24 Carrot Writing

GRAPHIC NOVEL MONTH: Virtual Panel Discussion (Part 3)

2/17/2020

~Hosted by Amanda Smith
Welcome to the final installment of 24 Carrot Writing's Graphic Novel Virtual Panel Discussion. Over the last two weeks (Part 1 and Part 2), our talented panelists have shared insights about the strengths of graphic novels and their process as creatives.
Join our panel as we jump into the last two meaty questions:

Tom Angleberger is the author of the best-selling Star Wars Origami Yoda series and is stepping into the graphic novel world along with Geronimo Stilton.

Terri Libenson is the author of the best-selling illustrated middle grade novels, Invisible Emmie, Positively Izzy, and Just Jaime.

Breena Bard debut graphic novelist (Trespassers) and Get Published By Graphix contest winner.

Terry Ebbeling is a seventh and eighth grade English Language Arts teacher and reading advocate extraordinaire.

Kayla Miller is the author and illustrator of the best-selling Click series of graphic novels.

Middle school students seem particularly drawn to graphic novels, and often graphic novels are set in middle school. What does that communicate about the market for upper middle grade/ lower young adult readers? Are graphic novels purposefully aimed towards the middle school reader, or is there something in the graphic novel format that perfectly mashes with the middle schooler’s brain?

Breena Bard: Middle schoolers are taking their first steps toward independence, developing their own beliefs and opinions in a way that they hadn’t before. They are exposed to a diversity of ideas and people, and as they begin to open their minds, they are perfectly primed to receive a radical new method of storytelling. Kids are free of the biases that keep many adults away from comics, and they aren’t pressured to maintain a high-brow reading list. And as long as adults react to graphic novels by wringing their hands or turning their noses up, graphic novels will also have a certain rebellious spirit that might attract middle school readers as well. Plus, comics are just super fun!

From TRESPASSERS by Breena Bard.

Terri Libenson: I’m not sure, really. My characters are all 13 and in seventh grade, yet most of my readers are younger, often in third through sixth grade. Many kids read “up”; that is, they tend to read about characters older than them. I’m not as knowledgeable about what 7th-9th graders are reading, but I personally think there is an opportunity for graphic novels geared for that age bracket.

Tom Angleberger: Middle school is such a weird time when kids sometimes feel like they should be giving up the type of books they loved in elementary school and reading big thick books. The growing acceptance of graphic novels creates a loophole here. A kid who read Smile in third grade can read Guts in seventh grade. (Of course, as far as I’m concerned, kids should keep reading great kids’ books with pride FOREVER!)

Terry Ebbeling: Middle-school students are high energy and don’t often have a lot of “sit” in them. They are also visual learners. Graphic novels appeal to this age because of the pictures which break up the prose and allow students to “see” the story. While middle-school students enjoy graphic novels, there are also a number of authors who gear their graphic novels towards upper elementary students and even high schoolers. Honestly, I like them, too!

What would you like to say to those well-meaning adults who act as gatekeepers regarding graphic novels? To those who see graphic novels as inferior reading?

Kayla Miller: Comics ask readers to use different skills than prose books. To really read a graphic novel, you have to read not only the text, but also to observe environments, body language, and facial expressions. It can be a really engaging and emotional experience. When reading prose, you have to imagine the visuals based on the descriptions given to you and fill in details about the world around the characters, but when you’re reading comics you have to fill in the characters’ inner worlds and use context clues from the art to decipher what they’re thinking and feeling. I don’t think the skills developed reading comics are any less important or useful than those that students gain while reading prose novels. I also get comments all the time from parents that their reluctant readers become eager readers when it comes to graphic novels. If you believe that fostering a love of reading in younger generations is important, you’re only getting in your own way when you disregard graphic novels.

Breena Bard: They should try reading some :) Really though, the fact that graphic novels are told with pictures should not disqualify them, and in fact makes them more accessible and engages students’ brains in a really unique way. Perhaps there is fear because graphic novels are a relatively new medium, but so were computers and tablets, and most schools utilize those to great success. Take time to read some of the new middle grade graphic novel classics (ask a middle schooler and they will surely have a list for you!) and keep an open mind to the possibilities these stories and this exciting format have to offer. They really are quite wonderful!

Terri Libenson: It couldn’t be further from the truth (and if it helps, I avidly read comics as a kid, and now I read such a wide range of books, from non-fiction to fiction, including – yes – graphic novels for adults!). As I mentioned, graphic novels can be quite layered as well as visually stunning and rich in story. And then some are just plain fun, and that’s okay. Graphic novels vary just like prose books. And they are, indeed, BOOKS.

Tom Angleberger: I think people are hung up on word-count. They assume 100,000 words is better than 1,000. Or 100. Or zero, in the case of wordless graphic novels. Well, that’s just dumb. Do they also assume that a novel by Joe Smedlap is better than a sonnet by Shakespeare?
I think we should judge books on how many brain cells they light up. Trust me, Dog Man lights up a lot more brain cells than Tom Sawyer Abroad. (I was forced to read Tom Sawyer Abroad in 7th grade and am still mad.)

Terry Ebbeling : I would tell those reading “gatekeepers” of graphic novels that there are different strokes for different folks in all areas of life, including reading. If students enjoy graphic novels, they are READING! Yay! I do not recommend a steady diet of any one genre, including graphic novels. But, if this genre gets kids into books, then let’s allow and encourage graphic novels.

Thank you to Terri, Breena, Kayla, Tom, and Terry for a fabulous discussion. I know I am paying closer attention to details in the settings and characters, as well as other context clues when I read graphic novels. I am also inspired to think visually and cinematically about the scenes I write, and I cannot wait to get my hands on our panel's new releases in May (if I can pry them from my own middle schooler's hands!)

BIOS:

Terri Libenson is the cartoonist of the internationally syndicated daily comic strip, The Pajama Diaries, and the author of the best-selling illustrated middle grade novels, Invisible Emmie, Positively Izzy, and Just Jaime. She was also an award-winning humorous writer for American Greetings for 22 years.
The Pajama Diaries launched with King Features in 2006 and currently runs in hundreds of newspapers throughout the country and abroad. Pajama Diaries has been nominated four times for the Reuben Award for “Best Newspaper Comic Strip” by the National Cartoonists Society and won in 2016.
Terri lives with her family in Cleveland, OH. Her newest novel, Becoming Brianna will be available in May 2020. To learn more about Terri, visit http://terrilibenson.com/

Breena Bard writes and illustrates comics, drawing inspiration from her childhood in Wisconsin, and the stacks of graphic novels on her bedside table. Her graphic novel debut, Trespassers, is set to release May 5, 2020. She lives in Portland, Oregon, with her husband, two kids, and cranky but lovable cat. Visit http://www.breenabard.com/about-1 to learn more.

