Sharon Rudnitski
Children's author
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News Archives
8 May
More good news! Pam White's Food and Fiction contest has awarded my children's story Melting Moments a top prize.
Pam produces Food Writing, a biweekly ezine,
which runs an annual competition for food stories under 500 words, in any genre.
The contest drew 300 entries.
3 May
Just found out Wauna's Song has won an award from the Canadian Authors Association
in the National Capital Writing Contest, in the category of Children's Literature.
The award is one of three prizes in that category that will be publicly announced
at the Ottawa Literary Awards Ceremony, on May 25th.
4 April
Last month I finished a proposal for Cook Up a Story,
a book I've been putting together with an emphasis on cookery, healthy eating, and
educational children’s fiction and nonfiction.
Cook Up a Story gives kids 9–14 years old a good reason to read—eating!
Here they can dig into a baker’s dozen—13 stories and related nonfiction—
to feed their imaginations and lure them into the kitchen.
Stories move from easy to more challenging, so readers can progress at their own pace.
Cook Up a Story is not a cook book.
It is an activity book centred around the family and healthy eating—
with fiction, quizzes, facts, recipes and ideas that parents and kids can savour together.
14 March
Today my daughter Kristina and her husband Chris blessed us with our first grandchild.
William Thomas Rudnitski Cooper arrived 33 minutes shy of the Ides of March, 10 days later than he was expected.
Weighing in at 7 pounds 14 ounces, Will is the first grandchild for Wayne and Barb Cooper, as well.
This baby, so warm and easy to cuddle, is sure to be well-loved.
28 February
This month I submitted a new 500-word story for comment to my critique group.
Melting Moments captures the joy of the holidays for kids 9–14 years old.
A boy who misses his grandma makes some cookies and melts his frozen heart—through comforting traditions
that unfold from moment to moment over Christmas.
31 January
Our critique group met again for the first time in many months.
All five of us had submissions and the advice was excellent.
My submission was Wauna’s Song, an original fantasy for kids 9–14 years old patterned after a Native American legend.
4–5 December
And yet another writers’ get together:
Novel Weekend Workshop near Burnstown, Ontario,
sponsored by the Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI).
Came away with practical advice for structuring a novel.
Began work on a first novel for young adults, Shadow Stitch.
Dale, a high school yearbook editor, delves into her grandmother’s knotted past
after the old lady leaves her with a deathbed request.
Dale’s family tapestry hides more than one slipped stitch.
Time and place twist ordinary lives into unimagined designs.
Is the pattern fated always to repeat?
24–25 November
Another retreat: spent two days at a seminar called
Dancing in the Dust: Plunging into Nonfiction.
Included were a tour of the National Archives and sessions
led by author Linda Granfield.
SCBWI sponsored the event.
Linda reviewed my proposal for a series of science books for kids 9-14 years old called Wizard’s Guide to the Universe.
She commented on a detailed mock-up of the first issue, Fun-omenal Forests
where kids explore the science of ecology through activities, stories, games and factoids.
5 November
To kick-start my creative writing again,
I attended a seminar called Packaging Your Imagination in Toronto,
sponsored by the Canadian Society of Children’s Authors, Illustrators and Performers (CANSCAIP).
Sessions I attended were led by authors Ken Oppel, Marthe Jocelyn, and Carol Matas,
as well as editor Shelley Tanaka from Groundwood Books.
Shortly after this event, I became a ’friend’ of CANSCAIP.
Fall
With the prospect of a new baby, I felt the urge to document our family’s history.
That meant researching the papers left by Mom and Dad
to compile a personalized account for each of our daughters.
The books were bound in linen and boxed for Christmas.
The baby’s coming also demanded some sort of commemoration, and I settled on a hand-made quilt.
Free-motion quilting was the solution used to attach the layers together.
The result is a panda bear picnic scene for the crib.
Our new little guy is expected 5 March 2006.
Apart from the research, writing and production done to publish the two family history books,
which in fact proved to be considerable,
I’ve made no further progress on my creative writing since the spring.
Spring and Summer
Our first full summer in retirement saw us go crazy with travel adventures. Some highlights:
April—Vancouver, Victoria and Salt Spring Island
where we enjoyed sea food, cherry blossoms, and reconnecting with old friends.
May and June—The Highlands of Scotland with our daughter Karen.
Boat tour of the Summer Isles, