And the Winner is............

The winner for the signed copy of Sandy Green's "The Tide Changers" is.........

Jodi Moore

Jodi Moore.

Thank you for commenting and sending your well wishes to Sandy for the success of her new MG novel.

Please contact me through my website (link in the blog's upper right hand corner) to send me your mailing address and I will forward it to Sandy.

Thanks everyone.

Best,
Gayle


PS. Stay tuned for the Picture Book Page Turner Contest coming up later this month. :)

Author Interview and MG Book Giveaway - Sandy Green

It's been a while since I've interviewed an author at "The Storyteller's Scroll." Today, I'd like to remedy that.

We are interviewing Sandy Green, author of a great new MG novel titled, "The Tide Changers."

Sandy has graciously offered to giveaway a signed copy of her book. All you need to win is to:
a. leave a comment for Sandy.
b. be a follower of The Storyteller's Scroll.

A random generator will choose the winner and it will be announced next Monday. It's as easy as a rolling, rippling wave. :)

Now let’s start the interview.

1. What got you started in writing for children?     

I was in the kitchen washing dishes after my children had left for school and listening to The Today Show interview William Shatner. He remarked how amazed he was that the some of the props on Star Trek became reality, like their communicators we casually use as cell phones. I thought—Yes, what will come next? That night, I woke up with an idea for a holographic second self and wrote my first book. It was the beginning of a long learning process.

2. How long have you been writing for children?     

Since 2004.

3. When you first received your offer, what happened?  

I was very excited and texted my family and writing partner, author KEM Johnston.

4. Tell us a little bit about your path to publication.    

I’ve completed several manuscripts, and took time to earn publication credits in children’s magazines. I also forayed into writing literary poetry—Flutter Press published a chapbook of my poems called Pacing the Moon in 2009. Writing poetry helps my fiction writing because of its economical use of words.

5. Tell us about one of your most heart-breaking rejections and about one of your best.      

One of the most disappointing rejections was when my short story was accepted for another Chicken Soup anthology (I’d been published in Chicken Soup for the Child’s Soul). I already had the contract in hand when they withdrew it. It was a personal tribute about my sister, and she was so honored when I’d first told her about its publication. But I submitted it elsewhere where it was accepted and published. 

The best rejections are those where the editor writes something personal about the work. They are like jewels. But the very best was when an agent called to discuss my story. He still didn’t sign me, but it gave me great validation to continue my work.

6. How did you find your editor/publisher/agent?    

I looked for an independent publisher. I never submitted the manuscript to a larger one.

7. What are some of the new things you worry about now?   

I don’t worry about the publishing industry. Creative people will always find a way to share their work.

8. What was the editorial process with your publisher like?      

Patricia Morrison at Penumbra Publishing was wonderful and offered thoughtful writing prompts and critiques. She was the perfect editor—kind, patient, knowledgeable, speedy, and apparently needs very little sleep. Many times I’d be surprised to see the time of day when she answered an email.

9. How many revisions did you have to write?     

We went back and forth several times. Sometimes I would think we were finished and wrapped up and the next day I would email a new idea. Patricia would always graciously accept and incorporate it.

10. Describe a typical day in your writing life. Are you a morning   writer? An afternoon writer? A late night writer?    

I write all the time. Now that both my children are in college, I don’t have to stop at three or four in the afternoon. I’m always researching a fact, word, or place. I want the tiniest detail to be true. Then there’s the ‘business’ of writing: scheduling promotional activities, researching, reading journals and ‘how-to’ books. Sometimes I don’t drag myself to bed until three in the morning.

11.  Any advice for aspiring authors?   

Of course:

1. read, but read across genres. I particularly recommend poetry, especially writers like former poet laureates Billy Collins and Ted Kooser for their clarity and beautiful language.
2. Keep notebooks in your pocket for writing down ideas and overheard conversations, which could lead to great character descriptions.
3. Write every day. I was trained as a classical dancer. You don’t learn to turn by doing one pirouette, but by doing hundreds.
4. Join a critique group. Don’t avoid rejection—opinions about your work are subjective, like the Quick Questions at the end of this interview.
5. Hone your skills by submitting to magazines.

12.  Are there any writing books you recommend? Workshops? Conferences?  

I’d recommend the SCBWI conferences. I also attend the writers’ conference at Christopher Newport University in the spring. It offers insights into a variety of genres—memoir writing, non-fiction, children’s, poetry, and mysteries—with workshops by authors, industry professionals, and CNU professors.

13.  Finally, where do you get your ideas for The Tide Changers?

My family has spent the past twenty years vacationing in beautiful Cape May, NJ. Sometimes on a sunny day with the ocean waves gently rolling on the beach you have to wonder what’s really going on beneath the surface.

My husband was a scuba diver, and he gave me a lot of insight into the mechanics and science of living underwater. But the first time I had the inkling of the idea was when I was in the shower and accidently sprayed water up my nose. I wondered how little water it would take to drown and wouldn’t it be nice to breathe underwater?

14.  QUICK QUESTIONS: CHOOSE ONE

Chocolate or cheese? Chocolate

Margarita or wine? Neither. I like caffeine free Pepsi.

Cookies or cake? Cookies.

A good book or a good movie? Book, of course!

Winter or summer? Winter.

"The Tide Changers" is available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble and can be purchased in print or for an electronic reader. Pick up a copy today!

