Announcements

UTAH CHILDREN'S WRITERS AND ILLUSTRATORS

Announcement List--July 5, 2004

Are you sponsoring a children's literature event? Send info to rick@rickwalton.com and we'll put it on the calendar.


This month's interview is with author Caralyn Buehner.


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CONGRATULATIONS

to Gloria Skurzynsky and Alane Ferguson, who were featured in the July issue of Book Links/ALA.

to Chris Crowe, whose book GETTING AWAY WITH MURDER: THE TRUE STORY OF THE EMMETT TILL CASE was named one of two Honor Books in the Jane Addams Book Award, made the 2004 Capitol Choices list and the Pennsylvania School Library Association 2004 YA Nonfiction Top 40, and is a nominee for the 2005 Rhode Island Teen Book Award.

to Chris Crow, whose book MISSISSIPPI TRIAL, 1955 was named to the International Reading Association's 2004 Young Adults Choices list, and is a nominee for the 2005 Garden State Teen Book Award.


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COMING SOON


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.
from Mette Harrison, MIRA, MIRROR, a YA, from Viking.

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

Spring, 2005
from Dana Kessimakis Smith, A BRAVE SPACEBOY (2nd in a series, see A WILD COWBOY), Hyperion.
from Gloria Skurzynski, THE VIRTUAL WAR CHRONOLOGS BOOK THREE: THE REVOLT, Atheneum.

Fall, 2005
from Sharlee Glenn, JUST WHAT MAMA NEEDS, a picture book, from Putnam.
from Michael Spooner, a historical novel, LAST CHILD (a sequel to DANIEL'S WALK), from Henry Holt.

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

Kristyn Crow, COOL DADDY RAT, picture book, to Putnam.


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APPEARANCES AND EVENTS

July 8, 2004--Ron Woods will be speaking at Payson Elementary.

July 16-17, 2004--BYU Symposium on Books for Young Readers. Guests include Jennifer Armstrong, Lynn Curlee, Karen Cushman, Naomi Shihab Nye, Pam Munoz Ryan, and Robert Sabuda. For more information go to http://ce.byu.edu/cw/childlit.

July 19, 2004--Kim Justesen will be teaching Introduction to Children's Literature through the U of U Life Long Learning Program in Park City.

August 27-28, 2004--Randall Wright will be telling stories at the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival.

March 17-18, 2005--UVSC/SCBWI Forum on Children & Literature. 
Watch for upcoming information at www.uvsc.edu/conted/c&w or call 801-863-8894.

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AUTHOR INTERVIEW: CARALYN BUEHNER

Caralyn Buehner grew up in Salt Lake City, the youngest child in a family of bookworms. She remembers being read to as a child by her mother, and has very fond memories of some children named Sally, Dick and Jane, and seems to remember a dog named Spot. By the time she was in 6th grade, she had perfected the art of undetected nocturnal reading, and had written a chapter of a romance novel. She won state and national awards for her writing in her teenage years, but didn't plan to be an author. 

Her marriage to illustrator Mark Buehner brought some changes. When Mark began illustrating children's books, he encouraged Caralyn to write. In the past decade they have collaborated on seven children's picture books, and eight children. Caralyn's writing has been honored with two Utah Children's Choice Awards, a CBC Children's Choice Award, Parent's Choice Award, an ALA Notable Book, and a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Award.

Her favorite writing, however, is the chronicling of everyday events for herself and her children in journals. She believes that sharing our personal perspective is the most powerful and important writing we may do, and can make an "ordinary" life extraordinary.

Published picture books by Caralyn include:

The Escape of Marvin the Ape (1992)
A Job For Wittilda (1993)
It's A Spoon, Not A Shovel (1995)
Fanny's Dream (1996)
I Did It, I'm Sorry (1998)
I Want to Say I Love You (2001)
Snowmen at Night (2002)
Superdog: the Heart of a Hero (2004)


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

It wasn't a conscious decision - and still is a peripheral part of my life. I'm more of a reader, and am perfectly happy to relax with a stack of other people's books. This is not to say that I didn't do any early writing; I have two chapters of a romance novel that I wrote at about age 13, and a few state awards for poetry, and one national award, all before leaving high school. But writing was never a strong drive, and once in college I floundered around in history and human development, and didn't even consider an English major. I'm still very drawn to the human mind. 

