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!

WHOLE NARRATIVE NON-FICTION WORKSHOP

Writing a non-fiction manuscript for young people? Does it feel like a steep grade? Are you repeating, I think I can, I think I can?

Well, of course you can. And just to help out, Highlights Foundation is offering Carolyn Yoder's

WHOLE NARRATIVE NONFICTION WORKSHOP

May 20 - 26, 2012

at 

THE BARN
near Honesdale, PA

In 2002, I attended one of Carolyn's history writing classes. As a direct result, I've published 3 historical novels and have become a rabid- or I should say- avid researcher.  Since then, I've attended several writing retreats with Carolyn. (But not nearly as many as I want to!)

Each one represents a growth spurt for me.  I gain deeper understanding about communicating history, an ever expanding group of friends and contacts in the writing world, and more insight into the book making/publishing process.

Carolyn is a treasure trove of experience and wisdom. Her reputation for being tough is both well deserved and misleading.  It's true that she demands the best of each writer she mentors.  This is why we want to work with her.  Why her retreats are instantly booked with return writers.

That and the fact that Carolyn is heart and soul. A great story teller and a nurturer.  She's funny and she's fair, treating each writer/work shopper with equal respect. 

She holds our hand as needed. 

 And celebrates our special occasions!

Yum! 

But the Highlights Foundation has more than food, friends, and Carolyn Yoder invested in this workshop.
Because they want each writer to get hands-on personal attention, they're bringing in 

multiple award-wining authors to add their power to the week! 

Peggy Thomas, author of Anatomy of Nonfiction

Susan Campbell Bartoletti - author of Hitler Youth

and Elizabeth Partridge, author of Marching For Freedom

 These ladies have written many other books.  They teach writing and bring keen insight to the writing/revising process! Your whole manuscript will be reviewed and mentored by one of the faculty members.

Special guests for the week will be Nancy Bo Flood and Barbara Krasner.

What are you doing in May?  Surely not huffing and puffing your way up the non-fiction mountain.  I hope you'll be in Honesdale recharging your narrative.

You'll get to visit this place

but most of your time will be spent on the banks of Calkins Creek where the

founders of Highlights Magazine lived.

Take it from me, it's a great place to relax, write, and boost your career!
 

For information on the workshops or scholarship program.

ASK AN EXPERT: A Few Good Resources for Writers

I've recently discovered two professionals who offer their expertise specifically for the writer's use. I'm totally intrigued and want to introduce them to you!

1. THE CHARACTER THERAPIST:  An Online Therapy Service for Fictional Characters  is provided by Jeannie Campbell,  Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.

If you're struggling with your protagonist's (or other character's) behavior, you can make an appointment for him/her to spend time on Jeannie's couch.  There's an intake form which is by no means easy to fill out. But that's a good thing since it forces you to have a decent understanding of the character before wasting the therapist's time!  Based on the info you give, Ms. Campbell addresses your character's emotional makeup in a blog post. She'll also provide more intensive feedback for a fee. I love this concept and have thoroughly enjoyed eavesdropping on Jeannie's counseling sessions! Perhaps I'll even schedule one. If only I could decide which of my characters needs it most!

Ms. Campbell provides lots of other useful info as well, such as insights into mental disorders, Skype consultations, and Therapeutic Editing.  And since laughter is the best medicine she throws in a helping of that as in the NaNoWriMo Stress Reduction Kit which will either make you laugh or give you a headache.

2.  REDWOOD'S MEDICAL EDGE: Medical Fact for Your Fiction provides medical information related to your story line.  

Jordyn Redwood is a novelist and a registered nurse with years of Emergency Room and Intensive Care experience. She accepts your medical questions via email and after spending an hour researching your topic, she blogs the answer.  More intensive input is available for a fee. Redwood provides info on specific diseases and on medical history. She hosts guest bloggers who write on health topics outside her expertise.  

As an author with 3 disease related novels, I have no trouble imagining the need for Redwood's Medical Edge.. In fact, a google search on polio brought me to this 3 Part Guest Post by author Sarah Sundin. I'm eager to explore other topics on Jordyn's site.

BTW - both of these ladies have gorgeous websites.

I'm curious - if you were to offer an online service to help writers with authenticity, what would that service be?

HIGHLIGHTS WRITER'S WORKSHOP AT CHAUTAUQUA

While reviewing my publishing journey for a presentation I'm working on, I happened on this video clip of the amazing conference where I met my editor, Carolyn Yoder. You too, might want to consider spending a July week in an idyllic community with literary giants and fellow writers.  You never know who you could meet there. 

