David D. Bernstein's Blog, page 3

Spring Author Spotlight 2017

      As the trees and plants are coming back to life many new authors are starting to get books out. In this update I would like to introduce everyone to two new writers.

Please take a look at my new book called "The Portal"
Mr. Daniel Jude


 
   Much like the main character from Monsters in Manhattan, Daniel Jude started out as just a regular kid from Queens, NY. A kid who began filling countless notebooks, school projects and any and all bare paper with ideas and creations. Lucking, he always seemed to get a box of fresh drawing pads from Santa every Christmas.

   After graduating from The School of Visual Arts in Manhattan he embarked upon a career in editorial Illustration, only to find it far less fulfilling than I had anticipated. Something was missing. Sure, he loved doing the drawings, but there had to be more. Daniel found himself with a head full of characters and no way to get them out. So, that's when he learned to write.

   As both an author and illustrator Daniel has written about odd monsters, like in Earclaw & Eddie, loud little girls like in Everybody Wake Up and a whole city of Monsters in Manhattan.

 
1)      What inspired you to become a writer?

   I had gone to art school to become an editorial illustrator, and was working at a company in advertising. It turned out that after many years, I found myself feeling extremely unfulfilled drawing cartoons for someone else. So, writing became the only logical next creative step for me.

 

2)      What Kinds of books were read to you as a child?

   What’s interesting is that I wasn’t actually read to that much as a child. I remember being allowed to watch a lot of movies though, all different kinds of movies. I think that affected

 me as a writer because I tend to see stories very cinematically. To me stories are usually big, with a lot of characters and an arching plot, even if they’re simple picture books.

 

3)      What makes a good writer?

   I’ve always considered myself more of a storyteller than a writer. So, for me the most important part of putting a book together is how strong the story is. And usually a story’s strength can be determined by how interesting the ending is. There’s been a million books written, so it’s a real challenge to create an ending that will really set your book apart.

 

4)      What are your favorite authors?

   Chris van Allsburg. I know that’s only one name but it’s definitely one that I have always gravitated towards. Chris’s work can be so varied, with every book he releases having its own separate feel. He never seems committed to any one writing style and that’s what I hope to do. An author that can work in rhyme, short-form or long-form, never tied down to a single concept of being a writer, is my goal.

 

5)      How did you come up with the idea for your book

   I was working in Manhattan at the time when I passed a manhole cover billowing with smoke. It appeared like a dragon was living right there under the city street.  That made me wonder if possibly the entire island if Manhattan was crawling with gremlins, ghouls and creatures. As well as other even scarier things.

 

6)      Describe an inspirational event in your life that encouraged you to go into the children's books business?

   One of the greatest things that could have happened to my career was getting fired from my job. Like I said, I was at a job that was going nowhere even though it was very comfortable. Being let-go from your employer usually creates panic, but for me it instantly produced freedom. I owe a humongous debt of gratitude to my former employer for releasing me. I just wish they had done it sooner!

 

7)      Talk about the process you go through to put a story together?

   My process can be sort of odd at times. Strangely enough I usually write my books backwards, writing the ending first. Then I’ll fill in all the beginning information as I continue on. I’ve always thought that for me writing was more of a mad scientist type event. It’s not a very fluid process, more of a formula that gets mixed together and usually produces a complete story.

 

8)      Do you think that children's books will become extinct or will they grow? Please explain why you think this way?

   No way! Children’s books aren’t going anywhere. In fact, I think that the market is expanding faster than at any point in history. Only a few years ago, big publishing companies controlled the entire market. But now, with the advent of self-publishing, it’s possible for writers and artists and creators to get their ideas out to the world without any barriers or restrictions. If you have a great book, and are willing to work hard to market it, you can! That’s exciting.

 

9)      What are your future plans as a writer?

   The future for me looks very busy. After just completing Monsters in Manhattan 2, due out this summer, I have already begun working on a whole slew of new projects. Aside from two new children’s books, I have decided to take on some new challenges as well. I’ll be writing a chapter book for slightly older readers, a trading card game and also a comic strip.

 

10)  What are your dreams and goals and how will you achieve them?

   I’ve found that my dreams have been constantly evolving, and that’s no different now. I love writing, and drawing will always be my passion, but recently I have noticed that getting the opportunity to speak at schools has become the greatest part of my job. I jump at any chance I get to be in front of a humongous room full of kids and hopefully inspire them to become monstrous!

 

11)  Tell us about your newest published book and where it can be found?

