Peggy Archer
Children's Author

In my newest picture book, NAME THAT DOG!, Xerox is the name for the letter X.

From the tops of his ears
to the tip of his tail
and everything else in between--
he couldn't have looked
any more like his dad
if he'd come from a copy machine!

copyright Peggy Archer 2010
from NAME THAT DOG! Dial Books 2010

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there! Especially to my husband, Chuck :)  Read More 

Windows, blogs, websites! Facebook, twitter, e-books and now iPads! Just when I get comfortable with something new, the next thing comes out!

I'm ok with updating my website, when I have plenty of time to do it. That's one of my goals for June (maybe July?). I want to change a few things, and add a few things, like activities for NAME THAT DOG!.

The thing is that when I finally get something down, it changes! I just got Windows 7. I know where to find the help tools I need to click on in XP. Did they really need to change the locations of those in Windows 7?!

I've gotten the blog thing down, sort of. I still sometimes have difficulty adding pictures. Facebook is ok, too. Only I wanted to create an album of pictures there and forgot how. I don't have an iPhone. I have enough trouble figuring out anything more than using my cell phone to send and receive calls. Although I did learn to text recently.

I've not explored twitter yet. E-books and iPads are another thing I haven't tried. Actually the iPad looks great. I got a look at it when Stephen Roxburg was here for our SCBWI conference a few weeks ago. His company namelos publishes ebooks for YA (Young Adult) readers. He thinks that picture books on the iPad will be coming, too, down the road. I've got mixed feelings about that.

Stephen showed us a Dr. Seuss book on the iPad, and all of the interactive things you can do with it. You can sit next to your child and read together, just like holding a book. At first thought it seemed great. But I've seen my 2, 3, and 4 year old grandchildren watching a TV program. With their eyes glued to the screen, so mesmerized by what's going on, it's difficult to break their concentration. Their TV time is very limited, and I can see why. Will reading via an electronic book do the same thing? On the other hand, they're 'reading' a book, so can it be all bad? Progress--or just change--is sometimes hard to accept.

I've been told that it's the reading that's important, not the means they use to read. So I'll keep on writing for children, with pencil on paper, before finishing up on my computer. And hope that I'll have another book, made of paper and board, to hold in my hands some day.  Read More 

My post is rather late this week, and not entirely focused! I'm still in down time after our daughter's wedding on Saturday. We welcome a new son into our family! It was a wonderful wedding, and a great day to celebrate two wonderful people.

Second to celebrating the bride and groom, children really make weddings such fun. Sarah and Chad had two ring bearers, both going on four years old, and a flower girl who was two. The boys were each to carry teddy bears wearing ties and holding rings, down the aisle. One left his at home so the other gave him his bear and decided to carry his favorite horsey instead. The flower girl, who looked like a bride herself, smiled and walked down the aisle, princess style.

A few hours later, with a few more kids at the reception, the dancing couldn't start soon enough. They danced before dinner, would have danced during dinner, and danced again with renewed spirit after dinner! Later they probably danced in their sleep.

Oh, to be a kid again! To carry your new friend's teddy bear down the aisle for him. To walk down the aisle with that familiar old blue horsey to give you courage. To eat the icing and leave the cake. To dance when no one else is dancing. To sit on the floor when you're tired.

Oh, to feel like a kid again! Their innocence, their energy, their smiles and inhibitions will do that to you.  Read More 

I love quotes! I have a collection of quotes and sayings. Many are by children's authors, but some are just inspirational. Quotes help me to re-affirm that all of this time spent writing for children is worth it all.

My favorite is in a frame in my computer room.
"A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove.... But the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child."

And how about these:

"Books fall open, You fall in."

“The writer’s magic word is BIC—Butt in chair.”—Jane Yolen

"You must write for children in the same way as you do for adults, only better." –Maxim Gorky (1868-1936).

"Inspiration usually comes during work, rather than before it." Madeleine L’Engle

“Dear Editor, Why do you keep sending my stories back? You’re supposed to print them and make me rich and famous. What is it with you???” –Snoopy (Charles Schultz)

Here's one from Winnie the Pooh: "I am a bear of very little brain and long words bother me."
Pooh is probably the one who I write picture books for!

"Growing up with 5 brothers taught me that it’s good to be the guy telling the story after the lamp gets broken." —Jon Scieszka

"Only God gets it right the first time." Stephen King

"I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work." Thomas Alva Edison

A heart hangs on a knob on my desk that says:
"Creative clutter is better than idle neatness."
Whoever wrote that one must have seen my computer room!

And to remind me to keep on believing, and dreaming, and working toward a goal is a postcard that stands on top of my computer. It reads:
"Believe, dream, will... and put it in the hands of God." Dr. Norman vincent Peale.

If you have any favorite quotes, please feel free to share them here!  Read More 

Focus on the Novel, the Indiana SCBWI Spring Conference for children's writers, took place at Purdue University Calumet in Hammond this past Friday evening and Saturday. An inspiring week-end was spent with speakers Stephen Roxburg, founder and publisher of namelos, and Lisa Graff, middle grade author and former editor at FSG.  Read More 

It's Children's Book Week, and the CBC (Children's Book Council) has announced the winners of the 2010 Children's Choice Book Awards--Congratulations to the winners! To see the winners, go to http://networkedblogs.com/3MTTR.

