L. L. Owens

KidLit Quote of the Week #6

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 18:05:00 +0000

This quote, a lyric from the song "Your Life Is Now," has been running through my mind:

"This is your time here . . .
to do what you will do."

—John Mellencamp

The former John Cougar Mellencamp makes a good point. It's that kind of so-obvious-we-often-miss-it fact we all "get" with a sharp gasp of deep understanding from time to time.

I'm in the midst of acting on my own most recent gasp, and because "what I will do" involves writing for children, it hit me that the very heart of any good story is characters doing what they will do, understanding (or coming to the understanding) that life is happening — and acting on the "Now what?"

Breaking news this is not. But it's good to remember that life is art and art is life and now is IT.

Poetry Friday: Q & A with Author Carol Saller

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 08:00:00 +0000

My Q & A guest today is Chicago-based author Carol Saller, whose affecting middle-grade novel Eddie's War (namelos, August 2011) debuted last summer. The book's many impressive reviews praise not just the story, but also its unique and effective format: a collection of spare yet evocative vignettes that trace a young Midwestern boy's experiences before and during World War II.

Carol tells me she did not set out to write "poetry," but the novel's structure essentially established itself during the writing. (I don't know about you, but I am a sucker for writer-as-conduit experiences!) Having recently read this gem, I can tell you that — for me — describing the work as a historical novel feels equally as natural as characterizing it as poetry. Once you get caught up in the story, and that happens very quickly, the format disappears. You can call that good storytelling, precise technique, or the catch-all craft if you like — but I call it the very definition of poetry.

I am delighted to share this interview today as part of KidLitosphere Central's Poetry Friday roundup. (Thanks to Teaching Authors for hosting!) I hope you will enjoy peeking at Carol's writing process as much as I have — and that you'll be inspired to add Eddie's War to your reading list.

Welcome to my blog, Carol, and congratulations on the new book! How does it feel to have such esteemed sources as (not to name-drop or anything, but) Kirkus, The Horn Book, and Nikki Grimes praising this beautiful “baby”?

Thank you, Lisa — it’s wonderful to be here! And I’ll admit that it feels wonderful when people say good things about Eddie. This book in particular is very close to my heart.

That the book holds a special place for you really comes through in the writing. As a writer, I love hearing how individual story ideas take shape. How quickly after reading your father’s boyhood diaries did the inspiration to write something hit? And how did you decide to present the story as a collection of free-verse vignettes?

I was given the diary in 1994, and I didn’t start writing until 2003, but I suppose it was in the back of my mind all that time. The first vignette I wrote (“The Church Social”) wasn’t inspired by anything in the diary, in fact, but was based on something funny that happened to my grandmother and me when I was young. When I decided to expand that story into a novel, it occurred to me to use the diary for material.

The form was something I fought. I never thought of it as poetry; it just seemed that my paragraphs wanted to be chopped into lines. Most of it is very prose-like, except for the form. At least twice I rewrote it into paragraphs, but it just wasn’t the same, so I gave up trying.

Eddie’s War reads like a labor of love — the voice is so distinct and language so beautifully crafted. Did having that family connection to the work make your job easier? Do you think it changed your process at all?

Ha! I have to laugh, because my “process” was just a big mess. I wrote the scenes in random order as they came to mind. Sometimes I’d browse the diary for inspiration. I didn’t have a main character or a plot—when it was half written, I had a pile of unconnected vignettes. My editor Stephen Roxburgh encouraged me to stop worrying and keep “compiling,” and sure enough some threads eventually began to emerge and I was able to put things in order and develop some plot lines.

The family connection definitely made a difference, but I like to emphasize that the characters are all purely fictional. No one in my family makes an appearance.

You did a marvelous job of weaving very specific historical details into the story: Eddie’s realistic trip to the movies here, his telling observations of Army posters there. The reader can easily visualize the book’s world but doesn’t feel like “Oh, here’s another fact.” What were your most valuable resources for researching the rural setting and storyline-framing events? Did you do most of the research before writing . . . or as you wrote?

I love the Internet! I did huge amounts of research there. But I live just blocks from the University of Chicago’s Regenstein Library, so I also borrowed books there: timelines of World War II, books on Polish Roma culture. I bought an “audio history” of World War II that has some 35 hours of radio broadcasts: Edward R. Morrow reporting live from London in the middle of the Blitz; Churchill’s speeches; a fascinating treasure of information. And photos! Propaganda posters, aircraft, uniforms. That sleazy crime magazine Eddie sees in the store window, Official Detective? I found it at an antique shop; there’s a photo of it at my website. Now that I think of it, sometimes the huge amount of available material sometimes made it hard to sort and focus and select.

I researched in fits and starts. I’d stop writing because of something I needed to learn, and then my reading would inspire new scenes. I think the most valuable resource, however, was the family farm where the book is set. I’m not good at imagining places or picturing things in my mind. So using the farm as the setting — a place I’ve been visiting all my life — allowed me to create an authentic place that I couldn’t have otherwise. The diary, too: Being able to look up a Saturday in June 1944 and read “Today Gene and I dug dock and mullen,” I could slam that right into a scene and not even worry what the heck mullen is and why someone would cut it. (Don’t tell anyone!)

How long did the writing take — let’s say, from idea to first draft and then from draft to final manuscript?

Well, you know by now there was never anything as organized as a draft. I wrote about the church social in April 2003 and namelos sent the book to a copyeditor at the end of 2010. I did take at least two years off to write The Subversive Copy Editor. But I’m really slow. It’s a short book. I once estimated that I averaged eleven and a half words a day.

Where can readers and reviewers find Eddie’s War — and you?

My website is www.carolsaller.com. At the bottom of every page are two links: Contact me and Buy Eddie’s War.

What’s next for you as a writer? Any new children’s books in the works?

I hope so! I envy writers who have stacks of ideas waiting. For me, it’s not that easy. My last two books were hugely meaningful to me: The Subversive Copy Editor contains everything I’ve learned from a whole adulthood spent editing, and Eddie has a million little hidden references to my family and my father’s past. It’s hard for me now to imagine writing a book just for the heck of it. I’m waiting for something to move me.

Carol, thank you so much for talking with me today. I certainly hope something moves you to write the Next Thing soon!

I'm Writing

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 03:40:00 +0000

Checking in to say, as the title implies I might, "I'm writing."

I always am, of course; always with the writing. But I've recently (why, just this week, if you must know) re-prioritized my various writing projects, and I'm working on a scheme that I dearly and deeply hope will allow me to put my YA novel WIP first, for the first time ever, in the very near future.

I mean, come on: It has to happen sometime.

KidLit Quote of the Week #5: Halloween Edition

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 20:21:00 +0000

I thought about quoting the full tale (it's in the public domain, after all) because the entire thing is such a gorgeous example of the art of atmospheric writing — but time- and space-saving heads prevailed. So now I give you the final paragraph in Washington Irving's supernatural masterpiece The Legend of Sleepy Hollow:

"The old country wives, however, who are the best judges of these matters, maintain to this day that Ichabod was spirited away by supernatural means; and it is a favorite story often told about the neighborhood round the winter evening fire. The bridge became more than ever an object of superstitious awe; and that may be the reason why the road has been altered of late years, so as to approach the church by the border of the millpond. The schoolhouse being deserted soon fell to decay, and was reported to be haunted by the ghost of the unfortunate pedagogue — and the plowboy, loitering homeward of a still summer evening, has often fancied his voice at a distance, chanting a melancholy psalm tune among the tranquil solitudes of Sleepy Hollow."

PiBoIdMo 2011!

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa) — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 20:36:00 +0000

Look sharp, notepads, Post-its, napkins, keyboards, and recording devices. November is right around the corner. 

Picture Book Idea Month 2011 starts this Tuesday!

Go Purple! Or, "Go, Purple!" — Honoring Spirit Day

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 01:31:00 +0000

You may be aware that October is National Bullying Prevention Month — and today marks the second annual Spirit Day, for which supporters are asked to wear purple (social-network avatar-tinting works, too!) to honor the memory of any child who felt they had to take his/her own life in order to end the pain and suffering s/he experienced as a victim of bullying. Acknowledging the young lives lost is a pretty powerful reason to "go purple" and just stop and think about what you can do to help the situation.

Of course the most powerful tool we have to fight bullying is education. Teaching children and adults about the problem, how to handle the problem, and — when possible — how to prevent the problem is essential to making a dent in it. There are many fine organizations dedicated to addressing the issue (I am partial to this one) and many educators and parents out there doing their part. But the issue is so pervasive that it can seem too big to tackle.

One no-brainer thing you can do to help educate a child, or even yourself, about the effects of bullying? Give or read — or give AND read! — a book written for kids that highlights the topic! Children can learn so much from both novels featuring realistic bullying situations and nonfiction books that offer strategies for dealing with the issue. Positive books about friendship also help kids internalize what to look for and accept (or not) in peer-to-peer relationships.

Some titles I recommend to read, share, and discuss:

Blubber by Judy Blume

Charlotte's Web by E. B. White

The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier

Dear Bully: 70 Authors Tell Their Stories, edited by Megan Kelley Hall and Carrie Jones

Frenemies: Dealing with Friend Drama by L. L. Owens (Yes, this is mine; and, no, this is not why I blogged today. I added it to the list because I realized it truly is relevant to it — and the cover is purple-purple-purple.)

Frog and Toad Are Friends by Arnold Lobel

The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes

In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson by Bette Bao Lord

Letters to a Bullied Girl: Messages of Healing and Hope by Olivia Gardner, Emily Buder, and Sarah Buder

The Skin I'm In by Sharon Flake

Speak by Laura Halse Anderson

13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

Why Is Everybody Always Picking on Me? A Guide to Handling Bullies by Terrence Webster-Doyle

Now. Let's hear it for the kids Spirit Day helps us remember. Let's resolve to help the kids still with us.

What can we do? Give them a book. Start a conversation. Let them know we're here if they want to talk. Step in and help them when they need us to. Lead by example. Don't be a bully. Step up and say something when we see bullying. Go purple if we feel like it. And remember to shout (or just think really hard), "Go, Purple!"

KidLit Quote of the Week #4

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa) — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 22:02:00 +0000

"Who's big fat bright idea was it to do a weekly quote feature on this blog?"

—Lisa L. Owens

That's funny, right?

I'm around. Handling some pressing workaday deadlines and spending spare moments prepping for a writers retreat I'm attending in a few short weeks.

Also: The holidays seem to be here already. I know because I just ordered some Christmas lights and have urgently realized I need to book my holiday travel plans A-sap.

And: Work on the big site-blog merger continues!

KidLit Quote of the Week #3

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa) — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 20:39:00 +0000

As I continue working on my YA historical novel, this quote speaks to me:

"Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep."

—Scott Adams

I've been in full-on flow several times with this book, writing down a path I didn't mean to take — a luxury I don't normally indulge in during write-for-hire work. (NO time in that process for anything but 1-2-3 get it done.) And often I worry as I go that I will have to completely scrap whatever detour passage I've written.

