorite childhood books was <i>From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E.
Frankweiler</i> by E.L. Konigsburg, about siblings who pursued a grand
adventure at the Met. I visit the museum often, and always think about how the
author used the museum as the backdrop for that story. One day, I stood in
front of one of the incredible Impressionist paintings at the Met and wondered:
What if I had a magic paintbrush and could paint perfect pictures like Claude
Monet? I imagined all sorts of amazing artwork gracing my walls! And then I
wondered: What if I lost that magic paintbrush? How could I continue painting? And
then finally . . . what would happen if the magic paintbrush reappeared? I
envisioned an art-filled adventure, just like in my favorite childhood book!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AF2rxAYTLic/YFejUk-dH7I/AAAAAAAADUI/yHHz1rYk-sE0qTVzlsmG9uhgwF80pzlQQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1908/Melissa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="1431" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AF2rxAYTLic/YFejUk-dH7I/AAAAAAAADUI/yHHz1rYk-sE0qTVzlsmG9uhgwF80pzlQQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Melissa.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Well, the story idea blossomed from there. I wrote about a
little girl named Scarlet (her name is an oil paint color I love). And I
imagined Scarlet’s magical, mystical paintbrush. Publisher Callie Metler also
loves art history and happily bought the manuscript. Art Director and Editor
Mira Reisberg added the amazing illustrator Sandie Sonke into the project, and
Sandie brought the story to life with her whimsical artwork. Whenever I read
the story at school visits, children love looking at all the details, and searching
for the adorable dog that Sandie included on each page.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But the story didn’t stop there. I kept thinking about these
characters and the theme of finding your own magical creativity. And in fact, I
wrote a sequel that will be releasing from Clear Fork in 2021. RETURN OF THE
MAGIC PAINTBRUSH features the same amazing team. I can’t wait to share this
friendship story, which features Paintbrush returning to say she is sorry for
being too bossy, and to help Scarlet with a big artistic problem. The vibrant
illustrations are gorgeous, and feature stunning nature scenes. I am so excited
that this collaboration has continued and I look forward to sharing the book
cover and the whole book soon!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cp9l-QXQjrM/YFejohDFvoI/AAAAAAAADUU/hlXkK17NiRUekCkq45mEJvdCKg5kNIVNgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1431/Scarlet%2BSpread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="721" data-original-width="1431" height="322" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cp9l-QXQjrM/YFejohDFvoI/AAAAAAAADUU/hlXkK17NiRUekCkq45mEJvdCKg5kNIVNgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h322/Scarlet%2BSpread.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal">In the meantime, I hope that this “story behind the story”
might inspire you to ask “what if” questions, to wonder, to observe everything
in your world, to reflect on your favorite childhood books, and perhaps to find
a spark of inspiration at a place you love, like I did at the Metropolitan
Museum.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Cheers to magical creativity!</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9kHu8q5WMsY/YFejya2h0bI/AAAAAAAADUc/A5zsEKQaihkKKf37fAMl0MD-dzD-LwcagCLcBGAsYHQ/s1431/Melissa%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1431" data-original-width="1073" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9kHu8q5WMsY/YFejya2h0bI/AAAAAAAADUc/A5zsEKQaihkKKf37fAMl0MD-dzD-LwcagCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Melissa%2B2.jpg" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>BIO:</b></p><p class="MsoNormal">
Melissa Stoller is the author of the chapter book series <i>The <a href="https://amzn.to/3cRFfCd" target="_blank">EnchantedSnow Globe Collection - Return to Coney Island</a></i> (Clear Fork
Publishing, 2017); and the picture books <i><a href="https://amzn.to/2Pf0Pbq" target="_blank">Scarlet’s Magic Paintbrush</a></i>,
<i><a href="https://amzn.to/2Pcgj07" target="_blank">Ready, Set, GOrilla!</a></i>, and <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3lFQkKr" target="_blank">Sadie’s Shabbat Stories</a></i>. (Clear
Fork, 2018 and 2020). Melissa is a Blogger and Course Assistant for the
Children’s Book Academy, a Regional Ambassador for The Chapter Book Challenge,
a Moderator for the Debut Picture Book Study Group, a volunteer with
SCBWI/MetroNY, and a founding member of The Book Meshuggenahs. In other
chapters of her life, Melissa has worked as a lawyer, legal writing instructor,
freelance writer and editor, and early childhood educator. She lives in New
York City with her family, and enjoys museums, theatre, and long beach walks.
Follow her blog, “This Writing Life,” where she interviews other creators about
stories, creativity, and connection, at <a href="http://www.melissastoller.com/blog">www.MelissaStoller.com/blog</a>. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Purchase Scarlet's Magic Paintbrush <a href="https://amzn.to/2Pf0Pbq" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>CONNECT: </b><br />
<a href="https://www.melissastoller.com/"><b>https://www.MelissaStoller.com</b></a><br />
<a href="https://www.melissastoller.com/blog"><b>https://www.MelissaStoller.com/blog </b></a><br />
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/MelissaStoller"><b>http://www.facebook.com/MelissaStoller</b></a><br />
<a href="http://www.twitter.com/melissastoller"><b>http://www.twitter.com/melissastoller</b></a><br />
<a href="http://www.instagram.com/Melissa_Stoller"><b>http://www.instagram.com/Melissa_Stoller</b></a><br />
<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/melissa_Stoller"><b>http://www.pinterest.com/melissa_Stoller</b></a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Lynne Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11695955315347988034noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488804017860420818.post-61906798575531947212021-03-23T03:24:00.001-07:002021-03-23T03:24:01.737-07:00The Story Behind the Story of Laila by Shirin Shamsi <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7dtk1wsdjB8/YFeBpC6QDmI/AAAAAAAADTw/em1HRGHXtnYuM0qlyjtNxPHBlUGRd-D1gCLcBGAsYHQ/s499/laila.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="313" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7dtk1wsdjB8/YFeBpC6QDmI/AAAAAAAADTw/em1HRGHXtnYuM0qlyjtNxPHBlUGRd-D1gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/laila.jpg" /></a></div> <span style="font-size: 14pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">When my children were young, I made up stories for them. I illustrated and laminated them, and we would read them together. It meant a lot to me, as I felt they saw themselves represented in my stories. One day my eldest daughter asked if I would write a chapter book for her.</span><p></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-91a877e4-7fff-de0e-3b27-ef4943a193fd"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That is when the idea for <a href="https://amzn.to/3lDnASQ" target="_blank">LAILA AND THE SANDS OF TIME</a> first came to me. It was of course a completely different story from the published book. In the original story, Laila was a happy and contented child, and both her parents were alive. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The problem was, there was no problem for Laila and no story arc. But I loved the character of Laila. It was like she became my fourth child and every so often I would return to the story and write a little. Years passed. Each time I worked on Laila; the story took a different direction. I was not fully focused on the story, but always knew I would return to it. For being a writer was a dream I had and never lost sight of.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Years passed. My children grew up. When my youngest went off to college, I decided it was time to get serious about writing. I joined SCBWI and began attending events and learning more about the craft of writing – discovering how clueless I had been!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When I immersed myself in Laila’s world, a strange thing happened. I began having these ideas for where the story was heading. It was almost as if Laila was leading the story and I was listening. There were even some conversations that just came to me in the middle of the night. At times I woke up with a whole scene in my head and would run to grab a pen and paper. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I can’t say that inspiration happened all the time, but when it happened it was the most exhilarating experience. I felt in awe. It was also humbling. almost like I were the vessel delivering the story. I listened and wrote. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When <a href="https://amzn.to/3lDnASQ" target="_blank">LAILA AND THE SANDS OF TIME</a> was completed, I wept. It really felt like a piece of me was in that story. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When Callie Metler of Clear Fork Publishing requested the full manuscript, it was a dream come true for me – it had taken years of persistence, patience and perseverance, but it was time to share <a href="https://amzn.to/3lDnASQ" target="_blank">LAILA AND THE SANDS OF TIME</a> with the world.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am continually blown away when people tell me how moved they are upon reading my book. It is something I could never grow accustomed too.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m thrilled that I have two picture books in the works with Clear Fork Publishing. I am also working on another Middle Grade novel and a series of Chapter Books. I feel so blessed and honored to be writing for the most important people in the world – children! I hope that my books may resonate with readers. I hope they inspire empathy and expand the vision of their world. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A-IBZtbzEB0/YFeCLPw6_dI/AAAAAAAADT4/Z-VR2OCh2pMNqx2vu2PUhYmb0K1vVcIqwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1360/Laila%2BBio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1360" data-original-width="850" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A-IBZtbzEB0/YFeCLPw6_dI/AAAAAAAADT4/Z-VR2OCh2pMNqx2vu2PUhYmb0K1vVcIqwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h640/Laila%2BBio.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><p></p><div><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Get your hardcover or paperback edition copy of Laila and the Sands of Time <a href="https://amzn.to/3lDnASQ">HERE.</a></span></div></span>Lynne Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11695955315347988034noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488804017860420818.post-72697928933135685602021-03-22T03:00:00.006-07:002021-03-22T03:00:12.439-07:00The Story Behind the Story of The Big Beach Cleanup by C. Offsay<p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pRMzTTpVEq0/YFaL2Xm2m3I/AAAAAAAADSw/VdbSrxc_RRswQ32JO-YYtNhxRDtTpqOJgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1500/Final%2BBeach%2BCleanup%2BCover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; font-size: 14pt; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1213" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pRMzTTpVEq0/YFaL2Xm2m3I/AAAAAAAADSw/VdbSrxc_RRswQ32JO-YYtNhxRDtTpqOJgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Final%2BBeach%2BCleanup%2BCover.jpg" /></a> <span style="font-size: 14pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">My stories tend to come from the things that take up the most room in my heart. When I sat down to write what would eventually become <a href="https://amzn.to/3lBJhSV">The Big Beach Cleanup</a>, I was consumed with the desire to show my children that they don’t have to be superheroes to make the changes they want to see in the world. I wanted them to know that extraordinary change starts with small steps and ordinary hands joining together with those around them. </span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-2407a7f9-7fff-9be6-d0f5-9f10796d3ef4"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While the core idea of small hands joining together was clear in my mind, the way into the story was not. I tried numerous structures, characters and voices, but nothing felt quite right. I needed a character that kids would be able to connect with and a story that while clearly had a message was still fun to read aloud and that kids would enjoy. ‘Little hands joining together to make big change’ continued to top my Storystorm lists for a couple of years in a row. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It wasn’t until a series of environmental conversations with my two young children about the trash left out in the streets of our neighborhood that the story finally clicked. They wanted to know where the trash had come from, why was it important to pick it up and what did it mean to take care of our planet. Out of those conversations, the main character Cora was born. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cora is an ordinary child who dreams of becoming a sandcastle champion but when she reaches the beach, she finds the competition canceled due to litter at the beach. Cora and Mama pull on gloves and get to work, but soon Cora realizes it will take more than two pairs of hands to solve a big problem. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While the story revolves around the sandcastle competition my hope is that Cora is a character that children can root for and connect with. I hope seeing ordinary hands joining together to make big change empowers children and inspires them to take a look at the world around them, do their part and join together to make a difference. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Boqrl3hc9kc/YFaMS8EDPDI/AAAAAAAADS4/k0Dd2X7KllwaBQPoWcwKPmDo1b3eK0scACLcBGAsYHQ/s1500/Big%2BBeach%2BSpread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="938" data-original-width="1500" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Boqrl3hc9kc/YFaMS8EDPDI/AAAAAAAADS4/k0Dd2X7KllwaBQPoWcwKPmDo1b3eK0scACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h400/Big%2BBeach%2BSpread.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Flap copy: </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Cora is excited to enter the local sandcastle-building contest--until the contest is canceled due to litter at the beach. Determined to help save their favorite place, Cora and Mama get to work picking up the single-use plastics that have washed onto the shore. It will take more than four hands to clean up the beach, but Cora is just getting started.</i></span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nXBqJM8wsiQ/YFaMiTsnI2I/AAAAAAAADTA/n7RaYrbV4QgioepzV5-QgBTdJxzSYCPZQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/OffsayPhotoByNataliaLPhotography.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1348" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nXBqJM8wsiQ/YFaMiTsnI2I/AAAAAAAADTA/n7RaYrbV4QgioepzV5-QgBTdJxzSYCPZQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/OffsayPhotoByNataliaLPhotography.jpeg" /></a></div>Author Bio:</span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">CHARLOTTE OFFSAY was born in England, grew up in Boston, and currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two small children. Through her work, Charlotte hopes to make children laugh, to inspire curiosity, and to create a magical world her readers can lose themselves in time and time again. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Charlotte’s debut picture book, <a href="https://amzn.to/3lBJhSV" target="_blank">The Big Beach Cleanup</a>, illustrated by Kate Rewse published by Albert Whitman on March 1, 2021. How to Return a Monster, illustrated by Rea Zhai releases September 7, 2021 with Beaming Books. A Grandma’s Magic, illustrated by Asa Gilland will be published by Doubleday Books for Young Readers in Spring 2022. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Buy <a href="https://amzn.to/3lBJhSV">The Big Beach Cleanup</a> by clicking <a href="https://amzn.to/3lBJhSV" target="_blank">HERE</a>. </span></p><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div><span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div>Learn more about Charlotte’s work at </span><a href="http://www.charlotteoffsay.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">charlotteoffsay.com</span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and follow her on Twitter at </span><a href="https://twitter.com/COffsay" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">@COffsay</span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and on Instagram at </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/picturebookrecommendations/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">@picturebookrecommendations</span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span>Lynne Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11695955315347988034noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488804017860420818.post-8514810362761769872021-03-21T03:00:00.002-07:002021-03-21T10:23:45.272-07:00The Story Behind the Story: Crane and Crane by L.J. Singleton<p><span style="font-family: Bitter;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CHh2CJZ9ArM/YFaD562wv_I/AAAAAAAADSY/kczcHaLQhMA3vxkuDsKRyY2WMzgtozCkgCLcBGAsYHQ/s500/Crane%2Band%2BCrane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CHh2CJZ9ArM/YFaD562wv_I/AAAAAAAADSY/kczcHaLQhMA3vxkuDsKRyY2WMzgtozCkgCLcBGAsYHQ/w320-h320/Crane%2Band%2BCrane.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Bitter; white-space: pre-wrap;">By Linda Joy Singleton</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Bitter; white-space: pre-wrap;">My husband operated a construction crane and we live a half hour from a Sandhill Crane sanctuary. The perfect combination to write a book comparing/contrasting construction cranes and Sandhill Cranes! </span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-c171a6d2-7fff-406e-9dd8-8bea1672917d"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;">Yet that’s not why I wrote my picture book, <a href="https://amzn.to/2OJic4x" target="_blank">CRANE AND CRANE</a>. It started with an online challenge to write a picture book idea every day for a month.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;">I’d admired my friends who had accepted this challenge and filled sketchbooks with ideas and drawings for picture books. I can’t draw, but ideas come easily to me. Still coming up with a daily new idea for a month wasn’t easy. But in 2014 I decided to go for it and by the end of the month I had thirty ideas. Now the challenge was to sort the good ideas from the duds.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;">A year went by while I worked on my series, CURIOUS CAT SPY CLUB. But when I was ready to dive back into picture books, I turned to my agent and she looked over my month of ideas. I was shocked when she picked the very first idea, CRANE AND CRANE because I wasn’t sure how to write a book told mostly in sound words. “Are you sure I can write this?” I asked my agent. And she said with certainly that I could do it. “Just write it,” she told me. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;">I studied the notes from my Idea list:</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;">Nov 1, 2014</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2OJic4x" target="_blank">CRANE AND CRANE</a> – A bird lifts and carries and tried to be like a metal crane, making noises and scaring other cranes. Or maybe they think he’s crazy. But he can fly away when there’s trouble. It would teach leverage and have fun with heavy equipment.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;">Boom. Lift! (shows crane lifting equipment)</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;">BOOM. LIFT! (Bird crane carries a big fish and lifts off)</span></span></p><span style="font-family: Bitter;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;">Now if you’ve read <a href="https://amzn.to/2OJic4x" target="_blank">CRANE AND CRANE</a>, you know this initial idea is similar but not the picture book I published with Amicus Books. As I developed the idea, it transformed into a contrast of nature versus industry with a bird crane and construction crane building homes for a family. I wrote and rewrote; added and cut. And I amazed myself by writing an entire book with less than 30 words!</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;">When my agent felt it was ready, she sent it out into the publishing world. Months passed. Almost exactly two years after I wrote down ideas for a month, I was at a retreat that my agent also attended. She arrived a little late and slipped into a seat next to me and whispered, “I have news.” And she told me my picture book had sold!</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;">In June 2019, <a href="https://amzn.to/2OJic4x" target="_blank">CRANE AND CRANE</a>, illustrated by Richard Smythe, was published by Amicus Books! Click on the Title or Here: </span></span><span style="font-family: Bitter;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2OJic4x">https://amzn.to/2OJic4x</a> to get your copy!</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WXth-JNg47M/YFaEN2_UWVI/AAAAAAAADSg/cMKz-vne1ds9c2JH_YcC2T9uNxXKWiInQCLcBGAsYHQ/s500/Crane%2Band%2BCrane%2BSpread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WXth-JNg47M/YFaEN2_UWVI/AAAAAAAADSg/cMKz-vne1ds9c2JH_YcC2T9uNxXKWiInQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h320/Crane%2Band%2BCrane%2BSpread.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Bitter;">And a companion book also illustrated by Richard Smythe, SUN AND SON, will come out in March 2022!</span></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;">Fun Teaser: After writing <a href="https://amzn.to/2OJic4x" target="_blank">CRANE AND CRANE</a>, I looked for other homonym words that worked for a contrast-comparison plot. SUN and SON was a fun choice for a second book. But I could only find one other word that will work if I’m asked to write a third book. The first person who guesses the word will win an autographed copy of <a href="https://amzn.to/2OJic4x" target="_blank">CRANE AND CRANE</a> or a book of mine of choice.