Did you recognize Jerry Spinelli, Patti Gauch, Suzanne Bloom, Carolyn Yoder or someone else you admire in that fun clip?

This is a magnificent conference for someone who has been writing for awhile, has learned to revise, and is ready to move into publication.  This year the conference is July 16 - 23.  More info at Writer's Workshop at Chautauqua.

I KID YOU NOT!

It's April 1 (Happy Birthday to my high school friend, Julie Richey!)  Apparently, any blogger worth her comment section would be posting a practical joke at this point!

But I'm serious about this.  We are now in the final hours to enter the contest for Captain Mac by Mary Morton Cowan.

Edited by Carolyn Yoder

 The author herself will be choosing a winner later today (like 4:00ish EST) 

If you haven't entered, do so now!  See instructions in the sidebar.  The clock is ticking.  And that's no joke.

CONTINUING THAT CONVERSATION WITH H.H. POOLE MIDDLE SCHOOL

1.  How did you feel when you finished the book BLUE?

The first time (after I wrote the first draft) I was thrilled. Each time after that, I was just relieved to have revisions done. By the time it was actually, factually done, I was so sick of it I wanted to throw up!

But now, I like it again.

2.  Why did you make the book so sad?

What do you think? This is multiple choice. There could be more than one answer.
A. I am a very mean person.
B. I’m not a funny writer. Since I can’t make you laugh, then I’ll at least make you cry.
C. I am trying to figure out why bad things happen in the world. One of the ways I do that is through exploring tragedy through storytelling.
D. Polio was a very sad chapter in America’s history. I thought someone needed to tell it.

3. Have you ever had any experiences with the things you wrote about? Like did anyone you know have polio? Did you know anyone who was in the war? 

No one in my family had polio so this story did not grow out of personal experience. But, through my research, I’ve made some dear friends who had polio.  They’ve answered lots of questions for me. Whenever I have another question I just ask them.  I do know some vets but I haven’t actually had personal family experience with someone serving in a war.

Here I am with Jackie, one of my polio experts.  We met in a restaurant in Florida.

 4. How did you think of the characters’ names?

•  I  found Ann Fay’s name on a piece of paper and knew immediately that was the double name I wanted. (She had to have a double name because so many southerners do!)
•  And I had to have a Junior because there are so many of them around here where I live.
•  I had a best friend named Peggy Sue growing up so I wanted to use it to honor her.
•  I once knew a woman named Immogene. I thought it was perfect.

I think, for most of the characters, I just thought of names that fit the time period and seemed right for my characters.

5. Why is the book called BLUE?

Here's a little hint.

It’s all about symbolism. (which I love, BTW) As I was writing the story, blue kept cropping up – it wasn’t planned but it all worked together so beautifully. (And I like to make connections like that as I write.)  You may have noticed there are a bunch of blue items in the book.

So I’d like to throw the question back at you. Feel free to leave a comment below with a list of items that might have helped to name the book.  (Or Ms. Goll can email it to me.) I'll post a picture for each one you get right.)

And just so you know – I actually called it Tough as Hickory – but authors don’t always get to choose the titles for their books.  My editor is very good at keeping me involved with such decisions. She actually came up with the idea of Blue and I wisely agreed with her!

Oh, BTW, I hope your teacher or librarian will enter the book and DVD contest announced below.  You could possibly get a free book (or books) for your school!

Footnotes: MY EDITOR LOVES THEM AND I DO,TOO (sort of)

Some of the resources used in researching my work-in-progress.

My editor is fond of footnotes. So naturally I give them to her. The difficult thing is figuring out when to insert them into my manuscript.

When I begin a new book I devour everything I can on my topic and then eventually, as a plot line emerges, I write my story. At this point I work with the knowledge that I've absorbed during all the research. But I haven't taken a lot of notes. Instead I buy, borrow, and pay overdues on books that I can't seem to live without. I take pictures in archives and I save emails from experts I've interviewed. I want those facts at my fingertips and I know from experience I'll need them later. I slap sticky flags at crucial spots. I underline, circle, and make lots of sloppy melodramatic asterisks beside important info.

I write my story, revise it, tweak it repeatedly, and eventually I think it's ready to send to Carolyn Yoder. And then it hits me - I still have to footnote.

Of course I've tried to document as I go. But the truth is that documenting can seriously interrupt the flow of the story. So mostly I write and worry about footnoting later.

