Excellent guessing, Riddlers! Friday, Lizzy's review will make it all clear. See you all around the book block. ; ) ~ F
A celestial dome scattered blue, like an umbrella over you. From such heights, planets and moons; lower still, rainbows loom. Particles swing through matter and space, in and out at your pace. Up is where it's said to be, this is what you shall see.
What am I referring to? Answer: Blue Sky!
Fairday's Riddles: Volume I
Make time to riddle and rhyme!
62 original riddles and illustrations
Available in all e-book formats
Here is where we've been so far this December spreading the news about the paperback cover:
Thursday 12/15: Sandra's Blog
Writing Advice from Stephanie & Jess
Monday 12/12: Mama Diaries
Writing Advice from Stephanie & Jess
Wednesday 12/7: Write Stuff
Writing Advice from Stephanie & Jess
Monday 12/5: The Story of A Writer
The Process of Publishing a Book
Thursday 12/1: Carry Us Off Books
Cover reveal & Story Blurb
Wednesday, December 14, 2016
Monday, December 12, 2016
Monday's Riddle: What's Up?
Hello, Riddlers! Can you guess our theme this week? The story goes, when this color, you can count on a fair day. ; ) ~ F
A celestial dome scattered blue, like an umbrella over you. From such heights, planets and moons; lower still, rainbows loom. Particles swing through matter and space, in and out at your pace. Up is where it's said to be, this is what you shall see.
What am I referring to? Stop by Wednesday for the answer!
I gave you a clue!
Here is where we've been so far this December spreading the news about the paperback cover:
Monday 12/12: Mama Diaries
Writing Advice from Stephanie & Jess
Wednesday 12/7: Write Stuff
Writing Advice from Stephanie & Jess
Monday 12/5: The Story of A Writer
The Process of Publishing a Book
Thursday 12/1: Carry Us Off Books
Cover reveal & Story Blurb
A celestial dome scattered blue, like an umbrella over you. From such heights, planets and moons; lower still, rainbows loom. Particles swing through matter and space, in and out at your pace. Up is where it's said to be, this is what you shall see.
What am I referring to? Stop by Wednesday for the answer!
I gave you a clue!
Here is where we've been so far this December spreading the news about the paperback cover:
Monday 12/12: Mama Diaries
Writing Advice from Stephanie & Jess
Wednesday 12/7: Write Stuff
Writing Advice from Stephanie & Jess
Monday 12/5: The Story of A Writer
The Process of Publishing a Book
Thursday 12/1: Carry Us Off Books
Cover reveal & Story Blurb
Saturday, December 10, 2016
Author Interview with Jane Sutcliffe
The DMS was lucky to interview Jane Sutcliffe. Fairday reviewed her book Will's Words, and it was great to share our thoughts about it and hear yours! We're excited to learn a little more about her story. So, without further ado... take it away, Jane!
What inspired you to write Will’s Words?
Much of the credit has to go to my
editor at Charlesbridge, Alyssa Pusey. She contacted me a few years ago and
reminded me that 2016 was an anniversary year, the 400th anniversary
of the death of William Shakespeare. Charlesbridge was looking for a
Shakespeare-themed picture book to commemorate the event—did I want to write
it? Of course, the only possible answer to that question was “Sure!” (accompanied
by some jumping up and down and fist-pumping, I admit).
The rest was up to me. I had to decide
what kind of book I wanted it to be. I had done a lot of biographies in the
past but I knew I did not want to do this as a biography. For one thing, there
are already some excellent Shakespeare biographies for young readers out there,
most notably Diane Stanley’s Bard of Avon.
For another, we just don’t know enough about Shakespeare’s early life to make
it an interesting project for me.
Most young readers would not have been
familiar with Shakespeare’s plays or even with Shakespeare himself. They may
not even have heard the name yet. But I knew that they would know some of his
words and sayings, especially the everyday words like “excitement” and “hurry.”
