Announcements

UTAH CHILDREN'S WRITERS AND ILLUSTRATORS

Announcement List--March 8, 2004

This month’s authors interview is with Shannon Hale.


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CONGRATULATIONS

to Gloria Skurzynski, whose book VIRTUAL WAR is on the YALSA Simply Science Fiction list.

to Chris Crowe, whose book MISSISSIPPI TRIAL, 1955 was selected to be the featured book in the 2004 city-wide Springville Reads program.

to Chris Crowe, whose book GETTING AWAY WITH MURDER: THE TRUE STORY OF THE EMMETT TILL CASE was named to the Texas Library Association's 2004 Tayshas List, and was named a 2004 Orbis Pictus Recommended Book by the National Council of Teachers of English.


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NEW BOOKS

from Sharlee Glenn, KEEPING UP WITH ROO, a picture book, from Putnam.

from Mark and Cara Buehner, SUPERDOG: THE HEART OF A HERO, a picture book, from HarperCollins.

from Randall Wright, HUNCHBACK, a YA novel, from Henry Holt.

from Laurel Brady, SPRING INTO STYLE, Book 14 of the Mary-Kate and Ashley (Olsen) "Sweet Sixteen" series.

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COMING SOON


April, 2004
from Kimberley Heuston, the paperback edition of THE SHAKERESS.
from Dana Kessimakis Smith, A WILD COWBOY, a picture book, from Hyperion.

May, 2004
from Gloria Skurzynski, ARE WE ALONE? SCIENTISTS SEARCH FOR LIFE IN THE MILKY WAY, National Geographic Books.
from Rick Walton, MINI-MYSTERIES, American Girl.

Summer, 2004
from Rick Walton, A VERY HAIRY SCARY STORY, a picture book, from Putnam.

August, 2004
from Shannon Hale, ENNA BURNING, a YA, from Bloomsbury.

Fall, 2004
from Rick Walton, SUDDENLY, ALLIGATOR, a picture book, from Gibbs Smith.
from Rick Walton, BUNNY CHRISTMAS, a picture book, from HarperCollins.
from Rick Walton, MRS. MCMURPHY'S PUMPKIN, a picture book, from HarperCollins.

March, 2005
from Kimberley Heuston and Jonathan Mark Kenoyer, LIFE IN ANCIENT INDIA, Oxford University Press.

Fall, 2005
from Sharlee Glenn, JUST WHAT MAMA NEEDS, a picture book, from Putnam.

2006
from Dana Kessimakis Smith, MY DADDY'S A GRIZZLY BEAR, a picture book, from Hyperion Books for Children.

fall 2006
from Anne Bowen, WHAT DO TEACHERS DO? a picture book, from Carolrhoda Books

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NEW SALES

from Shaunda Kennedy Wenger, BEAR NESTS IN TREES?, a picture book, to Richard Owen Publishers.


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APPEARANCES AND EVENTS

March 13-17, 2004--Gloria Skurzynski will be speaking at the Central Missouri Children's Literature Festival.

March 15, 2004--Becky Hall will be speaking at South Delta Elementary.

March 16, 2004--Becky Hall will be signing books in Alpine at Deerfield Elementary's book fair.

March 16, 2004--Rick Walton will be doing a riddle writing workshop at the Bingham Creek library in West Jordan, 7:00 pm.

March 16, 2004--Ron Woods will be visiting Trail Wind Elementary School, in Boise.

March 18-19, 2004--UVSC/SCBWI Forum on Children and Literature. 
Main speakers will include Newbery award winner Richard Peck, award winning author/illustrator Debra Frasier, and Candlewick editor Sarah Ketchersid. Many Utah authors, illustrations, librarians, teachers, and other children's literature experts will also be speaking. Registration forms and more information are now available at www.uvsc.edu/conted/c&w.

March 20, 2004--Chris Crowe will be giving the keynote address at the BYU graduate student conference.

March 24, 2004--Rick Walton will be visiting Rose Creek Elementary 
March 25, 2004--Rick Walton will be visiting Eaglecrest Elementary in Lehi.

March 27, 2004--Becky Hall will be speaking and signing at Borders on 4801 N. University Avenue, in Provo, from 2-4 pm, in honor of Teacher Appreciation Week.

March 27, 2004--Randall Wright will be having a book release party/signing for his new novel, HUNCHBACK, at the ReadLeaf in Springville, from 1-3 pm. Everyone is invited.

March 28, 2004--Chris Crowe will be speaking at an LDS adult fireside in Spanish Fork.

March 31, 2004--Ron Woods will be speaking at the High School for Leadership and Public Service, in Manhattan.

April 2, 2004--Rick Walton will be doing a riddle writing workshop at the Draper library, 4:00 pm.

April 2, 2004--Chris Crowe will be speaking at the American Fork Jr. High Writers' Conference.

April 2, 2004--Chris Crowe will be speaking at the Canyon View Jr. High Writers' Conference.

April 7, 2004--Ken Baker will be visiting Minter Bridge Elementary in Hillsboro, Oregon

April 8, 2004--Chris Crowe will be speaking at the "Springville Reads" kickoff meeting.

April 9, 2004--Ken Baker will be visiting David Hill Elementary in Hillsboro, Oregon

April 10, 2004--Chris Crowe will be presenting for the Nebo School District.

