Katie's Book Basket - NEST by Esther Ehrlich

It's high time I started blogging again. And what better way than to start with a book? I finished this lovely novel two nights ago. I wish, wish, wish, I wouldn't have read it so fast. Here are some fast facts:

Author - Esther Ehrlich (her first novel, a middle grade)

Setting - Cape Cod

Main Character - Chirp (be ready to fall in love with her)

Chirp's sidekick - Joey (be ready to fall in love with him)

Plot - Chirp's mother is ill, and Joey, Chirp's neighbor, lives in an abusive situation. Together these two tweens navigate difficult times and circumstances, learning the meaning of true friendship along the way.

Why I love this book - Esther's writing is so realistic. It's full of laughter and sadness, both at the same time, just the same as real life. The relationship she develops between Chirp and Joey is perfect. And the relationship between Chirp and her other family members is completely genuine. This is the kind of story you have to keep reading. And once you're done, you just keep thinking about the characters and how the rest of their lives play out.

I'm telling you, this is good, good writing. Thanks, Esther Ehrlich, for a beautiful, touching novel. I look forward to reading your future books!

Thanks for stopping by,

Katie M. 

Highlights Unworkshop Scholarship!

My last post was just over a year ago. If you know me, you know why. Life got a bit crazy for awhile. If you don't know me too well, let's just say life can dramatically change overnight.

But, that doesn't mean I stopped writing! I just didn't have the time to blog about it. Here are some writing updates:

~ In summer 2013, I signed my first book contract with State Standards Publishing. I've written a 4 book series on the geographical regions of Indiana. The books are targeted to a fourth grade level and I'm almost finished with revisions.

~ I took on the position of Assistant Regional Advisor and went to Los Angeles for the annual SCBWI conference.

~ Just last weekend we held our spring Indiana SCBWI conference, which was splendid! No major glitches and I met some wonderfully talented, kind and inspiring faculty and attendees. Here's a selfie I took early the morning I left. I'm never sure where to look when I do a selfie!

~ Perhaps the most exciting writing event happened this week.... My application was selected as the winner for a Highlights Unworkshop Scholarship, offered by an amazingly generous and talented group of writers! You can read about it on Kristy Dempsey's blog http://kristydempsey.wordpress.com/2014/04/15/highlights-unworkshop-scholarship-winner/#comments

My heartfelt thanks to Kristy Dempsey, Loree Griffin Burns, Katy Duffield, Kathy Erskine, Alma Fullerton, Sara Lewis Holmes, Anne Marie Pace, Tanya Goulette Seale, Linda Urban, and Casandra Reigel Whetstone for choosing me to go and believing in my novel!

Thanks for stopping by,
Katie M.

Katie's Book Basket - Prairie Evers

This is my book basket. It sits in the corner of my entryway, corralling my borrowed library books. Even though my books are always returned late (because, really, who can read 20+ books in 2 weeks?) at least the book basket helps me keep track of all the books instead of paying for lost books (because, really, who can keep track of 20+ borrowed books without a dedicated basket for them?). 

I know, stop checking out so many books at once. But, when I walk into the library and see all those glorious books, something comes over me. Anyway, that's for a different day. 

Here's the point. In my book basket is currently a gem of a book. A middle grade novel that I wish I wrote.

Prairie Evers by Ellen Airgood

 I love, love, love this novel. I picked it up and didn't put it down until I was done (so much for dinner that night). And then I felt sad because I read it so fast and it was all over way too quickly. It's one of those books. 

Prairie Evers, the main character, she's a girl with spunk, optimism, and drive. She's the kind of girl you wanted to have as a best friend growing up. Her witty narrative throughout the novel makes each scene come to life and feel so real. I loved the relationship that the author created between Prairie and Ivy, but especially between Prairie and her grammy. Oh, this novel is a dream, and if you've got room in your book basket (or on your bookshelf, or on your nightstand, or wherever) I strongly recommend picking up a copy of Prairie Evers. 

