tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48490651111692337322024-03-13T03:02:59.176-07:00 Ms Witschorkeolivia freedhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686927575276734730noreply@blogger.comBlogger1262125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4849065111169233732.post-5602412220873349702012-12-07T05:51:00.000-08:002013-01-05T10:08:12.776-08:00Winner of picture book Oh, Nuts!Congratulations Caryn Caldwell on winning the giveaway for the picture book Oh, Nuts! by Tammi Sauer and Dan Krall!The book is on its way to be enjoyed by you and your family!! Hooray!!Thanks to everyone who participated in the giveaway. If you missed the review of Oh, Nuts! on ReaderKidZ, click HERE to read it.olivia freedhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686927575276734730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4849065111169233732.post-18055202399130273472012-11-16T05:12:00.000-08:002013-01-05T10:08:12.790-08:00Part II - Picture Book Posts for Hen and Ink LiteraryGood morning!Click HERE for Part II of my recap from the 17th Texas Book Festival on picture book advice at Hen & inkblots. This post Language Serves the Story highlights advice from authors Liz Garton Scanlon and Candace Fleming.I hope you enjoy! Let me know what resonates? Do you have any revision tricks up your sleeve? How many times do you revise to make art?Happy Friday!olivia freedhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686927575276734730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4849065111169233732.post-40587220700087947712012-11-14T06:13:00.000-08:002013-01-05T10:08:12.797-08:00Picture Book Posts for Hen & Ink Literary StudioIt's a crisp morning and the sun is shining and it's Picture Book Month! Cluck! Cluck!In celebration of that and to pass along information I gleamed from attending the 17th Texas Book Festival in Austin this past October, I have done two posts for my agent Erzsi Deak and the agency Hen & Ink Literary Studio. Part I - How Children See the World ran yesterday and if you missed it you olivia freedhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686927575276734730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4849065111169233732.post-61365298163365963362012-11-12T07:37:00.000-08:002013-01-05T10:08:12.804-08:00Celebrate Picture Book MonthI'm celebrating Picture Book Month!! Are you?There's a lovely post at Picture Book Month by Alma Flor Ada in where she talks about why picture books are important for children. The bond it creates between adult and child and that picture books can be enjoyed by the very young as well as the older more sophisticated child reader. Each day of the month a different picture book champion weighs olivia freedhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686927575276734730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4849065111169233732.post-88851242936710843162012-10-25T09:57:00.000-07:002013-01-05T10:08:12.810-08:00ReaderKidZ Review: Pigmares & Last LaughsHalloween is just around the corner and I've reviewed two picture books that will tickle children's funny bones and have them screaming with laughter!Pigmares: Porcine Poems of the Silver Screen by Doug Cushman, (Charlesbridge, 2012) and Last Laughs: Animal Epitaphs by J. Patrick Lewis and Jane Yolen, illustrated by Jeffrey Stewart Timmins (Charlesbridge, 2012)Hop on over to olivia freedhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686927575276734730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4849065111169233732.post-17244632246332399792012-10-22T18:33:00.000-07:002013-01-05T10:08:12.816-08:00Book Review: Arlo Needs Glasses by Barney SaltzbergArlo Needs Glasses by Barry Saltzberg (Workman Publishing, 2012)This inventive and interactive picture book is more than just about a boy who discovers his dog needs glasses and they fit him for the perfect pair. It's about celebrating individuality and uniqueness and not being afraid to be different. Stand out. Be YOU!Kids will love trying on the movie star, superhero, mad scientist, or "Arlo" olivia freedhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686927575276734730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4849065111169233732.post-13740587983919666242012-10-19T07:00:00.000-07:002013-01-05T10:08:12.822-08:00Texas Book Festival 2012 Every year the Texas Book Festival and their committees work tirelessly to bring a spectacular line-up of authors and illustrators to entertain and inspire Texas families and 2012 is no different. On Saturday, October 27th and Sunday, October 28th, thousands of families will descend on downtown Austin to partake in the 17th annual literary event. The entire list of programming can be found by olivia freedhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686927575276734730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4849065111169233732.post-38037415368810249082012-10-18T09:00:00.000-07:002013-01-05T10:08:12.828-08:00Illustrator E.B. Lewis Keynote Speaker at the Austin SCBWI 2013 conference, Kick It Up A NotchWhen first daughter was about four years old, we visited the Book Mark in the village of Kingsway, a charming older wealthy area in Toronto, Canada. My husband and I were in search to find a new picture book to read to daughter while we were vacationing and visiting friends. When I asked the proprietor to assist me, she eagerly led me to Down the Road by Alice Schertle, illustratedolivia freedhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686927575276734730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4849065111169233732.post-35473304786576785252012-10-06T14:24:00.000-07:002013-01-05T10:08:12.834-08:00Highlights