Posted in Uncategorized on December 23, 2011 | 4 Comments »
Thanks for joining us on the sidewalk. This will be our last post for 2011, but we’ll be back with a more book thoughts, author spotlights, recipes, and yes, crafts in 2012.
We wish all of you a very happy holiday and health and happiness in the new year,
Sarah and Sue
Posted in Book Reviews, tagged American Booksellers Association, Eilis O'Neal, The False Princess, YALSA on December 21, 2011 | 1 Comment »
I just finished reading the charming book The False Princess by debut author Eilis O’Neal.
Here is the description:
Princess and heir to the throne of Thorvaldor, Nalia’s led a privileged life at court. But everything changes when it’s revealed, just after her sixteenth birthday, that she is a false princess, a stand-in for the real Nalia, who has been hidden away for her protection. Cast out with little more than the clothes on her back, the girl now called Sinda must leave behind the city of Vivaskari, her best friend, Keirnan, and the only life she’s ever known.
Sinda is sent to live with her only surviving relative, an aunt who is a dyer in a distant village. She is a cold, scornful woman with little patience for her newfound niece, and Sinda proves inept at even the simplest tasks. But when Sinda discovers that magic runs through her veins – long-suppressed, dangerous magic that she must learn to control – she realizes that she can never learn to be a simple village girl.
Book Thoughts:
The False Princess was one of the 25 nominees for a YALSA Teens’ Top 10 Award. It has also been selected by the American Booksellers Association as one of their 2011 New Voices and one of their 2011 Best Books for Children.
I look forward to reading more from this talented author.
Happy Reading,
Suzanne Santillan
Writing on the Sidewalk
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Andrea Zimmerman, California Reading Association, Eliza's Cherry Trees, Eureka! Nonfiction Children's Book Award, Helen Foster James, SCBWI on December 19, 2011 | 5 Comments »
The California Reading Association, known for the California Young Reader Medal, has a relatively new award for nonfiction children’s books, the Eurekea! Nonfiction Children’s Book Award. Fellow SCBWI San Diego member Helen Foster James, is the force behind this award.
The Eureka! Nonfiction Children’s Book Award assists teachers, librarians, and parents in identifying outstanding nonfiction books for their students and children.
Eligible books must be nonfiction, but can be in any genre including poetry, folktale/fairy tale, informational, biography, memoir, cookbooks, joke books, self-help, reference, etc.
I am happy to report that friend of the blog (and great critique partner) Andrea Zimmerman, has recently been awarded a silver honor medal for her book Eliza’s Cherry Trees.
If you’d like to see the other award winners be sure to check out the California Reading Association site.
Congratulations Andrea and all of the other winners.
Suzanne Santillan
Writing on the Sidewalk
Posted in Book Reviews, tagged Book Thoughts, pete hautman, The Big Crunch on December 15, 2011 | 2 Comments »
When I think of books by Pete Hautman, I think edgy and surprising. The diabetic girl dabbling in chatrooms with vampire-wannabes in Sweetblood, the new religion created in Godless, the way things are not the way they seem in Invisible…
And then there is The Big Crunch. This is a sweet old-fashioned love story. The most surprising aspect of the novel is how simple and straight-forward the story is about how Wes and June meet and get to know each other.
From the book jacket:
June and Wes do not “meet cute.” They do not fall in love at first sight. They do not swoon with scorching desire. They do not believe that they are instant soul mates destined to be together forever.
This is not that kind of love story.
It’s two regular kids meeting, hovering around each other with paths crossing, trying to figure things out. And yet, it is so compelling.
The story is written in third person point of view, alternating between June and Wes. This has to be one of the smoothest transitions between multiple viewpoints that I have ever read. Rather than switching each chapter, the viewpoint shifts throughout the entire story – sometimes paragraph by paragraph, more often scene by scene. Each character gets equal page time and weight – and each switch gives us more understanding of both characters. So very smooth and effective – very masterfully done.
And then, there is the end. It’s perfect. Oh so satisfying.
