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Children’s Fairyland Book Festival

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Fairyland event

Join me May 19 as Children’s Fairyland in Oakland presents Turn the Page! a day for children’s book authors and illustrators to meet and greet their young readers. I will be at my greet and meet table from 1:30-2:40 PM presenting A Stick Until and Smelling Sunshine. I will share my process for writing and illustrating, answer any questions you have, and provide craft activities.  Twenty eight other authors and illustrators will present their books throughout the day from 10 AM until 4 PM.  I hope you will be able to participate and share in this wonderful experience.

Children’s Fairyland is on the shores of Lake Merritt, 699 Bellevue Ave, Oakland, CA 94610    http://www.fairyland.org/

Lindsay Wildlife Experience Story Time Reading

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Join me for story time…

at Lindsay Wildlife Experience, 11 a.m. Sunday, March 11.  I will read my newest picture book A Stick Until…The story follows a stick on its journey as a tool, and from a tool to a toy, to a tree.  Science information about stick use is included, like a science journal.

Story time at Lindsay will include  activities for children to participate, including a crafts project and an imagination starter!

Hope to see you there! Lindsay is located at:

Interview with Kidlit411

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Delighted to have an interview this week with the informative and fun blog, Kidlit411!  I discuss my process for writing and illustrating with a focus on my newest picture book, A Stick Until…. Thanks so much to Sylvia Liu for the opportunity. Here is the link:  http://www.kidlit411.com/2018/01/Kidlit411-Author-Illustrator-Constance-Anderson.html

 Illustration from A Stick Until…

2018 kidlit banner birds wire 150

 

 

 

 

 

Video for A STICK UNTIL…

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I had a great time making this video for A Stick Until…as part of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Book Stop online book launch. To make the video,  I assembled images in my PowerPoint program, edited, added music (with permission from and honorarium to the musicians), and saved it as an MP4.

The  SCBWI Book Stop launch page for A Stick Until… will be online until November 27, 2017 and can be viewed at https://www.scbwi.org/scbwibookstop-display/?id=475384

 

 

Happy New Year 2017

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wangarri-mathai-large-facebookWishing you a new year of hope in action.

“Dr. Wangari Maathai was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004
and founded the Green Belt Movement.  In its citation, the Norwegian
Nobel Committee noted Professor Maathai’s contribution to sustainable
development, democracy and peace.”

“The Green Belt Movement (GBM) has planted over 51 million trees
in Kenya. GBM works at the grassroots, national, and international levels
to promote environmental conservation; to build climate resilience
and empower communities, especially women and girls; to foster
democratic space and sustainable livelihoods.”

For more information: http://www.greenbeltmovement.org/wangari-maathai/biography

My Television Interview: How To Make A Children’s Book

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Recently I had the opportunity to challenge myself by accepting an invitation to discuss my career as an artist and author on the live local television show, Darlene Carman Presents.  The interview is now on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i77skI2ca-w

My first impulse was to say no to the invitation, too intimidating. So instead, I said yes! I am glad I did because it was a great experience.

discussing a page from my picture book Smelling Sunshine with Darlene and Doug Carman on their cable access TV show; Darlene Carman

Darlene Carman, Doug Carman, and I on their television show, Darlene Carman Presents, discussing my picture book, Smelling Sunshine

From participating in the show I learned:

  • How a television interview is put together –  Darlene’s approach is an exchange of information between the presenter and the interviewer; prior to the interview, Darlene and I communicated through email, exchanging ideas as she gathered information about my career.
  • How to help shape and prepare for a live interview – I gave Darlene as much information as she requested about my career, and she put together questions for the interview which worked as a guideline for my appearance;  I knew what we would be discussing.
Discussing how I illustrated a page from Smelling Sunshine

A page I illustrated from my picture book, Smelling Sunshine

  • What the people involved in filming the show do, and what a great sense of comradely they share; there are multiple cameras for different angle shots and a floor ‘manager’ to conduct the show and keep track of timing; a friendly atmosphere pervades.
  • What a constructive force the Carman’s are for getting information out to the public – go through their YouTube shows, and you’ll notice their diverse interests; interviews include artist and naturalist John Muir Laws, writer Liz Cunningham, and wildlife photographer Elaine Bond.
Darlene Carman and I talking about the teddy bear page in Smelling Sunshine

Darlene Carman and I talking about the teddy bear page in Smelling Sunshine

  •  How to stop my mind from inventing self defeating stories, and allow an experience that is filmed at the moment unfold – preparation and meditation was the key; I had fun and enjoyed myself.

Find the interview on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i77skI2ca-w or look on You Tube: Darlene Carman Presents, How To Make A Children’s Book. I hope you enjoy the interview and learn something about how to make a children’s book.

Holding up an illustration from my new picture book, A Stick Until (Star bright Books, 2017)

An illustration from my new picture book, A Stick Until (Star Bright Books, 2017)