Carma's Window

Obedience - Decision or Law?

2011-05-26T20:38:00.000-07:00

The root word for obey in Hebrew is shama which also means hearing. In the case of Abraham who heard and hearkened to God, shama can mean to obey. Listen to my words and obey me.

Remember Joseph's dream in Genesis 37:6 he persuaded everyone to listen as he told his dream. Using the root word shama for hearing, and persuading his brothers to hear the dream. This was a request for their undivided attention. "Please listen to this dream which I have had."

Now the Greek word for obey is peitho (pi-tho) when used in the active voice its meaning is to convince by analogy or persuasion. Therefore you are not submitting blindly to authority in reaction to a command. You are being persuaded that this is the best way. God does not want us to blindly obey Him.

Since obedience is a conduct and may be observed, when we obey we give the only possible evidence that we believe in God. Also, in reality it is the persuasion of truth that results in faith.

When you obey you are making a quality decision based on truth. After learning the truth you develop faith.

"But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed." (Romans 6: 17) NASB

In summary, the word obey is not negative or bad. To obey is good. It means we have made a decision to have faith in the truth.

Blessings to all,

Carma

Faith is About Relationship

2011-01-19T23:16:00.000-08:00

When Jesus commanded Peter to come on the water to Him, Peter did not hesitate. He didn't care if it was stormy or waves were tossing the boat up and down. He got out of the boat with his eyes on Jesus. His faith was unshakable until a huge gale wind came up and Peter took his eyes off Jesus. He began to sink. The choppy water was slapping against Peter and he was more afraid of drowning than trusting.

Peter cried out to Jesus "Lord, save me!" (Matthew 14: 30-31) Jesus said oh "you of little faith, why did you doubt me?"

Peter's answer is not recorded but I can imagine he didn't say much of anything. He realized his fear of drowning overshadowed everything else, even the presence of Jesus. Peter experienced a great humbling experience and a tough lesson in faith.

Faith grows through various tests as we continue to trust God and He continues to teach us. Faith is about the relationship with Jesus and it cannot grow in any other way. It cannot be worked up in a formula or emotion.

Isaiah 41:13 For I am the Lord your God, who upholds your right hand, who says to you, 'Do not fear, I will help you.'.

We can have victory in Jesus
Carma

Six Tips to be a Better Proofreader

2010-09-09T22:10:00.000-07:00

The importance of proofreading is often overlooked and under estimated. Alana Keane is a professional copywriter and her article below on How to be a Better Proofreader is a must read.
Please enjoy.

Copywriting Tips - Be a Better Proofreader

In a perfect world, you'd have a professional copywriter handle the writing for all of your marketing and business communication projects. Every report, every sales letter, every web page, every brochure... you'd rest easy knowing you had an expert on hand to keep it all up to par.

But the fact is, we don't live in a perfect world. We live in the real world and sometimes you have to write your own material. Of course, copywriting isn't one of those things that just comes easily to most people and after spending several days (or weeks) organizing your thoughts and working through multiple drafts, you may feel like celebrating. Don't uncork that champagne just yet, though. You still have to proofread.

Improve Your Proofreading

As tedious as it may be, proofreading is an essential part of the writing process. And though it seems like a straightforward procedure, after you've read -- and reread -- something over and over and over again, those pesky little mistakes get harder to detect. Make sure you catch them all by following a few basic tips.

Read it Out Loud

The words you've written may look great on paper. But how do they sound? You might be surprised to find that what you think you've written and what you've actually written are two different things. Find clunky phrases and repair them by reading what you've written out loud.

Read it Backwards

It's human nature to automatically correct the errors we may find while reading. To compensate for this, read your copy backwards. Start at the end and check each word for spelling errors. Remember: the spell check on your computer does not catch everything, including homophones like "their" and "they're" or "your" and "you're."

Have a Friend Read it

It never hurts to have another pair of eyes go over what you've written. Have a friend or co-worker read your copy and make suggestions for both grammar and style. You may disagree with the recommendations you receive, but you should give consideration to any constructive criticism that can make your work better.

Hire a Copywriter

There is often no substitute for professional copyedits. In a matter of minutes, a good copywriter can frequently detect errors you would have otherwise missed -- and suggest improvements you would never even have considered. Plus, since you've already put the time into writing a complete draft, hiring a professional copywriter to polish your work is significantly less expensive than contracting a project from scratch.

The Last Word
In the end, proofreading is time (and money) well spent -- because if you don't find the mistakes in your copy, your clients will.

© Copyright Alana Keane. All rights reserved worldwide.

About the Author

A professional copywriter with over a decade of experience, Alana Keane has been widely published on a national level. Her areas of expertise include copywriting for brochures, websites, sales letters, direct mail campaigns and more. Visit her website at www.DarnGoodCopy.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alana_Keane

It's always good to have another pair of eyes,

Carma

Writing and Selling Memoirs - Common Pitfalls - Part V

2010-09-02T16:53:00.000-07:00

Unless your name is a household word no one but possibly your immediate family care that you were married six times or robbed a liquor store at the age of fifteen. The real truth is....

The odds of your memoir being rescued from the slush pile are close to nil and impossible…unless your hook is well developed. (this post is adapted from Writer’s Digest July/August 2010 issue) One of the most challenging facets of writing a memoir is being able to view it with the perspective of someone who has never lived your experience.

Bring ordinary situations to life with dazzling details. For example, Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert is a story about ordinary events such as divorce, travel, spirituality and food. Gilbert takes the reader along with her to experience every tear drop, laughter and epitome along her journey to healing.

Take care not to fall into the pitfalls below:

Five Ineffective Memoir Hooks

Do not mistake bitterness or anger(neither one is a good reason to write a book) for passion.
If your theme is not relatable to readers they will not read
Don’t take too long to build or start too late in the story.
When you follow too many different paths your plot becomes confusing.
Don’t follow through to the end of the story. Your life story is not over yet. Focus on pivotal events that caused your life to do a back flip. Once you understand what a good hook is and what it should do, you will be ready to write, write, write.

Three Exercises to Define Your Hook

Write your own cover copy.

What do you do when browsing in a book store? Read the back cover or jacket flap. According to Writer’s Digest, some publishers begin working on this before a manuscript is completed because it is so essential to success.

Push your theme to the limit.

List 10 things that are unique to your situation. What makes your divorce different than your neighbors? Why should your bout with cancer be any different than others? What range of emotions does your list hit?

Shift your focus.

Select five different starting points for your memoir then make a list of five different plots from those points. What track does the memoir follow when you start from a different position? How do you feel about each new story and where does each one end?

Also, here is a neat site at ehow.com with many related videos on writing memoirs. Check them out.

Until next time,
Carma

"Give to the world the best you have and the best will come back to you." Madeline Bridges

Writing & Selling Memoirs: Know Where Your Memoir Fits - Part IV

2010-08-27T18:50:00.000-07:00

“The Hook” is the center of every marketable book and is the key element in making a memoir marketable. Your uniqueness, controversy, tragedy, inspiration, shocking or funny story is the thin S-curve device clutching the heart and mind of a reader and publisher. Once “The Hook” grabs your audience, it will be up to your strong writing skills to keep them turning your pages.

According to Paula Balzer's article in Writer’s Digest July/August 2010, “A Hook for Every Book”, memoir writing is not just about a history of your life. The article shares many tips to help you present your story in an interesting and marketable fashion.Yes, your hook will capture the attention of agents and editors but it will take your writing style and story to keep the momentum moving.

Distinguish Hook from Theme

You want your good book to be a great one and not just another spiritual journey for example. Your hook will take the reader along and as you painfully scratch crusted scabs from your wounds your audience will experience the healing process with you as you live it. It is important to note that your hook and the underlying theme of your memoir are not necessarily the same thing. You must be able to discern the difference between the two if you want to write an unforgettable memoir.

Effective hooks:

Bring something new to the table.
Go beyond the theme of the memoir.
Can be summed up in a sentence or two.
Are provocative and memorable.

Know where your book fits –

a few categories to get you started

Self-discovery, soul-searching, healing, survival and courage, a journey defined by pain but can show hope for others there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Example, “The Middle Place” by Kelly Corrigan

Love and relationships is not always about romantic love. Susan Richards’ “Chosen by a Horse” about a broken woman learning more from an abused animal than she ever imagined.

Family secrets – oh yes the juicy stuff but more than that, a unique perspective on courage and understanding can cover a wide variety of subjects. For instance in Bliss Broyard’s “One Drop” she investigates her father’s secret of having African-American roots. This is not exploitation but exploration of family dynamics which could make or break a family unit.

Read a Memoir
It’s a good idea to see how an author develops a hook and how they take an ordinary subject to make an unusual tale about pursuit of truth. Go to Writers Digest.com for the rest of the story.

I hope your interest is peaked for writing memoirs. Look for Paula Balzer’s new book “Writing and Selling Your Memoir” forthcoming spring of 2011.

Next week - Part V – Ineffective hooks and more exercises on how to define your hook.

You will become as small as your controlling desire; as great as your dominant aspiration.

James Allen

Until next time
Carma

Memoir Writing: Build Your Arc - Keep Your Memoir Afloat - Part III

2010-08-22T21:44:00.000-07:00

When writing your memoir remember you are the action hero and the arc of your story is essential in determining what part needs dramatizing. Building your arc should be done before you begin any form of outline. An arc looks like the Bell curve used in some schools to bring up the grade average of a class. You begin low, reach a crescendo then begin the decline to the climax.

Beginning steps for constructing an arc.

1. The Desire Line - What was your life's desire? This will drive the book.
2. Actions and Obstacles - What did you do or want and what got in your way?
3. Emotional Beats - A memoir is an emotional journey. The events are not there because they happened but to show emotion you go through.
4. The Initiating Incident - This comes near the beginning and is the main cause of your troubles.
5. The Ending Incident - Your desire will define the ending.

Adair Lara's article, "Elements of an Effective Arc", in the July/August issue of Writer's Digest, explains in detail how to draw an arc and how emotions and obstacles are the heart beat of your story.

Lara says "Drawing your arc is not something you can knock out in the half-hour before dinner."

Get your toolbox ready,

Next week, Part IV - Turn Your story into a marketable memoir.
Carma

Write Better, More Powerful and More Engaging Nonfiction in a 52-week eCourse

2010-08-22T15:51:00.000-07:00

Writing is a solitary profession. Most of the time it is just you, your creative mind and dim glow of your computer monitor. Also, if you are just beginning to enter the professional world of writing it is easy to get confused, overwhelmed and not know where to turn.

The best way to learn new things is one step at a time. Since I have enrolled in Suzanne Lieurance's 52-week eCourse How to Write Better, More Powerful, More Engaging Nonfiction, it is working well with my busy schedule. The one step at a time format is easy to follow and the best part is the weekly bonus links. These links are not easily found and yet Suzanne places them at your fingertips each week. Writer's research depends on quality links.

What are you waiting for?

Carma

Memoir Writing: Don't Gloss Over the Tough Stuff - Part II

2010-08-11T08:09:00.000-07:00

No one knows your story like you do. However, reliving your past will raise memories that have been tucked away in the darkest corner of your mind. If you are driven to tell "your story" the darkest memories are what will drive it forward. They are the crux of your life. You learned and grew because of them. They must be brought to the surface.

Read Laurie Rosin's full article "Full Disclosure" in Writer's Digest July/August 2010 issue and learn why full disclosure in a memoir is important. This is an eye opening article. Below are my notes.

Three Reasons to Disclose Painful Memories

1. Omissions can leave holes in your narrative.
Once you build the suspense to white knuckle level, you can't say "and next the police came". Whoaaa. I am at that point in my memoir. I have deep dark secrets I don't want my family to know but they need to know what shaped me and my readers deserve the full story.

2. Readers are drawn to authentic, motivated characters.
If your story is one you hope to encourage others with, tell the truth. Did you face a devastating rejection marring your sense of self worth for forty years, claim it. Your readers want a hero.

Laurie writes "First and foremost, remember that readers will be rooting for you. Memoirists are the protagonists of their own books."

3. Strong stories require dramatic unity.
It takes courage to relive traumatic events. When I write about my father's sudden death when I was sixteen and my first divorce at eighteen; it will be painful. Some memories are like snapshots in my mind. As the saying goes, "A picture is worth a thousand words". Don't hold back events that shaped you into the success you have become.

What's it all about-----?

Friday - Part III - Build your story around a Foolproof Framework

Carma

Memoir Writing: The Inside Story of - Part I

2010-08-09T22:41:00.000-07:00

According to Writer’s Digest July/August 2010 issue, there is a viable market for Memoir writing. However, Literary Agents do not want to read another story about “lovely you”. They want the same page turning suspense and interest compelling fiction has. Literary Agent Byrd Leavell of Waxman Literary Agency asks “Why would John Q. Bookbrowser spend $25 and commit hours of his life reading about you? Answer that question and your golden.”

One thing Memoir writing has in common with fiction and non-fiction is the Query letter or Book proposal. Do your homework and pay special attention to guidelines. Some agents want proposals while some want queries.

A Few Key Points about Memoirs

Distinguish Hook from Theme
Know where your book fits
Break your story into Key pieces
Never underestimate the power of the smallest memory

Below is an opening/introduction draft to my memoir. Does it peak your interest or does it leave you looking for something else? Any thoughts?

It was August in L.A. 1962 and Billy Graham’s crusade was at the Coliseum. Here was my chance to challenge…. no….dare God to save me. I took a taxi from the all-girl boarding house I had moved into a few weeks earlier. As the majority of the crowd squeezed for seats near the stage, I climbed the molded concrete stairs to the nose bleed section to smoke. Truth was I didn’t want to make it easy for God to find me and I did not want to get too close to the power of the Word. The top row was my fig leaf. Besides if God was there He would reach me no matter how high I sat.

I defied Reverend Graham’s words to touch me with Truth. The invitation was given; I lit another cigarette. “Sinner, come home”, Beverly Shea sang. I watched hundreds move forward toward the stage. God made it to L.A. that August but I didn’t leave with Him. I turned aside, squashed my cigarette onto the stadium steps and with a military toe heel turn I entered the wide gate to destruction.

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.” Matthew 7:13

Come back Wednesday for Part II – Memoir Writing - Don’t Gloss Over the Tough Stuff.

Truth is Stranger than Fiction,
Carma

Start the Day The Morning Nudge Way

2010-08-08T21:44:00.000-07:00

Every writer needs a little prompting at one time or another. In today’s hectic lifestyle multi-tasking has become the norm. Yet studies have shown it isn’t possible to perform a slew of tasks at the same time without confusion setting in. Our brains get used to jumping around and are not able to focus for any quality of time. Instead they switch back and forth over and over and over. I’m dizzy already.

Also productivity is significantly decreased for writers when the brain does not stay focused on one task long enough. Each writer needs time to daydream as they figure out plots and writing scenes with dialogue. Non fiction writers need time to focus on research and continuity.

When you subscribe to The Morning Nudge you will receive daily tips loaded with motivation to get a little writing done each day. Watch the video and see for your self.

I have been receiving The Morning Nudge for several years now and I am always happy with the volume of information Suzanne Lieurance offers her Morning Nudge Club members. As a member of The Morning Nudge club you will have many opportunities to enroll in workshops, teleseminars and network with other professional writers like yourself.

In addition, Suzanne Lieurance offers a wide variety of writing Ecourses and guest teachers that you cannot get anywhere else for the price. Go to the Morning Nudge Link and see for your self.

Writing requires a clear mind.

Carma

Five Essential Tips for Beginning Writers

2010-08-01T23:02:00.000-07:00

“If a story is in you it has to come out.”
William Faulkner

1. Establish Your Writing Time

This is the most obvious because to improve your writing skill you must write on a regular basis. Writing on a regular basis is the best way for a beginning writer to learn the craft. Yes, you can take classes and read books, and you should, but there is no substitute for action. Your writing frequency is critical for success. Be consistent with your time.

2. Avoid Distractions

My advice…..Turn Off Your Email. Turning off the sound won’t keep you from clicking the tab; that is why you need to close it completely. Turn off your phone, and use earplugs to block other unexpected sounds during your writing time. Also clear your desk. Don’t leave folders and other to do lists lying around during your writing time. We all have the wandering eye.

3. Create a Log

Keep track of your word count so you can track your progress. If you journal, add the word count to your personal journal each day. This is a two-for-one action that will give you a permanent record of ideas, plots, characters and overall progression of your project.

4. Become an Idea Monster

Ideas come when you least expect them. You may receive your most brilliant idea when you are in the shower. Keep a note pad in every room in the house. Think about your project, when you are doing things like cleaning house, exercising, or grocery shopping. Your sub conscious is always working and looking for the idea you commanded it to look for. I like spiral 3 x 5 ruled index cards in counts of 50. they fit neatly in your purse or pocket and are easily retrieved when you have that AHA! Minute.

5. Rewrite, Rewrite, Rewrite

Arghhhh! This is more important than establishing a daily writing schedule. Think about this. No one gets it right the first time. Do you think Stephen King wrote one draft of Pet Cemetery? Don’t try to develop this habit immediately. Develop your writing habit first and the rewrite habit will follow effortlessly. I don’t mean rewrites are easy, I mean the habit will follow naturally.

There are tons of writing resources out there. You may want to check out Stephen King’s On Writing and William Zinsser’s classic guide to writing nonfiction – On Writing Well. You might also enjoy reading about habits of successful authors like Tom Robbins, Norman Mailer and more as written by Alan Rinzler on The Book Deal blog.

It's all at your fingertips,

Carma

Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?

2010-07-29T22:08:00.000-07:00

Remember that 1980’s old TV program Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego? My kids were hooked but I thought it was a dumb title. This was long before SEO, keywords and web content. TV writers had it right. They understood who their target audience was. Come up with a unique title people will remember and they will keep coming back. Marketing professionals have been using SEO practices long before the web site entangled our lives.

Mystery surrounds SEO. We are told we MUST use it or we will be shunned from the web forever! How do you get it? Buy the latest EBook and you will be living high on easy street in a month. Don’t ask questions, just click here and pay.

Do not buy information mindlessly. Use your writer skills and research your subject. Although you may buy a few EBooks here and there, buying the latest one because it is the latest one is not the secret.

Good Content is the secret!

This is what blogging and websites are all about. Content! Good Content! Every writer’s purpose is to produce……Good content. Non-fiction, fiction, romance, science, fantasy, mystery all must have good content. You know….the good stuff. Words that will bring you back again and again.

When you enter keywords into a search engine you expect to get relevant information back and not 10 pages of advertising links. Do not fall for offers promoting use of unusual domain names and tricks like keyword hi-jacking. Keep writing on a daily basis and your words will speak for themselves.

FREE SEARCH LINKS

There are all kinds of F.R.E.E sights like http://freekeywords.wordtracker.com

http://www.goodkeywords.com and of course the most recognizable keyword search engine http://www.google.com

Guess what? Do what comes naturally. Write in your natural voice. Use words customers use for your product or service. Think of words YOU use when searching for info. There is nothing fancy about that. I am not saying ignore SEO processes because the right words are the key to your business. Use the internet for what it was intended. The Free Informational Highway.

She Believed She Could, So She Did,
Carma
Visit my website Carma's Word

Six Reasons to Hire a Professional Web Content Writer

2010-07-26T15:08:00.000-07:00

Are you new to the blogging world? Your on line words reflect your professionalism or lack of it. Carma’s Word researches what will work best to get you noticed. Sometimes all you need is a good editor. I will fill that need for you and give pizzazz and depth to your letters, resumes, articles and books.

SIX REASONS TO HIRE A PROFESSIONAL WEB CONTENT WRITER

Your communication skills are cloudy.
You don’t like to write.
You want to expand your customer base.
You want to jump on the global bandwagon.
Your old web content is in need of an overhaul.
You want to make a good first impression.

SEVEN REASONS TO HIRE CARMA’S WORD WRITING SERVICES

When you don’t have time to write – I do.
Use your ideas and thoughts to communicate effectively.
Compose your web content to read friendly and personal.
Help you develop relationships with your customers through contact information.
Keep your site free of hype and easy for readers to grab hold of.
Increase your visibility for search engines.
Keep readers and clients interested and informed.

For details on rates and fees for all writing and copywriting services; please contact me directly at carmasword@gmail.com

Also scroll down the side bar and click on my Ezine article connection. you can read samples of my writing on Ezine Articles.com

Make More Money in 2010 Than Ever Before!

