Mina Witteman – author | editor | teacher of creative writing

Posts tagged “Children’s Books”

How to make your reader sweat!

Posted on September 5, 2015

What have I been up to? This summer, I finished the second book of my Dutch middle grade series Boreas and the Seven Seas (Boreas en de zeven zeeën). The first book came out in June and reviews are coming in now summer is over. It seems kids, adults and reviewers alike love this new adventure book that tells the story of 12-year-old Boreas, who has to go on a round-the-world trip with his parents. On a sailboat. For three years! Needless to say, Boreas isn’t psyched about this adventure. Which 12-year-old wants to spend three years on a small boat with his parents? Boreas wants to hang out with his friends, go to soccer games, start high school after summer break. But he has no…

Categories: A Bit of Everything

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IllustWriter – Picture Book Writing for Illustrators and Writers

Posted on June 25, 2015

Illustrator, would you like to write your own story? Writer, do you want to hone your picture book storytelling craft? Here’s your chance! Take the next step and learn from two experienced colleagues, both children’s book writers, editors and creative writing teachers. Become an IllustWriter! IllustWriter is a 7-week (6 sessions) course in writing picture books for illustrators by Sieneke de Rooij and Mina Witteman. Zie IllustrAuteur voor de Nederlandse versie van deze cursus pentenboek schrijven voor illustratoren. Registration: Click here and fill in the form! Date/Time: October 1, 8, 15, – 1 week break, but the work goes on – october 29 and november 5 and 12, 2015 (backup date november 19, 2015); 10.00 – 13.00 hrs Location: ABC Treehouse; Voetboogstraat 11 – Amsterdam, 1012 XK Course fee: € 325,- excl. BTW (VAT), € 393,25 incl. BTW (VAT) This…

Categories: A Bit of Everything

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Writers and Illustrators Conference in Amsterdam

Posted on January 6, 2015

Happy New Year all! I haven’t been around much lately and I can tell you why. Together with my SCBWI colleagues from France, Belgium, Germany+Austria and Switzerland, I have been super busy with the preparations of the second SCBWI Europolitan Conference. This time, the conference will take place in my fair home town Amsterdam on Saturday April 4 and Sunday April 5. Two days jam-packed with presentations, panels, hands-on workshops and opportunities to share your work with publishing professionals from all over the world. It’s going to be awesome, this conference. For one, because we have a faculty line-up to die for. I mean, what would you do if you could meet and work with two of the coolest agents in the world: Brooks Sherman…

Categories: A Bit of Everything

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Daily Distraction: A Little Cheese Mouse

Posted on November 15, 2014

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

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Daily Distraction: Arctic Winds and Black Ice

Posted on January 29, 2014
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Midday in Sommarøy, a tiny island above the Arctic Circle. I love the bluish-gray light that is so characteristic for the days that the sun doesn’t rise above the horizon. This one was a particularly cold day, with a polar wind blustering in. We inched past an elk, our studded tires biting into the black ice. The elk was grazing quietly, confidently, still sure of its protection against the elements. Not a few minutes later it would skid the black ice like a child skating for the first time.

It reminded me of my first steps into the writing world, when every dash of the pen made me feel like I could skid and lose balance. Since, I have had three novels and 35 short stories published, and it feels like I have found my footing. And yet, sometimes when thoughts come but words fail, it’s like skating for the first time. The elk reminded me of that delicate balance between thoughts and the actual words you write.

Categories: A Bit of Everything, Books, Children's books, Thrillers, YA books

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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…

Categories: A Bit of Everything, Books, Children's books, Thrillers, YA books

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