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Showing posts from June, 2014

BOOK RAP: The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

The end of July, I journey to the West Coast to attend my FIRST Los Angeles SCBWI Conference. I can't wait. I've hit New York, and it's great fun, but I heard LA rocks! I signed up for the World Building Intensive with Krista Marino. She assigned three books to read: The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan, the sequel to it, The Dead Tossed Seas, and Belle Epoque by Elizabeth Ross. (I already finished my assignment--yes, my nose shines bright!) I have never read a zombie book before. There, I said it. I never had an interest in zombies. I tossed zombies over the fence with aliens and always felt if they didn't bother me, I won't bother them. I didn't read the back cover of the book. I jumped right in. Well, the Forest of Hands and Teeth starts off at break neck speed and doesn't stop. I followed Mary on her journey through death, heartache and betrayal, and more death. Carrie Ryan actually never says the Z-word until the acknowledgements i

FAST FRIENDS: SCBWI EPA Pocono Retreat 2014 Sunday Morning

In May, our SCBWI Eastern PA Chapter held our annual Pocono Retreat at the Highlights Foundation in Boyds Mill, PA. We started out as strangers but became FAST FRIENDS--the beauty of a writer's workshop or conference. Friday started out quiet and then Sunday morning bustled with conversation, as witnessed above. Workshops and conference create opportunities to network and talk to people who GET you from the moment your eyes meet. SCBWI and the Highlights Foundation offer loads of different writer and illustrator opportunities throughout the year. And if finances are an issue, scholarships are available. I received scholarships to the May 2013 SCBWI EPA Pocono Retreat and 2012 Highlights Workshop Kid's Book Retreat with Harold Underdown and Eileen Robinson. Both experiences left me with a wealth of information about the world of writing and lifelong friends who cheerlead for me to this day. Take a chance on you. Expand your horizon. Make friends. Write on, Ki