Writer's Wednesday

It's a potpourri Writer's Wednesday

• Pen and Ink posted an interesting interview with Lynda Burch, founder of Guardian Angel Publishing. Discover what Lynda has to say about this small press: ebook and POD publisher and the market in general.
• Cynsations as a marvelous interview with Clementine Series author, Sara Pennypacker.

Nonfiction Monday

Nonfiction Monday is hosted today by Wendie's Wanderings.

My selection is I Spy Shapes in Art by Lucy Micklethwait.

• Built on the "I Spy with my little eye" games familiar from driving trips, Micklethwait encourages her young readers to find shapes in 14 famous paintings from artists ranging from Warhol to Matisse. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn to look at art in a new way and introduce some of the world's best known talents.

Here is the answer to Friday's Famous First: "For hundreds of years, most people thought the earth was the center of the universe, and the sun and the moon and all the other planets revolved around it." is from the Caldecott Honor book Starry Messenger: Galileo Galilei created and illustrated by Peter Sis.

Poetry Friday Roundup

Today's Poetry Friday Roundup is hosted by Karen Edmiston.

• My selection is Ivan's Great Fall: poetry for Summer and Autumn from great poets and writers of the past, by Vanita Oelschlager with illustrations by Kristin Blackwood.
• Oelschlager tells Ivan's story in poetry which begins and ends with her own work. The rest of the story is told through the voices of many well-known poets -- Dickinson, Stevenson, Sandburg, and Whitman, to name a few. Along with each poem is a short note about the author.

Friday's Famous First: Can you identify the title and author of this first line?

"For hundreds of years people thought the earth was the center of the universe, and the sun and the moon and all the other planets revolved around it."

Writer's Wednesday

I'm taking the day off to...

you guessed it...

WRITE!

But let me recommend today's post at Teaching Authors. It's well worth the time and be sure to follow up on the links.

There is an excellent list of resource books provided. As writers we must always continue to perfect our craft.

Special thanks to Carmela Martino for sharing.

Nonfiction Monday

Nonfiction Monday is hosted today at Wrapped in Foil.

My selection is Johnny Appleseed, written by Jane Yolen and illustrated by Jim Burke. Yolen cleverly combines the legend and the man by introduction a bit of the legend and following it with factual information. Together the two narratives: Johnny Appleseed/John Chapman provide a vivid portrait of this celebrated American icon. Burke's richly colored folk art inspired artwork is a wonderful addition to the text.

Here is the answer to Friday's Famous First: "Laura was washing the dishes one morning when Old Jack, lying in the sunshine on the doorstep, growled to tell her someone was coming." is from the Newbery Honor book By the Shores of Silver Lake - written by Laura Ingalls Wilder with illustrations by Garth Williams.

Poetry Friday

Poetry Friday Roundup is hosted by Wild Rose Reader.

September 19th is Talk Like a Pirate Day so what could be more perfect for Poetry Friday...

Pirates: Poems written by David L. Harrison and illustrated by Dan Burr in rich detail with just the right sense of foreboding for his subject.

"Shiver me timbers,"Harrison's twenty poems in a variety of styles are rich with all the favorite pirate jargon as he sets sail on a voyage to show that a pirate's life wasn't all swashbuckling fun. Floggings and a life ended by the hangman's noose were real possibilities. Written at a sixth-grade level, this is a book designed for older audiences who are interested in pirates and will appreciate the language. The poetry would also be a good choice as a teacher read-aloud introduction to the subject or time period. Harrison completes his book with factual notes.

Friday's Famous First: Can you identity the title and author of this first line? "Laura was washing the dishes one morning when Old Jack, lying in the sunshine on the doorstep, growled to tell her someone was coming."

Writer's Wednesday

I've been chatting - online and face to face with a number of aspiring writers recently and so I'm going to refer you to one of my favorite blog posts:

20 Tips for Writing Children's Books by award-winning poet and author Pat Mora.

Nonfiction Monday

Nonfiction Monday is hosted today by Rasco from RIF.

Friday is Constitution Day and this is Constitution Week so my selection is Constitution Day, written by Robin Nelson. This book is created for very young readers and is a lovely introduction to further study of the constitution. A colorful red, white, and blue format with large pictures and brief sentences makes the pages visually appealing and the text easy to access.

Here is the answer to Friday's Famous First:"You ever hear of the jazz playin' man, the man with the cats who would swing with his band?" is from the award winning (Coretta Scott King and Caldecott Honor) book - Duke Ellington: The Piano Prince and His Orchestra, written by Andrea Pinkney and illustrated by Brian Pinkney.

Poetry Friday Roundup

Today's Poetry Friday Roundup is hosted by Picture Book of the Day.

My selection is Golden Kite Award winner, When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer by Walt Whitman, illustrated in picture book form by Loren Long.

This presentation uses a young boy as narrator for Whitman's verses. The child's fascination with the stars, prompts his well-meaning parents to take him to an astronomy lecture. Bored by the dry dissertation, the youngster slips outside to joyfully contemplate the heavenly panorama that is spread across the night sky.

Long tempers the elegant precision of his paintings with contrasting doodles provided by his sons creating a visual parallel with the poetic lines.

Friday's Famous First: Can you identify the title and author of this first line? "You ever hear of the jazz playin' man, the man with the cats who could swing with his band?"

Writer's Wednesday

It's Writer's Wednesday and here is a reminder for all you aspiring writers out there.

Before you submit, it is time to give that manuscript a final check by asking if every scene, every conversation, every word is essential.

This isn't about how much you love the writing. Ask yourself two questions:

• Does the story need it?
• Do your readers need it?

If the answer is no, cut it. If the answer is yes...

Then ask yourself two more questions.

• Does the story/reader need that information at that exact place in the story?
• Does the story/reader need all that you've written or would less be better?

For more on the subject of editing check out yesterday's post at Writers In Residence: Weight Loss for Writers, or How I Trim Ugly Fat from My Manuscripts by Jackie Houchin.

Nonfiction Monday is hosted today by The Miss Rumphius Effect.

In recognition of the day, my selection is Labor Day written by Mari C. Schuh. Written for K-3, this book is part of a series on national holidays. This work is illustrated with photographs and discusses when and why Labor Day was created and shares some of the ways in which people celebrate the day. The book includes a glossary and bibliography.

Here is the answer to Friday's Famous First: "Would Gracie-the-cat be jealous if the Pyes got a another pet - a dog?" is from the Newbery Honor Book, Ginger Pye by Eleanor Estes.

Poetry Friday Roundup is hosted today at Susan Writes, the blog of Susan Taylor Brown.

My selection is Young Cornrows Callin Out the Moon: Poem, written by Ruth Forman with illustrations by Cbabi Bayoc. This illustrated poem's setting is a summer in a South Philadelphia brownstone neighborhood where children celebrate the fun to be had even when you don't have a front or back yard.

Here is a link to the author reading from her book on NPR.

Friday's Famous First: Can you name the title and author of this first line? "Would Gracie-the-cat be jealous if the Pyes got another pet - a dog?"

Writer's Wednesday

It's Writer's Wednesday Miscellaneous:

For those of you contemplating the step into self-publishing...here's an interview with Eric Hammel at Jane Friedman's There Are No Rules titled - Self-published Authors Should Band Together.

Think it's too late to take up writing? Be inspired! Read this interview with Hugo Cipriani at Writers in Residence. Mr. Cipriani became a published author at the age of 94.