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Curriculum Connections, a supplement to School Library Journal, featured NO CREAM PUFFS in an article looking at recently published ”top-notch sports stories.” Titled Batting 1000, the article suggests that the “first-rate” titles they review make for exciting reads but also encourage readers to thinkabout how “sports” might also help kids cope with emotional, peer or other challenges.  It’s a very thoughtful article and I’m proud to be included. As my editor said after reading this, ”they really get our girl (meaning Madison, the narrator)!” Here’s the link:

http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6646955.html

But I have a funny feeling, thinking about this as a sports story. At first glance, I’m not sure why. On the surface it’s a novel about how Madison Mitchell, a 12-year-old superstar, deals with the pressure of being the only girl in an all boy baseball league. But for me this has always been a coming-of-age story, about a girl who is estranged from her friends because their interests are changing, who longs for her father, who is trying to figure out how to “break free” of her strong mother. It’s a novel about a girl who doesn’t quite understand gender politics. Oh, yes, and it’s about baseball. So you see, baseball always comes last for me. And those game sections were the toughest to write!

I think it goes back to what interests me most. As a writer, reader, mother and person, I’m most interested in the inner lives of kids. I always start a book figuring out my  character’s psychology and what she/he will learn. Then I search for plot!   

If you live in Newton, are in middle school and like to write fiction, well, you’ve come to the right place. On Monday, March 30, at 4pm, Mitali Perkins and I will hold a fiction writing workshop for middle school kids at the Newton Free Library. No experience is necessary. We’ll work on character and setting and listen to each other’s work. This is about you! There are still a few spots available, so call today and sign up. Can’t wait to see you! 

Here’s the library’s phone number: 617-796-1360 

I’ve seen many versions of this novel as Mitali Perkins and I are in the same writer’s group. But I have to say how impressed I am with the final version! Writing a “historical” novel isn’t so easy (and yes, setting the novel in 1974 means it’s historical fiction). You must make sure that your references to the 1970s are just enough to ground the novel in the time but don’t overwhelm the reader, especially young girls who aren’t necessarily reading for historical knowledge. Mitali also has the tough task of writing about Indian culture; again, another theme with which she has to strike the right balance. She succeeds with both. Asha, her older sister Reet and Mom head to Dad’s family home when Dad travels to America, looking for work. The novel, told from young Asha’s point of view, chronicles how tough this is, waiting and living with relatives who scrutinize every action and word. This is a fascinating read, for girls and boys of any culture. And while Asha finds her way in the end, things aren’t wrapped up nice and neat. Which is good. This would make a great mom-daughter book group book. What are the sacrifices Asha makes? And could YOU do what she does?           

Wonderful Newton sixth grader Madeleine Lundberg featured me in an article on the front page of The Daytimer, Day Middle School’s award-winning newspaper, earlier this month. Last month she e-mailed me questions and the result was a pretty nice article, with big pictures, too. I really like doing these interviews. I remember being a kid and working on my school newspapers, only I never met anyone who had actually written a book until I was in college. I guess I pretty much like talking to kids about anything. Several weeks ago I visited a mom-daughter book group (they were discussing TALL TALES) and next month I’ll attend another one when NO CREAM PUFFS is featured. I love talking about my books, but mostly I love listening to what the kids and moms have to say! 

This coming Saturday, February 14, I will be at Village Books in Roslindale, MA, taking part in Kids Heart Author Day in New England. This event was the brainchild of Mitali Perkins and Deborah Sloan who wanted to plan an event in support of New England independent bookstores. Between 10-noon on Saturday 40 independent bookstores will host 170 author and/or illustrators. So come on out and support your local bookstores (as well as say hi to authors!).

Village Books is located at 751 South Street, Roslindale, 617-325-1994.

For more information about this wonderful day, check out Mitali’s blog:

http://www.mitaliblog.com/2009/02/happy-valentines-day-new-england.html 

My good buddy, Mitali Perkins, is writing a column on the Boston Globe’s Newton page (internet) for the next couple of Tuesdays. Check out her entry this week, listing what’s right about the libraries, authors and literature in our wonderful city (and nearby area). By the way, I’ve lived in lots of other cities and towns, too, and I’ve never had exposure to such a wonderful library. We’re blessed.