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HGpIr_Da73o/YFaEWO-cklI/AAAAAAAADSk/8QJepd2Xp9AiiiIDKR5wdWBWCZAA-mFRgCLcBGAsYHQ/s276/Linda%2BJoy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="276" data-original-width="203" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HGpIr_Da73o/YFaEWO-cklI/AAAAAAAADSk/8QJepd2Xp9AiiiIDKR5wdWBWCZAA-mFRgCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Linda%2BJoy.jpg" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Bitter;">Linda Joy Singleton's Bio</span><p></p><div class="x-el c1-1 c1-2 c1-1e c1-1f c1-1g c1-1h c1-1i c1-7k c1-7l c1-7m c1-7n c1-7o c1-7p c1-7q c1-7r c1-7s c1-7t c1-7u c1-7v c1-7w c1-7x c1-7y c1-7z c1-80 c1-81 c1-82 c1-83 c1-84 c1-85 c1-86 c1-87 c1-88 c1-89 c1-8a c1-8b c1-4 c1-27 c1-b c1-4d c1-c c1-1l c1-d c1-e c1-f c1-g x-rt" data-aid="ABOUT_DESCRIPTION_RENDERED0" data-typography="BodyAlpha" data-ux="ContentCardText" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5e5e5e; flex-grow: 1; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 100%; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center; width: 1112px;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px;"></p><ul style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: auto 16px; padding-left: 1.3em; text-align: left;"><li class="x-el x-el-span c1-6l c1-6m c1-b c1-c c1-d c1-e c1-f c1-g" style="box-sizing: inherit; letter-spacing: unset; text-transform: unset;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;">I’m the author of over 50 middle-grade, YA and picture books about magic, animals, psychics, mermaids, aliens, cheerleaders, clones, and ghosts. My middle-grade series, CURIOUS CAT SPY CLUB, was inspired by a club I had with my childhood best friend. My picture books include SNOW DOG, SAND DOG, CASH KAT, A CAT IS BETTER, LUCY LOVES GOOSEY & CRANE AND CRANE. I also published YA series, REGENERATION, THE SEER & DEAD GIRL, some honored as YALSA Popular Paperback/Quick Picks. </span></li></ul><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px;"></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px;"><span class="x-el x-el-span c1-6l c1-6m c1-b c1-c c1-d c1-e c1-f c1-g" style="box-sizing: inherit; letter-spacing: unset; text-transform: unset;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;"><br style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both;" /></span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px;"></p><ul style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: auto 16px; padding-left: 1.3em; text-align: left;"><li class="x-el x-el-span c1-6l c1-6m c1-b c1-c c1-d c1-e c1-f c1-g" style="box-sizing: inherit; letter-spacing: unset; text-transform: unset;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;">Kids series books are my passion. I write, read and collect them. My collection includes thousands of girl series from the mid-1800’s to present, including Nancy Drew, Judy Bolton and Trixie Belden. A fan letter I wrote at age 14 led to a life-long friend with the Judy Bolton series author, Margaret Sutton—I even co-authored a new Judy Bolton mystery, THE TALKING SNOWMAN, with her, and self-published it for fans.</span></li></ul><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px;"></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px;"><span class="x-el x-el-span c1-6l c1-6m c1-b c1-c c1-d c1-e c1-f c1-g" style="box-sizing: inherit; letter-spacing: unset; text-transform: unset;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;"><br style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both;" /></span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px;"></p><ul style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: auto 16px; padding-left: 1.3em; text-align: left;"><li class="x-el x-el-span c1-6l c1-6m c1-b c1-c c1-d c1-e c1-f c1-g" style="box-sizing: inherit; letter-spacing: unset; text-transform: unset;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;">I’m a long-time member of SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writer's & Illustrators) and Sisters In Crime. I’m also a frequent presenter at schools, libraries, and writing conferences. I’m lucky to live in the country with my husband David, in Northern California where we’re surrounded by horses, peacocks, dogs, pigs, wild turkeys, and very demanding cats.</span></li><li class="x-el x-el-span c1-6l c1-6m c1-b c1-c c1-d c1-e c1-f c1-g" style="box-sizing: inherit; letter-spacing: unset; text-transform: unset;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;">Learn more about Linda Joy Singleton by clicking <a href="https://lindajoysingleton.com/">HERE</a>. </span></li></ul></div><div><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Condensed"; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>Lynne Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11695955315347988034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488804017860420818.post-56903707657014239062021-03-16T14:13:00.004-07:002021-03-18T16:08:07.962-07:00The Picture Book Mechanic - So You Need a Critique? Questions and Answers<p><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HD9WElrqbdA/YFEZZQcBmHI/AAAAAAAADRg/ykTB0TnSDyMy9Sttq6w0qVomawd-uaXjgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/LM%2BMechanic%2B-%2BCopy.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="249" height="256" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HD9WElrqbdA/YFEZZQcBmHI/AAAAAAAADRg/ykTB0TnSDyMy9Sttq6w0qVomawd-uaXjgCLcBGAsYHQ/w199-h256/LM%2BMechanic%2B-%2BCopy.jpg" width="199" /></a><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">When purchasing a critique or mentoring services, there are several things to consider: </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><span> 1. How many books has the critiquer published? Who was the publisher? When were they published. </span><br /></span></p><p><span><span><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"> Hedgehog Goes to Kindergarten, </span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span>Scholastic 2011</span></span></p><p><span><span><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"> Currently unavailable. </span></span></span></p><p><span><span><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"> Hedgehog's 100th Day of School, </span></span></span></p><p><span><span><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Scholastic 2017</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><span><span><span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> Available from Scholastic Book Clubs or</span></span></span></span><span> </span><span>direct from Author</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><span><span> <a href="https://amzn.to/38MNEW5" rel="nofollow">The Star in the Christmas Play</a>, </span></span><span>Beaming Books 2018 </span></span></p><p><span><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> Available in Hardcover and Digital Formats</span><br /></span></span></p><p><span><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"> <a href="https://amzn.to/3cGKAfh" target="_blank"> Moldilocks and the Three Scares</a>, Sterling 2019</span></span></p><p><span><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> Available in Hardcover and Digital Formats</span><br /></span></span></p><p><span><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"> <a href="https://amzn.to/3vwHd3l" target="_blank">Let's Eat! Mealtime Around the World</a>, Beaming Books 2019</span></span></p><p><span><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> Available in Hardcover and Digital Formats </span><br /></span></span></p><p><span><span><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"> American Pie, Dancing Flamingo Press 2022</span></span></span></p><p><span><span><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"> and two others, pending.</span></span></span></p><p><span><span><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"> You can learn more about me and my books at <a href="http://www.literallylynnemarie.com">www.literallylynnemarie.com</a>.</span></span></span></p><p><span><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RpNmi3s-r74/YFEaUndxx_I/AAAAAAAADRo/-7vnu5I9a6gUCzM9ilML00i9v8C754FRACLcBGAsYHQ/s1085/Business%2BCard%2BSide%2B2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="635" data-original-width="1085" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RpNmi3s-r74/YFEaUndxx_I/AAAAAAAADRo/-7vnu5I9a6gUCzM9ilML00i9v8C754FRACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Business%2BCard%2BSide%2B2.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span><span><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"> 2. Other experience and accreditations of the critiquer. </span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"> I am the owner and administrator of RateYourStory.org - a rating and feedback service for children's writers where you can get feedback on manuscripts, pitches, queries and more from traditionally published authors and illustrators. We have <a href="https://www.rateyourstory.org/become-a-member " target="_blank">Member</a> and Non-Member options (Membership opens 11/1), including <a href="https://www.rateyourstory.org/spring-fling-contest" target="_blank">Spring</a> and <a href="https://www.rateyourstory.org/rys-writing-contest" target="_blank">Summer</a> contests and always available <a href="https://www.rateyourstory.org/copy-of-rys-speed-pass-1" target="_blank">Speedpasses</a>. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> I also work for</span> Clear Fork Media and am the Editorial Director of the <a href="https://www.clearforkpublishing.com/dancing-flamingo-press" target="_blank">Dancing Flamingo Press</a>, as well as a former intern at a literary agency. Feel free to join me for a <a href="https://www.rateyourstory.org/first-pages" target="_blank">First Pages with Callie and Lynne</a> session. </span></p><p><span><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"> In addition, I am a former paid book reviewer and have served on the <a href="http://cybils.com/">Cybils Award</a> panel as a first-round Picture Book category Judge since 2017. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><span> On Sundays, I hold a</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> FREE Tinker and Talk Book Chats here: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> <span> </span><span> </span></span></span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://tinyurl.com/TinkerandTalkBookChat" style="text-decoration-line: none;">https://tinyurl.com/TinkerandTalkBookChat</a></span></span></p><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><span>3</span><span>. What will the critique cover? </span></span></div><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> My critiques include intensive line editing, where I consider each and every word and phrase. I comment on any and all points as I read, but also preface the critique with big picture comments including strengths and weaknesses of the manuscript, and objectives for revision. </span><br /></span></p><p><span><span><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">4. What is the cost of the critique?</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><span><span><span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">MY RATES AND SERVICES MENU:</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> Be certain</span> to bookmark my rates page for 2021 (check for updates):</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span></span><a href="https://tinyurl.com/thepicturebookmechanic" style="font-size: 11pt; text-decoration-line: none; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> https://tinyurl.com/thepicturebookmechanic</a></span></p><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">5. What is the critique style?</span></div><p><span><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><span> <span> </span></span>I am truly grateful for the opportunity to be a part of your journey. Please know that from the bottom of my heart, your success is my goal. I want to help you enable your manuscript to perform to its fullest potential. I also hope to cultivate a continued relationship and to continue to assist you down the road, even as your needs change. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span> </span>From hereon in, I will be cheering for you from the sidelines. But also realize that my actual critique method is a </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">no-fooling-around, here’s-what’s-broken-and-what-needs-to-be-fixed</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> style. For example, if your manuscript was a car, I would spend more time under the hood exerting effort in trying to help you get it to run properly, than I would standing outside it, admiring the exterior and telling you how pretty and shiny it is. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> You’ll see that I spend *a lot* of time on every detail. Until it’s time to celebrate, my focus will be making sure every little cog runs smoothly. Because the truth is, no matter how beautiful the idea, if the mechanics don’t work, the vehicle won’t get you over the finish line. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> As with any critique --If you don’t agree with the feedback, give it a few days, and then when you feel you can approach it with an objective mind, go back to it and see if it makes more sense. Keep in mind that sometimes we have to re-vision our stories and let them go where they lead us for them to work. And you can always take what you need and proceed from there. I do recommend having a consultation if this happens -- it will help to understand and process the comments and we can brainstorm a direction for you to go in. These are $15.00 for a half hour as a critique add-on, $30.00 an hour for my critique clients. These sessions are reduced from $35.00, and invaluable, which you won’t know until you’ve tried one! </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Remember that publishing is a business. My feedback is meant to bring the manuscript to the next level and to get you further on your road to success. Please take the feedback in the spirit it is given -- which is complete honesty of what I believe is needed to move closer to your goal. I truly want to further you on your path to success! </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6. Can I ask for Referrals?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> While my Referrals Page is currently under construction with my fabulous Website Guru, you may ask me to provide references, as well as see some older accolades on my services menu. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"> Thank you for your time and trust. I look forward to working with you! </span></p><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Merriweather;"> </span></div><span id="docs-internal-guid-6c3f5f4a-7fff-c9b0-419d-9c7f950f19b0"><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">WEBSITE: Learn more about me and my books here:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><a href="http://www.literallylynnemarie.com" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">www.literallylynnemarie.com</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">TWITTER: Follow me on twitter for more helpful tips: </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><a href="https://twitter.com/Literally_Lynne" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://twitter.com/Literally_Lynne</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FACEBOOK: Lynne Marie</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/WordsandPictures.by.LynneMarie/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.facebook.com/WordsandPictures.by.LynneMarie/</span></a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">GOODREADS: Literally Lynne</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><a href="https://tinyurl.com/LiterallyLynneReads" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://tinyurl.com/LiterallyLynneReads</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">BLOG: My Word Playground at LiterallyLynneMarie.com</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><a href="https://tinyurl.com/MyWordPlayground" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://tinyurl.com/MyWordPlayground</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE: </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3ckkX3D" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://amzn.to/3ckkX3D</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">BOOKSHOP (Independent Book Store) PAGE:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><a href="https://bookshop.org/shop/thebookgarden" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://bookshop.org/shop/thebookgarden</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><span>And just to start you off on the right foot, h</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">ere is some helpful information that I hope you will read: </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://tinyurl.com/StorySkeleton" target="_blank">Picture Book Skeleton Cheat Sheet </a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2019/01/craft-tip-just-keep-reading-just-keep.html" target="_blank">The Importance of Reading</a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2019/09/check-out-my-friends-and-their-fabulous.html" target="_blank">Tips for Revising</a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Most importantly of all, DON’T GIVE UP:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbC4gqZGPSY" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbC4gqZGPSY</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CHECK OUT and PREORDER MY NEWEST BOOKS, at:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://amzn.to/31qyOzh" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Moldilocks and the Three Scares</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2Kb07sb" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let’s Eat - Mealtime Around the World</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2KcBs6u" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Star in the Christmas Play</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you would like a signed bookplate, please e-mail me for more info. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kHMcyVnk4DM/YFEalQElqQI/AAAAAAAADRw/efrmKvQ_NwgtD5uTLuHpFVEkhygMujACQCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/79203143_10215763338820035_2199121176511381504_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="757" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kHMcyVnk4DM/YFEalQElqQI/AAAAAAAADRw/efrmKvQ_NwgtD5uTLuHpFVEkhygMujACQCLcBGAsYHQ/w505-h640/79203143_10215763338820035_2199121176511381504_o.jpg" width="505" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p></span>Lynne Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11695955315347988034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488804017860420818.post-92051412619576475452021-03-03T13:24:00.001-08:002021-03-03T13:24:29.896-08:00Honing Heart with Lauren Kerstein<p> <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">HONING IN ON THE HEART AND AMPLIFYING YOUR EMOTIONAL ARC</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S90vJ3JEqeM/YD_9fwqhJwI/AAAAAAAADQI/avfDKV394dYLm9eCVWfoUP54QRS2Fa1uQCLcBGAsYHQ/s500/Home%2Bfor%2Ba%2BWhile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S90vJ3JEqeM/YD_9fwqhJwI/AAAAAAAADQI/avfDKV394dYLm9eCVWfoUP54QRS2Fa1uQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Home%2Bfor%2Ba%2BWhile.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-6b9a039d-7fff-7473-04ca-d77791653b65">by <a href="https://laurenkerstein.net/" target="_blank">Lauren Heller Kerstein</a>, </span><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>Author of the newly-released HOME FOR A WHILE, ROSIE AND CHARLIE MAKE WAVES and ROSIE AND CHARLIE SAY GOODNIGHT</span></div><div><span><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When I critique, I often find myself helping authors hone in on the heart and create an emotional arc that is both resonant and relatable. We want to make our readers FEEL. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here are a few tips to help your readers FEEL all the feels:</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">PITCH IT: </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Write a pitch. What is the heart of your story? What is your character’s goal? What is your goal in writing this particular story? What do you want your readers to walk away with? I love this quote from Jodi Picoult’s latest novel: </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Book of Two Ways: </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Art isn’t what you see. It’s what you remember.” What do you want your readers to remember long after they’ve read your book?</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ZOOM IN: </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Zoom in on emotional moments so that you can create scenes that your readers feel part of. We want them to live, breathe, and feel the moment. For example, in my latest book: </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Home for a While </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(Illustrated by Natalia Moore/Magination Press), I wanted readers to FEEL Calvin’s uncertainty. Instead of saying Calvin felt uncertain, I highlighted his uncertainty by zooming in.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Maggie?” Calvin asked, his voice gruff.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Yes.”</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Why do you want to hug me, anyway?”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ACTIVE LANGUAGE: </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Use active language to draw your readers into the emotional arc. In </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Home for a While</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, I used active language to draw my readers into Calvin’s experience. For example: “His hands shook as he waited for Maggie’s reaction.” </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The use of active language adds more resonance to the moment, and pulls the reader into the emotional arc.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">CREATE SPACE FOR MIXED EMOTIONS: </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feelings aren’t straightforward. They are often a mixed up and muddled mess. Create space for mixed emotions in your manuscript by </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">showing</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> your character’s physical reactions, highlighting your character’s internal experience, and leaving lots of white space for the illustrator.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">PACING: </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pacing plays a huge role in the emotional arc and in the heart of your manuscript. Pacing moves the plot forward, and highlights conflict, motivation, stakes, resonance, and intensity of emotion. Use pacing to your advantage.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">These are just a few of the tools you can use to hone in on your heart and amplify your emotional arc. You can find additional tips in this blog post I wrote a couple of years ago. https://laurenkerstein.wordpress.com/2019/04/26/laurens-quick-read-crafty-tips-take-your-readers-breath-away/</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I always say, we must feel, write, and risk as creators. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The more you feel…</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The more risks you take with your writing... </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The more heart and emotion will shine through.