Award-winning author Hetherington sponsors the Crosley Word Contest

Sands Hetherington majored in history at the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill) and has an M.F.A. in creative writing and an M.A. in English from UNC-Greensboro.  He raised his son John as a single parent. During those formative years, Sands read to his young son every night. As a result, he and John developed the Crosley crocodile character in the Night Buddies series of chapter books. Sands Hetherington credits his son John for being his principal motivator. 

Sands shares the story of winning the Next Generation Indie Book Award and invites kids to participate in the Crosley Word Contest: 

It was a Monday, or it may as well have been because I was feeling lousy due to the spring pollen. I dreaded getting out of bed and handling all of the business I had to face, including clearing a steamer trunk full of e-mails, which I had been especially dreading.

I’m glad I decided to tackle the e-mails first. After clearing off seven or eight humdrum communications, there was the announcement! Night Buddies and the Pineapple Cheesecake Scare, my first book in the Night Buddies series, had been awarded Winner of the 2013 Next Generation Indie Book Awards in the Children’s/Juvenile Fiction category. It couldn’t have come at a better time!

My allergies cleared up (for the rest of the day anyway), and I went about my other business with energy I hadn’t had in years. It reminded me of two incidents: one was when General Grant received General Lee’s offer to discuss peace terms, and Grant’s migraine instantly cleared up, and the other was when W. B. Yeats heard about his Nobel Prize in the middle of the night and got out of bed and cooked sausages. I usually do cereal in the morning, but I did have one Italian sausage left over from the night before, so I went and fried it up as a celebratory gesture.

Then I thanked John and Crosley for their part. They are the main characters in the stories I created with my son John, when he was a young lad. Kids love the books, and it’s all the more gratifying to get this kind of recognition from my peers in the publishing community. Creating memorable characters is a main goal in writing these Adventures After Lights Out. Night Buddies, Impostors, and One Far-Out Flying Machine is the second book, recently released.

I’m now writing the third book in the series, and if you’d like to get in on the action, Crosley has a contest going on. It’s what he calls the Night Buddies Adventure Series Wacky Word contest. Winner #1 will receive a $25 gift card to a bookstore of their choice & both titles signed by yours truly. Four runners up get prizes too. And who knows? The winning words could end up in my next book!  
Visit this link to participate: http://familiesmatter2us.blogspot.com. 
You might want to have some sausages on hand, just in case!

For more information on author Sands Hetherington, go to www.nightbuddiesadventures.com

Like our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/nightbuddies

Little Glitches

Recently, I searched for a graduation card that I had squirreled away.  With graduation fast approaching, I wanted to wrap my daughter's gift and add the card.  But the card was nowhere to be found.  I searched the  basket where cards are always kept.  I rifled through the stack three times, but without any luck.  The card had disappeared.  I was crushed. No other one would do.  It was after all, the perfect card.

This little glitch was ruining my day.  I questioned why this had happened.  Finally, after realizing that complaining about it wasn't going to help me find it, I accepted the fact that losing the card was meant to be.  The solution:  to drive back to Target with the hope that an identical card would still be available.  Since I was hell-bent on finding the exact card, I dashed out that very day to buy one.  While I rushed out, I decided I would make the most of my time.  I'd run two errands: one to Target and the other to Macy’s, located just a few minutes away.

"Look out world. Here you come!"

Luckily I found the exact same graduation card.  Perfect!  Amazing!  Unbelievable!  Then I drove over to Macy’s to make a return.  On my way out, I noticed the shoe saleslady who frequently waits on me.  Over time we had gotten to know each other. On the occasions that she fitted me for shoes, she'd often talk about her son's health.  So before rushing back to my car, I stopped to ask about him. She shared with me that he would be needing major surgery soon.  I listened quietly as she described what would be involved.  Before leaving, I told her I’d keep him in my prayers and for this, she hugged and thanked me.

I firmly believe things happen for a reason.  When the graduation card was lost, it put me on the path to connect with an acquaintance who needed some support.  I adopt this belief to my writing as well.  When I get a rejection I try to remember this was meant to be.  I tell myself to consider editing my work or to start searching for another market.  Rejections are little glitches, that if I let them, can ruin my day.  But when I remember there’s probably a good reason for a rejection, then I can move on and focus on what is supposed to happen because of it.

DitzAbled Princess

The Children's Writer's World invites Jewel Kats to share the inspiration behind her new book.

Everything starts off as an idea.

E-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g.

Webcomics are no different.

There’s a tale behind the popular reality-series webcomic, “DitzAbled Princess,” and graphic novel that features the same “cast” of characters.  This story involves inspiration, needs, and wants.