So I'm at that point now with my work-in-progress. The story is written and has been fiddled with and tightened and improved upon in various ways and I believe that I'm within weeks of submitting to my editor. (I thought the same thing back in November before I remembered the footnotes.)

I am, at this moment, in the midst of tedium. Rereading the manuscript, noting which items might raise some question of authenticity in my editor's mind. And pulling down every resource possible to verify the following and then some. (and you can skip over this tiny list if you like!)

• When America entered WWII in December 1941 the draft age was 21
  
• There was an exemption for conscientious objectors (COs) who, for religious reasons, could not participate in war.
• Civilian Public Service (CPS) provided alternative ways for COs to serve.
  
• CPSsers mostly lived in former Civilian Conservation Corps barracks and did forestry and conservation work.
  
• They ate at trestle style picnic tables.
• Some switched into work in mental hospitals which were grossly understaffed.
  
• Some were guinea pigs in medical experiments
  
• German neighbors could have been sent away to internment camps
• Eastern State Hospital had a death house and a morgue and conscientious objectors helped with autopsies
• There was an elevator in Sequeyra Building and a laundry chute that made a great sliding board in the turret of Taylor Building
• The College of William and Mary charged 2 cents per day for overdue library books in 1943
  
• Etcetera

I said it was a tiny list because, as you can imagine, this is just the beginning. Thankfully I have most of this info within reach. It's mostly a matter of choosing the best quote to back up my story. That can take awhile and I find myself reading whole chapters again or going back to the library for a book that I actually returned.

Have I mentioned this is tedious? But honestly, one part of me loves this task. It's so validating. It makes the story feel solid. I have the same excitement bubbling up in me that I felt when I began researching and feeling the story emerge. It's hard to sleep at this stage because I have this sense of something really important happening.

I hope my editor feels it when she reads the manuscript. And I sure hope she eats up those footnotes!

COME JANUARY, THIS BLOG IS HISTORY!

ABC-CLIO: Your Complete Source for History Reference.

The 3 R’s are not dropping off into outer cyberspace. But still, they’re about to become history. Starting in January, the content will be largely historically focused.

I’ll include interviews with:

• Folks who write history.
  
• People who’ve made history.
  
• Archivists who preserve history.

And I’m really happy to announce that there will be a regular (or regularISH) Q & A With Carolyn Yoder, my editor who knows way more about reading, writing, and researching history than I do!

Just so you know, I’m not strong at creating structure or sticking to it. So, in all likelihood, the info here will be totally random. Sort of one big smorgasbord of historical delicacies!

A few things you'll find at the buffet:

· Book reviews of historical fiction and non

· Interviews with history writers

· Links to history websites

· Classroom ideas from history teachers

· Research tips

· This day in history

·And the price of eggs in 1944

The way I figure it, history is an endless smorgasbord. Which means my blog ideas are infinite! So, even though structure is not my strong suit, I'll create some categories that allow for topical searches.

And if there's something you'd like to see here, by all means, speak up! I'll do my best to hunt down the info and serve it up in a palatable manner.

THE DEFINITION OF HARD WORK (Carolyn Yoder's Alumni Retreat)

This is me on the padded glider on the porch of my very own rustic cabin at the Carolyn Yoder Alumni Writing Retreat.

There are ten other writers here and I think some of them are actually writing! But the weather is perfect for sleeping and I worked hard to get here so I'm having a day for eating and sleeping and catching up with friends.

However, lest I get too comfy, I'm scheduled for a one-on-one critique with Carolyn very soon. And I've already seen her feedback on the pages I submitted earlier. So don't go thinking that I'm going to be chillin' all week while the world keeps turning elsewhere.

Today is just getting me rested for the hard work ahead.

By the way - This is a Highlights Founder's Workshop. They always hold delightful surprises. The highlight for me this time? Meeting Carolyn's mom. Very cool lady!

THANKFUL THURSDAY: Chautauqua Edition

Carol Baldwin with Carolyn Yoder at Chautauqua

My friend and colleague (we present writing workshops together) Carol Baldwin sent me this pic the other night! When I opened it I felt both joy and jealousy. She's with my editor, Carolyn Yoder. You'd think after working with Carolyn for 7 years (Has it really been that long?) I would have a decent picture of the two of us together. But I don't : (

Carol is at the Highlights Foundation Writer's Workshop at Chautauqua, NY. Every year this time, I sigh and long to be there. And dream of going again some day. But mostly I'm just grateful that I was able to go once. And that I met Carolyn Yoder there and realized she was the editor of my dreams. And that she might even like my writing.

