Sandy Brehl's Blog, page 6

Celebrate CHILDREN’S BOOK WEEK with Us!

In my mind EVERY week is CHILDREN’S BOOK WEEK. I know plenty of readers, writers, teachers, and librarians who feel the same. Celebrating the joy of reading with others is a pleasure, any day, any time.

For example, a few weeks ago I spent several days with the brightest, most welcoming kids in Greenfield and Hales Corners.

Two weeks later, I spent a full day with the brightest, most impressive Norwegian elkhounds and their gracious, loving owners in Ixonia, Wisconsin.

Saturday, I spent a lovely day catching up with established friends and making new ones at the annual Wisconsin-SBCWI Spring Luncheon in Fon Du Lac. Along with a luscious meal and even more delicious conversation, we celebrated multiple “good news” announcements by our talented members. That was followed by an informative presentation by guest speaker Melanie Cecka Nolan, Associate Publishing Director at Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quite a warm-up to CHILDREN’S BOOK WEEK, right?

So, now that CHILDREN’S BOOK WEEK has arrived, I’m really excited about the opportunity to join two other authors on a middle grade panel at BOSWELL BOOK COMPANY on Thursday, May 7, at 6:30. Julie Mata is the author of the 2014 debut, KATE WALDEN DIRECTS: NIGHT OF THE ZOMBIE CHICKENS and the sequel (releasing THIS MONTH!) KATE WALDEN DIRECTS: BRIDE OF SLUGMAN. Emily Demuth Ishida is the co-author (with her sister, Hilda Demuth) of three historical novels based on Wisconsin history. The latest, HATTIE’S WAR, is set in Milwaukee during the Civil War. We’ll be sharing background about our books and taking questions. 

Everyone’s invited: young readers, parents, educators, librarians, writers. If you have an interest in the topics of our books, come join the conversation: Filmmaking? Norwegian elkhounds? Milwaukee history? Civil War? Norway during World War II? 

We’re looking forward to meeting you, so mark your calendar and plan to join us: 

THURSDAY, MAY 7, at 6:30  Boswell Book Company   2559 N. Downer Ave.   Milwaukee, WI 

A Photo-Montage of Recent Events

SCHOOL VISITS

Sharing childhood favorites

Working with kids is always a joy!

 

I found this message. Yes, I thoroughly enjoyed myself with such bright and eager readers and writers.

Such  talent, energy, thoughtful reflection, and excellent communication skills displayed in these and so many other cards and letters. Tusen takk for all!

Greater Milwaukee
Norwegian Elkhound Cavalcade
Waukesha, Wisconsin, April 18, 2015

Backstage- almost show time!

I’ve got this, just let me in that ring!

Don’t be too sure. I feel like it just might be my day!

Awww, puppies always steal the show!

Wow, the day wraps up with the finale.

Join Me- to Meet Norwegian Elkhounds (and their People)

When friends ask, “How’s the book doing?” I realize that implies “How’s it selling?” My response is sincere when I say it’s been a huge success in ways that matter most to me. 

People of many ages are reading it and telling me how they feel about it. That has often been wonderfully positive, including anecdotes about personal or family experiences, intriguing questions, and exciting invitations.

I’ve discussed the book with welcoming groups with a wide variety of perspectives on the book and the topic: business folks, Scandinavian organizations, classrooms, educators, writers, and readers.

So many unexpected opportunities and surprises have enriched my life since the release of Odin’s Promise last spring. In recent weeks my schedule included multi-day school visits. In the weeks ahead I’ll make bookstore appearances, and join other writers at professional  events.

The cards pictured  are just a few of the messages written to me following those school visits. Amazing words of thanks combined with character traits, favorite scenes, and talented illustrations to warm my heart. I’ve had enough “No, thank you” rejection letters over the years to fill several bulging file drawers. Now I realize it’s just as important to save these cards and letters because they matter most. They include notes that say things like: 

“On every page I could imagine and visualize the scene.”

“I learned from the book that if you believe in yourself you can do amazing things.”

“Thank you for coming to school to show us that writing is fun!”

And THAT’S how the book is doing- I couldn’t ask for more!

