Read, Write, Repeat.

Today, Janet Halfmann joins Read, Write, Repeat to talk about her latest children’s book Seven Miles to Freedom: The Robert Smalls Story (Lee and Low, 2008). The book tells the story of Robert Smalls, a South Carolina slave who stole a Confederate ship during the Civil War, impersonated its captain and sailed past five Confederate forts to bring his family to freedom. Smalls then gave the ship to Union troops. As a free man, Smalls became the first African-American captain of a United States ship, served in the South Carolina legislature and was elected to the United States Congress.

How did you get the idea for this book?

I wanted to write a story about a minority hero because minorities have done so many great things in our history that have been forgotten or never written about. In researching Civil War heroes, I came upon a few lines about Robert Smalls and kept on digging. When I found out how he had stolen a Confederate gunboat and ran it past several forts in Charleston Harbor, I knew that this was a great adventure story that kids would love. And at the same time, they would learn about an important African American hero who spent his entire life working to make the world a better place for everyone. 

Did you always know it was going to be a picture book?

Yes, I wanted to write a picture book biography. And I wanted it to read like a story. That’s why I chose to focus mostly on the escape of Robert, the crew, and their families. 

What kind of research did you do? How long did it take to get all the facts you needed?

I read everything I could find about Robert Smalls both in print and online, and scoured the bibliographies of everything I read for other leads. I tried to find as many primary sources as I could: speeches, interviews, newspaper stories of the time, etc. A great resource was http://www.robertsmalls.org and its creator Kitt Alexander, who is an expert on Robert Smalls. Robert Smalls Middle School also provided me with hard-to-find articles from Robert’s time. Also, I found out that all of the correspondence of both the Union and Confederate military forces during the Civil War has been compiled in books, which are online and searchable. So I could read about the escape in the words of Admiral Du Pont, the guards, etc. My primary sources are listed at the back of the book, which I hope is useful to teachers and students. 

Writing the book was a long process. First it took me several months to research and write. Then I sent it out to a few publishers and Lee & Low Books expressed interest, but asked for a huge rewrite before they would commit to it. They especially wanted the story to show more of Robert’s character, especially his feelings and motivation, and more tension. This rewrite took several more months and more research. Then once Lee & Low bought the story, the back-and-forth revision process took more than a year. 

What did you learn while writing this book?

I learned that there are countless stories of great achievements by minorities that have been lost to history. I hope to be able to bring additional ones to light in the future.

What advice would you give aspiring nonfiction picture book writers?

I think to be a good nonfiction writer you have to love to do research. And you have to keep digging until you find the details to make your story come alive. 

Sometimes writing opportunities come about in strange ways. For example, several years ago I found the nonfiction nature books published by Soundprints at my local library and fell in love with them. So I spent months writing the very best manuscript I could about an animal not yet in their line. Soundprints didn’t buy that manuscript, but months later when the company needed a manuscript fast on the brown pelican, the editor called me to write it. Now, I’ve written ten books for Soundprints — eight already published, plus one coming out in December and another next fall. 

What books/authors do you read for inspiration? 

 I like the nature writers Jean Craighead George, Robert McClung, and April Pulley Sayre. I’m also inspired by the writings of Carter G. Woodson and William Still. I also love reading children’s picture books. I often stop by my local library and read all the new picture books on the shelf. I’ve learned a lot about writing from attending conferences and workshops of our Wisconsin chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and by reading books on writing, such as Word Magic for Writers by Cindy Rogers and Picture Writing by Anastasia Suen.

How did you go from aspiring writer to published author?

It’s been a long, winding path. When I was in my late 20s, I had some success selling articles to magazines like Ranger Rick and Jack and Jill. But I wanted to make a living writing, so I returned to college for a second degree in journalism. That led to jobs as a daily newspaper reporter, a magazine editor, and finally as a creator of color and activity books for Golden Books, once based in Racine, Wis. When Golden Books moved all of its operations to New York City thirteen years ago and I lost my job, I returned to my original dream of being a freelance children’s writer.

Before I decided to strike out on my own, I went on some interviews, and one of the companies I visited gave me my first freelance assignment—four nonfiction books on bugs. And a children’s author was born.

