CODE BREAKER, SPY HUNTER: Picture Book Biography, a Mini-Author Interview, Plus a Giveaway!

Don't you love this cover? 

Besides being captivating, the title informs the reader EXACTLY what to expect from Code Breaker, Spy Hunter  (Abrams Books, 2021). Written by Laurie Wallmark and illustrated by Brooke Smart, this book will be good for students from 7-10 years old. As you look through these illustrations, make sure you read Elizebeth's quotes that are cleverly "hidden" within the illustrations!

REVIEW

Similar to many picture book biographies I have reviewed, Code Breaker has a brief glimpse into Elizebeth's childhood.  But there's a catch: this glimpse is provided after the reader meets Elizebeth as an adult working as a cryptanalyst and a spy catcher. In some ways, the book is a flashback from that introduction on the first two pages. 

This glimpse into her childhood comes next. 

Elizebeth loved languages and studied English literature, Latin, Greek, and German in college. After going to Chicago to get a job in research or literature, she met George Fabyan, an eccentric millionaire who hired her to prove that Shakespeare's play were written by someone else. Although she never proved his hypothesis to be correct, she shared her conclusions with a scientist friend, William Friedman. Not only did he agree with her conclusion, but their friendship turned to love, and within a year they were married.

After the United States entered WWI in 1917, the government needed people to decode spy messages. Elizebeth and William set up the country's first code-breaking unit, the Riverbank Department of Ciphers. Their ground-breaking techniques became the basis for cryptology--the study of secret codes. 

The couple moved to Washington, DC to work as code breakers for the Army's Signal Corps. Together, Elizebeth and William invented a scientific method to create ciphers--complicated codes--using only a pencil and paper. This was a necessary invention in order for field soldiers to send secrets.

After the war ended, Elizebeth stopped working full time in order to write books and start a family. 

Elizebeth was hired by the Coast Guard hired her to catch bootleggers, she testified at criminal trials, and she trained the staff for the Coast Guard's first code-breaking unit. 

But her home and family were also important to her. 

When the United States entered WWII, the Office of Strategic Services had gathered communications from around the world, but they were unable to break their codes. Enter Elizebeth. She created another code-breaking unit and hired and trained mathematicians, physicists, and chemists. 

After Elizebeth helped capture Nazi spies, the U.S. Postal Service asked for her help. They had seized letters from an American spy; on the surface they appeared to be about buying and selling dolls. But Elizebeth decoded the real message. 

The war's "Number One Woman Spy" was sentenced to ten years in prison. Elizebeth wrote, "It is obvious that even a casual examination of these letters, indicates their suspicious nature."

Elizebeth's work was top secret. She was even threatened to be put in prison if she spoke about it to anyone--even her family! Thirty-five years after her death her secrets were finally declassified. 

BACK MATTER

Five pages of interesting back matter concludes this book. The first is dedicated to "Codes and Ciphers" and includes instructions on how to decode the Caesar cipher written on the ribbons throughout the book. The second page is step by step directions for cracking a code, the third is information on Cryptology today--including hints for creating online passwords. The last two pages, a timeline and bibliography, are the end pages--what a clever use of space in this 42-page picture book!

Teachers and home school educators: Click here for a teacher's guide. 

AUTHOR INTERVIEW:

CAROL: How did you get interested in Elizebeth?

LAURIE: I have always found codes and ciphers fascinating. As a child I would create them and write notes that no one else could read. I found out about Elizebeth in Jason Fagone’s book, The Woman Who Smashed Codes. After reading her story, I knew she had to be a subject for one of my women in STEM picture book biographies. There’s also an excellent new YA book about her by Amy Butler Greenfield, The Woman All Spies Fear. 

CAROL: This book seems longer than most picture books with a longer word count. In a publishing world of tight word counts, how did you swing that? 

LAURIE: I seem to be able to get away with longer word counts than others. I can’t tell you why. This book, at 48 pages, not only has more text words, about 2,200, but quite a bit of back matter, too. It was quite a trick fitting it all in.

CAROL: What was your favorite part about writing this? 