   Monsters in Manhattan is about is a kid named Mike from Queens, NY. He’s super-psyched for the start of his Christmas vacation and has all sorts of awesome plans for his week off from school. Snowball fights, sledding, snowmen and lots of fun! Unfortunately, it all goes south when he finds out that his horrible cousin Mary Lou from Kalamazoo is coming to visit NYC for the holidays. She’s rude, disgusting and totally going to ruin all of Mike’s plans. His only hope is to scare her away by introducing her to all of the creatures, goblins, and monsters that lurk at famous Manhattan landmarks. Maybe, just maybe he can save his Christmas vacation!

This book, along with the sequel Monsters in Manhattan 2 are available through my website www.djudemiller.comMrs. Nancy Churnin
 Nancy Churnin is the theater critic for The Dallas Morning News and author of THE WILLIAM HOY STORY, HOW A DEAF BASEBALL PLAYER CHANGED THE GAME (Albert Whitman & Company), now in its third printing, has been picked for the 2016 New York Public Library Best Books for Kids list, the 2017 Texas Library Association's 2X2 and Topaz lists, the 2017 Bank Street Best Books List and the 2018 Illinois School Library Media Association's Monarch Award Master List. It was named a 2017 Storytelling World Resource Award Honor Book and a finalist for the North Texas Book Festival’s Best Children’s Book. MANJHI MOVES A MOUNTAIN (Creston Books), will be out in September 2017. Coming out in 2018: CHARLIE MAKES HIS SHOT: HOW CHARLIE SIFFORD BROKE THE COLOR BARRIER IN GOLF (Albert Whitman) in January; IRVING BERLIN, THE IMMIGRANT BOY WHO MADE AMERICA SING (Creston Books) in Spring and THE PRINCESS AND THE FIRST CHRISTMAS TREE (Albert Whitman) in September. A native New Yorker, she's a graduate of Harvard University, with a master's from Columbia University School of Journalism, who is happy to call Dallas her home. Between shows and deadlines, she and her husband, Dallas Morning News arts writer Michael Granberry, are raising four boys and two cats.

1)                 What inspired you to become a writer?

I can’t remember a time when I didn’t live in a world of books. My favorite room in my house was our library where we had books on shelves that went up to the ceiling.  My favorite outing was to the public library and I was thrilled when I graduated from the little kid card, which only allowed two books, to the big kid card when I could carry home 12 books at a time. I always had a notebook in which I was writing stories and poems.

2)                 What Kinds of books were read to you as a child?

The first book my mother read to me every night was The Wizard of Oz. She would read one chapter a night and two on Saturdays so she could take off on Sunday. I loved the way she read it so much I kept it a secret when I learned to read, so she’d keep reading to me longer!

3)                 What makes a good writer?

A good writer loves to write – you’ve got to follow your passion. A good writer also loves to read. It’s part of living in the world of stories, you give and receive stories, you become part of the larger fabric of storytelling, continuing some ideas, taking others in different directions, adding something new and wonderful to the mix.

4)                 What are your favorite authors?

Kate DiCamillo astonishes me with her versatility, her ability to move so easily from fairy tales to realistic stories. I love the way J.K. Rowling created a world that was at once fantastic and morally probing, extending some of the spiritual and ethical ideas that C.S. Lewis explored in Narnia. I am in awe of how Charles Dickens made us laugh and cry and question our role in the world while using some of the most beautiful language and rhythms ever written: “'It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known.”

5)                 How did you come up with the idea for your book

I wrote The William Hoy Story because of talking to Steve Sandy, who is a friend of the Hoy family. Steve is deaf and has spent decades trying to get Hoy in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. The more I talked with Steve, the more I realized he was right. That’s when I got the idea of writing a book that would inspire kids to help support efforts to get Hoy into the Hall. Steve agreed to help me with the research and then all I had to do was learn how to write a picture book! It took me a long time to realize how much I needed to learn. But it was worth the journey.

6)                 Describe an inspirational event in your life that encouraged you to go into the children's books business?

I love and am inspired by children’s books and I have loved sharing them with my children. Also, my mother was a teacher and I had opportunities to observe her at work and see how much she was able to light up the thrill of learning in children. I would see those lights go on in their eyes (and my own, because she was always teaching, even at home), and I thought I would love to do that. I am too solitary by nature to be a teacher, but being a writer who gets to share special reading time with kids – that’s been a dream come true for me.

7)                 Talk about the process you go through to put a story together?

I’ve learned that one of the keys to a successful picture book is for your main character to have a clear dream or goal. I need to get to know my character so well that I feel what the character feels. I also need to stay focused as I take my character on his or her journey through struggle, disappointment, renewed struggle, disappointment, brainstorm and breakthrough.

8)                 Do you think that children's books will become extinct or will they grow? Please explain why you think this way?

I believe in the future of children’s books. Children will always need and want stories to accompany them on what can be a challenging journey through life. They will need stories that inspire, educate and make them laugh.

9)                 What are your future plans as a writer?

My next book, Manjhi Moves a Mountain, comes out in September. Next year I have three picture books coming out: Charlie Takes His Shot, How Charlie Sifford Broke the Color Barrier in Golf; Irving Berlin,  the Immigrant Boy Who Taught America to Sing and The Princess and the Tree. I plan to continue to write children’s book biographies and hope to try new things, too, including middle grade books and, who knows, maybe some fiction and lighter fare.

10)            What are your dreams and goals and how will you achieve them?.

I want to keep writing the kinds of stories that inspire children to believe in themselves and appreciate the unique wonders and gifts that a diverse group of people have to offer. I want to keep writing about little known people that deserve to be heroes and heroines, each with a Teacher’s Guide that extends the learning and a project that gives kids an opportunity to make the kind of difference that this special person did.

11)            Tell us about your newest published book and where it can be found?

My next book, Manjhi Moves a Mountain, is the true story of Dashrath Manjhi. Manjhi lived in a poor village in India that was separated from a village that had a doctor, a school and good soil by a 300-foot mountain. Manjhi could climb over the mountain but not everyone in his village could. He didn’t think that was right. All he had in the world was three goats. He traded them for a used hammer and chisel, climbed to the top of the mountain and began to hit the mountain with the chisel. People thought he was crazy, but 22 years later there was a path through the mountain. Manjhi is famous in India and I’m looking forward to kids getting to know him here in America. The book will come with a free Teacher’s Guide that will teach words in Hindi and include a recipe for roti, a flat bread that is popular in India. I’m also starting a program, Move Your Own Mountain, that will celebrate kids who embark on a project to make their school or community a better place. You can find Manjhi online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Creston Books, and I hope in your local bookstore! I hope anyone who wants to know more will contact me at nancychurnin.com.

    

 

New Author Spotlights

I had the great pleasure of meeting these two upcoming authors and asking them some questions.

Mrs. Nan Whybark  

My real name is Nanette, not Nancy. I like the informality of Nan though; as my grandpa always called me Nan Louisa (Grandpa pronounced it Loo-eye-za).  I had a golden childhood, and sadly I hear that is rare these days.  My grandparents were a huge presence in my life. From them I learned sewing, bread making, quilting, piano skills, how to ride a bike and play marbles, and the wonderful taste of homemade root beer on a hot summer day.  I learned to love the smell of roses, crisp, ironed linen sheets, fresh bread and warm apple pie. There’s so much I could tell about my grandparents!

I had lots of pets too. Hamsters, mice, rats, rabbits, dogs, cats, fish, ducks, snakes, lizards—all wonderful in their own way. But I’ve always wanted a dragon. I have a room full of dragons now, but still none of them are truly alive. Maybe someday!

.  I have lived in Washington State all my life and truly love the Pacific Northwest. For almost 45 years I’ve been married to my eternal companion, Harold. We have five children and 21 grandchildren. This year I will complete my goal of making a quilt for each one of them.

I taught reading for 25 years in the public school system. I also got to teach art, writing, and theatricals. I love teaching, learning, nature, swimming, writing, reading, art, music, and dragons, of course. Lunch and recess aren’t too bad either.

I write plays, poetry, short stories, chapter books and I’m working on a young adult novel and a poem book, as well as my Earth to Irth fantasy series. I fell in love with language when I was quite young while my mom read poetry and stories to me. I love the sounds of rhymes and descriptive words! They are magical to me. I feel like a wizard sometimes when my words flow forming pictures in my mind.

My father first got me interested in drawing when he drew tiny pictures for me during church. I loved how he could use just a few lines to make something marvelous appear. I asked him to teach me and he did. My first drawings weren’t very good, but I kept trying! Of course, art classes really helped too. I got an art degree later in life and would still like to pursue more art education.

Now my dreams of being a book author and illustrator have come true! Never give up on your dreams! Questions
1)    What inspired you to become a writer?

When I was a child, my grandmother and mother read to me often. I loved the sound of rhyming words and the sing-song rhythm of poetry. Stories carried me away to fantastic places. As I grew older, I wanted to create some of those rhymes and rhythms myself. I have a good imagination, and so I started writing poems, puppets shows, and plays for the neighborhood children. My friend and I even started a street newspaper when I was about 12.

My father is a wonderful writer with an immense vocabulary. I love the sound of big words as they flow so easily from his mouth. He has always challenged and encouraged me to write and learn more about words and how to use them.         

2) What kinds of books were read to you as a child?

My mother read classic poetry to me, along with other poetry for children. I loved the illustrations! Both she and my grandmother read animal stories to us, simple picture books with memorable characters and plots. Some of my favorites were “Jelly and George”, “Katie No-Pocket”, The Elephant’s Child”, McElliot’s Pool, and “Scuppers the Sailor Dog”.

