GAP FAMILY BLOG

Margot Finke is an Aussie transplant who writes midgrade adventure fiction and rhyming picture books. For many years she has lived in Oregon with her husband and family. She has 11 books published so far. Gardening, travel, and reading fill in the cracks between writing. Her husband is very supportive, though not interested in children's books . Their three children are now grown and doing very well. Margot didn't begin serious writing until the day their youngest left for college. This late start drives her writing, and pushes her to work at it every day. Margot said, "I really envy those who began young, and managed to slip into writing mode between kid fights, diaper changes, household disasters, and outside jobs. You are my heroes! "

I have always scribbled stories. However, none of them became published until after I became a Teacher’s Aide and discovered the Internet. I began telling classes tales of my Aussie homeland, and their weird and wonderful critters. I had done this with my own kids, so they wouldn’t forget their homeland. A teacher suggested I write them down, as I had a tendency to change the endings, and kids noticed this very fast.

This was when computers were just beginning to be in homes. I nagged until my husband agreed to buy a computer – all 1 ½ gigs of HD! I went online and discovered a really great site for children’s writers. As luck would have it, several talented and generous hearted writers, now well published themselves, took me under their wing. I learned the writing rules. I learned patience. I became determined to become published. I began to value the benefits of rewriting my manuscripts and reading those of others. Oh, my, what pearls I learned from reading my talented critique group’s manuscripts. Yet rewrites and rejections still filled my days for a l-o-n-g time. Then I formed a private online critique group with other like-minded members, and my writing took a turn for the more publishable. YEA.

A friend recommended me to a publisher, and they accepted my first rhyming picture book. Eventually, this became Wild and Wonderful, a 7 book series that offered fun facts about animals from the US and Australia. Each book had a different illustrator from a different state, or part of the world. Finding them was as easy as asking on my writing list if there were any illustrators willing to give their career a boost by illustrating my books. You could never do that today, and expect wonderful illustrations for a cut of the proceeds. This was early days, and these were eBooks.

Kangaroo Clues, the first in the series, was illustrated by an artist in Turkey. He spoke no English and did not own a computer. How was this possible you ask? Again I have to thank the Internet. An online friend, also Turkish, and famous for her own children’s books, suggested I use her illustrator, Mustafa Delioglu. She sent me some of the books he had illustrated for her, and his work was awesome. His other art hung in galleries over Europe. I shouted, YES!

This friend acted as translator for both of us. Talk about a marathon effort for a friend. Fortunately Mustafa lived near her, so she went back-and- forth with my e-mails, and his replies to them, for months. Almost a year went past before the illustrations were completed and the book finally published. I was thrilled with the results. His magical illustrations came together with my rhymes in a delightful marriage of fun reading. It was information kids could enjoy, while learning about Aussie animals.

Instead of large land masses surrounded by oceans, the Internet has given us all a chance to become closer, learn about each other’s customs, and celebrate different people with different talents. I find this particularly true with Manuscript Critiquing. Clients come to me from all over the globe. We chat, I help them write tight and terrific books, and we share details of our lives and our countries.

One lady from Latvia e-mailed me every day about her life, her writing, and her country. I replied in like fashion – the difference from my end being, that I corrected her English in MY replies to her. At the end of a year her English had improved out of sight, and I had a firm friend from a part of the world I had never thought about before I became a fan of the Internet.

The Internet is the future: brimming with opportunities for improved lifestyles, good works and aiding others. Stopping those who scheme to use it for vice and other dangerous endeavors must be our current priority.

Margot Finke is an author of 11 children’s books. Originally from Down-under, she now lives in Oregon with her husband, and close to their three grown kids and grandkids. Margot also runs a Manuscript Critique Service, where tight and terrific writing is the name of the game. Her website offers many pages of help for beginning writers, plus links to her books, video readings, reviews, and where to purchase.

Website: http://www.margotfinke.com/  
Hook Kids on Reading: http://hookkidsonreading.blogspot.com/  
Margot’s Magic Carpet: http://perfectmagiccarpet.blogspot.com/  

November is Picture Book Month, so when I was asked to submit an article for the GAP Blog, I thought the logical topic was Picture Books. I write ‘em, I read ‘em, I critique ’em and I LOVE ‘em.
So, read on. . .

