Category: contests

Who Will It Be? – Pitch Pick #1

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I realize it’s 6 AM and the coffee is still brewing, but really, I can’t think of a more exciting way to start a Monday.  Are you ready for leap-out-of-your-chair level excitement?  I hope so!

The moment you’ve all been waiting for is here at last!  It’s time to vote for who should win the Would You Read It pitch contest for July/August 2011!  The lucky winner will have his/her pitch read by and commented upon by none other than the lovely and talented editor, Erin Molta!!!  (For Erin’s impressive credentials, click the Would You Read It tab on the top bar.)

In order to keep things moving along, I’m hoping everyone can place his/her vote by Friday September 9.  (I am also hoping that I really and truly worked all the kinks out of the voting system with the practice runs, but only time will tell…!)

As a quick refresher, our contestants are:

1. Andrea:

Working Title:  Wild (Girl) Genius
Age/Genre:  MG
The Pitch:  After girly Jade persuades her adventure-enthusiast parents to get her into a special camp led by wilderness expert Carson Riley, Jade’s plans to show Carson she’s skilled enough to host a youth segment of his new TV show get messed up by a secret celebrity and someone sabotaging the camp.

2.  Megan:

Working Title:  The Rhyme Machine
Age/Genre: PB
The Pitch:  Chaos breaks out in a classroom when an imaginary “rhyme machine” springs to life and starts creating things that rhyme with everything that’s said.

3. Alisha:

Working Title:  Finding The Reindeer Beat
Age/Genre:  PB
The Pitch:  When Santa’s sleigh team decided to retire, a new group of reindeer trained with Coach Dasher, almost crashed in front of Santa, and discovered the secret to staying together.

4. Paul:

Working Title:  The Big Red Boat
Age/Genre:  PB series entitled Adventures With Benjamin Blueberry and Wally The Goat
The Pitch:  Wally the Goat is steering the boat… Look at him go around that duck and through the waves.  He sure is saving the day.

5. Pam:

Title:  When This Is Over I Will Go To School And I Will Learn To Read: A Story Of Hope And Friendship For One Young Kenyan Orphan
Age/Genre:  PB
The Pitch:  No one knows the story of Kenya better than the children who live it, and it is their truth that is certain to nudge the hearts and minds of parents, teachers and children everywhere.

6 Laynie:

Working Title:  Hidden Oaks Camp Or Else!
Age/Genre:  MG
The Pitch:  Moochie Mockingbird and other animal friends lead endangered animals away from a huge, deadly Texas Hill Country wildfire to the safety of “firewise community” Hidden Oaks, a summer youth camp.

And now, ladies and gentleman, the vote!  Duhn-duhn, duhn-duhn!


<a href=”http://polldaddy.com/poll/5477601/”>Pitch Pick #1</a>
Remember, the polls close on September 9, so get your votes in ASAP!
This is so exciting!  I can hardly wait to announce the winner!
And don’t forget to come back Wednesday for our first September contender, Kimberly!

Blogfests

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Don’t worry.

I have not been eaten by a bear.

Yet.

It’s just that we are in the middle of high-school-graduation-8th-grade-play-rehearsals-and-performances-baby-shower-shopping-8th-grade-graduation-ceremony-and-party-planning-and-shopping-wedding-related-hysteria-vacation-planning-along-with-the-general-busy-ness-of-daily-life so I’m finding it a little hard to keep to my schedule… 🙂

I hope you all had the opportunity to read at least some of the entries in Cally Jackson and Rachel Morgan’s tension blogfest.  I thought it was really fun to enter, and to read all the other entries (although this morning, it was practically impossible to vote on a winner!)

It was such fun that I’d like to do a blogfest, too!

But not tension, because that’s been done 🙂

So here’s my question:  what do you think would be a fun blogfest?

300 words about character? Or setting?

One-paragraph plot synopses?

A one-sentence pitch contest?  (Ooh – that sounds like a good one!)

A limerick contest (maybe on a certain topic)?

A segment of dialogue?

Other brilliant suggestions?  (But remember, this is a children’s writer blog, so all ideas should be appropriate for kids, MG, or YA.)

Please let me know what you think would be fun, and what you might consider entering.  (It’s more fun with lots of entries!)

I’ll look forward to your responses!

