Austin SCBWI Outreach Benefits Bastrop Community and Public Libraries

It’s been one month since we kicked off the Austin SCBWI Outreach effort, an effort to help replenish the books that the families and the libraries lost in the fires that ravaged the Bastrop community. Today, representing the Austin SCBWI chapter, my husband and I delivered over 1,000 books donated by children’s authors and illustrators to the Bastrop Public Library. It was joyful and humbling being able to play Santa Claus for a day, and I hope through these pictures you feel like you were there with me.

Richard West and I unloading books at the library

Sue Lane McCulley, president of the Bastrop Friends of the Library, was there to greet me with several other friendly committee members (Janet West, Vice President Fundraising, and Richard West, Member At-Large). Together, we unloaded our jam-packed van with books of every genre. I truly felt euphoric as I handed over a check to Sue for $285.00, the additional money donated by you through our chapter’s website. The staff of the Bastrop Public Library was busy setting the stage for tomorrow’s (December 10th) annual Open House from 10am – 4pm. Families will partake in sweets, treats (think gingerbread houses, yum!) and each child will go home with two books, compliments of the Friends of the Library (and supported by our outreach).

Janet West, Sue Lane McCulley, Richard West, Sheilah Kosco and Me

Sheilah Kosco, Assistant Director of the Bastrop Public Library, was ecstatic watching the books pile into her stock room because their library lost over 10,000 titles in the Bastrop fires. Even though the library didn’t burn to the ground, many of their books perished as they were checked out to residents in the community who lost their homes. Sheilah told me that the Austin SCBWI Outreach effort is going to make a huge difference in in helping them to replenish those lost titles in not only the Bastrop Public Library but Smithville too. Both libraries were deeply affected by the tragedy. 

There aren’t enough words to express the gratitude I received on your behalf from the Bastrop Public Library and the Bastrop Friends of the Library but one thing is for sure – books will be dancing into the hearts of kids tomorrow and for years to come – all because of you! 


A deep, ernest, heart-of-Texas thank you to the schools, SCBWI chapters, and individuals who donated books and funds to this important outreach. From coast to coast, the SCBWI Kid-lit community has banded together to help a wild fire ravaged community heal through the power of literature for children. And we, here in Austin, are honored to have played an organizational role in the healing process. 


Happy Holidays! 

Why We Write for Children

At this time in the season, I always find myself sitting back and reflecting about the many things I'm thankful for such as my family, air in my lungs, a roof over my head, words in my head and memories to fill my heart. I'm also thankful for the wonderful writing community I belong to in Austin and the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) for their support and encouragement. I wouldn't be as far along in my writer's journey without their guidance and the opportunities they provide through their organization. Every day, I become a better writer. And everyday there's a child out there who needs me to be a better writer. For it's through the stories we tell that children make connections, take journeys and discover the world beyond their back doors.

I write because of them. The children. The ones who need to feel that they, too, can tell their own stories. I mean  if I can write a story so can they. And when they see me writing, hear my voice, hear my stories, they know they can tell their story, too. Their stories are just as important to tell. They matter. And I'm eager to hear them. I write to share myself with them in the hopes that they'll make a connection, enjoy the ride and then begin their own journey of sharing their voice with the world. 

In the last month or so, several of my writer friends have been sharing and inspiring us through their essays on the blog produced by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), and I want to highlight a few of those blog posts today in the hopes that you'll be inspired to keep writing for the children who need us.

Author Jeanette Larson's essay "A New Dia is Dawning" can be found by clicking HERE.

Author Bethany Hegedus's essay "Meeting Gandhi's Grandson, The Making of a Picture Book" can be found by clicking HERE.

Author Liz Garton Scanlon's essay "Author Not Illustrator: My perspective on the Caldecott Honor" can be found by clicking HERE.

Author Greg Leitich Smith's essay "It Started with a Picture Book" can be found by clicking HERE.

Author Elizabeth White's essay "Love, Your Admiring Patron" can be found by clicking HERE.

Author Lindsey Lane's essay "A Digital Revelation" can be found by clicking HERE.

Author E. Kristin Anderson's essay "Social Networking: Making the World Smaller one Tweet at a Time" can be found by clicking HERE. 

Author and RA Debbie Gonzales's essay "Reader Guides - Pick Your Pleasure" can be found by clicking HERE.

And here is a lovely post by Cynthia Leitich Smith "Why Picture Books are Important" at the blog PICTURE BOOK MONTH A Celebration! Click HERE to read it! Also you'll find many other wonderful essays on the blog from talented authors and illustrators celebrating everything there is to love about the picture book. 

Peace, love and joy from my house to your house. Keep writing!

Supporting Children with the Love of Books

Many of you will remember the fires that rippled through the county of Bastrop destroying acres of forests and thousands of businesses and homes. But in the aftermath of tragedy comes rebirth, rebuilding and hope. And it is our hope at the Austin Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) that you will join us in putting children's and Young Adult books back into the hands of the young readers who lost everything in the fires. Our outreach effort can be found by clicking HERE with instructions on how you can donate new or gently "used" books or a monetary donation.

