Hurray! It’s almost time for the #50PreciousWords 2024 International Writing Contest.
Some of you have been participating since the beginning. But others are here for the first time. So, I’d like to share a bit about the back story of this contest.
In 2012 I had a dream. I wanted to write picture books. One of the most important things I did was to participate in writing challenges like Julie Hedlund’s 12×12 and all of Susanna Hill’s contests. Why was that important? Because it got me writing. It got me revising. It got me submitting. Hmmm….writing/revising/submitting. I believe that if we do those three things enough times, our writing improves and agents and editors get a chance to see our work. And as much as I am thrilled with my own success, nothing makes me happier than to hear about the success of others in our kid-lit community.
When I first got the idea for this contest back in 2016, I thought a few of my friends might take pity on me and submit a story – to my surprise, there were 128 entries.
Hurray for new books in the pipeline!!! And what a joy to be able to give a cover reveal shout-out to a book written by a long-time kid-lit friend, Lori Dubbin. Lori and I met at a conference back in 2015 – and I couldn’t be happier that I get a chance to help her celebrate.
Now, here’s a cover that’s filled with action – illustrator Amanda Quartey did such an amazing job that I’m ducking my head in case the ball comes my way! And her color palette is so vibrant…I love it!
Here’s a little bit about the book from the Amazon sales page: When Althea Gibson first dreamed of joining the big American tennis leagues, she was denied because she was Black. Angela Buxton dreamed of joining the best tennis clubs in Britain, but she was rejected because she was Jewish. When Angela heard that Althea was coming to Britain to compete, she skipped school to see the match. If Althea didn’t let hatred stop her from playing the game she loved, Angela wouldn’t either. At the French Championships in 1956, Angela told Althea about her dream of winning Wimbledon with a doubles partner. To win as a team, they would have to stick to their strengths together. And they did.
We are fortunate that Lori stopped by to chat – I asked her how the story came to be: LORI: Writing a picture book may appear to take only 500-900-ish words, but it takes thousands of words of revision along with patience, sweat, and tears to get a picture book to publication. I started writing Perfect Match in 2015 (it had a different title then) after I opened an old nonfiction book, Great Jews in Sports by Robert Slater, which had been a Bar Mitzvah gift to my oldest son. I landed on a page about a British tennis player, Angela Buxton. There was a picture of Angela in her tennis outfit and the text mentioned her doubles partner had been Althea Gibson. Right away, I wanted to know more about this duo. Sadly, I learned Althea and Angela were treated as outsiders by the elite tennis world of the 1950s because of their race and religion. But these two women just wanted to play the game they loved. They became close friends and doubles partners, and together they defied the prejudices of the time with dedication, teamwork, and perseverance.
I so admired their perseverance and hard work, and learned – on a much different level – how I needed to persevere in communicating their story. The process of writing this manuscript took sixty-something revisions, five title changes, and eight more years to get to publication.
We all know the path is hard. There are rewarding days and days when that positive energy turns in the opposite direction. Staying connected to other writers and illustrators through 12×12 webinars, writers’ blogs, and my critique group helped me keep moving forward. I realize now I was improving as a writer and learning my craft, which allowed me not to worry about how many years were whooshing by me. Keep learning and keep at it – one day an agent or an editor will love the manuscript that is such a part of your heart.
I love the way the illustrator, Amanda Quartey, captured Althea and Angela’s highs and lows, their action on the tennis court, and their friendship on the page.
Althea and Angela’s story is relevant to what’s happening in the world today, and it feels like the right time for it to enter the world.
WOW! Thank you so much, Lori! Those are important insights…thank you so much for sharing them.
And dear readers, I’m going to share how we can help upcoming books like PERFECT MATCH become a perfect success: We can buy it We can review it We can put it on our Goodreads WANT TO READ shelf We can tell friends about it (share on social media, please) We can ask our local library to purchase copies for their collection
I’ve already put it on my Goodreads Want To Read Shelf…and I’m sharing this post on my social media and will request my local library buy it. How can you help?