P.S.  If you’d like to join me in hosting the blogfest (as Cally and Rachel did it together) please let me know that, too 🙂

And We Have Two Winners…!

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I know.  It’s past 9 AM EST.  So sorry to keep you waiting when you’ve been all a-twitter wondering who the big winners would be.  It’s just, I got distracted by bookshelves.

You all remember my office, right?

Well, I got the opportunity to pick up a couple bookshelves for a good price, and in the interest of being able to actually enter my office, I rushed off to get them, abandoning my blogging duties in a most reprehensible fashion.

But now I’m back.  The bookshelves are in the yard awaiting dusting.  And although it’s making them very impatient, they will just have to wait because I don’t want to keep you in suspense a moment longer!

I hope you guys realize just how lucky you are.  By entering a contest on my blog, you are way raising your odds of winning because my blog is obscure new enough that I have yet to get masses of entries 🙂

For this particular contest, we have 2 prizes and 7 contestants, so you do the math.  Really.  You do it.  I am terrible at math.  But I’m pretty sure it works out to You-Have-A-Great-Chance %.

So here we go.

The names are being written on slips of colored paper (very festive!)…

…the papers are being as thoroughly and randomly mixed as 7 pieces of paper can be…

…the judge is reaching into the cookie jar….

Oh, you thought I meant the papers were in the cookie jar?  No, no.  The judge just needed fortification….

Okay, now the judge is selecting the first winner…

…for a free signed copy of Zoe and Robot – Let’s Pretend….

…and the winner is…

ANDREA!!!

Oh my goodness!  The excitement is overwhelming!  Everybody else go get a cookie to sustain themselves.

All right.  Ready?

The judge is reaching for the second winner…

…the lucky recipient of a free signed copy of Are You Eating Something Red?…

…and our second winner is…

TERI!!!  (Who is apparently making a habit of this :))

Wow.  All this excitement is exhausting!  Raise your hand if you think this calls for another cookie 🙂

Winners, please use the Email Me button on the right hand side of the blog to let me know your address (so we know where to send the book) and how you’d like it signed (so Ryan can get it just right!)

Thanks so much to the other contestants.  I really appreciate your enthusiasm.  I wish everyone could win, but alas, not possible.  For those of you who would still like copies of Ryan’s awesome books, please visit Ryan Sias on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.  And thanks again, Ryan, for such a great interview!

Now, I’m off to dust my new shelves, install them in my office, and attain a state of Feng Shui hitherto unknown in the House of Hill 🙂  Have a great weekend everyone!

Children’s Book Giveaway Contest – Meet Ryan Sias Part 2!

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Holy Swiss Cheese, Batman!  As if Monday wasn’t awesome enough, today we get to finish our interview with author/illustrator Ryan Sias AND we will have a contest so that not one but two of our lucky readers will win signed copies of Ryan’s books!

Deep breaths!  No hyperventilating, please!  We certainly don’t want anyone to faint from an overdose of excitement!

It’s true.  Ryan has most generously offered not only a signed copy of Zoe and Robot – Let’s Pretend, but also a signed copy of Are You Eating Something Red?  So read on, enter the contest, and we will have two lucky winners on Friday!

Zoe and Robot – Let’s Pretend, ages 4-8,  hardcover, 40 pages
Are You Eating Something Red?  Ages 0-3, board book, 5 pages

Welcome back, Ryan!

SLH:  What kinds of things have you done to publicize your work?  (Website? Blog? FB? Twitter? Flyers, promotional postcards? School visits? Etc…?)
RS:  Over the years my main promotion tool has been my website. I have done comic conventions, licensing shows and some web advertising. I hand out postcards to every person I meet. Facebook, live journal and twitter have all been good tools also.
With my books I’ve been going to more book events.  I’ve got a bunch of festivals lined up and have started working on getting signings for Zoe and Robot. I can’t wait to get out there and promote the books!
SLH:  Do you have an agent?  If so, who, and how did you get him/her?
RS:  Yes, Judy Hanson is my agent. She works with a lot of my friends and I knew her pretty well. So it was natural that I work with her.
SLH:  The world of children’s books is in a state of flux right now.  Do you have plans for writing/illustrating stories for ipad, iphone, kindle, nook or other apps?

RS:  I am talking to my publisher about doing an App for our book Are You Eating Something Red? and I’ve been getting requests for a Zoe and Robot app. I think it would be cool to see it on the ipad. So hopefully soon!
An interior shot of Are You Eating Something Red?

Interior shots of Zoe and Robot (above and below)
Seems like Ryan’s books would make great apps!

SLH:  What are you working on now?
RS:  I have just signed a contract for a companion book to Are You Eating Something Red? It is related to healthy eating, but I can’t tell you any more, it’s a secret!  Shhhhhh.
My agent is showing a totally new series pitch to editors. Hopefully I can announce something soon!
SLH:  Do you have advice for aspiring authors, illustrators, or author/illustrators (kids or grown-ups :))?
RS:  Practice, practice, practice. Do your homework, join SCBWI (the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators), go the library or book store every week, and write every week. Same goes for drawing. When you are ready to submit, target the editors and publishing houses you want to work with.
I see a lot of people who get hung up on one story. I suggest, write three to six ideas and show them to friends. Then pick the one that seems to be working the best. Also don’t work in isolation. I did this for many years and got nowhere.  Show your work to friends or join a writing group to get feedback. It will automatically make your work stronger. Same rules apply to artwork. Show it around and get notes about colors, composition and concepts.
Also, STAY positive; don’t let negative thoughts get in your way. Stay focused on the goal and make it happen. It will not be easy, you will get a lot of rejection, but use that to learn and improve. It is totally possible to do picture books and it’s so great when the first one comes out. So stay positive and keep trying! You will get there.
SLH:  Are you available for school visits?  What is your preference for audience age, size etc.  Where can interested people get information?

RS:  Yes I am. I have two different talks. One is about growing up and becoming a professional cartoonist. The other is called “Sketch a story” where I teach creative storytelling and we create a book as a class. I seem to go over best with kids ages 5-10. They’d need to contact me for more information.
I am also looking to do readings at book stores and libraries, where I can do the same thing.
Ryan’s school visits look awesome!

SLH:  Do you have any else to say?

RS:  Working on picture books is a life long dream. I’m thankful to Blue Apple Books for letting me work on books with them. I hope to do many more fun books for everyone to enjoy. I’d like to end by saying, “Keep drawing, keep writing and never give up on your dreams!”

Thank you so much for joining us, Ryan, and all the best of luck with your new book and your secret projects!  Please visit Ryan at www.ryansias.com!

And now – the moment you’ve all been waiting for – THE CONTEST!!!

Since Ryan’s drawing has a cartoon style, that will be the theme of our contest.

Here’s what you have to do:

1.  Be a follower of this blog (bonus entry if you get someone else to follow the blog and tell me who it is.)

2.  Leave a comment naming your favorite cartoon character.  It can be from comic books, Saturday morning TV, or any other cartoon venue.  The comment should also tell why you would like to win Zoe and Robot and/or Are You Eating Something Red.

3.  Be sure to leave your comment by Friday, April 22, 9 AM EST because that’s when the drawing will take place and the winners be announced!

That’s it!  That’s all you have to do!  I hope we’ll get lots of entries so Ryan will feel loved and appreciated 🙂

Looking forward to hearing who your favorite cartoon characters are!  (That means you too, Ryan!)  I am personally on the fence about my favorite – it’s between Hong Kong Fooey, the Kung Fu crime fighting dog; Muttley, from Dastardly and Muttley of Yankee Doodle Pigeon fame; and Mush Mouse and Punkin’ Puss…. apparently I lean toward animal characters 🙂

Meet Ryan Sias!

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Wow, do I have a treat for you guys today!  Allow me to introduce the one and only Ryan Sias!

Ryan Sias

Ryan is the author/illustrator of  Zoe and Robot – Let’s Pretend (Blue Apple Books 2011) and the illustrator of Are You Eating Something Red? and Are You Eating Something Green?- placemat books from Blue Apple Books 2010. His story and illustration work have appeared in Nickelodeon magazine, the Flight series (Villard) and Mad magazine.

Ryan earned a B.F.A at the Ringling School of Art & Design in Florida, where he created the puppet troupe, “Patchwork Puppets” and performed in schools, libraries and theme parks. After working for five years at ReelFX in Texas as an art director for videos he moved to New York to pursue his television and children’s book illustration career.

Ryan has considerable experience in the world of television and film. He has directed videos for Barney and Chuck E. Cheese and his storyboarding credits include the movie Bowling for Columbine, as well as Robots and Maya & Miguel for Scholastic Entertainment.  He is currently working with Sesame Workshop (a dream come true!)

