Light Speaks: Interview with Christine Layton

 

Light Speaks Illustrated by Luciana Navarro Powell

Light Speaks beautifully written by Christine Layton is a quiet book, a bedtime book about the concept of light and each page compels the reader to turn to the next page. At the same time, the melodic words may lull a child to sleep. Luciana Navarro Powell’s fun illustrations include a gorgeous depiction of the butterfly nebula. Ms. Layton lyrically explains difficult aspects about what light is and how it acts. She includes back matter facts about light. Readers are likely to want to read this again and again. Tilbury House published Light Speaks. 

One Question Interview with Christine Layton

Hello Christine. Welcome

ETC: What advice would you give those in grades K-12 about writing?

CL: My advice for student writers is the same as my advice for professional authors: write badly! By this, I mean that you shouldn't let fear or anxiety or perfection keep you from writing. Fear, anxiety, and perfectionism would like nothing better than to keep you in a writer's block, staring at a blank page. So, go ahead and write a really crummy rough draft. It can make you cringe. It can be way off the mark. It can be absolutely awful! But once you've written that crummy first draft, something magical happens. You suddenly don't have a blank page anymore. You have words you can work with. You might even find that after revising and changing things around, you like what you've written. You never have to show anyone the crummy first draft. It can be your secret. The great thing about writing is that it's like working out a muscle. The more you do it, the better you get. It doesn't matter if you do it badly. The act of writing makes you a better writer each time you try. I find that very comforting.

ETC: Thank you for visiting, Christine.

Additional Non-fiction Component

For Definitions and Explanations of Lightning please see:

Earthdata NASA Lightning

NASA Lightning

NASA Micro-article Lightning

For information on Lightning Safety please see: 

NOAA Lightning Safety

National Weather Service Lightning Safety Tips

National Weather Service Lightning Safety

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Visit illustrator Luciana Navarro Powell

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Turkey's Sandtastic Beach Day: Interview with Wendi Silvano

Illustrated by Lee Harper

 

Turkey’s Sandtastic Beach Day published by Two Lions is the seventh delightful collaboration between author Wendi Silvano and illustrator Lee Harper. Mr. Lee rendered the bright, fun illustrations with pencil and watercolors on Arches hot press watercolor paper. Ms. Silvano addresses the conundrum of work versus go to the beach or more accurately work near the beach versus play on the beach. The farmyard animals take turns helping Turkey onto the sand and into the water with engaging word play and amusing disguises. Ms. Silvano’s seventh Turkey book entertains as much as her first Turkey Trouble published in 2012.

One Question Interview with Wendi Silvano

Hello Wendi. Welcome.

ETC: What advice would you give those in K-12 school who would like to become writers?

WS: If you want to become a published writer (or just a good non-published writer) one of the best things you can do is to read, read and read! When you read a lot in the genre that you want to write in your brain will begin to have a natural sense of what works in that genre. For example, with me, since I write mostly picture books, I read 20-30 new picture books a week. I come to see and feel what makes a good picture book text, what type language, sentence structure, length, etc. is in books being published today. It really helps! And the same would hold true for fantasy novels, middle grade fiction, poetry, or any other kind of writing.

Another thing that will help you is to practice writing all the time. Write something every day. It can be in a personal journal, for an assignment at school, on a blog or just for fun somewhere. It doesn’t have to be “good” writing… just something. That exercises your “writing muscles” and keeps them strong.

ETC: Thank you so much for visiting.

Nonfiction Component

Fun facts about turkeys. 

An adult wild turkey has 5,000 to 6,000 feathers.

Wild turkeys, Meleagris californica, went extinct in California 10,000 years ago during the Pleistocene era. Turkey bones have been found in the La Brea Tar Pits.

The Aztecs and Maya domesticated wild turkeys.

Two thousand years ago and further North, the peoples of the Four Corners Region and in the states Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona domesticated wild turkeys.

Five hundred years ago the Spaniards took turkeys from Mexico back to Europe. Later, English settlers brought domesticated turkeys back to the Americas.

During the Great Depression, in the 1930s, wild turkeys were hunted almost to extinction. Only 30,000 wild turkeys remained across the continent.

Now the United States has over seven million wild turkeys.

In Colorado there are two sub species of wild turkey the native Merriam and the introduced Rio Grande.

