I don't know why this is so.  And I can't put a quantifiable, scientific explanation around why I hear my characters.  It’s just one of those things in life that I delightfully accept.

That’s why I was tickled when fellow Kid Lit author and friend, K. Lamb, asked me to participate in the Meet the Character Blog Tour to introduce you to a character from one of my books. 

Like most writers, I have an endearing relationship with people in my tales.  And like a parent, it was hard to select which one of my literary offspring to highlight for this post.  (Not to worry: I made sure my other characters didn’t feel slighted.) I can’t wait to introduce you to Tara, or Sweet T as she is sometimes called. T remains one of my favorites simply because she is the protagonist in my first book.

At the end of this post, you’ll also meet the three writers who will next share their book characters:
     ...  a Welsh scamp among fairy folk
     ...  a seven-year-old girl teaching American Sign Language (ASL)
     ...  a fourth-grade boy in small-town USA facing realities of WWII  

But first, I’d like to tell you more about tour sponsor K. Lamb. 

Ready?  Put your feet up and get comfy.

Often when holed up in my writerly nest, my mind takes off on mental flights. It’ll swirl through ideas, sorting which ones to keep and write about.

Sometimes, I'm overwhelmed and unsure of what to do.  That’s when my characters chime in and speak to me.  They let me know what journey they want to take and what kind of peril I can fling at them (rated PG-13, of course).

I.  Meet Blog Sponsor K. Lamb
... author of the Dani P. Mystery series for children 7-11 y/o
 http://www.authorklamb.blogspot.com/ 

I cyber-met K. on Goodreads this spring and followed her into the twittosphere when she asked folks to help her tweet about her new book.  Though I was new to Twitter and probably botched this my first tweet, K. was gracious and appreciative of my efforts.  In fact, K. generously and consistently supports me and other Indie authors. She's also a strong literacy advocate, adopting local schools and donating her books to them. Dani and the Haunted House, her first published work, is an Amazon best-selling e-book in the Children’s Detectives category.  Wow!

K. recently released her second book in the collection, Dani and the Mall Caper, and has two more books in this series under production: Dani and the Rocking Horse Ranch, Book 3, and Dani and the Hidden Treasure, Book 4.  Yep, she's a dynamo. 

Learn more about Dani's adventures @ http://www.danipmystery.com/
Find K. Lamb and her books on Amazon @ http://goo.gl/1mwmiF

II.  Meet My KidLit Character:  Sweet T

1.   What’s the name of your character?
       Is she a fictional or historic person?

Sweet T was inspired by my then eight-year old niece, Tara.  We often refer to Tara as T, so naming my character Sweet T wasn’t a stretch. 

I wrote Sweet T and the North Wind as a birthday gift for the real T after I was downsized, cash-strapped, and couldn't afford to buy her a present.  Years passed.  Tara grew into a lovely young woman who recently graduated from college with a degree in teaching history.  But Sweet T  sat for more than a decade until 2013 and the rise of digital publishing, when I dusted off the manuscript and published it.

2.         When and where is the story set?
Last time a powerful North Wind blew so cold, strange things happened.  And the winter Tara turned ten years old, the wind blew sharp, and the lakes in her rural New England community were frozen solid by Thanksgiving.  Old timers from the village warn everyone to take care. 

Do you heed them?

Listen to the North Wind howl.  Watch it drift snow to the bottom of windowsills. 

Can you see T dashing out in the morning light to catch her school bus?  Wrapped from head to toe in warm woolies, she waddles like a penguin down the icy sidewalk, her breath swirling round her head in puffy white vapor clouds.   She knows it will be another long day of staying cooped up indoors to keep safe from the North Wind.

3.         What should we know about Sweet T?
Tara, or Sweet T as Grandma calls her, enjoys being the oldest sister and likes to help everyone. 

She makes sure middle-sister Kristen pours milk into Mowgli’s cat bowl without spilling.  She shows little sister Jenna the best way to solve tricky jigsaw puzzles. And Daddy never finds his car keys without her.  

Umm, could you excuse me a moment?  I hear the smoke alarm going off downstairs.  Be right back.

4.         What problem does Sweet T face? 
Psst!   Over here!  It's T. 

The old smoke alarm trick gets Cat off the keyboard every time.  We have a few minutes until she returns, but I want a chance to talk to you.  After all, this blog is about ME!

My problem? I’ve been stuck inside for-everrrrrr because that North Wind won't stifle its blustery breath.  Mama says I have cabin fever.  Daddy says I need to run up and down the stairs to work off my cabin fever.

I do everything I can to stay busy.  I finish homework. I play with my sisters.  I read a library book. I even clean my room.  And I keep thinking about my new scooter I just got for my birthday --- a red racer that I can’t ride until spring when the snow melts.  Such a long time away!

But I can’t stand the wait. I head down to the basement to check on my scooter. That’s when I make a wish and  find North Wind magic.  My ordinary afternoon turns into into the ride of a lifetime, and I discover a power that lies within myself.  It’s a power that any boy or girl can learn to unlock and use.  All they need to do is….