You’ve written a lot of books, tell us about some of your favorites.

Seven Miles to Freedom is definitely one of my favorites. I feel so honored that I had the opportunity to share with others the story of this amazing man. I recently learned that the first printing of 5,000 books has sold out and the book is being reprinted, which makes me ecstatic.

Little Skink’s Tail is very close to my heart because it was my first published fiction book, which had always been my dream. It also was my first book to win several major awards. And I am proud that teachers find the book helpful in teaching character education. Although I didn’t set out to include a message in the book, I’m happy that the story evolved on its own to encourage children to be comfortable with themselves as they are.

Plant Tricksters is another of my favorites. It describes the clever tricks plants use to deter nibblers or to attract animal pollinators—such as the orchid that looks like a female bee to attract a male bee to spread the flower’s pollen. I grew up on a farm, so researching this book was more fun than work.

Of the many nature stories I have written for Soundprints, which publishes its books in association with the Smithsonian Institution, one of my favorites is coming out in December: Little Black Ant on Park Street. It features the adventures of the typical picnic ant, and I think kids will really bond with this character. My daughter, after reading the manuscript, vowed never to step on an ant again!  

What is your favorite part of writing?

In the case of Seven Miles to Freedom, the most enjoyable part was making Robert Smalls and his story come alive for the reader, by using telling details, strong action verbs, and colorful language. It also was very fascinating to learn all the details of his life and that period in history, especially for African Americans.

In writing fiction, one of the most enjoyable parts is the surprises I encounter as I write the story. Often I don’t know what the characters will do or what obstacles they’ll encounter until I’m in the process of telling the story.

Anything else you’d like to add?

I feel so honored and privileged to be a children’s author. I feel like writing is what I was born to do. Nothing makes me happier than having a child enjoy one of my books! And thanks so much for interviewing me!

Thanks for visiting Read, Write, Repeat, Janet!

Children aren’t the only ones who enjoy Janet’s books. Her work has been honored by teachers and librarians, as well. Seven Miles to Freedom: The Robert Smalls Story has won several awards, including:

• Best Children’s Books of the Year: Bank Street College of Education

• Honor Book: Society of School Librarians International

• Starred Review: Kirkus Reviews

• Editor’s Favorites: The Bloomsbury Review

• Land of Enchantment Masterlist: New Mexico Library Association

• Beehive Book Awards Nominee: Children’s Literature Association of Utah

• Reading Circle Program: Missouri State Teachers Association

• Honor Book: 2009 Paterson Prize for Books for Young People

 Want to learn more? You can:

• Visit Janet’s Web site.

• Visit Duane Smith’s Web site. He illustrated this book.

• Visit Lee and Low Books. That site has some great tips for writers.

And make sure to watch for three books Janet has coming out next — Good Night, Little Sea Otter (Star Bright Books, Spring 2010); Fur and Feathers (Sylvan Dell Publishing, Fall 2010); and Star of the Sea (Henry Holt, Spring 2011).

Animals and bubbles. 

Bubbles and animals.

If you didn’t think those two things went together, you’re wrong.  Animals use bubbles every day in amazing ways to eat, stay safe, move and even communicate. A new nonfiction picture book explains just how animals rely on bubbles.  It also throws in lots of fun facts you can use to amaze and astound your friends.

Payton joins Read, Write, Repeat to share his thoughts on what makes this book pop.

Reviewer name:  Payton

Age:  7   

Payton likes:  Reading books, building things, riding his bike and eating tacos. 

Book reviewed:  Bubble Homes and Fish Farts. Written by Fiona Bayrock. Illustrated by Carolyn Conahan (Charlesbridge, 2009)

This book was about: Different animals and what they do with bubbles. 

The best part was when:  I liked the part where the fish fart.

I laughed when: The fish farted. 

I was worried when:  The snapping shrimp snapped and made bubbles — THAT’S HOW HARD HE SNAPS!

I was surprised that: Fish actually fart. 

This book taught me:  About different animals. 

Other kids reading this book should:  Pay attention to what it says about animals. 