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Visit Lee Harper

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Learn more about turkeys:

Colorado

Colorado Wildlife Council Turkey 

Colorado Parks and Wildlife Turkey

Bird Conservancy of the Rockies Turkey

La Brea Tar Pits, California

 Talking Tar Pits Turkey

 Tar Pits Bird Collections       

PreColumbian Domesticated Turkeys

Role of Turkeys to Ancestral Pueblo     

800 Year Old Turkey Feather Blanket   

Earliest Mexican Turkeys in the Maya Regions        

Ancient Mitochondrial DNA Analysis Reveals Complexity of Indigenous North American Turkey Domestication

Review and Interview Daybreak on Raven Island

 

Daybreak on Raven Island by Fleur Bradley

 

Daybreak on Raven Island by Fleur Bradley published by Viking an imprint of Penguin Random House in 2022 describes a seventh-grade field trip that has gone bad for three protagonists. They miss the ferry back to the city and must survive the night on a cold island with a host of mysterious characters, solve some puzzles and find a killer. The story and location are fictitious. However, the island was inspired by Alcatraz Island. This middle grade mystery contains themes of friendship and understanding. Cover illustrated by Manuel Sumberac.

Daybreak on Raven Island was designed by Lucia Baez who began her graphic art career working on the high school year book and newspaper.

One Question Interview with Fleur Bradley

Hello Fleur. Welcome.

ETC: How do you revise?

FB: After I finish my rough draft, I let the manuscript 'cool off' for a week or two (sometimes longer). When I feel ready to tackle it, I print out the whole thing and read it, taking notes on plot, character, and pacing problems I see. I then make an editing plan, revising for big picture changes first. After that draft is finished, I may go one more round before giving it a final pass for small changes. I print the whole manuscript each time, so I try to plant a tree or two each year to make up for it... After those three or so drafts it's off, either to beta readers or my agent. I reward myself with a nice dinner out or cake (usually both).

Thank you again for the support! It means a lot.

ETC: Thank you so much for sharing your revision technique.

Visit Fleur Bradley

Visit book designer Lucia Baez

Visit Manuel Sumberac

Learn more about: Alcatraz Island, California

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Book Review and Interview: Alone

 

cover illustrated by Pascal Campion

Alone, Megan E. Freeman’s novel in verse, published by Aladdin an imprint of Simon & Schuster, is a suspenseful, harrowing mystery and survival story set in a Colorado town. Maddie, twelve years old, and George a faithful rottweiler, left alone in an abandoned town survive together in this compelling novel. Ms. Freeman has written a multi award winning mystery and survival novel. Alone is recommended for grades five through nine. However, I would suggest fifth grade through 100+ years. Pascal Campion illustrated the cover.

Two Question Interview with Megan E. Freeman

Hello Megan, Welcome.

ETC: What advice would you give those in K-12 school about writing?

MEF: Once you’ve written something that feels good and satisfying, ready for outside eyes, find a Trusted Reader and share it with them. It can’t be just anyone. You may have to secretly audition several people before you discover the one who qualifies for the formal title with the capital letters. Your Trusted Reader will be the person who, when they’ve read and responded to your work, leaves you feeling eager and excited to get back to your desk to write more. That’s it. That’s the only qualification. They may also be someone who can offer actionable feedback, like a critique partner or a fellow creator, or they may simply be someone who reads for pleasure, like your best friend or a family member. It doesn’t matter. The most important thing is how you feel once they’ve read it. And the crazy part is, they probably won’t even realize the gift they’ve given you. Through the mysterious alchemy created between your hard work and their generous heart, your Trusted Reader unknowingly partners with you to form a positive feedback loop that keeps you excited to write and share with them. Your Trusted Reader motivates you to write more, and they do it simply be being who they are.  

ETC: What did you find most helpful to your writing?

MEF: First, joining the Rocky Mountain chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators was a game changer. The combination of craft resources and industry support is invaluable. I am a better writer because of SCBWI and I am a savvier business person. I encourage everyone to join and take advantage of as many of their resources as possible. 

Second, my motto for anyone who wants to be traditionally published is this: Show up. Show up to your desk, show up to conferences, show up to webinars, show up to critique groups, show up to online writing communities. Sign up for workshops that include professional critiques so you’ll have an imposed deadline you’ll have to meet. It doesn’t even matter if the agent or editor or writer likes your work; you will have done the writing, and that’s the most important part. I almost didn’t register for a workshop where I ended up meeting an editor who eventually introduced me to my agent. Imagine if I hadn’t shown up for that!

Here’s another example of what I’m talking about. At the end of 2019, I applied for a place in a juried writing workshop where an author I admired was going to be teaching. I hadn’t completed the required manuscript, but I had the early chapters to submit with my application. Acceptances wouldn’t be announced until a few weeks before the conference, so I had to go ahead and finish the manuscript assuming I would be accepted; there wouldn’t be time to do it later. As it turned out, I wasn’t accepted and the author cancelled the workshop due to COVID, but none of that mattered because I had a completed manuscript that I wouldn’t have written otherwise. It was a win-win, regardless of the outcome of my application.

