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The Ancient One–a new giveaway!

By on March 8, 2016   /   Book Lists  

Just in time for Women’s History Month, Puffin Books is re-issuing T.A. Anderson’s “The Ancient One”,  featuring that spirited protagonist, Kate Gordon.

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From Indiebound: When thirteen-year-old Kate travels to Oregon for a quiet week at Aunt Melanie’s cottage, her plans are dashed by the discovery of a grove of giant redwood trees in nearby Lost Crater. While helping try to protect the redwood forest from loggers, Kate goes back five centuries through a time tunnel and finds herself facing the evil creature Gashra, who is bent on destroying the same forest. In this extraordinary quest, combining high adventure and heroic drama, a girl discovers that all living things are connected in ways she never expected, and that true friendship can reach across cultures, and even across centuries. 

To be eligible to win a copy of this new edition, please leave a comment below. And here’s to feisty, compassionate role models for all our children!

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Author Nancy Castaldo Talks about her New Nonfiction Book and a Giveaway!

By on March 7, 2016   /   Author Interviews, Book Lists, For Kids, For Librarians, For Parents, For Teachers, Giveaways, Nonfiction  

Today I am so excited to be interviewing

Author Nancy Castaldo

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about her awesome new STEM book:

Although it has only been out a few weeks, Nancy’s book has garnered some FANTASTIC reviews:

* “A terrific, engrossing resource.”
—Booklist, STARRED review

“An impassioned call to action…”
—School Library Journal

“Castaldo delivers a sobering global status report—and a call to action…Well-crafted and inspiring.”
—Kirkus

“Castaldo breaks down threats like climate change and disease, while providing a greater sense of interconnectivity in nature and within world communities.”
—Publishers Weekly
Congratulations on the success of your new book, The Story of Seeds: From Mendel’s Garden to Your Plate, and How There’s More of Less to Eat Around the World (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2016).  The book looks fantastic! I can’t wait to read my copy.

 

How did you come up with this idea?

Thank you! There wasn’t one spark that fueled the idea for this book – there were many! My daughter was working at a local farm store and completing her Girl Scout Gold Award project. She had come up with a 30-mile diet in which you ate food produced or grown within 30 miles of your home. It was eye-opening to realize the benefits of this for both the health of the environment, the local economy, and us!  It brought food front and center at our house. As an environmental educator I was well informed about issues of the environment – including loss of habitat and endangered species, but I began to learn about endangered seeds, endangered crops, and the crisis we’re facing. Soon it seemed that everywhere I turned there were issues with our agriculture and native plants — from war-torn Iraq to the fields in Iowa.  What’s the best way to get the word out? A book, of course!

 

What kind of research did you have to do for this book?

The research for THE STORY OF SEEDS took me to California, the Hudson Valley, and all the way to Russia in the middle of winter.  I tasted heirloom watermelon, discovered jeweled-colored corn, visited seed banks that store our future food, and celebrated biodiversity in our fields, farms, and tables. I met the most dedicated seed scientists and activists along the way!

 

Was it hard to get a publisher interested in this idea?

I am so lucky to have an editor who championed this book along its path. Without her it might not have happened.

 

When did you start writing? What drew you to nonfiction?  

I have been writing since I was a kid. My first published piece was a poem in Seventeen magazine. I was 16!  Before I was writing books, I was writing magazine articles for a variety of publications – from the Sierra Club Wastepaper to Family Fun. During those days, I was also a contributing editor for Berkshire Magazine. It was great fun to explore topics and stories and share them in this form. Books followed.

 

Why books about science?

I write mostly about science because I am an environmental educator and my undergrad work was in biology and chemistry. I love being outside and learning about the world around me. Sharing it through writing is the icing on top!

 

What part of science to you like the best?

I enjoy writing most about how we (humans) interact with our environment.

 

You’ve been writing for a few years, can you share some of the different books that you’ve written. Any favorites among them?

My first book was published in 1995, so it has been a few years! I have written activity books that explored various ecosystems, a historical fiction picture book about pizza, a National Geographic title about polar bears, and a middle grade titled, SNIFFER DOGS: HOW DOGS (and THEIR NOSES) SAVE THE WORLD.  It’s impossible to pick a favorite. I will admit, though,  that I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of writing and photographing SNIFFER DOGS. It does hold a special place in my heart, as do the dogs and handlers I met along the way.

