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Other CWCC News

Members of the CWCC enjoyed a manuscript critique telesession last night, where everything from picture book manuscripts, writers’ resumes, and nonfiction articles were critiqued. Today, members will receive a link to the recording of this session so they can listen to the critiques of their work even if they were unable to attend last night’s LIVE session.

These teleclasses are always presented by successful, published children’s book authors and/or illustrators. Each teleclass is recorded, and the day after the LIVE teleclass coaching club members are sent a link to the recorded session, so they can listen to it whenever it is convenient for THEM.

This week’s teleclass - Bringing the Past to Life: Writing Middle Grade Historical Fiction, will be presented on Thursday night at 7:00 central time. The instructor for this class is Suzanne Lieurance, author of the upcoming middle grade historical novel, The Locket: Surviving the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire (to be released in May 2008). Lieurance is currently completing a second historical novel for Enslow Publishers’ fiction adventure series.

Membership in the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club is only $27.00 per month.

There are times when a person drifts through everyday life without being noticed all that much by those around them. Fifteen-year-old Raquel Falcone is that person in Remembering Raquel. Her life appears to be quite mundane and her story is told through the eyes of her best friend, family, classmates, and the woman who accidentally struck Raquel with her car.

Raquel’s death shakes the community to its core and proves how we all affect one another’s lives even if for only a brief moment. At first it appears that Raquel would have no lasting impact on her town. As one classmate put it, “”Oh crap. That makes me the class fat girl.” But through the eyes of the people Raquel came in contact with, we learn of Raquel’s gentle kindness, the traumatic impact her mother’s death from cancer had on Raquel, the way Raquel’s classmates perceived her, and the heartwarming frustration of her best friend. Even through cyber-space, it is shown how Raquel connected with others in her own way.

Vivian Vande Velde is an Edgar Award winning author and tackles the array of emotions all age levels go through when a death occurs.Remembering Raquel will tug at your heart. Visit Velde at: http://www.vivianvandevelde.com

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Crime has run rampant at Emerson Hicky Elementary. Chet Gecko and his sidekick Natalie have been put on the case to solve the mysterious disappearance of expensive items by Principal Zero.

“Uh…” I gaped. “You, uh, want to hire me?”

Mr. Zero leaned onto his forearms. “Gecko, despite your faults, you actually have solved a case or two.”

To add insult to injury, Mama Gecko’s pearl necklace is also missing. Much to the dismay of Chet he needs to solve the case quick, before Mama Gecko finds out his little sister borrowed the necklace without permission. Chet and Natalie are racing against time to discover the thief before the Fair at the end of the week with the display of the Flubberjee Egg. If not, it could mean the end of the detective duo.

Hiss Me Deadly is the thirteenth installment of the Tattered Casebook, with the return of the wacky and hilarious characters of Chet and Natalie. Bruce Hale has once again delivered a fast-paced mystery that is sure to delight the middle grade reader.

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