Every single opportunity that has advanced my writing career or my mastery of craft happened because I showed up. 

ETC: Thank you so much for joining us.

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Review and Interview with Fleur Bradley: Midnight at the Barclay Hotel

 

Midnight at the Barclay Hotel

With Midnight at the Barclay Hotel, Fleur Bradley has written a delightful middle grade mystery romp through a historic hotel set in the Rocky Mountains. Xavier Bonet’s illustrations are an entertaining addition to the mystery. Published by Viking, Midnight at the Barclay Hotel has plot twists and red herrings. Ms. Bradley's story is so compelling that once National Novel Writing Month 2022 has finished, I will reread it.

Two Question Interview with Fleur Bradley

Hello Fleur. Welcome.

ETC: Regarding writing, what do you know now that you wish that you had known when you first started writing novels?

FB: Celebrate those small accomplishments. A book is really a culmination of a lot of small successes and times the author persevered. So much of writing is revision, and that's hard! I wish I had known in the beginning how important it is to recognize the small moments of achievement.

ETC: What would you recommend for those under the age of 12 years who would like to write?

FB: Write short stories first. They're fun to write, quicker to complete, and a great way to develop craft. And find some fellow writers your age! The library often has writers’ groups. You need friends to stay motivated.

Thank you so much, Fleur.

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Book Review and Interview: Swim Jim

 

 

Wildlife has intersected with the suburbs for years. It becomes attention grabbing when the wildlife is a larger predator. Kaz Windness, who is celebrated on social media for her thrift store chic, has written and illustrated a delightful, juvenile, crocodile trek through swamps and backyard pools with her sparkling, fun picture book, Swim, Jim! which was designed by Laurent Linn and published by Paula Wiseman Books an imprint of Simon & Schuster. Ms. Windness rendered her lively drawings in graphite on paper and then used a computer software program to color the drawings in appealing shades of green. The illustrations convey a young crocodile named Jim, and his siblings.  Onomatopoeia carries the text. Jim has a fear of swimming while his siblings both teasingly comment and eventually help. Swim Jim is a humorous and sweet story about conquering fear. Ms. Windness includes a sheet of crocodile facts and the source of inspiration for this reptilian tale in the endpapers.

Two Question Interview with Kaz Windness: 

    Once you decided to become a picture book illustrator, who or what was the most helpful resource?

 

KW: I’ve never not wanted to be a picture book illustrator. I did go to art school but attending children’s book writing and illustrating conference was most helpful in leveling up my professional skills. I learned what it took to be successful, networked with industry people, and met creative colleagues. Joining a critique group has been my best decision for long-term support and day-to-day companionship. Writing and illustrating can be a lonely journey, and it’s incredibly helpful to have friends who can help you and know what you are going through.

 

    Would you have any recommendations for illustrators, 12 years and younger?

 

KW: Carry a sketchbook everywhere and draw from life. This is the best way to grow and improve your skills. What you learn in observation and how your brain translates that to your hand and onto the paper will serve you in ways that no amount of making fan art or watching YouTube or TikTok tutorials can. Those are all valuable activities, too, but your uniqueness and true artistry come from how you look at and interpret your world. Draw the people in the dentist's waiting room. Draw glimpses of what you see from the windows of the bus. Draw your friends while you’re hanging out at McDonald’s. And be sure to draw young kids if you want to be a children’s book illustrator.

 

    Thank you for your thoughtful responses.

Visit Kaz Windness: Windness Books

Learn about alligators and crocodiles in Florida: USGS alligators and crocodiles

Learn about crocodiles in the Everglades: NPS American crocodile

Learn about American alligators: Smithsonian National Zoo

Visit your local book store: Second Star to the Right

 

Book Review: Over, Bear! Under, Where?

 

 

Julie Hedlund has written a delightful book about puns and compound words in which a bird and a mole engage in silliness and friendship. Michael Slack digitally painted whimsical animals which bounce across the page. This fun story teaches an opposites lesson, a compound words lesson and always a lesson in friends and caring. One barely notices that is educational and quite helpful for young readers learning to sound out words. Philomel Books published Over, Bear! Under, Where?