Ryan has so much interesting information to share that I will probably divide his interview between today and Wednesday so you can enjoy it fully.  At the end there will be a contest (you know how I love contests!) and the prize will be a signed copy of Ryan’s most recent title:  Zoe and Robot – Let’s Pretend!

Welcome, Ryan, and thank you so much for joining us!

SLH:  Ryan, how old were you when you started writing stories?  Drawing?

RS:  According to my parents I started drawing when I was 1.5. I’ve seen a drawing I did of Ernie at age three. (I loved Sesame Street!) I have books I made all through school. So I’ve been creating stories my entire life!
Two of Ryan’s early drawings (above and below)

SLH:  Were you encouraged to pursue writing/illustrating?

RS:  Yes, my mom taught Kindergarten and my dad was a Industrial designer. So it was a house of creative people. I remember drawing all the time.  I was diagnosed with dyslexia very young, so I was encouraged to draw since school was tricky for me.

SLH:  How has being dyslexic affected your career?  (Although dyslexia makes writing harder, dyslexics are notoriously original thinkers, often very spatially gifted – more right-brained than the rest of us – are there things you think actually come more easily to you?)

RS:  Being dyslexic made school very difficult for me, and was hard on my ego. I drew all the time because it was easy and I got praise for it. I think that is the main reason I draw all the time still.
I love to write because it is so creative, but it can be hard because I have typos and wrong tenses all over the place. (Probably in this interview!) I  use spell check, but I’ll use the correct spelling of the wrong word. So I have to have everything checked by friends.
I do find I am able to generate ideas very fast, and I am creative all the time. I’m not sure how much of that is the dyslexia or just my lifetime of being creative.  I’m not sure if I do it better than any one else.
I have learned to accept my dyslexia. It is an extra challenge, but I’ve never known any different and I don’t let it get in the way of my dreams!

SLH:  What was your first published book?  How did you feel/react?

RS:  When Are You Eating Something Red? came out it was very exciting! But I didn’t fully believe it until I had a copy in my hands. The most shocking thing for me was when I saw it in the store of the Museum of Modern Art! Now I tell people that my work is in the MoMa next to the Picasso’s! 😉

SLH:  What books have you published subsequently?

RS:  My brand new book Zoe and Robot – Let’s Pretend was my next book, it is also with Blue Apple Books. It is part of their Ballon Toons line of books. It just came out April first!

SLH:  Which is your favorite of the books you’ve published so far?

RS:  I like all my books, but at the moment my new book Zoe and Robot – Let’s Pretend is my favorite. I like the comedy and how the Robot talks in third person. My goal is to do more silly books, so this is a step in that direction.

SLH:  You have been both author and illustrator of your books.  When you create a story, which comes first – the writing or the drawing?  Or do they go hand-in-hand?

RS:  They go hand in hand for me. I’ve started books both ways. I flip between both as I’m developing an idea.

This is how I normally work.  I do pencil sketches for the whole book.
I use a light board, making the lines with water color instead of the ink that many people use.
I scan the finished inked page.
I color in PhotoShop and TA DA!  Finished art!

Wow!  As someone who cannot draw, I am fascinated by Ryan’s process.  I hope you’re finding it interesting too!

Tune in Wednesday for the conclusion of Ryan’s interview, when we’ll learn about his marketing techniques and school visits, among other things, and finish with A SECRET! and our contest for a free signed copy of Zoe and Robot – Let’s Pretend!  See you then 🙂

And if you have questions for Ryan, please post them in the comments!

Read Across America and A PRIZE!!!

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I will not post contestants’ responses until all entries are in so that no one has an unfair advantage 🙂  But be assured if you posted your answers, I’ve got them!

It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood!  Not even one speck of rain, ice or snow (except for the thigh-deep stuff still on the ground) 🙂  So in celebration of this beautiful morning, Read Across America, and April Fool, Phyllis‘s Book Birthday yesterday (and because it is Wednesday and we all need a little fun to boost us toward the end of the week) I have decided to host a game/contest with a PRIZE!!!

Anyone who has hung around this blog for any length of time knows I can’t go very long without some kind of contest 🙂

So here it is:

Since it’s Read Across America week and we should all be encouraging kids to enjoy the delights of reading, I will post 25 first lines of well-known picture books.  Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to identify the title and author of each book!

