Interview with Writer & Filmmaker Marjory E. Leposky

Tell us about your various writing projects. What inspires you? 

To date I have written two feature films: Reasons? and Getting To The Game; two TV pilots, Gables and Who's Jared; one short film, La Fuente (The Fountain); and one animation script/children's book about a cat named Mr. Grumbles. Reasons?, Getting To The Game, and Gables -- the first three -- were written from anger over what was going on in my life and my world at the time. Who's Jared, La Fuente (The Fountain), and Mr. Grumbles were written a few years later, inspired by ideas that came to me and events that happened to me. For me personally, it is a lot easier to research and write from anger than from inspiration.

What made you want to become a writer? 

My parents are non-fiction writers. I never really had plans to become a writer, too. I'm really a filmmaker. I've been told that if I want to move up in my career, I should write my own projects -- but no one explained what went into getting them made: finding an agent or publisher, and raising the necessary funds. So I have had to learn all that myself.

Can you give us a peek into your writing schedule?  

I have not written a script in the past five years. I have spent this time grant-writing and fund-raising, looking for an agent and publisher, and trying to decide if I want to self-publish Mr. Grumbles, which would lead to more grant-writing and fund-raising.

When I am in a writing mode. I just sit down with good music on, and I write in Finaldraft. I do not write the old-school way with cards and strips. I might write an outline. Most of my characters just talk to me, and I write. I find that most of the time I have to do research on the subject I am writing about. I do interviews and "hang out" with the subject.

What is your biggest advice for people who want to write films? 

Don't waste your time and money on those $1,000-dollar writing programs. With screenwriting you need to know the rules before you start to change or break the rules of screenwriting. Do take a screenwriting class at either a community college or university.

What are your favorite children's books? 

The Giving Tree and other poem books by Shel Silverstein; and Tikki Tikki Tembo by Arlene Mosel and Blair Lent.

Is there anything else you would like to add? 

Start with writing from the heart. Then you need to do re-writes, which no one wants to do. Also, always have a good proofreader.

Connect with Marjory at the links below: 

• Chatterbox Productions Web Site: http://www.ampersandcom.com/chatterbox/ 
• La Fuente (The Fountain) Funding: http://www.ampersandcom.com/chatterbox/FundingFountain.html 
• Funding for Mr. Grumbles: http://www.ampersandcom.com/chatterbox/FundingGrumbles.html 
• Facebook Page for Mr. Grumbles: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mr-Grumbles/744246918938363

Contest Looking for the Next Breakout Children's Book

Are you a secret storyteller? Now is the time to let your talent out in the open. The Times and Chicken House are on a mission to discover another great children's writer, whose book will be published around the world by Chicken House.

How to enter: Your full-length manuscript (no more than 80,000 words) must be received at The Chicken House by October 29, 2010. The address, submission criteria, terms and conditions and tips can be found at timesonline.co.uk/chickenhouse

The shortlist: The Chicken House reading team will select a shortlist of five entries, to be announced in February 2011. The judges will choose a winner from this shortlist, to be announced at Easter 2011.

The prize: The winner will be the entrant whose story, in the opinion of the judges, demonstrates the greatest entertainment value, quality and originality suitable for the children's age group. The prize is the offer of a worldwide publishing contract with Chicken House, with a royalty advance of £10,000.

The judges: Barry Cunningham, publisher, Chicken House. Julia Donaldson, author of The Gruffalo and Running on the Cracks. Amanda Craig, children's book critic, The Times. Neil Blair, partner at the Christopher Little Literary Agency. John McLay, literary scout and director of the Bath Literary Festival. Damian Kelleher, author, reviewer and children's media consultant. Rebecca Wilkie, Booktrust. The Waterstone's Children's Bookselling Team.

Additional rules: Entrants must be aged 18 or over. Entries must be the original work of the entrant and not previously published. The entrant must not have previously published any book in any country, whether fiction or nonfiction. The entry should be suitable for a children's audience aged between 9 and 16. Picture books and graphic novels will not be accepted and illustrations will not be considered. Before entering you must read the full terms and conditions at timesonline.co.uk/chickenhouse

Cheerios is Looking for the Next Big Children's Author - It Could Be You!

