PhyllistheAuthor

Happy New Year to everyone!

I am very busy today. My fourth kids' book is due at the publisher January 1. That is tomorrow. So you can imagine there are lots of last minute things to do. For example, I will need to print out the whole manuscript. I've been working on a list of illustrations and captions. In addition, I have filled out the publisher's acquisition questionnaire, written acknowledgments and a dedication. Of course, yesterday was a last minute read through of the text. It is always hard to let the "child" go off by herself.

Happy Christmas!

I have my eyes shut, my husband is out cold with Christmas prepartions, and Alex, our son, with his big feet is wired and ready for Santa

Christmas snowpeople and Ragedity Ann and Andy

One of my readers in Michigan, Chelsea, is having back surgery over Christmas vacation so that she won't miss a lot of school. She is in the Children's hospital in Ann Arbor.

Sending our very best to Chelsea for a speedy recovery!

December

I like dayswith a snow-white collar,
and nights when the moonis a silver dollar,
and hills are filledwith eiderdown stuffing
and your breath makes smokelike an engine puffing.

I like dayswhen feathers are snowing,
and all the eaveshave petticoats showing,
and the air is cold,
and the wires are humming,
but you feel all warm ...with Christmas coming.

~ Aileen Fisher ~

The Bells

Hear the sledges with the bells--- Silver Bells!
What a world of merriment their melody foretells!
How they tinkle,tinkle,tinkle,
In the icy air of night!
While the stars that oversprinkle
All the heavens seem to twinkle
With a crystalline delight;
Keeping time, time, time,
In a sort of Runic rhyme,
To the tintinnabulation that so musically wells
From the bells, bells, bells, bells,Bells, bells, bells,
--- From the jingling and tinkling of the bells.

- Edgar Allan Poe -

I didn't want to read historical fiction about Camden in the Revolutionary War until my book, Divided Loyalties was in print. I have just finished Cast Two Shadows by Ann Rinaldi. I liked the book in that it captured the tensions between Loyalists and Patriots in the South. The book is about more than the Revolutionary War, and I didn't find Ms. Rinaldi's handling of the racial issues always convincing.

Generally, Ms. Rinaldi's books reflect careful research and this book was no exception. However, there were errors. For example, she calls the hats worn in the Revolution tricorn hats. They were called cocked hats during the times. I only learned this when I was researching my book. Our modern designation is tricorn. I struggle hard to get all the details correct, and I know it isn't easy.

Kids, you always need to do your research CAREFULLY since there is always someone out there who knows lots and lots about whatever subject you are writing about.

If you write poetry or think you might want to give it a try, here's a great opportunity for you.

Kids in grades 1-12 can enter the Poetry Society of Virginia's annual poetry contest for free.

Catagories are grades 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12. With three cash awards in each catagory, this is a great chance for kids to compete for prizes and recognition.

The deadline for entries is January 19, Edgar Allen Poe's birthday. For rules and more information, visit www.poetrysocietyofvirginia.org

PARADE Magazine is holding its Sixth Annual Teen Poetry Contest. The deadline for submissions is 11:59, December 31, 2005. You have to between the ages of 12 and 18 and the poem must be originial and no longer than 20 lines. The prize is $300. For more details vist: www.paradeclassroom.com/poetry.

I always say if you don't enter, you can't win.