                                

Is there a particular age range that you enjoy writing?

I have written for the very young set to young adult readers. I enjoy it all. Every story dictates how it will be told. Some are meant to have young readers and some older readers. It really depends on the story.

 

In your school visits, what do you talk about? Do you get the kids interested in science and the environment?  

I love taking to students about research. It’s the lifeblood of nonfiction and the part I love the best. Learning how to conduct research is a life skill that they will be able to use in every aspect of their life.  The environment is awe-inspiring. Through tales of research both in and out of the field I strive to inspire kids to explore the world around them. My goal is to empower them to make a difference wherever they live.

 

Any upcoming books or projects that you are currently working on that you can share with us?

I’ve had a blast working on my upcoming BEASTLY BRAINS. It’s all about animal intelligence and is due out early in 2017. I’m currently at work researching the next book for middle grade readers. Let’s just say that I’ll be doing a lot of traveling in the coming year to meet some rare creatures.

Cover Reveal!!

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Anything you’d like to add?

With the amount of research I need to conduct for my books my school visits are limited these days. Teachers should contact me as early as they can to book a visit. When I am not available to visit a school in person, there is always Skype!  I love meeting students and chatting about science and research any time I can!

Thanks for hosting me!

My pleasure, Nancy. I love to see the success of great middle-grade STEM books!

To learn more about Nancy,  go to her website at NancyCastaldo.com

For all you teachers and librarians out there, be sure to check out the

THE STORY OF SEEDS curriculum guide.
You can find it here:

 

Nancy has generously offered to giveaway an autographed copy of her book. Leave a comment below to be entered.  If your comment has something to do with seeds or planting you get a double entry!

 

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Jennifer Swanson is the author of over 25 books for children. Her titles focus mostly on STEM/STEAM topics. You can find more information about her at www.JenniferSwansonBooks.com 

 

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The Writing Barn in Austin, TX

By on March 4, 2016   /   For Writers, Writing  

Last weekend, I went out of my comfort zone (and my little writing space in a Chicago suburb) and journeyed to The Writing Barn in Austin, Texas for a “Mastering the Middle Grade” workshop. Before I arrived, I  knew that The Writing Barn was owned by author and writing teacher Bethany Hegedus, and set on seven and a half wooded acres about 20 minutes from downtown. But what I didn’t know is it’s a place where magic happens.

No, really. I’m not making this up. It might sound cliche but that’s why we have cliches–they’re so often true.

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The Writing Barn in Austin, TX

Twelve of us writer people arrived as strangers and left as friends, already planning our retreat reunion. We bared our souls, dug deeply into our works in progress, and learned invaluable lessons about craft from middle grade author Donna Gephart and agent Tina Wexler, our fearless program leaders.

The Thursday evening to Sunday morning retreat consisted of critique sessions for each participant, lectures, free writing time, a visit with authors Nikki Loftin and Kathrine Catmull, walks on the beautiful property, plus delicious food, lots of snacks, and abundant chocolate.

WB 12WB 8We ended the weekend by painting rocks, each of us choosing a word or phrase to represent our experience. They ranged from “trust your story” to “humor rocks” to “tribe.”

I’ve thought a lot about the word “tribe” and what it means to writers, who spend so much of our time as solitary, sometimes crazy creatures, bent over our keyboards, wracking our brains for just the right word, often doubting ourselves. During the retreat, I not only found a “tribe,” I also was reminded that writing takes courage. Sharing the story that only you can write takes courage.

WB 9Stepping back — so hard to do when we all have busy, complicated lives — can make a huge difference in your energy, your perspective, and of course, hopefully, your work.

For more info on upcoming retreats as well as classes and events at The Writing Barn, check the website. More photos from the retreat weekend can be found on The Writing Barn Facebook page.

 

Michele Weber Hurwitz is the author of The Summer I Saved the World in 65 Days and Calli Be Gold, both from Wendy Lamb Books/Penguin Random House. Both books are on state award lists. Find Michele at micheleweberhurwitz.com.

 

 

 

 

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