Jennifer Sommer
Contact me
  • "Jen"reflecting
  • Book Reviews
    • Children's Book Reviews >
      • 2015
      • 2014
      • 2013
      • 2012
      • 2011
      • 2010
      • 2009
      • 2008
      • 2007
      • 2006
      • 2005
      • 2004
      • 2003
      • 2002
      • 2001
      • 2000
      • 1999
      • 1998
    • Young Adult Book Reviews >
      • 2014
      • 2013
      • 2012
      • 2011
      • 2010
      • 2009
      • 2008
      • 2007
      • 2006
  • Published Articles
  • Autographs
  • Contact Me

Announcement - Karen and Philip Cushman Late Bloomer Award

7/24/2014

0 Comments

 
As I was driving home from Hamline's MFAC Alumni Weekend Writer's Conference, I got a call with very exciting news. It was Lin Oliver, Executive Director of SCBWI, informing me that I was chosen to receive the Karen and Philip Cushman Late Bloomer Award. This is a work-in-progress grant in which I had submitted  "Octopus Capers" back in March. My first award! Lin told me to go ahead and post the news on my Facebook account to create some buzz, which I did, so for the remainder of my drive home I heard the happy "pings" from my phone as the news made the rounds. Prior to the call, I was listening to an audiobook, which I assumed would be my next blog post. After the call, I couldn't concentrate on the story and had to put it away. I can live with that. As part of my award, my registration at the SCBWI Annual Conference in Los Angeles will be paid for. See you there!

Read More
0 Comments

Hamline MFAC Alumni Weekend Writer's Conference

7/18/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
Some fellow alums at the July 2014 Alumni Weekend during some down time.
The middle of July each year brings a favorite event for me, Alumni Weekend at Hamline University in St. Paul, MN, where in 2009 I received my MFA in Creative Writing for Children and Young Adults. I look forward to it for a variety of reasons. Writing can be a very lonely activity and this is a chance for some camaraderie with a group of people who have gone through the same program, and understand the same struggles I am experiencing now that we are out on our own. 

Writing is an odd thing. When you graduate, finding a job isn't necessarily the next natural progression. For many of us, it's trying to complete a manuscript and finding either an agent or publisher. During our intense time together we bonded and learned to trust each other with our writings. We learned to give comments, advice, and suggestions in a nurturing way. We learned to be each other's biggest supporters. There are days, still, when an alum will send me a message and say, "Hey, did you see this article on octopuses?" or "Did you see that this agent is interested in giant squids?" remembering a workshopping session where I submitted my octopus manuscript.


Read More
0 Comments

American Library Association Annual Conference - Las Vegas Style

7/3/2014

0 Comments

 

Printz Awards Ceremony

PictureMarcus Sedgwick
I started my conference Friday evening at the Michael L. Printz Awards presentation where I had the opportunity to meet an author I have followed since 2006, when I happened to pick up "The Book of  Dead Days" while on vacation in Hawaii. I enjoyed his plots, pacing, and sense of humor. Marcus Sedgwick traveled from England with his family to accept the Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature for his book, "Midwinter Blood", and his sense of humor was in abundance. His acceptance speech told in same format as the book, in seven short chapters, and was insightful and entertaining. I hope his speech will be printed somewhere eventually because there were some comments he made I would like to revisit. For example, he said that this particular book was a risk, alluding to the fact that it will offend some readers. But, he said that you need to write a story that you like yourself so that you are ensured that at least one person likes the story. Again, this demonstrates his sense of humor, but he also makes a good point. What if he hadn't taken that risk?

To read an interview with the author click on the first link. To read more about the event  check out American Libraries' "The Scoop"  with the second link.

Interview
ALA: The Scoop

Read More
0 Comments
    Picture
    I am a writer of Children's and Young Adult books. I received my MFA in Creative Writing for Children and Young Adults from Hamline University in St. Paul, MN, and am an active member of SCBWI. I also have my MLS in Library Science with an emphasis on children and happily worked as a Children's Librarian for nearly 20 years. One of my favorite activities was reading books aloud to kids, especially to school-aged kids. Like the kids, I enjoy having stories read to me, so I listen to many of my books on audio and serve on audio judging committees.
    Another favorite activity is creating fun snacks for library programs, friends, and family. I do that a lot and continually search for more ideas.
    I have a very large Russian Blue mix cat named Bosley from the shelter, and a rescue dog named Prince Albert. He's a Cavapoo, which means he's part Cavalier King Charles and part poodle, and adorable. I am married and live in Dayton, Ohio with my husband Rod.
    Picture
    You can find more detailed information about me by clicking the link below:
    View my profile on LinkedIn
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Archives

    December 2020
    November 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013

    Categories

    All
    ALA Youth Media Awards
    Alumni Weekend
    American Library Association
    Audie Awards
    Brandon Marie Miller
    Characterization
    Chocolate Bombs
    Christmas Cooking
    Cinquains
    Cookie
    Corona Virus
    Debut Author
    Dia De Los Muertos
    Easter
    Enhancing Books With Activities
    Fantasy
    Fox Stories
    Fun Snacks
    Gardening
    Gatlinburg Fires
    Halloween
    Hamline
    Harold Underdown
    Highlights Founders Workshops
    Holiday Distractions
    Holiday Treats
    Illustrator Notes
    Karen Cushman
    Katherine Kellgren
    Kathy Wiechman
    Keila Dawson
    Kerrie Logan Hollihan
    Kirby Heyborne
    Late Bloomer Award
    Libba Bray
    Mad Scientists Lab
    Marcus Sedgewick
    Mary Kay Carson
    NaNoWriMo
    Nature Bootcamp
    New Year's Resolutions
    Non-fiction
    Octopus Capers
    Odyssey Awards
    Peter Jacobi
    PiBoIdMo
    Picture Books
    Pizza
    Redhot Carolinas Conference
    Robert F. Sibert Award
    SCBWI
    Showing
    Soups And Stews
    Steve West Interview
    Submissions
    Summer Listens
    Tara Lazar
    Techniques For Revealing Physical Emotion In A Story's Narrator
    Teen Books
    Telling
    Thanksgiving
    The King Cake Baby
    Thoughts On Halloween
    Trends
    Understanding ABC Books
    Valentine's Day
    Vocabulary
    Writing Areas
    Writing Conferences
    Writing Craft
    Writing In Dialect

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly