Children's Writers Chat 6-5-01

Subject: Children's Writers Chat - bios

Author: writerbabe

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Date: 7/5/2001

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Children's Writers Chat 6-5-01

Guests: Authors Jennifer Armstrong and Frank Murphy

Topic: Unorthodox Biographies

Tuesdays

9 p.m. ET (6 p.m. PT), Writers Workshop

Children's Writers chat - writers and illustrators of children's books meet for specific topics and special guest speakers, moderated by HOST WRTR WBABE & HOST WRTR CGaley, with HOST WRTR sUe & HOST WRTR Neely (Greeters).

****disinfected using Virex 6.0****

<HTML>Children's Writers Chat 6-5-01

Guests: Authors Jennifer Armstrong and Frank Murphy

Topic: Unorthodox Biographies

WriterBabe: Okay, now we're going into protocol.

WriterBabe: That means when it's time for audience participation, type ? for

a question,

SUB CACTUS: now i'm nervous

WriterBabe: ! for a comment, and wait your turn to be called on.

WriterBabe: Type GA for Go Ahead (guests, too) when you've finished

speaking.

WriterBabe: Relax, Frank, we're a friendly bunch.

SUB CACTUS: :) GA

WriterBabe: My co-host Chuck Galey may butt in at will.

WriterBabe: Wave, Chuck!

CGaley: (waving!)

CGaley: ga

WriterBabe: Tonight I'm tickled pink to welcome our two guests whose work I

admire: Jennifer Armstrong

WriterBabe: and Frank Murphy.

WriterBabe: They'll be talking about "unorthodox biographies."

WriterBabe: Howdy, Jen and Frank!

SendtoJMA: hi everyone!

SUB CACTUS: Hi

WriterBabe: Let me start off by asking you your definition of "biography."

WriterBabe: And why do you call yours "unorthodox"?

WriterBabe: GA

SendtoJMA: which one of us should go first?

SUB CACTUS: Ladies

WriterBabe: LOL

WriterBabe: Sure, why not.

SendtoJMA: Ah! OK

SendtoJMA: Well, a biography should ideally give you a picture of a life --

that's what the word means,

SendtoJMA: after all. Some do it in a conventional way --

SendtoJMA: filling in all the lines and using the right colors

SendtoJMA: but some choose to do it in another way. GA, Frank

SUB CACTUS: I guess I look for the snapshots....

SUB CACTUS: in historical figures' lives...

SUB CACTUS: ..that breathe LIFE into their stories..

SUB CACTUS: that's how my stories are "unorthodox", however they are less

and less "unorthodox" nowadays

SUB CACTUS: GA

WriterBabe: I should put in that Jen's bios for the DEAR MR. PRESIDENT

series are done in through

WriterBabe: fictional correspondence.

SendtoJMA: The material about the president is all factual,

WriterBabe: And Frank does indeed use "snapshots," but also activities and

other stuff.

SendtoJMA: but the child with whom the president exchanges letters is

fictional

WriterBabe: How and why did you choose your subjects? Jen, first. GA

SendtoJMA: It wasn

SUB CACTUS: There are some fictional elements to my stories too GA

SendtoJMA: wasn't exactly my idea -- I was approached by the publisher

SendtoJMA: to write these two books, and it sounded like

SendtoJMA: a good and interesting project to tackle

SendtoJMA: They wanted to start the series with Teddy Roosevelt and Thomas

SendtoJMA: Jefferson,

SendtoJMA: and they knew they wanted to cover the coal strike of 1902 and

the Lewis

SendtoJMA: and Clark Expedition

SendtoJMA: So in that sense

SendtoJMA: I didn't really choose the material, but I chose to take on the

job

SendtoJMA: and to do it in my own way. GA

SUB CACTUS: Ben Franklin and the Magic Squares came to me when I was

teaching 4th grade, I had to ....

SUB CACTUS: teach magic squares -- a math puzzle -- I wanted

SUB CACTUS: to know know more about them...

SUB CACTUS: I researched it on the net and found

SUB CACTUS: that Ben had invented them

SUB CACTUS: presto..I knew it had to be a book

SUB CACTUS: So I queried Random about

SUB CACTUS: doing it as a Step into Reading and they loved it...