So I decided to write about those. Those words and saying are in use all around
us every day and we don’t even know we are actually quoting Shakespeare when we
use them! But I didn’t just want a laundry list of cool words and phrases. I
wanted to insert them all into a running text in a meaningful way. What better
way than to tell the story of Shakespeare’s plays and the Globe Theatre using
the words and phrases from those plays.
How long did it take you to write Will’s Words?
It took five months to research and
write. Because we wanted the book released to coincide with the actual
anniversary of Shakespeare’s death, the deadline was very tight. And I knew
that as I was writing, the illustrator, John Shelley, was waiting to see what I
came up with so he could begin planning the illustrations. His deadline was
even tighter than mine!
You must do a lot of research for your books. What is your
research process like? Was there any
aspect of your research for Will’s Words
(or another book) that was the most interesting?
William Shakespeare is one of the most
widely researched subject in history and I quickly found that there is not much
consensus on exactly how many words he coined. Some sources says thousands;
others say he actually didn’t invent them but rather just popularized words
that were already in use. I had to check and double check to make sure that
phrases I wanted to use in the book actually did originate with William
Shakespeare. Sometimes it was frustrating.
I really wanted to be able to use the
phrase “wild-goose chase,” which, believe it or not, comes from the play Romeo and Juliet. I had a hard time
fitting the phrase into the story of a trip to the Globe Theatre—until I found
out that the original Globe had room for three thousand people but absolutely
no bathroom facilities. So I wrote: “Trying to find a restroom at the Globe
would have been a wild-goose chase.” Ha!
What are some of your favorite books from childhood? Were
there any specific authors who inspired you?
Like most authors, I was a great
reader, and an even greater re-reader. Every year I reread Little Women and The Wizard
of Oz, my all-time favorites. I had a series of classic books so I was also
a fan of Tom Sawyer and all kinds of
fairy tales. As you might expect I also loved nonfiction, especially
biographies. I spent my entire fifth grade reading nothing but biographies.
How do you decide which nonfiction topic you will write
about next?
Usually I write about whatever strikes
my fancy. I try to read about a variety of topics and I stay on top of whatever
anniversary might be coming up in the next few years. I wrote my middle grade
nonfiction book The White House is
Burning: August 24, 1814 to coincide with the bicentennial of that event in
2014.
If you could befriend a person from any of your books, who
would you befriend? Why?
I only write about real people so it
would be a famous person from history. That’s a hard choice. I’ve written about
such incredible geniuses as Shakespeare and Michelangelo. But I think I’d have
to say I’d choose John Adams. I have tremendous respect for our founding
fathers so I would consider it a great privilege to get to know him and count
him as a friend. There are so many questions I’d love to ask him. From my
research he also seemed like a pretty approachable guy who considered himself
just a farmer at heart.
Where do you like to write? Do you listen to music while you
are writing?
I’ve trained myself to write just about
anywhere. I even write in my car while I’m driving. I have a digital voice
recorder I use to work out sentences or paragraphs of books I’m working on. I
have my favorite spot at home where my I can spread out all my research and
write, with my dog asleep at my feet. No music, just snoring.
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Why?
I love where I live now, but to be
honest, I hate cold. I mean I really detest it. I don’t want to move; I just
wish it could be summer all the time.
Are you currently working on a book? If so, can you tell us
a little bit about it?
I’m actually working on several things
right now. I’m excited to be researching a book about the search for King Tut’s
tomb. It’s tentatively being called King Tut,
Howard Carter, and the Search for the Lost Tomb. It will deal not only with Tut’s life but with the search for his
tomb by archaeologist Carter. The anniversary of that discovery is coming up in
a few years. It’s one of those subjects that never goes out of style but I’m
hoping interest will increase as the anniversary approaches. Besides, I’ve done
quite a few picture books lately. I’m eager to do another middle grade
nonfiction book.
Where can we purchase your books?
