This week was the start of a new chapter in my life. I recently obtained a visa for the US, a so-called artist’s visa that identifies me now as an alien with extraordinary abilities in writing children’s books. Needless to say I am super excited at this opportunity to spread my children’s books wings. But it’s also a life-changing leap into uncharted waters and I feel like the little ones in the picture below. Intimidated by the dark around them, you can see them think: are we going in or… I’m that little one at the end of the rudder. I made my choice and went in. These next years I will be exploring and navigating these, to me, uncharted waters. I’ll be enjoying Californian life, too. Let myself be lifted…
Mina Witteman – author | editor | translator | teacher creative writing
Posts from the “Children’s books” Category
My Dutch publisher will be in Bologna, located in Hall 29 D23. Boreas again features prominently in their foreign rights guide. Please, do not hesitate to inquire with their representatives, Dania van Dishoeck, Luciënne van der Leije and Sophie Mulder. They have synopses of the three Boreas books and the translation of the first chapters of Boreas and the Seven Seas, all in English, of course. And publishing friends abroad: know that the Dutch Literary Fund issues grants for translations of Dutch literature. A substantial help in covering the costs of translation.
Categories: Books, Children's books
Hurray! BOREAS EN DE VIER WINDSTREKEN (BOREAS AND THE FOUR WINDS) has been proofed and should be on its way to the printer now. I am super excited about this third book in the Boreas series, which will come out mid April. Again, I’ve thrown Boreas in adventure after adventure on his trip around the world with his parents on their yacht the Argo. In BOREAS AND THE FOUR WINDS, the family sails from Miami up the East Coast of America all the way to New York, and back south again to Key West, Cuba, the Cayman Islands and Colombia. After passing through the Panama Canal they sail north to San Francisco for a short trip to the Sierra Nevada. The final destination of this…
Not much brain space for anything else while doing the line edits for the second book in the Boreas series. Boreas en de duizend eilanden (Boreas and the Thousand Islands) is scheduled to come out mid-April and I am really excited about that. Working hard now to have the manuscript back on my editor’s desk by Monday morning. I’m good with deadlines, they spur me on and keep me away from procrastination. And my editor Marlous is the coolest in the world. I love shaping and polishing my books with her. Rereading the manuscript brings back many memories of good times on the water, too. Sailing, snorkeling, and in general just hanging out with people who also love the water. Like my super cool friend Kirsten…
Daily Distraction: Illustwriter – Writing Picture Books for Illustrators
Mina Witteman
Posted on November 20, 2014
We have a new writers workshop scheduled in Amsterdam: writing picture books for illustrators. But writers who would like to hone their picture book story telling craft are most welcome, too! What’s it all about? You are a fine artist, and you illustrations for children are just what they like. But building those into a picture book – that’s a different story. You may tell yourself you don’t want to be like those writers who try and draw their own characters, which may turn out quite awful. But deep down, you’d like to do a book all by yourself. Why not give it a try? Get help from two experienced children’s book writers and editors. What do you know about different age groups? What…
Categories: Books, Children's books
This is one of the too cute illustrations by illustrator Linda de Haan for my short story ‘Het kaasmuisje’ (‘The Little Cheese Mouse’), which was published this week in Het grote voorleesboek voor rond de 5 jaar (The Big Read-Aloud Book for 5-year-olds). When Daan and his friends Samir and Carmen discover a teeny-weeny and very scared mouse at the After School Care, they think up a plan to keep the mouse safe from Miss Aicha – everyone knows adults don’t like mice! – but also from Meow, the fierce cat that stalks around at the care center. Will they succeed and find a way to let the mouse return to his den and his scrumptious chunks of cheese?
Categories: Books, Children's books
Angela Pelaez Vargas and I were over the moon when we heard we could have the official book launch of Mia’s Nest at the Kinderboekwinkel in Amsterdam. Rietje Nivard, who has been running this children’s book store for over 40 years now, is an institution in the Netherlands. I don’t think there are more people in our country who know more about children’s books and who can speak about these books with more love than Rietje. If you ever visit Amsterdam, be sure to stop by the Kinderboekwinkel at Rozengracht 34! It’s easy to recognize: Tow Truck Pluck’s tow truck leads the way! Mia’s Nest with Tow Truck Pluck’s tow truck. Rietje Nivard and her staff created a beautiful window for our book, with the cutest drawing of…
Categories: Books, Children's books
