While researching President Lincoln’s first inauguration on March 4, 1861, (see photo below) I came across this interesting tidbit of information.
The first presidential inauguration (President George Washington) was held on April 30, 1789. Following inaugurations from 1793 to 1933 were held on March 4. Why? March 4 was the day the federal government began operating under the United States Constitution. If March 4 fell on a Sunday. Then the inauguration was held the day after, March 5. Which happened on four occasions: 1821, 1849, 1877, and 1917.
The Twentieth Amendment to the Constitution reestablished the beginning terms of the president and vice president from March 4 to January 20. Also, the term for the members of congress was changed to March 4 to January 3. The Twentieth Amendment was adopted on January 23, 1933.
Mathew Brady was a pioneer in the field of photography. Through his knowledge of the new medium and his high standards of excellence he helped bring recognition and respect to the profession of photography. In addition, he perfected that art of portraiture with a camera to such an extent that he became America’s first celebrity photographer.
Collecting Photographic Images
In 1895, Brady began collecting images of important Americans. He thought that, if he photographed former presidents, statesmen, writers, great actors and actresses, visiting royalty, and high ranking military officers, “his business would be self-perpetuating—one sitting at a time.” Also, Brady felt he had a duty to act as a photographic historian. “From the first,” he later commented, “I regarded myself as under obligation to my country to preserve the faces of its historic men and women.”
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson
The first subject for his gallery was Andrew Jackson, the seventh president of the United States. Jackson, who was nicknamed Old Hickory because of his toughness, was an invalid confined to his bed at his home, the Hermitage, in Nashville, Tennessee. Brady later said he sent a photographer to Jackson’s home “barely in time to save” his likeness for future generations.
Jackson’s family and doctor did not want the photograph taken, but Jackson insisted it be done. On the morning the photographer arrived, Jackson rose from is sick bed and paid special attention to the way he dressed. Then he sat in a chair propped up by pillows and cushions. When it was time for the photograph to be taken, Jackson “nerved himself up with the same energy that characterized his whole life, and his eye was stern and full of fire.” After the photograph was taken Jackson returned to his bed. A few days later he died.
Book of Illustrious Americans
Henry Clay
By 1849, Brady had photographed twenty-four “Illustrious Americans” and their portraits where hanging on the walls of his gallery in New York City. After displaying the portraits, Brady decided he wanted to produce a book. He hired Francis D’Avignon, a noted French artist, to make lithographic copies of the photographs and paid D’Avignon one hundred dollars for each print. He also hired a writer to compose biographical sketches of each person to include in the book.
At first Brady intended to include all twenty-four portraits but changed his mind. When the book was published it included only twelve illustrious Americans: Daniel Webster, Henry Clay, John Calhoun, Zachary Taylor, former President Millard Fillmore, explorer John C. Fremont, General Winfield Scott, statesman Lewis Cass, politician Silas Wright, historian William H. Prescott, naturalist John J. Audubon, and clergyman William E. Channing.
Published a year later, the book was bound in a leather cover with its title printed in gold. It weighed five pounds and sold for thirty dollars, a high price for the times. It received excellent reviews from the New York newspapers but did not sell well. Brady eventually cut the price in half in an effort to sell more copies. Although the book did not make a lot of money, it increased business in Brady’s studio. People wanted to have their photographs taken in the same studio where so many famous American’s had been photographed.
Sources:
Dorthy Kunhardt, Mathew Brady and his World
William Davis, Civil War Journal: The Legacies
James Horan, Mathew Brady: Historian with a Camera
Roy Meredith, Mathew Brady’s Portrait of an Era
[Excerpt from Mathew Brady: Photographer of the Civil War by Lynda Pflueger]
By Debbie Levy and Illustrated by Elizabeth Baddeley
Published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
In the first picture book about her life, Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg proves that disagreeing does not necessarily mean you are disagreeable!
Six Dots: A Story of Young Louis Braille
Released on September 6, 2016
By Jen Bryant and Illustrated by Boris Kulikov
Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers
The story of Louis Braille, a blind boy who was so determined to learn to read that he invented his own alphabet which is still used today.
Ticktock Banneker’s Clock
Released September 1, 2016
By Shana Keller and Illustrated by David Gardner
Published by Sleeping Bear Press
In 1753, even though he was mostly self-taught, Benjamin Banneker (a free African American) built a strike clock based on his own drawings using only a pocket-knife. He was inspired to do so after observing a pocket watch.
Antsy Ansel: Ansel Adams, a Life in Nature
Released on September 6, 2016
By Cindy Jenson-Elliott and Illustrated by Christy Hale
Published by Henry Holt and Company
This picture book chronicles the life of Ansel Adams from his restless youth in San Francisco to his climb to fame as an iconic nature photographer.
“You have to write the book that wants to be written. And if the book will be too difficult for grown-ups, then you write it for children.”
Madeleine L’Engle the author of A Wrinkle in Time
“I still encourage anyone who feels at all compelled to write to do so. I just try to warn people who hope to get published that publication is not all it is cracked up to be. But writing is.”
Anne Lamott author of Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life
“Read a thousand books, and your words will flow like a river.”
Lisa See author of Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
“A writer should write what he has to say and not speak it.”
Ernest Hemingway author of For Whom the Bell Tolls and The Old Man and the Sea
“The universe is made of stories, not of atoms.”
Muriel Rukeyser author of The Book of the Dead
“Every morning I jump out of bed and step on a landmine. The landmine is me. After the explosion, I spend the rest of the day putting the pieces together.”
Ray Bradbury author of Zen in the Art of Writing
Those who write are writers. Those who wait are waiters.
Lee Martinez author of Monster and A Nameless Witch
“If you’re silent for a long time, people just arrive in your mind.”
Alice Walker author of The Color Purple
“I wasn’t born to cook or clean, but to read and write, if you don’t like me the way I am, then go fly a kite.”
Besa Kosova author of Rain Drops
“Quiet people have the loudest minds.”
Stephen King author of Misery and Carrie
“Your only responsibility as a writer is to be true to the story that has chosen you as its writer.”
Jean Little author of Little by Little and Stars Come Out Within
In 1902, Eastman purchased farmland in Rochester to finally build his dream home. He bought what he called the last farm within the city limits of Rochester. The eight-and-a-half-acre property was located on 900 East Avenue.
Within a few months, he hired an architect to design a colonial revival‒style mansion and a landscape architect to lay out the grounds. Eastman wanted to be able “to raise animals, grow vegetables, and entertain guests” in beautiful surroundings.
The stately fifty-room, four-story, stone-columned mansion took three years to build and cost five hundred thousand dollars (around five million today). The house had its own electrical generator, a twenty-one-station internal phone system, a built-in vacuum cleaning system, an elevator, and a central clock network.Located on the main floor of the house were a living room, small library, billiard room, music conservatory, and a dining room. In the conservatory, Eastman installed in organ, which cost $30,319.25. It was considered the top of the line in organs.
Photograph by Barbara Puorro Galasso
Upstairs were fifteen bedrooms, each with its own bathroom. On the third floor, Eastman established a laboratory where he cooked and experimented with photography; a projector room to show home movies; and a storeroom for his guns, fishing tackle, and camping gear.
Extensive grounds surrounded the house. They included a lily pond, flower gardens, vegetable gardens, a rock garden, orchards, berry patches, greenhouses, stables, a tool house, repair shop, a carriage house, and barns. Eastman, fond of his animals, gave each one a name.
Twenty-eight servants, supervised by a professional housekeeper, staffed Eastman’s home. The housekeeper had a yearly operating budget of one hundred thousand dollars. Part of her job was compiling monthly reports for Eastman. She documented the about the amount of milk produced by his five Jersey cows, how much butter churned from cream obtained from the cows’ milk, how many eggs were laid by the chickens, and how many peaches were grown in his orchard.
[Excerpt from George Eastman: Bringing Photography to the People]
Publisher: Quirk Books (Release date August 9, 2016)
This funny book tells the story of how great artists coped with the normal problems of growing up. For instance, Jackson Pollock’s family moved constantly. Georgia O’Keeffe lived in the shadow of her older brother. Jean-Michel Basquiat triumphed over poverty. Other artist’s lives covered in the book are Claude Monet, Jacob Lawrence, Leonardo da Vinci, Vincent van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Frida Kahlo, Beatrix Potter, Yoko Ono, Dr. Seuss, Emily Carr, Keith Haring, Charles Schulz, and Louise Nevelson.
Snowman, an Amish plow horse, was bought at an auction by Harry deLeyer, a riding instructor for $80. When deLeyer sold Snowman to a neighbor, the horse had other ideas. He kept jumping fences to go home. Finally, deLeyer began training Snowman as a show jumper. Two years later Snowman won the 1958 horse show jumping Triple Crown. A great horse story!
She Stood for Freedom: The Untold Story of a Civil Rights Hero, Joan Trumpauer Mulholland
“She Stood for Freedom” describes how Joan Trumpauer Mulholland’s youth was torn apart by racial injustice. In her heroic story, Mulholland describes how she as a white teenager in the South during segregation, put herself on the front lines of the Civil Rights struggle. This is the first biography about her experiences, published simultaneously in picture book and middle grade editions.
Today is Beatrix Potter Day and the 150th anniversary of her birth. Potter was born in Kensington, London in 1866. Here father, a lawyer by trade, and her mother were both artistic. Their talents rubbed off on Beatrix.
While her brother was in boarding school, Potter spent a lot of time alone. She had little social contact with other children her own age and began creating her own stories based on animals. She also spent many hours drawing them. In time, she also became interested in natural history and drew flowers and fungi.
Peter Rabbit
In her twenties, Potter, started looking for a publisher for her stories and drawings. At first, she was unsuccessful but persevered. In 1902, when she was thirty-six, Frederick Warne and Company bought Peter Rabbit. The publisher insisted the drawings be in color and Potter insisted the book be kept short in length. She wanted the book to be easy for children to hold. By the end of the year, 28,000 copies were in print. Using her good business sense, in 1903 Potter patented a Peter Rabbit doll.
Tale of Two Bad Mice
During her life time Potter wrote 23 books. The best known titles are:
The Tale of Peter Rabbit (1902)
The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin (1903)
The Tailor of Gloucester (1903)
The Tale of Benjamin Bunny (1904)
The Tale of Two Bad Mice (1904)
The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle (1905)
The Tale of the Pie and the Patty-Pan (1905)
The Tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher (1906)
The Story of A Fierce Bad Rabbit (1906)
A film entitled Miss Potter starring Renee Zellwege was released in 2007.
Last April, I participated in a Speaker’s Showcase. Although, I wasn’t sure what I was getting into, it turned out to be a very rewarding and useful experience.
The showcase included a moderator, a time keeper, and a videographer. The moderator set up our presentations by introducing us. Then the camera began taping. The timekeeper clued us with two minute warnings. We were each videotaped for 8 minutes.
Sylvia Becker-Hill
Twenty-two people spoke in the showcase. We were all from varied backgrounds: investing, business, sales, authors, social media and a few toastmasters spoke. After each presentation, we rated each other on a simple evaluation sheet. That was really the bonus.
From the evaluations I learned at times I needed to raise my voice, I looked at my prompts too often (because I turned my head away from my audience), and I used the word “um” several times.
On the positive side, I received many encouraging comments: You are so passionate about what you do – I loved it; Great Stories;I want to read your books.
I have to admit I am hooked. I can’t wait to participate in the next showcase.
Check out my presentation. It’s entitled “My Writing Adventures.”
While visiting Rochester, New York, I read an article in the local newspaper about a slave graveyard that had been uncovered near Albany, New York. I was impressed with how the community was coming together to rebury the slaves with the honor they deserve.
Shortly after reading article, I discovered Lois Miner Huey had written a book about slave graveyards entitled “Forgotten Bones: Uncovering a Slave Cemetery.” I met Lois several years ago at a Highlights Writer’s Workshop and asked to interview her.
In her book, Lois discusses three grave sites uncovered in New York City, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and the Albany site on the Schuyler family farm.
How unusual is it to find slave graveyards in northern states?
Many sites have been found that date back to the 19th century in the northern states. They are located mostly near churches. Only three grave sites have been uncovered that date back to the 18th century. All three were located away from white habitation sites and not near churches.
How did researchers identify who the burial grounds belonged to?
The slave cemetery found on the Schuyler property no doubt was associated with that family. It was identified by me and other archaeologists many years ago. Because of its significance to local history it had been turned into a town park. The second site was located on a colonial New York City map. When archaeologists tested this site, they found almost nothing. But when the construction machinery reached twenty feet below modern ground surface, they hit bone. That shows how much soil can build up in a city over time. The third site was in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, near what once was the water front. This burial ground was found under a street during construction of a new sewer line.
Archaeologist digging at slave grave site.
What did archaeologists and scientists learn about the lives of the slaves buried at the sites?
The bones from the three sites showed the tremendous amount of work these slaves did. Most people in the 18th century worked hard, but these people got room and board of varying quality and nothing out of what they did. They weren’t working for themselves but for the benefit of their enslavers. They all showed traces of overwork: torn muscles on the bones, early arthritis, bone breakage, and, in New York City, traces of malnutrition.
The Schuyler slaves lived on a farm where they apparently were able to grow their own food (in the little time they had each day to do something for themselves) so signs of malnutrition weren’t found on their bones. The most surprising find was the differing backgrounds of these people. DNA studies showed Native American ancestry for some and Madagascarian ancestry for others. Madagascar is located off the coast of East Africa, while most enslaved people came from West Africa.
What findings most impressed you as an archaeologist?
Facial Reconstruction of slaves found at Schuyler Farm.
None of the people found in the Schuyler burial ground were related through the female line. So they had to form their own community despite differing backgrounds, perhaps language problems, and abilities. Fifty percent of the skeletons in each of the three burial grounds were children, so the slaves had to overcome those losses on top worrying about losing family members who might be sold. Their lives were pretty much out of their own control and the hard work reflected on the bones shows their amazing contributions to the building this country. They dug the ditches, lifted the timbers, plowed the fields, cooked the food, and trained the horses–all for someone else.
What has happened to the remains of the slaves found at the sites?
A public cemetery located near the Schuyler burial grounds gave land for the reburial. Local artisans donated their time to decorate the ossuary boxes, funeral homes offered transportation for the boxes, Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site had the boxes laid out for the public to view, and local clergy participated in the burial ceremony. A similar ceremony occurred in New York City where the skeletons were re-interred in the same ground, and a museum dedicated to them was opened. Signs have been installed along the street in Portsmouth identifying the grave site and funds are being raised for a memorial and reburial there.
Did you know today is Chocolate Day? If you love chocolate as much as I do, you will want to share these books about chocolate with your children. Plus, a book Sandra Boynton (a children’s author) wrote just for you!!!
Milton Hershey was the man who invented the chocolate bar! He was not afraid to dream big and work hard. In time, he discovered the secret to mass-producing milk chocolate.
Learn how the ancient Aztecs created a special drink from the beans of the cacao tree and later how those beans became the delicious treat known as chocolate.
In 1948, the Soviet United blockaded West Berlin in an attempted to starve the people into accepting Communism. The United States and Britain airlifted food and supplies to the people. US Air Force Lieutenant Gail S. Halverson wanted to lift the spirits of the isolated children and started dropping chocolate and gum from his plane.
Can you believe it! Sandra Boynton actually wrote a book about CHOCOLATE for grown-ups? A great read! Sumptuously illustrated and filled with both useful facts and funny misinformation.
Summer time is a great time for young people to relax and read a book. Below are nine of my favorite biographies and autobiographies for teens. These books can be found in bookstores or in your local library.
How I Came to be a Writer is Phyllis Reynolds Naylor’s story about her writing journey, from her first work in kindergarten to her most recent books. The book includes samples of her writing and shows the inner workings of her writing process, from the spark of an idea to a book’s actual publication. Naylor has written numerous children’s books including Shiloh which received the Newberry Medal.
This is the story of Buffalo Bill Cody the showman, scout, hunter and one of the greatest entertainers of his era. His shows featured cowboys, Indians, trick riding, and sharpshooting.
