Children's Author Trudi Trueit

Stealing Popular ARC's Are Here!

2012-01-15T18:14:00.000-08:00

Yippee!!! It's pretty rare for me to use three exclamation points, but this week I got a few ARC's (Advanced Reviewers Copy) of my upcoming tween novel, Stealing Popular (Aladdin). The last time I saw my novel it was a mere manuscript with all kind of notes and copy editing marks and a coffee stain or two, and then, suddenly, ta da! It showed up on my doorstep as a book. Well, almost a book. ARCs are, typically, bound from the first pass, so there are mistakes that will be corrected before the final version is printed. But it's close and that's exciting. Pinocchio has come to life!

Stealing Popular is the story of 12-year-old Coco Sherwood, a budding artist, who has been to five schools in seven years. She's eager to put down roots and make some real friends. Tired of seeing the popular kids in her new school catching all the breaks, she decides to take matters into her own hands, stealing glory from the popular kids to give to the misfits. But when she dares to take on the most popular girl in school, this modern day, middle school Robin Hood may have met her match.

If you are a book reviewer, blogger, or librarian, and would like to request an ARC, please message me through the contact page on my website, www.truditrueit.com with your complete name, title, and snail mail address and I will pass your request on to my editor. I can't guarantee that you'll receive one. They are in limited supply and Simon & Schuster has the final say on distribution, but I'll do my best! I'll also be hosting an ARC give-away this spring, too, so check back here for more details on how to enter.

Look for Stealing Popular from Aladdin's MIX line of tween books in early September!

To Blog or Not to Blog?

2011-11-29T14:29:00.001-08:00

I've noticed a troubling trend lately. Several authors have posted on Facebook, with much sadness and regret, that they are shutting down their personal blogs. The reason is the same: they don't have enough time to post as regularly as they feel they should. So they have decided the best strategy is to throw in the towel altogether.

To me, blogging is a bit like keeping a journal. Okay, a public journal, but a journal none-the-less. When you journal, if you tell yourself you must make an entry every day or every few days, the moment you fall behind, you're doomed. It's only a matter of time before you convince yourself that you can't possibly keep up with the pace and you quit journaling altogether. However, if you ease up on the expectations, and instead, sit down to write when the mood strikes, you can journal for months or years, or even a lifetime.

Because blogs are public, I understand the internal and external pressures to blog weekly. But for busy writers it just isn't realistic. It certainly isn't realistic for me. Deadlines loom. Revisions are due. The calendar is dotted with classroom visits, workshops, and other appearances. This week, I've worked on revisions for one book, written two chapters in another, and outlined a third (I'm writing this blogpost while eating lunch!). I have to make a living and that comes first. So I do what I can do. I try to blog about once a month here, once a month for my middle grade author team blog, Smack Dab in the Middle, and once every two months for my publisher at the Simon and Schuster website author blog. That's the most I can commit to, and if it gets to be too much, I scale back a bit. That's life.

Just like a personal journal, I think a blog should be defined and shaped by its author. Post when you have good news to share or some fascinating topic to discuss. Post when you can, be it once a week, once a month, or less often. Just post. Don't completely retreat from the world. To the readers who enjoy your work, even the small nuggets are still golden.

I'd like to chat more but I need to get back to work ...

Skype for a Good Cause!

2011-11-06T20:08:00.000-08:00

Take one middle grade author from Seattle, Washington (moi), 120 creative students from Gadsden, Alabama, throw in some techno hocus pocus and you've got the recipe for a fun, fast-paced virtual author visit!

I am thrilled to be part of Skype Authors, a group of children's authors who have pledged to donate 25% of our Skype fees to charity. To get the website off to a rousing start, Skype Authors held a contest in October, with two winners being selected to receive a half-price Skype visit (the entire fee went to Skype Authors 2011-12 charity, CAMFED, an amazing charity that supports educating girls and young women in Africa).

One of the contest winners, Susan Wills, a media specialist from R.A. Mitchell Elementary, selected me for her Skype visit. What an honor! Projected in the school cafeteria on a movie theater-sized screen (I was enormous!), I told the third and fourth graders about how I fell in love with storytelling when I was their age, and began writing plays. I discussed my career as a TV news reporter and my path to publication, giving the students a sneak peek at my upcoming releases and what I'm working on now. I got to lead the kids in an interactive creative writing exercise, a Q & A session, and a game (complete with prizes sent ahead of time to Mrs. Wills). The Mitchell Elementary library also received bookmarks and a complimentary audiobook of my latest release, Secrets of a Lab Rat: Scab for Treasurer?

I was so impressed with how imaginative and articulate the students were. The fact that I was on the big screen didn't slow them down a bit. We were able to create and share ideas as if I was right there. Sometimes, it felt as if I was there!

For the kids, I think the highlight of the visit was a surprise appearance by my trusty assistant and calico cat, Bernadette. I'm still not exactly sure what was going on behind me that had the kids howling with laughter, but I suspect a toy mouse may have been involved.

If you are a teacher or librarian, Bernadette and I would love to Skype with your class, too. My Skype fees are $125 per half hour or $200 per hour. You can contact me through my website at www.truditrueit.com. Remember, all Skype Authors pledge to donate 25% of their Skype fees to charity! So why not Skype me in to your school or library? We'll have fun and help a great charity!

Let's Go Viking!

2011-10-03T12:53:00.000-07:00

What I love about writing nonfiction is how much I learn along the journey, and my newest book, Technology of the Ancients: The Vikings proved to be quite enlightening!

Here are a few bits of trivia I discovered while researching and writingThe Vikings:

To ‘go Viking,’ meant to go on a raiding run. In the 8th Century, theterm Viking applied only to the pirate plunderers, not the Scandinavian people.

The Vikings never wore horns on their helmets. That myth wasstarted several centuries later by the Europeans.
A Scandinavian woman had more freedoms than her counterpartsin other cultures. She was allowed to handle the family finances and could evendivorce her husband if she chose. However, she could not vote or hold public office.

It was the Vikings that first set foot on North Americansoil, not Christopher Columbus.

Viking navigators likely used a clear crystal, called Iceland spar,to steer the ship. The crystal helped them to locate the sun on a cloudy day.

So the next time you see a horned Viking helmet on the coverof a book, you’ll know the real truth!

Hope your Fall is filled with some fascinating nonfiction!

The Story Behind Backyard Safari

2011-09-05T14:25:00.000-07:00

Did you know the ideas for most of the nonfiction library books you check out don't come from the author? Typically, they are conceived by the publishing house and its editors, who then, contract authors to write the books. Most of my nonfiction books were assigned this way. But, I am pleased to say, my new nonfiction series for children called Backyard Safari was different. I am fortunate to write for Marshall Cavendish, a publisher who encourages ideas from its authors, and this series was something I had wanted to do for a long time - a very long time!

When I was eight years old, we moved to a house in the suburbs with a big yard. In the summer, I would pack up my magnifying glass, camera, plastic binoculars and head outside in search of wildlife. I was on strict orders from my mother to stay in the yard so there wasn't much 'wild' in the wildlife I encountered. Still, the array of birds, squirrels, ladybugs, dragonflies, and spiders I discovered fascinated me. I even took photos of the critters I found (and named a few along the way). I wrote Backyard Safari for kids like me, who love to follow a caterpillar inching along a leaf or turn over a rock and see what's beneath it. Each book in the series gives some basic information about a particular backyard animal, then leads readers on a safe, fun backyard trek. There's a small field guide in each book, and more resources for further identification.

