Is it wrong to sneak in a line or two — maybe even a whole paragraph — of writing while your kids are in a long line for the roller coaster? I hope not, because that’s exactly what I did. In fact, I’m sure it’s awesome, so I’m blogging on it.
See, every year, my family spends the first day of the Wisconsin State Fair’s 11-day run at the Midway. Riding rides. All day long. Until we drop. Wellllll, let me be more specific so you don’t get the wrong idea. The kids go on the rides. I watch over them and occasionally feed them and regularly take pictures. Then the other days of the fair are devoted to all the other things that make the WSF the great event that it is.
But this year, at the Midway, I snuck in some writing as well. I know, you’re thinking, “How can you write when you’re at such a place and your kids expect to see you waving at them?” Well, there were a few spare moments, when they were in lines or were inside closed-off rides (think Haunted House) where I could sneak in a few minutes of writing. So out came my teeny tiny purse notebook and in went, well, whatever I could spit out in a moment’s notice.
We know some truly great writers suggest using every moment to one’s advantage. I spent 99 percent of my moments that day enjoying a great day with my family, but I also got a few precious moments with pen to paper, and a lot of character study done as well.
Love meeting authors? The Wisconsin Chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators is hosting a book signing party with Wisconsin talents. More than a dozen Wisconsin authors are scheduled to read from their new books, including award-winning picture books, middle grade, and young adult works.
The event is being held June 21, 2008, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Martha Merrell’s Bookstore in downtown Waukesha, Wisconsin. You can find more information there.
Jeff Miracola’s first picture book is now available for pre-order at Amazon.com! He’s my hubby, and a fabulously talented, successful illustrator. Welcome to Monster Isle is written by Oliver Chin and published by Immedium, Inc. All 36 pages of this fabulous, fantastical romp will be available in stores September 2008.
Story Description:
A family’s vacation goes bananas when a perfect storm tosses their skipper’s tiny boat off course. Now seven castaways are stranded on an uncharted desert island! Finnegan, his sister, parents, and dog Howl venture into the wild and encounter a menagerie of colorful monsters. Can these hardy survivors befriend seven beasts straight from their wildest imaginations?
Whimsical and lushly layered illustrations invigorate a zootopia of mythical creatures like the Yowie, Abominable Snowman, and Ogo Pogo. Adventurous readers will take a trip they’ll never forget, since being lost was never so fantastic!
http://www.silviaacevedo.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/logo_1024x156.png00Silviahttp://www.silviaacevedo.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/logo_1024x156.pngSilvia2008-05-23 18:11:392009-01-02 22:48:50Welcome to Monster Isle Available at Amazon
We’ve just learned that my husband’s work, along with the work of dozens of other illustrators, has been stolen. The art, along with many interviews painstakingly conducted by art advocate Darren Di Lieto of The Little Chimp Society, have been printed in a book, apparently out of China.
PLEASE DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK. None of the creators was paid, nor did they give permissions, nor did they even know of the book’s existence before now.
We are in the process of learning more. Darren’s blog and ours will have updates.
http://www.silviaacevedo.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/logo_1024x156.png00Silviahttp://www.silviaacevedo.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/logo_1024x156.pngSilvia2008-04-17 16:04:332008-04-17 22:26:33Plagiarism Hits Home
New York Times Bestselling Author Lesley Kagen had everyone at the Whitefish Bay Library Center laughing, as she talked off the cuff about her life and the publishing process. Kagen is the author of Whistling in the Dark, pictured here. She, along with H. W. Schwartz Bookshops’ General Manager Daniel Goldin, spoke of the steps from an author’s initial idea for a book all the way through to seeing the final product on the shelf. We even peaked at a bound galley of her upcoming book, Land of a Hundred Wonders, which has a release date of late summer.
Kagen and Goldin were both entertaining speakers. They offered interesting stories on how various books came to publication, how much (or little) a publisher might support a book, how authors handle requested changes, and how some characters get their unique traits. Kagen revealed that one of her character’s personality quirks are based on typical symptoms of menopause, an unexpected insight that delighted the audience. Goldin offered inspiring tales of a manuscript’s fight to the top of the slush pile and into the spotlight.
It was a great talk, and I thoroughly enjoyed meeting them both.
http://www.silviaacevedo.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/logo_1024x156.png00Silviahttp://www.silviaacevedo.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/logo_1024x156.pngSilvia2008-04-17 15:34:322008-04-17 22:28:00Whistling in the Library
Sarah Cloots, the featured guest and an editor with Greenwillow Books, spoke of key moments in the evolution of a book, from early manuscript to finished product. Her photos showing the inside workings at Greenwillow were a great visual accompaniment.