2010-07-23T21:44:00.000-07:00

If you expect to Write MORE, SELL MORE and MAKE MORE than Ever Before in 2010 you will need to set goals, have a marketing plan and a writing coach.

Writing Coach Suzanne Lieurance will help you create three major writing goals for the year which will take your writing to a higher level than before. Also, she will teach you HOW to create a weekly marketing plan so you can focus on your writing career and how to get rid of distractions.

Each morning you will also receive the Morning Nudge, Suzanne's daily inspirational message to help grow your career with writing tips to help you get a little writing done every day. In addition Suzanne will show you how to find freelance jobs tailored just for you.

As a member of Suzanne Lieurance's coaching program you will have access to all sorts of professional tools and resources for writers including live and recorded teleclasses, special report templates, and the opportunity to network with other professionals. In addition you will get personal coaching from Suzanne when you need it.

Are you having trouble writing winning queries and cover letters to land those top writing jobs? You can listen to Suzanne's recorded seminars about queries and cover letters then submit them to Suzanne for her professional review before you send them out to editors.

There is more! As a member of Suzanne's Write More, Sell More, Make More Money than Ever coaching program will give you the support advice and tips you need so you will know exactly what to do and when to do it. Register now to receive a welcome packet via email with instructions to get started immediately. Don't let another day go buy without a clear direction for your writing and writing career.

You will not be able to get a better value for your money anywhere else.

Keep your pencil sharpened,
Carma

Interview with Sarah Sundin - Author

2010-04-02T11:08:00.000-07:00

A Distant Melody is Sarah's debut novel and first in the Wings of Glory series that chronicles the lives and loves of the three Novak brothers during WW II. If you missed my review it is on Amazon.com and here.

Now let me introduce you to Sarah Sundin.

Thank you Sarah for taking the time to answer a few questions.

1. Who or what has influenced you the most in your career?

That’s to be a group effort! I’ve been taught, influenced, and encouraged by my critique group (Diablo Valley Christian Writers), the faculty at Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference, and the membership of American Christian Fiction Writers. I told my editor I needed an acknowledgments novel, not an acknowledgments page!

2. Please tell us what you are most passionate about outside of writing.

Teaching is my primary spiritual gift, and one I enjoy practicing. I love it when the Lord puts words in my mouth and I see the light of understanding in someone’s eyes. Currently I teach Sunday school for fourth- and fifth-graders, and women’s Bible studies. Someday I hope to teach about writing as well.

3. It is interesting to note you are a hospital pharmacist. Many people might think a pharmacist would write books with a medical slant. What motivated you to write in your current genre of historical romantic fiction?

Hmm, the world’s first pharmacy thriller… “Run, everyone, it’s an…an…I can’t bear to say it…an expired tablet!!!” No, people choose pharmacy because it’s quiet and sterile.

I chose historical romantic fiction because that’s what the story required. However, I have put my pharmacy education to use. My characters keep ending up in the hospital (I’m so mean), so I have to treat them. And in the second book in the series, the heroine is a nurse.

4. A Distant Melody is the first in a series of three. What was your inspiration for a WWII love story?

It came out of a “what if” question—what if a man and woman met at an event, truly clicked, and parted before exchanging contact info? Wouldn’t it be romantic if he went through great effort to track her down? It wouldn’t work in a contemporary setting—he’d “Google” her—but it made a sweet premise for a historical. My husband and I watched a History Channel special on the US Eighth Air Force based in England which flew over Nazi-occupied Europe during World War II, and I had my link. My great-uncle was a B-17 bomber pilot with the Eighth, so I had access to family stories plus his personal letters.

5. What or who was the inspiration in creating Allie and the Novak brothers?

I visited a particularly gorgeous friend after her daughter was born. The first words I heard the mom say were, “Thank goodness she’s pretty.” My thought? What if she wasn’t pretty? That thought expanded—what would happen to a plain-looking daughter of a woman who thought beauty was a virtue? Would she think she could never find true love?

So, Walt came about primarily as Allie’s counterpart. I gave him two brothers and no sisters so he’d be clueless about women. A Distant Melody was intended to be a standalone book, but my research on the Eighth Air Force fascinated me, and when a heroine popped into my head who was the perfect foil for Walt’s brother Jack, I knew I had to do a trilogy. Each book focuses on a different brother, and the Wings of Glory series spans the entire history of the Eighth Air Force from late 1942 through V-E Day.

I am glad to hear that. You had me on the edge of my seat toward the end of A Distant Melody and I didn't want it to end.

6. What are your writing habits? Do you work on an outline before starting the actual story?

I am definitely an outline writer. First of all, I do my research. It’s frustrating to get halfway through a book and realize a crucial part of your story won’t work historically. I also do lots of pre-writing, including character charts, a plot chart to track story arcs, and scene lists with everything from the date, the weather, outfits, goals and conflict, and scene ideas. Then comes the rough draft. I’m odd—I write the first draft longhand, but when I cuddle on my couch with pencil and paper, the writing flows. I enter each chapter in the computer a few weeks afterward, which serves as my first edit. Once my rough draft is complete, I do a content edit, analyzing the story and characters. Finally, I do a thorough copy edit before turning it in to my publisher.

Sarah, my hand is getting cramps! Ahh, the writer's life. But I understand how valuable research is.

7. What type of books did you read as a child?

Anything I could get my hands on! I’m surprised I didn’t wear out my library card. Favorites included the Little House on the Prairie series, the Betsy-Tacy series, Marguerite Henry’s horse books (I met her once!), and biographies. Although I never cared for history in school—note the irony—I loved reading historical fiction and biographies. They made history come to life.

8. Have you always written in the historical romance genre? What other genre calls out to you if any.

Before I started the Wings of Glory series, I wrote two contemporary romances that were absolutely horrible. I’m thankful I never showed them to anyone in the publishing industry. I could see myself writing a contemporary romance or women’s fiction, but right now I’m enjoying historicals.

I would love to read a women's fiction story by you!

9. What advice would you give to aspiring writers who are just beginning in their career?

Be teachable and soak up all the good instruction you can. Read books on writing craft, and then read your favorite authors and analyze how they did it.
Join ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers). Their e-zine, e-mail loop, and monthly courses are outstanding.

Join a local writers’ group or an on-line critique group. Don’t submit to agents and editors until you’re ready. That means a complete manuscript, positive feedback from experienced writers, and enough knowledge of the publishing industry to know how to submit properly. You want your first impression to be stellar.
Lastly, when you’re ready, submit and keep submitting. Keep polishing your craft, and keep praying for the Lord’s guidance.

10. What type of book promotion seems to work the best for you? Any special strategies you'd like to share?

My book’s only been on the market for a few weeks, so I have no idea if my promotion is working. What I’ve done that seems effective:
a) Blog interviews like this one. Each interview exposes your book to people outside your sphere of influence.
b) My publisher gave me book copies for “influencers.” These people have been wonderful. They’re posting reviews, chatting it up on Facebook, recommending it to their book clubs and libraries, and one woman—also a close friend—made a vintage 1940s apron with my book cover on the pocket and donated it to a fabric store. The store owner displayed the apron in the store window and recommended the book to her book club!
c) Facebook has been a great way for me to connect with people—other writers, old friends, and new readers. It’s a powerful tool—but like all powerful tools, it can be misused. Sales pitches turn me off, and I don’t want to be pushy. Ick.
d) Bookmarks generously distributed. I carry them everywhere. Whenever someone asks about my book, I give them a bookmark. Also my friends and influencers hand them out in droves. I’ve already gone through my first lot of one thousand bookmarks, and I’m working on the second.

Wow, Sarah,a thousand book marks! Now that is awesome. It is clear that "word of mouth" marketing is still a solid strategy. Thanks again for your time. We will all be waiting for book two.

Sarah Sundin can be found at her website A Distant Melody is a wonderful book and I strongly recommend you put it on your list of must reads.

Carma

Coming Soon! Sarah Sundin, Author, Interview

2010-03-31T11:04:00.000-07:00

Hope you enjoyed reading my review of A Distant Melody by Sarah Sundin. that is posted below.

I am posting my interview with Sarah on April 2, 2010. Please drop by and meet her.

Carma

A Distant Melody - Book Review

2010-03-30T20:42:00.000-07:00

Title: A Distant Melody
Author: Sarah Sundin
ISBN: 978-0-8007-3421-3
Publisher: Revell (a division of Baker Publishing Group)

A Distant Melody is Sarah Sundin’s debut novel. A historical romance novel set in World War II. Get ready all you readers – it is only going to get better. Sarah Sundin is truly gifted. I can hardly wait to read books two and three in her Wings of Glory series..

Sarah’s main characters, Allie Miller, ball bearing heiress and Lt. Walter Novak, ace B-17 pilot meet by chance at a friend’s wedding in northern California. Right away the romance angle is set. What is more romantic than a wedding? However, no good romance ever blossoms flawlessly and Allie and Walt’s relationship is no exception to the rule.

Walt Novak comes from a middle class background and Allie Miller from high society. Also to add to romantic tension and suspense, Allie neglects to mention her fiancé Baxter who is waiting back in southern California. She rationalizes she will never see Walt again because he is shipping out to Europe to fly B-17 bombers in England. In wartime, emotions are unpredictable and no one knows when they will see their friends and loved ones again so sometimes minor details like who has a fiancé get left out. Sarah’s attention to detail is remarkable. Her description of B-17 bomber’s and pilots flow effortlessly so that even a novice history buff like me, can easily picture World War II action and danger on every page of Lt. Novak’s flying missions.

Each chapter of Distant Melody holds several page-turning tension moments. On one page Allie and Walt would be dancing cheek to cheek and you knew the kiss was coming but when the page turned, Allie’s conscience would pop up and another aspect of their relationship would open. When Walt’s plane almost crashes because his crewmen loaded about a ton of booze in the back thinking they could make money by selling it to the Brits, was a humorous moment but also seriously dangerous for the success of the mission.

Sarah gives an accurate and eye opening account of what life was like in America during the 1940’s. So many things we take for granted today were not available to people. American’s bonded together to help make the war effort successful and to help give all military the supplies and tools they needed to win the war.

A Distant Melody has it all: intrigue, lying, tension, love, romance, humor and sorrow. In other words; life. Life in 1940’s wartime era was precious and tentative and Sarah’s characters capture the essence of that time reminding us of the sacrifices that were made. Airmen were not allowed to carry personal effects when flying so if shot down, the enemy would not have any information about them. Walt carried his dog tags and a Scripture verse from Psalm 18 on a slip of paper.

When you read A Distant Melody, you will discover one of the first emotions between Allie and Walt is respect and friendship and from there romance is born. An important example we can all learn from. I recommend this book to everyone who wants to enjoy a love story laced with honesty, trust, faith and uprightness. Stay tuned for the next installment of the Wings of Glory series, A Memory Between Us, and meet Walt’s brother Jack Novak.

Carma

Prayer is life's greatest time saver.
(Dr. Charles F. Stanley)

Jane G. Meyer, children's book author- today on "Inside the Writer's Life"

2010-03-26T10:07:00.001-07:00

I hope you enjoy this article as much as I did. Jane Meyer is amazing. After reading the interview take some time to peruse her blog and website.
Carma

Jane G. Meyer, children's book author- today on "Inside the Writer's Life"

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The Number One Place to Promote Books

2010-03-18T21:12:00.000-07:00

Sooner or later every author will have to deal with book promotion and marketing. The success of your new book depends on the type of marketing path you take.

Yvonne Perry is a Freelance writer, editor, award-winning author, speaker and owner of Writer's in the Sky Creative Writing Services and has expert advice on how and where to promote your book. Enjoy her article.

Writers and published authors need to take advantage of the number one method of book selling-the Internet. The Internet is the greatest selling and marketing tool available to an author. There are many opportunities and different ways to do achieve this. Here are a few online marketing tips for new authors.

One the simplest, most cost-effective ways to reach a broad online audience with your product and urge the reader into action is social networking. I'm referring to sites and online places where people share friendship and information. I love Goodreads and I get a lot of response whenever I post an event on that site. I am signed up not only as a reader, but as an author, which gives me a profile and the ability to promote my products. Other sites such as Ning, and Plaxo are also places you can let others know about you book, blog tour, or other marketing events.

The basic techniques for marketing fiction are the same as those of marketing nonfiction, so the methods work well in either case. However, a new author needs to know her target readership. A romance book will typically draw a different type of audience than a how-to book on gardening or fishing. So, when establishing a following on social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, GoodReads, Ning, Yahoo groups, and other sites, search for people by reading their profiles. Look for keywords that describe or relate to the topic of your book. Look for people who read the types of books you write.

The biggest mistake authors make when attempting to market their books is going out unprepared or without having a marketing plan or the information necessary to successfully create the buzz. Many authors do not even have a Web site or blog with a point of purchase that gives the reader enough information about the book to actually make an informed purchase. An author needs to know what components are necessary to have on a site in order to compete in today's online marketplace. This is where a marketing plan comes in handy. It takes time and consistent effort to build your following and get people interested in your book before they will take action. It's been said that someone must see or hear about a product seven times before they will buy it. Book marketing success may not happen overnight, but you will begin to see steady progress if you stay at it. It will take you about six months to complete everything in the eBook because some of it has to be set up such as Web sites, blog tours, and social networks.

Do you need help marketing your book? Many of my clients are authors who do not have a clue about how to market their books. The material in Book Marketing in the Digital Age, Online Promotion Made Easy is a combination of what I teach in seminars and present in speaking engagements and one-on-one mentoring with authors needing assistance with book publicity.

For more information about book marketing, you may visit http://OnlinePromotionMadeEasy.blogspot.com.
Yvonne Perry is a freelance writer and the owner of Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services (WITS). She and her team of ghostwriters are ready to assist you with writing and editing for books, Web text, business documents, resumes, bios, articles, and media releases.
For more information about writing, networking, publishing, and book promotion, or to sign up for free email delivery of WITS newsletter, please visit http://www.writersinthesky.com
New subscribers receive a free eBook Tips for Freelance Writing.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Yvonne_Perry

Thank you, Yvonne

Carma

Summer with Grandma

2010-02-16T21:05:00.000-08:00

There is no partiality with God. Romans 2:11

“Will Southern Baptists go to Hell?”

I could not believe my ears. Delbert’s question was outrageous. After all a Baptist is a Baptist, right? I laughed inside, “Don’t they know I’m Beulah Jane Lark’s Southern Baptist granddaughter?” As my insides bounced around like waves on the ocean, my outside displayed strong righteous indignation. Thank goodness the Sunday School teacher hem hawed around and never said one way or the other. Still, the question shook me up. Me, go to Hell? I was only visiting for the summer.

Between the ages of eleven and fourteen, most of my summers were filled with two-week long visits to grandma and grandpa Larks house. I was young enough not to rebel against mother and old enough not to cause undue hardship for my grandma, except for the time I threw up on the other side of “grandpa’s” bed. Hey, I was sick. How in the world could I not throw up? In any case, I had to clean up my own vomit.

My older brother’s escape from these summer retreats made me seethe. He was four years older and got away with things that I, as a girl, could not. Like the time he drug me home from the school dance because he didn’t like who I was dancing with. What nerve! And, once he drove the family’s new Chevy sedan around the town square on two wheels. In a town of 600 it’s hard to keep something like that a secret. Did he get shipped to grandmas? Nooooo. Nothing happened to him. Oh, I think he had to work on the combine during harvest time a few extra hours but everybody did that.

Now don’t get me wrong. I loved my grandma and grandpa, but it was lonely snapping and shelling green peas and beans, and watching grandma watch “As the World Turns” (this is when soap operas were shown “live” on TV and for only 15 minutes per episode). Grandma’s ten inch black and white TV made the actors look like negative pictures. Nevertheless, grandma talked to them as if they were visiting while we snapped peas. With a sly smile on her lips grandma would revel on each word. “Uh oh, I knew she would do that.” Now how could my grandma know what a TV actor was going to do?

Summers with grandma were bitter sweet. Bitter because as a child I resisted enjoying her and I resented my mother for sending me there. I felt nothing in common because my grandma was just too old to relate to me. As an adult I find myself becoming more and more like grandma. I will be posting a series of short stories about summer at grandmas as I get to know her after the fact.

You shall rise up before the grayheaded and honor the aged, and you shall revere your God; I am the Lord. Leviticus 20: 32

Write it down,
Carma

A Thin Place Discovered

2010-02-12T11:14:00.000-08:00

Following is my submission for Thin Places kindle contest.

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.” Matthew 7:13

One summer I attended a Billy Graham crusade at the Los Angeles Coliseum. I went alone and sat in the nose bleed row so my cigarette smoke would not be noticed. The top row was my fig leaf because I wanted to hide from God too. Besides if God was really there He would reach me no matter how high I sat. I defied Reverend Graham to touch me with Truth. The invitation was given and I tried to force myself to feel something. I watched as hundreds of people moved toward the stage and remember thinking if I, a Christian, didn’t feel anything, then how could my salvation be real? I turned aside and entered the wide gate to destruction.

That one act sent my life on a downward spiral of alcohol co-dependency, divorce, abortion, anxiety and worry. I was an empty clay pot, severely cracked. Since that time I have found my way back to God and His mercy. Through His love and grace He is using my botched attempts at doing it my way as teaching tools on how not to live. Also, reliving my past helps me discover a new thin place where His “living water” never fails.

“And the Lord will continually guide you, and satisfy your desire in scorched places,…and you will be like a watered garden…a spring of water whose waters do not fail” Isaiah 58:11a.

Carma

Thin Places - Book Review

2010-02-10T12:51:00.000-08:00

Every two minutes, someone in the U.S. is sexually assaulted and of the millions of sexual abuse and rape victims, 15 percent are under the age of 12, according to a 2007 study by the U.S. Department of Justice. Critically acclaimed author Mary DeMuth is among the millions of adults who are victims of childhood rape and are living with the emotional scars of the haunting abuse.

DeMuth bravely shares her painful story in her new memoir, Thin Places. Repeatedly raped by two neighborhood boys at a young age, DeMuth details her traumatic and disturbing childhood in the memoir. Raised in a broken home, she lost her biological father when she was ten and was stripped of her innocence growing up in an unstable environment where drugs were commonplace. Read the rest of the Media Release here.

Author and speaker Mary DeMuth helps people turn their trials to triumph. Her books include Ordinary Mom, Extraordinary God; Building the Christian Family You Never Had; Watching the Tree Limbs; Wishing on Dandelions; Authentic Parenting in a Postmodern Culture and the first two books in the Defiance, Texas Trilogy: Daisy Chain and A Slow Burn.

Thin Places a memoir - Book Review (by Carma Dutra)

An intro to an old Andy Griffith show, when Opie Taylor throws a rock “Frisbee style” on the lake, is reminiscent of a simple childhood with fond memories. Mary DeMuth’s memoir “Thin Places” is also reminiscent but instead of a happy and simple childhood, it is one of pain, insecurities and betrayal. Mary’s wounds are deep and she writes about redemption – her redemption. By sharing her deepest personal journey, she gives us all hope, encouragement and affirmation that Jesus saves.

An additional delight in this moving memoir is Mary’s poignant poetry written in breathtaking, healing and bar-none honesty. “Lord, please be patient/Please take time/To understand this life of mine/I’ve wanted to obey You/I really have tried/To understand Your love inside/I thank You for listening/I thank You for life/I hope You understand as I take this knife/Too many rules/Too many nights/….”

Mary faced trials of self absorption, selfishness and a litany of other sinful offenses that cried out for forgiveness. Jesus tells her that her weakness is a “platform for forgiveness.” Mary teaches us through her pain that learning to accept our flaws is the only way to understand God loves us just the way we are and it is God’s love that sustained her all these years ( and continues to do so) giving her strength and courage to share a piece of herself with us.

Throughout her experiences of intense healing, her words are a call to all who need to experience God’s presence in their life. After you read this beautiful memoir you just might find your own “thin place” to meet Him in.

Review copy of this book provided by Zondervan publisher.

A complete list of Tour Stops for Thin Places can be viewed when you click on the following link. I hope you can take some time to visit a few Thin Place Blog Tour begins here

I know you will enjoy Thin Places by Mary DeMuth as much as I did.

Carma

Thin Places - Writing Memoirs - Mary DeMuth

2010-02-08T11:50:00.000-08:00

Writing Memoirs
By Mary DeMuth

I wrote Thin Places only after I gave myself permission to say it all. More on that later.

First, one clarification about memoir: no memoir can be 100% accurate. Every memoirist must recall, to the best of his/her ability what happened in the past. Only God knows what truly happened! And to protect the people listed in a memoir, I’ve changed names and distinguishing characteristics. That’s allowable in a memoir, and is often expected.  To make a memoir work, it must be:

1. From someone famous.
2. Or a story so strong and surprising, the story carries the book.

I’m of the latter category since I am by no means famous. But my story is raw and redemptive. And a bit out there. Find out more about Thin Places here.

The most important thing for a memoir is that it be memorable and beautifully written. If you don’t have a platform, near perfect writing is a must backed up by an intriguing/surprising story. Think of a memoir as a novel with rising action, climax and denouement. Consider writing it as you would a novel, with characters, dialogue and a plot (even if the plot is your life!)

A great example of a memoir that tells an amazing story is Parting the Waters by Jeanne Damoff.

But even though the story is beautifully written, Jeanne shopped the story to every publishing house far and wide through her agent. Though it was a great story, she faced a lot of rejection.

Eventually, after much prayer and seeking wisdom, she decided to self-publish the book through WinePress. It’s got a wonderful cover and is selling well.

Another amazing memoir is Startling Beauty by wife Heather Gemmen. Wow. It’s one of the most beautifully written, achingly painful memoirs I’ve read.

It’s not easy to write a memoir. I fear that some people are so afraid to do it because the people involved aren’t yet dead. So they work on a fictionalized version. Is that really honest? What is the purpose of telling your true story if you make it fiction? Of course, you can take elements of your struggle and life and place that in fiction, but I’ve found that tacked on messages seldom make a book.

My best advice: obey God. Write what He tells you to write. If you’re too afraid to write a memoir, then don’t do it. Prayerfully consider whether your need to get it all out is, instead, a form of catharsis that no reader really needs to see. And if you add some of your story to the memoir, consider that story is the king. The story must support what you write about.

Stay tuned for Carma's review of Thin Places a memoir,

Receive some Peace of Mind today. Watch Thin Places trailer here.
Carma

Orangutan and the Hound

2010-01-26T17:07:00.001-08:00

Orangutan and the Hound

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Happy New Year - Plan to Succeed!

2009-12-31T16:36:00.000-08:00

What are you doing and what are you listening to? Do you have the outline for your new book ready? Are your query letters ready to mail? In other words-------Do....You....Have....A....Plan?

Are you a doer or a hearer?

Did I hear you say you are both? Of course but how often does the doing get done?

The only way to get it done is to plan and set goals.

Mary DeMuth has an excellent piece on goal setting over at her blog So You Wanna Be Published. Go on over and read and leave a comment.

Write it down,
Carma

One Lovely Blog Award!

2009-12-23T20:44:00.000-08:00

I would like to thank Cynde Hammond of "Cynde's Got the Write Stuff" blog for nominating me for a One Lovely Blog Award. This is quite an honor.

While you are here also visit Cynde's blog here. A dedicated writer, Cynde has the "Write Stuff" with links to book reviews, contests, and many writing tips.

According to the "One Lovey Blog" rules I am to select five (5) blogs for this special award.

Following are blog links and owners who are dedicated to the craft of writing and sharing. Take a few minutes to visit and become inspired like I have. You will be glad you did.

Terri Forehand from Writing to the Heart of the Matter

Donna McDine from Write What Inspires You

Kathy Stemke from Education Tipster

Karen from Karen and Robyn - Writing for Children

Margot Finke from Margot's Books for Kids

Write it down,

Carma

Three Parts of a Magazine Article

2009-11-11T18:34:00.000-08:00

Writing articles are easy - publishing is the hard part. However, the better your article, the better chance of becoming published or at least a better writer. If you've never written an article, use the three helpful tips below to begin. Don't put it off.

1. Tell them what you're gonna tell 'em. The first paragraph of an article will entice the reader into your article. Also, the lead-in could be comprised of several paragraphs if you choose to use an anecdote or a few bullet items or to talk about current trends. Most writers refer to this method as a "hook". After that, however, you need a sentence or a few sentences that tell your reader what the article is about - a statement of purpose, if you will. It is important to tell your audience what the article is about so they have an idea of where they are going. Hopefully, you've persuaded them into wanting to go there.

2. Tell 'em. This section represents the heart of your article. Here you will place all your supporting material, such as statistics, quotes from interviews and professional sources, additional anecdotes, your analysis, etc. Remember, however, that if you are writing a reported article, in most cases you must write in an objective manner; this means without an opinion. If you are writing a public opinion piece, you may voice your opinion as loudly as you like.

3. Tell 'em what you told 'em. Now write your conclusion. Sum up what you wrote about without simply repeating what you already said. That's right: Say it again but in a totally new way so your readers have no idea that they are reading the same information again. Give it a new angle. Put a new take on it. Treat the conclusion of your article as a summary and offer additional information to support what you've already offered. If possible, provide a bit broader view of a quote or information that takes the reader into the future. You know what they say - "Save the best for last."

Follow these helpful tips and you will begin to feel comfortable with article writing. Another thing to remember is to write about what you know and like. Keep in mind that most people are like you and struggle with daily issues. They need a source that will help find solutions and provide thought provoking subjects. Also no matter what your subject matter is, learn about it and understand it before you write.

Write it down,
Carma

A Slow Burn - Book Review

2009-10-01T16:07:00.000-07:00

Meet the author of A Slow Burn, Mary DeMuth.

Mary DeMuth is an expert in the field of Pioneer Parenting. She helps Christian parents plow fresh spiritual ground, especially those seeking to break destructive family patterns. Her message guides parents who don’t want to duplicate the home where they were raised or didn’t have positive parenting role models growing up.

An accomplished writer, Mary’s parenting books include Authentic Parenting in a Postmodern Culture, Building the Christian Family You Never Had, and Ordinary Mom, Extraordinary God. Her real-to-life novels inspire people to turn trials into triumphs: Watching the Tree Limbs (2007 Christy Award finalist, ACFW Book of the Year 2nd Place) and Wishing on Dandelions (2007 Retailer’s Choice Award finalist).

Mary is a frequent speaker at women’s retreats and parenting seminars, addressing audiences in both Europe and the United States. National media regularly seek Mary’s candid ability to connect with their listeners. Her radio appearances include FamilyLife Today, Moody Midday Connection, and U.S.A. Radio network. She also has articles published in Marriage Partnership, In Touch, and HomeLife.

As pioneer parents, Mary and her husband Patrick live in Texas with their three children. They recently returned from breaking new spiritual ground in Southern France where they planted a church.

A Slow Burn - Review

Emory Chance comes up short for any chance of a life after the murder of her one and only daughter Daisy. Emory is ridden with guilt and heartache toward her self as well as anger and doubt toward people who just want to protect her.

As the murder investigation becomes stagnant Emory struggles to keep her sanity by toggling between a blissful drug-induced existence and a daily routine of sober living without love. Convinced there is no such thing as love, she begins to receive anonymous letters about Jesus, forgiveness and Daisy. Yet, she buries her feelings deep down inside where no one can reach and she blames God for Daisy’s death.

Mary’s suspenseful prose draws you through a wide spectrum of love and hate. Just as you revel in acts of absolute humility the turn of a page can throw you into a downward spiral of betrayal and denial. Will Emory Chance survive the onslaught? Mary’s characters are personal and readers begin to care and connect which is what writing is all about. Mary has skillfully brought her characters to life on each page of “A Slow Burn”. I am looking forward to the third sequel. Take a look at the book trailer below.

Thanks for stopping by Mary DeMuth's A Slow Burn blog tour.

Here are more blogs featuring A Slow Burn blog tour from September 28 through October 3, 2009

A Writer’s Journey
Adventures of the Duncan Six
AP Free Writing 101
Arkansas Dreams
Aspire2 Blog
Awesome God…Ordinary Girl
Be Your Best Mom
Beams of Light Ministries
Bell Whistle Moon
Blog Tour Spot
Bluebonnet in the Snow
Book Nook Club
Caregiving and Beyond
Carla’s Writing Cafe
Carly Bird’s Home
Cheaper by the Half Dozen
Cindy’s Stamping and Reviews
Communicating the Vision
CommuniKate
Critty Joy
Declaring His Marvelous Work

Edgewise
Elizabeth Bussey
Faith…Creativity…Life
Fiction for the Restless Reader

Heading Home
His Reading List
i don’t believe in grammar
J’s Spot
Joy in the Journey
Karen R. Evans
Kristin Early

Merrie Destefano
Mocha with Linda
Moments with MarLo
Musings by Lynn
Musings of Edwina
My Alabaster Box
My Life Message
Net’s Book Notes
Niki Nowell
One Desert Rose
Paper Bridges
Passionate for the Glory of God
Pollywog Creek
Ranunculus Turtle
Real Hurts, Real Hope
Rebecca Barlow Jordan
Refresh My Soul
Restore
Scraps and Snippets
Sheila Deeth
Sherri Woodbridge
Sky-High View
Snapshot’s Photoblog
Surviving the Chaos

The Gospel Writer
The Harrison Kaleidoscope
The Heart of Writing
The Stubborn Servant
The View from Here
This That and The Other

Unreasonable Grace
Walking Daily

Where Romance Meets Therapy
Word Vessel
Write 2 Ignite
Write on the Knows
Writer’s Wanderings
Writing to the heart of the matter

Until then, Lord Willin'

Carma

How to Teach Children to Free Write

2009-09-09T21:09:00.000-07:00

Every writing teacher I have ever known always sets aside a time for students to free write. At first it can seem daunting because of the "fear" factor. Our fingers become all twisted up right along with our tongue and brain.

I ran across this great article by Dianne Dachyshyn, who dispels the difficulties of writing "cold turkey".

Enjoy:

When it comes to writing, starting is the hardest part, but free writing makes it so much easier! Even with a chosen topic, a blank page or computer screen can be discouraging. Free writing will get kids past the blank page.

I make myself and my students free write because it is the easiest and best creative writing idea out there. Many professionals prefer to jump start their imaginations this way. It is also called quick, madman or practice writing.

The first time you ask children to do this, they will stare incredulously and grumble. They will be hard pressed to meet the time requirement of three minutes. However, after a regular discipline of free writing, they will begin to enjoy this time and it is amazing what they can produce. I often have to force them to stop at the end of ten minutes.

The rules for free writing:

1. Write quickly and uncritically. Aim for quantity, not quality.
2. You must write for the mandatory time period (begin with 3 minutes and work up to 10). There is no need for a topic. Begin writing. Do not think of what to write. It doesn't matter. It's the process, not the product that is important.
3. Your hand must be moving the entire time and you are not allowed to talk. Not even a peep

To read the rest of the article click here

Dianne Dachyshyn is available to speak to groups on the topics of homeschooling and teaching writing. She can be reached at dianne@homeschoolwell.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dianne_Dachyshyn

Write it down,
Carma

An Interview with Pat McCarthy - Children's Author

2009-07-21T09:27:00.000-07:00

Pat McCarthy has written more than twelve non-fiction children's books. Her newest, "Heading West: :Life with the Pioneers" is now available on Amazon.com. Pat's love for nature, photography and history inspire her to share this love with her readers. Pat McCarthy is also and expert author at Ezinearticles.com Please welcome Pat McCarthy to Carma's Window.

Q: Hello Pat, I understand you write mostly non-fiction for children. Your newest book, “Heading West: Life with the Pioneers” is about pioneer children and their families who traveled in covered wagons. Is this story about a particular group? What time period does this story cover?

Pat: No, the book is not about a particular group. It pretty much covers the whole pioneer era, which was mainly the 1800s, especially the last half of the century.

Q: What types of activities did you include in “Heading West”?

Pat: I tried to balance the activities, including crafts, writing activities, games, and recipes. They include making a model of a cabin, pretending you're on the Oregon Trail and writing a letter back home, playing Blind Man's Bluff and making cornbread and butter.

Q: I see that you have written biographies of Henry David Thoreau, Abigail Adams and so on. What is the most difficult thing about writing on the subject of these historical figures? You say biographies are your favorite. Tell us why.

Pat: Probably the most difficult thing about writing biographies is sifting through all the information available and trying to decide what is true. Well, we all like talking about people and hearing about what people are doing, so I guess I like learning about a person's life. It seems like everyone is interesting when you find out more about his or her life. I'm always looking for little tidbits that I think kids will like.

Q: What are your writing habits? Do you work on an outline before starting the actual story?

Pat: I work best under pressure, so I work a lot harder as the deadline comes closer. This isn't necessarily a GOOD thing, so I wouldn't recommend it! I definitely do an outline first. I have to do one in order to get a proposal approved, but I would anyway. I do a very complete outline of each chapter, and once I plug all the info into the outline, the chapter seems to write itself.

Q: I have heard that many publishers do not encourage authors to contribute any art work or photographs with their submissions. You are an avid photographer. Do you supply your own pictures for your books?

Pat: The publishers I have worked for not only encourage, but REQUIRE the authors to provide the photos for the books. I took about half the pictures for the pioneer book. Some are stock photos of famous people and many are old ones from the Library of Congress that are out of copyright or were never copyrighted. I think this is much more common with nonfiction than with fiction, where they definitely don't want you to provide illustrations unless you are a professional illustrator.

Q: Which element of writing comes more naturally for you—plot, characterization, description, dialogue? Which one gives you the hardest time?

Pat: I write mostly nonfiction, so plot and dialogue don't really apply. The plot is already there - I just have to discover it. And in true nonfiction, there isn't dialogue unless you're writing an autobiography, where you were there to hear the conversations. When I'm writing fiction, dialogue comes easily for me. Trying to get the plot to all work together is the hardest.

Q: What advice would you give to aspiring children’s writers who are trying to break into the field?

Pat: Don't give up. Perseverance is more important than talent, but it helps to have both.

Q: Have you ever suffered from writer’s block? What seems to work for unleashing your creativity?

Pat: I don't really have writer's block. There are times when I don't feel like writing, but I don't think that's exactly the same thing. And a looming deadline does wonders to cure it!

Q: What type of book promotion seems to work best for you?

Pat: There wasn't a lot I could do to promote my other books, as they were sold to schools and libraries. I'm hoping to have more book signings and to do lots of school visits with this book. I also am working on a website. I'm on Facebook and have a Blog.

Q: What future goals or projects are in the works?

Pat: I'm working on a proposal for another book for Chicago Review Press. I do have a mid grade novel that I'm sending out, but no bites so far.

Q: Where can readers learn more about you and your books?

Pat: They can look at my Blog, which can be found at www.patmccarthysauthorblog.blogspot.com When I get it set up, my website will be www.authorpatmccarthy.com I'm hoping to have it up early in August.

Thank you so much Pat for taking the time to answer my questions.

Carma

8 Steps to Writing Articles for Children

2009-07-13T20:59:00.000-07:00

Article writing is a key tool for children's writers. It is a great way to get your name out there and garner some publishing credits. Enjoy Pat McCarthy's article below.

Eight Easy Steps to Writing an Article for Children

Have you thought about writing an article for a children’s magazine? Maybe you have an idea, but you’re not sure how to go about it. Here are some tips.

Step One. Choose a topic. It should be something that many children will be interested in. But it should also be something you know about or are interested in learning more about. Animals, sports, famous people, science and how-to articles are all popular choices..

Step Two. Narrow your topic. Concentrate on just one aspect of it. I wanted to write an article about birds. I’d just returned from Florida, so I decided to concentrate on the birds I saw in one place, Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge. This was still too broad a topic, so I honed in on how different birds there eat. The article, “Dinner at Ding Darling,” was published by Children’s Digest.

Step Three. Research your article. Use both online resources and books and articles. Editors like a mix of print and Internet sources in a bibliography. Look for interesting little tidbits that will appeal to kids. Find facts with wow appeal and yuck appeal. Kids like the amazing as well as the gross.

Step Four. Organize your research. Jot down the main points you want to make, then go through your notes and plug them into your outline. It doesn’t have to be a formal outline. It just needs to get your thoughts in order. I love outlines. Once my outline is done, the article seems to almost write itself.

Step Five. Write the article. Decide what age you are writing for, then try to keep your writing on that level. Don’t talk down to kids but try to use words that age child would know and understand. Keep your sentences simple and fairly short. Use short paragraphs. Children are intimidated by large blocks of type.

Step Six. Revise and edit your article. To make sure it flows smoothly, read it aloud to yourself. That will enable you to notice the rhythm and to find repeated words. Be very sure there are no errors in spelling or grammar.

Step Seven. Research the markets. Get a copy of Children’s Writer’s and Illustrator’s Market or research children’s publishers online. Make sure your article is the right length, for the right age, and on a topic the magazine uses.

Step Eight. Submit your article. Then get busy writing another one.
Sound simple? Try it! With a little work and practice, you can be successful at writing articles for children.

Pat McCarthy is an instructor for the Institute of Children's Literature and the author of over a dozen books for children. Learn more about her books at her blog, http://www.PatMcCarthysAuthorBlog.blogspot.com If you have a question about writing for children, e-mail Pat at patmcbirder@woh.rr.com. More resources for children's writers will soon be up on the blog. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pat_McCarthy

Write it down,
Carma

Clementine

2009-07-09T00:01:00.000-07:00

Book Review
A 2007 Boston Globe/Horn Book Honor Book; Winner of the 2007 Bank Street/Josette Frank Award; A Child Magazine Best Book of the Year

Title: Clementine
Author: Sara Pennypacker
Illustrator: Marla Frazee
Reading level: Ages 7 - 10
Paperback: 160 pages
Publisher: Hyperion Book CH (February 15, 2008)
ISBN-10: 0786838833
ISBN-13: 978-0786838837

Clementine knows the layout of the principal’s office as well as she does the art supply closet. In fact she is so comfortable in the principal’s office that she helps out whenever she can. But going to Principal Rice’s office is not a highlight of Clementine’s day. Instead of sending a note home every time she visits the principal’s office, a note is sent home when Clementine does NOT visit Principal Rice’s office. Clementine was so used to being sent there that one day she showed up on her own.

Trouble starts when best friend Margaret gets glue stuck in her hair and Clementine obliges to help by cutting all of Margaret’s hair off and then fills in the gaps by drawing hair back on the scalp, forehead, and neck with a Flaming Sunset permanent marker. Clementine remarks in her witty fashion, "It looked beautiful, like a giant tattoo of tangled worms,"

Everyone thinks Clementine does not pay attention. Everyday her teacher and principal tell her “Clementine, you need to pay attention.” She pays so much attention that she can “tell everyone right in the middle of the Pledge of Allegiance that the lunchroom lady was sitting in the janitor’s car and they were kissing, Again! No one else was paying attention out the window.” Clementine pays attention.

In Clementine's mind she is helping and fixing problems with her “spectacularful ideas which are always “sproinging” up in her brain. Kids and parents alike will laugh out loud. I highly recommend it. You will exclaim Oh my darling Clementine!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Sara Pennypacker When I was a kid, I loved books and I loved art. Books and art didn’t care that I was shy. Books and art didn’t care that I was really tall. So I read and made up stories, and I drew and painted and did mosaics and carved things (there were a couple of years when I spent my entire allowance on bars of Ivory soap for carving) and I read and made up stories. In school, I used to do all my work as fast as I could so I could get extra time for free reading or to work on art projects. Even as a grown-up, I am still happiest reading, writing, and making art.

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR: Marla Frazee has created illustrations for a number of award-winning books for children, in addition to writing her own self-illustrated titles. Her expressive ink drawings capture every nuance of Clementine’s emotions, from bemusement to anger to dejection. Frazee once told SATA that illustrating children's books was a childhood career goal. "I have wanted to be a children's book illustrator for a very long time,"

Write it down,
Carma

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing -

2009-07-08T01:00:00.000-07:00

Book Review

Tales of a fourth grade nothing
Author: Judy Blume
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Paperback: 128 pages
Publisher: Puffin (April 5, 2007)
ISBN-10: 0142408816
ISBN-13: 978-0142408810

First in a series of five Fudge books, Judy Blumes’s Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing is a timeless story revealing trials and tribulation of sibling rivalry. Blume takes the scenario of “good kid” “bad kid” and turns it into enlightening prose. Peter Hatcher is nine years old and must deal with little brother Farley’s (aka “Fudge”) repulsive cuteness and constant meddling among other serious offenses, which are almost too much for Peter to bear at times.

All of these enlivening episodes are dealt with big-hearted humor from Blume. Fudge is lively and has limited vocabulary as most three-year olds do. His two most over-used words are “No” and “Mine”. It’s pretty hard for Peter to communicate rights of ownership when Fudge cannot comprehend. Everything is theirs for the taking: like leaping from large rocks; throwing temper tantrums in shoe stores; and refusing to eat until Peter stands on his head.

Each chapter in this book is a small vignette of daily interactions and adventures between Peter and Fudge. As the story progresses, you may think poor Peter, will he ever get a break? Peter is understandably jealous of the amount of attention his little brother gets but at least when he is allowed to get a pet turtle named Dribble, Peter feels a small sense of comfort. However, when Fudge ends up breaking his own two front teeth after flying off a rock, which is his own fault, Peter’s mother takes her anger out on Peter. He begins to wish Fudge had never been born.

Blume is a master at creating suspense for her 9 to 12 year old audience. As the story builds on each chapter to the happy ending, the main position held throughout is family values. Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing demonstrates the importance of family values and the role that humor plays in our lives. We must never lose that sense. This is a must read for any kid you know.

If you are considering writing for this age group (8 – 12), reading a Judy Blume book will inspire you. Blume’s insight into the elementary school mind is awe-inspiring because she is so on target. As writers of children’s books, it is recommended to study the craft in addition to reading the type of book you wish to write. To be a good writer you must first read, read, read, and then read some more.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Judy Blume spent her childhood in Elizabeth, New Jersey, making up stories inside her head. She has spent her adult years in many places doing the same thing, only now she writes her stories down on paper. Adults as well as children will recognize such Blume titles as: Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret; Blubber; Just as Long as We're Together; and the five book series about the irrepressible Fudge. She has also written three novels for adults, Summer Sisters; Smart Women; and Wifey, all of them New York Times bestsellers. More than 80 million copies of her books have been sold, and her work has been translated into thirty-one languages. She receives thousands of letters a year from readers of all ages who share their feelings and concerns with her.

Write it down,
Carma

The True Story of The 3 Little Pigs! - By A. Wolf -

2009-07-06T00:10:00.000-07:00

The True Story of the Three Little Pigs
Author: Jon Scieszka
Illustrator: Lane Smith

Reading level: Ages 4-8
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: Puffin (March 1, 1996)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0140544518
ISBN-13: 978-0140544510

If you or your child have ever been bored buy the Three Little Pigs story, “The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs! By A. Wolf” is a must read. However, I think the satirical humor is lost on kids under the age of six. The publisher says reading level is for 4 – 8. The reading level is fine but it is the content I am speaking about.

The story by A. Wolf proves there are two sides to every story but that doesn’t make either side good or bad. Everybody has a story. However, realistically, somebody’s gotta be the “bad guy”. The author indicates A. Wolf is just an ordinary wolf who wants to borrow a cup of sugar. Never mind that two pigs die in the process. According to Alexander Wolf the dumb little pigs shouldn’t have built shabby houses. How dare they!

This is a very funny book but I would not read it to a pre-school or kindergarten age child since Alexander T. Wolf blames his penchant for cute little animals, like bunnies and pigs, on the fact that it’s not his fault because “That’s just the way we are.” He is just a poor misunderstood wolf who only wants to make a cake for his granny. Victimized by three dumb pigs and the media.

About the author: Jon Scieszka: He is the author of some of the best known and funniest books written for children, including The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, the Time Warp Trio chapter book series, the Caldecott Honor Book The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Fairy Tales and the newest Trucktown series (Simon & Schuster, 2008).

About the Illustrator Lane Smith: After illustrating his first children's book, Smith met aspiring author Jon Scieszka and agreed to illustrate his parody of The Three Little Pigs. Once Smith found a publisher who didn't think the story was too sophisticated, The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs! became a bestseller.Lane Smith’s tabloid type illustrations are what set True Story apart from all others.

Write it down,
Carma

Learn to Write for Children in Six Weeks!

2009-07-03T06:00:00.000-07:00

Writing Coach and award winning Children's Author, Suzanne Lieurance has done it again. Suzanne has developed a concise and rewarding E-course for serious writers who want to learn how to break into the children's lucrative market. No excuses here. Learn all the Tricks of the Trade in the comfort of your home.

This is a perfect summer course and you can even download the audio to your mp3 player and take it on the road. It will be like having Suzanne in your pocket. In addition, you will also receive a text file of written materials to accompany the audio. Whether you are a visual or audio learner, this course is made for you and affordable. For only $147.00 (that's only $24.50 per week) you can become a children's author. And there is much, much more. So what do you say?

OH! Did I mention the Bonus you receive when you sign up for this 6-week E-course?

When you register for the course right now!! you'll also receive 2 months membership in the Children's Writers' Coaching Club (a $54 value), which will give you the opportunity to have at least one of your manuscripts professionally critiqued once a week every single week for two months. As a member of the Children's Writers' Coaching Club you'll also receive email invitations to weekly teleclasses presented by successful published children's authors.

Hurry up and click on the link below and begin learning Tricks of the Trade today.

Tricks of the Trade: Learn to Write for Children in Just 6 Weeks

Write it down,
Carma

Five Ways to Write After a Crash!

2009-07-01T13:22:00.000-07:00

Three weeks ago I clicked on my computer screen to remove the screen saver. All I could see were multi-colored dots and lines. After rebooting twice and restarting once, it was obvious my modest computer knowledge wasn't gonna cut it.

A trip to the Geek Squad confirmed my fear. My HP is going in the shop. However, there was good news. I had forgotten I had purchased an extended warranty three years ago so repairs cost nothing.

Five ways for a writer to survive without a computer:

1. In case you forgot how to hold a pen or pencil. Open your writing hand and place forefinger and thumb around the barrel of a pen or pencil.
2. Touch the point end of pen or pencil to paper and begin to move your hand. The act of writing will come back to you rather quickly.
3. Use a voice recorder to “write” your article or story. This is great if you have arthritic hands like me.
4. Take a trip to your local library and use their free services to surf the Internet, check email and transcribe notes from your voice recorder. Be prepared to work and think like the speed of light because there is always a long line and not enough computers. One hour time limits, per day, apply to most libraries. Unless you know exactly where to surf, one hour is not long enough. (Note: libraries are not open at 10 p.m. when you are on deadline)
5. Throw yourself on the mercy of your adult child or best friend (who do not live with you) and promise to cook them dinner if they will lend you their computer and office space in their home.

I admit I am addicted to computer technology and have long since discarded any manual writing methods. Physically it is too difficult for me to hand write for any length of time. Short notes are about all I can do without pain. Typing on a keyboard uses different muscles and the pressure required is light. Also, the curvature of my hands is natural.

How would your writing survive without modern technology? Would you want it to? Are we destined to commemorate our “feathered writing quill” into an icon reminiscence of the past?

I'm Back!
Write it down,
Carma

An Interview with Lynn E. Hazen - Author of Shifty - Chosen for VOYA's Top Shelf Fiction

2009-05-29T05:30:00.000-07:00

Please welcome my guest, Lynn E. Hazen. I met Lynn on March 21, 2009 when she co-presented a “how to” social media workshop with Susan Taylor Brown at an East Bay Region SCBWI workshop. Lynn has several educational degrees to her credit. She holds an M. A. in Education from San Francisco State University and a B. S. in Applied Behavioral Science from U. C. Davis. In addition she holds an M. F. A. in writing for children and young adults from Vermont College where she won the Houghton Miffin Scholarship.

Welcome to Carma’s Window Lynn. It is a pleasure to have you as a guest. Before I get started I want to say Congratulations on Seymour Snail’s Pub date. The Amazing Trail of Seymour Snail, that is.

Q: It was a beautiful day for the event. I am sorry I could not attend. How did it go and where can readers find out about Seymour?

Hazen: SEYMOUR's launch party was really fun. You can see my blog post and some fun photos here: http://lynnhazenimaginaryblog.blogspot.com/2009/05/seymour-celebration.html
My son and two friends helped me create a really cool window display at Cover to Cover Booksellers, complete with Seymour zipping around and around the window on a hidden Lego train. Many guests wore berets in honor of Seymour who wears a beret on the cover of the book.

Seymour Slimes His Way from Lynn H on Vimeo.

Q: How do you balance all the various aspects of your academic, writing and publishing interests?

Hazen: It is definitely a juggling act, but I just keep moving from one thing to the next. Taking a long nap every few days helps!

Q: I can relate to that. What comes first for you, the title or the story?

Hazen: It depends on the story, but for SHIFTY, and CINDER RABBIT, the titles came very quickly. But of course behind every book, there are years of life experiences and a unique author worldview that bring the author and her muse to ponder and write any given story.

Q: Is Shifty your first YA novel? Tell us about the award for VOYA and Smithsonian Notable.

Hazen: Yes, I had written a middle grade novel, MERMAID MARY MARGARET (published in 2004), but SHIFTY was my first YA novel. I began SHIFTY while in my MFA program at Vermont College. I was a little wary of writing YA, but Soli, my main character seemed to be driving a car in the first scene, so I had little choice but to go along for the ride. I'm glad I did. I'm thrilled with the great reviews, and that SHIFTY is being published in Australia and the UK. I'm jazzed that SHIFTY was chosen for VOYA'S Top Shelf Fiction, as a CCBC Choice, and a Smithsonian Notable.

One of the best things is hearing reviewers’ comments.
As a writer we create our worlds in isolation. So it’s great to hear readers’ comments and know that they’ve connected to your characters and story.
For example, for VOYA (Voice of Youth Advocates), where SHIFTY was chosen for their Booklist of "Top Shelf Fiction" for Middle School Readers,

...Christina (8th Grade) would "recommend it to all my friends. Shifty has all the appeal that readers, reluctant and avid, would need—beautiful characters you can relate to, a passionate and expertly crafted story, an exciting plot, and a touching yet unanticipated conclusion. Nothing is idealized; nothing is too ugly. Readers will love it beginning to end."

For the Smithsonian Notable Books for Children 2008, I love the description of their list. “Surprising, inspiring and outstanding titles for youngsters and the grownups that read to them”

Wow, that makes me so happy and quite honored to be included. To see the rest Smithsonian’s 2008 list, click on this link http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/music-literature/Smithsonian-Notable-Books-For-Children-2008.html?c=y&page=1.

Q: What are you most passionate about outside of writing?

Hazen: My own kids of course. Working with young children and their families, reading great books, enjoying nature, and butterfly gardening.

Q: If you weren’t a writer, what would you be doing with your life?

Hazen: I guess, exactly what I am already doing--I've been the owner and director of a preschool for 25 + years. I also enjoy teaching adults. I taught English to adults in Japan for 3 years, I've taught Early Childhood Education at the college level, and now I'm teaching classes in Writing for Children & Young Adults at Stanford Continuing Studies. I'm lucky to have vocations I love.

Q: You have an amazing background rooted in children's writing and education. What can readers expect when they read your books?

Hazen: Whatever audience, from picture books through YA, my books seem to be filled with humor, heart & hope.

Q: Who or what has influenced you the most in your career?

Hazen: Reading great books by authors I admire certainly influenced me to want to try writing. Connecting with people and children in my own family, and in my preschool’s world of families has given me lots of ideas and inspiring characters. Discovering a circle of talented friends in my critique groups has provided me with encouragement and a professional community of kindred spirits. Giving myself the gift of attending Vermont College's MFA program in Writing For Children & Young Adults was perhaps one of the most intense and best positive influences. The amazing faculty and fellow students there, the creative vibe, and the structure of two years of intense hard work all made for a fantastic experience and, I am sure, helped my career as an author. I’d highly recommend the MFA program there. You can visit their site at this link. http://www.vermontcollege.edu/mfawc/index.asp

Q: Is there such a thing as a typical writing day in your writing/publishing life?

Hazen: Nope. No typical days for me.

Q: What other books or projects are you working on?

Hazen: I'm working on a middle grade novel right now. The title keeps changing so this one is NOT a case of the title coming first. I also have a baby board book and a couple of young chapter books I'm happy with. I'm hoping they find homes soon.

Q: What type of book promotion works best for you? Are there any special strategies you’d like to share?

Hazen: Right now, I'm doing a little bit of everything. Ha--who knows what works? Is there any way to measure precisely what kind of promotion works? For me, writing the best books I can is a start. I enjoy connecting with readers, teachers, librarians & booksellers in person and online. I love doing school visits. Then of course, trying to find time to write the next book is important, too!

Just for fun I've recently been playing with creating short videos like the one shown at the beginning. You can see more at: http://www.vimeo.com/lynnh

You can find a really cool “How to Make a SHIFTY Card” project there, too. Fun for teens and crafty folks. http://vimeo.com/4556993

Q: The use of video's in blogs and websites are gaining in popularity. I love the way you made yours. I am sure you have experienced many memorable moments in your career. Is there one that stands out more?

Hazen: Oh, it is hard to choose one. Here are a few:

....Dancing around the living room in a fit of happiness singing along with the lovely loud music of Joni Mitchell, "…go to the Mermaid Café Have fun tonight…" when I found out my first book had sold (MERMAID MARY MARGARET)

A much quieter happy moment many months (years?) later--getting all unexpectedly teary-eyed when seeing the same first book available for check out at my San Francisco Public Library.
Meeting so many creative kindred spirits in the sometimes wacky world of children's books--fellow authors, illustrators, editors, agents, booksellers, teachers, librarians and of course, readers, all of whom care deeply about books.

Speaking of readers--high on the memorable moments list is meeting children and teens, and getting fan mail, email, and drawings from children and youth who have liked my books.
Doing the Bunny Hop with an enthusiastic library full of young children with CINDER RABBIT.
Connecting with youth at the San Francisco Juvenile Justice Center and local high schools about reading, writing, and my book, SHIFTY.

Wow, so many memorable moments. I’m thankful to have experienced them. I guess it is good to reflect on these moments from time to time, especially in the inevitable “less than inspiring” times as an author. I might just have to print this list, post it on my bulletin board and reread it in times of “writer frustration” so I don’t forget!

Q: This is an impressive list. Where can readers reach you?

www.LynnHazen.com
www.LynnHazenImaginaryBlog.blogspot.com
www.ShiftyTheBook.com
www.myspace.com/ShiftyTheBook

Thanks so much for the interview, Carma.

Lynn it has been my pleasure. You are a motivating force for children's writers.

Never Give Up

2009-05-28T05:00:00.000-07:00

"You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don't try."

(Beverly Sills)

Shifty

2009-05-27T05:30:00.000-07:00

A Book Review

Author: Lynn E. Hazen
Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 188 pages
Publisher: Tricycle Press (September 1, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1582462577
ISBN-13: 978-1582462578

Shifty is a heart warming story about a couple of hard to place kids in foster care and the precarious situations they have to deal with every day. However, Lynn Hazen melds reality, love, trust and an uncaring social service system that is over burdened and buried in red tape, with compassion.

Fifteen year old Shifty (a nick name he got when in juvie) has finally landed in a home that he can feel good in. His foster mother, Martha, foster sister, Sissy and crack addicted baby, Thaddeus (aka Chance ), are not a typical family but deep down where it counts love shines through. This is the first time Shifty has felt like he could belong and maybe he wouldn’t have to move again until he was too old to be a foster kid. Shifty has been on the move all of his life that he can remember and many of his previous foster parents were in trouble with the law one way or the other, which is why he landed in juvie in the first place, but you will have to read the book to find out what happened. Also, he desired to find out about his biological parents but no one would ever tell him. He didn’t know if he ever had parents.

Shifty is a resourceful kid who looks older than his fifteen years and maybe that is why he gets away with driving Martha’s van all the time with an expired permit in some one else’s name. Besides he is a good driver. But that doesn’t keep Shifty from getting a $275 parking ticket for parking in a bus zone when he stops to buy a burrito.

When the regular social worker leaves to have a baby she is replaced with a worker who is inexperienced, unknowledgeable and treats all foster homes and kids like they are nothing but a case number. Shifty spends some time trying to outsmart her and the results are remarkable. Between befriending a homeless lady and trying to keep himself and Martha out of trouble creates many dilemmas for this inventive teenager. However, it also creates page-turning excitement for the reader.

Hazen depicts the grim circumstances of this foster family on the edge of disaster with hope and humor. I was laughing a lot as I read about various predicaments Shifty managed to escape from with no dire consequences for him or his foster family. Hazen introduces the right amount of suspense to keep you sitting on the edge wondering if Shifty’s luck will fail this time.

The story is not depressing but it is realistic about foster care in the sense that kids in foster care are totally at the mercy of other people. Some who care about them and some do not. When they finally make a good match it only takes one person who can make it all go away. Hazen has created an original fast paced plot that flows smoothly to the end. There are many surprises and many aha’s! I highly recommend this book for adults as well as young children.

About the Author
LYNN E. HAZEN earned her M.F.A. in Writing for Children and Young Adults at Vermont College. She is the author of several picture books and a middle-grade novel called Mermaid Mary Margaret that was hailed "a winner" by Kirkus Reviews. Also Kirkus Reviews praised Shifty as a "realistic story that resonates. Smart writing and an engaging narrative...." She lives with her family in San Francisco, California.

Look for an interview Friday May 29 right here at Carma’s Window with Lynn E. Hazen.

Write it down,
Carma

Happy Memorial Day

2009-05-25T10:57:00.001-07:00

God Bless America!

My most heartfelt thanks to all soldiers in all wars past and present who laid down their lives to give me and others the freedom to write these words!

Let Freedom Ring!

Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. (Galatians 5:1)

Write it down,
Carma

the little bit SCARY people - book review

2009-05-01T06:00:00.000-07:00

The Little Bit Scary People
Author Emily Jenkins
Illustrator Alexandra Boiger
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Hyperion Book CH (September 23, 2008)
ISBN-10: 1423100751
ISBN-13: 978-1423100751

Most children are afraid of something such as the dark or monsters under the bed. But “The little bit Scary People” helps to sooth young children’s fears that some people may not be so scary even if you are only three or four feet tall. Jenkins is able to transfer scary people into warm and loving characters.

I love the way Emily Jenkins uses a child’s imagination to show how perception of other people is not always what it seems to be. Jenkins uses words that speak directly to the children. As I read this story to my seven year old granddaughter she would say “That’s not nice” when I read about the nasty bus driver or the mean cafeteria lady and the school principal who shows a mean face in the hall way.

When the page is turned Jenkins words “But I bet,” prefaces each warmhearted statement that shows a good side of each character. For example: “The bus driver won't let me on if I don't have the right change. She honks her horn loudly, when she doesn't even need to. She’s a little bit SCARY.” (turn the page) “But I bet, she makes fancy breakfasts in the morning for her kids: pancakes, waffles, or English muffins with eggs and chopped tomato."

Toward the end the story takes a turn from imagination to reality through the voice of the main character. Instead of saying “but I bet,” she says “But I know,” I think this story helps children look at the differences in people and learn how to accept them for who they are. Also to realize everyone’s family is full of unusual and loving people too.

The artwork by Alexandra Boiger is gorgeous and vivid. Her comic illustrations of the “scary” pages are just realistic enough and she adds a touch of warmth and humor with each page turn. Kids will relate and the fresh take on subduing children’s fears will be appreciated by parents and teachers.

About the author: Emily Jenkins was born in New York City, grew up in Cambridge, MA and Seattle, WA, studied English at Vassar, and then came back to New York to get her doctorate in 19 th-century English literature at Columbia.

Write it down, Carma

For the Love of Autumn - A picture book review

2009-04-17T05:09:00.000-07:00

For the Love of Autumn
Author and Illustrator: Patricia Polacco
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Philomel (August 14, 2008)
ISBN-10: 0399245413
ISBN-13: 978-0399245411

This is a love triangle story between a woman, a man and a kitten. We all know how love triangles usually turn out but this one time there is a happy ending. Also, this story touched my heart in a special way. First my granddaughter is named Autumn and secondly, I love cats. The illustrations by author/illustrator Patricia Polacco bring the story to life with tenderness and affection. Although this book is a little longer than most picture books it is well worth the extra read and could possibly be read to children under seven in two settings.

Polacco writes about Danielle, a young student teacher, who adopts a beautiful kitten named Autumn. The kitten has gray and black stripes and a white tummy. Danielle loves Autumn, her perfect little kitten. They eat popcorn together every night. One day Danielle gets an offer for a permanent teaching position in Port Townsend, Washington. They move to a charming cottage by the sea. Autumn helps Danielle with everything, including planting the garden, or rather digging in the garden.

