Write2Ignite's Master Class on Chapter Books

Write2Ignite provides education, inspiration, and encouragement to Christians who write for children and young adults. We do this by offering services and resources, and by creating a positive network consisting of both new and seasoned professionals.

As many of you know, I'm part of the Write2Ignite team. One of the main ways that our organization helps writers is by providing biannual virtual Master Classes.  Our fall class on September 23 features the talented and accomplished author of many Imagination Station books, Marianne Hering who will teach about writing chapter books.

Look at the Master Class schedule and you'll see that each of Marianne's three classes will be followed up by breakout sessions with a W2I team member. Since I'm one of the breakout leaders I had a peek at the worksheets that Kathy O'Neill created--and they're going to lead to lively brainstorming, discussion, and writing!

The class is $69.00 and you register here. Remember, middle or high school students attend at the discounted rate of $49.00.

I'm looking forward to hearing our guest editors' presentations. We'll hear from Laura Derico, Acquisitions Editor at David C. Cook, and Jennifer Lowry, Publisher and Editor at Monarch Books. Both editors said they would be open to W2I submissions after the class. 

In addition to a packed day, we have FOURTEEN books to give away as door prizes!!  Look at this amazing list:

                     By Marianne Hering:

In Fear of the Spear

Trouble on the Orphan Train

Inferno in Tokyo

Madman in Manhattan

Escape to the Hiding Place

Light in the Lions' Den

 

 

By Tim Shoemaker: 

Escape From the Everglades

The Deep End

Every Hidden Thing 

Easy Target  

 

Books published by David C. Cook:

 

The Action Bible Easter: 25 Stories About Jesus' Resurrection

 

Clever Cub Forgives a Friend – by Bob Hartman & Steve Brown 

 

Clever Cub Invites Someone New by Bob Hartman & Steve Brown

 

The Heart Who Wanted To Be Whole by Beth Guckenberger & Irina Mileo

Want to catch a glimpse of Marianne's magnetic personality? Read her post on the W2I blog, "So Why Isn't War and Peace a Chapter Book?"

Come ready to learn, grow, and be challenged. Who knows, there might be a chapter book series at the tip of your fingers! I hope to see you there!

WRITE TO IGNITE PRESENTS: A Master Class on Writing Devotionals

 I am happy to share that the Spring 2022 Write2Ignite Master Class will be taught by author and speaker, Karen Whiting. Check out the pile of devotionals she's written!

Since the world is still in a Covid/Post-Covid mode, the class will be on Zoom and will be recorded.

Karen has a full day scheduled for all attendees. Take a look:

Session 1 Writing Devotion Basics and the Core Message

• The basics of writing devotions for various age groups.
• Step-by-step instructions on writing devotions.
• What makes a devotion touch readers and impact lives.

Session 2 Polishing the Devotion

• Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of sample devotions.
• How to edit for tightness, readability, sense appeal, and take-away.
• A checklist for both strengths and weakness.
• How to accessorize your devotion well.

Session 3: Submitting Devotions and Creating a Collection of Themed Devotions

• How to submit devotions and apply to write devotions for publications who assign devotions to authors.
• A series of devotions can become a book if they are cohesive. How to center around a theme and target a specific intended audience.
• What is the “Big Idea” of a devotional book?
• How to divide the big theme into smaller ones for weeks or months.

IN ADDITION!

Guest speaker, Michelle Medlock Adams will talk about her new children's imprint with End Game Press and Marianne Hering will share what type of parenting tips and hacks she's looking for Focus on the Family.

If you're a Christian writer who wants to break into the devotional market, than this is the class for you!

Here's the link to register. 

To read a sample devotional by Write2Ignite's friend, Lori Hatcher, go here. To read some tips on writing devotionals for kids and adults, read  Jarm Del Boccio's post here.

Since I coordinate the W2I blog I'd love it if you signed up for it! (Scroll all the way down on the right to find the "To subscribe" button). 

To sign up for W2I's monthly newsletter, click here.

Questions? Email me here.

Hope to see you in April on Zoom!

UNDER THE TANGERINE TREE: Author Interview with Esther Bandy

 Elliott Kurta, who reviewed Under The Tangerine Tree on my last post, decided to follow up with an interview with the author, Esther Bandy. Take it away, Elliott and Esther!