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DRy1Mp3-caQ/YD_9zbo2pMI/AAAAAAAADQQ/PeB6TAw5A0ImHHhSuGrbJUKmTzl0bzdxwCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/Lauren%2BKerstein_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="529" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DRy1Mp3-caQ/YD_9zbo2pMI/AAAAAAAADQQ/PeB6TAw5A0ImHHhSuGrbJUKmTzl0bzdxwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Lauren%2BKerstein_2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="ii gt" id=":4nn" jslog="20277; u014N:xr6bB" style="direction: ltr; font-size: 0.875rem; margin: 8px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><div class="a3s aiL " id=":4no" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.5; overflow: hidden;"><div dir="ltr"><div data-smartmail="gmail_signature" dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a data-mt-detrack-attachment-inspected="true" data-mt-detrack-inspected="true" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v%3D-a9oEc6jHtQ&source=gmail&ust=1614892524770000&usg=AFQjCNEu3JnaQOC3Q0U6B3HAVNkoPrpAkg" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-a9oEc6jHtQ" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_Y-hhJFDdow" width="320" youtube-src-id="_Y-hhJFDdow"></iframe></div><br /></a></div><div class="yj6qo"></div><div class="adL"><p style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="adL"></div></div></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="hq gt a10" id=":4lw" style="clear: both; font-size: 0.875rem; margin: 15px 0px;"><div class="hp" style="background-color: white; border-top: 1px dotted rgb(216, 216, 216); color: #222222; font-family: Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; width: 1368px;"></div></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Buy Home for a While <a href="https://amzn.to/3sKiLcy">HERE</a>. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><br /><br /></span></div>Lynne Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11695955315347988034noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488804017860420818.post-57917378760551301492021-03-03T13:13:00.001-08:002021-03-23T06:00:42.239-07:00March's RYS Guest Gurus - Callie and Lynne Marie <p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;">CALLIE METLER, OWNER/PUBLISHER, EDITOR AND AUTHOR</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Bitter;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">at Spork Books, a Division of Clear Fork Media (https://www.clearforkpublishing.com/)</span></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SSuQ9KXRQiw/YD_yMnJIR8I/AAAAAAAADO4/adwYkecryCE53TnT8BrlcOg9pluBoxcNgCLcBGAsYHQ/s421/spork_1_orig.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Bitter;"><img border="0" data-original-height="421" data-original-width="396" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SSuQ9KXRQiw/YD_yMnJIR8I/AAAAAAAADO4/adwYkecryCE53TnT8BrlcOg9pluBoxcNgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/spork_1_orig.png" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;"><b>1. What do you LOVE about children’s books? </b></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Bitter; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">I love how Children’s books open the door to a whole new world, and it gives us an insight into something we might not get to experience in real life.</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-d34bf2e4-7fff-6fc2-1589-126e9e6ce717"><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Bitter; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>2. What brought you to children’s books? </b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Bitter; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Bitter; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">I had published a couple of YA books when I started working on my first PB. I loved it so much that I realized I wanted to make it the main focus of my company moving forward.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;"><b>3. What do you look for in a project to acquire for Spork?</b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;">I want something that is unique that I am not likely to see a similar project in another publishing house’s catalog. I want to open up the world even more for children.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_fbUYfu0BFc/YD_yofG-UPI/AAAAAAAADPA/nZ5EMRFYFPwHWEDdiSDDMpXP5mTkp_FyACLcBGAsYHQ/s240/Ben%2527s%2BWest%2BTexas%2BSnow.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_fbUYfu0BFc/YD_yofG-UPI/AAAAAAAADPA/nZ5EMRFYFPwHWEDdiSDDMpXP5mTkp_FyACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Ben%2527s%2BWest%2BTexas%2BSnow.jpg" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Bitter;"><b>4. What drew you to your favorite Spork books? </b></span></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Bitter; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">All of my favorite projects have been fun because of the subject matter, the creativity of the illustrator, and the relationship with the author. I always love when you know the story has great structure and is a well put together book. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;"><b>5. What is a common issue with the submissions you receive?</b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;">Usually they have a lot of unnecessary words or the story structure isn’t strong all the way through.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;"><b>6. Please share a submission tip with our Members. </b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Em1sq12XyU8/YD_ywVUfcxI/AAAAAAAADPE/zNv74rHl9L8Amal9e5yC7gxexeUcRw3QgCLcBGAsYHQ/s499/How%2Bto%2BBabysit%2Ba%2BLogan.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="381" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Em1sq12XyU8/YD_ywVUfcxI/AAAAAAAADPE/zNv74rHl9L8Amal9e5yC7gxexeUcRw3QgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/How%2Bto%2BBabysit%2Ba%2BLogan.jpg" /></a></span></div><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;">Do a little research before submitting. Don’t address your query letter to “To whom this may concern” or to the wrong person.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;"><b>7. Please share a revision Tip for our Members. </b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;">If an editor ask for a revision, don’t revise it right then and send it back the same day. Take some time to think about the revisions and then send back in a timely manner.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;"><b>8. Name a subject you would like to see in your in-box. </b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;">I would like to see stories with an agricultural or slice of life spin.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;"><b>9. Name something to avoid sending to your in-box. </b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;">I am currently not looking for any cute animals does cute thing books.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-veTM3m3n_3A/YD_y9O_FMBI/AAAAAAAADPM/Ao_6S4zubfYAwy8yZuMhMvuJW8YGp-T8gCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Callie%2BMetler.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-veTM3m3n_3A/YD_y9O_FMBI/AAAAAAAADPM/Ao_6S4zubfYAwy8yZuMhMvuJW8YGp-T8gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Callie%2BMetler.jpg" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Bitter;"><b>10. Share a fun fact about YOU! </b></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;">Here are 10 random facts about me:</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;">1) I was featured on the tv show Texas Country Reporter in 1999 for my work with the Bobwhite Brigade.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;">2) I teach art classes to six 7-12 year old one afternoon a week.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;">3) I'm terribly addicted to Dr. Pepper.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;">4) I adore Classic Movies. My favorite one is Breakfast at Tiffany's</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;">5) My minor was German in College. I was inspired to learn it because my Grandmother was a first generation American and spoke German when I was little.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;">6) I was published for the first time when I was in 4th grade. It was a Poem called "I am Me"</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;">7) I was Youth Conservationist of the Year for Texas in 1998</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;">8) I'm the 4th generation in my family to own a community Newspaper</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;">9) I grew up on a cotton farm that has been in my family for over 100 years.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;">10) I was diagnosed with cancer in 2008 and then again in 2019 and just recently celebrated 6 months cancer free!</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;">CONGRATULATIONS, DEAR CALLIE -- You are an Inspiration to us ALL! </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;">Check Out Callie's Books Here: <a href="https://amzn.to/3rcXkzL">https://amzn.to/3rcXkzL</a> [#Ad] </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;">*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;">And now, here's:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3cZALJJ" target="_blank">LYNNE MARIE</a>, AUTHOR AND EDITORIAL DIRECTOR, DANCING FLAMINGO PRESS</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jv3rUCqx2kk/YD_5VvQ6bXI/AAAAAAAADPY/ZVDdwYhmw8sEmjyeON3DvZNtCj-vp4yVQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1500/Flamingo%2Blogo.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1500" height="234" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jv3rUCqx2kk/YD_5VvQ6bXI/AAAAAAAADPY/ZVDdwYhmw8sEmjyeON3DvZNtCj-vp4yVQCLcBGAsYHQ/w234-h234/Flamingo%2Blogo.png" width="234" /></a><span style="font-family: Bitter;"></span></div><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>1. What do you LOVE about children’s books?</b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; white-space: pre-wrap;">I love the story, art, imagination, and varied experiences they portray. And, that they can take you away -- from a bad day, a rainy day, a boring summer or anything that limits your world and experience at a particular time. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; white-space: pre;">2. What brought you to children’s books? </b></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; white-space: pre;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; white-space: pre;">I had wanted to be an Author since I received my first Scholastic Book Club flyer, but I took <br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">a long path and experienced many other things before coming here. I do think that those </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">experiences helped shape my worldview and filled my writing well. Formerly, I was a paralegal, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">a paid book reviewer of fiction books, and dabbled in romantic comedy writing and screen </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">writing before fully committing to children’s books. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5FYHRbY-xTw/YFnlB2xGyJI/AAAAAAAADVU/ATStQ8PTU7o3nTE-FUCy3lV_8Dit3oCvQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1085/Business%2BCard%2BSide%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="635" data-original-width="1085" height="374" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5FYHRbY-xTw/YFnlB2xGyJI/AAAAAAAADVU/ATStQ8PTU7o3nTE-FUCy3lV_8Dit3oCvQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h374/Business%2BCard%2BSide%2B2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;"> Check Out Lynne Marie's Books Here: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3cZALJJ">https://amzn.to/3cZALJJ</a> [#Ad] </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><b>3. What do you look for in a project to acquire for Dancing Flamingo?</b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; white-space: pre;">I am looking for anything that’s a celebration of life and basically touches upon at least </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; white-space: pre;">one of </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; white-space: pre;">these concepts in the Dancing Flamingo tagline: A Celebration of Art and Culture, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; white-space: pre;">Kindness </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; white-space: pre;">and Curiosity. That’s a wide net, but it gives an idea :) </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><b>4. What drew you to (SPECIFIC RECENT ACQUISITION)? </b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">It was a Goldilocks retelling which spoke to my love of folklore fables and fairytales, and </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">since </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; white-space: pre;">I have read them all for my pre-publication research for Moldilocks, I knew it was </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; white-space: pre;">fresh and </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; white-space: pre;">different. Besides being a celebration of folktales, it also demonstrated curiosity </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; white-space: pre;">and kindness. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; white-space: pre;">And of course, it inspired really wonderful art! </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><b>5. What is a common issue with the submissions you receive? </b></span></p><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">To be honest, there are many, and all very common, including: Not a child-accessible main </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">character, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; white-space: pre;">not a kid-friendly concept, problem or theme, no story structure, no cohesiveness, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; white-space: pre;">and a resolution that’s not satisfying. Also that the main character does not have agency </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; white-space: pre;">over </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; white-space: pre;">the story and/or solve the story problem and that the plot does not move forward. It’s </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; white-space: pre;">clear </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; white-space: pre;">that many who write picture books are not actively reading and study picture books </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; white-space: pre;">to see </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; white-space: pre;">what has been done, what hasn’t been done, what works and how it works. It’s the </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; white-space: pre;">reason behind </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; white-space: pre;">starting the Tinker and Talk Book Chat on Sundays 6:00 PM EST. So that we </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; white-space: pre;">all have access to </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; white-space: pre;">picture books and are able to discuss and learn from them. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><b>6. Please share a submission tip with our Members. </b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Publishing is an industry and being a writer is a profession. Both should be respected. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Read </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; white-space: pre;">the submission guidelines (and follow them of course), and submit only your very best, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">polished work. If you don’t it will be a no and you will have likely missed an opportunity for </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">the manuscript to sell, had it been fully-formed. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: Bitter;"><b>7. Please share a revision Tip for our Members. </b></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; white-space: pre;">Each time you review your manuscript look at one thing that I had on my list of submission </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; white-space: pre;">problems </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; white-space: pre;">above. Then repeat with another aspect. It’s important to have checks and balances </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; white-space: pre;">and make certain </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; white-space: pre;">you focus on one thing at a time and revise thoroughly and effectively, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; white-space: pre;">even if it means re-visioning </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; white-space: pre;">your original idea. If you do, when you are done, your manuscript </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; white-space: pre;">will sing. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>8. Name a subject you would like to see in your in-box.</b> </span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Oh, there’s so much I love and want to see! However, I </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; white-space: pre;">would love something that combines </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; white-space: pre;">animals and culture. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; white-space: pre;"><b>9. Name something to avoid sending to your in-box. </b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Anything that is poorly written or is unimaginative and dry. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><b>10. Share fun facts about YOU! </b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I was a Pog Mom to a total of five Hedgehogs and Spike </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; white-space: pre;">from Hedgehog Goes to Kindergarten </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; white-space: pre;">and Hedgehog's </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; white-space: pre;">100th Day of School is inspired by my very first one -- </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Apollo Nike (NIGH</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><i>KEY</i></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> - nicknamed Spiky Nike). </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: Bitter;">But to mirror Callie, here are some fun facts about ME: </span><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; white-space: pre;">1. I was born in Brooklyn and am a true New Yorker, but I was always </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; white-space: pre;">drawn to Boston and </span></div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; white-space: pre;">later </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; white-space: pre;">found out my birth family was from there. </span></div><div><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;">2. <span> The first place I flew alone as a child of 12, was Humble, Texas - where our bus got </span></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;"><span>cornered </span></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; white-space: pre;">by a long horn steer! </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span><span style="font-family: Bitter;">3. <span> I was adopted and grew up thinking my parents were dead, but found and met my </span></span></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span><span style="font-family: Bitter;"><span>Birth Mother </span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; white-space: pre;">and Father both at 26 years old. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Bitter;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">4. I have two half brothers who I never go to meet because they died of </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Duchenne's</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> Muscular Dystrophy. Oddly, before I even knew of them, I was active in Special Olympics and a big fan of Jerry Lewis' Telethon for Muscular Dystrophy. </span></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Bitter; white-space: pre-wrap;">5.<span> When I was 18 -21 my ex-boyfriend was a Music Producer and I got to meet and hang out with many new wave bands, like Duran Duran, Power Station, the Go Gos and so many more! </span></span></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;">6. <span> Me and one of my besties tried one of those Fish Pedicures in Mexico and lived to tell about it. </span></span></span></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span><span style="font-family: Bitter;">7.<span> I have been to Disney World many, many times, as well as Disneyland and Euro Disney. The other parks are on my list :) </span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span><span><span>8. <span> I have a morbid fascination with graves and have been to many, many famous graves / monuments all over the world to pay tribute, including Princess Diana, Claude Monet, Molly Brown, and many other Titanic associated people (including the Mass Graves at Halifax), </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #222222; white-space: pre-wrap;">William Wallace, Alexander Graham Bell, St. Patrick and many US Presidents - to name just a small few</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; white-space: pre-wrap;">9. <span> I love history and folklore of all countries and studied both the Salem Witchcraft Trials, The Holocaust in Children's Literature in School and Folklore and Fairy Tales (as well as Myths) in College. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;">10. <span> I've watched over 92 K-Dramas so far (Korean Dramas) and am planning a trip to Korean in 2022. </span></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span><span style="font-family: Bitter;"></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RCMaO47ZDgg/YD_7UjElyvI/AAAAAAAADQA/nI9GC5tozgodeVQDR0wTQpnFlT8QWjMkwCLcBGAsYHQ/s259/Anakin.jpg.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RCMaO47ZDgg/YD_7UjElyvI/AAAAAAAADQA/nI9GC5tozgodeVQDR0wTQpnFlT8QWjMkwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Anakin.jpg.jpg" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Bitter;">Bonus: My dog Anakin is the second Belgian Schipperke I owned. Dante was the first, who we got when my son was only 6. </span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Also is there anything in particular you want or don't want to give rating and</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">feedback on?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I can pretty much rise to the challenge of any manner of stories as I’ve written Fiction </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">and Non-fiction and also write in rhyme, but at this time, I prefer not to rate synopses </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">or novels. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Bitter; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.rateyourstory.org/first-pages">Feel Free to Check Out First Pages with Callie and Lynne Marie </a></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Bitter; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;">We look forward to helping you move forward on your journey! </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;"> </span></span></p><div><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></div>Lynne Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11695955315347988034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488804017860420818.post-71862600657738669082021-03-01T12:01:00.001-08:002021-03-01T12:01:12.327-08:00RATE YOUR STORY JUDGES TALK LIONS AND LAMBS<p><span style="font-family: Bitter; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JiDKKH0RMok/YDwjLVU-caI/AAAAAAAADME/5IuYX60Z9J0m_-Lrq00Z2i8zar7jtw3oQCLcBGAsYHQ/s600/March%2BLion%2BLamb.