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Robyn Hood Black - children's author, poet, artist

Life on the Deckle Edge

Critiquelicious

February 12, 2011
Tags: authors, writing life
from top, l-r: Vicky Alvear Shecter, Elizabeth Dulemba, yours truly; bottom, l-r: Gail Langer Karwoski, Kim Siegelson, Mary Ann Rodman
I have the wonderful good fortune to be in two critique groups. My first group, Bookbound, has been together for more than a decade and includes Donna H. Bowman, Paula Puckett, Katrice Graham and Heather Kolich. After some unruly scheduling issues in recent months, we are getting our ducks in a regular row again this year. (See my home page for a holiday photo including some of us and guests.)

My "new" group is now about two years old, and for some reason we call ourselves the Cheese Whizzes. We recently enjoyed our second annual winter retreat in the North Georgia mountains. Elizabeth Dulemba and Kim Siegelson posted wonderful blog entries about the group, so feel free to click their names and read those entries. Elizabeth's new blog offers personal insights into the creative process, and Kim's has some terrific tips for creating/sustaining successful critique groups.

Support and feedback help keep me going as a writer. I'm honored and humbled to share the journey with all of these gifted writers and amazing people. Remember to tune in Monday, when I'll feature long-time critique group buddy and nonfiction author Donna H. Bowman, continuing our nature writers focus for February! Read More 
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Here's to 2011!

January 2, 2011
Tags: writing life, speaking, School visits
Happy New Year!

I'm looking forward to a year of hard work, encouraged and noursihed by time with others who love children's books.

Between regular stretches of writing, and waiting on word from editors about a couple of projects, I look forward to meeting young readers and writers in schools as well as "older" readers and writers at professional gatherings.

I'm particularly looking forward to participaing on an Authors Panel at the Georgia Reading Association conference in Atlanta this month. I love meeting teachers and other reading enthusiasts, and it will be a treat to catch up with Georgia children's authors Donny Bailey Seagraves, Elizabeth Dulemba, and Margo Calendaria on the panel. Read More 
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VICKY ALVEAR SHECTER GIVES CLEOPATRA ROYAL TREATMENT

October 27, 2010
Tags: book tracks, authors, writing life, nonfiction, historical fiction
Vicky Alvear Shecter
If you think ancient history is as stuffy as the inside of a tomb, think again. SCBWI Southern Breezer and talented author Vicky Alvear Shecter (ALEXANDER THE GREAT ROCKS THE WORLD) brings her “history with a twist” approach to one of the most fascinating characters the world has ever known, Cleopatra VII. In CLEOPATRA RULES! The Amazing Life of the Original Teen Queen (Boyds Mills, 2010), Vicky shows readers young and old why you shouldn’t believe everything you’ve seen or heard about Egypt’s last pharaoh.

Welcome, Vicky! In this beautifully designed and kid-friendly book, you dig way past the stereotype of Cleopatra as a femme fatale and reveal her fiercely loyal, politically-savvy side. When did you first become Cleopatra-crazy, and how long have you wanted to write a book about her? Read More 
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Janice Hardy conjures up BLUE FIRE

October 7, 2010
Tags: authors, book tracks, writing life
Janice Hardy
What if pain were a commodity - a weapon? What if you were 15 and possessed the rare ability to draw pain out of someone, but you could release it only into another person? What if your daily choices literally meant life or death for others? Welcome to the world of Nya, the bold and struggling protagonist in Janice Hardy's THE HEALING WARS series for ages 10 and up (Balzar + Bray/HarperCollins).
Book One, THE SHIFTER, came out last year and (drumroll...) Book Two, BLUE FIRE, has just been released.

Welcome, Janice! First, the question I'm sure you always get from young readers: How did you come up with the idea for this series? Read More 
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"Spooky" Guest Author, Nancy Raines Day!

October 1, 2010
Tags: authors, writing life
Nancy Raines Day
Calling all ye ghosts and goblins - ready for some spooky fun? Award-winning author Nancy Raines Day has dropped by to tell us about her latest picture book from Abrams, ON A WINDY NIGHT.

Welcome, Nancy. The book's jacket flap copy says your birthday is in October, and you used to have Halloween parties with cold spaghetti guts and peeled grape eyeballs when you were growing up. My brother and I always "haunted" much of our house for the neighborhood kids, with the same yucky attractions. (One year his costume was even a haunted house! He's an engineer now.) Have you always loved Halloween like I have? Read More 
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Calling historical fiction writers: Children's Writer contest

September 23, 2010
Tags: historical fiction, writing life, Highlights
Are you crazy about historical fiction like I am? I love to read it; I love to write it. Recently I completed my first manuscript for a historical novel, and I'm looking forward (with crossed fingers) to the publication in Highlights this spring of a story inspired by my mother's childhood.

If you need a wee bit of motivation to complete that historical story your Muse is pushing you to write, look no further thant he current contest being sponsored by Children's Writer. Read More 
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Kristin O'Donnell Tubb Does Things Different

September 20, 2010
Tags: book tracks, authors, writing life, historical fiction
Kristin O'Donnell Tubb
Before I turn things over to this week’s fabulous award-winning author, Kristin O’Donnell Tubb, let me tell you why I especially love her first book, AUTUMN WINIFRED OLIVER DOES THINGS DIFFERENT (Yearling/Random House, 2008). When my brother and I visited my grandparents in Knoxville, we often drive into “the hills” to Gatlinburg (for my fellow Georgia residents, imagine Helen on steroids – lots of steroids). Even more special were trips into the Great Smoky Mountains, where my grandparents had hiked and explored back in the 1930s, and where we wandered barefoot through pebbly streams. For many reasons, the little village of Cade’s Cove at its entrance is a place I’ll always treasure.

Welcome, Kristin, and congratulations on such a successful writing career! In your delightful novel, 11-year-old Autumn becomes wrapped up in how the opening of a national park affects her small community. Autumn is definitely feisty! How long had you been living with this character before she made herself known on the page?. Read More 
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Head down, into the wind

September 14, 2010
Tags: writing life
Did you catch any of the US Open tennis championships? I watched several matches, and there were some terrific ones. The Americans couldn’t quite hang in there. I found myself pulling for Rafael Nadal, the amazing young Spaniard, and he deserved that fourth jewel in his grand slam crown. What does this have to do with writing? Read More 
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Just One Bite with Lola M. Schaefer

September 10, 2010
Tags: book tracks, authors, writing life
My office kitty, May, with a spread from Lola M. Schaefer's JUST ONE BITE
Today I'm thrilled to feature award-winning author Lola M. Schaefer and her hot-off-the-press new picture book from Chronicle, JUST ONE BITE. Exactly how much food can a rabbit eat in just one bite? How about a Komodo dragon? An elephant? Would you believe this volume offers life-size illustrations (you read that right) for bitefuls of food for eleven different animals, from a worm to a sperm whale?  Read More 
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Historically Speaking from the Decatur Book Festival

September 4, 2010
Tags: historical fiction, festivals, authors, writing life
Greetings from Decatur, Ga., where thousands of folks have been enjoying the gorgeous weather and taking in all-things-books! Between shifts at our SCBWI PAL booth near the Children's Stage, I was able to listen to some fabulous authors speak about writing historical fiction. Here's a gem or two from several participating in a couple of different sessions:  Read More 
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