I think most of us who do any writing of nonfiction love doing the research. It’s delightful finding that special nugget of information that you know adds a little extra something to your book. The hard part is know when to stop researching and start writing.

LAURIE: Can you speak a little bit about the research involved?

I always start my research by reading books. That gives me a good overview of the person’s life and helps me figure out how I’m going to structure my book. Then it’s time to dig deeper. With Elizebeth, I’m lucky that many of her papers and photographs, both personal and professional, are archived in the George C. Marshall Foundation collection. I’m especially lucky that even during a pandemic, the librarian was able to help me with my questions. (Thank you, librarians everywhere!)

CAROL: It was fun to discover that Elizebeth’s quotes are hidden in the illustrations. Was this your idea or your illustrator’s?

 

LAURIE: I had used quotations in the illustrations with two of my previous books, GRACE HOPPER: QUEEN OF COMPUTER CODE and HEDY LAMARR’S DOUBLE LIFE. I believe the original idea was mine, but I wouldn’t swear to it. What’s different in this book is the ribbons of code that swirl around several of the pages. The illustrator had put in random letters to represent coded messages. I suggested that the letters should actually be coded messages. It was a lot of extra work for me to give Brooke the codes, her to hand letter the ribbons, and me to check them. I live in fear that a ten-year-old will find I’ve made a mistake. If you look closely at the cover, you'll see the ribbon of code.

 

Here is my husband's uncle, Robert Toupal, proving that
picture books are for all ages! 
(Don't tell anyone, but he turned 92 yesterday!)

GIVEAWAY

Leave a comment by 6 PM on November 6 to enter this giveaway. Educators and librarians--you will get an extra chance if you tell me where you work. US addresses only. I am featuring this book in the January issue of Talking Story on "Behind the Scenes of War" and if you're a subscriber (if not, follow the link above and hit "subscribe") you'll have another chance to win the book if you don't win now. Please leave me your email address if you are new to my blog--if not, I can't enter your name!

Congratulations to Esther Bandy, a new follower, who won Kathleen Burkinshaw's audiobook of THE LAST CHERRY BLOSSOM. 

THE LAST CHERRY BLOSSOM--Big News from Kathleen Burkinshaw and an Audiobook Giveaway!

Kathleen Burkinshaw is not only a dear friend of mine, but no stranger to this blog. I've shared her story of writing and publishing her debut middle grade historical novel in three different blogs: I interviewed her about how the book was built on her mother's experience in Hiroshima, reviewed the book, and then checked in with her post-publication. It's only fitting that she asked me to share her news about the audiobook that was just released! 

In this post you'll to hear from Kathleen and Yuuki Luna, the narrator. PLUS, if you click here, and then click on Sample, you can hear Yukki read the book.

 

 A United Nations Office of Disarmament Education Resource for Teachers and Students

Advisory Council Member, International Center for MultiGenerational Legacies of Trauma

HiroshimaNagasaki75

October 2018 BOOK RIOT list of "30 Fascinating Historical Fiction Books for Middle School Readers" 

Nominated 2019 NC School Library Media Assoc. YA Book Award

Finalist 2018 Sakura Medal, Japan

SCBWI Crystal Kite Award Finalist(southeast region)

Scholastic WNDB Reading Club Selection, 2018 & 2016

An Interview with Kathleen Burkinshaw

Carol: For my new followers who might not be familiar with your book, please summarize it for them.

Kathleen: THE LAST CHERRY BLOSSOM is about a young girl's life in Hiroshima during WWII. She discovers a shocking family secret right before her world is about to become a shadow of what it had been. THE LAST CHERRY BLOSSOM (TLCB) is based on my mother's experience surviving the atomic bomb. It is through her 12-year-old eyes that readers witness that horrific day. 

The novel is written with information on the culture, mindset, and daily life during WWII before the bomb was dropped-something that hasn’t been done before.  My hope is not only to convey the message that nuclear weapons should never be used again; but to also reveal that the children in Japan had the same love for family, fear of what could happen to them, and hopes for peace as the Allied children had. The ones that we may think don't belong or are our "enemy" are not so different from ourselves.

Carol: What was involved in making TLCB into an audiobook?