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Bitter; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JiDKKH0RMok/YDwjLVU-caI/AAAAAAAADME/5IuYX60Z9J0m_-Lrq00Z2i8zar7jtw3oQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/March%2BLion%2BLamb.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Bitter; font-size: medium;">March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb or vice versa, depending on which story it chooses to tell. This month, the Rate Your Story Judges are here to tell their advice on being a lion or lamb or having the Luck of the Irish. </span><div><span style="font-family: Bitter; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Bitter; font-size: medium;">How do <i>you</i> approach your writing? Perhaps this post will give you some ideas of when to be a lion, and when to be a lamb. Enjoy - and may the luck of the Irish be with you on your journey. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Bitter; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><p><span style="font-family: Bitter; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Bitter; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WtE_bbAqwpo/YD1D5FjsPJI/AAAAAAAADNo/I8CYlOTJkyQSOuYeushl7V00ozfE1zvpwCLcBGAsYHQ/s500/Tabitha%2Band%2BFritz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="386" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WtE_bbAqwpo/YD1D5FjsPJI/AAAAAAAADNo/I8CYlOTJkyQSOuYeushl7V00ozfE1zvpwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Tabitha%2Band%2BFritz.jpg" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-family: Bitter; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Bitter; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><span style="font-family: Bitter; font-size: medium;">Katie Frawley, Author of <a href="https://amzn.to/3sDYlln">Tabitha and Fritz Trade Places</a>. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Bitter; font-size: medium;">I always try to be a lion with revisions and a lamb with taking feedback. When my critique partners offer their thoughts on my work, I listen and digest. I try not to get defensive or argumentative. And then I jump in like a lion when it's time to revise. No fear! Full strength! Totally willing to kill my darlings like adorable little gazelle on the grassland! </span></p><p><span style="color: var(--primary-text);"><span style="font-family: Bitter; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="color: var(--primary-text);"><span style="font-family: Bitter; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="color: var(--primary-text);"><span style="font-family: Bitter; font-size: medium;">Lydia Lukidis, Author of <u><a href="https://amzn.to/2ZZRczJ">No Bears Allowed</a></u> </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Bitter; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4B5_7b7oG44/YD1EgSZLQCI/AAAAAAAADNw/qepSo6_8PTMg0d50AaIxdpxKbl3zlW0zQCLcBGAsYHQ/s499/No%2BBears%2BAllowed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="367" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4B5_7b7oG44/YD1EgSZLQCI/AAAAAAAADNw/qepSo6_8PTMg0d50AaIxdpxKbl3zlW0zQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/No%2BBears%2BAllowed.jpg" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Bitter; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: var(--primary-text);">I approached my journey to publication as a lamb in the beginning, who then grew into a lion. I started out deep in research, practice, and reading. I had a lot of self-doubt as a writer and had to learn to tame that voice, but in the beginning of my career, I was definitely apprehensive about subbing and querying, and even the quality of my writing. Then as the years rolled by, I stood firmer in my experience and became a lion. Fearless, I queried and subbed for years. Rejection letters would pile up, but I didn't let that drag me down. I learned to get back up, and continued learning through my mistakes. After knocking on many (many!) doors, some opened, and I am in gratitude. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Bitter; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: var(--primary-text);"> </span><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl py34i1dx gpro0wi8" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lydialukidis.com%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR0cD-txhUhMcKTJZxNVt9zKqc_G7WRlcxX-9odK31BFyeuiqnc6XBQZT1Y&h=AT0Iaw0V4hXbKvesaGXjiIza3L4WXvG7pYPEuiKYVRKuW8jLybGLYtZky6NLRJo4WJ90SxocKGSH_ruKJYYppx_lwnFztdIKE1W60-wPI-jUP8yTyhKQlHSDAzg9W-HeBeFRjJR0F8IkxVsy-g&__tn__=R]-R&c[0]=AT22LeUe7hFy_KedabU4duWoEVEMwbTIW_HSeVQt-kukImFLlrNGsi6EFSK-xsA_s0_46MjaTv_I74RTK2H5Lf1rZl4pOuR0TcmZQHZMkYJ9QznZSIZzbbptyg50TuvsAiYce0u976ALeiWteUK-pPNFGdR5e8q9ZK86F5If-u2jQjaIU6IbK-9p0UTx6cSnLnl3039Ta6TSCpeP" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">www.lydialukidis.com</a></span></p><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Bitter; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cJ53uM-vHQg/YD1E5V7jzCI/AAAAAAAADN4/YKAcBtqUY4M-Q1S46LLASM8Y7dF_hdTjwCLcBGAsYHQ/s500/Moldilocks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="401" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cJ53uM-vHQg/YD1E5V7jzCI/AAAAAAAADN4/YKAcBtqUY4M-Q1S46LLASM8Y7dF_hdTjwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Moldilocks.jpg" /></a></div>Lynne Marie, Author of <a href="https://amzn.to/3uKBKp1">Moldilocks and the Three Scares</a>. </span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Bitter; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Bitter; font-size: medium;">I approached my journey to publication as both a lion and lamb. Like a lion, I aggressively took all college courses available, and attended SCBWI Conferences for years on local, multi-state, home state, national and international levels, as well as read all the books on craft I could get my hands on. However, when it came to submitting, I was more like a lamb -- I wasn't quick to submit, and would make triple certain my story was ready for the targeted publisher. As a result, even if I didn't make a sale, I got a personal rejection and got close to selling many times. I honestly credit that to...waiting until the time and the manuscript was right. But after I sold a project, I had to be a lion again -- this time with promotion. <a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl py34i1dx gpro0wi8" href="http://www.literallylynnemarie.com/?fbclid=IwAR11Ev6Mo_D8q9ZF4jHcQgCYyiKRnmvgH3GkgHLYMb3X3OtsKyqoIC4sBrY" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">www.literallylynnemarie.com</a> </span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background-color: var(--comment-background); color: var(--primary-text);"><span style="font-family: Bitter; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G1I32v_52qw/YD1GD_zOsUI/AAAAAAAADOI/1iHg2k8z_dMXKDXiDU7AFaKddN3YK05ZgCLcBGAsYHQ/s500/Bugs%2Bfor%2BBreakfast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="334" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G1I32v_52qw/YD1GD_zOsUI/AAAAAAAADOI/1iHg2k8z_dMXKDXiDU7AFaKddN3YK05ZgCLcBGAsYHQ/w214-h320/Bugs%2Bfor%2BBreakfast.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Bitter; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: var(--comment-background); color: var(--primary-text);">Mary Boone, Author of the forthcoming <a href="https://amzn.to/2NPtpjr">Bugs for Breakfast</a>. <br /></span></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Bitter; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: var(--comment-background); color: var(--primary-text);"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Bitter; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: var(--comment-background); color: var(--primary-text);">Luck has come my way so many times. I love nonfiction stories, especially those that focus on little-known facts, events, or people. In an effort to find those stories, I sift through so, so, so many academic journals, old diaries, speeches, photos, and books. A lot of it produces nothing. But, when I latch onto a nugget that can be formed into a story, I feel like the luckiest person ever! It’s like I’ve found something truly amazing and I can’t wait to share it with everyone else. </span><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl py34i1dx gpro0wi8" href="http://www.boonewrites.com/?fbclid=IwAR1sXvUvhqDcJ6Po5GFR5E7Idb77-27qMsiCrxxsl28748TxgNm6EMXaeMg" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">www.boonewrites.com</a></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background-color: var(--comment-background); color: var(--primary-text); white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: Bitter; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Bitter; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: var(--comment-background); color: var(--primary-text); white-space: normal;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Bitter; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: var(--comment-background); color: var(--primary-text); white-space: normal;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Bitter; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: var(--comment-background); color: var(--primary-text); white-space: normal;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1rCXpb2_vKY/YD1GzQN8tuI/AAAAAAAADOQ/_PGZBFifLK873RxUVzqjAQcftoA_J5wkQCLcBGAsYHQ/s274/Free%2Bto%2BBe.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="274" data-original-width="220" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1rCXpb2_vKY/YD1GzQN8tuI/AAAAAAAADOQ/_PGZBFifLK873RxUVzqjAQcftoA_J5wkQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Free%2Bto%2BBe.webp" /></a></div><br />Christy Mihaly, author of <a href="https://amzn.to/3uKDkHt">Free for You and Me: What Our First Amendment Means</a>. </span></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Bitter; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: var(--comment-background); color: var(--primary-text); white-space: normal;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Bitter; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: var(--comment-background); color: var(--primary-text); white-space: normal;">Lamb or lion? There's a time for each. Sometimes, it's right to be a Lamb, as when there's a story that intrigues you, but, after research and consideration, you realize that it's just not your story to tell. That's a time to step back and defer to another (or, if you want to be a Lion about it, steer an appropriate writer toward the idea). Sometimes, though, a story finds you, but you need to find the courage to take it on--maybe the research is difficult, or the topic is challenging, or you're reluctant to bare your soul as the topic requires. That's when it's time to put your Lion face on. I really wasn't sure that the world was ready for a picture book about the First Amendment, but the more I worked on it, the more I knew I wanted to bring an appreciation of these fundamental freedoms to young readers. I persisted through a ton of rejections, including a revise-resubmit-rejection. I kept revising it and changing the format to respond to editors' concerns, until it all came together. ("Free for You and Me" was published as the pandemic started, in March 2020, so promoting it has also required a bit of creative Lion-izing.)</span><span style="background-color: var(--comment-background); color: var(--primary-text); white-space: normal;"> </span><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl py34i1dx gpro0wi8" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.christymihaly.com%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3nUU6UwhZwkxMxZMHWixCJtPFh39sfhOD1vSvofuxsVrqSntvI53Sdd3c&h=AT1BOBhtfTjAL2lsOIkn0UXpxkY-nqYOeag_z7bK1WxHcmFeE5qgh-w1BalCBOK7GigBC7aEB6kTrzTzpD9Bl3LPlh7D7pkhWr5k4vvoJSbejNmxeXb-BxYrGydAEhUsZ0JyxnsAnudrfjwD6g&__tn__=R]-R&c[0]=AT22LeUe7hFy_KedabU4duWoEVEMwbTIW_HSeVQt-kukImFLlrNGsi6EFSK-xsA_s0_46MjaTv_I74RTK2H5Lf1rZl4pOuR0TcmZQHZMkYJ9QznZSIZzbbptyg50TuvsAiYce0u976ALeiWteUK-pPNFGdR5e8q9ZK86F5If-u2jQjaIU6IbK-9p0UTx6cSnLnl3039Ta6TSCpeP" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation; white-space: normal;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">http://www.christymihaly.com/</a><span style="background-color: var(--comment-background); color: var(--primary-text); white-space: normal;">.</span></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background-color: var(--comment-background); color: var(--primary-text); white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: Bitter; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Bitter; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: var(--comment-background); color: var(--primary-text); white-space: normal;">Lauren H. Kerstein, author of <a href="https://amzn.to/2MAn36P">Home for a While</a>. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a5Bfrj6BSrg/YD1HQsTC2_I/AAAAAAAADOY/og-8vooXw44WmC2F7fV5mRL3iTuW8eazACLcBGAsYHQ/s500/Home%2Bfor%2Ba%2BWhile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a5Bfrj6BSrg/YD1HQsTC2_I/AAAAAAAADOY/og-8vooXw44WmC2F7fV5mRL3iTuW8eazACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Home%2Bfor%2Ba%2BWhile.jpg" /></a></div><br /></span></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background-color: var(--comment-background); color: var(--primary-text); font-family: Bitter; font-size: large; white-space: normal;">I've always adopted the courage of a lion as I push forward. I know I must take advantage of both opportunities to learn and grow as a writer, and to market my work. I must proceed with fierce determination. And yet, I must also approach this field like a lamb. I must be gentle with myself, open to feedback, and hesitant to proceed if a manuscript really isn't ready. I think the lion and the lamb are both inherently part of my writing journey. </span><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl py34i1dx gpro0wi8" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.LaurenKerstein.net%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3UkAUzb9iZqM2Qlb4VElAm46weeciMcRN9cyIHk8wbASh5tH6nBw8WsYg&h=AT20lu1vObPvaPzO8PcOEYqBE0mpgMm7gk-B8w9YHxvXxT5yDaYx98TcOFl-GhECweR5yyyKl0-lR9_M6oM1YO4hIPMdtGjWI2KEDb4KJPb6EnBwfv2fcxEEHsx5L7s83Hzmf0UFk0daj2Nspw&__tn__=R]-R&c[0]=AT22LeUe7hFy_KedabU4duWoEVEMwbTIW_HSeVQt-kukImFLlrNGsi6EFSK-xsA_s0_46MjaTv_I74RTK2H5Lf1rZl4pOuR0TcmZQHZMkYJ9QznZSIZzbbptyg50TuvsAiYce0u976ALeiWteUK-pPNFGdR5e8q9ZK86F5If-u2jQjaIU6IbK-9p0UTx6cSnLnl3039Ta6TSCpeP" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: Bitter; font-size: large; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation; white-space: normal;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">www.LaurenKerstein.net</a><span style="font-family: Bitter; font-size: large;"> </span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background-color: var(--comment-background); color: var(--primary-text);"><span style="font-family: Bitter; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Bitter; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: var(--comment-background); color: var(--primary-text);"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Bitter; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: var(--comment-background); color: var(--primary-text);"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Bitter; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: var(--comment-background); color: var(--primary-text);"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Bitter; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: var(--comment-background); color: var(--primary-text);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uWEGa8f7QJc/YD1HyVGY9FI/AAAAAAAADOg/pBKzXLIWAeYjDkfPr9TvcxrmWzxEcFZ8ACLcBGAsYHQ/s499/Cockadoodle%2Boops.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="324" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uWEGa8f7QJc/YD1HyVGY9FI/AAAAAAAADOg/pBKzXLIWAeYjDkfPr9TvcxrmWzxEcFZ8ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Cockadoodle%2Boops.jpg" /></a></div><br />Lori Degman, author of <a href="https://amzn.to/3bUtfza">Cock-a-Doodle Oops</a>. I’ve had the courage of a lion when I’ve taken on things I’m afraid to do, like school visits, bookstore events, presenting at conferences; reading my books on video . . . The first few times I’ve done each of these things, I was more lamb-ish but, as I gained confidence, I became more like my Newfie and just plowed right through it. Still, every time I’m lion-ish and schedule an event, my inner lamb asks, “Why in the world did you do that?!”</span><span style="background-color: var(--comment-background); color: var(--primary-text);"> </span><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl py34i1dx gpro0wi8" href="http://www.loridegman.com/?fbclid=IwAR0cD-txhUhMcKTJZxNVt9zKqc_G7WRlcxX-9odK31BFyeuiqnc6XBQZT1Y" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">www.Loridegman.com</a></span></div><div style="background-color: white; 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align-items: stretch; background-color: transparent; border-bottom-color: var(--always-dark-overlay); border-left-color: var(--always-dark-overlay); border-right-color: var(--always-dark-overlay); border-style: solid; border-top-color: var(--always-dark-overlay); border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; clip-path: polygon(0px 0px, 0px 0px, 0px 0px, 0px 0px); clip: rect(0px, 0px, 0px, 0px); cursor: pointer; display: inline-flex; flex-basis: auto; flex-direction: row; flex-shrink: 0; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 4px; min-height: 0px; min-width: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; position: absolute; text-align: inherit; touch-action: manipulation; user-select: none; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><i class="hu5pjgll m6k467ps sp_G0ukYDwuvgG sx_aaa1af" style="background-image: url("/rsrc.php/v3/yD/r/d0ySYEcOLej.png"); background-position: 0px -668px; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: auto; display: inline-block; filter: var(--filter-secondary-icon); height: 12px; vertical-align: -0.25em; width: 12px;"><br /></i><div class="n00je7tq arfg74bv qs9ysxi8 k77z8yql i09qtzwb n7fi1qx3 b5wmifdl hzruof5a pmk7jnqg j9ispegn kr520xx4 c5ndavph art1omkt ot9fgl3s" data-visualcompletion="ignore" style="border-radius: inherit; font-family: inherit; inset: 0px; opacity: 0; pointer-events: none; position: absolute; transition-duration: var(--fds-duration-extra-extra-short-out); transition-property: opacity; transition-timing-function: var(--fds-animation-fade-out);"></div></div></span></div></span></li><li class="_6coj" style="background-color: white; color: #65676b; display: inline-block; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"></li></ul></div>Lynne Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11695955315347988034noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488804017860420818.post-20536249821842639442021-03-01T10:28:00.000-08:002021-03-03T05:34:12.157-08:00What's the Scoop: Winning Webinars with Whale Rock Workshops<p><br /></p><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1056531632874022062" itemprop="description articleBody" style="line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 730px;"><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Josefin Sans"; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QU2tBqctnpM/YD0c9NIgc2I/AAAAAAAADNE/31ykbYnFYIcDNlLfcAZyHvP7rM7lrDhBACLcBGAsYHQ/s225/Whale%2BRock.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QU2tBqctnpM/YD0c9NIgc2I/AAAAAAAADNE/31ykbYnFYIcDNlLfcAZyHvP7rM7lrDhBACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Whale%2BRock.png" /></a></div><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Josefin Sans"; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A Review by Lynne Marie </span></p><p></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Josefin Sans"; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I recently attended my second and third Whale Rock Workshops! </span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Josefin Sans"; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">They were each very different and provided essential strategies for informing success as an author. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Josefin Sans"; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The first one was with multi-published Author and Writing Coach Heather Demetrios, Understand Your Process to Change Your Mindset. Heather is the author of Young Adult novels, including <a href="https://amzn.to/2OdkyI0">Some Thing Real</a>, <a href="https://amzn.to/3sCl29F">I'll Meet You There</a>, <a href="https://amzn.to/3kx9TUS">Little Universes</a>, and <a href="https://amzn.to/3uD2Iz7">Code Name Badass: The True Story of Virginia Hall</a> (2021), and more. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Josefin Sans"; font-size: 15.4px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RHKY0U5Z2z4/YD0hxWMQzoI/AAAAAAAADNM/G9iqvcsOrfEpHxXirMOMs7Ev0NRkIT-gQCLcBGAsYHQ/s500/Code%2BName.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="331" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RHKY0U5Z2z4/YD0hxWMQzoI/AAAAAAAADNM/G9iqvcsOrfEpHxXirMOMs7Ev0NRkIT-gQCLcBGAsYHQ/w133-h200/Code%2BName.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;">This was a very interesting exploration of when, where and how to write and maximum our performance. Not only was this helpful for process, but also for keeping in check emotional frustrations of writing, as well. I know so many people who would have benefitted from the working tips, but the mindful process. </span><p></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Josefin Sans"; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We did a lot of mind mapping, as well as discussed writing process, flow, orienting oneself, writing guidelines, personal challenges and even how to approach scenes. I did leave the webinar feeling I had a better approach to writing and a better mindset for accomplishing my goals when I left. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Josefin Sans"; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9Ps9MmSycEE/YD0jVFxicxI/AAAAAAAADNU/7Yuvz9YrD7km5z5Lo5GeTzemObcvzc14ACLcBGAsYHQ/s500/Incredible.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="344" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9Ps9MmSycEE/YD0jVFxicxI/AAAAAAAADNU/7Yuvz9YrD7km5z5Lo5GeTzemObcvzc14ACLcBGAsYHQ/w138-h200/Incredible.jpg" width="138" /></a></div>Next, was Kathryn Erskine. This was more craft-focused than process, so as much as I loved Heather's workshop, I loved this one even more! I think it was a good choice to lead with Heather's though, so that we approach Kathy's tips on craft with an effective butt-in-chair process to proceed it. <p></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Josefin Sans"; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Again, I got tons of notes as we focused on how to make the most of beginnings, middles and ends, as well as got a personal look into Kathryn's experiences in writing these parts of her various best-selling books. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Josefin Sans"; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Josefin Sans"; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I am signed up for all the rest of the series, but one in particular that I am super, super excited for is this one with the best-selling author of <a href="https://amzn.to/37ZUerV">Vampirina Ballerina</a> and its sequels, among other! </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3elf97-nPP0/YD0lErghLmI/AAAAAAAADNc/2hGF_xJlfg80d5IjQNZMRDW8zJIsYFxwQCLcBGAsYHQ/s500/Vampirina.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="411" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3elf97-nPP0/YD0lErghLmI/AAAAAAAADNc/2hGF_xJlfg80d5IjQNZMRDW8zJIsYFxwQCLcBGAsYHQ/w164-h200/Vampirina.jpg" width="164" /></a></div><br /><p></p><h2 style="background-color: white; color: #2f75b6; font-family: Lato; font-size: 25px; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: 0.02em; line-height: 1.2em; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tap into Your Toolbox</h2><h3 style="background-color: white; color: #c19b5c; font-family: Lato; font-size: 20px; letter-spacing: 0.1em; line-height: 1.55em; margin-top: 15px; text-align: left; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; text-transform: uppercase; white-space: pre-wrap;">WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 2021 7:00-8:30 PM EST</h3><p class="" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Lato; font-size: 19px; letter-spacing: -0.38px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><strong style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">FEATURING BESTSELLING AUTHOR </strong><a href="https://www.whalerockworkshops.com/writing-workshops/writing-instructors/anne-marie-pace" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 1px solid rgba(47, 117, 182, 0.3); color: #2f75b6; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding-bottom: 0.05em; text-decoration-line: none; transition: border-color 0.15s ease-out 0s, color 0.15s ease-out 0s;"><strong style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">ANNE MARIE PACE</strong></a></p><p class="" style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: right;"></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Lato; font-size: 19px; letter-spacing: -0.38px; white-space: pre-wrap;">We writers love to talk about gathering new tools for our writers’ toolboxes, but sometimes those tools get lost at the bottom of the box. Join picture book author Anne Marie Pace as she helps you dig out those essential tools and hone them for use in revision. This session will also take a close look at the rule of three, poetic devices, and parallelism (and even tap into the ninth grade grammar you’ve forgotten, but which is actually quite useful). </span><strong style="color: #222222; font-family: Lato; font-size: 19px; letter-spacing: -0.38px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">18 students maximum</strong></div><p></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Josefin Sans"; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And, I'm still </span><span style="font-size: medium;">seriously thinking of attended the one on Prince Edwards Island in the Fall. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Josefin Sans"; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If you wish to join me in the Fall or online, you can register here:</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Josefin Sans"; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">https://www.whalerockworkshops.com/winter-speaker-series-registration</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Josefin Sans"; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">See you there -- Lynne Marie</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Josefin Sans"; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Josefin Sans"; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Whale Rock Workshops is owned and run by Shari Becker. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Josefin Sans"; font-size: 15.4px;"></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: "Josefin Sans"; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--DnWAETjD6I/YBrdV6I0VhI/AAAAAAAADDA/pHvIgWnMoMguynvrtyJT2_J43G9JIIUaACLcBGAsYHQ/s275/Shari%2BBecker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; color: #e07a00; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--DnWAETjD6I/YBrdV6I0VhI/AAAAAAAADDA/pHvIgWnMoMguynvrtyJT2_J43G9JIIUaACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Shari%2BBecker.jpg" style="background: none !important; border: none !important; box-shadow: transparent 0px 0px 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; position: relative; vertical-align: top;" /></span></a></div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Josefin Sans"; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Shari Becker was born in Montreal, Quebec, and grew up speaking both English and French. As a child, she spent her summers in the Adirondack Mountains catching fireflies, minnows, and toads. After completing a master’s degree at New York University, Becker worked for Nickelodeon, Disney-owned companies, and an Emmy Award–winning puppeteer. She is the author of two picture books, including the Charlotte Zolotow Award–honored and Junior Library Guild–selected Maxwell’s Mountain. She most recently published Sprouting Wings with Louisa Jagger, illustrated by Floyd Cooper. She now lives in Brookline, Massachusetts, with her husband, two daughters, and their dog. </span></span><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Josefin Sans"; font-size: 15.4px;"></p></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Josefin Sans"; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>Lynne Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11695955315347988034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488804017860420818.post-27086375431754247032021-03-01T07:45:00.010-08:002021-05-04T13:27:13.490-07:00The Story Behind the Story - Quicklist <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UkNgusnzC6U/YD0F0iKow2I/AAAAAAAADMU/ANyhsyA4NfYBFtthjuxxKGzlS5RheY4KQCLcBGAsYHQ/s940/Beach%2B%25281%2529.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="335" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UkNgusnzC6U/YD0F0iKow2I/AAAAAAAADMU/ANyhsyA4NfYBFtthjuxxKGzlS5RheY4KQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h335/Beach%2B%25281%2529.png" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;">Thank you for stopping by to hear the <i>Story Behind the Story</i> posts that I have collected so far. </span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">I am sure that like me, you will see that it's inspiring to see that imagination and perspiration pays off! </span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Click the links to enjoy visits with this fabulous list of talented authors who, just like you, started with just an idea and a keyboard. <br /></span><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Keep checking back, follow my blog or sign up at <a href="http://www.literallylynnemarie.com">www.literallylynnemarie.com</a> to see more <i>Story Behind the Story</i> posts. </span></div><div><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">2021 POSTS:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Merriweather,serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">January 4, 2021 - Karen Rostoker Gruber [IN THE TREES] </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-story-behind-story-of-happy.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Merriweather,serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-story-behind-story-of-happy.html</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Merriweather,serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">January 7, 2021 - Lauren Heller Kerstein [HOME FOR A WHILE] </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-story-behind-story-home-for-while.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Merriweather,serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-story-behind-story-home-for-while.html</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">February 1st - Amalia Hoffman [MY MONSTERPIECE] </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2021/02/the-story-behind-story-of-my.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Merriweather,serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2021/02/the-story-behind-story-of-my.html</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Merriweather,serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">February 6th - Linda Marshall [THE POLIO PIONEER]</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2021/02/the-story-behind-story-of-polio-pioneer.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Merriweather,serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2021/02/the-story-behind-story-of-polio-pioneer.html</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Merriweather,serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">February 22 - Danna Smith [THE HAWK OF THE CASTLE]</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2021/02/the-story-behind-story-hawk-of-castle.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Merriweather,serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2021/02/the-story-behind-story-hawk-of-castle.html</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Merriweather,serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">February 25 - Evelyn Bookless [CAPTAIN GREEN AND THE TREE MACHINE] </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Merriweather, serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2021/02/the-story-behind-story-of-captain-green.html">https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2021/02/the-story-behind-story-of-captain-green.html</a></span></span></p><div><span style="font-size: medium;">March 1 - Robin Newman [DON'T CALL ME FUZZYBUTT]</span></div><div><a href="https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2021/03/the-story-behind-story-of-dont-call-me.html"><span style="font-size: medium;">https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2021/03/the-story-behind-story-of-dont-call-me.html</span></a></div><div><span id="docs-internal-guid-b04af2dd-7fff-41d7-a3e2-5f084168e115"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">March 1 - Kathleen Doherty [THE THINGATYMAGIG] </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2021/03/the-story-behind-story-of-thingity-jig.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;">https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2021/03/the-story-behind-story-of-thingity-jig.html</a></span></p><div><span style="font-size: medium;">March 21 - Linda Joy Singleton [CRANE AND CRANE]</span></div><div><a href="https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2021/03/the-story-behind-story-crane-and-crane.html"><span style="font-size: medium;">https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2021/03/the-story-behind-story-crane-and-crane.html</span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">March 22 - Charlotte Offsay [THE BIG BEACH CLEAN-UP]</span></div><div><a href="https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2021/03/the-story-behind-story-of-big-beach.html"><span style="font-size: medium;">https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2021/03/the-story-behind-story-of-big-beach.html</span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">March 23 - Shirin Shamsi [LAILA]</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2021/03/the-story-behind-story-of-laila-by.html">https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2021/03/the-story-behind-story-of-laila-by.html</a></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">March 25 - Moni Hadley [THE STAR FESTIVAL]</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2021/03/the-story-behind-story-of-star-festival.html" target="_blank">https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2021/03/the-story-behind-story-of-star-festival.html</a><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">March 26 - E.R. Meyer [THE SUPERLATIVE A. LINCOLN]</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2021/03/the-story-behind-story-of-superlative.html" target="_blank">https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2021/03/the-story-behind-story-of-superlative.html</a><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">April 30 - Phaea Crede [JET THE CAT IS NOT A CAT]</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2021/04/the-story-behind-story-jet-cat-is-not.html">https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2021/04/the-story-behind-story-jet-cat-is-not.html</a></span></div></span></div><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">2019 AND 2020 POSTS:</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-739c8dda-7fff-4271-3763-1da995c4ba16"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Alexandra Alessandri</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2020/09/the-story-behind-story-of-feliz-new.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2020/09/the-story-behind-story-of-feliz-new.html</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amy Houts</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2020/11/the-story-behind-story-of-god-covers-me.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2020/11/the-story-behind-story-of-god-covers-me.html</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Brenda Sturgis</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2020/11/the-story-behind-story-10-turkeys-in.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2020/11/the-story-behind-story-10-turkeys-in.html</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Claire Lordon</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2019/06/the-story-behind-story-spring-in-woods.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2019/06/the-story-behind-story-spring-in-woods.html</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jodi McKay</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2019/06/the-story-behind-story-pencils-perfect.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2019/06/the-story-behind-story-pencils-perfect.html</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Joni Klein-Higger</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2019/11/the-story-behind-story-barnyard-bubbes.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2019/11/the-story-behind-story-barnyard-bubbes.html</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kathleen M. Blasi</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2020/12/cover-revealthe-story-behind-story-with.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2020/12/cover-revealthe-story-behind-story-with.html</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kirsti Call</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2020/08/the-story-behind-story-of-mootilda-by.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2020/08/the-story-behind-story-of-mootilda-by.html</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lauren Heller Kerstein</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2020/08/the-story-behind-story-with-rosie.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2020/08/the-story-behind-story-with-rosie.html</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lauren Heller Kerstein</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2019/06/the-story-behind-story-rosie-dragon-and.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2019/06/the-story-behind-story-rosie-dragon-and.html</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lori Degman</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2019/10/the-story-behind-story-just-read-with.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2019/10/the-story-behind-story-just-read-with.html</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lydia Lukidis</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2019/06/the-story-behind-story-no-bears-allowed.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2019/06/the-story-behind-story-no-bears-allowed.html</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Natalee Creech</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2020/05/the-story-behind-story-when-day-is-done.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2020/05/the-story-behind-story-when-day-is-done.html</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Paulette Sharkey</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2020/05/the-story-behind-story-doll-for-grandma.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2020/05/the-story-behind-story-doll-for-grandma.html</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Shannon Stocker</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2019/08/the-story-behind-story-shannon-stockers.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2019/08/the-story-behind-story-shannon-stockers.html</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wendy Greenley</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2019/06/the-story-behind-story-lola-shapes-sky.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;">https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2019/06/the-story-behind-story-lola-shapes-sky.html</a></span></p><div><br /></div><div><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">CUMULATIVE 2019 POSTS: </span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2019/02/master-list-2019-story-behind-story.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;">https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2019/02/master-list-2019-story-behind-story.html</a></span></p><div>AND REMEMBER...</div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2019/01/craft-tip-just-keep-reading-just-keep.html" target="_blank">Just Keep Reading!</a></span></div><span id="docs-internal-guid-739c8dda-7fff-4271-3763-1da995c4ba16"></span></div><div><br /></div></span></div></div></div>Lynne Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11695955315347988034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488804017860420818.post-34722501125855570892021-03-01T07:43:00.001-08:002021-03-03T13:49:38.659-08:00The Story Behind the Story of Don't Call Me Fuzzybutt!<p> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase;">The Story Behind the Story: D</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: center;">on’t Call Me Fuzzybutt! by Robin Newman and
illustrated by Susan Batori (Sleeping Bear Press) </span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: center;"> Blogpost by: Robin Newman</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KxfN3RfRG_0/YD0JqAe5Y3I/AAAAAAAADMk/AE2HIXMLLNs0OkLtedIw9_D96Y-peTpVgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1431/Fuzzybutt_1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1176" data-original-width="1431" height="526" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KxfN3RfRG_0/YD0JqAe5Y3I/AAAAAAAADMk/AE2HIXMLLNs0OkLtedIw9_D96Y-peTpVgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h526/Fuzzybutt_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">A
little bit about the book . . . <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">In
<i>Don’t Call Me Fuzzybutt!</i>, </span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Bear isn't the only one who turns grizzly and
says some not-so-nice-words that shouldn't be repeated when Woodpecker's
carpentry work keeps him from getting his 243½ days of much needed sleep. Can
they patch it up–literally–before Bear loses too much sleep? </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D3YcuzYRJvU/YD0Jz41cfZI/AAAAAAAADMo/4HeCCYIwmNcqfRsM_Lh1ePuUEWYvAJLzgCLcBGAsYHQ/s512/Fuzzybutt_2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="210" data-original-width="512" height="262" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D3YcuzYRJvU/YD0Jz41cfZI/AAAAAAAADMo/4HeCCYIwmNcqfRsM_Lh1ePuUEWYvAJLzgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h262/Fuzzybutt_2.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8MBlLcNnPRw/YD0J9AUSawI/AAAAAAAADMw/8qvWyr4It1QBUzWlmhh4qz7i4Uu5kj3YwCLcBGAsYHQ/s512/Fuzzybutt_3.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="208" data-original-width="512" height="260" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8MBlLcNnPRw/YD0J9AUSawI/AAAAAAAADMw/8qvWyr4It1QBUzWlmhh4qz7i4Uu5kj3YwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h260/Fuzzybutt_3.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Don’t
Call Me Fuzzybutt!</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">
was inspired by my son’s use of bad words. Around the time when he was in third grade, he went through a terrible
phase where he used to think it was super cool to say bad words. After all,
these were words he wasn’t allowed to say that older kids and adults did say.
And he’d hear these words everywhere—in the lunchroom, at recess, and on the
walk home from school. And once you’ve learned a new word (even a bad word), he
was more than eager to give his new-found word a test drive to the delight of
his proud parents.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">My first drafts of </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Don’t Call Me Fuzzybutt! </i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">focused
on using bad words. In fact, the book was originally titled, </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Bear Said a Bad
Word</i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">. But as the book evolved in the yearlong revision process, it became
clear that the story wasn’t just about saying a word that should never ever be
repeated. It was about calling others names and the hurt feelings that ensued.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">I hope that children reading the book will realize
that their words are powerful. Words can be uplifting and supportive, but at
the same time they can be extremely hurtful. One needs to understand that the
words we use will impact others and therefore, they must be used and chosen with
care.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Moreover, I hope children will take note of Bear and
Woodpecker’s ability to listen, forgive, and work toward a resolution that serves
of both of their interests.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://youtu.be/tZUolWglSgk"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tZUolWglSgk" width="320" youtube-src-id="tZUolWglSgk"></iframe></a></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://youtu.be/tZUolWglSgk"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://youtu.be/tZUolWglSgk" style="font-size: 14pt;">https://youtu.be/tZUolWglSgk</a></div></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">About Robin </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D89oI-6UCGc/YD0KQlnrslI/AAAAAAAADM8/cIjPWj-8p6w4iiZirnG7G8fekIMfX7vqQCLcBGAsYHQ/s628/Fuzzybutt_Robin.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="628" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D89oI-6UCGc/YD0KQlnrslI/AAAAAAAADM8/cIjPWj-8p6w4iiZirnG7G8fekIMfX7vqQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Fuzzybutt_Robin.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Raised in New York and
Paris, Robin is a graduate of Bryn Mawr College and the City University of New
York School of Law. She was a practicing attorney and legal editor, but she now
prefers to write about witches, mice, pigs, bears, and peacocks. She's a member
of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, National Writing
Project's Writers Council, the Bank Street Writers Lab, and PEN America, CYAB.