But there is more… 

On April 18 I’ll take part in a one-of-a-kind event that is open to the public. If you’re a dog-lover and anywhere near Wisconsin, plan to take a spring drive and join us. The Greater Milwaukee Norwegian Elkhound Association is hosting an official AKC Judging event and they invited me to participate! 

Not as a judge, of course, since I’ll be the most novice observer there. Instead I have the rare privilege of appearing as a guest author. In fact, copies of ODIN’S PROMISE will be awarded as prizes in the various competitions. Never in a million years could I have imagined an opportunity like this resulting from writing and publishing this book. 

Want to know more about it? Maybe even come and meet some gorgeous, intelligent individuals — and the people who love them? CLICK HERE for details, and check them out below:

 

 

 

Review and Interview: Hattie’s War, by Hilda and Emily Demuth

HATTIE’S WAR, by Hilda and Emily Demuth (Crispin Books, 2014), is a well and beautifully written view of life on the home front during the Civil War. The characters and the story ring true for a reason- the “history” woven throughout this historical novel is well-documented. Hattie’s War  reveals more than a glimpse of the  amazing role played by Civil War era Milwaukee women in developing the Soldier’s Home. This eventually became  what is now known as the Veterans Administration Hospital in Milwaukee. Women made these impressive contributions in spite of the gender-restrictive parameters of society in that era. 

Set in Milwaukee, the young Hattie Bigelow is based on an actual preteen girl of the same name whose decisions and choices played a small part in the history woven throughout this novel. From the limited threads of information about her, sisters Hilda and Emily Demuth developed a fully-formed individual, someone I’d love to meet and interview. Since it isn’t possible to chat with Hattie, I directed my questions to the authors. 

SB:  Welcome, Hilda and Emily, and thank you for taking time to answer my questions. I thoroughly enjoyed HATTIE’S WAR. How did you first become aware of the facts from which this story developed?

 HILDA: When we were working on our 2012 novel Plank Road Winter, which features scenes set at the National Soldiers’ Home in Milwaukee, one of our most valuable resources was Patricia Lynch, a member of the West Side Soldiers Aid Society, a group dedicated to preserving the Civil War legacy of Wisconsin and providing aid to modern veterans. With Patricia’s help we learned the fascinating history of the Milwaukee women who raised over $100,000 in 1865 to fund a permanent soldiers’ home.

(One online calculator I used indicates that would be about $2.8 million in today’s economy.)

 It was Patricia who first introduced us to Hattie Bigelow, the daughter of one of those women. Hattie was mentioned in a letter sent from Fanny Buttrick, one of the founders of the Soldiers’ Home Society, who was stationed in Memphis with her husband’s regiment: “My love and many thanks to little Hattie Bigelow for her beautiful jar of jelly. It made me quite hungry to look at it.”

SB:   I imagine that must have been a really exciting discovery. How much were you able to learn about Hattie’s personality and character as a child before and during your writing, and how did it shape the fiction?

 EMILY: United States census reports provided the names and ages and occupations of the members of the Bigelow household. These facts established the ages of Hattie and her younger brother and inspired us to include two boarders in the story, Mr. Jenkins and Miss Taft, who are also based on historical figures.

 For the most part, Hattie’s personality is our own creation, thanks to the freedom of writing fiction. Yet Hilda and I both read historian James Marten’s book Children of the Civil War, which was filled with firsthand recollections of children and families in both the North and South. Reading these accounts gave us a better sense of the emotions a child of that era would have experienced.

In Hattie’s time, the roles of men and women, boys and girls, were distinct and well-defined. Though we don’t know whether the real Hattie felt stifled by society’s expectations, we were sure that young readers today would be able to relate to a girl whose independent spirit made her want to be accepted on the base ball field and in the shoe shop.

 SB: What did you find to be most surprising about Hattie and the local history you researched?

 EMILY: The Bigelows’ boarder, James Jenkins, turned out to be the biggest surprise and the most significant development for our story. Time and time again, as we searched old Milwaukee newspapers, we would come across another reference to “our Mr. Jenkins.” James G. Jenkins, a city attorney, was indeed one of the speakers at the 1864 Election Eve rally for General McClellan’s presidential campaign. We worked this event into our manuscript, allowing Hattie to explore the important notion that people can disagree in their political opinions yet still be friends.

