No questions again, just a twist on my last post. I could only choose books that fit the 12 Days of Christmas theme. I realized with some authors you’d missed their best work. This post will give you three of their latest, most popular books. It may be too late for Christmas, but it’s never too late for a good book! Michelle Houts was my second Christmas author. She gives me hope. When I met Michelle, her first book was out, and she was trying to publish her second. She did, and it’s her most popular title. Winterfrost is what happens to a Danish family when they overlook an important folklore tradition. When Grandma Gatewood Took a Hike is the true story of Emma Gatewood. She was the 1st woman to hike the Applachian Trail. Solo! Lucy’s Lab #3, The Colossal Fossil Fiasco is her 3rd book in the series. It’s coming out Feb. 6, 2018. I can’t wait! My 3rd Christmas author is Darcy Pattison. In the last year she filled my writing tool kit with editing skills. I’ve written reviews for both Sleepers and Nefertiti (picture). Nefertiti is the true story of a jumping spider who learned to hunt in space, without gravity. Sleepers is a 4 book series about an alien teen who’s trying to save his planet, and learn to live on earth. The Nantucket Sea Monster is a true story about fake news, back in the day, in 1937. Some things don’t change! Kell the Alien is another 4 book series. It’s hard enough to be the new kid in 3rd grade, but imagine trying do it and keep your alien identity a secret! Dandi Daley Mackall is my 4th Christmas author. SCBWI made it possible for my words to be reviewed by an author of nearly 500 books. My Boyfriends’ Dog became a Hallmark movie. The Legend of St. Nicholas is his story, with a few Father Christmas traditions from other lands. Wild Thing, Winnie the Horse Gentler #1 is about a tween, learning to gentle a horse, and trust in God again. Dandi has 8 books in this series, and many more horse books. With Love, Where Ever You Are is the story of Dandi’s parents. Their marriage survived a whirlwind courtship, assignments on the front lines of WWII, with only letters for communication. My 5th Christmas author is Laurie Knowlton. She’s so kind that when I sent congratulations on her newest book, she asked about my character Poppy. Laurie’s fun too. Kids and I love Pirates Don’t Say Please, but they just might in her book. Maple Syrup from the Sugar House is her newest story of how Kelsey and her family make maple syrup. Monster Cake comes out Feb.1, 2018. I can’t wait! Mariah’s setting up a party for monsters and needs the perfect cake, with monstrous ingredients, and fractions for good measure. Christmas author #6 is Leslie Helakoski. Her advice made cutting a 600-word manuscript in half easy. Doggone Feet! is life from a dog’s point of view, and how it changes as a family grows. Hoot and Honk is her latest. Two chicks hatch in the wrong nest and somehow find their way home. Coming soon is Willbur’s sequel. Ready or Not, Woolbur Goes to School comes out June 19, 2018. It’s so new the cover isn’t out. I wonder how the lamb who marches to his own beat, can fit in at school. Bruce Hale is my 7th author of Christmas. Kids in K-2 are excited to learn I’ve met Clark the Shark’s author. Bruce is a BIG deal! He writes other books like The Big Bad Detective Agency. Wolf and the 4th pig work together to prove Wolf’s innocence when his brothers, the 3 pigs, charge him with destroying their homes. The Invasion of the Scorp-lions is his latest book, 3rd in the Monstertown series. When a classmate falls into a coma, 2 boys must discover if ghosts are responsible, and, how to exterminate them. His newest series, Class Pets, comes out June 26, 2018. In #1 Fuzzy’s Great Escape, Fuzzy takes the class pets on a field trip to help his run for class president. I love that Bruce’s stories can range from silly to strange to spooky, all in 1 plot. The 8th author of Christmas is Lisa Amstutz. In writing this post and the last one, I discovered Lisa is the queen of nonfiction. If you need a resource, check out Lisa’s books. Applesauce Day is her latest. It’s the nonfiction story of making applesauce, only with a fictional family. The next 2 books come out on New Year’s Day, but you can preorder them now. Fish is part of a new nonfiction series called Our Pets. Each pet book will tell you about their appearance and behavior, and why each one