Category: Poetry

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My First Talk in Pajamas

Well, there’s a first time for everything. This past Saturday I was the keynote speaker at a women’s event in Foxboro. Everyone wore their pajamas (including me) and enjoyed a fabulous breakfast (I forgot to eat).

I talked about the friendship between the Biblical cousins, Mary and Elizabeth, and how I could relate to the feeling of being ostracized in society when we struggled to conceive our first child. It was wonderful to have an interpreter for the deaf community in attendance as well.

I signed a lot of books! It was wonderful to see the variety of interest, from the anthologies that I’ve coauthored with my mentor, June Cotner, (For Every Little Thing, Bless the Earth, Toasts and Family Celebrations) to my latest book, Hearts in my Pocket with illustrator Shirley Ng-Benitez.

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Graeme George

Something Good!

The world has begun to take stock in a few good things that have happened during the pandemic. I would include my Zoom visit with the International School of Kuala Lumpur (ISKL) as one of those surprise blessings. I had such a good time working on list poems with them. Take a look at some of their creations. A special thank you to Ms Catherine Bae, their amazing librarian, who organized this visit. The poem below is entitled SUMMER ROCKS by Mr George’s Second Grade. Isn’t it grand?!

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World Read Aloud Day 2021

It’s now over a week ago, but my WRAD experience was amazing this year. I loaded all of my events into my Google Calendar so that I could easily find the link to each Zoom or Meet. That was definitely helpful. I also printed off a sheet for each school so I knew which book or poem we were working on. With 7 visits in a row, there wasn’t time in between each one for any hesitation. From Colombia to Queens, El Paso to Midlothian, Virginia, I had a blast creating poems and showing a “sneak peak” of my next children’s book, For Every Little Thing (Eerdmans Publishing), co-authored with June Cotner. It’s safe to say, I can’t wait until next year.

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Author Acrostics with Elly Swartz

I can’t think of anyone I’d rather hang out with during a New England snow storm than Elly Swartz. If you haven’t read one of Elly’s fabulous books yet, now is the time to start. You can choose from Finding Perfect, Give and Take, or Smart Cookie. If you finish those, her next book, Dear Student, will be coming out in 2022. To learn more at her website, click https://ellyswartz.com/ To book a photo session with her talented son, Greg, head to https://www.instagram.com/gregswartz_photography/

Busy, Busy, Busy, During COVID-19

It’s been a bit daunting, this new world of COVID-19. As difficult and overwhelming as it’s been, however, there has been an amazing outpouring of goodness from the world of libraries and authors.

While my spring school visits have been canceled, I’ve had some wonderful opportunities to still “meet” with children and families online. 

I had one visit with my coworker, Ms Kate, from the Morrill Memorial Library. You may find that conversation here

Likewise, I was able to lead a Double Happiness poetry workshop online that Kate Messner posted on her blog

I hope you find a little time in the midst of this chaos, to nurture your writing and your self. 

Blessings,

Nancy

 

WRAD 2020

Long before COVID-19 was on our radar, back when we were only worried about the common cold, I had a fabulous visit with the Cottage Street Elementary School in Sharon for World Read Aloud Day (February 5, 2020). What amazed me, as always, was how deep and real and fabulous the students’ questions were about my picture books. These First Graders and Kindergarteners were such discerning readers, asking all sorts of questions about writing and dragons. If all goes well, I will venture back to their school in April to create a few Double Happiness poems.

Fall Schedule

Upcoming signings:

September 18th, Book Birthday, Putnam Books for Young Readers, The Yin-Yang Sisters and Frightful the Dragon

September 22nd, 10:30 am, The Boston Athenaeum

September 28th, 6-8 pm, nErDy Author Night, Freeport, ME

September 29th, 1:30 pm, Children’s Book Reading Feat, Gordon College Bookstore, Wenham, MA

October 13th, 11 am, Book Launch Party, The Blue Bunny Bookstore, Dedham, MA

October 27th, 11 am, Story Time, Wellesley Books, Wellesley, MA

November 16th,  NCTE 18, Houston TX 12:30-1:45 pm, presenting on a panel “The Power of Quiet: Helping Introverts (Quietly) Speak Up” with four other awesome authors: Jennifer Chambliss Bertman, Erin Entrada Kelly, Nancy Tupper Ling, and Tamara Smith. 3:30 pm, Signing at the Penguin Booth on the exhibit floor. 

November 24th, Book Signing, Annie’s Book Stop, Worcester, MA