Tom Angleberger is the author of the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling Star Wars Origami Yoda series. He is also the author-illustrator of Fake Mustache and Horton Halfpott, both Edgar Award nominees, and the Qwikpick Papers series, as well as many other books for kids. But he always wanted to draw comics and he’s finally gotten the chance to draw with Geronimo Stilton and the Sewer Rat Stink! (Available May 5, 2020) He’s married to acclaimed graphic novelist Cece Bell, who wrote and illustrated El Deafo. To learn more visit https://origamiyoda.com/the-books/

Kayla Miller is the author and illustrator of the best-selling Click series of graphic novels. The third book in the series, Act, is coming out in May 2020 and a fourth book is currently in the works. To learn more about Kayla, visit https://www.kayla-miller.com/

Terry Ebbeling has been teaching grades 7 and 8 ELA for the past eighteen years. She enjoys delving into reading and writing with her students and finds young-adult literature far more riveting than adult literature!

This week's reading list:
CLICK and CAMP by Kayla Miller
INVISIBLE EMMIE, POSITIVELY IZZY and JUST JAIME by Terri Libenson
SMILE, SISTERS, and GUTS by Raina Telgemeier
DOG MAN by Dav Pilkey

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GRAPHIC NOVEL MONTH: Virtual Panel Discussion (Part 2)

2/10/2020

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~Hosted by Amanda Smith

Welcome back to 24 Carrot Writing's Graphic Novel Month. Last week our panel discussed the unique strengths of graphic novels for readers, but also, for them as creatives. If you missed Part 1, you can find it here.
Lets join our panel of Graphic Novel authors for Part 2.

Terri Libenson is the author of the best-selling illustrated middle grade novels, Invisible Emmie, Positively Izzy, and Just Jaime.

Tom Angleberger is the author of the best-selling Star Wars Origami Yoda series and is stepping into the graphic novel world along with Geronimo Stilton.

Kayla Miller is the author and illustrator of the best-selling Click series of graphic novels.

Breena Bard debut graphic novelist (Trespassers) and Get Published By Graphix contest winner.

Often those opposed to graphic novels think about these books as shallow or “comic” books, yet today’s graphic novels deal with difficult subject matter such as addiction, racism, startling historical events, and peer pressure. Why are graphic novels such an effective medium for telling these kinds of stories?

Terri Libenson: I think a big part of it is because many kids love comics and/or illustrated stories; therefore, difficult subject matter won’t have to be forced on them -- they will automatically want to read about it in graphic novel form.

Examples of graphic novels dealing with heavier subjects

Many graphic novels have an autobiographical aspect. Why, do you think, does this format lend itself well to autobiographical storytelling?

Terri Libenson: Well, all kinds of books have an autobiographical element. But I think good artists have a gift for retelling their memories in a visual way that connects immediately with readers. It can also be fun to “see” the setting and clothing of a different era rather than just read about them.

Breena Bard: I’ve never thought about this before! I wonder if it’s because, just like our imaginations, our memories tend to exist in our minds largely as images. If a writer is able to put those remembered images on page as pictures, they can retain some of the vivid detail that might be lost if translated into words. There are some emotions and feelings that can be conveyed better by pictures, and when a picture won’t do, graphic novelists also have written words in their toolbox. It’s the best of both worlds, and for telling something so nuanced and complex as a personal story, I can see why writers would be drawn to a format that’s so flexible and accommodating.

Raina Telgemeier's series of graphic novel memoirs.

Graphic novel characters are often established fairly quickly and with few words (often one or two speech bubbles.) Please share with our readers some of your character development strategies. What happens behind the scenes, before the reader sees the character on the page for the first time?

Breena Bard: For me, characters emerge when I am playing in my sketchbook. The harder I try to “design” a character, the more wooden and forced they feel. But when I let my mind and my pen wander, I am often surprised by the different characters that emerge. I try to spend a lot of time on this earlier side of character development, doodling a new character in every possible facial expression, pose and setting. And if I’m lucky enough to have two characters come to life, I can play with putting them into a variety of vignettes, or mini-scenes. Sometimes these scenes make it into my eventual script, and when they do, they are some of my favorite scenes.

Kayla Miller: I think you can say a lot about a character's personality through their appearance and their actions. Every day we make choices about how to present ourselves to the world and comic artists make those decisions for their characters. Clothing, posture, facial expressions, and way of speaking do a lot of the work, but another great tool is drawing a character’s room (or other spaces they decorate and store things in, like a desk or locker). One panel of a character in their living space could be worth paragraphs of description about their personality and interests.

Spread from CLICK by Kayla Miller.

Terri Libenson: Well, I have an advantage, as my books are hybrids: part illustrated novel and part graphic novel. The illustrated novel portion contains much more text, so I can set up a character’s story in detailed prose. The GN portion is much more of a challenge, character-wise. One technique: I frequently have characters introduce themselves. And I think dialogue or inner monologue quickly establishes their personalities.
Behind the scenes, I try and get to know these characters well so that they seem convincing on paper. They usually have aspects of my personality and memories. Some are also inspired by people I’ve known – although they tend to develop differently as I write.

From JUST JAIME by Terri Libenson.

Tom Angleberger: For me it was the matter of redrawing a famous character, Geronimo Stilton, in my own style. And, since he narrates his novels, I had to pick and choose which words of his to use in my panels. But, I’ve been a Geronimo fan for so long that all of that came very naturally.

Chapter book Geronimo.

Graphic novel Geronimo.

Thanks to our fabulous panel! Join us next week for the last of the panel discussion posts. We will be talking about the middle schooler's brain (ooohhh!) and gatekeepers!

A reading list for this week:
CLICK and CAMP by Kayla Miller
INVISIBLE EMMIE, POSITIVELY IZZY and JUST JAIME by Terri Libenson
NEW KID by Jerry Craft
HEY KIDDO by Jarrett Krosoczka
THE FAITHFUL SPY by John Hendrix
SMILE, SISTERS, and GUTS by Raina Telgemeier
AWKWARD, BRAVE & CRUSH by Svetlana Chmakove (great notes on characterization and setting in back matter)

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GRAPHIC NOVEL MONTH: A Virtual Panel Discussion (Part 1)

2/3/2020

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~ hosted by Amanda Smith

For too long the literary value of graphic novels has been questioned. There are parents who tell their kids to pick "real books," while some teachers confiscate graphic novels when their students dare to bring them to class. However, just a week ago, history was made when Jerry Craft's graphic novel, New Kid was awarded the Newbery Medal. The John Newbery Medal is awarded for "the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children" by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC). Yes, a graphic novel won a prestigious literature award!

Join 24 Carrot Writing this entire month, as we CELEBRATE the strength and beauty of graphic novels and their place on our bookshelves! We've got a distinguished panel and weekly Graphic Novel blogs ready to go. Welcome to Graphic Novel Month at 24 Carrot Writing.

MEET OUR PANEL:

Kayla Miller is the author and illustrator of the best-selling Click series of graphic novels.

Breena Bard debut graphic novelist (Trespassers) and Get Published By Graphix contest winner.

Terri Libenson is the author of the best-selling illustrated middle grade novels, Invisible Emmie, Positively Izzy, and Just Jaime.

Tom Angleberger is the author of the best-selling Star Wars Origami Yoda series and is stepping into the graphic novel world along with Geronimo Stilton.

Terry Ebbeling is a seventh and eighth grade English Language Arts teacher and reading advocate extraordinaire.

Why did you decide to tell your stories in graphic novel format as opposed to prose novels?