makes a great pet. NASA and the Astronauts will explore the quest to send humans into outer space. Readers will learn about the people and technologhy that make space exploration possible. I wish I were still teaching, I’d buy Lisa’s books! Debbie Dadey is the 9th author of Christmas. Her books were a big part of my chapter book collection, now my daughter’s. I can’t believe I met her, or that I’m part of her critique group. Vampires Don’t Wear Polka Dots was the 1st Bailey School book. You might not recognize it with a new cover. The 4 main characters got rid of so many teachers that Bailey School went to the Transvanian Alps to find Mrs. Jeepers. #5 Ghosts Don’t Eat Potato Chips has an updated cover too. Ghosts don’t eat the chips. They use them to write clues. Librarians told Debbie her books were the most stolen/never-returned books in the library. That’s success! Fairy Chase is the 18th book in the Mermaid Tales series. It comes out May 29th of 2019. I can’t wait to find out whether fairies are real, or not. The 10th author of Christmas is Lisa Wheeler. Kids love her dino books, and, they’re impressed to discover I’ve met her. She’s a big deal in K-2! Dino-Dancing is her latest dino book. She also has another Christmas book, Where, Oh Where, Is Santa Claus. It’s all about when the unthinkable happens…Santa disappears. Her newest book, People Don’t Bite People, comes out April 3, 2018. If you have a biter, it’s the perfect book for your family. Lisa is the Queen of Dinosaurs, and Great Rhyme! Bernette Ford is the 11th author of Christmas, and my 1st reviewer. It was 2009. I’d just finished my 1st book and taken it as far as possible with teacher friends. I didn’t think it was ready, and I was so right! I went to the Chautauqua Highlights Conference with Bernette as my reader. I am so grateful her kindness, and good advice. She told me what was “good” about my story, and what needed work. She also told me how to get better. Priceless! I still have her autographed copy of No More Diapers for Ducky! No self-respecting 2nd grader would touch it, but maybe someday, a grandchild will, I hope! She also has No More Hitting for Little Hamster! and No More Biting for Billy Goat! These are topics that are important to preschoolers and their parents. The 12th author of Christmas is Tedd Arnold. I met him during a school visit. He never looked at my writing, but gave me a great tip, go to Chautauqua. It was the best thing I ever did! I ran into Tedd and his wife and got a hug. I love telling kids I’ve been hugged by Fly Guy’s author! Parts is about a boy who’s afraid his parts are coming unglued. The horror of loosing teeth! Fly Guy Presents Sharks is the newest entry into his nonfiction series. Fly Guy and the Alienzz, #18, comes out April 24, 2018. Fly Guy’s planning a movie about aliens, but he gets captured by them instead. I hope he escapes! My 13th and final Christmas author is Nancy Poydar. She was the 1st author who thought I could write. We were walking through the cafeteria during her school visit, and the kids burst into spontaneous applause. I’ve never seen that, before or since. Nancy said it could happen to me too. My mouth probably opened wide. I’d never thought of writing, and I was floored, but 16 years later I remember that moment. Words make a difference!
Many of Nancy’s books are out of print, but some are still available like Will there be a Lap for Me? It’s about a little boy whose mom is having a baby. As her lap grows smaller, he wonders if there’ll be room for him. Cool Ali is beating the heat and doing it with chalk drawings. Busy Bea is like me, she’s so busy she forgets and leaves things behind. I need to reread this book.
2 Comments
12/27/2017 05:44:02 pm
Rinda you rock! And yes, you will get published because you have tenacity and talent and Poppi who has a story that needs to be read by children. Blessings sent your way!
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Rinda
12/27/2017 06:11:54 pm
Laurie, great minds think alike...and rock! Thank for such a kind note! Blessings sent back to you!
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AuthorWhen I write, I can only have one voice in my head, mine. A little noise is fine. But too much, or worse yet, WORDS, and I must change rooms or pull out headphones. Then I can write on! Categories
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