INTERVIEW

ELLIOTT: What inspired you to write Under the Tangerine Tree? Was it a single moment, conversation, or photo, or did it take a larger experience for the ideas in your book to come together? 

ESTHER BRANDY: I began writing Under the Tangerine Tree after my dad died in 2005. I loved my dad, and even though I knew he was in heaven, I still missed him. I’d also met many children who lost their fathers due to death or divorce. I wanted to write a book that would help children deal with their grief and allow me to express my own feelings of missing my dad. In addition, I had a desire to share God’s love and help children understand the gospel. It’s such a blessing to know that when a person receives the Lord Jesus as Savior, he becomes a child of God and has a heavenly father who loves him and will always be there.

 

ELLIOTT: What does your writing process look like, and how long did it take you to write Under the Tangerine Tree?

ESTHER BANDY: I have many medical problems, and Under the Tangerine Tree is my debut novel, so it took a very long time to write, revise, research, and edit my novel. I started writing it in 2005 after my dad died, but I often set it aside for long periods of time due to personal and family health problems. In addition, we sold our home in Washington state and moved to North Carolina during those years. I was often so busy or sick that I neglected my writing completely. Even when I wasn’t writing, I often thought about my novel. I remembered moments from my life, historical events, and inspirational themes I wanted to include.

 

ELLIOTT: In ‘Under the Tangerine Tree’, Angie Mangione moves to Florida to start a new life, one that more intimately involves God. Are her experiences in any way reflective of your own?

ESTHER BANDY: Angie’s faith journey is different from mine since I was saved in a Good News Club when I was five. However, several of Angie’s experiences are echoes from my life. I never lived in New York City, but my dad was Italian, and he was born and raised in NYC. Mom was southern born and raised near Tampa, FL. We often visited NYC to see dad’s family, but I was born in Tampa. Dad was in the Air Force, so we lived in several places when I was young. Like Angie, I didn’t like moving and being the new kid at school. I was glad when dad retired, and we moved next door to Granny’s house on a country lake in Florida.

 

ELLIOTT: Did you have to do any research before or during writing?

ESTHER BANDY: I remembered many of the historical events from my childhood, including President Kennedy’s visit to Tampa and his assassination four days later. I did extensive research to make sure I had the facts right.

 

ELLIOTT: Did Under the Tangerine Tree start out with the same plot line and characters it has now, or were there unused ideas, and if there were, can you share some of them?

ESTHER BANDY: It had the same general plot line and characters, but some have been added and others have been deleted. I had several more scenes from Angie’s school with a variety of other characters, but I finally deleted about 10,000 words with scenes and characters that seemed to weaken the overall story.

 

ELLIOTT: What made you choose Under the Tangerine Tree as the title for your first book?

ESTHER BANDY: There was a tangerine tree at the end of my dirt road in Tampa when I was growing up. It had the best tangerines I’ve ever eaten. I walked past that tree on the way to and from my elementary school, and my best friend and I often sat under that tree while we talked and ate tangerines.

 

ELLIOTT: What message or messages do you want each of your readers to leave your book with?

ESTHER BANDY: I hope my readers will understand that even though this life is filled with challenges, life is good, and they can have hope. Why? Because God loves them, and He has a wonderful plan for their lives. When they understand the gospel and receive Christ, their sins are forgiven, and they become children of God. They also have the Holy Spirit who indwells them and helps them understand the Bible and have victory over sin.

 

ELLIOTT: What made you decide to start off  Under the Tangerine Tree with the main character’s father dying?

ESTHER BANDY: When I began writing Under the Tangerine Tree, my dad had just died, and I knew children who had lost their fathers due to death or divorce. I wanted to offer people hope while they were grieving, and I needed to express my own feelings of grief. I want my readers to know that even when the challenges of life are difficult to deal with, we can still have hope for a better tomorrow.

 

ELLIOTT: Have you always wanted to be a writer?

ESTHER BANDY: When I was in second grade, I wanted to be a nurse, a missionary, a teacher, or a writer. My teacher said I had to choose one, but I couldn’t. I wanted to do all of them. Over the years I’ve worked as a nurse, a missionary, and a Spanish teacher. When I became disabled, I realized that it was time to write.