One night a huge storm comes up and Autumn is caught outside and disappears. Every day Danielle looks for Autumn. Even her students join in the search. Although still distraught, Danielle decides to put Autumn’s things away. Six weeks later, to everyone’s amazement, Autumn literally drops out of a tree in the garden right into Danielle’s arms. Autumn’s coat is shiny and clean and her tail has a bandage on it. Someone has been taking care of her. The question is who?

To Danielle’s surprise, Autumn continues to disappear every couple of days. Each time she comes back a note is attached to her collar. Eventually Danielle and her students unravel the mystery. Danielle meets Stephen Norton, the man who took care of Autumn and their mutual love for Autumn grows into a love for each other.

This is a story of true love and providence. I recommend it. Obviously the main attraction for young readers is Autumn’s playful personality and her antics.

Patricia Polacco has been writing and illustrating about animals for decades. She is the author and illustrator of over forty books for young readers. When she is not at home in Union City, Michigan, she is traveling all over the country, visiting schools, bookstores, and conferences.

Write it down,
Carma

An Interview with Author Susan Taylor Brown - A Girl Who Wanted to Write

2009-04-15T04:30:00.000-07:00

Susan Taylor Brown is the author of numerous books for children. The most recent is Hugging the Rock, an American Library Association 2007 Notable Children's book. When you visit Susan’s blog and website you will find out a wealth of information for writers, readers and bloggers. But first enjoy the interview.

Q: When did you decide to become a writer or did it just evolve?

It was/is a lifelong evolutionary process for me. I'm an only child with a very vivid imagination. As a child I was afraid to go to sleep at night and would imagine all sorts of monsters coming down from the ceiling to "get me" while I slept. I told stories about them, long, long stories about them, to get my mom to stay with me as long as possible. When I got older I started making up stories about the various TV shows I watched, changing the endings to suit myself. Usually that meant putting myself into the shows so I could be part of a big, normal (to me) family. Writing stories down progressed from there.

I've always sort of envied those writers who say they knew they wanted to be a writer from the time they learned to write their name on wide ruled paper in school. I thought I couldn't be a "real writer" because I couldn't pinpoint a time in my childhood that I knew had influenced my path to writing. The thing is, I wrote poetry for fun. English was easy for me because I loved to read and I loved to write. Because I was good at it, I got good attention. Which of course encouraged me to keep on writing. All through junior high and high school I wrote in spiral notebooks. Love poems to boys I liked. Hate poems to people that made me mad. But it was just something I did. I never thought I could actually make money at it or look at it as a career option until my first child was born.

I had tried all sorts of home businesses with zero success. One day I was walking around the block with a friend, both of us pushing babies in strollers, and my friend asked me what I would do if I didn't have to worry about making any money at it and I didn't hesitate for a moment before I said I would write. She pointed out that I might as well be doing what I wanted since it was obvious all the other things I was trying weren't making any money either. After we had a good laugh I realized she was right and I enrolled in a writing class the next week. That was over 25 years ago and I've been writing ever since.

Q: Is there any particular element of writing that comes more natural to you than others? For instance, plot, characterization, dialogue?

I think characterization comes easiest to me because my stories always start with the voice of a character whispering in my ear. Until I hear that voice, I find it hard to sit down and write the story. Each of my characters has a part of me that brings them to life.

Q: Which one gives you the hardest time?

Dialogue is always hard for me until I've been in the book for a while. At first it feels contrived. Well, the whole book always feels contrived for a while. But plot, plot is the absolute worst for me. Plot is a four-letter word. I have a really hard time with that one.

Q: What was your inspiration for writing your award winning book, “Hugging the Rock” in verse?

Hugging the Rock is, among other things, about making peace with things you cannot change. I never knew my father, well except for the bits and pieces (not much) that my mother and grandmother told that all added up to him being a horrible, rotten person. I have spent most of my life wondering about my father, wondering what kind of person he was, and what kind of person I might have been had he stuck around. Even though you learn how to pick up and go on, when there is a hole like that in your life it colors everything you think and do for the rest of your life. You can't help it.

Throughout childhood I got pretty good at making up stories about the kind of father I wished I had had. When I started writing I gravitated to the stories that tugged at my own heart, ones that had a main character trying to figure out where they fit into their family. I also knew I would have to write about my relationship, or lack of one, with my father some day. When I was divorced I watched my own children struggle to make sense out of it and wonder if they did something that caused the divorce. I couldn't write this story then, my own pain was still too raw, but it simmered under the surface. I also have several family members who suffer from mental illness and I have seen the devastating affect it has had on their lives and the lives of those they love. All that went into the idea stewpot and simmered for years. I couldn't write Hugging the Rock until I was at a place in my life where I felt safe and loved....I really needed that support system in place before I could tackle this tough topic.

Q: What type of book promotion works best for you? Are there any special strategies you’d like to share?

Oh boy, that's the million dollar question, isn't it? I think the best type of promotion begins long before you ever sell a book. You get your network in place with genuine connections, a combo of in-person and online networks, and you continue to build it, little by little so that when you have a book come out, your network is there, ready to support you. Every author needs to have a website, a place to refer people to learn more about you, your books, your speaking availability, etc. You don't have to blog but I think it helps because I think it makes you more real to your readers, more approachable. People want to buy from someone they know. If you aren't going to blog you should be online somewhere - Facebook, Myspace if you are writing for teens, or at one or two of the places you can find on this Social Media map put together by Lynn E, Hazen and myself. http://www.susantaylorbrown.com/freebies/LynnHazenSusanTBrownWebMap.pdf

I think blogging is the easiest for a lot of people to get started in and I really enjoy it. As for strategies, with regard to blogging (though I think it would ring true for other online networks as well) you need to remember that it is all about sharing. Even though you are doing this for you, to promote yourself and your books, you need to give the reader something first. You need to "pay it forward." Go visit other blogs and leave comments. Eventually people will come to your blog in return. Don't try to read and comment on 100 blogs a day. It will make you crazy. Find a few blogs that speak to you and begin to visit them regularly and leave comments. Grow your audience gradually. If you give good content, you will find an audience.

Q: I am sure you have experienced many memorable moments in your career. Is there one that stands out more?

I would say that one of the most memorable moments for me was being asked to speak at the 2003 Highlights Foundation Conference at Chautauqua. My talk was called Write Where it Hurts: Finding the Courage to Create (you can read a snippet of it here: http://www.highlightsfoundation.org/pages/current/writeWhereItHurts.html)

Q: Have you ever suffered from writer’s block? If so what seems to work for unleashing your creativity?

Every day and all the time. There are some days where I wonder why I am doing this because I have absolutely no idea what I am doing, what to say next, write next, etc. After I finished Hugging the Rock I was so spent emotionally that it took me a long time to find my way back to the words. Sometimes my block comes as a result of that sort of thing, using up all my energy on an emotionally draining project. Sometimes real life intrudes. I am not a disciplined person but I am an obsessive person. I also have a strong sense of guilt when it comes to meeting my deadlines. So for me I have a lot of projects going at once so that when I stall on one, I can move to another one, a new obsession as it were. And I almost always have WFH projects or articles due so I have those deadlines to force me to sit down and write. When the choice is write or not get paid, well, I find a way to write.

Getting unblocked is sometimes as easy as going outside and puttering in the garden for an hour. My subconscious continues to work while I am doing mindless tasks. Sometimes it's much more difficult. Sometimes I need to be kind to myself, to tell myself that I only need to write one true sentence per day. If I do that day after day for a while, eventually, the block breaks.

Q: What is the most important lesson you have learned about making a career as a writer?

That's a tough one because I am learning new things about this business all the time. I think it at a very basic level you have to realize it is a business. Publishers aren't in business to make you feel good or stroke your ego. They are in business to make money. You have to treat your career like a business, make business plans, stay on a budget, get educated, share your knowledge, develop your own marketing plan. No one is going to do that stuff for you. And treating it like a business means making decisions about whether or not to write for free (sometimes yes, sometimes no), when to push for more money and when to be willing to take a credit. It means acting long before you ever publish a book. Because it's a small world. Editors and agents move houses. Agents become editors. Booksellers become agents. Everyone is connected.

Q: How difficult is it for new writers to find an agent?

I think the difficulty comes from finding the right agent. And you might have to accept that you won't have the same agent for your entire career. It's hard to find one that both likes your work and that you feel you "click" with. But just like writing a book, you have to put in the time. Go to conferences, research the agents and agencies online. Actually conferences are a great way to meet agents because you can often get a critique of a manuscript which might open a door for you. The secret to getting an agent is really the same secret to getting published - write the best possible story you can, be professional, and send it out into the world. While you're waiting, get back to work on your next project.

Q: Tell us about your newest project. I understand you also offer on-line classes. Tell us where we can go to find out about your classes and other writing resources.

I'm working on a couple of things right now. A YA novel about boy searching for, you guessed it, where he fits into the family dynamics. He's an airplane fanatic so there is a chance for me to tap into a lot of years visiting air shows when my kids were young. I'm in the discovery phase of a couple of MG novels, both in prose, that I'm not yet willing to talk a lot about yet except to say that one of them deals with animals and the other with nature. And I'm working on another verse novel, this one loosely based on my experiences teaching writing to at-risk youth. For National Poetry Month I gave myself the challenge to write a new haiku every day, one that is inspired by my California Native Plant garden.

Yes, I am teaching Online Social Media for Authors and Illustrators in May. There are still a few spots left. I also offer one-on-one coaching/mentoring for social media via email, in person or over the phone. You can read the details here: http://www.susantaylorbrown.com/classes.html To keep up with the latest events with me, check out my blog at: http://susanwrites.livejournal.com

Susan, thank you so much for your time to answer these questions. I know everyone will enjoy visiting your website and blog as much as I do.

Carma

Blast Writer's Block Away with 10 Strategies!

2009-04-13T22:43:00.000-07:00

Everyone gets it. There are no immunization shots for it. However, the important thing to remember when faced with writer’s block is to know....it is curable. The following strategies will boost your immune system and help you rebound better than ever.

1. Do not pressure yourself. In other words if you force your brain to write on command you could experience performance anxiety.

2. Work on another project or play some relaxing music. Music by master composers such as Beethoven, Mozart, Tchaikovsky and the like have been reported to be “music for the soul.”

3. Keep a notebook with you at all times to record thoughts, memories, jokes, dreams and so forth. Having simple items like this available when writer’s block rears its ugly head will provide you with multiple writing prompts to jump start your creativity.

4. Read a great book by a favorite author. This will do wonders and give you an itch to write for yourself. It will give you “I can do this” attitude.

5. Change your writing environment. If you are glued to your computer, take pen and notebook to your local library and write away. What better place to be inspired than in a room full of great books.

6. Get rid of the little dictator in your head that keeps pounding in your brain. Stand up and walk away. Do anything but write. Doing something physical like walking or jumping jacks is a great way to stimulate your creativity.

7. Take a ride to the park and meditate on nature. Think how awesome our world is and be thankful.

8. Write out of your genre. If you write fiction, write a short article on non-fiction. A little research on a subject unknown to you is one of the best ways to stimulate your creative mind.

9. Relax. The more you worry the harder it is to think clearly. Remember you are what you think.

10. Just do it. It doesn’t have to be perfect. Don’t worry if words don’t make sense at all. In most cases after you have written about a half page your mind will begin filling up with ideas faster than you can type. The excitement builds and you are writing again!

Write it down,
Carma

So You Want to be A Full Time Children's Writer.

2009-04-01T04:00:00.000-07:00

That is great news. You have loved writing your entire life from elementary school to college and beyond. However, you never thought of it as a career until now. You could be a full time mom raising children with great insights on children's behavior. What if you are that grandma who is full of information from the experience of successfully raising a family? Or, you are a teacher thinking of retirement or in retirement and with a wealth of inside information on what children really like to read.

Understanding what kids want in regards to stories and books is a large part of the process of searching for subject matter. Here are some questions you may ask yourself:

1. Who do you write for?
2. What genre do you love the most?
3. Do you have a penchant for pre-teen kids or do you imagine connecting with a four year old and cuddling up with a fabulous picture book?

When I began analyzing and dissecting pros and cons of writing for children, I found the research pool ripe with subjects begging to be written about.

I confess my reason for choosing to write for children began with selfish motivation. I fantasized being resident author of my grand children's school. I was convinced the road to success could be achieved in three simple steps: 1) Take a course; 2) write a story; 3) become published and the whole world will applaud you. Then my bubble burst. Work? Writing is Work?

Obviously, I was operating under delusions of grandeur. However, it has not taken me long to understand the importance of patience and practice. An important discovery was made as I began to hone my craft; children's writers write for adults because adults decide what their children will read and what they will read to their children. If you can get your story past the adults, your chances of becoming published increase.

A children's writer can be instrumental in influencing children's education, self esteem and imagination. Most children's writers will choose a specific genre that fits their tastes and desires but some writers like variety and are flexible to write in a number of different genres. For instance, picture books, fiction, non-fiction, fantasy, mystery, historical, the list is long. Children's writers have to be flexible and think ahead for future trends by studying the children’s writer’s market. What is hot now will not be hot five years from now. Writing for children takes planning.

You might ask yourself “Where do I start?” The first step I recommend for all beginning children’s writers is to join the Children’s Writer’s Coaching Club led by author Suzanne Lieurance. Click on the link above and you will be taken to a page explaining what the Children’s Writer’s Coaching Club does each month.

Write it down,
Carma

10 Things Children Should Know About Prayer

2009-03-27T14:57:00.000-07:00

by Susan Taylor Brown

1. Prayer is communication.
It can be spoken or silent. It can be a song or a story. It can be a picture or a dance.

2. Prayer can be done as often as you like.
Every week. Every day. Every hour.

3. Prayer can be done however you want.
There's no right or wrong way to pray.

4. Prayer can be shared, but doesn't have to be.
It can be done alone or with a favorite toy. It can be done with friends, family or pets.

5. Prayer can be done anywhere.
It can be done in your room or at the kitchen table. It can be done out in your yard, at the park or even at the zoo.

6. Prayer can be done in any mood.
You can be happy, sad, angry, scared or confused when you pray.

7. Prayer can be for yourself or someone else.
If you know someone who could use a little help - add them to your prayers.

8. Prayer doesn't need a certain structure, length or specific words.
Whatever words you use, long or short, however your prayer comes out is fine.

9. Prayer doesn't need a special occasion.
There are certain prayers appropriate to special occasions but you don't need to wait for a special time to pray.

10. Prayer doesn't have to be a request.
It can also be used to give thanks for what you have already received. "Thank You" is a perfect prayer.

Susan Taylor Brown is the author of the children's picture book, CAN I PRAY WITH MY EYES OPEN? (ISBN #0786803282) Deciding when and where to pray is something every child wonders and this non-denominational, multicultural book offers an answer. Every child is assured that they can pray when, where, and how they want --- and they will always be heard. The book is available at bookstores everywhere.

Publisher's Weekly called it "...a lovely book. Perfect in its directness and simplicity." Booklist says, "A nice place for parents and children to start a discussion about prayer."

Email: Susan@susantaylorbrown.com
Home page: http://www.susantaylorbrown.com
Permission granted to freely reproduce and distribute this page in its entirety.

I encourage all parents to read this lovely book with their children.

Write it down,
Carma

Put A Tweet in Your Twitter and a Face to Your Book

2009-03-23T06:46:00.000-07:00

On Saturday the 21st I attended an East Bay Region SCBWI (The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) workshop presented by children's authors Susan Taylor Brown and Lynn E. Hazen.

Needless to say, two hours is not enough time to absorb all the technical information about social networks unless you are a digital native like Susan Taylor Brown. She will be giving a more in-depth on line social media class for authors, illustrators and book lovers. May 4th – May 7th Class is limited to 20 students. If you are wondering how does a person manage all of this and still find time to write, go here to find out more about this class and how to contact Susan.

Lynn Hazen and Susan Taylor Brown compiled a social media web map list with links to examples. You may download a free copy at this link. When you visit Lynn Hazen’s blog be sure to click on the Kidlitosphere link, a society of bloggers in children’s and young adult literature.

Susan Taylor Browns middle grade novel, Hugging the Rock, a 2007 Notable Children’s Book from the American Library Association. A poignant story in verse about a girl trying to cope when her mother leaves home.

Lynn E. Hazen’s latest release, Shifty is her first Young Adult novel. Lynn also writes picture books and early reader books.

For added inspiration, Lynn closed by reading this fantastic poem by Gotta Book Gregory Pinkus. I’m Pretty Well Connected – a Web 2.0 Poem

Write it down,
Carma

Seven Ways To Craft a Children's Story From Good to Great!

2009-03-19T06:00:00.000-07:00

1. Do not under estimate the power of a single word:
Every sentence needs to be peppered with strong words or at least have one. Not only the strongest but the right one. Strong verbs add credibility and specifics. Example: Tiger Woods roared into the Masters Picture…

How will you know? One way is to join a critique group like the Children’s Writer’s Coaching Club. Here you will work with published and aspiring writers and illustrators to create the writing career of your dreams. Join the club Here.

2. Story Movement:
When characters are going from place to place, get them there with minimum interruption. Don’t break the flow of movement with too many thoughts. You can pause the movement at various points. Remember the objective is to get your characters to a destination.

3. Back-story:
Back-story should be woven in small snippets. Don’t stop the flow to tell readers too much about WHY something is going on. Be brief

4. Description:
Weather, emotions, rooms, types of clothes a character wears and such things will add depth to a story, but too much clutters up a storyline, stops the flow of the plot. Don’t make the surroundings more important than the storyline.

5. Motive:
When you have a character do something without showing the reader why, this can make the character appear out of pace with the story. Readers can’t identify with the action unless a motive is shown.

6. Emotional scenes:
Once a character connects with their emotions give your readers enough information to feel character’s emotions. This can be done by revealing snippets of back-story and motive. Also using humor and hyperbole work well.

7. Less is more:
Remove unnecessary words and replace them with a powerful word or two that conveys the message. For example:

My mother was a witch.
It was cancer.

Less is best here because less is strong. The sparseness packs a punch. Two powerful lines using the “to be” verb are very effective. Readers remember the effect before they remember the line.

If you would like more detail you may reference Word Magic for Writers by Cindy Rogers, Children’s Writers Word Book by Alijandra Magilner & Tayopa Magilner, and The Frugal Editor by Carolyn Howard-Johnson

Write it down,
Carma

Your Children's Book is Finished - Now What?

2009-03-11T06:30:00.000-07:00

Books do not sell themselves. Wouldn’t that be nice? It doesn’t matter if you self-publish or go the traditional route; marketing techniques are the most important part of writing. Read Suzanne Lieurance’s article:

A Dozen Ways to Market Your Book if You’re a Children’s Book Author

Whether you self-publish your books for children or you go with a traditional publisher, most of the marketing for your books will be left up to you, the author. Here are a dozen ways to market your books for kids:

1. Set up a website for your writing and include an opt-in box on the site so people can sign up for your mailing list. Sell your books directly from your site and offer a bonus when they buy the book directly from you. An autographed copy of the book is a GREAT bonus, for example. If you don't wish to keep copies of the book on hand to sell and mail yourself, then include a link from yourself to your publisher's site or other online bookstores that carry your book. But offer to mail anyone who buys your book an autographed bookplate.

2. Try to find some way to relate your book to the school curriculum. Then, create lesson plans, study guides, or discussion questions for your book. Turn these guides into simple .pdf files that teachers, librarians, and parents can download FREE from your site to use with your book. Also, write a press release that tells about your free lesson plans or study guides and how your book that has recently been released is now available to help classroom teachers get specific content across to their students. Submit this press release to online sites that will distribute it to a variety of online sources free.

3. If possible, form a partnership with some large organization that relates to the topic of your book. For example, if you've written a book about exotic animals, offer to partner with your local zoo. When they have special events, offer to be part of these events and show up to sell and sign your book. Incorporate information about the zoo into your promotional literature and in your local presentations.

4. Take part in local events that will give you the chance to sell your book and let people know you're a hometown author. I'm not talking about ONLY book signings at bookstores. Your community probably has some sort of street fair or community event in the fall or spring, where members of the local business association, or just local business owners, can purchase booth (or tent) space to promote their business. You can purchase space at one of these events to sell and sign your book.

5. Create a book trailer or have one created for you to generate more interest in your book. Put this trailer up at your site, of course. Also, get it on youtube.com and teachertube.com and other places online where your readers (and potential readers) are likely to see it. You can also have other friends and associates put the trailer on their websites with a link back to your site for more information about you and your other books.

