While Cynsations is Out of the Office . . . Super Duper Links!

One of my favorite writers, bloggers, and friends is on Summer hiatus from her site/blog Cynsations. Yes, THE Cynthia Leitich Smith! A wonder of a woman, a wonder of a writer, and a wonderful friend to all writers and authors in the children's lit world.

She does an amazing Friday round-up of Links and News for Writers and while I can't even BEGIN to do what she does, here are a few links from blogs/articles that I've particularly enjoyed the past month or two. I've even categorized them this week!


Website Tips and Info: 

Your Homepage is not as Important as You Think by Jane Friedman

Three Ways to Improve Your Website Design by Jane Friedman

Is Your Author Website Doing its Job? 6 Things to Check by Jane Friedman

10 Ways to Build Long Lasting Traffic to Your Website by Jane Friedman

 Just some Opinions: Don't Take Everything You Read to Heart! 

Ways Authors Waste Time "Building Platform" on Social Media  by Anne

Goodbye to Twitter Village, Lessons Learned  by Benjamin Anastas

Social Networking: Snubbing a Potential Fan? 

General Writing Posts that are Mah-velous! 

Boundaries for Writers by Kristi Holl

On Writing Despair, Juicebox Mix by Libba Bray

Fear, the Uninvited Guest by Robin LaFevers - go to Writer Unboxed and read EVERY POST Robin has ever written. She is Simply Brilliant! 

Printz Award and the Power of Story: Honorees Get Personal

Breaking Bias, Maureen Johnsons Coverflip Challenge  - Fascinating look at book covers and gender bias. Loved the covers shown.

Sarah Zettel, Writing for the Long Haul: this is the newest post in the "Writing for the Long Haul" Series on Janni Lee Simner's blog.

Other authors Jannie has had so far are here:

- Uma Krishnaswami on honoring unreasonable exuberance
- Jennifer J. Stewart on finding community and support
- Sherwood Smith on keeping inspiration alive
- Mette Ivie Harrison on defining success
- Jeffrey J. Mariotte on why we write
- Judith Tarr on reinventing ourselves
- Kathi Appelt on the power of story
- Cynthia Leitich Smith on balancing business and creativity

About the Writing for the Long Haul series

Happy Weekend and Happy Reading!

xo,
Kimberley

While Cynsations was out of the office . . .

One of my favorite writers, bloggers, and friends is on hiatus from her site/blog Cynsations. Yes, THE Cynthia Leitich Smith! A wonder of a woman, a wonder of a writer, and a wonderful friend to all writers and authors in the children's lit world.

I've always loved her Friday round-up of Links and News and while I can't even BEGIN to do what she does, here are a few links from blogs/articles that I've particularly enjoyed the past month or two.

Blogs that Resonated with me for one reason or another. Or perhaps a blog that served as Inspiration. Or a blog where I Learned Something New. A blog that Made Me Think. (Yes, capital letters like Emily Dickinson. I often like Capital Letters.)

Herewith are The Links:

Reads4Tweens: a Great Book Review Site

Where I am Ridiculously Honest when it comes to Writing as a Career: Emphasis on "Ridiculous" by Dawn Metcalf: I loved this and laughed and cried and could relate Too Much!

Can You Make a Living From Writing? by Chris Eboch  Practical, good advice!

Mette Ivie Harrison on Writing for the Long Haul Jannie Lee Simner is running a series with Authors on "Writing for the Long Haul" so check out the rest of those posts. One each week. Love them!

Innovations Traditional Publishers Should Try: I've thought some of this myself! Great ideas!

Are You Building an Audience of Writers & Not Readers?: From the blog, Writer Unboxed. If you're not regularly reading this blog it is a MUST! Go subscribe, follow, whatever. Do it now.

Is Your Author Website Doing It's Thing? 6 Things to Check: by Jane Friedman

Five Traits of Published Writers: by Megan Shepherd (agency sister of mine and Author of "The Madman's Daughter" pubbed by Harpercollins)

On Writing Risks and the Safety Net via PUB(lishing)CRAWL by Kat Zhang

Finally, have you seen this new YA book trailer for Holly Black's upcoming YA, The Coldest Girl in Cold Town?

Are you going to read it? What do you think? I remember reading about the deal in Publisher's Marketplace and thinking that it takes a vampire book to its limits. Sounds gory, but intriguing. Not sure if I'll read it or not . . . the jury is still out.:-)

Happy Linkety-Link Reading this Weekend!

xo,
Kimberley

Sharing the Knowledge: Librarians Who Blog!

