Blog Archives

Eensie Weensie Halloween Fun (Contest Alert!)

10/27/2014

Oh, you guys! I am so excited to finally have time to participate in Susanna Leonard Hill's Halloweensie Contest. Why am I doing it? It's fun! You can do it, too. It will raise your writing spirits.

Underlying Topic: Halloween
Words you must use in your entry: Creak, Broomstick, Pumpkin (any form of these words- Example: Creak, creaked, creaks, etc.)
Word Limit: 100 words! That's why it's called HalloWEENSIE!

Official Rules and Prizes are listed HERE. Susanna's the boss on this one, so it's her way or the highway. Ha, ha! Susanna's amazing, folks. You'll need to check out her official rules so you know exactly what to do. And you'll want to see the awesome prizes!

Here's my entry! See you over at Susanna's!

Prankenstein (94 words)

Creeeeeak! Hello? Is someone there?
Why’d I take my brother’s dare?
Wandering out into the night,
Dark and freezing, filled with fright.
I walk further. Not sure why.
Broomsticks swish! I start to cry.
Lights go on. It’s just my mom…
Cleaning up the pumpkin bomb.
What a nasty prank to play!
It’s my brother’s turn to pay.
Now’s my chance. I get in place.
Hidden in the empty space.
Shh! It’s him! He shuffles near.
Just about. He’s almost here!
“BLAH!” I shout, and watch him jump.
“Look who’s laughing now, ya chump!”

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Artsy Kids: NAOMI CALL

10/26/2014

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Our first Artsy Kid is rockin’ the Carrie On... header on this very page! Talented artist, Naomi Call, is a Massachusetts 6th grader on a mission to help others.

Welcome, Naomi! What is your mission?

My mission is to raise money for the African Library Project. The African Library Project coordinates book drives in the United States and partners with African schools and villages to start small libraries. 1000 books + $500 and some elbow grease is all it takes to create a library in Africa. I will send 15% of the proceeds of purchases from my Etsy shop LittleAndoverGirl to the African Library Project.

Thank you so much for jazzing up this site with color, creativity, and the perfect vision of how I hope everyone will ‘Carrie’ On. How did you create the illustration featured here on Carrie On...Together?

Well, to start, I brainstormed ideas and came up with a sketch of children reading and holding hands around the Earth. I tried to make them all different from one another, but still look like they were friends. I took a picture of the drawing with my mother's nice camera. I e-mailed myself the picture, then created a Microsoft Paint document and went over the entire sketch adding color and a couple of minor changes.

When did your journey as an artist begin?

I have been drawing my whole life. I got a little more serious about it when I was four and I won an art contest. The contest included children ages 2-5.

Naomi's art contest entry, Age 4

Portrait, Age 5

Naomi, Age 5

What is your favorite artistic process and medium?

I don't have a favorite, but two that enjoy working with right now are watercolor pencil and pen and ink. I like that there are so many ways to use watercolor pencils. I have been experimenting with that a lot lately. The pen and ink style is interesting to me because you cannot shade with it, creating a different kind of look.

Where do you get your ideas?

I get inspiration from my surroundings and other art. I like to go to places like art museums, where I can come up with new ideas or projects.

What do you do regularly to sharpen your artistic skills?

I practice different techniques such as pen and ink, watercolor, acrylic, charcoal, watercolor pencil, or pastel.

What would you recommend for other kids that are interested in art?

Practice. I feel that my artistic skills have improved a lot from when I was younger because I practiced. Try different techniques and styles, and see which ones work for you.

Thank you so much for being our first Artsy Kid, Naomi! Keep up the great work and you will continue to soar! You inspire us!

Are you an Artsy Kid, too? Leave a comment for Naomi below. Artsy kids should chat! :)

View the Past, Naomi Call, Age 10

Naomi Call is an eleven year old home-schooled girl from a family of seven. Some of her favorite pastimes are drawing and reading. She has been doing art her whole life, and loves it. To support her cause for the African Library Project, visit LittleAndoverGirl.

If you are an Artsy Kid with a mission, and would like a chance to be featured here, please ask your parent for permission first. Then, with their help, use the button below to email a brief summary detailing your art journey and mission. Attach a sample of your art work. (Parents: Please include a phone number so that personal permission may be gathered properly. Thank you!)