Kayla Miller: The art side of things is actually what I committed to first. I’ve always liked both writing and art, but I was more focused on art and chose to go to college to study illustration. I wrote and illustrated comics while I was in school, but I still thought I’d end up illustrating other people’s words and ideas once I graduated. I considered writing a hobby, and art my profession for such a long time that it was sort of a revelation when I realized that people actually liked my stories as much as my drawings. I think comics are just my natural format.

Breena Bard: My stories generally unfold in my imagination as movies, and almost before I have any words or even a plot, I can see my characters moving around and interacting in the world. Since I’m not a filmmaker, but I am able to draw, it seems most natural to tell my stories with pictures. And there is a lot you can do with a graphic novel to tell a story as cinematically as possible!

Terri Libenson: I studied illustration in college and have drawn cartoons for most of my life. Before I started creating graphic novels, I was a syndicated newspaper cartoonist. I’ve always loved writing, too, so the combination of art and writing suits me very well.

Tom Angleberger : I’ve written quite a few prose novels now and will write more. But I’ve almost always had a desire to have more than just text in them, whether it’s origami instructions or a nice map. If a funny picture is funnier than a text block, why not draw it? And, the same goes for any emotional response you’re trying to get from a reader.

What do you see as the unique strengths of graphic novels?

Breena Bard: There is an immediacy to comics and graphic novels that make them very accessible to readers of all ages. I don’t think it’s just the inclusion of artwork, which makes them “faster” or “easier” to read (aka, fewer words). There is something very unique going on in the way the words and images interact, perhaps because they engage very different parts of our brain, that brings a reader right into the story and keeps them there. It’s not uncommon for someone to remark that they finished a graphic novel in just one or two sittings (and as a mom of two with precious little spare time for reading, I consider that a huge strength!)

Terri Libenson: Graphic novels are perfect for the reluctant reader or for those who are simply drawn to visual storytelling. And they can be so literary and layered – something most kids know but many adults are just starting to learn.

Tom Angleberger: After writing so many books for kids, I’ve become almost obsessed with removing any barriers or stumbling blocks that are going to stop a kid from finishing a story. And one of the biggest stumbling blocks is description. Some readers may be able to read a page of text and “see” a vivid landscape, but some of us never make it through that page. We put the book down after a couple sentences and are never compelled to pick it up again. Meanwhile, the graphic novel reader is gaping in wonder at beautiful artwork. (Well, not in my book, but in some books! Nathan Hale’s One Trick Pony for example.)

Terry Ebbeling: While I was a skeptic at first, thinking graphic novels were inferior to “regular” books, I have come to appreciate them for middle-school readers. Students these days are visual readers, so the graphics help them comprehend and stay interested- especially reluctant readers. And I have been amazed by how detailed the graphics are! My students recently read White Bird by R.J. Palacio for Pizza and Paperbacks, and I read through that graphic novel twice. The first time I concentrated on the plot line and glanced at the pictures. But, during my second reading, I really appreciated the fine points in the pictures that told a story in themselves. And, when discussing the book with my students, they found even more depth in the pictures that gave them a greater understanding of the darkness of WWII. While graphic novels may not be for every reader, I find the combination of text and pictures to aid in comprehension and enjoyment for some of my readers.

Join us again next week as our panel discusses character development and difficult subjects. And while you wait, pick up a few graphic novels and discover for yourself the intricate combination of storytelling through words and pictures.

This week's reading list:
Click and Camp by Keila Miller
Invisible Emmie, Positively Izzy, and Just Jaime by Terri Libenson
One Trick Pony by Nathan Hale
White Bird by R.J. Palacio
New Kid by Jerry Craft

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A Classroom Takeover by Mrs. Webster's 5th Graders!

1/27/2020

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Welcome to our first ever Classroom Takeover!

24 Carrot Writing has invited Mrs. Webster's 5th Grade Class to take over our blog. The students are sharing what they think about the books they've read and what they would like to see in books.

Authors love to hear from their readers - and Mrs. Webster's class is given us a chance to learn right from our readership what they love (and hate) about our books.

What three things do you look for when you decide to read a book? Why do you look for those things?

I search for many things when I read a book, one is intriguing characters. These characters add a lot more interesting elements to the story rather than normal ones. For example, in the book Bob by Mass and Stead, Bob is a zombie who is friends with a normal girl. This adds so much to the plot and makes me want to learn more about the character. Another thing I look for is morals in a story. These morals make you think about the book, and even if that book is fiction, you still learn a valuable lesson. For example, in the book The Everything Store by Brad Stone , the book shows us that hard work and passion can achieve great things. Last but not least, I look for authors I know and have previously read and enjoyed their books. This makes me almost one hundred percent sure that the book is going to be good. For example, the beginning of Harry Potter was rather bland, but knowing that J.K. Rowling was such an amazing author, I took a chance on the book and it ended up being fantastic. These are three things I look for when I decide to read a book. - Anastasiia K.

I look for suspenseful books with some good conflict. Harry Potter has good conflict and it had suspense here and there, and the ending was good. That’s a book I would look for. - Avery B.

When I decide to read a book, I look for a few different things. One thing is that it has an interesting description that leaves a lot of questions hanging and I want to know more about the characters. I also look for good reviews about it, either online or on the back cover, because I wouldn’t want to read a book that a lot of people didn’t enjoy. Lastly, I might look for books that are by an author I know and love. An example is that once I decided to read Every Soul A Star by Wendy Mass. In the beginning of the book, it got kind of boring and nothing interesting happened. But, based on Wendy Mass’s other books, I knew it would get better later on in the story, and I was right, It did! I ended up very fond of this book. - Audrey G.

Drama, friendship, and adventure are all the things I look for. - Tricia M.

I look for many things in a book for it to hook me in but there are three main golden things I look for and they are dialogue, action, and constant conflicts. I look for dialogue because for me when a character talks it makes me feel like I’m inside the book. I also like dialogue because I can understand how the character is feeling. I wish for action in my books that I read because it hooks me in and it makes me wonder who will win a fight and what would happen next. I seek books with constant conflicts because if there are no constant conflicts the book gets boring for me and I don’t think anyone wants to read a book that is boring. - Ekakshar B.

When I pick a book to read, I look for a colorful cover that looks funny and has between 200 and 300 pages. The reason I look for this, is because it tells me a lot about the book, including who some of the characters are. I look for pages between 200 and 300 because I like long stories (but not too long) that are exciting. - Connor D.

Three things I look for in a book are the topic, characters and if I can understand it. The reason I look for the topic is because I love to read about sports like baseball, basketball and football. I also like to read about wars because I like learning about what happened in the battles. What I look for in characters are if they are funny, intense, nice, mean and if they are interesting. Lastly, I look for book I can understand what they are talking about because if you can’t understand the words you won’t be able to read further into the book and if you needed to do a project in that book you were reading you would not know what to write about or how to explain it. - Landen C.

In books I look for a problem because it makes me dig in the book more than just put the book down. Next I look for action because I think it keeps me entertained instead of bored.Lastly I look for a plot to solve the problem so I can kinda get a sneak peek. - Jacob C.

