The question was posed on one of my writer list servs: what children’s/YA novel would you teach? These were my answers:
Middle Grade Novels would include: Shakespeare’s Secret by Elise Broach (Henry Holt, 2005); The Storyteller’s Beads by Jane Kurtz (Harcourt, 1998); The Voyage of Patience Goodspeed by Heather Vogel Frederick (Simon &
I’ve spent most of the morning answering questions for a feature in Library Sparks, corresponding with a beginning Native writer, suggesting other authors to planners for upcoming events, and coordinating revisions with editors.
I was also thinking that I’ve had a number of conversations of late with breakthrough writers, those who’ve sold their first book (and perhaps more) in the recent tough market.
Greg and I spoke today at Reading In The Garden, an event coordinated by Earning By Learning at the Dallas Arboretum.
It was a lovely, sunny day, focusing on my early reader chapter book, Indian Shoes (HarperCollins, 2002), and highlighted by well-prepared and enthusiastic students from five Dallas area elementary schools.
Tonight, Greg and I enjoyed a wonderful dinner at La Fogata in San Antonio with author Kathi Appelt, author Dianna Hutts Aston, illustrator Joy Fisher Hein, and a few folks from South Carolina who’re in town for the International Reading Association annual conference.
We’re not staying for the duration this time around;
Once Upon A Cool Motorcycle Dude written and illustrated by Kevin O’Malley, illustrated by Carol Heyer, illustrated by Scott Goto (Walker, 2005). Two kids–a boy and a girl (both true to traditional gender expectations)–attempt to tell a story together, each in his and her own voice and from his and her own point of view.
Yesterday, I met poet Liz Garton Scanlon, author of A Sock Is A Pocket For Your Toes: A Pocket Book (HarperCollins, 2004), for a brunch-ish snack beneath an umbrella outside the new Whole Foods. I gobbled down a brown sushi rice spicy tuna roll with a bottle of water and was delighted by her gift of a handwoven basket and more from Tanzania.
The YA Authors Cafe chats are held Tuesday evenings at 8:30 p.m. EST. Please join in at www.yaauthorscafe.com. Click the cafe chatroom icon to enter the chat.
Mark the following on your calendar:
May 10 – Boys & Girls, Men & Women, Authors & Heroes: how gender affects how we write, who we write for,
As you may recall, my local indie, BookPeople, has been named the Publishers Weekly 2005 bookseller of the year!
Greg and I were thrilled to join the staff last night for a celebration.
It was great. They had a good crowd, food, drinks, and live music.
TITHE: A MODERN FAEIRE TALE by Holly Black (Simon & Schuster, 2002). Kaye Fierch has been passing through life as a blond Asian, connecting with faries but not counting herself among them…until now. Excellent juxtaposition of the fantasy elements against the New Jersey setting. Some readers may be familiar with Black for the Spiderwick Chronicle series (for the younger set).
Continue Reading Author Interview: Holly Black on Tithe: A Modern Faeire Tale »
I’m forever amazed at the number of beginning writers who’re looking harder for an agent or an editor than at improving their prose. It is key to learn the industry, and it is a hard, increasingly big-money industry to learn, especially as related to its culture and politics. But…
As important as all that is, it’s insignificant next to the quality of your work.