I hope you all have a fabulous week! This past weekend was my birthday (77) and I’m so excited that the my Facebook Birthday Fundraiser for the Stuart Kirkfield Scholarship at Highlights is 79% funded! Woo-hoo! If you’d like to join in, please check it out – there are 3 more days and any amount of support is appreciated: https://www.facebook.com/donate/1108264050308830/1113485846453317
Hurray!!!! It’s a cover reveal for a book I can’t wait to add to my collection, written by one of my dearest kid-lit friends and her son, Jolene and Dakota Gutierrez and illustrated by Mirelle Ortega.
Just look at that cover! The art by Mirelle jumps right off the page and into your heart! Her color palette sings and is the perfect accompaniment to the text by Jolene and Dakota.
Here’s a little bit about the book from the publisher’s website: Mamiachi & Me is a lyrical and empowering picture book written by Jolene and Dakota Gutiérrez and illustrated by Mirelle Ortega, winner of a Pura Belpré Illustrator Honor, about what it means to be a mariachi in an all‑female band.
Today’s the day! Rosa will take the stage next to her mami and play along with her popular mariachi band. But as they fasten the shiny botonaduras and tie the moños on their charra suits, Rosa begins to worry. What if the audience doesn’t like her? Is she ready to perform?
With her “mamiachi” and madrinas by her side, Rosa’s stage fright is soothed away by the sound of trumpets, guitars, and violins. Centering on the power of sisterhood, community, and music, the warm and lively text by mother-and-son writing duo Jolene and Dakota Gutiérrez—joined by Mirelle Ortega’s beautiful illustrations—provides a unique perspective to the male-dominated world of mariachi. Back matter includes additional context on the history of the beloved Mexican tradition and the rise of all-female mariachi groups, as well as a glossary, a bibliography, further reading, and a fun, detailed look at a mariachi’s signature charro suit!
And here’s a little bit about these three amazing creatives:
All his life, Dakota Gutiérrez has been involved in music. He’s played violin and sang in choir and musicals, and when a year of virtual learning meant he couldn’t join his school’s mariachi band, he worked with his mom to write about an all-female mariachi group. Dakota’s family has roots in Jalostotitlan, Jalisco, Mexico, where some of his favorite memories are of visiting the plaza to watch the mariachi bands perform on the weekends. Dakota is a student at the Colorado School of Mines where he is majoring in Civil Engineering and is active in the Kappa Sigma Fraternity and intramural sports.
When Jolene Gutiérrez was growing up, mariachi music always meant a special occasion. Jolene loves music and was fortunate to be able to participate in music education programs when she was a child. When her own kids were little, she was overjoyed that their school district offered a robust performing arts program. Mamiachi and Me is important to Jolene because it shows the strength and beauty of women performing in what historically has been a male-dominated art form. Jolene is the author of Too Much! An Overwhelming Day as well as other books for young readers. Find her online at www.jolenegutierrez.com.
Mirelle Ortega is the author-illustrator of Magic: Once Upon a Faraway Land, for which she received a Pura Belpré Illustrator Honor and an International Latino Book Award, and River of Mariposas, which School Library Journal praised in a starred review as “a heartfelt ode to Mexico and the power of children’s imaginations.” Mirelle was born and raised near the Papaloapan River in Veracruz, Mexico, surrounded by amazing mariachi music and Son Jarocho. She now lives in Los Angeles, California. Learn more at https://www.mirelleortega.com/
And we can tell our friends by sharing this post on social media platforms.
I’ve added it to my Goodreads WANT TO READ shelf – and shared on social media. How will you help?
Things are heating up around here as we continue to gather prizes for #50PreciousWords and I continue to cycle to other blogs for guest posts to help launch PEDAL. Today I’m over at Kathy Temean’s blog. And a huge thank you to everyone who has been supporting my Facebook Birthday fundraiser to benefit the Stuart Kirkfield Scholarship at the Highlights Foundation. We are already half-way to the goal. It means the world.
VIVIAN KIRKFIELD - Writer for Children 