The prize?  (Well, I think it’s a prize!)  The winner will receive a personalized signed copy of April Fool, Phyllis (it is her book birthday after all) hot off the presses!

The rules are:
1.  You must be a follower of this blog.
2.  You must list all 25 titles and authors correctly.
3.  You must post your answer by 5 PM EST Sunday March 6 (see how nice I’m being – giving you more than the usual 2 days?)

I will announce the winner in Monday morning’s post, with plenty of time to mail the book before April Fool’s Day!

Happy Reading with your kids and happy writing your contest answers everyone!  Good luck and have fun!

Here are the first lines:

1.  This is Olivia.
2.  When I leave home to walk to school, Dad always says to me, “Marco, keep your eyelids up and see what you can see.”
3.  The day Helen gave Martha dog her alphabet soup, something unusual happened.
4.  Chester Raccoon stood at the edge of the forest and cried.
5.  This is the house.  The house on East 88th Street.
6.  The big hand of the clock is at 12.
7.  One day Little Sal went with her mother to Blueberry Hill to pick blueberries.
8.  I’m Emily Elizabeth, and I have a dog.
9.  Ava had a hard time falling asleep.
10.  Once upon a time there was a Little House way out in the country.
11.  In an old house in Paris that was covered with vines lived twelve little girls in two straight lines.
12.  Once upon a time there were four little rabbits, and their names were Flopsy, Mopsy, Cottontail, and Peter.
13.  Lilly loved school.
14.  Harry was a white dog with black spots who liked everything, except… getting a bath.
15.  The night Max wore his wolf suit and made mischief of one kind and another his mother called him “WILD THING” and Max said, “I’LL EAT YOU UP!” so he was sent to bed without eating anything.
16.  One evening, after thinking it over for some time, Harold decided to go for a walk in the moonlight.
17.  Once upon a time, there was a beautiful young duck named Ping.
18.  Chug, chug, chug.  Puff, puff, puff.  Ding-dong, ding-dong.
19.  Farmer Brown has a problem.
20.  In the great forest a little elephant is born.
21.  Little Nutbrown Hare, who was going to bed, held on tight to Big Nutbrown Hare’s very long ears.
22.  In the light of the moon a little egg lay on a leaf.
23.  Once there was a tree… and she loved a little boy.
24.  Once upon a time there was a very old man and a very old woman.
25.  One Christmas Eve, many years ago, I lay quietly in my bed.

P.S.  I discovered this was surprisingly hard to make difficult!  So many first lines include the character’s name, which totally gives it away!  Next time, I think I’ll try last lines!  But at the very least, this will hopefully give you all a list of great books to read with your young friends… 🙂

I will not post contestants’ responses until all entries are in so that no one has an unfair advantage 🙂  But be assured if you posted your answers, I’ve got them!

First Challenge!

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Okay, folks, this is exciting!  We are off and running with the first writer’s platform building challenge today!  The winner will receive an awesome prize, and as you well know, I  am all in favor of prizes 🙂

As of the writing of this post, I have deliberately not read anyone else’s challenge yet, because I didn’t want to be influenced (or intimidated out of even trying!) so I’m really looking forward to reading them all once I’ve finished mine.  The rules state that we must include one secret, one lie, one interesting quirk, one annoying habit, one of our best character traits, one of our favorite things in the whole wide world, use the words bloviate, fuliguline, (yes, those are actual words and yes, I will have to look them up before I can use them!) blade and rabbit, and accomplish it all in 300 words or less in any writing form we choose!

Ready?  Go!

Susanna was not like the other rabbits.  She liked to get up at 5 AM, not 6 or 7.  She preferred the openness of the meadow to the safety and confinement of the briar patch.  She loved how blades of spring grass tickled her feet, like fuliguline down.  And while the other rabbits were quiet and kept to themselves, Susanna liked to hop up on the back porch steps of the farmhouse where the sun was warm, and bloviate at length about the merits of vegetarianism to anyone who would listen.  She spoke especially firmly about this to the dogs, a habit the other rabbits found bizarre.  Why would anyone talk to dogs?  The other rabbits figured that the reason she enjoyed public speaking and communing with dogs was because she was adopted.  No denying she was odd, but they were willing to overlook her eccentricities because she was loyal and kind and always quick to help when called upon.  Susanna loved her home and her family, but sometimes she felt her differences and couldn’t help but wonder where she had come from, and how and why she had ended up here.  Still, she was a happy rabbit – how could she not be with all the good fortune bestowed upon her by not just one but four lucky rabbit’s feet 🙂