Here’s the link, and thanks for the mention, Mitali!

http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/newton/2009/01/mitali_perkins_our_hometowns_a.html     

Kids from all over the country write to me about my books, some with questions, most with comments. As a writer for kids, I don’t know of anything that makes me happier than to log on to my computer and see an e-mail from a fan! Recently I’ve been corresponding with a fourth grader who has written a review of NO CREAM PUFFS. Her mom posted it on her blog (www.momsmaterial.com), but they gave me permission to reprint it here. Thanks alot, Taylor!

No Cream Puffs by Karen Day is a great book that I enjoyed reading.  Madison loves baseball and is a great player.  Two big problems, one she’s a girl and two, it is 1980.   Madison becomes the first girl in southern Michigan to play baseball.  This book shows the struggles she went through as a girl playing on a boy’s team.

Madison taught me that just because you are a girl, that doesn’t mean you can’t do the same things as boys.  If you want to do something, don’t let anyone hold you back.  Go for it! 

I found out that this story came from the authors own experience.  She was the first girl to play little league baseball where she grew up in Indiana.  Also, like Madison, she struck out a player, during a championship game.  Although the player Karen Day struck out ended up playing baseball in college and was even drafted by a Major League Baseball Team.

Karen Day is one of my favorite authors.  She also wrote Tall Tales, which was nominated for a Bluebonnet Award.  Tall Tales is my favorite book, with No Cream Puffs, following close behind.  I think Karen Day really remembers and understands all the feelings that girls go through as they are growing up.  I can’t wait for her next book to be published.

Taylor (fourth grade)

www.momsmaterial.com 

I’ll be back in my old stomping grounds, Fairfield, CT., this coming Saturday (December 6) sitting on a panel at the second annual Winter Words writing conference at the Fairfield Public Library. The topic of my panel discussion will be the “challenges and rewards” of writing for kids. Love that topic. My friend Alex introduced me to the woman running this conference so I’m grateful for that connection! If I think about it, Alex has done quite a bit for me over the years. He hired me for one of my favorite jobs and he introduced me to Pat Giff and her wonderful children’s book writing classes. Thanks, Alex! 

It’s been such a long time since I last wrote. But I’ve been so hard at work on my new novel. If I’m not busy with my life, kids, I’m writing. I’m pushing myself to have a draft done of this novel by December. We’ll see.

In the meantime, if you’re in Bolton, MA, on Saturday, October 4, please stop by the Bolton Author Festival and say hi. I’ll be at Davis Hall in the First Parish Church, Bolton, from 1-4 p.m., with writer friends Mitali Perkins, Jamie Harper and Mary Delany. We’ll be signing books and raising money for the local library. 

Also, NO CREAM PUFFS was given a nice boost over the weekend. Becky, who blogs for Becky’s Book Review, read 140 books so far this year. She picked NO CREAM PUFFS as one of her top 14 books. Thanks, Becky! Here’s the link. http://blbooks.blogspot.com/2008/09/weekly-geeks-19-favorite-books-of-2008.html

I had a great visit to LaSalle Intermediate Academy, a middle school in South Bend, IN, last week. I spoke to more than 800 well-behaved, energetic and thoughtful kids. It was a wonderful school and I enjoyed every minute of it. Great questions, too, although I’ve been giving lots of thought to one particular question. A girl stood and asked me, what advice would you give to young writers like myself? I answered that she should not worry about publishing but spend her time working on her craft. Write every day, in journals as well as other forms. And pay attention to the world around you. When someone acts a certain way, don’t criticize, don’t dismiss but try to figure out why. As writers, no matter what genre, you have to understand human nature.  But I think I’d also add this: you can be a great reader and not a great writer. But you can’t be a great writer without being a great reader. So in addition to writing every day, read everything you can get your hands on. And then imitate. It might be the best way to find your voice.