SUB CACTUS: GA

WriterBabe: How about THE LEGEND OF THE TEDDY BEAR, Frank?

WriterBabe: What inspired that? GA

SUB CACTUS: I was vacationing in VA

SUB CACTUS: walked into a pancake house, stuffed my belly,...walked out and

saw

SUB CACTUS: a postcard with a teddy bear on it

SUB CACTUS: turned it over and read a blurb about Teddy Roosevelt and the

history of the name TEDDY

SUB CACTUS: knew it had to be a picture book..researched it for 3 years!

SUB CACTUS: GA

WriterBabe: What a cool way to come up with an idea for a book!

SendtoJMA: May I make a point?

WriterBabe: Jen, the epistolary format was your idea?

WriterBabe: And sure, make a point.

SendtoJMA: No, it was the publishers. But I wanted to say

SendtoJMA: that with biography for kids

SendtoJMA: the format is necessarily short and therefore

SendtoJMA: you can either do a whole life shallowly

SendtoJMA: or do a piece of it deeply.

SendtoJMA: I think it's most effective to do a piece of it, a shapshot,

SendtoJMA: as Frank says -- rather than try to do the whole shebang.

SendtoJMA: GA

SUB CACTUS: As a teacher I'm always searching for ways to breathe life into

the subject matter...

WriterBabe: Excellent point!

SUB CACTUS: looking for cool things to share about presidents, etc...

SUB CACTUS: so I'm always looking for stuff as a taecher first, then a

writer

SUB CACTUS: GA

SUB CACTUS: oops teacher

WriterBabe: Please tell us how you did research for your books. What do you

look for in your research?

WriterBabe: Frank, you first this time. GA

SUB CACTUS: Internet, visiting sites, raeding, but most importantly in the

case of

SUB CACTUS: these first two books, finding primary sources and leading

experts on the subject

SUB CACTUS: I found a man anmed Wallace dailey, Curator of the Theodore

roosevelt Library at Harvard..he

SUB CACTUS: helped so much and with Ben I found a guy in Philly

SUB CACTUS: near where i live taht is the leading expert

SUB CACTUS: on Franklin GA

SUB CACTUS: sorry for typos

WriterBabe: Thanks. Jen, GA

SendtoJMA: What I look for in research are those special nuggets that

provide insight into the person

SendtoJMA: and not just the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

SendtoJMA: or whatever

SendtoJMA: But the things that say, father, or animal-lover, or avid reader,

SendtoJMA: or whatever it might be.

SendtoJMA: It helps that both TR and Jefferson were such fascinating people

SendtoJMA: I can't imagine writing a biography about some dull stick like

John D. Rockefeller.

SendtoJMA: GA

bobbikatz: ?Did you read Teddy's letters to his kids, when he was the Prez?

SUB CACTUS: :) LOL

WriterBabe: Hi, Bobbi.

WriterBabe: We're not open to the audience yet. Can you hang on to that

question?

WriterBabe: I'll call on you in a moment.

WriterBabe: Last batch of questions from me:

WriterBabe: Your bios are fresh and exciting. Why are so many so boring?

SendtoJMA: I would say in the case

WriterBabe: What mistakes do biographers make? What advice would you offer

to would-be biographers? GA

SendtoJMA: of biographies for children, too often they try to cover a whole

life

SendtoJMA: and it will have to be a superficial treatment in 96 or 120 pages

SendtoJMA: and it will be lackluster

SendtoJMA: I counsel using the snapshot approach -- create interest in the

reader to

SendtoJMA: find out more about that historical personage in other sources.

GA

SUB CACTUS: I agree with Jennifer... finding the "snapshot" and expanding on

it..

SUB CACTUS: allows the reader to get to know the person...

SUB CACTUS: grabs their attention and keeps it..

SUB CACTUS: picture book bios today though...

SUB CACTUS: are really becoming awesome

SUB CACTUS: Candace Fleming , for example, is one I would recommend reading

SUB CACTUS: The Big Cheese in the White House

SUB CACTUS: GA

WriterBabe: Okay, gang, we're now open for questions. Let's start with

Bobbi's:

WriterBabe: Did you read Teddy's letters to his kids, when he was the Prez?

