The Story Behind the Writing of One Pelican at a Time for Children's Book Week

A note before the post...Please take a look at the PBS GulfWatch video on the writing of One Pelican at a Time at the bottom of the post.  Please don't forget to vote, and the other authors' blog addresses are below as well!

One Pelican at a Time is a book that should not have been written.   Strange thing, one might think, for an author to say about her own book.  It is, though, quite true.

The first book in the Bella and Britt Series, Bella Saves the Beach, was slated to launch within weeks, when a major ecological catastrophe occurred in the US.  It was the Deepwater Horizons oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico on April 20, 2010. 

My publisher Lynda Burch at Guardian Angel Publishing and I agreed that a book had to be done about such an event.  She thought the Bella and Britt series was the perfect vehicle to use and she was right.

  Lynda shelved "Beach Bella," and I went to work on Pelican.  (It was yet to be named.)  We both wanted the book to be the first one in the US, and it was!  We're very proud of that.

Normally, a book takes months or more to complete.  I worked night and day on the manuscript and finished it in six weeks.  Actually, I don't know if I should be proud or embarrassed about it!

One Pelican at a Time turned out to be a labor of love.  I had lots of encouragement from our wonderful publisher, Lynda.  And though I worked flat out, I never once felt under anyone's "gun" except my own.

I am delighted to say that Pelican stayed on Amazon's Bestseller List for Children for18 weeks.  It won the Children's Classics Seal of Approval and was nominated for a Global eBook Award.  PBS Tampa did a feature on my writing of Pelican for their series GufWatch.  It can be viewed at the very end of this post.

I would be remiss if I did not mention the fabulous artwork by Samantha Bell.  She is a much sought after watercolorist, and the work she did for the whole series is beyond belief.  What a magical talent is hers.

Pelican, then, led the way for the Bella and Britt Series to come.  And what about Bella Saves the Beach?  That is the next book to be published.  A little late but all due to a good, but tragic, cause.

Mayra Calvani - www.mayrassecretbookcase.blogspot.com

Margo Dill - www.margodill.com/blog

Margot Finke – www.hookkidsonreading.blogspot.com

Donna McDine - www.donna-mcdine.blogspot.com

Nancy Stewart - www.nancystewartbooks.blogspot.com

Kai Strand - www.kaistrand.blogspot.com

Nicole Weaver - www.mysisterismybestfriend.blogspot.com

Disclaimer:

Entry during the Children's Book Week celebration by Guardian Angel Publishing does not guarantee winning the FREE tote bag of Guardian Angel Publishing books, or the FREE picture book manuscript critique by Margot Finke. Winner of the FREE picture book manuscript critique by Margot Finke shall not hold Ms. Finke liable in publication success of submitted picture book manuscrip

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Children’s Ezine-Guardian Angel Kids: Sports and Activities – October 2011 Issue

Although technology is a wonderful learning tool, it’s important to teach our children the importance of getting up and outside to enjoy the boundless adventures of sports and physical activity. Not only is it good for the body to stretch your muscles and participate in physical activity it does wonders for the brain and soul of one’s body by releasing endorphins.

(See video of Whispering Wally in The Trouble With Treasure at bottom of post.)

Join us at Guardian Angel Kids Ezine October 2011 issue and get you and your children grooving through physical action by becoming inspired by this month’s poetry, stories, activities and articles.

We also invite you to stay connected with Guardian Angel Kids through our Facebook Fan Page.

Letter from the PUBLISHER: Lynda S. Burch
Featured Book and video:

Cartwheel Annie Flipping Book by Marilee Crowe and illustrated by K.C. Snider – Annie likes being upside down. When the neighborhood children see her cart wheeling down the sidewalk on the way to school, they begin to tease her. That embarrasses her siblings. It seems everyone is tired of her gymnastics, until the circus comes to town, and Annie becomes the star of the show.

Whispering Wally, art and story by Kevin Collier – Watch a special video of Wally the Whale and his treasure hunt, keeping active swimming.