Published by: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
This is an enthralling dual memoir of an American girl and her pen pal from an impoverished city in Zimbabwe. They exchanged letters for six years and their correspondence changed both their lives.
This is story of Helen Waterford and Alfons Heck. They were born just a few miles from each other in the German Rhineland. Helen was a young German Jew. Alfons was an ardent member of the Hitler Youth. Their lives took radically different courses: Helen’s to the Auschwitz extermination camp; Alfons to a high rank in the Hitler Youth.
Most people know that Benedict Arnold was America’s most notorious traitor. Few know that he was also one of its greatest war heroes. Arnold was reckless, heroic, and driven. The Notorious Benedict Arnold is the winner of the 2011 Boston Globe – Horn Book Award for Nonfiction. [Sheinkin is a fabulous author who always tells a good tale. I recommend all his books.]
This award winning biography alternates between a frank recounting of the Romanov’s’ fairy tale lives and the stories of the improvised Russian peasants, workers, revolutionaries and soldiers they ruled. The contrast between their living conditions is stunning.
Hope Solo, the 2015 World Cup champion and double Olympic gold medalist soccer player, shares her story in her own words. (This is the young readers’ edition of Hope Solo’s exciting life story, Solo: A Memoir of Hope.)
Summer time is a great time for young people to relax and read a book. Below are twelve of my favorite biographies and autobiographies for ages 8-12. These books can be found in bookstores or in your local library.
By Muriel Harris Weinstein and Illustrated by Frank Morrison
Published by Bloomsbury
This chapter book biography of jazz musician Louis Armstrong is written from and unusual point of view of – his first trumpet. Armstrong bought it at a pawn shop in New Orleans for five dollars. If you love Jazz, this is a great book to share with your children.
By Jim Ottaviani and by Illustrated by Maris Wicks
Published by Square Fish
This is the story of three women who loved primates and lived among them to study their behavior and learn from them. If you are interested in Zoology this is a must read.
In this lively book, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (basketball’s all-time leading scorer) profiles African- American inventors who through their persistence against great odds made our world a better place.
This book contains thirty true stories about kids who did extraordinary things. Tilly saved lives in Thailand by warning people a tsunami was coming. Malika fought against segregation in her home town. Ryan raised money to drill for water wells in Africa. An inspiring book about how kids can make a difference.
The title “Legends” tells it all. The author Howard Bryant has compiled the best the sport has to offer by telling the story of the players, teams, and important moments in baseball history.
This books is written by a magician, Sid Fleischman, about the great magician, Henry Houdini. Fleischman shows you how Houdini walked through walls, escaped drowning, and was able to shatter iron chains tightly wrapped around him. A fascinating book!
In this engaging book Erin Hagar tells the story of the Danish carpenter and his family who overcame a desperate situation and created one of the most popular toys in history, LEGO® toys. Knowing the story behind these amazing toys with make you appreciate them even more.
By Robert Kraske and Illustrated by Robert Andrew Parker
Published Clarion Books
After arguing with the ship’s captain, Alexander Selkirk, was thrown off the ship and put ashore on an uninhabited island. He spent four years alone. After he was rescued, his adventures became of basis of Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe.
By Catherine Thimmesh and Illustrated by Melissa Sweet
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers
Did you know that a woman invented Liquid Paper commonly known as “white-out” and a woman invented the “space bumper” that was used to protect spacecraft and the astronauts? These are only a few of the woman profiled in this collective biography. Colorful and inventive collage artwork by Melissa Sweet illustrates this unique book.
In honor of mother’s day the George Eastman House, in Rochester, New York, was decorated with flowers and themed table top displays. My favorite display was in the conservatory.
In his retirement, Eastman often invited a group of four young married women to join him for lunch on Saturdays. The group consisted of Mrs. George Whipple, wife of the Dean of the medical school; Mrs. Harold Gleason, wife of Eastman’s organist; Mrs. Stanhope Bayne-Jones, wife of a professor of bacteriology at the University of Rochester; and Mrs. Marion Folsom, wife of an Eastman Kodak executive. They were like nieces to Eastman.
Since the group often dined on lobster, they became known as the Lobster Quartet. Eastman always gave his female guests orchid corsages and presented them in boxes lined with lilac tissue paper.
Eastman subscribed to Vogue magazine and kept up with the latest fashions so he would have something to talk about with his female guests. He was rather opinionated about the colors women wore. He disliked black and liked to see women in bright colors.
Summer time is a great time to relax and sit down and read with your children. Below are twelve of my favorite picture book biographies – one for each week of summer.
Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear
By Lindsay Matick and illustrated by Sophie Blackall
Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
This is an endearing true story of the bear Winnie, who inspired the character Winnie-the- Pooh.
The Poppy Lady: Moina Belle Michael and Her Tribute to Veterans
By Barbara Walsh and Illustrated by Layne Johnson
Published by Calkins Creek
Miona Belle Michael, a school teacher in Georgia, wanted the soldiers who had lost their lives in WWI to be remembered. She diligently worked to establish the red poppy as a symbol of honor to be used to remember the fallen heros.
Aaron and Alexander: The Most Famous Duel in American
By Don Brown
Published by Roaring Brook Press
The story behind the most famous duel in American history between Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton.
The House That Jane Built: A Story About Jane Addams
By Tanya Lee Stone and Illustrated by Kathryn Brown
Published by Henry Holt and Co.
Jane Addams was the first American woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. She turned her house into a community center which helped transform a poor neighborhood in Chicago.
The Noisy Paint Box: The Colors and Sounds of Kandinsky’s Abstract Art
By Barb Rosenstock and illustrated by Mary Grandpre
Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers
Vasya Kandinsky was a proper little boy who studied math and history. He practiced the piano, sat up straight, and was perfectly polite. When his family sent him to art classes, they expected him to paint pretty houses and flowers. But Kandinsky had other ideas.
Manfish: A Story of Jacques Cousteau
By Jennifer Berne and illustrated by Eric Puybaret
Published by Chronicle Books
Jacques Cousteau was a curious little boy who grew up to be an international oceanographer and champion of the seas. This lovely book, with poetic text and gorgeous illustrations, portrays an inspiring and magical portrait of Cousteau.
Trombone Shorty
By Troy Andrews and illustrated by Bryan Collier
Published by: Abrams Books for Young Readers
Troy Andrews was a musical prodigy and earned the nickname “Trombone Shorty” because he wielded a trombone twice as long as he was high.
In Mary’s Garden
By Tina Kugler and illustrated by Carson Kugler
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books
Wisconsin artist Mary Nohl made art out of anything she liked and turned common things into unusual art. Her garden became her art gallery.
Barnum’s Bones: How Barnum Brown Discovered the Most Famous Dinosaur in the World
By Tracey Fern and illustrated by Boris Kulikov
Published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Barnum Brown’s parents named him after the circus tycoon P.T. Barnum. They hoped he would do something extraordinary. And he did! He became a paleontologist for the American Museum of Natural History and discovered the first documented skeleton of the Tyrannosaurus Rex. Barnum’s Bones is one The Washington Post‘s Best Kids Books of 2012.
Elvis: The Story of the Rock and Roll King
Written and Illustrated by Bonnie Christensen
Published by Henry Holt and Company
Release date: April 21, 2015
Elvis Presley was a shy kid who found solace in singing at church and learning to play the guitar. One day on a lark, he recorded a song for his mother’s birthday at Sun Record Studios and the rest is history.
The Amazing Age of John Roy Lynch
By Chris Barton and illustrated by Don Tate
Published by: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
John Roy Lynch was born a slave in Mississippi. But, with the passage of the Emancipation Proclamation, he was able to begin a new life. Eventually he was elected to the United States Congress.
Tricky Vic: The Impossibly True Story of the Man Who Sold the Eiffel Tower
By Greg Pizzoli
Viking Books for Young Readers
Robert Miller was a con artist. In 1900, he moved Paris, France, to practice his trade. Using the alias “Count Victor Lustig” he sold the Eiffel Tower twice.
Today is National Dare Day and I have a challenge for you. I DARE YOU to stop what you are doing and “write about your writing.”
First condense your story down to a story in a sentence. Then, write a one paragraph sound bite.
A sound bite is a few sentences that capture the essence of your story and entice the reader to want to know more. It should take about 15 seconds to recite. Basically, it adds more information to your story in a sentence.
Here is some Advice
When writing your story in a sentence think about answering these questions: who, what, when, where and how. (If you get stumped, try starting with who and what.)
If you are not sure how to write your sound bite, go to your favorite book store and read the back copy of books that are similar to yours. Write down the back copy of three books that interested you. Now, condense what you copied for each book into one paragraph. Using these as a guide, write your book’s sound bite.
Join in the Fun
Please share your “writing about your writing'” (stories in a sentence and sound bites) by posting them in the comments section of my blog. I can’t wait to read them!
Ride was an American physicist and astronaut. She joined NASA in 1978 and was the first American women in space in 1983. On the flight, she was a mission specialist. Her job was to operate the robotic arm, go on space walks, and conduct science experiments. Using the robotic arm, she released satellites into space.
Prior to her mission Ride was accosted by the press with silly questions like, “Will the flight affect your reproductive organs?” and “Do you weep when things go wrong on the job?” In response, Ride insisted she saw herself in only one role – that of an astronaut.
Ride left NASA in 1987 and went to work at the Stanford University Center of International Security and Arms Control. Two years later, she became a professor of physics at the University of California, San Diego and director of the California Space Institute.
With her partner, Tam O’Shaughnessy, Ride wrote five books for children about science and space. She particularly wanted to help girls understand science and mathematics. Until her death in 2012, she was involved in science programs and festivals in the United States. Sally Ride Day was created in honor of her birth date May 26, 1951.
In this engaging book Erin Hagar tells the story of the Danish carpenter and his family who overcame a desperate situation and created one of the most popular toys in history, LEGO® toys. Knowing the story behind these amazing toys with make you appreciate them even more.
Whoosh! Lonnie Johnson’s Super-Soaking Stream of Inventions
By Chris Barton and illustrated by Don Tate
Published by Charlesbridge
Did you know the Super Soaker (one of the top twenty toys of all time) was invented by accident? While attempting to create a new cooling system for refrigerators and air conditioners inventor Lonnie Johnson created the mechanics behind this popular toy.
The Hole Story of the Doughnut
By Pat Miller and Illustrated by Vincent X. Kirsch
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers
In 1847, Hanson Crockett Gregory from Rockport, Maine, signed on a schooner as the ship’s cook. He prepared balls of fried sweet dough called “sinkers” for breakfast. The center of the dough was heavy with grease and when the sailors ate them, they felt like cannonballs had fallen into their stomachs. Gregory cleverly solved the problem by cutting a hole in the center of the dough and then frying it in lard – hence the doughnut was born.
In honor of National Photography Month, I want to share the story of the man who made the camera as easy to use as a pencil. Who was he? George Eastman, the founder of Kodak.
Eastman lived in upstate New York in the small rural town of Rochester. In 1870, while working as a bank teller, he became fascinated with the new invention of photography. Back then a photographic kit consisted of a huge camera, a tripod, fragile glass plates and jars, a funnel, brushes, chemicals, and a tent to use as a darkroom.
From the beginning, the bulk of the paraphernalia worried Eastman. It seemed to him you ought to be able to carry less than a pack-horse load to take a photograph. Despite the disadvantages, Eastman became “wholy absorbed in photography.”
He took lessons and read photographic journals. When he had the chance, he took trips to practice his hobby. During the summer of 1878, Eastman traveled to Mackinac Island on Lake Huron in Michigan. He wanted to photograph a natural bridge that had formed on the island. When he went into his portable dark room to begin preparing his photographic plates, a group of tourists spotted him. They assumed he was a professional photographer and lingered near the bridge so he would take their picture.
Eastman ignored them. When one of the men from the group approached him and inquired about the cost of his photographs, Eastman replied he was an amateur and his photographs were not for sale.
This angered the tourist and he complained, “Then why did you let us stand in the hot sun for a full half-hour while you fooled around with your contraptions? You ought to wear a sign saying that you are an amateur!”
The tourist had no idea that one day this young amateur would revolutionize the field of photography and make it easy for him to take his own photographs. Plus, the Kodak trademark would be known around the world.
[Excerpts from George Eastman: Bringing Photography by Lynda Pflueger]
Thomas Jefferson wrote his own epitaph: “Author of the Declaration of American Independence, Author of the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom and the Father of the University of Virginia.” Evidently, he didn’t feel being President was all that important.
President Zackary Taylor voted for the first time at the age of 62. Why? Because he was a soldier and moved around a great deal before he became president. He was also a spendthrift and refused to pay postage due on the letter informing him he had been nominated to the presidency. His wife Margaret was also an independent soul. When she lived in the White House, she refused to serve as her husband’s hostess. The job of White House hostess went to their daughter Betty Taylor Bliss.
Ulysses S. Grant was the first president to run against a woman candidate, Virginia Woodhull. She was nominated by the “Equal Rights Party” in 1872. Grant was the first president to receive an Indian Chief in the White House and to establish our nation’s first National Park (Yellowstone) in 1872.
Dwight D. Eisenhower was man of many talents. He was a skilled chef famous for his vegetable soup, steaks, and cornmeal pancakes. He was also licensed to fly an airplane and loved golf so much he had a putting green set up on the White House lawn.
President Lyndon Baines Johnson used to go through the White House at night turning off lights to save taxpayers money. He was the only president to take the oath of office from a female, Judge Sarah T. Hughes, and the first president to name an African American to his cabinet.
This month, I have the pleasure of interviewing Nancy Churnin the author of The William Hoy Story, How a Deaf Baseball Player Changed the Game. Her book was published on March 1, and has already gone into a second printing.
How did you discover William Hoy’s Story?
Steve Sandy, who is a longtime fan of Hoy, emailed me after I wrote a short piece for The Dallas Morning News about a play about Hoy. The play entitled Signal Season of Dummy Hoy by playwrights Allen Meyer and Michael Nowak was performed at Garland High School, in Garland, Texas. We started corresponding and Steve told me what a hero Hoy is in the Deaf community and how it is his dream for Hoy to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.
What about Hoy made you want to write his story?
At first, I was wowed by Hoy’s contribution to the game– teaching the umpires signals we still use today so he could play the game he loved. The more I learned about him, the more I was impressed by his character. He was honest, kind, smart, and determined. For every kid who has ever been told he or she can’t do something, for whatever reason, here is Hoy showing there is always a way if you can only think of it. Plus, your difference may be the very thing that makes the game better for everyone.
How long did it take you to research Hoy’s story? Any interesting tidbits you would like to share?
I was so lucky to have fabulous resources from Steve Sandy. What took years for me was to fully absorb and process this information and to learn the craft of writing a compelling children’s story. I wrote many, many versions before coming up with this one.
Describe your journey to publication with Hoy’s story?
When I realized I needed help with craft, I took classes with Susanna Hill, Kristen Fulton and Mira Reisberg. I participated in challenges, including Tara Lazar’s PiBoIdMo and Angie Karcher’s RhyPoIdMo (even though I never tried this in rhyme!). I sent it to Rate Your Story and received a lot of encouragement from RYS founder Miranda Paul. I got my agent, Karen Grencik, through 12X12. She believed in Hoy from day one. She sent it to Wendy McClure of Albert Whitman and Company and Wendy liked it right away.
Do you have any advice you would like to share with other writers?
Write what you are passionate about. I always felt that Hoy deserved to have his story told. I tried to learn from every rejection and criticism. I didn’t take it personally. I took it gratefully because, I knew that everyone in this incredibly generous and gracious community wanted exactly what I did– the best book possible for kids.
Nancy hopes that her book about William Hoy will garner enough support for him to be inducted in the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum and make her friend Steve Sandy’s dream come true.
Did you know three famous children’s writers were born in April?
Anne McCaffrey
Anne McCaffrey, an American-born Irish writer, is best known for the Dragonriders of Pern fantasy series. Early in her career she was the first woman to win a Hugo Award for fiction and the Nebula Award. Her 1978 novel The White Dragon became one of the first science-fiction books to appear on the New Times Best Seller list.
