Interview with Picture Book Author - Lynne Marie

Today, I’d like to introduce my blog readers to Lynne Marie. She’s a new Scholastic author, and we share the same editor. Her debut picture book is featured in this interview.

Enjoy!

1.Can you tell us your latest news?

    I am very pleased to announce that my first

    children’s picture book, “Hedgehog Goes to 

    Kindergarten,” is being featured in May issue of 

    Scholastic Firefly book club. You can find it on 

    the front page of the flyer. It can be ordered 

    through the book club from classroom teachers, 

    or anyone my contact me at 

     WriteLynneMarie@aim.com

2.   If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?

I have been fortunate to have many writers mentor me during the many, many years I devoted to learning my craft, including Erica Silverman, Anna Grossnickle Hines, Gail Carson Levine, Pam Munoz Ryan, Patricia Lee Gauch, Joy Cowley and several other greats, but I honestly would have to credit my long-standing critique group, Linda Ravin Lodding and Lori Mortensen, for their tireless and continued mentorship over the years.

3.   What is/was your first published title?

Although I have had many near-misses and several other manuscripts under consideration, “Hedgehog Goes to Kindergarten” is my first published title, to date.

4.   What inspired you to write your first book?


This book, originally titled “School Bus Buddies,” was inspired by a few things. The problem was based upon something I observed when my son attended school. I think going off on a bus is such a big step and I wanted to write a story to give a child (especially a child who is different) hope “at the end of the road,” even when the ride is bumpy.  I felt I needed a main character who had a flaw that was part of the problem and I right away thought of my first pet hedgehog, Apollo Nike ( nicknamed “Spike”) who always turned into a pin-cushion when he got scared.

5.   How did your find your editor/publisher?

She had been one of the Mentors at a Rutgers University One on One Plus Conference that I had made it into several years ago, although she was not my Mentor. She seemed very nice and I thought that my book would be perfect for the book club market, so I sent it.

6.   What are your current projects?


I do have two sequels to “Hedgehog Goes to Kindergarten,” in

which Spike actually does get to school: “Hedgehog’s 100^th Day of School,” and “Hedgehog and Croc’s Picture Day Countdown.” I think they are lots of fun – and so does my editor, so hopefully my first book will sell well enough that Scholastic will offer contracts on those too.

      7. Describe a typical day in your writing life. Are you a morning 

      writer? An afternoon writer? A late night writer?

     I am an after 9:00 A.M. writer. Mornings are focused upon having fun

     breakfasts with my six-year old daughter and dressing her up in

     fancy clothes for school. I’m glad we have this time because next 

     year we will be living in Florida and she will wear a school uniform 

     and go to school even earlier!

7.   Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

I would love them to visit my websites at:

www.mywordplayground.blogspot.com

www.hedgehoggoestokindergarten.blogspot.com

I have been remiss in updating them just lately because we are in the process of selling our home and purchasing a home in Florida and I have been flying back and forth, but I will be giving them attention soon, and I would love to feature children’s artwork and letters, which can be sent to: WriteSpike@gmail.com

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

I love Ann Whitford Paul’s book, “Writing Picture Books,” for starters.  I’m also a huge fan  of the Highlights Foundation Writer’s Workshop at Chautauqua (www.highlightsfoundation.org) and any and all SCBWI (www.scbwi.org) conferences on the local, state, national or international level – I’ve been to several local, many states, many national conferences and even one in Spain!

9.   And for fun, something that not a lot of people know about you:

I’m sharing this one because it has to do with kid’s movies and that is always a FUN topic (I can’t wait to see RIO!).  Cathy Moriarty who was Carrington in the movie Casper (as well as several other big name movies) and was also in Casper Meets Wendy was in my wedding party when I was married in 2003.

Just makes me want to go watch Casper!

Something else for those who like pets: I’ve had fish, a gerbil, hamsters, mice, cats, five pygmy hedgehogs, rabbits, a feral cat, and a Belgian Schipperke.

Thanks for sharing your success with us Lynne. We’ll keep our eye out for your next book!

Thanks for having me here, Gayle! It’s been fun! 

A Fun Poem for Poetry Month

April is designated "Poetry Month" and before it gets away on me I wanted to post a fun poem. Hope you like it.

Happy rhyming!

