7 Books in 21 Years: Lee's Tips on Creating and Revising

This week's tips are on Creating and Revising – things I wish I'd known back when I was starting out, and that I'm happy to pass along to you now.

1) What you bring is YOU. You are the special sauce.

It isn't having the best idea (ideas are important) but it's how you execute the idea that makes it work or not work.

Ultimately, the thing you're bringing to every project is the thing no one else has... YOU. 

So make your work as YOU as you possibly can. This is the secret to "voice." Tell your story in a way that is uniquely yours. That was the turning point with my own writing, and I wish I'd learned it sooner.

Cheers to Esther Hershenhorn, who asked me when giving me an incredibly kind critique of one of my first picture book manuscripts, which was about manners (with a burping frog and princess) if that was really what I was passionate to write. It wasn't. And I'm proud to now have three picture books (and counting) published about things I truly am passionate about.

Red and Green and Blue and White is about community.

Love of the Half-Eaten Peach is about love.

And 

Like THAT Eleanor is about allyship.

Those are all things I am really passionate about. 

And they're all uniquely "Lee" -- while each picture book is very different from the others, they all are stories told with my unique voice and take. Which is probably a big part of why they found publishing homes.

2) Collect the tips that work for you, and don't sweat the rest.

Everyone has a different take on how they approach doing their creative work. I've listened to so many different approaches, and over time I've figured out what works for me. 

Perhaps the best advice that's worked for me is from Linda Sue Park, who shared that when her own writing time got more limited, she started doing 12 min writing sprints. She sets her timer for 12 minutes on her phone, and then tells herself she just has to focus for 12 minutes. If it's going well, and she has the time, she'll do another 12 minutes. The most she'd done in a row was 5, meaning 60 minutes. 

This changed my creative life. I have a pretty demanding (and awesome) day job, and often I was holding off on writing until I had big blocks of 3 hours or more to really dig in. This meant, though, that I was only writing once every week or two. 

Doing the writing sprints, repeating it nearly every day, has made me SO much more productive. What I've found is that by doing a little bit, every day, it really adds up. Also, the project seems to always be in the back of my mind, with my subconscious working on it, and getting back into it is much faster.

The secret of this is that I don't have any internal resistance to 12 minutes. I can nearly always say, okay, I have twelve minutes to write. And I can sit and do it, even at the end of a long and challenging day. (Though I do much better work if I'm doing my 12 minutes before everything else.)

Also, I don't do this 365 days a year. My creativity needs time off, sort of like seasons. Sprout, grow, harvest, plant the seed and wait to sprout again...

It's what works for me. Figure out what works for you, and don't worry about the rest.

3) Know your category. Read books in the area you're working to publish in.

Credit another tip (or maybe it was a challenge) to Linda Sue Park. She said if you're going to write a picture book, you should read 1,000 picture books. That's a LOT, but when you are really well-read in your category, you start to understand it all much better.

You can see the structure behind the words, you can figure out which stories resonate, and why, you can see patterns.

And it helps you see how your own work might fit in, push the boundaries, be pitched and sold.

It's also really helpful when someone (agent or editor) asks for comps.

4) You can always learn more and get better.

I will never forget the moment at an SCBWI conference intensive when there were a whole bunch of famous authors teaching and giving us exercises, and after teaching her section, Jane Yolen comes and sits next to me to do the just-assigned-by-someone-else exercise, just like I was.

I looked at Jane and, knowing she had hundreds (no exaggeration) of books published, asked, "Why are you doing the exercise?"

And she said something along the lines of 'The minute I stop learning I'll be dead.' 

I can't recall the exercise we were doing, but I do hold onto this gem -- we can always learn more and get better at our craft.

5) The publishing business is cyclical.

"Picture books are dead!" ... "It's the golden age of picture books." ... "Picture books are impossible to sell right now."

"Middle grade is hot!" ... "You can't sell middle grade right now." ...

Just wait. It comes around. Work on what you're most passionate to work on. Let your agent sweat the merry-go-round of what's hot. 

Maybe a manuscript can't find a home now, but will find one in a few years.

Know that you're more than one story,.

And the business is cyclical.

6) Think of revision as Re-vision. 