Three words that best describe this book are:  Bubbles, fish and homes. 

My favorite line or phrase in the book is:  “P.U.! That’s why I live in fresh water.” 

You should read this because:  It’s very funny. 

 Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Payton!

Bubble Homes and Fish Farts is a Junior Literary Guild selection. It also was nominated for a Cybil Award.

If you’d like to learn more about this book, visit the Charlesbridge Publishing Web site.

If you’d like to learn more about the book’s author, Fiona Bayrock,  visit her Web site. If you want to know more about the illustrator, Carolyn Conahan, here’s her site.

So be honest … Did you know that fish farted?

I headed to Iowa Friday morning for a Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) conference.  I hit the road at 5:15 a.m. and drove to Dixon, Iowa, to meet two other writers and car-pool to the conference in Des Moines.

At least, that was the plan.

I got all the way through Mayville and was about five miles from Dixon when my plans changed. Highway 130 curved left, and I did not. At one minute I was driving down the highway,and the next I was off the road and in a very muddy farm field. There wasn’t a shoulder on the road, so I dropped off a bit and did a very impressive skid until I stopped when my car sank in the mud.  

It was surprising.

It was scary.

It hurt.

My first thought was I would just drive back on the road and inch my way to my ultimate destination. But when I tried, I realized how stuck I really was.

I got out of the car and found the cows across the road staring at me and moo-ing with what sounded like concern. Then a quartet of some of the nicest people I’ve ever met arrived separately. First, a passing sheriff’s deputy stopped. I don’t have lots of experience with law-enforcement officers, but I’d defy you to find a nicer one than the Scott County deputy who helped me. Not only did he NOT give me a ticket (“Why add insult to injury?” is what he said. “You didn’t hurt anything.”) he made me feel better by telling me stories of other people who have failed to negotiate this curve and hit telephone poles and mailboxes on their way off the road.

Then, a woman from the farm across the street came over to see if I was OK. She told me more stories about the curve and stayed until the sheriff’s deputy left. Next, the husband of a friend of mine arrived in his truck. I’d never met him before, but he helped me assess the damage to my car — a bent tire rim and a ripped-off front bumper for starters. He also drove me the rest of the way to Dixon.

Finally, the farmer whose field I ended up in, came out to see if I was OK. He told me more stories about cars that ended up in the field and thanked me for waiting until after the harvest and for missing his mailbox.

My friend, Jill Esbaum, drove me to Des Moines and helped me calm done. Once I got to the conference, I met even more nice people who helped me get a rental car and offered sympathy and support.

There’s still stuff to figure out. We don’t know exactly what’s wrong with my car or how easy it will be to fix. Once we know that, my car still has to be repaired, which likely won’t take place until later next week.  I need to be back to work on Monday. So there will be a return trip to Iowa to get my car back.

I also have to give a shout-out to my husband for his understanding. He didn’t say “You did WHAT!?!” He didn’t lecture. He didn’t sigh. He just said, “We’ll figure it out. Don’t worry.” He is a model for spouses everywhere.

Thanks to everyone I encountered for their kindness, help and support. You made a scary situation more bearable.

And, with any luck, my trip home — whether by bus or by rental car — will go according to plan. I have no desire to see another farm field up close and personal.

Today’s guest reviewer: Julia, age 5

Book reviewed: Ocean Wide, Ocean Deep by Susan Lendroth (Tricycle Press, 2008)

This book was about: A papa sailing over the ocean, and his little girl is worried. It had a cat in it. A mom, too.

The best part was: What she said about the pirates. That her papa might be caught by pirates and not be able to escape.

I laughed when: When she was dreaming that she was with her papa. When she was dreaming about that clothes-and-shelves stuff. I also thought it was funny that the baby boy was always wearing a dress!

I was worried when: She asked how long her papa was going to be gone. I’m glad my daddy doesn’t go away.

I was surprised when: The papa came home and made ships and whales and all that kind of stuff.

This book taught me: How to read the book. How to make upper-case letters and lower-case letters. (Note: Julia’s mom, who helped her complete this review, says she has no idea where this answer came from.)

Other kids reading this book should: Pay attention to the words so they can read the whole book.