Now, if you know me pretty well and you're looking at the three hens on the front cover of Prairie Evers and thinking, "That's why she loves this book," well, yes, it helps, but it is not the only reason I love this book. It is a well-written delight of a novel, that's why I love this book. 

And if you don't know me that well and you aren't sure why I would be super-excited to see three hens on the front cover of a middle grade novel, you should visit my other blog at http://www.fowlinaround.blogspot.com.

Thanks for stopping by,
Katie M.

Welcome, 2013!

Well, writing friends, we've made it through another year. And as the title of this post suggests, 2013 is a welcome sight, particularly after trudging through the year-end sludge and yuckiness of 2012.

I don't write about 'controversial' topics here. Not because I don't have an opinion (just ask any of my family members, they'll tell you quite the contrary) but because I assume you aren't stopping by to read about my gripes and dislikes. However, I'm going to write about something controversial now as it ties in with my wish for the new year.

The culture and direction our country is headed in scares me more than ever. It worries me for my daughter and generations beyond hers.

The horrendous violence, the unspeakable crimes, and the senseless acts that take precious lives, young and old.

The portrayal of sex in the media. The inability to watch a family-friendly television show in the evening because of the inexcusable t.v. commercials that aren't explainable to an 8 year old.

The mentality of deception and lies as a way to succeed. Look at the recent game show, Take It All. The premise - tell the best lie at the end of the show to get all the money. Greed. Power. Yuck.

I'm not sure when, as a society, this all became 'okay', but what I know is this; it's not okay with me or my family. Here's hoping that 2013 brings with it some decency, common sense, values, morals, compassion and love for each other.

Thanks for stopping by,
Katie M.

2012 Indiana SCBWI Holiday Potluck

Kristi Valiant, our IN-SCBWI Regional Advisor, had a splendid idea that I hope becomes a yearly tradition. She suggested we throw holiday potluck parties for our members across the state. And this past Saturday, I had the pleasure of hosting the potluck for northern Indiana.

Some of us enjoying dinner



The marvelous evening was filled with enriching conversation among dedicated writers, a fantastic spread of tasty holiday fare, and a (rather polite) white elephant gift exchange that left me with an entertaining new fondue pot!

 



Thank you to all who came to this event and made it so magical.

Happy Holidays,
Katie M.

Katie's Friday Finds #5 and Peter Jacobi

My find for this Friday is a book I've known about for years. It was an instant hit when I read it to my fifth grade class and now my daughter loves it, too!

The World According to Humphrey by Betty G. Birney; middle grade fiction
Birney took the ordinary and made it extraordinary by writing this novel about a class pet from the hamster's point of view. You see, Humphrey isn't an ordinary hamster. He's learned to read and uses his tiny notebook and pencil that are hidden behind his mirror to write. When the kids speak to him, he tries to squeak back, but they just can't understand 'hamster'. Not only is the book funny and full of adventure, which will keep a reader's attention, but Birney brings a unique voice to all the characters and tells their stories brilliantly. There are more books in the Humphrey series and I'm thrilled to revisit these books now that my daughter is reading them.

Zionsville Library

Last weekend I attended Indiana SCBWI's autograph party and luncheon event at the library in Zionsville, Indiana. We ate a boxed lunch and listened to Peter Jacobi speak about writing. The event was a few hours long, but I could have listened to him talk all day!

Here's what I loved about Peter's lecture; he was inspirational. There are so many conferences where you listen to a speaker and the talk is all doom and gloom...how hard it is to write children's books, the state of the children's book market, and on and on. A serious writer knows all of this.

I found it refreshing to listen to a well-respected professional in the field tell us that we are warriors, brave, tolerating years of rejection as we hone our craft and still we don't give up. Thank you, Peter Jacobi, for understanding that we know the hardships of writing, and instead of dwelling on that, you gave us solid, useful information on the craft spoken from your heart, encouraging us to reach for excellence.

Here's a picture of our committee with Peter. I'm on the end, in blue jeans. Egads - I didn't plan to have my picture taken. Note to self; even if you're just attending an informal two hour event at a library, dress in slacks. Someone may want to take your picture.

IN-SCBWI Steering Committee and Peter Jacobi 

Thanks for stopping by,
Katie M.

Katie's Friday Finds #4; A Cookbook

I found this book several weeks ago and I love it so much I decided to put it on my Friday Finds list. This is not a children's book, nor is it a novel of any sort. It is a cookbook and it's a fabulous cookbook if you like to use a slow cooker!

Make It Fast, Cook It Slow; The Big Book of Everyday Slow Cooking by Stephanie O'Dea
Five reasons I've fallen in love with this book:
1. The recipes are easy to make and adaptable.
2. There is a huge variety of meal choices and types.
3. The entire book has gluten free options for every meal.
4. The author gives her family's verdict on every meal in the book.
5. Every recipe I've made from the book so far tasted delicious!

If you use a slow cooker, give the recipes in this cookbook a try. I don't think you'll be disappointed!

Thanks for stopping by,
Katie M.

Katie's Friday Finds #3 and Autograph Party!

In case you don't follow my other blog (http://www.fowlinaround.blogspot.com), you might wonder why I've missed a few Friday Finds lists. Last March my husband bought a $10 raffle ticket at a fundraiser and we won a trip here:

The week of the trip was in October and I had a packed month between writing, teaching, vacation prep, and general family living, so I wasn't great about updating the Friday Finds. However, I have two additions to the list...

The Ghost's Grave by Peg Kehret; middle grade novel
Oooohhhh, one of my all time favorite stories! With characters like crazy Aunt Ethel who shoots a bat in her kitchen, dead Aunt Florence who has returned as a peacock, and persistent Willie, the ghost who wants his leg bones back, this page turner keeps your attention the whole way through. Josh, the main character, makes the story come to life with his feelings and actions. This book is a thrilling read that shouldn't be missed!

 Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson; picture book
I adore this book so much that I can recite it word for word (with accompanying actions!). What I love most about this rhyming picture book is that the story isn't sacrificed for the rhyme. So often I'll run across that in a book and it drives me mad. Not here. This beautifully illustrated story showcases loyalty and friendship in a humorous way and makes you want to be a character on the new broom at the end of the story. If you haven't read this picture book, you and your kids are missing out.

House on Hackman's Hill update: 
My daughter loved this book so much (from Friday Finds list #2) that it inspired this year's Halloween costume. She went as Anubis, Egyptian God of the Dead. It took a little imagination and a lot of hot glue, but we pulled it off!

Autograph Party 

Not to be missed, the Indiana region of SCBWI is hosting a book signing in Zionsville, Indiana on Saturday November 10th from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Christmas is coming and this would be the perfect time to buy books for the readers in your life and have them signed by the authors (all of whom are great people). If you're in the area and have time, drop by 4Kids Books & Toys and support our Indiana authors!


Thanks for stopping by,
Katie M.

Katie's Friday Finds #2

Welcome to the second installment of my Friday book recommendations. If you're looking for action-packed, can't-stop-reading-it middle grade fiction, here are two books for you!

The House on Hackman's Hill by Joan Lowery Nixon; middle grade fiction
Two cousins, Jeff and Debbie, venture into an old mansion to solve a mystery and get a $10,000 reward. The only problem - Anubis, the Egyptian guardian of the dead, doesn't want them in the house. Anubis wants revenge! This is the ultimate thriller for a middle grade reader. It's suspenseful, gripping, and every chapter ends with a cliff hanger.

When I taught upper elementary, we always read this book around October and completed Egyptian activities based on the novel. The kids LOVED it! They would beg to read more. My daughter just finished this book and she had the same reaction, too. Whether you have an accelerated reader or a reluctant reader, this is a phenomenal book as it keeps kids hooked right from the start.