McCaffrey’s son Todd wrote a compelling biography of his mother entitled Dragon Holder. Todd often collaborator with his mother and was her most devoted fan
Gertrude Chandler Warner
Gertrude Chandler Warner was born in Putnam, Connecticut. As a little girl she dreamed of becoming an author. Her first attempts at writing were for her Grandfather. Every Christmas she gave him one of her stories as a gift. When she grew up, she wrote The Boxcar Children Mysteries.
Warner’s life is chronicled by Mary Ellen Ellsworth’s book Gertrude Chandler Warner and The Boxcar Children
Beverly Cleary
Beverly Cleary was born in McMinnville, Oregon. When she was old enough to go to school her family moved to a farm in Yamhill. The town was so small it didn’t have a library. Her mother arranged to have books sent to Yamhill from the State Library System and set up a makeshift library in a room above the town bank. That is when Cleary learned to love books.
Cleary will be 100 years old on the 12th of this month and she has sold 91 million books worldwide. Her books have won many awards. Dear Mr. Henshaw won the John Newbery Medal in 1984 and her books Ramona and Her Father and Ramona Quimby, Age 8 (my daughter’s favorite books when she was eight years old) were both Newbery Honor Books. Cleary has written two memoirs about her life entitled A Girl from Yamhill followed by My Own Two Feet.
Many times, I am asked about my writing process. I usually skirt around the question, because my process changes almost weekly. I just keep trying new things. Today, I discovered something. I do have a writing process and it is working! So here it is:
Music
I listen to piano music on the Kindle Fire. My favorite is a CD entitled “A Thousand Years” by the Piano Guys. I downloaded the music for free from Amazon. When the music stops, I take five minutes for a restroom/coffee-tea break. Unless, my dog has decided to it is time for me to take him for a walk. And yes, he is listening for the music to stop.
A Plan
Roses by Lynda Pflueger
This is probably the most effective thing I do. Before I stop writing, I decide what I am going to next. I admit it, I don’t write every day – just most days. I try to have at least a three hour stretch dedicated to my writing and my writing sessions are actually sitting down and writing not researching, reading, using social media, etc. That means I have everything organized for the next session. This usually takes about ten minutes.
My Writer’s Cove
I am also an artist, which means there is a constant war going on in my office between my writing and my art projects. (I have accepted the fact it will never end). So, I developed my writer’s cove. In a corner of my office, I have my computer, printer, and a place where I can turn my chair and access a flat writing surface. I have good light and one of my file cabinets is right beside my writing surface. I cannot see my art stuff from my writer’s cove. This keeps me from being frustrated.
The William Hoy Story: How a Deaf Baseball Player Changed the Game
By Nancy Churnin and Illustrate by Jez Tuya
Published by Albert Whitman & Company
William Ellsworth Hoy was deaf. Despite his disability, he wanted to play professional baseball. He practiced and practiced and was finally picked up on a team. But couldn’t hear the empires’ calls. So one day, he asked the umpire to use hand signals. His suggestion changed the game of baseball forever.
The Kid from Diamond Street: The Extraordinary Story of Baseball Legend Edith Houghton
By Audrey Vernick and illustrated by Steven Salerno
Published by Clarion Books
Edith Houghton was born in 1912 in Philadelphia. At the age of ten, she became a female baseball player. She played ball with women who were older than she was and even traveled with her team to Japan. Later in life, she became the first woman to scout for a professional baseball team.
Barbed Wire Baseball: How One Man Brought Hope to the Japanese Internment Camps of WWII
By Marissa Moss
Published by Harry N. Abrams
Kenichi Zenimura (Zeni) stood only five feet tall and wanted to be a baseball player. People told him he was too short. But he didn’t care. He was a natural athlete and when he grew up he played ball with Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. When WWII broke out, Zeni and his family were sent to Gila River internment camp in Arizona. In the barren desert environment, Zeni brought the game of baseball to the camp and later became known as the “Father of Japanese-American Baseball.”
Legends: The Best Players, Games and Teams in Baseball
By Howard Bryant
Published by Puffin Books
The title “Legends” tells it all. Author Howard Bryant has compiled the best the sport has to offer by telling the story of the players, teams, and important moments in baseball history.
A great way to stay focused on a writing idea is to condense it into a story in a sentence. Plus, creating a story in a sentence helps prepare you to tell people about your work.
Here are some ideas:
Let’s say, you are at a luncheon and someone at your table asks what are you working on? Which one of these answers might grab their attention?
1) I am writing about a concert pianist whose music impressed me when I was learning to play to piano.
2) I am writing a biography of Van Cliburn, a concert pianist, who helped end the cold war with Russia.
Now, let’s say you are at a conference and the person next to you asks what you are working on (later you find out he’s an editor). Which one of these answers might grab his attention?
1) I am writing about a Civil War photographer.
2) I am writing about Alexander Gardner the Civil War photographer who took more photographs of Abraham Lincoln than any other photographer.
Getting Started
Before writing your story in a sentence determine what genre (fiction, nonfiction, picture book etc.) suits your idea, what age group you are writing for, and give your idea a working title. The most important decision you have to make is the genre. Your story structure depends on it. Then while writing your story in a sentence think about who, what, when, where, and how? Start with who and what.
Happy Writing!
What are your stories in a sentence? Please share!
I didn’t know that a group of men wanted to steal President Lincoln’s body until I read Steve Sheinkin’s book Lincoln’s Grave Robbers. This compelling tale is based on numerous primary sources. My hat is off the Sheinkin for his arduous research.
One of the most surprising aspects of the story is the grave robbers wanted to be paid a ransom of $200,000 and one of their friends, Benjamin Boyd, released from jail. Why? Boyd was a master engraver of plates that were used to print counterfeit money. At the time, his plates produced the most realistic looking counterfeit bills.
James Kennally, the mastermind behind a huge counterfeit operation, cooked up the idea to steal Lincoln’s body and recruited men to help him. His business was in jeopardy with Boyd in jail. He needed his engraver freed so he could make more plates.
Sheinkin’s story alternates between the grave robbers and the Secret Service Agents who were trying to catch them. Adding to the drama of the story are two double agents spying on the grave robbers and reporting back to the Secret Service.
An interesting bit of trivia that Sheinkin shares is that by 1864, fifty percent of all paper money in the US was counterfeit and the Secret Service’s sole purpose of was to stop counterfeiters.
Counterfeit bills were called “coney” and the men who passed them in a community were called “shovers.” This is how it worked. A “shover” would go into a store with a fake $20 bill and buy $5 word of merchandise. He would get $15 back in real money. When the owner of the business went to the bank, he would find out he had a $20 counterfeit bill. So he lost his $5 in merchandise and his $15 in change.
Did the grave robbers actually get their hands on Lincoln’s body? Was the Secret Service able to catch them? What happened to Benjamin Boyd? No spoilers here. You will have to read the book and find out.
Girls Think of Everything: Stories of Ingenious Inventions by Women
By Catherine Thimmesh and Illustrated by Melissa Sweet
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers
Did you know that a woman invented Liquid Paper commonly known as “white-out” and a woman invented the “space bumper” that was used to protect spacecraft and the astronauts? These are only a few of the woman profiled in this collective biography. Colorful and inventive collage artwork by Melissa Sweet illustrates this unique book.
Headstrong
By Rachel Swaby
Published by Broadway Books
The title of this book intrigued me the beginning. Swaby has written a collective biography of fifty-two women who had an amazing impact on the fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Bravo Ladies!
Girls Who Rocked the World: Heroines from Joan of Arc to Mother Teresa
By Michelle Roehm McCann and Amelie Welden
Illustrated by David Hahn
Published by Aladdin/Beyond Words
This is an inspirational book profiles forty-six “movers and shakers” who made their mark on the world before they were 20 years old. Go Girl Power!
Girls Who Looked Under Rocks: The Lives of Six Pioneering Naturalists
By Jeannie Atkins and Illustrated by Paula Conner
Published by Dawn Pubns
This collective biography profiles six women who were curious about nature and due to their passion for science overcame obstacles in male dominated arena. This book was selected by the Children’s Book Council and National Science Teacher’s Association as one of the “Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children for 2001.”
Once again the editors of Writer’s Digest have published timely articles for children’s writers. In fact, in their March/April issue they have devoted a whole section to Writing for Kids + Teens.
In the first article, 10 Picture Book Pitfalls – and How to Fix Them, Marie Lamb points out the benefits of condensing your story into a sentence. She notes that by forcing yourself to craft a one liner, you will prevent your story from going nowhere. Lamb also advises writers to imagine their story as told only in pictures and “if a more visually engaging story emerges, see how you might revise your manuscript accordingly.” Since I am also an artist, this comment gave me a lot to think about.
Regarding the middle-grade (MG) and young adult (YA) genre four agents answer four questions in the article 4 on 4. This cleverly formatted article contains a lot of information. The agents talk about the most important differences between MG and YA, what makes a standout writing for MG readers, and the common mistakes they see in the manuscripts submitted to them.
Ammi-Joan Paquette in her article A Whole New World talks about world building in MG and YA fantasy stories. She advises writers on how to develop a “rich literary landscape for kids to get lost in.” At the end of her article, she lists eleven books that in her opinion have excelled “in world building.”
In Get Schooled Teri Brown talks about author’s school visits. In her article she advises authors on what makes a successful school visit and how to “get in the door.” According to Brown, the first step is to find the appropriate contact at the school by calling the school office. Then send the contact person an introductory email (sales pitch). In the email Brown advises you to introduce yourself, tell them what you can offer, and direct them to your web site.
I was fortunate to hear Mary E. Pearson speak at the SCBWI/SD February chapter meeting about Juggling the Art and Business of Writing: Craft, Tips and Realities. Mary told the group that she once sat in their seats at chapter meetings and absorbed everything she could about writing for children. Then she added it was “like coming home” to speak at them.
Mary writes for young adults and has published many award winning novels – including her latest trilogy “The Remnant Chronicles.” She talked about proposing the trilogy to her editor, wresting with unexpected writing challenges, and keeping the passion alive for 1700 pages.
One of Mary’s concerns when she received her contract was her deadlines. She confessed she was not a fast writer and started researching fast writing tips so she could write smarter. She recommended Rachel Aaron’s book 2,000 to 10,000 words per day.
During her talk, Mary gave her audience some well thought through advice. Below are a few of her nuggets:
* Your first draft is you telling yourself the story.
* There is magic in writing. Enjoy and trust the process.
* Be your own best critic.
* Understand your weaknesses.
* Make yourself grow. Dig deeper. Challenge yourself.
* Adopt the mantra: YOU CAN DO THIS!
* Don’t let doubt get in your way.
* Writing leads to more writing. Keep going!
* Just get it down on paper. You can’t revise a blank page.
My favorite is Mary’s last nugget. I have printed it out on a large post-it and stuck it to my monitor. No more stalling when starting a new project.
Check out Mary’s website www.marypearson.com and visit her on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Next Monday, February 22, we will be celebrating George Washington’s birthday as a federal holiday. To celebrate, I wanted to share my favorite books about the first president of the United States.
George Washington’s Teeth
By Deborah Chandra and Madeleine Comora and Illustrated by Brock Cole
Published by Square Fish
George Washington suffered most of his life with bad teeth. By the time he was 24 years-old, he had lost at least one tooth a year. When he was elected president, he had only two teeth left. This humorous tale is one of my favorite books about Washington. It is written in verse and based on Washington’s letters, dairies, and historical records. (By the way, contrary to common belief, Washington never had a set of wooden teeth.)
George Washington and the General’s Dog
By Frank Murphy and Illustrated by Richard Walz
Published by Random House Books for Young Readers
This easy reader is a delightful story about George Washington and his love of animals. Children will be amused to learn Washington named his dog “Sweetlips” and maybe surprised to learn how kind he was to one of his enemies.
Farmer George Plants a Nation
By Peggy Thomas and Illustrated by Layne Johnson
Published by Calkins Creek
This well written book focuses on George Washington as a farmer, inventor, and scientist. On his farm, Washington sought to improve farming methods and share his knowledge with others. This aspect of Washington’s life has often been overlooked. With Johnson’s exquisite oil paintings and Thomas’s detailed text, this is an excellent book for older readers.
Interesting Trivia – George Washington was born in Virginia on February 11, 1731, according to the then-used Julian calendar. In 1752, however, Britain and all its colonies adopted the Gregorian calendar which moved Washington’s birthday a year and 11 days to February 22, 1732.
Tomorrow is Abraham Lincoln’s birthday and these are my favorite biographies about him.
Abe Lincoln’s Hat
By Martha Brenner and Illustrated by Donald Cook
Published by Random House Books for Young Readers
Abraham Lincoln was absent-minded. To stay on top of things, he kept his letters, court notes, contracts and his checkbook in his top hat. Colorful watercolor drawings illustrate this delightful book.
Lincoln: A Photobiography
By Russell Freedman
Published by Clarion Books
I have read this well illustrated biography of Abraham Lincoln many times. Freedman skillfully covers Lincoln’s life and gives a moving account of his death shortly after he was elected to his second term in office. This book won many honors: the Newbery Medal, the Jefferson Cup Award and the Golden Kite Honor Book Award.
Commander in Chief: Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War
By Albert Marrin
Published by Dutton Juvenile
The theme of Marrin’s book is Lincoln the war leader. Marrin portrays Lincoln as a cautious and principled man who by meeting the challenge of our national crisis, the Civil War, became our greatest president. This well-researched and fascinating biography was named an ALA Best Book for Young Adults and a Booklist Editors’ Choice. It holds a special place in my Civil War library.
STEM is an acronym for science, technology, engineering and math. It is an educational movement to help children become better prepared to enter the workforce and solve problems that exist in the real world. The movement is gaining momentum and as a children’s writer I wanted to understand its implications. I looked up the definitions of the four components of STEM in Webster’s dictionary:
Science – systematized knowledge derived from observation, study, and experimentation carried on in order to determine the nature or principles of what is being studied.
Technology – applied science; a method, process: etc. for handling a specific technical problem.
Engineering – the science concerned with putting scientific knowledge to practical use; the planning, designing, construction or management of machinery, roads, bridges, buildings, etc.
Math – the group of sciences (including arithmetic, geometry, algebra, calculus, etc.) dealing with quantities, magnitudes, and forms, and their relationships, attributes, etc.
I was surprised by the definition of technology. Previously, I had a limited view of the word. Now I realized technology encompassed more than computers and programing.
Not totally satisfied, I began to search the internet for more clues to help me understand what STEM meant. When I discovered Anne Jolly’s article “Six Characteristics of a Great STEM Lesson” things began to fall in place. Jolly defines science as the study of our world, math as the language of numbers, shapes, and quantities, and engineering as the process used to solve problems. She feels that any product created to solve a problem or meet a need is technology.
This site has an excellent video entitled “STEM Integration in K-12 Education.” After watching the video I realized that the pillars of the STEM movement are Math and Science.
This colorful and fun site is a guide to engineering for high school girls. The sections on why engineering, meet inspiring women, and find your dream job gave me a lot to think about.
This impressive site provided a tremendous amount of information. I watched with amazement the video of astronaut Scott Kelly playing “Liquid Ping-Pong in Space” and was inspired by Kate McCourty, the branch Chief of Operations and Engineering at NASA, talk about STEM.
When I finished searching the web, I felt I had a better understanding of what STEM stood for and began to think about what stories I might undercover using STEM as criteria for researching people I might write about.
What ideas do you have for applying your writing talents to STEM?
This annual handbook for Writing Success by Writer’s Digest is filled with timely information particularly for children’s writers.
Jane Friedman in her article “2015 The Year in Review” points out the juvenile market stayed strong during the year. She also talks about other key developments in the market place.
In “Pitch Perfect” Zachary Petit talks about aiming and shaping queries. He gives you some game rules and breaks down a query into six components to help you stand out from the pack.
My favorite article “Top 10 Publishing Insiders (and Outsiders) to Follow Online” is once again written by Jan Friedman. Through reading her article, I discovered Kristen McLean’s free database WriterCube. It contains over 20,000 vetted listings of book marketing resources for writers. I also learned about Victoria Strauss’s website Writer Beware.