Here’s the back story…

I’ve always been a comic strip junkie. I can’t run anymore, but I’ll grab the funny pages faster than you can blink. As a kid, I spent hours reading Archie comics as an in-patient at The Hospital for Sick Children. I reached for “Betty and Veronica Double Digests” during my bout with anorexia and depression. I turned to comics during my divorce. In short, comics have given me the will to live at times.

Now, the idea for “DitzAbled Princess” came during a happy time in my life. (Thankfully, this period has lasted!) I was engaged to my second husband, Alan, when the idea struck. Our conversation has almost become legendary.

It goes like this…

“You’re always reading ‘Betty and Veronica Double Digests’,” Alan once said. “You’re such a funny character in real life. Why don’t you try writing a comic strip?”

These three sentences changed my life.

I never told him this, but I immediately knew that I wanted to write about the present. Sadness hung over me for so long, and I wanted to finally record my joys. I also knew women like me—chicks with disabilities—failed to appear in the mainstream comic strip market. I wanted to change that. Pronto. 

Confession: I just never knew that “DitzAbled Princess” would take off this way.

I attribute the success of “DitzAbled Princess” to the lacking presence of a female comic character with physical disabilities. The fact that “DitzAbled Princess” is a reality-series webcomic based on real everyday people only heightens its appeal. (Who doesn’t want to be a guilt-free peeping Tom?)

I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again. It really boggles my mind why this has never been done before. C’mon it’s 2013! People with disabilities have existed since the beginning of humankind. It’s about time someone included a “DitzAbled Princess” strip in their lineup.

Our webcomic publisher, Tapastic.com, has taken a lead. Our graphic novel publisher, Marvelous Spirit Press, is playing its vital part.  Now, it’s YOUR turn to be a pioneer, and take in the world of “DitzAbled Princess.”

Remember, everything starts off as an idea.

E-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g.

Webcomic and graphic novel reading is no different.   

Andy Smithson: Blast of the Dragon's Fury

The Children's Writer's World invites L.R.W. Lee to share the inspiration behind her new book.

From my earliest memory, I’ve always wanted to write a children’s novel that was multi-layered with a complex story line.  But I wanted to do more than this.  I wanted to leave my readers with a narrative that could improve their lives as well. 

I well remember the first time I read C. S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia.  It was an almost magical experience for me.  I was fascinated by the land and all the characters and how they got into a strange, but wonderful world.  Narnia was more than that for me though.  Running through the story was another narrative, one of redemption.  Aslan was a depiction of Jesus.  The Stone Table that was rent in two when Alsan was slain on it was just like the veil of the Temple that was torn in two when Jesus died.  And there was so much more.  I loved the two levels of meaning…I was hooked! 

Since then, I have read J. R. R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings and many other similarly styled narratives.  I love the complexity and multiple story layers; this general form fascinated me.  I assessed I was up for the challenge.  But, what message should be included to potentially improve my reader’s lives?

I puzzled with this question for many years.  Only while I was working with a mentor growing a company did I arrive at a satisfactory conclusion.  My mentor is a man of integrity and ethics.  I learned from him many lessons including overcoming frustration, impatience, fear and many more.  As I embodied these, my life became more peaceful and enjoyable.  I wanted to share.

Taking these elements and coupling them with my love of the mystery of castles with hidden tunnels and more, Andy Smithson was born.

How to Get Published in Highlights

Over the years, I’ve come close to being published in Highlights, having received personalized letters that read "keep writing" or "we have a similar piece on hand."  But I never received an acceptance letter—until this year.  This year!  It finally happened!  My article "How Penguins Pair Up" will be published this year in Highlights.

So, what made the difference?  I count five things:  performing outstanding research, finding a unique topic, researching and writing quickly (without sacrificing quality), finding great quotes, and adding drama.

Outstanding research means using primary sources.  That means avoiding encyclopedias or Wikipedia. Primary sources are first-hand accounts like newspapers, journals,  diaries, and interviews.  Reliable sources also include Internet website addresses that end in .org or .edu.

Unique topics can be found online in scientific news journals or even in local newspapers. Be persistent and check these sources daily.  Once you've found your topic, it's crucial to conduct your research as quickly as possible.  Once, I had researched and written about singing mice.  Unfortunately, this topic (as rare as it seemed to me) had been covered and had been already accepted by Highlights.  I was shocked.  Someone had beaten me to the punch.  

Besides working quickly, be sure to spice up a nonfiction article with amazing quotes.  The best way to do so that is to interview an expert.  First, become  familiar with the scientist's research so that you can ask thoughtful questions.  Also, when composing the questionnaire, think about the kinds of questions that kids would ask.  Then insert those quotes with balance throughout the article to clarify points or to liven up the piece. 