There you go – and only 220 words – pretty good for the queen of long-windedness 🙂  Those of you who have read Punxsutawney Phyllis may recognize the familiarity of the opening lines 🙂

Now, here is the question:  I may have revealed something about myself that isn’t strictly true (actually, of course I have, because the rules required one lie!)  Can you guess what it is?  The answer will be in my next post, but I will look forward to your guesses!  If you want to, feel free to try to guess the secret, too, and/or follow the guidelines listed above and submit your own list/paragraph/story/poem in the comments for us to enjoy and guess at if you’re not already in the Crusader Challenge (because I know a bunch of my followers are very creative and not crusaders!)

So, see if you can guess and/or add your own attempt!

In The Pink! – A Winner and Some Good News!

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One of my favorite things about blogging – aside from getting to talk with so many interesting people! – is getting to give prizes 🙂

Today, we have a winner in the PENNY LOVES PINK contest.  I’ll give you a hint.  She (okay, all the entrants were shes, so not much hint so far!) said her favorite pink things were:

1. Laynie! (Even her sling is decorated in pink stickers!)
2. Grapefruit lip gloss from Bath and Body Works.
3. Strawberry Cake, which I made for Laynie’s birthday. 
4. Pink cheeks! Is there anything cuter?
5. Flamingos. Call them tacky, but how can you hate anything that is naturally that pink!


Note the reference to the sling?  How fitting that the winner should be someone who can use a little pick-me-up this week 🙂  It turns out, the winner (well, actually her daughter) needs a little cheering from a broken collar bone, so isn’t it nice we can help?

In case you haven’t guessed yet, the winner is BECKY!  Come on down!  Please use the Email me button on the right hand side of the blog to let me know your address (so I can mail your prize) and how you’d like the book signed (so Cori can get it just right :))

Thanks to all the other contestants.  I really appreciate your enthusiasm.  I wish everyone could win, but alas – not possible.  For those who would still like a copy of PENNY or any of Cori’s other books, please visit Cori Doerrfeld on Amazon.  And thanks again to Cori for such a terrific interview!

And now, for some other great news in the pink department:  April Fool, Phyllis! arrived in the warehouse on Wednesday!  Hurray!  *cheers and throws confetti*  This means that, once they get around to inventory and unpacking boxes, it should be available any time now.  So exciting!  Keep your eye on Merritt Book Store (likely to have it first), Amazon, and Barnes & Noble, and you could be among the first to have your very own copy 🙂

Here’s a sneak peek 🙂

The Cover (OK, you’ve seen this before :))

Phyllis surveying Punxsutawney Hollow
illustration copyright Jeff Ebbeler 2011
illustration copyright Jeff Ebbeler 2011

Really, how cute is Phyllis 🙂
illustration copyright Jeff Ebbeler 2011

Okay.  That’s all you get.  You have to go read the book to see the rest 🙂
Have a great weekend everybody!

How About A Writing Course?

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Before we get involved in other things, let me take a second to remind you that the contest to win a signed copy of PENNY LOVES PINK is still open.  Please scroll down, read Cori’s interview, and enter to win if you’re interested.  You have until tomorrow (Friday Feb. 18) at 9 AM EST to enter, and it’s a prize definitely worth winning!

Now…

I don’t know about you, but I generally feel I need all the help I can get 🙂

When I go on school visits, and even teach writing workshops to kids, I always tell them that writing is a process.  Nobody gets it right the first time.  Revising and editing are part of the game.

Learning to write is also a process.  I’m sure there are lots of people out there who are truly masters of the craft, but I don’t feel like I’m one of them just yet.  Although I have a number of books published, I still feel like I’m learning.  My writing can always get better.

Whether you’re published already or not, if you feel like you have things to learn, or areas you could improve on, one great option is a writing course.

There are lots of them out there.  I can personally speak for those offered by the Institute of Children’s Literature and Jordan Rosenfeld, both of which are available online.