There are oodles of picture books out there. Some are waiting in slush piles, while others are contenders, already going through the approval process. Then, there are all those bookstores, large and small, that have shelves loaded with picture books. Every conceivable theme and plot line has already been written - thousands of times. So, how can you hit the jackpot with your PB?

The First Thing to Consider:

Don't worry about finding a new kind of story - it's not going to happen mates! What you need is a neat out-of-the-box scenario: a fresh new way to write a fun story about bunnies, horses, moonbeams or new babies - whatever. Nothing is set in stone. Jot down your ideas, and then turn them sideways, upside-down or inside-out. All things being equal, quirky and fresh gets the brass ring.

Think of the picture books you loved as a kid, or now love to read to your kids. Take one of these stories and think about what made it appeal to you or your child. Then reinvent it. This is not plagiarism. It is dissecting a PB: plot, characters and setting, until you know the secret of its success. Use that knowledge to craft a new story, completely your own. Exploit the principles of success you discovered while doing the dissecting.

The Writing:

Tight writing for picture books is the golden rule. Use powerful and active verbs,

Great verbs are a PB writer's best friend. Search for adjectives that surprise and delight your reader. Be specific when referring to people, places, and events. Simplicity is a splendid goal. Beware like, nice, very, walked, sat, ran, and their ilk. You can find better, stronger, and more innovative words. Seemed, I think, perhaps and some - all four have weakness in common. Write with words that signify strength, action and power. Think of your text as a garden with rampant growth. Prune those sentences until your word count is way below 1,000 words.

The writer that prunes ruthlessly is the one who becomes published.

Your First Paragraph or Verse:

Editors are buried under piles of manuscripts waiting to be read, work related in-office conferences, and time spent conferring with the art director, and dictating rejection letters - to name just a few chores that crowd their days. If your first few lines don't make an editor say, "Wow!" you can forget advances and royalty payments. Those first few lines need to make an editor eager to read more. Your goal is to have her think, "Hey, this is something new and different."

So, set up those first lines as if your publishing life depended on them - because it does. Make them fun: full of action or quirky ideas. Introduce the main character in a way that makes a lasting impression. Describe a wild and way-out setting. Craft those lines using ideas with a twist, and characters that kids demand to read about, over-and-over. Of course this will cause you big problems with the rest of your story. Why? Because you have already set an incredibly high writing standard, and you must maintain that standard until THE END.

The Right Publisher:

You must find a publisher who publishes books similar to yours. More rejections are sent because the author chose the wrong publisher, than because the writing was lousy. If you write picture books about animals, it is a waste of time sending your manuscript to religious, non-fiction, or mid-grade only publishers. In addition, you need to fine-tune your search even further. IE: Some publishers will accept animal stories, but not stories about talking animals. It is a simple matter of doing your homework.

Finding a publisher that has an editor who needs a book like yours, loves your writing style, and is in sync with your ideas for your book can be a crap shoot. Because, unless you are already know to the editor (translation: published by them and made them lots of money), or have editorial or publishing connections via different sources, you are left to wade through miles of publishing websites, looking at the books they have recently published, plus their submission guidelines.

The CWIM (Children's Writers and Illustrator's Market) is a wonderful source of legitimate publishing houses, website addresses, and clues about what publishers want from you. Book stores and libraries are other places you can find stories along the lines of yours. Make notes about who published them.

Harold Underdown's Purple Crayon has many useful pages. Here are THREE articles that will help you search for a publisher. Harold's website has far too many great articles to mention all the useful ones- check it out Here.

• Who's Moving Where

• Magazines, Organizations & Websites

• Basic Information: Several articles on how to be published.

Then there is:

• Secrets of Writing for Children : Lots of help and guidance.

• Amazon Book/Publisher Search: For more focused searches on individual authors, publishers, or subjects, the best bet is Amazon's dedicated search page.

• Writer's Market: They update information regularly, including editors to contact. They have a program where you can track submissions, but it costs to join. Writer's Market also has a free update site. You don't have to subscribe to the magazine to get the updates.

• Verla Kay's WebSite: A mult-published author. A wonderful resource site. Click Artists & Writers and then Transcripts. Look for back transcripts of chat with editors.

In Conclusion:

The principles of making sure your manuscript is ready for a publisher/editor is the same for all books: tight writing, great choice of words, strong story and memorable characters. For picture books, you need only a few words, and then weave them into a marvelous story. Your book must keep the interest of small children with the attention span of a puppy. How can an undertaking that looks so simple end up being one of the most difficult tasks a writer can tackle?