3) What makes a good writer?

Imagination and the ability to accurately build mind-pictures with words. In picture books, the illustrations create the story scenes. As one advances into chapter books, the scenes and characters must be built and created in the mind. It doesn’t have to be the same mind-picture for everyone, but the words must stimulate some scene and sense of character in the reader’s mind.

Story weaving is important too. Taking individual characters, places, and events and weaving them together in an interesting way. Some of those threads, when twisted or turned produce wonderfully different outcomes.

4) Who are your favorite authors?

Some of my favorite authors are David Shannon, Shel Silverstein, J.K. Rowling, J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Paolini, Diana Wynne Jones, Karma Wilson, Steven Kellogg, Colin McNaughton, Dr. Suess, Ray Bradbury, Jules Vernes, Terry Brooks, Anne McCaffrey, C.S. Lewis, and Elizabeth Keatly Speare, and many, many others!

5) How did you come up with the idea for your book?

When my youngest daughter was in 4th grade, we had to drive to the school where I worked. She would get bored and soon asked me to tell her a story. So, I began a story and continued it a little more each day. I realized one day that this was becoming a really great story, and I had better write it down. My first chapter book was created! Of course, then she asked me, “Well, what happened after that?” Pondering that question led me to continue the story in a series. My Earth to Irth fantasy series for middle grades began in earnest.

 “Mr. Weasel and the Wizard” was published in 2011, more than 20 years after it was first told to my daughter. In 2016, my fourth book in the series, “Thairyn and the Thieves” was published. The other two books in the series are Book 2- “The Serpent and the Sorceress” and Book 3- “The Matriarch and the Magic”.

6) Describe an inspirational event in your life that encouraged you to go into the children's books business?

As a young mom I took a writing course through the mail. (This was before computers were common place!) When I started, it didn’t think I would ever have enough ideas to be an author. However, by the end of the course, I realized I had more ideas for stories than I could ever write in my lifetime! I was amazed and encouraged to pursue my dream. I was able to write many short stories based on my own and my children’s experiences, several of which were published in an e-mag in the early 2000’s. This was even more encouraging and I continued writing and looking for more ideas in everyday life.

7)  Talk about the process you go through to put a story together?

My writing process is much like that taught in school. Brainstorm, outline, rough draft, edit, edit, edit, and final draft. I go through these steps several times during the writing of a book. Each chapter is like a smaller story in itself. I often move chapters around or take parts of one and move it to another. I have to make sure the time-line works when I jump between scenes. Creating characters is challenging. I don’t want them to be stereo-types or boring. Coming up with names for them is fun though.

The plot is usually outlined, but the details are filled in as I write the rough draft, and even more filled in though the editing process. Sometimes I get stuck and have to do more brainstorming. I ask myself, “What could happen here?” I try to think of several possibilities, and then select the one I like best that is consistent with the story line.

8) Do you think that children's books will become extinct or will they grow? Please explain why you think this way?

I don’t think children’s books will ever go away completely. The format might change to e-books, but children need the imagination stimulation that books offer. If they don’t have stories, they will create their own. It has been so for centuries. Our language is based on words with meaning. Reading and writing those words are inseparably connected, and form the basis of our communication. Using those words to create and share things only imagined is part of our growth as a society. If this type of communication were lost, that would be tragic indeed.

9) What are your future plans as a writer?

            I am currently working on Book 5- “Jewl and the Jinx” in my Earth to Irth series. I hope to finish my Earth to Irthseries with Book 6- “Phyre and the Phoenix” by 2020. I have also started a YA sci-fi/fantasy novel, and would like to publish my illustrated dragon poem book for children called, “I’d Rather Have a Dragon Than a Dog”.

              I have a idea for a realistic fiction series based on my adventures as a child living in a neighborhood on a dead-end street. I have many others ideas brewing, so I’m sure I’ll keep busy with my writing.          

10) What are your dreams and goals? How will you achieve them?

            I would love to be picked up by a traditional publisher! My current books are self-published through a you-pay-for-it publishing company. I am working on publicity, getting my books into the hands of children, and establishing a more visible presence on the internet. I have an author page on amazon.com, an “Earth to Irth Series FAN CLUB” page on Facebook, and I am working on several other venues. Perhaps I can find an interested agent as well!

            One of my goals is to sell books in all 50 states and eventually Europe. So far, I have sent books to or sold books in 15 states and Canada. My writing goal is to create fun, adventuresome books that are free of swearing or other things inappropriate for young audiences, and to have characters that have strong traits worth emulating. Also show that both boys and girls can do hard things.

11) Tell us about your newest published book and where it can be found?

My newest book is “Thairyn and the Thieves”, Book 4 in the Earth to Irth Series. It is available through me (nw.toolsofcreation@yahoo.com for signed copies), amazon.com, or iUniverse.com. It is available in soft cover or e-book.