This word play may come off a little corny, but don't get stuck in the words of your story. Allow yourself, in the process of revision, to pull back and see more than the sentences. Look at the story behind the words, the character arcs and motivations, the journey of the reader's emotions.

Kate Messner shared a very cool spreadsheet she uses to track elements chapter to chapter, and for longer work I've found that really helpful.

For picture books, sometimes it takes coming at the story from a whole new angle.

Play with it. 

Revision is your time to make your story even more you, even more the story you want to tell.

7) Enjoy the adventure. Celebrate every moment you can.

There are going to be hard moments on this publishing journey, and in the face of our very human negative bias (where we focus on the bad rather than the good) it is so important to celebrate the wins.

The kind/personalized rejection.

The revise-and-re-offer request.

The expression of interest.

The manuscript going to acquisitions.

The offer.

The signed contract.

The editorial letter.

The revised manuscript sent in.

... all the steps towards the book being a reality: the editing, the interior and cover design, the marketing, the kind reviews, the accolades your book does get, and then your book reaching adult readers, and librarians, and booksellers, and teachers, and parents, and kiddos themselves...

and every so often, hearing from a reader, with their thanks and appreciation.

Take a moment to hold onto and celebrate those positive moments.

A reader I don't know called Like THAT Eleanor:

"A Perfect Pride Picture Book" and "a fantastic age appropriate story about how a kid can be an ally."

That's a win right there, and worth celebrating!

I hope you'll take the time to celebrate your wins, too. Every one of them. They'll sustain you.

I keep a file of nice things folks have said to me about my writing, with a few printed out and posted on my wall. Just to remind me: I've had wins. I can do this.

And you can, too.

**

That's this week's tips. Next week, my seven tips on getting published.

Until then,

Illustrate, Translate, and Write On,
Lee

Kate Messner Organizes Online Resources From Authors and Illustrators "For Learning Anywhere" this Spring 2020

As cited in this Publishers Weekly article,

Kate Messner, author of the recently published Chirp (Bloomsbury), usually maintains a busy touring schedule, but with impending school closures, the author took to her website to create a resource page for children to access from home. Using social media, she recruited other authors to contribute to the archive. The page now includes more than two dozen links and videos of readings by authors including Tracey Baptiste, Debbi Michiko Florence, Nikki Grimes, Grace Lin, and Jason Reynolds.

And here's that resource.

As Kate writes, it's

"...a growing collection of resources that include everything from first-chapter and picture book read-alouds (shared with permission from publishers!) to drawing and writing mini-lessons. Be sure to check back often, as new resources will be added every day. As Kate writes, it's

Wash your hands, stay healthy, and enjoy these resources as we take care of one another this spring!"

This a great example of giving and helping in a time of high stress for all -- especially for young people.

Illustrate and Write On,
Lee

Kid Lit Cares - A Community Response To Aid The Hurricane Harvey Relief Effort

KidLit Cares is a great way to get involved, by either giving back or advancing your writing and illustrating career. Spearheaded by author Kate Messner, the project is

"an online talent auction to benefit the Red Cross and Global Giving relief efforts for Hurricane Harvey & related flooding. Agents, editors, authors, and illustrators have donated various services to be auctioned off to the highest bidder, with donations being made directly to the Red Cross or Global Giving.

Where else could you get a full-novel manuscript critique by Laurie Halse-Anderson? Or a Tag-team picture book critique & free pass to the Chronicle Books editorial meeting from author Kate Messner & editor Melissa Manlove? Or a “skip-the slush-pile” pass and manuscript critique of a picture book text by Executive Editor Mary Kate Castellani of Bloomsbury Children’s Books?

As Kate writes,

"We are heartbroken that Hurricane Harvey and related flooding is having such a devastating effect on those in the storm’s path. Today and in the weeks to come, relief organizations will be serving thousands of families displaced by Hurricane Harvey and related flooding. Those families include so many kids who read our books. We’d like to do what we can to help, and that’s what KidLit Cares is all about."

Cheers to Kate, Linda Sue Park, the whole KidLit Cares team, and everyone who donated their time, books, and expertise to make this happen.

