Marian Adducci and Gigi Reinheimer have opened a children’s independent bookstore in Walnut Creek, California. All ages will enjoy Flashlight Books, as they carry adult books, too. The bookstore hosts author events, offers a tutoring space, and has activities for pre-teens and teens.
Visit them at 1537 N. Main Street and www.flashlightbooks.com and support independent bookstores, where people know and love books and nurture that passion in their community.
The Bad Guy: How do you deepen him making it integral to your plot?
In the first draft of your novel, are the villains were plain old stereotypes?
Mines were just bullies, through and through. How could I create fully fledged three-dimensional characters?
Trying to deepen mine, I free-wrote scenes. Suddenly the bully turned into a goody-two-shoe! How did I do that?
When I woke up the next day, a line of dialogue from this character spoke to me. Next, I read over yesterday’s work. I had wasted the whole day!
I started over. When the character spoke to me, she accidentally (?) shared her secret desire. Bingo. It felt real. It felt right. Now this bully is hanging around with me as I take a walk, wash the dishes, and empty the washing machine.
Don’t worry if your first draft, first ideas, or even second or third drafts don’t quite hit their mark. We have to wade through our initial thoughts to discover the truth underneath it all.
Remember author Sid Fleischman’s words: “Nothing is wasted except the paper.” And in our electronic world, that’s not even an issue.
It’s all part of the process.
Writing Prompts:
Admit it. You’ve always wondered what goes on behind the scenes in book publishing. Discover how editors and publishers make their magic! Editor Melissa Manlove will give a fascinating presentation this Wednesday, July 23, 2014 at 7 pm, at 1846 Union Street, San Francisco.
PLUS – – get 25% off everything in the Chronicle Store!
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The Storyteller Bookstore
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| Reading for kids ages 5 – 18 |
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What have you been reading? Enjoying? What are your passions? Kids, discover a terrific reading listdesigned especially for you – the BEST BOOKS EVER – to read over the summer!
Offered with your reading difficulty and breadth of subject in mind.
Every staff member at the Storyteller can personally address your needs. Kids receive postcards of encouragement and reminders about the deadline.
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| Sign up by visiting the Storyteller during June 2 – June 30, 2014, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Kids must sign up in person with an adult. Please allow 20 minutes per individual for registration and book guidance.Cost: $25
What do you get? A discount on reading program books! Complete the program? There’s a popular end-of-summer party and a golden Summer Reader Riches certificate worth $15 of store merchandise. What’s not to love?
Books you can’t wait to crack open! Professionals at your service! Increase your reading skills!
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The Storyteller Bookstore is located at 3506-E Mt. Diablo Blvd, Lafayette, CA 94549. 925-284-3480
I absolutely LOVE The Quiet Book, and its writer, Deborah Underwood. Scholastic Editor Arthur Levine, famous for being JK Rowling’s editor, has been a treasure at writing conferences for years. Imagine when they join other authors in a terrific tribute as to what happens between editors and authors.
Enjoy!
http://blogs.publishersweekly.com/blogs/shelftalker/?p=13192
If you’d like to read a great new middle grade, choose Clare Vanderpool’s Navigating Early, a quest adventure story about a boy dealing with his mother’s death after WWII. Sent to a Maine boarding school, protagonist, Jack, is unhappy and feeling friendless until he’s intrigued with Early Arden, a unique character with a fascination about pi, who leads him through Appalachia.
Vanderpool’s poetic style lures the reader forward. Here is a scene where they fish with Gunnar, a minor character they meet on their journey. Gunnar carries an emotional, heart-wrenching past.
“You have a fine cast,” called Gunnar.
“I know. My brother taught me before he went to the war.” Early swished his line back and forth. The motion seemed to take him away somewhere.
Gunnar’s expression registered what he knew, what we all knew, of the fate of so many of those brothers who went to war. He looked at me, asking the question he didn’t want to say out loud. Did Early’s brother make it back?
I shook my head in answer. No, Fisher was dead.
Gunnar allowed the quiet to take over as Early moved farther out into the water and into his own thoughts.
Finally, Gunnar spoke, his voice so fluid and moving, it could have come from the river itself. “I once hear a poem about angling. It say when you send out your line, it is like you cast out your troubles to let the current carry them away. I keep casting.”
I liked the sound of that. The river pressed and nudged, each of us responding to it in different ways, allowing it to move us apart and into our own place within it.
Notice the unique dialogue of Gunnar, creating a fully formed person in just a few lines and a second layer of meaning within the words, so you’re not just reading a scene about fishing.
