Laura Wynkoop
Children's Writer
Children's Writer
Announcements
July 24, 2010
W
oo hoo! Today, I received an advanced
hardcover copy of An Eyeball in My Garden!
It was SO amazing to hold our book in my hands,
flip through the pages, and admire the dust jacket.
It looks fabulous! Also, Jen and I recently started
a Facebook fan page for our book. If you're on
Facebook, please check it out: An Eyeball in My
Garden. Thanks! :)
June 15, 2010
Our very first issue of Berry Blue Haiku is out!
Gisele LeBlanc, our Executive Editor, did a phenomenal
job putting it all together. There are tips for writing haiku,
a lift-the-flap haiku lesson, instructions for making your own haiku journal, and of course, lots of beautifully illustrated haiku poems. If you'd like to order a subscription, it's only $4.99 a year. The first issue is free--click on the cover to check it out!
May 14, 2010
Today we officially began the second Poets' Garage anthology. This time, we will be writing about Bugs! That's right--first we did creepy, and now we're doing crawly. ;) We're hoping to finish writing all of our poems by early fall, and then we'll begin submitting our project. Let the Buggy writing begin!
March 5, 2010
I am very excited to announce that I just accepted the position of Copy Editor and Editorial Assistant for a new quarterly online children's magazine called Berry Blue Haiku. I will be working with two lovely ladies, Gisele LeBlanc and Michele Pizarro Harman, to bring you the best in children's haiku, along with articles, lessons, crafts, and contests. Perfect for parents, teachers, and homeschoolers!
February 5, 2010
Today Jen and I got our first glimpse of the fully illustrated interior pages of An Eyeball in My Garden. All I can say is, "Wow!" Our fantabulous illustrator, Johan Olander, took it upon himself to add even more art to the book than was originally planned, and the results are incredible. My favorite illustration? Probably "The Highland Train." This poem was originally unillustrated, and now I can't imagine the book without that wonderful sillohuetted train, complete with a ghost-shaped cloud of steam. We are all so, so proud of this book.
October 26, 2009
This past weekend was an absolute joy. In addition to hanging out with Jen and Bill (my good friends and fellow poets), we attended the Ventura SCBWI Writer's Day where we got to meet our wonderful editor from Marshall Cavendish. It was so much fun meeting Marilyn and discussing some of the details of our anthology. We found out that our book will be released in hardcover, and it's so exciting to picture a real, hardbound, jacket-covered book with OUR poems in it!
August 9, 2009
I am still basking in the glory of two fabulous days surrounded by writers, illustrators, editors, and agents. The SCBWI Summer Conference was simply terrific, and I really enjoyed seeing some old friends and making some new ones. I had the privilege of hanging out with two wonderful ladies from my picture book critique group, and I got to meet quite a few Blue Boarders including the fabulous Ingrid Law. If you haven't yet had the chance to read her Newberry Honor book, Savvy, get your hands on it. Quick. It's beautifully written, moving, and very funny. The same goes for Sherman Alexie's National Book Award winner, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. Seeing Alexie speak Friday morning was one of the highlights of the conference, and I am left feeling inspired, uplifted, and darn right lucky to be writing for children.
July 24, 2009
I just registered for the SCBWI Summer Conference, and I can't wait to go! I am attending part-time, and I will be there August 7-8. This year's line-up is absolutely terrific. I'm especially looking forward to Sherman Alexie's keynote address Friday morning, as well as Saturday night's Poolside Gala. I also can't wait to meet up with some of my critique partners and writing buddies. LA, here I come!
June 18, 2009
A little more than a month has passed since Jen and I turned in our revisions to our editor at Marshall Cavendish, and today we received some wonderful news--our revised manuscript was accepted! Yay! No more late nights editing poems until we can't see straight. We also learned that Marshall Cavendish has finalized our title and set a release date for our book. It will be called, An Eyeball in My Garden: And Other Spine-Tingling Poems, and it's coming out on July 15, 2010! I can't believe that in just over a year, our anthology will be on bookshelves nationwide. What an incredible feeling!!!