Now don't spend any more time here – go to Kate's KidLit Cares page right now and check out the more than 200 items to bid on - many of the bidding deadlines are soon!

Illustrate and Write On,
Lee

#KidLitSafetyPins - our community stands against bullying and marginalization

The climate in the US, in the aftermath of Donald Trump's election as our 45th President, is loud and confusing. There are many people who feel unsafe. And there are many people who want to stand up as Allies to help keep others safe.

In response to this, a Safety Pin movement has sprung up. It started in Britain in the aftermath of the Brexit vote, and has come to be a way to communicate that the person who wears the safety pin is an ally to those who are in some way under-represented and marginalized.

Members of our Children's Literature community have joined in, creating images of their beloved characters wearing safety pins, and sharing messages of support. Here are a few, by Peter Reynolds, Dan Santat, Stephanie Olivieri, Salina Yoon, Debbie Ridpath Ohi, Tom Angleberger, and Raina Telgemeier...

An important note about #KidLitSafetyPins was shared by author Kate Messner in a recent Facebook post,

Teacher & librarian friends... If this is something you plan to share with students, please also take time to talk about what it means to have someone's back when it comes to fighting bullying and bigotry. Wearing a safety pin (or putting up a poster) doesn't really help unless it's accompanied by a promise of action. Speaking up and standing beside people who are being targeted requires courage, commitment, and planning. Here's a resource that I think is great for talking with middle grade kids and older. https://www.splcenter.org/20150126/speak-responding-everyday-bigotry

And, of course, children's literature is a great resource to have these conversations with younger people as well!

Illustrate and Write On,
Lee

The 2013 Crystal Kite Winner Profiles: New York Eastern Upstate's Kate Messner (for "Capture The Flag")

The 2013 Crystal Kite Award for the New York region goes to Kate Messner for her novel "Capture The Flag" (Scholastic.)

2013 Crystal Kite Winner Kate Messner

Kate has previously won the 2012 Golden Kite Award (for her picture book "Over and Under The Snow") and the 2011 Crystal Kite Award for "Sugar and Ice." 

I contacted Kate to find out more about this latest accolade...

Lee:  Congratulations, and please tell us about your book.

Kate:  Thanks for the good wishes on the Crystal Kite Award – I was truly thrilled to get the news...  CAPTURE THE FLAG is the first in a three-book mystery series with Scholastic. It’s about three kids whose families are part of a secret society to protect the world’s artifacts. They’re snowed in at a Washington, D.C. airport when they realize that the giant flag that inspired “The Star Spangled Banner “ has been stolen from the Smithsonian Museum of American History and might be there at the airport with them — and with the bad guys who stole it! They have a great adventure, racing all over the snowed-in airport, down the luggage chutes, riding conveyer belts all over the underbelly of the airport, trying to track down the flag. This was such a fun book to write, and so were its two sequels.

The second book, HIDE AND SEEK, came out in April, and it follows the Silver Jaguar Society to the rainforest of Costa Rica to track down an ancient society artifact that’s gone missing.

The third book, MANHUNT, is due out in May of 2014, and this book features an international heist that sends the kids investigating underneath the streets of two amazing cities — Boston and Paris!

Lee:  How long have you been involved with SCBWI, and can you share what you feel you've gained by being a member?

Kate:  I’ve been a member of SCBWI since 2007, and while I absolutely love the craft workshops at all the conferences I’ve attended, the absolute best thing about this community is the people. SCBWI members are amazing mentors for one another — something that’s so important in this field. I’ve never met a group of people more willing to share of their time and talents to help others along on the journey.

Lee:  Do you have any advice to share with other children's book writers and illustrators?

Kate:  I think the best advice I could offer to other children’s book writers and illustrators is to focus on the joy of the work first. This business can be so tough sometimes, for both published and pre-published writers, that it’s easy to feel all muddled up and frustrated. But for me, losing myself in story is always the antidote to that. Get writing — get drawing — and play, instead of worrying so much about the editors and agents and reviewers. You’ll find the joy that made you want to do this in the first place, and your creative work will shine as a result. 

Great advice!

I also connected with Nancy Castaldo, New York Eastern Upstate's Regional Advisor, to find out more about their region and Kate's win...