Kathleen: The audiobook process for TLCB happened later than most books, since the hardcover of TLCB first published 5 years ago. In my contract with TLCB's publisher, Sky Pony Press, the unexercised audiobook rights reverted back to me after a few years. So, once they were mine, my  agent Anna Olswanger, Olswanger Literary, began submitting to audiobook publishers in January 2021. I received an offer from Dreamscape in April! Naturally I was ecstatic!! 😁

I hoped that they would choose a Japanese or Japanese American voiceover artist and was overjoyed when Yuuki Luna reached out to me on Instagram after recording TLCB. Once she told me of her connection with Hiroshima, that her grandfather was a Hibakusha (atomic bomb survivor) from Hiroshima, I knew that it was meant to be.

We did not have an opportunity to be in touch while she was recording TLCB with Dreamscape. However, after that was finished we had an opportunity to meet each other on Zoom (she lives in California). Not only that, but that day I had the honor to meet her mother, a second generation Hibakusha like myself, and I introduced them to my daughter, Sara, a 3rd generation HIbakusha like Yuuki. I could feel my mom with us.

Yuuki's lovely voice and grace added so much to my written words about my mother's story. When I first heard her narration, I cried. It touched me so much to hear a young voice for my mother's character in Yuriko. I also cried  because I thought an audiobook would not happen. Although, I must confess that I haven't listened to the chapters about the day of the bombing or after that. I know it will be extremely emotional for me because I already hear my mother's voice and her cries when I read the words. And I know it was emotional for Yuuki to read as well because of her compassion and connection to the story. 
I'm so grateful that The Last Cherry Blossom is now accessible to more readers and I'm thrilled to say that in addition to being available through Audible, Libro.FM, and anywhere audiobooks are sold, it is also on Hoopla Digital. 

Interview with Yuuki Luna

Carol: Please tell me a little bit about yourself, how you got into creating audio books, etc. What is your background? 

Yuuki: I started out as a stage combat performer during my childhood, performing in local community shows and festivals. I then started performing with the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, and then started voiceover work, which led me into the audiobook world. 

Carol: What goes into preparation of recording a book like TLCB? How long did it take to record—was it over many sessions? 

Yuuki: In terms of preparation for audiobook reads, I've found it best to read the work at least once, maybe twice before I start recording, taking notes along the way. Recording The Last Cherry Blossom did take around a week, as I tried to fit in a few hours of recording each day. 

Carol: Were parts of the book difficult to narrate? What was that experience like for you?

Yuuki: The book became difficult to narrate the more I got closer to the end; the emotions became so real that I needed to take a few breaks in between. Kathleen's story and words are also powerful and hit home in many ways, as I also have family from Hiroshima as well. Her novel is such a rare gem that paints the most genuine picture of how families in Hiroshima (including my own) lived during the war, and I feel honored to have been a part. 

GIVEAWAY

Leave your name and email address (if you are new to my blog) in the comment to enter the giveaway. If you decide to follow my blog or share this on social media, I'll enter your name twice. Kathleen will arrange for the winner to receive a download code for the book.

REMEMBER: I cannot enter you unless I have your name and email address. If you're not sure, leave your email address in the comment. Giveaway ends at 6PM on Wednesday, November 3. 

Congratulations to Barbara Younger who won Headstrong Hallie from last week's blog. 

 

DINOSAUR HUNTER and HEADSTRONG HALLIE! Two Dreamers, Two Picture Book Biographies, and One Giveaway

 I have two wonderful STEM picture book biographies (courtesy of Sleeping Bear Press) to share with you today. 

JACK HORNER, DINOSAUR HUNTER 

---Written by Sophia Gholz and illustrated by Dave Shephard.

                                 

                                          

"As a baby, Jack's lullaby was the sound of his father's gravel trucks digging in Montana." 

The reader doesn't know it yet, but that simple opening sets the scene for the entire book, as "CRUNCH SWOOSH" resonates throughout.

Jack grew up dreaming about becoming a paleontologist and hunted for dinosaur bones EVERYWHERE. Around town, in the woods, and near the mountains...Jack was always searching and looking. 

When he found a clamshell he imagined an ocean filling his backyard with ancient beasts. When he spied an odd rock on a hike he stopped to investigate. 

"Jack swept the sand aside, his hopes soaring like a Pterodactyl on the wind.  CRUNCH SWOOSH."

But, Jack had a big problem.

Although Jack struggled to read, he was determined to learn about science on his own. Although he failed classes, his science projects won awards and he caught the attention of a prestigious university. But, unfortunately he dropped out before the first year was over--he couldn't keep up with academic demands. 

But that didn't stop him. Jack got a job in Princeton University's natural history museum. Scientists realized that although he couldn't read words, he could read fossils. (At this point he was diagnosed with dyslexia).

Jack was sent into the field where he led digs, excavated sites, and discovered the first intact fossilized dinosaur embryo in his home state of Montana!

Eventually,

Jack even was hired as the dinosaur expert for the blockbuster movie...Jurassic Park!  

The last illustration shows dinosaurs roaming around a city. The text reads, "Jack understands dinosaurs aren't alive anymore, but he wishes they were."

The cartoon-type illustrations and text boxes gives this book the feel of a graphic novel.  As a result, I think this will not only appeal to young readers, but I think it will be a great resource for older reluctant readers. Back matter includes more information about Jack Horner and how to design and name your own dinosaur.

HEADSTRONG HALLIE! 

--Written by Aimée Bissonette and illustrated by David Hohn.

Here's another great opening line: 

"Hallie leapt from her bed and raced to the window, pulling back the curtains. A bright orange glow filled the sky."

Hallie saw and smelt the fire and knew the forest was in danger. "Hallie had to help save her forest home."

In this way, the reader is introduced to Hallie Morse Daggett, the first female "fire guard."

The only thing that Hallie feared was fire. 

So whenever US Forest crews came to fight the fires, Hallie Joined the fight. She and Leslie [her sister] stamped out abandoned campfires. They brought food and supplies to the men at the fire line.

Fire was a constant worry in Hallie's life. 

 

In the early 20th century women didn't work for the Forest Service and they certainly weren't fire fighters. She applied for work several times, but always received No as an answer. 

But that didn't stop her. Finally, after several years of applying for work, she finally got the job!

When she started work as the new lookout at Eddy Gulch in California, Forest Service men made fun of her and predicted she wouldn't last. But they didn't know how headstrong Hallie was.

"Hallie loved the tiny look out cabin from the first time she saw it."

Her cabin also because a home for pet chipmunks and porcupines. During one of her seasons she had to kill a bear, four wildcats and three coyotes. But despite the danger and loneliness, Hallie loved protecting the forest, its animals, and people. Nothing deterred her from reporting smoke during the day and fire at night.

Hallie worked for fifteen seasons and didn't regret not marrying or having children. She followed her dream of a "life where she would protect the mountains and forests she loved."

Back matter includes more information about Hallie and some original photographs. For an interesting tidbit, click here to see how Hallie made the Eddy Gulch news in 1913. And check out this interview on Caroline Starr Rose's blog.

GIVEAWAY 

I am keeping Dinosaur Hunter as a mentor text. Leave me a comment by October 30 and I'll enter your name to win Headstrong Hallie. If you are an educator or new to my blog let me know; I'll enter your name twice. PLEASE leave your email address if you are new to my blog.

Congratulations to Danielle Hammelef who won Rochelle Melander's book, Mightier than the Sword.

Playing with Writing Types by Guest Blogger, Rochelle Melander

Last week when I introduced Rochelle Meander's new book, Mightier than the Sword, I promised a follow-up blog by Rochelle. In this post, Rochelle takes her suggestions for students and challenges writers to try their hands (and computers!) at using a different format. 

In the comments, let me know how you might change up your writing. So, without further ado...here's Rochelle.

 

Several years ago, the artist Jessica Hagy suggested that dangerous habits emerge at the intersection of the “tried, tired, and true.” No kidding. As a freelance writer, I’ve written dozens of profiles, hundreds of how-to blog posts, and more essays than I can count. These familiar formats come easily to me. Do they work? Yes. But are they tried and tired? Yup. 