Hannah Haney in her article “The Top 100 Markets for Book and Magazine Writers” has picked out 50 book publishers who accept simultaneous submissions, are open to working with new authors (with our without agents), and pay advances. Nine of them publish books for children. She has also picked out fifty magazines that are currently open for submissions, pay a fair rate, and 50% of their content comes from freelance writers. Three of the magazines are published for children.
Once again, the editors at Writer’s Digest have hit a home run with the bases loaded.
This board book with only 200 words tells the story of Martin Luther King Jr. This simple account begins with King’s childhood, which will make it easier of little ones to relate to his story.
We March
By Shane W. Evans (Author and Illustrator)
Published by Square Fish
WeMarch takes place on August 28, 1963, when over 250,000 people gathered in Washington D. C., to march for jobs and freedom. The march began at the Washington Monument and ended with a rally at the Lincoln Memorial, where Martin Luther King Jr. gave his historic “I Have a Dream” speech.
Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
By Doreen Rappapoort and Illustrated by Bryan Collier
Published by Hyperion Book CH
This award winning picture is my favorite book about Martin Luther King, Jr. The book interlaces Dr. King’s words with his life story. It is a memorable portrait of the man whose dream changed American.
Instead of coming up with New Year’s resolutions for my writing in 2016, I decided to take a friend’s advice and try a new approach. I wrote down what worked and what didn’t for me in 2015.
Worked
Blogging
Facebook
Twitter
Seeking Reviews
Didn’t Work
Blog tour
Pinterest
Goodreads
Reviewing Books
Due to blogging, the activity on my website increased steadily over the year. My most successful blogs were about pitching your manuscripts to agents and editors and writing in general. Blogs about historical trivia and book reviews were the least popular. Setting up a blog tour took a great deal of time and was only minimally successful.
Joining Facebook groups dedicated to writing and sharing my blogs and other interesting information about writing resulted in a lot of activity on my website. I joined Twitter in November and began sharing writing tidbits and my blogs. Creating a Tweet is short and quick and fits into my life style. Goodreads was time consuming and sometimes confusing. Although I like Pinterest, more of my pens about drawing and painting were repined than anything about biographies.
I was successful in obtaining reviews for my books simply by asking for them. It was a time consuming process, but I received six 5 star reviews from Amazon reviewers and Debbie Alvarez, The Styling Librarian highly praised my biography of George Eastman on her blog.
So do I have a New Year’s Resolution? No! But I do have goals. What are they? Keep doing what worked. So I will continue blogging, making friends on Facebook, Tweeting regularly, and seeking more reviews. Plus, I have two new goals for 2016. I want to carve out more time to work on new projects and develop a workshop for writers on pitching their work.
While researching different kinds of pets, I came across the Presidential Pet Museum website. I couldn’t stop laughing when I read the museum’s blog about Alice Roosevelt and her pet garter snake. Alice, the oldest child of President Theodore Roosevelt, liked to carry her pet garter snake in her purse and pull it out at unexpected times to startle people. She named her snake Emily Spinach. Why? Because the snake was green like spinach and thin like her Aunt Emily.
Evidently, Alice was not the only one of Roosevelt’s children who liked snakes. Her younger brother Quentin bought four snakes at a pet shop in Washington, D.C. Instead of waiting to share them with his father when he wasn’t busy, he busted into a cabinet meeting. He sat the four snakes on his father’s desk and the cabinet members ran for cover. President Roosevelt was not amused. After the snakes were recovered they were returned to the pet shop.
Teddy Roosevelt, Jr., and Eli Yale a blue macaw
Roosevelt’s children had many pets. So, many they almost had a zoo. They also had funny names.
* Jonathan Edwards – a small bear
* Bill -a lizard
* Eli Yale -a blue macaw
* Baron Spreckle – a hen
* Josiah – a badger
* Rollo – a Saint Bernard
* Peter – a rabbit
* Admiral Dewey, Fighting Bob Evans, and Father O’Grady – guinea pigs.
* Sailor Boy – a Chesapeake Bay dog
* Tom Quartz – a cat
* Skip – a black-and-tan Rat Terrier
In 1890, just in time for the Christmas season, Harper & Brothers published Nast’s book of Christmas drawings entitled Christmas Drawings for the Human Race. The booked featured drawings that had previously appeared in Harper’s Weekly from 1863 to 1886 and new drawings Nast created just for the book.
Nast used holly, mistletoe, and evergreen boughs to enhance his drawings. His five children modeled for him and he used the rooms in his house as a stage for many of his drawings.
Christmas Flirtation
In a drawing entitled Christmas Flirtation, Nast drew his daughter Julia standing in front of the fireplace mantel below a sprig of mistletoe covered with berries. In England, it was a custom for boys to pluck a berry from the mistletoe every time they kissed a girl. When all the berries were gone, the privilege of kissing ended. Evidently, Nast was implying that Julia did not want the privilege of kissing to end too soon.
Another Stocking to Fill
Christmas Eve was a joyous occasion in the Nast home. Nast arranged presents around the candle-lit family Christmas tree. Intermixed with the presents were big elaborate paper dolls that Nast created for his children.
Thomas Nast loved Christmas and was inspired by Clement Moore’s poem “’Twas the Night Before Christmas.” Moore, a biblical scholar at the Episcopal seminary in New York City, wrote the poem for his children as a Christmas gift in 1822. The poem was first published a year later in the Troy Sentinel and began with the famous words, “’Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house / Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;”
Santa Claus and His Magical Reindeer
In his drawings, Nast portrayed Santa Claus as Moore described him in his poem as a round-bellied white bearded man of “good cheer.” Nast also drew Santa riding around on Christmas Eve, distributing toys to good little girls and boys in a sleigh pulled by eight magical reindeer—Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen.
Naughty or Nice
To Moore’s Santa Claus, Nast added a red suit trimmed in white fur and a workshop at the North Pole. The North Pole was an isolated place where Santa Claus could work without interruption. From the North Pole, Nast drew Santa Claus watching children through his telescope to see if they were being naughty or nice.
Letters for Santa Claus
Then he showed Santa Claus documenting their behaviors in his account book. Nast also originated the idea that children could send Santa Claus mail at the North Pole and he read all their letters.
I attended a writer’s forum at the San Diego Main Library downtown last night on how to Effectively Represent Yourself and Your Book. I came away with lots of ideas and three people I want to follow.
Susan McBeth, the founder and owner of Adventures by the Book and AuthorPreneurs, spoke about planning for your book signing events and readings. Susan advised authors to practice your presentations until you are comfortable with what you want to say (don’t memorize.) And, before going on stage take three deep breaths to relax.
Kathi Diamant the author of the Geisel Award-winning Kafka’s Last Love spoke about preparing for interviews, readings, and presentations. Kathi advised authors to dress like their books. (Not literally) Think about the colors on your book cover. The main cover of my Thomas Nast Biography is a rich burgundy color and Nast has a flower in his lapel. So, I am wearing a burgundy jacket with a flower pinned to my lapel for my next presentation.
Fauzia Burke is the founder and president of FSB Associates. She spoke about online marketing and is the author of Online Marketing for Busy Authors (coming in spring 2016). Fauzia pointed out that the job of an author is 15% writing and publishing a book and 85% getting it in the hands of readers.
Do you have any advise you would like to share????
Marooned: The Strange but True Adventures of Alexander Selkirk, the Real Robinson Crusoe
By Robert Kraske and Illustrated by Robert Andrew Parker
Published Clarion Books
After arguing with the ship’s captain, Alexander Selkirk, was thrown off the ship and put ashore on an uninhabited island. He spent four years alone. After he was rescued, his adventures became of basis of Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe.
The Boy Who Became Buffalo Bill: Growing Up Billy Cody in Bleeding Kansas
By Andrea Warren
Published by: Two Lions
This is the story of Buffalo Bill Cody the showman, scout, hunter and one of the greatest entertainers of his era. His shows featured cowboys, Indians, trick riding, and sharpshooting.
Dr. Seuss: The Great Doodler
By Kate Klima and Illustrated by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher
The story of how Theodore Geisel, the great doodler, became the beloved Dr. Seuss.
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
By William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer Illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon
Published by Puffin Books
This bestselling memoir from William Kamkwamba, a young inventor who bought electricity to his Malawian village, has been adapted for young readers.
For Thanksgiving in 1869, Harper’s Weekly published a drawing entitled Uncle Sam’s Thanksgiving Dinner by Thomas Nast. Nast intended his drawing to support the Fifteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which prohibited the denial of voting rights due to race.
In the drawing, Uncle Sam is carving a turkey and sitting around the table are Americans from around the world: Germany, France, Britain, Africa, China, Italy, Spain, and Ireland. Also seated at the table is an American Indian.
On the wall above the table are portraits of Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, and Ulysses Grant. Next to Grant’s portrait is a painting of Castle Garden. Before Ellis Island was established, Castle Garden was the main entry point for immigrants entering the United States. The painting is labeled “Welcome.”
At the bottom of the drawing on the left side Nast wrote, “Come One Come All,” and on the right side, “Free and Equal.”
Squanto’s Journey: The Story of the First Thanksgiving
By Joseph Bruchac and Illustrated by Greg Shed
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers
Joseph Bruchac has written a moving thanksgiving story about how Squanto, a Native American, who helped the passengers of the Mayflower survive after landing in the new world. He felt the newcomers and his tribe could be friends and live in peace. After a good harvest, Squanto’s tribe and the pilgrims celebrated with a feast which is now and American tradition.
Thank You, Sarah: The Woman Who Saved Thanksgiving
By Laurie Halse Anderson and Illustrated by Matt Faulkner
Published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
This tale of persistence has always impressed me. For thirty-five years Sarah Hale petitioned for thanksgiving day to become a national holiday. President Abraham Lincoln finally signed the Thanksgiving Proclamation in 1863 and Thanksgiving Day became a national holiday.
Balloons over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy’s Parade
Written and illustrated by Melissa Sweet
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers
One of my favorite things to do on Thanksgiving morning is the watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV. In “Balloons over Broadway” Melissa Sweet tells the story of puppeteer Tony Sarg whose giant helium balloons became the trademark of the parade. Sweet’s charming mixed media collages brilliantly illustrate the story.
As of today, I have blogged for one year and written 55 blogs. I started my blogging adventure when I established my website “Every Life Has a Story.” Why did I chose that name for my website? Because it sums up my brand – Lynda Pflueger, biographer. That is who I am. That is what I like to write. And every life does have a story.
Some writers look at me like I am crazy when I tell them I blog once a week. Sometimes, when I have trouble coming up with a topic, I think I am crazy, too. But, all in all, I like blogging. It keeps me sharp. I have to write and polish something every week to post.
Does blogging take away from other writing? No. I think it adds to it. Through blogging, I have learned to write faster, concisely, and to stay on my topic. I can pull together a rough draft much faster. Does it help the editing process? No. But I get to editing much faster.
I am a late bloomer. I should have established by website in 1997 when my first biography was published. In my own defense, publishing was much different back then. Now, I feel a website and a blog are a necessity for an author – particularly someone who writes for young people. We need to be brave and bold and use every opportunity we can find to promote our books and reach our readers.
If you are interested in blogging here are some resources I found helpful.
Blogging for Writer’sby Robin Houghton. This book is packed full of tips, advice and inspirational stories. Houghton focuses on the two most used blogger platforms: Blogger and WordPress. I refer to her book often.
In memory of his grandfather, a young boy travels with his father to Washington, D.C. to find his grandfather’s name on the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial. This poignant story is well told by a master story teller.
Don’t Forget, God Bless Our Troops
By Jill Biden and Illustrated by Raul Colon
Published by Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books
The Vice President’s wife, Jill Biden, tells the story of what it is like to have a family member in the military stationed overseas. Her story is inspired by her granddaughter Natalie’s experiences when her father was deployed to Iraq. This story is beautifully illustrated with pencil-and-water color illustrations.
The Poppy Lady: Moina Belle Michael and Her Tribute to Veterans
By Barbara Walsh and Illustrated by Layne Johnson
Published by Calkins Creek
Miona Belle Michael, a school teacher in Georgia, wanted the soldiers who had lost their lives in WWI to be remembered. She diligently worked to establish the red poppy as a symbol of honor to be used to remember the fallen soldiers. This is an informative and beautifully illustrated picture book.
Kathleen Merz is the managing editor for Eerdmans Books for Young Readers and she writes a column entitled “From the Editor’s Desk” once a month. Her articles are informative and well written.
(Eerdmans books for Young People also has an official blog entitled “Eerdlings.”
Kristine Kathryn Rusch
Kristine Kathryn Rusch writes about the publishing industry. Her column is entitled “Business Rusch Publishing Articles.” I have learned a lot about the publishing industry by reading her column. She tells it like it is and doesn’t sugar coat anything. Be sure to read her column “Trust Me.”
Jane Friedman
Jane Friedman worked for Writer’s Digest as their editorial director for nine years. She teaches digital media and publishing at the University of Virginia. Plus, she is a columnist for Publishers Weekly. In her recent blog, “Feeling Like an Old Geezer at the New Social Media Party,” she writes about new social media networks: Snapchat, The List App, and Periscope. They offer opportunities to explore.
Initially, images of George Eastman or his company’s trademark, KODAK, were highlighted in advertisements for his cameras and film. But, Eastman didn’t like his image being used, “I don’t care about seeing so much of my likeness,” he said. So he invented the Kodak Girl. He felt a photograph of a pretty girl would sell more cameras.
And he was right. His KODAK Girl advertisements were one of the most lasting and successful marketing campaigns in advertising history.
Holding a camera, the KODAK Girls were wholesome looking outdoor types wearing fashionable dresses. They were featured in newspaper and magazine advertising, on six-foot cardboard cutouts in stores, and often did personal appearances. They enticed women to buy Kodak cameras and use them to capture the important events in their families lives. Hence, snapshots became the rage!
(Note: Quote from George Eastman: A Biography by Elizabeth Brayer and photographs from the Library of Congress)
George Eastman, the inventor of photographic film and founder of the Eastman Kodak company, liked to bake. His favorite dessert was Lemon Pie. He always ate at least two big slices. I obtained his recipe from the George Eastman House in Rochester, New York.
George Eastman’s Lemon Pie recipe
6 eggs
2 lemons
1 cup sugar
Beat the yolks of six eggs with one cup of granulated sugar. Add grated rind and juice of two lemons. Cook fifteen minutes in double boiler, stirring constantly. Take from fire, and when cool, add the beaten whites of three eggs. Fill a pie crust that has been baked a light brown. Make meringue with the three remaining egg whites, top off, and put in oven to brown.
I am often asked why I write biographies for children. Since my favorite books are biographies, the answer is simple—because I like to read them. Every life has a story and nothing pleases me more than to curl up with book about someone I want to know more about. My favorite biographies are historical. I want to know about the times the person lived in and the choices they made in their lives.
I became fascinated with George Eastman, the founder of Eastman Kodak, after visiting the George Eastman House, in Rochester, New York. The grounds were gorgeous, the house was filled with beautiful furnishing, and an organ any church would be proud to own. From the docent I learned that George Eastman invented the word Kodak and it became his companies’ trademark. Then I went upstairs and viewed a display of Brownie cameras. The display mentioned a big camera give away that George Eastman sponsored. I remembered my grandmother telling me she had been given a Brownie camera, from her local camera shop, when she was twelve years old. I was hooked.
Fifty percent of the success of a biography depends on WHO you write about. The other fifty percent is having enough interesting material to make books appealing to young readers. It didn’t take me long to realized I had made a good choice. The archives at the George Eastman House and University of Rochester were filled material.
I spent six months gathering my research and compiling it in to lengthy typed notes (my script.) I cited my source on each page of my notes. Then I came up with my story in a sentence to keep me on tract while writing my manuscript. Two of Eastman’s quotes helped me create it.
George Eastman was determined to make is company, Eastman Kodak, “the largest manufacture of photographic material in the world” and he didn’t “believe in men getting ready to die “before using any of their money for helpful purposes.”