6. Set up your own local book tour. Co-op with other local authors to do this.
Contact your local SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Authors and Illustrators) if you don't know any other local children's authors. Get in touch with a few of these authors and suggest you contact local bookstores to do a Children's Book Day or other event where you can all set up your books at a big table in the store and sell and sign your books. The bookstores might not be as receptive to having one author do a book signings if this is your first book, so no one knows you as an author yet. But, if several children's book authors can be present in the store for a signing - and all are seated at one big table - this will attract attention to people in the store. It will also give the store something to announce ahead of time in their newsletter or at their website. And, with several authors taking part in this, each author's readership (or just family and friends) will draw a crowd to the store, which will interest the person in charge of special events at the bookstore.

7. Take part in virtual book tours through blogs and podcasts. Again, contact members of your local SCBWI chapter. Many of these writers will have websites or blogs and they'd be happy to have you as a "guest blogger" for the day. Line up 5 of these sites to be a "guest blogger" and you've got a week long virtual blog tour!

8. Be sure you offer school visits as part of your marketing efforts. But expand your presentations to include local libraries, recreation or community centers, and even summer camps and after school programs.

9. Write and distribute a press release about your book if your publisher has not already done this. If you have never written a press release, though, hire a professional PR service (or freelance press release writer) to write the release for you and then submit the release to local publications, but also have it sent out by an online PR distribution service.

10. Scout around online and find as many appropriate internet radio shows as you can, then email the person who schedules guests for these shows and offer to be a guest. Start with Book Bites for Kids, of course.

11. Teach workshops about some aspect of writing for children and use your book as part of the class materials. Be sure the cost of the workshop includes the cost of your book.

12. Make article marketing part of your overall plan for selling your book. Find out how to write short articles and submit them to article directories in order to drive traffic to your website or blog.

There are all sorts of ways to market your book. You're only limited by your own creativity and imagination. Listen to Book Bites for Kids every weekday afternoon at 2:00 central time at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/bookbitesforkids for more marketing tips from other children's book authors.

And, when your pen won't budge, read The Morning Nudge. Find out more about The Morning Nudge at http://www.morningnudge.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Suzanne_Lieurance

Award Winning Author Offers Online Workshops for Children and Young Adults

2009-03-09T06:00:00.000-07:00

My friend, Simon Rose, science fiction and fantasy author, is offering online workshops for children and young adults ages eight to sixteen. This is a perfect vehicle to inspire, encourage and foster young writers. It is not true that one has to experience thirty years of life or be retired to write books for children and young adults. Many writers began writing when very young but did not have any way of getting good feedback or critique from professionals. A professional author was way out of reach. Not any more.

Simon’s workshops are conducted via email. This is like having your own personal published author right in the same room with you.

Details of Simon's workshops are available here http://www.simon-rose.com/online_wkshp_yngadults.htm

Also listen to Simon on you tube as he reads a synopsis of his books.

Below is a list of Simon Rose's books. Go to his website at http://www.simon-rose.com/to purchase or on Amazon.com.

The Doomsday Mask 2009
The Heretic's Tomb 2007
The Emerald Curse 2006
The Clone Conspiracy 2005
The Sorcerer's Letterbox 2004
The Alchemist's Portrait 2003

Write it down,
Carma

Daisy Chain: Chapter One

2009-03-04T06:30:00.000-08:00

It is my pleasure to introduce a new book by author Mary E. Demuth.
The first chapter is below for your pleasure. Let me know what you think or go to Mary's blog and let her know.

Jed keeps his family secrets to himself, even to his friend Daisy. She has a few of her own, too. Explore both in the first chapter of Daisy Chain. You can purchase Daisy Chain here, or at your local bookstore.

Chapter One:
Defiance, Texas

It had been thirty roller-coaster years since Daisy Marie Chance forced fourteen-year-old Jed Pepper to fall in love with her. He’d obliged her, dizzied at the thought ever since. It had been that long before Jed could walk through the ruins of Crooked Creek Church, a butterfly flitting a prophecy he never could believe, even today. It was Daisy’s singsong words that gave the butterfly its bewitching manner, those same words that strangled him with newfound love. For years, he wished he’d had an Instamatic camera to capture the moment he fell for Daisy, but then entropy would’ve had its way, fading and creasing Daisy’s face until she’d have looked like an overloved newspaper recipe, wrinkled and unreadable.

Thing was, he could always read Daisy's face. Even then. She’d looked at him square in the eyes that day in 1977, in the exact same spot he stood now, and declared, “Your family ain’t normal, Jed.” And because lies came easy to him, he’d thought, of course my family’s normal. Anyone with eyes could see that. Daisy said a lot of words, being a thirteen-year-old girl and all, but these didn’t make much sense.

Thirty years later they did. They screamed the truth through the empty field where the church used to creak in the wind.

For a hesitant moment, enshrined in the ruins of his childhood, Jed was fourteen again. Filled to the brim with testosterone and pestered by an orange and black tormenter and Daisy's oh-so-true words.

"Your family ain't normal, Jed."

He watched the butterfly loop above the organ, never landing, like it had a thing against church music. Or maybe dust.

He sat on a rickety pew.

“Jed?”

He clasped his hands around his ears, hoping Daisy’s words would run away. He hummed "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God."

She put her nose right in front of his. He felt her breathing, smelled her Juicy Fruit breath. “You in there?”

He swatted the air between them, hoping she’d disappear. “Yeah. Quit bothering me.” He looked at his watch. Six fifteen. Time to go.

“But your face.” Daisy sat down a Bible’s throw away.

Jed touched his swollen eye. “Yeah? So? What about it?”

“It looks like it hurts.” Daisy scooted closer. She reached her arm his direction.

He inched away.

“The truth, Jed. How’d you get that shiner?”

He watched the butterfly. “I was stupid. Ran my face into a corner.” Thirty seconds had ticked. The watch clicked like a stopwatch, pestering him.

“Faces don’t mess with corners, Jed.”

“Mine did. Chasing Sissy around the house. She said it wasn’t fair because I was bigger. She tied a bandana around my head. I ran after her blind.” Another well-told lie, almost as good as Hap’s stories from the pulpit. Six sixteen. Time to go.

Daisy shook her head. Her long blonde braid whipped back and forth like a tire swing over a swimming hole. She hated bangs, something her mom, Miss Emory, knew, but hacked away at them a few weeks ago anyway, leaving them a crooked mess. Daisy still steamed about it, but her only protest was two yellow clips with smiling daisies pulling the jagged bangs away from her forehead.

“I love you, you know.”

Jed’s face warmed. “Would you quit that please? There’s no room for talk like that.”

“Why not? This is church, right? Aren’t you supposed to say love in church? Besides, you know what street I live on.”

Jed rolled his eyes. “Love Street.”

“That’s right.”

“I don’t see how that makes any difference”

“It makes every difference. It’s destiny, what street you live on.” Daisy turned away from Jed, pulled her braid to her mouth. She bit its stubbled end and groaned like she was gritting teeth. Her angry noise.

The monarch flew in circles in front of Daisy, as if it were trying to lift her mood by dancing on air. It lit upon the pew between the two of them, wings folded up toward the ceiling in prayer.

Daisy bent near the monarch, but the butterfly didn’t flinch. “It means something, sure enough,” she whispered.

“What’s gotten into you? It’s tired, that’s all. And it happened to sit down right there.” Jed pointed his finger at the motionless butterfly.

With one tentative hop, the monarch left the dusty pew for Jed’s dirt-stained fingernail. It seemed to study his face while the sun shone through its papery wings. It flapped once and then flew clear away, out one of the abandoned church’s broken stained glass.

They sat in pew four listening to doves calling each other.

Jed checked his watch. Nearly twenty after.

“It’s a sign. Jed Pepper, you’re going to change the world. You’ve been chosen.”

“You’re frustrating.” Jed stood.

“Am not.”

“Are too.” Jed scatted the air with a wave of his hand, as if doing that would erase the words Daisy spoke, an aerial Etch-a-Sketch.

He walked Crooked Creek Church’s middle aisle backwards, like a sinner unrepentant, while Daisy chattered away. Part of him wanted to leave her behind for good, but another part wanted to listen to her forever and a year. He’d welcome her words to fill the silence of his home.

“Hey Jed?”

“Now what?”

“You be careful.”

“I will.”

“Promise?”

“Did anyone ever tell you you’re a pest?”

“Mama does. Every single day. Should I add you to the list?” Her voice got that empty sound whenever she spoke of Miss Emory—a longing for something her mama couldn’t or wouldn’t give her.

He considered his answer. Daisy’s mama scatted her like she was an interrupting fruit fly half the time. He didn’t want to treat her the same. “No, never mind. Forget I said it.”

“I’m a good forgetter.” She smiled.

He couldn’t help but smile in return. “I gotta go.” If he ran, he’d make it.

Daisy stepped out into the aisle, hands on hips. “I’m going to marry you someday. You wait and see.”

Jed rolled his eyes. Girls.

“I’m going to put on a long white dress and you’re going to wear a fine suit. We’re going to tend birds. I can’t live without ‘em.”

A dove shot through an open window, looping frantically through the church, flying crazy-winged out where it came from in a flustering of wings against window pane. For a moment, everything was silent. Dead quiet.

“God’s been here,” Daisy whispered, looking haunted-eyed at Jed.

He looked away.

She tapped him on the shoulder. “And when we’re married, we’re going to have six kids—all girls. Want to know their names?” This time her eyes spelled mischief.

“Not hardly.”

“Petunia, Hollyhock, Primrose, Begonia, Dahlia, and Buttercup.”

Jed leaned against the back pew, eyeing the door of escape. “Sounds more like a garden than a batch of kids.” He knew he should leave, but Daisy held some sort of annoying girl spell over him.

“Very funny.”

“I need to head home.” Jed turned. He untied the back door, hitched closed with baling twine. He’d come in the side way, through a low window, and was going to leave proper this time. Besides, it was the closest way to escape Daisy’s sentences. Next thing, she’d be talking about perfume or how smooth babies’ skin was or going on about the butterfly’s hidden meaning. Anyone knew he wouldn’t change the world. Not today at least. He’d be happy to make it through one day.

Daisy followed him. “You going to leave me here alone? I traipsed all the way from town to come here.”

“It’s not like we don’t meet here every single day. You’ll be fine. How many times have you walked home from here? A thousand? Two?”

“It’s a long walk.”

“For crying out loud, Daisy, this is Defiance, Texas. There’s nothing to be afraid of. Besides, you’ve got God’s eye for protection.”

She looked away, didn’t say a word while seconds ticked away. She took a deep breath, then let it out. “You’ll regret it.” The western sun shone through the church’s broken-out windows brightening the left side of Daisy’s face. She looked almost like an angel, that is, if angels had braided hair and prattled on and on.

“See you later,” he called over his shoulder.

Jed shut the church’s back door, knowing Daisy preferred crawling out of the church like a fugitive. Ever since she read a book about Anne who holed up from Nazis, she’d taken to hiding and sneaking. He tied a rope around the doorknob and a piece of wood sticking out from the doorframe, securing the door.

He faced his world in that moment, let its significance and fury sink into his heart. Would he change the world? Hard to say.

Faith Writing Offers Comfort and Hope

2009-02-27T06:26:00.000-08:00

Writing for teens is a tough market especially when the genre is faith based. Also, young people by nature tend to be skeptical. After all, a teen’s life spans a mere five to six years and they are not interested in reading stories that try to “fix” them. The teen culture is something teens inherited, not invented, so faith-based writers need to “show” teens the relevance of the message and how to respond and apply to everyday life. In addition, when writing for the faith-based market, you need to “show” a young teen the significance of a particular reality in their life or nothing will change for them. Teens want to know about the “Do’s” not the “Don’t’s.”

Some top intense issues for teens are social justice, love, environment and poverty. The teen culture as a whole becomes more intelligent each generation and they want to impact the world in a tangible way. Faith based writers have an opportunity to “show” (there’s that word again) teens Christ and not just talk about Him.

If you do a search on “religious magazines” you will get over a million hits. The Christian Writing market is larger than you may think but no one has time to research all the viable publications. To get started searching, I have listed some links to a few publishers and magazine markets in addition to some religious curricula markets.

Books

Augsburg Books www.augsburg.com. Christian
Behrman House: www.behrmanhouse.com. Jewish
Bethany House: www.bethanyhouse.com. Evangelical Christian
Deseret Book co: www.deseretbook.com. Latter-day Saints
Moody Publishers: www.moodypublishers.com Conservative Christian
Paulist Press: www.paulistpress.com Catholic

Magazines

Connected: http://connected.christianrecord.org, Christian Record Services for the Blind
Focus on the Family: www.focusonthefamily.com Evangelical Christian
Higher Things: www.higherthings.org. Lutheran
InTeen: www.urbanministries.com. African American, Christian
Randall House: www.randallhouse.com. Baptist
Sharing the Victory: www.sharingthevictory.com. Fellowship of Christian Athletes

Religious Curricula

Congregational Ministries Publishing: www.pcusa.org/curriculum
David C. Cook: www.davidccook.com Non denominational Christian
Gather ‘Round: www.gatherround.org
Group Publishing: www.group.com Nondenominational
Review and Herald Publishing: www.rhpa.org Seventh-day Adventist
Urban Ministries: www.urbanministries.com African American community

Write it down,
Carma

Stimulate Your Writing Inspiration With These 5 Ideas

2009-02-24T06:33:00.000-08:00

"You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club." (Jack London)

Inspiration is all around us. A word, a song, or a picture can propel us forward to greatness.

Consider using one or all of these five approaches to find your inspiration.

1. Music is a major source of inspiration. Listen to your favorite music when relaxing and ideas will come like a waterfall. I find Celtic and classical to be especially inspiring.

2. Free writing creates moments of the muse. You may be stuck on a topic and your writing is reflecting boredom. Even if you have to write the same words over and over keep doing it and before you know it your creative power is unleashed and you have a novel, article or EBook.

3. Next to that is reading. Great minds do travel in the same dimension. Get out a favorite book that is close to your own niche such as children's fiction, picture books, non-fiction, etc. and read away.

4. Carry a small personal recorder in your purse or pocket. Now if you are in the shower that may be a little difficult. Dry off your writing hand and use the pen and paper that is laying on the bathroom vanity. Or run dripping wet to the computer and type it in.

5. Go to the park if you are feeling stuck. This is a wonderful chance to practice meditation and prepare your mind to receive great thoughts.

Bonus Idea: I like to take bike rides early mornings so I can "hear" the quite and "see" the Forrest with out the trees. Where are you when brilliant ideas pop in your head?

Write it down,
Carma

Learn How to Write Children's Books and Sell Them.

2009-02-21T16:09:00.000-08:00

All of us have special stories inside of us that are just begging to be told. Children love stories. They live in a world controlled by adults and don’t have a whole lot of say so. The best we as adults can do for all children is to give them quality stories, truth or fiction. This is the best reason to join the Children’s Writer’s Coaching Club.

OR - do you want to learn ways to make more of the writing and illustrating career you already have?

Then join the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club and receive two free ebooks to help get you started on your writing career. Click the links below.

Children's Writer's Checklist
Dealing With Writer's Stress

You’ll work with both published children’s writers and illustrators, and those who want to become children’s writers or illustrators, to create the children’s writing or illustrating career of your dreams.

And the best part is, you won’t ever have to leave your home - so you can enjoy your coaching club sessions in your pjs or bathrobe, if you like. What could be better than that?

Membership - only $27.00 per month

Just look at all you get for only $27.00 per month when you become a member of this fantastic club:

* LIVE teleclasses EVERY month. Each teleclass is taught by a successful children’s book author and/or illustrator who knows the “tricks of the trade” of children’s writing, illustrating, and publishing.
* A monthly writing assignment, designed to become a finished project ready for submission to a publisher, usually be the end of the month, although some projects take longer. Each month we focus on some area of publishing. For example, one month we study how to write short fiction for children’s magazines. Another month we focus on writing nonfiction for children’s magazines. Another month we target writing picture books, etc.
* The opportunity to have your monthly assignment professionally critiqued, so you know if further revisions are needed before it is ready for submission to a publisher.
* The opportunity to network daily via an online discussion list with other members of the CWCC, as well as the instructors.

Click the Logo below.

">Join the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club today and you’ll be on your way to creating your own part time or full time career as a published children’s book author and/or illustrator.

You can’t go wrong.

Write it down,
carma

The Blue Stone: A Journey Through Life - Book Review

2009-02-13T11:45:00.000-08:00

The Blue Stone A Journey Through Life
Author and Illustrator Jimmy Liao
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 80 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers; 1 edition (April 1, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0316113832
ISBN-13: 978-0316113830

The Blue Stone: A Journey Through Life is an unusual story for ages 4 – 8. I find it more appropriate for ages 7 – 10. The Blue Stone’s illustrations are vibrant and clear. Many illustrations are full page spreads while some are displayed to show a sequence of scenes. Jimmy Liao’s artistic interpretations of his words meld together in a soothing voice.

A life long journey of change and renewal begin when the sapphire colored rock is taken from its natural habitat and separated from its other half. Don’t overlook the significance that this blue stone also represents a strong sense of family values. The blue stone’s objective is always to get back home.

Every transformation the blue stone experiences is special. It shows young children that no matter what size or color you are, you can become beautiful, helpful and important. The Blue Stone delivers a message that we all have something new inside us waiting to be created.

Additionally, The Blue Stone is enchanting and has a sense of spirituality and mysticism demonstrating in a simple way how circumstances in our lives are subject to change and can become positive experiences. In the beginning the stone is carved into an elephant statue delighting a town with happiness but eventually people leave and the stone elephant is all alone. The stone remembers home and its heart breaks a little. Next it becomes a garden bird for a lady but the lady abandons her garden. A new owner comes to create a stone fish for a seaside town. Each time something new is created from the blue stone, pieces break away and the stone becomes smaller and smaller.

Small pieces keep falling from the stone at each step of its life journey. At last it becomes a gift of first love between a boy and a girl. Since first love rarely lasts the stone’s heart breaks until it is nothing but grains of sand. Now it is light enough to float over the towns and oceans back to its home in the forest where it completes the circle of life resting in peace where it always belonged.

About the Author
Jimmy Liao was born in Taipei, Taiwan and received a degree in design from the Chinese Culture University. He is the author and illustrator of 18 hugely popular books that have been translated into English, French, German, Greek, Japanese, Korean, and Thai. His first book for Little, Brown, The Sound of Colors, was published March 2006.

Write it down,
Carma

Wounded Knee - A Story of Two Proud Cultures

2009-02-09T06:30:00.000-08:00

Wounded Knee
Author Neil Waldman
Reading level: Young Adult 8 – 12 years
Hardcover: 64 pages
Publisher: Atheneum; 1st edition (April 3, 2001)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0689825595
ISBN-13: 978-0689825590

Neil Waldman writes the account of Wounded Knee for the young reader in a way they can understand historical chronological detail without being bored. Waldman expertly weaves a story of historical facts that reads like an action filled fiction novel. In addition, Waldman's distinctive illustrations add texture to this factual account. Many of the paintings are based on well-known early photographs from the Smithsonian and the Library of Congress collections.

The story of Wounded Knee sheds light on why two cultures and two warring nations battle to preserve their own way of life. Author, Neil Waldman handles the violent and heart wrenching events between the American government, white settlers and Indian tribes who lived around the Black Hills of South Dakota in a factual and balanced way. Waldman’s account cannot change the facts on either side but he does bring to light the cultural misunderstandings, journalistic rampages of the press and unintentional as well as intentional betrayals.

Waldman puts the reader in the shoes of Black Elk as he races to the top of a high ridge overlooking Wounded Knee Creek with a vivid description of the massacre on the morning of December 29, 1890.

Then suddenly, a volley of gunfire erupted in the distant hills to the east, and Black Elk froze.
“The sounds went right through my body,” he would say later, “and I felt that something terrible would happen.”

Waldman points out that potential for conflict had been brewing for centuries. For more than 400 years white settlers had been filling the east coast with cities, villages and farms. About a thousand miles away the seven warrior tribes of the Lakota had also been living for many generations in an area that stretched from Missouri to Wyoming. Both sides had a sense of possession for the land and both disagreed on what that meant.