Additionally, Mr. Jenkins was actually one of the founders of baseball in Milwaukee. After we learned that fascinating fact, we pictured a household in which Mr. Jenkins was something like a favorite uncle, playing ball with the neighborhood children.

 SB: You’re sisters, and you co-write. Could you tell more about how you handle that? In person, handing the work back and forth, writing alternate chapters, or simultaneously (in person or electronically?)

 HILDA: Our first two books, Plank Road Summer and Plank Road Winter, each have two main characters. This made writing easier because we each had a character who was “ours.” Each of us would write the first draft of the chapter from our character’s point of view, and then we exchanged chapters and revised one another’s work. During the months or even years that we worked on our early manuscripts, these chapters would be exchanged and revised so frequently that we sometimes forgot who had written the original scenes.

 Writing Hattie’s War together was more challenging because the entire story is told from one character’s point of view. We two authors needed to share a vision of Hattie. We spent considerable time together discussing who she was, what she wanted, and how the scenes each of us wrote would contribute to her development and move the story forward.

SB: That sounds like the ideal definition of collaboration and co-writing! What projects are now underway?

 EMILY: I am a regular contributor to The Little Lutheran and The Little Christian magazines. My next book project is A Turn Toward Heaven–a World War II novel, very loosely based on my father-in-law’s experiences as a teenager in Japan. Perhaps we could call it an Odin’s Promise from the other side of the globe. I’ve also got a St. Patrick’s Day book on the back burner.

 HILDA: My next project is a novel set in northern Wisconsin in the 1970s. Researching a story set during my own lifetime is quite different from digging in nineteenth-century archives. During a visit to the town of Phillips last summer, I had a delightful time interviewing residents who had been present for major events in the story, and the owners of the bar where my fictional character lived were very hospitable, too.

 Although Emily and I are frequently asked about a Plank Road Spring or Plank Road Fall, we have no current plans for another book in that series.

 SB: That’s an ambitious agenda, and I look forward to reading your “coming attractions”. Congratulations to you both on Hattie’s War, which I thoroughly enjoyed and recommend to young readers or anyone interested in the history of the Civil War, Milwaukee, or veterans services. Or anyone who enjoys a great story.

 Do you have any  appearances scheduled to discuss Hattie’s War?

 HILDA: On March 25 I will be speaking at Yorkville Elementary School, which Emily and I attended many years ago. The fifth-grade teacher is doing Hattie’s War as a read-aloud, and I am eager to meet the students and field their comments and questions. Some of the students are descendants of the settlers featured in our Plank Road books, which are set in Yorkville Township, and all of them recognize certain landmarks in those stories.

 EMILY: On May 2 we will attend a base ball game with the Milwaukee Cream Citys, a vintage league based on the one established by James G. Jenkins. This event will celebrate vintage base ball, encourage support of the Historic Soldiers’ Home, and honor current veterans. The real Hattie Bigelow would have loved this day.

 On Saturday, June 13, we will participate in the Kenosha Civil War Museum’s Salute to Freedom, which will include a Soldiers’ Aid Fair based in part on the 1865 Soldiers’ Home Fair featured in Hattie’s War.

 

Hilda and Emily, thank you both so much for sharing your “story behind the story”.

For more information, click on the link to the West Side Soldiers’ Aid Society website (www.wssas.org), which includes biographical sketches and other documentation of the fascinating history of Milwaukee during the Civil War era.

I’m also a fan of Hilda and Emily’s earlier works, Plank Road Summer and Plank Road Winter,  

 

Updates, and Books That Make Us Cry

I haven’t made an appearance here recently, for several reasons.

FIrst, I’ve been writing. Revising, to be more precise. On the last day of 2014 I wrapped up my draft of a sequel to Odin’s Promise and sent it off to my trusted writing sisters for comments and suggestions. As they do with all things we share, they read and reacted in ways that encouraged, guided, enlightened, and excited me to get back to work on it. 

Yesterday I was far enough along in that process to send it to them again. (Greatly improved thanks to their guidance, if I do say so myself.) 

In addition I’ve presented programs at several schools, to a group of professional educators, attended SCBWI and author signing events, and polished programs scheduled for later this spring. 

