Hey!
Check out my first author interview (and the crowds cheered! Well, I did anyway...) done by the wildly talented, Jame Richards:
http://jamerichards.blogspot.com/2010/05/interview-with-nancy-paulsen-author.html
Thoughts on children's books, the writers/editors/agents behind those stories, the business of publishing, and the craft of writing. All from a children's author who enjoys the occasional yellow lollipop dipped in white milk.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
PEN New England, 2010---A TOAST! TO BETTE ANNE!
A TOAST!! To Bette Anne!
This past week, I had the pleasure of attending the 2010 PEN New England Susan Bloom Discovery Awards in Boston. What a treat!
Shortly after sitting down, I leaned toward a friend and asked, “Isn’t that Lois Lowry?” It was!!! OMG! Sitting next to her was Pat Lowry Collins! OMG! There was some stunning talent in the room! And the PEN winners were no exception!
Heather Jessen (above) won in the PB category for I WON A ROBOT IN A RAFFLE which was *adorable!* Seriously. Makes me want to have more kids just so I can buy it.
Linda Zajak (above) won in the non-fiction category for ICE BIRDS IN A WARMING LAND. Although she was not able to do a reading, she had some interesting facts about her travels and impetus for the book.
Bette Anne Rieth, a friend and writing group partner, won in the YA category. I’ve heard the story, GREETINGS FROM THE MIRACLE, before but I drove all the way to Boston to hear it again!!! It is amazing. She is so talented and an incredibly sweet person to boot! No doubt that the world will hear a lot more from Bette Anne!
This past week, I had the pleasure of attending the 2010 PEN New England Susan Bloom Discovery Awards in Boston. What a treat!
Shortly after sitting down, I leaned toward a friend and asked, “Isn’t that Lois Lowry?” It was!!! OMG! Sitting next to her was Pat Lowry Collins! OMG! There was some stunning talent in the room! And the PEN winners were no exception!
Heather Jessen (above) won in the PB category for I WON A ROBOT IN A RAFFLE which was *adorable!* Seriously. Makes me want to have more kids just so I can buy it.
Linda Zajak (above) won in the non-fiction category for ICE BIRDS IN A WARMING LAND. Although she was not able to do a reading, she had some interesting facts about her travels and impetus for the book.
Bette Anne Rieth, a friend and writing group partner, won in the YA category. I’ve heard the story, GREETINGS FROM THE MIRACLE, before but I drove all the way to Boston to hear it again!!! It is amazing. She is so talented and an incredibly sweet person to boot! No doubt that the world will hear a lot more from Bette Anne!
BIG Congrat's to the three winners!! Hooray!
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Tassy Walden Awards--Shoreline Arts Alliance
I find myself saying the same thing a lot lately. “I am ONE lucky woman!”
I’m lucky in many respects, actually—in the wonderful family that I have been blessed with for none of my other successes could ever mean as much as they do without my husband and kids.
I am also lucky in that I have a large, rich network of writing friends. We toast each other in good times and
bolster each other in not-so-good times. I love them dearly. Really.
Last Wednesday, I was honored to accept the Tassy Walden Award for New Voices in Children’s Literature for a Young Adult Novel entitle ONE FOR THE MURPHYS. The contest is run by the Shoreline Arts Alliance, which is a fabulous organization here in Connecticut for writers (and all creative types!) Being nestled in between the children’s writing hubs of Boston and New York like we are, I’m so grateful for Shoreline Arts—they are the best Connecticut has to offer for bolstering the creative arts in Connecticut!
I’m lucky in many respects, actually—in the wonderful family that I have been blessed with for none of my other successes could ever mean as much as they do without my husband and kids.
I am also lucky in that I have a large, rich network of writing friends. We toast each other in good times and
bolster each other in not-so-good times. I love them dearly. Really.Last Wednesday, I was honored to accept the Tassy Walden Award for New Voices in Children’s Literature for a Young Adult Novel entitle ONE FOR THE MURPHYS. The contest is run by the Shoreline Arts Alliance, which is a fabulous organization here in Connecticut for writers (and all creative types!) Being nestled in between the children’s writing hubs of Boston and New York like we are, I’m so grateful for Shoreline Arts—they are the best Connecticut has to offer for bolstering the creative arts in Connecticut!
The Tassy Walden A
ward celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. In that time, it has become a rather well respected writing contest for Connecticut Children’s Writers. It is designed to mimic the submission process to publishing houses and has a panel of nationally recognized agents and children’s book editors as the judges. This year, there were 260 entries (PB, MG, YA) with about 10% being named finalists or winners. Pretty high percentage, I think—speaks to the quality that the Tassy Awards attract!
ward celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. In that time, it has become a rather well respected writing contest for Connecticut Children’s Writers. It is designed to mimic the submission process to publishing houses and has a panel of nationally recognized agents and children’s book editors as the judges. This year, there were 260 entries (PB, MG, YA) with about 10% being named finalists or winners. Pretty high percentage, I think—speaks to the quality that the Tassy Awards attract!