She lives in New York with a motley crew of fuzzybutts that include her
husband, son, and three spoiled dogs. She is represented by Liza Fleissig
at the Liza Royce Agency. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">For
more information about Robin, please visit:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Website:
</span><a href="http://www.robinnewmanbooks.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">www.robinnewmanbooks.com</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Twitter: @robinnewmanbook<br />
Facebook: </span><a href="https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fprotect-us.mimecast.com%2Fs%2FpHxNCQWK5WHXoJk9hMafLh%3Fdomain%3Dfacebook.com&data=02%7C01%7C%7C1829e8725d4243abb7f908d75c8c743f%7Cbca9d2095f2e4697b2b4ae4d8a4467f0%7C0%7C0%7C637079630654392373&sdata=Fs6zTX7EpnxqN7%2F3HiN98myPMx1yCcjQlrkq1UOl0bs%3D&reserved=0"><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">https://www.facebook.com/pages/RobinNewmanBooks/339179099505049</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Instagram:
@robinnewmanbooks<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Lynne Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11695955315347988034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488804017860420818.post-12392456227985638402021-03-01T02:00:00.009-08:002021-03-02T07:56:16.941-08:00THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY of The Thingity-Jig by Kathleen Doherty<p><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aQq1I3LE3Go/X6fz9YzWckI/AAAAAAAACuc/c9AtcY7mr8AbO5DfBHeWliZgFvMlrhfVQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/official%2Bcover%2B8-21-20.jpg" style="clear: left; display: inline; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1524" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aQq1I3LE3Go/X6fz9YzWckI/AAAAAAAACuc/c9AtcY7mr8AbO5DfBHeWliZgFvMlrhfVQCLcBGAsYHQ/w238-h320/official%2Bcover%2B8-21-20.jpg" width="238" /></a><a href="https://amzn.to/36kM5wR" target="_blank">The Thingity-Jig</a> byBy Kathleen Doherty</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Illustrated by Kristina Listen</p><p class="MsoNormal">Publisher: Peachtree, 2021</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">People often ask me where I get my ideas. I usually say from
reading piles of picture books...from everyday life...and from childhood
memories.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6zns50QvC20/X6f0X79CVsI/AAAAAAAACuk/j_w7knzIOEkd7VjiCBtIwovNC5nDWnMjwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1360/1.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="912" data-original-width="1360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6zns50QvC20/X6f0X79CVsI/AAAAAAAACuk/j_w7knzIOEkd7VjiCBtIwovNC5nDWnMjwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/1.png" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The idea for <a href="https://amzn.to/36kM5wR" target="_blank">THE THINGITY-JIG</a> (April 1, 2021, Peachtree Publishers) sparked one day
while I was walking in my neighborhood. I spotted a discarded couch at the
curb. I remembered as a kid jumping on the couch when my parents weren’t
looking. I could envision that couch with its gray nubby fabric and bullion
fringe.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OsRjDXqjBtM/X6f0g1w2O3I/AAAAAAAACuo/uH2ZXX5W5aARCAFTWVRXGloHRqvmVSvHgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1352/2.png" style="clear: left; display: inline; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1352" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OsRjDXqjBtM/X6f0g1w2O3I/AAAAAAAACuo/uH2ZXX5W5aARCAFTWVRXGloHRqvmVSvHgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/2.png" width="320" /></a><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Then I started to play “what if?” What if a cub couldn’t sleep one night and wandered off into people town? What if the cub found a couch and had never seen one before? What would the cub do with it? What would the cub name it? The more I played “what if?” the more the story took shape.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Author Joy Cowley calls this going down to the well—digging
deep down to past experiences and reliving the emotions. Try it! Then use those emotions in your stories.</p><p class="MsoNormal"> <a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QDosj_ATup4/X6f1DUpvaYI/AAAAAAAACu0/fE-HeXUsttcIU0MIa03plKC0fMZ8qRXFgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1340/3.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="1340" height="268" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QDosj_ATup4/X6f1DUpvaYI/AAAAAAAACu0/fE-HeXUsttcIU0MIa03plKC0fMZ8qRXFgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h268/3.png" width="400" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111;"><a href="https://amzn.to/36kGCpw" target="_blank">Kathleen</a>
enjoys bringing kids and quality literature together. She's a Reading
Specialist and an Educational Specialist in Curriculum and Instruction. She's
written standardized test items for Pearson Inc. in alignment with the Common
Core Standards. Her love of learning has led her to graduate from four
different universities. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #111111; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="background: white;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d2bSAdfJ-8w/X6f1e5kNq5I/AAAAAAAACvA/DKvMxgZaJcEaqYdIqFMsYR5KumZT0SsuQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1354/4.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="896" data-original-width="1354" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d2bSAdfJ-8w/X6f1e5kNq5I/AAAAAAAACvA/DKvMxgZaJcEaqYdIqFMsYR5KumZT0SsuQCLcBGAsYHQ/w320-h213/4.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />Nothing scares her. Kathleen has taught
elementary school for over 30 years. A student once told her she'd make a great
vampire because she's tall and her teeth are sharp! <p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #111111; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="background: white;">She was first published in TIME Magazine when
her letter to the editor about cartoonist Charles Schulz was boxed and
illustrated. Her work has also appeared in The Mailbox, Spider Magazine,
Highlights Hello, Highlights High Five, and Highlights for Children. She's won
the Highlights Pewter Plate Award, the Highlights Celebrate National Poetry
Contest, and a letter of merit from SCBWI's Magazine Merit Competition.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #111111; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="background: white;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BcsZyVLrCZE/X6f1qVBPcRI/AAAAAAAACvE/_5ljT1murkEYg2gRetroQTysBD1KvQVeACLcBGAsYHQ/s1920/Kathleen%2BDoherty.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BcsZyVLrCZE/X6f1qVBPcRI/AAAAAAAACvE/_5ljT1murkEYg2gRetroQTysBD1KvQVeACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Kathleen%2BDoherty.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Her first picture book, <a href="https://amzn.to/3eDqlQo" target="_blank">DON'T FEED THE BEAR</a>,
illustrated by Chip Wass, debuted from Sterling Children's Books and is
featured on Kirkus Reviews' recommended list. Her second picture book, <a href="https://amzn.to/36kM5wR" target="_blank">THETHINGITY-JIG</a>, is forthcoming April 2021 with Peachtree Publishers.<br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Kathleen donates 100% of her author earnings to
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #111111; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #111111; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #111111; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="background: white; color: #111111;">Author
website: </span><a href="http://www.kathleendohertyauthor.com/"><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">www.kathleendohertyauthor.com</span></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span>Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/kathy.doherty.79/">https://www.facebook.com/kathy.doherty.79/</a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span>Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/Doherty60">https://twitter.com/Doherty60</a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> And if you liked this book, please check out Kathy's previous Story Behind the Story post <a href="https://amzn.to/3kAjXwm">DON'T FEED THE BEAR</a> <a href="https://literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com/2019/01/ppbf-dont-feed-bear-by-kathleen-doherty.html">HERE</a>.</o:p></p>Lynne Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11695955315347988034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488804017860420818.post-75935447739731608482021-02-25T03:00:00.018-08:002021-02-25T12:35:42.667-08:00The Story Behind the Story of Captain Green and the Tree Machine<p><br /><span style="font-size: 14pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xud7oI-JTmA/YDQNU_0YQUI/AAAAAAAADKI/e2-bQueOvNk7XDogAg4haDBlpo7GMnBUgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1361/CG2_COVER%2B-%2Bsmaller%2Bfile.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1358" data-original-width="1361" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xud7oI-JTmA/YDQNU_0YQUI/AAAAAAAADKI/e2-bQueOvNk7XDogAg4haDBlpo7GMnBUgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/CG2_COVER%2B-%2Bsmaller%2Bfile.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>by Author Evelyn Bookless<p></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-29740949-7fff-c6a1-2c9d-264d3afb2fca"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jacket Flap Copy from Book:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Captain Green is back and this time he’s creating a gadget to help save the planet. As he fine-tunes his invention, disaster strikes. Hornbill’s tree has been chopped down and there’s tree trouble for Elephant and Orangutan too. Captain Green scrambles to finish his invention - a TREE MACHINE - and zooms to the rescue! ZAP! ZOOP! ZINK! Trees pop up all around until… BANG! Oh no! How will Captain Green save the animals now?</i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br style="font-size: medium; white-space: normal;" /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3sfDBQQ">CAPTAIN GREEN AND THE TREE MACHINE</a> (Marshall Cavendish) is the second story in an eco-adventure series (illustrated by Danny Deeptown), featuring a young superhero on a mission to help keep the planet clean and green. In the first story, <a href="https://amzn.to/2NtElDb" target="_blank">CAPTAIN GREEN AND THE PLASTIC SCENE</a>, the Captain sets off to save some sea creatures in trouble with plastic. </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[Ad: Click on Links to buy book.] </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This time around, he is attempting to create a gadget to help save the planet. As Captain Green fine-tunes his invention, disaster strikes. Hornbill’s tree has been chopped down and there’s tree trouble for Elephant and Orangutan too. Captain Green scrambles to finish his invention - a TREE MACHINE - and zooms to the rescue! ZAP! ZOOP! ZINK! Trees pop up all around until… BANG! Oh no! Captain Green must find a new way to save the animals.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-13pleuxsMJ4/YDQQF8sQB8I/AAAAAAAADK0/p_95BUVuV2IF3VW7ZAp2Hdc8jOk-czWCQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/14_15_CGTM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1036" data-original-width="2048" height="324" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-13pleuxsMJ4/YDQQF8sQB8I/AAAAAAAADK0/p_95BUVuV2IF3VW7ZAp2Hdc8jOk-czWCQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h324/14_15_CGTM.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">Join Captain Green by purchasing a book <a href="https://amzn.to/3sfDBQQ" target="_blank">HERE</a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Deciding on the topic for Captain Green’s second eco-mission took some time. I had drafted a story focused on climate change, set in the Arctic. I batted with it for a while, and then one day, decided to take elements from it (like Captain Green's </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FREEZE MACHINE</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">) and use them in a new story about deforestation (now with a </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">TREE MACHINE</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">). It is said that nothing is wasted in writing! The initial draft seemed to just write itself, and it felt right and more the story I wanted to tell.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CQiESkipl7I/YDQQN9J8RII/AAAAAAAADK4/woYRP65bYBoAqXXCuxhE-HBMpKc3OymNwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1993/16_17.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1009" data-original-width="1993" height="324" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CQiESkipl7I/YDQQN9J8RII/AAAAAAAADK4/woYRP65bYBoAqXXCuxhE-HBMpKc3OymNwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h324/16_17.png" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 14pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p>Forests have always been special for me. I played for hours in the trees at the back on our house growing up in Ireland. Thirty years ago, my father decided to grow a forest that is now maturing nicely. I love to visit it when I return home and learn about the different trees, plants and animals living within it. I am proud of this little green ‘lung’ that my family have nurtured. While living in Asia for 10 years, where I worked as an international school teacher, I had the opportunity to visit Borneo and other parts of Indonesia and witness some of the intense deforestation of ancient rainforest, often to make way for palm tree plantations or farm land. Aspects of my childhood and travels have definitely fed into this story. And, of course, we all know that tress are vital to our survival – I hope this story will inspire more trees to be planted and protected. The back matter shares some simple facts about deforestation and real ways that children can help, which as a teacher and Mom, I hope will be useful for little superheroes everywhere.</span><p></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thanks for having me Lynne Marie. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Keep It Green everyone!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Evelyn</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rBsuEDHAe9s/YDQNvNGhpoI/AAAAAAAADKU/bHhsnP3rL6c1l_eupdBNeMomqjdSHo4oQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/_DSC4737-20%2Bedit.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1368" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rBsuEDHAe9s/YDQNvNGhpoI/AAAAAAAADKU/bHhsnP3rL6c1l_eupdBNeMomqjdSHo4oQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/_DSC4737-20%2Bedit.jpg" /></a></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p>Evelyn Bookless grew up on a farm in the west of Ireland where she loved to make forts and play in the trees with her siblings. She is a nature lover, mum, teacher and writer. Evelyn spent ten wonderful years living in Asia but was saddened to see beautiful rainforests cut down during her travels around the region. She recently moved to the Netherlands, where she enjoys cycling her blue bike, Betty. Her favourite place to be is in the sea, preferably somewhere warm. </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Her first picture book, CAPTAIN GREEN AND THE PLASTIC SCENE, also illustrated by Danny Deeptown, won a Northern Lights Book Award for Children’s Environmental Fiction.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Website Link </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.evelynbookless.com">www.evelynbookless.com</a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Social Media Links </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Twitter: @evelynbookles Instagram: @evelynbookless</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Facebook @evelynbooklessauthor</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><br />Lynne Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11695955315347988034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488804017860420818.post-35672202228791826002021-02-22T07:24:00.003-08:002021-02-22T07:24:38.906-08:00THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY: The Hawk of the Castle<p><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Story Behind the Story of: </span></b></p><p><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-76Wx6yWJ5qc/YDPMHf29L5I/AAAAAAAADJ0/brI0OCLtaLcIuflVfg-UyOqJExVuaHHywCLcBGAsYHQ/s1748/HAWK%2BCOVER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1748" data-original-width="1504" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-76Wx6yWJ5qc/YDPMHf29L5I/AAAAAAAADJ0/brI0OCLtaLcIuflVfg-UyOqJExVuaHHywCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/HAWK%2BCOVER.jpg" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>The Hawk of the Castle - A Story of Medieval Falconry</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">by Danna Smith<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Pop Quiz! Which of the following is true of my childhood?</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I
once took my favorite of our 300 snakes to school for show and tell.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Hawks
often perched next to me on a kitchen chair while I ate my snack.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">One
snowy night, I diapered a motherless baby deer and sneaked her into my warm bed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">All
the above.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">If you guessed "all of the above," you are
correct! My father was a falconer who also raised, bred, and rehabilitated
animals. It was not uncommon to have bobcats, monkeys, alligators, or vultures
at my home. When I was a child, spending time with my father meant spending
time with a menagerie of creatures. He never sat down in front of the
television at night without perching a hawk on his fist. I learned early on
that this one of the ways a falconer tames his hawks. It was an unconventional
childhood, but it felt normal to me. I didn't know it back then, but as I went
hawking with my dad and helped him care for the animals, I was gathering a nest
of ideas for the writer I would become.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Hawk of the Castle</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
is based on my father and the time we spent hawking. I chose to set the Story
in medieval times because I am fascinated by falconry history, which dates back
to China and the Middle East more than 3000 years ago. Plus, castles are pretty
cool! I learned a lot about the art and sport of falconry firsthand, so most of
my research was on the book's medieval aspect.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">When I sold the manuscript to Candlewick Press and
illustrator Bagram Ibatolline was hired to bring my text to life with his
beautiful artwork, I was ecstatic! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Around that time, my father was diagnosed with
dementia. I feared he would not be here with me to enjoy publication day. His
long-term memory was still in tack for much of that year, so it was great to
ask him hawking questions, share parts of the book, and listen to his falconry
stories of long ago.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A year later, upon receiving a copy of the book, my
dad had slipped deeper into dementia. I read it to him, and as I turned the
pages, I watched his face for clues of understanding. He had become a man of
few words, but as he looked at the pictures, tears filled his eyes. I knew then
that the dad I grew up with was there somewhere, and I like to think he is
proud of our Story.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Hawk of the Castle</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
is told in rhyme with nonfiction insets and extensive back-matter. Young readers
get a sense of what it is like to "fly" a raptor while learning about
the equipment and falconry skills.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I hope the book will bring you as much joy reading it
as it did for me to write it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EnaFUZr46TA/YDPMVo7T2pI/AAAAAAAADJ4/6YPrq8NnKL4i4CURg-cXUQygXZ1BleFFgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Danna%2BSmith%2Bhead%2Bshot%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1363" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EnaFUZr46TA/YDPMVo7T2pI/AAAAAAAADJ4/6YPrq8NnKL4i4CURg-cXUQygXZ1BleFFgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Danna%2BSmith%2Bhead%2Bshot%2B2.jpg" /></a></div><p class="Default" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Danna Smith is a poet and an
award-winning author of seventeen books for children, including </span><i style="font-size: 12pt;">Balloon
Trees</i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">, </span><i style="font-size: 12pt;">Swallow the Leader</i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">, </span><i style="font-size: 12pt;">Mother Goose’s Pajama Party</i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">, and four
</span><i style="font-size: 12pt;">Little Golden Books</i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">. Her nonfiction picture book, </span><i style="font-size: 12pt;">The Hawk of the
Castle: A Story of Medieval Falconry</i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">, </span><span style="background: white; font-size: 12pt;">received
two starred reviews, is a Junior Library Guild Selection, a Bank Street College
of Education Best Children’s Books of the Year list, and more</span><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt;">. Danna is currently living in northern California,
where she is hard at work on </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">her next book. For more information about
her books, upcoming releases, and teaching activities, visit her website at