Hmmm, what else have I been doing… 

I submitted picture book text to another group of writing sisters and critiqued their exciting and creative work as well, read some fantastic recent releases, and kept apace with several professional organization developments. 

I had to cancel my presentation at the fantastic DUBLIN LITERACY CONFERENCE, 2015 in Central Ohio, due to a bout of the flu. The cancellation made me nearly as miserable as the flu did. Educator Franki Sibberson has created a gem of a conference and I was truly honored to have been invited to their program. Hope they’ll invite me back in some future year.

It’s also an honor to have my thoughts on BOOKS THAT MAKE US CRY in this two part post collected by the inimitable Donalyn Miller (The Book Whisperer). My thoughts (scroll down in Part 2, here) are on THE SECRET SKY, by Atia Abawi, a young adult contemporary novel. I urge everyone over the age of 13 to read it. Middle school readers who can handle violence and understand even a bit of world events would benefit (and love it), too.

In fact I’ve read nearly every title described and highly recommend them all to you.

So, with your list of to-be-read titles in hand/links, I’ll step back again for a bit to deal with other things. That includes going to Bridget Birdsall’s Milwaukee book launch of her recent DOUBLE EXPOSURE at Boswell and Books in Milwaukee tomorrow. I read a library copy and will celebrate this amazing book by buying a “keeper” copy and having it signed. 

Here’s hoping your days and weeks ahead hold all good things, including at least a HINT of overdue SPRING!

 

 

So,

American Library Association (ALA) Annual Awards- 2015: #WNDB

I’ve been devoting my time to revisions on my sequel to Odin’s Promise, not to mention getting out into the lives of educators, classrooms, and other groups with interest in writing and reading. All in all, I’ve devoted very little time to this post or to my picture book blog posts. 

Forgive me? 

It seems to me the best possible time of year to reduce my output since the rest of the kid-lit world is cranked into high gear. The American Library Association (ALA) has it’s annual mid-winter meeting each January. On Monday morning this week, Groundhog Day, to be precise, Medal-winners and Honors-winners for the most prestigious awards in the industry were announced. For the complete list, click here: I LOVE LIBRARIES. 

The next time you find yourself watching reruns of a program, treat yourself to an hour+ of pure book-love instead by watching the full video of the announcements, here.

The Oscars this year got some serious grief for its lily-white nominations, overlooking some extraordinarily worthy movies from 2014. They should have followed the lead of the ALA awards, which recognized multiple titles featuring diverse topics, characters, and conflicts. Diversity represents much more than just racial/ethnic differences. And since the honored titles represent just a tiny portion of the many books produced in 2014, BOOKLIST (here)  offers up this fantastic list of other diverse titles that allow readers to see themselves and others through a very wide lens. The #WNDB (#WeNeedDiverseBooks) momentum embraces the concept that books can and should provide both a mirror and a window to every reader of every age.

I felt a bit smug in that I’d managed to read 90% (or more) of the medal/honors titles across all categories, and most of those on the Booklist resource. Those I missed are already on my hold list at the library. I don’t say that to brag, but to reflect the priorities in my life these days: writing and reading.

Please share these lists with readers in your own life- and don’t waste a minute getting started. I’m outta here to do the same!

 

 

 

An Invitation- with a Norwegian Buffet!

I was delighted to be invited to speak about ODIN’S PROMISE at the monthly DELTA KAPPA GAMMA meeting at Mount Mary University in Milwaukee on Saturday morning, January 31. I was told the meeting is followed by a light brunch/lunch (thinking chicken salad and toast?) then the invitation/poster arrived and CHECK OUT THE LUNCH MENU!

Wow. I’ll say it again. WOW!

Here’s the invitation (open to the public) but an RSVP is required.

And here is a copy of the text, since it is not the best image:

Delta Meeting, Saturday, January 31, 2015 Time: 9:30 – 12:00 p.m.

Where: Mount Mary University, North Dining Room

What: 9:30 a.m. Social: Welcome and Registration

10:00 a.m. Meeting: Sigma State Convention Update Delta Chapter Updates

10:30 a.m. Speaker: Sandy Brehl, author of Odin’s Promise Sandy, a retired teacher, will share with us this historical novel about a young girl and her elkhound during the German occupation of Norway. Come and learn more about this time in history as seen through the eyes of eleven year old Mari. Copies of Sandy’s book will be available for purchase.