My next step was to organize my notes by chapters following a chronological time frame and develop a short outline. Then, I picked my hook chapter and began writing. I took me five months of research and three months of writing to complete my manuscript.
Book Giveaway: Comment on this post and you may win a copy of George Eastman: Bringing Photography to the People.
My new biography of George Eastman launches on a blog tour September 24 through October 6. Eastman’s contributions to the world extended far beyond his multimillion-dollar company, Eastman Kodak. A shrewd and principled businessman, he was a pioneer in customer service, employee relations, and worldwide product distribution. A generous philanthropist, his donations helped build universities, improve healthcare, and advance scientific research.
Review
Kathy Connor, the Creator of the George Eastman Legacy, at the George Eastman House reviewed my book and commented, “Bravo! Mrs. Pflueger has done a wonderful job integrating all of the main sources on George Eastman. Her story is well-written, accurate, and a balanced look at the founder of the Eastman Kodak Company’s life.”
About Author
I am a history buff, particularly US history. I love visiting museums and libraries. Nothing pleases me more than roaming around dusty old archives and finding diaries, letters, newspaper articles or photographs I can use in her books.
Tour Stops September 24 – October 6
Read the blog posts, comment, and you may win a free copy of the George Eastman: Bringing Photography to the People.
I wish Edith Hope Fine’s book had been available when I started writing for children. With her typical uplifting and informative style she covers everything from learning the craft to publication. My favorite tips from her book are:
Keep a writing journal and track your goals, progress, discoveries, daily notes, ideas, etc.
Don’t be overwhelmed. Take it one step at a time.
Join the Society of Children’s Writers and Illustrators and find your local chapter
Take writing classes and attend conferences.
Send out only your best work.
Fine’s book is filled with quotes from prominent writers. My favorite is from Gary Paulsen, the author of Hatchet. “Read all the time, and turn of the television off.”
Anatomy of Nonfiction: Writing True Stories for Children
Thanks to the Common Core directive, nonfiction is HOT! In their book, Margery Facklam and Peggy Thomas (a mother and daughter team), provide a road map for writing nonfiction for children. They cover hands on research, interviewing essentials, finding a marketable idea, designing a compelling plot, query letters, etc.
Their motto is “write what you are curious and passionate about.” They also advise that in writing children’s nonfiction you need to: 1) Find your focus. 2) Know your audience. 3) Think like a child.
My favorite chapter in the book is about writing biographies. They point out that a biography does not have to be written about famous people. Some of the best stories are “about ordinary folks who did extraordinary things.”
Writing Picture Books: A Hand On Guide From Story Creation to Publication
If you want to focus on picture books, this book needs to be sitting on your desk. Ann Whitford Paul covers everything a writer should know about the genre from building the framework of your story, creating compelling characters, writing the fabulous first line, basic plotting with the three-act structure, and much more.
My favorite chapters are about writing rhyme and making music with prose. Ann points out that “writing your picture book in prose does not mean you can abandon poetry entirely. A picture book does not need to be a poem, but is must be written poetically…”
The best place to start your adventure in writing for children is by joining the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, SCBWI. There are currently more than 22,000 members worldwide and it is the largest children’s writing organization in the world. The benefits of joining the group are extensive. I have been a member for 30 years and can attribute much of my success as a children’s writer to the organization.
Conference
One of the highlights of my summers is attending the SCBWI National Conference in Los Angeles. This year, I spent three days listening to editors, agents, authors, and illustrators talk about their work. For me, the highlight of the conference was Mem Fox’s keynote address. Fox is a retired Associate Professor Literacy Studies and Australia’s highly regarded picture book author. Her goal is “to give wings to children so they can fly with words.” She does not use a vocabulary list. But chooses the right words and uses them at the right time. Her books have rhythm and contain child friendly trouble. Fox mesmerized her audience while reading from her book “Hattie and the Fox.” I left the conference with the book she wrote for parents entitled “Reading Magic.”
The Book
Another benefit of joining the organization is a publication entitled “The Book: The Essential Guide to Publishing for Children.” New members are mailed a copy and existing members can request a copy for just the cost of printing and shipping. “The Book” is an invaluable source of up-to-the minute information on market surveys, social media, creating book trailers, schools visits and much more. The Book (or my Black Book as I call it) sits on my desk and is filled with notes and book marks. It is the first place I go to for market information.
Regional Chapters
SCBWI has over 80 regional chapters around the word. When you become a member you automatically become a member of your local region. Regional chapters hold events throughout the year. I am a former Regional Advisor for the San Diego Chapter and we hold workshops, illustrator schmoozes, critique groups, retreats and nine chapter meetings each year. A list of regional chapters can be found on http://www.scbwi.org/region-map/
Membership in SCBWI is $80 per year and well worth the investment!
Next Month, My Favorite Books about Writing for Children.
The Courage to Compete: Living with Cerebral Palsy and Following My Dreams
By Abbey Curran and Elizabeth Kaye
Published by HarperCollins
Abbey Curran’s has cerebral palsy. She made history when she was the first contestant with a disability to win a major beauty pageant.
Hiawatha and the Peacemaker
By Robbie Robertson and Illustrated by David
Published by Abrams Books for Young Readers
In the 14th century, Hiawatha translated the Peacemaker’s message of unity and shared it with the five warring Iroquois nations. His message helped unit the tribes and changed the way the Iroquois governed themselves. His message was used a blueprint for democracy by the authors of the United States Constitution.
The Rain Wizard: The Amazing, Mysterious, True Life of Charles Mallory Hatfield
By Larry Dane Brimner
Published by Calkins Creek
In 1915, the city of San Diego’s reservoirs had nearly dried up. In order to survive the city needed rain and a lot of it. They hired Charles Mallory Hatfield, the so called rain wizard, and got more than they bargained for. It rained, and rained, and rained.
Hot Pink: The Life and Fashions of Elsa Schiaparelli
By Susan Goldman Rubin
Published by Abrams Books for Young Readers
Elsa Schiaparelli’s signature color was shocking pink (or hot pink as we call it today.) A fashion designer, Schiaparelli was the first to feature wedged heels, shoulder bags and the concept of runway fashion shows.
An article entitled “Start Your Agent Search Here” by Chuck Sambuchino piqued my interest . Why? Many of the 38 literary agents actively looking for new clients listed young adult and middle grade fiction as areas of interest. I created an Excel spread sheet to analysis the information.
Results
79 percent were interest in young adult submissions
68 percent were interested in middle grade fiction submissions
21 percent were interested in new age fiction submissions
21 percent were not interest in children’s books at all
Wow! My conclusion is young adult and middle grade fiction is “hot” and new age books are finding their audience.
Beta Readers
There is another good article in the October issue about beta readers by Amy Sue Nathan. A beta reader is someone who will give you the feed back you ask for about your finished work. They are not proof readers. But someone who has a strong interest in the genre and will read your entire manuscript not just pieces of it.
In her carefully written text, Sarah Warren introduces Dolores Huerta, a feisty Latina woman, who used nonviolent strategies to improve the lives of migrant workers and their families.
Huerta, a teacher, found it hard to teach hungry and sick children who had no shoes. She visited their families and found they were poorly paid. They had no money to buy nutritious food, medicine, and shoes for their families.
This made Hureta angry. But instead of promoting violence, she used “her words” to call attention to the migrant workers plight and get their bosses attention. She also encouraged the farm workers “to use their voices” until their bosses learned how to be fair.
This is an inspiring story illustrated by Robert Casilla’s charming watercolor and pastel drawings. I highly recommend this book. It should be in every classroom.
[Note: Sarah Warren will donate a portion of the proceeds from the sales of her book to an organization benefiting migrant workers.]
Mem Fox wants her books “to give wings to children so they can fly with words.” She does not use a vocabulary list. She chooses the right words and uses them at the right time. Her books are emotional grounded. They have rhythm and contain child friendly trouble (conflict.)
Miranda Pauldefined creative nonfiction as “facts, concepts, or information presented in an interesting way.” She remarked that kids can Google anything so as writers we must be creative in order to capture their attention.
Kristin Nelsonof Nelson Literary Agency talked about how digital is transforming the publishing landscape. Her agency has developed a digital platform to help her clients self-publish their books. She stressed the importance of Metadata in presenting books online.
[According to Wikipedia dictionary: “The main purpose of metadata is to facilitate in the discovery of relevant information, more often classified as resource discovery.”]
Paul Fleischmantalked about writing nonfiction. He commented “every book teaches us to write the next one.” As far as structuring nonfiction books, Fleischman suggests starting with the strongest part of the story to capture the audience’s attention and then build bridges to the other parts of the book to sequentially fit all the pieces together. Concerning research he feels it should be like a woman’s slip – essential but does not show.
Kwame Alexanderwants writer’s to surround ourselves with people who will cheer us on! We all need a room full of cheerleaders.
Almost 1,200 writers attended the national conference this year. Four hundred were brand new to SCBWI. Hurrah!!!
The Tweed Ring was voted out of public office in the municipal elections of 1871. After the election, reformers brought criminal charges against all four members of the Tweed Ring for stealing millions of dollars. Facing jail terms, Peter Sweeney and Richard Connolly left the country and never returned. After Mayor A. Oakey Hall finished his term of office, he was brought to trial three times, but was never convicted.
Due to various technicalities, William “Boss” Tweed did not go on trial for almost two years. The six-day trial ended in a hung jury—the jurors could not agree whether Tweed was guilty. Ten months later, a new trial began. Tweed was found guilty, sentenced to thirteen years in prison, and fined $12,500. It was a small fine considering the millions of dollars he had stolen.
Tweed still had friends in high places. After a year in jail, his conviction was overturned. Nast, still determined to see Tweed punished for his crimes, continued to draw cartoons portraying Tweed as a thief.
In 1874, due to the effort of New York Governor Samuel Tilden, a law was passed giving the attorney general of New York the power to bring a civil suit against “Boss” Tweed. The civil suit was an attempt by the state to recover the money Tweed had stolen. Tweed was charged in a six million dollar lawsuit and bail was set at three million dollars.
Tweed was arrested again and placed in Ludlow Street Jail. At Ludlow, he was treated like a prince and allowed a great deal of liberty. He went for morning rides in his coach with a prison guard. In the evening, he was permitted to dine with his family while a bailiff acted as his butler.
On December 4, 1875, Tweed arrived at his home for dinner and went upstairs to visit his wife. While his guard was preoccupied, Tweed sneaked out of his house and escaped. For several months he hid in New Jersey and New York. In April, he obtained a passport under the name of John Secor and sailed to Cuba. He arrived in Santiago de Cuba on June 9, 1876. Ninety days later, he left Cuba and sailed to Vigo, Spain, arriving on September 6.
Cuban authorities detected Tweed’s movements and informed United States authorities when he left Cuba for Spain. No photographs of Tweed were available, so the American minister in Madrid sent a copy of Harper’s Weekly containing one of Nast’s drawings to the Spanish authorities. In the drawing, Tweed is holding what appeared to be two children by the scruff of the neck. The Spanish police used the drawing to identify Tweed. They could not read English and assumed that Tweed was a kidnapper. Ironically, this was one crime Tweed never committed.
Thomas Nast and Mark Twain idolized Ulysses Grant because he was the Union General who finally ended Civil War. Both artists corresponded with Grant. Nast even visited Grant in the White House and wrote home to tell his wife about it. Grant and his wife dined several times with the Nast’s at their home in Morristown, New Jersey, after Grant left the White House.
Mark Twain
Mark Twain also visited Nast’s home on Thanksgiving Eve, 1885. Twain gave a presentation at the Morristown Lyceum and dined with the Nast’s that evening. They invited Twain to spend the night. The ticking clocks in the Nast home irritated him and he couldn’t go to sleep. He got up in the middle of the night and turned all the clocks off. In the morning when Mrs. Nast questioned Twain about it, he informed her “that the clocks had needed a rest.”
Thomas Nast
Ulysses Grant and Thomas Nast lost all their savings in the Grant & Ward investment scandal in 1864. The firm composed of Ulysses S. Grant Jr. (one of the former president’s sons) and Ferdinand Ward, whom many considered a financial genius. It came as a great shock when Grant & Ward failed. The firm had been using Grant’s name to inspire confidence, but it had been fraudulent from the beginning. Ward had made a habit of using new investor’s money to cover the dividends paid to old investors. After the scandal Mark Twain published Ulysses Grant’s memoirs which prevented the Grant family from living in poverty after the former president died of throat cancer.
Thomas Nast, a political cartoonist working for Harper’s Weekly, took it upon himself to harass the Tweed Ring continually with his drawings in an attempt to bring the ring down. During the crusade, Nast often focused his attention on Tweed. In one drawing entitled “Brains” Nast drew Tweed dressed in a three-piece business suit and replaced his head with a money bag to signify the money he had stolen from the city.
Tweed Demanded Pictures Stop
In time, the attention Nast focused on Tweed unnerved the ring’s political boss. Tweed demanded that the pictures be stopped. He did not care what the papers said about him. He knew many of his constituents could not read. “But they can’t help seeing them damned pictures,” Tweed remarked.
Tries to Bribe Nast
In 1871, the Tweed Ring tried to intimidate Nast and then bribe him. One day, an officer from the Broadway Bank, where the Tweed Ring kept its funds, came to visit Nast at his home. The banker told Nast that a group of wealthy men who admired Nast’s work wanted to send him to Europe to study art. He told Nast that they would pay him one hundred thousand dollars if he would go.
Nast was suspicious, and asked if they would raise the fee to two hundred thousand dollars. The banker said yes and added, “You need study and need rest. Besides, the Ring business will get you into trouble. They own all the judges and jurors and can get you locked up for libel. My advice is to take the money and get away.”
Nast convinced the Tweed Ring was trying to bribe him, asked “Don’t you think I could get five hundred thousand dollars to make the trip?”
The banker replied without hesitation, “You can get five hundred thousand dollars in gold to drop this Ring business and get out of the country.”
“Well, I don’t think I’ll do it,” replied Nast. “I made my mind up long ago to put some of those fellows behind bars and I’m going to put them there.”
After the Civil War, New York City’s population was growing at a tremendous rate. Hundreds of immigrants, mostly from Ireland and Germany, arrived in the city each month. Business was booming and nearly three-fourths of the nation’s imports passed through the New York Harbor. The city’s government was overwhelmed and could not keep pace with the changes.
Political Empire
William M. Tweed, a charming but corrupt politician, took advantage of this situation and built himself a political empire. He was a huge man who stood almost six feet tall and weighed three hundred pounds. Previously, he had been a chair maker, saddler, bookkeeper, fireman, state congressman, and a lawyer. With his commanding presence and charming ways, he soon came to the attention of the leaders of the Democratic Party. In 1863, he became the leader of the party and took control of the city’s government. With the help of three associates, he formed the Tweed Ring and people began calling him “Boss Tweed.” Tweed’s partners in crime were Peter B. Sweeney, Richard B. Connolly, and A. Oakey Hall.
Peter Sweeney
Peter Sweeney was short with black eyes, had a walrus mustache, and a full head of bushy black hair. Many observers felt Sweeney was the brains behind the ring. A cold man with few friends, Sweeney became the city’s chamberlain in the fall of 1867. This was an important appointment. The city chamberlain “controlled the depositing of the city’s funds into bank accounts
Richard Connolly
Born in Ireland, Richard Connolly was extremely popular with Irish immigrants. He was a large portly man with a round, clean-shaved face. He continually wore a stovepipe hat, even indoors, which exaggerated his height. His neat penmanship and ability to keep track of vast sums of money made him a valuable member of the ring. His friends call him “Slippery Dick,” and Tweed appointed him to the post of city controller.
A. Oakey Hall
The most colorful member of the ring was A. Oakey Hall. He was short and wiry, liked colorful clothes, and wore a different necktie and cuff links every day. His nickname was “Elegant Oakey.” He had been a successful newspaper reporter, lawyer, lobbyist, playwright, and actor. Hall married well and was a member of the New York City’s upper class. In 1868, he was elected mayor. His role “was to act as a liaison between the Ring and New York society.”