Writing historical non-fiction is not easy just because “plot” and characters are already formed. In fact it is more difficult because with fiction you can make up anything (almost) to move the story along. It has been said that “truth is stranger than fiction” but maybe we should say that “truth is more difficult to write than fiction”.

There is also historical fiction. This means that the story has truthful facts but may have fictional characters. For more information on the difference between the two and advice on how to write historical fiction or non-fiction, visit the sites below.

Visit Lila Guzman who writes non-fiction and historical fiction
Suzanne Lieurance. A writing coach for fiction and non-fiction
Eleven tips for writing non-fiction for kids by Fiona Bayrock
Creative non fiction by Susan Taylor Brown
On Writing Non fiction for Children by Lindsay Mannell

Write it down,
Carma

Frida Kahlo: Portrait of a Mexican Painter

2009-01-27T06:30:00.000-08:00

I was intrigued with Frida Kahlo. The early 20th century was a time of unrest and major social and political change throughout the world. Much like today. So you see there is not much new that is happening today that has not happened before. It does look as if history is repeating itself. Our hope for children of the future is in books with accurate stories. Let’s teach our children to learn from mistakes. This is why writing for educational publishers is so important. It is not filled with glitz and glamor but it is a teaching tool. A writer for children is a teacher who does not enter the classroom but has opportunity to enter a child’s mind nonetheless.

I am interested in writing for educational publishers as many writers are. A good way to find out how to enter this world is to study the market. Writing biographies and historical books for mid grade and young adults is a challenge. A writer must be able to communicate with appropriate age related words. Sentences don’t need to be choppy but they should be short and concise which is a real challenge for a writer who likes to talk without taking a breath. When I was writing college papers, it was not unusual for me to write an entire paragraph with only two sentences.

Is the Educational Market for You?

Are you interested in writing books for the educational market? Evelyn Christensen has wonderful resources. Click Educational Markets for Children’s Writers to go to her list. Feel free to peruse it but do not publish it anywhere else. Her email address is available if you wish to be on her mailing list.

Search out educational publishers on line. Enslow Publishers and Capstone Press are two that are well known. Spend some time there and get a feel for what they need.

Frida Kahlo – Portrait of a Mexican Painter was written by Barbara C. Cruz for Enslow Publishers. Dr. Cruz has published and presented extensively, focusing her research on multicultural and global education and equity issues. Enslow publishes high-quality educational non-fiction books for children from K through 12 grades.

Write it down,
Carma

The Drum Major Instinct

2009-01-19T06:00:00.000-08:00

A Drum Major is the leader of the Parade. Everyone has their eyes on the grand and splendor. Dr. King’s speech, The Drum Major Instinct, February 4, 1968, discusses where the desires for recognition and praise originate. It is this instinct that the foundation of the ego's need for validation is born.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. understood the Drum Major instinct or impulse.

“We are born with this instinct. And there is deep down within all of us an instinct. It's a kind of drum major instinct-a desire to be out front, a desire to lead the parade, a desire to be first. And it is something that runs the whole gamut of life.”

We all want to be important. When we do good things we like to get praise. We get this warm glow to our ego when we see our name in print. As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. says, it is like Vitamin A to our egos. Nobody is unhappy when they are praised, even if they know they don't deserve it and even if they don't believe it. There is nothing wrong with this instinct or impulse. It is good if you use it right and don’t pervert it. Greatness must be earned.

Writers have a great responsibility to their readers. Don’t let the drum major impulse overshadow the purpose of your words.

I invite you to read Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s message from February 4, 1968 just two months before his death. Click here then click on the lower right hand side “The Drum Major Instinct” with Dr. King’s picture.

Write it down,
Carma

Create the Writing Career of Your Dreams - Learn to Write for Children!

2009-01-16T09:58:00.000-08:00

Do you love to write but don’t know how to put your thoughts into the right words?

Have you already written a story but don’t know how to go about getting published?

Are you an established writer that wants to learn more ways to market and promote your craft?

If you answer yes to any of these questions then the Children’s Writer’s Coaching Club is for you.

As a member of the CWCC you will work with both published children’s writers and illustrators and those who want to become children’s writers or illustrators without ever leaving home. How is that for convenience?

The good news is that membership is only $27 a month. The best bargain around. Here is what you will receive as a member:

* LIVE teleclasses EVERY month. Each teleclass is taught by a successful children’s book author and/or illustrator who knows the “tricks of the trade” of children’s writing, illustrating, and publishing.

* A monthly writing assignment, designed to become a finished project ready for submission to a publisher, usually be the end of the month, although some projects take longer. Each month we focus on some area of publishing. For example, one month we study how to write short fiction for children’s magazines. Another month we focus on writing nonfiction for children’s magazines. Another month we target writing picture books, etc.

* The opportunity to have your monthly assignment professionally critiqued, so you know if further revisions are needed before it is ready for submission to a publisher.

* The opportunity to network daily via an online discussion list with other members of the CWCC, as well as the instructors.

Join the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club today and you’ll be on your way to creating your own part time or full time career as a published children’s book author and/or illustrator. You will be glad you did.

">Click Logo to Join

Who Has Time to Worry About Correct Spelling? 5 Things Children's Writers Must Do.

2009-01-14T11:08:00.000-08:00

Are you a writer who corrects spelling as you go along? Turn off spell check and grammar check when you are creating. Correct spelling is the least of your worries in a draft or two or three or…well you get it. This article explains how to break that habit and why. Enjoy this article by Jan McVeity, National Literacy Champion.

Should I correct my child's spelling? That's one of the most common questions I get asked.
My answer: No.
Well this is going to be the shortest column in the world!
Perhaps I should explain. When a story is created, there are a huge number of things a writer has to do. Here are just a few:

The Plot
Create the main character - you have to make them brave, strong and clever, but they need a couple of faults too.
Create the villain - they have to be just as strong as the hero or heroine. Otherwise the good guys win too easily.
Create the secondary characters - the faithful sidekick, the weird best friend, the teacher who cracks great jokes...
Decide on the Main Problem - this is not something simple like failing a test. It has to be major. Failing a final exam which means you didn't get into the sports team which means your chance of being a star footballer is utterly ruined.
Brainstorm an interesting setting - where should it all happen? A beach, a boat, a beaten up old house?

Still with me? But wait, that's only the plotting done. Now the writer has to start selecting...

The Writing Techniques
How can I make the fight between the two kids convincing? I know - I'll use dialogue and have them shouting at each other across the playground.
How can I make that scene of the ski race really tense? Hmmm, maybe if I have the clock counting down the seconds of the time he has to beat.
The start seems a bit boring, should I start that morning? No, maybe I should begin right when the kids start screaming for help.

Exhausted yet? Now what about the style the author selects to write in?

Click Here to keep reading more.

Write it down,
Carma

Are Newbery-Winning Books Too Challenging?

2009-01-12T06:20:00.000-08:00

The buzz that the Newbery Medal Award for the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children makes these books inaccessible to children is all over the blogosphere according to this article in the Washington Post. For instance from the past twenty-five winners and runners-up chosen from 2000 to 2005, four of the books deal with death, six with the absence of one or both parents and four with such mental challenges as autism. Most of the rest deal with tough social issues.

There are many pros and cons. “The criterion has never been popularity,” says Pat Scales, president of the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association. “It is about literacy quality. We don’t expect every child to like every book. How many adults have read all the Pulitzer Prize winning books and the National Book Award winners and liked every one?”

Winning books become instant bestsellers and almost a guarantee of future success for the author. Also some Newbery winners have become classics, such as Louis Sachar’s “Holes” in 1999 and even some runners-up like “Charlottes Web” by E. B. White in 1953.

To get a more in-depth view and other opinions go to this Washington Post article “Plot Twists: The Newbery may Dampen Kids’ Reading” by Valerie Strauss here.

The Newbery is very prestigious and books that are awarded this high honor are expected to stretch children’s minds and thought processes not to mention introduce them to a variety of real-life issues. Does this criticism of the award hint of jealousy by other organizations or just another point of view?

Of course a child wants to read stories that reflect their lives and that is why some critics of the Newbery believe it to turn kids off to reading. Some critics may think Newbery Medal winning books are far too mature for young readers under twelve.

What do you think?

Write it down,
Carma

A Beginning, A Muddle, and an End

2009-01-09T06:00:00.000-08:00

Avi’s middle grade book, A Beginning, A Muddle and an End juxtaposes a perspective on the writing profession through wit and humor of a snail named Avon and an ant named Edward. I have posted a sampling of dialogue from chapter four where Avon ponders about continuing as a writer. At this point Avon has managed to write one word-- “Something”—

This is a funny and philosophical story full of wisdom and humor. My eight year old granddaughter even “got it” in most places.

Here is an exchange between Avon and Edward as Avon ponders writing as a profession.

“Edward,” he finally said, “do you remember when you told me about the need for writers to be punctual?”
“That was a short time ago.”
“All the same, I’ve been thinking about it. Since writing is so hard, perhaps instead of becoming a writer, I should become an author.”
“Avon, you can’t become an author until you first become a writer.”
“Why is that?”
"A writer is someone who tries to get the words right. That’s why they are called writers. But an author is someone who has written the words wrong. Any critic will tell you that.”
“Is it hard to write right?”
“If a writer isn’t right, he’s bound to be left behind.”
“I’d still like to try.”
“What will you write?”
“That’s my biggest worry. I’m afraid I’ve not had an exciting life.”
“Then write about what you haven’t done.”
“Is that allowed?” asked Avon.
“You should know that the number one rule about writing is: Write what you know. So if you know what you haven’t done, write about that.”
“What if you don’t know what you’ve not done?”
“Then you go on to rule number two.”
“Which is?”
“Write about what you don’t know.”
“Is there a third rule?”
"Yes, stories do usually have three rules. Rule number three is: Write about what you don’t know as if you did know about it.”
“Any fourth rule?”
“Absolutely: Make sure that when you’re writing about what you don’t know as if you did know, conceal the fact that you don’t know what you’re doing.”
“Is there a fifth rule?”
“A crucial one. It’s: Always leave your readers guessing."

I am enjoying this book and learning from it as well. When Avon is asked by Edward, what kind of writer he intends to be, Avon said

“A writer who attracts readers.”
“Then for heaven’s sake, don’t write writing. Write reading.”

Great advice, don’t you think?
Write it down,
Carma

How to Understand the Young Reader

2009-01-07T09:56:00.000-08:00

There is an important difference between writing about a child’s world and writing through the view of a child’s eyes. To write effectively not only means writing about what a child is doing but also seeing a child’s world. If you write about a child’s world through adult’s eyes it may appear unrealistic to the child reader but if you share a child’s view you will allow your reader to share it too.

Have you forgotten what it feels like to be a child? Try to imagine being dependent on another person in order to move around as a small baby would. Things look a little different from the floor don’t they? Now imagine you see a toy you want on the table. How can you get it? You can’t walk or talk. How does the world look from this position?

Next get up on your knees and look around. How has your world changed? Finally stand up and walk around the room. Have your feelings about your world changed? Try to remember how you felt as a child. Following are ten questions you can ask yourself as you explore your inner child.

1. What was my favorite book when I was a child?
2. What was the scariest thing that happened to me as a child?
3. What was my greatest happiness as a child? Why?
4. What was my greatest fear? Why?
5. Where did my monsters live? In the dark? Under the bed?
6. What were my monsters like?
7. What made me feel most secure as a child?
8. What was my best school experience? What was my worst?
9. Who was my best friend when I was growing up? Why did we like each other?

10.What were my ambitions/hopes/dreams as a child/teenager?

Begin studying the work of other children’s authors. Do they write from an adult world view or that of a child world view? Listen to their voice. Do they speak as an adult or as a child?

Find out what children worry about or what a key issue in their life is. Think about the realities of life. There are many issues children have to contend with such as bullying, making friends, school exams, attending a new school, environment, and so on.

Authors who live with young children or exposed to them on a daily basis have a wealth of research available. If you do not live around children but have fond memories, hang out at a library after school. Listen to what children have to say. Also try to remember how you felt but don’t write about past experiences. Write about the reality of life today unless of course you are writing a historical piece.

Have you ever visited a place from your past like a house or school? Did you notice that the image does not fit your memory and somehow everything is much smaller now? It feels kinda weird and is a good example of perception from two different view points.

Put some of these suggestions into practice and your writing for children will take on a whole new language.

Write it down
Carma

Nine Tips for 2009

2009-01-02T06:00:00.000-08:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

1. Set schedules and priorities.
2. Get organized.
3. Use your non-writing time to pre-think.
4. Try a new writing time.
5. Try new surroundings.
6. Stay busy.
7. Set goals within goals.
8. Keep a daily log of writing accomplishments.
9. Set deadlines.

If you want to make more money writing you probably will have to write more.

Forming good work habits is my weakness but this year that will all change. What is your weakness? What have you begun to do about it?

The January issue of Carma's Window Newsletter has been sent to all subscribers. If you would like to have one, sign up and I will send you a copy.

Write it down,
Carma

New Year - New Career - Learn to Write for Children - Free

2008-12-30T06:16:00.000-08:00

A year-end bonus for you! Yes Learn to Write for Children - Free. Join The Children's Writer's Coaching Club in January 2009 and receive one month of lessons at no charge to you.

You will need a credit card to sign up but if you decide the club is not for you -- simply cancel your membership and you will not be charged one penny. But if you decide that learning to write for children is just what you have been looking for, then do nothing but continue on with your membership. No matter what your decision, you will not be charged for the first month.

What have you got to lose? Join the Children's Writer's Coaching Club and have access to a professional coach and mentor. Also, as a CWCC member you will learn how to strengthen your writing skills, meet other writers who will give you encouragement and support.

It's real easy to join. Just click the icon below.

Keeping Christmas

2008-12-25T07:00:00.000-08:00

The Art of Keeping Christmas

How can we best keep Christmas? How can we best defeat the little bit of Scrooge in all of us and experience the glory of the Great Day?

By sinking the shafts of our spirits deep beneath the sparkling tinsel of the surface of Christmas and renewing within us the radiance of the inner meaning of the season.

By following the Star on an inward journey to Bethlehem to stand again in awe and wonder before the Babe in a Manger.

By rediscovering the faith and simplicity of a little child, for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven.

By being still and listening to the angels sing within our hearts.

By quietly evaluating our lives according to the Master's standards as set forth in the Sermon on the Mount.

By reaffirming the supremacy of the spirit in our conquest of ourselves.

By rededicating ourselves to the Master's ideals of Peace, Brotherhood, and Good Will.

By resolving to give ourselves away to others in love, joy and devotion.

By using the light of Christmas to guide us through the darkness of the coming year, refusing to go back to the dim kerosene lamps of the spirit when the brilliant electricity of Christmas is available to show us the way.

Wilfred Arlan Peterson

I will be back January 2009. I wish everyone a safe and happy New Years.
It is time to reflect and set new goals based on what worked and what didn't work in 2008.

Write it down,
Carma

The Gift of Love

2008-12-24T06:54:00.000-08:00

The Best Gift
Betty Wirth

On Christmas Eve, a young boy with light in his eyes
Looked deep into Santa’s, to Santa’s surprise
And said as he sat on Santa’s broad knee,
"I want your secret. Tell it to me."

He leaned up and whispered in Santa’s good ear
"How do you do it, year after year?"
"I want to know how, as you travel about,
Giving gifts here and there, you never run out.

How is it, dear Santa, that in your pack of toys
You have plenty for all of the world’s girls and boys?
Stays so full, never empties, as you make your way
From rooftop to rooftop, to homes large and small,
From nation to nation, reaching them all?"

And Santa smiled kindly and said to the boy,
"Don’t ask me hard questions. Don’t you want a toy?"
But the child shook his head, and Santa could see
That he needed the answer. "Now listen to me,"

He told that small boy with the light in his eyes,
"My secret will make you sadder and wise.
"The truth is that my sack is magic inside
It holds millions of toys for my Christmas Eve ride.

But although I do visit each girl and each boy
I don’t always leave them a gaily wrapped toy.
Some homes are hungry, some homes are sad,
Some homes are desperate, some homes are bad.

Some homes are broken, and the children there grieve.
Those homes I visit, but what should I leave?
"My sleigh is filled with the happiest stuff,
But for homes where despair lives toys aren’t enough.

So I tiptoe in, kiss each girl and boy,
And I pray with them that they’ll be given the joy
Of the spirit of Christmas, the spirit that lives
In the heart of the dear child who gets not, but gives.

"If only God hears me and answers my prayer,
When I visit next year, what I will find there
Are homes filled with peace, and with giving, and love
And boys and girls gifted with light from above.

It’s a very hard task, my smart little brother,
To give toys to some, and to give prayers to others.
But the prayers are the best gifts, the best gifts indeed,
For God has a way of meeting each person’s need.

"That’s part of the answer. The rest, my dear youth,
Is that my sack is magic. And that is the truth.
In my sack I carry on Christmas Eve day
More love than a Santa could ever give away.

The sack never empties of love, or of joys
`Cause inside it are prayers, and hope. Not just toys.
The more that I give, the fuller it seems,
Because giving is my way of fulfilling dreams.

"And do you know something? You’ve got a sack, too.
It’s as magic as mine, and it’s inside of you.
It never gets empty, it’s full from the start.
It’s the center of light, and love. It’s your heart.

And if on this Christmas you want to help me,
Don’t be so concerned with the gifts `neath your tree.
Open that sack called your heart, and share
Your joy, your friendship, your wealth, your care."

The light in the small boy’s eyes was glowing.
"Thanks for your secret. I’ve got to be going."
"Wait, little boy," said Santa, "don’t go.
Will you share? Will you help? Will you use what you know?"
And just for a moment the small boy stood still,
Touched his heart with his small hand and whispered, "I will."

The Gift of Peace

2008-12-23T06:30:00.000-08:00

I heard the bells on
Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth,
good-will to men!

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Whatever else be lost among the years,
Let us keep Christmas still a shining thing:
Whatever doubts assail us, or what fears,
Let us hold close one day, remembering
Its poignant meaning for the hearts of men.
Let us get back our childlike faith again.

Grace Noll Crowell

I am not alone at all, I thought.
I was never alone at all. And that, of course, is the message of Christmas. We are never alone. Not when the night is darkest, the wind coldest, the world seemingly most indifferent. For this is still the time God chooses.

Taylor Caldwell

Sharon Tregenza - Author Interview

2008-12-22T06:29:00.000-08:00

I am happy to post my Email interview with Kelpies Award winning Author Sharon Tregenza. Her latest book, Tarantula Tide, can be found on Amazon. and here

Hello Sharon,
Thank you for your time with this interview. You are one busy lady. I loved the way you plotted the suspense in Tarantula Tide.

Hi Carma, yes it’s been an exciting end to the year. Lets hope it continues through 2009 and 2010 and . . . . I’m glad you mentioned the suspense in Tarantula Tide it was probably the toughest thing to get right. I knew I needed highs and lows to keep the action bubbling along and I made a lot of changes before I was happy.

What came first? The title or the story?

Usually, for me, it’s the title first. I love titles and have a huge list of them. This time it didn’t come so easily, though. I knew I wanted TARANTULA for its dramatic imagery and it’s importance to the plot, but I couldn’t come up with a satisfactory second word. It was a friend who suggested “Tide”. I knew immediately it was perfect.

How long did you work on Tarantula before you submitted to a publisher?

Hmmm, there’s a story to this answer. I was halfway through Tarantula Tide when I spotted an announcement for the Kelpies Award for a contemporary children’s fiction. I already knew of the Kelpies, of course, but further reading showed I already had the makings of a very suitable contestant in my book. But, and it was a big but, I had to complete it in a month to meet the deadline. I worked like crazy and more frantically as the deadline grew closer. It was touch and go and, for the last chapter and final edit, I worked for thirty-six hours straight. I posted the manuscript with only half an hour to spare - came home flopped into bed and slept and slept. Bliss.

Who did you pattern your characters Jack and Izzie after?

Because it was written in first person I have to admit that there were elements of myself in both Jack and Izzie. Mostly thought they are truly fictitious. You know when some writers say that their characters take over? Well it’s true – it really happens. I’d wake up with fragments of their conversation going through my head.

Who or what has influenced you the most in your career?

I had that all important special English teacher many years ago and then favorite writers. I still get that real “stomach kick” feeling when I read an author who excites me.

When did you decide to become a writer?