The first thing I look for in a book is to learn about someone else’s life. For example, what it is like to live in another country. Next, I look to see what we have in common, such as taste, pet names, and or sports. Lastly, I look for books that teach a lesson on how to do something or morals. - Ella D.

What I look for in a book is nice characters. The reason why I look for nice characters is because I get inspired by the characters in books such as Amina's Voice. Another thing I look in a book for is something big. The reason why I look for something big is because I like when there is a huge twist in the story that changes it all around. Lastly, I love when there is humor. I love humor and this is why, I think it adds such a good part of the book when there is humor because it makes the book so much brighter in my opinion. - Julia C.

When I look for a book, I look for action and I like at least some funny characters. And I like mystery like people getting killed then they have to find the person that killed them. I like funny characters because it makes me laugh and then it makes me want to keep reading. I like action because there is a bunch of stuff that makes you want to keep reading like when somebody runs from the cops or a person chasing a cop. - Paul P.

When I decide to read a book I mainly look for an author I know because if I know that author and they had a book a really liked I would most likely choose a book from them. I would because I know that the book will be good and I will enjoy it. I also look for a book that has a good plot. By reading the first chapter, I should be able to get into the book and get a feel for it. I look for that because then I know the book will start right away and I won’t get bored by it. Last but not least, I like to look for the cover. If the cover is bright and colorful I would want to read the book more. Those are just a few reasons for what I look for when picking out a book. - Evan Das.

Three things I look for when I am deciding to read a new book is an interesting title like The Sea Of Monsters. Another thing I look for is an interesting story line like Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix. Lastly, I look for a cover that gets my attention like Diary Of A Wimpy Kid The Wrecking Ball. I look for these things because I don’t want to read a book that I think is boring. I want to read a book that I can’t put down like the three examples I used. - Jack C.

I read the back to be informed on what the book is about. I also look for the authors I like because I liked there other books. And the title because I need to know the titles. - Evan Dem.

Tell us about a book that you just finished reading that you liked. What about the book caused you to keep reading to the end?

I recently finished Tight by Torrey Molado. I liked many things about this book, such as the overall relatable plot, the moral, and most of all the characters. My favorite character was Bryan because we both live in a metropolis and we both like comics. He also seems like a genuinely nice and caring friend. What kept me reading to the end of this book was the constant action. Whenever I finished my goal, I would always want to read on, because this book is never short of interesting elements and plot twists. - Anastasiia K.

Recently, I read a book called Out Of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper. I really enjoyed this book, because it is told from the point of view of a girl named Melody with cerebral palsy. I liked how it was different because not a lot of books have a disabled child in them. In the story, Melody can’t talk, so I liked how you could know what she was thinking. What makes the book really interesting is that a lot of people underestimate Melody. This makes it challenging for her to be on the school’s Whiz Kids team. I kept reading because I wanted to know how Melody handled the situation. I believe this book is amazing because it is different than other novels and lots of exciting things happened that made me want to keep reading until the end. - Audrey G.

I recently read Dog Man Fetch 22 by Dav Pilkey. I liked the book because of the characters and the jokes. I kept reading to the end because the book was really funny and exciting, and filled with action. A funny example was when the fair fairy takes a chair literally, when asked to take a seat. - Connor D.

The book that I just finished was Judy Moody Around The World for 8 ½ Days. In the book Judy has this project to go around the world but they got a new student and her name is Amy Namy. Judye doesn’t like Amy, but then Judy has a fight with her friends. The part that caused me keep reading the book is when Amy Namy came to the school. - Tiffany C.

The book I just finished reading is Amulet book 5 Prince Of The Elves. The book caused me to read to the end because it had so many questions, feelings, and a lot of action too. Another reason is that the author wrote the dialogues so descriptively that it felt like you were in the book watching the characters move, talk, and fight. But it was also like you're invisible to them but they are visible to you. I also loved the artwork. It was cartoonish and that’s what I like to see in graphic novels. These reasons kept me reading the book. - Ekakshar B.

I recently finished reading The Series Of Unfortunate Events The Wide Window By Lemony Snicket. I really liked this book because of the action. At one point .in the middle of the book, they sailed on a boat in the middle of a storm! Just to save their aunt - they didn’t even know if she was alive. It caused me to read to the end because of the suspense. It was nerve-racking. You never really knew what was going to happen, and then all of sudden a plot twist comes out of nowhere. It also had some mystery in it and that kept me intrigued. There were puzzles to solve too. But I really liked the book series because something new happens every book. That’s what I liked about the book and it kept me reading to the end of the book. - Evan Das.

I finished reading 📖 a book 📚 called A Boy Called Bat. Bat has this skunk that he wants to keep so I read until the end to find out if he keeps it or not. - Evan Dem.

Tell us about a character from a book you have recently read. Why did you like the character? Would you be friends with this character? Why or why not?

A book I have recently read is Wings Of Fire by Tui T. Sutherland. This book is about dragons and the land of Pyrrhia. One of the characters in this book is Tsunami the SeaWing, which is a type of dragon. Tsunami is very bright, trustworthy, and stands up for herself and her friends. I love this character and would definitely be friends with her. We would get along very well together because she loves to fight and if I was a dragon, I think I would like to fight too. I love the way she treats her friends and if I was her friend I would treat her the same way back. Tsunami may not be the nicest dragon, but that doesn’t bother me. In conclusion, Tsunami is definitely a dragon I would want to hang around with. - Audrey G.

I finished reading Tales From The Odyssey, by Mary Pope Osborne. I kept on feeling the urge to keep reading this book. One reason I kept on reading is because of the action and I always felt intrigued. For example, Odysseus sailed past Scylla, a six headed monster and it ate six of his men. Odysseus also sailed past a whirlpool monster Charybdis, which almost sucked Odysseus’ vessel into a dark, black, abyss. Another reason I kept reading this book is because I wanted to see what happened to his son and wife because in the beginning of the book, he had to leave his son and wife to save Helen of Troy. This is what caused me to keep reading this book. -Charli C.

In the book, Out Of My Mind by Sharon Draper, I like the character Melody. Even though Melody was disabled, you would never know it because of her positive attitude. I would love to be friends with Melody because she is a really good person, even when her friend Rose is mean to her; she always forgives her and treat her nicely. - Ella D.

In the book A Wrinkle in Time, I liked Charles Wallace because he was so caring and and he would always help people. He is very smart he knows big words. I would like him to be my friend because he would be there for me when I need him and he would help me in school. - Paul P.

One character from the book Tight by Tony Malado that I liked and would like to be friends with is Big Will. I like this character because he acts nice and calm around other people kind of like me. Also, I think he would be a good backup whenever I may need help or when I may be in trouble. In the text of Tight it says Big Will backs Bryan up in a way by getting him out of a tough senecio. Because of this I’d think we’d be great friends. - Maxwell B.

I am currently reading this book called Crash. I like the character but he doesn’t seem like a person I would be friends with. For one he bullies one kid just because he is a vegan and doesn’t believe in violence. He also tackled his cousin out of the door and if that were me I would be very mad. Also Crash is very rude, for instance he just went over to someone’s house and disrespects their parents and house. He was mad and left they house because they didn’t have a TV instead they had books. I liked him because he is funny and doesn’t take in consideration of what he is saying, he’ll just blurt it out without thinking. He also has a lot of confidence and doesn’t let anything get in his way, he is determined. - Evan DaS.