Spy Cat by Peg Kehret; middle grade fiction
Adventure awaits the reader in this novel as Pete the cat and his boy, Alex, get tangled up with two burglars while trying to solve a mystery that's been plaguing the neighborhood. This is another fast paced, exciting novel that kids won't want to put down.

The twist on this story is that Pete the cat co-authored the book. His versions of events will have you laughing out loud. He tends to get upset when his humans don't understand his meows. My daughter finished this book in less than a week, and it earned a rave review from her. This is also another teacher-tested book, and all the kids in class always enjoyed reading it.

Thanks for stopping by,
Katie M.

Katie's Friday Finds

Lately I've been reading lots of middle grade books since that's what my daughter currently reads and since I'm in the process of revising my middle grade novel. Then I thought, Well, I love sharing my favorite books with anyone who will listen, so why not put them on my blog?

So here it is, the first installment of Katie's Friday Finds. Each Friday you can stop by and find my recommendations for some great reads. I'll put the age level and a brief synopsis of why you should read this book (or have your child read it, or your niece, or your second cousin's neighbor's kid). I can't guarantee they'll all be middle grade books, or that they'll all be award winners of some kind or even how many books I'll put on the list each week.

What I can guarantee is that all these books have somehow inspired me, made me laugh or cry, helped me to think outside the box, and otherwise had characters that spoke to me and stayed with me long after the book was finished. That's what I deem a great story.

How to Steal a Dog by Barbara O'Connor; middle grade novel
I first read this book several years ago based on a recommendation from an editor at a writing conference. I loved the book then and I still love it. My daughter (age 8) finished reading this about a week ago and adored the story, too. If you're looking for a funny, heartwarming and sincere tale, here it is. The main character, Georgina, is homeless and lives in her car with her mom and brother. She devises a plan to steal a dog and get some reward money so her family can afford an apartment. Barbara O'Connor does a wonderful job taking the reader on an emotional journey with Georgina, as we sympathize with her plight even though we know what she's doing is wrong. This is a great story with a thoughtful message and deserves to be read.

Junie B., First Grader Turkeys We Have Loved and Eaten (and Other Thankful Stuff) Barbara Park; early chapter book
I'm including this Junie B. book because not only was it hilarious, laugh-out-loud funny, but the message at the end was perfect. The premise of the book is Junie B.'s class has to make a list of everything they are thankful for and enter it to win a school contest. Of course, Junie B.'s class comes up with some outrageous items to put on their list. But really, all the items are stuff that kids are thankful for. And that's what makes the book so great, when you stop and think about all the little things in life that make us thankful, like toilet paper and remote controls. I mean, can you imagine life without either of those, particularly the toilet paper?!

Thanks for stopping by,
Katie M.

A Sweet Success

Whew! It's been a whirlwind ever since the Trails to Sweet Success conference ended almost two weeks ago, and I'm happy to report that the conference was a sweet success, with no major glitches and all speakers giving wonderful, information-filled sessions and excellent critiques on our work!

The conference was held at McCormick Creek State Park in Spencer, Indiana, and it was a wonderful drive. Here's what I saw most of the trip:

Two-lane roads for the entire drive. I love flat land and cornfields! Yeah, Indiana!

The lodge was quaint and charming. The Canyon Inn staff was extremely helpful, especially KJ and Marc, our two techies that helped set up projectors, computers, presentations, etc.



Canyon Inn



Some of my personal favorite conference highlights included hearing one of our members discuss the Nigeria Library Project he's created, learning how to physically page out a picture book, putting names with faces of all the members I always communicate with via email, attending the very inspirational HoosierLinks meeting on Sunday, and talking with our conference faculty about their lives in the city. I loved the short hike to the waterfall as well.

Some of our conference faculty; Andrew, Eve, and Jessica







This conference definitely ranks near the top of all conferences I've been to (and I've been to lots!). It was a great learning experience and a joy to be around other writers for an entire weekend.

Thanks for stopping by,
Katie M.

Nature and Writing

I am geeked out....this is the weekend! Our Indiana SCBWI conference, held at McCormick's Creek State Park in southern Indiana is taking place Friday through Sunday. A weekend mixed with nature, inspiration, writing comrades, editors, agents and fun. Does it get better than that?

The conference starts off Friday night, runs all day Saturday and ends with my HoosierLinks meeting on Sunday, where attendees will gather and share bits of inspiration and helpful hints that they can take away from the meeting and use immediately. We're also having a book swap, so every attendee that brings a gently used book on the craft of writing/illustrating can take a different book on their craft. We've never had a swap quite like this, so I'm hoping it turns out 'fair and square', as my daughter says.

And while I'm off enjoying two of my favorite treasures in life, nature and writing, my other two treasures, my husband and daughter, will be back at the homestead taking care of a rather pressing issue. If you follow my other blog, you'll know just what I'm talking about (can we say...bawk, baawwkk, baaawwwkkk)? Check it out here, http://www.fowlinaround.blogspot.com

Thanks for stopping by,
Katie M.

Miracle on 49th Street by Mike Lupica

I finished reading Miracle on 49th Street this morning. I went into the story with high expectations, since one of my favorite MG novels is Heat, also written by Mike Lupica. I'm happy to say I wasn't disappointed, although I still think Heat is my favorite that he's written.

The story premise of Miracle on 49th Street involves basketball and I'm not much of a basketball fan, which is why I was hesitant to start the book. It's been in our book basket for 6 weeks now, and I've renewed as many times as possible with our library, so I either had to read it or return it unread.

I'm sure glad I read it. My favorite part of Mike Lupica's writing is the way he builds characters. He creates depth and personality, so that I feel like these characters are my friends. The friendship that he created between Molly and Sam, the main character of the story and her sidekick, was so real and true. You can't help but root for them throughout the novel.

It takes great skill to build characters this way and maintain them throughout the story. If you're looking for a good example of how to create a strong friendship between characters in your novel, Miracle on 49th Street is a fine place to start.

Thanks for stopping by,
Katie M.

Turning Swords into Plowshares

Last night I listened to Peggy Reiff Miller speak about the seagoing cowboys, a subject near and dear to her heart. She was asked to speak at the last in a series of Peace and Popcorn events, and the subject was titled Turning Swords into Plowshares.

Peggy and I are in the same writing group and she has devoted the last ten (or more) years of her time researching and writing about the seagoing cowboys. Her historical YA novel, which is phenomenal and will most certainly be on shelves someday, is about a seagoing cowboy who is trying to find his horse.

It was so enlightening to hear stories from real seagoing cowboys, who traveled on ships after WWII taking livestock to countries that were devastated by war. The cowboys who attended the event each shared what they remembered from their trips across the sea. Some common shared threads witnessed by the cowboys included the destruction left behind after war, and the evils of the concentration camps, including the soap making factories, which I had little knowledge of until reading the draft of Peggy's book.

The cowboys got several laughs sharing stories of being seasick. The up and down, teeter-totter feeling of the ship seemed to resonate with them all.

Peggy has done a great service by saving a part of history that would have otherwise been lost. You can read more about her work on her Seagoing Cowboys website. It is a unique and wonderful part of history that you may not know about.

Thanks for stopping by,
Katie M.

My Blog Title

My friend Anne recently started following my blog, and she questioned me about the title. I realized I've had lots of questions about my blog title over the years and maybe lots of others are wondering the same thing. Why would I title a blog after mouse poop?

At times, I can have a rather bizarre sense of humor, which is how the title came about. My first writing I ever sold was a picture book project based on a mouse. When I think of mice, I think of their droppings. And I know that I'm not a blogger that blogs on a regular basis. I tend to 'drop in' and post when I have something to write about. Which is how I came up with Droppings, since I'm just dropping in and blogging. It's simple, and sort of weird, but that's how I came up with the title.