Some words that best describe this book are: Pirates. Oceans wide. Boy.

My favorite line or phrase in the book is: When the mommy told the daughter how long her papa is going to be gone.

Kids should read this book: To learn how to read other books.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts about this picture book with Read, Write, Repeat, Julia!

If you want to learn more about Susan Lendroth, who wrote Ocean Wide, Ocean Deep, visit here. 

If you want to learn more about Raul Allen, who illustrated Ocean Wide, Ocean Deep, visit here.

I love writing.

I love editing.

And I love getting feedback from other writers and editors on my writing. There’s always at least one idea or concept I can take away to improve my piece — often in ways I’d never come up with on my own.

During my15 years of writing in the corporate world, I’ve even learned to like getting feedback from the nonwriters who often review my copy for technical accuracy and compliance with industry laws. I like the challenge of listening to their comments or concerns — often expressed in legalese or corporate jargon — and figuring out how to say them in a reader-friendly way.

Of course, some of these reviewers comment on more than accuracy and law abidance.

They ask for unnecessary commas, change correct verb tenses to incorrect ones because they “sound better” and add paragraphs of self-congratulatory fluff. These types of reviewers send the marked-up copy back to me with comments like, “My mother was a proof-reader, and I picked up a few tips,” or, “My sophomore English teacher said I was a good at writing. I didn’t pursue it because accounting was more lucrative, but it was fun to redo this.”

I always consider each change carefully because good ideas can come from anywhere, and there have been times the technical experts or lawyers have found punctuation or grammatical mistakes. But I wrote the poem below in honor of all the times the suggested changes detracted from the finished piece instead of enhancing it.

Please note: The poem refers to banking, but any other highly technical and regulated industry could be substituted, as well.

An open letter to copy reviewers

There. I feel better now. And if anyone who’s ever reviewed my business copy is reading this, the poem doesn’t refer to you.

At all.

I was browsing in my local library a few weeks ago, when I picked up a book in the middle-grade section. The title caught my eye, and I took it home without giving it much more of a look. Well, that book, The Beef Princess of Practical County (Delacorte Books for Young Readers, 2009), ended up being the best thing I’ve checked out in quite a while.

It’s got lots of things I like: A realistic, everygirl main character. Names that are plays on words (the three Darling sisters are named Precious, Lil and Ohma), a Midwest setting and the chance to learn about some things I know next to nothing about – raising livestock and showing steers and the county fair.

Luckily for me, author Michelle Houts knows about these things and was nice enough not only to write the book in the first place, but also to visit Read, Write, Repeat and share how it came to be.

What inspired you to write this book? I had been watching the young livestock exhibitors at our county fair for awhile when it occurred to me that these kids had to have tremendous amounts of dedication and courage to do what they do year after year. I thought about what a great story it could make … there’s excitement, drama and humor. It’s all there. So I decided to see what I could do with it.

Were any of Libby’s experiences inspired by you? Did you show steers? No, but all three of my children show steers. Enter a fair beauty pageant? I was the Franklin County Fair Queen a long, long time ago! Become a vegetarian? No,  I love veggies, but I would miss prime rib if I became a vegetarian. Once my oldest daughter declared herself a vegetarian. For about three hours.

What county fair do you attend? My family and I take our animals to the Mercer County Fair in Ohio. What’s your favorite thing to do there? Aside from watching my kids show their animals, I think I like watching Pee Wee Showmanship. This is where little, little kiddos get to go out into the ring with a pig or a goat or a calf and show their stuff. They all walk out with trophies … and the biggest old smiles you’ve ever seen!

Did you ever consider naming your daughter Precious? Be honest … No, no and no! I’ve taught a lot of children over the years, and I’ve often wondered why parents would choose certain names for their children. Some names are lovely. Like Precious. But with my luck, if I chose the name Precious, my daughter would have a hard time living up to her name.

How do you balance living on a farm, teaching and writing? I do a lot of things late at night. Like this. My grandma called herself a night owl. I think I take after her.

Favorite children’s author:  Cynthia Rylant.

Which books do you read for inspiration? I think I read more middle-grade fiction now than I did when I was in the middle grades! 