Cheerios is once again sponsoring its Spoonfuls of Stories New Author Contest. They are looking for stories geared towards readers ages 3 to 8 and no longer than 500 words. They can be written in either English or Spanish. (Spanish entries will be translated into English.)

Winners receive cash prizes and a publishing contract with Simon & Schuster. Not only that, but the published book of the grand prize winner will be included in specially marked boxes of General Mills cereal!

For more information, full guidelines, and to enter the contest, visit http://www.spoonfulsofstoriescontest.com/

Interview with Kevin McNamee

Kevin McNamee is a writer and poet living in Yonkers, NY. He primarily writes for the children’s market. His work has appeared in Beyond Centauri and he has several children’s picture books being published by Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. His first book, If I Could Be Anything, is available at www.amazon.com, or ask your local bookstore. Look for other titles by Kevin including The Sister Exchange, The Soggy Town of Hilltop, Lightning Strikes, Papa’s Suns, and more.

When Kevin isn’t writing, he spends his time playing hide and seek, at the insistence of his five year old daughter, and at his day job, at the insistence of his wife. When time permits, Kevin also enjoys fossil hunting, home-brewing beer, and gardening. He is currently engaged in an epic battle against roving gangs of crazed squirrels who are digging up everything in sight. (The squirrels are winning.)

Kevin was kind enough to take time out of his busy day to answer some questions about his life as a writer!

Can you describe the time you realized you were indeed a "real" writer?

Somewhere along the way, I stopped doubting my ability. A rejection of my manuscript ceased to be a rejection of myself. A rejection letter became an opportunity to send my manuscript somewhere else. Comments and criticism became opportunities to strengthen my story, revise something unworkable, or something to ignore altogether if it didn't fit with my vision of the story. I was able to refer to myself as a writer without feeling self conscious and … oh yeah, someone was willing to pay me for what I wrote.

What are your future goals for your writing?

I've been focusing primarily on picture books and I would like to branch out to middle readers and Young Adult novels. I have two middle readers in various stages of completion.

Can you describe a typical writing day for you?

There’s no such thing as a typical writing day for me. I try to do something writing related every day. But what I'm doing may vary. Sometimes I'm writing new material, sometimes I'm revising, sometimes I'm critiquing, sometimes I'm researching, sometimes I'm promoting. Due to the demands on my time, I've needed to adopt the philosophy of doing what I can, when I can.


Why do you write?

I first started writing in the second grade. I wrote a poem that was displayed outside the classroom and I liked seeing my poem and my name in public like that. I found that I took to writing naturally. Growing up, I was a constant daydreamer and would construct stories in my head all the time. Eventually, I started writing them down. Throughout my teenage years and throughout adulthood I always felt compelled to write. Although there were many, many times that I put creative writing on the back burner, I found that I was still writing at my day job; memos, procedures, proposals, requests, and I was receiving recognition for it. I realized that writing had been a constant in my life, but I wasn’t writing what I wanted to write. Now I make sure that I write what I want as well.

What writer most inspires you? Why?

I would say that the writers that I meet both online and in person inspire me the most. They all share the same passion and dedication as I do. They understand the struggles and sacrifices involved in being a writer.

Thanks, Kevin, for stopping by today!

To find out more about Kevin, visit his website at http://www.kevinmcnamee.com or visit his blog at http://www.kevinmcnameechildrensauthor.blogspot.com

Tour with VBT-Writers on the Move. New and famous authors, plus useful information. http://vbt-writersonthemove.blogspot.com/

Newbury & Caldecott Award Winners of 2010

The John Newbery Medal is awarded annually by the American Library Association (ALA) to the author of the year's "most distinguished contribution to American literature for children." This year's winner is When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead.






The Randolph Caldecott Medal is awarded annually by the American Library Association (ALA) to the artist of the year's "most distinguished American picture book for children." This year's winner is The Lion & the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney.

Amazon has a great list of award winners for children's and YA books at: http://www.amazon.com/b/ref=pe_36470_14078010_fe_exp_1/?node=2241972011

Happy reading!! :)

Children's Books With a Message

This inspiring video shows the power of reading to connect, inspire and empower. Thanks to DarynKagan.com for the link.

(Warning: grab the tissues!)