Beth Anderson's Blog, page 16
September 10, 2021
Mining for Heart: “A Difference of Color” by Larry Dane Brimner
Sometimes, a story idea won’t let go, but, like Larry Dane Brimner, until I connect on an emotional or experiential level that hits me in the heart, it won’t become a story. Here, Larry shares how he found his way into his latest book: Without Separation: Prejudice, Segregation, and the Case of Roberto Alvarez, releasing Sept. 14, 2021.
AND—a GIVEAWAY! Just leave a comment below for a chance to win a copy of Without Separation: Prejudice, Segregation, and the Case of Roberto Alvarez.
A Differe...
September 3, 2021
Countdown to the RESTLESS WRIGGLE!
School is starting, and kids everywhere are getting to know each other. So let’s get to know Tad Lincoln.
TAD LINCOLN’S RESTLESS WRIGGLE: PANDEMONIUM AND PATIENCE IN THE PRESIDENT’S HOUSE releases October 5! Now available for pre-or...
August 27, 2021
Mining for Heart: “Logline as Lifeline for Whole Whale” by Karen Yin
I know too well that loglines can be pure torture. All the essential pieces of story have to be there. I absolutely love Karen Yin’s post about her process using the logline to guide her writing—pure gold! Read on to see how her debut picture book, WHOLE WHALE, came to be.
AND don’t miss the GIVEAWAY! Just leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of WHOLE WHALE! (drawing 9/3)
“Logline as Lifeline for Whole Whale” by Karen Yin
I have a confession: I’m a chronic overthinker, and it shows up in m...
August 20, 2021
Behind the Scenes: “Working with Experts to Verify Information in Back Matter” by Debra Shumaker
One of the challenges with nonfiction, whether a full manuscript or elements within an otherwise fictional story, is vetting. Sounds easy, right? Well, sometimes that little fact check turns into its very own rabbit hole and swallows up a huge chunk of time. I’ve been there! Here, Debra Shumaker shares her experience with one little tidbit from the back matter in FREAKY, FUNKY FISH: ODD FACTS ABOUT FASCINATING FISH. If you read my previous post, you know I LOVE this book! Thank you, Debra for s...
August 13, 2021
Freaky, Funky Fish: Odd Facts About Fascinating Fish
If you’ve ever thought that informational nonfiction might be dry….you need to see FREAKY, FUNKY FISH by Debra Shumaker and Claire Powell. My Perfect Picture Book Friday pick, this picture book will surely have your jaw dropping, smiles spreading, and awe popping at the wonders of nature. Come back next week when Debra Shumaker shares a bit of what happened “Behind the Scenes”—AND a chance to win a signed copy!
Title: Freaky, Funky Fish: Odd Facts About Fascinating Fish
Written by: Debra Shum...
July 30, 2021
Exquisite: The Poetry and Life of Gwendolyn Brooks
Today, for Perfect Picture Book Friday, I’m sharing another favorite from the “BEST of 2020” lists. EXQUISITE: THE POETRY AND LIFE OF GWENDOLYN BROOKS truly is exquisite! Suzann e Slade is another favorite author who continually teaches me about the craft of writing picture books.
Congratulations to Ruthie Kirk! You’ve won a copy of IS IT OVER? by Sandy Brehl!
Title: EXQUISITE: THE POETRY AND LIFE OF GWENDOLYN BROOKS
Written by: Suzanne Slade
Illustrated by: Cozbi A. Cabrera
Abrams, 2020, biograp...
July 23, 2021
Behind the Scenes: “Crafting Memory into Story” by Sandy Brehl
Sandy Brehl is one of those kid lit people who shares picture book love through thoughtful interviews and posts. I’m just one of many kid lit creators who is grateful for her support and honored to call her a friend. Here, Sandy shares how a memory kept calling her through time, finally resulting in her new picture book, IS IT OVER? She started like many of us, trying to write a memory as story. Through feedback, she learned to let go of her reality and craft the emotional core of that memory in...
July 2, 2021
Cover Reveal! Revolutionary Prudence Wright
With the Fourth of July around the corner, I thought it’d be a perfect time for a sneak peek and cover reveal for REVOLUTIONARY PRUDENCE WRIGHT: LEADING THE MINUTE WOMEN IN THE FIGHT FOR INDEPENDENCE.
We all learn about Paul Revere’s ride and the battles at Lexington and Concord where the first shots of the Revolutionary War were fired on April 19, 1775. But…few have heard of another event just a day or two later when women stood ready at a moment’s notice, too, and stepped forward as patriots. ...
June 18, 2021
Mining for Heart: “Heart in Action—Louder than Words”
With Father’s Day approaching, it seems fitting to celebrate a father who gave the gift of patience.
“Heart in Action — Louder Than Words”
Illustrations © S.D. Schindler 2021Tad Lincoln was a boy of action. Lots of action. Endless Action. To the point he drove everyone around him crazy. Except his father. One father/son action had sparked my interest in Tad—the first presidential turkey pardon. That quirky bit of tradition offered potential, but I had to find a way to take it from an interest...
June 4, 2021
Mining for Heart: “Heart in Picture Books: A Treasure Map to Emotional Resonance” by Kim Tomsic
I’ve come to believe that the most important element in a picture book, or any story for that matter, is what I call “heart.” Digging it out can be agonizing. But if you’re lucky, it might float to the surface in a haunting question or pop out with a shiver of goosebumps. And then, of course, you have to figure out how to weave it through the story. Here Kim Tomsic adds another terrific post to my “Mining for Heart” series about this essential concept. She shares her own experience and also what...