 

I admire writers who play with form. Jennifer Egan put a power point presentation into her novel, A Visit from the Goon Squad. Amy Krouse Rosenthal used an encyclopedia format to tell her life’s story in Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life.

 

Playing with the form of your piece, even just for fun, can help you break with “tried and true” habits. Even if you don’t end up using the new format in your finished piece, the work you put in will add richness to your writing and possibly ignite your creativity.

 

When I invite my students to play with new formats, it has an additional benefit. Many students feel daunted by traditional formats with stringent requirements. They get stuck on the mechanics and cannot access their creativity. But introducing a format with different or fewer rules can bypass the panic and unlock their playfulness. 

 

Here are three ways you might play with form. Use these ideas to play with your current project, create a new piece, or simply as writing practice. If you’re a teacher, each of these can be used as a mini-lesson.

 

Play with Poetry

The last time I taught poetry, I had to convince a seven-year-old boy that the poems he was about to hear were not just about love and other disgusting emotions. It took about seven “gross” poems to get him to believe me. 

 

Even though I know the many uses of poetry, I tend to save it for my more emotional moments. I rarely use poems to write a profile of an artist or a how-to piece. But I should! In Infinity: Beyond the Beyond the Beyond, the mathematician Lillian R. Lieber used poetry to explain the mathematical concept of infinity. (It’s brilliant!)

 

Your turn: Consider your work in progress: could you write it as poetry? Or do you have an essay you might write as a poem? Japanese writers link together several haiku to tell a story. (This is called Renga—and is usually done collaboratively, with writers alternating stanzas.)

 

Make your Manifesto

Throughout the centuries, people have written manifestos to protest injustice, declare their rights, and announce their vision for a better future. The French playwright and political activist Olympia de Gouges wrote her manifesto to challenge inequality: Declaration of the Rights of Woman and of the Female Citizen (1791). At the Senaca Falls Convention held in 1848, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and others wrote their manifesto expressing the injustices against women and demands for equality. In recent years, people have written manifestos on creativity (How to Be Creative by Hugh McLeod) and Design (The Design Funnel by Steven Hay).

 

Your turn: But what about you? If you or your character could write a manifesto, what would you declare? You don’t have to write about the most serious problems in the world. You could simply write a manifesto about the dirty socks littering your floors or the horrible food in the cafeteria. What do you need to declare?

 

Create a Speech

Have you ever watched a TED Talk and wondered what it would be like to give a speech like that? The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote books and letters—but he was known for delivering riveting speeches that helped people see a new and different world. The young people from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School survived a horrific shooting then used their visibility to give speeches against gun violence.

 

Your turn: Take your best personal story, your favorite topic, or a cause you care about, and write a speech. You get bonus points if you create a talk that doesn’t use a power point presentation!

 

What next?

Oh, the fun you can have! There are so many forms you can play with—cross-examination, instructions, recipes, plays, texting, and more. Make it a part of your writing practice to try a new form each week—and see if it changes what or how you write. You might just land on a mash-up that works!

 

 Maybe you'll try writing a rap, like Sonita Alizadeh did!

Throughout history, people have picked up their pens and wielded their word - transforming their lives, their communities, and beyond. Representing a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences, Mightier Than the Sword connects over forty inspiring biographies with life-changing writing activities and tips, showing readers just how much their own words can make a difference.

 

About the author: Rochelle Melander wrote her first book at seven and has published 11 books for adults. Mightier Than the Sword: Rebels, Reformers, and Revolutionaries Who Changed the World through Writing is her debut book for children. She’s a professional certified coach, an artist educator and the founder of Dream Keepers, a writing workshop for young people. She lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with her husband, children, and two dogs. Visit her online at writenowcoach.com or rochellemelander.com. 

GIVEAWAY

Leave a comment by 6 PM on October 27 to enter; continental U.S. addresses only. If you are a writer, tell me your plans to switch up something you're writing and I'll enter your name twice. PLEASE leave your email address if you are new to my blog.

Congratulations to Rosi Hollenbeck who won The Ghoul's Guide to Grammar and to Connie Saunders who won The Lady of the Library in last week's giveaway. BTW, if you don't already follow Rosi's blog you should--she has lots of great giveaways and reviews too!

