Mina Witteman – author | editor | teacher of creative writing

Posts from the “Children’s books” Category

Daily Distraction: namelos at its First Lustrum

Posted on January 20, 2014

namelos, a non-traditional publishing firm, was launched five years ago today. Now, it’s a thriving company. On his website, publisher Stephen Roxburgh tells about his dream and the way to namelos’ success. Yesterday, Stephen was a guest at the Dutch chapter of the SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators) of which I am the Regional Advisor. We spoke at length with Stephen about the world of publishing and the opportunities the digital world presents us. It was an inspiring and invigorating event, and I was happy to get a peek in the life of a man with a vision and a huge heart for books. I applaud him, for showing us that there are new roads to walk, unexplored paths to travel, and…

Daily Distraction: Translator Laura Watkinson

Posted on January 17, 2014

Today all my writing time went to the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators, the world-wide network of children’s book professionals for which I am the Regional Advisor of the Netherlands. We have a new website and blog, and I’ve interviewed the eminent Laura Watkinson, translator and founder of the Dutch chapter of the SCBWI. Hop over to the blog for a peek into the life of an amazing friend and award-winning translator!

2014

Posted on December 18, 2013

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Dread Pirate Christmas

Posted on December 12, 2013

This year, my dear writer buddy Stephen Bramucci is offering an audio-telling of his poem “Dread Pirate Christmas” for sale as a fundraiser for SEEDS Arts & Education (501c-3). SEEDS Funds all sorts of cool programing for kids (including writing programs) and he and I want to support their efforts. If you’re so inclined, follow the link below, donate $5 to them via Paypal, and POOF! the MP3 of Dread Pirate Christmas will show up in your inbox (or someone else’s if you put that email under “special instructions”). Happy Holidays from him and his motley crew of freebooters, sea devils, and scalawags! http://seedsed.org/dread-pirate-christmas-mp3/ (Art by the amazing Ben Faubion)

I Am a Rock – The Twin Warriors

Posted on September 4, 2013

  Without this rock there would be no first book in the Warriors of the Sun series. We so often base our knowledge on the journeys of Odysseus, we pull strength from the adventures of Thor and wisdom from the musings of Vishnu, but we rarely quench our thirst with the wealth of stories that spring from the first peoples of North America. When I searched  Dutch libraries, I couldn’t find a single book that showed Dutch children the true cultures of the United States and Canada. It urged me to write the Warrior Of the Sun series. Research for the series brought me to the lands and tribes of North America. I wandered the desert and the mountains in search of Thunderbird and Coyote.…

YA Writing Workshop in Amsterdam

Posted on July 15, 2013

Time to announce a writing workshop, my friends! Writing for Young Adults, an advanced writing course with Mina Witteman You have that YA novel brewing in the back of your mind and you want it out on paper? You are working on a — your first? — YA novel and need inspiration and guidance? You would like to hone your YA writing skills? This is your chance! From September on, I offer a course Writing for Young Adults, where we will go into the most important traits of the YA novel. We will explore structure, voice and character building. We will dive into famous and less famous YA novels to find out what it takes to entice young adults into reading your novel. And…