They are available in most bookstores
and through online retailers such as Amazon and Indiebound. Can I put in a plug
here for your small neighborhood bookstore? If they don’t have a book you want,
they will certainly be happy to order it for you.
Will in the wild at Linda's Story Time |
We recently met Jane Sutcliffe at the CASL/CECA Technology and Literacy Summit. Thanks for introducing us to Will's Words!
CT authors, Jane Sutcliffe, Jessica Haight, & Stephanie Robinson |
Friday, December 9, 2016
What Were Will's Words?
Imagine yourself in London during the 1600s. The city was bustling with folks on their way to the theater. William Shakespeare was a brilliant playwright, known for his dramatic stories. People traveled from all over the world to see his words come to life on stage. His writing was passionate, and he had a knack for coining phrases still popular today.
Sayings like "money's worth" and "of a sudden" can be traced back to his work. He created household terms by mixing meanings, then writing them into his plays. As Will's popularity grew, they stuck.
Will's Words by Jane Sutcliffe is such a cool book. Not only is it interesting to find out how many terms William Shakespeare came up with, BUT the added bonus of locating him in every magnificent illustration is extremely entertaining. Watch out, Waldo! The artwork is outstanding, and I can only imagine how much fun the illustrator, John Shelley, had filling in the details. I was lost for hours, and you will be too trying to find Will. But, I promise it's not a wild goose chase. ;)
If you're a fan of William Shakespeare, you like history, or maybe you're a word connoisseur like me, this is the book for you! The story will whisk you back in time and the hunt to find the playwright will keep you busy. I'd recommend this book to readers ages seven and up or anyone who enjoys a little drama in their life.
Has anyone else read Will's Words? Or another book by Jane Sutcliffe? We'd love to hear your thoughts.
Happy Reading!
~ F
*Saturday catch our interview with the author!
Sayings like "money's worth" and "of a sudden" can be traced back to his work. He created household terms by mixing meanings, then writing them into his plays. As Will's popularity grew, they stuck.
Will's Words by Jane Sutcliffe is such a cool book. Not only is it interesting to find out how many terms William Shakespeare came up with, BUT the added bonus of locating him in every magnificent illustration is extremely entertaining. Watch out, Waldo! The artwork is outstanding, and I can only imagine how much fun the illustrator, John Shelley, had filling in the details. I was lost for hours, and you will be too trying to find Will. But, I promise it's not a wild goose chase. ;)
If you're a fan of William Shakespeare, you like history, or maybe you're a word connoisseur like me, this is the book for you! The story will whisk you back in time and the hunt to find the playwright will keep you busy. I'd recommend this book to readers ages seven and up or anyone who enjoys a little drama in their life.
Has anyone else read Will's Words? Or another book by Jane Sutcliffe? We'd love to hear your thoughts.
Happy Reading!
~ F
*Saturday catch our interview with the author!
Wednesday, December 7, 2016
Answer to Monday's Riddle: Setting the Stage...
Excellent guessing, Riddlers! Friday, I've got our ticket to the London theater in the 1600's, so stay tuned! See you all around the book block. ; ) ~ F
Pickpocketing London sets the scene, that's where you can see a dream. Stories play in disguise; crowds cheer on dramatic cries. Words became one man's game, soon to be a household name. Juggling meanings, he'd sort them out, listening to people talk and shout. When a theater opened up, they'd grab a snack and fill their cup. Most desired tricks and mirth, and they got their money's worth. But who was this creative man, telling tales by ink and hand?
Who am I referring to? Answer: William Shakespeare!
Fairday's Riddles: Volume I
Make time to riddle and rhyme!