The story is about Thairyn, young, crown patriarch of en’Edlia on the world of Irth. Everyone there is born with inherent magic, but Thairyn’s has not surfaced. As he is past the age of showing, his parents fear he will have no magical birth-gift.

The rebellious Xens of Irth are against rulers without magic, and so plan to kidnap Thairyn to rid the realm of that possibility. A ransom message demands the family’s exile, while other internal crises are threatening both the ruling family’s safety and the order of the realm.

In the clutches of his kidnappers, Thairyn steals a secret that will change all their lives, if there is time for it to unfold before the kidnappers execute their vengeful plan completely.

I hope you enjoy this book, as well as the rest of the Earth to Irth Series!

Mr. Will Holland

     William K. Holland is a freelance writer from Lake Jackson, TX. As an avid artist and a creative thinker who wants to inspire children, he self publishes children’s books and cutting-edge articles about families who game together. He graduated from Campbellsville University in Campbellsville, KY. He learned about God’s purpose for himself and about using his gifts to help children live lives that would bring honor to their Creator.

So if your kids have ever

Dealt with being bullied

Been made fun of

Swept away with the media attention on police and violence

Or just need a funny song to sing

He is your guy.

www.amazon.com/author/williamholland 
 

Other Titles Include:

Fight Breast Cancer: THE COLORING BOOK: A Coloring Book for all Ages

Pencil Ninja Presents: The Shark Song and the Secret Origin of the Pencil Ninja: Pencil Ninja Adventures: Volume 2

Time to Play the Game: The Ten Year Anniversary

Hero Needed

Questions 1)      What inspired you to become a writer?

I’ve written and or told stories of some kind as long as I could write. In elementary school, we used to have to write stories and do small books every year for the local young author’s conference in my hometown. I wanted to become a writer to create stories to help kids learn life lessons. Whether you are trying to teach kids about how to deal with bullies, thankfulness, how to deal with the police shootings, or a song to help them giggle more in life; I want to help kids learn how to be great people. I pray that I can inspire kids to grow closer to God and their families.

 

2)      What Kinds of books were read to you as a child?

As a child, I read Curious George, Charlotte’s Web, books about Folk Legends, Bible stories, and as many comic books as possible.

 

3)      What makes a good writer?

A great writer has to have creativity. They have to be able to see the characters as living beings. They must be able to see the beginning and the end of the story.  Once you get that part down, then you can work out how to get there. A good writer must be able to engage the person and connect with them. The most important thing that a good writer must have is the heart to stick with your writing plan. If you plan to write for an hour a day, then follow through with that.

 

4)      What are your favorite authors?

Dr. Dana Carson, Max Lucado, Frank Peretti, Tony Evens, Brad Meltzer, and Steven King are a few of my favorite authors. They either speak to spiritual ideas and how to live or they feed my imagination.

 

5)      How did you come up with the idea for your book?

For my first book, I had to look at my life. When I was growing up, I was bullied by multiple kids. I was taught to deal with them in various ways. Physical altercations were always a last resort. I wanted Pencil Ninja, the main character in most of my stories, to help the picked on kids to see how they could help win the game. I wanted to have the hero, who is a sugar-powered robot  boy, help the other kids find the hero in themselves as they stand up to the group of bullies. It is the most intense kids football game ever.

 

6)      Describe an inspirational event in your life that encouraged you to go into the children's books  business?

I was in a season of prayer. I was searching for some direction. As I was doing this, I was asked the question, “What do you have that you can use to share what you know? I was also challenged by a publisher to see if I could write a book a month for the rest of the year. So I wrote my first book in June of 2016. I wrote a book a month until November. I just released the newest book this week.

 

7)      Talk about the process you go through to put a story together?

I draw a lot of pictures first. Then I write the main story out. Once I do that I send it to my editor to get it looked at for grammatical errors and layout.

8)      Do you think that children's books will become extinct or will they grow? Please explain why you think this way?

Children, in my experience, always love a story. The genre may be different, but kids want to be told stories. “Mommy, read me a story, please…” I heard it growing up and I heard many stories myself. I want to be a part of that tradition.

 

9)      What are your future plans as a writer?

I am, slowly, working on a series of stories about folk heroes and Bible stories. I am also working on a series of short stories based on cartoon ideas I have for Pencil Ninja to watch.

 

10)  What are your dreams and goals and how will you achieve them?

My dreams and goals are to be used by God and teach children in some sort of way. I will continue to build a devoted audience to show children, from all walks of life how to treat each other.

 

11)  Tell us about your newest published book and where it can be found?