Artsy Kid Submissions

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THINK QUICK with Author/Illustrator Ben Clanton

10/18/2014

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Hi Ben! Congratulations on the release of your fourth picture book, Rex Wrecks It! I love the way your toppling towers topic tackles teamwork, friendship, and sharing. All of the THINK QUICK themes below appear in your book. Let’s see which way you lean. Remember, THINK QUICK!

On Fun:
Toppling towers or constructive creating?

On Friends:
Sharing or quiet celebration/concentration/contemplation?

On Environment:
Mess or perfection?

On Conflict:
Fight or flight?

On Progress:
Teamwork or self-driven?

On Projects:
Leader or contributor?

On Friends (Again):
Similar interests or eclectic bunch?

On Personality:
Rex or Gizmo?

Sprinkles or Wild?

On Illustration:
Self-taught or trained?

On Books:
Rex, Wrecks It OR Rex, Wrecks It? Why?

ENOUGH SAID.

Thanks for thinking quick with us, Ben! Your creativity RAWRS!

Rex Wrecks It REVIEW
The fun of toppling towers teams up with four unique friends
October 4, 2014 By Carrie Brown
This review is from: Rex Wrecks It! (Hardcover)

From a very early age, children love to play the "I drop it, you pick it up" game. They then graduate to "I/you build it, I knock it over." Very young children will relate to main character Rex who holds on tight to the fun of toppling towers. The repeatable line that runs through this text will delight very young children and stand up to multiple rereadings. Your child will likely see themselves in one of the four characters and even learn something about teamwork, sharing, friendship, and accepting differences. The illustrations stand out as funny, playful, and colorful. The facial expressions are priceless.

Ben Clanton is the author/illustrator of Mo's Mustache, Vote for Me!, The Table Sets Itself, and Rex Wrecks It! Besides doodling up stories Ben enjoys playing basketball, walking in the woods with gigi (his goldendoodle pup), and cooking. Find out more about Ben at www.benclanton.com.

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October Mystery Author/Illustrator: Julie Rowan-Zoch

10/13/2014

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As children’s writers and illustrators, we never know where or when we’ll encounter inspiration. Author/Illustrator Julie Rowan-Zoch was once inspired by a picture of my daughter (above), equipped with big hair and full 1980’s gear for the daddy/daughter dance. She took that opportunity to create a new character, and continues to delight our online writing communities with humorous, bright, entertaining characters. Along with writer, Karla Oceanak, Julie welcomes her first three illustrated board books into the world on October 14. The Year-By-Year series features YOU’RE HERE!. YOU’RE ONE!, AND YOU’RE TWO. Please join me in welcoming Julie Rowan-Zoch.

*Thunderous applause*

Before we delve into our interview, please tell us a little more about this new series.

The Year-By-Year Board Book Series was conceived by author Karla Oceanak and her partners in publishing, author/illustrator Kendra Spanjer and designer Launie Parry to market as gift books. I was very happy to be asked by the team to create characters and illustrate Karla Oceanak's text. Each of the board books follows the development of the child at that stage in life, which was fun to research for accuracy. Even though I have two grown children, one does forget a lot.

Did you envision yourself starting out with board books? How did this project come about?

I had been busy writing my own picture book manuscripts and creating dummies when Bailiwick contacted me through Facebook, where Karla had seen some of my sketches done while participating in Linda Silvestri's SkADaMo 2012 Challenge (http://sketchedout.wordpress.com/2012/11/01/skadamo-2012/). I have since become more interested in creating my own board books, especially after the recent and totally awesome RMC-SCBWI Conference Illustrator's Intensive with Salina Yoon, in which I was fortunate enough to participate last month.

How do your goals differ as both an author and an illustrator in comparison to those who are focused on one or the other?

My goals have changed over the last 3 years of focusing on the writing and illustrating of my own picture book ideas. I have always been open to illustrate another author's manuscript, but was not actively promoting myself separately, as an illustrator, until recently. I just finished creating an online portfolio (http://julierowanzoch.wordpress.com/portfolio/), which will be updated as I progress. I had a lot of fun making my first promotional postcards, some of which are now finding their way into editor's and art director's hands. I sketch every day, thanks in part to Linda Silvestri's encouraging challenge (linked above), and to Alison Hertz's Doodle Day group on facebook (http://www.alisonhertz.com/doodle-day.html). And ever day I am either writing new, revising 'old', or mulling over a random draft!

