T.C. Booth's Blog, page 10

Meet Author Frances Wilhelm

Meet Friday's Fave Children's Literature author Frances Wilhelm. This award winning writer has a new book to be released in October. Read her interview  below for details.


What inspired you to become a children's author?

As an award-winning writer (television), I have been writing since a young child. My inspiration to write has been my mission to make a difference for others. My biggest enjoyment comes from knowing that I've touched someone in a positive way, and my writing is a tool to accomplish that.
What book(s) have you written that you would like to tell us about?I have written "Why Am I Me?" It's a delightful rhyming picture book addressing one of the most commonly asked questions by children worldwide.


                                                                                   


Do you have any favorite childhood books? Love You Forever is one of my favorite books of all time. 
Do you have advice for aspiring writers?

Keep writing. Keep marketing. Never stop.
Where can we find you and your books?

The publication date for the book is October 15, 2013 and it's available for pre-sale in August at www.whyamimebook.com, amazon, B&N, goodreads, and facebook.

Use of Dialogue Tags

                                                                       


 Last week I talked about the balance of Show & Tell in writing. It seems that every aspect of writing requires careful balance....even dialogue tags. I have to admit that I didn't give it much thought. We were always taught in school to vary the word "said', to make your writing more interesting. I even have a "Said is Dead" chart in my classroom of other words for my children to use in their writing.

 In my quest to improve the craft of show & tell, I ran across more than one reference to dialogue tags.  Did you know that some editors refer to words used instead of said ( such as hissed, whimpered, thundered, demanded, etc,) as bookisms?  Your work may appear amateurish if you use too many of these. Some experts say use of these bookisms take the reader out of the story.

So what does show and tell have to do with this? 
 If you write strong dialogue you won't need to use many of these "bookisms". Your strong dialogue will show the emotion without use of these tags.

Look at this conversation from The End of Something  by Ernest Hemmingway.

"There's going to be a moon tonight," said Nick. He looked across the bay to the hills that were beginning to sharpen against the sky. Beyond the hills he knew the moon was coming up.

"I know it," Marjorie said happily.
"You know everything," Nick said.
"Oh, Nick, please cut it out! Please, please don't be that way!"
"I can't help it," Nick said. "You do. You know everything. That's the trouble. You know you do." Marjorie did not say anything.
"I've taught you everything. You know you do. What don't you know, anyway?"
"Oh, shut up," Marjorie said. "There comes the moon."
They sat on the blanket without touching each other and watched the moon rise. "You don't have to talk silly," Marjorie said; "what's really the matter?"
"I don't know."
"Of course you know."
"No I don't."
"Go on and say it."
Nick looked on at the moon, coming up over the hills. "It isn't fun any more."

  Hemingway had a balance of said, invisible tags(it's understood), and tag with action. 

Should you ever use said-bookism tags? Yes, sparingly. Just like all aspects of writing, dialogue tags require careful balance.  


What are your thoughts on use of dialogue tags?


 References
 He Said, She Said: Dialog Tags and Using Them Effectively by D.M. Johnson

The Use and Abuse of Dialogue Tags by Anne M. Marble


 http://www.fiction-writers-mentor.com/dialogue-tags.html

Meet the Author of Ozette's Destiny

It's time once again for Friday's Fave Children's Literature. I'm pleased to introduce this week's featured children's author, Judy Pierce. Learn more about the author of this magical book that will touch your heart. 


What inspired you to become a children's author?
I had written a number of feature articles - mostly about environmental issues - but started writing little stories about a white squirrel named Ozette. Friends encouraged me to write a book, and that is how Tales from Farlandia: Ozette's Destiny was born. I had it professioonally edited then I found a publisher, Pants on Fire Press, and my first book was published in late Febuary. Quite a journey!


What book(s) have you written that you would like to tell us about?This is my first book, although I am working on the second book in the series.

