Carmela A. Martino, Children's Book Author
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 On Wednesday, March 26, I had the honor of speaking at the Annual Catholic Library Association Convention, which was held in Indianapolis. Not only did I get to know some wonderful teachers and librarians, I also had the privilege of meeting Vera B. Williams, this year's Regina Medal winner. See the photos below.  I spoke on the topic "Turning Life into Fiction"  Here I am in the conference bookstore with this year's Regina Medal Winner, Vera B. Williams. The booksellers from Kids Ink, Indianapolis, took excellent care of us!  I had the privilege of attending the Illinois Reading Council Conference held in Springfield, IL March 12-15. In addition to being one of the authors featured at Friday's Illinois Author/  Here I am with my friend and fellow Illinois author Karen Halvorsen Schreck at the SCBWI-Illinois booth.  Here I am at the Illinois author/illustrator luncheon, holding up the wonderful sign made for me by Springfield area students. Thanks so much for your hard work! On Leap Day, Friday, February 29, I spoke to the teen writing workshop at the Orland Park Public Library. My topic was "Taking the Leap--Experimenting with Point of View." What a great group of writers! Below are a couple of photos from that afternoon.  Here I am answering a question from one of the teen participants.  I presented the workshop, "Turning Life Into Fiction," at the Elmhurst Public Library Saturday, Feb. 16, 2008. Below is a photo of me listening to a question from a program attendee.  Chrissie Howorth interviewed me for "The Write Marbles" website. Click the link below to read the interview. And be sure to check out the other great information posted on the website. I was one of four children's authors at the Naperville Barnes & Noble Educator Event on Saturday, October 13, 2007. See the photo below.  I'm sitting beside Glennette Tilley Turner. Behind us are Patricia Kummer and Gail Piernas-Davenport. On October 12, 2007, I spoke at the Annual Fall Conference of the Wisconsin Chapter of the Catholic Library Association. I used a PowerPoint presentation to describe my "Winding Road to Publication." See the photos below.   I was one of the featured children's authors at the 5th Annual Midwest Literary Festival in Aurora, IL, October 6-7, 2007. My presentations included a reading and signing on Saturday afternoon, and talks for parents and writers Saturday and Sunday afternoons. See the photos below.  I had the honor of being on a panel with two great young adult authors: on the left, Renee Rosen, and on the right, Anne Ylvisaker.  Here I am with a group of my fellow SCBWI-Illinois children's authors. I had the pleasure of being one of eight authors appearing at the Chicago Kids Bookstore and More Inaugural Fall Benefit, Saturday, September 8, 2007. Here's a picture of my table outside the store:  I co-facilitated another WRITE PLACE/  Retreat participants taking notes during one of the weekend workshops.  More rapt retreatants. I had the honor of judging the Plainfield Public Library's Short Story Competition. The fourth, fifth, and sixth-grader authors did a great job! I also gave a presentation at the library on Saturday, March 17, 2007. All participants and their parents were invited to attend, and afterward I had lunch with the winning authors. The fourth grade winners are pictured below.  To see a brief article on the day's events, including a photo of all the winners, click the link below. I enjoyed speaking to two groups of great readers and writers at Jefferson Elementary School on Friday, January 26, 2007. I was one of thirteen authors who participated in the 2nd Annual Author Fest at the Fountaindale Public Library, on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2006. I had the pleasure of spending Tuesday, November 28, 2006, visiting Mary, Seat of Wisdom School in Park Ridge, IL. See the photos below.  During my morning presentation, students in grades seven and eight raise their hands to ask questions about becoming a published author.  I'm impressed with the poems and "film strip" created by sixth-graders to accompany the novel Rosa, Sola.  In an afternoon workshop, I talk with sixth-graders about how to transform real life into fiction.  Everyone at Mary, Seat of Wisdom School made me feel welcome, especially teacher Beth Cushing. I am now a columnist for The Prairie Wind, the online newsletter for the Illinois chapter of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). Click below to read my latest column of writing tips. In honor of Children's Book Week, I spoke to a group of children ages 7-10 at the Oswego Public Library Saturday, November 18.. They asked lots of great questions! I had the pleasure of presenting the workshop "Transforming Fact Into Fiction" to two groups of talented young authors in grades 3, 4, and 5 at the Oak Park Young Authors Conference, Saturday, October 21, 2006. See the photos below.  The 25th Annual Oak Park Young Authors Conference was held at Abraham Lincoln Elementary School.  I'm listening as a talented young author shares the fictional "scary story" she crafted based on her real-life experience. The September, 2006 edition of The Edge of the Forest interviewed me for its "A Day in the Life" column. To read the interview, click the link below. A seven-year-old's review of Rosa, Sola appeared in the Chicago Tribune Books section, Sunday, September 3, 2006. For details, see the Book Info page. In summer 2006 I taught both the Girls Write! and Girls Write On! writing camps at the Hinsdale Center for the Arts. We had a wonderful time. Hope we can do it again next year. Saturday, May 20, 2006, I participated in the 32nd Annual Illinois Young Authors Conference in Normal, Illinois. Below you can see me speaking to a group of wonderfully talented young authors!  Sunday, April 2, 2006 I had the honor of being part of the Great Women of Fiction Panel at the PlanetEsme Bookroom in Chicago. You can see me below with Laura Ruby, author of The Wall and the Wing, and Brenda Ferber, author of Julia's Kitchen.  Rosa, Sola is named to list of "Great Books for Kids 2005"!The Baltimore County Public Library has named Rosa, Sola to its list of "Great Books for Kids 2005"! SCBWI Prairie Writer's DayI was honored to be a guest speaker with fellow authors Julia Durango and Hillary Frank at the First Annual SCBWI-Illinois Prairie Writer's Day held at Dominican University on November 12, 2005. I hope to have photos to post here soon. In October, 2005, Cynthia Leitich Smith interviewed me for her blog, CYNSATIONS. Anderson's Bookshop Signing is a Huge Success!Many thanks to everyone who attended my September 18 signing. Below, you can see me addressing the crowd as I discuss how I came to write Rosa, Sola.  In the following photo, children's authors Heidi Roemer and Mary Chamberlin watch as I sign a copy of Rosa, Sola. I autographed over 100 copies that day!   On June 25, 2005, I signed advance copies of Rosa, Sola at the ALA Convention in Chicago. The weekend of May 20-22, 2005, I co-facilitated an SCBWI-Illinois writing retreat with my fellow author and teacher, Sharon Darrow. THE WRITE PLACE/ |
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