Backyard Safari titles being released this month are:

Birds
Caterpillars & Butterflies
Frogs & Toads
Squirrels
Spiders

Five more titles will be released in the fall of 2012 (so if you love slugs & worms, ants, beetles, grasshoppers, or dragonflies, hold on).

Young explorers, your mission is to head on out there into the wilds of your yard and see what you see! And if you find something unique, learn something new, or just have a great time on your safari, write and tell me about it. I love a good adventure!

Who doesn't?

Good News & Other Fun Stuff

2011-06-16T11:01:00.000-07:00

Now that contracts have been signed (wahoo!) I can officially announce my next fiction novel will be released by Simon and Schuster as part of Aladdin's MIX series. It's exciting to be in such fine MIX company as authors Barbara Dee and Lauren Barnholdt. My book is called Stealing Popular and the story revolves around a feisty middle school girl, who's had enough of the popular kids getting everything in life. So what does she do? She snags fame, glory, and success from the undeserving popular kids only to bestow these gifts on the unpopular, dorky, and forgotten (I could have used a little of that magic in my younger years). Of course, every action has a consequence and the result is a little more than our modern-day Robin Hood bargained for! I'll be working on final revisions this summer and the book will be released in the fall of 2012. More to come on this one ...

Also, I've just learned that publisher Autentica Editora has picked up the rights to publish all three Secrets of a Lab Rat titles in Brazil. With luck, No Girls Allowed (Dogs Okay), Mom, There's a Dinosaur in Beeson's Lake, and Scab for Treasurer? will be released in South America by Christmas!

Finally, I opened my e-mail this morning to a review of Secrets of a Lab Rat 3: Scab for Treasurer? from School Library Journal. Gulp. As you may know, I make it a point to never read reviews, unless they are good, which this one was (I think my editor knows me well enough not to send the ugly ones). Here's a little of what SLJ had to say:

"This book, with its amusing sidebar secrets and lists, is simple and funny enough to pull in reluctant readers, and youngsters will jump right in and enjoy the humor, fast-paced action, and gross-out moments."

Thank you, SLJ! So, all in all, a pleasant week with some nice surprises. Of course, we haven't hit Friday yet ...

Why I Love Scbool Librarians, Travel Books, and Lime Carpet

2011-05-24T17:48:00.000-07:00

“You write fiction and nonfiction?” asked a young boy recently, his tone implying ‘they let you do that?’

They do, indeed. And my love for both of them started a long time ago.

The fall after I turned eight, my family moved from the city to a small town outside of Seattle. New, shy, and awkward, I took to ducking into the school library during recess. It was against the rules. Mrs. Peek, the petite librarian, saw me do this, but didn’t say anything. It was in that stuffy, school library with the lime-green carpet I discovered everything that was missing from my life—laughter, mystery, adventure, excitement, fearlessness, love, gentleness, and compassion. I devoured books like Kidnapped, Little Women, Charlotte’s Web, Chronicles of Narnia and anything by Beverly Clearly. It was bliss. Pure bliss. But, as in every good fiction tale, the lime-green rug was about to be pulled out from under me.

Every fall, Mrs. Peek chose a group of honor students to be shelf-keepers. Each child was assigned a shelf to straighten and maintain by re-shelving returned books. Above each shelf, Mrs. Peek placed a card with the shelf-keeper’s name. If, after her weekly inspection, Mrs. Peek found everything in proper order, she’d place a sticker on the card. When, in the autumn of fifth grade, Mrs. Peek, chose me to be a shelf-keeper, I was ecstatic. I couldn’t wait to find out which precious fiction shelf she had entrusted to me. Maybe the W’s with Laura Ingalls Wilder’s series? Or, perhaps, the C shelf with my beloved Beverly Clearly?

When Mrs. Peek handed me my card, I went numb. All I saw were—horrors—numbers! A nonfiction shelf? I had been relegated to the back of the library to the—ick—travel section. Soon, my name would be stuck on that bookshelf for everyone to see. I was devastated. Angry. Humiliated. Walking home that day, I fought back tears. I wanted to quit, but I knew if I did I would disappoint Mrs. Peek. So I decided to hang in there. Each morning, I made sure every title on my shelf was in proper Dewey Decimal system order, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe. I pretended not to see the fiction shelf-keepers as they danced by with the likes of Judy Blume, E.L. Konigsburg, and my Beverly Cleary on their carts, while I struggled to shelve heavy travel books with fold-out maps that refused to fold in.

As the stickers began to fill my shelfkeeper card, something happened. At first, it was a gentle tug. Then an insistent pull. I couldn’t help it. I had to do it. I opened the biggest book on my shelf, a 20-pounder on Australia. When I saw the giant photo of loggerhead turtles paddling through the waters of the Great Barrier Reef, I was hooked. One by one, I read all of the books on my shelf. I learned about people I had never heard of, animals I had never seen, and places I could barely pronounce. And day by day, my world grew a little larger.

In the fall of sixth grade, Mrs. Peek took me aside. She told me I had done such a good job with the travel section, I could have my pick of any shelf in the library. Any shelf? I did not hesitate. Guess which one I chose?

I often wonder where Mrs. Peek is today, and what she would say if she knew the quirky girl behind the tortoise shell glasses would one day write nonfiction books (68, so far), on everything from video gaming to storm chasing, earthquakes to Earth Day, and—yep—even travel.

I like to think she does know. I like to think she knew all along.

Announcing Our Winners!

2011-05-01T10:27:00.000-07:00

After spinning the giant drum holding all 1,000,009 entries (okay, maybe there weren't quite that many), we chose two winners in our Secrets of a Lab Rat give-away. The lucky recipients of a Scab For Treasurer? book are:

NOELLE

CHERYL

Congratulations to our winners, and we'll be in touch soon to make arrangements to get your book to you. Many thanks to everyone who entered the contest, and to those who so kindly shared the disgusting details of the worst thing they ever consumed, you have our deepest sympathies. Maybe we should have a consolation drawing for a year's supply of Pepto Bismal?

Hurry! Book Contest Ends Soon!

2011-04-29T11:57:00.000-07:00


S.L.R. Illustrated by Jim Paillot

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED. THANKS TO ALL WHO ENTERED!

Just one more day left to enter the contest for a FREE signed copy of Secrets of a Lab Rat: Scab for Treasurer? You can enter by leaving a comment here or through my website, www.truditrueit.com. In this third installment, Scab McNally dares to run against the smartest girl in the class for president. As his twin sister, Isabelle, is so fond of saying, "What was he thinking?" To impress his classmates, and win votes, Scab figures he'll become the Human Vacuum and eat everything (well, almost everything) the kids bring to school. Before the final page, Scab's in for plenty of edible surprises and so, come to think of it, is Isabelle. Whether you have a wacky brother or you are one, it's non-stop fun reading about Scab's elementary school adventures. Don't forget to enter the contest or some lime Jell-O with pistachio nuts and tuna just might mysteriously show up on your doorstep.

Release Day Book Contest! Scab's Baaaaack . . .

2011-04-19T08:41:00.000-07:00

It's publication day for the third book in my Secrets of a Lab Rat series: Scab for Treasurer? Notice the blog has gone purple in honor of the cover! So lift a chocolate cupcake in Scab's honor. Unfortunately, Scab won't be eating anything quite so tasty in this latest outing. He's running for class president and, to win votes, promises to eat anything (well, almost anything) the kids bring to school. Get set for some pretty ugly stuff to show up at the River Rock Elementary School gym.

What better way to celebrate Scab's newest adventure then to give away books? To enter to win a signed copy of Scab for Treasurer? just tell me the worst thing you ever ate! Post your comment here, on my FB page, or through my website by midnight PST April 30th, 2011 (Canada and U.S residents only, please). I'll randomly draw two winners and announce them on May 1st, 2011. To kick things off, I will tell you that celery, carrots, marshmallows and lime Jell-O are not my favorite combination! Now it's your turn ...
Good luck!

Anyone Eager for E-books?

2011-03-22T08:57:00.000-07:00

It's a big day! My first two books in the Secrets of a Lab Rat series go digital today. Both No Girls Allowed (Dogs Okay) and Mom, There's a Dinosaur in Beeson's Lake are now available in e-book (Beeson's Lake is also new in paperback this week).

These are my first ever e-books and I'm excited (and nervous) to see how they'll do. Will kids and parents embrace digital technology? Or will they prefer to turn real pages instead of virtual ones? Only time will tell.

I've read the doomsday forecasts about the future of the printed word, but I hold a more optimistic view. I believe e-books will expand our reading universe, and there is plenty of room for both formats. I love reading on my husband's iPad, especially when it involves cool, 3-D, animated book apps. Moving Tales' The Pedlar Lady of Gushing Cross by Jacqueline O. Rogers is one of my favorites. It's great fun to read along with the narrator, see the words drop onto the page like raindrops, and watch the old woman tend her garden. What potential for my own material! Can't you just see Scab McNally arm farting in 3-D? Or his twin sister, Isabelle, putting her hand on her hip as she reads her tattletale news report?

Of course, I am not always in the mood for slick graphics and lilting narration. Sometimes, I want nothing better than to turn off all my gadgets, snuggle up with a warm throw (and an even warmer cat), and feel the the pages of Sense and Sensibility crinkle in my fingertips.

For me, the goal is to get, and keep, kids excited about reading. So whether it's hardcover, paperback, audiobook, Playway, or e-book, as long as a child is engaged in a world of imagination, I'm happy. And today, on the launch of my e-books, I'm definitely happy.

Read On,

Trudi

Win a Book through Macaroni Kid!

2010-12-04T19:32:00.000-08:00

Many thanks to Spokane Macaroni Kid for the wonderful feature article on me in their December newsletter and website. This week, you can also enter to win a signed copy of Secrets of a Lab Rat: No Girls Allowed (Dogs Okay) or Julep O'Toole: What I Really Want to do is Direct through the Spokane Macaroni Kid Facebook Page.

If you haven't heard about Macaroni Kid, it's a terrific national website for kids and parents that offers fun crafts, yummy recipes, movie and book reviews, travel tips and so much more! The cool part is that they've also established local websites for communities around the country, like Spokane - a city that is close to my heart! A long, long time ago I used to be a TV news reporter and weather forecaster for KREM (the CBS affiliate in Spokane). Yep, that was me standing in the 6-foot snowdrift doing the weather on a Saturday night in the dead of winter.

So go check out the article on SMK, where I reveal all my writing secrets and quirks (is it weird to write with a snoring cat on your lap?), read more about about No Girls Allowed (Dogs Okay) and then jump on over to Facebook to win a book!

Good Luck and Happy Holidays!

Trudi

Easy Readers: So Hard to Write!

2010-11-12T18:50:00.000-08:00

I'm currently celebrating the release of 12 new nonfiction books! All are rebus books designed for beginning readers and are published by the incomparable Marshall Cavendish. If you aren't familiar with rebus, they are comprised of a sentence or two per page. Two nouns in each sentence are replaced with photographs, easing the beginning reader into learning written words and sentence structure.

A complete rebus book is about nine lines, so you'd think these titles would be a snap to write, right? Wrong. So, so wrong. These little babies are incredibly challenging!

The goal is to tell a fun story, using simple words and verb repetition. The nouns you select to rebus (or turn into photos) must be easily identified by the child the instant he/she sees the photo. For instance, a photo of a carton of milk could be interpreted as "carton," "milk," or even just the word "drink," so precision is a must. I spent, on average, about three weeks writing each book. Then my editor and I would carefully go through them to make sure every sentence was simple, easy to understand, and met the criteria for repetition and storytelling. We simplified things that were too complex, re-arranged sentences to create better flow, and made sure we had the final blessing of a skilled reading consultant. It was, truly, a collaborative effort. When we, finally, put these 12 books to bed, I was exhausted - and exhilarated!

Writing rebus isn't for everyone. It may mean struggling over one sentence for hours on end or creating eight great lines only to have to start all over again when the ninth line just won't come. Sometimes, I'd be so certain I had a perfect manuscript only to get that crushing e-mail from my editor, "This won't work."

Would I do rebus again? In a heartbeat. Rebus has taught me every single word in a sentence is precious, even the small ones (especially the small ones). It's taught me to say what I mean in a clear, concise way. It's taught me that every puzzle has a solution, though it may take hours or days (or a night of fitful dreaming) to figure it out. So far, I've written 24 rebus titles. I hope I'll have the chance to write more (if my editor is out there, that's a blatant hint!). More than the challenge they represent, there is no better feeling than knowing that somewhere out there, the words you fought so hard to find are opening up the world of books to a new reader.

Here are the titles in the two series' (the photos are quite stunning!) ...

HOLIDAY FUN:

Hanukkah

Christmas

Kwanzaa

Thanksgiving

Halloween

Valentine's Day

OCEAN LIFE:

Jellyfish

Octopuses

Sea Horses

Sea Turtles

Starfish

Sharks

Drop me a line if a young reader in your life is reading any of these titles! I'd love to hear from you.

Read On,

Trudi

The Brilliant Promise of Autumn

2010-09-23T09:01:00.000-07:00

I adore crisp, autumn days, the roar of a football crowd, leaves crunching under my feet, and, most of all, the start of a new school year. As an elementary student, I didn't just like school - I loved school! I couldn't wait to wear my new shiny shoes, meet my teacher, and dive into learning. The studying part came easy to me, but the social aspect? That was a different story. I wasn't small and cute and popular. I was tall and chunky and shy. It was hard to say which was worse: my eyesight, my wavy hair, or my athletic ability. I spent a lot of time by myself on the playground, reading books or writing plays, and trying to pretend I didn't mind being by myself.

Then, in sixth grade, a miracle happened. That fall, I found a friend - a clever, glowing, beautiful friend - who laughed at my jokes and made me laugh, too. She liked me, despite my flaws. And because she saw something in me that I didn't or couldn't, I, in turn, began learning to love myself.

I still look forward to going back to school in the fall. My student days long gone, I now talk to elementary school children about writing books. As I speak, my eyes wander around the classroom looking for that girl with the big hair and bigger glasses, sitting just a bit apart from the others. I want to tell her I understand her pain. I want to tell her she is so much more wonderful than she realizes. I want to tell her things will get better. But all I can really do is pray the miracle of friendship will find her, and change her, as it did me. Here's to the promise of fall. Here's to what we most long for, no matter our age - to feel fresh and alive and new and loved.

Read On,

Trudi

BTW, that friend from sixth grade? Although we live far apart, she still inspires me and makes me smile.

Photo credit for these lovely fall images goes to my photographer husband, Bill. Visit his website at www.billtrueit.com.