www.dannasmithbooks.com.</span></p><p class="Default" style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></p>Buy The Hawk of the Castle <u><a href="https://amzn.to/3dB7s2b">HERE</a></u>. <p></p>Lynne Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11695955315347988034noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488804017860420818.post-83003135802049959482021-02-06T05:14:00.001-08:002021-02-06T05:14:24.060-08:00EVENT: Bright Lights and Night Lights - Evaluating Ideas<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Myv2Qyyz-9U/YB6TRtfhZ9I/AAAAAAAADII/HpfF9cBh9egNpDuKLm8NLw-qANk69Y6EQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/AdobeStock_78057987.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1363" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Myv2Qyyz-9U/YB6TRtfhZ9I/AAAAAAAADII/HpfF9cBh9egNpDuKLm8NLw-qANk69Y6EQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/AdobeStock_78057987.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Josefin Sans"; font-size: large; text-align: center;">JOIN THE PICTURE BOOK MECHANIC</span><p></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Josefin Sans"; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">for BRIGHT LIGHTS AND NIGHT LIGHTS -</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Josefin Sans"; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ideas that Shine and Ideas to Put to Bed</span><span style="font-size: large;">! </span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Josefin Sans"; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Josefin Sans"; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Many of you have completed 2021 Story Storm or gathered story ideas for January. Congratulations! But now, what do you do with them? There's certain criteria that must be met when deciding which idea is the brightest and shiniest and merits pursuing. We will discuss these in an interactive setting where all with gain valuable tools for mining ideas. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Josefin Sans"; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Josefin Sans"; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: large;">WHAT: On-the-spot Idea Critiques and Discussion </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1ef2gLJypbQ/YB6WBT_euoI/AAAAAAAADIU/LxO0NHLINocQELiK1SVM11daI7wLVI4IwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/AdobeStock_286276155.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1ef2gLJypbQ/YB6WBT_euoI/AAAAAAAADIU/LxO0NHLINocQELiK1SVM11daI7wLVI4IwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/AdobeStock_286276155.jpeg" /></a></div><p></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Josefin Sans"; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: large;">WHEN: February 17, 2021</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Josefin Sans"; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: large;">TIME: 6:30 pm EST</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Josefin Sans"; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: large;">COST: $5.50 for RYS Members, $7.50 for Non-Members</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Josefin Sans"; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: large;">WHERE: The Picture Book Mechanic's Zoom Room</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Josefin Sans"; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><span class="js-real-label" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #232333;">https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9930468519</span><span style="color: #232333;"> </span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Josefin Sans"; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Josefin Sans"; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">To sign up for this event:</span></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: "Josefin Sans"; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GmByTTbPZ_w/YB28PsOm4bI/AAAAAAAADF8/YRmm0BqUfREI7dV8oSq7bl5-f-sxNXzhQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/AdobeStock_49219491.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; color: #e07a00; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1595" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GmByTTbPZ_w/YB28PsOm4bI/AAAAAAAADF8/YRmm0BqUfREI7dV8oSq7bl5-f-sxNXzhQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/AdobeStock_49219491.jpeg" style="background: none !important; border: none !important; box-shadow: transparent 0px 0px 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; position: relative; vertical-align: top;" width="320" /></a></span></div><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Josefin Sans"; font-size: 15.4px;"></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Josefin Sans"; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">Pay the Webinar Fee of $5.50 (RYS Members) or $7.50 (Non-Members) to LittleWolfLiterary@gmail.com. E-mail your receipt to me at: RYSSpeedpass@gmail.com </span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Josefin Sans"; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">Enter the Zoom Room above between 6:15 an 6:30 PM EST. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Josefin Sans"; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">Several/many participants will share a few of their ideas and we will discuss the criteria for pursuing or moving on. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Josefin Sans"; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">Listen and learn! </span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Josefin Sans"; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">Any questions, please e-mail me at: RYSSpeedpass@gmail.com</span></p>Lynne Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11695955315347988034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488804017860420818.post-82962851822242103092021-02-06T04:51:00.000-08:002021-02-06T04:51:09.069-08:00RATE YOUR STORY JUDGES Share The Book Love!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-teWkTf0TuDY/YB6OLTwmoUI/AAAAAAAADG8/VTF0O9IpqdYvv9V1K9CYM-ysNmOO1gHSgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/AdobeStock_121225719.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1337" data-original-width="2048" height="418" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-teWkTf0TuDY/YB6OLTwmoUI/AAAAAAAADG8/VTF0O9IpqdYvv9V1K9CYM-ysNmOO1gHSgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h418/AdobeStock_121225719.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Bitter;">This month, the RateYourStory.org Judges are sharing the Book Love with our Readers (and the world). Click on the links to buy books and support both our authors and our book chat through the Amazon Associates program. #Ad</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Bitter;"><span style="color: var(--primary-text);"><br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dfcpioQH3Bc/YB6PEv1BUFI/AAAAAAAADHc/U2PbRy4MvUMc_RAxtp33hIshS66duSwPgCLcBGAsYHQ/s293/Micawber.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="213" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dfcpioQH3Bc/YB6PEv1BUFI/AAAAAAAADHc/U2PbRy4MvUMc_RAxtp33hIshS66duSwPgCLcBGAsYHQ/w145-h200/Micawber.webp" width="145" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Bitter;">Brenda Sturgis: Author of </span><a href="https://amzn.to/3axHwRC" style="font-family: Bitter;" target="_blank">STILL A FAMILY</a><span style="font-family: Bitter;">. I would have to say my most favorite picture </span><span style="font-family: Bitter;"><span style="color: var(--primary-text);">book of all time is John Lithgow’s <a href="https://amzn.to/2O7CUdr" target="_blank">MiCawber</a>. It is a visual feast, and the word choices are sublime. It teachers the readers about art and famous artists while using fabulous words like peregrination. Rhyme is incredibly difficult, but Mr. Lithgow creates a read that is spectacular on every level. I never get tired of reading it and learning from it, any time we can sprinkle new words in front of children, is in my opinion, a way to expand their vocabulary palate giving them a more voracious appetite for language, but as far as the craft of writing, I would have to say <a href="https://amzn.to/3aD3TFn" target="_blank">Lisa Wheeler</a> taught a class that I hosted and I learned so much from her about picture book writing, how a character has to earn their name, and leaving lots of white space in your manuscript. </span><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl py34i1dx gpro0wi8" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.brendareevessturgis.com%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR0wFQ5CqlS6YVGJHPDQ8i2zJJoII8KMudoB-1hY69VgmLsnclC_UABjD2I&h=AT1mzUW6jREtFf7kdvvFGLezuQh3o3wlAgLOYRydFekM-EpAb3Kq62Z2Uj0erOZy0aKIenI0zWM2HqVMGf-L_v0_kMRYjoMYjp9IMoMes4EySLx1EHeffZEr5vMcX8xBPFn_WqfOIn0P0zNePA&__tn__=R]-R&c[0]=AT2U9e0z5FvABJptE64IRI4Nute5TQHfxRwZsNi1lgNlXtcChx_a76r_ub7dVIDZnY9Snb9XVATp08oGKyIoXKxglK9g9rAnW0GLKtZ7G_zwCUTsv3R4erNL5IneTI6sNw_1icxg9OKUQ3Mmp8MBe_9C1RDA6EQLXWtFo4EFb1_I76joyH__2YHXl1vp0pBP0CVtlUQl_sXmEv9H" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">www.brendareevessturgis.com</a></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Bitter;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5mcZm-66XVE/YB6OgCwOw1I/AAAAAAAADHI/wkaHlkmCRx0D3m6IPstUpVXHHoOhFV69wCLcBGAsYHQ/s369/Save%2Bthe%2BCat_Series.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="369" height="163" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5mcZm-66XVE/YB6OgCwOw1I/AAAAAAAADHI/wkaHlkmCRx0D3m6IPstUpVXHHoOhFV69wCLcBGAsYHQ/w200-h163/Save%2Bthe%2BCat_Series.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Bitter;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hmIa4S_ezoE/YB6OViAc-QI/AAAAAAAADHA/lx2V_rTE7aAi37a0Pz_DVJJoJR1hKyJTACLcBGAsYHQ/s369/Save%2Bthe%2BCat_Series.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Bitter;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Bitter; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lynne Marie, Author of </span><a href="https://amzn.to/2YOVwku" style="font-family: Bitter; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">LET'S EAT! MEALTIME AROUND THE WORLD</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Bitter; white-space: pre-wrap;">, is absolutely *head-</span><span style="font-family: Bitter;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;">over-heels* for <a href="https://amzn.to/2MFYhCn" target="_blank">Blake Snyder's Save the Cat 6-Book Series</a>! I love the art of story conventions and these books are absolutely brilliant for understanding log-lines (pitches), characters we can identify and root for, structure, plot beats, and MORE! Best, his wonderful examples bring what he is saying to life. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl py34i1dx gpro0wi8" href="http://www.literallylynnemarie.com/?fbclid=IwAR32MffLOM3BGbb6Dslgeyq_5DNseqt7nhst8lkKyuVXCDzXgaEAWUvwHug" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">www.literallylynnemarie.com</a></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span><p></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="color: var(--primary-text); font-family: Bitter; font-size: 0.9375rem;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iL9c22ORfUY/YB6OtqPrVzI/AAAAAAAADHQ/_GPyEzo6E0gG7WfuYuXoP4r6m5re1QR0QCLcBGAsYHQ/s499/Writing%2BPIcture%2BBooks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="326" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iL9c22ORfUY/YB6OtqPrVzI/AAAAAAAADHQ/_GPyEzo6E0gG7WfuYuXoP4r6m5re1QR0QCLcBGAsYHQ/w131-h200/Writing%2BPIcture%2BBooks.jpg" width="131" /></a></div><span style="color: var(--primary-text); font-family: Bitter; font-size: 0.9375rem;">Katie Frawley, author of </span><a href="https://amzn.to/3cJEnB6" style="font-family: Bitter; font-size: 0.9375rem;">TABITHA AND FRITZ TRADE PLACES</a><span style="color: var(--primary-text); font-family: Bitter; font-size: 0.9375rem;">. The first book I read on the craft of</span><span style="color: var(--primary-text); font-family: Bitter; font-size: 0.9375rem;">writing picture books was Ann Whitford Paul's aptly named </span><a href="https://amzn.to/3aDZK4f" style="font-family: Bitter; font-size: 0.9375rem;" target="_blank">WRITING PICTURE BOOKS</a><span style="color: var(--primary-text); font-family: Bitter; font-size: 0.9375rem;">! It is a wonderful book for beginners. Writing picture books is very different from any other form of writing. There is a lot of PB-specific knowledge you need before you can really start honing your manuscripts. If you're a newbie in the world of picture books, I highly recommend it.</span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: #f0f2f5; color: #050505; font-family: Bitter; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f0f2f5; color: #050505; font-family: Bitter; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f0f2f5; color: #050505; font-family: Bitter; font-size: 15px;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eqn_9UvSU-Y/YB6PWesOTBI/AAAAAAAADHk/RshP9GlaSJU3DXWz2vXvA88oCH_QeaNjACLcBGAsYHQ/s500/Writing%2BDown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="323" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eqn_9UvSU-Y/YB6PWesOTBI/AAAAAAAADHk/RshP9GlaSJU3DXWz2vXvA88oCH_QeaNjACLcBGAsYHQ/w129-h200/Writing%2BDown.jpg" width="129" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p><span style="background-color: #f0f2f5; color: #050505; font-family: Bitter; font-size: 15px;">Kirsti Call, Author of <a href="https://amzn.to/3tvr6lz" target="_blank">MOOTILDA'S BAD MOOD</a>. I first read <a href="https://amzn.to/36NVTQS" target="_blank">WRITING DOWN THE BONES: FREEING THE WRITER WITHIN</a> by Natalie Goldberg when I was a teenager. It's still one of my very favorite books for writing exercises, motivation and inspiration in my writing. This book helps me understand my compelling reason for writing and makes me a better writer as well! </span><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl py34i1dx gpro0wi8" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kirsticall.com%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR0NLogf1_Xz1bt8-6vgVvq1I0arnfYYrmmleDiPiAIZCxea5UdqeBvDDfM&h=AT3qyPbA5kLDehor4mqCqvs1Apn12enbryI9kJkeO_Dmg0vzFcDLWT4Wv43s5-9q5aqjb7_J5X5wE_-v1t0c2LTfsUsrSmPFWk07lGfgUzY-HLuZidK2z2DPCy3OZVMptl6sFiVvO1V35MA02w&__tn__=R]-R&c[0]=AT2U9e0z5FvABJptE64IRI4Nute5TQHfxRwZsNi1lgNlXtcChx_a76r_ub7dVIDZnY9Snb9XVATp08oGKyIoXKxglK9g9rAnW0GLKtZ7G_zwCUTsv3R4erNL5IneTI6sNw_1icxg9OKUQ3Mmp8MBe_9C1RDA6EQLXWtFo4EFb1_I76joyH__2YHXl1vp0pBP0CVtlUQl_sXmEv9H" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: #f0f2f5; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: Bitter; font-size: 15px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">www.kirsticall.com</a></p><p><span style="background-color: #f0f2f5; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f0f2f5; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;"><br /></span></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nwaMJvVC-sQ/YB6P1FQvwzI/AAAAAAAADHs/Rg5luwXBLmAwRnSicYnmDW4fQJhsgVgpQCLcBGAsYHQ/s293/The%2BMagic%2BWords.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="196" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nwaMJvVC-sQ/YB6P1FQvwzI/AAAAAAAADHs/Rg5luwXBLmAwRnSicYnmDW4fQJhsgVgpQCLcBGAsYHQ/w134-h200/The%2BMagic%2BWords.webp" width="134" /></a></div><span style="background-color: #f0f2f5; color: #050505; font-family: Bitter; font-size: 15px;">Laura Roettiger, author of </span><a href="https://amzn.to/3oScqtb" style="background-color: #f0f2f5; font-family: Bitter; font-size: 15px;" target="_blank">ALIANA REACHES FOR THE MOON</a><span style="background-color: #f0f2f5; color: #050505; font-family: Bitter; font-size: 15px;">. I’ve been studying Cheryl Klein’s </span><a href="https://amzn.to/2MWHXNo" style="background-color: #f0f2f5; font-family: Bitter; font-size: 15px;">THE MAGIC WORDS</a><span style="background-color: #f0f2f5; color: #050505; font-family: Bitter; font-size: 15px;"> at the suggestion of a mentor and dear friend. The main reminder I have posted is characters need to DO THINGS. I’m using this for writing MG. </span><a href="http://www.lauraroettigerbooks.com/blog" style="background-color: #f0f2f5; font-family: Bitter; font-size: 15px;">www.lauraroettigerbooks.com/blog</a><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Bitter;"><span style="background-color: #f0f2f5; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;">Linda Elovitz Marshall, author of <a href="https://amzn.to/2Lo2h9U">ANNE FRANK: THE GIRL HEARD AROUND THE WORLD</a>. Successful picture books need a BIG story - something universal, something that deals with a truth about life, about the world around. I find that Ann Whitford Paul's <a href="https://amzn.to/3aDZK4f" target="_blank">WRITING PICTURE BOOKS: A Hands-On Guide From Story Creation to Publication</a> is helpful for both new and experienced picture book authors. </span><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl py34i1dx gpro0wi8" href="http://www.lindamarshall.com/?fbclid=IwAR1gFm3Tg_JArJXDNK3SaAdzKEV5wpDYHxQ9wSZsdxUo6oNBvtHyeE6vXlM" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: #f0f2f5; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-size: 15px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">www.lindamarshall.com</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Bitter;"><span style="color: var(--primary-text); font-size: 0.9375rem;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PiIZFhKNQQM/YB6QAtkXfYI/AAAAAAAADHw/a6vk31EG-OcBTJbsAtmZwS6Q3HxjnYb1QCLcBGAsYHQ/s500/Wired%2Bfor%2BStory.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PiIZFhKNQQM/YB6QAtkXfYI/AAAAAAAADHw/a6vk31EG-OcBTJbsAtmZwS6Q3HxjnYb1QCLcBGAsYHQ/w133-h200/Wired%2Bfor%2BStory.jpg" width="133" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Bitter;"><br />Amy Houts, author of MAYE'S MARCH FOR WOMEN'S VOTES, highly recommends reading Lisa Cron's book, <a href="https://amzn.to/3cH0mZs" target="_blank">WIRED FOR STORY</a>, which using brain science to hook readers. Each chapter focuses on an aspect of the brain and how it relates to story. While Ms. Cron's examples feature novels, screenplays and short stories, her amazing revelations and strategies can be applied for any age group. This book will make your ability to write grow by leaps and bounds. <a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl py34i1dx gpro0wi8" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amyhouts.com%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR1LrJTeP3nzb_HG3uN-3ncoeaNoEJ8F_7yaVlscGlC2iwW1RRu-30BqUwY&h=AT0WuMvL5F7wXZht_EjkepKoth2L1gNzpogppa8uHxmGL1yi17T2aO-WC07JsIpjawO7iWEH7XmIBH-vTSdyrl7nJ0PRe-te56YUo-hFDadInCkVl3KKBIb6VZ6lESuVISHNVa87w2jv1C1prA&__tn__=R]-R&c[0]=AT2U9e0z5FvABJptE64IRI4Nute5TQHfxRwZsNi1lgNlXtcChx_a76r_ub7dVIDZnY9Snb9XVATp08oGKyIoXKxglK9g9rAnW0GLKtZ7G_zwCUTsv3R4erNL5IneTI6sNw_1icxg9OKUQ3Mmp8MBe_9C1RDA6EQLXWtFo4EFb1_I76joyH__2YHXl1vp0pBP0CVtlUQl_sXmEv9H" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-size: 0.9375rem; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">http://www.amyhouts.com.</a> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Bitter;"><span style="color: var(--primary-text); font-size: 0.9375rem;">Rosie J. Pova, author of <a href="https://amzn.to/3aGfseV" target="_blank">SUNDAY RAIN</a>. It's hard to pick just one book on craft because I have several that I really like and have been very helpful to me in the past, but since I'm supposed to mention just one, I'll go with <a href="https://amzn.to/3oOl38c">CREATING CHARACTERS KIDS WILL LOVE</a>, by Elaine Marie Alphin, because a strong, well-rounded character is a must, and this book's main focus is to help writers create those characters. The book has lots of practical advice and exercises with every chapter, and also explores every aspect of the character through multiple angles. And for a full list of some other craft books that I recommend, visit the About/Resources page on my website: </span><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl py34i1dx gpro0wi8" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rosiejpova.com%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR1za3mEb8xV8rX9zpGrM6XXYpX3lo7NK-RV8zUyxglHehHvSuoEgcCeMgg&h=AT0p0M3vMmVvIRLScteTOEpSId3SfZjBe1EXeAwPlRc7Qsrmp3i0qd95u8sTPCbmzyGHVEAagMOfIGfZ-b4AZ9c0O2P1JzFdW6tZqqJ2IYAC4riAc0oHkfV0Qh2uz00ZDECI3JHBjRDM5hgdRQ&__tn__=R]-R&c[0]=AT2U9e0z5FvABJptE64IRI4Nute5TQHfxRwZsNi1lgNlXtcChx_a76r_ub7dVIDZnY9Snb9XVATp08oGKyIoXKxglK9g9rAnW0GLKtZ7G_zwCUTsv3R4erNL5IneTI6sNw_1icxg9OKUQ3Mmp8MBe_9C1RDA6EQLXWtFo4EFb1_I76joyH__2YHXl1vp0pBP0CVtlUQl_sXmEv9H" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-size: 0.9375rem; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">www.rosiejpova.com</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Bitter;"><span style="color: var(--primary-text); font-size: 0.9375rem;">Lauren H. Kerstein, Author of <a href="https://amzn.to/3rxQMwd" target="_blank">HOME FOR A WHILE</a>, loves <a href="https://amzn.to/3aD6nUd">WRITING WITH PICTURES: HOW TO WRITE AND ILLUSTRATE CHILDREN'S BOOKS</a> by Uri Shulevitz. I love the way Shulevitz sheds light on the visual process of storytelling. This book truly helped me look at my picture book manuscripts through visual eyes. </span><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl py34i1dx gpro0wi8" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.LaurenKerstein.net%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR1-3e9oQYoS7e3aQm1vJ7p-lSe8SQpu42k6wH4yBV1AzGny1iKqwp46Yd4&h=AT2VAygCXxCeV8aSNwB84gNsvN15nSdlOHcIwwT90lPebNGTSXfMeG3soFVyjeCTi7YHBwKQotIrumcH5ViFoSqR9CdWguERrtGAp1RtA1RzZsJoqZ9V2F-efH3Sko7M83us85ahwo2rJ-Ld5g&__tn__=R]-R&c[0]=AT2U9e0z5FvABJptE64IRI4Nute5TQHfxRwZsNi1lgNlXtcChx_a76r_ub7dVIDZnY9Snb9XVATp08oGKyIoXKxglK9g9rAnW0GLKtZ7G_zwCUTsv3R4erNL5IneTI6sNw_1icxg9OKUQ3Mmp8MBe_9C1RDA6EQLXWtFo4EFb1_I76joyH__2YHXl1vp0pBP0CVtlUQl_sXmEv9H" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-size: 0.9375rem; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">www.LaurenKerstein.net.</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Bitter;">We hope that everyone will find these books helpful while you navigate your craft. If so, please let us know! And please feel free to take advantage of our "Ask An Author" Feature in the Rate Your Story General Newsletter. www.tinyurl.com/getRYSnews </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NmmihOBqoz0/YB6QmoPAIdI/AAAAAAAADH8/7C64GtppNhU7J_5WGdJpf5gTh04gI5j8QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1425/Rate%2BYour%2BStory%2BAd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1425" data-original-width="1125" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NmmihOBqoz0/YB6QmoPAIdI/AAAAAAAADH8/7C64GtppNhU7J_5WGdJpf5gTh04gI5j8QCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Rate%2BYour%2BStory%2BAd.