Easy way to order books!

I had a lovely review from a wonderful independent on-line bookstore. They make it so easy to order books because all of the titles are on one page.  So happy to share the link.

http://www.childrensbookstore.com/contributor/ct-lisa-moser/

What an incredible day!  The New York Times published a wonderful review of my book Cowboy Boyd and Mighty Calliope on Sunday, September 15th.  I am still so overwhelmed and awed. 

My husband and daughter took me to the store, and we bought an armload of papers to keep and share.  Still kind of shaking my head in amazement at this blessing. 

Here's a link to the review:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/15/books/review/cowpoke-clyde-and-dirty-dawg-by-lori-mortensen-and-more.html?ref=books&_r=0

So excited because today is the publishing day for Cowboy Boyd and Mighty Calliope!  Yip-yip-yippee!

Contacting Lisa

The very best way to contact me is to e-mail me at:

LisaMoser@wi.rr.com

This is the best address for me to access, and I will respond to messages very quickly because I get it on my computer and my phone. 

Squirrel has been up to some big things this summer. 

Squirrel's Fun Day was reviewed in The Wall Street Journal on June 8, 2013.  What an incredible surprise to get the news from my editor!  We had the paper right here at the house, so I dashed over, and sure enough, there was a wonderful review. 

Also, just today, Amazon picked Squirrel's Fun Day as one of the Top Books of the Year So Far in the children's chapter book division.  Here is the link if you want to see it:

http://www.amazon.com/b/ref=s9_dnav_bw_BOC3_b?_encoding=UTF8&node=7074451011&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-2&pf_rd_r=5DC2584B2925494693EF&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1576233822&pf_rd_i=5522569011

That Squirrel keeps working and having loads of fun.  Hope your summer is full of the same joy.

Squirrel's Fun Day!

Hooray, hooray, hooray!  My book, Squirrel's Fun Day, was released on June 11th and is now in stores and online! 
Happy Summer, Everyone!

Rough drafts and openings

I believe rough drafts should be exactly that-rough.  You just want your idea to go from head to paper.  That's quite a trick in and of itself- to put words to the images that appear in your mind, to somehow wrestle all of that action onto a still, piece of paper.  So, my advice is always to just write it.  It will be bad-very bad- but it's a rough draft and it's supposed to be bad.  You can fix it once it's on the paper.

I do try to follow my own advice.  But for me the beginnings are different.  The opening line and beginning paragraph have to be perfect.  I can spend weeks, and in the case of this winter, months writing that opening paragraph.  Why is that? 

I think the opening paragraph sets the tone.  However the language flows in the beginning is how it will flow throughout the story.  The voice must be clear, and until that voice is firmly and distinctly established in the opening paragraph, it's difficult for me to proceed to the story.  Now, once I have that opening paragraph in place complete with tone and voice, I can dash off the rest of the story in its roughest form, knowing that I'll go back and rewrite it many, many times. 

The beginning paragraph is like a key to a secret gate.  You have to spend time finding exactly the right key, and once you turn it in the lock, you can step through the gate and discover what's behind the wall. 

I'm going to be speaking at a really fun event on Tuesday, May 14th.  

Wisconsin Women Write for Children

Come for desserts and coffee in a beautiful historic mansion.
The Woman’s Club of Wisconsin is the setting for this presentation.
 

Writers include:  Carole Barrowman, Ann Bausum, Lois Ehlert, Janet Halfmann,

Barbara Joosse, JoAnn Early Macken, Lisa Moser

Where:
The Woman’s Club of Wisconsin

813 East Kilbourn Avenue

Milwaukee, WI 53202
(Free valet parking available)

When:
Tuesday May 14th
Doors open at 6:00 pm
Program is from 6:30-8:30 pm

Registration:
Registration fee is $15, with $5 for students.
Registration deadline is April 28th
Jstewig@carthage.edu           or   262-552-5480

Hi All,
Really fun news- Candlewick Press is celebrating The Year of the Picture Book. Authors, illustrators, librarians, children, and teachers are featured on a daily video describing why they love picture books. February 18th was my turn to share my love for picture books. If you want to see the clip, go to www.readingstartshere.com and look on the Feb. 18th date.
Hooray for the picture book!

I am so grateful that Railroad Hank has been featured in many wonderful blogs. Here is a list of the ones I know of so far:

Beautiful Books for Children
http://www.beautifulbooksforchildren.com/new-release-railroad-hank-by-lisa-moser

The...