Download Scab and the Gang!

2010-09-14T15:03:00.000-07:00

Great news! Starting next spring, all of the Secrets of a Lab Rat books will be available in e-book format, including the third and newest title, Scab for Treasurer? For those who like the crinkle of turning actual pages, we've got you covered as well. All three books will be available in both hardcover and paperback. (And don't forget the Secrets audiobooks, narrated by the hilarious Oliver Wyman - click here to listen to a clip).

I also am pleased to reveal the final cover for Book Three here! You'll note our hero, Scab, looks to be downing some pretty ugly stuff. That's because he's on a mission to beat the class brain, Missy Malone (a.k.a. Never Missy) at her own game. Scab decides to run for president against Never Missy, and to win votes, promises he'll eat just about anything his classmates bring to school - and they bring some pretty wicked stuff!

Will Scab manage to eat it all, including the stinky cheese and fossilized fruitcake? Will he, finally, beat the Unbeatable Never Missy? Never say never ...

As always, many thanks to the incredibly talented Jim Paillot, who's cover and illustrations always make us laugh hysterically (he's really got to quit doing that or I'm going to hurt myself!).

Read On,

Trudi

A Blog For Middle Grade Fiction (At Last!)

2010-07-26T20:59:00.000-07:00

If middle grade books speak to you (as they do me), check out a new blog called From the Mixed Up Files ... (of Middle Grade Authors). The catchy title is, of course, a tribute to author, E.L. Konigsburg and her acclaimed book, From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, which just happens to be one of my all-time favorite titles. The blog is the collaborative effort of a group of middle grade writers, and offers terrific insights, advice, and news for those who love reading and writing for children ages 8 to 12.

Writer and soon-to-be published author Rose Cooper interviewed me for an article she wrote for the blog on middle grade series.' Doing the interview got me thinking about what it is that makes writing a series so rewarding. Is it the opportunity to explore the characters so thoroughly and from so many different angles? Is it the chance to place the characters in different situations and see how they react? Is it the challenge of creating new story lines that peel back the layers of the characters even further? Yes, yes, and YES!

I often get asked, what makes a good series? The answer is multi-faceted. You need a strong hook, an exciting story, and an original voice. But most of all, you need relatable characters. I can't always remember the exact storyline of my favorite titles as a kid, but I never forget a great character. Anne Shirley (Anne of Green Gables), Nancy Drew, Jo March (Little Women), Laura Ingalls Wilder (Little House on the Prairie), Claudia Kincaid (From the Mixed up Files), and Margaret Simon (from Judy Blume's Are you There God, It's Me Margaret?) are just a few of the characters that touched me. Powerful characters stay with you long after you close the cover. They can change your attitude, your opinions, and your dreams. They can even change your life.

Summer Reading Freebies!

2010-07-06T13:21:00.000-07:00

Recently, I got to visit with students at Pinewood Elementary in Marysville, WA. If you're under 18, I know what you're thinking: a school that's open in the SUMMER? Agggh! Not to worry, no homework, tests, or memorization skills were involved. This was pure fun! Devoted librarian Shelley Doty opens the school library for one day a week throughout the summer so kids can come in to check out books. How great is that? And the best part is the place was packed! Summer and books are a perfect combination. I got to read from Mom, There's a Dinosaur in Beeson's Lake and give away a few goodies, like a CD audiobook and bookmarks. For me, the best part of the day was hanging out with the kids in the stacks, talking about our favorite books and discovering new titles to dive into.

If you're looking for a few good reads, the students at Pinewood recommend:

The Nancy Drew series

Percy Jackson and the Olympians series

The Bunnicula series

Diary of a Wimpy Kid series

The Stink series

Have you heard about Barnes and Noble's summer reading program? It's amazing! You read eight books and log them in your summer reading passport. When you're done you turn in your passport and get to pick out a FREE book from their list. Cool, huh? Click HERE for more details and to download your passport.

Also, if you read one of my Julep O'Toole or Secrets of a Lab Rat books (be sure to log it on your passport, if you're in the program), and let me know about it, I will send you a FREE signed bookmark. Just drop me a quick note HERE at my website (first, ask a parent or guardian if it's okay to send me your mailing address). By the way, Secrets is on PlayAway now, so you can take it with you and listen to it anywhere you go (the beach, the mountains, the bathtub - you name it).

Here's to a fun-filled, book-filled summer!

Trudi

Journaling: Just Write, Part II

2010-05-13T09:07:00.000-07:00

I got an email from a young reader recently, who bought a journal some time ago and has been staring at the empty pages ever since, waiting for inspiration to strike. She wanted to know what should she write about? What shouldn't she write about? Everything! Anything! But, of course, what she is really asking is, "How do I begin?"

When you have a blank piece of paper (or a computer screen) in front of you, the good news is that you are in complete creative control. You are free to doodle, write, type, sketch, paint, or collage anything you want. Anything! Of course, that's the bad news, too. It's all on your shoulders. We are so used to pleasing others that the pressure to "get it right," can often freeze your brain when you're ready to journal for yourself. Keep in mind, there is no right or wrong when it comes to journaling. It's all good, because it's all you.

Okay, so where do you start?

Try this: turn off your cell phone, close your email, and sign out of MySpace, Facebook etc. It's going to be just you, a pencil, and a piece of paper for the next 15 minutes. If you're more into the audio/visual thing, flip on your camera. Ready? Here we go. All I want you to do is finish this sentence: The thing I want most in the world is ...

Once you've named it, write or say why you want it and what it means to you. What is standing in your way? Is it you? Someone else? How do you think you might go about overcoming this obstacle to achieve your dream? Are you ready to try? Why or why not?

Congratulations! You have just written (or spoken) your first journal entry. See? That wasn't so hard. Remember our ground rules from Part I. Stamp the date on it. No editing, revising, or tossing in the trash. Tuck it away.

Not every journal entry has to be a deep probing of your psyche. When you get into the flow of journaling you'll likely be writing about your daily activities and experiences. Even so, to better understand and express yourself, keep asking the 'what,' 'how,' and 'why' questions. What do I want? Why do I feel this way? How can I change?

To send you on your journaling way, here are a few more writing prompts:

~ Write a letter to your 'future self.' Where do you think you will be in 10 years? What would you like to accomplish between now and then?

~ Make a list of ten words that describe your character? No sentences here, just a list. As you read over your list ask yourself why you chose the words that you did. Make another list of ten character traits you'd like to have. How can you go about achieving them?

~ Share with your journal one of your most embarrassing moments? Can you laugh about it now or does it still sting? What, if anything, do you learn from it?

Want more journal writing ideas? Pick up a copy of my book, Keeping a Journal (it has prompts for every day of your first month of writing) and check out these links:

www.writingfix.com

www.thewritingsite.org

http://inspiredtojournal.net

Now go. Live. Write.

Journaling: Just Write, Part I

2010-05-03T15:14:00.000-07:00

Eight year-old Elwyn Brooks was terribly shy. To learn to better express himself and because he loved to write, Elwyn began keeping a diary. For the next twenty years he found comfort in the pages of his journal, detailing his experiences, thoughts, goals, and struggles to overcome his introverted nature. Not surprisingly, Elwyn grew up to be a writer. In one his books, the main character, Sam, writes in his journal every night before bedtime. Sam always ends each entry with a question so he can have something to ponder as he drifts off to sleep.