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Book Review: The Fort

 

 

 

Laura Perdew writes about a magical fort that includes a pirate, a prince and ships in The Fort: Can a Pirate and a Prince Learn to Share? Adelina Lirius who lives in Sweden mixes media to create bright illustrations in The Fort, which is published by Page Street Kids. Morning, afternoon, and shared open space are all background concepts which are addressed in this picture book. Ms. Perdew writes a story of imagination, collaboration and compromise.

 

One question interview with Laura Perdew:

What piece of advice was most helpful when you were beginning your writing career?

LP I don't actually have just one piece of advice! But, overall, I'd say that you have to remember that writing is a journey. And once you've "finished" one manuscript, keep writing. At the same time, keep learning: read mentor texts, join a critique group, go to conferences and workshops, and apply what you learn to your own work. 

Thank you for the advice.

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Book Review: The Elephants Come Home

 

The Elephants Come Home: A True Story of Seven Elephants, Two People and One Extraordinary Friendship written by Kim Tomsic and published by Chronicle Books is a beautiful story about love and elephants. Seven wild, African elephants cause big problems until Lawrence Anthony and Francoise Malby-Anthony provide a solution. Hadley Hooper composes her bright and engaging illustrations using watercolor, ink, printmaking and software. The words and illustrations produce a touching story about conservation and humans. As always Ms. Tomsic includes a collection of sources, facts and photos in the end papers.

One Question Interview with Kim Tomsic:

You write both fiction and nonfiction books, which speakers were most helpful to your writing career?

Your question is fantastic. I have studied craft books and attended writing conferences and classes for 12 years now. I am certain that I will be a forever learner — in fact, I'm currently working on my Master's Degree in Children's Literature (a two-year program at Hamline University --I graduate in January 2022). That said, I love learning everything from structure, character arcs, turning a scene, the hero's journey, etc. down to the nitty gritty tips and tricks writers use. Some of the most influential lectures I've attended were given by:  Sara Pennypacker, Elana K. Arnold, Swati Avasthi, Richard Peck, Erin Entrada Kelly, Denise Vega, Sherri L. Smith, and Jean Reidy. The most influential audio lecture I listened to was given by the team of Michael Hague and Christopher Vogler. And the most influential books I read on craft were written by Lisa Cron (Wired for Story, and Story Genius), and Blake Snyder (Save the Cat).

… and “editor Melissa Manlove being a key one.”

Thank you for the answers and Congratulations on your upcoming graduation!

Previous posts about Kim Tomsic: Guitar Genius 

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Learn more about elephants here: San Diego Zoo 

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Book Review: Tad Lincoln's Restless Wriggle

 

Turkey pardons, began with Tad Lincoln. Tad Lincoln’s Restless Wriggle: Pandemonium and Patience in the President’s House written by Beth Anderson and published by Calkins Creek covers this fact, learning disability, and love. S.D. Schindler’s ink, watercolor, and gouache illustrations convey humor and delightful chaos while taking the reader back to 1863 and a much more rural President’s House as the White House was formerly known. As always Ms. Anderson includes a collection of facts, photos and primary and secondary sources in the end papers. This book brought a smile to my face.

One Question Interview with Beth Anderson:

Which workshops were most helpful to your writing career?

Workshops and retreats where you get to spend real time working on practical ideas and moving your works in progress forward are, to me, the best ways to spend professional development dollars. The decision to attend a retreat for nonfiction kid lit writers in 2016 made all the difference for me. I met so many writers I now call friends and rely on as critique partners. I also met professionals that generously shared the “how” that I desperately needed to push forward and break through. That’s where I heard Barb Rosenstock talk about her “so what?” concept, and I also learned from Jill Esbaum, Linda Skeers, Lisa Amstutz, and many more amazing writers, agents and editors. In 2019 I attended a retreat for nonfiction kid lit sponsored by Edit and Get It with Candace Fleming, Jen Swanson, Neal Porter, and again, so many more fantastic editors, agents, and creators. I had done some webinars with Candace Fleming previously, and had been trying to get my head around her “vital idea” concept for years. Every time I get to hear her, I soak up more, and my understanding goes deeper. Her workshops have been key to what I’ve been able to do, and I’m extremely grateful for her generosity and teaching. 

Previous posts about Beth Anderson:"Smelly Kelly" and His Super Senses and An Inconvenient Alphabet

Visit Beth Anderson 

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Learn  more about the Presidents of the United States

The Wandering Jellyfish Bookshop 

 

Book Review: Lizzie Demands a Seat!