 

The Ghoul's Guide to Grammar and The Lady of the Library: 2 Reviews and 2 Giveaways

It's the time of year when pumpkins, scarecrows, and colorful leaves abound. So, I thought it would be a good time to feature two fall picture books published by Sleeping Bear Press.

THE GHOUL'S GUIDE TO GOOD GRAMMAR

This definitive ghoul's version of Eats, Shoots & Leaves will appeal to first-third grade students and their teachers. Written by Leslie Kimmelman and humorously illustrated by Mary Sullivan, this book is a fun way to reinforce punctuation, spelling, and homophone rules. 

For example, how does adding a period change the meaning of a sentence?

Or, what about changing the placement of a comma? It could be the difference between being eaten or staying alive!

And what about the lowly apostrophe? That little mark means the difference between BEING slime or EATING slime! 

Contractions, possessives, capitalization, tricky words, (then/than who's/whose) a few spelling examples, and homophones get explained and shown:

I think these ghouls will help students remember grammar rules and make teaching more fun for you. 

THE LADY OF THE LIBRARY

When a beloved old library is scheduled for demolition, an unusual "library lady" and a young patron team up to protect their favorite place from being torn down.

The lady sees how books are being packed up and can't believe her eyes. 

The little girl is determined to save the library and together:

They plot 

   and plan, 

       prepare 

         as this crisis is extreme. 

And this their first attempt at a risky rescue scheme. 

First, they create a library train of falling books to raise money--but it's not enough.

Next, they build a slide inside the library to collect MORE money--but it's still not enough.

Finally, in a last ditch effort to save the library, the lady tells stories by flashlight. 

In the end, the mayor pledges his support and the beloved library is saved.

Back matter includes one page devoted to Willard Library in Evansville, Indiana which inspired this imaginary story, and a page about libraries. 

GIVEAWAY

Leave your name (and email address if you are new to my blog) and your book preference (if you have one) in the comments before 6 PM on October 23. Continental U.S. addresses only.

MIGHTIER THAN THE SWORD: AN ELA RESOURCE, AUTHOR INTERVIEW and A GIVEAWAY!

 In the "it's a small world department," my sister Barbara (who lives in Milwaukee) met Rochelle Melander at a July 4th picnic this past summer. After hearing Rochelle speak about her book, Mightier than The Sword (Beaming Books, 2021). Barbara told her that she should contact me because I love encouraging kids to write. (In case you didn't know, my second book was Teaching the Story: Fiction Writing in Grades 4-8.)  After the picnic, Rochelle looked me up and realized that I was on her list of people to contact to be part of her blog tour!

I am proud to introduce you to Rochelle's inspirational and educational new book.  Rochelle has so much to say about teaching writing to kids, that today I'm reviewing her book and interviewing her. Next week she will guest blog about, "Playing With Writing Types."

REVIEW

From Murasaki Shikibu, a Japanese novelist and poet who lived from 978-1016 to Malala Yousafzai, a contemporary Pakastani activist, writer, and the youngest person to win the Nobel Peace Prize, Mightier Than the Sword highlights men and women throughout history and from diverse cultures who changed the world through their writing.

Rochelle's list includes well-known figures who you may or may not think of as writers: Charles Darwin, Frederick Douglass, Zora Neale Hurston, Nellie Bly, Ida B. Wells, and Rachel Carson. But there are also many lesser-known individuals such as Abu Abdullah Muhammad Ibn Battuta, Wang Zhenyi, Ada Lovelace, Mary Garber, and Sequoyah and many more. 

 

In addition to the short easy-to-read essays about each writer and the ways in which the individual's writing affected the world, there are suggested writing activities and a pithy quote from the writer.

"If you want to change the world, pick up your pen and write." - Martin Luther

Martin Luther was a German theologian who wrote in the early16th century. After his biography and work as a writer, his entry includes the development of Gutenberg's printing press which enabled more people to read the Bible. Luther's Ninety Five Thesis against the Catholic Church invited debate and promoted change. The author uses that point in history to challenge readers to find ways to invite debate.