Children’s poetry, Short Stories, and Articles:

“The Name of the Game,” by Ellen Javernick – clever poetry that takes you for a whimsical ride through sports.

“Once Upon Home Plate,” Katie – 5^th grader – self confidence soars at the awe inspiring homerun.
“The Magic Bat,” by Marcia Faber and illustrated by Samantha Bell – imagination and fantasy takes you on a delightful outcome of a special bat.

“Fall Freeze,” by Erin K. Schonauer and Jamie C. Schonauer and illustrated by Kathleen Bullock – two sports plus one party equals an icy situation. Can a figure skater and a hockey player learn to balance their differences or are they bound to collide?

“Turtle and Rabbit Relay,” by Karen Robuck – Does the turtle always win the race? In the familiar fable he does, but what about in real life?

Ways to Use Activities and Games to Teach Vocabulary,” by Dorit Sasson – Engage your students in games of vocabulary and have fun along the way.

Featured Drawing, Games & Activities:

Draw yourself being good with Painting Board – PAINT page
Featured Games from Books – GAME page

Please feel free to drop Editor-in-Chief, Donna McDine an email at submissions@guardian-angel-kids.com 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!

Guardian Angel Publishing Children's Books Coming Soon!

Guardian Angel Publishing has a new and wonderful group of books being launched soon!  Yes, Bella Saves the Beach and Sea Turtle Summer are two of them.  But take a look at all the marvelous offerings being launched soon by this publishing house!

Guardian Angel Publishing has become a dynamo.  Begun in 2005 by Lynda Burch, it is a member of the the all-important Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. 

Publishing only children's books, from ages 0 - 12, many are consistently on the Amazon Bestselling Books for Children and have won awards too many of which to list here.  

The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Reprise

Many thought and hoped the oil spill of April, 2010 was past us, was history. Alas, it is not.

My publisher, Lynda Burch of Guardian Angel Publishing, emailed me from Santa Rosa Island, Pensacola Beach, Florida, where she and her husband spend some time each winter.  With her permission, the following is what Lynda saw and photographed very recently:

 Santa Rosa Island, Pensacola Beach, Florida

                        February, 2011

"It is definitely not over, and BP says they are pulling out- 1/2 the claims have been denied and what about what is still going to happen?

I can't let my guests or my grandchildren in those floating contaminants. Skin is the most absorbent organ a human body has. I didn't see any warning signs, anyone testing the water, anyone interested in cleaning it up.

The little silvery fish (2-3 inches, part of the food chain) were washed up on the shore dead. The gulls and pelicans were out there in it. The dolphins were also out about another 1000 yards.

Lots of people on the beach didn't even know what the black and brown slimy stuff floating on edge of the surf was. I did email the local TV station but probably should have called them instead. It was very disturbing for such a beautiful day."

Because it's out of the news, there seems to be no immediacy about the spill anymore.  If this travesty is not addressed continuously and with utmost vigor and vigilance, it will still be an unmitigated disaster.  From my research on the gulf devastation, I think a quote from Sir Winston Churchill during World War II is in order:  "Now this is not the end.  It is not even the beginning of the end.  It is, perhaps, the end of the beginning."

It is Lynda's and my great hope that this kind of accident never occurs    again.  We adults, along with our children and grandchildren, need to     "take a stand on the sand" and see that it does not.  And if it does, God forbid, this time strong oversight should occur within the US government and any parties that caused it.

                                  

  

Here is the Cover of One Pelican at a Time

My first picture book in the Bella and Britt series will be out soon.  One Pelican at a Time is the story of the two girls and their valiant struggle to save the life of the old crooked beaked pelican.  Along the way, they help other endangered pelicans as well.

Samatha Bell is the artist, and you can see a sample of her work here on the cover.  I am so delighted that she will be the artist for the other two books in the series, Sea Turtle Summer and Bella Saves the Beach. 

Of course, many thanks to my wonderful publisher, Guardian Angel Publishing, and in particular, Lynda Burch, without whom none of this would be possible.