If you’d like something more “real” (i.e. an actual physical class that you go to and see other people!) I can also highly recommend The ABCs of Writing or Children.  Here’s the info if you’re interested:

The ABCs of Writing for Children will be offered again at Merritt
Bookstore, Front Street, Millbrook, NY, on Tuesday afternoons from 1 – 3
p.m.

Class will meet once a week for 6 weeks
Dates: April 5, April 12, (skipping April 19), April 26, May 3, May 10,
May 17


CLASS INSTRUCTORS:
Karen Kaufman Orloff – ex-magazine editor and author of four picture books
(I WANNA IGUANA, I WANNA NEW ROOM, IF MOM HAD THREE ARMS, TALK, OSCAR,
PLEASE!) and a regular columnist for “The Poughkeepsie Journal”

Della Ross Ferreri: Author of two picture books (STAR OF THE SHOW, HOW
WILL I EVER SLEEP IN THIS BED?), and two beginning readers (PICNIC ON THE
SIDEWALK, HEY! YOU’RE EATING MY HOMEWORK!) plus numerous poems/articles in
children’s magazines

Class will cover:

• How to get ideas
• How to structure a story
• Writing in different genres, including rhyme
• Creating great characters
• First drafts and re-writing
• Writing effective query letters
• Submitting to publishers

In addition, there will be:

• Manuscript critiques
• In-class writing exercises
• Ample Q & A time

CLASS FEE: $150
Small, intimate class setting. Informal atmosphere.

NOTE: YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE AN ILLUSTRATOR TO WRITE CHILDREN”S BOOKS!

For more information, contact Karen (orloff@bestweb.net/ 845-896-8038)

The only drawback with Karen and Della’s class is that you have to live within driving distance of Millbrook, NY (or have a private jet – but I’m thinking most of us aren’t quite there yet :))

Have any of you taken courses?  If so, please share them and tell us how your experience was and whether you’d recommend them!

Think Pink! Meet Cori Doerrfeld – Part 2

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As if yesterday wasn’t exciting enough, today there’s more!  Read on for the rest of Cori’s interview, and then… wait for it… a CONTEST!!!  You could win a free signed copy of Cori’s new picture book PENNY LOVES PINK!

So, onward…

SLH:  PENNY LOVES PINK, your most recent title, is the first book you have both written and illustrated.  Was the process different for you?  Easier?  Harder?  What gave you the idea for the story?

CD:  PENNY LOVES PINK, will be the first book that I have both written and illustrated.  It was definitely different for me than other projects, and more difficult.  The main reason was because I cared so much about every detail, since my name was the only one appearing on the book.  It was also more personal when editors suggested big changes or wanted to tone down certain elements.  There were times when I wondered whose book it really was.  In the end however, the publisher has been so supportive and truly wants only the best for me as an illustrator and author.  I originally wrote the book in 2005.  I was working at a daycare, and I could  not believe how self-absorbed the two year olds could be.  Some of them literally lived in their own worlds, where the color of a shirt, or a certain stuffed animal decided the fate of the world.  The original book was called, Leah Loves Pink, inspired by a real little girl who would not potty train unless her toilet was pink.


SLH:  What are you working on now?  Do you have manuscripts out for consideration?

CD:  Right now I am currently working on new ideas for books. I have one book out for consideration, a dummy in progress, and a few ideas just simmering in my mind.  I will say that this stage is the most difficult for me.  It takes a lot of focus and energy to actually sit and take a blip of an idea to a fully formed dummy with sketches.  I also get distracted easily when a new idea occurs to me…it is hard to find time to work on them all!


SLH:  What are your inspirations?  Most difficult obstacles?

CD:  The majority of my inspiration comes from the kids I have known and cared for.  I was a toddler teacher and a nanny for several years.  It was always fun to see what ideas the kids really responded to, and of course to hear all the wacky little ideas and sayings they had themselves.  My own daughter is quite the inspiration at times.  She gave me one idea that I hope to get into dummy form sometime soon.  Other than that, there are the people who inspired me as a child, Jim Henson, Tim Burton, Chuck Jones, Bill Peet, Don Bluth, and the countless animators at both Warner Brothers and Disney. I spent a good part of my childhood wanting to be an animator, and animated films still influence and inspire me today.  As far as obstacles go, time is my greatest enemy.  I sometimes feel if I just had a tiny bit more time in each day, I could truly develop a masterpiece.