Authors Eileen Lucas and Anne Bingham made wonderful dining companions, as did new writer Juliette Crane. We appreciated their insight and fun natures. It was great to finally meet Regional Advisor Pam Beres, Authors Peggy Tromblay and Lisa Albert, Illustrator Bonnie Leick, “With Wings and a Halo” Executive Director Paul Gilbertson, and a great many other established and new authors and illustrators, all friendly and willing to freely share of their knowledge.
Deep Fried Writin’
/0 Comments/in A Writer Writes /by SilviaSee, every year, my family spends the first day of the Wisconsin State Fair’s 11-day run at the Midway. Riding rides. All day long. Until we drop. Wellllll, let me be more specific so you don’t get the wrong idea. The kids go on the rides. I watch over them and occasionally feed them and regularly take pictures. Then the other days of the fair are devoted to all the other things that make the WSF the great event that it is.
But this year, at the Midway, I snuck in some writing as well. I know, you’re thinking, “How can you write when you’re at such a place and your kids expect to see you waving at them?” Well, there were a few spare moments, when they were in lines or were inside closed-off rides (think Haunted House) where I could sneak in a few minutes of writing. So out came my teeny tiny purse notebook and in went, well, whatever I could spit out in a moment’s notice.
We know some truly great writers suggest using every moment to one’s advantage. I spent 99 percent of my moments that day enjoying a great day with my family, but I also got a few precious moments with pen to paper, and a lot of character study done as well.
Summer Reading Celebration
/0 Comments/in In The News /by SilviaThe event is being held June 21, 2008, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Martha Merrell’s Bookstore in downtown Waukesha, Wisconsin. You can find more information there.
Happy reading!
Welcome to Monster Isle Available at Amazon
/0 Comments/in In The News /by SilviaStory Description:
A family’s vacation goes bananas when a perfect storm tosses their skipper’s tiny boat off course. Now seven castaways are stranded on an uncharted desert island! Finnegan, his sister, parents, and dog Howl venture into the wild and encounter a menagerie of colorful monsters. Can these hardy survivors befriend seven beasts straight from their wildest imaginations?
Whimsical and lushly layered illustrations invigorate a zootopia of mythical creatures like the Yowie, Abominable Snowman, and Ogo Pogo. Adventurous readers will take a trip they’ll never forget, since being lost was never so fantastic!
Plagiarism Hits Home
/0 Comments/in In The News /by SilviaPLEASE DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK. None of the creators was paid, nor did they give permissions, nor did they even know of the book’s existence before now.
We are in the process of learning more. Darren’s blog and ours will have updates.
Whistling in the Library
/0 Comments/in In The News /by SilviaKagen and Goldin were both entertaining speakers. They offered interesting stories on how various books came to publication, how much (or little) a publisher might support a book, how authors handle requested changes, and how some characters get their unique traits. Kagen revealed that one of her character’s personality quirks are based on typical symptoms of menopause, an unexpected insight that delighted the audience. Goldin offered inspiring tales of a manuscript’s fight to the top of the slush pile and into the spotlight.
It was a great talk, and I thoroughly enjoyed meeting them both.
Talking Books
/0 Comments/in In The News /by SilviaThere is nothing like spending time with other writers and illustrators to renew your love of books. My husband and I got to do just that Saturday, when we had the pleasure of attending the spring luncheon of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators – Wisconsin.
Sarah Cloots, the featured guest and an editor with Greenwillow Books, spoke of key moments in the evolution of a book, from early manuscript to finished product. Her photos showing the inside workings at Greenwillow were a great visual accompaniment.
Authors Eileen Lucas and Anne Bingham made wonderful dining companions, as did new writer Juliette Crane. We appreciated their insight and fun natures. It was great to finally meet Regional Advisor Pam Beres, Authors Peggy Tromblay and Lisa Albert, Illustrator Bonnie Leick, “With Wings and a Halo” Executive Director Paul Gilbertson, and a great many other established and new authors and illustrators, all friendly and willing to freely share of their knowledge.
Congratulations to SCBWI Golden Kite Nonfiction Winner Ann Bausum and Illustration Contest Winner Deb Gross. Their awards were just two of the many happy announcements made by members.
We greatly enjoyed ourselves and look forward to seeing these great people again at other SCBWI events.