Tuesday, October 11, 2016

Halloween and Christmas??? with Author Pamela Jane + Giveaway

Dear friends,

The air is crisp, the leaves golden, the sky a deep October blue. Cider is mulling, pumpkins are morphing into Jack-O'lanterns, and some, so I hear, are dusting off their brooms for wild rides! But WAIT, what's this? Author Pamela Jane is sharing wisdom from her writing desk and giving you a chance to get a head start on your Christmas gifts (if you wish!) or Halloween treats in a special Comment Contest Book Giveaway! (Details at end of post!)

Please give Pamela Jane a warm welcome!  
Author Pamela Jane

Pamela Jane is the author of more than thirty children’s books from board books to memoir.  Her recent children’s books include the much-loved Halloween book, Little Goblins Ten, a spinoff of the classic rhyme “Over in the Meadow.” The Christmas sequel is Little Elfie One. Both books are published by Harper and illustrated by NY Times best-selling illustrator, Jane Manning. Pamela is also the author of a new memoir, An Incredible Talent for Existing: A Writers Odyssey and Pride and Prejudice and Kitties: A Cat-Lovers Romp Through Jane Austen’s Classic. In addition, Pamela is an essayist, writing coach, and columnist for womensmemoirs.com. Visit her here: http://www.memoircoaching.com

It’s Not About the Words!  By Pamela Jane

Years ago I took a weekend seminar with renowned screenwriting teacher, Bob McKee. The auditorium was packed. Not only screenwriters, but novelists, children’s authors, and editors of all genres had come to hear McKee talk about the art of writing and storytelling. I could hardly wait for the seminar to start.
            McKee walked out on stage and stood for a moment, looking out at the audience. Everyone was silent, waiting for him to begin.
          “Writing,” he said finally, his intense gaze scanning the audience, “is not about the words.”
Yes! I thought, someone finally said it! I had always felt that words were merely messengers of a deeper truth concealed behind or beneath them.
 Writing, McKee went on to say, is about characters, meaning, and emotional impact.  (Although he was mainly talking about screenplays, the same is true of other genres, including memoirs.)
 Recently I rediscovered the truth of McKee’s statement when I sat down to write Little Elfie One, a Christmas sequel to my rhyming Halloween book Little Goblins Ten, which had been published the year before.  I love writing in rhyme, and although the new manuscript wasn’t due for several months, I couldn’t wait to get started.
 It was easy to slip into the holiday spirit on a raw November morning as I sat down with pen and paper by the glowing wood stove.  This was going to be so much fun!  But after several hours of scribbling random rhymes, I started to panic. The story was obviously not working.  The idea of a Christmas sequel (which was suggested by a fan of the Halloween book) was a huge mistake! Why had I thought I could pull it off?
  My husband maintains that panic is part of my writing process. I always panic, he says, and then I figure out a way to make it work.  But if he’s right, I have to really truly panic. I can’t say, “Oh, great, I’m panicking – this is just part of my writing process!” Instead, I have to honestly believe that what I’m attempting is impossible. Which is exactly how I felt as I sat staring down at the jumble of disconnected rhymes.
  This was not part of my writing process! I really could not do this. My editor had mistakenly placed trust in me, I realized with dismay. There would be no Christmas sequel, no story for the artist to illustrate, no holiday book signings.
  Having a book contract in hand is a great feeling ­ – unless you can’t deliver. What was I going to do? The words were tripping me up, tying me (and themselves) in knots, obstructing and protesting at every turn. I could see them marching along carrying signs: “Sentences on Strike!” “Equal Pay for Adverbs,” “No Storyline, No Work.”
    Storyline! That’s what was missing. In my eagerness to start writing, I’d forgotten all about the story. My Halloween book had a natural storyline in the building excitement of all the monsters getting ready to go trick-or-treating. But the Christmas story required an entirely different narrative.
   At that point I crumpled up everything I’d written so far and threw the whole mess into the fire. Then I started working out a plot.
Bob McKee was right – writing is about characters, story, and meaning. For me, it’s also about panic, and tossing out dismal first drafts that serve as crude roadmaps indicating where not to go. (Literally thousands for my forthcoming memoir.) But the truth is, writing is also about the words, just not initially.Once I tossed out the aimless rhymes and got the story going, the words stopped pro-testing and hopped on for the ride.                                            
                                                     
LITTLE GOBLINS TEN by Pamela Jane/Illustrated by Jane Mannin HarperCollins Children's Books  978-0-06-176798-2, hardcover  Ages 3-7
From monsters to ghosties to goblins, everyone's favorite beasties haunt and howl and rattle their way through their forest home in this silly, spooky twist on the beloved nursery rhyme "Over in the Meadow." New York Times best-selling illustrator, Jane Manning, adds vibrant color and humor with her imaginative illustrations.
"Numerous titles interpreting "Over in the Meadow" have been published, but trust the team of Jane and Manning to conjure up an impressive new vision in time for Halloween...Even though this is essentially a counting rhyme, the author elevates the reading and listening experience with interactive rhyming text that is rich with alliteration and strong action words."Kirkus starred  
 