My character would be Paul from the book I Survived the Battle of D-Day by Lauren Tarshis The reason I like the character is because he is a real nice kid. He traded one of his favorite possessions, his soccer ball to buy his mom cookies for her birthday. The reason I think I would be friends with him is because he risked his life to save an American soldier that he did not know and he would most likely save his friends and be there for them. - Landen C.

I would be bats best friend from A Boy Called Bat because he likes animals and he is very smart and we are kind of similar because I like animals but I’m not the best at math. We can do some math together and he would help me if I did something wrong. He’s also very kind and shy, but I can help him when he has a hard time. That’s the reason why I want to be bat's best friend. - Liam J.

Think of an ending of a book that you liked. Why did you like the ending? How did the ending make you feel? What kinds of endings do you not like?

An ending of a book that I really liked was the book Blubber. The reason I really like the ending of that book was because it did not end on a cliffhanger. I liked the ending because you got to see the bright side of all the characters. The ending made me feel happy and excited at the same time because even though Linda and Jill did not become friends it was very surprising, that all of the characters became friends and no one was bullied again. The endings I do not like is when they just end and do not finish their sentence or the paragraph and there is no second book. - Molly K.

One ending that I liked is in the book Put Me In The Zoo, by Robert Lopshire. I liked the ending in this book because in the beginning Spot the leopard wants to be in the zoo, but two kids tell him that he doesn’t belong in the zoo. He immediately starts showing the kids his amazing tricks he can do with his spots. Then, in the end, the main character gets to a place where he really belongs, a circus! This made me feel happy for Spot because he is now where he belongs. This is an ending of a book that I liked. - Charli C.

At the end of the book Sisters I liked it because it was a funny ending. Raina was at a sleepover and when it became bedtime Raina farted in her friends face. The ending made me feel happy and warm inside because whenever she’s happy and laughing to her music on the stereo it’s funny and then I can’t take my eyes off the book. The endings I don’t like is when it’s not happy and funny. - Samantha F.

At the end of all the Lunch Lady books by Jarrett J. Krosoczka, they always give a little bit of information about the next book. I enjoy these endings because I can begin to think about the next book. I like to come up with crazy ideas about what’s going to happen next. However, I’m not too fond of stories with sad endings because it makes me upset. - Ella D.

If you could tell an author of a book you liked three things about their book, what would you say?

If I could tell J.K Rowling 3 things I liked about Harry Potter, I would say that I liked the suspense. It keeps me reading. Another thing I would say is that the ending is great. The last thing I would say is that the characters are likable (except for the Slytherins). They’re good characters and each house fits their personalities. - Avery B.

If I could tell an author three things I liked about their book, I would tell Rick Riordan that I liked the ups and downs, and plot twists in Percy Jackson And The Lightning Thief. I liked that all of the characters have detailed backstories. For example, Annabeth talks about what her dad does for a living, which goddess is her mom, and she even says how many years she has been at Camp Half-Blood. Annabeth isn’t one of those characters that is part of the storyline, but has a cheap backstory. Last but not least, I love the exhilarating battles between him and the monsters. For example, when Percy was battling Medusa, he was smart enough to use the back of his IPod ( It was metallic), to see if she was coming. Another thing is that when he was almost at Camp Half-Blood, him, his mom ( A mortal, not a goddess), and his friend Grover encountered a Minotaur. A beast that is very hard to kill, Percy managed to kill the Minotaur with his intellectualism. This is three things I would compliment this author on. - Charli C.

If I could tell Jeff Kinney three things that I like about Diary Of A Wimpy Kid.First off, I like how it relates to real life and that it shows people tring not to be as mean and rude as Greg Heffley. Next, I like how it shows people to maybe not follow in Greg’s footsteps. Finally, I like how the book is funny and enjoyable because of what Greg Heffley gets himself stuck into. - Thomas C.

A BIG THANK YOU to the wonderful students in Mrs. Webster's 5th grade class for taking the time to chat with us about books! Keep reading and thanks for sharing!

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The Soaring '20s Debut Authors Talk Goals!

1/20/2020

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Art by Julie Rowan-Zoch, Soaring '20s Illustrator

It’s a new year, full of excitement and new possibilities. What better folks to chat with than those who have debut books coming out in 2020!

We’ve invited the Soaring ‘20s picture book debut group to share their thoughts on using goals to find publishing success and to share some of the goals they have set for 2020.

A big 24 Carrot Writing welcome to the high flying picture book debut authors and illustrators of The Soaring ‘20s.

What writing goals did you set that helped you find publishing success?

My goal is, and will always be, to work on the craft of writing for children.

To that end, I signed up for critique groups and conferences and workshops. I also took all feedback to heart. That may sound like a an odd goal. However, it is easy, and natural, to defend your work. If you want to improve, though, which was my goal - you have to listen. You may not choose to integrate all the feedback into your revisions but if you do not receive it openly, then you are missing a huge opportunity. I firmly believe that it was this goal - of listening and learning - that helped me reach publication.

- Mary Waggley Copp, author of WHEREVER I GO, illus. Munir Muhammed ( Antheneum Books for Young Readers, April 21, 2020)

When I got serious about writing for children, my goal was to immerse myself in the world of picture books—publishing, community, and craft. I started a book club where we read about 25 picture books published by one publisher every month. Members learned to spot the differences in publishing houses and we kept up to date on what was getting published. I became more active in my local SCBWI chapter, signing up for workshops and meetings when I could and building lasting friendships. I took advantage of webinars from industry

professionals—especially if there was feedback involved—and I found myself a wonderful critique group. My “immersion” felt a bit like an obsession at times (it still does!), but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

- Colleen Paeff, author of THE GREAT STINK: HOW JOSEPH BAZALGETTE SOLVED LONDON'S POOP POLLUTION PROBLEM, illus. Nancy Carpenter, (Simon & Schuster/McElderry, March, 2021)

How do you motivate yourself to stay on track with your writing goals?

To stay on track with my writing goals, I protect my writing time with two key strategies.

First, I schedule a regular hour of writing time, and use an accountability partner to make sure I stick to it. We text each other at the beginning of the appointed hour with our goal for that writing session (which is for creative work only, no writing-related tasks), and check in at the end to see how we did.

During each writing session, I use my second strategy: exiting my email, turning off my cell phone ringer and notifications, and blocking myself from social media using StayFocusd browser extension. I’ve been amazed at how much I can accomplish towards my goals with just one focused hour a day.

— Kirsten W. Larson, author of WOOD, WIRE, WINGS: Emma Lilian Todd Invents an Airplane, illus. Tracy Subisak (Calkins Creek, Feb. 25, 2020)

How are you balancing writing and marketing efforts during your debut year?

I’ll use this question as an example, since it falls under marketing, efforts right? :) I’ve opened up the document more times than I can count over the past couple of weeks. Although I am super excited about writing it and I’m a huge fan of the blog, I’m just honestly not quite as comfortable with marketing as I am with writing. But I know both are so important. And what makes marketing more palatable for me is when I think of it as a way to genuinely connect with readers.