The Eastern New York SCBWI region is extremely active, with just over 300 creative members. We are located just north of New York City and stretch up the Hudson Valley all the way to the Canadian border. We offer a variety of workshops, retreats and conferences, including our ever popular annual Falling Leaves retreat held in the beautiful Adirondack Mountains. With our close proximity to publishers in New York and Boston, we are able to host a number of editors to our events each year. In addition, we have very active monthly Shoptalk meetings throughout the region. In fact, it was at one of our meetings that I got to know Kate Messner. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of presenting her with her first Crystal Kite and am looking forward to presenting her with her second. Kate has always been a strong supporter of SCBWI and, in fact, helped organize our first Shoptalk meeting in the Plattsburgh area. It is wonderful to see her rewarded for her writing.

To learn more about Kate, visit her website here.

And for more information on SCBWI New York: Eastern Upstate, check out their region's website.

Thanks to Kate and Nancy, and cheers to Kate on her Crystal Kite Award for "Capture The Flag!"

Illustrate and Write On,
Lee

The 2012 Golden Kite Award Interviews: Kate Messner (Picture Book Text for "Over And Under The Snow")

Kate Messner is the winner of the 2012 Golden Kite Award for Picture Book Text for Over and Under The Snow.

Here's a peek at Kate's first few lines - an opening to a story that captivated her agent, her editor, the Golden Kite Award Picture Book Text Judges, and Readers everywhere:

Over the snow I glide.  Into woods, frosted fresh and white.
Over the snow, a flash of fur--a red squirrel disappears down a crack.
"Where did he go?"
"Under the snow," Dad says.  "Under the snow is a whole secret kingdom, where the smallest forest animals stay safe and warm.  You're skiing over them now."

Lee:  Hi Kate, thanks so much for finding the time to chat!  You were recently out in California as a speaker at this year's TED Conference in Long Beach - before I ask about Over and Under the Snow, I have to know - what was your TED talk on?

Kate: It was about imagination and world building - the video isn't posted online yet, but you can read a summary on the TED blog here.

Lee: A preview of your Golden Kite Award acceptance speech, perhaps?

Kate: Well, maybe not. My TED talk grew out of my latest book - a fast-paced futuristic weather novel called Eye Of The Storm.  Over and Under the Snow is a book that grew out of a different part of me - the part that needs to spend quiet time in the woods and wonder.

Lee: I like how you put that - how books grow out of different parts of ourselves. And in terms of "growing," your brief bio on the back flap of Over And Under The Snow says that you wrote the first draft "on a bumpy school bus, returning from a snowshoe field trip in the Adirondacks." What number draft ended up getting published?

Kate: I was just looking to see if I could find the answer to that buried on my hard drive.... I couldn't say for sure, but it wasn't the first or second or third or even eighth draft. It's funny - I did write the book on the back of an attendance sheet, back when I was teaching, and I'd been on a snowshoeing and animal tracking field trip with my 7th grade students in the Adirondacks. We'd spotted these tiny tracks that disappeared at the edge of a hole in the snow, and our guide whispered, "Look! There's been a visitor from the subnivean zone!" I fell in mad love with that word -- subnivean, which means under the snow -- and couldn't stop thinking about what was happening under my feet the whole rest of the trip. So that first draft came quickly - but I worked over many drafts of this book with my editor at Chronicle, Melissa Manlove, who pushed me to go beyond that initial sense of wonder and woods-magic to really look at connections between the world of the child and the world of the animals living beneath her skis.

Lee: The language you use in the book is so lyrical – do you think of picture book writing as similar to writing poetry or lyrics?

Kate: Very much so, and I am a poet at heart. When I was eleven, my family moved to the country, and there was this foot bridge out back that led over a creek to the woods. I used to sit out there with my notebook, writing poems about the rush of the water and the colors of the goldenrod. I loved choosing words and still do. And I think that's something that picture books and poetry have in common. Every word matters so much, and together they create a kind of music.

Lee: It makes me think of dance, how when it's really well done, it seems effortless!