SLH:  Do you attend writers or illustrators conferences?  Enter writing contests?

CD:  I have never attended any conferences.  I really should find out how to become a part of my local illustrator/writing community.  I do have one friend who I meet with on a regular basis to brainstorm and share ideas.  And I once had the amazing pleasure to meet with some local greats including Caldecott Award winner, Stephen Gammell, and best selling illustrator, Derek Anderson.  The birth of my daughter prevented me from going to the next group meeting…and I never got back in touch with them.  The only contest I ever entered was to be the artist for The Minnesota State Fair Commemorative poster.  I didn’t win this year, but someday I hope to make that poster.  I love our state fair!  


SLH:  (Hang on – this one has a lot of questions in it!)  What has been your best selling book so far?  Which book’s sales (if any) did not do as well as expected?  Why do you think that might have been?  Were you surprised by one book’s success over another’s?  Have all your titles earned out?  Are they all still in print?  Have sales affected publishers’ willingness to do further projects in a good or bad way?  (WHEW!)

CD:  This question is difficult to answer.  First off let me explain that the majority of my books were done under a work for hire contract, and therefore I earn no royalties whatsoever on those titles.  I currently have four books still on the market trying to earn royalties, and two more on the way.  The Brooke Shields books sold well enough I suppose, but I have been disappointed in the overall sales of the two books.  I earned one royalty check with the first, and nothing on the second.  The first book, Welcome to Your World, Baby! was picked up by a Korean publisher, so that has given me a little bit of hope.  Penny Loves Pink has only been out a month, and I honestly have no idea how well it is selling. I have been very nervous about the over-saturation of pink themed books, and worry that it will ultimately effect sales.  I think how well Penny does will influence whether or not Little Brown wants to do another book with me.  I am still waiting for my best seller.  It is definitely something I’d like to achieve, for my career and my bank account!


SLH:  Are you available for school visits?  What is your preferred age range and group size?  Do you have materials available for teachers and/or parents that go along with your books?

CD:  I  am available for school visits.  I taught preschool for many years, and I have also spoken to college level illustration classes.  I do prefer to either talk with young kids, the age group my books are created for, or college level kids who are interested in pursuing a career in art.  I would however be happy to speak to any class.  When I speak, I try to bring along sketches, proofs from the book, and fun examples of my art to help show my process.  I am also happy to prepare a project for the class, such as generating a story idea, or making a pink monster.  This can be done while I am visiting the class, or whenever the teacher has time.  


SLH:  What is your website, FB fan page, blog, twitter?

CD:  My website badly needs to be updated, but for now it’s what I’ve got.  Please find me at www.coridoerrfeld.com and on Facebook as Cori Doerrfeld.  One of my other goals is to make more of an online presence, so hopefully I’ll soon have a new website with a blog as well.

SLH:  Do you have any advice for beginning authors, illustrators or author/illustrators?

CD:  I truly feel that I myself am still beginning.  I know for me the biggest shock upon getting my first book, is how quickly you are expected to work.  I have typically had three to four months to complete an entire book from start to finish.  That includes sketches, revisions, finished art, and revised finished art.  It can be grueling at times, but ultimately it is worth it to have a job you love.  I would also say that you should truly just create what you enjoy.  Don’t try to force an idea or painting.  Think of things that inspire you, that make you happy, and go from there.   You do need a bit of a tough skin, especially if your work is published.  Editors will want to change things, critics won’t like you, and sometimes you have no money.  But I will say that there is nothing more satisfying than seeing your ideas in print.  


Thank you so much, Cori.  I have really enjoyed hearing your thoughts on all of this.  Thank you for sharing your experiences so generously.

And now…. the moment you’ve all been waiting for… THE CONTEST and your chance to win an awesome prize!!!

Here’s what you have to do:

1.  Be a follower of this blog (bonus entry if you get someone else to follow the blog and tell me who it is :))
2.  Leave a comment telling why you would like to win PENNY LOVES PINK (or for whom) and listing your 5 favorite pink things!
3.  Make sure to leave your comment by Friday February 18, 9 AM EST because the winner will be announced on Friday’s blog post!

That’s it!  That’s all you have to do.  Although, if you’d like to also share your thoughts on how awesome Cori is, or how much you love this blog and can’t wait to read it every day, feel free to gush 🙂