Hugs,

Gayle

Colleen, the Color Queen 

By Gayle C. Krause

Colleen, the Color Queen

I come from a big family

with brothers wide and tall.

And I’m the youngest child.

I’m smaller than them all.

Each brother has a talent

in music, math, or sport.

But when it comes to clothes

they wear the ordinary sort.

I want to be different

so everyone can see

that I’m not like my brothers.

I’m the one and only me.

When I go to school each day

I look like a crayon box,

with lots of crazy colors

from my hat down to my socks.

Purple hair.

Orange shoes.

Any color dress I choose.

Teal blue socks.

Fuchsia bow.

Crazy colors head to toe.

Yellow boa.

Violet vest.

Red bead necklace

down my chest.

Bright blue purse.

Green striped tights.

Mixed up clothes

are my delights.

High top sneaks

with big black dots.

Shoelaces

with turquoise spots.

My brothers laugh

when I get dressed.

But I know that

my clothes are best.

A painter’s palette

when I’m seen.

I’m Colleen

the Color Queen.

What is a Paraquel?

I’ve learned something new this week and I’d like to share it with you.

Have you ever heard of a paraquel?

I hadn’t until I read The Bone Magician by F.E. Higgins. 

It seems it’s a story that takes place at the same time as another story with the same or similar characters. In this case, The Bone Magician and The Black Book of Secrets by the same author are considered paraquels. Both are middle grade novels dripping with scenery, quirky characters and mystery.

So let me put “paraquel” in its proper context among the “quels.”

We all know what a sequel is, a story that takes place later in the same imagined history of a story using many of the same characters and settings. J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter comes to mind first, with his six sequels after The Sorcerer’s Stone.

A prequel is a story written or published after a certain other story, but whose events take place earlier in the same imagined history.

The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis, a story that takes place before The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe also has an inquel, that is a story that takes place during a gap in another story’s narrative.

This story is titled,  The Horse and His Boy, and it takes place in the last chapter of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

After discovering what a paraquel was I did some research and came up with two more “quels.”

A circumquel is a story that takes place partly before and partly after another story. An example of this can be found in the Star Wars series.

But, when a story is a prequel to one book, but at the same time a sequel to another, we are reading an interquel. Are you confused yet?

Here are examples of interquel -Sir J.M. Barrie, you know him, the author of Peter Pan, wrote a book called The Little White Bird, where the character of Peter Pan first appeared as a baby living on Bird Island in Kensington Gardens. Later the chapters concerning him got republished as Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens. It provided Peter’s original story, but then Barrie then wrote the play, Peter Pan or the Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up and he then penned the novel version, Peter and Wendy, published in 1911.

There’s a huge gap between how Peter went from being an infant on Bird Island in Kensington Gardens to being a boy fighting pirates on the Neverland isle. Therefore, a story that bridges this gap would be an interquel.

So, now do we have our "quels" in order or are you thinking: What the quel is she talking about? :)

How to Write a Good Critique

Attending an SCBWI Conference is special. 

First, you find out which ones sound interesting and valuable to you. 

Then, must register months in advance.

Sometimes that involves sending five pages of a manuscript you want seen by an editor or agent. You must polish it to perfection before it goes out.

Then there is the peer critique group, fifteen pages of a WIP for your colleagues to evaluate, comment and make revision suggestions for your manuscript.

It is this last component I would like to discuss today. Being a good critiquer is sometimes harder than being a good writer.

You must put yourself in the author’s position and dole out your criticisms and comments with a dose of honey to sweeten the sting of critique. Some writers welcome other’s opinions. After all, that’s what agents and editors do when you submit to them. They make suggestions to improve the manuscript. We, as peer critiquers, serve the same purpose. We are only trying to make your work better.

Currently, I am caught up in critiquing six other YA novels for the upcoming Eastern Pennsylvania SCBWI Pocono Retreat (a wonderful conference which I will discuss on this blog at a later date).

Two are historical.

Two are contemporary.

Two are paranormal.

So, I thought I’d give a few tips for critiquing today, at least the way I do it.

1^st - I’d read the entire body of work.

2^nd - I go back and highlight areas I think need work.

3^rd - I comment on word choice or too many adverbs, etc… that changing could benefit the story.