It was Mark who pulled me into the business with him (bless him!). He was already publishing, and urged me to write a story and collaborate with him. He may have gotten tired of hearing me complain about other manuscripts and other people's writing - I was always itching to edit them myself. I was fortunate to work with an excellent editor, who let me have my own voice and style, and who encouraged me until I could feel confidence in my own abilities.


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

Probably Fanny, (from FANNY'S DREAM). There's so much of myself, my mother, and my grandmother in her that she is very real to me. 

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

I am a homebody in every sense of the word. I would like very much for someone else to market my books, and for them to sell wildly without me ever having to go to any events.


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

It's funny - I've been getting attention for my writing from my family and teachers since I was in elementary school. But even with the praise and awards, I never felt any confidence in what I wrote. I had an excellent paper recommended for publication in college - but was too chicken to pursue it. The first real piece of fiction that got any attention from the general public would have been THE ESCAPE OF MARVIN THE APE; all 13 lines of it.


5--Who are your favorite authors?

I love Sharon Creech, Ray Bradbury, Madeleine L'Engle, Louisa May Alcott, Kristin Randle (a Utah author!) and host of others. I find myself reading YA fiction more and more. But the last book I couldn't put down was a T. Davis Bunn novel.


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

I would like to be a stronger voice, and would especially like to develop better and more disciplined habits about my writing, instead of approaching it sporadically. As far as my writing goes, I am changing from wanting to get a deep point across to just wanting to bring a little light and joy into my work.


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

I read LITTLE WOMEN so often that I have long passages memorized. I loved Marie Killilea's books (biographical), and still read them. I read all of the Sue Barton and Three Investigators books that I could. As a teen I found MRS. MIKE, and that's probably my all-time favorite book - always good for a reread. I didn't last long with picture books, as I jumped into reading early, but was the lucky owner of WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE - and it was pretty new then! 

8--What are you working on now?

I'm supposed to be revising a text for my editor at Dial, but my mind is desperately wandering into other trails. I'm hoping to develop another story to replace this one, as I can't get excited enough about it. I have two waiting for Mark, so it's hard to feel rushed.


9--Do you ever write about UT?

Not per se, but many elements of our local area find their way into the illustrations.


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

Generating that creativity - actually sitting down to it and sticking it out.


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

You work with the nicest people in the world, and meet the nicest people in the world.


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

Three things: Read, and read good writers, read your work out loud, don't be afraid of critiques and editing.



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SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES

BRING AN AUTHOR OR ILLUSTRATOR TO YOUR SCHOOL
It's not too early to start thinking about bringing an author or illustrator to your school during the 2004-2005 school year. When kids get to meet and learn from real authors they get excited about reading and writing. It's a great way to bring books to life. 
For information on presentations, fees, and contacts, go to www.ucwi.org/visit.htm, or check out the author/illustrator websites below. If you've never held an author visit and don't know what to do, go to www.rickwalton.com/utahauth/bringing.htm for information, guidelines, and advice.

A DEAL FOR SPECIAL CAUSES
If you want to get books into the hands of kids who need them- -e.g., kids in shelters, kids in hospitals, kids in foreign countries, kids in a summer reading programs--we can get you select picture books and joke books at rock bottom prices. You can get hardcover books at prices lower than a cheap paperback. Contact Rick at rick@rickwalton.com for more information.

GET BOOKS INTO THE HANDS OF YOUR STUDENTS
Rick Walton has a supply of deeply discounted books. If you buy one copy for each of the students in your school, Rick will do a daylong visit at your school for free. For more information see www.rickwalton.com/aboutric/deal.htm.


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UTAH AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR WEBSITES

Check out our website, www.ucwi.org, where you'll find information on local authors, their books, and their appearance information, and past issues of this newsletter.--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
Dana Kessimakis Smith -- www.danasmithbooks.com
Will Terry -- www.willterry.com
Laura Torres--www.lauratorres.com
Rick Walton -- www.rickwalton.com
Kevin Wasden -- www.kevinwasden.com
Hala Wittwer--www.artbyhala.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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