This is not in the outline, I tell myself. It doesn't fit in and I shouldn't be writing this knowing I'll delete it later. Or worse, I realize, Aackk, this is better than what I'd planned and now I'll have to reshape everything else (deleting other baby passages) to accommodate it.

It's so tempting to think of text swaths you change or cut as mistakes. But one of the most important thing I've tried to internalize in surrendering to the "vomit draft" process this year is that whatever you're writing — good crap, bad crap, ugly crap, crap-crap — the THING is *that* you are writing. The rest will take care of itself if you let it (aka doing more writing + careful revising).

It can be hard to look at a first draft and especially to show parts of it even to the most supportive of readers without wanting to shake everyone (read in this case: wanting to shake myself) until you know they know this is your early writing, that you intend to get it all "right" during revisions. But once you do it, the looking at it turns into one of the most satisfying steps — with the fixing-it part probably more more fun than anything else.

So, while I see and agree with Adams's POV, I do take issue with calling anything (or any part of anything) you create a mistake. There are no creative mistakes, people!

Is it a mistake to add too many stems to the vase? No. You can't tell exactly how many flowers fit just so until you throw some into the arrangement and step back for a look-see. You can't determine the perfect way to display the ready-made art you bought until you slap a few configurations onto the wall and take a few distanced ganders. You can't make a satisfying pot of soup without tasting and reseasoning . . .

And you can't really craft your story until you write what wants to come out and let all the pieces show you — by being on point, off track, or seamlessly fitted — what to pitch and what to keep.

Now, off I go to write some stuff I might just end up trashing later. (And, reminder note to self: You will trash it, and you will like it.)

Streamlining

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa) — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 20:19:00 +0000

Last week I cruised over to my author site to do a little maintenance work. The only problem was that mere maintenance wasn't going to cut it. Fact is, my site has been in "overhaul" mode for well over a year (okay, two years this month!), and I just couldn't get excited about completing the work I'd started.

That was not the first time this had happened.

But. It was to be the last.

I finally fully realized that I wasn't motivated to implement the changes I'd put in motion because deep down I knew they wouldn't solve the main problem — that maintaining both a stand-alone author site and a separate blog doesn't work for me anymore.

So in the weeks to come I'll merge the separate entities to create one Blogger-hosted site found at my typical (redirected) author site's URL.

It can be done, it shall be done, and it will be grand.

KidLit Quote of the Week #2

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa) — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 21:20:00 +0000

Time again for a KidLit Quote of the Week! Last week's entry was on the practical side (the funny one, too), while this week's is all about inspiration — and motivation.

"Far away in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see the beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead."

—Louisa May Alcott

I consider raising the bar for yourself one of the most important guiding principles a person can embrace, and because I am a writer with ever-expanding writerly aspirations, I feel Alcott's articulation of it directly applies to my work. And, yes, to my sense of self, too.

It can be hard to walk that talk some days (and, no need to pretend — it's difficult some several years at a time), but I know that when I do "look up," the beauty is right there for the seeing and helps light the path I need to travel.

EFA's Fall Lineup!

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa) — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 23:27:00 +0000

I still serve as education chair on the Editorial Freelancers Association's Board of Governors, and I am happy to share that the Fall 2011 Education Program is all set — with registrations streaming in at a nice clip!

None of this season's classes are directly related to children's writing, but I know many children's authors also freelance in other areas, and I thought readers might like to at least check out the offerings. They include

Proofreading: Online class starting 9/29
Basics of Editing and Proofreading: NYC workshop on 10/21
Getting Started in Editorial Freelancing: NYC workshop on 10/22
Basics of Websites for Freelancers: NYC workshop on 10/22 (Note that those registering for all 3 NYC workshops via the combo option receive a 20 percent discount!)
Tips & Tricks: Editing with Adobe Acrobat: Webinar on 10/26
Rev Up Your Marketing Machine for 2012: Webinar on 12/7

Let me know if I can answer any questions about the lineup!

KidLit Quote of the Week #1

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa) — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 19:36:00 +0000

I've decided to do a weekly post in which I share one of the countless quotes I've collected about writing and books. I'll focus on quotes by children's authors, quotes by others about writing/creativity that I think can apply to writing for kids, and passages from children's books.

Why start this now? How about "Because it's Tuesday." It'll be fun!

This inaugural KLQOTW is by an author I admire for his versatility and inspirational personal story. I saw him speak at either an IRA or NCTE conference in the 1990s (ah, the books* he signed for me say the year was 1997), and his advice on finding success as a children's writer is timeless:

"Stay out of the refrigerator, read good books, steal good ideas, develop good writing habits, and marry wealthy."

—Jack Gantos

Good one, huh. And in a Universe-is-funny COMPLETE coincidence, I saw after I wrote this post that Mr. Gantos's latest book, Dead End in Norvelt, releases in hardcover today.** I will be buying that soon!

*Jack's New Power and Desire Lines
**A little synchronicity report for Artist's Way lovers.

Book a Virtual Visit with Skype Authors and Help Fund Education Charities!

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa) — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 00:23:00 +0000

Just in time to celebrate "back to school," I am thrilled to help spread the word about Skype Authors!

This newly launched author group offers virtual visits to schools, book clubs, and, really, any organization looking for an easy and inexpensive way to host an author talk. (And, yes, I'm one of the authors — and I am so pleased to be in such excellent company.)

Suzanne Williams formed the network to benefit schools right here in the U.S. — while adding the goal of raising money to help support education efforts worldwide. To that end, each of us at Skype Authors has pledged to donate 25 percent of our virtual-visit fees booked through our site to a select charity each school year.

For the 2011–2012 season, we've chosen to contribute to Camfed, an organization that supports girls' education initiatives in Africa. Watch this brief introductory video about Camfed's mission to see why, as narrator Morgan Freeman says, "When you educate a young rural girl, you give her a voice."

Would your school or organization like to book a Skype Authors virtual talk for HALF OFF the regular fee? You can if you win our Half and Half Contest running through October 1! All you have to do is surf over to our site and comment on this September 6 blog entry. Two lucky commenters chosen at random will receive a half-off Skype visit — and the entire half-priced fee you pay will be donated to Camfed!

I'm excited to be part of this new venture, and I hope to see you on the online video phone soon.

Every Day. Every Day. Every Day.

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa) — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 22:24:00 +0000

Can you tell that I'm starting to reconnect with this blog? I can feel that connection reforming, and that makes me smile. I wasn't sure it would come back, to be honest — but I thought it could, hoped it would. My affinity for blogging seems to be creeping back in naturally, which I view as a positive.

I do know why this is happening, and the reason is pretty straightforward: because I've been writing. You know, I almost added just there "writing with a capital W," but that's not what this is. It's writing in lowercase. writingwritingwriting.

Writing with the Cap on is something I've done, and like mad, for the past several+ years now. But that writing has been my WorkWriting. Which, on so many fronts, is the same dang thing as writingwritingwriting while also managing to be completely different. The need to writewritewrite on my own — for my own satisfaction, life processing, and growth — is part of my makeup. WorkWriting is part of my (enjoyable) writer-editor Job. If I had to, I could pick another job type and be just fine. But I couldn't do any other job or actually be myself without writingwritingwriting — not for the long haul, anyway.

So, now, after, oh, let's say a three-and-a-half-year pregnant pause, I feel like a part of me has come back to life. I did P-L-A-N in early 2009 to force such a return to Me and my writing-for-life ways, but apparently that sort of scheme does not work, no matter how serious you are about it (and I was deadly so). Good to know.

Proof that my real writer's self is re-emerging? Right now I'm in the middle — yes, the honest-to-goodness smack-dab MIDDLE — of writing a YA historical novel that's been wanting me to write it for a very long time. It's loosely based on an 1890s family that first captured my interest in the 1990s. After writing an article about them, I filed away the research thinking I'd someday take a deeper look with a proper book-length work. Adult nonfiction, I assumed. (I wasn't yet writing for children, nor had I even considered that I might.)

In the later 90s there was a day (literally) where the possibility of my writing a chapter book on the family was real. I had a contract to write several titles of my choosing, and I considered lobbying for this subject matter. Ultimately, though, I decided to save it for later to write something-I-didn't-know-what that would feel special enough to do the idea justice. For a time in the early aughts I thought maybe a screenplay was the way to go (ha! that went nowhere). Then, in 2009, I had my a-ha moment (please don't tell Oprah I said that w/o asking), during which I realized that this baby had to be a YA novel, both for its own sake and mine.

Since figuring out what the project should be, I've started the writing a few times: Tentatively in 2009 (my nonwriting life derailed it with one swift kick); enthusiastically but misguidedly in 2010 (wrong POV, too many characters competing for main, my heart and mind still focused elsewhere); and then again this spring-into-summer of 2011, when I restarted from near scratch and promptly — and gratefully — managed to hit my stride.

Now that Fall 2011 is knocking, I have zero qualms about saying . . .

This thing is happening.

I think it couldn't happen before because (a) I wasn't ready to risk it, and (b) it actually WAS happening all along. Oh, I know. Sorry. Bear with me, if you can.

What I mean about that "b" is that this book is part of me. Its inspiration has been keeping me company for nearly 20 years. It was with me before I knew for sure what I was going to be in this life. Perhaps some part of me wanted to keep it safe until I found that out — so that I'd know for sure what it should be. Whatever else was going on, I never didn't want to write the book. So the way I see it, Somehow, something was always brewing to further the project.

This book is like every other book I've written, except that I've been writing this one every day. Every day. Every day. And no matter what happens with it when I'm done — will it sink? or possibly stink? — I know that the constant companionship it has given me makes the whole experience valuable enough that I'll feel happy with the result, whatever it is or isn't, and wherever it takes me or doesn't.

********************************************************

Dearest readers: Whether you read that whole post or simply skipped ahead to see if I did indeed embed the video of every writer-of-a-certain-age's favorite writing-struggles song reference, I salute you.

Please now enjoy — with my compliments — Elvis Costello and the Attractions singing "Everyday I Write the Book" from Punch the Clock.

Stay Tuned

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa) — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 22:45:00 +0000

That's right, this is just a teaser.

Two minutes ago I started a separate post to share what's been going on in my little corner of the writing world. I really thought I'd keep that one pithy enough to publish posthaste, but that is not how things went down. A different idea for how to approach it sprang to mind, and I wanna do that!

So, instead of a "Hey, guess what I've been up to?" type blog, I will come back sometime next week with a post that will be all "This is what I think what I've been up to means to me."

Change Happens, Yes It Does

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa) — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 19:24:00 +0000

I've decided I'd better BLOG something before a squatter takes over this empty space. In other words: (Have Been) Gone But (Have) Not Forgotten.

Still a writer. Still writing. Still interested in the topics of writing, children's literature, publishing, freelancing, and so on and so forth. Still interested in blogging about all of it.