How did you go from aspiring writer to published author? Patience, perseverance and faith. I just knew that if I tried hard enough and long enough, it would eventually happen. To get The Beef Princess of Practical County into the hands of a major publisher, I took advantage of Delacorte Press’ annual middle-grade novel contest. It worked. My novel was not chosen as the winner (no winner was chosen that year), but it was a finalist and that resulted in a phone call from an editor at Random House.

Advice you’d give someone just starting out:  Write something awesome. And then try to sell it. The market is too crowded for mediocre. Put your time into getting it down and doing it right before you send it out.

What’s your favorite part of writing: The idea stage. I love to lie in bed and dream up characters, scenarios, places, and plots. Of course, if I never went any farther than that, I wouldn’t be published, so the writing and editing and rewriting and proofreading area all part of the picture. I just really love generating ideas.

What’s he coolest library you’ve ever visited: Great question! I think I have to say the Westerville Public Library. I don’t think I’ve been there for 25 years, but it was my home library as a child and all I can recall is the way I felt when I was inside its vast, light, airy rooms. I recall exactly where the Little House books were shelved.

Anything else you’d like to add? My family recently acquired an old, one-room school house. When I’m not dreaming up story ideas, I lie awake and dream up how it might look restored to its former glory.

Learn more about Michelle at her Web site. Add a comment below. And, read her book, of course.

Today’s guest reviewer:  Rebekah, 10½

Rebekah likes: Books, singing, animals, books, playing her cello (Bernice) and books.

Book reviewed:  Bobby vs. Girls (Accidentally) by Lisa Yee (Arthur A. Levine Books, 2009).

This book was about:  A boy, Bobby, who is best friends with a girl, but he doesn’t want anyone to know.  Bobby’s female friend, Holly, starts wearing dresses and straightening her hair. He finds out that she is becoming friends with his worst enemy, Jillian Zarr!

The best part was when: Bobby finds out that his pet fish (even though it’s “just a fish”) can do really cool tricks like push a soccer ball into a net with its nose.

I laughed when:  Holly walked in on Bobby when he had pink curlers in his hair.

I was worried when:  During the class election, Holly and Bobby were running against each other and Holly had really good speeches.

I was surprised when:  Bobby hugged a really stinky tree and got stuck to it.

This book taught me:  To be happy with what you have.  Bobby wanted to have a dog, but he got a fish named Rover instead.  At first he was disappointed, but then he realized that Rover was a really cool fish after all.

Other kids reading this book should:  Read more of Lisa Yee’s books.

Some words that best describe this book are:  Funny, a bit sad, and enjoyable

My favorite line or phrase in the book is:  “Bobby sat down and looked at his breakfast — burnt bacon, or maybe it was sausage, and scrambled eggs, or maybe they were potatoes. It was hard to tell.”

AND

“At recess, Jillian Zarr tapped Bobby on the shoulder.  ‘I had a lovebird named Rosalie who died last year,’ she said softly. ‘That was a really good poem.’  ‘Thank you,’ Bobby started to say. But Jillian cut him off. ‘Your shirt’s on backward and inside out again, Bobby. Are you so dumb you don’t know how to dress yourself?’”

You should read this book because:   Lisa Yee is a great writer. 

Thanks for visiting Read, Write, Repeat, Rebekah!

Lisa Yee has lots of great books. She’s has a series of middle-grade books featuring Millicent Min, Stanford Wong and Emily Ebers and a brand-new young adult novel called Absolutely Maybe. What’s your favorite Lisa Yee book?

Want to learn more? Visit Lisa’s Web site. It’s full of fun information about her books and the adventures she has with her small yellow friend, Peepy.

Lisa and Peepy were in Wisconsin recently, speaking to writers and illustrators and lots of school children. See where they went.

Come back often. More kid reviews are in the works.

I attended the fall Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators conference this weekend in Madison, Wis. It was a collection of more than 100 writers and illustrators who exchanged ideas and listened to a panel of really impressive authors, editors and art directors. We also consumed large amounts of chocolate.

