Category: Mining for Heart

Mining for Heart: “A Transformation Invites New Life” by Jessica Stremer

June 23, 2023

Stories of inanimate objects offer their own special challenge. As with all stories, I think the secret is to find a meaningful personal connection that also connects to children. In Jessica Stremer’s new book, GREAT CARRIER REEF, she was drawn to the idea of transformation. Read on to find out how this idea played out … More Mining for Heart: “A Transformation Invites New Life” by Jessica Stremer

Mining for Heart: “Finding the Focus for Rivka’s Presents” by Laurie Wallmark

June 16, 2023

While many people are inspired to write a piece of family history, a memory or heartfelt reverence for ancestors’ endeavors isn’t usually enough to create a great picture book. Laurie Wallmark’s patient pondering to find the focus along with her expert knowledge of how to write an engaging story resulted in her latest release, RIVKA’S … More Mining for Heart: “Finding the Focus for Rivka’s Presents” by Laurie Wallmark

Mining for Heart: “Dishwashing Machine Inventor Josephine Cochrane, Original Boss Lady” by Kate Hannigan

March 10, 2023

Thank goodness for dishwashers! Did you ever wonder who created this time-saving invention? Here’s how author Kate Hannigan found a story of more than the invention.  And we have a GIVEAWAY! Just leave a comment below to get in the drawing for a copy of JOSEPHINE AND HER DISHWASHING MACHINE.  Dishwashing Machine Inventor Josephine Cochrane, … More Mining for Heart: “Dishwashing Machine Inventor Josephine Cochrane, Original Boss Lady” by Kate Hannigan

Mining For Heart: “An Outside-In and Inside-Out Look at Creating a Book” by Keila Dawson

February 24, 2023

If I was still teaching, I’d have both of these books in my classroom! In varied types of poetry, voices of kids speak out and invite all to join in their call to action. With a book like this, the challenge of finding the “heart” is different than in a narrative. This post from Keila … More Mining For Heart: “An Outside-In and Inside-Out Look at Creating a Book” by Keila Dawson

Mining for Heart: “Silence Your Inner Critic with the ‘So What?'” by Danielle Dufayet

January 6, 2023

We’re back! Welcome to 2023! What happens when your “so what?” or “heart” of your story is also the obstacle to writing it? “Drawing a blank” is agonizing to artists of all kinds and of all ages. Here Danielle Dufayet shares her latest book and how she battled her inner critic.  Danielle is offering a … More Mining for Heart: “Silence Your Inner Critic with the ‘So What?'” by Danielle Dufayet

Mining for Heart: “Setting as a Window into Character”

November 11, 2022

Writing CLOAKED IN COURAGE: UNCOVERING DEBORAH SAMPSON, PATRIOT SOLDIER was a challenge in many ways, just one being that the misinformation about her made it difficult to find HER, the person in history. Why did she do what she did? and What made her who she was? As always, setting was key. And books of … More Mining for Heart: “Setting as a Window into Character”

Mining for Heart: “The Heart Can Surprise You” by Jeanette Bradley

October 28, 2022

So many of us have manuscripts in a “drawer”—waiting for a block to clear or a better ending or a new take. I love hearing about the rare occasions when the lightning strikes and the manuscript emerges from doom with a revelation that transforms it. Here Jeanette Bradley shares how a manuscript became more than … More Mining for Heart: “The Heart Can Surprise You” by Jeanette Bradley

Mining for Heart: “Highlighting the Essential in Biographies” by Donna Cangelosi

October 7, 2022

After a short lull in posts, we’re back digging into the “heart” of a story. I’m guessing most all of you are familiar with Mister Rogers and know that he made music a part of his show. Here Donna Cangelosi examines music as her focus in writing a bio on Fred Rogers.  GIVEAWAY! For a … More Mining for Heart: “Highlighting the Essential in Biographies” by Donna Cangelosi

Mining for Heart: “Layering & Language- Moving Beyond Autobiography & Into the Universal” by Costantia Manoli

July 29, 2022

TOMATOES IN MY LUNCHBOX hit me right in the heart! It’s truly a special picture book. Here’s a post from author Costantia Manoli all the way from Cyprus in which she shares how she built this story.  GIVEAWAY! Leave a comment below for a chance to win a copy of the book!   Layering and … More Mining for Heart: “Layering & Language- Moving Beyond Autobiography & Into the Universal” by Costantia Manoli

Mining for Heart: “Finding the Manuscript’s Mission” by Elisa Boxer

May 6, 2022

Welcome, Elisa Boxer, and thank you for this wonderful post with another way of viewing the HEART of a story!  Giveaway! Elisa is offering a signed copy of one of her books—your choice! Just leave a comment below for a chance to win! Congratulations to Donna Gwinnell Lambo-Weidner, winner of FRANZ’S PHANTASMAGORICAL MACHINE from my … More Mining for Heart: “Finding the Manuscript’s Mission” by Elisa Boxer