Kate: Exactly! But in fact, I find picture books to be incredibly challenging to write. When I'm working on a novel and I feel stuck, I can always change gears and switch to a different chapter or scene. Picture books are so short - so concentrated - that their flaws are always staring you in the face as you write.

Lee: There is a very extensive author’s note (four pages!) with lots of additional information about “the secret kingdom under the snow” and the animals who live there. It’s like the non-fiction companion piece to the story. Was that always part of your vision for the book?

Kate: The author's note wasn't part of the original story, but it made perfect sense to me when my agent Jennifer Laughran and editor Melissa Manlove suggested that we include it. And I'm so glad that we did - so many teachers have told me that Over And Under The Snow has launched their classes into wonderful discussions and discoveries of what animals do in winter, and the nonfiction piece at the end has a lot to do with that.

Lee: You’ve published teen novels, a chapter book, and this is your second picture book. Do you have a master strategy of what you’re working on and what order you send out manuscripts in terms of aiming to build a following or a “brand” in one age-bracket or genre, or is it more about following your inspiration?

Kate: Oh...this is a hard question because I'm not a big fan of the word "brand." It makes me feel like Coke or Pepsi or something, and tying my whole identity to a product -- even when that product is books, which I love -- doesn't work for me. Here's the thing... When I signed with my literary agent, we had a long talk about the writing career that I hoped to have, and I shared with her that in my personal world, a literary role model looked more like Jane Yolen than Stephenie Meyer. That's not to take anything away from Meyer or other authors who have made their names with one kind of hugely successful book. In fact, J.K. Rowling wrote my favorite books of all time. But that's not who I am as a writer or as a person, and I knew that my writing career would need to honor all the different pieces of me if it was going to be a happy one. I'm interested in SO many different things, and I feel connected -- still -- to books that I read when I was four, and books that I read when I was nine, and books that I read when I was twelve. At my core, I'm a writer who needs to create different kinds of books for kids of different ages, and I'm so, so grateful that I've been able to do that. So no... other than writing the books that I have under contract to meet my deadlines, I don't write in order or to build a brand. I write for me and for kids. That said, my agent does offer me lots of guidance to make sure I don't get too scattered!

Lee: That's a great exercise for all of us writers, to consider who are our literary role models... It's also a pretty awesome segue to my next question, since SCBWI is where we get to meet so many of our literary role models! How long have you been a member of SCBWI? Can you share how that's helped you on your career journey?

Kate: Absolutely - I attended my first SCBWI Conference (New England) in 2007, several months before my first book came out from a tiny regional press. I was overwhelmed and clueless and completely star struck by the writers I saw when I got there. I'd been thinking about starting a blog, so I had been reading other writer blogs, and in the hallway, I recognized Loree Griffin Burns, who wrote Tracking Trash. I really wanted to say hello, so I took a deep breath and introduced myself and explained that I'd read her blog (a fact which floored her...I think most of us secretly believe we're only writing to our moms). Since then, Loree has become a critique partner as well as someone I count as a wonderful, true friend. And I think that's the greatest gift I've gotten from SCBWI. I've learned things at the workshops, for sure, and I've met some editors and agents. But for me, SCBWI has been less about making contacts than about making friends. I remember coming home from my first conference and sharing with my husband how incredible it had been. "These are my people," I told him. And they truly are. I have so many cherished friendships that started with hallway conversations at SCBWI conferences.

Lee: Yes, that sense of "tribe" is so important and powerful. You were instrumental in coordinating a lot of Skype Author visits - not just for yourself but for many other authors - for World Read Aloud Day 2012 just last week. Can you tell us how that went?

Kate: Oh, it was so much fun! From early morning to late in the day, you could watch the excitement from both authors and educators on Twitter. Things like "Just Skyped with some terrific third graders in Wisconsin!" or "Our students loved Skyping with @erindealey - such great ideas about writing!" As a former English teacher, I know how valuable and meaningful those real-world connections are for students, especially in this age of standardized testing. And for authors, it's so much fun, too - talking with kids is just the best.

Lee: That level of community involvement and organizing takes an enormous amount of time and energy. Beyond helping a great cause, are there benefits to being involved that other writers (and illustrators) for children and teens should consider?