There’s no way I could attend every session or capture all the wisdom that was shared, so I settled for collecting quotes. Here is a small segment of the knowlege I gleaned and some of the weekend’s funnier comments.

Marsha Qualey, author of several young adult novels and faculty member for the Writing for Children program at Hamline University:

• Young readers do not have a full grasp of the mind-blowing power of time. Be very careful when manipulating time in your novel.
• You must start your story at exactly the right point in time. You may have a kick-ass opening. But … You have to ask yourself , “Where exactly is your reader being kicked?”
• I’m clearly a sedentary, middle-aged woman. (This came after she had hustled around the room rearranging posters showing different parts of a story.)

Krista Marino, senior editor at Delacorte Press:

• First person present tense works well for certain projects, but I’ve seen it fail triumphantly.
• Choose your point of view carefully. Some stories, like King Dork, are defined by voice. It wouldn’t work at all in third person.
• Random House editors have been told to acquire more books.

Lauren Hodge, assistant editor, Little Brown Books for Young Readers:

• Picture book texts should be simple, repetetive and consistent.
• Pretend you’re writing for a kid with a very short attention span. Then make it a little shorter.
• Picture books must have a hook — a main selling point. Hooks can be a hot topic, an issue, an emotion or a universal theme that speaks to every reader.
• We’re a boutique publisher. How many picture books do you think we published in 2009? Seven.

Lisa Yee, author of several middle-grade novels, a new chapter book and a new young adult novel. Winner of the first Sid Fleischman Humor Award.

• I like to have heartache and humor together. Because that’s real life.
• It’s not YOUR perception that matters. It’s your reader’s perspective.
• Tell your story the way it needs to be told.
• Look sexy. No — look sexier. (Said while taking a photo of conference attendees for her use on her blog.)

Tammi Sauer, author of two picture books with six more under contract.

• Your character has to encounter the worst possible moment at the worst possible time. Then, things really have to get bad.
• The greater the conflict, the greater the ability for humor.
• Amp up the humor. Ask yourself if there’s a funnier word you could use.
• Chickens are funny.

Abigail Samoun, project editor, Tricycle Press.

• I look for manuscripts with spirit, theme and tone. Or those with weird, intriguing or memorable language.
• Can you describe your manuscript in one sentence? Work until you have a sentence you can say easily that describes what makes your book great.
• Help the editor out by doing some research. Know where your book fits into the market and who will buy it. Know what books it’s competing with for readers’ attention. Know what sets your book apart from the others.

Then, of course, when we weren’t talking about point of view, linear plots or ways to tighten our text, we were worried about weightier matters … like shoes.

Georgia Beaverson, a novelist and magazine editor, took photos of cool shoes worn by attendees. These will be immortalized in the the Bridget Zinn Honorary Cool Retreat Shoes Gallery. (Bridget attended Wisconsin SCBWI conferences before she moved. She was known for her love of shoes — especially boots.) 

I knew I had arrived in the industry when Georgia took pictures of my feet twice — once when I was wearing my hot pink Converse All-Stars and once when I was wearing my black patent-leather Boden flats. It was almost as good as getting an acceptance letter from an editor. Here’s the link. My feet are on Page 2.

Thanks to Pam Beres and Judy Bryan for organizing a wonderful retreat. I left with lists of books to read, revision ideas to try and new stories to write. 

And now? I guess it’s time to go live up to this blog’s name.

Melissa Stewart has written more than 100 children’s books. She loves writing nonfiction, especially about nature and science. Her latest picture book explains what some animals do during the dead of winter when most people are safe and sound inside.

Here, she tells Read, Write, Repeat how the book came to be and shares other highlights of her writing life.

Tell us a little about your latest book:
The idea for Under the Snow (Peachtree, 2009) came to me back in 2002 – during a winter walk in the woods. I did the research right away, and I decided what my focus would be – animals that hibernate and animals stay active under the snow – in a matter of weeks.

But then the project came to a screeching halt. Try as I might, I couldn’t find a structure that I was happy with. I struggled with it for a lo-o-o-o-o-ng time. Two years, in fact. The inspiration came on a frigid winter night in 2004, when I heard author-illustrator Timothy Basil Ering speak at a local college.

