Category Archives: Uncategorized

Cynthia’s Blog for Writers

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I highly recommend author Cynthia Leitich Smith’s blog, Cynsations, to anyone interested in writing. Her blog is full of fabulous information, interviews with authors, giveaways, etc. In her own words, her blog is “ …a source for conversations, publishing information, writer resources &  inspiration, bookseller-librarian-teacher appreciation, children’s-YA book news & author outreach.” Click on the link above and see for yourself. You’ll love it! 
 
Speaking of blogs – my two latest bilingual picture books coming out in November, Let’s Salsaand Lupita’s First Dance, are featured on La Bloga blog. Nice!
 
I bought quite a few books at the August SCBWI-LA conference and am trying to read as many as I can between a million other things I have to do. Just finished reading the historical fiction, Forge, by Laurie Halse Anderson, Bird in a Box by Andrea Davis Pinkney, The Mouse with the Question Mark Tail by Richard Peck, and the YA novel, I Will Save You by Matt de la Peña.  All were autographed by the authors. Neat, huh? Have a few more to go.
 
And if you’re interested in who’s moving where in the publishing business, visit Harold Underdown’s blog, Writing, Illustrating, and Publishing Children’s Books: The Purple Crayon, and find out.

Genre: Refers either to a general classification of writing, such as the novel or the poem, or to the categories within those classifications, such as the romance novel or the sonnet. – Writer’s Digest Weekly Planner

Slice of life

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Just returned from a two-week visit to California. The weather there was wonderful and everything is green, green, green. The flowers are blooming like crazy there. Took a side trip to Santa Cruz Beach, the boardwalk. Beautiful scenery. Also went to a place called the Mystery Stop located in the redwood forests just outside of Santa Cruz. It was crazy. A person stands up straight but is actually leaning backwards or sideways. Weird, I tell you. According to the literature in the pamphlet, “some unseen magnetism or phenomenon just upsets all former ideas of equilibrium.” I got dizzy watching all the visitors leaning backwards. Crazy!  
 
I also visited an Indie bookstore called the Village House of Books in Los Gatos, California. It was

Bookstore

small and really cute and cozy. I spoke to the owner and wished her success as they just recently opened. She expressed interest in carrying some of my books in her store. We exchanged emails. Which brings me to the topic of business cards. Do you have one? You should! You never know when they might come in handy. Always carry these cards with you. This post on the Publishers Weekly BookWorks blog, Business Cards of Famous Literary Characters, is most interesting. Check it out.

Santa Cruz Beach





Flowers in Los Gatos

“Slice-of-life vignette: A short-fiction piece intended to realistically depict an interesting moment of everyday living.” – Writer’s Digest Weekly Planner

2013 Laredo Book Festival

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I just returned from the Laredo Book Festival held on August 16. There were seven Texas authors participating on an author’s panel. We met with local librarians and talked about our writing process and our books, from picture books, to middle grade, to young adult titles.  After the morning session, we had a wonderful lunch with the library staff. Then the book festival opened its doors to the public. Dozens of children and parents strolled through the library and the book festival got underway. A ribbon cutting ceremony took place with Laredo’s mayor taking part.  
 
Author Panel
I did a reading of one of my books to an enthusiastic crowd of children. It was great fun meeting the people who came up to our tables to talk about school and books. I was so impressed with everything the library has to offer and its beautiful décor. It was a delight being there. This was the second time I’ve been invited to their book festival! Don’t you just love those types of events?
 


And if you write poetry for children, here’s something you might be interested in: the Children’s Writer Seasonal Poetry Writing Contest.

 
Some of the librarians with authors

“Never try to chase trends. Write what you love, and write the best book you can, and worry about publication later.” – Writing Tip from Writer’s Digest Weekly Planner

The First Chapter

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I’ve been going over my notes from the SCBWI-LA conference. So much to digest after days of intense sessions. Covered during these sessions: visual imagery, dialect, voice, characterization, mystery, drama, external/internal dialogue, interior growth, and so much more. 
 
San Francisco Wharf
“The first chapter is the hardest part of the book,” one of the instructors said. I totally agree with that. In that first chapter, you, the writer, are making a promise to the reader that you will take him/her on a journey with you. You must deliver on that promise with the rest of the book. You must invite, entice, and encourage the reader to stay with you, is what the instructor said. So remember that. Chapter one carries more weight. It almost exists as its own.
 
Enjoy the writing journey. Have fun! And this is just for more fun. Here’s a link to create a “heart” bookmark.

“I want to write a book that will be read from beginning to end with a mounting sense of anticipation and discovery—read willingly, with a feeling of genuine pleasure.”– Russell Freedman

More on SCBWI-LA Conference – 2013

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For more detailed information about the keynote speakers and their comments plus tons of great pictures taken at the SCBWI-LAconference, link to this site on Publishers Weekly. 


A couple of comments from an author whose workshop I attended:


Look at the size of those books!! LAX Airport


The first chapter is its own beautiful entity.

For the rest of the novel: am I staying on the journey?

In the end, everything has to come together.

Show through human action.