For example, I recently donated a signed copy of THE VOICE THAT WON THE VOTE and some swag as a local auction item. The high bidder connected with me to say how excited she is to receive the book and have it personalized for her daughter, as inspiration for every vote making a difference. That re-invigorated the marketing side of my mind and reminded me how marketing, like writing, is just as much about putting my heart out there through my words.

Having said that, marketing efforts definitely feel like they come from a different section of my brain. Although blog writing, launch

planning, pre-order coordinating and other publicity tasks can be creative, they feel more left brain than the actual writing of my books, and therefore I calendar them in during the afternoons. I try not to do them between the hours of 8-10am. That’s the time after my caffeine kicks in, when I am at the peak of my creative productivity. During that time, I ask my works-in-progress (I actually really do this, I know it sounds bizarre) “Which of you wants to be written today?” And a clear front-runner pops into my head/heart with the answer! More often than not, it's a different one than I had planned to work on that day, but I trust the process.

-Elisa Boxer, author of THE VOICE THAT WON THE VOTE: How One Woman’s Words Made History, illus. Vivien Mildenberger, (Sleeping Bear Press, March 2020)

Share one of your writing goals for 2020 and tell us why you’ve set that target?

One of my writing goals for 2020 is to write a picture book biography. This is a goal that I had set in 2019, and also in 2018, but never actually accomplished. In fact, I barely started. So far, I’ve only written fiction picture books, so the idea of writing nonfiction is daunting.

There’s a saying that goes, “The definition of stupidity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” I’m not going to be THAT hard on myself, but clearly I need to find a different, less vague way to define this goal or another year is going to go by without it happening. Or – far worse – someone ELSE will write a biography about this person, get tons of accolades, huge sales, and win the Newbery Medal, leaving me with nothing to do but whine to my critique group that I had that idea first.

Probably the thing to do is break the process up into smaller, more achievable goals and have some rewards along the way. Like this:

• read one page in research book
• eat one piece of chocolate
• read two pages
• eat two pieces of chocolate
• finish chapter
• time for hot chocolate

I think I can DO this!

- Carrie Finison, author of DOZENS OF DOUGHNUTS, illus. Brianne Farley (Putnam, Summer 2020)

One of my writing goals for 2020 is to work on my middle grade novel that I’ve been ignoring for the past three years. I might simply revise it or make it a chapter book series. I’m setting this target because I love the two main characters – it’s a dual POV. I believe they have a strong voice, and their story needs to be told. Either that, or maybe they’ve been nagging me for too long!

- Joana Pastro, author of LILLYBELLE, A DAMSEL NOT IN DISTRESS, illus Jhon Ortiz (Kane Press, Fall 2020)

Share one of your craft goals for 2020 and tell us why you’ve set that target?

To improve as a writer, I think you must always be learning new things. I love attending writing retreats, conferences and taking webinars to hone my skills. But those things cost time and money and this year I’ve resolved to be more frugal with both.

Luckily, as a picture book writer, there is a wealth of craft learning one can do for free. I have a few biography ideas that I’ve been toying around with for a while and I’d like to commit to finishing at least one of them in 2020. To help me achieve this goal, my resolution is to read at least one picture book biography per week and make note of what makes it successful.

I like this goal for three reasons:

It doesn’t cost me anything (thank you public libraries).
It’s easy to do (I’m reading to my three kids already) and
It’s manageable to maintain (Hello to not falling off the wagon before February).

At the end of the year, I’ll have 52 new ideas to help inspire my own biography writing…and who knows? Maybe a finished biography too!

- Candy Wellins, author of SATURDAYS ARE FOR STELLA, illus. by Charlie Eve Ryan, (Page Street Kids, August 11, 2020)

For more information on The Soaring '20s authors, illustrators and debut books, visit https://www.soaring20spb.com/. You can also find The Soaring '20's group on twitter at @Soaring20sPB.

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New Year; New Goals

1/6/2020

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~ By Amanda Smith

Here we are: On the cusp of a new year, and a new decade. As we peek over the rim and catch the first glances of 2020, our breaths catch a little. Our hearts race, because…

it holds scary challenges and huge uncertainties,
it holds dreams, and hopes, and exciting opportunities,
it holds its arms wide open for us to dive in.

Whether you tentatively dip your toes, or dive in with head-first-abandon, knowing where you intend to go, is vital. Take some time during the month of January to program your writing GPS. Plot your calendars, prepare your bullet journals, pin your tracking sheets, and set those yearly goals! Remember to add carrots to keep you motivated.

Oh, life will bring derailments – that is inevitable. It will also bring scenic detours for us to embrace. But when we have our road mapped out, it is so much easier to get back on track.

We posted our 2020 writing goals under the GOALS tab on 24 Carrot Writing. Scrutinize our road maps. Perhaps they'll help you find your own way. Throughout the years we have written many posts about goal setting. Below I have linked some for easy access, but you can find them all under the “Writing Goals” tag to the right of your screen. So read up, have some fun with colored pens, and planners, and chart your way for writing success in 2020.

Annie’s SMART goals: http://www.24carrotwriting.com/-blog/the-smart-key-to-your-carrots
Amanda’s goal setting strategy explained: http://www.24carrotwriting.com/-blog/a-year-of-goals
Kelly’s handy tracking resource: http://www.24carrotwriting.com/-blog/a-24-carrot-writing-goal-worksheet
Amanda’s updated yearly planning and printable resource: http://www.24carrotwriting.com/-blog/doing-the-necessary
Annie’s forgiveness clause: http://www.24carrotwriting.com/-blog/set-your-writing-goalsbut-allow-for-some-slack
Kelly’s unique monthly plan: http://www.24carrotwriting.com/-blog/give-your-writing-the-wrqs
Monica Tesler takes us from goals to tasks: http://www.24carrotwriting.com/-blog/new-year-new-goals-now-what
Francine's tools for staying in track: http://www.24carrotwriting.com/-blog/tools-for-staying-on-track
Feel free to browse under http://www.24carrotwriting.com/-blog/category/writing-goals

Off site:
Bullet journals: https://www.katemessner.com/bullet-journaling-childrens-author-version/
Inside a writer’s bullet journal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiLhM17Kw38

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Season's Greetings

12/24/2019

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24 Carrot Writing would like to wish our readers a restful, peaceful and restorative holiday season. May you laugh boisterously with family and friends. May you reflect quietly on your growth and what you have accomplished this year. May you dream extravagantly about the coming year and the creative goals it holds. And through it all, may you embrace the time away from your work, even as you nurture creative sparks your heart.

We will return in January, rested and ready to set SMART goals for a productive new year.
See you then!

With love,
Amanda, Annie, and Kelly

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Don't Shush Your Voice

12/19/2019

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By Kelly Carey

I don’t have a great singing voice. A high school choir teacher once told me that if I agreed to go to study hall instead of his class, he’d give me an A. My family begs me not sing around birthday cakes, and I mouth the words to hymns in church because I’m pretty sure God would prefer it that way.

I’m shushing my voice.