November 26, 2012 Caroline's Classroom Connections Sharing the Knowledge: Librarians Who Blog There are a vast number of resources available for educators, and never before has so much information been so easily accessible as in the Internet age. Last month I shared a number of links for teachers who blog. This month you'll find a list of librarians who blog about books, literacy, and their experiences in their libraries. There is a wealth of knowledge at these sites, and I hope you find them to benefit you and the work you do with children. School Librarians: Great Kids Books Mary is an elementary school librarian in Berkley, CA and had three young readers at home. She recommends titles for kids 4-14. This year Mary is the chair of the Book Apps Cybils Committee. Mrs. Yingling Reads: Books for Middle School Students, Especially Boys The title says it all! Mrs. Yingling is a middle school librarian and avid reader. She reviews and posts regularly on a variety of titles -- "boy books" especially. She's serving on the Cybils this year. Watch. Connect. Read. Mr. Schu is an elementary librarian who posts interviews and reviews as well as showcases book trailers that can be used in the classroom. Along with Colby Sharp, he is reading through all the Newberys this year.  Librarian's Quest Margie has been a school librarian for 39 years. From the website: A place where students, educators and parents can exchange and express views about the best of books, new technologies and libraries. Children's Librarians (Public Libraries): Biblio File Jennie is a children's librarian in the DC metro area who has served on two Cybils panels (2007-2011), the Maryland Blue Crab Award committee (2009), and YALSA's Award for Excellence in Non-Fiction (2013). She reviews a variety of middle-grade and young adult titles. The Chained Library Rebecca is a children's librarian in Rio Rancho, NM who is also pursuing publication. She reviews books, interviews authors, and writes in-depth, meaty posts about all things bookish. Green Bean Teen Queen Sarah is a youth services librarian in Springfield, MO, who works with children 0-18. She posts reviews and interviews and this year is serving on the Printz committee. The Fourth Muskateer: Reviews and More about Historical Fiction and History-Related Non-Fiction for Children and Teens Margo is children's librarian in California. This blog is an excellent resource for history lovers! And if you're curious about what kids think of new titles --  Kid Reviews: Fresh Ink: New Books, Young Reviewers, Fresh Perspectives Students 7-17 review new middle-grade and young adult titles. Join Our Mailing List! Meet the Spellbinders Caroline Starr Rose spent her childhood in the deserts of Saudi Arabia and New Mexico, camping at the Red Sea in one and eating red chile in the other. She's taught English and social studies to upper elementary and middle-school students in New Mexico, Florida, Virginia, and Louisiana.    Back in New Mexico, Caroline now writes middle-grade novels and picture books full time. Her forthcoming picture book, OVER IN THE WETLANDS, releases 2014.   Website  Blog       Kimberley Griffiths Little is the recipient of the Southwest Book Award, The Whitney Award for Best Youth Novel of 2010, and the author of the highly acclaimed, The Healing Spell and Circle of Secrets, published by Scholastic Press. Look for her books at the Scholastic Book Fairs, as well    as two more forthcoming novels in 2012 and 2013. She lives on a dirt road in a small town by the Rio Grande with her husband, a robotics engineer and their three sons. Kimberley is a favorite speaker at schools around the country, presenting "The Creative Diary", a highly successful writing workshop and has been a speaker at many conferences. Please visit her website  to download free Teacher's Guides and Book Club Guides.      Carolee Dean has made numerous appearances as a guest poet/author at schools, libraries, poetry events, and teacher/library conferences. She holds a bachelor's degree in music therapy and a master's degree in communicative disorders, and she has spent over a decade working in the public schools as a speech-language pathologist. Her first novel, Comfort,was nominated as a Best Book for Young Adults, was named the Best YA Novel of 2002 by the Texas Institute of Letters, and was on the TAYSHAS (Texas Library Association) reading list. She conducts teacher trainings on inspiring reluctant writers including "The Secret Language of Stories" and "Random Acts of Haiku." To find teacher's guides, writing activities, and information about author visits, go to www.caroleedean.com.          UPCOMING AUTHOR EVENTS February 2, 2013 Montgomery Teen Book Festival Carolee Dean Kimberley Griffiths Little Houston, TX

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A new blog by a very cool librarian!

Over this past year, I've become friends with Rebecca Donnelly, children's librarian at the beautiful new public library in Rio Rancho, New Mexico.

Rebecca knows books! She reads everything that comes into the library and does all the ordering, too.

I first met Rebecca at our local SCBWI monthly schmooze, which are very fun meetings where all of us New Mexico writers schmooze and chat and visit and have pizza for dinner beforehand - but we also discuss lots of very cool writing and book-related topics each month as led by our Schmoozinator, Brian Herrera, UNM professor.

Rebecca is a regular now, and I hear a little rumor that she's also dabbling in - *gasp* - writing her first novel - but you didn't hear it from me. . . .

Since we hold our Schmoozes at Albuquerque's newest indie children's bookstore, Alamosa Books, she sometimes brings her offspring to read and peruse the shelves while all of us writers talk, talk, talk. Sometimes that's all adults want to DO - especially writer adults!

Here is Rebecca's brand-spanking-new blog: The Chained Library. It even has a very cool comic strip header: 

 

http://chainedlibrary.wordpress.com/

The Chained Library

Because books are where it's at (and I want them to stay there)

Go check it out and put The Chained Library on your blogroll. Rebecca has lots of great stuff planned for the future - and where else can you pick a librarian's brain incognito!