tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post7665845654822561277..comments2024-03-22T01:00:38.320-04:00Comments on I.N.K.: Live Chat Starts NOW!Linda Salzmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17217322360480267856noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post-16331736246852831732008-04-02T00:25:00.000-04:002008-04-02T00:25:00.000-04:00I missed it, too, but really enjoyed reading the d...I missed it, too, but really enjoyed reading the discussion. Hope you try this again sometime.Alison Ashley Formentohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00561233370577996025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post-63661615259215127972008-04-01T19:16:00.000-04:002008-04-01T19:16:00.000-04:00I am so upset I had to miss this chat event today....I am so upset I had to miss this chat event today. I so wanted to be here to participate and to share thoughts and ideas.<BR/><BR/>Please consider doing this again. <BR/><BR/>Yours in truth and fiction,<BR/>PamelaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post-12967238592029311742008-04-01T13:15:00.000-04:002008-04-01T13:15:00.000-04:00Assuming we can still chime in after the deadline-...Assuming we can still chime in after the deadline---<BR/><BR/>Linda,<BR/>As a vast generalization, I think "not tied in to curriculum" is one of the excuses editors use when they're just not in love with a ms. They have to feel passionate, too.... The only solution is to persist.<BR/><BR/>Tanya,<BR/>I'm all ears! As you probably know, most kids have no concept of hurdles women have jumped....<BR/><BR/>Gretchen,<BR/>Thank you so much. I should mention that my sweetie Boris Kulikov also illustrated "Giants of Science" - I feel fortunate in that respect, but not so much in another, in that these books make my head explode.Kathleen Krullhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03543290812257498339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post-8138782685170959572008-04-01T13:11:00.000-04:002008-04-01T13:11:00.000-04:00It's after 1:00 so we're going to have to let Gret...It's after 1:00 so we're going to have to let Gretchen and Kathleen go get some breakfast and Tanya must be hungry for lunch by now.<BR/><BR/>Many thanks to our great INK writers for making themselves available. And thanks to everyone else for their comments. Feel free to add to the comments in the future.Linda Salzmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17217322360480267856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post-3032545174313979642008-04-01T13:10:00.000-04:002008-04-01T13:10:00.000-04:00I just have to add that my 13YO son loves rock mus...I just have to add that my 13YO son loves rock musician biographies the best.<BR/><BR/>Doesn't get more raw than that!Anna M. Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01915256522607241235noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post-48524098093703207882008-04-01T13:08:00.000-04:002008-04-01T13:08:00.000-04:00Thanks Tanya!Thanks Tanya!Lizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01914127450414638447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post-55427853494808416822008-04-01T13:06:00.000-04:002008-04-01T13:06:00.000-04:00Liz said: any tips on getting the 'voice' and maki...Liz said: any tips on getting the 'voice' and making the biography appeal to teens?<BR/><BR/>I would first immerse yourself in the teen nonfiction shelves at your local bookstore or library and see what kinds of voices you find there. Raw, honest, and true are the words that come to mind for me.Tanya Lee Stonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10929653271162646498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post-3221384113962632722008-04-01T13:02:00.000-04:002008-04-01T13:02:00.000-04:00Kathleen, that's a fantastic perspective for Hilla...Kathleen, that's a fantastic perspective for Hillary's bio... can't wait to read it. Kind of interesting what may happen by the time it is published. (Sorry about the OT. Also, my son is 13 so tight has been around here for a while.) <BR/><BR/>Tanya, interesting comment about tying book into the curriculum. After teaching Art Appreciation classes for the last 9+ years, I can tie Art in like nobody's business! I'm already jumping on Calder for next year!Anna M. Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01915256522607241235noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post-44451936696924357192008-04-01T13:00:00.000-04:002008-04-01T13:00:00.000-04:00so many things to say about biographies.....About ...so many things to say about biographies.....<BR/><BR/>About obscure subjects: I've had editors say that if they haven't heard of the person, there's no market for a biography. Catch 22 or what? Without a bio.....<BR/><BR/>Focusing on the childhood of subjects will naturally appeal to kids. Don Browns' pb bio of Mark Twain, An American Childhood, used anecdotes that clearly relate to his later writing. I think this is an important point. The childhood should relate to the adult accomplishments of your subject. <BR/><BR/>About tweaking the truth: there are "biographies" out there that never happened, or that distort the truth. Don't get me started....