WRITE ON, MERCY!

Although Mercy Otis Warren learned the womanly skills of sewing, cooking, and managing a household, she had other interests. She lived in colonial Massachusetts, cared about politics, and chafed under the oppression of British rule. 

Fortunately her father wanted her to have an education and arranged for her to study with a local minister. As a girl she could not attend college but she read her brother's textbooks. She had a way with words. She had friends like George Washington, Paul Revere, and John & Abigail Adams. She married James Warren who encouraged her to write.  

During the American Revolution she wrote and published popular plays without her name attached. And after the war she kept on writing.

Through personal heartbreak and failing health she wrote until eventually, at age 77, she published a three volume history under her name. History of the Rise, Progress, and Termination of the American RevolutionL: Interspersed with biographical, Political and Moral Obeservations by Mrs. Mercy Warren.

Write On, Mercy!: The Secret Life of Mercy Otis Warren by Gretchen Woelfle is a picture book for ages 8 - 18. It is the story of one woman who knew her purpose in life and exercised her voice.  It is a celebration of breaking free.  

Write On Mercy! is published by Calkins Creek Books.

COWBOYS by David L. Harrison

I have this magnificent picture book in front of me. Something every kid or teacher would want to own.  And not only that, it's a giveaway.  I'll tell you in a moment how you can enter. 

But first, a glimpse of the book!

This is one gorgeous piece of work - the perfect pairing of poet (David L. Harrison) and illustrator (Dan Burr)  Together these gentlemen paint history so real and heartfelt that the reader wants to go back there.  Back to a time before railroads turned cattle drives into history.

Read this soulful determined poem.  Then I'll link you to the equally beautiful illustration.

SETTING OUT

All my life,
do what Master say.
He say, "Mind my cows,"
I mind his cows.

Cows, me,
my children,
wife-
all his.

No more.
Nobody owns me now.
Signed my X,
agreed to drive this rancher's cows
from Texas up to Abilene-

for pay.
My pay.

I'm on a journey of my own
figuring how it feels
to be free.

Now, take a look at this proud, hopeful cowboy, ready to set out on his new life of freedom.

There's a whole lot of cowboy life in the pages of this book. Each page-spread is one poem with a vivid illustration that shares the viewpoint of a different cowboy or one aspect of life on the range.

 Just leave a comment here. But over at Talking Story we have several giveaways so if you don't win COWBOYS you just might win a consolation prize!

You may have noticed that the theme of this issue of TALKING STORY is Poetry. and also that Highlights Foundation is offering several poetry workshops in 2013.  David Harrison will lead POETRY FOR THE DELIGHT OF IT, September 30 - October 3.  

I could be tempted... 

KATHY TEMEAN: Ilustrator, Website Designer, & All-around Children's Book Guru

Kathy Temean, (speaker, illustrator, marketing consultant, web designer, and more!) presenting to 7 eager writers at a recent writer event.

If you've read my recent posts, you know I'm on a high from my recent participation in Peter Jacobi's "Life in the Spotlight" workshop at Boyds Mills, PA.

I don't mean to imply that the entire week was a pie-in-the-sky event. Actually, I think of it more as a coming down-to-earth experience. In addition to all the delicious food and hilarious fun, we each "endured" the scrutiny of experts who were not shy about telling us how we could improve.

Take Kathy Temean who blew away my arguments against certain social internet sites. From now on, if I invite you to get LinkedIn with me, blame it on Kathy. If you find me tweeting on your Twitter page, it will surely be her fault!

In addition to advice about making social and professional connections on the web, Kathy also gave feedback on our personal web presence. She took us to the blogs and websites of every participant in our workshop and gently gave critical feedback on each one.
So how did I fare?

Apparently, I'm doing okay here, on my blog. (Big sigh of relief!) But not to rest on my laurels! Because there is still the matter of my website. Full confession: I created it myself. According to Kathy, the content is respectable. But the presentation? Not so much!

And in case you're wondering what Kathy Temean knows about websites take a look at some she designed. They include many well-known children's authors. I love the fact that Kathy is open to creating original artwork for her clients! And also that she is so connected in the children's book world. (Incidentally she is the Regional Advisor for New Jersey chapter of Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators!)

So, when people ask me if my week was worth it what do I tell them? First of all - every Founders Workshop I have ever taken has paid for itself in real dollars. Even when - as in this case - it means paying more money to get a professional looking site! (Kathy, I'm getting right on that extreme website makeover. I promise!) (Sign from the kitchen windowsill at Founders Home in Boyds Mills, PA)

Coffee? Yes. Lots of it, please. But I also need the wisdom and comraderie of gathering with other writers, speakers, and the occasional marketing consultant!

ON THE BANKS OF CALKINS CREEK: Another Great Founders Workshop

You may know that my books, Blue, Healing Water, and Comfort were all published by Calkins Creek Books. I love creeks and I'm especially fond of this one.

Join me for a photographic tour of a typical writer event on the banks of Calkins Creek! The creek in March. Not as inviting as during the green season but we writers know about seasons - this pic represents waiting...
Boyds Mills Press (named for this little community) is the parent company of Calkins Creek Books which publishes juvenile historical literature with a USA focus.
Highlights Foundation is the grandmother of Calkins Creek Books and BMP's other literary imprints. (The Highlights Editorial offices are actually in nearby Honesdale - such a great town! But you'll have to wait for that tour!)
And speaking of grandparents - here on the banks of Calkins Creek, is the homeplace of the founders of Highlights magazine, Garry and Caroline Myers.
This home in Boyds Mills offers stability in a world of change - it appears to be kept much as it was when the Myers family lived here.
My favorite room is the library with its take-me-back-to-Grammy's-house smells. And books, books, books! Old books! (I always try not to drool on them.)
Don't you love this early Highlights cover on the library wall?
Adjacent to the library is the livingroom of the Myers' home where we kept company with the wise and wonderful Peter Jacobi who schooled us on "Life In The Spotlight - Author Opportunities After Publication".
It was good to be reminded that there is life beyond Powerpoint! And what an honor to learn from this seasoned journalist who has trained so many university students, CEOs, and wide-eyed authors, like us!

We were a small group of eager workshoppers - eager to learn about public speaking, granting interviews, and other aspects of presenting ourselves and our books to the public eye.
Mary, Melissa, and Tracy. (Tracy works for Highlights - she filmed our impromptu speeches so Peter could make examples of us. But we love her anyway!)
Deb, Nathan, and Mary.

Carol with Author, Jan Cheripko. More on Jan, Carol and all of these writers in upcoming posts.
Anne and Deb.

We became friends. It's hard not to when you've shared the same couch, dinner table, laughter, and critique sessions for days at a time. But it was intense, so we were always glad to get back to our individual cozy cabins. We enjoyed comfy beds, rain on the roof, and a personal fridge stocked with beverages.
Ask anyone who has ever attended a Founders Workshop what the food is like. As writers we should respond with specific adjectives. But mostly we just groan! Which is all we can do after a week of eating at a Founders Workshop. I did take a few pics of food which don't begin to do it justice.
Hors d’oeuvres every evening before dinner with friends.
And dessert after.
Buttermilk pie, whipped cream, and blackberries on a plate that allows the vintage table cloth to show itself off!

Ah! I love old linens.

Perhaps, you can see that I love everything about workshops on the banks of Calkins Creek!