Queen of the Track

One of the joys of being a children's book writer is helping fellow writer friends celebrate. Last Saturday night we toasted Heather Lang's first-ever published book, QUEEN OF THE TRACK. This is the story of Alice Coachman, who became the first African American woman to win an Olympic gold medal. You can read more about Heather and her book on her website: http://heatherlangbooks.com The next day I headed over to Wellesley Books where Ammi-Joan Paquette was launching her new picture book, THE TIPTOE GUIDE TO TRACKING MERMAIDS. Joan, who's in my critique group, is a prolific writer as well as agent. You can read about her at: http://ajpaquette.com

Congratulations both of you!

Join me on the Cape!

In August I will be on the Cape, teaching the write-for-kids segment at the Cape Cod Writers Center Conference in Hyannis. This is the 50th anniversary of the conference, and I feel honored to be part of it.

Writing fiction is hard enough, full of rules and guidelines, possibilities and disappointments. Writing for kids is even more specialized. But the longer I'm in this business, the more interested I am in the process. How do we find our child voice? How do we write stories that appeal to people 35 years younger than ourselves? Knowing what we know as adults, how do we "unknow" -- or do we have to "unknow?" Wait, what do I even mean by "unknow"???

Sign up. Join me and find out!

Here's some information from the website (http://capecodwriterscenter.org/conference/)

Announcing the 50th Cape Cod Writers Center Conference, August 5-10, 2012

In honor of our 50th anniversary, the  Cape Cod Writers Center Conference will take place from August 5-10, 2010 at the Resort & Conference Center of Hyannis.

While we had many happy and productive years at Craigville, our increasing attendance, need for additional classrooms, state-of-the-art technology, and more convenient parking mandated our decision. The Resort & Conference Center of Hyannis has 233 air-conditioned rooms, extensive modern amenities, ample networking opportunities and unlimited free parking.

To celebrate our Golden Anniversary the Cape Cod Writers Center is hosting an outstanding staff of teachers — authors and poets, editors, media experts and agents listed below.

Keynote Speaker, Monday, August 6,   7:00 p.m.   
 Joseph Finder, Thriller Author and NY Times Best-Selling Author.

Keynote Speaker, Tuesday, August 7,  7:00 p.m.
 Amy Caldwell, Executive Editor, Beacon Press

Keynote Speaker, Wednesday, August 8,  7:00 p.m.
 Andre Dubus, New York Times, Best-Selling Novelist

OUR DISTINGUISHED FACULTY INCLUDE : 

Matthew Pearl, New York Times Best-Selling Author, The Dante Club, The Poe Shadow, The Last Dickens and The Technologists.

Jule Selbo, Hollywood screenwriter and head of the MFA in Screenwriting Program at California State University, Fullerton

Lee Harrington, best-selling memoirist of Rex and the City

Michelle Hoover, novelist and recipient for 2010 Massachusetts Book Award “Must Read Pick, Forward magazine’s Best Literary book of 2010.

Pitchpalooza, the nationally acclaimed program by Arielle Eckstut and David Henry Sterry

Brian Schwartz, president KindleExpert.com and president-elect, Colorado Independent

Vivian  Shipley, Award-Winning Poet, Distinguished Professor and Editor of Connecticut Review, nominated for the 2010 Pulitzer Prize

Benjamin Leroy, award-wining publisher of Tyrus Books, F&W Media

Karen Day, award-winning novelist for middle-school students

Sam Cornish, Boston Poet Laureate

Jamie Cat Callan, best-selling author and Massachusetts Cultural Council Awardee

Randall Peffer, acclaimed author of six crime novels, nonfiction books and national magazines

Gina Barreca, best selling author and syndicated humorist, professor of English at University of Connecticut

C.E. Lawrence, award-winning playwright and thriller writer

Reade Scott Whinnem, popular young adult novelist

Peter Drummey, Stephen T. Riley Librarian (director) Massachusetts Historical Society

Mom-daughter book group in Maynard!

How great is this? A group of wonderful girls eating homemade cream puffs at a mother-daughter book group meeting last week! I had the best time talking about NO CREAM PUFFS and getting to know the girls. We also talked about other near and dear things to my heart -- throw up, squished frogs, rodents that blow up, dogs, cats, Girl Scouts, The Hunger Games, maggots and writing assignments. The girls were so interested and interesting. I love visiting these groups. Thanks to all of the girls. And to Trish and Ellie for hosting.

Young writers!

Yesterday I had the great pleasure of running a fiction writing workshop for local fourth and fifth graders. Several students I knew from earlier workshops. Most were new to me. In the beginning they were awfully quiet -- mostly, I believe, because they were from different schools across our city and didn't know each other. They listened attentively as I talked. They scribbled on their worksheets when I offered writing prompts. And then I set them loose, asking them to write scenes with the characters they'd created. I like to experiment with my prompts. And yesterday I introduced a whole new sequence. Would it be too confusing? Would they be able to follow? What would they come up with?

Twelve kids, twelve different stories. But all pretty amazing. Each of them created a strong narrator, thrust into a compelling conflict. We had middle school bullies, dead mothers, talking animals, a world-engulving crisis, frustrated dancers, sick children. It was so exciting to read their stories out loud. They were excited to hear their voices. And as I left the library yesterday I felt really encouraged. If they could all write like that, after only an hour and a half together, what else could they come up with?