Carmela A. Martino

January 24, 2010

In this issue: • My New Year’s Resolution • Calling all teachers and homeschoolers—another book giveaway at www.TeachingAuthors.com • Anderson’s Bookshops 8th Annual Children’s Literature Breakfast • Registration now open for my Spring critique workshop • Please help “spread the word” My New Year’s Resolution I hope your new year has gotten off to a great start, and that those of you who make resolutions are sticking to them. I give myself a grade of about a “C” on keeping mine. I blogged about it on January 13. You can read the post at: http://tinyurl.com/TAres2010. Calling all teachers and homeschoolers—another book giveaway (If you’re not a teacher or homeschooler, please share this with anyone who may be interested.) The TeachingAuthors would like to put together a “Top Ten” list of questions/challenges teachers have when teaching writing to grades 1-12. We’re inviting teachers and homeschoolers to visit our blog and share one of your questions for a chance to win an autographed children’s book written by one of the TeachingAuthors. And while you’re visiting our blog, we hope you’ll read our latest series of posts on the first of the Six Traits of Writing: Ideas. Contest entry deadline is January 30. For complete details, see http://tinyurl.com/TAcontest Anderson’s Bookshops 8th Annual Children’s Literature Breakfast I’ll be one of the local authors attending Anderson’s Bookshops 8th Annual Children’s Literature Breakfast on Saturday, February 20. There will be a great lineup of speakers, including Richard Peck, Patricia McKissack, and Jordan Sonnenblick. If you’re interested, details are posted at: http://www.andersonsbookshop.com/childrensliteraturebreakfast2010.php . Registration now open for my Spring critique workshop My Children's Writing Critique Workshop will be held at the Mayslake Peabody Estate in Oak Brook on Mondays, , 7:00 - 9:00 PM, April 19-May 24. In this workshop, children’s and young adult writers receive critiques of their own work while learning how to critically study the work of other writers in a friendly, supportive environment. You must bring copies of your manuscript—a picture book, short story, or novel excerpt—to the first class. Also, before enrolling you must email Carmela at carmela@carmelamartino.com for word count limits and manuscript guidelines. Class is limited to 10 students, so register early. For more information, see http://www.carmelamartino.com/events.htm . Please help “spread the word” I hope you will forward this email to anyone you know who may be interested. Also, please encourage them to subscribe at http://www.carmelamartino.com/newsletter.htm . I promise not to clutter your inbox—I don’t foresee sending this out more than once or twice a month. Of course, if you don’t find this newsletter helpful, or are feeling overwhelmed with email, you can always unsubscribe on the same webpage. If you have any questions, for the quickest response, don’t reply to this email. Instead, email me directly. Happy 2010 to all. And happy reading! Carmela