Do you have any favorite childhood books? So many wonderful books to love...I love Charlotte's Web, Beautiful Joe, Winnie the Pooh books, Alice in Wonderland, The Pokey Little Puppy, Wind in the Willows - lots of happy memories.

Do you have advice for aspiring writers?
Keep writing. Getting published - while wonderful - should not be your goal. Write because you have to, because you have something inside of you that needs to be said. Never give up and polish, polish, polish before you even think about sending it to an agent or publisher. Hire a professional editor if you can afford it. It can be money well spent. Believe in yourself. Develop a bit of a thick skin - learn from criticism but don't let it cripple you and stop you from writing. 
Where can we find you and your books?

 Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Ozettes-Destiny-Tales-Farlandia-Volume/dp/0982727194/ref=tmm_pap_title_0
Banes & Noble
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ozettes-destiny-judy-pierce/1114702962?ean=9780982727195
website
www.talesfromfarlandia.com (See recipes, Ozette, sign up for updates)

Goodreads
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16286360-tales-from-farlandia
Pants on Fire Press Store (They also have the audio book) http://shop.pantsonfirepress.com/Autographed-Ozettes-Destiny-by-Judy-Pierce-Softcover-AutoOD01.htm

Show and Tell

   


 Her heart hammers. She wipes the extra moisture from her palms onto her jeans. The applause of the class signals the end of Billy's presentation, sending a new wave of excitement through her. It's her turn now.

   I don't know if you remember "Show and Tell" when you were a child. This was not a moment to take lightly. It required careful planning and much thought as to what will catch the attention of your classmates, keep them captivated, wanting to know more about what you brought to class. 

   Writers must approach writing the same way.  I've devoted this summer to improve in the craft of show and tell. I'm fortunate that I've found a critique partner who pushes me in this area. My YA novella is in the revising and polishing stage and I've found the balancing act of show and tell is not easy for me.

   A book by James Thayer titled "Show or Tell?" has been helpful for me along with some websites I've listed below.  What tips or thoughts do you have about this?


http://www.dailywritingtips.com/show-dont-tell/

http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/show-don%E2t-tell?page=all
  

http://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/2008/07/show-and-tell.html


http://www.writingforward.com/writing-tips/writing-tips-show-dont-tell

Friday Fave Children's Literature-Meet Author Tim Johnson

It's time once again for Friday's Fave Children's Literature. I'm pleased to introduce this week's featured children's author, Tim Johnson. Please read the interview of this talented author.  


What inspired you to become a children's author?During a trip to Japan as an exchange student in high school I picked up a children's book in Japanese to practice my reading and build my vocabulary. After finding how useful this book was to me and how easy it was to learn and commit new words to memory in the context of a story, I was inspired to create my own character and write children's books written in two languages and specifically written to help children learn new words and phrases.
What book(s) have you written that you would like to tell us about?Bosley Sees the World and Bosley Goes to the Beach are the first two books in the "Adventures of Bosley Bear" series. They are both currently available in a variety of different languages, all of which include the English translation and are specifically designed to passively teach children new words and phrases in the context of a beautifully illustrated, fun, wholesome bedtime story.
Do you have any favorite childhood books?Omae Umasou Da Na? (Japanese children's book about a small dinosaur by the name of "Delicious")
Harold and the Purple Crayon
Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 
Do you have advice for aspiring writers?
Self publish, and put out quality material. The amount of self published authors out there will eventually overtake the tyranny of the publishing companies and the good quality work will rise to the top.

Where can we find you and your books?
 http://www.theLanguageBear.com

http://www.amazon.com/Timothy-Johnson/e/B008MMUW6A/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

http://www.twitter.com/LanguageBear

https://www.facebook.com/LanguageBear

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6539668.Tim_Jo 

Meet Children's Author Mariana Llanos

Welcome to Friday Faves Children's Literature. It is my pleasure to interview Mariana Llanos author of Tristan Wolf.