Don't ask me. I'm hooked!



===================

Margot Finke is an Aussie transplant now living in Oregon. She has 10 published picture books, and also writes young YA fiction. Her Manuscript Critique Service promises to help you write “As tight as your granny’s new girdle,” and her personal guidance will show you how to WOW an editor.

BOOKS and Manuscript Critiques: http://www.margotfinke.com/

HOOK KIDS on READING: http://hookkidsonreading.blogspot.com/  

Margot’s Magic Carpet: http://perfectmagiccarpet.blogspot.com/

Title: Horatio Humble Beats the Big “D”
Author: Margot Finke
Illustrator: Ellen Gurak
Paper ISBN: 13: 978-1-61633-101-6
eBook ISBN: 13: 978-1-61633-102-3
Publisher: Guardian Angel Publishing

Horatio Humble Beats the Big “D” is a children’s rhyming picture book that tackles dyslexia. For those who are unfamiliar with the term, dyslexia, according to the Mayo Clinic, “is an impairment in your brain's ability to translate written images received from your eyes into meaningful language.” And, it is the most common learning disability in children.

Margot Finke, in her usual insightful and playful way, shows the academic and emotional affects that dyslexia carries with it. Horatio, like all children with dyslexia, wants to read like his peers, but just can’t. “He wanted to read and dive into books, to snuggle in bed, reading stuff about crooks. But something was wonky within his poor head, so words in his books stayed a mystery instead.”

The author captures the emotional impact a child feels when he can’t read like others, which leads to: the need for special resources, tutoring, low self-esteem, and even anxiety. “Special class is for nitwits,” he whined to his Mom. “Every one of my friends will think that I’m dumb!”

With vivid full page illustrations Finke brings Horatio through the process of “special class” and shows the outcome that can be attained with proper instruction. “Words came unscrambled and flowed smooth and clear. “Hey, I’m reading books!” He yelled with a cheer.”

I’ve mentioned it before, and I’ll do so again, I’m a fan of Margot Finke’s work. She has a unique talent for approaching topics that children can use help with, such as moving away from familiar surroundings and friends, as in her book Ruthie and the Hippo’s Fat Behind, and now with dyslexia. What’s wonderful about Finke’s books is she addresses these issues with lighthearted rhyming fun.

Horatio Humble Beats the Big “D” is a book every parent of a child who is struggling to read should get. It’s important for children to know they’re not alone in their struggles, and that dyslexia is a problem that CAN be overcome.

Included at the end of the story is a resource page that provides information on dyslexia and also offers links to pertinent articles, along with book suggestions. Listed in the information is the advice that encourages parents of children who have or are suspect of having dyslexia to let their children know it is not a sign of a lack of intelligence. These children should be told that actors/celebrities such as Tom Cruise, Orlando Bloom, Oprah Winfrey and Magic Johnson overcame dyslexia, as did Bill Gates and Albert Einstein.

According to statistics, one in five students (around 20% of the population) has a language based learning disability. And, less than one-third of the children with reading disabilities receive school services to help with their disability.

Reading Horatio Humble Beats the Big “D” with your dyslexic child is a valuable strategy to help with your child’s self-esteem and motivation.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/dyslexia/DS00224
http://www.learning-inside-out.com/dyslexia-statistics.html

Reviewed December 7, 2010 by:

Karen Cioffi-Ventrice
Author, ghostwriter, freelance writer, reviewer
Acquisitions Editor Intern with 4RV Publishing

http://www.dkvwriting4u.com/
http://karencioffi.com/
KarenCioffi Writing for Children and More
Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/karencioffiventrice
Twitter: http://twitter.com/KarenCV
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/kcioffiventrice

Reviewed for
National Writing for Children Center
Filed under Book Reviews

Reviewed by Karen Cioffi

Title: Ruthie and the Hippo's Fat Behind
Author: Margot Finke
Illustrator: K. C. Snider


Publisher: Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
ISBN (Print): 13: 978-1-61633-059-0
ISBN (eBook): 13: 978-1-61633-06

Powell’s Books: http://www.powells.com/s?kw=Margot+Finke
Target: http://preview.tinyurl.com/25tfdja  
Amazon: http://preview.tinyurl.com/2f6z3dq
Barnes and Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/results.asp?AUD=JUV&kids=y&WRD=Rattlesnake+Jam
Guardian Angel Pub: http://www.guardianangelpublishing.com/ruthie.htm

Ruthie and the Hippo's Fat Behind is a delightful children's picture book that deals with a "big change" in a little girl's life. And, with the first line the reader is immediately hooked: "Young Ruthie's mood changed overnight, her smiles slunk off in gloom."