But, see, I've been going through a growth spurt (creative! professional! personal!) for a while now, and that spurt has made me step back and often feel unable to quite "get to" topics that fit within my blog's themes without also talking about the attendant growing pains I've been feeling. I think that's because so much of my energy has been focused on processing the growth and accepting that change happens — like, at all. Apparently I can do that processing and work (for food) at the same time, but I really can't do it all while blogging (for my entertainment) with any regularity or sense of purpose.

The good news is that I've re-emerged (same me, really, just different) and planted my feet back on the ground. I suppose I could have said "planted my hands back on the keyboard," but they never actually left it. I can feel them there again, though, and that's the kind of change I can get behind and keep pushing up my own little hill.

See you back here, and soon!

You're Invited to SCBWI WWA's Spring Inside Story!

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa) — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 22:48:00 +0000

It's time for SCBWI Western Washington's always-lively Spring Inside Story salon!

Tomorrow night at 6:30, 15 Seattle-area children's authors and illustrators will present and sign their latest books at University Bookstore in Bellevue. I'll be there to introduce The Sun, a book from my 10-title Space Neighbors series.

SCBWI sends invitations to about 300 librarians, booksellers, teachers, and media types — but, naturally, everyone is welcome. If you love and/or create kids' books, you'll enjoy the evening. Attendees get to hear "the story behind the story" associated with each featured book, shop for their favorites, meet local authors/illustrators, and support independent bookstores. Oh, and by the way, the party includes both SNACKS and PRIZES. What's not to love?

Hope to see you there — it's gonna be fun!

Nonfiction Monday Roundup — April 4, 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa) — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 07:01:00 +0000

It's Nonfiction Monday in the KidLitosphere (don't act like you didn't know!), and I'm hosting this week's roundup of themed blog posts right here on my blog.

So, if you have reviewed or otherwise written about a nonfiction book for children, blogged about your own nonfiction writing for kids, or blogged about anything else related to kids' nonfiction, please comment today! Be sure to include a link to your post, and I will add your information to the roundup below.

I'll periodically update the list throughout the day, starting early-ish this morning (Pacific Time) — soon after I've plopped myself in front of my computer for the workday. Looking forward to seeing some great blogs!

Nonfiction Monday Blog Roundup

Check out Jeff Barger's review of Hail! Ancient Greeks by Jen Green.
Shelf-employed has reviewed the audiobook Meat-Eating Plants and Other Extreme Plant Life.
Madigan Reads reviews Jo S. Kittinger's picture book Rosa's Bus.
A Nation's Hope: The Story of Joe Louis by Matt de la Pena (illustrated by Kadir Nelson) is reviewed at Abby the Librarian.
Scrub-a-Dub Tub reviews Steve Spangler's Naked Eggs and Flying Potatoes: Unforgettable Experiments That Make Science Fun.
Visit Wild About Nature for a review — and giveaway! — of At the Sea Floor Cafe: Odd Ocean Critter Poems by Leslie Bulion.
Books, Dogs, and Frogs discusses fun food books today.
Read Lawral the Librarian's review of Scribbling Women at Lucy Was Robbed.
Lori Calabrese reviews Where Do Recyclable Materials Go? by Sabbithry Persad.
Jeanne Harvey's Astro the Stellar Sea Lion is reviewed at Jean Little Library.
Pink Me reviews Can I See Your I.D.? True Stories of False Identities by Chris Barton.
Anastasia Suen introduces the chapter book You Can't Wear These Genes and the picture book Play Ball, Jackie!
Wrapped in Foil reviews Kathryn O. Galbraith's Planting the Wild Garden.
Lori Mortensen's Come See the Earth Turn: The Story of Leon Foucault is highlighted at True Tales & A Cherry on Top.
Books 4 Learning reviews Ocean Seasons by Ron Hirschi.
Author Shirley Duke discusses her new book You Can't Wear These Genes at Nonfiction Book Blast.
Head over to Apples with Many Seeds for a look at Genghis Khan: 13th Century Mongolian Tyrant by Enid A. Goldberg.
Janet Squires reviews Peggy Caravantes's Best of Times: The Story of Charles Dickens.
Read about the book Written in Bone at Amy O'Quinn's blog.
BookMoot reviews Ultimate Guide to Basketball: Facts, Stats, Stars, and Stuff by James Buckley, Jr.
Featured over at Writing and Ruminations is Kelly Fineman's review of the Poetry Basics four-book series by Valerie Bodden.

Introducing Space Neighbors — My New Picture Book Series!

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa) — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 21:00:00 +0000

It is Nonfiction Monday in the KidLitosphere, and I am thrilled to announce that my latest picture book series has officially launched! It's called Space Neighbors, and its 10 nonfiction titles about the solar system were a joy to work on.

The 10 books are Earth, The Sun, Jupiter, Mars, Mercury, Neptune, Pluto and Other Dwarf Planets, Saturn, Uranus, and Venus.

This project marked my first time writing for Child's World. The work involved some fast-and-furious research — and even faster/furiouser writing. I signed my contract in July 2010 and by September 2010, all 10 manuscripts had been written, revised, approved, and shipped off to design.

I'm not sure I can even tell you what else went on in my life during the initial writing phase of the project, but let me think on that for a minute. Hmm . . . well . . . oh wait, yes, I do know exactly what else I did: Not a thing. Or, if you like, no other things. Which is, as you know, aka NOTHING.

I was a writing fool. And anyone who talked to me then probably remembers me as a plain-old fool-fool, too. My brain was so focused on the writing that forming intelligible sentences with my mouth was frequently challenging.

In all seriousness, keeping up with the surprising-to-me influx of late-breaking solar system news was a full-time job in itself. I do a ton of nonfiction work, but typically I write about historical figures (dead), landmark events (over) and already-well-understood concepts (long fully processed). The pressure to get it right reminded me of my stint as a reporter back in the early 1990s. With this work, as happened then, my burning desire to provide the most current and the most accurate information possible really made me sweat. And lose sleep. Despite my overall satisfaction with the project — now that the work is but a memory — I can't say that I would ever again consent to working on so many titles in such a short window of time. But I can say that I am quite pleased with how my Space Neighbors babies turned out.

This series is presented in a photo-illustrated format, and each book is just stunning. I've added all 10 covers here, and you can explore the books' innards at the publisher's site. The series page lists the full set — just click on the "Read excerpt" text from any given title's page to scroll through several spreads. It looks to me like a few excerpts actually feature the entire book, so that's a great way to really see what you're getting before you buy.

Space Neighbors titles are currently available individually and in set form from the publisher (*cough, cough* better prices *cough, cough*) and online through Amazon.

Hoping the books make it into eager young readers' hands — and many thousands of libraries — soon!

Good Grammar, Bad Grammar — Both Work for Me

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa) — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 01:00:00 +0000

It occurs to me today that I owe my career to the simple process of creating a well-constructed sentence. It has taken me from reporter to proofreader to copyeditor to editor to writer to author. How lucky am I?

The nitty-gritty details of truly working with words aren't of particular interest to most outside the field. But give me a blank page to fill or someone else's manuscript to hone, and I am happy to do what I do best: shape and polish, write and revise — in other words, use the guiding principles of English grammar to craft language that effectively communicates the intended message to its audience.

Yes, there's quite a bit more going on than "just" grammar in any piece of writing or editing. But if you take grammar out of either one, well . . . you can't do that.

I am grateful for my work. And that is reason enough for me to celebrate National Grammar Day.

If all goes well, Good Grammar, Bad Grammar, and I will continue finding satisfying ways to collaborate until one of us expires.

I sincerely hope, of course, that I am the first of our happy trio to go.

SCBWI WWA's Regional Conference Is Coming Up!

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa) — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 20:57:00 +0000

Word on the Interwebs is that very few registration spots remain for SCBWI Western Washington's 20th annual spring conference.

The volunteers running this chapter work so hard to offer exceptional events, and the spring conference has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years. I'm not always able to attend, but it is always worth it when I do. I love having the opportunity to take the kidlit industry's pulse, see my writer friends (and make new ones), network with other industry colleagues, and learn a thing or two about writing . . . or marketing . . . or whatever manuscript I'm working on at the time.

This year's conference takes place April 16–17 at the Marriott Redmond Town Center. The guest faculty includes these notables (and so many more):

SCBWI International's Executive Director Lin Oliver
authors Holly Black, Emily Jenkins E. Lockhart and Deborah Wiles
author-illustrator Dan Santat
editorial and art director guests from such houses as Greenwillow Books, Candlewick Press, and Simon & Schuster
agents from several firms with names-you-know

The registration cap is 400, and as of this morning they had just 12 spots left. So . . .

Sign up, already. And maybe I'll see you there!

Happy New Year! (Yes, I Know It's February.)

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa) — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 21:52:00 +0000

Having recently climbed out of the work hole I was in (oh, and to clarify — it was a happy hole), I've decided to officially embrace 2011. I think it's going to be a good year!

I'm approaching it with an everything-old-is-new attitude. Which means: I'm restructuring my time to revert to a work/life plan I put into place (but that, ultimately, fell apart for reasons I feel just fine about) a few short years ago. Which means: In my freelancing life, I plan to concentrate on sussing out more jobs that don't directly compete with ongoing projects in my straight-up authorial life.

Why? Well, I've found that — at least right now — I can't reliably tap in to my creative energy stores to regularly work on my pet WIPs when I'm so focused on writing book after book during my typical workaday days. (And, let's face it, nights too.) Both types of writing projects require all the same skills and energy. But the for-hire series writing I've been doing (and loving! please don't get me wrong or stop offering me the work!) requires a fast pace and total attention that truly make my other writings fall off the list for, sometimes, months at a time. (If not years. As long as we're facing things.)

And I am just not that into said scenario as 2011 begins.

I'm not even talking about summarily refusing write-for-hire book gigs. Ha. But I can pay more attention to the way my projects stack up. I can exert influence over the way this year's work schedule unfolds. SO. As I start looking for the next thing . . . and the next . . . I'll be searching for more projects that use my extensive editorial skills (seriously, editorial work uses a whole different part of the brain) — and some writing jobs for even slightly different audiences than direct-to-kid books.

Nothing I haven't done before. Which means: It's the new, old, new old me. Or some dang thing.

Wish me luck!

My Essay in a Holiday Anthology

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa) — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 20:53:00 +0000

A few years ago in autumn, an editor connection emailed asking whether I knew any Florida writers. She needed at least one new personal essay for a book called A Florida Christmas. The catch? She was calling on a Monday needing final copy on Wednesday for a book going to press on Friday. (!!!)

"I can't think of anyone," I replied, continuing as any enterprising freelancer might . . . "but I've been to Florida for the holidays, and I'd be happy to provide an essay."

I pitched my premise that evening and wrote the essay as soon as I'd met another deadline the next afternoon. No moss grew under this particular project! The book did go to press that week, but they couldn't get it printed in time for that holiday season and so released it the next year, in 2008.

The book itself is quite nice, with a lovely design and a good selection of stories old and new. I'm happy with the essay, but mostly because it's fun to write fast, it's fun to write about personal experiences, and it was fun to give the finished book to my dad. I will say, though, that had I had another day with the writing, I'd like to think I would have cut it down by quite a bit (with a little distance, one easily sees one's ramblings and redundancies) and fixed the typo I see. But, then again, I did have a specific word count to meet and not a lot of time to work with, so who knows!

I thought my fellow freelancers would enjoy the backstory — and that, perhaps, blog readers might like to see the published piece.

"Snowbirds in Paradise"

I have never lived in Florida, but one set of my Midwestern grandparents wintered there for years. My first visit at Christmastime 1975 left its mark on me. And, as often happens with memorable events or eras worthy of reflection, that “mark” continues to shift and grow.

The family trip itself — an unheard-of winter vacation — was something to revel in. It was HUGE compared to the other trips I had been on. I enjoyed seeing the sites and trying to make sense of the different climate (it was unseasonably cold during our stay yet still nothing like any Christmas weather I’d seen). But as we crammed a host of quintessential Florida activities into a few short days, I also paid close attention to the way Grandma and Grandpa passed the time at their Winter Haven retirement community. I had grown up visiting their busy Iowa farm, where they worked long, hard days for more than 40 years. Theirs was the first retirement lifestyle I had ever seen up close, and I was fascinated.

In those days Florida was held up as the place to vacation. I mean, what landlocked people who aren’t out of their severe-winter-surviving minds don’t dream of taking a break from all the snow and ice and gray? On any given day in Iowa from November through March you can bet that most cold, weary natives are likely spending at least a few moments daydreaming of walking barefoot on a sandy beach, splashing in the ocean, or lazing under a swaying palm tree in a tropical paradise. Iowa has its finer points, but you do have to leave it to enjoy any of those pleasures. And Florida was just plain easier for us to get to then than, say, California, Hawaii, or the Bahamas.

Even as a young child I was drawn to the idea of visiting the Sunshine State. In the late 1960s and early 1970s it frequently starred in books, movies, magazines, and everyone else’s vacation slideshows. Classic TV fare such as Flipper, The Everglades, and Sea Hunt highlighted Florida’s breathtaking scenery and spun many exciting adventures across its sand, surf, and vibrant, rainforested turf.

Naturally the influence of a certain mouse called Mickey cannot be ignored. Every Sunday evening until the series ended, I sat glued to The Wonderful World of Disney. All the kids of my generation did the same, and at one time or another probably every last one of us nursed a desire to visit one (or both!) of the two most incredible amusement parks imaginable. How could we not want to see the magic for ourselves after soaking up the weekly footage from the parks and all the other cartoons, movies, and otherworldly wonders conceived by the Disney machine? Perhaps my attitude simply grew out of being old enough to remember when Walt Disney World’s® Magic Kingdom first opened in Florida. I’m not at all sure now. But it’s comical to recall my staunch childhood opinion that the Florida-based theme park was superior to California’s in every possible way. In my mind, it was newer, bigger, brighter, and all-around better. And Florida just seemed like a more interesting place to visit.

I’m 42 now, making me all of 10 years old when I first set foot on Florida soil December 26, 1975. I was excited to be there, no doubt about it. (Truth be told, I was excited to be anywhere.) Air travel was still a relative novelty, and the swanky-as-far-as-I-knew Delta flight from O’Hare to Orlando did not disappoint. The holiday spirit was palpable, and it was so festive onboard: champagne and decks of cards for the adults, Shirley Temples and plastic wings for the kids. The pretty stewardesses cheerfully offered chewing gum if your ears needed popping (check) and rustled up extra napkins advertising “Your Choice of Cocktails, Just $1.50” and Delta/Camay soap wrappers for kids on the hunt for stuff to cram into a scrapbook (double-check).

I was also worried about how the visit with my grandparents would play out. My worry had nothing to do with not wanting to see them. It was just that I liked to know what to expect before I had to live it, and I couldn’t quite figure out what was in store in Winter Haven. Oh, I’d heard all about my grandparents’ life there, but I needed to see it for myself to understand.

For example, the concepts of retirement community and trailer park were abstract to me. Talk of the many organized activities (which seemed compulsory, to my ears, as imposed by the ominous-sounding Park Association) — coupled with my impression that Grandma and Grandpa’s trailer had wheels and movable walls (huh?!) — also left me concerned. I’d heard them talk about living on a budget and slowing down in their “old age” and pictured them possibly living in some sort of camper parked in a strange nursing home–state campgrounds hybrid. Would there be electricity? A working bathroom? Would the Association make us all play Monday shuffleboard and eat prune Danish at the clubhouse?

All of those thoughts swirled around in my 10-year-old head. But the biggest question going for me was, Will we get there to find Grandma and Grandpa looking and acting like the really old people who go to Florida for the winter? Never mind that I had just seen them looking vibrant and healthy and perfectly normal at Thanksgiving. In my mind, Florida was where all the old people went to, well, get even older. Scary stuff!

So, I confess that I stepped off that plane with trepidation. When at last we exited the freeway and drove through the trailer park’s entrance, I couldn’t have been more relieved. We’d landed in a neighborhood that had streets and everything. There were real buildings and paved drives. The trailers were shaped like regular houses, and many sported strings of holiday lights. My grandparents’ home had a carport, shutters, carpeting, a real kitchen, and yes, a bathroom. Whew!