Heather Vogel Frederick said, "Life is a voyage. So is a book." Let's take the young readers of Bastrop County on a journey. Let's show them with the love of books. All aboard!

A Recap of the 2011 Texas Book Festival

Another Texas Book Festival (TBF) has come and gone and a heartfelt thank you goes out to all the organizers, staff, volunteers, authors and presenters who made this year's festival a success. A special thanks to TBF committee members Clay Smith, Festival's Literary Director, and Marika Flatt, Co-owner of PR by the Book, for asking me to moderate for the Books Between Us panel.

Clay Smith (photo compliements of Cynthia Leitich Smith from CYNSATIONS)

The weekend kicked off with a children's and YA social event on Friday at the home of David and Amy Roberts (Amy was on the author selection committee and has supported past Texas Book Festivals) for authors, publicists and moderators. It was an opportunity to network and talk about the wonderful children's literary world. Marika Flatt and I had the privilege of driving authors Eileen Christelow, Adam Gidwitz, James Daschner, Judy Sierra, Divya Srinivasan and Bernadette Cruz, publicist with Penguin Young Readers Group. What a fun group!!

The tables were draped in white linens with glowing Mexican pillar candles and picture books and novels created place settings and table centers. It was extraordinary! Gorgeous! I mingled throughout the evening and met Jack Gantos who is hilarious and charming. He poured me a glass of Chardonnay but first he had me sample it, making sure it wasn't too oaky. Just right! Thanks, Jack! 

me and Marika Flatt and a lovely person who I can't recall her name. Shame on me!

I saw many of my peeps including Jennifer Ziegler, Jo Whittemore, Emma Virjan, Greg Leitich Smith, Jill S. Alexander Chris Barton, Liz Garton Scanlon, Don Tate and Jeanette Larson (who took the lovely picture of Marika and I plus many more!! Thanks, Jeanette!). I was introduced to one of my panel authors Heather Vogel Frederick by New York Times bestselling author Cynthia Leitich Smith. Thanks, Cynthia! Without her help, I would have missed seeing Heather as there were scads of authors and illustrators milling about. I'd seen Heather's picture on her website but it does not do her justice. She's as beautiful on the outside as she is on the inside. The night was magical and the home exquisite. Thank you to David and Amy!

Don Tate and me (Compliments of Cynthia Leitich Smith from Cynsations )

The next morning a few of us Austin SCBWI members met for breakfast at the Hideout on Congress for breakfast delights and coffee before Saturday's Festival events got under way. Forgive me if I'm missing anyone, I think I am. (Donna Bowman Bratton, Emily Kristin Anderson, Jeff Crosby and Shelley Ann Jackson, Jenny Moss and Nikki Loftin.) We had fun discussing which panels we were going to attend first. Some of us went and caught author/actor Molly Shannon in the Paramount. She was entertaining to say the least. She tragically lost her mother and sister in car crash when she was just four years old. What a survivor! Plus, I won't forget the cleaning pill story she told. You had to be there for that one. I can't possible do it justice.

Jeff Crosby with his fans!

After breakfast, I had my panel with authors Nancy Tillman and Heather Vogel Frederick and we talked about Books Between Us. The roles books play in children's lives and how they bring families together. I couldn't have asked for a more inspiring topic.

Heather's books span several genres but some of her recent titles include the adorable picture book Hide and Squeak, illustrated by C. F. Payne and Home from the Holidays from the popular Mother-Daughter Book Club series (the last chapter is a tear-jerker and incredible. I'm inspired to start my own Mother-Daughter book club). 

Some of Nancy's books have been on the New York Times bestseller list including On the Night You Were Born, but her most recent picture book is The Crown on Your Head which is an amazing read for parents and their children. 

Thanks ladies for your wisdom and insight and inspiration! I feel honored to have met you.

After my panel, I scooted over to catch Young Adult authors Libba Bray and Sarah Dessen as they interviewed each other. Libba ended the session with a few Vanity Fair type questions. What a hoot! It was a packed house and I laughed until my sides ached. It was also very touching hearing about their writing process and knowing that they too agonize through revision and lose their way at times. 

me and Meredith Davis at YA panel featuring Libba Bray and Sarah Dessen

The day ended with a schmooze at the Driskill Hotel before heading over to the cocktail party at Eddy Safady's impressive home on Congress. The rooftop blew me away. Equipped with bar, pool and enough deck space that makes my main floor living space look teeny tiny!

Jill S. Alexander, Vanessa Lee, Debbie Gonzales, Me and Bethany Hegedus

Thanks to Austin SCBWI RA Debbie Gonzales for her company! We had fun networking with the literary crowd, didn't we? What a day!

I was planning on taking the family back down for Sunday's events but one of my wee ones came down with an awful stomach virus and needed her mom. I happily obliged but would've loved to see her meet one of her favorite authors, Kate DiCamillo. Maybe next year?