Elections
The Rings primary source of power came from awarding citizenship to immigrants by the hundreds. In 1868, the Tweed Ring ran one of the most crooked elections in New York City’s history. Their campaign to award citizenship and voting privileges to as many new immigrants as they could find netted 41,112 new voters. Many of the new voters were illegally registered in several sections of the city and proceeded to cast their votes repeatedly. The repeaters received five dollars for each vote they cast and they each voted an average of nine times. Consequently, nearly “8 percent more votes were cast then the entire voting population of the city.”
Construction Projects
The ring also made fortunes by overcharging on city construction projects. Contractors kicked back sixty-five percent of what they charged to the Tweed Ring. If a contractor could do a job for thirty-five thousand dollars, he would charge the city one hundred thousand dollars and pay the ring sixty-five thousand dollars for the privilege of doing the job. Many New Yorkers were concerned about the operations of the Tweed Ring, but there was no solid proof of the ring’s activities.
Summer time is a great time for young people to relax and sit down and read a book. Below are five of my favorite biographies and two autobiographies for teenagers ages 12 and older. These books can be found in online bookstores online libraries.
Dear Miss Breed: True Stories of the Japanese American Incarceration During WW II and the Librarian who Made a Difference
By Joanne Oppenheim
Published by Scholastic Nonfiction
In the early 1940’s, Clara Breed was the children’s librarian at the San Diego Public Library. This is the moving story of the correspondence between Breed and her young Japanese American friends who were internees during World War II.
The Notorious Benedict Arnold: A True Story of Adventure, Heroism & Treachery
By Steve Sheinkin
Published by Flash Point
Most people know that Benedict Arnold was America’s most notorious traitor. Few know that he was also one of its greatest war heroes. Arnold was reckless, heroic, and driven. The Notorious Benedict Arnold is the winner of the 2011 Boston Globe – Horn Book Award for Nonfiction.
[Sheinkin is a fabulous author who always tells a good tale. I recommend all his books.]
Parallel Journeys
By Eleanor H. Ayer
Published by Aladdin
This is a gripping tale of Helen Waterford and Alfons Heck. They were born just a few miles from each other in the German Rhineland. She was a young German Jew. He was an ardent member of the Hitler Youth. Their lives took radically different courses: Helen’s to the Auschwitz extermination camp; Alfons to a high rank in the Hitler Youth.
Frida & Diego: Art, Love, Life Hardcover
By Catherine Reff
Published by Clarion Books
Catherine Reef’s inspiring and insightful dual biography tells the story of Mexican artists Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. They lived nontraditional, controversial, rebellious, and politically unpredictable lives but are best remembered for their provocative paintings and their deep love for each other.
The Endless Steppe: Growing Up in Siberia (Autobiography)
By Ester Hautzig
Published by Harper Collins
For five years, Ester and her family lived in exile in Siberia. They weeded potato fields and worked in the mines, struggling to find food and clothing to survive. Her family had been arrested by the Russians who called them “capitalists — enemies of the people.” They were forced to leave their home in Vilna, Poland and herded into crowded cattle cars and sent into exile.
How I Came to Be a Writer
By Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Published by Aladdin
How I Came to be a Writer is Phyllis Reynolds Naylor’s story about her writing, from her first work in kindergarten to her most recent books. The book includes samples of her writing and shows the inner workings of the writing process, from the spark of an idea to a book’s actual publication. Naylor has written more than 80 books for children and adults including Eddie, Incorporated and The Solomon System.
Women Heroes of World War II: 26 Stories of Espionage, Sabotage, Resistance, and Rescue
By Kathryn J. Atwood
Published by Chicago Review Press
Women Heroes of World War II contains twenty-six captivating and suspenseful stories about women resistance fighters. Noor Inayat Kahn was the first female radio operator sent into occupied France and sent crucial messages back to the Allies. Johtje Vos, a Dutch housewife, hid Jews in her home and repeatedly outsmarted the Nazi Gestapo. Hannie Schaft , a law student, became involved in sabotage, weapons transfers, and assassinations.
Summer time is a great time for children to relax and sit down and read a book. Below are six of my favorite biographies for ages 9 to 12.
Stubby the War Dog: The True Story of World War I’s Bravest
By Ann Bausum
Published byNational Geographic Children’s Books
The moving story of an orphan pup who was adopted by Private Robert Conroy while attending basic training in 1917. Conroy smuggled Stubby abroad when his unit was shipped out to France. By the time Stubby was discovered, he had perfected his right-paw salute. His antics charmed the commander of the unit. He award Stubby mascot status and sent him into the battle field with Conroy.
Through My Eyes
By Ruby Bridges and Margo Lundell (Compiler and Editor)
Published by Scholastic Press
On November 14, 1960, a tiny six-year-old black child, surrounded by federal marshals, walked through a mob of screaming segregationists and into her school. From where she sat in the office, Ruby Bridges could see parents marching through the halls and taking their children out of classrooms.
Shipwrecked!: The True Adventures of a Japanese Boy
By Rhoda
Published by HarperCollins
In the 1800’s in Japan, it was the law – if anyone left Japan and went to another country and then tried to return to Japan, they would be put to death. When fourteen-year-old Manjiro, working on a fishing boat to help support his family, was shipwrecked three hundred miles away from his homeland, he was heartbroken to think that he would never again be able to go home.
My Life in Dog Years
By Gary Paulsen and Illustrated by Ruth Wright Paulsen
Publisher by Yearling
My Life in Dog Years is a book for every dog lover and every Paulsen fan–a perfect combination that shows vividly the joy and wisdom that come from growing up with man’s best friend.
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George Washington, Spymaster: How the Americans Outspied the British and Won the Revolutionary War
By Thomas B. Allen
Published by National Geographic Children’s Books
In 1775, George Washington finds himself in serious trouble. At war with Britain, the world’s most powerful empire, his ragtag army possesses only a few muskets, some cannons, and no money. The Americans’ only hope is to wage an invisible war—a war of spies, intelligence networks, and deception.
Amelia Lost: The Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart
By Candace Fleming
Published by Schwartz & Wade
Through alternating chapters, Fleming deftly moves readers back and forth between Amelia’s life (from childhood up until her last flight) and the exhaustive search for her and her missing plane. With photos, maps, and handwritten notes from Amelia herself—plus informative sidebars tackling everything from the history of flight to what Amelia liked to eat while flying (tomato soup)—this unique nonfiction title is tailor-made for middle graders.
Summer time is a great time relax and sit down and read with your children. Below are seven of my favorite picture book biographies.
On a Beam of Light: A Story of Albert Einstein
By Jennifer Berne and Illustrated by Vladimir Radunsky
Published by Chronicle Books
Albert Einstein was a man of genius recognized all over the world for developing a profound understanding of the universe. Jennifer Berne and Vladimir Radunsky take readers along on Einstein’s journey full of curiosity, laughter, and scientific discovery.
The Noisy Paint Box: The Colors and Sounds of Kandinsky’s Abstract Art
By Barb Rosenstock and illustrated by Mary Grandpre
Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers
Vasya Kandinsky was a proper little boy who studied math and history. He practiced the piano, sat up straight, and was perfectly polite. When his family sent him to art classes, they expected him to paint pretty houses and flowers. But Kandinsky had other ideas.
Who Says Women Can’t Be Doctors? The Story of Elizabeth Blackwell
By Tanya Lee Stone and illustrated by Marjorie Priceman
Published by Henry Holt and Co.
In the 1830’s, Elizabeth Blackwell would not take no for an answer. She refused to believe that women weren’t smart enough or too weak to become doctors. She led for way for women to be accepted in the field of medicine.
Manfish: A Story of Jacques Cousteau
By Jennifer Berne and illustrated by Eric Puybaret
Published by Chronicle Books
Jacques Cousteau was a curious little boy who grew up to be an international oceanographer and champion of the seas. This lovely book, with poetic text and gorgeous illustrations, portrays an inspiring and magical portrait of Cousteau.
Tree Lady: The True Story of How One Tree-Loving Woman Changed a City Forever
By H. Joseph Hopkins and illustrated by Jill McElmurry
Published by Beach Lane Books
Kate Olivia Sessions was the first woman to graduate from the University of California with a degree in science. After graduation, she took a job teaching in the dry desert town of San Diego where there were almost no trees. Kate decided that San Diego needed trees. So single handedly started a movement to turn San Diego into the green, garden-filled oasis it is today.
Rosa
By Nikki Giovanni and illustration by Bryan Collier
Published by Henry Holt and Co.
This book is a tribute to Rosa Parks who over fifty years ago refused to give up her seat in the white section of a city bus and was arrested in Montgomery, Alabama. Rosa was a 2006 Caldecott Honor Book and the winner of the 2006 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award.
Barnum’s Bones: How Barnum Brown Discovered the Most Famous Dinosaur in the World
By Tracey Fern and illustrated by Boris Kulikov
Published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Barnum Brown’s parents named him after the circus tycoon P.T. Barnum. They hoped he would do something extraordinary. And he did! He became a paleontologist for the American Museum of Natural History and discovered the first documented skeleton of the Tyrannosaurus Rex. Barnum’s Bones is one The Washington Post‘s Best Kids Books of 2012.
While researching mass demonstrations in the 1960’s, I came across something I did not expect – the El Cajon Boulevard Riot. I was eleven at the time and my family often went to the Campus Drive in on El Cajon Blvd near where the protest occurred.
The group was protesting the closure of Hourglass Field, an unused Navy airfield (near Miramar) where they had held unofficial drag races. The US Navy had allowed the drag racing until four bystanders were injured during a race and shut it down.
The protest began on the evening of August 20. A crowd of almost 3,000 blocked off three blocks of El Cajon Boulevard and began drag racing. They left just enough room for cars to race by two a breast. Spectators lined the sidewalks and center island.
When more than 65 policemen arrived on the scene and tried to disperse the crowd, many of the protesters fought back. They pelted offices with rock and bottles. Then they attempted to overturn police cars. It took three hours before the disturbance ended.
Sometimes, when doing research, I find amazing information I wasn’t even looking for. This time it was in my own backyard!
While snooping around and finding tidbits about American President’s, I uncovered these interesting facts about American First Ladies.
Dolley Madison
Aaron Burr introduced Dolley to her future husband, James Madison. Since Madison was not a Quaker, she was expelled from the Society of Friends for marrying outside her faith. Dolley was the first president’s wife to attend his inauguration and to be given an honorary seat on the floor of Congress.
Sarah Polk
James Polk’s wife worked as his secretary without taking a salary. While living in the White House, she banned dancing, card games and hard liquor at official receptions. Since attending White House functions were a sober affair, she earned the nickname “Sahara Sarah.”
Mary Todd Lincoln
Before marrying Abraham Lincoln, Mary Todd was courted by Stephen Douglas, Lincoln’s great political rival. Mary was only 5’ 2” and Lincoln towered over her at 6’4”. She was the first president’s wife to hold seances in the White House.
Edith Wilson
In 1919, when President Wilson had a severe stroke, Edith controlled who had access to her husband. This lead Senator Albert Fall to declare she was the head of the “Petticoat Government.”
Louise Hoover
Louise (Lou) Hoover was the first woman in the United States to graduate from college with a degree in geology. She also spoke five languages fluently including Chinese. President Hoover also spoke Chinese and when the couple did not want others to know what they were saying, they spoke Chinese.
“If the World Were a Village – A Book of the World’s People,” is not a biography of a person but of our world. The author David J. Smith breaks down our world of 6,400,000,000 people to a village of 100 people. Statistically this means in the village 22 people speak a Chinese dialect, 20 people earn less than a dollar a day, and 17 people could not read or write.
Food
Even more shocking, there is no shortage of food. But the food is not equally divided. Thirty percent of the people always have enough to eat, 50% of the people go hungry some of the time, 20% are severely undernourished.
Population
If this statistically relevant village was made up of our ten most populated countries: 21 people would be from China, 17 from India, 5 from the United States, 4 from Brazil, 3 from Pakistan, 2 from Bangladesh, 2 from Russia, 2 from Japan, and 2 from Nigeria.
“World-mindedness”
In his author’s note, Smith explains that his book is about “world-mindedness” which he feel “is vital to the well being of our planet.” He points out that people who are going to solve world crises in the future are the children of today. Smith has over 25 years teaching experience and is the creator of the award-winning curriculum “Mapping the World by Heart.” Shelagh Armstrong illustrated the book and her thoughtful and colorful drawings brought the text to life.
I highly recommend this book and have added it to my personal library.
By Anita Silvery with a Foreword from Jane Goodall
Published by National Geographic Children’s Books
Silvey’s book tells the story of Goodall’s fascination with animals when she was growing up and her ground breaking research with chimpanzees in Africa. Goodall’s forward to the book is a “call to action” for readers to do their part to preserve or world and the animals in it.
Cornioley was one of the most celebrated female resistance fighters of World War II. In her autobiography she shares her remarkable story of working with the British Special Operations Executive (SEO).
By Tanya Lee Stone and Illustrated by Kathryn Brown
Published by Henry Holt and Co.
This is a moving story of Jane Addams, the first American woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. Addams turned her house into a community center which help transform a poor neighborhood in Chicago.
In biography, you have your little handful of facts, little bits of a puzzle, and you sit and think and fit them together, this way and that. Robert Louis Stevenson – Author of Treasure Island.
In biographies for young readers, I try to include two types of details. One, are those that are crucial to history. The second are the details that for me define the subject. David Adler – Author of numerous biographies for children.
Geography is about maps, but biography is about chaps. Eric Bentley – American critic and playwright
I think biography can be more personal than fiction, and certainly can be more expressive. Peter Ackroyd – English biographer, novelist and critic.
When I was 8 years old, I made my own encyclopedia of American biography – Johnny Appleseed, Jim Bowie, Davy Crockett, Daniel Boone, Charles Lindbergh, my pantheon of favorite heroes. Then I would write my own things and sew them together and try to make my own book. Douglas Brinkley – American author and professor of history at Rice University.
I’m an avid biography reader. Brent Spiner – Data from Star Trek – Next Generation
I discovered in writing the biography of Bill Clinton that it is actually easier to write a biography of someone who is dead. Although you can’t interview them, you have a fuller perspective on their whole life after they’re gone and people are more willing to talk about them. David Maraniss – Author and Associate Editor of The Washington Post.
Part of being a biographer is snooping around and finding interesting, if not unusual, facts about people. In researching American presidents I uncovered the following tidbits:
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson and John Adams both signed the Declaration of Independence and died the fiftieth anniversary of the signing on July 4, 1826. At first they were great friends but time and political differences drove the apart. In their later years, due to the efforts of their friend Benjamin Rush, they began corresponding regularly until their deaths.
John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams, the first son of John Adams, liked to go skinny dipping in the Potomac River during his presidency. He once said, ” the four most miserable years of my life were my four years in the Presidency.”
James Madison
James Madison was the shortest President in American History. He stood only 5 feet 4 inches. Madison was an intellectual and Princeton University’s first graduate student. Not known for his social skills, he had the good sense to marry Dolley Payne Madison. Dolley was a gracious and cordial woman who became one of the most beloved First Ladies in United States history.
John Tyler
John Tyler had more children than any other president. He had eight children by his first wife, Letitia, and seven by his second wife, Julia. When Tyler was born George Washington was President. When his youngest daughter Pearl Tyler Ellis died Harry Truman was president.
I knew about the march on Washington D. C. on August 28, 1963 to bring people together to walk for freedom and jobs. The photographs of nearly one hundred thousand people surrounding the Washington Monument made a tremendous impact . I was proud that so many Americans could peacefully come together and have their say without violence. But I didn’t know who organized it. Not until I read Larry Dane Brimner’s book “We Are One: The Story of Bayard Rustin.”
Grandparents
Bayard Rustin was raised by his grandparents – Julia a Quaker and Janifer who had been born a slave. One day when Rustin complained to his grandmother about the racial injustice he witnessed, she challenged him “to use his mind and talents to find solutions.”