WriterBabe: GA

SUB CACTUS: Jen or me?

WriterBabe: Both, I think!

SendtoJMA: I found them invaluable -- charming and personal GA Frank

SUB CACTUS: I did too, the pictures he drew were amazing...GA

SendtoJMA: yes, delightful

WriterBabe: Okay, who's next?

WriterBabe: I have more questions myself, but I'd like to give the audience

a chance.

WriterBabe: Gang?

Ctremps: ! I'm new here, can I say something now?

WriterBabe: Sure, Ctremps.

Robnonair: ?

PBRwriter: ?

Ctremps: !I'm very untechie, so please forgive

Ctremps: Mrs. Armstrong, I wanted to tell you how much I loved "In My Hands"

Ctremps: I also loved your author's note at the back

SendtoJMA: Oh, thank you so much. You can call me Jennifer

Ctremps: because you said how you weren't sure you could do Ms. Gut justice,

but you certainly did; I

Ctremps: bought the book and loved it, and am trying to write about that

same time period GA

WriterBabe: Also a bio, yes, Jen? Want to give a brief synopsis? GA

SendtoJMA: It's a memoir I wrote with a Holocaust rescuer -- so it's an

autobiography which

SendtoJMA: I essentially wrote for her about her experiences in Poland

hiding Jews from

SendtoJMA: the Nazis. GA

WriterBabe: Thanks.

WriterBabe: Robn, your turn.

Robnonair: Have you thought about animating your ideas (like "Dear Mr.

Presdent") on video to be used

Robnonair: as an educationally stimulating and fun teaching tool? GA

SendtoJMA: I haven't, although the website that goes along

SendtoJMA: with these books is awesome -- full of photos, documents,

SendtoJMA: links, etc.

SendtoJMA: GA

WriterBabe: Yes, please tell us more about Winslow Press' approach to bios

and books in general.

WriterBabe: GA

SendtoJMA: Their mission is to marry the wonder of books with the magic of

the web (I think that's

SendtoJMA: a direct quote) and to create an interactive

SendtoJMA: website for each book they publish. The website for the

SendtoJMA: Dear Mr President series is amazing, and corresponds to

SendtoJMA: footnotes throughout the books -- i.e. "To learn more about

SendtoJMA: the XYZ" go to www. winslowpress.com. GA

WriterBabe: What has been the critical and reader response to this

interactivity? GA

SendtoJMA: Very strong. Teachers are going nuts for it -- it creates a

whole

SendtoJMA: study unit or even a whole curriculum for them to use. GA

WriterBabe: Frank, how about the interactivity in your book--instructions

for making your own magic

WriterBabe: squares?

WriterBabe: How do kids and teachers respond to that? GA

SUB CACTUS: The idea/intention behind Random's Step into Reading Plus Math

BOEDEN: ?

SUB CACTUS: series is to hit teachers and parents and kids with math that is

fun (I think)

SUB CACTUS: so including this was a natural, teachers love it GA

WriterBabe: Thanks.

WriterBabe: PBR, your turn.

PBRwriter: What about using an integral childhood or young adult incident to

form

PBRwriter: What about using an integral childhood incident to form

PBRwriter: who became a well-known figure in his or her adult years? Your

take on this? Thanks. GA..

SUB CACTUS: May I???

SendtoJMA: go ahead

WriterBabe: Sure.

PBRwriter: the frame for a biographical picture book

PBRwriter: (left that part out-- sorry-- Pamela!)

SUB CACTUS: I think it is a wonderful idea... in Ben I briefly cover his

early childhood invention of

SUB CACTUS: flippers for swimming...

SUB CACTUS: Heck, that could be a whole picturebook...

SUB CACTUS: He then used a kite to pull him aloing in a lake while skinny

dipping....

SUB CACTUS: these are the kinds of things kids love !!! GA

WriterBabe: I loved that, Frank. It pulls kids right into the book.

SUB CACTUS: thanks :) GA

WriterBabe: Sue, you're next.

