Kirkus Closing

The standard in book reviews, Kirkus, is closing. (Nielsen is also shutting down 'Editor & Publisher.')
     Okay, they had a reputation as the snarky reviewers. And they even let publishers pay them for reviews. Hm. But it was probably inevitable that Kirkus would close since so many newspapers have closed their book review sections and blog reviewers have become so prolific. But I'm bummed.
     It's the death of a standard, an institution. When I got into this business, I set bars in place by which I would grade my success. Getting a starred review from Kirkus was one of those bars. And now I'll never have the chance to jump it.
     But truly, bloggers have replaced the need. And blog reviewers are most often unpaid, passionate readers writing about what they love. You can't get a more honest opinion than that.
     Want to follow some great online children's book reviewers? Anastasia Suen has a great list at Blog Central: Children's Book Reviewers.

UPDATE!!! Looks like there may be a buyer to keep Kirkus alive!!! Book Magazine Kirkus Reviews Lives to Write Another Day

ATL Press Club Party

Thursday I had the pleasure of being invited again to the Atlanta Press Club Holiday Author Party. It's an opportunity for tv, radio, and media people in the Atlanta area to learn about local authors and their latest books (along with bidding for items in a silent auction).
     Well, hubbie ended up with a cold, so couldn't join me. And all the way there I was thinking, this won't be nearly as fun now - I won't know anybody there.
     HA! I walked in to find I knew a TON of the authors - all buds. So I went from Squeal! Hug! to Squeal! Hug! And of course, I didn't get pics with everybody. Like how did Jessica Handler and I not get a picture together? But here I am with my SCBWI peeps PJ Shaw and Donna Bowman:

Here's PJ's and my set-up:

With interested visitors!

And I had the fun, rare opportunity to hang with some of my adult author peeps too. Here I am with Karin Slaughter and Hollis Gillespie:

     Also there were Mimi Schroeder of Max Communications; Kolinda Scialabba of the Gwinnett County Schools; Media Escort Esther Levine; former owner of Chapter 11, Vivian Lawand; Library Manager James Taylor; author Don O'Briant; and author Susan Rebecca White.

     Thanks to Wil Ennis of B&N for supplying so many of my books (they asked me to sign them all!) and to Lauri Strauss, the Executive Director of the Atlanta Press Club for the kind invitation.
     I love events like these - they end up being a great opportunity to catch up with friends while celebrating everybody's successes. And I even won a beautiful hand-blown glass vase in the silent auction - yay!

Coloring Page Tuesday - bonus - Dreidel!

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     Hanukkah begins today, so here's a bonus coloring page - a dreidel for you!
     Click the image to open a .jpg to print and color. Send me your colored version (less than 1mb) to coloringpages@dulemba.com and I'll post it to my blog! Click here to find more holiday-themed coloring pages and subscribe to receive weekly alerts when new images become available.

Why Do Authors Charge for School Visits?

I ADORE this post by Kim Norman at Author Visits by State: Why do authors charge fees for school presentations? If you're a media specialist, librarian, teacher, or interested parent - please read this article!!!
     I spend so much time responding to requests for speaking engagements that start out sounding sincere but don't pan out because the inquirer actually wants my services for free (or ridiculously low pay). It's HOURS away from my work (why they are interested in me in the first place), and it can be hurtful - why would anybody assume my time has no value?
     Especially when I really do love doing school visits. I love the energy created from sharing my passion with kids – seeing their eyes light up when they are inspired and fascniated - there's nothing like it.
     Now I know there are some schools who truly who cannot afford my visits (or anybody else's) and I am working on finding ways around that. (Hope to share soon.) Because a visit with an author or illustrator can truly change lives. When a real person shares how they successfully accomplished their (seemingly impossible) dreams, children's dreams move from far-fetched ideas to actual possibilities for their future. It can mean everything to them.
     You can learn more about my school visits (and even see me in action) on my VISITS PAGE.

John C. Campbell Folk School - Another Great Weekend!

Once or twice a year I teach in the North Carolina Mountains at the John C. Campbell Folk School. This past weekend I taught "Creating Picture Books" and it's a treat for me made even better when I have an enthusiastic group of students. Like last year's, this year's group was just as awesome.
     Of course, this year we had a wonderful new twist... snow. It was mostly gone by the time I took this photo, but the entire valley was breathtakingly beautiful throughout the weekend. This was the view from our writing studio....

     It was my first time to teach during the colder months and the school was decorated for Christmas for their annual Fireside Sale - a fantastic kick-off to the holiday season. Greenery and pretty lights created a holiday mood and the happy energy was tangible.
     It was in this environment that I spent the weekend with eight budding children's book authors, eager to learn their new craft. It was an intense weekend. Each student arrived with a manuscript and we got to work reducing them down to their cores and tightening them up to their possibilities. Amazingly, one manuscript was about ready to go out for submissions while three others were nearly there. What a talented group!
     Each created a 'mini-dummy' illustrating the four components of their story's arcs: problem/desire/goal presented; escalation of conflict or obstacles; climax; and resolution.

Some of my students had to hit the road early, but here are a few with their creations:

     The bonus during the closing ceremonies was the pie-making class who shared samples of their weekend's labors - yum!!
     Afterwards I had lunch with good friends who I don't get to see nearly enough, then drove home. What a fabulous time! I love my weekends at John C. Campbell!

Coloring Page Tuesday! - Excuse me, Santa...

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     What are you wishing for this holiday season? Is the wish for you or for somebody else?
     Need some help with some good gift-giving ideas? Read on!
     Click the image to open a .jpg to print and color. Send me your colored version (less than 1mb) to coloringpages@dulemba.com and I'll post it to my blog! Click here to find more coloring pages and subscribe to receive weekly alerts when new images become available.

GIFT IDEA!
     How's this for a great idea - pair my latest picture book, SOAP, SOAP, SOAP ~ JABON, JABON, JABON (all-English or bilingual version) with some bubble bath and/or a reading rubber duckie!

Need more gift and stocking stuffer ideas - click here to read my latest Coloring Page Tuesday Alert with lots of great ideas!

Coloring Book Stocking Stuffers!

Did you know my Coloring Page Tuesdays images are available as bona fide coloring books that make GREAT stocking stuffers for kids, teachers, scrap-bookers, or people who just love to color?
     All three collections, "I Love to Read!", "Fun Stuff!", and "Holidays!" have over 20 coloring pages in each (and were recently updated with some of my latest images).
     "I Love to Read!" has lots of reading-themed images (perfect for a teacher or librarian). "Fun Stuff!" is all the general stuff like happy animals, robots, ballet, etc. And "Holidays" covers all major holidays and some minor ones, including birthdays, Talk Like a Pirate Day, and Earth Day!
     Click the cover to buy a copy through Lulu.com for $7.50 plus shipping (or $5.00 to download as .pdf's). And order soon to make sure they get to you in time!

The Fantastic Mr. Fox

Roald Dahl's The Fantastic Mr. Fox has been animated. I've heard mixed responses so far - passionate on both sides. Have you seen it yet? Please report in!

105 Ways to Give a Book

Books make fantastic gifts, but can be even better when paired with an item that ties in with a particular book. You know, like a book of poetry paired with magnetic poetry.
Well, MotherReader has put together an amazing list of books paired with the perfect complimentary gifts. What a fantastic resource. I dare you to go look and not get some GREAT holiday shopping ideas!

Find the RIGHT Agent

Looking for an agent? I have two new tools for you today...

Per Publishers Weekly, WEbook Launches AgentInBox to Connect Authors and Agents Online. WeBook, an online writer's community, is offering a new service for writers to narrow down their search for an appropriate agent - AgentInBox. Agents sign up (free) to have their criteria posted and have qualified submissions forwarded to them (there are eight agencies so far - I'm betting mostly for the adult market). Writers can submit their queries and after being vetted as a qualified submission (properly formatted, query matches submission, etc.) their submissions will be forwarded to the appropriate agent. What a fabulous idea! I hope we see more of this - especially for the children's book market. Not sure it's a good tool for our genre just yet, but I'll keep you posted as I learn more.


AuthorAdvance is in beta but looks like it could also be a good tool. I'm not sure it's so much search engine as it is information on agents you're researching, but it looks interesting. My agent is in there too!

Good luck! :) e

Letters About Literature Contest

Letter writing contest for kids! From School Library Journal, information on the annual Letters About Literature promotion for the Center for the Book (I'm on the board in Georgia) in the Library of Congress.... Levels range from grades 4 through 12. Readers write a letter to an author of one of their favorite works gushing about how those stories, poems or characters transported them to new places or into self-reflection. The winners get a $500 Target gift card and a $10,000 LAL Grant for their community or school library.
One catch - the deadline is December 12th - better get hoppin!! Here's the application form.

Giftie Background?

I love changing out my background patterns with the seasons but I can't decide which color I like best this time - will you help?
To see how they work with the main content of my blog (lots of orange) you can see the blue option on my blog, the green option on my home page, and the yellow option on the latest Coloring Page Tuesdays Alert. (You can sign up to receive the Alert to your in-box every week - click here.)
Which do you like best? (Take the poll.) Thanks!


UPDATE! And the winner is ... BLUE!!! I'll be going through the site and updating the backgrounds. Thanks for all your votes! :) e

Coloring Page Tuesday! - Gifties!

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     Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa - whichever holiday you celebrate, I wish you some finds that will guarantee smiles and joy for your loved ones. Please remember those in need as well.
     Click the image to open a .jpg to print and color. Send me your colored version (less than 1mb) to coloringpages@dulemba.com and I'll post it to my blog! Click here to find more coloring pages and subscribe to receive weekly alerts when new images become available.

Order a Signed Book as a Gift!
     Want to order a personalized, signed copy of one of my books for a loved one? Contact my local independent children's bookstore, Little Shop of Stories. I can drop by and sign the book before it ships to you! (A $10 charge is added for shipping.) Click a cover to learn more about each title....

I have STAMPS available at The Greeting Farm!!

Big News! December 1st will mark the debut of my first three RUBBER STAMPS available through The Greeting Farm! Woohoo!
     All you stampers, scrap-bookers and card-makers out there have been so awesome sending me the wonderful designs you make with my coloring pages. (And you've been so respectful of my copyright guidelines - thank you!) But with all the designs you send me, you often ask 'when will your images be available as stamps!?'
     Well, I finally teamed up with the creative minds at The Greeting Farm and you can now purchase my
Library Mouse:

Victorian Reader:

and (drum roll please) Reading Fairy (my most popular image by far):

as RUBBER STAMPS!!!
     TGR did a great shout-out by way of introduction in their latest newsletter which you can read here. Yay! Need some inspiration? You can also see some wonderful creations made using my stamps HERE.
     I'm anxious to hear what y'all think - so please leave a comment!

This Into That

It's a sad thought, but some books do eventually see the trash heap, or a shredder, or... shivers. But not the books that find Jim Rosenau at This Into That. His books find new lives dedicated to helping other books... or sometimes just as art!
Thanks to Luan Stauss of Laurel Book Store in Oakland, California for the link!