From a Small Burrow

We Have A Winner!

Introducing Our Poetry Contest Judge

Meeting Your Editor

We Have A Winner!

Introducing Our Poetry Contest Judge

Meeting Your Editor

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Jun. 25th, 2008 at 11:47 AM

Our honorable judge, Andrea Tompa, editor at Candlewick Press, has read all twelve entries to the Cheesy Poetry Contest and has made her decision! The entries were sent to her, identified by number only, sans the authors' names.

She writes:

"What talented blog readers you have. :-) I had a lot of fun reading them all (though I must admit they made me very hungry!). I had several close contenders for a winner, but ultimately, #11 (Choose Cheese!) was my favorite. I liked its natural, readable rhythm and its unabashed praise of cheese -- and it was probably the rhyming of "food a" with "gouda" that edged it into the lead."

#11 was written by JoAnn Early Macken!

And here it is:

Choose Cheese!

Searching for the perfect food? A

wise choice would be nutty gouda.

For a party, brunch, or tea,

how about a soft, smooth brie?

Tomato soup needs cubes of cheddar.

Cream cheese makes a bagel better.

Then you really ought to try

feta in a spinach pie.

Served with crackers on a plate,

gorgonzola is first rate!

And, indeed, you’ll never miss

with a holey wedge of Swiss.

So if you want a scrumptious treat—

not too subtle, not too sweet—

for casserole, soufflé, or stew,

choose a cheese to chop and chew!

APPLAUSE! APPLAUSE! APPLAUSE!

JoAnn wins a signed copy of a Cork and Fuzz book. Congrats!

My thanks to all who joined the fun and entered. Your poems were wonderful, and I consider you all winners!

Mood: cheerful

Jun. 23rd, 2008 at 7:32 AM

CANDLEWICK PRESS

It's my pleasure to announce that the judge for the CHEESY POETRY CONTEST
will be editor Andrea Tompa from Candlewick Press!

We have twelve entries (whoo-whoo!) and I'll send them to Andrea without the authors' names on them. (Of course, if she requests a name or three, I'll be happy to give them to her.) Andrea will be out of the office for a few days, so as soon as she gets back and has a chance to read the poems and select a winner, I'll post a huge YA-WHOOO! on my blog, announcing the winner.

Thanks for playing along, fellow writers, and for being patient just a little while longer.

Mood: bouncy

Apr. 16th, 2008 at 7:41 AM

Ten years ago when I began writing for children, I never dreamed I'd one day visit a publishing house and meet my editor face to face. But it happened last Friday. My writing daughter,

stacy_dekeyser, and I drove from Connecticut to New Hampshire for the spring NE-SCBWI conference, and we were invited to stop in Somerville MA to see the Candlewick offices and meet editor Andrea Tompa.

Right inside the entrance I saw my book Virginnie's Hat on their display case of recent books! (It's on the lowest shelf, second book from end on the left.) A welcoming touch!

Candlewick entrance display

And then I got to meet Andrea! She's a warm, charming, and delightful person, and very, very smart!

Andrea Tompa and Dori Chaconas at Candlewick

Of course I'd hoped to take a picture of her slush pile, but there were only three things in it! Andrea explained that since Candlewick is closed to unsolicited manuscripts, most of the submissions from agents and Candlewick writers come through email, and so... goodbye, slush pile!

A fun part of the visit was to read my Candlewick book-in-progress Hurry Down to Derry Fair to an audience of thirty Candlewick staff members! I read from a dummy while Andrea held up larger loose pages.

Reading to Candlewick staff

Thanks to Andrea and Candlewick for a wonderful visit! It was a great experience.

Location:Candlewick offices
Mood: impressed

September 2008