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Bitter;"><br /></span><p></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-size: 12px;"><div class="q9uorilb sf5mxxl7 pgctjfs5" style="display: inline-block; vertical-align: middle; width: 22px;"><div class="no6464jc pedkr2u6" style="margin-left: 11px; opacity: 1;"><div aria-expanded="false" aria-haspopup="menu" aria-label="More" class="oajrlxb2 gs1a9yip g5ia77u1 mtkw9kbi tlpljxtp qensuy8j ppp5ayq2 goun2846 ccm00jje s44p3ltw mk2mc5f4 rt8b4zig n8ej3o3l agehan2d sk4xxmp2 rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 pq6dq46d mg4g778l btwxx1t3 pfnyh3mw p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x tgvbjcpo hpfvmrgz jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso l9j0dhe7 i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of du4w35lb lzcic4wl abiwlrkh p8dawk7l dwo3fsh8 pzggbiyp pkj7ub1o bqnlxs5p kkg9azqs c24pa1uk ln9iyx3p fe6kdd0r ar1oviwq l10q8mi9 sq40qgkc s8quxz6p pdjglbur" role="button" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; 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border-left: 1px solid var(--divider); border-radius: 18px; border-right: 1px solid var(--divider); border-top: 1px solid var(--divider); display: flex; flex-flow: row nowrap; flex-grow: 1; font-family: inherit; overflow: hidden; position: relative;"></div></div></div></div></div><p><span style="background-color: #f0f2f5; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-family: Bitter;"><br /></span></span></p><ul class="_6coi oygrvhab ozuftl9m l66bhrea linoseic" style="color: var(--secondary-text); display: inline-block; font-size: 12px; line-height: 12px; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 12px; min-height: 15px; padding: 3px 0px 0px;"><li class="_6coj" style="background-color: white; color: #65676b; display: inline-block;"><div class="l9j0dhe7 q9uorilb" style="display: inline-block; position: relative;"><div aria-label="React" class="oajrlxb2 gs1a9yip g5ia77u1 mtkw9kbi tlpljxtp qensuy8j ppp5ayq2 goun2846 ccm00jje s44p3ltw mk2mc5f4 rt8b4zig n8ej3o3l agehan2d sk4xxmp2 rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 pq6dq46d mg4g778l btwxx1t3 pfnyh3mw p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab kkf49tns tgvbjcpo hpfvmrgz jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso pmk7jnqg i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of du4w35lb lzcic4wl abiwlrkh p8dawk7l q45zohi1 g0aa4cga" role="button" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; align-items: stretch; background-color: transparent; border-bottom-color: var(--always-dark-overlay); border-left-color: var(--always-dark-overlay); border-right-color: var(--always-dark-overlay); border-style: solid; border-top-color: var(--always-dark-overlay); border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; clip-path: polygon(0px 0px, 0px 0px, 0px 0px, 0px 0px); clip: rect(0px, 0px, 0px, 0px); cursor: pointer; display: inline-flex; flex-basis: auto; flex-direction: row; flex-shrink: 0; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 4px; min-height: 0px; min-width: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; position: absolute; text-align: inherit; touch-action: manipulation; user-select: none; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><i class="hu5pjgll m6k467ps sp_JRklBPg-4zW sx_385cdb" style="background-image: url("/rsrc.php/v3/y_/r/p-YRdBXSOSP.png"); background-position: 0px -630px; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: auto; display: inline-block; filter: var(--filter-secondary-icon); height: 12px; vertical-align: -0.25em; width: 12px;"></i><div class="n00je7tq arfg74bv qs9ysxi8 k77z8yql i09qtzwb n7fi1qx3 b5wmifdl hzruof5a pmk7jnqg j9ispegn kr520xx4 c5ndavph art1omkt ot9fgl3s" data-visualcompletion="ignore" style="border-radius: inherit; font-family: inherit; inset: 0px; opacity: 0; pointer-events: none; position: absolute; transition-duration: var(--fds-duration-extra-extra-short-out); transition-property: opacity; transition-timing-function: var(--fds-animation-fade-out);"><br /></div></div></div></li><li class="_6coj" style="background-color: white; color: #65676b; display: inline-block; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"></li></ul>Lynne Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11695955315347988034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488804017860420818.post-4849766802311896932021-02-06T03:26:00.004-08:002021-02-06T03:26:47.109-08:00THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY of The Polio Pioneer<p> <span style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">THE POLIO PIONEER: DR. JONAS SALK AND THE POLIO VACCINE</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DXLEFGMgOY8/YB571922MII/AAAAAAAADGc/t7H7mLlpNfYwholCzyY8s7wpBaATPZ53QCLcBGAsYHQ/s255/download%2B%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="255" data-original-width="198" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DXLEFGMgOY8/YB571922MII/AAAAAAAADGc/t7H7mLlpNfYwholCzyY8s7wpBaATPZ53QCLcBGAsYHQ/w248-h320/download%2B%25283%2529.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-39e1e822-7fff-45ea-0a57-4d4ec3483c52"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Written by Linda Elovitz Marshall</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Illustrated by Lisa Anchin</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2020</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">@randomhousekids</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">rhcbooks.com</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lindamarshall.com</span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In 2012 – thanks to an SCBWI program – I became aware that by writing non-fiction for children, I could combine many of my interests: research (which I adore), travel (another love), and writing (which, for me, is like breathing). </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Immediately, I made a list of things to write about. My list grew (and continues growing…I add to it almost daily). </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jonas Salk, M.D., one of my earliest heroes, headed the list. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was four or five years old, growing up in Boston, when polio ravaged our community. I heard news reports, overheard adults talking, learned about kids in my neighborhood who had polio. It was scary. We couldn’t go to the movies, go swimming, or play with friends for fear of catching the dread disease.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rCw2xNZGL6Q/YB58xiBW9zI/AAAAAAAADGw/6YLmdZjUYT8oRv_7qP5EVn7ddR9myr1TwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/The%2BPolio%2BPioneer%2BSpread%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="647" data-original-width="1000" height="414" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rCw2xNZGL6Q/YB58xiBW9zI/AAAAAAAADGw/6YLmdZjUYT8oRv_7qP5EVn7ddR9myr1TwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h414/The%2BPolio%2BPioneer%2BSpread%2B2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It seemed there was less polio where my grandparents lived. We stayed with them for a while. But, eventually, there was polio </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">everywhere. </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">No one was safe. No place was safe. We returned home. And hoped for the best.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then came the polio vaccine, developed by Dr. Jonas Salk and his team. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4Kkw016wQAk/YB58RXCMQ5I/AAAAAAAADGo/Emann5USvsIrhdE7UyHZNsrT4rPsrB0nQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/The%2BPolio%2BPioneer%2BSpread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="647" data-original-width="1000" height="414" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4Kkw016wQAk/YB58RXCMQ5I/AAAAAAAADGo/Emann5USvsIrhdE7UyHZNsrT4rPsrB0nQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h414/The%2BPolio%2BPioneer%2BSpread.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We got our shots! Slowly but surely, the epidemic ended. It was a story of hope, a story of hard work, of diligence, of science triumphing over disease. It was a story I </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">had </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">to share. I was there. I remembered. I also realized that, soon, few would be around who – personally – remembered the disease.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I began researching what became </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Polio Pioneer: Dr. Jonas Salk and the Polio Vaccine </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">in 2016, with a trip to the Salk Institute. I contacted Dr. Jonas Salk’s son, Dr. Peter Salk, who was wonderfully helpful to me in my research. Then I read and read and read. I watched video clips of Dr. Jonas Salk. I immersed myself in all-things-Salk and all-things-polio. And when, at last, I felt I had a good understanding of both Dr. Salk and the polio virus, I began writing.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My agent, Christa Heschke of McIntosh & Otis, placed my manuscript with an amazing editor – Karen Greenberg at Knopf Books for Young Children, a division of Penguin Random House. Karen guided me, asking questions, helping me work out details, and choosing a wonderful illustrator – Lisa Anchin.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Together, we’ve created a very important book – one that is ever-so-timely. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I hope everyone will read </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Polio Pioneer: Dr. Jonas Salk and the Polio Vaccine. </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s the story of hope, of a medical triumph. It’s also the story of a child of immigrants – and the good he brought America and the world.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now, in 2021, in the midst of the Covid pandemic, hope is what we need. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Hope lies in dreams, in imagination, and in the courage of those who dare to make dreams into reality.” – Dr. Jonas Salk.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hope: it’s the thing called vaccine.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><b style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: #f6f6f6; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Fort-Book, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-indent: 36pt; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; text-shadow: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><b style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: #f6f6f6; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Fort-Book, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-indent: 36pt; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; text-shadow: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><b style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: #f6f6f6; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Fort-Book, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-indent: 36pt; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; text-shadow: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: #f6f6f6; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Fort-Book, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-indent: 36pt; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; text-shadow: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BAPRKFUOaxM/YB57r4JCQHI/AAAAAAAADGY/ReZiwalT54s_a-D7gw0EeVXF324C8QzYQCLcBGAsYHQ/s512/Linda%2BMarshall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="512" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BAPRKFUOaxM/YB57r4JCQHI/AAAAAAAADGY/ReZiwalT54s_a-D7gw0EeVXF324C8QzYQCLcBGAsYHQ/w200-h200/Linda%2BMarshall.jpg" width="200" /></a></b></div><b style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: #f6f6f6; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Fort-Book, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-indent: 36pt; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; text-shadow: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />Linda Elovitz Marshall</b><span style="background-color: #f6f6f6; color: #333333; font-family: Fort-Book, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: #f6f6f6; color: #333333; font-family: Fort-Book, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">grew up near Boston, graduated from Barnard College, and raised four children and a flock of sheep on a farm in the Hudson River Valley. The author of several picture books, Linda still lives on the farm with her husband, Bob. To learn more, visit LindaMarshall.com.</span><p></p></span><div id="newsletter-wrap-desktop" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: #f6f6f6; border-top: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Fort-Book, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-top: 40px; padding-top: 20px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; text-shadow: none;"></div>Lynne Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11695955315347988034noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488804017860420818.post-35498790414821961842021-02-05T13:47:00.000-08:002021-02-05T13:47:02.376-08:00FAST PITCH with The Picture Book Mechanic<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_F465l38V8c/YB2iHRYm7ZI/AAAAAAAADFw/rl9QX_dnrsAdoPo9kug2m8HrgMWpxGMSQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/AdobeStock_52306436.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1139" data-original-width="2048" height="356" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_F465l38V8c/YB2iHRYm7ZI/AAAAAAAADFw/rl9QX_dnrsAdoPo9kug2m8HrgMWpxGMSQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h356/AdobeStock_52306436.jpeg" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">JOIN THE PICTURE BOOK MECHANIC</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">for THE NIGHT BEFORE #PBPITCH</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">and Get Ready to Throw Your Best Pitches! </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">WHAT: <span> </span><span> On-the-spot Pitch Critiques </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">WHEN: <span> <span> </span></span>February 10, 2021</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">TIME: <span> <span> <span> </span>6:30 pm EST</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span>COST: <span> </span><span> $5.50 for RYS Members, $7.50 for Non-Members</span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span>WHERE: <span> The Picture Book Mechanic's Zoom Room</span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span><span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><span class="js-real-label" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #232333;">https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9930468519</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #232333;"> </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">To sign up for this event:</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GmByTTbPZ_w/YB28PsOm4bI/AAAAAAAADF8/YRmm0BqUfREI7dV8oSq7bl5-f-sxNXzhQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/AdobeStock_49219491.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1595" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GmByTTbPZ_w/YB28PsOm4bI/AAAAAAAADF8/YRmm0BqUfREI7dV8oSq7bl5-f-sxNXzhQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/AdobeStock_49219491.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">Pay the Webinar Fee of $5.50 (RYS Members) or $7.50 (Non-Members) to LittleWolfLiterary@gmail.com. E-mail your receipt and your Pitch for reading at the Webinar to me at: RYSSpeedpass@gmail.com </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">Enter the Zoom Room above between 6:15 an 6:30 PM EST. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">Listen and learn! </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">Any questions, please e-mail: LiterallyLynneMarie@gmail.com </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p>Lynne Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11695955315347988034noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488804017860420818.post-38849221144858459322021-02-05T06:45:00.002-08:002021-02-05T06:45:55.752-08:00CRAFTY CORNER TIP from RYS Judge Katie Frawley<p> <span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">Keep It Moving, People!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ekrbT3d3txY/YB1Y7yzwBrI/AAAAAAAADFI/PxWVNv8p4XMmH_uKWfBdNHv77VDpt6yOACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/AdobeStock_984893.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1453" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ekrbT3d3txY/YB1Y7yzwBrI/AAAAAAAADFI/PxWVNv8p4XMmH_uKWfBdNHv77VDpt6yOACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/AdobeStock_984893.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>by Katie Frawley <br /><p></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-1f4b2ac1-7fff-a459-4094-bb9860104952"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Last week a friend asked me what I like so much about writing picture books. I told him, “I think what keeps me coming back to picture books is how darn HARD it is to write them. I’ve always liked a challenge!” </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">His reaction was typical of someone who doesn’t write picture books. “Is that right? They’re so short, you would think it would be EASY to write one!”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Well, it might be easy to write a bad picture book, but that’s not why we’re here, is it? I told my friend it is the job of the picture book writer to create a memorable character, give her a relatable problem, build tension, infuse emotional resonance, surprise and delight the reader with the ending, and don’t forget to tug on those heartstrings…IN ABOUT 500 WORDS!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Easy? I think not.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In order to accomplish this Herculean task, we must make sure that every sentence in our manuscript is doing one of two things:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1) Characterization (a.k.a. making clear the distinct personality of your character)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2) Advancing the plot (a.k.a. keeping the action moving forward toward the end)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vqwOTXkE7Y8/YB1ZEaMg_GI/AAAAAAAADFM/uxvZdOEEnKMFDUWCTBZXa-ZgBcRMkgSuwCLcBGAsYHQ/s747/RYS%2BT%2526F%2BCrafty%2BTip%2BPic.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="747" data-original-width="595" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vqwOTXkE7Y8/YB1ZEaMg_GI/AAAAAAAADFM/uxvZdOEEnKMFDUWCTBZXa-ZgBcRMkgSuwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/RYS%2BT%2526F%2BCrafty%2BTip%2BPic.png" /></a></div>Let’s take a look at a page from my book TABITHA AND FRITZ TRADE PLACES. </span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My main characters, a cat named Tabitha and an elephant named Fritz, do a vacation home swap and exchange letters. Here is Fritz’s first letter to Tabitha after the swap begins.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Do these lines characterize Fritz? Yes! Fritz refers to Tabitha’s owner as “an adorable little human” and to the town swimming pool as “a watering hole.” This tells us that Fritz is coming to this new experience with a positive, open attitude. We also infer that Fritz will relate to this foreign environment in unexpected (and hilarious) ways.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WxUD6BLlA3s/YB1ZTNTl8KI/AAAAAAAADFU/E5dqXR4b2lIAlYT6eWpPeCyODrAur56qwCLcBGAsYHQ/s194/Small%2BTabitha%2BAnd%2B%2BFritz%2BTrade%2BPlaces%2B-%2BFinal%2BCover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="150" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WxUD6BLlA3s/YB1ZTNTl8KI/AAAAAAAADFU/E5dqXR4b2lIAlYT6eWpPeCyODrAur56qwCLcBGAsYHQ/w247-h320/Small%2BTabitha%2BAnd%2B%2BFritz%2BTrade%2BPlaces%2B-%2BFinal%2BCover.jpg" width="247" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How about the postscript? Does it advance the plot? Yes! By introducing Rocky, the African Rock Python, in this way, the reader gets a hint that a troublesome antagonist will be slithering his way into the story soon. This creates tension which will encourage your reader to keep turning those pages!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If your manuscript is running long or feeling sluggish, read through it and make sure each and every line either contributes to characterization or advances the plot. Bonus points for lines that do BOTH of these things simultaneously! If you identify lines that are doing neither of these things, sharpen your axe. It might be time to kill some darlings.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And when a friend tells you one day that writing picture books looks easy (and I’m telling you, it is GOING to happen), take it as a compliment. A well written story SHOULD feel effortless to the reader! You don’t want kids and parents plodding through your story, struggling to reach the end. It should be a breeze! A delight! A smooth and joyous ride! Only you and I will know how much blood, sweat, and tears went into honing that beautiful text. And we understand that the challenge is what makes the effort worthwhile!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d-0hAIUEAfY/YB1ZgirkTvI/AAAAAAAADFc/GMoQQlq5o6EX3PrD9yeN8MxrwruSHmykACLcBGAsYHQ/s225/Katie%2BFrawley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d-0hAIUEAfY/YB1ZgirkTvI/AAAAAAAADFc/GMoQQlq5o6EX3PrD9yeN8MxrwruSHmykACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Katie%2BFrawley.jpg" /></a> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">--- Katie Frawley is a Rate Your Story Judge (www.rateyourstory.org), as well as the author of <a href="https://amzn.to/3oPbvcZ" target="_blank">TABITHA AND FRITZ TRADE PLACES</a>. You can learn more about her at: <a href="https://katiefrawley.wordpress.com/">https://katiefrawley.wordpress.com/</a></span></p><div><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>Lynne Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11695955315347988034noreply@blogger.com0