INK Sisters Write

Dear Kim, A collection of quotes from children’s books to fan the flames of our next good fight.  And a last one, just for you from My Special Word . Illustrations and design from the wonderfully talented (and kind) Beth Bogert . Now we make calls: https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials   Much love always, Alison P.S. Quotes pulled from texts, and, other than Beth's, images from pixabay.com.

Dear Kim, I know that you are unable to join me at ALA this year, but I wonder if any of our readers will be in Orlando this weekend for the American Library Association’s annual conference?  I’ll be the girl wandering the aisles of the exhibit hall, wide-eyed and mouth in awe of the new books on display. ( That probably describes well over half of the attendees! ) I guess new friends should find me at the YALSA booth on Sunday from 11:30-1:30 instead. I'll be more helpful and less moonstruck there. And I'll have pens! ALA always throws a nice party. They work hard to bring authors and educators together. To celebrate books and learners. To encourage us to think about what needs to happen in our libraries to support our children and teens . Publishing professionals and seasoned librarians will preview new books and tell us about books that are missing from the shelves of the libraries. I look forward to learning from writers like Amy Lukavics at The Hor...

Dear Kim, You know her. You love her. Who doesn't love her? P is for Patti Gauch. As former vice president and editor-at-large of Philomel Books , Patti worked with giants like Eric Carle, Patricia Polacco, Judith St. George, Jane Yolen, Andrew Clements, Kathryn Erskine, and Ed Young (to name a few). Since her "retirement" Patti mentors writers and speaks to national audiences about the mischief of picture books, finding voice in fiction, and my favorite, the narrative power of objects.  For full text, visit here . Patti is almost aggressive in her hunt for the very best in children's books. I say "almost" but I've seen her poke someone on the shoulder, push an elbow to their ribs, or shake a finger in their face if she doesn't feel she is getting the best work from them. "Children deserve our best," she's said. You'd be more frightened of her if it weren't for the compact package she arrives in: all 4 foot ...

Dear Kim, We interrupt this writing challenge to bring you a video . That's right, Kim. For "L is for Linda Sue Park" I want you to watch a video. Linda Sue Park's 2015 TEDtalk titled, "Can A Children's Book Change the World" is just thirteen minutes but packed with  love for our children, our libraries, and children's books. Empathy to Action books mentioned: A Long Walk to Water , Linda Sue Park Wonder , R.J. Palacio Crenshaw , Katherine Applegate All American Boys , Jason Reynolds In her talk, Linda Sue Park speaks of books with empathy. Her books, quiet as some may be, scream that message to her readers. I think of the years and years that I read A Single Shard to my class. Each year less surprised by the number of children crying during the story, and more in love with the conversations we would have about life and society and perseverance. Those nine year olds felt her words, they walked with Tree-ear. She accomplished...

It is with loads of happy thoughts and bursting enthusiasm to announce the 2014 Crystal Kite Winner for the Atlantic Region...SCBWI Eastern PA's own Kit Grindstaff !!!!!! *****CLAPPING, LOTS OF CLAPPING****** by Kim Briggs In March 2014, Kim interviewed Kit in for our SCBWI EPA Chapter's PA Proud Interview Segment. Check it out: PA Proud Interview with Kit Grindstaff SCBWI provides a number of awards each year to recognize and celebrate the hard work and achievements of their members. The Crystal Kite  is a peer-nominated award to recognize great books from 15 SCBWI regional divisions around the world, ...And KIT GRINDSTAFF WON!!! ***HAPPY DANCE AGAIN*** Without further ado, here's Kit's  The Flame in the Mist from the SCBWI Website. Author: Kit Grindstaff Publisher: Bantam Delacorte Dell (Random House Children’s Books) SYNOPSIS: The sun never shines in the land of Anglavia. Its people live within a constant mist created b...

Let Harold Underdown provide you with the tools you need to take your manuscript to the next level!! The man knows his STUFF!! Here's the link in case you want to go right to the site : http://www.kidsbookrevisions.com/editing-without-an-editor-lancaster-2014.htm Editing Without an Editor Lancaster, PA: July 19, 2014 at the Lancaster Public Library Do you have a children's or YA manuscript--picture book, novel, or nonfiction--that needs work? Do you wish you could learn techniques that would help you revise not only this manuscript, but future ones? Then come to the KBR "Editing without an Editor" workshop. Learn how to revise like an editor from a children's book editor. We have drawn on the methods we've used in editing manuscripts while working with publishers, with individual clients, and in the online Kid's Book Revisions class to create this comprehensive workshop. We begin by creating an overall framework, comparing "reader respon...