Apparently she did. We've published 3 books together. (Blue, Healing Water, & Comfort)

I now think of my writing life as “pre-Chautauqua and after”. Before Chautauqua, I was stabbing in the dark, exploring countless writing opportunities but not owning any of them. At Chautauqua I discovered for sure that I am a history writer and that Carolyn Yoder could help me become a really good one!

That's why I'm going to her writing retreat in August. To get some intensive input on my work-in-progress. And while I'm there I'm going to get a good photo of the two of us together.

PS: Carol Baldwin is the author of TEACHING THE STORY: Fiction Writing in Grades 4-8. Now she's writing her own historical novel!

FATHER DAMIEN AND MIRACLES

I learned about Father Damien of Moloka`i back in 1998 and was hooked immediately. Inspired by this compassionate priest, I began researching and plotting a story about Hawaii’s leprosy settlement

A friend gave me a newspaper article which said that Robin Williams would be playing Damien in a feature film and that Father Damien was close to being canonized as a saint in the Catholic Church (pending verification of a miracle performed through his intercession).

So naturally, as I began marketing my manuscript, I was quick to point out these two items of interest. (Surely they would help me land a publishing contract!)

However, as far as I could tell, editors were not impressed. Rejections rolled in. (Hmmmmm – perhaps movie stars and saints are not enough to sell a story – perhaps one has to write well also!)

Fortunately I met Editor, Carolyn Yoder who nurtured my storytelling over a several year period. She offered me publishing contracts – first for Blue and then for Healing Water.

All along, I watched the Blue Ryder Pictures website to see how the movie prospect was coming along. But apparently Robin Williams had other things to do…

In the end, he did narrate a documentary - An Uncommon Kindness about Father Damien. It’s very well done, of course. As far as I can tell a feature film, with Robin Williams playing the lead, is not in the offing.

And as for Damien’s sainthood?

Last July, just 3 months after Healing Water was published, the Vatican announced that the final miracle needed for Damien’s canonization had been verified.

Yesterday, the Vatican announced the date. On October 11, 2009 Damien DeVeuster will become a saint.

As it turns out - miracles really do happen!

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.

INTERVIEW AT TALES FROM THE RUSHMORE KID

I'm having such a great time writing my NaNoWriMo story that blogging feels like a distraction just now. So I will just give you this link to an interview with me over at Tina Nichols Coury's blog, which she calls Tales From The Rushmore Kid.

Thanks so much Tina! And a big shout out to Carolyn Yoder, the amazing editor who taught me to write about time and place! You can read about her on Tina's blog also. Simply follow this link.

BRING ON THE COPYEDITOR!

So I sent my editor (Carolyn Yoder) the "final" copy of COMFORT in January. Of course I knew it wasn't actually final. But still, I keep hoping that I'm improving at getting it right the first time.

A few years ago I participated in a Heart of the Novel workshop with Patricia Gauch. I remember so clearly how she'd stop in the middle of her instruction and say to us, "You can do this! You don't need me." (or something to that effect!)

I took that to mean, I'm giving you the tools. Now go use them. You can do this on your own! And I believed her. And now that I've had my editor's guiding hand on two novels (Blue and Healing Water) I think, surely I can do this.

Oh, sure I expected COMFORT to need some tweakings here and there but I also thought I'd wow Carolyn with the first read!

Ha!

Is it my imagination or has she asked me for just as many revisions as when we worked on Blue? Why has it taken 7 months for me to get this right?

Part of the problem is my schedule. Finding time to revise is harder than when I was writing Blue. My writing attentions are divided between marketing, speaking engagements, research, and revisions. So we can blame it on the clock which doesn't understand that I need more hours!

But I also have to admit that I can't write a book by myself. I need my editor. Maybe I did wow her with that first read. After all, she gave me a contract. And she's read it so many times she probably needs a creme brulee in hand just to make herself look at it again. She wouldn't invest so much time in something that she didn't already love. Right?

But she also saw some gaps. She called them to my attention and I didn't necessarily fill them completely on the first revision. There were more cracks and corners that needed touching up!

Maybe there still are. But yesterday she emailed me to say that it goes to the copyeditor this week.

The copyeditor?! Really? This week!?

Whew - maybe, just maybe now we are down to tweaking!

And you know what? I am ready for the nitty gritty of obscure grammar rules and the subtleties of word choice. And commas - although I gladly give those to someone else to decide!

And maybe I'm even ready to reread the manuscript a gazillion more times. Because after all, it's never really final. (almost never, anyway!)

I think publication is in sight!