Perhaps, you have guessed that Elwyn Brooks is better known to the world as E.B.White, author of Stuart Little, Charlotte's Web, and The Trumpet of the Swan (whose Sam Beaver is the journaler I told you about).

E.B's story reminds us journaling can be a way of working through our trials. It can help us express what we thought was unexpressable. It can guide us to our hidden truths. The beauty of journaling is that it can be anything we want it to be, because journaling is for the journaler alone.

I've journaled off and on throughout my life. When I was a child, my journal was neon pink with a little lock on the front. In college, I journaled in a basic spiral notebook. Once, a dear friend gave me some exquisite hand-crafted paper to journal on. But it's not the paper that matters.

When I journal, I promise myself just four things:

1) I can journal as much, or as little, as I want (it keeps me from thinking I have to journal every single day or I have failed).

2) I will date every entry, so I will know when I wrote down my thoughts.

3) I won't edit, revise, or toss out my entry. I don't have to go back and read it, but I need to respect that it was my expression of what I was feeling at the time.

4) I will be myself. Otherwise, what's the point?

Want to journal? If you are worried that someone might read your writing, keep in mind this is something for you alone, unless you want to share it. E.B. White didn't. Upon his death, in 1985, at his request, all of his journals were destroyed.

Don't go far. Next time, I'll share some writing prompts that will help you flex your journaling muscles!

Finding Hope on Earth Day

2010-04-22T09:27:00.000-07:00

Is taking along a couple of re-usable bags on my next trip to the grocery store or swapping out a few standard light bulbs for CFL's really going to save the world? A few years ago, I interviewed a leading climatologist at NASA for a children's nonfiction book I was writing. When I asked her to share some tips, things kids could do to help nurture the planet, she surprised me by saying, "It's too late." Our changing climate today, she revealed, was the result of decades of pollution and destruction and there wasn't anything we could do at this stage to fix it. Nothing? Not one thing. "Nope." Well, there it was. Who was I to argue with a NASA climatologist? I'd heard it from the expert. It was done. Finished. Over.

And yet ...

An optimist by nature, I just couldn't accept that answer. And I certainly couldn't let the kids I write for accept that answer. As long as I'm breathing, and our children are breathing, we have to have hope that we can turn things around. And we have to take action to try. So although I may be, according to, at least, one expert, totally wasting my time, I am going to keep taking my re-usable bags to the grocery store, swapping out light bulbs, turning off the water while I brush my teeth, buying organic fruits and vegetables, sharing a car with my husband, and doing every other little thing I can think of that might, just might, make a difference in the health of our planet. Imagine what could be accomplished if we all did that? Here are some easy, great environmental tips from the Nature Conservancy.

Although I have written more than 60 books for children on all kinds of topics from storm chasing to video gaming, a short, tiny title I wrote on Earth Day (Scholastic) for beginning readers remains one of my bestsellers. Maybe I am not the only optimist by nature, who believes, against all odds, that if we work together we have the ability to change the world.

Happy Earth Day!

Trudi

Reading Across Generations

2010-04-05T09:28:00.000-07:00

It's pure joy, getting e-mails from readers; not just young readers, but older ones, too. I get some sweet letters from grandparents, who have purchased one or two books in the Lab Rat or Julep O'Toole series for their grand kids. My favorites notes are the ones that tell me Grandma or Grandpa read the book aloud with their grandchild and they laughed non-stop. All I can say is 'hooray for those who are still nine years old at heart.' I know it has served me well. When one generation hands down its passion for reading to the next, it's a powerful thing. Reading is the gift that lasts a lifetime. So thank you, grandparents, for modeling good reading to your grandkids, and for taking the time to share those experiences with me.

And thanks to the web-zine Grand Magazine for featuring me as their Author of the Week:

http://grandmagazine.com/article.asp?id=305

Also, here's a kind review of my work from noted children's author, Suzanne Williams. Check out her new Goddess Girls series and my personal favorite Library Lil. It's a delightful book - a perfect gift for grandparents to give to their grand kids! Suzanne is also a former school librarian and writes a great blog. Where would we be without our devoted librarians?

http://suzanne-williams.blogspot.com/2010/02/hooray-for-scab-mcnally.html

Thanks, Suzanne!

Read On,

Trudi

WIN Secrets of a Lab Rat #2

2010-03-08T15:08:00.000-08:00

He's here. He's Scab. And he's free!

To celebrate the release of Mom, There's a Dinosaur in Beeson's Lake, the second book in my Secrets of a Lab Rat series, we're giving away several hardcover copies of the book at Goodreads. If you're a librarian, teacher, kid, or just someone who can't get enough of Scab, his dog, Joe, and their wild adventures, don't miss your chance to get in on the contest.

You can find out more about the Secrets series, hilariously illustrated by Jim Paillot, at my website. Truly, Jim's drawings made me laugh out loud!

Also, teachers and young readers, look for Scab McNally to turn up in your classroom soon (no need to call the Haz Mat crew, he isn't packing any Isabelle's Smell). It's just the paperback edition of Secrets of a Lab Rat #1: No Girls Allowed (Dogs Okay) in the April edition of Scholastic Book Clubs' LUCKY catalog.

As always, I love to hear from readers so drop me a line here or through my website.

The Goodreads contest ends April 1, 2010. Good luck, everybody!

Read on,

Trudi

www.truditrueit.com

Secrets of a Lab Rat #2 is Here!

2010-02-09T09:08:00.000-08:00

Ta da! It's release day for the second book in my Secrets of a Lab Rat series, Mom There's A Dinosaur in Beeson's Lake (Aladdin/Simon & Schuster). It's been a year since the first book was published, so it's a delight to launch Scab out into the world once again.

This new story is filled with prehistoric monsters, dancing squirrels, a flying fake toe; you know, all the usual makings of a good children's adventure. But mostly it's about fear: facing down the thing that scares you the most and realizing you can overcome it. I'm a big worrier. I come from a long line of worriers. I worry those storm clouds look like a tornado, even though I live in Seattle and no one here but me even knows what a funnel cloud looks like. I worry as I watch the morning traffic report, though my commute is down the stairs and into my office. Part of being a worrier is that we not only worry that something terrible will happen, but when worry when something terrible doesn't happen. Even so, I learned there is a trick to worrying. You can worry that you will fail miserably, while simultaneously continuing to try. It's helped get me through high school debate, TV news reporting, and speaking to a gym filled with energetic elementary school kids. And what do I usually find when it's all over? There was really nothing to worry about in the first place. None of my horrible scenarios came to pass. Of course, I still worry (it's in the genes), but the worry no longer defines what I do or don't do. We all have fears; that's part of being human. But I hope this book will show young readers that if you stare down your fear, in all probability it will blink first!

Hop on over to my website to read an except from Mom There's a Dinosaur in Beeson's Lake. Also, tomorrow Secrets of a Lab Rat #1: No Girls Allowed (Dogs Okay) will be out in paperback. It's a big week for Scab McNally and the Gang. Come, join the adventure!

No Worries,

Trudi

A Recipe for Writers

2010-01-19T13:38:00.000-08:00

Recently, I participated in my first Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) The Great Critique, and was totally blown away by the incredible story crafting skills I witnessed. If you haven't heard of it, here's how it works: unpublished writers bring their work into a small group critique session, led by a published writer (moi). Each person reads about 1500 words of their story out loud, and every group member, along with myself, offers constructive feedback. My group was fabulous. They covered the gamut of genres from contemporary to sci-fi to fantasy, each bringing a distinctive voice and insightful vision. Their imaginations were on fire! I know it's only a matter of time before I see all of their work in print.

