Mighty Kid Lit Hosted by Michele Ziemke

By Suzy Leopold

Welcome to the GROG Blog Michele Ziemke! 

Michele is a kidlit creator. She enjoys writing and illustrating children's literature. She is also the creator of the kidlit platform Mighty KidLit.

WHO?

Hosted by Michele Ziemke and Percy the Mascot.

Percy

WHAT?

Mighty Kid Lit for authors and illustrators–published and pre-published. 

Six weeks ago Michele invited published and pre-published authors and

illustrators to become members of Mighty KidLit. Mighty Kid Lit continues

to welcome kidlit folks. This week the total reached 200 members.

The goal of Mighty Kid Lit is to create a supportive kidlit community for authors and illustrators at all levels of writing and illustrating experience. If you are new to creating children's literature or are a published author or illustrator this is a nurturing and caring community.

This free kidlit community offers:

• Creativity Building

• Book Launch and Birthday Parties

• Critique groups for writers and illustrators

• Art portfolios

• Pitch perfect critique group

• Picture book critique group

• Middle-grade critique group

• Chapter book critique group

• Picture book deep dive--a book study every month
• Resource page of picture books by Mighty Kid Lit members, including links to purchase and ISBN numbers to request from your local library
• Mentorships to inspire developing talent while offering an avenue for published and agented authors and illustrators to give back. This week, seven members will be chosen for the first two-week mentorship from published authors and illustrators.
• A bi-yearly showcase is in the planning stages. Literary agents and editors will be invited.

"It's like Twitter on steroids!" says Michele.

Illustrations created by Michele

WHEN?

Daily Digest posts; 24/7

Momentum Monday

Tickle Me Tuesday

Expert Wednesday

Writers Life Thursday

Fabulous Friday

Sharing Saturday

More events are coming soon! 

WHERE?

Join us at Mighty Kid Lit

Sharing an invite Notice as a referral from Michele and me. You may receive a redirect notice.

If you need further information please contact Suzy at sleopold@gmail.com

WHY?

Michele believes, "Children’s literature has the power to change the world

one word at a time, building love, acceptance, and a sense of community

in young lives."

She continues, "I was given so much by the KidLit community, that I really wanted to give back. I believe we can create an awesome community with awesome writers and

illustrators who strive to be connected and strive to be more creative. 

It’s impossible to become creative overnight, and awesomeness never happens

alone." 

Michele and Chole

Thank you, Michele, for your generosity in giving to the kidlit community by creating the Mighty Kid Lit platform. It's a great place where book creators can come together for support and opportunities to learn and grow. 

Percy, Michele, and I look forward to welcoming new members to Mighty Kid Lit. Let's read, write, and create together.

To find more information about Michele:

Twitter

Artist / Author / Optimist

Facebook

NF Fest by Leslie Colin Tribble

Hooray, today's the day! The day you can sign up for NF Fest coming in February. What's that? You don't know what NF Fest is and why you should be interested? Well, read on then and learn all about it.

A few years ago, a group of kidlit writers formed a group they named the Nonfiction Chicks. They've been writing and posting on their blog but decided they wanted something more, something big to help other nonfiction writers. Enter NF Fest, a month-long celebration of all things nonfiction, and it starts February 1.

I reached out to a few writers involved with this event and asked them for a couple sentences on why GROG readers should participate in NF Fest. Here's what some of them said:

Nancy Churnin (organizer)
The Nonfiction Chicks, a group of seven children’s book writers, have been working hard to put together a free writing challenge that will introduce you to what you need to know to get started writing non-fiction for kids and to improve your non-fiction writing for kids. You’ll get posts from some of the best in the business, from Jen Bryant to Candace Fleming to Don Tate and Traci Sorrell, addressing everything from different types of non-fiction, to research, sources, illustration, where to get ideas and more. There’ll be activities and prizes for participants that sign up in the Jan. 15-31 registration period. And, did I mention it is free? FREE! FREE! FREE! Plus, you’ll be part of the NFFest Facebook group where you can ask questions, talk and support each other. The NFFest will give you an amazing and unique opportunity to learn and to meet and become part of the greater community of children’s nonfiction book writers.



I had the privilege of being roommates with Nancy at a retreat, and all I can say is, if she's in, I'm in.

Lisa Amstutz (organizer)
Nonfiction writers won't want to miss NF Fest this February! This free event will feature daily blog posts from publishing professionals along with giveaways and activities for you to try at home. Join the NF Fest Facebook group for more information, networking, and discussion and check out the website at www.NFFest.com.

I've also had the privilege of meeting Lisa at retreats, as well as having done a mentorship with her and again, if she's in, I'm in.