I think the dream was always there floating around in my subconscious. I come from a very small seaside town though, and the only options, when I was a teenager, seemed to be teaching or the local shoe factory. I didn’t fancy either. Life with marriage, children, and travel intervened and it wasn’t until about fifteen years ago I sent off my first (very amateurish) story. But the monster was unleashed.

What are your future goals for your writing?

Lots more children’s books. I’ve got a wealth of ideas for picture books, children’s poetry and at least two follow up novels to Tarantula Tide.

Have you ever suffered from writer’s block? If so, what seems to work for unleashing your creativity?

Nope. Writers block has never been a problem for me. Occasionally, I wish it was when the constant stream of ideas, characters and dialogue keeps me awake at night.

What makes up a typical writing day for you?

There isn’t a typical day. I just get to my computer as often as I can. I’m passionate about what I do and would quite happily spend all day, everyday, writing. There is life outside fiction though and there are other things that have to be done and people to consider.

Tell us where to find more information on you? Website? Blog?

Happily. My website is www.sharontregenza.com there’s a special site for Tarantula Tide too at www.tarantulatide.com. I’d love people to contact me. I’m on facebook and myspace as well.

Are you working on any new titles now?

Yes. I’m busy with the next adventure for Jack and Izzie. This time the mystery is set in Jack’s city of Edinburgh in Scotland - a fascinating place with a dark and bloody history. This book is called “Scorpion Sky”. Hope you like the title.

What advice would you give to aspiring children’s writers who are trying to break into the field?

Do it! Do it! Do it! And more importantly KEEP doing it. It’s hard and sometimes demoralizing sending manuscripts out to publishers. But if the writing itself is fun what have you got to loose? And then one fine day . . .

Is there anything you would like to add?

Just a big thank you, Carma for setting up this interview. Oh, and the warmest of wishes to you and all the readers of your website. I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday and a happy and successful New Year. Bye.

Bye Sharon, and thanks again.

The Gift of Family

2008-12-20T06:33:00.000-08:00

Christmas reminds us we are not alone. We are not unrelated atoms, jouncing and ricocheting amid aliens, but are a part of something, which holds and sustains us.

As we struggle with shopping lists and invitations, compounded by December's bad weather, it is good to be reminded that there are people in our lives who are worth this aggravation, and people to whom we are worth the same. Christmas shows us the ties that bind us together, threads of love and caring, woven in the simplest and strongest way within the family.

Donald E. Westlake

Donald E. Westlake is a three-time Edgar winner and the recipient of the Grandmaster award. He is the author of more than 40 novels, including The Hook. He lives in New York City.

For me, the spirit of Christmas is about letting the loving but messy little rituals become just as important as the solemn
and graceful ones. It's about making
room for everyone.

Ann Michael

My gift to you will be uplifting and motivational quotes by famous and not-so-famous authors over the next two weeks. I hope you enjoy them and I invite any comments on what any passage may mean to you. Christmas is the time of sharing.

Write it down,

Carma

The Gift of Christmas Day

2008-12-19T06:15:00.000-08:00

The Gift of Christmas Day

I sometimes think we expect too
much of Christmas Day. We try
to crowd into it the long arrears
of kindliness and humanity of
the whole year. As for me, I like
to take my Christmas a little
at a time, all through the year.
And thus I drift along into the
holidays--let them overtake me unexpectedly--waking up some
fine morning and suddenly saying
to myself: "Why this is Christmas Day!"

David Grayson
(1870 – 1946)
American Journalist and Writer

My gift to you will be uplifting and motivational quotes by famous and not-so-famous authors over the next two weeks. I hope you enjoy them and I invite any comments on what any passage may mean to you. Christmas is the time of sharing.

Write it down,
Carma

The Gift of The Honest Scrap Award

2008-12-18T06:21:00.000-08:00

Writing Coach and Award winning Author, Suzanne Lieurance, has awarded me with the Honest Scrap Award. Challenging me to reveal ten honest to goodness deep dark secrets about myself. Thank you Suzanne. I am not sure the world is ready for this but here are the rules.

1. List 10 honest things about yourself (make it interesting, even if you have to dig deep!)
2. Pass the award on to 7 bloggers.

1. I am a licensed Plumber and my husband works for me.
2. I went back to college at age 55 and graduated with a GPA 4.0. I was always older than my teachers.
3. I lost 104 pounds in 1998 by following Weight Watchers guidelines. For the first time in my adult life I wore a size 14.
4. I gained back 60 pounds by 2007. What happened? Behavior Modification fall out.
5. My weight loss/gain experience has taught me that one can never, never, stop practicing the principles of success in any venture in life.
6. I am lousy at journaling but I love to write.
7. I wrote a play when I was in the 6th grade. I got an A.
8. I never drank store bought milk until I was 16 years old.
9. I am thankful that I was born in America.
10. I love this award because it is all about me, me, me.

OK you guys let's all fess up. I believe you all have the gutz to tell it all.

Lisa Holdren
Yvonne Perry
Phil Gerbyshack
Judy Ferril
Theresa Schultz
Karen Cioffi
Dawn Phillips

Thanks for participating.

Carma

The Gift of Humbleness

2008-12-17T06:01:00.000-08:00

Think about it, the good news was proclaimed first to ordinary working people.

And so the good news was told to shepherds, to working men who were toiling in the fields. The coming King would hallow the common work of man, and in His love and grace all the problems of labour would find a solution.

The Lord of the Christmas-tide throws a halo over common toil. Even Christian people have not all learnt the significance of the angels' visit to the lonely shepherds. Some of us can see the light resting upon a bishop's crosier, but we cannot see the radiance on the ordinary shepherd's staff. We can discern the hallowedness of a priest's vocation, but we see no sanctity in the calling of the grocer, or of the scavenger in the street. We can see the nimbus on the few, but not on the crowd; on the unusual, but not on the commonplace. But the very birth-hour of Christianity irradiated the humble doings of humble people. When the angels went to the shepherds, common work was encircled with an immortal crown.

(John Henry Jowett)
(1864 – 1923)

Jowett was born in Halifax, England in 1864. "I was blessed with the priceless privilege of a Christian home," he later remarked.

His love for reading manifested itself early as he spent his evenings in the town's Mechanics' Institute, devouring volumes from their library. Jowett's father had arranged for him to begin working as a clerk for a lawyer in Halifax, but the encouragement of his Sunday school teacher, Mr. Dewhirst, turned Jowett's heart toward the ministry.

Over the next two weeks, my gift to you will be daily uplifting and motivational passages by famous and not-so-famous authors. I hope you enjoy them. If any passage moves you, please comment and share. Christmas is the time of sharing.

Write it down,
Carma

Gift of Defrosting the Heart

2008-12-16T06:36:00.000-08:00

Christmas is for children. But it is for grown-ups, too. Even if it is a headache, a chore, and nightmare, it is a period of necessary defrosting of chill and hide-bound hearts.

Lenora Mattingly Weber

Lenora Mattingly Weber wrote books and short stories for over 40 years. She is best known for her Beany Malone series and Katie Rose/Stacy Belford books. Beyond these series, Mrs. Weber wrote ten non-series books which are also captivating to readers of all ages. Her numerous short stories in McCall's, Ladies Home Journal, Good Housekeeping, Saturday Evening Post, American Magazine and Pictoral Review reveal this author's amazing gift for character presentation and storytelling.

Those who have not Christmas in their hearts
will never find it under a tree.

Roy L. Smith

Write it down,
Carma

My Gift to You - The Gift of Simplicity

2008-12-15T06:42:00.000-08:00

Over the next two weeks, my gift to you will be daily uplifting and motivational passages by famous and not-so-famous authors. I hope you enjoy them. If any passage moves you, please comment and share. Christmas is the time of sharing.

At Christmastime, children play an essential part in our celebrations. So much of what we do is intended to please them--and all the while our hearts keep hearkening back to the Christmas memories of our own childhoods. On Christmas Eve, sometimes we can't help but envy our children the stars in their eyes, especially when our own eyes are dull with exhaustion.

Christmas is so much simpler for a child. Can we open our tired, adult eyes to that same simplicity?

Ellen Sanna
For Unto Us a Child is Born

Tarantula Tide - Book Review

2008-12-12T06:31:00.000-08:00

Tarantula Tide
Author: Sharon Tregenza
Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: Floris Books (October 16, 2008)
ISBN-10: 0863156738
ISBN-13: 978-0863156731

Tarantula Tide is a fast paced, page-turning suspense novel for the middle grade reader. Jack grudgingly accompanies his mother to one of the Shetland Islands for a holiday which is known for their Land of the Viking Fire Festival. During the long ferry ride to Shetland, Jack gets sick and vomits all over a pair of red boots that are on the feet of a biker named Slasher. Jack spends the rest of the trip avoiding Slasher but mysterious circumstances involving, suspense and humor will bring them together again.

Jack’s summer holiday becomes more interesting when he meets his next door neighbor, Izzie, who has a penchant for exotic pets. A couple of favorites of mine are Karma the chameleon and Minx the Siamese cat. Shetland is full of adventure with its private coves, historical brochs and Viking history. Izzie knows her way around and her connection with the police department comes in handy. Things are not what they appear to be. The curious duo discovers the wandering tramp is not a tramp and the local vet does more than care for Shetland ponies. At the center of all the mysteriousness is an eight legged visitor named Octavia.

Also throughout the adventure, Tregenza describes a variety of other wildlife native to the area such as skuas seabirds, seals and puffins. Tarantula Tide is an exciting and easy read for everyone. Kids will love this book because of the unpredictable plot. There are a few unexpected twists and turns when Izzie and Jack explore the historical broch. You may guess the ending will turn out OK but there is no way you can guess how.

Award winning author Sharon Tregenza has written over 400 articles of poetry and short stories for children published worldwide. Tarantula Tide is her debut children’s novel and won the Kelpies Prize which rewards new Scottish writing for children’s literature.

Write it down,
Carma

Find Out What All the Buzz is About. Join the CWCC Today!

2008-12-10T06:47:00.000-08:00

The Children’s Writer’s Coaching Club (CWCC) is open for business. All that is needed is a desire to learn to write for children. No experience required. Already have a writing career? The CWCC can help you make more of the writing career you have.

Writing is not the only thing writers do. They need to learn how to market their books, author visits, how to conduct seminars and workshops more effectively.

As a member of the CWCC you will work with both published children’s authors and aspiring authors to achieve the career of your dreams.

The best part of all this is that you can do it all in the comfort of your own home. Full time or part time. The decision is yours.

Membership is $27 per month. Read on and see what a member receives.

LIVE teleclasses EVERY month. Each teleclass is taught by a successful children’s book author and/or illustrator who knows the “tricks of the trade” of children’s writing, illustrating, and publishing.

A monthly writing assignment, designed to become a finished project ready for submission to a publisher, usually by the end of the month, although some projects take longer. Each month we focus on some area of publishing. For example, one month we study how to write short fiction for children’s magazines. Another month we focus on writing nonfiction for children’s magazines. Another month we target writing picture books, etc.

The opportunity to have your monthly assignment professionally critiqued, so you know if further revisions are needed before it is ready for submission to a publisher.

Network opportunity via an online discussion list with other members of the CWCC.

Come and join the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club today as I did and you’ll be on your way to creating your own career as a published children’s book author. Click the logo below.

"

Write it down,
Carma

Writing and Illustrating - Not for the Faint-of-Heart

2008-12-08T06:00:00.000-08:00

My objective for choosing to write for children is to instill a love for reading and writing and to make a difference in children’s lives. During my search for quality content I came across this article by Alan Jordan.

Below is a summary of four major lessons Alan Jordan has learned.
(photo courtesy of Flickr)

Lessons Learned Number 1 to 4 - Writing and Publishing an Interactive Book & CD For Children

Be warned: Writing, illustrating and recording a children's picture book and audio-book CD is not for the faint-of-heart. One 850-word book took me over three years to go from concept-to-completion. To put that into perspective, I have written six 50,000+ word books that were targeted to business people. These took an average of six months. Here, in a summary fashion, are four of major lessons that I have learned. Future articles will provide additional insights. To illustrate these lessons, let's focus on a suggested sentence for a non-existent book: "Billy struggled to climb on top of the red fire truck."

1. Use as few words as possible - Would "Billy climbed up the fire truck," be better? It might or might not. It's definitely shorter, and gives the artist more freedom. On the other hand you might be eliminating some crucial concepts. Read on.

2. Understand that every word you write has the potential to restrict the artist. As an example, "climbed," means that the artist must show Billy going upward, ascending, using his hands and feet. This might make sense if it is important for Billy to climb up the truck, but what if the artist could add humor by having Billy swing on a vine to reach the top of the fire truck. Either way, Billy could struggle to reach the top of the fire truck, but, is struggling important? If it's not, imagine the fun that Billy could have jumping onto the top of the dire truck from a tree.

You may not see Billy jumping onto the fire truck in your mind's eye, but an artist might--if you don't restrict him or her with your words. Perhaps it will help to compare writing a children's book to writing a play. In the children's book, your words give you veto power over the artist. In a play the stage directions you provide give you veto power over the Stage Director and actors. I once wrote a play where the main characters were a man with two alter egos. Imagine my surprise when an avant-garde production of the play cast the alter egos of the man as female. It worked, and it was a valid interpretation because I did not specify that the alter egos had to be male.

3. Consider children equals when you're writing. Talking down to children, explaining what's happening to them is silly. They know what's happening. Also, don't be afraid to use a few challenging words. Children will figure them out, or look them up. Want proof? Read the Harry Potter books. Children understand them.

4. Read the story to several children as you write it. Be open to unexpressed criticism. Do not expect praise. You won't get it. Watch, instead, for involvement with the characters. Listen for excitement as they talk about your plots. If you don't find these things, you've failed. Go back to the drawing board.

Writing for children doesn't pay much, unless you happen to have a blockbuster best seller, but it’s fun. Mix a children's book in with your other writing. If you do your job right, you're liable to make a difference in the lives of many children. That's a big deal because today's children are the people who will influence tomorrow's world.

Alan Jordan's latest children's books are featured on a web site designed to foster creativity in children and adults. http://www.LetsBeCreative.org Visit the site and become a member (free) then you can download the latest version of The Monster on Top of the Bed as a streaming video. A free download for an iPod is also available.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alan_H._Jordan

Write it down,
Carma

The Sugar Child - Book Review

2008-12-05T06:07:00.000-08:00

Title: The Sugar Child
Author: Monique De Varennes
Illustrator: Leonid Gore
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Athenaeum/Anne Schwartz Books (October 5, 2004)
ISBN-10: 0689852444
ISBN-13: 978-0689852442

The Sugar Child is a delightful story for the kindergarten through second grade bunch. It has all the makings of a “wish upon a star” fairy tale. However, this story is more unique than Cinderella or The Gingerbread Boy. The Sugar Child is made with love by a childless baker and his wife.

The setting takes place in a small Quebec town where a little girl is formed from marzipan and magically comes to life over night. Her name is Matine. The baker and his wife dance for joy because they now have a child they can love. The couple takes great care to protect Matine’s fragile, sugary skin. When it rains, Matine is not allowed outside because her fragile skin would be washed away. She becomes sad and wants to cry but her parents talk her out of it. Matine’s parents want to protect her from the sorrow that sometimes happens in life.

Although they are able to stop her tears this time they are not so successful when Matine wants to visit her best friend who is seriously ill. Matine knows the importance of her condition but she doesn’t let her friendship with Jean-Paul stop her from risking her own life to visit him at his home. She covers herself with a cape and hood then runs in the down pouring rain to Jean-Paul’s home.

This story is about friendship and love. Illustrated by Leonid Gore with full page pastel art, giving the story a soft and delicate structure it needs. The characters and landscape have a soft glow and Matine shimmers where you can almost “feel” the sugary glaze surface of the marzipan pastry. The illustrations are dream like with soft and billowy characters.

As you would expect, magic happens. Matine sheds tears of sadness for her fragile friend’s health and her marzipan shell is washed away. Matine is transformed into a real girl. However, the story does not make it clear if Jean-Paul recovers so miraculously but illustrations demonstrate that his spirit is lifted.

Young children will love this imaginative tale and the happy ending. I think it deals with the possibility of death in a unique way. The reader doesn’t know if Matine is going to melt or not so to a five year old the act of Matine running out in the rain is a suspenseful moment.

About the author: Monique de Varennes put in thirteen years at boarding school, then went to Cornell University, majoring in English Literature, and then to Johns Hopkins University, receiving an M.A. from the Writing Seminars. She worked in publishing for a number of years, and took great joy in raising her children, Chris and Kate. Gradually she began writing again, both books for young people, edited by the gifted Anne Schwartz, and short fiction for adults. Her fiction has appeared in literary magazines, and has received a Pushcart Prize.

About the Illustrator: Leonid Gore immigrated to the United States from the Former Soviet Union, where he trained at the Art Institute of Minsk and illustrated over fifteen books for children. Kirkus praised Jacob and the Stranger by Sally Derby for Gore’s “stunning black and white illustrations … evanescent, dreamlike.” He lives in Brooklyn, NY.

Write it down,
Carma

Criss Cross - Book Review

2008-12-02T10:10:00.000-08:00

Title: Criss Cross
Author: Lynne Rae Perkins
2006 Newbery Medal award winner
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Pages: 337
Publisher: Greenwillow (August 30, 2005)
ISBN-10: 0060092734
ISBN-13: 978-0060092733

Characters in Criss Cross represent the feelings of many teenagers of all generations. Whether it be in the 1970’s or 1960’s. I dare say there is not a person among us who hasn’t wished they were someone else one time or another. Young teens will relate to the self-consciousnesses and uncertainty that all the characters exhibit, each of whom is struggling toward awareness.

Debbie and Hector, both 14, are the focus and most of the novel is through their narration. In addition to that, Perkins sets up a secondary story involving Debbie’s missing locket and the journey it takes as it is passed around by a number of different characters.

Criss Cross reads like a series of vignettes which is focused on Debbie and her friends. Debbie’s friend Linney teaches her to drive a pick up without leaving the drive way because Lenny’s parents are not home. This experience comes in handy much later when Debbie is placed in a precarious position being the only one who has driving experience and she has to take an elderly lady to the hospital.

Hector has a crush on Meadow and wants to take her someplace special. A place she has never been. The only place he can find in town is the garbage strewn ravine. He pictures it as a beautiful place if all the garbage was gone. His sister Rowanne reminds him it is only a ditch. Hector’s dad gives him a guitar but can’t afford music lessons, except for the free ones given down at the church by the priest.

There is a great deal of humor in this tender story about a group of childhood friends facing the crossroads of life and how they wish to live it. The book is illustrated with Perkins's amusing drawings and some photographs. Also Perkins experiments with writing an entire section of dialogue in haiku. “Jeff White is handsome, / but his hair is so greasy. / If he would wash it.”

What teen has not had the desire to just be somewhere else? A group of friends decided to conduct an experiment with travel. They decided to go to the bus station and get on the first bus that came through and get off at the first stop no matter where it was. They would spend a few hours and then come back.

Perkins has created a group of likable characters searching for who they are and who they will become. It is not hard to find a character to identify with.

About the author: Lynne Rae Perkins is the author of three picture books, The Broken Cat, Clouds for Dinner, and Home Lovely, a Boston Globe/Horn Book Honor Book. Her novel All Alone in the Universe was named an ALA Notable Book, an ALA Book list Editor's Choice, a Bulletin Blue Ribbon Book, and a Smithsonian Magazine Notable Book for Children. She lives with her family in northern Michigan, where it snows all the time.

Write it down,
Carma

Today is Cyber Sale Monday!

2008-12-01T09:47:00.000-08:00

On Cyber Sale Monday you'll find all sorts of bargains all over the Internet. So we just had to join in the fun.

TODAY ONLY! You can join the Children's Writer's Coaching Club for 1/2 price. Suzanne Lieurance is offering a block buster discount if you join TODAY.

Already a bargain at $27 a month for anyone but at the special low price of $13.50 per month you are receiving a spectacular opportunity. Just click on the Children's Writer's Coaching Club logo and it will take you to the sign up page.

Yes, there is more. You can begin learning how to break into the children's writing market TODAY by attending a FREE teleclass December 1, which is tonight at 7 p.m. central time and 5 p.m. pacific time and 8 p.m. eastern. Suzanne Lieurance is my special guest tonight. Click here to pose a question and if you are among the first 24 to sign up you will receive the New York Times Best Seller, The Christmas Box, by Richard Paul Evans.

After asking your question, type in your mailing address to have the book shipped to you.

Write it down,
Carma