INK Sisters Write

Dear Alison, Last weekend, we had a lot of fun, didn't we? Friday night we entertained loads of children (adults too) at the Night of 1000 Reading Stars. You were a gazelle, I was an ox, and we read XO, OX: A Love Story by Adam Rex and Illustrated by Scott Campbell. I mean it's kind of our story...Two characters writing love letters to each other--could there be a book any more perfect?    Saturday, we were faculty at the Think Like a Writer event sponsored by the Northeast Pennsylvania Reading Association and the Panuska College, University of Scranton. We sat on our first panel together and shared our own connections to story. Mine began with the chickenpox. Yours began with a child's desire to find a safe place--that safe place was the library where you could visit far off lands.  After our panel, we broke away from each other to present our own workshops. Lindsay Barrett George and you discussed  ways to bring picture book formats in...

Dear Alison and friends, Reusing is recycling. Or wait, what was that word you like to use...Repurpose. Repurpose is smart and efficient, especially when other writers have created such helpful and though provoking posts this week. I wonder if Stella caused a rift in the atmosphere that allowed writers to tap into the storm of genius. Hmm, that might be a future story idea. Or maybe because March 20 did not provide us with a first day of spring that should be celebrated. Sure some snow melted. Maybe 6", but we got 30" inches! 6" inches is the top coat. It's the layers underneath that we'd like to melt, and how will it melt when it's 15 degrees with winds up to 20 MPH? It's not. We will have this white stuff for at least another week if not 2~~Wow, I used a lot of numbers in that rant, but no matter. The numbers segue nicely into the first post from EasternPennPoints , the blog for the Eastern PA SCBWI Chapter. Our Pocono Retreat celebrates it's 25th...

Dear Kim, Saturday, March 25th at the University of Scranton, a small group of children's book writers will meet with educators to discuss mentor texts, writing for children, and the power of the picture book. What am I saying? You already know this. You'll be there  presenting with Linda Oatman High. Your session about the creation of character is sure to be lively with you and Linda at the helm. Interested in signing up for the program? Email Donna Salva at DonnaSalva@yahoo.com   I wish I could see the two of you together, but I will be next door talking about my favorite artistic form: the Picture Book  with one of my favorite picture book creators, Lindsay Barrett George. Lindsay and I met yesterday to finalize our talk. Do you even want to guess the number of times I shouted, " I know the perfect picture book for that! " when Lindsay shared design elements like gutters, endpapers, or typography? It was a lot. I was very interruptive... Just lik...

Dear Alison and friends,  Outside my window, there is more than 30" of white stuff and it's 15 degrees with a real temp feel of -2--MINUS TWO.   While we wait out the Stella snowpocalyse... I'll share a new book by fellow Inkspeller, Ashley Brooke Robbins. Princess…I Think Not A Princess Series Novel By Ashley Brooke Robbins ISBN: 978-1-945910-10-4 Buy Links: Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XBSRT46 Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/princess-i-think-not Itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1210189728 Blurb: The Royal Family Just Got a Little Bigger…. My name’s Baily King and I’ve always considered myself different—liking dead roses, cemeteries, reading fully clothed in the bathtub, and howling at the moon whilst dancing naked under it. But, when my grandma, a woman I scarcely remember, comes for a visit, she opens her mouth and my weird world crashes down all over my combat-booted feet. See, dear Gram is dy...