Beth Anderson (presenter)
You know your topic. That’s not enough.
You've good writing skills. That’s not enough.
You have a critique group. Still not enough.
What you really need is the village!
There’s no part of a published book that doesn’t benefit from the shared experiences of the generous kid lit community—considering an idea, researching, getting at the heart, finding the right structure, drafting, revising, submitting, publishing, promoting, sharing with classrooms, creating presentations….The names of all the people who contributed in some way to the creation of a book could fill the endpapers front and back. To have a month of learning focused on the challenges of writing NF for kids is a truly special gift and an opportunity not to be missed! You’ll collect resources, pick up new methods, and gather all sorts of nuggets as you connect with like minded writers and find encouragers. (And some of the authors I’ve been stalking a-hem, following over the last few years are IN THIS GROUP!) I can’t wait!

Beth is the author of, An Inconvenient Alphabet, and the just released, Lizzie Demands a Seat. I met her at a SCBWI event and she's amazing.

Vivian Kirkfield (presenter)
Why should Grog Blog readers sign up for NF Fest? When I decided to write children’s picture books, one of the first things I did (after joining SCBWI) was to sign up for writing challenges. StoryStorm, 12x12, Susanna Hill’s contests…those were the building blocks of my writing journey. And now, even though I have three books that debuted in 2019, another that launches this month, and more coming in 2021 and 2022, I know I still have a lot to learn. Then, along came NF Fest and before you could say - do you want to write nonfiction - I was already registered! Every day for a month, an industry pro will offer expertise on one topic or another that relates to writing nonfiction. I’m honored to be one of the bloggers and will be sharing my thoughts on Creating a True Story When Information is Scarce. But more than the knowledge, participants will enjoy the camaraderie, support, and encouragement that is so very important in this business that is filled with rejection and waiting…and more rejection and waiting. Don’t wait another minute…sign up for NF Fest. And guess what? It’s FREE and there will be PRIZES!

Have you been following Vivian and seen the number of books she's had published in the past year and those coming out in the future? She will have some treasure you can take to heart in your own writing.

Jill Esbaum (presenter)
Any writer who's hooked on nonfiction -- writing it OR reading it -- can't miss Nonfiction Fest. I've seen the list of authors who'll be posting, as well as glimpses of what they'll be sharing. It's an amazing cross-section of talent and a winning combination of education and inspiration! See you there!

Jill is a wonderful and prolific writer of picture books in all genres, and just released her latest, We Love Babies! She's a lovely person and incredible author, and you're going to want to hear what she has to say during NF Fest.

Let's face it. February for most of us is a waiting month - the holidays are over, the excitement of a new year has lost its luster, and the weather is awful. Last year in Wyoming the bottom dropped out of the thermometer and we stayed at -20 below zero for weeks. People need something to do indoors at that point, something that will improve the craft of their writing, provide inspiration and give them something to live for until the weather gets better. I think NF Fest fits the bill.

But maybe you don't write nonfiction. Is this still for you? I would say, "ABSOLUTELY!" Craft is craft, whether it be intended for fiction, nonfiction, poetry, humor, whatever. If something gives you inspiration and makes you a better writer, then by all means, be a part of that. And who knows? You might catch the nonfiction bug!

Sign up for NF Fest starts today, January 15 and goes through January 31. See you there!

Week of Writing Recap

by Leslie Colin Tribble

Groggers at WOW - Janie Reinart, Sherri Jones Rivers, Suzy Leopold, and me in the back.

And the GROG is back after a little summer recess.

Several of us used our summer break to attend the Week of Writing (WOW) Retreat in Helen, Georgia. One of us, Sherri Jones Rivers has attended all three of the WOW retreats, while others have been at least twice. This was my second year at WOW and it was just that, WOW!

The conference is held at Unicoi State Park, which sits at the southern end of the Appalachian Mountains. Rolling hills covered in green stretch as far as you can see. Coming from sparsely vegetated Wyoming, Georgia always feels like a foreign land. Unicoi is a great facility - the lodge where the sessions are held is comfortable and our rooms are just a short walk away. There are hiking trails, and this year we had the option of taking the shuttle into the nearby town of Helen, a Bavarian village in the heart of Georgia.

A Georgia peach morning.

Kristen Fulton organizes a fabulous retreat, and this year was no exception. The faculty was outstanding, the round tables were intimate and we had plenty of time for writing.

The food is always great as well.

Yes, you read those menu plates correctly!

Faculty included authors/illustrators Lisa Amstutz, Anna Crespo, Jill Esbaum, Barb Rosenstock, Linda Skeers, Don Tate and Duncan Tonatiuh. They spoke on writing for the educational market, how to get editors to read past the fourth word, inserting humor, looking at your stories from an illustrator's point of view, and how to be the best writer you can be. We were treated to a bonus Thursday evening when attendee and new author, Nancy Churnin (The William Hoy Story), gave a great after dinner talk about marketing your book.

