Co-founder and Publisher, Ian Graham Leask, will resign his post as Publisher of Scarletta Press as of December 31, 2011. Scarletta Press thanks Ian for his writing and publishing expertise. His vision and dedication has been greatly valued. We wish him the best in his new endeavors.
An official press release with more detailed information will be issued later this week. If you have any questions, please direct them to the Publicity Director, Desiree Bussiere [desiree @ scarlettapress.com].
Nov 28, 2011
Major changes in store for Scarletta Press
Nov 22, 2011
Students Bring Lexicon To Life With Drawings
Students recently sent author Penny Noyce pictures they had drawn of Lexicon while their teacher, Cary Sneider, read Lost in Lexicon to them aloud.
On the top we have a drawing of Aunt Adelaide's barn and the quote that inspired it: "The barn now stood in the middle of a pond with water reaching halfway up its sides." (pg 29), and to the right, an image of the pig that lives in the barn: "The pig lay on her side in a stall, with her eyes half-closed, the fine hairs on her side quivering as she breathed." (pg 23).
To the left here, we have another drawing of Lexicon: "Sheep grazed in the distance, far off at the horizon, steep white-and-purple mountains cut into the sky." (pg 29), and underneath, we have an image of Daphne and Ivan's adventures: "The two cousins built a raft of branches and rode out onto the river below the bridge, where the raft promptly sank." (pg 15).
These pictures are fantastic and we're so glad the students decided to share them with us. If your students or children have done any drawings of Lexicon, we ask that you either send us an electronic copy to info@scarlettapress.com or a hard copy to 10 S. 5th Street #1105, Minneapolis, MN 55402. We'd love to add them to our collection!
These pictures are fantastic and we're so glad the students decided to share them with us. If your students or children have done any drawings of Lexicon, we ask that you either send us an electronic copy to info@scarlettapress.com or a hard copy to 10 S. 5th Street #1105, Minneapolis, MN 55402. We'd love to add them to our collection!
Thoughtful Reflections
Lost in Lexicon author Pendred Noyce recently opened up about a plethora of issues in an interview conducted by Thoughtful Reflections host Sylvia L. Ramsey. She addressed the difficulties of naming her characters, what it's like to be published in today's industry, writing for yourself vs writing what you think others want to read, and more. Here's a taste of some of her answers:
How do you come up with the names of places and characters in your books?
"It is funny, but I always have a hard time writing until I know the names of my main characters. I need a name that sounds like the picture I have in my mind, and I really do not know how to find those names. It is sort of like figuring out what to name your baby: you flounder around until suddenly you know."
Are there any problems in getting children’s’ books published?
"Editors are always looking for what is hot right now. They told me Lost in Lexicon was too old-fashioned or too didactic for today’s kids. In the end, I decided the only way I could prove them wrong was by publishing the book myself, and making a success of it. I pulled together a great team – an editor, an artist, an art director, and a designer – then published a book that has won awards and enthusiastic followers. While I was doing a radio interview and bookstore visits in Minneapolis, I finally ran across a publisher, Scarletta Press that understood what I wanted to do in providing challenging, thoughtful fiction for kids. Scarletta acquired Lost in Lexicon to anchor their brand new line of children’s books."
To read the interview in its entirety, click on this link.
How do you come up with the names of places and characters in your books?
"It is funny, but I always have a hard time writing until I know the names of my main characters. I need a name that sounds like the picture I have in my mind, and I really do not know how to find those names. It is sort of like figuring out what to name your baby: you flounder around until suddenly you know."
Are there any problems in getting children’s’ books published?
"Editors are always looking for what is hot right now. They told me Lost in Lexicon was too old-fashioned or too didactic for today’s kids. In the end, I decided the only way I could prove them wrong was by publishing the book myself, and making a success of it. I pulled together a great team – an editor, an artist, an art director, and a designer – then published a book that has won awards and enthusiastic followers. While I was doing a radio interview and bookstore visits in Minneapolis, I finally ran across a publisher, Scarletta Press that understood what I wanted to do in providing challenging, thoughtful fiction for kids. Scarletta acquired Lost in Lexicon to anchor their brand new line of children’s books."