<BR/>However "fictionalized" accounts that stick tight to what happened (with some dialogue or interior monologue thrown in) or what is likely to have happened are just fine by me. I'm thinking of two stellar examples: Action Jackson by Greenberg/Jordan/Parker and Henry's Freedom Box by Levine/Nelson.Gretchen Woelflehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03718143439736242190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post-52892971821280932102008-04-01T12:59:00.001-04:002008-04-01T12:59:00.001-04:00Linda,I'd love to hear what the others have to say...Linda,<BR/><BR/>I'd love to hear what the others have to say about this. For me, the short truth is that you can bet that in addition to the books of mine you see (i.e. the ones that are published) there are others biding their time. Some I will go to bat for more than once because I believe in my passion for a topic even though I have yet to convince an editor. Some of those may become books. Other battles I will lose. So I guess, in short, the barrier is the fact that regardless of my passions, I have manuscripts that may never become books.Tanya Lee Stonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10929653271162646498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post-76679550865170126462008-04-01T12:59:00.000-04:002008-04-01T12:59:00.000-04:00any tips on getting the 'voice' and making the bio...any tips on getting the 'voice' and making the biography appeal to teens?Lizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01914127450414638447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post-40315189562131710872008-04-01T12:52:00.000-04:002008-04-01T12:52:00.000-04:00Do you really think writers can set the standard b...Do you really think writers can set the standard by just writing what they are passionate about?<BR/><BR/>What are some barriers you've faced in the past in writing about a somewhat obscure subject and then subsequently selling your idea/manuscript?Linda Salzmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17217322360480267856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post-79407592065456801512008-04-01T12:50:00.000-04:002008-04-01T12:50:00.000-04:00Oh-ho, Kathleen, perhaps we should chat later abou...Oh-ho, Kathleen, perhaps we should chat later about putting together some useful resources for both our books that will provide teachers and librarians with something extra that could be great.Tanya Lee Stonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10929653271162646498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post-46290979455042476612008-04-01T12:47:00.000-04:002008-04-01T12:47:00.000-04:00Anna,After finally figuring out what OT means - Bo...Anna,<BR/>After finally figuring out what OT means - Boris Kulikov RULES. (Or as I overheard kids at the museum saying yesterday, he's really "tight" - the new term for "awesome"?) Can't wait to see Tanya's new book. No, I had no say over the artist. We had hoped my husband Paul Brewer would illustrate FARTISTE, but the publisher chose Boris. So it was a case of bad news/good news - but we couldn't be happier with the humorous heights Boris reached.<BR/><BR/>So, I think Hillary RULES as well. (NOW we'll get some comments.) Her life story consists of encountering one barrier after another. This ties in with Tanya's new ALMOST ASTRONAUTS. Hillary's first goal was to be an astronaut, at a time when NASA didn't accept women. So my book is all about daring to fly, it's subtitled DREAMS TAKING FLIGHT, I'm really proud of it, and I thank you for noticing it!Kathleen Krullhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03543290812257498339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post-26253911849568424962008-04-01T12:42:00.001-04:002008-04-01T12:42:00.001-04:00I'm thrilled about the ever-expanding genre of pic...I'm thrilled about the ever-expanding genre of picture book biography. <BR/><BR/>I'd also like to say how much I admire Kathleen Krull's chapter book series on Giants of Science (Viking.) She does a superb job integrating personal details with difficult scientific information. Her conversational voice is just perfect to accomplish this difficult task.<BR/><BR/>Voice is crucial in biography, as well as fiction. We all remember the encyclopedic drone of past nonfiction books, including biography. Bringing a subject to life depends so much on the narrative voice, especially since you can't invent scenes and dialogue to express the emotional life of your subject. Look at Kathleen's books for an effective model.Gretchen Woelflehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03718143439736242190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post-91996733918057273642008-04-01T12:42:00.000-04:002008-04-01T12:42:00.000-04:00Catherine said "and we're all absolutely thrilled ...Catherine said "and we're all absolutely thrilled with the results."<BR/><BR/>Shouting in happy agreement! Boris's artwork is incredible. Truly.Tanya Lee Stonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10929653271162646498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post-28970908860009591582008-04-01T12:41:00.000-04:002008-04-01T12:41:00.000-04:00Gretchen..thanks for your advice..appreciate it!Wa...Gretchen..thanks for your advice..appreciate it!