A huge thanks again to the organizers of the Texas Book Festival for bringing the love of reading and books to Texas and supporting Texas public libraries and literacy across the State with the proceeds from book sales and merchandise sold during the Festival! This was my third time attending the TBF and I can't wait for next year's 17th edition.

Below are fabulous links to event recaps that will leave you feeling like you were at the TBF if you missed it or want to relive it!

Event Report: 2011 Texas Book Festival by Cynthia Leitich Smith from Cynsations.

Texas Book Festival Recap by Greg Leitich Smith from GregLSBlog.

Things I learned at the Texas Book Festival by Shelli Cornelison from Shelli's Soliloquy.

The Biggest Book Nerd Ever by Nikki Loftin.

Texas Book Festival 2011 - My Personal Highlights by Donna Bowman Bratton.

Texas, etc by Sarah Dessen.

Texas Book Festival 2011

White tents, lush green lawns, hot coffee and crisp new books are just some of the things you'll see, smell and feel at the 2011 Texas Book Festival. There will be families and authors and illustrators coming together to share and celebrate the joy of reading and literacy. I can't wait! Can you?

This year, I've been asked to moderate a panel titled Books Between Us with authors Heather Vogel Frederick (author of the popular Mother-Daughter Book Club series) and Nancy Tillman, her latest picture book is The Crown on Your Head. A heartfelt thank you to my good friend Marika Flatt, founder of the boutique publicity firm PR by the Book, for passing my name along to Clay Smith, literary director for the festival. I'm thrilled to be introducing these two ladies as the audience interacts with their questions. What a grand topic we have to explore and I hope if you're in the area you'll stop by and join us on Saturday, October 22nd, between 12:00 - 1:00pm in the Capitol Extension Room E2.016. 

The line up this year is impressive and you can click on the entire schedule for the two days, October 22-23, HERE. Also, author Greg Leitich Smith has put together a blog post on the children's and young adult sessions occurring at the festival. Click HERE to visit that post.

There's an in depth interview with Heidi Marquez Smith, the festival's executive director, online at Austin Women magazine reported by Julie Tereshchuk. Click HERE to read the interview.

In closing, I'd like to leave you with a quote that I read in Esther Hershenhorn's picture book S is for Story: A Writer's Alphabet, illustrated by Zachary Pullen. It sets the tone nicely for the upcoming weekend's festivities.

"What happens is a reciprocal gift between writer and reader: one heart in hiding reaching out to another." -Katherine Paterson

Advice From an Agent - Revision

Things have been off the chart busy as of late. It’s all good as the saying goes. I’ve been working like a beaver on a couple of revisions that an agent suggested for two of my works-in-progress. One wasn’t really a request, more of a pondering; I wonder if this ending could have an even bigger payoff? Although, the illustrator might achieve this through the illustrations, she said. But I decided to explore the options (that’s what we writers do).

You never have anything to lose. You can always pitch the revision. You’re not forced to stay with it. Why not try a few different scenarios and see if anything shakes loose.

Could I uncover an even stronger ending? I wasn’t sure but I was eager to try. I mean, if I have an opportunity to make my book stronger, more rewarding and satisfying for my reader, then I’d be a fool not to at least test the waters. And that’s what I did.

First, I brainstormed ideas of how the ending might play out. Of course, I had to keep in mind what my character wanted. What would be an even bigger payoff for the MC based on what was important to her? Could I elevate the emotional impact? And it needed to be plausible and real and authentic. I also wanted to reward the reader with a surprise twist. Something they might not be expecting. Hmmm. So I scratched away in my notebook. And then I took my chicken scratch notes to the computer and started revising. I uncovered what I think is an even stronger ending. More emotional. Multi-layered.

“I like it. I like it a lot” as Lloyd Christmas (played by Jim Carey) said in the movie Dumb and Dumber.

So don’t ever be afraid to try. Be brave. Take a chance. You have nothing to lose. You can always recycle the revision. Trust yourself as a writer!

Book Talk: Reviews by Young Readers

Today, I’m excited to welcome back ten-year-old Analise Flatt, an avid reader and budding book publicist, to BookTalk: Reviews by Young Readers.  She's reviewing author/illustrator Jill Thompson's Magic Trixie. 
 

Review – Magic Trixie by Jill Thompson (HarperCollins, 2008)

Magic Trixie is the first book of the series. Magic Trixie is a curious, mysterious little girl. In this book, she thinks her baby sister gets all the attention. Also in this book, she had to have gross food because of Abbey Cadabra (Trixie’s baby sister). Magic Trixie was told that she could not use the big spell book, the big wand and Tansy’s (her big sister) big cool broom. But Abbey got to use all that stuff. Magic Trixie only wanted those items for show and tell! Then she finally figured out a perfect thing to do for show and tell. But I can’t tell you. You will have to read the book to find out. The next book in the series is Magic Trixie Sleeps Over. I hope you read the series!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks, Analise. I can't wait to have you back for another one of your reviews!