Mina Witteman – author | editor | teacher of creative writing

Posts tagged “Little Golden Book”

Daily Distraction: Amsterdam Book Launch of Mia’s Nest

Posted on October 26, 2014

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

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Daily Distraction: Mia’s nest is out!

Posted on September 21, 2014

Mia’s nest is out! Mia’s nest is a Dutch Little Golden Book about a girl with tangles in her hair. When her mom decides it’s time to have Mia’s hair cut short, she needs to find a way to prevent that. Because short hair is silly, short hair is for boys and boys are silly. Will anyone help Mia to keep her hair long? Find out in Mia’s nest! The story idea and illustrations for this wonderful and sweet Little Golden Book are from the amazing, talented Angela Pelaez Vargas. I added the words and I am beyond proud that Angela let me share in this delightful project of hers. We will see more of her soon, as she is one of the most talented illustrators…

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

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Daily Distraction: How Does My Work Differ From Others in My Genre?

Posted on May 28, 2014
Mia 8

 

That is a tough question, as I don’t write in one specific genre. I love writing longer work like middle grade or young adult novels and series, but I also have about 40 short stories for the very young out in the Netherlands and a Little Golden Book – Mia’s Nest – coming up, this fall. A red thread through my work, though, is adventure and if the story asks for it frightening adventure.

Another red thread is that I do open ends. When I was young, I simply hated the end of a book. Often, I would leave the last few pages unread and loved it when my mind would wander along the sheer endless possibilities of where the characters could go if the author hadn’t pinned them down. That’s the freedom I’d like to give my readers, too.

 

With the two previous posts and the next one, this blog post is part of the Writing Process Blog Tour.

Categories: Books, Children's books, Thrillers, YA books

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Daily Distraction: Publishing Houses Belly Up

Posted on March 6, 2014
Daily Distraction: Publishing Houses Belly Up

Tucked away in a corner on page 24 of my newspaper, I read an unsettling newsflash. More and more Dutch publishing houses are going belly up. In the last quarter of 2013 the total loss of business was 9% compared to the last quarter a year before. The overall loss over 2013 was 6%.
Since 2008, publishing houses in the Netherlands have faced a staggering 20% loss of business and that is causing them to close more and more doors.

I was already proud and happy with the Little Golden Book and the Middle Grade adventure novel that will be published later this year, but now I also admire both publishers for their stamina, their perseverance and their unbroken trust in authors and illustrators. Chapeau Rubinstein! Chapeau Ploegsma Children’s Book Publishers!

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

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Daily Distraction: A Little Golden Book

Posted on February 24, 2014
Daily Distraction: A Little Golden Book

This picture doesn’t really need words, but here we go. The amazing and talented illustrator Angela M. Pelaez Vargas and I are happy and proud to announce that our first picture book adventure has led to a success. Uitgeverij Rubinstein will publish MIA’S NEST as a Little Golden Book! Coming out in October 2014! Here’s a sneak preview of the cover…

Categories: A Bit of Everything

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