What a great introduction to a children's story. The stage is set, Ruthie's "smiles slunk off in gloom." Right there on the first page, in the first sentence, you know Ruthie has a problem . . . a big problem.

Due to a family move, Ruthie had to leave her school, her neighborhood, and worst of all, her friends. Everything she was familiar with was gone. And, like most children, Ruthie was having a very hard time dealing with the situation . . . the loneliness . . . and the adjustment to new surroundings.

Then one day, out of the blue, something changes Ruthie's mood: "A whimper came, and then one more. Frowns melted into smiles. A Magic Moment, swirling fast, zoomed in and worked its wiles." This is great writing.

As the title depicts, Ruthie and the Hippo's Fat Behind explores Ruthie's unhappiness and resulting reactions in a lighthearted and amusing manner. With rhyme and vivid description, Finke brings the reader along on Ruthie's plight of loneliness, sadness, and anger with a twist of silliness: "Her moods grew big and ugly, like some Hippo's fat behind!"

In addition to a great story, the book is filled with outstanding full page illustrations that are bold, colorful, and full of life. This combination will have kids wanting to read it over and over. Ruthie and the Hippo's Fat Behind is a book that children will absolutely love, and benefit from. To add to the value of the book, Finke includes a PARENT TEACHER GUIDE. This section offers useful tips and strategies to help children who are facing a "big change." It also includes three links to websites that provide additional help and resources.

I am a huge fan of Margot Finke's work, including Ruthie and the Hippo's Fat Behind. With her expertise in rhyme and story telling, she has a knack for cleverly conveying what children may be feeling in a manner that engages, entertains, and is filled with humor. She also has a knack for magically weaving rhyming content into wonderful images that take the reader on an amazing journey.

Karen Cioffi is an author, ghostwriter, freelance writer, and reviewer. She is also the founder and manager of VBT Writers on the Move, and on the team at DKV Writing 4 U. For information about writing and marketing, stop by http://karencioffi.com/ and sign up for her FREE monthly newsletter - you'll also get 2 FREE e-books about writing and marketing.

You can visit the National Writing Center for Children at http://writingforchildrencenter.com/.

I guess all brains are not wired in the same way. Some children gravitate toward reading despite parents who never opened a book, and never read to them. Other children, from families with a passionate love for books and reading, never feel the urge to peek beyond the cover.

And there are also those children who have a problems reading, and avoid it at all cost. First, make sure it is not some form of ADHD or Dyslexia. Whatever the cause, these children need to be tested, diagnosed, and the correct guidance and help provided. Finding the problem early, and treating it early, is the only way to help your child learn methods that will assure he thrives as a teen and an adult.

When I was a young Aussie growing up in a small seaside town, reading great books, listening to the radio, and going to the movies was the height of the teckie scene. Oh, and if you were older, the Saturday night dance at the church or the school Gym was the ultimate - especially if you had a hot date. Later on, gabbing on the phone also took over - kinda the dinosaur version of texting.

As a child, my parents read to me often. Books were a magic carpet ride to wild and wonderful places I might never be lucky enough to visit for myself. A rich and wonderful story made me feel sad when I reached the last page. A great author always made the characters and their trials and tribulations come to life. I become involved. I rooted for them. I identified with the characters. I wanted more! I read under the covers using a flashlight when I should have been sleeping. I was never without a book somewhere handy.

This is what I hoped my three children would feel about books and reading. I read to them when they were young, and when we moved to the US, I made up fun stories for them , about critters from their Aussie homeland. The walls of our home were lined with well read books. Yet our son became a reluctant reader. A smart kid who drooped and scowled when asked to read any book.