Review Stew
http://www.thereviewstew.com/2012/08/RailroadHank.html

There's A Book
Review: http://www.theresabook.com/2012/09/book-review-railroad-hank-by-lisa-moser-and-benji-davies/

Interview: http://www.theresabook.com/2012/09/author-interview-20-questions-with-lisa-moser/

Open Hands
http://openhands31.blogspot.com/2012/08/railroad-hank-reviewgiveaway.html

I Heart Motherhood
http://iheart-motherhood.blogspot.com/2012/09/railroad-hank-review-and-giveaway.html

What some fun ideas for children to do when they finish reading Railroad Hank? Check out this absolutely delightful blog.

http://www.beautifulbooksforchildren.com/new-release-railroad-hank-by-lisa-moser

It's the release day for Railroad Hank! He's chugging down the track even as we speak. Had the fun opportunity to do a wonderful interview on a blog www.theresabook.com Here are the links.

Review: http://www.theresabook.com/2012/09/book-review-railroad-hank-by-lisa-moser-and-benji-davies/

Interview: http://www.theresabook.com/2012/09/author-interview-20-questions-with-lisa-moser/

Chugga-chugga, chugga-chugga.  Woo!  Woo!  Woo!

My new picture book, Railroad Hank, will be released on September 25th!  It's the story of lovable Railroad Hank and his fine little train who are going up the mountain to visit Granny Bett.  Along the way, Railroad Hank stops to talk to all of his friends and they offer to send something to cheer up Granny Bett.  Missy May offers some eggs, but Railroad Hank takes the hens.  Country Carl offers some milk, but Railroad Hank takes the cows.  In the end, Railroad Hank takes a crazy load of mixed-up cargo which is just the thing that Granny Bett needs. 

Children will giggle and laugh at all of the twists and turns in this old-fashioned type of story.  And best yet, they will see what real friendship brings to the lives of others. 

Bug Garden

I am celebrating some terrific news.  :-)  I just sold a picture book called Bug Garden to Candlewick Press.  This book is about all of the little bugs that live in a forgotten garden.  I think I'm especially excited, because I use to imagine a bug village when I was a very little girl.  So, it's a dream that's been a long time in coming.  Feeling very grateful and blessed for this incredible journey!

He restores my soul

I wrote in my favorite place in the world, today- deep in the woods, beside a bubbling brook, and my mind kept coming home to the 23rd Psalm:

The Lord is my shepherd,
I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
He leads me beside still waters,
He restores my soul.

Writing rhyming picture books

Hi All,
I get asked about rhyming picture books all the time. While I don't write them, many people do, so I thought I'd refer you to the very best article I've ever read on writing rhyming picture books. And it so happens that it's written by my dear friend Dori Chaconas.

Her website is :
http://www.dorichaconas.com

The article is called "Icing the Cake."

I'll also include the link. Enjoy!

Being a writing mentor

Had a wonderful time answering questions about being a writing mentor. I am currently serving as the Wisconsin chapter of SCBWI picture book mentor. You can see it at http://www.carriepearsonbooks.com/blog.html or Check out the interview, here.

Stories that grow on trees

Many times, it's very difficult to come up with new story ideas. Oh but sometimes, sometimes it feels like stories grow on trees. They dangle there, and all you have to do is find the perfect one, reach out, and grab it.

This is literally true at Christmas time. As I look at the bright lights and sparkling ornaments, I see a hundred stories just waiting to be written. Questions pop into my mind that are the glimmers of a story.




What did this bear family do all day before settling down to read a book?




Who are these two reindeer friends? Where do they live and what do they do for fun?



.

Where is that snowman headed on his sled?

So if you're stumped for a story idea, spend some quiet moments looking at your Christmas tree. Take a walk and look in the store windows. The stories are all around you.

Most of all, I wish you a blessed Christmas. May your days be filled with the peace and joy of Christ's birth.

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

I love Christmas! Check out this wonderful youtube video to start your season off with joy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=LyviyF-N23A

Soup and stories need to simmer

Like a good soup, a story needs to simmer. So many times when I'm writing a new story, it just will not come together. I may have all of the ingredients- characters, setting, plot, conflict, resolution. I can even see how the scenes will unfold in my head. But for some reason, I can't get it onto paper, or in my case, computer file. It's frustrating to say the least.

However, if I'm patient, if I step away from the project totally for awhile, when I come back, miraculous things have happened. All of a sudden, the story just flows. The time away has allowed all of the flavors of the story to mingle together. Thoughts and ideas have simmered in the back burner of my imagination without my even realizing it. When I was busy muddling around with other things, the story cooked into a glorious, bubbling soup.

Next time, my goal is not to be anxious when the soup isn't perfect the minute I throw the ingredients into the soup pot. It will take time. I'm going to enjoy the simmer.