Stanford Continuing Studies: What's My Genre? Finding Your Voice in Children's Literature

Dear Imaginary Readers,

Please join us for a 3-day workshop:

What's My Genre? Finding Your Voice in Children's Literature

https://continuingstudies.stanford.edu/courses/course.php?cid=20111_WSP+213

3 Saturdays, Oct. 22-Nov. 5, 2011 (Register at the link above. We'd love to see you there)

Children’s publishing presents a vast array of writing opportunities, with many genres to consider: picture books, chapter books, middle grade, poetry, fantasy, and young adult fiction. Many important questions face an aspiring writer of children’s literature. When discovering their own genre and voice, writers must consider: What age is the main character? How old is the intended audience? What’s currently being published? Over three Saturdays, this course will introduce students to exemplary titles that showcase the unique qualities of various genres. Through fun and absorbing in-class writing exercises, students will begin to discover their own voices while exploring various genres in children’s literature.

The course is open to aspiring as well as experienced writers, and students may bring five pages of their work-in-progress for discussion in the workshop.

Elissa Haden Guest, Author

Elissa Haden Guest is the author of numerous children’s books, most recently the picture book, Harriet’s Had Enough!. Books in her ten-book early reader series, Iris and Walter, have been named Junior Library Guild Selections, an ALA Notable Book, a Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year, and a PEN Center USA West Literary Award.

Lynn E. Hazen, Author

Lynn Hazen is the author of the young adult novel, Shifty, which was named on VOYA’s Top Shelf Fiction list, and was a CCBC Choice and a Smithsonian Notable. Her other books include Mermaid Mary Margaret, Cinder Rabbit, The Amazing Trail of Seymour Snail, and Buzz Bumble to the Rescue. She received an MA in education from San Francisco State and an MFA in writing for children and young adults from Vermont College.

Seymour Celebration!

Books, Berets, Friends & Fun!

Yes, last Saturday was fun with a celebration for my new book, THE AMAZING TRAIL OF SEYMOUR SNAIL illustrated by Doug Cushman. It was doubly fun because it was a double book launch party for Elissa Haden Guest and her new book, HARRIET'S HAD ENOUGH! Here come some pics of the celebration.

(Above) Elissa & me in front of Cover to Cover Booksellers. Yep, I'm wearing my beret with a snail decoration on it. (Seymour the Snail wears a beret on the cover of the book, too!)

Below, yummy goat cheese with edible flowers from Harley Farms.

(Below) Mr. Stink Bug in the window holding a copy of THE AMAZING TRAIL OF SEYMOUR SNAIL.


Me, my son Mike & Liz. Mike helped with the mechanics of Seymour zipping around and around the window display on a hidden Lego train. Thanks, Mike! See the video below. What fun!


Seymour Slimes His Way from Lynn H on Vimeo.

More friends and berets! Lynn & Karen below.

I love the illustrations in THE AMAZING TRAIL OF SEYMOUR SNAIL. Stay tuned for an interview with the illustrator, the wildly talented Doug Cushman. Thank you, Doug for bringing Seymour and his pals to life.

Maria & Karen above.

Lynn & Elissa (above)

4 Revisionaries (above): Lynn, Jim, Karen & Maria

Jim & Karen

Charlesie, Lynn & Ryoko (Charlesie helped paint the cool platform to hide the train, and she made the super yummy cookies below left in the box that looked like little mini painting palettes!) Ryoko helped make the cool bug and flower art in the window. Yes, it takes a village to launch a book!
More friends below:

Frances, Lynn & a young reader!

(above) Venus & her Little Stars and Lynn

(above) My inspiration for Charlie & Prince Charming Whiskers in Cinder Rabbit.

(above) Clara & Lynn
(below) Ryoko & Lynn

More young readers!

Lynn, Yuyi (in her Che beret), and Maria

Debbie & Lynn

Facepainting fun, too!

Karen & Frances above. Era, Debbie & Lynn below

Elissa reading HARRIET'S HAD ENOUGH!

Okay, the snails all slowly slime their way home. Thanks for taking a look.
If you missed the party but still want a signed copy of any of Lynn's or Elissa's books, please call
Cover to Cover at 415-282-8080

The two authors again. Thanks to Tracy & Mark at Cover to Cover for hosting. And thanks to everybody who came to the party to celebrate with us!