62 original riddles and illustrations
Available in all e-book formats
Here is where we've been so far this December spreading the news about the paperback cover:
Wednesday 12/7: Write Stuff
Writing Advice from Stephanie & Jess
Monday 12/5: The Story of A Writer
The Process of Publishing a Book
Thursday 12/1: Carry Us Off Books
Cover reveal & Story Blurb
Pickpocketing London sets the scene, that's where you can see a dream. Stories play in disguise; crowds cheer on dramatic cries. Words became one man's game, soon to be a household name. Juggling meanings, he'd sort them out, listening to people talk and shout. When a theater opened up, they'd grab a snack and fill their cup. Most desired tricks and mirth, and they got their money's worth. But who was this creative man, telling tales by ink and hand?
Who am I referring to? Answer: William Shakespeare!
Fairday's Riddles: Volume I
Make time to riddle and rhyme!
62 original riddles and illustrations
Available in all e-book formats
Here is where we've been so far this December spreading the news about the paperback cover:
Wednesday 12/7: Write Stuff
Writing Advice from Stephanie & Jess
Monday 12/5: The Story of A Writer
The Process of Publishing a Book
Thursday 12/1: Carry Us Off Books
Cover reveal & Story Blurb
Monday, December 5, 2016
Monday's Riddle: Will You See the Dream?
Hello, Riddlers! Can you guess our theme this week? I didn't realize how many of his words are used today. ; ) ~ F
Pickpocketing London sets the scene, that's where you can see a dream. Stories play in disguise; crowds cheer on dramatic cries. Words became one man's game, soon to be a household name. Juggling meanings, he'd sort them out, listening to people talk and shout. When a theater opened up, they'd grab a snack and fill their cup. Most desired tricks and mirth, and they got their money's worth. But who was this creative man, telling tales by ink and hand?
Who am I referring to? Stop by Wednesday for the answer.
I gave you a clue!
Pickpocketing London sets the scene, that's where you can see a dream. Stories play in disguise; crowds cheer on dramatic cries. Words became one man's game, soon to be a household name. Juggling meanings, he'd sort them out, listening to people talk and shout. When a theater opened up, they'd grab a snack and fill their cup. Most desired tricks and mirth, and they got their money's worth. But who was this creative man, telling tales by ink and hand?
Who am I referring to? Stop by Wednesday for the answer.
I gave you a clue!
A midsummer night. ;) |
Here is where we've been so far this December spreading the paperback cover:
Thursday 12/1: Carry Us Off Books
Cover reveal & Story Blurb
Monday 12/5: The Story of A Writer
The Process of Publishing a Book
Thursday 12/1: Carry Us Off Books
Cover reveal & Story Blurb
Monday 12/5: The Story of A Writer
The Process of Publishing a Book
Saturday, December 3, 2016
Interview with Kara Van Kirk Levin
The DMS was lucky enough to interview Kara Van Kirk Levin. Fairday shared her thoughts after reading Soldier with her sister, Margo. It was great to share our thoughts about it and hear yours! We're excited to learn a little more about her story. So, without further ado... take it away, Kara!
What inspired you to write SOLDIER?
What inspired you to write SOLDIER?
It is hard to say exactly from where the story came but I
have a hunch it had something to do with my own experience growing up alongside
my beloved cousin, who was born with an intellectual disability. From that vantage point, I saw how he thrived
under the love and care of many creative and supportive others, such as his
mother, father, teachers, and his extended family. I suppose Soldier
is an insider’s take on what it’s like to love someone whose differences make
life a little bit more challenging.
How did you come up with your
characters, Soldier and the field mouse?
Soldier took shape as the words landed on the page. It’s funny how this process worked, almost a little magical, actually. I began with a sentence and let the mood and tone of the words I selected inform me of where to go next. I listened to the character that was taking shape and I allowed what I know about human nature to guide me. As for mouse, she was a cool character to create. She represents all the helping people out there in the world, who, for whatever reason, choose to come to someone’s aid. I specifically chose not to give mouse a name (yet) because the point was that she did not need to be recognized for her kindness, that the act alone told the reader all that they needed to know about her character. Don’t worry, though, she will definitely get a name in the next book. For now, with great pride, we have taken to calling her “Helper mouse.”
Soldier plays the flute. Do you
play any instruments?