To read the interview in its entirety, click on this link.
Nov 19, 2011
Have a Hassie Calhoun Holiday
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Nov 17, 2011
Freedom Ticket
Hennepin County Library is currently featuring Willow in a Storm as their Freedom Ticket read.
Willow in a Storm is a raw, unflinching memoir by James Peter Taylor, with the help of his wife, Kathleen Murphy-Taylor, and recounts the events of his unusual life, including more than 40 years spent in prison. A victim of childhood abuse, he abandons women, children, and jobs until, in pursuit of "the perfect crime," he unintentionally kills Minnesota banker Kenneth Lindberg, a married father of four.
"Written in a stark, unsentimental style, this compelling memoir shows how one man survived a seemingly impossible existence."
To check-out this book from your local Hennepin County Library, make sure you have a library card and then go here. Or you can find the novel on Amazon.
Nov 15, 2011
Inside Pamela Cory's Head
Hassie Calhoun author Pamela Cory recently completed an interview on WhoHub as a way to reach out to fans interested in getting to know the author behind the book.
She opens up about her first reading experiences and how she began writing: "As a very young reader, I loved the Nancy Drew series. I also wrote my own stories to add to the series - of course, no one else saw these stories but this was my earliest writing."
She also talks about what is necessary to make a character believable: "Verisimilitude is the key to all believability. My characters actually live in my psyche and have their own identity, character flaws and personality quirks. I was once advised to assign a living being (i.e. actor/actress) to each character to enable him/her to be "real." I love it when I can not identify anyone who actually fits my mind's description. That also helps me work harder to bring that character alive for the reader."
To learn more about this great author, you can check out the rest of the interview here.
Nov 11, 2011
HOLIDAY PROMOTION: "HASSIE CALHOUN"
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Nov 10, 2011
For Lovers of Lexicon
If you haven't already purchased Lost in Lexicon here's one more reason why you should: Compass Book Ratings has featured the novel in their 2011 Holiday Gift Guide! When discussing the books they've compiled, Compass Book Ratings says "The books in our gift guide represent the best clean reads we've read all year, and we think that our readers will enjoy giving and getting these titles!"
In other news about Lexicon, the Mom's Choice Award blog is currently featuring an interview with author Penny Noyce about what it's been like winning the Mom's Choice Award, what she's been up to since then, and where her inspiration comes from:
Q: So where did you get such an idea of magical lands and lost children?
A: When I was a child, I wanted more than anything to go to C.S. Lewis’s land of Narnia. My sister and I probed dark closets, leaped over rivers, and ran down hills with our eyes closed, calling on Aslan to transport us to that magical world.
We at Scarletta couldn't be more glad that C.S. Lewis inspired Penny all those years ago! And you can read the rest of her interview here.
In other news about Lexicon, the Mom's Choice Award blog is currently featuring an interview with author Penny Noyce about what it's been like winning the Mom's Choice Award, what she's been up to since then, and where her inspiration comes from:
Q: So where did you get such an idea of magical lands and lost children?
A: When I was a child, I wanted more than anything to go to C.S. Lewis’s land of Narnia. My sister and I probed dark closets, leaped over rivers, and ran down hills with our eyes closed, calling on Aslan to transport us to that magical world.
We at Scarletta couldn't be more glad that C.S. Lewis inspired Penny all those years ago! And you can read the rest of her interview here.
Nov 8, 2011
A Celtic Childhood is a fun romp
You know a book is good when it receives a glowing review from Squeaky Clean Reads, despite the following content review:
PROFANITY: Excessive throughout
VIOLENCE: Some Mild instances
SEXUAL CONTENT: Some Mild and a few Moderate instances
MATURE THEMES: Moderate
And yet they couldn't stop complementing A Celtic Childhood, saying things like:
"A Celtic Childhood is a lovely memoir that reads as if you’re sitting at the feet of a grandfather full of stories! This book is full of charming vignettes and hilarious antics" and "Young Bill’s views are hilarious"
So if you're look for a "fun romp" of a book, A Celtic Childhood should definitely be at the top of your list. And you can find the rest of the review here!