Tim was so engaging, so charismatic, his energy was so contagious that I was fired up to take another stab at my manuscript – as soon as I got home. I finished the new draft around 1 a.m., took it to my critique group meeting the next night, made some changes based on their suggestions, and mailed it to my editor the next day. She loved it, and only a few tiny things changed during the editorial process.

What’s the most interesting thing you learned working on this book?
Oh, where to start? This book is chock full of fascinating information. Who knew that wood frogs freeze solid during the winter – and survive. Newts have no trouble swimming in chilly pond water, and voles make mazes of tunnels under the snow. This book allows readers to take a peek into a hidden world.

What do you think kids will be surprised to learn?
In school, kids learn about migration and hibernation. But a whole range of animals stay active all winter long under ice and snow. I think kids will find that surprising and fascinating.

What topics would you still like to write about?
For me, the natural world is so incredibly interesting. I want to write about it all, so I can get kids excited too. Children are naturally curious, so they love probing for facts and learning new things about the world. I have a book called A Place for Frogs coming out next spring. It’s dedicated to my nephew, Emile, because he loves the little critters just as much as I do. Right now, I’m working on a book about oceans. They are another hidden world teeming with interesting life.

With TV, computers and video games, do today’s kids know less about nature and the outdoors?
Most kids have limited exposure to the outdoors. It’s partially because of exciting electronic gadgets, but it’s also because parents are so worried about safety. They don’t just say to kids: “Go out and play.” This means kids aren’t encouraged to use their imaginations, and they don’t understand the magic and the comfort of having their own secret places outdoors, away from adults. I think that’s a real shame. If kids don’t love natural places today, why will they want to save them in the future? Kids need unstructured time in places that are all their own.

Tell us about a memorable school visit:
I have written Readers Theater scripts (reading activities where kids take on the roles of the animals, like a play) for several of my books. The kids prepare in advance and perform for me when I arrive. Then we discuss the science concepts and the book-making process. The students arrive feeling really invested in the content, because as they rehearsed for their performance, they internalized the science concepts. They love taking on the roles of animals. It’s a great way for them to see the world through the eyes of other creatures. That makes for a great school visit.

How did you go from aspiring writer to published author?
I have degrees in biology and science journalism. After grad school, I edited middle school and high school text books for a few years. Then I edited kids books intended for the school and library market. That’s when I truly fell in love with children’s books and started writing them.

The publisher I worked for had a policy against editors writing for them or anyone else. It took me several years to convince my boss to change that policy. But finally I produced a manuscript he couldn’t refuse. It was called Life Without Light: A Journey to Earth’s Dark Ecosystems.

What’s your favorite part of writing?
I love researching and crafting language. Sometimes revision makes me impatient. I just want to get it done, but revision is a critical part of writing. Nothing is perfect the first time.

What do you do when you need inspiration?
I have a secret spot, a little fort that I created under a spruce tree in our yard. Sometimes I go there when I need to clear my mind. It’s quiet and peaceful. Going on walks also helps me solve writing problems. When I’m not thinking about anything in particular, solutions just pop into my head.

If I really get stuck, I visit my muse. She’s a really amazing sculpture called Venusvine in the outdoor sculpture garden at the DeCordova Museum in Lincoln, Mass. She looks like an uprooted, gnarled tree, but really she’s made of bronze.

What’s the coolest place you’ve ever visited?
Firsthand research is really important for nonfiction writers, so I always try to see the animals I’m writing about in their natural habitats. That means I’ve traveled to all kinds of cool places.

I went of safari in Africa before writing a series of books on African animals, and I went to Costa Rica before writing about sloths. I’ve also swum with sea lions in the Galapagos Islands and gone snorkeling along coral reefs off Mexico. It’s all background research for books I’ve written. Do I have a great job or what?

Anything else you’d like to add?
If anyone would like to learn more about me or my books, I hope they will take a look at my Web site. I also started a blog recently. Celebrate Science includes fun activities that you can do with kids as well as tips for writing nonfiction.

Thanks for sharing your insights with us, Melissa. Good luck with your future writing projects.

Have you read Melissa’s book? Tell us what you think.