Council for Wisconsin Writers

Supporting Wisconsin writers from 1964 to 2022

Georgia Beaverson

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Wisconsin Children's Writers Share Good News

Here is monthly good news reported by Wisconsin’s SCBWI members:

Miranda Paul sold her fourth picture book, 10 Little Ninjas, to Knopf Children’s at Random House. A Publisher’s Weekly item says, “Karen Greenberg and Melanie Cecka at Knopf have acquired Miranda Paul’s 10 Little Ninjas, a ‘sensei-tional’ picture book twist on a childhood rhyme, in which a group of not-so-sleepy ninja toddlers devise ways to sneak, creep, and tumble their way out of going to bed. It’s planned for spring 2016; Karen Grencik at Red Fox Literary brokered the deal for world rights.”

Miranda says she owes “a lot to one of my SCBWI critique partners for her willingness to help me as I worked through umpteen drafts, and to my SCBWI conference faculty critiquer for the encouragement to go ahead and submit it to my agent.”
Andrea Skyberg and her husband, Michael Greer, recently took home national awards for two of their books. The Eyes of India by Michael was awarded a Mom’s Choice Award for Juvenile Fiction, and CommuniTree by Andrea and the Milwaukee Parkside School for the Arts was honored with a Finalist Award from Next Generation Indie Books.
CommuniTree was created in collaboration with 686 students. A video at www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=mozsjXmR77w describes how the book was made.
Georgia Beaverson the first book in a project she’s working on for Wisconsin Media Lab, a bio of Les Paul, is available for free download, along with free resources and a fun film. This series is meant for classroom use by Wisconsin teachers. Georgia is editing the books this year. Here’s the link. http://wimedialab.org/biographies/paul.html
Congratulations to Miranda, Andrea, Michael and Georgia!
See other news about Wisconsin writers at www.wiswriters.org.

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Wisconsin Children's Writers Celebrate Good News

The first of each month, members of Wisconsin’s chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators shares their good news, which includes, among other things, their newly published books, awards and glowing reviews. Here is what got posted this month:

From prolific author Ann Bausum whose books published by National Geographic include Freedom Riders, Marching to the Mountaintop, Muckrakers, Our Country’s Presidents, Our Country’s First Ladies, among others: 

“My twin books Stubby the War Dog (for young readers) and Sergeant Stubby (for adult books), which go on sale May 13, are already earning praise from reviewers. The kids book has received starred reviews from Booklist and School Library Journal with such comments as “a triumph on three fronts: educational, emotional, and inspirational” (Booklist, April 15, 2014) and “a moving thoughtful dog story….a choice offering for dog lovers and history buffs alike” (School Library Journal, April 15, 2014). Kirkus praised the children’s book as “an absorbing read,” commenting that the book presents “a story that reads like fiction” (Kirkus, April 1, 2014). An early review for the adult title observed “the book’s charm simply radiates off the page” (Booklist, April 15, 2014). In short, so far, so good.”

Georgia Beaverson reports”

“I’m so happy to be able to share some good news this month. The Wisconsin Media Lab has contracted with me to serve as editor for 6 children’s books they plan to publish this year. Last year they published bios of such historical Wisconsin luminaries as Chief Oshkosh and the Harley-Davison duo. The 6 I will edit are also bios and will be free for classroom use.”

Kashmira Sheth says:

“Tiger in My Soup is nominated for Georgia Book award as well as Ohio Book award.

Also, in conjunction with National Library Week, the State Library of Ohio, Ohioana Library Association, and Ohio Center for the Book, Tiger in My Soup is selected as one of the 20 books for Choose to Read Ohio 2015 & 2016.”

Relative SCBWI newcomer Angie Stanton‘s new book Royally Lost, was released this past Tuesday.

“There was a great article today in the WI State Journal about my publishing journey” Angie says. Here’s the link.http://host.madison.com/entertainment/arts_and_theatre/books/a-fairy-tale-journey-madison-writer-finds-her-voice/article_a4266a87-f624-5a33-8572-55da487a810c.html.

Angie is having a book signing at A Room of One’s Own bookstore, 315 W. Gorham St., in Madison on Monday, May 12 at 6 p.m.

Congratulations to one and all!

 

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Finding an Agent Workshop

Here's info from writer and SCBWI-WI (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators-Wisconsin Chapter) member Georgia Beaverson about a workshop featuring tips on how to get an agent:

"Want to hone your agent-hunting skills? I'm pleased to announce that the SW Wisc/Madison area will offer a 3-hour workshop by Emily Kokie on How to Find an Agent. It will take place on Saturday, March 31 at the E.D. Locke Public Library in McFarland, Wisconsin. The presentation on which this expanded
workshop is based got rave reviews at the fall, 2010 retreat. Join us for a great professional development offering.

WHAT: How to Find an Agent Workshop

WHEN: Saturday, March 31, 2012

TIME: 1-4 p.m.

WHO: Emily Kokie

WHERE: E.D. Locke Public Library, 5920 Milwaukee Street, McFarland, WI

DIRECTIONS: http://www.librarytechnology.org/lwc-displaylibrary.pl?RC=12445
(cut & paste into browser)

COST: $25"

Please visit the Council for Wisconsin Writers website at www.wiswriters.org.

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New Releases and More

Susan Manzke has just published a second collection of her “Words In My Pocket” columns about life on Sunnybrook Farm in Seymour, Wisconsin, on Amazon’s Kindle. http://www.amazon.com/1984-1985-Words-My-Pocket-ebook/dp/B006R9EN7O/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1325604501&sr=8-3

These columns, covering 1984-85, ran weekly in the Wisconsin State Farmer newspaper. Topics, according to the blurb on Amazon, include 18-month-old Rachel writing on the walls, remodeling projects, farm breakdowns and many other assorted stories.

Susan also plans to release the columns as a Publish-On-Demand book.

“As I went over my columns for this book, I came across stories about my family I
had forgotten,” she wrote in a WISCBWI listserv post. “Finding these makes me even more energetic about speaking to groups about saving family stories.”

Another recently self-published work is Kelly Parks Snider’s first picture book Zilly: A Modern Day Fable, which, if you visit her website at http://www.zillybook.com/, you will see offers some interesting extras.

Children’s writer Georgia Beaverson reports that the e-anthology, Haunted, in which her story, “The Ghost Catcher,” appears is up for a Reader’s Choice award.