of the Austin SCBWI Digital Symposium IIRA Debbie Gonzales Welcoming AttendeesToday, I'm excited to bring you a collaborative effort from the attendees at the Austin SCBWI Digital Symposium II highlighting the presentations of the day. The day was such a huge success that plans are already underway to launch another digital event next year. But before we look to 2013, let's highlight today's event with a recap of each olivia freedhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686927575276734730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4849065111169233732.post-56383581027802156982012-10-03T05:44:00.000-07:002013-01-05T10:08:12.842-08:00Author/illustrator Interview: Doug CushmanI’m thrilled to be interviewing Hen & Ink coop mate, Doug Cushman about his newest book Pigmares: Porcine Poems of the Silver Screen (Charlesbridge, 2012). When I signed with the agency in the Spring, I thought “WOW” for obviously a number of reasons, but having heard many of Doug’s early reader series read-aloud by my children – I was a huge fan and excited to know we were within the olivia freedhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686927575276734730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4849065111169233732.post-59992341608074739652012-09-13T04:40:00.000-07:002013-01-05T10:08:12.916-08:00ReaderKidZ Review: Natalie Dias Lorenzi's Flying the DragonIf you haven't read Natalie Dias Lorenzi's debut middle grade novel Flying the Dragon, (Charlesbridge, 2012) pop on over to ReaderKidz and read my review here. Sneak peek: "...a beautiful multi-layered story told in the alternating points of view by fifth graders, Skye and Hiroshi..." The novel ties into ReaderKidz's October 2012 theme "Families in olivia freedhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686927575276734730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4849065111169233732.post-39503855940271410112012-09-04T06:27:00.000-07:002013-01-05T10:08:12.988-08:00Debut Author Interview: Natalie Dias LorenziI’m thrilled to have Natalie Dias Lorenzi with us today to talk about her debut middle grade novel Flying the Dragon (Charlesbridge, 2012). She’s a teacher, mother, wife, traveler, freelance writer and author. She writes book reviews for Biblio links, contributes to Emu’s Debuts, her agency’s author blog at the Erin Murphy Literary Agency, and creates teacher guides. Jacket Flap Copy from Flying olivia freedhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686927575276734730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4849065111169233732.post-68902385555462616342012-08-24T05:19:00.000-07:002013-01-05T10:08:13.061-08:00Blogging Basics and The Austin SCBWI Digital Symposium IIWelcome back! As promised, today I'm going to talk today about my presentation in the upcoming Digital II Symposium: The Nuts and Bolts of Success.Have you been shying away from entering the realm of the Blogosphere? Not sure what all this talk about Social Media is about? It's really quite simple.Social Media is about people. Blogging is about people. Sharing information. Communicating and olivia freedhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686927575276734730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4849065111169233732.post-9219916510579493192012-08-23T05:57:00.000-07:002013-01-05T10:08:13.135-08:00When Do You Write For Children?Are you a morning writer? Afternoon or night owl? Can you write only on weekends? What is your writing schedule like? Send me a comment. I'd love to know!I personally love writing in the mornings when the house is dark and the only sound I hear is the humming of the air conditioner. But that peaceful zone doesn't last for long with a busy family so I have to find other hours in the day to write, olivia freedhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686927575276734730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4849065111169233732.post-33474170006663995062012-08-16T09:30:00.000-07:002013-01-05T10:08:13.206-08:005 Things to Consider Before Dismantling a BlogThink blogging is taking up too much of your time?Worried no one reads your blog?What happens if you haven't updated your blog in months? Do you feel like you may as well take it down?Does this sound familiar? If it does, you're not alone. But before you make any drastic decisions, rethink your intention.I recently spoke with an author friend, who shall remain nameless, who decided to resumeolivia freedhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686927575276734730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4849065111169233732.post-24955728977631789112012-08-15T06:33:00.000-07:002013-01-05T10:08:13.279-08:00Author Interview: Darrin LundeDarrin Lunde is a museum mammalogist with the National Museum of Natural History which is part of the Smithsonian Institute. He divides his time between his full-time duties at the museum and creating books for young readers. I reviewed his latest book Monkey Colors, illustrated by Patricia J. Wynne (Charlesbridge, 2012) yesterday, (Click HERE to read the review) and I was fascinated toolivia freedhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686927575276734730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4849065111169233732.post-19227925884317990872012-08-14T04:56:00.000-07:002013-01-05T10:08:13.353-08:00Book Review: Monkey ColorsMonkey Colors by Darrin Lunde, illustrated by Patricia J. Wynne (Charlesbridge, July 2012).This 32-page picture book is perfect for the child learning to read with its simple language and use of many sight words. Lunde