<BR/><BR/>Warmly,<BR/>DonnaDonna McDinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00959673932828354020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post-88958664400019613142008-04-01T12:40:00.000-04:002008-04-01T12:40:00.000-04:00Unless those books you refer to are all coming fro...Unless those books you refer to are all coming from the same publisher, I would hazard a guess that this is less of an intentional trend than that of the collective consciousness. I'm always fascinated by how certain approaches or topics seem to come in clumps. There is truth to that "ideas are in the air" saying. I never pay attention to trends. I write about what fascinates me. So if a gem of information that intrigues me happens to fall in line with such a trend, I might not even know it until publication time.Tanya Lee Stonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10929653271162646498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post-45856346354619914402008-04-01T12:39:00.000-04:002008-04-01T12:39:00.000-04:00Tanya asked me to chime in as her editor for Sandy...Tanya asked me to chime in as her editor for Sandy's Circus! <BR/><BR/>As far as whether Tanya had a voice in choosing Boris Kulikov as the illustrator, she and I had certainly discussed the kind of illustrations we'd like the book to have, and we had thrown some artists' names back and forth. Boris actually became involved in the project in a sort of "happy accident" manner--and we're all absolutely thrilled with the results.Catherine Frankhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04701663948298711860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post-82721220181961158832008-04-01T12:37:00.000-04:002008-04-01T12:37:00.000-04:00I've notice a lot of pb biographies recently focus...I've notice a lot of pb biographies recently focusing on the childhood of famous Americans. Do you think this is a case of trying to find a new hook or angle on an old subject. Or is it a new way to approach a subject that makes them more appealable to kids?Linda Salzmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17217322360480267856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post-84340658150430503522008-04-01T12:34:00.000-04:002008-04-01T12:34:00.000-04:00About magazine queries for biography subjects: I ...About magazine queries for biography subjects: I know that the Cobblestone magazines want overviews as well as quirky details/anecdotes. I'd say that if you haven't done all the research for a full biography, go for the quirky anecdote. If you'd already done all the research, you can give them three or four possible subjects.Gretchen Woelflehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03718143439736242190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post-29367411709623969942008-04-01T12:32:00.000-04:002008-04-01T12:32:00.000-04:00Kathleen, thanks for sharing that link. So interes...Kathleen, thanks for sharing that link. So interesting. <BR/><BR/>Hi Gretchen! I would like to take this opportunity to say that I am soooo glad a bio of Rankin is coming out--I can't wait to read it!Tanya Lee Stonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10929653271162646498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post-31904546638143112102008-04-01T12:28:00.000-04:002008-04-01T12:28:00.000-04:00Kathleen,I noticed that you have a biography on Hi...Kathleen,<BR/>I noticed that you have a biography on Hillary coming out in September. THAT must have been interesting to work on/write.<BR/>Any comments you can share?Anna M. Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01915256522607241235noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post-17745036744077200082008-04-01T12:27:00.001-04:002008-04-01T12:27:00.001-04:00I'm here! The blog wouldn't let me in for the lon...I'm here! The blog wouldn't let me in for the longest time!<BR/><BR/>I agree with Tanya that passion is a key. You'll be spending months, even years, with your subject and learning more than you thought you wanted to know about his/her hometown, family, friends, employers -- not to mention the historical era in which s/he lived! <BR/><BR/>I recently published JEANNETTE RANKIN: POLITICAL PIONEER. JR lived from 1880-1973 which meant I had to research most of the major issues and events of 20th century history! those long-lived heroes may well do you in!<BR/><BR/>Writing about writers means that you have to do all that research, PLUS read all their writing, so you'd better like their writing too. I'm in the midst of one such writer biography now. My next subject is a fascinating woman who was illiterate.<BR/><BR/>Another key point to many biographies is on-the- spot research. Walking the streets/fields/hallways where your subject walked can put you in touch with inklings you might otherwise not get.<BR/><BR/>I visited Haydn houses in Austrian towns and villages, a palace in Hungary, as well as Vienna. (By the time we reached Vienna my traveling companion had seen enough. She went to the Beethoven house instead!) Envisioning his life in the actual settings helped me write the book.<BR/><BR/>Tanya, I hope you went to Paris to research Calder's Circus!Gretchen Woelflehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03718143439736242190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post-13232677919788561152008-04-01T12:27:00.000-04:002008-04-01T12:27:00.000-04:00Linda said: I've heard many editors say they would...Linda said: I've heard many editors say they would not consider a book on a topic that could not be easily tided to the curriculum. <BR/><BR/>There are a lot of topics that can be tied to the curriculum with a little creative thinking. Calder may not scream "curriculum tie-in" but he used found materials, so teachers can do all kinds of interesting recycling and environmental projects while learning about a great American artist! I think it's all in how you look at it.Tanya Lee Stonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10929653271162646498noreply@blogger.com