42nd Annual Summer SCBWI Conference – 2013

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Awesome! That is all I can say about the 42ndAnnual Summer SCBWI conference, which was held in Los Angeles. How can it get any better, I say? But it does. The keynote speakers were outstanding. Some breakout sessions had standing-room only. The intensive workshops for both writers and illustrators did not disappoint. Not to mention the illustrator’s portfolios on Portfolio Night. These artists are sooooo talented!! There were 1266 people in attendance representing 46 states. Some came from as far away as Japan, Egypt, Chile, India, Peru, and many other countries.    




Author with Laurie Halse Anderson

Some comments from the keynote speakers: 

A writer has the gift of magic. 

Magic is when we submerge ourselves in different cultures.

Magic is art.

Celebrate the color of life.

Find your angel. Find your muse.


Author with Andrea Pinkney


Nothing makes sense, but books do.

Write a killer first page.

Write books with new rules.

If there is a weakness in your manuscript, make it a strength.

Feel the heartbeat of your character.

Preserve wonder.

SCBWI Bookstore
Black & White Ball (Penguins)

            For lots more, go to the SCBWI blog. Plus above are some of my own pictures. Enjoy.



Visual Literacy in Picture Books

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I found this article, “Read A Picture…Book | Bold New Titles for Bolstering Visual Literacy and Discussing Design,” posted on the School Library Journal blog particularly interesting because I write picture books. The article reads: “ … these newly published picture books make clever use of visual presentation to convey information and story essentials, establish ambiance and tone, and challenge readers’ imaginations.”
 
Listing nine picture book covers, there is a description of each and how most of these “… also enrich visual literacy by encouraging children to interpret symbols and pictures, explore the interaction between words and images, and analyze pictorial content to determine meaning and significance.”
 
I recommend you read it. Super interesting.

“What does an editor do? Michelangelo said it best: ‘I saw an angel in the marble and I just chiseled till I set him free.’”  — Deborah Brodie

Opening lines in writing

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Do you struggle with opening lines? As writers, we are constantly told that opening lines should draw the reader in right away. Until I read this article, “Why Stephen King Spends Months and Even Years Writing Opening Sentences,” posted on The Atlantic blog, I did not realize how many times famous author Stephen King goes over and over those opening lines until he’s completely satisfied with the result. This is a great article that you must read. His advice is spot on: “An opening line should invite the reader to begin the story. It should say: Listen. Come in here. You want to know about this.” 
 
By the way, I just wrote a query letter for a historical fiction that I recently finished and I mailed it out yesterday. Wish me luck. If you’re ready to send out that query for your finished manuscript, you might want to go over this blog post, “How to Write the Perfect Query Letter,” on The Writer’s Digest blog. 
 
 
It’s always nice to walk into a Barnes & Noble bookstore and see your book on display. Note: bottom left (Alicia’s Fruity Drinks).


Hook: Aspect of the work that sets it apart from others and draws in the reader/viewer.—Writer’s Digest Weekly Planner

Writing Tips and Illustrator Interview

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I just read an article on The Guardian Children’s Books blog titled, “Making your writing the best it

Cactus in New Mexico

can be: top tips from children’s books editors.” It addresses such topics as: 

 
“End Note? …by far the most important part is the end. Enjoy the journey: the reader must enjoy the journey and so must the writer. Performing:all writers are performers, performers on the page. Finishing Off: …finish your work. Many good writers start off and fall by the wayside through lack of determination. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Read.”
 
The editors in this article elaborate more on each topic. I found the article really helpful.  See for yourself.
 
And for you illustrators and writers as well, here’s an excellent interview that illustrator Carolyn Dee Flores did on the Wendy Martin Illustration blog.
 
Pocket’s annual fiction contest is taking submissions. Make sure you submit that story you’ve been working on before the August 2013 deadline.
 
Galleys: The first fully designed (but usually unproofed) version of a book that has been divided into pages. — Writer’s Digest Weekly Planner

Book Awards and Diversity in Children’s Books

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I’ve been reading the latest issue, July/August 2013, of The Horn Book magazine. This is a special

one focusing on the 2013 Awards (Newbery, Caldecott, Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal, Coretta Scott King Award -CSK) and the acceptance speeches given by each winner: Katherine Applegate, (Newbery), Jon Klassen (Caldecott), Katherine Paterson (Wilder), Andrea Davis Pinkney (Author – CSK), and Bryan Collier (Illustrator – CSK). I must tell you that I was extremely moved by the comments and encouraging words of inspiration mentioned by the award winners. 

 
It’s wonderful to read how they got started, their diverse backgrounds, their respect for children, their journey to where they are now, and what the future holds for them. Hooray to all of them for their awesome books that bring joy to young and old alike! Here is a linkto these and other awards. Enjoy.
 
And here’s a good article, “10 Great Multicultural Children’s Books,” by Emily Temple posted on the Flavorwire blog that addresses diversity (or lack of it) in children’s books. She compiled a list of “a few great children’s books with diverse characters and stories …” 
 
I’ve enjoyed reading a few of those myself. How about you? Have you read any of them? Those that I have not read, I will add to my list. 

A quote from Madeleine L’Engle from The Horn Book magazine, July/Aug 2013 issue: “You have to write the book that wants to be written… And if the book will be too difficult for grown-ups, then you write it for children.”