 

WINNER OF "THE POLISHED PARAGRAPH" CONTEST ANNOUNCED

Thank you again for a successful writing contest here at The Storyteller’s Scroll. We had great participation and some fantastic paragraphs. The voting has been tallied and the winner of the 1^st Polished Paragraph Contest is:

Cecilia M. -THE REAPER'S NOVICE

Congratulations Cecilia. Please contact me through my website. The link can be found at the upper right hand corner of the blog. Looking forward to critiquing your first chapter. 

Happy Leap Day writers. May you leap to success this year! 

THE "POLISHED" PARAGRAPH CONTEST

Well folks, since this month’s “First Sentence Flash Contest” was such a success, writers have been contacting me to ask for more.

So I’m pleased to announce another writing contest, titled “The Polished Paragraph.”

Agents and editors encourage us to polish our work before submitting.

I’ve attended many writer’s conferences (SCBWI, Highlights Foundation Workshops, Rutgers One on One, Historical Novel Society International Conference and Cliff House Writers Writer’s Retreat) And every agent or editor, that ever there was, has told us they can tell when a manuscript is “NOT” ready to be submitted simply by reading the first paragraph.

Some even extend their sleuthing abilities to your query letter to determine the worthiness of your manuscript.

So with Roxanne Werner’s comments on your “opening line” in the last Storyteller Scroll contest, I hope by now you have revised it.

She also mentioned, “Don't feel the need to force everything plus the kitchen sink into that opening line. Give yourself a paragraph with a novel.”

With that in mind, this new contest will help you “polish” your first paragraph. And I will be assisting you to make your paragraph shine.

This contest is open to MG and YA writers in any genre. (Don’t worry PB writers. Next month it’s your turn J)

My affiliations are SCBWI, YALITCHAT, YA WONDERWRITERS, THE RED PEN MG WRITERS, CLIFF HOUSE WRITERS (MIXED LEVELS) and THE POETS’ GARAGE.

THE “WINNER” WILL RECEIVE A FULL FIRST CHAPTER CRITIQUE FROM ME.

1. ****Make sure you are a follower of the Storyteller’s Scroll.
2. ****Submit your first paragraph, title and genre in the comment section.
3. ****Vote for the paragraph you think should receive the full chapter critique. 
4. Ah-Ah-Ah! You can't vote for yourself.

The paragraph with the most votes wins the critique. It’s that easy. Free advice and a full chapter critique for some lucky writer.

Contest starts Wednesday, February 22^nd  at NOON and ends Tuesday, February 28^th  at NOON. Winner announced on the 29^th. Maybe this leap year will bring good luck to one of you. J

The Winners of the First Sentence Flash Contest Announced

Finally, the day has arrived to announce the winners of THE FIRST SENTENCE FLASH CONTEST.

I’d like to thank Roxanne Werner, editor at Stories for Children, for donating her time and expertise and all of you who entered to make this a wildly successful contest.

The first place winner is:

Rogan had never eaten a knight before, but there was a first time for everything. 

Morning Scribbler - PB will receive a full picture book critique from Ms. Werner.

Second place:

 MG fantasy--By the time the final words at the King’s funeral were spoken, I felt nauseated by incense and overwhelmed by the urge to become a trespasser. 

Jess will receive a critique of her first page. 

If the winners will please send me their email addresses I will forward them to Ms. Werner so you may claim your prize. You may contact me through my website. The link is in the upper right hand corner of my blog.

All of you may contact Miss Werner at her website for her professional opinion and critique services at:

http://roxannewerner.com/Services.aspx

Check back for monthly contests and writing tips at The Storyteller’s Scroll.

Happy Writing!!

Last Chance for First Sentence Flash!

Hi folks:

Just posting how thrilled I am that this contest is such a success. Over 29 entries so far with 123 comments and tomorrow at noon the posting window closes.

I also wanted to remind those of you that have entered to reread the rules. You must be a follower to win the free critiques. If you don't see your picture there, you didn't follow the 1st rule of the contest.

So be sure. You don't want to miss out on a free critique from Roxanne. :)

Happy Writing!

Gayle

"First Sentence Contest" at The Storyteller's Scroll

FIRST SENTENCES IN A FLASH!

First sentences must be dynamic from the very first glance.

“It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.” — 1984 – George Orwell

See what I mean…

As writer’s we often struggle with our opening lines. The story might be fantastic, but if we don’t get the reader hooked in the beginning they’ll never get to our wonderful story.

You want a reader to get that unmistakable “WOW!” feeling at the start. Something ticks in their brain that tells them they absolutely MUST read your story, be it picture book or novel!

So to help polish all those first lines we have a new contest this month:

FIRST SENTENCES IN A FLASH!

Have the first sentence of your manuscript critiqued by an award winning children's author and fiction editor from Stories for Children.

Roxanne Werner has graciously offered her expert eye at evaluating the strength of your opening line. Be it picture book or novel, she will give you a star rating.

4 stars = excellent

3 stars = very strong

2 stars = average interest

1 star = needs to be rewritten

All participants will receive a rating and the top two will win a further critique from Ms. Werner.

First place – the first novel chapter or the whole picture book

Second place – the first page.

Contest runs for 1 week, starting today. February 1^st to February  7^th.

1. You must be a follower of The Storyteller Scroll to enter.

2. Type your first sentence in the comment section below and indicate the work’s genre.

3. Miss Werner will comment on every opening line.

Next Wednesday, February 8^th, The Storyteller Scroll will announce winners

You may contact Miss Werner at her website for her professional opinion to finish critiquing your work or for further information at:

http://roxannewerner.com/Services.aspx