 

 

Lizzie Demands a Seat! Elizabeth Jennings Fights for Streetcar Rights written by Beth Anderson and published by Calkins Creek is a seldom told, historic civil rights story.  Ms. Anderson describes Elizabeth Jennings fight, both physical and legal, for equal access to a streetcar in New York City. A young Chester Arthur, who became the 21st president of the United States, represented Elizabeth Jennings in court. E.B. Lewis paints with lavender and lilac watercolors to evoke beautiful albeit quite serious mid 1800’s scenes. As always Ms. Anderson includes a collection of facts, primary and additional sources as well as historic photos in this award-winning story.

One Question Interview with Beth Anderson:

Which speakers were most helpful to your writing career?

I have enjoyed so many inspirational speakers on writing for children over the past eight years that I can’t begin to name them all. The ones that stick in my mind are the ones that have provided valuable hands-on tips about writing. Two wonderful women I’ve followed for years are Barb Rosenstock and Candace Fleming. They always have great insights and have guided me in shaping a story to make it meaningful for kids. My editor for An Inconvenient Alphabet, Sylvie Frank, provided many fabulous sessions about the publishing process for SCBWI-RMC members when she lived here. I really value any opportunity to listen to editors and agents as they provide a view that may be difficult for authors and illustrators to see.

Previous Posts about Beth Anderson

Learn more about Beth Anderson 

Learn more about E.B. Lewis

Learn more about the New York Transit Museum

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Book Review: I'm a Hare So There!

 

 

Julie Rowan-Zoch has written and illustrated a delightful romp through a North American desert with her picture book, I’m a Hare So There! published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. The bold title does not disappoint; the hare spiritedly discusses identifying names and characteristics with his desert friend. A predator stalks the friends to a climax. Ms. Rowan-Zoch includes a collection of facts and a find and seek game in the end papers. The illustrations and language are so colorful and fun that one might not even notice that one is learning.

Learn more about Julie Rowan-Zoch

Learn more about Colorado lagomorphs, rabbits and hares, here: Colorado's Small Mammals

Support your local bookstore The Wandering Jellyfish Bookshop

If the seek and find proves illusive, please contact Ms. Rowan-Zoch.

Book Review: "Smelly" Kelly and His Super Senses

 

 

Beth Anderson writes a delightful story about an immigrant with an unusual talent and an even more unusual career in “Smelly” Kelly and His Super Senses: How James Kelly’s Nose Saved the New York City Subway published by Calkins Creek. Danger, coupled with an extraordinary amount of exercise, abounds in Kelly’s life. Ms. Anderson describes the NYC subway system of the first half of the 20th century which is ancient history to a child. Illustrator, Jenn Harney, evokes the New York City subway system darkness, smells and noises with bright colors against dark blue and gray backgrounds. Bile colored swirls waft through the pages leading the reader on an interesting path. As always Ms. Anderson includes a collection of facts and primary and secondary sources in the end papers. 

 

Visit author Beth Anderson:  https://bethandersonwriter.com 

Visit illustrator Jenn Harney:  http://jkharney.blogspot.com/

Boulder Book Store:  https://www.boulderbookstore.net/book/9781684373994

Previous posts about Beth Anderson:  http://bethsbiblio.blogspot.com/2020/05/book-review-inconvenient-alphabet.html

Book Review Guitar Genius: How Les Paul Engineered the Solid Body Guitar and Rocked the World

Kim Tomsic writes a delightful story about childhood learning, play, invention, perseverance and success. Music strums through the pages along with disassembly and reassembly of household electronics such as telephones and radios. Illustrator Brett Helquist evokes the early days of jazz and musicians such as Nat Cole with whom Les Paul performed. Guitar Hero is a fun read for all ages and Ms. Tomsic includes notes and a bibliography which will help those parents educating at home.

Parents may wish to have a separate box of older electronics for their children to take apart and reassemble.

Learn more about Kim Tomsic:  http://kimtomsic.com/books/

Learn more about Brett Helquist: http://bretthelquist.com/

Learn more about Les Paul:  http://lespaulfoundation.org/

Support your local bookstore:  https://www.tatteredcover.com/

Book Review: An Inconvenient Alphabet: Benjamin Franklin & Noah Webster's Spelling Revolution

Beth Anderson writes about evolving goals and long term projects in her book about the first American English dictionary, An Inconvenient Alphabet: Ben Franklin & Noah Webster’s Spelling Revolution (Simon & Schuster). Illustrated by Elizabeth Baddeley, bright colors and lively characters draw the reader through history. A fun read for elementary students and older readers as Ms. Anderson includes a bibliography of primary and secondary sources.

Learn more about Beth Anderson: https://bethandersonwriter.com/

Support your local bookstore: https://www.tatteredcover.com/