The Read Aloud America website has announced the 2008 lists of books recommended as read alouds.
My picturebook, 19 Girls and Me, tops the list of K-1 list! This pleases me, because when I write picturebooks, I’m most concerned with the sound of the language. Making a picturebook text a great Read Aloud is one of my biggest goals.
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If you are in Europe, you can still order Novel Metamorphosis: Uncommon Ways to Revise on the UK Amazon site. Delivery is faster, easier and cheaper for European sites from the UK Amazon.
And you can still find it at the US Amazon.
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After eight years teaching the Novel Revision retreat across the nation, I’m pleased to announce that the workbook developed for that retreat will be available in one week!
You can now Pre-order on Amazon!
In conjunction with the book, I am also announcing that I will be teaching this as an online class, limited to only four students per month. The first class starts in May. Sign up now!
What an accomplishment! Now what?
Now, you need a passionate, in-depth guide to revision.
Before revision: Nice Story
After revision: Richer, deeper–the novel of your dreams.
. . . For aspiring novelists, mid-list novelists who want to break out, novelists who want to self-publish–successfully, writers who have completed NaNoWriMo but don’t know what to do next, and writing critique groups looking for a way to help each other to the next level.
A stronger, richer, deeper story, a story that makes readers weep and cry and turn the next page.
Unlike most books on revision, Novel Metamorphosis turns theory into radical new tools which are practical, tangible, concrete.
In 1999, writer and writing teacher Darcy Pattison created the Novel Revision Retreat to meet the needs of struggling novelists. Since then, her passionate teaching has touched writers nationwide as she encouraged them, “I believe in your story.”
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Schools, conferences, professional development for teachers–I have a little bit of everything planned for this year.
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Here’s a chance to connect with a kindergarten class: The kindergarten class at Richardson-Taylor Elementary school in Taylor, North Dakota has sent Oliver K. Woodman traveling across North Dakota to celebrate Reading Month.
At their website, teachers, Mrs. Haas and Mrs. Zich will track Oliver’s travels and post pictures. They have provided Oliver with a knitted cap and muffler and gloves against the cold North Dakota winter.
They are hoping to get comments from people across the nation–please stop by and write a short comment for the kindergartners to read. It will be exciting for the kids to see how the internet connects them to the world.
(To find the Add comments button, click on Read More comments. At the bottom of that page, you’ll find the add comments button.)
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What a week! February 5-12, 2008 was one of tornadoes, fires and more. I’ll recap the week in the next several posts.
On the night of February 5, I was at the Baxter County Library, Mountain Home, AR, a small town in the north-central part of Arkansas. I was scheduled for a reading to kids followed by a writing workshop for adults. When I drove up to the library, I sat outside a few minutes making calls and was impressed by the traffic in and out of the library. Obviously, the librarians do a great job of serving their community because there were few open parking spots.
Inside, the staff were gracious and excited. We moved to a large open room where OLIVER was waiting for me. It’s always a treat to see him because he travels so much.
(Click for a full size picture.)
About 20 kids and parents gathered and I had just started reading when the tornado sirens went off. The library staff quickly and efficiently moved the kids away from windows to the interior of the building and had them sit in the stacks. Some kids were jittery, so–I kept reading my books. For the next 30 minutes or so, I read my books and entertained the kids and parents. When the all-clear was sounded, one mother called home to find out that all the windows in her house were blown out, a roof was off an out-building, there was no electricity–but her husband was safe. While she was making the call, I sat on the floor and helped her daughter put together a construction paper Oliver. Daughter, mother and grandmother were all safe at the library when the storm hit.
It was a devastating storm throughout Arkansas and Tennessee with many deaths, many destroyed homes, etc. A sad day in the state. Clean up efforts continue, as people deal with the aftermath.
I drove home the next day and most of the route was uneventful. But one small section of the highway was closed off in Mountain View, AR, where a tornado had also struck. We were routed along a dirt road, which also passed through a one-fourth to one-half mile section of the tornado’s path. Here are some of the pictures I took through the car’s window. It was a short section, but you can see roofs ripped off, trees snapped. One lady is walking around in the rubble that’s left of her home. Notice the pink insulation in the trees.
A sad week for many. Clean up is ongoing and the effects will be felt for a long time in many cities.
Next: Fire in the Hole
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After eight years teaching the Novel Revision retreat across the nation, I’m pleased to announce that the workbook developed for that retreat will be available this spring.
Coming April 2!
If you review books for writers publications, or you head a writer’s organization, please see below.
Here’s the full details of the book.
What an accomplishment! Now what?
Now, you need a passionate, in-depth guide to revision.
Before revision: Nice Story
After revision: Richer, deeper–the novel of your dreams.
. . . For aspiring novelists, mid-list novelists who want to break out, novelists who want to self-publish–successfully, writers who have completed NaNoWriMo but don’t know what to do next, and writing critique groups looking for a way to help each other to the next level.
A stronger, richer, deeper story, a story that makes readers weep and cry and turn the next page.
Unlike most books on revision, Novel Metamorphosis turns theory into radical new tools which are practical, tangible, concrete.
In 1999, writer and writing teacher Darcy Pattison created the Novel Revision Retreat to meet the needs of struggling novelists. Since then, her passionate teaching has touched writers nationwide as she encouraged them, “I believe in your story.”
Her books include Nineteen Girls and Me, Searching for Oliver K. Woodman, The Journey of Oliver K. Woodman, The Wayfinder and The River Dragon. Her books have been recognized for excellence by starred reviews in Kirkus and BCCB, Child magazine Best Books of the Year 2003, Nick Jr. Family Magazine Best Books of the Year 2003. She is the 2007 recipient of the Arkansas Governor’s Arts Award for Individual Artist for her work in children’s literature.
If you review books for writers’ organizations or you head a writers’ organization and would like to see an advance galley, email me at darcy at darcypattison.com . A limited numer of galleys are available for this, but we’d like to see them all go out.
Also coming this spring: Paper Lightning: Prewriting Activities to Spark Creativity and Help Students Write Effectively.
You’ll see more about this one soon, too.
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Here’s a current schedule of my speaking. It may change at any time, because I’m in discussion with a couple people about other events.
I’m always happy to consider speaking at a retreats, conferences, professional development classes, school visits, etc. If you want to host a Novel Revision Retreat in your area, email for more information: darcy at darcypattison.com
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I just got a look at my picturebook, 19 Girls and Me, in German! It joins the English, Chinese and Arabic editions. It should be released officially any day and, with this publication, I am now available in eight languages! Totally amazing.
I saw it at this online bookstore, so if you’re in Europe, check it out.
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by Darcy Pattison
I was surprised, but pleased to learn this week that I will be the 2007 recipient of the Arkansas Governor’s Arts Award for Individual Artist for my work as a children?s book author. Sponsored by the Arkansas Arts Council, the award will be presented on October 22, 2007 at the annual ArtLinks conference on the arts in Arkansas. To receive such an honor in my home state is overwhelming.
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Darcy Pattison grew up in a family that both told and read stories. “Stories matter," she says, "whether you’re a reader, swept away by a story, or a writer, creating those sweeping stories. In today’s busy world–more than ever before–we all need stories that strike deep chords. I write intimate stories of personal journeys or quests; I help others write the stories they need to tell; and I help teachers teach kids how to write their stories.”