Thanks for stopping by,
Katie M.

SCBWI Conference at McCormick's Creek

No... I haven't fallen off the face of the Earth. Although it may seem that way, since I have not blogged in, well, forever. I've been busy editing, but that's slowed down considerably since the first of the year, which has allowed me to devote more time to what I really love, writing!

On the writing front, our big SCBWI conference, held at McCormick's Creek State Park this year, is just around the corner. With only a month to go, I've been busy preparing for the manuscript critique, learning about the editors that are presenting, and organizing the HoosierLinks event that will be held Sunday morning after the conference.

I can't wait to see everyone, and hope that all our Indiana members are planning to attend!

Thanks for stopping by,
Katie

Summer Portage HoosierLinks Meeting

Wow, I can't believe it's been close to two months since I've blogged! Where does the time go?

Last spring I took over the position of HoosierLinks Coordinator for the Indiana chapter of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. Basically, that means I (try) to coordinate all the members in our state into smaller groups or 'links', and have them meet three times a year, so all our illustrators/writers can stay in touch in between our big conferences and events.

I also lead the Portage link and we just had our summer meeting last weekend. There were only two other members in attendance (Northwest Indiana members, I need you there!). Happily, the two members in attendance were very excited, energetic, and willing to participate. They are both dedicated writers and we had a successful and informative meeting.

Our meeting room was wonderful. Located at the Portage library, we met in the room off of the children's department. It was a cute room with glass double doors and a nice kitchenette, not to mention a bathroom right around the corner. Perfect, really. What more could you need? We started off with sweet morning treats and hot drinks, discussed our areas of writing, and then got down to business with our guest speaker, one of the children's librarians. She gave us a rundown on what is popular/not so popular with her patrons, along with what the librarians would like to see more of and what they don't want to see!

Our next portion of the meeting included sharing resources for finding agents/editors/and market information in general. We then concluded with questionnaires about what types of events would be beneficial for the future.

Overall, it was a great success and we look forward to our fall meeting. Thanks to Joan and Marcy for their participation. And woo-hoo Marcy, for getting started on that query letter!

Thanks for stopping by,
Katie M.

Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Program

I ran into a friend at my local library last night and she told me about this. Check out the summer reading program at Barnes and Noble where your child can earn a free book just for reading eight books and the parents are entered into a contest to win a Nook Color.

I'll do a longer post later in the week, when I've got some time.

Thanks for stopping by,
Katie

Honesty

Finding an honest person or good in the world is much harder these days than finding ugliness and violence, unless you're really looking. It's the media as a whole. The news, reality t.v. shows, opening up a paper.... there's always fighting, greed, and badness. But, I found a video on Mary Kole's Kidlit website about Josh Ferrin, an honest guy with integrity. He found over $40,000 in his new house and returned it to the previous owner's family. This is amazing. Go to Mary's website to watch the video. It's a feel good story for the day.

Thanks for stopping by,
Katie

Hold Still

Hold Still by Nina LaCour....what a haunting book. It was recommended by Lisa Yaskowitz at the IN-SCBWI conference a few weeks ago. Talk about drawing you in. If you ever hear from an agent or editor, "We're looking for a good voice" this is a prime example. The characters in this story will resonate with you long after you put the book down.

I started reading the book last night (right before Emma's science fair at school, bad idea because I didn't want to put it down) and just finished. I took it to the soccer game with me this morning and had to quit reading it there because I kept crying (and it's kind of weird to be crying at a youth soccer game and not watching your child). It's not a sobby, boo-hoo read. It's just such a sorrowful, hopeful, true tale. A story that grabs you. A voice that speaks to you. A tale about adolescence and hardships and finding your way.

Read it, you won't be sorry. But be sure to have tissues handy.

Thanks for stopping by,
Katie