If I did this in writing, my stories either wouldn’t exist, or they’d come out flat and false and would never resonate with any reader, anywhere, ever. And yet, much like I have learned to hide my voice when it comes to singing, I think many of us have been taught to silence our voice when it comes to writing.

It happens gradually like a drip, drip, dripping until our unique way of speaking, of phrasing things, of reacting, and arranging words drowns under 20,000 leagues of edits from teachers, society, peers, and finally our own internal critic.

I do understand the idea that you need to know the rules of good writing before you can break them. We wipe out slang and colloquialism for proper grammar and impressive SAT level vocabulary. Academic writing peels out the voice of the unique individual and cushions it with research, and MLA formatting, and data, and flow charts, and the desire to match a professor’s rubric.

Society and peers place expectations on us that can alter our voice so that we comply with popular opinions, norms, and accepted practices. Layer over that our fear of sharing our inner thoughts; concerns that our experiences and feelings are solo outliers; a belief that no one would understand; and a dread that our voice might be met with raised eyebrows, confused stares, or worse and BAM we mouth the words instead of writing them down.

I think we are all born with these beautiful voices, but somewhere along the line, we zip our lips and head to study hall.

The gifted writers in our community don’t go to study hall – they sing LOUD! They don’t worry about a choir teacher giving them an F, a chuckle at a birthday party, or the way the guy’s neck hair in front of them in church stands on end – they just let their writing voice sing.

Examine what happens in that split second of time between a thought popping into your head and the thought becoming words on a page. How much pummeling does it take before you write it down? Do you hear your high school English teacher? Are you thinking about how your mother will react? Worried about what a co-worker will think? Are you editing it for an agent, editor, or potential reader? All this before it makes it to the page and suddenly your wonderful true to you thought is a diluted pile of boring mush.

The idea that you should dance like no one is watching, sing like no one is listening – it’s not quite as easy to apply when it comes out write like no one is reading. Let’s flip it to say: write like everyone wants to read!

Write loud in your voice! No need to go to study hall – you got this! And we want to hear it!

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A Holiday Picture Book Sampler

12/10/2019

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by Annie Cronin Romano

The holiday season has arrived. When my children were young, one of our favorite activities to do was cuddling on the couch reading holiday picture books. Sometimes there were old favorites; other times they were the latest arrivals at our local library or bookshop. This post is a mix of holiday classics and newer arrivals to the shelves. Hopefully you'll find a few titles to add to your "must read" list (links are included with the cover images). Please share your favorite holiday picture books in the comments!

SANTA MOUSE, by Michael Brown, illustrated by Edfrieda DeWitt
MR. WILLOWBY'S CHRISTMAS TREE, by Robert E. Barry
PICK A PINE TREE, by Patricia Toht, illustrated by Jarvis
RED AND LULU, by Matt Tavares
CHRISTMAS FARM, by Mary Lyn Ray, illustrated by Barry Root
OSKAR AND THE EIGHT BLESSINGS, by Richard Simon & Tanya Simon, illustrated by Mark Siegel
THE TREE THAT'S MEANT TO BE, by Yuval Zommer
HANUKKAH BEAR, by Eric A Kimmel, illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka
OLIVE, THE OTHER REINDEER, by J. Otto Seibold and Vivian Walsh
SEVEN SPOOLS OF THREAD: A KWANZAA STORY, by Angela Shelf Medearis, illustrated by Daniel Minter
DASHER, by Matt Tavares
THE TREES OF THE DANCING GOATS, by Patricia Polacco

Happy Holidays from all of us at 24 Carrot Writing!

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Favorite Things 2019

12/2/2019

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Welcome to our annual holiday gift list! We have asked our guest bloggers and contributors about their favorite 2019 writing and illustrating things. Because they are always fabulous, they have provided a fantastic list of practical, frivolous, and fun gift ideas. Happy shopping!

Jamie Tan:
Every year I purchase the Rifle Paper Co. Wild Rose Appointment Calendar. For a publicist, this is a godsend – nice clear boxes, a notes column, paper thick enough to absorb the heavy ink pens I favor, and a gorgeous border that I love looking at as I pore over dates during tour planning sessions. I always look forward to the beginning of September when I purchase next year’s and start filling out dates.

Jamie Tan is a Senior Publicist at Candlewick Press and has her MA in Children’s Literature from Simmons College. Before working at Candlewick Press, Jamie worked in events and marketing at several independent bookstores. You can find her on Twitter @thejamietan.

Angela Burke Kunkle:
I'd love to put in a plug for the Aqua Notes Waterproof Note Pad. My husband got me the pad as part of a writer-themed gift one Christmas, and I honestly love them! Finally I have something to scribble on when that perfect solution to a tricky revision problem hits me while I'm in the shower . . . you can check them out here.

Angela Burke Kunkel's debut picture book, DIGGING FOR WORDS: JOSÉ ALBERTO GUTIÉRREZ AND THE LIBRARY HE BUILT (illustrated by Paola Escobar and published by Random House/Schwartz & Wade) releases in Fall 2020. To learn more about Angela, visit her website at https://www.angelakunkel.com/

Jarrett Lerner:

I use Post-it notes constantly. I always keep a pad handy while reading, and use them extensively while revising and looking over old sketchbooks. I also often slip a pad into my pocket when I leave the house or, if I'm on the road, or in my hotel room. They are perfect for jotting down notes or making quick sketches, and then can be easily transferred to a larger notebook or sketchpad. I've got a whole drawer in my studio that just has Post-it notes of all different sizes and colors and shapes.

Jarrett Lerner is the creator of the EngiNerds series, and is currently juggling seven different upcoming book projects. He is using LOTS of Post-it notes to keep himself organized and on schedule. To learn more about Jarrett visit his website at https://jarrettlerner.com/

Susan Lubner:

One of my new-ish favorite things is this handy tote bag purchased on Zazzle.com. It’s personalized with a photo of my most recent book and it’s perfect to carry all my pens, bookmarks, handouts, all the things I tote to my book events. And of course “wearing” my book cover is a nice way to get some publicity for Lizzy and the Good Luck Girl!

In addition to Lizzy and The Good Luck Girl (Running Press Kids, 2019), Susan is the author of The Upside of Ordinary and numerous picture books. To learn more about Susan, visit her website at https://www.susanlubner.com/.

Tania de Regil:
Honestly, the greatest thing I’ve learned this year, both in my writing and illustrating, is letting go! I know it sounds a bit cheesy, but it’s true. No one should worry about what people are going to think or say about their work, so I remind myself every day that I do this because I love it. In more technical aspects, I started using the Schmincke watercolors and they are fantastic!

Tania de Regil is an author and illustrator from Mexico City who made her US debut this year with A New Home/ Un Nueva Hogar (Candlewick Press, 2019). To learn more about Tania, and browse her online print shop for some lovely Christmas gifts, visit her website at https://taniaderegil.com/books/

Lisa Rogers:

I found a perfect signing pen: the Stabilo point 88. It's a felt tip with a fine point, 0.4 mm, and comes in many different colors. I bought it in red (and purchased several because I'm always losing pens!). It flows smoothly across the page and dries immediately, making it practical. The hexagonal shape feels good, too! Hint to Santa: I am coveting the mini pocket version. Cute!