PROFANITY: Excessive throughout
VIOLENCE: Some Mild instances
SEXUAL CONTENT: Some Mild and a few Moderate instances
MATURE THEMES: Moderate
And yet they couldn't stop complementing A Celtic Childhood, saying things like:
"A Celtic Childhood is a lovely memoir that reads as if you’re sitting at the feet of a grandfather full of stories! This book is full of charming vignettes and hilarious antics" and "Young Bill’s views are hilarious"
So if you're look for a "fun romp" of a book, A Celtic Childhood should definitely be at the top of your list. And you can find the rest of the review here!
Sweet on Books
Did you know Sweet on Books is sweet on Lost in Lexicon? Sweet on Books is a locally-based initiative with reviews written exclusively by mothers as part of the ABC7 Learning Section. Each week they bring readers the latest reviews of books geared toward children in grades K-5. Here are some of the wonderful things they had to say:
"Under the guise of an adventure novel, Lost in Lexicon expertly incorporates educational elements into the storyline to deliver a true learning experience. Just as The Phantom Tollbooth…did years ago, this book pushes readers to see the familiar from a new perspective and to open their minds to fresh ideas."
"Both The Phantom Tollbooth and Lost in Lexicon serve as reminders that we are all equipped with a perfect cure for boredom—our own brains. I hope that this story inspires many young readers to observe, think, have open minds, and most important, to rely on themselves for entertainment."
You can find the rest of the review here!
Nov 3, 2011
The Awards Roll In
Have you heard the great news? USABookNews.com announced the winners and finalists of THE USA "BEST BOOKS OF 2011" AWARDS on November 1, 2011. And two of Scarletta's books received a total of three finalist awards!
Hassie Calhoun: A Las Vegas Novel of Innocence, a women's literary fiction and first in a trilogy, is an award-winning finalist in the Fiction: Chick Lit/Women's Lit category.
Lost in Lexicon: An Adventure in Words and Numbers, an adventurous middle-grade fantasy and first in a series that brings a world of concepts to life, is an award-winning finalist in both the Children's Fiction and Children's Educational categories.
USABookNews.com is an online publication providing coverage for books from mainstream and independent publishers to the world online community. You can find a complete list of the winners and finalists of The USA "Best Books 2001" Awards here.
Hassie Calhoun: A Las Vegas Novel of Innocence, a women's literary fiction and first in a trilogy, is an award-winning finalist in the Fiction: Chick Lit/Women's Lit category.
Lost in Lexicon: An Adventure in Words and Numbers, an adventurous middle-grade fantasy and first in a series that brings a world of concepts to life, is an award-winning finalist in both the Children's Fiction and Children's Educational categories.
USABookNews.com is an online publication providing coverage for books from mainstream and independent publishers to the world online community. You can find a complete list of the winners and finalists of The USA "Best Books 2001" Awards here.
Nov 1, 2011
National Novel Writing Month
Looking for a challenge? Why don't you try writing 50,000 words in 30 days. That may sound impossible, but that's the goal of NaNoWriMo. They claim that "For one month, you get to lock away your inner editor, let your imagination take over, and just create!"
Now don't get me wrong, as an editor, this idea is terrifying: not edit my writing? How could I do such a thing? But the purpose of National Novel Writing Month isn't to come away with this perfect, 175-page, bound masterpiece. The purpose is to get as many words written down as possible.There are plenty of skeptics, people who say quality is more valuable than quantity, and when it comes to publishing your book I agree. But who says you have to publish this? Or that you have to try to get it published on December 1st after your writing time is up? The amazing thing about NaNoWriMo is that if you can beat the challenge, you'll have 50,000 words to work with later on! If you spend all of November putting your thoughts to paper, you can spend the next 11 months refining those words. And creating a novel in under a year is definitely something to be proud of.
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