My newest project is entitled “Pencil Ninja Presents: Captain Fluffypants Tries to Take Over the World”. It has alien invasion, robots fighting, and ice cream. This is story about thankfulness and friendship. It is currently available in print at https://tsw.createspace.com/title/6952511 for $7 . It is also available in e-book form here at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06WVPMKPG?ref_=pe_2427780_160035660 for $4 preorder.  It will be sent out on the 27th.  The print version will also be on Amazon around the same time.  Thank Both for answering my questions. It has been a pleasure to interview both of you.      
 

 

Author Spotlights

I welcome you all to this new update. We all know how the Children's book publishing has grown. I had the honor of interviewing two new artists that are starting to become popular in the industry. please enjoy.  This month's update will spotlight them, Thanks

Mr. Stan Yan 
 

Stan Yan is a Denver-based writer/illustrator, caricature artist and instructor. Growing up in Denver, Yan, a self-taught artist, went to school at the University of Colorado in Boulder where he got his bachelor’s degree in accounting, where Yan’s life took the tragic turn into sales for the securities industry, where he wallowed in ethical poverty on-and-off for thirteen years. Yan takes his frustrations out by penning graphic novels such as  The Wang . In 2005, Yan has gave up on financial security and become a full-time freelance cartoonist, illustrating  SubCulture  for Ape Entertaiment and Action Lab Danger Zone, creating comic strips for the financial and sales industry, drawing zombie caricatures, and picking up odd illustration and teaching jobs when folks are feeling agonizing pity for him. Stan teaches Summer camps, after school programs, workshops, and helped to develop a degree program in graphic storytelling as an adjunct faculty member at the Community College of Aurora. His recent credits include art and colors for Show Devils (Mother Mind Studios), writing and art for Vincent Price Presents (BlueWater Productions / Storm Comics), and writing and art for There’s a Zombie in the Basement (Squid Works Kids). But, he’s probably best known for doing  zombie and pony caricatures.  Upcoming projects include development of a  graphic novel about his best friend’s battle with cancer.

1) What inspired you to become a writer/ illustrator?
It wasn't really an active decision that I made. For as long as I can remember, I've been a writer and illustrator. Some of my earliest memories of my childhood were of me holding a pencil and drawing series of images of the same character doing things. I was drawing comics before I even knew that's what I was doing.
2) What kinds of books were read to you as a child?
I remember being read a lot of Dr. Seuss and "Where the Wild Things Are" by Maurice Sendak. Those were the most memorable of the many stories I was read as a child, and they definitely informed the writing of my own book, "There's a Zombie in the Basement."
3) What makes a good writer/ illustrator?
In my own mind, a good writer/illustrator connects with readers in some way and knows how to marry image to text so it's not redundant and communicates what it needs to quickly and effectively.
4) What are your favorite authors?
Currently, I'm loving J.K. Rowling, Raina Telgemeier, Jeffrey Brown, Dav Pilkey, David Wellington, and Robert Kirkman.
5) How did you come up with the idea for your books?
Every book I've written has a seed of truth from my own life or those close to me. So, while most of the things I've written can be described as slice-of-life books, even my more fantasy-based stuff tends to borrow a lot from real life events or people.
6) Describe an inspirational event in your life that encouraged you to go into the children's book business?
My son was 3 years old when one day, he refused to come down to my basement studio. When his mom asked him what was wrong, he replied that he was scared. When she asked what he was scared of, he pointed at all of my zombie caricature artwork (which is what I'm primarily known for) decorating my walls. Over the subsequent hour, I drafted the fast draft version of my manuscript for my book, "There's a Zombie in the Basement," my first picture book. I'm happy to say that he's no longer afraid of my artwork, and in fact, he has been writing and drawing his own zombie comic books, and as of last August's Denver County Fair, my now-6 year-old son has authored and sold his 3rd book at my event booth.
7) Talk about the process you go through to put together a story?
My process has evolved over time. For the most part, my current process focuses on developing a compelling character and building a story around them. Then, I will plot out story threads and then develop dialogue, text and panel or page direction. If I haven't already, I'll come up with character designs. Using the script, I plan out my rough page layouts and insert text in Photoshop and import them into spreads on InDesign so I can look at how the spreads connect. After making layout adjustments, print the pages out, light box them onto watercolor paper in pencil, ink the text and line work, erase the pencils out from under the inks and add the watercolor washes and colored pencils. I then scan the finished watercolor pages back into my computer and import them into my InDesign file.
You can see a lot of my process via my YouTube tutorials channel: http://bit.ly/2iEsaiY
8) Do you think that the children's books will become extinct or will they grow? Please explain why you think this way?
Amongst the turmoil in publishing, the one area that seems to continue to grow seems to be children's books. I think this is because children's books are a timeless medium that utilize the magic of storytelling entertainment to feed children's learning minds. Parents are more than willing to purchase books for their children because of the educational aspects as well as the fact that we parents don't want our kids messing with our phones and iPads, so we're going to do our best to delay their interest in these electronics, and books are a good option. Plus, they're something tactile, especially for young toddlers who are still trying to learn to master use of their hands.
9) What are your future plans as a writer/ illustrator?
Since my son's interests have brought me to read him middle grade novels and graphic novels for bedtime stories, which we seem to enjoy equally, I'm likely to try to push my career in the direction of middle grade and young adult graphic novels as something that will be much more satisfying to me as a storyteller. This will allow me to explore more complex story lines, and get back to my roots as a purveyor of toilet humor. I'm also finishing up a graphic novel about my best friend's battle with cancer.
10) What are your dreams and goals and how will you achieve them?
My near term goal is to complete 3 manuscripts and submission artwork and have them submitted to agents and/or publishers by the end of 2017. I dream of being a well-established writer/illustrator in kidlit, sharing my stories with more people than I ever envisioned, which is my true passion. Where that might take me is less relevant, since my ability to elicit a reaction with my work has always been my primary interest.
11) Tell us about your newest published book and where can it be found? 
My newest published book is the LitPick 5-Star Review Award-Winning, "There's a Zombie in the Basement", a whimsical, rhyming bedtime picture book, which I describe as, "If Dr. Seuss and Tim Burton got together to write a book, this would be it." It's available at www.theresazombieinthebasement.com among many other places online. Stan Yan
Comic Art, Caricatures & InstructionLitpick 5-Star Review Award Winning Author of There's a Zombie in the Basement