April 18, 2009
My historical fiction picture book manuscript, The Road to Ch'onan, was awarded Honorable Mention in the SCBWI-Los Angeles Picture Book Fiction Contest. The judge noted:
"This well-told, dramatic story needs to be told... The illustrative possibilities are rich; the manuscript has a compelling story, a specific setting and time period, and will require historical accuracy in the pictures. Even though it is a fairly long text, the story is told with brevity and with an ear to the intended picture book aged audience."
I am honored to receive such wonderful praise and can't wait to submit this story for publication.
March 27, 2009
Jen and I received the manuscript back from our editor at Marshall Cavendish so that we can begin the daunting task of editing. In addition to revising the 35 poems that were accepted, we have been asked to create and submit some new material. We have until May 15 to complete all requested revisions, so we've got a busy (and exciting) six weeks ahead of us!
January 14, 2009
After two months of examination, discussion, and negotiation, our contracts are signed! Everything is official. Marshall Cavendish is publishing our book, and they are planning to release it in 2010. Now we anxiously await the next steps...
November 11, 2008
Today was perhaps one of the most exciting days of my life. Don't get me wrong, it was amazing graduating from college and getting married and having my children, but today... I received my first book contract!!! It is for an original anthology of children's poetry that I wrote with my critique group buddies from the Poets' Garage. Jennifer Cole Judd and I edited and submitted the project, and in August, we received an interest letter from Marshall Cavendish Children's books. Now, three months later, we have an offer! We are glowing with excitement and cannot wait to see a real, honest-to-goodness book contract with our names on it!
December 10, 2007
I have officially branched out into the world of educational publishing. Today, I received an e-mail from Gryphon House, Inc., informing me that they accepted seven lesson plans that I wrote for their upcoming book, The Giant Encyclopedia of Lesson Plans. This is the first time that my writing will appear in book form, rather than in a magazine. I look forward to receiving my contributor copies!
August 18, 2006
My short story, Marooned, was selected as one of three finalists in the Delaware Art Museum's Art of Storytelling Contest. As a finalist, I was awarded one year's membership at the museum.
April 22, 2006
I am thrilled to announce that my story, The Tale of Sanderson Smith, won the SCBWI-Los Angeles Scholarship Contest. This 200-word tall tale earned me free tuition to the 2006 SCBWI Summer Conference. I couldn't think of a better prize!
W
oo hoo! Today, I received an advancedhardcover copy of An Eyeball in My Garden!
It was SO amazing to hold our book in my hands,
flip through the pages, and admire the dust jacket.
It looks fabulous! Also, Jen and I recently started
a Facebook fan page for our book. If you're on
Facebook, please check it out: An Eyeball in My
Garden. Thanks! :)
June 15, 2010
Our very first issue of Berry Blue Haiku is out!
Gisele LeBlanc, our Executive Editor, did a phenomenal
job putting it all together. There are tips for writing haiku,
a lift-the-flap haiku lesson, instructions for making your own haiku journal, and of course, lots of beautifully illustrated haiku poems. If you'd like to order a subscription, it's only $4.99 a year. The first issue is free--click on the cover to check it out!
May 14, 2010
Today we officially began the second Poets' Garage anthology. This time, we will be writing about Bugs! That's right--first we did creepy, and now we're doing crawly. ;) We're hoping to finish writing all of our poems by early fall, and then we'll begin submitting our project. Let the Buggy writing begin!
March 5, 2010
I am very excited to announce that I just accepted the position of Copy Editor and Editorial Assistant for a new quarterly online children's magazine called Berry Blue Haiku. I will be working with two lovely ladies, Gisele LeBlanc and Michele Pizarro Harman, to bring you the best in children's haiku, along with articles, lessons, crafts, and contests. Perfect for parents, teachers, and homeschoolers!
February 5, 2010
Today Jen and I got our first glimpse of the fully illustrated interior pages of An Eyeball in My Garden. All I can say is, "Wow!" Our fantabulous illustrator, Johan Olander, took it upon himself to add even more art to the book than was originally planned, and the results are incredible. My favorite illustration? Probably "The Highland Train." This poem was originally unillustrated, and now I can't imagine the book without that wonderful sillohuetted train, complete with a ghost-shaped cloud of steam. We are all so, so proud of this book.
