Happy Thanksgiving from Mary Emma, Children's Author

Happy Thanksgiving

We've been busy this morning getting the turkey ready. Yes, we're having the traditional turkey. My hubby selected it so has been monitoring the preparations. After I made the stuffing ("like Mother used to make!"), I left the rest to him. The engineer in him cooks to precision.

My daughter has been preparing her special recipes to add to our menu. She made her daughter's request of "glop" for breakfast...a combination of bread cubes, eggs, sausage, cheese, and milk. Some of us like that, while others have something else. (We live in a multi-generational home with six family members, a dog, guinea pig, and rabbit.)

Perhaps you'd like to see my Thankful Poem, a project on my Quilting and Patchwork blog.

How about writing your own Thankful Poem this weekend? Or any time of year?

Controversial Stories...Is The Rainbow Fish One of These?

The Rainbow Fish

Whenever we've written about The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister at One Book Two Book, we've received a number of comments, some of them mentioning what a controversial book this colorful picture book is. Apparently to many people, it has underlying social and socialistic meanings. Some agree and others are vividly opposed.

You may want to check out:

What Does The Rainbow Fish Mean? Is There an Underlying Meaning?
Rainbow Fish Makes a Comeback at Our House

I also often wonder how readers, reviewers, so-called experts can determine whether the author has an underlying meaning...unless the writer has mentioned this.

Makes me wonder if anyone reads hidden meanings into my books and stories. It might be interesting to find out!

Thanksgiving Books for Fun and Facts

Thanksgiving Books

If you're looking for Thanksgiving and harvest book ideas for your youngsters and yourself, check out my list and post at One Book Two Book.

Fun & Fact Books for Thanksgiving & Harvest Season

Favorite Thanksgiving Books

Do you have any to suggest?

October - A Time for Discovering Spiders, Reading & Writing About Them

October seems to be "Spider Month," when people are searching the Internet for information about spiders. Perhaps it has to do with Halloween.

Marcie Pickelsimer, my co-blogger at One Book Two Book, has done a great deal of research on this topic as it applies to children's books and activities. You might enjoy visiting our blog, especially the following posts:

October is Spider Month
Spider Activities for Kids: Young & Old
Spiders!
10 Best Spider Books
Spiders, Spiders Everywhere

Enjoy! Then you might want to leave Marcie a message telling her how much you appreciate all the research she has done on this topic and the books and spider activities she's found.

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

Daily Giveaways at One Book Two Book Beginning August 24

Giveaways at OneBookTwoBook.com

You’ll find them daily for several days (August 24 - Sept. 6) for the Back-to-School Blast. Some days there even two drawings!

Among the prizes are many items to get the youngsters ready for school from snacks, lunch boxes/kits, back packs, books, and other supplies.

Stay tuned and have a blast! Visit One Book Two Book often.

Get One Book, Two Book’s Feed!

Giveaway for Harry Potter Phenomenon Book

At my Home Biz Notes blog, I'm offering a random drawing giveaway of Susan Gunelius's new book:

"To celebrate the U.S. release of Harry Potter, The Story of a Global Business Phenomenon by Susan Gunelius, we’re conducting a random drawing giveaway of a copy of the book. (See my interview of Susan at Home Biz Notes for more information about the book and why Susan wrote it.)"

Check out the giveaway, especially if you're a Harry Potter fan or are interested in phenomenal marketing strategies.

(c) 2008 Mary Emma Allen

One Book Two Book - A Book Blog for Kids of All Ages

I'm having great fun co-blogging with Marcie Pickelsimer at the b5media blog, One Book Two Book which features books and information for kids of all ages. You might want to check it out. Even become a regular reader!

We feature: reviews, interviews, giveaways, theme weeks, book news, word of the week, book quotes, reading related activities, and much, much more.

Come join us!

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

MY AUTHOR PROGRAMS & WORKSHOPS FOR CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE

I teach a variety of writing workshops and author presentations for youngsters and adults.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: I adapt my programs to the age group and requests of the teachers. These range from reading and discussing my stories, illustrating stories, conducting writing workshops, and helping teachers develop lessons.

I also share the research and writing process of my works in progress:

Papa Goes To War, inspired by my ancestors during the Civil War

Uncle "Buffalo Bill" Mathewson - a picture book about my great great Uncle William Mathewson who operated trading posts on the Santa Fe Trail

Danger In The Mountains - a mystery set in the West

Sarah Jane's Daring Deed, a picture book about a pioneer girl.

(These often tie in with Social Studies classes)

Journalism and/or Writing on the Internet draw upon my experience as a professional journalist/newspaper columnist and blogger for a network

Poetry workshops also are popular.

