VS Grenier ~ Award-Winning Author, Speaker & Podcaster

I recently had the pleasure of working with Sal Richards on his book trailer for his autobiography BEHIND the LAUGHTER, HIDDEN TEARS. While working with Sal, I was not only able to read his book and watch the documentary the book is based on, but I was also able to meet the man behind the name personally. Sal Richards was born in Brooklyn, New York and in Sal´s words, "They ultimately poured the foundations for my successful career in show business." However, he didn´t start out as a Hollywood or Broadway Child Star. No, this man had to work from the bottom up and his climb to fame was met with many struggles, bumps and roadblocks. Sal in his biography said, "My father loved to make people laugh and often put on shows to entertain sick children at neighborhood hospitals." Unfortunately, his father died at an early age when Sal was only 7. However, the seed was planted and as a young boy, Sal started doing shows in grammar school and for the kids in the

What time of day do you write best or are most productive? Here are some tips to help you determine when your best time to write: What's your writing power? How long can you write without draining yourself? Are you able to write more when you write for two hours each day without taking a break or do you find that you're able to churn out a good article or finish a chapter in your novel if you write for say, four one-hour periods with three fifteen-minute breaks? What's your alert level? This is simply determining what time of day your mind is most creative, imaginative and alert. Is it in the morning? mid-morning? afternoon? mid-afternoon? middle of the night? What are your distractions? If you're a mom with kids to take care of, when's the best time that you can write? When they're at school? When the kids are napping or watching TV? If you're still single, when can you write without being distracted by family obligations or work? Pick

Although her background has been in business, K.S. Krueger has always loved to write. She has written poetry and several children’s stories originally for her eldest daughter. Kim enjoys the idea of seeing the world through the eyes of her imagination and finds herself submerged in the worlds she creates. Imagination has never been in short supply ever since she was a child. Because her series rides a fine line between fantasy and reality, it calls each reader to decide for themselves if they BELIEVE!   Kim has always believed that when you find something you truly love to do, even if you think it is just a dream, find your passion, the gift that is within you, believe in yourself and follow that dream. “Let yourself be open to the possibilities that await. You never know where they might take you.” Kim is a wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend. She is a writer, businesswoman, Reiki practitioner and spiritual person. She loves animals, nature and kids. Kim has lived in the Su

Sometimes classified as a genre of its own, creative nonfiction writing is actually an umbrella term that includes a variety of writing types. The unifying characteristic of the styles of writing that make up creative nonfiction is that while the writer deals with actual events rather than invented events, the writer uses techniques of fiction and poetry writers. Some of the types of written works that fall under the category of creative nonfiction are personal essays, memoirs, meditations, cultural commentary, nature journaling, and travel writing. Often nonfiction writing becomes dry as it deals with facts, or boring as it explains processes. By injecting a little creative life into these nonfiction written works, the writer can hold the interest of the reader and offer them a little entertainment along with information. To capture the essence of creative nonfiction, it is important to write with a sense of "I." Even if the article is told in third person

Join V.S. Grenier and Marsha Casper Cook on December 5 at 1PM EST 12 NOON CST - 11 AM MT -10 AM PST for a special edition of World Of Ink Network as they welcome Emma Dryden. Also on the show and part of the discussion will Jan Britland. This is one show every children's writer should listen to. Emma has an incredible resume. Before she graduated college she landed an internship as a “jack of all trades” assistant at Viking Children’s Books and once she earned her B.A in English Language and Literature from Smith, she became an Editorial Assistant at Random House Children’s Books. She was then hired as Associate Editor for the legendary Margaret K. McElderry, whose imprint was part of Macmillan Children’s Books, and was later named Senior Editor of the imprint and was then made Vice President, Editorial Director, and in 2005 I became Vice President, Publisher of Atheneum Books for Young Readers and Margaret K. McElderry Books, imprints of Simon & Schuster Childr

Blog Talk Radio’s World of Ink Network Show: Stories for Children withhosts VS Grenier, Kris Quinn Christopherson and Irene Roth will be chatting with Jan Britland about her Rodger Dodger Dog Series. Jan Britland is an author and artist. She lives in Punta Gorda, Florida with her husband Bill. They have a bulldog named Madison, a parrot named Lola, three red-eared slider turtles named Sparky, Luigi and hale. And last but not least Goldie a pond fish. All of whom are portrayed in her stories. When she is not writing Children's books, she teaches oil painting to adults. You can reach Jan through her website, http://www.rodgerdodgerdog.com . The show will air live November 28, 2011 at 2pm EST. You can find out more about Jan Britland’s World of Ink Author/Book Tour schedule at http://storiesforchildrenpublishing.com/RodgerDodger.aspx . There will be giveaways, reviews, interviews, guest posts and more. Make sure to stop by and interact with Britland and the hosts at the

Utah Children's Writers: The Road to Writing for Children and Teens by VS Grenier... : "It is the magic of fiction that allows the young reader to 'escape' from ordinary day-to-day doings and to live more fully in a heightened, highlighted version of life, with adventure possible at every turn of the page" —Lee Wyndham, Author Every time I think everything has been said about writing, something new pops up. I don’t mind admitting I’m wrong. Heck, I think that’s one reason why I love writing for children and teens, but knowing the nuts and bolts is important before you sit down to write, especially for the children and YA market. Read more here http://utahchildrenswriters.blogspot.com/2011/11/road-to-writing-for-children-and-teens.html

Jewel Kats is an award-winning writer. She’s also one tough cookie. At the age of nine, Jewel endured a car accident. Her physical abilities altered forever. She spent weeks in the Hospital for Sick Children recovering, has survived eight leg surgeries, and currently walks with a cane. (Note: It’s fashionably handpainted!) Nothing stops Jewel. For six years, she penned a syndicated teen advice column for Scripps-Howard News Service and TorStar Syndication Services. Jewel has earned $20,000 in scholarships from Global Television Network and Harlequin Enterprises Ltd. She’s penned three children’s books, including: Reena’s Bollywood Dream, What Do You Use to Help Your Body? and her latest book Cinderella’s Magical Wheelchair . VS: Jewel, I want to thank you for being my guest here on The Writing Mama today. So to start things off, what do you do to help balance your writing life with your family life? Jewel: I’m very, very close to my family now at this point in life. I have a