This is the "Write to Create" activity for Luther: 

Martin Luther used repetition and rhythm so people would enjoy reading his words aloud. He used relatable images to explain complex topics: “A lie is like a snowball: the further you roll it, the bigger it becomes.” Keep a notebook to record juicy words, favorite phrases, and interesting snippets of conversation. p. 17

Mightier Than the Sword is a rich curriculum resource for grades 4-8. Besides the writing activities associated with each writer, the book ends with ten more pages of activities! There are ideas to get the reluctant writer going, revision ideas, advice from the featured writers, and of course, a list of books about writing.

                                                *****

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

CAROL: Did you write the book or the pitch first?

ROCHELLE: I wrote the pitch first. When an agent expressed interest, I wrote the proposal. (I did that quickly, in about 6 weeks.) When the publisher accepted it, I wrote the book.

CAROL: How did persistence help you sell your book?

 

ROCHELLE:  As an artist educator, I’ve longed for a book like Mightier Than the Sword. I believed the book would help me introduce young people to writing mentors from a variety of disciplines and support students in writing their stories. When I hit obstacles, connecting to this purpose kept me going. 

 

Researchers call this grit. According to psychologist Angela Duckworth, “Grit is passion and perseverance for long-term goals. … Grit is about having what some researchers call an 'ultimate concern'—a goal you care about so much that it organizes and gives meaning to almost everything you do.” 

When I first pitched the book in early 2018, an agent loved the idea and requested the proposal. But she rejected it—because she wanted more of a deep dive into history. I revised and submitted it to more agents—only to get a slew of rejections. Many of them said the book was too educational—and not right for the trade market! Then an agent requested a revise and resubmit—which I did. As I waited for their response, I sent it out to just a few more agents. When an agent I met at a conference offered representation, I sent a note to the agents who’d been sitting on the proposal for months. They all rejected it. I wasn’t keen on the representing agent, so I tried #PitMad. Surprise! I had four hearts from four different editors. One of those, Beaming Books, offered a contract. Woot!

For me, grit meant repeatedly reminding myself of my purpose—to help young people fall in love with writing. Once I got the contract, I still had hours of research and writing ahead of me—and that purpose helped me shape every single essay in the collection. If you’re stuck or struggling, consider your ultimate concern: why is this project important? Who will it serve?

Rochelle teaching
young writers.

CAROL: How did you come up with these particular writers? You had centuries and the whole world to choose from!

ROCHELLE: The writers! I first came up with the idea for the book in 2009 and started collecting names. When I decided to get serious about the book, I searched online, read anthologies and talked to professors to find names. Once the publisher accepted the book, we worked together on finalizing the list. I wanted to make sure the list was diverse in multiple ways: disciplines, gender, race, culture, writing genres, and more. The book includes 40 writers, 5 interludes, and many short profiles!

CAROL: What were the lessons about writing that you learned while researching and writing this book?

 

ROCHELLE: I learn from every book I write, but Mightier Than the Sword brought so many more lessons—probably because I was researching and writing about people who used their writing to make a difference in their worlds. Here are three of them:

 

• It’s okay if you weren’t a successful student. Follow your passion. Many of the writers I featured did poorly in school. Charles Darwin skipped out on grade school lessons and dropped out of medical school. But when he discovered his passion for nature, he succeeded.

• Write about what matters to you. Passion drives persistence. When congresswoman Patsy Mink was in college, she started a letter campaign to protest segregated student housing. She succeeded—and the college changed their policy.

• Writing is difficult. Do it anyway. Because of social media, we see writers celebrating their wins, but we don’t see the sweat equity that went into their work. It took James Baldwin ten years to write his autobiographical novel, Go Tell It on the Mountain. During that time, he struggled to earn money and deal with self-doubt. 

GIVEAWAY

Leave a comment to enter the giveaway. You'll have a second chance to enter after  Rochelle's next post. A winner will be drawn after 6 PM on October 27. If you are a media specialist, home school educator, or ELA teacher let me know--I'll give you another chance to win this book. AND if you compare Mightier than the Sword to What's in Your Pocket? from last week's blog, you get an additional chance!

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