Not much blogging because I’ve been busy talking on the telephone… Do you remember that quaint way of communicating in which the receiver can actually hear inflection, gasping, snorting, and real live air moving in and out of a voice box? When “LOL” had a noise attached to it — and I don’t mean a clicking sound on a keyboard? Recently, I’ve had the… Read more »
“There is no writer’s block; what stops us is fear of rejection.” author Jacqueline Woodson
A small but curious group attended the SCBWI Networking Day gathering on Saturday, March 6 — despite a postcard-perfect day in Marquette. UP here in the land of six months of snow and cold, we live for a heady 59 degrees in March. Coming inside on this day was a testament to passion. I’m sending a special shout out to Boni Ashburn, the traditionally published… Read more »
I’m excited to share that I’ve finished a first draft of my upper middle grade chapter book, Exile. Normally I’m sort of a quiet person, so those who know me will be surprised I had 15,500+ words in me. I’m happy to tell this story — it’s about time… The plot synopsis follows: This historical fiction, upper middle grade chapter… Read more »
Click on “News” above and you’ll find out more information about Networking Day in our area. I’m hosting and bringing something chocolate, something caffeinated, and something interesting. You’ll have to come to find out what. RSVP required to cpwpear@aol.com or 906-228-4465 (so I know how much of the stuff to bring.) This is a great… Read more »
Just wanted to give a shout out to people who offer their quiet spaces to writers (whose lives are anything but quiet) to create. I have a person like that in my life. Because she has written a book (a very scientific and important textbook) and because she is a shameless promoter of other’s dreams, she understands how valuable this… Read more »
Heavy: If you are interested in middle grade historical fiction (the genre in which my chapter book will live), you must read Milkweed by Jerry Spinelli. Lisa Wheeler (www.lisawheelerbooks.com) recommended it to me and she was right on. It’s a powerful, heart-pounding, shocking account of the atrocities of WWII told by a 6 or 7… Read more »
The more I learn and talk about the Pedro Pan mission, the more incredulous I become about how many Americans have never heard this part of our history. Fourteen thousand forty-eight children (14,048!!) flew clandestinely to the United States UNACCOMPANIED by any adults to be cared for (by complete strangers in many cases) until their parents could join them here… Read more »
My eyes are blurry from reading everything I can about the Pedro Pan mission. I want to understand what was going on in the minds of Cuban parents, American politicians, foster families/orphanages, and of course, the exiled children, prior to starting the manuscript. There are several good adult books written about this subject, each representing the authors’ biases… Read more »
Thank you to the Wahoo Women for their support via email. Ann Marie Frenn sent the following quote: “It just takes ONE person on the right day to believe in you as much as you do.” I love this and now have it posted on my bulletin board. Also, a huge thank you to my… Read more »
Sharing insights on writing children’s books and the publishing industry, and offering trinkets for creators and educators because you rock.