Their enthusiasm got me thinking about the recipe for getting published. Perhaps, it might look something like this:

One gung-ho writer
1 cup of determination
1 1/2 cups of originality
1/4 cup courage
1 editor who loves your work
Sprinkle with cheese
Bake at 350 degrees until cheese melts (this could take a year or two or three). Enjoy!

If only it were that easy. Unfortunately, there is no simple recipe for getting published, but I can tell you some things that will stand in your way. Here are few mistakes writers make (and, by the way, I am guilty of all of these) as they strive for publication:

1. Ignoring your audience. If want to write for, say, middle school readers, it's important to become well-versed in the topics that interest them. Your characters need to be real and relate-able. If you don't have a young person at your house, look to neighbors, friends, and relatives that have children. Spend time with kids and you are bound to get in touch with your inner fifth-grader.

2. Starting with a fizzle instead of a bang. Your story should begin in the middle of the action, during a life-changing moment. Don't wait until page 10 or 20 to get to the entree. In those first few paragraphs we should learn what the protagonist wants or needs, and what stands in his/her way. You only have a few pages, at most, to hook an editor and a reader. Don't be afraid to light that firecracker, and let your story build from there.

3. Protecting the protagonist. Your hero or heroine has got to suffer, and suffer greatly, if anything monumental is to be achieved. Avert your eyes and dive into the pain, the heartache, the tribulation and your story will be the better for it.

4. Lackluster dialogue. Real-life dialogue is filled with mundane sentences and repetition. Dialogue on the page should not be. It should flow, continually moving the story along. Read your dialogue out loud, if it helps. And don't forget to let your characters say what they need to say. Keep your voice out of it. Step aside. Let your characters take over and drive the story, and I promise they will.

5. Not trusting your gut. I'm a people-pleaser so for a long time I took each grain of criticism to heart from every agent, editor, writer, and checker at Home Depot, trying to craft the perfect story. I turned myself inside and out until I realized this second-guessing was doing me, and my work, more harm than good. Learn about story structure and character development, because that WILL make you a better writer. But then once you know it, go. Write. Trust yourself.

This spring, come and chat with me at SCBWI's Writing and Illustrating for Children Conference in Redmond, WA, April 10 - 11. I'll be doing manuscript critiques and participating in a panel discussion with amazing authors Lin Oliver, Suzanne Young, and Kevin Emerson on how to create a successful series.

Hope to see you there!

Trudi

Sweet News!

2009-12-23T20:31:00.001-08:00

Secrets of a Lab Rat #1: No Girls Allowed (Dogs Okay) has gone Scholastic! Yep, the January, 2010 issue of Scholastic's Arrow Book Club features our fearless inventor, Scab, and the gang (at an amazingly low, low price, I might add). It's great to see Secrets being offered through the clubs, and I am keeping my fingers crossed that the Book Fairs division of Scholastic will choose to carry it, too, in the near future. One of my favorite things to do is attend Scholastic Book Fair fundraisers and meet enthusiastic young readers.

You can get the Arrow flyer from your teacher or click HERE for the printable version to turn in at school.

Also, I'm gearing up for the release of Mom, There's a Dinosaur in Beeson's Lake. Look for it on stores shelves on February 9, 2010. In the meantime, here's my first major review:

"Salvatore Wallingford McNally, nicknames Scab, uses his scientific studies for an even more practical purpose than annoying his twin sister: getting out of his dreaded swimming lessons. He'd rather spend his early-morning hours relaxing with his fishing buddies than diving in the deep end, but his outlandish pranks threaten to derail his summer plans. When his elusive catch slips away, Scab concocts a plan to hook the dinosaur believed to be hiding in the lake. His fast-paced first person narration features punchy one-liners and revels in revolting gags to propel the unlikely events, though nuanced characterization reveals some complexity as Scab struggles for his peers' acceptance. His flippant, comic voice resonates in his frequent journal lists. He outlines his quirkiest fears, including a phobia of the letter G. "I can't write it in cursive. My teacher, Miss Sweetandsour, says my G's are saggy. So are her ears." Paillot's angular drawings suit the zany antics. The Secrets of a Lab Rat series serves up anther chuckle-inducing helping with this second installment."
- Kirkus Reviews

Happy to have such a warm reception!

Read On,
Trudi

Reaching A Reluctant Reader

2009-12-07T11:18:00.000-08:00

How do you get a reluctant reader to want to read?

It’s a question I've been getting quite a bit lately, perhaps, because the Secrets of a Lab Rat series I write seems to speak to kids ages 8 to 11 who are, typically, less than enthused about curling up with a good book. There could many reasons why a child isn’t interested in reading. Is it that books don’t capture his/her attention as much as other activities, like hobbies, friends, or video games? Perhaps, there’s not enough down-time. “Between homework and sports my schedule is so full I don’t have time to relax and read,” a sixth-grader told me. It could be a child just hasn’t yet hit upon the genre that captivates him/her. Or maybe it’s something bigger. Like fear. Most pre-schoolers are excited about the prospect of reading, but the process of learning to read is another story altogether. It’s tough learning grammar and sentence structure, not to mention looking up all those words you don't know! When kids feel pressured to read at a certain pace or level, reading becomes a chore. It only gets worse if they feel they are falling short of others’ expectations (or their own). Find out why books have lost their enchantment for your reluctant reader and then do what you can to rekindle the magic.

Here are a few tips to get you started:

Read with your child. Even kids who dislike reading love having books read to them. Why? Because there is no pressure to perform. Pick titles with plenty of suspense and adventure. The page-turners will keep your reader coming back night after night to find out what happens in the next chapter. In time, you can start to take turns reading.

Set a good example. Set aside a half hour in the evening to turn off the TV and read yourself. Talk about the plots of your favorite books with your child in the car or during dinner, but don’t push him/her to read.

Seek out tempting titles. Do you have a sports enthusiast? A budding scientist? An explorer? Find some fiction and nonfiction titles on topics that you think will interest your child and place them around the house. Again, no pushing.

Let your child pick out books that interest him/her. Of course, you should make sure the titles are age-appropriate but keep in mind kids and adults have vastly different tastes. Boys tend to gravitate to books with over-the-top action, gore, and gross-out humor. Girls prefer books that focus on relationships. Once your child is engaged in reading, that's the time to introduce some of the classics.

Don’t push. Even the well-intentioned can suck all the joy out of the experience with a little too much prodding. One ten-year-old told me, “My mom says I have to read 20 minutes a night or else.” Ouch. Remember, reading should be fun, not mandatory. It also has to be initiated by the reader.

Be patient. It can take time for a child to reconnect with books, but stick with it. It’s worth the time and effort to cultivate a lifelong reader.

Below, you'll find a list of books that have done well with struggling readers. If you have a tip to add or know of a book that has turned a reluctant reader into a ravenous reader, please share it!

Read On,
Trudi

Titles to try with your reluctant reader:

Fiction:
Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey
Diary of a Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney
My Weird School series by Dan Gutman
Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell
The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary
Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson

Nonfiction:
The Wicked History series (Franklin Watts)
Grossology series by Sylvia Branzei
It’s Disgusting and We Ate it! by James Solheim
You Wouldn’t Want to Be … series (Scholastic)
My Nonfiction Page. I've written more than 60 nonfiction titles for pre-k through high school on everything from snakes to storm chasing!