Since I’ve been asked about the judging process a couple of times, I’ll address it here. I think the most interesting facet of the judging process is that there is no set number of winners/finalists. The first round of judging is done by agents in New York. Then the whittled down group goes to editors for final judging. However, sometimes, a category has no winner and/or finalists. A finalist means that the judges deem it “publishable” so sometim
es there are two or three or four or none—depending on the submissions.
I had a terrific night! I was nervous to read aloud in front of a group, but once I got started, was fine. I was able to connect with people from other writing conferences, most of my writers’ group (The Writer’s Bloc), writers from classes, and family. Also, a dear friend from Cape Cod did the round trip drive in one night to hear me read for ten minutes—that was extra special, as the foster mother in my novel is semi- based on her. It felt right to have her there.
My thanks, especially, to Donita Aruny and Doe Boyle (along with many others!) who do a TON of work on the Tassy Walden Awards. The contest wouldn’t be what it is without the both of them! ;-)
es there are two or three or four or none—depending on the submissions.I had a terrific night! I was nervous to read aloud in front of a group, but once I got started, was fine. I was able to connect with people from other writing conferences, most of my writers’ group (The Writer’s Bloc), writers from classes, and family. Also, a dear friend from Cape Cod did the round trip drive in one night to hear me read for ten minutes—that was extra special, as the foster mother in my novel is semi- based on her. It felt right to have her there.
My thanks, especially, to Donita Aruny and Doe Boyle (along with many others!) who do a TON of work on the Tassy Walden Awards. The contest wouldn’t be what it is without the both of them! ;-)
Saturday, February 13, 2010
How do I type special characters?
Hey, Folks!
Ever wonder how to make special characters such as ☺☻♥♦♣♫ ? I found these directions on YAHOO! (I didn't write these.):
Best Answer - Chosen by Voters
This should work in any Windows word processor, text editor, browser or email client.
1. Make sure your keyboard is in NumLock mode.
2. Hold down the ALT key and enter the number on the numeric keypad. (Note that many laptops have a blue FN key that changes a set of keys, also with blue numbers on them and usually in the 7-8-9-U-I-O area, into a numeric keypad.)
for ☺ 1
for ☻ 2
for ♥ 3
for ♦ 4
for ♣ 5
for ♠ 6
for • 7
for ◘ 8
for ○ 9
for ◙ 10
for ♂ 11
for ♀ 12
for ♪ 13f
or ♫ 14
for ☼ 15
for ► 16
for ◄ 17
for ↕ 18
for ‼ 19
for ¶ 20
for § 21
for ▬ 22
for ↨ 23
for ↑ 24
for ↓ 25
for → 26
for ← 27
for ∟ 28
for ↔ 29
for ▲ 30
for ▼ 31
Hope that helps.
Ever wonder how to make special characters such as ☺☻♥♦♣♫ ? I found these directions on YAHOO! (I didn't write these.):
Best Answer - Chosen by Voters
This should work in any Windows word processor, text editor, browser or email client.
1. Make sure your keyboard is in NumLock mode.
2. Hold down the ALT key and enter the number on the numeric keypad. (Note that many laptops have a blue FN key that changes a set of keys, also with blue numbers on them and usually in the 7-8-9-U-I-O area, into a numeric keypad.)
for ☺ 1
for ☻ 2
for ♥ 3
for ♦ 4
for ♣ 5
for ♠ 6
for • 7
for ◘ 8
for ○ 9
for ◙ 10
for ♂ 11
for ♀ 12
for ♪ 13f
or ♫ 14
for ☼ 15
for ► 16
for ◄ 17
for ↕ 18
for ‼ 19
for ¶ 20
for § 21
for ▬ 22
for ↨ 23
for ↑ 24
for ↓ 25
for → 26
for ← 27
for ∟ 28
for ↔ 29
for ▲ 30
for ▼ 31
Hope that helps.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Doughnut Pond
I went off to do some research at Doughnut Pond in Sandwich, MA.
It was just as I imagined. Well, actually far better...
I sat on a log near the edge and wrote the scene that takes place here. I was absolutely stunned when two teenage hockey players showed up just as I finished writing.....
I felt a little creepy snapping these pictures. (They
saw me and didn't seem to care) They cleared the ice with brooms and shovels, put on their skates, and began to play.
It was a little surreal...
+of+DSC_0348.jpg)
Then I was off to do research at the marshes....
The marshes are beautiful. The pics don't do them justice, really...
So, I headed into the center of Sandwich because I'd seen a coffee shop with a good "writing vibe." HOW did I NOT notice the name of the place earlier???? Go ahead, naysayers. Tell me this isn't toooo weird!
I was hesitant to leave writing the book (under a stiff deadline) to tromp around in my settings like this, but it turned out to be WELL worth the trip!
Memorable. Inspiring. And all soooo real...
Good idea to know the setting in a place other than my head...
I think I'll set the next book in Italy....
It was just as I imagined. Well, actually far better...
I sat on a log near the edge and wrote the scene that takes place here. I was absolutely stunned when two teenage hockey players showed up just as I finished writing.....
I felt a little creepy snapping these pictures. (They
saw me and didn't seem to care) They cleared the ice with brooms and shovels, put on their skates, and began to play.
It was a little surreal...
+of+DSC_0348.jpg)
Then I was off to do research at the marshes....
The marshes are beautiful. The pics don't do them justice, really...
So, I headed into the center of Sandwich because I'd seen a coffee shop with a good "writing vibe." HOW did I NOT notice the name of the place earlier???? Go ahead, naysayers. Tell me this isn't toooo weird!
I was hesitant to leave writing the book (under a stiff deadline) to tromp around in my settings like this, but it turned out to be WELL worth the trip!
Memorable. Inspiring. And all soooo real...
Good idea to know the setting in a place other than my head...
I think I'll set the next book in Italy....
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Heaven in Boston---ALA, 2010
Hello ALL!Last weekend, I went to Boston to ALA and it was incredible! Seriously, it was heaven for anyone who loves books!
Imagine having every publisher represented in one room! (I have a serious crush on Random House. I'm just sayin...) And, as you walk by their booths, these angelic people call out to you, "Excuse me! Would you like a complimentary copy of this ARC (Advanced Readers Copy)?" WAY better than a kid in a candy store! Way better!
I connected with old friends, too. So, I have to say that it doesn't get better than this for a weekend away! Books, friends, books, talented authors, friends, books. This is how the day went!
On Friday, I had dinner at Emmet's Pub with my agent, Erin Murphy, and her partner in crime, Joan Paquette. An absolutely perfect way to start out the whole adventure! I ordered the chicken pot pie to be a traditional Irishwoman but ate very little. I think I talked a lot. Nothing "Irish" about that, now is there?!
On Saturday, I attended ALA. If you EVER have the opportunity to go, DON'T pass it up! I met/reconnected with SO many great people and their work!
Andrew Clements, author of FRINDLE among other greats in children's lit.
Barbara Johansen-Newman, author/illustrator of the adorable, kid-friendly TEX AND SUGAR. She's a blast to talk with, too!
Thrilled to reconnect with Newbery winner, Cynthia Lord, and Printz winner, Ellen Wittlinger. Terrific authors! Even better people!!!
Incredibly talented writers/illustrators, Brian Lies (BATS ON THE BEACH and others in series) and Barbara Johansen Newman.
New friend and debut author, Jame Richards. I scored her ARC, THREE RIVERS RISING, A NOVEL OF THE JOHNSTOWN FLOOD. Can't wait to dive in! Well, you know what I mean...
Was so happy to reconnect with Alisa Libby, author of BLOOD CONFESSIONS. If you ever wnat to know about writing historical fiction, she's your girl! Amazing wealth of info. And fun to talk with, too!
Here I am at the Tweet/Greet with fab author, Ann Hayward Leal. We met in a writers' class a few months back and became instant friends! She's a blast AND she wears Converse!!
Her debut novel, ALSO KNOWN AS HARPER is fantastic! Seriously.
I met Caldecott author/illustrator, Christopher Bing, for the first time. It is rare to be so blown away by someone's artwork! I spent my lunch money on his books! An excellent trade off! 
Not only is his talent stunning, but you'll rarley meet such a good guy. He writes a paragraph in his books when he signs them. A Paragraph!!! And he chats with people because he thinks (and he's right!) it makes a better memory.
KYLE'S ISLAND by Sally Derby (Charlesbridge)
And...he loves the Red Sox. Need I say more?
So, after I get my YA done, I'll be working my way through my ARCs! Here are the ones I am most excited about:
BAMBOO PEOPLE By Mitali Perkins (Charlesbridge)
THREE RIVERS RISING by Jame Richards (Knopf)
THE WONDER OF CHARLIE ANNE by Kimberly Newton Fusco (Knopf)
THIS MEANS WAR by Ellen Wittlinger (S&S)
STAR IN THE FOREST by Laura Resau (Delacorte)
SPLIT by Swati Avasthi (Knopf)
HOW TO GROW UP AND RULE THE WORLD by Vordak the Incomprehensible (Egmont) (My 12 year old son already read this in one sitting. LOVES it!)
I will be posting reviews here as soon as humanly possible. SO excited!!!
THANKS to ALA for putting on such an incredible event. THANKS to my agent, Erin Murphy, for being SO awesome! THANKS to Mitali Perkins who organized the Meet/Tweet event on Saturday night; this was a big high point of ALA for me! And THANKS to all of the authors and editors and publishers who...sigh...make such great books...
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Off to ALA in Boston!
Sigh...Have not been blogging as much as I'd like. Very busy working on the new site, organizing the SCBWI Whispering Pines Writers Retreat, and finishing my second YA--due February first. So life is completely great...Just busy! ;-)
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