LITTLE ELFIE ONE by Pamela Jane/Illustrated by Jane Manning HarperCollins Children's Books 978-0-06-220673-2 hardcover Ages 3-7 available as a NOOK Book
Way up in the North
    Where the reindeer run
A Big mommy elf
    Called her little elfie one.
"Santa comes tomorrow!"
    "Hooray!" cried the one.
And he leaped and he laughed
    Where the reindeer run.
 From carolers to snowmen to stars, everyone's favorite Christmas characters sing, shiver, and shine their way through the North Pole in this festive holiday twist on the beloved nursery rhyme, "Over in the Meadow." Author Pamela Jane and New York Times bestselling illustrator Jane Manning have created a delightful new Christmas classic for readers young and old.
In recent years, many picture books have used the structure, rhythm, and cadence of the old counting rhyme beginning “Over in the meadow,” but few writers have come up with a version that works as well as this cheerful text, or one that ties up so well in the end. Capturing the upbeat tone of Jane’s verse, Manning’s lovely watercolor illustrations are brimming with warmth, spontaneity, and joy. A magical visit to Santa’s home base on Christmas Eve."Booklist

Aren't these books tempting treats? I love the sense of whimsy and wonder shown in the illustrations that would make your little ones eyes light up! All you have to do for a chance to win is leave a comment for Pamela Jane. We'd love to hear your favorite Halloween or Christmas memory, but just telling us you'd like to win will make us happy!  
Visit her here: http://www.memoircoaching.com
Thanks for sharing about your writing process, Pamela, and thanks for your generosity, too. I'll be back next week to announce the winner of the comment contest and to share a NEW author and giveaway for another 'spirited' book. ~Clara


25 comments:

  1. You've hit on the two things I love most in picture books, Pamela - holidays and rhyme. Thank you for sharing your frustrations and successes with us. :)

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    1. I knew you'd love this post, Gayle! Your name is entered for a chance to win one of Pamela's holiday books.

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  2. Thank you Clara, for hosting me and my Goblins and Elfie creatures! And thank you Gayle for your comment. Sometimes we look at these apparently breezy rhymes and think they were just tossed off so I thought it would be helpful and fun to see the drama that goes on behind the scenes

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    1. My pleasure, Pamela! It's been a balm for me to share something special and good.

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  3. LOVE it! Thank you, Pamela, thank you Clara!

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    1. THANK YOU for stopping by, Wendy!

      Your name is entered for a chance to win one of Pamela's books.

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  4. Fun, fun, story rhymes! And I really enjoyed reading about Pamela's writing/panic process! I can so relate! And I gleaned another golden nugget from this post - the reminder that silence is very powerful when speaking in public. I needed that as I head into fall engagements. Thanks so much, Jane and Clara!

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    1. Thanks for your thoughtful comment, Joyce! Silence, pausing at the right time, creates space for the audience to re-focus.

      Your name is entered for a chance to win a copy of one of Pamela's Holiday Books!

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    2. Thank you for your comment, Joyce! It's comforting to think of speaking to a large audience as a cozy one-on-one: it's just you and them!

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  5. Yes, Joyce! I was so struck about the power of silence in speaking too AND by how what McKee says abt words also applies to children's books. I love Little Goblins Ten, Jane. Thanks so much for sharing about your writing process!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Natalie, and for your thoughtful comment. Your name is entered for a chance to win Little Goblins Ten!

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  6. These books look so wonderful! I would be thrilled to win and read them to my kiddos :)
    heatheranne99 at gmail dot com

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Heather! Your name is entered for a chance to win.

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  7. Thank you for the lesson: "Writing is not about words." Depth of feeling, of knowing, of being...
    Share when we have that which yearns to be shared...

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    1. Thanks, Reischer, for stopping by to leave a comment. Your name is entered for a chance to win a copy of one of Pamela's books.

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  8. Such an insightful post about the job of words. Thank you for sharing this.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Kathy. Your name is entered for a chance to win one of Pamela's books.

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  9. Thanks for hosting Pamela, Clara. Her writing advice is great; I've copied it into my "advice on writing" folder.
    I love the colorful covers and holiday themes of her books. Absolutely gorgeous.

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    1. Thank you, Donna, for stopping by! So happy that you found some tips for your "advice on writing" folder.

      Your name is entered for a chance to win one of Pamela's holiday books.

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  10. Hi Clara and Pamela! I enjoyed the post. I also love to write in rhyme. Rhymes, alliteration, strong verbs, and good writing is great. But, you have to have a wonderful and unique story, too. Would love to be put into the drawing.

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    1. Hi Janet, Thanks for your thoughtful comment. Your name is added for a chance to win!

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  11. Hmm, I think my elf on the shelf "Jimmy" has a new surprise this year to bring when he comes back to town. Having the ability to spin a story and actually put it to paper is magic. Authors have amazing abilities that I don't feel are given the respect the deserve. I'm glad she managed to get her words to stop protesting!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Liz! Your name is entered for a chance to win, Little Elfie One.

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  12. Both books sound wonderful! I would love to win the Little Elie One. I am trying to collect Christmas books for my daughter.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Kim. Your name is entered for a chance to win Little Elfie One.

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