A Funny Day

2009-11-09T13:30:00.001-08:00

All of the clever, imaginative students that came to my writing workshop this past weekend proved you can find humor in most anything, from P.E. class to your little sister's head to your deepest, darkest fear (sorry, I am sworn to secrecy).

Everyone who came to the workshop went home with something, but it was Madelyn who won the original sketch done by Secrets of a Lab Rat illustrator, Jim Paillot. Yay, Madelyn!

If you're a young writer looking to jump start your funny bone, here are a few tips I shared with the kids at my workshop:

Keep a journal. It doesn't have to be anything fancy. A small, spiral notebook will do. You don't have to write in it every day, and you don't have to write much; just a few lines now and then about your life. Keep it by your bed. Add cartoons and doodles, too, if you want. The idea is to get into the habit of writing and keeping track of your thoughts and experiences. The only rule is once you write something, no crossing it out. Just keep going. You'll thank me later.

Look and listen. Every day things are happening to you-things you may not think are worth writing about, but even the smallest inspiration can lead to a wonderful (and funny story). So pay attention to what people around you say and do.

Go to the dark places. Pain is funny. Our fears, embarrassing moments, and wild experiences are rich sources for writers. I never went to summer camp without something crazy happening - food poisoning, water contamination, an army of banana slugs sliming my sleeping bag while I slept. Hmmm, a new series, perhaps? What is tragedy one day is a laugh-out-loud story the next.

Hope these tips spark you to start writing.

And keep an eye out for one of my young writers workshops. You never know what great surprises you might take home.

Keep reading, writing, and laughing,

Trudi

Win a Sketch from Jim Paillot!

2009-10-29T13:56:00.000-07:00

The Humor Writing Workshop for Kids that I'll be leading is just a little more than a week away, and I just got some amazing news. The incredibly talented (and generous) illustrator of my boys series, Jim Paillot, is creating a sketch from Secrets of a Lab Rat to give away to one lucky young writer at the workshop!

So if you are between the ages of 8 and 12, and you haven't signed up yet, what are you waiting for? Everyone gets a FREE Julep O'Toole book. We'll also have bookmarks, games, prizes, and oh, yeah, we'll do a little writing, too.

Here are the details:

Date: Saturday, November 7th, 2009
Time: 11 am to Noon
Place: Marysville Public Library
6120 Grove Street, Marysville, WA 98270
Call: 1-877-766-4753 to register
Space is limited so pre-registration is required

Hope to see you there!

Happy Reading,
Trudi

Calling All Funny Kids

2009-10-05T19:42:00.000-07:00

Are you a funny kid? Do wild fictional tales spurt forth from your brain when you are supposed to be doing your fractions? Or maybe you'd like to dish on your sister's most embarrassing moments. Now is your chance.

If you're between the age of 8 and 12, and live in the Puget Sound area, come and join me for a FREE humor writing workshop. It's part of Sno-Isle Libraries Children's Book Festival.

I'll spill all my secrets for writing hilarious stories that will have your teacher laughing out loud (and your sister cringing). There will be games and prizes, too. Every young writer who attends will get a FREE signed copy of Julep O'Toole: Confessions of a Middle Child.

Here are the details:
Date: Saturday, November 7th, 2009
Time: 11 am to Noon
Place: Marysville Public Library
6120 Grove Street, Marysville, WA 98270
Call: 1-877-766-4753 to register
Space is limited so pre-registration is required.

If you've ever wanted to write your own humor book or comic, join me in November!

Trudi

Back to School 101

2009-09-01T16:27:00.001-07:00

Ah, September!
Time to return to those hallowed halls of learning and attempt once again to gulp down the soggy fish sticks in the cafeteria (that have likely been lingering since last spring). When I was a girl, I remember that 'first day of school' smile on my mom's face as she dropped us off and raced from the parking lot in a cloud of smoke. With three children in her hair for ten weeks, who could blame her for being a bit giddy for some 'me time?'

I loved school. Most of the time. It was that first day that practically did me in. A million butterflies would invade my stomach soon after breakfast. I'd get so excited and flustered that I'd have to lie down or throw up or both. It was the "what-if-ing" that fueled these monstrous stomach aches.
"What if my teacher hates me? What if no one plays with me? What if the dumb zipper on this new coat gets stuck again and I get trapped and I faint and I die right in the middle of class?"
"Relax, everything will work out," my mother would soothe. "You'll see it won't be half as bad as what you're imagining."
She was right. My teacher usually liked me. I always found, at least, one good friend to play with. And I never had a coat-caused fainting catastrophe. What I had was one very over-active imagination, which would serve me well later in life.

I no longer go off to school each fall, but it's funny how the 'what-if-ing' lingers on. "What if no one likes my new book? What if no one comes to the signing? What if I'm not a good writer?"

Do you 'what-if,' too? Relax. Everything will work out. It won't be half as bad as you imagine. Sometimes, it can even be better than you ever dreamed. Keep at it!

By the way, I'll be at the South Center Barnes and Noble in Tukwila, WA on Saturday, Sept. 19th for an author panel and signing, at 6 p.m. Come join us for some fun with my new middle grade series, Secrets of a Lab Rat! It's now available on audio book. I'll be the nervous one in the children's section 'what-if-ing' and wringing my hands. The good news is I think my mom is coming (even better, I don't throw up anymore).

Also, if you like this blog, please become a follower and let the kids in your life know about it. My blog and website are meant for children and will always be safe places for them to visit on the web.

Read On,
Trudi

Summer Reading

2009-06-30T20:10:00.000-07:00

One of the things I love about summer is having the freedom to read, read, READ! As a child, it was fun to read books that focused on what others were doing over their summer breaks. Some characters were on their way to camp, like Sal Fisher at Girl Scout Camp by Lillian Gardner. Others were running their own business, as in While Mrs. Coverlet Was Away by Mary Nash. And still others were hanging out at home (like me) waiting for something exciting to happen, ala Charlotte's Web.

Even though I'm an adult now and must work (I have to keep my cat, Bernadette, in the lavish lifestyle to which she has become accustomed), I still love to open a book on summer nights when it is too warm or not dark enough to fall asleep. I tend to go for more light, frothy novels during the summer, although the book on my nightstand at the moment is one on screenwriting (don't ask me why - I just want to learn how it's done). What are your favorite summertime reads? Mysteries? Humor? Romance?

To help jump-start your summer reading, I'm giving away free signed bookmarks. Get a parent or guardian's permission first, and drop me a note through the contact page on my website with your name and mailing address (let me know if you want a Julep O'Toole bookmark or a Secrets of a Lab Rat bookmark). One per child, please!

http://www.truditrueit.com/contact.html

Happy Summer Reading!

Trudi

Judging a Book By Its Cover

2009-05-26T14:33:00.000-07:00

An author panel is one of my favorite things to do. It's a great chance to gather with fellow authors and share stories, writing tips, and ideas with an audience. My recent author panel at Mockingbird Books in Seattle, WA with children's authors Joni Sensel, Suzanne Williams, and Suzanne Selfors was another stellar example of why I love doing them so much (see my big smile?).

One subject we discussed was cover art. A recent readers poll by Scholastic revealed that cover art was the number one reason why readers chose (or didn't choose) a particular book. So how much influence does an author have over the design of the cover? Everyone has a different experience but, for the most part, it seems most authors don't have too much of a say in selecting a cover design or illustrator. Sometimes, the results are wonderful. Other times, they are heart-breaking.