What inspired you to become a children's author?
 I don't know if you can just get inspired to be a writer. I think is something you are born with, you either have it or not. And I think for some people it flourishes out at an early age and some others discover it later in life. I've always written, poems, short stories, anything. Those stories came to my head and made me wander. Many of them ended up in a piece of paper, some others got lost.
What book(s) have you written that you would like to tell us about?
My first published book is called Tristan Wolf. It is the story of Tristan, a boy abandoned in the forest and raised by wolves. It is also the story of his internal struggle to find himself as he sets off on an adventure to meet humans. Along the way he'll find new friends and a big surprise.
It is recommended for readers 8 and up. I am sure that Tristan will spark children's imagination and will make adults go back in time, to the age when they believed anything was possible. 
Do you have any favorite childhood books?
 
When I was a child I read pretty much anything, but The Little Prince and Alice in Wonderland are the ones I remember the most and the ones that created an impact in me. 
Do you have advice for aspiring writers?
 
Well, I'm very new in the "business" part of this. I can only tell you to never give up and to chase your dream. There are lots of obstacles but the biggest one is inside us. We just have to keep on writing, no matter what. That's what I'm doing.


Where can we find you and your books?
 
Tristan Wolf has amazing reviews on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Tristan-Wolf-Mariana-Llanos/dp/148205308X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1372291272&sr=8-1&keywords=tristan+wolf
I also have a blog where I share my thoughts and reviews: http://www.marianallanosauthor.blogspot.com/
You can connect with me via Facebook: www.facebook.com/tristanwolfofficial
and on https://twitter.com/marianallanos

Let's Talk Critique

  I'm almost near the finish line with my novella and ready to get some honest feedback. I've never been part of a critique group and have been searching for information about this. I came across an article in my search titled Can Critique Groups Do More Harm than Good? by Kristen Lamb .This is a well written article that gives the pros and cons of critique groups. 
     It a nutshell among the list of pros are that critique groups can...
 hold us accountableoffer professionalismtake our writing to a new level
   Among the list of cons are that critique groups can...
become a crutch and prevent growthcreate bad writing habitsdeform a manuscript to the point it doesn't have a chance of publication  
What are your thoughts on critique groups? Do you use them?

My Writing Recipe

I'm honored to be a guest blogger for Nicua Shamira at Terravereum/Earth's Truth. Nicua is a talented lady with a love of nature. (She also called me "young". She is wonderful! :)  Hop over to see my post titled  My Writing Recipe by clicking the picture below.

Friday Faves Children's Literature

 Happy Friday Everyone!
     My Friday Fave Children's Book is Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing  by Judy Blume. Peter and Fudge have the typical big brother,annoying  little brother relationship.Judy Blume is a  master at making these characters come alive. It is impossible to get through a chapter without laughing. This book was a childhood favorite of mine and a favorite of my students today.



   I had the awesome opportunity to listen to her live video chat this week. She's truly one of the greatest children's authors of all time. (Can you tell I'm a huge fan?)  I've included the link to her chat below if you missed it or are interested.


While your here please vote on my poll question  to the left and leave a comment telling me about one of your favorite children's books. You can even tell about one that you wrote if you wish.


Judy Blume Video Chat

Believe in Yourself

     Congratulations to Jacky Pett, the winner of my children's book, The Time Travel Storm.
 “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you." -Maya Angelou

    I love to write. Even when I'm not writing, I'm writing. No matter what I'm doing, my mind drifts to a story. I make sure I'm prepared for my mind drifts by carrying a small notebook with me to jot down my ideas.
     There are times though, when my writing doesn't flow or feels forced. It's easy to give up or doubt myself.  I just finished reading a book called You Are a Writer So Start Acting Like One by Jeff Goins . In his book Jeff talks about being true to your voice. I recognize that those times when my writing feels forced is when I'm not being true to who I am as a writer. The story that I have to tell comes from within me. No matter what is "hot" at the moment, I need to stick to my voice and my story.
    
      This book has inspired my to write what I know and believe in myself.