Kate Messner's Blog, page 56

Authors Who Skype with Book Clubs

I am starting a list of authors who offer free 20-minute Skype chats with book clubs.  My agent literaticat , also a super-powered indie bookseller, got me thinking about how to get that information to bookstores so they can get it to customers.  I'm going to start by creating a list of names with links, and we'll see where it goes from there.

If you're an author of a traditionally published book and you'd like to be on such a list, please comment below with your name & website (which presumably

Revision at the National Archives

Last weekend, aside from researching my new book in Washington, D.C. I got to visit someplace I've always wanted to go.



The National Archives is home to the Charters of Freedom exhibit, including the original Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights.  They were breathtaking, but it was this document set off to the side, rather than one of the "big three" that  captured my imagination the most.



This is a rough draft of the Constitution.  In 1787, they printed up one of these fo

How They Got Here: 2009 Debut Author Cindy Pon

This post is part of a year-long series of blog interviews I'll be hosting with my fellow 2009 Debut Authors, called "How They Got Here." 

It should be an especially helpful series for teens who write, teachers, and anyone who wants to write for kids.  2009 debut authors will be dropping by to talk about how their writing in school shaped the authors they are today, what teachers can do to make a difference, how they revise, and how they found their agents and editors.  (You'll even be able to r

Concert on the Capitol Lawn

Has anyone ever noticed that the number of volunteer "research assistants" you have is in direct proportion to the coolness of your research trip?  When I was able to schedule my Smithsonian trip for this weekend, it seemed like a great idea for the whole family to come along, and we've been able to squeeze in plenty of fun in between my appointments.  Last night, we picked up dinner to go at the Union Station food court and headed for the Capitol lawn, where they were holding dress rehearsal fo

Author Visits, Books, & Research Geeks

First of all, if you are a teacher or librarian interested in a possible author visit for the 2009-2010  school year, please drop me an email. (kmessner at katemessner dot com with no spaces or anything)  Several people had asked about this before I was ready to start thinking about  next year, and I promised to get in touch when I was feeling more organized.  I have next year's calendar out, and I think I touched base with all of those folks tonight.  But if not - or if you're a new person just

Field Trip Critters

I teach middle school, first and foremost, because I love kids that age and love sharing books and writing with them.  Reason #2?  Probably the field trips.  I have never quite gotten over that feeling I used to get in second grade when I'd arrive at school, see the yellow buses waiting outside, and know that we were leaving.  Walking right out of the building to go to an official interesting place.

My seventh graders and I went to one of those places on the Burlington, VT waterfront today.  We t

How They Got Here: 2009 Debut Author Leigh Brescia

This post is part of a year-long series of blog interviews I'll be hosting with my fellow 2009 Debut Authors, called "How They Got Here." 

It should be an especially helpful series for teens who write, teachers, and anyone who wants to write for kids.  2009 debut authors will be dropping by to talk about how their writing in school shaped the authors they are today, what teachers can do to make a difference, how they revise, and how they found their agents and editors.  (You'll even be able to r

Celebrating Children's Book Week at Peru Intermediate

I spent my Children's Book Week Wednesday at an extra-special school visit. All this month, the kids at Peru Intermediate School are reading my Lake Champlain historical novels, Spitfire and Champlain and the Silent One with their teachers, while they read other books at home to work toward meeting personal reading goals for the month.  Today, I gave presentations to the third, fourth, and fifth grade classes.

Here are some very enthusiastic third graders.



The kids all had terrific questions, and