PHENOMENAL BOOKS FOR FREE

Carol Baldwin and I just published our latest issue of TALKING STORY.  The theme is IMMIGRATION so we're giving away a few books on the topic.

HOPE AND TEARS:  Ellis Island Voices - More than twenty five characters share, through touching free verse, their history with  Ellis Island.  This book written by Gwenyth Swain was published by Calkins Creek books.  Like everything Editor, Carolyn Yoder produces, it is permeated with history and sheer beauty.

THE AMAZING HARRY KELLAR:  Great American Magician also published by Calkins Creek Books and edited by Carolyn Yoder, is stellar in every way. Author Gail Jarrow gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the work of a spectacular illusionist and performer. Chocked full of photos, advertising posters, and pictures of actual illusions, this book entertains and informs. 

A Step from Heaven is a haunting Korean Immigrant story which won the Printz Award in 2002 and was a National Book Award finalist in 2001. The copy we're giving away is a gently used paperback which includes an interview with Author, An Na.

Carol and I offer much more on the topic of immigration in literature in our newsletter.  You'll be happy that you clicked over there to enter the contest. (See giveaway notification and email link in the sidebar.) Deadline is May 21.

Good luck!

Remembrance Day: The Poppy Lady

 

And now the Torch and Poppy red 

We wear in honor of our dead.

Fear not that ye have died for naught,

We'll teach the lesson that ye wrought

In Flanders Fields.

I can think of no better advocate for veterans than Moina Belle Michael who initiated the wearing of paper poppies to commemorate those who died in battle. But Moina did so much more than write a poem and wear poppies.  She offered physical and emotional support in countless ways.

I highly recommend Barbara Walsh's picture book biography and Layne Johnson's stunning illustrations.  Lots of historical matter included, of course.  After all, it was published by Calkins Creek Books.

THE POPPY LADY: A Memorial Day Tribute

In 1919, a dedicated and patriotic woman named Moina Michael launched a movement to honor war veterans through the wearing and selling of silk poppies. She was inspired by the poem In Flanders Fields by John McCrae.

I remember these silk poppies from my childhood but I don't see them much anymore. And I knew nothing of their history.  Then a few years ago, I met Barbara Walsh at a Highlights Founders Workshop.  I still remember Barb's passion about her father's WWII experience and Moina Michael, who honored him and so many other vets by starting the wearing of the poppy on Memorial Day.

Barbara wanted to tell Moina's amazing story in a book for children.  After much work and commitment, her dream is about to come true. This fall, The Poppy Lady will be released by Calkins Creek books.

Barbara and her father are featured in the following video by GA Public Broadcasting which tells the Moina story so beautifully.  I think you'll see what I mean about passion - both Moina's and Barbara's!




"My dream is the same as Moina's dream. I want every American to wear a poppy and I want it to be that each time they pin that poppy on they remember what the soldiers have sacrificed for us." (Barbara Walsh, picture book author) 

I  don't know where I'll find a silk poppy for sale today but I bet I could make one.  And the garden center could sell me the real thing - right? Thank you Barbara for the inspiration.  And especially, thanks to your Dad and all the other vets and servicemen!

Book Trailer: BIRMINGHAM SUNDAY

Fellow North Carolina writer, Heidi Phelps alerted me to the trailer for Birmingham Sunday!

Congratulations to author, Larry Dane Brimner who recently enjoyed a starred review from Kirkus!

Published by Calkins Creek Books and edited by Carolyn Yoder

Thanks to Heidi for sharing the book trailer with me. Now you, go share it with someone else.

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!

TUESDAY 2: Two Items In The Mailbox

I was planning to share two quotes today. But yesterday, my hubby came in from the mailbox with a large padded envelope. When I opened it up - voila!

These are two of three early copies that were sent to my publisher. Comfort is thicker than Blue or Healing Water. I knew it would be, of course. But still, I got used to a certain size so this thicker volume throws me a little.

Suddenly, I realize why the revisions took me so long!

The bulk of the books are out on the high seas -making their way steadily from China. One day, in the next few weeks, the UPS man will deliver my complimentary copies while I'm not looking. I'll open the back door and voila!

Meanwhile, I don't mind if you pre-order online! (Comfort, BTW, is a sequel to Blue)

FOR PRESIDENT'S DAY: Farmer George Plants a Nation gets Starred Reviews

I grew up with George Washington. Didn't we all go through school with his portrait hovering on the classroom wall? He was the ultimate statesman, the brave warrior, the cutter down of cherry trees...

Wait... hold it right there! Remember that story about George telling his father, "I cannot tell a lie"? Apparently it's a myth that emerged after Washington's death.

Peggy Thomas, author of Farmer George Plants a Nation has done some amazing research on our first president. The result is an unusual portrait of a most accessible man. Perhaps I resonate with this book because the opening line could be talking about my father.

"George Washington dug his hand into the newly tilled earth and let the hard, dry clay crumble through his long fingers."

Just last week I snapped this picture of Daddy working a few pea seeds into the dirt. He always plants his peas in February!

Farmer George Plants a Nation is loaded with dozens of humanizing images of George - as a farmer devising better planting methods, as a host discussing gardening over a dinner of homegrown vegetables, as an army general writing a sixteen page letter to his farm managers, and as a president discussing manure with Thomas Jefferson!

One of the very cool things about this book is the inclusion of snippets from George's letters.

"I mean to have groves of Trees at each end of the dwelling House... to range in a line from the South East Corner to Colo. Fairfax's... (1776)

There are so many treats here that I can't possibly show you - little known details about the man with a passion for gardening and full color paintings by Layne Johnson that complement the text like a mule with a plow! (Yes, Farmer George was a breeder of mules!)

If your school library (or homeschool) doesn't own this book, then give yourself a President's Day gift. Your students will love this unexpected portrayal of our first president.

The book's backmatter includes a Timeline, George's Thoughts on Slavery, a Bibliography, and sections with info about Mount Vernon. Follow this link and I do mean, run - don't walk to Mount Vernon's website. You won't believe the amount of information you can find by following your clicker finger around.

Full confession here. I have never visited Mount Vernon. To me, George Washington has mostly been a portrait on a wall - a politician, a soldier, a chopper down of trees. But this beautiful portrayal of the gentle farmer makes me want to jump in my car and head to Virginia.

And I just returned from Virginia last night!

P.S. Sneak a peek at Farmer George on YouTube!

P.P.S. Farmer George was published by Calkins Creek Books and edited by the best of the best, Carolyn Yoder.

COVER TALK

Last night my editor sent me 5 cover possibilities for COMFORT, the sequel to BLUE. Woo hooo! We exchanged a few emails regarding font, background color and composition, and finally settled on our preferences.

Our ideas went back to the designer. I expect to see a slightly altered/final version very soon.

And as soon as I have the real deal, I'll post it.

One of the advantages of working with a small publisher is that the author has a voice in such things. At least at my publisher - with my editor.

I decided to troll on over to Amazon and Barnes & Noble to see if Comfort was listed on their sites and sure enough! Powell's Books, also.

No image available, however, so I'll be happy when this one is ready.