AUDIENCE LEVELS - Pre-K, Elementary, Middle School. High School and Adult Education

TRAVEL - Yes - anywhere in the United States, with client paying travel costs and accommodations, unless I'm in that area for other business.

PUBLISHED WORKS:

Tales of Adventure & Discovery, a children's anthology which I also illustrated (An accompanying coloring book is also available.)

The Magic of Patchwork, a book about quiltmaking and its history with projects for young people and beginners

When We Become the Parent to Our Parents, the story of my mother's journey through Alzheimer'

More than 200 stories in children's magazines

Writing in Maine, New Hampshire & Vermont, a resource book for writers (out of print)

FEES: $100/1 HR; $200/1/2 day; $300/day, plus mileage beyond 50 miles from Plymouth, NH and accommodations if an overnight stay is involved

CONTACT INFORMATION: me.allen@juno.com

Specific Children's Book Writing Goals for 2008

A friend frequently asks me, "Mary Emma, when are you finishing your Uncle Buffalo Bill book? Have you finished the Sarah Jane picture book?"

I grin sheepishly and say, "I'm working on them."

In 2008, I must stop only working on them and finish these projects!

1. Finish the book about my Uncle Buffalo Bill Mathewson, the original Buffalo Bill in the West.

2. Finish my Sarah Jane's Daring Deed picture book.

3. Finish the rough draft to Papa Goes to War, a Civil War era middle reader book based on my ancestors.

4. Develop the activities for these books and place them on my web sites.

5. Draft some of my other writing projects, but concentrate on them minimally until I have the above finished.

(My blogs at b5media you may find of interest: Quilting and Patchwork, Home Biz Notes, and Alzheimer's Notes.)

Setting Goals for 2008

We writers need to set goals if we plan to accomplish. Too often, I've had dreams and plans but haven't written them down with urgency.

This year I was encouraged to enter the Group Writing Project: 2008 Blogging Goals at Daily Blog Tips and posted these at one of my other blogs, Mary Emma's Potpourri of Writing.

Check here to see what they are...perhaps they will encourage you to write down your goals and set a strategy in place to activate them.

http://maryemmallen.blogspot.com/2007/12/writing-blogging-goals-for-2008.html

Of course, there will be other writing goals (this project pertained mainly to blogging which I do at Potpourri as well as Alzheimer's Notes, Quilting and Patchwork, and Home Biz Notes. I will formulate and state my children's writing goals in another post.

HOLLY FRETWELL's "Different" VIEW ON GLOBAL WARMING

We have to decide, when writing for children, whether we're "going along with the crowd," because something is a popular topic or whether we're going to do our own research and search out the truth and facts for basing our views upon. Holly Fretwell, author of The Sky's NOT Falling (Why It's OK to Chill About Global Warming) has done just that.

With all the scary information out there about global warming, it's refreshing to read a book by a natural resources policy expert that presents a different view, one complete with common sense and factual information.The Sky's NOT Falling (Why It's OK to Chill About Global Warming) is an alternative for young people and adults to the fear-inducing books published today.

Author Holly Fretwell, a mother of two and professor of natural resources policy, provides a balanced look at environmental issues and global warming scare tactics. She presents these in an easy to read and understand format for ages 8 and above.

Yes, there are environmental situations to be concerned about, but Ms. Fretwell encourages optimism about the future of our planet and the solutions we can find with human innovation and creativity, along with individual choice, not political agendas.Ms. Fretwell debunks some of the "facts" running rampant about the environment and global warming in today's world.

For instance, you've probably seen the picture of the polar bear and cub, supposedly adrift on a piece of ice because of global warming. Actually the picture was taken as a general interest one a scientific expedition. The photographer called attention to it as a polar bear and her cub on an ice sculpture. Nothing was noted about global warming nor the bears being stranded. Yet the photo was taken out of context and used for propaganda purposes.

You'll certainly want to take a look at the facts in this book about global warming and see what's really going on in a world beset by global warming scare. Check out the truth before deciding "the sky is falling."

(Published by World Ahead Media, Los Angeles, CA.; ISBN #9780976726944. The book includes fun facts and reading for ages 8 and above.)

THE TRADITION OF BEDTIME STORIES

Bedtime stories have been a tradition for at least three generations in my family. I recall my mom reading to my sister, brothers and me...Heidi, Robert Louis Stevenson's A Child's Garden of Verses poetry, and Robinson Crusoe come to mind.

My husband and I took turns reading to our daughter. He often didn't at bedtime, but while I was preparing supper. "Daddy, you skipped that part!" I'd hear her exclaim when Jim tried to get through a book more quickly.