Some time ago children's writers on our listserv talked about their favorite childhood books. I loved Little Red Riding Hood, but my very favorite book was Nurse Nancy. I wanted to take care of people, like Nancy did. When I grew up I went to school and became a nurse.

My friend's favorite books were the Louisa May Alcott books,including Little Women. "I believe those books engendered in me a love of reading, writing and history and I grew up to be  Read More 

I never seem to lack for ideas of things to write about. I write from childhood memories, memories of when my children were small, and observations of what other people say and do. I'm inspired by bits and pieces of life as it happens around me, and from things that I read.

My biggest obstacle is finding the time to write. But I figured out that sometimes we just have to come to terms with the time that we have.

One of my favorite magazines for children's writers was Once Upon a Time, published by Audrey Baird, until it ceased publication not all that long ago. I had a few things published in OUAT. One was a poem that I had written about writing time vs family time. Family has always been a top priority for me. It's also been a huge influence on my writing. I thought I would share that poem with you here this week.

Ideas are many.
Minutes are few.
Should I spend them writing,
Or spend them with you?

The things that you do,
And things that you say,
Are my inspiration,
Day after day.

So in daytime I gather
The bits of our lives
And hold them inside me
‘Til quiet arrives.

And sometimes in morning
And sometimes at night,
Those bits merge with dreams
And I sit down and write

copyright Peggy Archer  Read More 

What a fun month April has been!

I visited schools and libraries where I talked about my books and writing poetry. I got some great questions from the students (and grown ups, too) and got to meet some very nice people. There was a book launch party for my new book, NAME THAT DOG! at the Valpo Library, complete with dog bone cookies, and cookies in the doggy dish. Thanks to everyone who was there to help celebrate. I met pet owners and some beautiful dogs at the Be Kind to Animals event, sponsored by the Porter County Animal Shelter and PAW, at the PC Expo Center. And I've enjoyed the book reviews, and seeing my new book finally out in bookstores. I'll be wrapping things up for a bit next week after a presentation at a Young Authors Event in Plainfield, Indiana. Be sure to keep an eye out for new pictures being added on the left.

Later in May I'll be taking time out for our Indiana SCBWI Spring Conference, and to enjoy our daughter's wedding! It's been a joyful year.

I thought I would wrap up this week's blog post with one of the poems that did not make it into the book. This one is for Spot:

One black nose
Is all that shows
In all that fur she’s got.

White as snow
From head to toe--
I think I’ll call her
Spot!

(copyright Peggy Archer)  Read More 

Here are a few more websites to check out for National Poetry Month.

www.rhymezone.com
Rhyme Zone: a rhyming dictionary and thesauris.

http://laurasalas.livejournal.com/213207.html
15 Words or Less: Take the challenge by Laura Salas. Write a poem in 15 words or less, prompted by photos posted.

http://jamarattigan.livejournal.com/411405.html
Alphabet Soup: a fun interview by Greg Pincus is one of the Poetry Makers featured on Jama Rattigan's blog this month.

http://www.teachingauthors.com/
Teaching Authors: check the latest blog by April Halprin Wayland on How I Wrote This Poem--a Poetry Writing Workout.

Enjoy! Check back next week for more on my latest school and library visits.

I hope to see some of you at the book launch for my picture book, NAME THAT DOG! Puppy Poems from A to Z  Read More 

What a wonderful week-end spent in Mitchell, IN, where I met local and neighboring librarians-- including some poets!-- at the Mitchell Public Library. The friendly reception (and the afternoon tea!) were awesome. Thanks to Alexis and library staff for making it such a pleasant visit. Even the weather gave us a warm welcome :) There are some pictures from the event posted to the left of this blog.

Name That Dog!, my newest picture book of poetry for children, received some very nice reviews, which I've posted on my website under 'My Works--Name That Dog!'.

Booklist comments "T.S. Elliot’s Old Possum has his practical cats; Peggy Archer has puppies from A to Z. This picture-book poetry collection presents a rogues’ gallery of pooches in selections designed to help an unidentified dog owner name his or her new pet..." and ends by saying "A great choice for dog lovers, this will easily find a place in elementary-school language-arts classes."

Book Page included Name That Dog! in its list of new poetry books, and says "Name That Dog! is a crowd-pleasing canine chorus."

The Chicago Tribune starts out "Imagine the appeal of “The Puppy Channel” between book covers. The premise: Every puppy needs a name that’s perfect...."

I hope this book finds a place in the hearts of its readers.

Here are a few more sites to check out for poetry month!
http://gottabook.blogspot.com/
April 2010
Thirty Days, Thirty Poets
blog by Gregory K. Pincus

http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6516981.html?rid=413491236&q=poetry
An introduction to sijo poems, an art form that originated in Korea, in this interview with Linda Sue Parks.

http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/search/siteall?q=poetry&t=&t1=&t2=&tf=&ct=&at=
An article by Marilyn Singer, ALA Poetry Blast coordinator, on "...Making Poems a Part of Children’s Every Day Lives" gives some ideas on ways to excite children about poetry. Marilyn's new book of poetry for children, "Mirror, Mirror," was released this month.

Enjoy! And join in celebrating poetry for children this month!  Read More