Uh-oh.  I hear footsteps. Cat’s coming back.  Quick, let's skip to the next question before I jump back into my book.

5.         What is the personal goal of the character?
I love visiting with my family at Grandpa’s house on Harriet Street.  He always has licorice treats for us, and he tells stories that make us laugh.  Grandma loves baking and makes yum-alicious peanut butter cake with triple-fudge frosting that is positively the most wonderful dessert you will ever taste.  She serves it with sweet tea, and calls me Sweet T after her favorite beverage.

There’s a sad part to my story, though, and a peril my family faces because someone we love becomes very ill.  Our life turns upside-down when .....

Oops!  Cat’s rounding the top of the staircase.  Gotta run.  Bye!

6.        How can we learn more about Sweet T and the North Wind?
Thanks for waiting while I checked the smoke alarm.  It was nothing.  I don't know why the alarm goes off all the time. 

Hmmm.  I could've sworn I left off writing at Q3.  Oh well. 

Sweet T and the North Wind is the first of my Sweet T tales about the adventures of Tara and her sisters. In this chapter book for early readers illustrated by Irene A. Jahns, readers will recognize T and little sister Jenna from Finding Fuzzy, the second book in the series.  Like Fuzzy, Sweet T can be read as a stand alone book and scored a five-star review from Readers' Favorite.com.

You can also sign up for Cat’s Connections to get the latest email updates about my books and special goings-on.  New subscribers receive a link to download my very-short story for grown-up readers, Driving Down to Dillon.  Dillon has special meaning to me, and I hope you'll enjoy this tale about love and new beginnings.

III.  Next Up on 6 October:
       Three Authors Introduce Their Characters

Eiry Reese Thomas
http://theflitlits.com/
Eiry is an author, educator, and virtual friend from across the pond.  I admire the way she spins stories for 8 to 11-year-olds about fairies and make-believe folk inhabiting her native Wales.  She writes in both English and with the musicality of the Welsh language (described in Welsh as telynegol or harp-like, true to her Celtic roots).  She is an amazing bilingual author and curriculum content creator for educators.

The Flitlits, Eiry’s series of interactive ebooks/apps for upper-elementary students, will enchant you with its rhyming narrative and ethereal drawings.  The series was created with the support of the Welsh government and has been a 2014 top-seller on iTunes for the iPad in English, Welsh and US English versions of the text and narration.  Educational guides for lesson planning are featured in the apps and on the website.  Print versions will follow later in 2014 as trilingual editions.  I have enough of a challenge writing in one language, so I give Eiry a stand ovation for publishing in three.

Find more about The Flitlits on YouTube. 
Connect with Eiry on Twitter  @EiryReesThomas  or @TheFlitlits

Leigh Shearin
www.winterrestfarm.weebly.com

Leigh and I become gal pals when our offices shared the same aisle, and we participated in Book Club at the community college where we worked some years ago. Leigh is a chef, baker, and teacher.  Most recently, she and her husband bought rural land and are developing Winterrest, a small farm in central New York, US.  She's a real foodie, happiest living off the land and developing her  sustainable farm.

On top of everything else, Leigh has always written stories and poems. Her middle-grade e-book, John Bloom and the Victory Garden, will debut in November 2014 on Amazon.  You can bet this work of historical fiction set on the advent of WWII has a food focus and contains dandy plot turns and kid-friendly recipes that especially appeal to boys.

Connect with Leigh on Twitter @LeighShearin

Kentrell Martin
http://www.kentrellmartin.com/
Changing the world, one SIGN at a time!! 

I bumped into Kentrell and illustrator Marc Rodriguez in May at the 2014 Book Expo America in New York City. Their warm smiles and colorful display table featuring their award-winning Shelly’s Adventures books drew me in.  As a former special ed teacher, I was fascinated as Kentrell told me about Shelly, whose first language is American Sign Language (ASL) and who acts as an interpreter for her dad.  I love that young readers also learn to sign along with Shelly as she explores the world around her.

Shelly's Adventures LLC was formed to help bridge the gap between the deaf and hearing world.  American Sign Language (ASL) is the third most widely used language in the United States. To increase awareness of ASL and deaf culture, Shelly's Adventures LLC produces educational products that make signing fun for individuals of all ages.

Learn more about Shelly http://www.shellysadventuresllc.com

Thanks for stopping by.  I enjoyed your visit.  Please come again.  And stay tuned for the next tour stop on 6 October with Eiry,
Leigh, and Kentrell.

P.S. 
'Fess up and do tell in the comments below...how do book characters speak to you?

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~ Shakespeare's Henry V

Well, once again I’m jumping into something new, and I don’t know where it will take me:  I just added a book review tab to my website. 

Yep, I’ll be reviewing the occasional children’s book of approximately 100 pages, written for pre-school - 6th grade. 

Kinda nervous but excited. 

I want to support my fellow Indie authors.  I remember how hard it was for me to find reviewers, especially when I first started writing.  I was so grateful for anyone who gave me the time of day!  I want to pay that forward. 

I want to support my fellow Indie authors.  I remember how hard it was for me to find reviewers, especially when I first started writing.  I was so grateful for anyone who gave me the time of day!  I want to pay that forward. 

However, I’ve been turning down review requests because the day isn’t long enough to write, tend to social media posts, and have a balanced life outside of writing.  But there’s more to it than the time crunch most of us experience these days.  Readers expect honest reviews and professionally published books---by that, I mean books written by traditional and Indie authors.  Pressure’s on.

I understand the flip side, too: the soul and sweat authors pour into writing or illustrating a book.  I dread the thought of dashing any author’s dream if I could not give his or her book a favorable review.  Anguish and gnashing of teeth.

Yet, Indie writers are professionals who are held to the same standard as authors supported by a publishing firm and having a full staff of editors, marketers, and graphic/tech gurus that make writing life easier. 

I’ve been noodling over how to offer an occasional honest review and still continue to have time to write, feel at peace with myself, celebrate Indies, and not crush anyone’s hopes.  Did I already mention feeling stressed?

Eureka!  I came up with a query process and review policy that I hope will accomplish my goals.  In a nutshell, I’ll only complete and post reviews that I believe are deserving of a very good or excellent rating.  If I believe a book to be rated as fair, I will quietly, gently let that author know why I cannot write a review. 

I don’t want to come off like the Grumpy Cat.  I’m just trying to offer authentic reviews for all involved.  Gulp.  Deep breath.  Really nervous but still going for it. 

You can take a peek at my review policy. 

And a wee drum roll….
Might you check out my first post on my new review page, and let me know what you think in the comments below?

Thanks for stopping by. 
Happy tales and all the best with your writerly journey.

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I'm pleased to welcome guest blogger and fellow KidLiteratureAuthor.com writerly colleague, Carmela Dutra.  On top of her talent as an author, illustrator, and photographer, Carmela never ceases to amaze me with her boundless energy in supporting literacy, books, and reading.  Her post will get you thinking about how and why we use libraries in the digi-age.

Some of my fondest memories include trips to the local library. I spent most of my summers there, entering reading contests, checking out my first chapter books; then as I got older, I was able to use their computers. The library was a safe haven for kids my age. Our parents knew where we were, knew we were safe, and knew that we would be involved in something educational.

Libraries really are the gates to the future.  Libraries focus on the value of information.  Information in any format: hard copy books, e-books, audiobooks, etc. 

While, yes, the internet does offer value in information, that is not the primary focus.  Libraries are places, portals and resource hubs that link us to valuable information. Libraries and librarians, with their knowledge and research skills, are in the best position to provide much needed search and digital literacy skills to ensure that we, and our children, access the right learning resources. (I’ve yet to find someone on the internet who can do that.)

Yes, we do have the internet and can browse information from the comfort of our home.  And if you are looking for speed, well, then the internet is what you want!  A lot of things are even free on the internet.

How the internet compares to a library

Not everything is available on the Internet: the amazing amount of useful information on the web has, for some, produced the false assumption everything can be found online. It's simply not true.

An area of special concern in regard to children is quality control. Yes, we need the Internet, and it can be useful, but in addition to all the scientific, medical, and historical information (when accurate), there is also a cesspool of waste. There is no quality control on the Web, and there isn’t likely to be any. Unlike libraries where vanity press publications are rarely, if ever, collected, vanity is often what drives the Internet. Libraries ensure that they deliver the best quality of information to children.  Does the internet?

Libraries allow parents the opportunity to actively participate in their children’s reading. They offer a place where families can spend time with one another.  Some have reading programs for children who need a little extra help in this area.  Others have sing along and reading time for infants and toddlers where parents can be involved. The internet can offer this too, but is it always free? Can the parents be involved? Are they encouraged to be involved? How does a virtual person singing and reading compare to someone doing these things in person?

Final considerations
The Internet isn't Free
Numerous academic research papers, journals, and other important materials are virtually inaccessible to someone seeking to pull them off the web for free. Rather, access is restricted to expensive subscription accounts, which are typically paid for by college libraries.  Therefore, visiting a college library in person, or logging in to the library through your school account, is the only way to affordably access necessary archived resources.

The Internet Complements Libraries, but Doesn't Replace Them
There are clear advantages of libraries over the internet for research.  On the other hand, the internet is clearly a great resource for finding information, but it's not a replacement for a library.  There are definite benefits of the using internet, including sampling public opinion, gathering quick facts, and pooling a wide range of ideas.

The point is this: libraries are completely different than the web. In this light, to talk about one replacing the other begins to seem absurd.

Carmela Dutra,  writer and illustrator of children's literature, is the author of Lorenzo the Bear at Jellyfish Cove. She has also been a professional photographer for the last 10 years. Working with children has always been her passion!  Whether she captures their whimsical nature with her camera or through her stories, she encourages children to find their own passion for reading and writing. 

Carmela discusses kids, reading, learning, art, and more on her blog and  social media sites.

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