October 26, 2009
This past weekend was an absolute joy. In addition to hanging out with Jen and Bill (my good friends and fellow poets), we attended the Ventura SCBWI Writer's Day where we got to meet our wonderful editor from Marshall Cavendish. It was so much fun meeting Marilyn and discussing some of the details of our anthology. We found out that our book will be released in hardcover, and it's so exciting to picture a real, hardbound, jacket-covered book with OUR poems in it!
August 9, 2009
I am still basking in the glory of two fabulous days surrounded by writers, illustrators, editors, and agents. The SCBWI Summer Conference was simply terrific, and I really enjoyed seeing some old friends and making some new ones. I had the privilege of hanging out with two wonderful ladies from my picture book critique group, and I got to meet quite a few Blue Boarders including the fabulous Ingrid Law. If you haven't yet had the chance to read her Newberry Honor book, Savvy, get your hands on it. Quick. It's beautifully written, moving, and very funny. The same goes for Sherman Alexie's National Book Award winner, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. Seeing Alexie speak Friday morning was one of the highlights of the conference, and I am left feeling inspired, uplifted, and darn right lucky to be writing for children.
July 24, 2009
I just registered for the SCBWI Summer Conference, and I can't wait to go! I am attending part-time, and I will be there August 7-8. This year's line-up is absolutely terrific. I'm especially looking forward to Sherman Alexie's keynote address Friday morning, as well as Saturday night's Poolside Gala. I also can't wait to meet up with some of my critique partners and writing buddies. LA, here I come!
June 18, 2009
A little more than a month has passed since Jen and I turned in our revisions to our editor at Marshall Cavendish, and today we received some wonderful news--our revised manuscript was accepted! Yay! No more late nights editing poems until we can't see straight. We also learned that Marshall Cavendish has finalized our title and set a release date for our book. It will be called, An Eyeball in My Garden: And Other Spine-Tingling Poems, and it's coming out on July 15, 2010! I can't believe that in just over a year, our anthology will be on bookshelves nationwide. What an incredible feeling!!!
April 18, 2009
My historical fiction picture book manuscript, The Road to Ch'onan, was awarded Honorable Mention in the SCBWI-Los Angeles Picture Book Fiction Contest. The judge noted:
"This well-told, dramatic story needs to be told... The illustrative possibilities are rich; the manuscript has a compelling story, a specific setting and time period, and will require historical accuracy in the pictures. Even though it is a fairly long text, the story is told with brevity and with an ear to the intended picture book aged audience."
I am honored to receive such wonderful praise and can't wait to submit this story for publication.
March 27, 2009
Jen and I received the manuscript back from our editor at Marshall Cavendish so that we can begin the daunting task of editing. In addition to revising the 35 poems that were accepted, we have been asked to create and submit some new material. We have until May 15 to complete all requested revisions, so we've got a busy (and exciting) six weeks ahead of us!
January 14, 2009
After two months of examination, discussion, and negotiation, our contracts are signed! Everything is official. Marshall Cavendish is publishing our book, and they are planning to release it in 2010. Now we anxiously await the next steps...
November 11, 2008
Today was perhaps one of the most exciting days of my life. Don't get me wrong, it was amazing graduating from college and getting married and having my children, but today... I received my first book contract!!! It is for an original anthology of children's poetry that I wrote with my critique group buddies from the Poets' Garage. Jennifer Cole Judd and I edited and submitted the project, and in August, we received an interest letter from Marshall Cavendish Children's books. Now, three months later, we have an offer! We are glowing with excitement and cannot wait to see a real, honest-to-goodness book contract with our names on it!
December 10, 2007
I have officially branched out into the world of educational publishing. Today, I received an e-mail from Gryphon House, Inc., informing me that they accepted seven lesson plans that I wrote for their upcoming book, The Giant Encyclopedia of Lesson Plans. This is the first time that my writing will appear in book form, rather than in a magazine. I look forward to receiving my contributor copies!
August 18, 2006
My short story, Marooned, was selected as one of three finalists in the Delaware Art Museum's Art of Storytelling Contest. As a finalist, I was awarded one year's membership at the museum.
April 22, 2006
I am thrilled to announce that my story, The Tale of Sanderson Smith, won the SCBWI-Los Angeles Scholarship Contest. This 200-word tall tale earned me free tuition to the 2006 SCBWI Summer Conference. I couldn't think of a better prize!