Mrs. KW Penndorf  Mrs. KW Penndorf

biography

Story time had always been KW Penndorf’s favorite ‘subject’ in school. 
But when her second grade teacher opted to read from a tattered old 
diary, KW’s view on books changed forever. Books were now alive, with 
adventures, dilemmas, far away locations, heroes, villains, drama, and 
quite frankly, story. Everything was so real, well at least in her 
imagination at any rate. She wanted to live in those stories… and she 
has.
In her senior year of high school KW interned at CBS three days a 
week, making sure to keep her grades up or the gig would be off. By 
sheer nature of the job, stories surrounded her there. In college, she 
spent a semester abroad living with her sister and brother-in-law in 
Denmark – where, yes, one can only imagine the crazy stories two 
sisters conjured up! Then after college, she moved to Germany and at 
the age of 25 she opened her own company – a language school, full of 
(you guessed it) stories abound. At 29 she moved back to the States, 
bringing home with her the greatest story and souvenir ever – her 
husband.
On a train ride into NYC, a vision came to KW’s sleepy commuter mind: 
a girl finding a dragon egg in the middle of a Viking graveyard. 
Presto! The premise for her debut novel was born. A story, which KW 
hopes, will change a child’s view on books forever.

--
KW Penndorf
Freya and the Dragon Egg
www.kwpenndorf.com


 


1) What inspired you to become a writer?

I have always loved story-telling. Not “lying” lol, but the art of entertaining others through narrative. Honestly, I wanted to be a news reporter when I was younger because I loved writing and grammar.

2) What Kinds of books were read to you as a child? 

I’m the youngest of four, and I think I got shafted in the ‘read to your kid at night’ department. Perhaps my older siblings stole that time away from my parents hahaha. I do remember my parents reading books with me and teaching me to read though.

3) What makes a good writer?

I think a good story makes a good writer. If a writer can get the reader involved in the story through emotion, memory, or some other connection, then I feel that makes them a great writer.

 

4) What are your favorite authors?

       Oooh, that’s easy: L.M. Montgomery and J.K. Rowling. For me, both authors excel in their ability to world-build. Yes, I understand Anne of Green Gables isn’t quite the ‘fantasy’ world building as in Harry Potter, but seeing how Anne’s world is 100 years away from mine yet I’m able to visualize it perfectly makes L.M. Montgomery amazing. When I open her books, I can feel the soft summer breezes from the ocean surrounding Prince Edward Island, and I am transported into the world of Anne Shirley.

5) How did you come up with the idea for your book?

       I was commuting to work by train when an image flashed in my mind. In it, I saw a young girl holding a round oval object. The girl was in the middle of a Viking graveyard – a graveyard I had visited in my travels to Denmark some thirteen years prior. Sleepy and bored on my way to work, I decided to roll-play in my head who the girl was, why she was in the graveyard, what the object was, and so on. Then I worked out how to make it a Viking story, since I just knew it had to be due to the vision’s setting.

6) Describe an inspirational event in your life that encouraged you to go into the children's books business?

       Basically the vision above is why I chose to go into children’s writing. I had tried dabbling in writing a historical fiction and a family memoir, though neither project ever got completed. Then came the Viking vision. Once I figured out how its storyline and plot, I couldn’t let it go.

7) Talk about the process you go through to put a story together?

       My process is a little bit all over the place. I do a lot of research for my series which sometimes helps drive storyline and build character backgrounds. Other times, it helps me simply visualize the world Vikings lived in so I can build my own world. I then turn to outlining my series, book by book. My favorite form of organization is using over-sized sticky notes. I lay out 15 of them to represent a potential number of chapters for the book I’m currently working on. At the bottom of each, I write “cliff-hanger.” This helps me focus on how to wrap up my chapters. Afterwards, I jot down ideas on each sticky note of how to get from point A to point B (ie the cliff hanger). While I’m coming up with ideas involving plot and the addition of the research I’ve found, I make sure to bridge everything together through ‘character-driven’ storyline. If the action doesn’t build my character, then it doesn’t build my story and therefore it’s out.

8) Do you think that children's books will become extinct or will they grow? Please explain why you think this way?

       I don’t think children’s book will ever become extinct. The imaginations and creativity of young kids thrive when hearing and reading stories. Aside from energizing and feeding their brains through this freeing form of education, I also believe books bond parents and their children. Reading to a child, or having a child read to an adult builds a long lasting and rewarding relationship.

9) What are your future plans as a writer?

       I’m still working on my current series and plan on getting those out to a growing number of readers before starting a new series or book.

10) What are your dreams and goals and how will you achieve them?

       I write with the dream of others reading my words, and as my adventure into publishing grows so too do my goals. Each event I do, I network with other vendors, authors, customers, you name it. This is how I learn about new and exciting opportunities. It’s really amazing how events can shape the direction of one’s path. For example, a friend had told me about the Viking Exhibit at the Field Museum, so I called and asked two things: 1) if I could meet and talk to a curator (my series has a character who works at a museum and this would be awesome research on the ins and outs of being an archaeologist) and 2) if they would be willing to sell my book in their gift shop. They granted me both requests! Now I’m able to use these experiences to build my resume. As a result, my book is currently up for consideration at other museums across America. If they say yes, who knows what door will open next? Hopefully the one to a movie deal lol.

11) Tell us about your newest published book and where it can be found? 

       My newest published book, FREYA AND THE BATTLE AT THE AAL THING, is the second in my FREYA series and is actually set to release this May. My local Barnes and Noble is super supportive by willing to hold the launch where fans can buy it in store or online. Readers can also buy it on Amazon and are always able to follow the adventure at wwww.kwpenndorf.com.

Thank you everyone and please enjoy this update.






     

SCBWI Winter Conference 2016

Where does the children  Publishing industry stand? Are their any trends? Can my manuscript fit in somewhere? What steps should I take to get published? Are Agents an important to have? How can I grow as an author or illustrator? How can I have good endings and beginnings? Has technology made the paper book old fashioned? Will the future of  children publishing market grow or slow? All these questions were answered in the conference and many others. The conference started on Friday February 12, I woke up early with an open mind and excitement in  my heart.

Day 1 Morning February 12 Writer's roundtable Empty Room
I found myself in an empty room, Set up with 24 round tables. That moment of silence was the quiet before the storm. Then the people started coming in, that moment of silence was broken and the excitement and anxiety started taking place.   

One side of the room
As I found my table way in front the program started with a panel. My heart was going fast, as the conversation and discussion  went on. Things that were discussed are: How important it is to research both your books and the people you send your work too. They also talked about how short is good, how important the voice is and that they are looking for books that are fresh and different. That each book you write is a journey. They talked about finding your critique group and expanding your writing to different age groups. Finally, the importance of writing daily, it should be treated like a job. Here I was listening and shaking because the critique was just about to begin. The time went so slow but finally the moment of truth was about to start. The panel went to their tables and cheers filled the room. I am not sure if it was because the panel was finally over or because children  authors were so kind. In that discussion the best news that  we got from it was that the children book publishing industry was very strong last year.       How the room felt just before the critique.
We finally got to business, I was at table three with six other authors and an agent. The critique has finally started. Each one of us got just a 13 min critique. The 500 words I choose came from my a middle grade novel I am working on called "The Gifted" As I waited my heart, and pulse moved faster and finally my turn came. I read my words in my broken English sat back in my chair, took a few deep breaths and listened. I could not believe how fast my turn came. Bang I was hit with tons of questions and suggestions. They came in waves bang, bang and bang. After everyone was done I took another deep breath and Syed. It was wonderful comments and I learned later that the more questions an editor or agent asks is actually good news for the writer, because they were interested, right now I am waiting for a response from this agent, who may be interested in making me a possible client. As the first critique settled down the pressure of the moment was better and off to lunch I went. 
Afternoon February 12