The agents and editors were all very personable and approachable.They included Sally Apokedak, Silvie Frank, Clelia Gore, Kathy Landwehr, Victoria Selvaggio, Tamar Mays, Kelly Barrales-Saylor, and Essie White.

Author Panel

One of the changes at WOW this year was the roundtable format. Last year we had four or five attendees, plus a faculty member. The larger groups meant you had less time for comments after your story was read. This year it was two attendees plus a faculty member and you had an entire 20 minutes for a read and critique. That was very helpful - you could really delve into your story and see what wasn't working and why.

Author/Illustrator Duncan Tonatiuh

Another change was having much more time to write. Most days we were finished with sessions by 2:00, with roundtables following. The rest of the afternoon and evening were free for hanging out or revision work. Last year I was so brain dead by the day's end I couldn't even think about rewriting. This year with my head full of incredible knowledge, I raced back to my room and really got some great revision work done.

If you haven't been to an extended writing workshop, I encourage you to find one. Being able to write without the normal distractions of work, family, pets, etc. is a gift, and being around encouraging, helpful, fun writers just makes it all that much better.

Besides the valuable sessions, roundtables, and the opportunity of being able to purchase paid critiques, WOW offers writers the chance to connect with like-minded individuals. Evenings on the porch of the lodge, watching gorgeous sunsets, and getting to know the other attendees is really what makes WOW special. You can talk to people on every rung of the writing ladder in a non-threatening, inclusive atmosphere. It's never the exact same group every night with folks flowing in and out depending upon their mood. Some great friendships have formed at WOW, which I think is very special.

What made WOW valuable for me? Putting into practice what I learned during the day. Being able to spend an entire week immersed in writing was incredibly beneficial. I spent a lot of time revising the three manuscripts I took and am really excited about how they're shaping up. If you're struggling to find quality writing time, maybe WOW is exactly what you need.

The theme for next year's WOW 2017 retreat is Rock'n Roll'n and Writ'n. More details will be available August 1 at www.wowretreat.net.

We'll have more posts about WOW by other Groggers throughout August. Enjoy!

The Friday night party is always a blast.

Laughter and Learning

at Letters and Lines

SCBWI's Rocky Mountain Chapter's Fall Conference

By Leslie Colin Tribble

This past weekend I had the privilege of attending the Rocky Mountain Chapter's Fall Conference, Letters and Lines. This is my second year at this annual event and I loved every minute of the classes, industry panels and keynote session. Here are a few thoughts about what I learned and some general impressions about the conference. 

First, it's a glorious time to be in Colorado. It's an eight hour drive for me to attend this conference, but it's such a beautiful time of year the drive goes by quickly. The weather is still warm, which is incredibly helpful because everyone kept running outside to stand in the sun after freezing through sessions in the overly air-conditioned rooms. Besides, it's Colorado so you definitely want to be out under that blazing blue sky, enjoying the change of seasons.

Dan Yaccarino was the keynote speaker this year and he did a great job. Dan's speech was funny yet instructive, humble yet inspiring as he spoke of his career in illustration, writing, producing and designing. The theme of his keynote was, "Say Yes." There have been many points in Dan's career where he was asked to do something he'd never done, never even contemplated nor even entertained the remotest thought of doing it, yet he "Said Yes." I was inspired by the intersection of saying yes and as Dan put it, "the ability to work on an even bigger canvas." All of his varied projects have simply been a "bigger way to tell stories." It was especially reassuring to know he still gets plenty of rejections and not all his projects are home runs.

My next session was given by Deborah Warren of East/West Literary Agency and Erin Dealey. It was fun to hear how this agent-author duo sees the publication process and how much they enjoyed each other's presence. For them the agent/author relationship is "all about the connection and making sure the chemistry is there." One tidbit from this session: never submit on a Monday as agents and editors get slammed by submissions after weekends.

I missed part of the session given by Emma Ledbetter, Associate Editor for Atheneum Books for Young Readers. But what I did take home was her recommendation to add pagination to your manuscript submission, making sure you don't start with pages one or two (title, copyright, dedication, etc.) She also told us that Margaret Wise Brown said picture book manuscripts should be whistled to catch the rhythm and cadence.

Erin Dealey, author, had a great class on Strategies for a Long Shelf Life. She suggested asking yourself, what can I do for my local booksellers and librarians to make their job easier? Also, authors are completely worth an honorarium so ask for one or better yet, have it stipulated in the contract you send out to the store, school or library.

Deborah Warren gave a helpful session about marketing your work. She said, "Authors start the food chain of publishing," and "your passion for your book has to go up the whole food chain." Non-fiction writers will be happy to know Deborah doesn't consider NF a trend, it's here to stay since it's filling a need in the market.