introduces children to twelve kinds of monkeys and the many colors they come in. And at the end of the book, he invites them to choose their favorite.There's so much to love olivia freedhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686927575276734730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4849065111169233732.post-54121919473474838042012-08-08T09:56:00.000-07:002013-01-05T10:08:13.425-08:00Co-Author Interview: Kathryn Heling and Deborah HembrookKathryn Heling has been a school psychologist for over 20 years and is a former special education teacher. She loves working with children and figuring out how each child learns best. She is a wife, mother, grandmother, and author and lives in the beautiful State of Wisconsin. She also loves to travel by train.Deborah Hembrook is a kindergarten teacher and author and her students inspire herolivia freedhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686927575276734730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4849065111169233732.post-81527515369172581392012-08-07T06:42:00.000-07:002013-01-05T10:08:13.499-08:00Book Review: Clothesline Clues to Jobs People DoAugust is officially here and many educators and parents are adding to their library shelves and gearing up for the 2012/13 school year. If you've got a preschooler or kindergartner at home or in the classroom, you'll enjoy the books I'll be reviewing over the next few weeks.Clothesline Clues to Jobs People Do by Kathryn Heling and Deborah Hembrook, illustrated by Andy Robert Davies (olivia freedhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686927575276734730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4849065111169233732.post-87166091378086726072012-08-03T11:29:00.000-07:002013-01-05T10:08:13.571-08:00Literary News in and Around AustinThere's so much happening in and around the Greater Austin area and I'm looking forward to filling you in on all things literary!Screened-in porch at The Writing BarnThis past Wednesday, I spent the day at Bethany Hegedus' The Writing Barn with writing buddies Donna Bowman Bratton, Samantha Clark, Nikki Loftin and Vanessa Lee who joined us later in the day. Bethany rents out the space at Theolivia freedhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686927575276734730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4849065111169233732.post-74697275049158505542012-07-31T05:30:00.000-07:002013-01-05T10:08:13.645-08:00Hen & ink Literary RetreatOne of the many pleasures I had this summer was the opportunity to travel to Montpelier, VT and meet some of the agency sisters at Hen & ink Literary as well as my AMAZING agent Erzsi Deàk. Erzsi held a two-day retreat in the quaint village of Montpelier to discuss our current works-in-progress and to get to know each other better and to write.Mima Tipper, Rae Ann Parker, Kathryn olivia freedhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686927575276734730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4849065111169233732.post-23303920316293782352012-07-26T11:01:00.000-07:002013-01-05T10:08:13.717-08:00Beaches and Butterflies and Beavers, Oh My!It's good to be back home after visiting my mom's place in Canada but I do miss the beaches, butterflies and beavers that I saw while on our many adventures throughout my home province of Manitoba.Beaver house on one of the slews near Russell, MB The kids and I often took the car to the beach loaded to the gills with beach toys, boogie board, towels and snacks in lieu of the short jaunty olivia freedhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686927575276734730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4849065111169233732.post-82856172225533209692012-06-15T06:32:00.000-07:002013-01-05T10:08:13.790-08:00One Day I Went RamblingJoin Kelly Bennett on the Let's Go Rambling Blog Tour and celebrate her newest book One Day I Went Rambling, illustrated by Terri Murphy (Bright Sky Press, 2012).This book is for everybody. You don't need to be a kid to enjoy it but you do have to be a kid-at-heart! In One Day I Went Rambling, Zane sees magic in the ordinary when he goes rambling. How about you? What do you see when you go olivia freedhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686927575276734730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4849065111169233732.post-24800073339211895222012-06-14T06:20:00.000-07:002013-01-05T10:08:13.862-08:00Author Shana Burg and her new novel Laugh With The MoonI remember vividly sitting around Shana's kitchen table with authors Don Tate, Bethany Hegedus and Donna Bowman Bratton when Shana was working on her new novel Laugh With The Moon (Delacorte, 2012). Like all of Shana's work, I really loved this latest project of hers. Her main character, Clare, was real and authentic and I connected with her immediately. She's got a lot of heart and soul much olivia freedhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686927575276734730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4849065111169233732.post-17000213499323318542012-06-06T06:03:00.000-07:002013-01-05T10:08:13.935-08:00ReaderKidz Review: Can I Bring Woolly to the Library, Ms. ReederHave you read the clever and cute picture book Can I Bring Woolly to the Library, Ms. Reeder? by Lois G. Grambling, illustrated by Judy Love (Charlesbridge, 2012)? Hop on over to ReaderKidz and read my review HERE.The first line immediately addresses what the main character wants and hooks the reader into the threads of this story with twists and surprises that unfold on each page.A olivia freedhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686927575276734730noreply@blogger.com