April 17, 2004--Carol Lynch Williams and Laurel Brady will join a dozen other authors at an Author Extravaganza at the Springville Public Library. More information at www.annebradshaw.com/lds_news.html

April 28, 2004--Chris Crowe will be speaking at Rowland-Hall St. Marks School.
May 21, 2004--SLCC Children's Book Festival. Several Utah authors and illustrators will be presenting.

May 12, 2004--Becky Hall will be do a short teacher presentation and sign books at 7:00PM at Barnes & Noble at 7157 Plaza Center Drive in West Jordan.

June 21-24, 2004--Writing and Illustrating Children's Books workshop, in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Instructors Ginger Howard and Cheryl Kirk Knoll. For more information go to www.gingerhoward.com/workshops.htm.

June 28-July 2, 2004--Writing for Young Readers workshop, BYU. For more information go to http://ce.byu.edu/cw/writing.

July 16-17, 2004--BYU Symposium on Books for Young Readers. For more information go to http://ce.byu.edu/cw/childlit.


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AUTHOR INTERVIEW: SHANNON HALE

Shannon Hale is the author of the young adult fantasy novel, THE
GOOSE GIRL, published by Bloomsbury.

Interview ala mode:


1--Why did you decide to become a writer?

I don't know that I decided. I tend to think that being a writer is some form of mental illness. I'm not happy unless I'm writing regularly, and there's nothing else that's ever given me as much satisfaction except my family.


2--Who is your favorite character that you have written?

I feel about my characters as I would about my children and I couldn't bear to name favorites. I did enjoy writing Enna Burning after Goose Girl because Enna was so different from Ani (the main character in Goose Girl). She had more spunk, boldness, made more mistakes, and the differences were fun for me.


3--If you could change one thing about being a writer, what would it be?

I wish it could support our family so I could always do it fulltime.


4--Do you remember the very first piece of fiction you wrote?

Yes! A short story in Kindergarten, we dictated the story to our teacher then did the illustrations. I remember there was a nasty witch with long green fingernails that might have been inspired by a nightmare I had.

5--Who are your favorite authors?

I have too many, but authors whose books I've read multiple times include Robin McKinley, Ursula LeGuin, Patricia McKillip, Tolkein, Austen, Joan Aiken, Lloyd Alexander, and C.S. Lewis.


6--Do you have any specific goals as a writer?

I make daily writing goals to keep me on track for each book. I have a goal to always be working on a book. I would also like to win a MacArthur Genius Grant. There's nothing I can do about that, but hey, wouldn't it be cool? 


7--What was your favorite book as a child?

I loved fairy tales. For awhile I remember it was Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White, which was replaced by The Blue Sword.


8--What are you working on now?

Princess Academy, the third YA fantasy I'm doing for Bloomsbury. I'll also be proofing Enna Burning here shortly. It'll be released in August.


9--Do you ever write about UT?

I never have in my novels because they take place in invented lands.


10--What is the hardest thing about being a writer?

Just making myself do it every day. It's the hardest work I've ever done, probably because I care about it so much, and it's still a challenge just to get it done.


11--What is the easiest thing about being a writer?

Wanting to do it. I can't help it, I love it. As far as the process goes, rewriting is easier for me than creating a first draft.


12--What good advice do you have for people who want to be writers?

Do you really? If you're really, really sure, then read a lot and write the kinds of things you read. Don't be afraid of failing, and love the creative process more than you love the idea of being published. And try not to keep rice crackers by your computer because then you'll be addicted and always want to eat rice crackers every time you write. Not that it's ever happened to me.




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UTAH AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR WEBSITES

Utah Children's Writers and Illustrators -- www.ucwi.org

Ken Baker -- www.bravemonster.com
Ann Edwards Cannon -- www.aecannon.com
Chris Crowe -- www.chriscrowe.com
Alane Ferguson -- www.alaneferguson.com
Guy Francis -- www.guyfrancis.com
Sharlee Glenn -- www.sharleeglenn.com
Shannon Hale -- www.shannonhale.com
Mette Ivie Harrison -- www.metteivieharrison.com
Kim Williams Justesen -- 
http://hometown.aol.com/kimorchid/myhomepage/profile.html
Sherry Meidell -- www.sherrymeidell.com
Julie Olson -- www.jujubeeillustrations.com
Gloria Skurzynski -- http://gloriabooks.com
Will Terry -- www.willterry.com
Rick Walton -- www.rickwalton.com
Kevin Wasden -- www.kevinwasden.com
Carol Lynch Williams -- www.carollynchwilliams.com
Randall Wright -- www.booksbywright.com

UTAH WRITER AND LITERATURE ORGANIZATIONS WEBSITES
BYU Children's Book Review -- http://cbpr.lib.byu.edu
Children's Lit. Assoc. of Utah (Beehive Book Awards)-- www.clau.org
League of Utah Writers -- www.luwrite.com
UCTE/LA -- http://community.weber.edu/uctela
UT Council/International Reading Assoc. -- www.utahreading.org
Utah Children's Writers and Illustrators -- www.ucwi.org

If you have a Utah organization related to children's literature, please send it to us and we'll add it to the list.


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Are you, or do you know an author or illustrator of books for young readers? Are you sponsoring a children's literature related event? Is there something else related to this list that we should announce? Send announcements to rick@rickwalton.com.

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