BOEDEN: Hi. To both of you, in spite of the flair you give your work, are

they still

BOEDEN: considered nonfiction work? GA

SendtoJMA: no, mine is fiction -- I certainly consider

SendtoJMA: it to be fiction, although I've seen it shelved in bookstores

with nonfiction, and

SendtoJMA: I find this troubling. The material is factual, but I've made up

a

SendtoJMA: kid to write letters to the president. So it's fiction. GA

SUB CACTUS: No..historical fiction..I usually need to create dialogue and

that instantly makes it

SUB CACTUS: historical fiction

SUB CACTUS: GA

BOEDEN: Thank you two.

WriterBabe: The queue's empty, gang.

PBRwriter: ?

WriterBabe: So, let me ask this: You've both read vast amounts of material.

WriterBabe: How do you know what to focus on and what to eliminate,

WriterBabe: especially in presenting a picture of the times as well as the

biographical subject? GA

SendtoJMA: I'll start with this if I may

SendtoJMA: First, you have to have a narrative line, and you must always

SendtoJMA: be asking yourself if your fascinating tidbits fit in the line,

or

SendtoJMA: if they're really extraneous. As for painting a portrait of the

times

SendtoJMA: this can be problematic, as so many of today's kids have very

SendtoJMA: little understanding of how different things were even fifty

years ago.

SendtoJMA: So choosing the telling details is essential. Is it interesting?

Is it illuminating? Will

SendtoJMA: my reader understand it at all? GA

SUB CACTUS: I don't alawys know..my editors help me weed things out.....I

usually over write the heck

WriterBabe: Great answer!

SUB CACTUS: out of things, then weed through myself...looking for what is

necessary...

SUB CACTUS: not necessary...then I change it later...

SUB CACTUS: then I find another story...and then another...

SUB CACTUS: and then I explode!

SUB CACTUS: :) GA

WriterBabe: You two are terrific guests!

Neely f: :":":":":" 15 MINUTE WARNING :":":":":"

WriterBabe: PBR, fire away.

PBRwriter: Does invented dialogue make it fiction as well, even if the

dialogue is based on authentic..

PBRwriter: events, correspondence, etc? Thanks- Pamela

WriterBabe: (Good question)

PBRwriter: (bowing)

SUB CACTUS: Yes, for example, I had to research (heavily)

SUB CACTUS: TR's letters (right down to how he would've signed a leeter to a

stranger

SUB CACTUS: for my Teddy Bear book, because I had to

SUB CACTUS: craft a letter in the manner he may have...

SUB CACTUS: :) GA

SUB CACTUS: JA

SendtoJMA: Yes, if you invent, it's fiction. Period. GA

PBRwriter: Thanks to both. Period! <g>

WriterBabe: Queue is again empty.

Robnonair: ?

WriterBabe: Questions, folks?

Ctremps: Could I ask, how did this happen? Did publisher approach you,

Jennifer (thank you)

Ctremps: about "In My Hands"? GA

WriterBabe: Ctremps, you need to use protocol.

Ctremps: Oh, I am so sorry!

WriterBabe: ? for a question, ! for a comment.

WriterBabe: Go ahead, though. Then we'll take Robn's question.

WriterBabe: Jen, you may answer that.

SUB CACTUS: !

SendtoJMA: I was asked by an editor at Knopf, where I had several historical

SendtoJMA: novels published, if I'd be interested in working with Irene on

the project,

SendtoJMA: and when I learned what the story was I said yes. GA

WriterBabe: Frank, you don't need to use ! You're a guest!

SUB CACTUS: I really can spell quite well, I'm typing in the dark (really).

lol :)

SUB CACTUS: so sorry :) ga

WriterBabe: LOL

WriterBabe: Robn, your turn.

Robnonair: Are your books translated into other languages, since

bilinguality seems to be the norm? GA

SendtoJMA: Well, some of my books have been purchased by overseas

publishers,

SendtoJMA: and have been translated. But I wouldn't say at all that

bilingual books are the norm. GA

WriterBabe: Frank? GA

SUB CACTUS: i'm really not sure

SendtoJMA: And if I might add one thing -- historical fiction doesn't sell

that well in other countries

SendtoJMA: that is, if it's American history. GA

WriterBabe: I wouldn't say bilingual books are the norm either.