The next day after breakfast and a round of Florida-themed welcome gifts for the three kids (mine was a silver palm-tree charm), Grandma and Grandpa gave us a guided tour of the park. We met what seemed like everybody I already knew from their hometown, plus a few outsiders from Michigan and maybe a Dakota or two. We saw the “shuffle” courts where Grandpa was, reportedly, King; the sparkling, bustling, well-furnished clubhouse; and the murky swimming hole/swamp where — to my horror — “mature” gals in industrial-strength bikinis and real-live alligators routinely sunbathed. I only caught an eyeful of the former, but apparently neither sight was cause for alarm to the park residents.

This place, I learned, was neither campground nor nursing home. It was Club Med for the thrifty, settled set eager to enjoy some well-deserved R&R. Grandma and Grandpa were there to take full advantage. It amazed me that they did absolutely whatever they wanted, whenever they wanted. Every day. Kind of like a typical Christmas break for me, except they obviously knew how to make every minute count for something. I also marveled that they seemed unfazed by the disconnect of putting up a tree (theirs was a foil tabletop number), singing carols, and welcoming Santa in shorts, all while the lawn needs mowing.

Each of my grandparents’ days in Winter Haven boasted a nonstop string of leisurely pursuits — enough to make them a tad tired, even harried, from all that concentrated recreation, but none of it was too over the top to complain about. They enjoyed morning coffee at the clubhouse, giant-tricycle rides around their trailer park, and late-morning golf outings. They loved their afternoon shuffleboard tournaments, early-bird dinners, and evening bridge-and-dessert parties. And then there were the group day trips to the tourist traps, weekend pilgrimages to the flea markets, and tons of “neighboring” to keep up with. Their Florida life was full, and naps were encouraged!

I’d never seen them look happier or act more carefree and the truth is, I probably never did again. They had earned their Snowbird wings, and they were smart enough to cherish them for all they were worth.

During our stay we hit as many family hotspots as time allowed. Sea World® was one of my favorites. And it was Holiday Fantasy season at Disney World®. I loved the huge nighttime parade capped off with fireworks and Santa in his sleigh. The impressive water-skiing shows at Cypress Gardens made up for my youthful lack of anything resembling interest in the whole gardens aspect of the place. And, even though we needed long sleeves and blankets the day we hit Clearwater Beach, I was beyond thrilled just to see the ocean and sit under a cabana. Let’s see, I also see from my scrapbook that we visited the Waverly Citrus Packing House. Hmm, that’s odd. Not one memory of that one. Wait . . . uh . . . nope. Nothing. (Who picked that, anyway?)

It’s funny, because even though I have photos and souvenirs from all the big must-sees, it’s Grandma and Grandpa’s “Florida” that left the deepest, most lasting impressions on me. They had citrus trees in their backyard, ’gators in the swamp a short walk from their place (again, no big deal!), and ready access to the beach, shopping, and nice restaurants. They indulged in such exotic regional fare as lobster, shrimp scampi, and Key lime pie. They learned new crafts and played new sports. And clearly, absolutely none of it was worth taking seriously as long as they had plenty of good friends, family visitors, and each other to share it with.

More than 30 years later, it is still a joy to remember my Snowbird grandparents as they were that Christmas in Florida: active, relaxed, and contented. Lucky for me, I got to see their slice of paradise up close — and I am confident I’ll find my own piece of the Key lime pie when the time is right.

End-of-Year Writing Goals

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa) — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 02:11:00 +0000

A Girl Writing. c. 1520. Netherlandish.

I'm trying to stop myself from falling into the old "This year is already over" mindset and see the next four weeks for what they are: WORK weeks that just happen to have two big, distracting holidays thrown in. (You know, for fun. And stress.)

So, my plan is to publicly declare my end-of-year writing goals. If these are in my planner and on my blog, I can't miss. (Of course it doesn't hurt that a couple of the goals are also stated in a signed-by-me contract.)

Before the sun sets on December 2010, I hereby vow to accomplish the following writing activities.

Weekdays: From 8:30 a.m. (ish) to 6:00 p.m. (ish), I will work on researching and writing the six-title nonfiction picture book series I'm contracted to complete in January.
Evenings and weekends, whenever I can: I will make clear, measurable progress on my two pet (read: not under contract) WIPs, a picture book and a YA novel. By the end of the month, I will complete a full draft of my picture book and a revised, detailed outline of my novel.
December 5, 12, and 19 (all Sundays): I will share drafts of my pet picture book with workshop group colleagues.
December 6 (a Monday): I will wrap up official online discussions for the writing-biz class I've been teaching.
December 7, 14, and 21 (all Tuesdays): I will finish writing feedback on my workshop colleagues' picture book manuscripts.
December 13 and 20 (both Mondays): I will turn in the first two of the six nonfiction picture book manuscripts mentioned up top.

Signed,
Me

P.S. For added accountability, I've also shared my intentions over at Cuppa Jolie. Anyone else want to state your goals for December's we-will-write-it cause?

I Love to Write (and That's the Name of the Day)

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa) — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 19:01:00 +0000

Today is national I Love to Write Day — did you know?

Now, I don't need a holiday-type day to love writing or to do my writing. You probably don't either. But it's fun that it exists, and I like (a) that the founder got it recognized in the first place and (b) that he focuses on getting kids fired up about writing by providing ideas/encouragement for classroom exercises and school-wide events.

ILW has been celebrated for the past nine years. I think I've been aware of it since the beginning, but I'm almost sure the day/any hype passed outside my notice last year. I used to loosely track the day, so I just wondered to myself, "Why did I stop?"

One second of thought later, and I'm sure it's because there used to be so much less writing-related ~~noise~~ news coming to my immediate — and fleeting — attention. Who can keep up?

Ah, well, a topic for another blog.

Meanwhile, and back to the point:

Happy I Love to Write Day. May you write long (passages) and prosper!