 

ELLIOTT: How difficult was publishing your first book?

ESTHER BANDY: I submitted it to several traditional publishers who rejected it, so I finally decided to self-publish it. I’m thankful to my wonderful son and to several friends who have encouraged me and helped me publish it.

Thank you Esther and Elliott for this informative interview. You can find Esther  on her website or connect with her on Facebook . 

 

GIVEAWAY

I am giving away a copy of Under the Tangerine Tree. Leave me a comment on this blog and you'll receive one chance; leave another on the review and you'll receive a second chance. U.S. addresses only. If you prefer not to leave a comment, email me and I'll enter your name. PLEASE LEAVE YOUR NAME AND EMAIL ADDRESS IF YOU ARE NEW TO MY BLOG. Giveaway ends on Wednesday, February 9 at 12 PM.

Thereasea Elder Wore Many Hats

 One of the good things about writing historical fiction set in the not-so-distant past is that you can interview people who lived through the conflicts you are writing about. 

One of the hard things about writing "recent" historical fiction is that the people you interview--your experts--are elderly and die. 

Ten years ago I posted my first blog about six people I interviewed for Half-Truths. Only one is still alive. In 2014 I wrote about four women who shared their histories with me. Only two are still living. 

Yesterday, I heard that one of these women, Thereasea Elder, passed away on January 5, at the age of 93.

                                Thereasea as a U.S. Nurse cadet in World War II.

Thereasea's Legacy

I met Thereasea in 2011. With open arms and a smile that never quit, she welcomed me into her home. At the same time, she welcomed Half-Truths into her life. A conversation wasn't complete without her asking, "How is the book coming along?" She encouraged me every time I visited her.

As I tried to understand the city of Charlotte in which she grew up, there were no questions or topics that were off-limits. She told me about the dangers she faced as the first nurse to integrate Mecklenburg County's Public Health Service and the asbestos waste products which coated their window screens from the factory in their Greenville neighborhood.  

In 2014 she proudly showed me the exhibit she helped put together at Johnson C. Smith University honoring those who integrated the medical profession in Charlotte. 

Thereasea's list of accomplishments is long. She was a strong advocate for public health, helped register Black voters, served as president of the Greenville Historial Association, was active in the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women, served on the board of the Greater Carolinas Chapter of the American Red Cross, and started the Black Heritage Committee in Charlotte. 

Whenever we talked she had a new cause or passion. She was concerned about local drug dealers and gun violence; government officials heard her concerns over the phone and through letters. She received innumerable awards for her service to the city of Charlotte, including the Order of the Long Leaf Pine (North Carolina's Highest Civilian honor) and the Maya Angelou/Elizabeth Ross Dargan Life Time Achievement Award. 

But man, oh man, she loved her hats.

Dozens and dozens of hats were stacked in boxes in her closets. She wouldn't go out without one on her head that of course, coordinated with her outfit.

One day we had a "photoshoot" and Thereasea enjoyed every minute of it.

So did I.

Thereasea was brave and courageous. The same things my protagonist, Kate Dinsmore, wants to be. The same things I want to be.

In 2013 her biography, T.D.'s Truths was published. She was so proud!

The author's note includes an observation that resonated with me:

I was mesmerized by our first meeting. I was struck not only by the power of her narrative, but her ability to cause transformational change in our community. Her nurturing attitude was characterized by unselfish caring, supportiveness, and a willingness to share her time.  

Thereasea's inscription to me reads:

Dearly Beloved Carol,

God has blessed me with your Friendship and Love. To God be the Glory and Power always. 

On a Personal Note

Thereasea quoted this Bible verse to me when she was talking about some of the prejudice she faced growing up:

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

Certainly, the Lord used Thereasea's talents, energy, and love.

One time my husband and I took her out to dinner at a favorite fish restaurant. After that, she never failed to end our conversations by sending him her love. She always reminded me to give him a hug and a kiss; her love for family inspired me.

I will miss Thereasea's hand clasping mine when we gave thanks for our food. I will miss her hug and her voice. I will miss her encouragement and pride in what I was doing. 

And I will miss her beautiful hats.

"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints." Psalm 116: 15.