What's next?  Dramatic action!  You've got to hook kids right from the start.  So, start with a scene that paints the picture.  Write in present tense.  Use short sentences to create suspense.  For instance my article for Highlights begins in the ocean depths as a hungry leopard seal awaits to attack an unsuspecting penguin.  This dramatic action scene pulls the audience right smack into the article. 

It had taken me years to figure out the formula to getting published in one of the best loved children's magazines.  So, let's review.  Outstanding research + a unique topic + researching and writing quickly (without rushing quality)  + finding great quotes + adding drama = can you say, acceptance?  I thought you could.

A Passion for Animals

Author Sarah Sauer shares the inspiration behind her new book
What Do You See When You Look At Me?

When I was little, I dreamed of owning my own horse and being a vet at a zoo. I loved animals and I felt a special connection to them. However, all that changed suddenly when I was diagnosed, at age seven, with brain cancer.

During my chemo, radiation treatments, and rehab, I looked to  my animals for comfort and strength. When I couldn’t walk, my parents took me to hippotherapy and I felt freedom and hope while I was riding on the horse. Eventually, I got my own horse. In fact, in order to get me to cooperate during my treatment, my parents promised me a new animal for our barn after each treatment cycle.

It was when I feeling sad because the treatments hurt, I couldn’t go to school and be with my friends, and I lost all of my hair that I turned to my animals. They would quietly come up to me and comfort me. Somehow they just knew. My horse would nuzzle me, my llama would give me kisses, and my dog would lick the tears from my face. They did not care that I couldn’t walk or that had no hair. They just loved me for who I am. They loved me unconditionally. But after my treatment was over, I was worried that my animals would not recognize me without my hat!

Even though I knew my dream of being a vet was over, I would not let go of my dream of working with animals. I volunteered at the Louisville Zoo, but soon learned that because of my limitations, I really could not be a zoo keeper. So, after a lot of thinking, praying, and discussions with my family and teachers, I realized that I could combine my love and passion for animals with my love of talking to young children about animals. I enjoyed when the kids would come to the petting zoo and I could teach them about the tortoise, donkey, and goats. I wanted young children to feel the same love and respect I have for animals. I hoped that they would grow up and want to be protectors and supporters of animals and nature.

My passion for animals began at an early age.  When I was about five-years old, my parents gave me my first disposable camera. They asked my sisters and me to take photos while we were on vacation. When we got the film developed, all my pictures were of dogs, birds, and any other animal I saw!

It was during my high school photography class that I learned of and developed my photography skills. My teacher, Ms. Iles told me that she saw a talent in me to tell stories through my pictures. So when I was given an assignment in my early childhood class to create a project that would show my goals in my chosen profession, I turned to my animal photos and decided to put together a children’s book that would show the beauty of each animal.

I want to teach children to look at each animal and see more than just an animal—to see the detail, the wonder, and the emotion of each animal. And so, I now have my first children’s book, What Do You See When You Look at Me? I hope that when children look at and read my book, they will come to look closely at all animals and develop a love and appreciation for all of God’s creation.

Twenty-five Top Picture Books

Scholastic asked more than 200 teachers, children’s authors, and children’s literature experts to name the best picture books ever.   Below is the list of their choices.  Did your favorites make the list? Read on to see.

1. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. For grades Pre-K -3.

2. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. For grades Pre-K -2.

3. The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg. For grades K- 5.

4. Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown. For grades PreK - 2.

5. Love You Forever by Robert Munsch. For grades K - 3. 

6.  The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. For grades 2 - 5.

7. Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig. For grades K -5.

8.  Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans. For grades K - 5. 

9.  The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton. For grades 1 - 4.  

10. Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey. For grades PreK - 2.  

11. The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats. For grades K - 4.  

12. Stellaluna by Janell Cannon. For grades K - 3.  

13.  If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff. For grades PreK - 2.  

14.  The Other Side by Jacqueline Woodson. For grades 1 - 4.  

15.  Owl Moon by Jane Yolen. For grades 1 - 5.

16.  The Snowman by Raymond Briggs. For grades PreK - 2.  

17. The Mysteries of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg. For grades 2 - 6.  

18. Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey. For grades K - 3.  

19.  Skippy Jon Jones by Judy Schachner. For grades 1 - 4.

20.  No, David! by David Shannon. For grades K - 4.  

21. The Keeping Quilt by Patricia Polacco. For grades K -3.  

22. The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper. For grades PreK - 3.  

23.  The Mitten by Jan Brett. For grades K - 4.  

24.  Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss. For grades PreK - 3.  

25.  Curious George by Margret Ray. For grades PreK - 2.

For descriptions of each book, please see:  http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/teachers-picks-top-25-picture-books