11:00 Luncheon: Norwegian Buffet Luncheon Lunch will be a delicious Norwegian theme buffet. Farikal-Coffee Rubbed Lamb Braised with cabbage and root vegetables, Kjottboller-Meatballs in a rich Aquavit Cream Sauce finished with Lingonberry Preserves, and Lutefisk-Olive oil poached Cod with aromatics and fresh herbs are the entrees. Rotkohl-Sweet/Sour Braised Red Cabbage and Pennekjott-Rutabaga/Potato Puree are the side dishes. There will be appetizers and more. Don’t miss this wonderful meal prepared by our new chef, Jeremy. RSVP: Cost: $20.00 pay at the door, but we need your reservation by Friday, January 23rd.

Respond by e-mail to deltadkg-sigma@att.net or leave a voice message at 688-5463. 

End-of-Year Honors

The annual end-of-year “best of” lists are popping up like holiday decorations. In the literary world, these serve as gift suggestions, they aid overworked  teachers and librarians who are lucky enough to have a purchasing budget, and they fuel speculation about titles that might appear on one of the many 2014 awards lists.

Kate Messner is the author of outstanding books, many of which have appeared on any number of these lists and received awards. Several years ago she wrote a blog post following what many consider to be the “Academy Awards” of literary awards for young readers, the annual ALA awards. It features a poem she wrote:

WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR BOOK TODAY. 

I read it when she first posted it in 2011, at which time I had not yet written ODIN’S PROMISE. I had, however, been writing for years. When I read her poem, my reaction was, “Yes, that’s what I want. Not to ‘get published’ for the sake of that, or to even imagine winning an award. I want THIS to happen to a book I’ve written.”

 Here’s one stanza to show you what I mean, but PLEASE click the link above and read Kate’s poem on her website. It is one of her most often read blog posts, and clicking there to read it honors her talent, and respects her copyright.

“What Happened to Your Book Today

Somewhere, a child laughed

on that page where you made a joke.

Somewhere, she wiped away a tear,

Just when you thought she might.”

Since my debut book released in May, I’ve had the astonishing privilege of hearing from readers (of all ages) who described those very experiences, and went on to say more about the things they enjoyed when reading ODIN’S PROMISE. As uncomfortably immodest as it is to say that, I feel it necessary to let both readers and writers know how genuinely grateful I feel to have had this experience in my life. Moments like these are treasures beyond measure.

Now I’ve heard from my editor that ODIN’S PROMISE was honored as one of the ten best 2014 titles for Middle Grade readers by  ForeWord Magazine. (Here)  This magazine reviews books published by small presses and regional publishers. I am grateful to them for the honor, and to my editor/publisher (Philip Martin/Crickhollow-Crispin Books) for believing in this book. 

Above all, I’m grateful to readers who let me know that Mari and her story mattered to them. And to Kate Messner for putting my feelings into such an eloquent poem.

 

 

Odin’s Promise – Book Trailer

It’s St. Nick’s Eve, and I’ll celebrate by sharing this initial attempt at a book trailer for ODIN’S PROMISE. It sets the scene for Mari’s story to unfold. I hope readers not already familiar with the advance of Hitler’s troops across Europe will gain a glimpse of what it was like to have an idyllic and secure life endangered overnight.

Thoughts and reactions are welcome. Suggestions for other trailer ideas are also welcome!

Here is the book trailer I created for Odin’s Promise.

Speaking of St. Nick, the Kindle countdown offering  downloads of the eBook version of ODIN’S PROMISE is available for 99 cents instead of the regular price of $4.99 until MIDNIGHT, DECEMBER 6. Link is HERE.

Stay tuned (in the months ahead, so don’t hold your breath) for another trailer, likely including an author interview!

 

And happy St.Nick’s weekend, everyone!

 

Holiday Kranse Kake Recipe & a Bonus!

My friend and “Master Norwegian Cookie Baker”, Nancy, baked thirty dozen cookies for my book launch last spring. The holiday season is a perfect time to repeat this posting of her personal recipe.