Kate: Well, sure. Doing good work in the worlds that support your books (schools, libraries, independent bookstores) is the best kind of PR. I've seen so many authors & illustrators beating themselves up over what to do to promote this book or that book when really, so much of a title's success is out of our hands once the writing and illustrating is done. I think the best advice is to be connected -- have real conversations with people online -- and try to use your powers for good, however you can.

Lee: I love that: "try to use your powers for good, however you can." Like a superhero manifesto for all of us! My last question goes back to your Golden Kite win. What advice would you share with other writers who are working on picture books?

Kate: It's simple. If you want to write picture books, write them. Whether you are feeling inspired or not. Some of them will be awful, and this is okay. Don't send them out. Let them live their lives out quietly on your hard drive, and learn from them. Some of them will be good. Revise these. Work on them. Share them and get feedback. But if you don't make it a point to write picture books, you...won't write picture books. I learned this from my editor Melissa as we were talking down the hall of one of those big conferences...IRA or NCTE... a few years ago. I'd been lamenting the fact that for me, picture books either seemed to fall from the sky as gifts -- or not. And if they didn't, I couldn't really just sit down to write them. "Do you think most picture book authors feel that way?" I thought she'd say yes and validate my fatalistic little idea. But she didn't. She told me that most successful picture book authors she knew made it a point to try writing lots and lots of picture books -- bad ones, even -- and made it a point to come up with new ideas even when ideas didn't fall out of the sky. And then, as they did this, they got better and better at it. I nodded - and on the plane home from that conference, I sat for two hours and brainstormed picture book ideas. A dozen of them were rotten and awful and dumb. One of them wasn't, and Melissa bought it this fall. It was a great lesson for me and one that I'm happy to pass along.

Lee: Great story, and wonderful advice. Thanks, Kate. And Congratulations again on winning the Golden Kite Award for picture book text for Over And Under The Snow!

Kate: Thanks so much!!

You can find out more about Kate and her books at her website here.

BREAKING NEWS: The 2012 Golden Kite Award Winners and the 2012 Sid Fleischman Award Winner!

The Golden Kite Awards are given each year to the most outstanding children’s books published during the previous year, and written or illustrated by members of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Four panels of three judges each (one panel for each category, consisting of author or illustrator members of SCBWI whose own works are that of the category being judged), award the titles they feel exhibit excellence in writing or illustration, and that genuinely appeal to the interests and concerns of children.

This year's winners (for books published in 2011) are...

 *drumroll*

The 2012 Golden Kite Award For Fiction goes to "Between Shades Of Gray" by Ruta Sepetys (Philomel, Penguin Group USA)

Ruta Sepetys’ first novel, Between Shades of Gray tells the harrowing story of Lina, a young Lithuanian girl fighting for her life and the honor of her family during the Soviet cleansing of the Baltic region in 1941. The daughter of a Lithuanian refugee herself, Sepetys wrote this book in hopes of shedding light on the hundreds of thousands of people who lost their lives during this tragic time. Readers will be inspired by Lina’s strength of spirit and devotion to her family and moved by Sepetys’ heartfelt gift for storytelling.


The 2012 Golden Kite Award For Non-Fiction goes to "Amelia Lost: The Life And Disappearance Of Amelia Earhart" by Candace Fleming (Schwartz & Wade, Random House)

Alternating chapters between Amelia’s childhood and her life as a flyer, Fleming captures the drama and detail (Amelia liked to eat tomato soup while flying) of Earhart’s life with suspense and enthusiasm. Maps, handwritten notes and photos further highlight the remarkable journey of one of America’s most celebrated women.


The 2012 Golden Kite Award for Picture Book Text goes to "Over And Under The Snow" by Kate Messner, Illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal (Chronicle Books)

Exploring the enchanted lives of animals that survive winter underground, Kate Messner’s vivid imageries and delicate prose glide us along a whimsical journey of a father and son as they ski through the forest and discover the hidden, sometimes secret existence of the animals that inhabit the cold season.


The 2012 Golden Kite Award for Picture Book Illustration goes to "Balloons Over Broadway" by Melissa Sweet (Houghton Mifflin)

Using handmade toys and puppets, watercolor illustrations, and collages made from old books, found objects and fabrics, Caldecott Honoree Melissa Sweet’s charming images are fluently united to help tell the story of Tony Sarg, the original puppeteer of the Macy’s Day Parade.