4^th – I write a little note to the author highlighting what parts of the manuscript I think are exceptional, or at least good, in some cases. ***ALWAYS START WITH A POSITIVE COMMENT***

5^th – Then I list areas of possible concern, being careful not to say that it doesn’t work, but suggesting that it could be stronger.

6^th – My last section of the critique is of general comments, such as Your MC was very interesting and believable. I love the voice of your MC etc…

7^th – I choose a favorite scene and tell why it stuck with me. Sometimes it’s not the reason why the author intended it to be so memorable, but at least it gives them a different perspective.

8^th – My conclusion discusses what I learned from the work. Inevitably a reader will learn something they didn’t know before, whether it be a fact or a writing strategy.

9^th – And then I sign my name and include my email address. Sometimes the writers you are assigned to in a peer critique session become lifelong critiquer partners are at the very least beta readers for each other.

So, I hope I’ve helped you with writing critiques. Now I have to get back to a ballet dancer who would rather be step dancing, a girl who is hoping to be asked to the prom by the right guy, a young girl who was taken hostage by an Indian tribe, a siren who has one day to live, a ghost who won’t go away, and a social outcast who has fey blood.

I think I’ll be busy for a while! J

The Lovely Blog Award

I'd like to thank Allyn Stotz for the Lovely Blog Award.

or those of you I nominate, please accept the award, post iot to your blog and nominate 15 other blogs that you enjoy or have just found.

In paying it forward I have nominated the following blogs:

http://claragillowclark.blogspot.com
http://funnypoetrygirl.blogspot.com
http://mywordplayground.blogspot.com
http://kimberlysabatini.blogspot.com

I'll post the rest as I discover them.

Thanks again.

Happy blogging.

GAYLE

Announcing the winners of THE FRACTURED FAIRY TALE POETRY CONTEST

Announcing the winners of THE FRACTURED FAIRY TALE POETRY CONTEST, Part 2

“THE FRACTURED FAIRY TALE POETRY CONTEST, PART 2” was a wonderful success. We had ten excellent entries, each a winner in its own right. For those of you who did not win, if you care to email me I’d be happy to send you a critiqued copy of your poem. Perhaps you could submit it somewhere.

 

Just go to my website address at the top right corner of my blog and it will automatically take you to the first page of my website.

Scroll down through the pictures. On the right hand side of the last picture is an email icon. Click on it and send me a request for your critiqued poem. I’d be glad to send it back to you. J

And now to announce the winners:

The runner up is: Buffalocoburn with “Red Riding Hood’s Healthy Choice.” You will receive a full critique of a rhyming picture book manuscript of your choice.

And the Grand prizewinner is: buglady5 with “Stalker.” She will receive a full critique as stated above and an autographed copy of ROCK STAR SANTA.

Both winners, please follow email instructions above to send me your manuscripts. And buglady5, please send me the name/names of who you would like the book made out to and your physical address so I can send it to you.

This was so much fun we’ll have to do it again soon. Thank you all for participating. And for those of you who became followers…Thank You. I hope you’ll come back for the new author interviews and the writing tips.

POETRY CONTEST AT THE STORYTELLER'S SCROLL

Hello out there you rhymers. THE STORYTELLER'S SCROLL is sponsoring  "THE FRACTURED FAIRY TALE POETRY CONTEST, PART 2.

Eighteen months ago I held the first FRACTURED FAIRY TALE CONTEST. We had multiple entries and a lot of fun. SO... I'd like to repeat the contest this year.

Here are the simple rules:

Write a rhyming poem suitable for children to read of no more than 12 lines about two Fairy Tale characters that would never have met. See example below:

Bewildering Snows

by Gayle C. Krause





Everyone knows the Snow Queen was mean,


the evilest sorceress you've ever seen.



She’d fallen asleep in her cradle of ice


when the kiss of a prince woke her up in a trice.



Her eyes flashed open. She narrowed her sight.


She gave the prince a terrible fright.



"Excuse me, my Queen. It seems I now know


in my confusion I've found the wrong Snow.



Your lips are so cold. This couldn't be right.


Please forgive my mistake for you're not Snow White.

Enter as many times as you wish by posting your poem in the comment section.

The winner will be announced on March 1st.

First Prize – An autographed copy of Rock Star Santa, and a rhyming picture book critique by “First Peek Critique Services.”

Second Prize - a rhyming picture book critique by “First Peek Critique Services.

Good Luck!