Why CROSSING CHALK?

Okay, well if you like my new blog name (hello? anyone out there?) I can't take credit for it. I have to thank my remarkably diverse-thinking critique group. We were all brainstorming titles for my current middle-grade novel, when one of them fired off an entire list. I mean, a LIST!

Next thing you know, I have a new title for my MG novel...

CROSSING CHALK

And I liked it so much that I decided to rename my blog.

This is just one of many reasons to find a critique group and stay dedicated to it. For me, it's like having three editors I trust pick my work apart once a month. As a writer, can you ask for anything more?

Neil Gaiman's Thoughts!

What a feeling of numbness this must've caused for this year's Newbery winner.

NEIL'S JOURNAL

2009 Newbery Awards Announced!

Courtesy of Publishers Weekly.com, the following book has won the prestigious John Newbery medal:

The Graveyard Book, by Neil Gaiman



Wow! Does this put a lot of Newbery Medal critics in their places or what! So much for the Newbery being dubbed the "esteemed" realistic/historical fiction award. I'm proud of this year's committee for stepping up and choosing a book outside the Newbery norm.

Congrats, Neil! You deserve it.

New Blog Name

This blog has changed from PENFLOW to CROSSING CHALK. Why? Stay tuned to find out.

Newbery Awards!!

Brace yourself for the Newbery Award announcements.  The awards will be announced on Monday morning at the crack of dawn. No, really. The CRACK of dawn. 

Why You--Yes You--Should Listen to Susan Patron

Great article by Susan Patron ("The Higher Power of Lucky" 2007). Although her Newbery-Award winning novel did not strike a chord with me, no one can deny her knowledge, depth, and understanding of children's literature after more than 35 years as a librarian. She is a perfect example of what can come of someone who immerses herself/himself in children's literature and reads and studies it with tenacity, yet patience.

As a writer for young people, you would be doing yourself a disservice by not reading this short article. Enjoy!

Don't Discount the Newbery -- by Susan Patron

What I'm Reading Now

Steinbeck's Ghost, by Lewis Buzbee



A Midsummer Night's Dream, by (You better know this one)

What I Read over Winter Break

Shakespeare, The World As Stage -- by Bill Bryson



The Hunger Games -- by Suzanne Collins

Some Reasons (Not All) Why Writers Should Teach

First of all, Happy New Year. May this year bring you success and lots of money (oops, did I say that?).

Being a teacher (of creative writing and English) has its advantages. Here they are in no particular order:

1. Two-week Winter Break

2. Two-week Spring Break (at least for me)

3. Summer! (Enough said)

4. Reading books (staying up-to-date on contemporary literature is part of my job)

5. Teacher discounts everywhere

6. Teaching top-notch literature creates depth and understanding of writing

7. Having librarians as resources

8. Having colleagues as resources

9. Having students as resources (priceless story/character material)

10. Shakespeare (whatever your new idea is, he's already done it)