This highly technical age, with its bells and whistles, seduces many kids - especially boys, The distraction of video games, slick movies you can watch at home, TV and texting, all have huge appeal to 21st centaury youngsters. Only dwebes and wonkers read - right? Because so many moms and dads now work full time, the trend away from reading has escalated. Often, no one is home after school to supervise, and see that TV and games are limited, and reading is given a big push forward. Many parents (particularly single ones), must work more than one job to make ends meet. This means housework, laundry and cooking must be done after dark, and reading to children sometimes gets put on the back burner. Exhaustion is the norm for these parents. I know only too well - there are just so many hours in each day, and you can only do what you can do.

So, how to get reluctant readers reading, when time is tight, and money even tighter? Grade school boys can be lured into reading if you just remember that they are mini macho editions of their dads. Steer clear of girly stories with giggles and gossip. Boys like fast action stories, armpit noise makers, a dead mouse in someone’s bed kind of humor, and cool dialogue. Think junior version of "Raiders of the Lost Ark," or "Pirates of the Caribbean." Go for macho - long on action and short on angst. This worked for my son when I discovered the "Hardy Boys" series. He devoured every one of them, and hasn't stopped reading since.

Stop a moment, and take note of what your older RR (boy or girl) really likes to do - baseball, football, skateboarding, fashion, food, cheerleading - whatever it is, find books that center around their interest and passions - fiction or nonfiction, it doesn't matter. Talk to them about their interests while you eat a meal, do the laundry, or drive them to sports events. Get a dialogue going. Give them a library card of their own, and encourage them to go choose books THEY like.

Try to make one hour of the week family reading time. Choose the book together, and then take turns reading to each other. I know one family who did this for an hour a week. They all enjoyed it so much, they now do it every night, right after dinner.

My other Blog, HOOK KIDS on READING offers a selection of books (on the lower right) that are written with reluctant readers in mind.

* If you know of a child suffering from big changes in their life, "Ruthie and the Hippo's Fat Behind," is a fun rhyming read with a sneaky message + the Q&A in the parent- teacher guide will be very helpful.
* If you have a child who is dyslectic, read them the rhyming, "Horatio Humble Beats the Big D." The included parent-teacher guide offers helpful advice + links to more serious help.
"Rattlesnake Jam" was written with my son, the reluctant reader, in mind: rhymes full of
icky boy stuff and humor.
* And coming soon - mid-grade boys will eat up "Taconi and Claude - Double Trouble." Set on a cattle station in the Aussie outback, an upcoming Man Ceremony, danger, Dreamtime Spirits, goanna steak, a problem Dad and a chatty cockatoo, all help Taconi decide his future.

Margot Finke is an Aussie transplant who writes midgrade adventure fiction and rhyming picture books. For many years she has lived in Oregon with her husband and family. She is also the proud Nana of seven grandchildren. Gardening, travel, and reading fill in the cracks between writing. Her husband is very supportive and their three children are now grown and doing very well.

Margot didn't begin serious writing until the day their youngest left for college. This late start drives her writing, and pushes her to work at it every day. Margot said, "I really envy those who began young, and managed to slip into writing mode between kid fights, diaper changes, household disasters, and outside jobs. You are my heroes! "

Her Website offers details about all 10 of her rhyming books + those coming soon, and her Manuscript Critique Service will help you write tight and terrific. There is also plenty of help for beginning writers. Two blogs offer fun, information and helpful advice about choosing books for kids, and how to write them. Visit a while and discover great books for your children.


G.A.P. Books for Kids -
http://mysite.ncnetwork.net/restbcm8/Margot%27%20%20Books.htm


“Wild and Wonderful” – rhyming series about animals from the US and Australia
http://mysite.ncnetwork.net/restbcm8/Books.html#clues

WEBSITE: Writing Help and Manuscript Critiques - http://www.margotfinke.com/
2 Blogs:
http://hookkidsonreading.blogspot.com/  
http://margotfinke.blogspot.com/

"Ruthie and the Hippo’s Fat Behind is a book that children will absolutely love, and benefit from...cleverly conveying what children may be feeling in a manner that engages, entertains, and is filled with humor."

--Karen Cioffi, The National Writing for Children Center

Read the full review here!

"Told in perfect rhyme, Ruthie and the Hippo’s Fat Behind!...provides the perfect opportunity to get our children and/or students into a lively discussion of what change means to them and how they’ve handled it and what they can do to make transition easier in the future."

--Donna McDine, Write What Inspires You

Read the rest of the review here!

Find this and more books released by Guardian Angel Publishing at our website.