Another aspect which is fascinating about this book is how this Newbery Medal-winning author broke the rules. (In order to break the rules, you must first establish that you know them.) Although in writing adult novels (and nearly always in the movies), authors (and screenwriters) are allowed to fictionalize history for the sake of character and plot. In children’s books, this has been a distinct no-no. Why? We don’t want to confuse nonfiction facts with untruths for kids. But at the end of this book, Vanderpool has a page: PI: FACT OR FICTION? Here she lists the truths about this captivating number, since she has bent the truth within her story.
Writing Prompts:
1. Write a quest/adventure short story with the above elements in mind. Before you begin, think and wonder about your story, developing the plot and characters within you. Daydream, jot notes, and free write about the back story of each character first.
2. Can you write a quest poem? Any style you choose!
3. Create a piece of art with a quest/adventure theme.
4. As you begin reading a book, use post-it notes to mark the scenes that are evocative. Why do they work so well?
What is your favorite quote from a children’s book you have loved?
A few of my favorites:
“We’ll be Friends Forever, won’t we, Pooh?” asked Piglet.
“Even longer,” Pooh answered.
– A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh
“But dying’s part of the wheel, right there next to being born. You can’t pick out the pieces you like and leave the rest. Being part of the whole thing, that’s the blessing.”
– Natalie Babbitt, Tuck Everlasting
“It is not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and a good writer.”
– E.B. White, Charlotte’s Web
“A heart is not judged by how much you love; but by how much you are loved by others.”
– L. Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Writing Prompts:
1. What is your favorite quote from a children’s book? Use it to inspire a short story, poem or essay.
2. List your fifteen favorite children’s books. Do any of them inspire memories of your childhood? Write about them.
3. Choose one children’s book that has meant something important to you. Why is it special?
Here are some other great quotes from children’s books:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/briangalindo/15-wonderful-quotes-about-life-from-childrens-books
When I told an author friend who was speaking at our luncheon this Saturday, she YELLED into the phone, “YOU GOT MIKE JUNG? I’M COMING!”
She lives in San Jose, so it will be quite a ride for her. “He’s hysterical!” she said. “He’s one of the most entertaining and fabulous authors EVER!”
As for me, I can’t wait to meet the young writers who created such fabulous poems, short stories and essays. What’s more, if you didn’t get a chance to read them yet, you can here. They will be on display! The students and their families, teachers, and friends as well as adult writers and members of the public will get a chance to meet everyone, see their work, play a game/quiz with the student writings, and learn the secrets of the writing and publishing industry from this fantastic author and speaker. The information is below. See you soon!
The Young Writers Contest Award Winners will be honored at the next meeting of the Mt. Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) on Saturday, May 11, 2013 at Zio Fraedo’s Restaurant, 611 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill.
Special Guest speaker, Mike Jung will address the contest winners, members and guests. His topic is “Writing—It’s Not for The Chicken-Hearted”. He will explain how to choose your idea, find your process, and share your work.
Mr. Yung is the author of Geeks, Girls, and Secret Identities, a superhero novel. His essays have appeared in the anthologies Dear Teen Me (Zest Books, 2012), and Break These Rules (Chicago Review Press, 2013).
Sign-in is from 11:00 am to 11:30 am, with presentations and luncheon from 11:30 pm to 1:30 pm. Registration is $20 for CWC members, $25 for guests.
Reservations are required, and must be received no later than noon on Wednesday, May 8. Contact Robin Gigoux at [email protected]. or by phone at (925) 933-9670. Expect confirmation only if you e-mail your reservation.
The California Writers Club Mt. Diablo Branch web address is: http://cwcmtdiablowriters.wordpress.com/
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The Contra Costa Reading Association presents:
Writers at Work
Join us for a morning filled with inspirational ideas from a children’s author, as well as writing sessions presented by outstanding local teachers of writing. Our featured author is
Elizabeth Koehler Pentacoff
Our keynote speaker is children’s author, teacher and is an energetic presenter who shares her love of drama and words in instruction to promote a love of writing. She has presented at schools throughout the state.
This author’s books include: Jackson & Bud’s Bumpy Ride, The ABC’s of Writing for Children, John Muir and Stickeen; An Alaskan Adventure, Curtain Call; Games, Skits, Plays & More, Louise, the One and Only, Wish Magic, Help, My Life is Going to the Dogs, You’re Kidding, Incredible Facts About Presidents, and Explorers.
Writers at Work is for students in grades 2-6 who are interested in writing, parents who are looking for ways to motivate and enhance their child’s writing and teachers looking for ideas to use in the classroom.
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Please note: CSUEastBay now charges $5.00 for parking. If possible, please carpool with your friends. |
When: Saturday, March 9, 2013, from 9:00-12:30
Where: California State University East Bay, Concord campus
4700 Ygnacio Valley Road, Concord
Cost: $5.00 per child (accompanying adults are free)
$5.00 per adult, unaccompanied by a child
Please make checks payable to CCRA
Stay in touch with CCRA’s events by visiting our website www.contracostareading.org