Double Book Launch Party for Seymour & Harriet!

Everyone is invited to a Double Book Launch Party!!

Lynn E. Hazen 's, THE AMAZING TRAIL OF SEYMOUR SNAIL
&
Elissa Haden Guest's , HARRIET'S HAD ENOUGH!

Please join us in the celebration!

Saturday May 16th

10 a.m. to noon
at Cover to Cover in San Francisco

1307 Castro St
(between 24th St & Jersey St)
San Francisco, CA 94114
(415) 282-8080

Here is what Kirkus has to say about my favorite snail...

"Seymour Snail is an endearing artist..."

"Cushman’s anthropomorphized bugs from the art gallery are a hoot..."

"Creative wordplay abounds..."

"Engaging characters and winning art create a solid addition to the field of transitional literature."
KIRKUS REVIEWS, April 1, 2009

www.LynnHazen.com

www.ElissaHadenGuest.com



(Paul Meisel’s) "… rosy pinks and golden tans convey the warmth of the family home.”
School Library Journal

"Young readers will be reassured by the tale's comforting message that a family's love is constant…”

"This amusing peek at a common childhood scenario will satisfy parents and children alike."
Kirkus Reviews

Lynn Hazen Teaches Berkeley and Stanford Classes in Writing For Children & Young Adults

Registration is now open for a two-day U.C. Berkeley Extension class (held in San Francisco) May 30-31st, 2009 on Writing the YA Novel. Elissa Haden Guest and I taught this last summer and it was great fun. We're looking forward to teaching it again. Register here before it fills up.

Speaking of filling up...

I was also going to announce that we'll being teaching Writing for the Youngest Audience at Stanford Continuing Studies (a two-day class on May 2nd & May 9th, 2009 co-taught with Elissa Haden Guest). But the class is already full! The good news? There is a way to join the waitlist. Just click right here for more info about the class and the waitlist. Who knows? If enough people join the waitlist, maybe they'll ask us to teach another section.

Here is the description of: Writing the Young Adult Novel: A Two-Day Intensive Workshop
What exactly is a Young Adult novel? How does it compare with middle-grade children's literature or adult literature? How do you get started, keep going, and once you've written it, find the right publisher? In this two-day intensive workshop, students are introduced to various Young Adult genres, including traditional, edgy, verse, and graphic novels. We look at successful examples of the Young Adult novel, focusing on specific writing techniques. Participants explore voice, character development, and plot-point ideas through in-class writing exercises.

And here is the description of the Stanford Class: Writing for the Youngest Audience
In this workshop we will explore how successful picture books, early readers, and young chapter books engage a young audience (birth through age nine). Aspiring as well as experienced writers will explore exemplary titles for children in this age range. We will investigate and practice writing techniques focusing on developing character, story structure, and vivid language, and we will consider when to leave room for the illustrator and more. Students will participate in engaging, in-class writing exercises. Practical tips about the world of children’s book publishing will also be addressed with plenty of time for Q&A. Participants are welcome to bring and focus on their own typed first three pages of a picture book or early reader manuscript.

CSLA (California School Library Association) Author Illustrator Brunch

Sunday's CSLA Author Illustrator Brunch in Sacramento was fun. I had a chance to say a brief 'hello' to several author friends. Here are some pics:
A few of the authors in attendance (from left): Gennifer Choldenko, Jay Asher, Erin Dealey, Elissa Haden Guest, Lynn Hazen, Karen Beaumont & Bob Barner

More pics:

Elissa Haden Guest & Lynn Hazen

Alma Flor Ada, Gennifer Choldenko & Isabel Compoy

Lori Lim (one of the organizers of the brunch) with Elissa Haden Guest

Pam Turner, Lynn Hazen & Gennifer Choldenko

I was seated at Table 10 where I met a really great bunch of librarians and curriculum leaders from Long Beach.

I was happy to see author Ron Koertge there, faculty from my MFA days at Vermont College. I was hoping to get a photo but--oops--I must have had the camera set to "movie." Well, this is the Imaginary Blog so please imagine a nice photo or a very short video of Ron & me smiling.

Forecast: I'm still aiming for another interview before November becomes December!