Lisa is a children's librarian and author of 16 WORDS: WILLIAM CARLOS WILLIAMS AND "THE RED WHEELBARROW" (Schwartz & Wade Books, 2019) which has received starred reviews from Kirkus and Publishers Weekly and is
A Junior Library Guild Selection. Lisa's second picture book HOUND WONT GO (Albert Whitman & Co.) launches spring of 2020. To learn more about Lisa visit her at lisarogerswrites.com.

Studio Goodwin Sturges:

Since we are art-driven, we love color and pattern. Rifle Paper Co. products are a favorite, including these file folders and binder clips, which we got at one of our favorite gift shops in Providence, Simple Pleasures. We are also huge fans of flair pens, black for everyday, but we have all colors in circulation here at the Studio! You can find both on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N9EVVLR/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_c_api_i_CdAWDbKKAWNH9 and
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000J09CO6/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_c_api_i_lcAWDbZCE3HHK

Studio Goodwin Sturges is a boutique artists agency dedicated predominately to children’s trade publishing. They look for artists who have a real sense of a child’s world and how to dynamically depict it. To learn more about Studio Goodwin Sturges please visit them at: http://www.studiogoodwinsturges.com/.

Kelly Carey:

Amanda brought this wonderful cloth pencil case back from a trip she took to South Africa. I love the fun design and it is so much easier to find my pens and pencils when they are all together. No more scrabbling for the pens and pencils that roll around in the bottom of my bag, end up writing all over the interior fabric of my purse, and stab me as my hand blindly searches for them! They have great options on Etsy for fun pencil cases.

Kelly Carey is a co-founder of 24 Carrot Writing and her debut picture book, HOW LONG IS FOREVER? launches from Charlesbridge in April of 2020. To learn more about Kelly visit her website at http://www.kcareywrites.com/.

Laura Renauld:

My favorite writing gift this year was a wall hanging book display that a dear friend made for me. I couldn't find anything quite like it online, but Etsy has some similar "book slings."

Laura is the author of PORCUPINE'S PIE and the upcoming FRED'S BIG FEELINGS: THE LIFE & LEGACY OF MR. ROGERS (January 2020). Visit her at LauraRenauld.com.

Lori Mortensen:

For me, it’s the hidden page feature at my Wix website. (The website is: www.wix.com.) When I’m working on a new book trailer, for example, I go to my hidden page, and then assemble images and text as I wish, which is very easy in their platform. Once I create something I like, I take a screen shot of the whole thing and paste it in Windows Paint. Now, the images and text that were all separate elements are in one cohesive jpg file. Of course, I love Photoshop, too, for more adjustments, but if I couldn’t assemble what I wanted at my hidden Wix page, it would be much harder. Another must have? My Sarasa Gel Retractable Zebra pens. Fast, reliable, and smooth! I keep a stash of them in my desk drawer.

Lori Mortensen is an award-winning children’s author of more than 70 books and over 350 stories and articles. Recent releases include AWAY WITH WORDS: THE DARING STORY OF ISABELLA BIRD and IF WENDELL HAD A WALRUS. Visit her website at www.lorimortensen.com.

Ann Ingalls:

The first thing I do each day before I write is sip my second cup of coffee. I use this mug from my librarian friend, Clare Hollander at the Kansas City Public Library. Then I almost always light a candle (sometimes scented), take a deep breath, and begin.

Ann Ingalls writes for both children and adults and is the author of over twenty-five books. She loves chocolate, swimming, playing Bridge, and traveling. To learn more about Ann and her work, visit her website, www.anningallswrites.com.

Ileana Soon:
Here are some things I have discovered this year that has brought a lot of joy into my life:

1. Hobonichi Cousin Planner
This planner is one of Japan's best selling planners, and I can see why. For its size, it packs so many pages in — it has monthly, weekly and daily outlooks. Perfect for the Type A person thus, perfect for me. Plus, its made of Tomoe River Paper... yum!

2. Notion App
Notion is relatively new on the market, but I think its the productivity app to beat. Its like a combination of all your favorite productivity apps. Plus, a very easy user interface! Design the pages how you you want it to look. Embed pages within pages within pages. Use it as a CRM, or journal, or recipe book... its incredibly flexible.

Ileana Soon is an illustrator/visual development artist who grew up in Borneo before making her way to Los Angeles where she currently lives and works. NIGHT TRAIN is her debut as a picture book illustrator. Learn more about Ileana at http://ileanasoon.com.

Annie Cronin Romano:
Some of my favorite writing tools are craft books which include writing exercises. Two favorites include "642 THINGS TO WRITE ABOUT" (San Francisco Writers' Grotto; Chronicle Books) and VOICE LESSONS: CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES TO TEACH DICTION, DETAIL, IMAGERY, SYNTAX, and TONE (Nancy Dean; Maupin House Publishing, Inc., by Capstone Professional). They'll help get your writing juices flowing and strengthen the voice in your writing. They can be found or ordered in your local bookstore or online.

Annie is one of the founders of 24 Carrot Writing. Her debut picture book, Before You Sleep: A Bedtime Book of Gratitude, released in October 2018. Her second book, Night Train: A Journey From Dusk to Dawn, came out in April 2019. To learn more about Annie, visit www.anniecroninromano.com.

Christy Ewers:

Two things I cannot live without as an agent (and the only things that keep me organized) are:

1. Sharpie Pens. They are the best fine-point pens out there, and anyone who has seen my handwriting knows that a nice clean black line means a lot to me! I use them to hand-address the envelopes when we do promotional mailings. I realize that the fact that I hand letter 250 addresses 3x a year makes me crazy, but the fact that they can withstand that kind of abuse is proof positive that they are awesome!

2. A nice college ruled small notebook with a thick, sturdy cover. I write everything in my notebook. From keeping a to-do list (complete with boxes to check!), to taking notes in meetings or conferences, to jotting down story ideas, to score-keeping my family rummy games, it’s got everything in it. It’s my travel companion and life line. Let’s not talk about what would happen it it was misplaced! Right now, I’m using this one from Madewell.

Christy T. Ewers is one half of the agenting team at The CAT Agency, where she represents illustrators and author/illustrators in the children’s industry, along with her mother and partner, Chris Tugeau, who founded the agency in 1994. The CAT Agency is a boutique agency that believes in the hands-on approach in representing a diverse group of talent from all over the world.

Rachel Lynn Solomon:

I'm always cold, so my favorite writing accessory has to be these adorable writing gloves from Storiarts. They come in a variety of bookish patterns and make lovely gifts for author friends -- or for yourself!

Rachel Lynn Solomon is the author of the YA novels You'll Miss Me When I'm Gone, Our Year of Maybe, and the forthcoming Today Tonight Tomorrow (6/16/20), all from Simon & Schuster/Simon Pulse. You can find her online at rachelsolomonbooks.com and on Twitter @rlynn_solomon.

Amanda Smith:
My favorite way to keep track of my daily writing tasks, is this day planner by Day Designer. I love the roomy pages, with designated to-do list space, for each day. It also features tabs, and a month overview and has plenty of extra note pages to jot down monthly goals. It comes delivered in a beautiful box, which makes it an ideal no-wrapping- required gift.