Honored To Have My Poem Included.
As a judge for the Young Muslim Writers Awards I was asked to contribute to this lovely journal.Who knew judging could be so difficult?Six young poets, all ages. Several submitting more than one poem. All meaningful and well crafted. A joy to read.And I read them over many times. Tried to be objective, even made a kind of grid for scoring different elements of the poems. But heart enters into all of it, the writing and the judging. That is the beauty.And here is my contribution to this years journal. An honor to be [...]
Reflecting: A Real Christmas This Year
I often find myself thinking back on years gone by this time of year...reflecting. I also find myself sometimes wishing I had a blockbuster holiday book...any holiday would do. One that comes out every year, say with a new cover, one that is a classic, part of the (in this case) Christmas tradition.Well guess what? I do have a Christmas book! It was published in 1998 (around then I think) and it is out of print (this I definitely know for sure). You can find it on Amazon though. Just so you know.Funny [...]
Grateful to get it write(right).
A writer writes what she knows from her life, her own experiences. She writes with passion and honesty.If she gets it right she hopes she will connect with even one reader.She is grateful when she does. It is remarkable that our lives can intersect so profoundly with people we have never even met.This week I had this note from a reader. I am grateful that I got it right and grateful that she let me know. Lovely that she contacted me during this season of Thanks.This little book out of print and still [...]
Thankful for Diversity in my Life
Counting my blessings and shamelessly self promoting!Check out this video discussion about books for children about refugees featuring Four Feet Two Sandals and My Name is Sangoel.http://eerdlings.com/2015/11/19/coffee-break-confidential-refugee-revelations/Coffee Break Confidential: Refugee RevelationsPosted by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. on November 19, 2015 in Coffee Break Confidential, Eerdfolk | 1 CommentCoffeeBreakConfidential And the interview with yours truly.Happy Thanksgiving!
Where is Beatrice Now?
Sometimes our dreams change. Beatrice did go to college but she did not train to be a nurse.At Utali College she majored in Hotel Hospitality.Now she works in the Hotel industry in Nairobi.She is also continuing her education.Here is Beatrice now.What a lovely hard working young woman! Courageous and determined.And here is what Wendy Stone the photographer who illustrated Beatrice's Dream has to say about the journey:Beatrice's Dream: I first met Beatrice in 2006 when she was 13 yearsold living in Kibera slum. I met a well known children's book writer,Karen Williams, when [...]
Greenwich Reads Together: I was there with Sangoel!
Once at an author visit promoting one of my books, a grandmother said to me, " My granddaughter is nothing like the girl in your book. Why would I buy your book?" I was speechless then but I have had time to think. Look around your child's or grandchild's classroom. It is probably the case that the child on at least one side of her is not of the same race or socioeconomic class or same color as she is. They may not speak the same first language. Why read? For entertainment, [...]