Experiment
Rustin made his first attempt after speaking at a meeting in Indianapolis. He stopped at a small diner for a hamburger. The owner refused to serve him because she said whites would not eat at a diner where blacks were seated. Rustin asked the owner to join him in an experiment. He asked her to serve him a hamburger and told her he would leave it untouched for fifteen minutes. During that time if no whites sat down in the restaurant, Rustin promised to leave. The experiment was a success. During the fifteen minutes, many whites entered the diner and didn’t seem to notice Rustin. At the end of their experiment, the owner served Rustin another hot hamburger.
Southern Christian Leadership Conference
Rustin was instrumental in encouraging Martin Luther King to form an organization that would encourage nonviolent protests. Hence the Southern Christian Leadership Conference was formed and King became its first leader. In 1963, President John F. Kennedy introduced a civil rights bill before congress and many black leaders felt it was time for a large scale, non-violent protest. They chose Washington D.C. as their site for the demonstration and Rustin was asked to organize it.
Brimner’s book is well researched and masterfully presented. I highly recommend it. He has chronicled the life of a man that young people can learn from.
Published by: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
At the age of nine, Jordan Romera dreamed of becoming a mountain climber. After many years of training and hard work his dream came true. At the age of thirteen, he became the youngest person to climb to the summit of Mount Everest. Two years later, he reached the summits of the tallest mountains on the seven continents.
The Boys Who Challenged Hitler: Knud Pedersen and the Churchill Club
By Phillip Hoose
Published by: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Denmark did not resist the German occupation at the onset of World War II. Deeply ashamed of his country, Knud Pedersen along with his brother and a small group of schoolmates formed the Churchill Club and committed numerous acts of sabotage. Their arrest by the Nazi’s lead to the beginning of the Danish resistance.
By Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen and Illustrated by Courtney A. Martin
Published by: Abrams, Harry., Inc.
Belva Lockwood was one of the first female lawyers in the United States. She ran for president in 1884 and was the first women to have her name appear on an official ballot. An unusual fete, since only men were allowed to vote at the time.
United States national soccer team goalkeeper, Tim Howard, tells his story for the first time. Tim was a hyperactive kid with Tourette Syndrome but he beat the odds and become one of the world’s premier goalkeepers.
This title may not appeal to writers because “gooder” is not a recognized word. But trust me, if Liz Goodgold has her way, it will be in the dictionary next year. Why? Because we all need to speak better in this digitally distracted world.
According to Liz the goal of her book “is not teach you to speak like me, but to speak like you better.” Here are some of her tips:
Get to your presentation early and greet your audience.
Have someone introduce you and make sure they know how to pronounce you name.
Wear a name tag (she suggests you have one made) before and after your presentation but not while on stage. It might be a distraction.
Have a visual brand. For Liz the color red is part of her visual brand. She has numerous red jackets.
Be sure to wear comfortable clothing and shoes when speaking. It is hard to be convincing when your feet hurt.
A memorable talk contains stories. Data is easily forgotten but according to Liz “stories stay.”
Avoid carbonate beverages, Vaseline rubbed on your lips and gums will keep your mouth moist, and hot tea is a good way to keep your voice smooth.
Hera Hub Writer’s Salon
Last week Liz spoke at a Hera Hub Writer’s Salon in Carlsbad and began her lively talk with an activity. She challenged her audience to break into groups of two and come up with a “Quip on the Hip.” Something to say when someone asks about your day. The goal of the exercise was to respond with a short statement about you that starts a conversation.
Driving home I keep thinking about Liz’s presentation and it hit me. All writers need to have a “pitch in their pocket.” We always need to be able to talk intelligently about our work and what better way to start a conversation than to have a short pitch ready about our current project.
So here is the pitch in my pocket for today:
“Hey, Lynda. How is your day?
“Great, I discovered that George Eastman, the founder of Kodak, loved Lemon Pie and I have his recipe.”
Book Reviews are more important than they ever were. Why? Because readers are always looking for recommendations for their next good read. They also help sell books. One of the best things you can do for a fellow author is review their book and post it on Amazon and Goodreads.
A book review does not have to be long or complicated, either. The most important thing is to let people know how you feel about the book. A good length for a review is 250 to 400 words.
Take Notes
While reading a book, I write down what I am thinking on a post-it note and attach it to the page. I also use the post-it to mark the page by using it as a tab. That way, I can thumb through my notes without looking at each page again when I am writing my review.
Introduction
The best way to start a review is with an introduction. What lead you to read the book in the first place? Was it the title? Did the cover attract your attention? Was it written about a topic that interested you? My interest in Anastasia lead me to read Candace Fleming’s book “The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia.” In the introduction, I share the fact that when I was a teenager I saw the movie Anastasia staring Yul Bryner, Ingrid Bergman and Helen Hayes. The thought that the Anastasia, the youngest Grand Duchess of Russia, might have survived the death of her family always intrigued me.
Brief summary of book
Next, I try to give a brief summary of the book. This is also a good place to quote from the book. In my review of “The Impossible True Story of Tricky Vic: The Man Who Sold the Eiffel Tower,” I quote from the first page: “In 1890, the man who would one day be known for forty-five different aliases was born to the Miller family…” I thought this was a great way to start the book. I couldn’t help but wonder why anyone would need forty-five aliases.
Evaluation
While writing my evaluation of a book, I ask myself the following questions. What is my overall opinion of the book? Did I like the book? What was my favorite part of the book? How many stars would I give the book? Did the book meet my expectations? Was the writing clear and concise? Was the ending satisfying? Was there something that really stood out and impressed me about the book?
Conclusion
In conclusion, I like to summarize my thoughts and mention the author and, if the book is illustrated, the artist. If a book has won any special awards, I also like to mention it. For instance, Candace Fleming won Orbis Pictus award from the National Council of Teachers of English for “The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia.”
My Final Advice
Don’t wait too long to write your review. The book needs to be fresh in your mind.
I would have never thought to write a book about a con artist. But, luckily Greg Pizzoli did. From the beginning I was intrigued by the book’s title and had a lot of questions. Who was Tricky Vic? Where did he come from? When did he sell the Eiffel Tower? How did he do it? Did he get away with it? What else did he do?
Pizzoli skillfully sets the stage for his story with the first line of the book, “In 1890, the man who would one day be known for forty-five different aliases was born to the Miller family …” From there Pizzoli tells us about Tricky Vic’s various cons. My favorite was when he conned Al Capone, the mob boss of Chicago.
Pizzoli’s text is both interesting and informative. He skillfully illustrated his book with various multi-media sources such as rubber stamps, silk screen prints, halftone photographs and pen and ink drawings. My favorite illustration is how he depicted Tricky Vic’s face. No, I am not going to tell you. Sorry, you will have to read the book.
I highly recommend this book. It has a lot of kid appeal and is both thought-provoking and entertaining.
Happy Reading!!!!
Note: Greg Pizzoli lives in Philadelphia and his first picture book The Watermelon Seed received the Theodore Seuss Geisel Award. Visit his web site at www.gregpizzoli.com
This article contains the best definition of an author platform I have ever seen. The author, Courtney Carpenter, defines it “the turf you claim and name as your area of expertise.” I wish I had found this article years ago. It would have saved me from a great deal of frustration. On the other hand, it reassured me I made the right decision to focus on biography when I set up my web site and blog entitled Every Life Has a Story. Carpenter’s article is based on The Productive Writer by Sage Cohen.n [ Her article is so good, I am thinking about buying the book.]
In his article, Dale McGarrigle discusses the recent trends in E-reading for children ages 2-13 and their parent’s attitudes toward E-books. The article sites information from a report compiled by PlayScience and Digital Book World who conducted an online survey in October 2013, of 603 adults in the United States. When parents were asked what criteria they use to selected e-books for their children: 53 percent responded their child asked for the book; 35 percent because of the price, 28 percent due to positive reviews, and 27 percent because of the author’s reputation.
This article tells the story of Karen Avivi’s adventure with her book Shredded. She found the best way to get her unusual book about a BMX rider out into the world was to self-publish. Publishers had told her it was “too niche” and rejected her manuscript. Not a quitter, Avivi took matters into her own hands.She hired professionals to design the cover and an editor and proofreader to make sure her manuscript was ready to make its debut. Shredded was awarded the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Spark Award in 2013. The award “recognizes excellence in children’s books published through non-traditional publishing routes.”
Published by: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Release Date: April 14, 2015
This is a enthralling dual memoir of an American girl and her pen pal from an impoverished city in Zimbabwe. They exchanged letters for six years and their correspondence changed both their lives.
Elvis Presley was a shy kid who found solace in singing at church and learning to play the guitar. One day on a lark, he recorded a song for his mother’s birthday at Sun Record Studios and the rest is history.
John Roy Lynch was born a slave in Mississippi. But, with the passage of the Emancipation Proclamation, he was able to begin a new life and eventually he was elected to the United States Congress.
We all need to take time to celebrate – even the little things. My favorite way to celebrate is to make Peanut Butter Cookies.
Lynda’s Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
Cream together 1 egg, ½ cup margarine, ½ cup peanut butter, ½ cup white sugar, ½ cup brown sugar and 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla.
Combine ½ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon baking soda with 1 cup floor in a separate bowl. Mix together then add flour mixture to cookie batter.
Now add ½ cup peanut butter chips and ½ cup unsalted peanuts (shelled) to mixture.
Arrange cookie dough in large teaspoons on cookie sheet. Press flat with fort, sprinkle with sugar and bake until firm (about 12 minutes). Makes about 2 to 3 dozen cookies depending on size.
Enjoy!
What am I celebrating today? Finishing a grant proposal to do research at the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library in Austin, Texas, this summer.
Robert Miller was a con artist. In 1900, he moved Paris, France, to practice his trade. Using the alias “Count Victor Lustig” he sold the Eiffel Tower twice.
By Julie Danneberg (Author), Jamie Hogan (Illustrator)
Charlesbridge
One night while living at the base of Yosemite Falls in California, John Muir ventured up the trail from his cabin and almost lost his life while exploring the waterfall.
Black Elk, a unique historical figure and Oglala Lakota medicine man, was involved in the battles of Little Big Horn and Wounded Knee and journeyed to New York City and Europe with Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show.
Since I moved into a two bedroom apartment from my big house, I have been constantly battling getting organized. I brought too much stuff with me. Plus, I began painting again which only added to my storage problem.
My second bedroom is filled with books and more books, art supplies, 18 bankers’ boxes of resource material from my published books, a drawing table, office supplies, an office chair, a recliner, computer table, computer, special lights for my drawing table, etc. What I needed was an area where I could just focus on my writing – a writer’s cove.
My desktop
First, I tackled my desktop and I removed everything that did not pertain to my writing. I often had to get up and search for a pen or pencil. So, I stocked up and filled an old coffee mug with a dozen pens and pencils. I added a small note pad, ruler and highlighters. Then, I thought about the reference books I often use while writing. That was the biggest clue I needed to get organized. Thirty minutes later, I finally found all of them. I had a bad habit of leaving them where I last used them.
Reference Books
I had nine reference books and that was too many. I needed to prioritize. After looking over my choices, I determined I needed five reference books on my desk: The Synonym Finder by J. Rodale’s; A Pocket Style Manual by Diana Hacker; Roget’s Descriptive Word Finder by Barbara Ann Kipfer; Banish Boring Words! by Leilen Shelton; Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English. I know that Word has a dictionary and thesaurus included in its program, but I often need more options. Also, good verbs are the key to good writing and even though Banish Boring Words! is written for children, it’s a great resource for everyone.
Results
When I finished gathering things, I surveyed my writer’s cove and liked the amount of white space I had uncovered. My current project is revising and updating my biography of George Eastman, the founder of Kodak. I put my book holder back next to my computer and placed the Eastman manuscript in it.
There were still a few problems. I had two bankers’ boxes of resource material I needed to have accessible while I revised the Eastman manuscript. I didn’t want to clutter up the white space on my desk, so I placed a TV tray on my left side up against my table. I would use it to lay out what I was reviewing from the storage boxes and file back the material before pulling more information. Then, I sat the bankers’ boxes on top of a large a storage box on my right side. That way I didn’t have to bend down to sort through them.
I liked the setup but I knew I needed something to keep me on track. Above my desk is a bulletin board where I post my weekly goals. I needed to be more specific. On a white sheet of paper, in big bold letters, I typed out my project title and a deadline. Then I posted the sheet in the middle of my bulletin board.
Do you have a writer’s cove? How did you set it up? What are your favorite reference books?
A caricature is a drawing of a person in which the individual’s peculiar features are exaggerated so as to appear ridiculous. Thomas Nast, a political cartoonist, described this process in an article he wrote for The Youth’s Companion, a magazine for children in 1896.
In his article Nast explained: “If a man has a long neck make it longer; if he is very tall, give him additional inches; if he is small and short, make him more so; if he is obese, he is to be credited with more notable rotundity of form.” When drawing himself, Nast would exaggerate his most noticeable features. He would make his forehead lower, his mustache larger, his belly more round and his legs shorter.
Nast drew many caricatures of William Tweed, the corrupt politician who ran New York City after the Civil War. In one of his most memorable drawing, Nast replaced Tweed’s face with a money bag to signify the money he had stolen from the city. Infuriated, Tweed said he didn’t care what the newspapers printed about him because most his constituents couldn’t read but they could understand “those confounded caricatures.”
In 1866, Nast drew sixty life-sized caricatures of prominent men and women. The caricatures were used as decorations at the Grand Masquerade Opera Ball given at the New York Academy of Music on April 5. Nast had the opportunity to observe the people he had drawn and noted they all seemed to like the caricatures until theirs appeared. Then their expressions changed.
In her book, Making the Perfect Pitch: How To Catch a Literary Agents Eye, Katharine Sands defines pitching as “finding the right words and getting the right people to read them.” She also feels the “writing you do about your writing is as important as the writing itself.” Sands’ book is filled with advice from numerous agents:
Anna Ghosh
For Ghosh, a pitch must contain a “work’s spirit or essence.” She advises not to get bogged down with a synopsis that summaries your work but “try to find that magical phrase or two that expresses its core idea.”
Andrew Stuart
Stuart breaks a pitch down to these elements: a story in a sentence, one or two paragraphs about the plotline, the market for your book, and paragraph about your credentials. He also points out you need to be selective. Don’t pitch to someone who has no interest in your genre or topic – do your research beforehand.
Andrea Brown
Brown, a children’s book agent, points out that many editors passed over the first Harry Porter book and twenty-six publishers passed over the first Dr. Seuss book. Yet, they both went on to sell millions of copies.
Joseph Regal
According to Regal, “No agent is waiting for something that’s ‘almost’ there.” An agent’s job is to sell you manuscript not to give editorial advice. Your goal as a writer is to pitch your work in a way an agent “cannot say no to for fear of missing something that just might me special.”
Sheree Bykofsky
For Bykofsky being passionate about your book is “everything.” You have to believe in yourself and your book. She also advises that you “sit down with a friend and practice making your pitch.”
Although, Sands’ book is out print it can be found in libraries and used book stores. It is worth hunting for!
One of the best ways to get ready to verbally pitch your manuscript is to develop a pitch sheet. You can use it as a reference when practicing your pitch. Also, if an editor or agent is interested in your manuscript, you can give it to them as you leave.
Make the heading on your pitch sheet the title of your book in bold, capital letters. Underneath your title, list the genre, then your byline followed by the heading Short Synopsis. When typing your pitch sheet use the same font and margins as your manuscript. It can be double or single spaced but no longer than one page. The purpose of the pitch sheet is to get all the information you need on a single sheet of paper.
Questions
Think about the following questions when writing your pitch sheet: What is the “hook” in your story? What about your story will intrigue your readers and will capture their attention? What are the obstacles preventing your main character from achieving his/her goal? How does your story end? What makes your book different from other books like yours? How could a teacher use your book in the classroom? Why did you write your book?
Show Your Enthusiasm
Answering the question, why you wrote the book gives you a place to show your passion for your work. Enthusiasm is contagious. Your want the editor or agent to catch it!
