Carmela A. Martino, Children's Book Author

Highlighted Works . . .

New in 2010!
Short story in I Fooled You: Ten Stories of Tricks, Jokes, and Switcheroos, a middle-grade anthology edited by Johanna Hurwitz. See the teacher's guide here.
Middle-Grade Novel
After praying and praying for a younger sibling, Rosa is thrilled to learn her mother is finally pregnant. But then tragedy strikes, and each member of her family must find a way to cope—including Rosa.
To read an excerpt from the novel, click here.
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For a list of discussion questions, click here.
Poem in Anthology
In Chicken Soup for the Soup: Teens Talk High School edited by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Amy Newmark, & Madeline Clapps
For Recommended Reading for Children and Teens click below:

Writing Classes

I have taught writing classes for both children and adults since 1998. (I also occasionally teach courses in Children's Literature and Adolescent Literature.) I offer adult classes at the College of DuPage and the Mayslake Peabody Estate. For information about classes for children, see the right-hand sidebar.

Below are my upcoming adult classes, followed by comments from some of my adult students. If you would like to receive periodic updates regarding my classes, along with other news, sign up for my e-newsletter on the News page.

Adult Writing Classes



New Class for 2012: Get Started Blogging

In this hands-on class, you’ll learn how to define, set-up, and maintain your own blog, whether for business purposes or to connect with family and friends. The instructor will walk you through basic blog set-up, including how to add photos, clip-art, and video-clips. You’ll also learn how to attract your target audience and keep them coming back. Prerequisite: Basic computer experience.

Saturday, February 25, 2012
9 a.m.—3 pm

Please bring a sack lunch.
Cost: $69

Registration code LEISR-0052-003. To register online, click the College of DuPage link below.

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Transforming Life into Fiction

This one-day workshop will introduce you to techniques for creating fiction based on your own life events, or those of others. Learn how to mine your past for story ideas and details that will bring your fiction to life. Find out how to create composite characters from real people and turn anecdotes into stories that have a beginning, middle, and end.

Saturday, March 10, 2012
9 a.m.—3 p.m.

Please bring a sack lunch.
Course code LEISR-0052-002.
Cost: $69

To register online, click the College of DuPage link below.

College of DuPage is located at:
425 Fawell Blvd.
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137

For Continuing Education information, call (630) 942-2208.



Writing for Children and Teens: Craft & Critique Workshop--Focus on Voice

Tuesdays, 7:00-9:30 PM
May 8-June 26, 2012 (no class May 29)


This recurring workshop is for adults who write for children and teens. In this session, our focus will be on “voice”—what it is, how to develop it, and how to make it appropriate to your story, whether you’re writing for toddlers or teens. You will be asked to complete reading and writing assignments from Finding Your Writer's Voice by Thaisa Frank and Dorothy Wall. You will also receive a critique of your own work while learning how to critically study the work of other writers in a friendly, supportive environment. You must bring copies of your manuscript—a picture book, short story, nonfiction piece or novel excerpt—to the first class. If you are new to the class, you must also email Carmela at the link below before enrolling. Attendance the first night of class is mandatory.
Note: class is limited to 10 students, so register early.
Cost: $170. ($160 for returning students.)

Mayslake Peabody Estate is located at:
1717 W. 31st Street
Oak Brook, IL 60523


For information about the Mayslake facility, click the link below. To register for the class, call Mayslake at (630) 206-9566.



Feedback from Adult Students


"Carmela's class was outstanding. I have a list of revisions to make from all that I learned. If you ever have a chance to take any of her classes I can assure your money and time will be well spent.”


—Mary Sandford
Lisle, IL


"I would like to sing the praises of Carmela Martino, teacher extraordinaire. . . . Attendees at all experience levels got valuable ideas and insights from the exercises she shared, as well as the experiences she described in working through the writing of Rosa, Sola.”


—Lisa Bierman
Oak Park, IL


"I just wanted to celebrate Carmela Martino. . . . The exercises she offered were extremely helpful. Her emotions poured out as she described the writing process she went through with her novel Rosa, Sola. Thank you, Carmela, for inspiring me to dig deep into my soul to write compelling (let's hope) children's literature.”


—Trina Sotira
Roselle, IL










All content copyrighted by Carmela A. Martino, unless otherwise noted. Please do not copy without permission.


Classes for Children



I have no children's classes scheduled at this time, but I hope to again teach my popular girls' writing camps at the Hinsdale Center for the Arts in Summer 2012.

Check back later for more information.

The Hinsdale Center for the Arts is located in
Katherine Legge Memorial Park
5903 S. County Line Rd. Hinsdale, IL 60521