The second day of Letters and Lines started with an impulse on my part. Instead of continuing on a picture book tract I sat in a session about writing novels in verse by Melanie Crowder, author. This session absolutely struck a chord with me and I'm excited about giving this new (to me) genre a try. To become familiar with this type of writing, Melanie suggested reading as many verse novels as you can find as well as reading lots of poetry.

Jenny Goebel gave a good talk on "To Plot or Not to Plot." I was pleased to learn that my haphazard way of winging it and then coming back to make sure I have all the plot necessities is really a method.

I also participated in the final picture book intensive which is a great way to get lots of eyes on your manuscript and comments from industry professionals. 

All in all, I thought this year's conference was great. The faculty was stellar and I learned so much. I'm excited to get out the red pen and revise, revise, revise!

Pouring Love on The Library of Congress

by Jan Godown Annino

If you bump into a live body in the popular halls of The Library of Congress,

the person will be friendly about it.

In these days of instant gratification, who will traipse through marbled halls dedicated to

words, but the patient folks? The folklife study folks, the African literature

study folks, the children’s literature folks

The Library of Congress (LOC) buildings (I know of three) are populated with devoted staffers, readers, writers & researchers. A genial group, when it comes

to excusing bumpers.

Here is my idiosyncratic #LOC mini-tour, following our family vacation to Washington, D.C.

THE #LOC 2015 MINI TOUR

ART in the HALLS

The Library of Congress is an art gallery.

 Murals of tropical birds & other works, such as this macaw I snapped, by poet/artist Edward Lear,

from valuable books in the the LOC’s collections, caught my eye. They were backdrop in a
room that features tons of maps dear to my own piece of real estate. Which is up next.

 FLORIDA

 I turned a corner and found that my part of the world is

on carefully-curated display in the # Jay and Jean Kislak ongoing exhibit,

 Exploring The Early Americas.

I could have dwelled with these artifacts, with rare maps 

& their explanations much longer. But there were other cases to see. I took many fuzzy photos because you're not using flash, but this one turned out. All of the southeast U.S. was once considered Florida.

FIRST BOOKS

The term takes on a new meaning at the Library

of Congress. Such as - the codex books created in the area

we know as Mexico, made before the Spanish Conquest period.

A ROUND ROOM

This room is a work-in-progress, as the LOC endeavors to recreate the

personal library of Thomas Jefferson. It is a thrill to walk into this circle

of books. 

Even when closed, some volume’s pages, looked at

en toto, were a work of design art. Because it’s exactly 200 years since

Jefferson’s personal library helped rebuild our burned national collection

this is a special time to visit.

WHISTLE WHILE YOU LOOK

Who knew the Disney cartoon version of Snow White

derived in great detail from a Swedish-born artist’s interpretation of the

classic folk tale? Not I. Learn much more about the illustrator,

Gustaf Tenggren. On display beautifully in the Swann Gallery.

This long horizontal GUSTAF TENGGREN panel is courtesy of the Art Wood Collection of Caricature and Cartoons.

Here is a detailed Gustaf Tenggren site.

INK. PENS. COMMENT.

Thanks to the Herblock Foundation, we can ponder various

political cartoonists’ decades of work.

THE. READING. ROOM.

The very one.

When you see the movie, All the President’s Men, you will

recognize this iconic view. 

On this trip I didn’t exercise the right I have to enter the vaulted space.  But I will, I will. I walked through it years before with heart aflutter. This was our view, after climbing extra steps into an airtight windowed balcony that overlooks the research desks and arched book rooms.

To enter the iconic space, obtain your LOC Reader card.  - my official Library of Congress Reader ID begins #ROO like the 2^nd part of kanga. Luv it.

Look at how easy it is to become a LOC reader

 CHECKOUT

There are no checkoutable books at the LOC.

Everything in the collection stays. You study it there.

But you can check out innumerable bookish swag at The Library Shop.

I bought an outrageous pencil for show and tell this upcoming school

year, as a Reading Pal. 

I will plant the eyedear with the wee ones that every child should some day visit the LOC – source of giant pencils. And more.

The LOC is so much more.

Events. Such as the National Book Festival Sept 5, 2015.

It’s not held at the LOC or, as in past times, on the National Mall.

But stop by the Washington Convention Center

for friendly readers, writers & affiliated folks at this

LOC-organized of day and night celebration of books. The Honorary

Chairs of it are President Barack and Mrs. Obama.

Underground Tunnel & More

So thank you for visiting the LOC vicariously with me.

I reluctantly close the book on the Library of Congress, as even more thrills & chills undetailed here, await you there.  An underground tunnel. Lively tours. Concerts, poetry readings, 

the American Folklife Center, interviews, podcasts….

The best part is that so much of it is online, every day.