My daughter and son-in-law, both avid readers, started reading to their children while they were infants. Reading and children go hand in hand in our household...we all still bury ourselves in a book whenever we can in spite of today's electronic world.

Stories in the Kitchen

Although most of the bedtime story reading of my youth occurred in the evening in one of our bedrooms (there were four of us children) as we sprawled on the bed. However, on cold winter evenings, Mother gathered us in front of the wood burning cookstove in the kitchen (a favorite family congregating place) and read stories. While she read, we might munch on cookies and milk or cocoa.

Reading evolves into cooking, as children learn to ponder over recipes and mix up family meals. I recall making my first cake before I fully learned to read. Mother was ill and I decided, with the help of my younger siblings, I would make a cake for supper, along with fried potatoes and eggs.

At six years old, I couldn't decipher everything in the recipe book, so decided to dispense with it and put together the ingredients I'd seen Mother use. I recall my sister and brothers around me as we stirred the batter together, then poured it into layer cake pans.

Since the wood stove oven was the only one we had, it was only natural to bake the cake there. We must have stoked the stove and read the gauge on the front of the oven door adequately. At any rate, the cake turned out fine....except it was fairly flat.

Mother, when she saw it at supper, praised our efforts, as did Father and the hired man. It was only in later years that Mother told me she concluded I'd left out the baking powder.

(c)2007 Mary Emma Allen

(I enjoy researching and writing about holiday and family memories along with teaching workshops in Family History Writing. I conduct these online as well as in person at workshops.)

Capturing Young Readers in the Electonics Age

Teachers I talk with, as I do substitute teaching and conduct writing workshops in schools, find it challenging to keep many youngsters interested in reading. They mention that it seems fewer of them like to read…or they don’t read so much at home.

“We have to compete with TV, video games, and movies to hold their attention,” one teacher remarked to me. “I feel I have to be an entertainer.”

When assigned something to read at school, many students groan, while a few (like my granddaughter) consider this an enjoyable respite from other work. Parents may find the same situation at home and need to make an effort to get their children away from electronic and television games.

Here are some suggestions that might help to encourage reading,

*Let children see you reading
*Read to young children
*Set aside a family reading time
*Have children read to one another
*Encourage children to act out stories
*Participate in reading programs at the local library

Teachers Using Tales of Adventure & Discovery

Teachers mention they like to read my stories from Tales of Adventure & Discovery (an anthology for children) to their students. It's gratifying to know teachers and their students find the stories enjoyable, entertaining, and educational. A coloring book, with illustrations and excerpts from the anthology was a logical next step for me.

The first story in the book, Sarah Jane's Daring Deed, has been very popular with youngsters when I read them stories and teach writing workshops. I often use it as a springboard for their own writing. Because this story set in pioneer days, I often tie the story in with history they may be learning at school. I'm currently in the process of developing a picture book version of this story.

One teacher purchased my book when I taught a writing workshop for educators. Other teachers in her school wanted to know where she had obtained it. So the school ordered a dozen books for the teachers to use.

Writing a Children's Book Blog

I have started a children's book blog, Book Bag Blog for Tots through Teens . I'm looking forward to discussing books for young and older youngsters, mentioning the process of writing books, and delving into the publishing world, too.

I've always been interested in reading and writing, especially when it comes to children's books. Some of my work in schools, as an author and substitute teacher, includes encouraging young people in reading and writing. Perhaps I also can give parents insight into what youngsters like and why.

I hope you'll visit Book Bag Blog and enjoy what I discuss there.

Enjoyable Author Visits - "Icing on the Cake"

Recently I visited several fourth grade classes in Iron Mountain, MI, discussed my life as a writer and read stories from my anthology for children, Tales of Adventure & Discovery. For me, sharing with youngsters and stimulating their creativity is the "icing on the cake."

To hear them giggle over a story when I read a humorous part or "ooh" and "ah" about an illustration lets me know I've reached them with my writing and drawing. When they begin to write stories inspired by my teaching, I realize my writing has become something more than an activity that brings only me enjoyment.

Tying Visits With School Curriculum

Sometimes I simply read stories to school children during my visits, while other times I use my stories as a springboard to conduct writing activities with the youngsters. In one school I worked for two days with fourth and fifth graders, tying my stories and their writing activities into what they were studying in social studies.

The fourth graders were learning about their state's history. The fifth graders were involved with the history of the American West.

My story, Sarah Jane's Daring Deed, is set in pioneer days. Then I encouraged the fourth graders to develop a historical story about something that could have happened in their state.