Sarah Wones Tomp
WRITING ON THE SIDEWALK
Posted in Writing information and tips, tagged kathi appelt, reading aloud, reading to an audience, retreat planning idea, Rita Williams-Garcia, Tim Wynne-Jones, vcfa on December 12, 2011 | 4 Comments »
Last week I attended the UCSD Extension Creative Writing Showcase.
Students from various creative writing classes offered through UCSD Extension read from their works-in-progress. Such a fun experience to hear from so many talented writers!
Reading aloud – and listening to other writers read their work – is part of the Vermont College experience. Reading an excerpt of your work is a graduation requirement. Students read from a podium, using a microphone, and to a receptive audience. Smaller, practice type reading opportunities are offered earlier throughout each residency to help prepare for this exhilarating, and potentially terrifying, experience.
Faculty members also read – occasionally from published work, but raw drafts are shared too. Some favorite memories of pre-published readings include Rita Williams-Garcia changing stance and body language, as well as voice and cadence as she read the different voices in Jumped; Tim Wynne-Jones had us all roaring with laughter as he read an early version of Rex Zero and the End of the World; but some people sobbed through Kathi Appelt’s lyrical reading of The Underneath.
Magic!
I think reading aloud is such a powerful tool for writers. I also think writers need to read their writing out loud to themselves as part of the revision process, but this kind of reading – to an audience – is a separate animal completely.
If you are planning a working retreat, or simply want to build community and support for writers, I encourage you to consider readings as part of the experience. Five minutes allows for a good sense of a story – and can include a scene and/or entire picture book. Maybe allow up to ten minutes if it’s a small group or special event. It’s like having a recital to celebrate hard work!
Things to consider when selecting what to read:
Thank you to all the brave and gifted writers I heard last week!
Sarah Wones Tomp
WRITING ON THE SIDEWALK
Posted in A million and two reasons to procrastinate, tagged methodhome.com. Home made holiday gifts, Trendy scarf, uses for old t-shirt on December 8, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Each year in November my Super Blog Buddy Sarah asks me this question:
“So what are you making this year for Christmas?”
And usually in November I have an answer. My husband has a large family and we have never managed to get that whole draw names thing to work, so we have learned to get creative in our gift giving. Here is a list of some of the items we have made in the past:
I used the hem of the t-shirt and some antique buttons from my great-grandmother to make a flower pin that can be worn separately as well. I’m really pleased with the way they turned out and hope they like them.
Here’s a question for our readers- are you making any gifts this year? If so, what are you making? I may need some ideas for next year.
Happy Holidays,
Suzanne Santillan
Writing on the Sidewalk
Posted in A million and two reasons to procrastinate, tagged Book Lover's Holiday Giveaway Hop on December 7, 2011 | 2 Comments »
We are please to announce that according to Random.org Anna Rodarte has won our Book Lover’s Holiday Giveaway Hop prize. We will be sending Anna the up-cycled jean book bag and a few extra goodies from the hall closet prize vault. If you didn’t get a chance to read them, here are a few of the items, other than books, that our readers would put in the book bag:
Thanks for your creativity and joining us on the hop.
Sarah and Sue
Writing on the Sidewalk
Posted in A million and two reasons to procrastinate, tagged Book Lover's Holiday Giveaway Hop, I'm a Reader Not a Writer, Kid Lit Frenzy on December 1, 2011 | 40 Comments »
Welcome to the Book Lover’s Holiday Giveaway Hop, hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and Kid Lit Frenzy.
The idea of the “hop” is that a whole bunch of blogs plan different giveaways, then link up to make it easier for visitors to find and enter them. This hop runs from Friday, December 2nd to Tuesday, December 6th. The winner will be announced on Wednesday, December 7th.
To celebrate the holidays, and to thank our followers, we are giving away this lovely book bag.
This book bag is made from a pair of jeans that used to belong to Sarah’s child #3, so we’re really going green this holiday. I can’t make any promises, but we may even put a surprise or two inside the bag.
In order to win this lovely bag, simply tell us:
Other than books, what would you put in a book bag?
Leave your comment in the space below between now and midnight December 6th.** Winner will be selected at random and announced on December 7th.
For more great giveaways be sure to check out the other participating sites.
Happy Holidays,
Suzanne and Sarah
Writing on the Sidewalk
** Please no more than 4 entries per person.
