I love writing! Particularly in a month like this, with the Spanish translation of Mia’s Nest – El nido de Mia – coming out with Panamericana in Colombia. They delivered a truly gorgeous book with the awesome work of one of the most talented author/illustrators I know, Angela Peláez Vargas. And yesterday Boreas en de duizend eilanden – Boreas and the Thousand Islands – had its book birth, which made me super happy. Both books are on their way to San Francisco and I can’t wait to hold them in my hands, my book babies. I hate writing, too! On nights like this, when I wake up at 2:30 am with my brain reeling like a kite caught in a tailspin, because I remember something my muse must’ve whispered…
Mina Witteman – author | editor | teacher of creative writing
Posts tagged “Mia’s Nest”
If you’re interested in finding out more about my writing and me, hop on over to Cynthia Leitich Smith’s amazing Cynsations blog. I was interviewed by the wonderful Angela Cerrito, author of The Safest Lie.
Categories: A Bit of Everything
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
Categories: A Bit of Everything
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…
Daily Distraction: How Does My Work Differ From Others in My Genre?
Mina Witteman
Posted on May 28, 2014
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.
If you find yourself at the Children’s Book Fair in Bologna in March 2014 and you want a sneak preview of Angela M. Pelaez Vargas and my Little Golden Book, Mia’s nest, go visit the SCBWI Boot at pavilion 26, booth A/66 or the Uitgeverij Rubinstein booth at Hall 29D21.
Categories: A Bit of Everything
Mina Witteman 