A story-in-progress, Uncle Buffalo Bill, Santa Fe Trail Trader, helped them learn more about the early days of the Santa Fe Trail. This story is based on the experiences of William Mathewson, my great, great uncle. From it, the young writers realized they could write about a historical figure in western history or the adventures of an imaginary character.

Reading & Teaching Poetry

Since I also write poetry, I enjoy encouraging children in this area. My poem, "The Cookie Lady," and accompanying illustration in Tales of Adventure & Discovery seems to entertain youngsters.

I've developed a series of lessons to use with the young poets, either following the example of "The Cookie Lady," or other poetry ideas. It's fun to see youngsters get excited about creating poems.

Let's Create Happy Books!

My grandson has a Happy Book. It contains pictures he’s drawn or pasted in about enjoyable things in his life. These can be events and objects that make him happy.

Whenever he’s feeling discouraged, he’s to get the book out and look through it.

Why don’t we all create Happy Books? We can do them as a family or individually. They could be a fun family project. They're also an enjoyable activity for Grandma and her grandchildren.

These can be any size, from large albums to small 4 x 4-inch albums or scrapbooks we carry
with us. You can simply place photos and pictures from magazines in them. Or you can use scrapbooking techniques.

The Happy Book might revolve around one topic. Or it can be a mix of things you enjoy and make you feel happy.

*Poetry, inspirational and humorous sayings
*Pictures of enjoyable memories and experiences
*Pictures of dreams you hope to achieve
*Pictures of trips you’d like to take
*Places you’ve visited

Once you begin using your imagination, the ideas are limitless…and just the process of putting these together start you on the Road to Happy!

©2006 Mary Emma Allen

My Mother's Contributions to My Stories

If our parents and grandparents have told us stories about their childhoods, it’s interesting to weave those incidents into tales of our own. This may be simply retelling these stories for our family heritage and future generations. If we’re writers, these give us fodder for our story mill.

I’ve incorporated many of the incidents from my mom’s life into stories, cooking columns, and essays. For instance, she fell through the ice on the pond near their one-room school, sliding at recess. I used this incident and Mother’s rescue by her sister in my story, The Christmas Surprise. I don't mention my mom and my aunt, but use an ice rescue scene in the story.

In my middle reader novel in progress, Papa Goes to War, the falling through the ice idea appears again. This time, the younger brother, Josh, walks onto thin ice, and his sister, Mandy, tries to save him. This varies somewhat from Mother’s experience. However, if I’d never heard her story, repeatedly, throughout my childhood, I wouldn’t have the idea or knowledge to write about this incident.

Even though we may not think your family life and your experiences enter into your writing, they do in subtle ways. Just your knowledge of situations and topics enable you to write the stories you do.

So look over your life and jot down ideas for stories and articles.

The Idea for "Sarah Jane's Daring Deed"

One of my favorite stories resulted from research I was doing for a column on local history for a weekly newspaper. As I read about the lives of the early pioneers who settled the region where I lived, I wondered, “What was it like for youngsters to live here during that time?”

As I pondered upon this, the story of Sarah Jane evolved. She and her family settled in the 1760s or thereabouts far from their city home. Because I live in New Hampshire and my research was focused here, the story, in my mind, took place here.

The story was published in four church school magazines for youngsters. Possibly it appealed to editors all over the country because I didn’t name the town or state where Sarah Jane lived and encountered Little Fawn. Therefore it could have been set in many areas where blackberries grew. (In the opening scene Sarah Jane is picking them.)

When I was asked to compile an anthology of my children’s stories, Tales of Adventure & Discovery, I chose this one as the lead. It’s a story I’ve always enjoyed and children do when I visit schools and libraries. My daughter even made dolls of Sarah Jane and Little Fawn to accompany me to school.

©2006

(If you have questions or information to share, e-mail me: me.allen@juno.com; type “children’s story blog” in the subject line. Learn more about the anthology, Tales of Adventure & Discovery by visiting my web site: http://homepage.fcgnetworks.net/jetent/mea )

The Joy of Writing for Children & Teens

Writing for children and teens was my goal even as a child. I loved to read and wanted to create stories like my favorite authors. Jo, in Little Women, fascinated me, and I imagined myself a writer like her.

When I attended teacher’s college, the Children’s Literature class was my favorite. My professor read some of my stories and encouraged me to continue writing and learning. How excited I was to let her know, several years later, that my first children’s story had been published.

Writing and sharing with children has become one of the pleasures in my life. Teaching writing workshops and encouraging youngsters increases this enjoyment.

(If you have questions, e-mail me: me.allen@juno.com. Type "children's writer blog" in the subject line.)