Do you have a routine that allows you to give equal opportunity to illustration and writing or does one naturally lead to another?

I start most days with digital sketches, often with enjoyable prompts: birthday doodles I post to facebook friends - some have even evolved into stories! But I do not have a routine per se. I am passionate enough to keep myself busy with picture books on many levels, including the reading of them. A librarian teased me once, calling me the 'best customer' in the juvenile section, but I bet I rank pretty high in general circulation!

Your illustrations always bring a smile to my face and often incorporate humor. Where did you find your funny bone?

I'm Irish? I believe my father would find that excuse pretty funny! Appreciating the child within is probably more accurate though.

What is your advice for kid artists who hope to illustrate one day? Where should they put their focus now?

Draw what you want, paint what you want, make what you want. And don't let any one tell you to make what they want! So if school instruction is frustrating, put up with it while you're there, but let it all go will when you create for yourself. I attempted teaching art at a private elementary school, but as it turns out, I was deemed too supportive of kids bringing their own creativity to the projects. Sigh. Kid artists are the best! The energy!

What is your advice for writers who do not illustrate?

Two words: one is to DRAW. Too many say they can't, but if they want to, they can. I don't mean, attempt to become a professional illustrator, but there is such joy to be found in putting a pen, pencil or brush to paper, or hands to clay, textiles, cameras - even food! The other is more important, and as essential to the visual artist as to writers, OBSERVE. I don't believe anyone can excel at either discipline without learning to look, really look, and listen, smell, touch and taste all the wonders of their environment.

What other projects are you working on now?

I just finished first revisions for a picture manuscript created for the characters on my promotional cards, and hope to develop the dummy in full soon. I'm currently thumbnailing a dummy for my only rhyming text, polishing a rough picture book dummy (very excited about that one), and chewing on an idea for a concept book. My biggest challenge is keeping new ideas quiet. My mind is always racing, and with PiBoIdMo around the corner...yeah, doesn't look good for me!

Thanks so much for having me, Carrie - your questions forced me to reflect a lot, and that was FUN!

Glad to hear it, Julie! Thank YOU for being here!
Julie is generously giving away one signed copy of EACH of her new books! Follow the Rafflecopter instructions below to enter the drawing.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Julie is a reformed graphic designer, concocting and sculpting story ideas and illustrations – every day. You can follow her journey on her blog, Facebook artist page, Twitter, and Pinterest. To learn more about her artisitic process, you can read more here.

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Quotes that Resonate: North TX SCBWI 2014

10/6/2014

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The 2014 North Texas OUT OF THIS WORLD Conference took place the last weekend in September and man, was it inspiring! I hope you catch a chance to attend a live event featuring these fabulous faculty members. Here's an inside tip as to what's in store for you until then, or follow them on Twitter to catch bits n' pieces.

Jordan Brown
Senior Editor, Walden Pond Press and Balzer + Bray at HarperCollins

"It's not as simple as- 'it sold because this trend is hot right now.' It begins and ends with great writing." @thisjordanbrown

Sarah Davies
Agent, Greenhouse Literary Agency

"Your goal as a writer is to perceive order and meaning in chaos, then create a story framework from it."" @SarahGreenhouse

Sylvie Frank
Editor, Paula Wiseman Books / Simon & Schuster

"Getting a sense of what a publisher prints will help you know what a good fit is."
@franknbooks

Maria Middleton
Associate Art Director, ABRAMS Kids Books

"There is no right way to be creative. Take risks." @MariaTMiddleton

Ellen Hopkins
New York Times Bestselling Author

"Good enough is NOT enough. Craft is the foundation to all great writing!" @EllenHopkinsYA

Aaron Reynolds
New York Times Bestselling Author

"The way you get to success is to fail! Keep gathering your rejections." @areynoldsbooks

For more North Texas SCBWI Event Information, please visit our chapter website and blog.

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Click picture for a video greeting.

Carrie Charley Brown

As a children’s writer, and a teacher, my goal is to help you carry on. Sometimes learning is challenging, so why go it alone? Your journey will be more meaningful and comfortable with friends to share it with. Together, we'll get up close and personal with authors, illustrators, and the best of picture books. If we work together, great things will follow!