Category Archives: 1

Children’s Book Week–And Why I’m A Champion

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ImageIf you are the observant type, you noticed the Children’s Book Week Champion badge that I added to the blog a few days ago. If you’re the lazy not-so-observant type like me, you’re now glancing around the blog, saying, “I don’t see any Children’s Book Week badge. I don’t know what Cathy’s blah-blah-blahing about–oh. Never mind.”

So, ahem. Let’s just move on to Children’s Book Week and why I champion it.

1. It’s all about a celebration of books and the joys of reading for young people. How can you NOT champion that?

2. You (and by you, I mean you who have something to do with schools and/or libraries) can get a free and very cool poster, art by Brian Selznick. (He’s a Caldecott winner, amazing illustrator, SO many books…well, perhaps you should just go read for yourself here.)

3. You (and by you, I mean any old you) can download this cool bookmark by Newbery Honor author/illustrator, Grace Lin. (You’ll want to check out her website. It’s also very cool and free to peruse.)

4. You (and by you, I mean the writer you who would like someday to get that much-loved manuscript into the hands of children everywhere) can get a very good idea of what children love to read when you take a look at the list of book finalists. If you haven’t read these books yet, perhaps you should. (And by perhaps, I mean definitely.)

So if you know a kid who loves to read, give that child the chance to celebrate the joys of reading. Ask him or her to vote. (Oh! Teachers, librarians and booksellers can vote, too!) Cast your vote, you and you and you,too. And I’ll stop blah-blah-blahing about Children’s Book Week.

(Um, I can’t really guarantee that. I do SO love books.)

Ask an Editor (Or Four Writers)

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ImageIt seems to me that the more I write, the more I realize what I don’t know about writing.

Usually, it’s right before I fall asleep, when some burning, writing question pops into my head. I still fall asleep, mind you. But I wake the next day, determined to find answers. (And looking a little worse for wear, I might add.)

The Muffin answered a writer’s question this week, and as it happened, I was one of the writers who made a suggestion. You might have this very same question and find the answer you’re looking for among the four writers who weighed in. But it occurred to me that even if you don’t, you might have another writing question that’s causing you nightmares.

If you can’t find the answer amongst all those issues over at WOW!Women-on-writing.com, you might want to ask the editor. Maybe your question will show up over at the Muffin.

Then frabjous day! You’ll be a writer in the know!

(And you can get some much-needed beauty rest. Or maybe that’s just me.)