I have been very fortunate to have outstanding artists like Dan Yaccarino and Jim Paillot illustrate my books, so I have always been pleased with the results. I've also been blessed by understanding editors, who have made it a point to bring me into the loop. Usually, I get to see sketches and early drafts of covers and offer suggestions if I want to. I prefer, however, not to get TOO involved in the process. Part of the fun is seeing how an illustrator brings my characters to life. I want the artist to feel free to let his/her imagination go without worrying about my opinion. Usually, an artist goes above and beyond my expectations. More than once, I have been pleasantly surprised.

What are some of your favorite covers? What book(s) did you read because of the cover or in spite of it?

Speaking of covers, here is a sneak peek at the cover for the next book in my Secrets of a Lab Rat series: Mom, There's a Dinosaur in Beeson's Lake. It's by Jim Paillot, an artist that always brings those pleasant surprises I was telling you about. Look for the second book in the Secrets series to be released in the spring of 2010!

Special thanks to Sue at Mockingbird Books for hosting our author panel, and to my husband, Bill, photographer extraordinaire for the evening.

Until the next author panel ...

Read On,
Trudi

A Little Reading, A Little Slime ...

2009-04-17T12:46:00.000-07:00

We read, we talked, we played games - and it all went by so quickly. It was a great evening at the bookfair/launch of Secrets of a Lab Rat. We had a terrific turn-out of enthusiastic young readers and writers, which always makes for a spectacular event.

In addition to reading from the new release, No Girls Allowed (Dogs Okay), I also gave everyone a sneak peek at the new cover for SLR #2: Mom, There's a Dinosaur in Beeson's Lake, which is A-MAZ-ING! Illustrator Jim Paillot has really outdone himself this time. If you haven't yet seen it, stay tuned ...

Clearly, the highlight of the evening was B&N Community Relations Manager, Kari, who mixed up some "slime" to honor our intrepid fourth-grade inventor, Scab. Lots of "ooo's" and "aaah's" over the goo-factor on that one. Everyone went home with something: bookmarks, slime, bubbles, even Junior Mints (Scab's favorite secret ingredient). A big thanks to Kari and Christy at Barnes and Noble, and Valerie at Soundview School for making the evening a smashing success!

Don't forget, Scab makes his debut on CD in two weeks!

Windows and Welcomes

2009-03-08T15:35:00.000-07:00

Short of being mobbed by a bunch of enthusiastic readers, there is nothing better than getting the support of your local bookstore. Lucky me. Last week, I got both! A big shout-out to the students at Mill Creek Elementary in Mill Creek, WA for giving me such a warm reception and for reading my books. Enjoy your bookmarks!

Also, thanks to Kari and Christy at Barnes and Noble in Lynnwood, WA. They came up with this phenomenal window display, featuring Secrets of a Lab Rat and my upcoming event. If you live in the Puget Sound area, please join me at the Alderwood Barnes and Noble on April 16th, at 6:30 pm. I'll be reading, signing books, answering questions, and giving away bookmarks. We'll have games, prizes, and a few scientific surprises (we are going to try not to blow up the building, but knowing Scab, there are no guarantees). For my complete schedule of events, check the News & Events page of my website. Hope to see you sometime this spring!

Writers & Reviews

2009-02-25T17:30:00.000-08:00

The first major review of No Girls Allowed (Dogs Okay) came in this week from School Library Journal. Oh, the dreaded 'R' word. Insert ominous organ music here.

Early on in my writing career, if a review was good, I did the happy dance around my three cats. I showed the review to anyone and everyone, including my four-year-old nephew, who couldn't read. If a review was bad, I said something like, "I never read reviews" and inhaled a gallon of mint chocolate-chip.

Truth is, reviews from major publications are not for merely boosting or crushing the ego, but they can also have a significant impact on sales to librarians and teachers, who are carefully budgeting their book-buying dollars. So reviews are important. They are important to sales, and they are also important to me. I try to take all constructive comments in a review to heart, because I want to keep improving as a writer. When you think you know everything, that is the moment you stop growing.

More than anything, reviews have taught me to have no regrets. Right or wrong, brilliantly-plotted or completely ill-conceived, the book that I wrote was my best creative expression at the time. That is the most anyone can ask of herself. It takes courage to put yourself out there on the page. If you are a writer, don't let anything, or anyone, make you second-guess your heart. Write what must be written. Don't worry about the reviews. Some will be great. Others will sting. Your task is to keep writing-come what may.

Oh ... the review from School Library Journal was kind, and it's possible I may have done a brief happy dance around one petite calico cat.

Secrets of a Lab Rat is here!

2009-02-10T11:06:00.000-08:00

It's launch day for the first book in the Secrets of a Lab Rat series, No Girls Allowed (Dogs Okay)! All I can say is "finally!"

It can take a year, or more, for a book to go from the author's head to the computer to an editor to you. Making a book is a long process. There's copy editing, revising, illustrating, designing layouts, creating a cover, marketing, sales, printing - whew! It's exhausting. When, at last, the book is released, you hold your breath with the hope that readers will come to love the character as much as you do. So I'll be here, turning blue, while you read!

Here's the plot: fourth-grader "Scab" McNally loves coming up with wild and weird inventions. What he wants most in the world is a dog, but his parents (and his twin sister, Isabelle) don't think he can handle the responsibility. Scab sets out to prove that he is responsible by selling his latest invention to earn the money for his dog: a sister-repellent spray he calls Isabelle's Smell. But one broken bottle of the stuff brings disaster, not to mention a Haz Mat crew! In the midst of his self-pity Scab realizes his drive to get a dog is hurting the people he loves most.

To find out more about the series and read an excerpt from the book log on to my website, www.truditrueit.com.

As always, thanks for reading!

Launching New Website

2009-02-02T10:03:00.000-08:00

Ta da! My new site is up and running. Fingers crossed that all of the links are working the way they should. My old website was geared toward the Julep O'Toole series (ala very pink). I needed something that would also fit the new series and my nonfiction work (over 40 books and counting!). I designed and created this new site with pinks (for Julep lovers), and bright blues and greens. The goal was to make it welcoming for all young readers, whether they're into extreme weather, journaling, or Julep.
Speaking of Miss O'Toole, today the third book in the series, What I Really Want to do is Direct, is being released in Germany by DTV, Jr. I am thrilled beyond belief to see her being translated into other languages. Sehr gut!

Don't forget to peak in on the new website!
www.truditrueit.com

Bookworm Readers Interview

2009-01-27T10:01:00.000-08:00

Last spring, I did an interview with Bookworm Readers. If you haven't checked out Bookwormlovers blogspot, don't miss it. It's a great blog for teens and tween readers, written by a teen. It features exclusive author interviews, reviews, and give-aways. It's fab-u-lous!

Anyway, here is the interview:

http://bookwormbooklovers.blogspot.com/2008/04/meet-trudi.html

Two Weeks to Secrets!

2009-01-27T08:44:00.000-08:00

In just fourteen days the first book in my new series, Secrets of a Lab Rat, will be released. No Girls Allowed (Dogs Okay) is the story of "Scab" McNally, fourth-grade inventor and personal tormentor of his twin sister, Isabelle. From beginning to end, writing this novel was a blast! Fingers crossed that readers will love Scab. Of course, if they do it will be because of Jim Paillot's incredible illustrations (As you can see, Scab arm farting is a hoot!).

www.truditrueit.com