I did play an instrument when I was a child – the violin! I begged my mother to let me play and she did. But, I was sort of a rambunctious child and I ended up breaking my violin bow three times. Perhaps the violin was a little too delicate for me. Later, I joined the choir and that was perfect. I love to sing and it’s much harder for me to break that instrument!
You worked with two illustrators
to create SOLDIER. What was the process like?
I worked with two women from Ukraine, both of whom are incredibly talented artists. If not for their involvement, there likely would not be a Soldier book today. Because of their experience illustrating books in Ukraine, we were able to print our book in Kiev and shipped back 1000 copies to the US. It was thrilling!
What was so great about working directly with my
illustrators is that we got to create the work together. We would sit down a couple of times a month
over coffee and brainstorm about how we envisioned the images. Sometimes I would have an idea and Vlada
would say, “YES!” Then she’d go back to her studio and work until it was
perfect, often far better than I could have ever imagined. And sometimes, I’d have an idea and Vlada
would say, “Eh.” And I would have to admit it wasn’t a great idea. And that is what you call collaboration! It was an exhilarating process.
What are some of your favorite
books from childhood? Were there any specific authors who inspired you?
Here are some of my favorites from childhood:
Snowy Day (Ezra Jack Keats)
Where the Wild Things Are, Pierre (Maurice Sendak)
Good Night Moon (Margaret Wise Brown)
A Great Day for Up (Dr. Suess)
Sylvester and the Magic Pebble, Dr. De Soto (William Steig)
Lyle Crocodile (Bernard Waber)
Corduroy (Don Freeman)
I really like books that read a little like poems, for
example stories that have a language and a cadence of their own. I find these rhythms calming and
magical. I think that stories that fit
this description inspired the style I used for Soldier.
I also really like books where the illustrations have
whimsical details, in which the words and the illustrations merge to take you
to another place. And where something
emotional and perhaps a little troubling is happening. These books invoke a feeling of wonder in me
long after I’ve finished them and I can return to that feeling instantly, with
only the smallest bit of my memory jogged.
These are the books that truly inspire my writing and creativity.
If you could live anyplace real or fictional, where would it be? Why?
I used to watch the cartoon Little Bear with my children. It is set in a gentle idyllic countryside, and the bear family is nestled inside a cozy home with apple pie baking and stories being read by the fire. Even though my boys were little (probably only 3 years old at the time – they are twins), I used to say to them, “Oooh, how I wish I lived in Little Bear’s world!” That is still true. I love nothing more than a place that feels cozy, where signs of love and respect for humans and the natural world can be felt at every turn.
Where do you like to write? Do
you listen to music while you are writing?
I do some of my best writing while traveling between places, for example on the airplane or the subway. There is something about moving from one place to another while being surrounded, usually in close quarters, by handfuls of strangers that stirs my emotions and makes the writing flow from my thoughts to the page. But mostly I can write anywhere that I have something to write with or on. And interestingly, I almost always lose track of time when I am writing.
Are you currently working on a book? If so, can you tell us a little bit about it?
I am currently working on the second Soldier book, in which little Soldier begins to outgrow his sweater and must go out in search of mouse for help. I hope to be able to release it within the next year. And I am working on a new title, which I am very excited about called The Pattern Thrower, about a little girl who experiences her emotions through patterns and when she feels something strongly, she throws a gorgeous pattern out onto everything in the vicinity: happy patterns, angry patterns, sad patterns, thoughtful patterns, playful patterns, etc. There is a special character in the book – I don’t want to say who yet, as I want it to be a surprise – that tells the whole story from a unique point of view. I hope to have this book written by early next year.
Where can we buy your books or learn more about them?
If you wish to purchase Soldier or learn more about him and Little Wooden Flute, our publishing company, visit our website. You can also see lots of fun posts on Facebook and Instagram at #SoldierBook and #littlewoodenflute. The book is also available for sale on Amazon.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)