Neely f: ^*^*^*^*^ 7 MINUTE WARNING *^*^*^*^

SUB CACTUS: i know random does some things with their Step into

Readings...but I'm much less

WriterBabe: We all pray to have our books bought by publishers in other

countries.

SUB CACTUS: prolific than Jennifer

SUB CACTUS: :) GA

SendtoJMA: And really, the US publisher has very little control

SendtoJMA: over whether a foreign publisher buys translation rights. They

SendtoJMA: can take their books to the international book fairs, and hope

for

SendtoJMA: a sale, but it's up to the foreign publisher to make the offer to

buy the rights. GA

WriterBabe: Frank and Jen, tell us a bit how you've personally promoted your

books. Frank first. GA

SUB CACTUS: I did a lot....

SUB CACTUS: From just walking into bookstores, to using Advance Access at

Booksense to sending them to

SUB CACTUS: reviewers....booksignings, school visits, teddy bear shows, etc

SUB CACTUS: ga

JOANWRITE: ?

WriterBabe: Jen, GA

SendtoJMA: I haven't done much promotion other than going to the

SendtoJMA: conventions when my publishers invite me. I'm too busy and

SendtoJMA: too incompetent at promotion to do it. Plus, I'm too shy to

SendtoJMA: walk into a bookstore and say "DO YOU HAVE THIS FANTASTIC BOOK

SendtoJMA: BY JENNIFER ARMSTRONG?" GA

WriterBabe: Shy? Jennifer Armstrong is shy?

SUB CACTUS: But Jennifer....

WriterBabe: This is news to me.

SUB CACTUS: let me tell you, you are a star...

SUB CACTUS: you know I teach second grade...

SUB CACTUS: you are rising so quickly....

SUB CACTUS: I'm amazed by your stuff

SUB CACTUS: I think if you walked in

SUB CACTUS: they'd faint

SUB CACTUS: :)

SUB CACTUS: GA

SendtoJMA: Gosh, Frank, I bet you say that to all the girls. No seriously,

CMOONWRITR: !

SendtoJMA: I don't feel comfortable doing it, because all too often I get

SendtoJMA: blank stares. GA.

WriterBabe: Joan, last question in this lovefest.

JOANWRITE: What's Advance Access at Booksense? (I know Booksense is that

independent bookseller mag.)ga

Neely f: ##!#!#!# 2 MINUTE WARNING #!#!#!#

SUB CACTUS: Carl Lennertz (sp?) runs this...

SUB CACTUS: Publishers usually use it ( I believe )

SUB CACTUS: I just emailed him and asked to be a part of it...

SUB CACTUS: he sends out an email to amny many many independent bookstores

SUB CACTUS: asking if they'd like a raeding copy of my book

SUB CACTUS: (I had to agree to a set amount I was willing to offer).... I

got flooded with requests

SUB CACTUS: 45 total...

SUB CACTUS: It costs, but I hope it was worth it

SUB CACTUS: I haven't made the Booksense 76 yet, but who knows GA

WriterBabe: CMoon, final comment.

JOANWRITE: Interesting, thanks.

CMOONWRITR: How about: "Do you have this book by the FANTASTIC Jennifer

Armstrong?" LOL

Neely f: The clock tolls 10:00 or 9:00 or 8:00 depending where you are.

CMOONWRITR: might make em perk up!

WriterBabe: Good idea, CMoon!

WriterBabe: Time's up, folks.

SendtoJMA: blush

Neely f: Ding!

CMOONWRITR: go for it!

WriterBabe: Thank you so much, Jennifer and Frank, for being such great

guests.

Neely f: ()()()()()() CLAPPING )()()()()()

JOANWRITE: Thanks speakers!

BOEDEN: Thank you very much. You answered so many questions I had. ExLnt

Chat.

WriterBabe: A round of applause, folks!

SendtoJMA: My pleasure

BOEDEN: Thank you Marilyn, the producer. Great job as usual. Thanks

StaffMates.

MudderGG: Thank you for a wonderful chat.

SUB CACTUS: It was wonderful!! Thank you

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