The Golden Kite Awards will be presented to the winners on Sunday, August 5th at the Golden Kite Luncheon, the centerpiece event of SCBWI’s 41st Annual Conference on Writing and Illustrating for Children, taking place August 3-6, 2012 in Los Angeles, California.

Also presented at that Luncheon is The 2012 Sid Fleischman Award For Humor, for authors whose work exemplifies excellence in the genre of humor, a category so often overlooked by other award committees in children’s literature.

And the 2012 Sid Fleischman Award For Humor goes to "The Fourth Stall" by Chris Rylander (HarperCollins)

Imagination and quirk lend itself to this hilarious story of friendship and adventure as we follow two middle school boys who will stop at nothing to fix your problem and learn a few lessons along the way.


There are also four 2012 Golden Kite Honor Recipients:

For Fiction, "Words In The Dust" by Trent Reedy (Arthur A. Levine Books, Scholastic)

For Non-Fiction, "Mysterious Bones: The Story of Kennewick Man" by Katherine Kirkpatrick, Illustrated by Emma Stevenson (Holiday House)

For Picture Book Text: "These Hands" by Margaret H. Mason, Illustrated by Floyd Cooper (Houghton Mifflin Books For Children)

 For Picture Book Illustration: "Follow Me" By Tricia Tusa (Harcourt Children's Books)


Congratulations to all the winners!

Crystal Kite Winner Interview Week: Kate Messner, SUGAR AND ICE

Today's winner interview is with Kate Messner, whose book SUGAR AND ICE won the 2011 Crystal Kite Award for the New York region. To learn more about today's award-winning author, visit her website or follow her on Twitter.

Please tell my readers a little about your winning book.

To be honest, the inspiration for SUGAR AND ICE came while I was supposed to be revising my first novel, THE BRILLIANT FALL OF GIANNA Z. My daughter was signed up for a figure skating day camp at the Olympic Center in Lake Placid. Neither she nor I realized how serious some of the attendees would be about skating, and I’d been planning to work on my revision while she skated. However, it turned out that when I signed her up for camp, I’d also signed myself up for a figure skating parent education program. (This is why you should always read the fine print.)

I spent two days listening to a parade of experts talk about everything from thousand dollar blades to sewing sequins. One of the speakers was a sports psychologist who talked about how she works with skaters to make sure the competitive nature of the sport doesn’t become unhealthy, and she got me thinking. What a great world this would be for a novel! I started taking notes and brainstorming for SUGAR AND ICE that day, and the book came out two and a half years later. It’s about a figure skater from a small-town maple farm who earns a scholarship to train with the elite in Lake Placid, but when she starts training, she realizes that her sweet dream-come-true has some more sharp edges than she could have imagined.

How does it feel to receive an award voted on by your peers? What does this award mean to you?

This award just means the world to me. I know how hard SCBWI members work on craft, and when you’re serious about writing, you pay attention to craft in every book you read. The fact that my colleagues chose SUGAR AND ICE as a book that they’d hold up for this honor is absolutely overwhelming. I’m humbled, delighted, and grateful.

How long have you been a member of SCBWI and to what degree are you involved? How has your SCBWI membership been helpful to your career?

I’ve been a member of SCBWI almost 10 years and have enjoyed a number of regional conferences, first as an attendee and later as a member of the faculty.

I think SCBWI--or really any vehicle for bringing writers together to share ideas on craft and support one another--is incredibly valuable. Some of the people I met at my very first SCBWI conference have become close friends.

What will we see from your next?

This is a busy spring for me--May 1st brought the release of MARTY MCGUIRE, the first in my new chapter book series with Scholastic. My first picture book, SEA MONSTER’S FIRST DAY, is coming out with Chronicle. And I’ve also written a book for teachers and writers called REAL REVISION: AUTHORS’ STRATEGIES TO SHARE WITH STUDENT WRITERS. It pulls back the curtain on the revision processes of more than 40 published authors and provides dozens of manageable revision strategies for writers of all ages to use with pieces of their own.