If you catch this post in time, you’ll also have a chance to snatch up the eBook version of ODIN’S PROMISE at a KINDLE COUNTDOWN reduced price. A download regularly costs $4.99, but it is only 99 cents until midnight December 6!

Check it out, here! Happy baking, happy reading!

Here are  Nancy’s personal directions:

Kransekake baking rings and kransekake strip cookies.

Kranse Kake (Ring Cake) is the Traditional Norwegian Celebration Cake. These are

flaky almond cakes in concentric rings, stacked and “glued” with thin powdered sugar frosting. Traditionally a bottle of aquavit (anise flavored alcohol) or a bottle of wine is placed inside the stack.

To serve, the glazed rings are removed one at a time and broken in small pieces to share.

Norwegian flags on the Kranse Kake are traditional.

I asked Nancy about how she came to be such a skilled baker of these traditional delicacies.

Nancy: My husband and his brothers had been involved with Sons of Norway years ago when we were a young married couple. At that time it was mainly men… the women had their own organization but I really wasn’t interested as it seemed mostly social. About ten years ago (we had both been retired a while) we decided to join as the Lodge was in its new building. I was already in a number of other activities, but at the first meeting, one of the ladies was going around getting people to sign up to make cookies for the International Folk Fair. My hand shot up like a space launch at Cape Canaveral. I baked about 30 dozen colored and decorated Spritz cookies. That was the beginning of very active involvement.

Nancy, you’re tireless and talented. How have you put those assets to use in Sons of Norway?

Nancy: I have worked regularly at the monthly Torsk dinners mostly as a server in the kitchen. I love meeting all the people as they come through the line and then working with members to clean up after the dinner. I have also served on the Cookie Committee. We bake and sell thousands of ethnic cookies each fall. It takes about 7 weeks of baking to fill preorders and enough cookies to sell at the November and December Torsk Dinners. I served as an assistant secretary, did some baking demonstrations at meetings, and served on various committees.

Sandbakkel cookies and kransekake strips.Sandbakkel cookies and kransekake strips.

Kransekake, the traditional celebratory cake, is featured in Odin’s Promise. Nancy was kind enough to share her recipe and special directions. She also made kransekake strips, small spritz strips make with the same dough as the ring cake. Ask anyone who was there, they are truly delicacies. So you don’t even need to have the ring forms to experience the deliciousness of kranse kake. No excuses now, give it a try!

Nancy’s Recipe for Kranse Kake

3 – 8 ounce cans SOLO pure almond paste (this brand works best)

1 cup granulated sugar

2 egg whites

Mix together in mixer until well-blended. Spray tins well with PAM for baking with flour. Use flat star template in cookie press to make a ring of dough in each section of the tins. Use a blunt tool such as a plastic orange peeler to press ends together. Be sure the ring of dough is perfectly round.

Bake tins (2 or 3 at a time) in a 325 degree oven for 17-22 minutes. Check at 15 minutes. Do not let the rings get too brown. They should be just turning and be golden brown on the edges. Remove from oven and let cool before removing from pans. (I take my orange slicer tool and gently lift here and there to make sure they aren’t sticking.)

After rings are completely cold, remove from tins and arrange in order on a counter. Begin with the largest and stack “gluing” them together with frosting:

1 egg white slightly beaten

3 drops white vinegar

1 cup powdered sugar

Put the “glue” into a strong zip-lock bag and when you are ready to assemble the cake, snip a very small piece off one corner of the bag. Pipe a solid band of frosting all around the top of the layer and then immediately set the next layer on top. Repeat until all layers are used.

If you wish, you may pipe “scallops” of frosting around the cake to decorate. Store the cake in an airtight container. It may also be frozen.

Norwegian flags or wrapped candies may be stuck into the cake for decoration. For special occasions, I have used a wired ribbon bow atop the cake.

This recipe makes an eighteen layer cake. You will likely have dough left over which can be used to make fingers. (Just pipe out long lines of dough on a cookie sheet and cut into uniform pieces and then bake.)

If you double the recipe (which we do for weddings) it will make a 36 layer cake and about 200 fingers.

Note: I always use the SOLO almond paste because it works the best. I have used other brands (Odense) and the cake does not turn out as well.

Good luck!

Thank you, Nancy, for all you did to make this celebration so authentic and memorable.