Sample Pitch Sheet
THOMAS NAST: POLITICAL CARTOONIST
Biography
By Lynda Pflueger
Short Synopsis
Thomas Nast, a political cartoonist, believed that right was right and wrong was wrong. He took it upon himself to bring down the notoriously corrupt “Boss” William Tweed, who ran New York City after the Civil War. His drawings unnerved Tweed and he wanted the damn pictures stopped. Tweed tried to bribe, threaten and scarce Nast. But nothing worked. Nast was determined to put him behind bars. And he did.
Eventually, Nast became a folk hero. Many people waited to see what his drawings had to say before they took their stand on an issue. Nast loved Santa Claus and refined Santa’s image to the one we recognize today. He also created the political symbols of Republican Elephant and the Democratic Donkey. (Share drawing.)
Nast’s biography could be used by teachers of social studies, United States history and art from 4th to 12th grade while teaching the following topics: biography, civil war, art history, editorial or political cartoons, drawing caricatures, political corruption, immigration, propaganda, and symbolism.
I discovered Thomas Nast while researching an article on collecting at my local library. A book fell from the shelf above and hit me on the head. It was about a man who collected political cartoons. His favorite cartoonist was Thomas Nast. I was intrigued by Nast’s story and his sense of humor. He often drew caricatures of himself. (Share drawing.)
I am a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and have published several nonfiction articles for children in Magazines. Would you be interested in seeing a proposal for my biography of Thomas Nast?
My final tip is always be ready for this question – What else do you have? The editor or agent may be impressed with your pitch but aren’t interested in your topic. So, be ready to pitch another project. No editor or agent wants “a one book client.”
Next: Making the Perfect Pitch: How to Catch a Literary Agent’s Eye by Katharine Sands.
A sound bite is a few sentences that capture the essence of a story and entice the reader to want more. It should take about 15 seconds to recite. Basically, it adds more information to your story in a sentence.
Visit Your Favorite Book Store
A good exercise, to help you write your sound bite, is to go to your favorite book store and read the back copy of books similar to yours. Write down the back copy of ten books that made you want to read them. Using these as a guide, sit down and write three paragraphs about your book. Then condense it down to one paragraph.
Examples
Below is my sound bite for my biography of “Thomas Nast: Political Cartoonist.”
Thomas Nast, a political cartoonist, believed that right was right and wrong was wrong. He took it upon himself to bring down the notoriously corrupt “Boss” William Tweed, who ran New York City after the Civil War. His drawings unnerved Tweed and he wanted those damn pictures stopped. Tweed tried to bribe, threaten and scarce Nast. But nothing worked. Nast was determined to put him behind bars. And he did.
Below is another example. The sound bite I wrote for my picture book biography of Amelia Earhart focusing on her flight across the United States.
While on a flying vacation in 1928, Amelia Earhart flew into a storm. Her small plane had an open cockpit and cold air blew in her face and rain soaked her clothes. Frightened, Amelia worked hard to maintain control of her plane. Finally, the storm ended. Relieved, Amelia flew down close to the ground to look around. Nothing looked familiar. She was lost!
Favorite Sound Bite
My favorite sound bite is the prelude to the TV series Battlestar Galactica. It consists of fifteen words. The Cylons were created by Man. They rebelled. They evolved. There are many copies. And they have a plan.
Whether talking about our projects or submitting them for publication, writers need to be prepared to present their work in a compelling way. Having a good manuscript is not enough anymore. We need to pitch our work and follow through with a well written manuscript or proposal.
Pitching is a technique that started in Hollywood. Screenwriters would meet with producers and verbally pitch a story in a few quick sentences. The producer says either “no” or “tell me more about that one.” It was a quick way to sell a screenplay.
Today, writers can attend conferences and sign up for three or five or ten minutes to pitch to an editor or agent. The goal is for the agent or editor to ask to see your manuscript.
What is the pitch? A carefully crafted, short, verbal statement that will make an editor or agent want to know more? It should be concise and compelling. Its purpose is to intrigue and inform. Think of it as a type of advertisement.
How to start? Boil your story down to one sentence.
A good place to find examples of a story in a sentence is the TV Guide movie section. Here are some examples:
– The tale of a love struck giant ape rampaging through New York City. [King Kong]
– The Marvel comics’ superheroes band together when the government tries to eliminate them. [X Men]
– Happy romp about a penguin colony that finds its mates through song, and an outcast who can’t carry a tune but can dance like Fred Astaire. [Happy Feet]
– Indiana Jones is assigned to find the mystically empowered Ark of the Covenant before the Nazis can obtain it for their own evil use. [Raiders of the Lost Ark]
– A fairy godmother helps a woman meet a prince. [Cinderella]
– A woman forces boys at a detention camp to dig holes. [Holes]
Look at these sentences and think about how they are answering these questions: who, what, when, where or how. This is a good clue to help you start boiling your story down to a sentence.
Many years ago, I was intrigued by the movie Anastasia staring Yul Bryner, Ingrid Bergman and Helen Hayes. The film was about a woman, Anna Anderson, several Russian expatriates convinced to impersonate Anastasia, the youngest grand duchess of Russia. They coached her and filled her head with information in hopes she could fool the Dowager Empress Marie into thinking she was her granddaughter. In time, they began to suspect Anna Anderson actually was the missing grand duchess. The romantic in me hoped they were right.
My interest in Anastasia lead me to read Candace Fleming’s book “The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia.” The story alternates between a frank recounting of the Romanov’s’ fairy tale lives and narratives from Russian peasants, workers, revolutionaries and soldiers. The contrast is stunning. In fact, for me it was an eye opener.
Fleming points out that at the turn of the century “84% of the Russian population were peasants who owned only a few acres of land, 10.5% were urban workers, 1% professionals, .5 % clergy, 2.5% others, and 1.3% nobility and state officials.” There was virtually no middle class. The Romanov family isolated themselves from the outside world living in a luxurious bubble. In denial, they refused to see a revolution was coming that would ultimately led to their murder. It is a pity that the Empress Alexandra, Anastasia’s mother, did not follow her grandmother Queen Victoria’s (of England) advice “to win the love and respect of the Russian people.”
In the final chapters of her book, Fleming recounts the brutal murder of the Romanovs. On July 17, 1918 they were gunned down by their Bolshevik guards. Fifty-eight years later, their remains were located. The discovery was kept secret until 1991 when the communist hold on Russian began to collapse.
Originally, only five skeletons were found, two were missing – one of a grand duchesses and her little brother. Experts could not determine whether they had Anastasia’s or her sister Marie’s remains. In 2007, the missing remains of the two family members were located along with the remains of Anastasia’s dog, a little King Charles spaniel. Anastasia had not survived the brutal murder of her family after all.
Fleming’s book is well researched and written. I particularly enjoyed the numerous archival photographs that added depth to the narrative. For me, “The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia” was a great read. I highly recommend it!
Note: “The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion & the Fall of Imperial Russia” by Candace Fleming has just been award the Orbis Pictus Award by the National Council of Teachers of English for 2015.
In February 1863, Mathew Brady photographed an event in New York City that pushed the Civil War off the front pages of daily newspapers. It was the wedding of two midgets, General Tom Thumb and Lavinia Warren.
Twenty-five-year-old Thumb was born of normal parents but only grew to thirty-five inches in height. His bride, Lavinia, was four years younger and one inch shorter. They were both employed by P. T. Barnum.
Wedding
The wedding took place in Grace Church in New York City. On their honeymoon, the Thumbs visited Washington, D.C., and President Lincoln gave a reception for them at the White House.
Visiting the White House
Lincoln and his son Tad
Lincoln’s son, Tad, could not take his eyes off the small couple. He thought Lavinia looked like his mother and remarked, “Isn’t it funny that Father is so tall and Mr. and Mrs. Thumb are so little?” President Lincoln overheard his son and commented, “My boy, God likes to do funny things. Here you have the long and the short of it.”
Source of quote: Theodore James, Jr., “Tom Thumb’s Giant Wedding,” Smithsonian, September 1973, p. 57.
Goldie (Golda) was born on May 3, 1898 in Kiev, Russia. She and her family immigrated to Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1906. Her father worked as a carpenter and her mother ran a grocery store. Goldie attended the Fourth Street School across from the Schlitz Brewing Complex. This is the setting for Barbara Krasner’s book “Goldie Takes a Stand! Golda Meir’s First Crusade.”
Goldie at the age of nine took it upon herself to organize her friends to raise money to buy text books for her immigrant classmates who could not afford them. She formed the American Young Sister Society and appointed herself president. When her friends asked how much money they needed to raise, Goldie determined they needed to each raise 3 cents a week. A tough goal when a loath of bread and a quart of milk cost 3 cents each.
The members American Young Sister Society did their best. Goldie and her sister even gave up candy. But they couldn’t raise enough money. So Goldie determined they needed to think bigger. They held a public meeting and raised so much money the American Young Sister’s Society was out of business. That was okay. Goldie was thinking about another cause.
Becomes First Woman Prime Minister of Israel
Goldie later attended a teacher’s college, and taught in Milwaukee public schools. In 1917, she married Morris Meyerson and in 1921 they moved to Palestine to help claim it as the Jewish homeland. At that time, she chose a new last name for herself – Meir- a Hebrew word meaning “Illumination.” The couple lived in a kibbutz (collective community) until 1924 when they settled in Jerusalem. From the 1940’s through the 60s, Goldie worked for the Israeli government in various roles including as its minister to Moscow. In 1969, she was elected the first woman Prime Minister of Israel.
Author
Barbara Krasner likes writing history – particularly Jewish-themed history. She tells the story of Goldie’s first crusade with charming simplicity. The narrative is based on a true story but Krasner created the dialogue. Krasner also publishes a popular blog, The Whole Megillah: The Writer’s Resource for Jewish-Themed Story and runs workshops and conferences for Jewish writers at Highlights Foundation and in conjunction with the Association of Jewish libraries.
Illustrator
Kelsey Garrity-Riley illustrations deftly set the stage for Goldie’s story with subdued colors and delightful doll like images. Kelsey grew up in Europe and now lives in Savannah, Georgia. She shares her home studio with her illustrator husband Erik Riley.
While updating my biography of Mathew Brady, I discovered an interesting tidbit. During the Peninsula Campaign in 1862, Major General George B. McClellan sent Professor Thaddeus Lowe up into the sky in his hot-air balloon to spy on the Confederates. One of his generals, General Fritz John Porter, occasionally accompanied Lowe.
Professor Thaddeus Lowe’s balloon
One day, Porter decided to go up in a balloon by himself. As he ascended into the sky, the balloon cable broke. The runaway balloon moved away quickly and floated over the Confederate line. Sharpshooters were preparing to fire on him. Mercifully, the wind shifted and pulled Porter back over the Union lines before the Confederates could shoot him down.
When Porter finally got the balloon under control, it made a dramatic descent and struck a Union tent when it landed. As Porter emerged unhurt from under the numerous folds of the balloon, he was greeted by cheering soldiers and a military band.
General McClellan, aware of General Porter’s adventure, wrote to his wife, “You may rest assured of one thing – you won’t catch me in the confounded balloon.”
Source: G. Allen Forster, The Eyes and Ears of the Civil War.
TIP # 1 – Use Amazon Author Central and your Amazon Author’s page to your best advantage. You can add your photo, access to you blogs with highlights of your posts, announce the events where you will be appearing and Twitter messages to you authors pages. Also, make sure you obtain access to your book page on Amazon. Since traditional publishers usually supply Amazon with your book information, they often do not give their author access. Ask you it.
TIP # 2 – Concerning book reviews, things have changed. Reviews such as Kirkus and even School Library or Horn Book are no longer driving the market. We live in the social media age and customer reviews now drive the market. If you want to support other authors, and you want them to support you, write a reviews of their books and ask them to return the favor. To learn more about reviewing books on Amazon read Penny C. Sansevieri’s book “How to Get a Truck Load of Reviews on Amazon.com.”
TIP # 3 – Remind your readers that you don’t have to have a Kindle to read your e-Books on Amazon. They can access them on Kindle Computer Reader, IPhone and IPad APP, Android APP, or Blackberry APP. The APPS can be found on Amazon.com.
TIP # 4 – My final tip. Keep writing and never give up!!!!
In 1887, Nast traveled across the United States on a lecture tour. In many towns, he was given souvenirs. In Colorado, he was greeted by Senator Horace Tabor’s young daughter nicknamed “Baby” Tabor and presented with a locket.
The locket was made especially for Nast out of various metals mined in the state and contained a portrait of “Baby.” Nast later used “Baby” Tabor’s likeness in a Christmas drawing for Harper’s Bazar. The drawing was entitled Christkindchen, a German word for Christ child.
While in Colorado, Nast was given another gift. While traveling on a train with the Midland Railroad company directors, the men named a snow covered mountain in Nast’s honor. Mt. Nast is 12,500 feet high and one of the highest mountains in the Sawatch Range of the Rocky Mountains. To this day, the mountain remains named after Nast.
Nast completed his tour in California and reportedly spoke at the Coronado Hotel in San Diego before returning home.
While updating my biography of Thomas Nast, I set up a Google alert. A Google alert prompts an email notification when Google finds new information about the topic or person you are interested in. A few days after creating the alert, I received an email with information about an article published on seacoastonline.com about Thomas Nast.
While renovating their home in Exeter, New Hampshire, a couple found a poster nailed to a wall advertising a lecture Nast gave on the evening of October 8, 1873. During a seven month lecture tour, Nast spoke at the Exeter Lyceum.
The article mentioned a review published about Nast’s appearance in the Exeter News-Letter newspaper in 1873. The article raved about Nast’s presentation. “Mr. Nast’s lecture was both entertaining and instructive, and his….accent gave perhaps additional relish to the good things it contained.” The article also noted that Nast used color chalk and a large easel to illustrate his talk.
The article gave me new information. I suspected Nast had a German accent but never found information to confirm it. Evidently, he had a very distinct accent. The fact, he used colored chalk in his presentation and spoke about creating caricatures was another new discovery.
Even though I write historical biographies, current information can surface that will help me update my books and Google Alerts is great way to obtain the information.
TIP: Setting up a Google alert for you name will keep you informed when your name or books are publicized.
I am often asked why I write biographies for children. Since my favorite books are biographies, the answer is simple—because I like to read them. Every life has a story and nothing pleases me more than to curl up with book about someone I want to know more about. My favorite biographies are historical. I want to know about the times the person lived in and the choices they made in their lives.
Thomas Nast
I chose to write about Thomas Nast, the political cartoonist, because his life story intrigued me. He also had a great sense of humor and knew how to laugh at himself. In this full length self-portrait, Nast is poking fun at his poor financial situation by pulling out his empty pocks and hanging his head. Nast used the drawing as a greeting card and wrote on it “Compliments of the Seasons” and signed it “A La Carte” Th. Nast Jan. 1, 1894.
Amelia Earhart
I wrote about Amelia Earhart because I felt too much emphasis was being put on her disappearance. She was an independent woman “born before her time” who loved to fly, was neither the best pilot nor the worst, and had written several books. In my opinion, she was a good writer. Amelia often dressed in men’s clothes. In this photograph, she is wearing a men’s hat and a fur coat.
Mark Twain
I wrote about Mark Twain because I wanted to focus on his role as a humorist. Twain felt humor was “mankind’s greatest blessing.” He also advised the best way “to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up.”
My favorite Twain quote is “If man could be crossed with the cat it would improve man, but it would deteriorate the cat.” He also once said “I simply can’t resist a cat, particularly a purring one. They are the cleanest, cunningest, and most intelligent things I know, outside of the girl you love, of course.”
What Are Your Stories
I have shared some of my stories. Now what about yours? If you were going to write a biography, who would you write about?
Note: The photographs were obtained from the Library of Congress, Photographs and Prints Division.
Primates: The Fearless Science of Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Biruté Galdikas 
By Tanya Lee Stone and Illustrated by Kathryn Brown
Summit out of Sight: The True Story of the Youngest Person to 
ricky Vic: The Impossibly True Story of the Man Who Sold the Eiffel Tower 
7, Nast traveled across the United States on a lecture tour. In many towns, he was given souvenirs. In Colorado, he was greeted by Senator Horace Tabor’s young daughter nicknamed “Baby” Tabor and presented with a locket.
