Writer's Cafe - a Cool Writer's Hangout

How did I not know about this before? Was I living under a rock? I recently discovered a great site from a teacher friend (gotta love those teachers) called Writer's Cafe. It is a free writing community where writers can post their work, get reviews, make connections, etc.

I am just getting familiar with it as it is a recent discovery for me. It has the option of connecting with Facebook (another way to promote your books, etc with out the BUY MY BOOK post we occasionally come up with). At times, it is difficult to get reliable critique partners, so this can be a nice alternative. 

However, as a published children's author, I want to remind my readers to be careful what you put up there. If you're looking for critiques on work you will send to a publisher, do not put it online as it could be viewed as "already published" or seen in its entirety publicly, which greatly reduces the ability to sell your work. If you are honing your craft or are writing a piece just to write, this is a great place to start. Other experienced authors will give you positive and constructive feedback. 

When the time comes you want to write something to submit to a publisher, pick a few of your most trusted critiquers either from your Writer's Cafe friends or your own private critique group and privately send your work to be critiqued. 

For authors of books, you can use this as another way to promote your books. Just go in to the Add Writing section and from the drop down menu select "book". This is meant for people to write a book there, but you can do what I did and just add your book's blurb. If you connected your account to Facebook, it will show on your  Facebook newsfeed. 

My blurb on A Star in the Night at Writer's Cafe

There's plenty to do there at Writer's Cafe. If you're there, look me up at   http://www.writerscafe.org/jengladen

See ya there!

Show Don't Tell

My daughter's 7th grade classroom has an amazing teacher who is enthusiastic about writing and the writing process. After hearing how they are learning about "Showing, not telling," I recently offered to do a classroom visit to reinforce the concept they are learning. 

As an author and editor I was thrilled to hear how the teacher is sharing with them about the real writing process and what matters to editors. When we show instead of tell in our writing, we make the writing jump off the page.

I asked the children for examples of showing for the sentence "He liked this safe place." My favorite response? "His eyes lit up when he walked in". Amazing - and from a 7th grader. I suspect us writers are going to have some strong competition in a few years. 

Some more examples of showing versus telling:

• Telling:    It was a nice day.  
• Showing: The sun gleamed through the bright blue sky. The warm breeze tickled my cheek 

• Telling:  He was sad.
• Showing: A frown crept across his face as a tear escaped from his eye.

• Telling: My room is a mess.
• Showing: Clothes lay strewn all over the room. Checkers decorated the remaining visible floor. 

Join in the conversation. What are your Showing Versus Telling sentences? 

Fun with Jill Osborne

About a week ago I had the pleasure of talking with Jill Osborne about my newest book, Angel Donor. When Angel Donor won the P&E Reader's Poll, I had a giveaway to celebrate. Jill, a writer and a play therapist, won the book. I am thrilled that she will not only be able to enjoy the book herself, but she added it to her collection for play therapy. It warms my heart that the book will be doing what it was meant to - to help other children.

When Jill read the book, she was excited about it and wanted to do an interview with me. Head on over to her blog and check out what we discussed. Thank you again Jill for your support of Angel Donor.

Upcoming Events

Look for me next month at my two local events. I will be at Christ the King on March 10 and for all my Holy Redeemer fans, I'll be hanging out with you on Family Fun Night. Don't miss these events. You can purchase an autographed copy of any of my books, including the award winner Angel Donor. 

At Christ the King I will be selling and signing my books. Be sure to visit me and get a free autographed book mark just for stopping by. Teachers and Librarians, don't miss my flyer about author visits. You'll learn how I can do small group or large group presentations. I also have a lesson plan handout on shadows to go with Teresa's Shadow. 

If we meet up at Holy Redeemer, I will be reading Teresa's Shadow to the children and signing and selling my books. Plus there's a chance to win a basket of all three of my books autographed. 

Both events are sure to be packed with fun! 

Angel Donor Named Best Children’s Book in the Preditors and Editors Poll of 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America

January 17, 2013 –

Children’s author and Editor-in-Chief of My LightMagazine announced her third book, Angel Donor, came in first place for children’s books in the 2012 Preditors and Editors Reader’s Poll (P&E Poll). “I’ve been truly humbled by all the support the book received during the polling process,” Jennifer Gladen stated.  “I hope this recognition helps spread the word about the book, but more importantly the cause behind the book.”

Angel Donor, published by Guardian Angel Publishing and illustrated by Samantha Bell, is a picture book about a child in needof a liver transplant. It is inspired by her daughter who was born with liver disease and needed a transplant. “I wanted to create a book that children in the same situation can identify with,” Gladen said. “It had to be a book that explains what the children go through, but ends in hope. I often yearned for a book to read to my daughter when she had questions about her disease.”

When Angel Donor had been nominated for the 2012 P&E Poll, Gladen was thrilled. The poll is an Internet poll on books of all categories. It is designed to help authors gain exposure for their work and help readers discover the newest books out there. As taken from the P&E website, "As part of our overall effort to assist and promote writers, we are proud to present the annual Preditors and Editors Reader's Poll".  P&E is also well known for their vigilance in warning authors about publishing scams.

For more information about the book, please visit:

http://www.guardianangelpublishing.com/angel-donor.htm

http://www.jengladen.com

http://www.facebook.com/AngelDonorBook

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New Issue of GAK January 2013

M E D I A  R E L E A S E

CONTACT:    Donna McDine, Editor-in-Chief, Guardian Angel Kids Ezine

Email:              submissions@...

Website:          http://guardian-angel-kids.com

For Immediate Release

Children’s Ezine Guardian Angel Kids: Sewing – January 2013 Issue

Publisher, Lynda S. Burch remembers fondly as a young girl how her grandmother, mother, and aunt had a quilting frame suspended from the ceiling in their basement. Burch and her relatives sat around it for hours, busily quilting away on their assigned sections. No TV or other noise, only the quiet sound of the quilter’s voices chatting. Time spent here was not only valuable in honing one’s sewing skills, but intertwined the family bond, much like the precise and tight stitching from each quilter to produce a beautiful quilt to be cherished for generations to come.

Come explore the world of Guardian Angel Kids through the thought provoking short stories and articles and learn sewing tips along the way. A hemming your pants poetry, Fingers Hats share s the history of thimbles, Calico Corners brings family history to life through quilting, Ribbons tests one’s sewing talents, how Hand Sewing teaches a new way of fun beyond video games, and essential tips for Easy Literacy Activities.

Surf on over to Guardian Angel Kids today www.guardian-angel-kids.com, enjoy a child safe ad free Ezine and visit the writers and illustrators in the Guardian Angel Kids January 2013 issue and enjoy the inspiring poetry, stories, articles and activities.

We also invite you to stay connected with Guardian Angel Kids through our Facebook Fan Page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Guardian-Angel-Kids-Ezine/163785080346247.

Please feel free to drop Editor-in-Chief, Donna McDine an email at submissions@... and let them know what you think of Guardian Angel Kids and what you'd like to see in the future. They aim to please.

The Guardian Angel Kids Ezine staff and contributors look forward to your visit. Thank you for your time and interest.

Winner of the 12/12/12 Giveaway

Thank you all for participating in the 12/12/12 A Star in the Night giveaway. I have randomly drawn a name from a hat and am thrilled to announce Donna S. Is today's winner! Enjoy the book!

And Merry Christmas!!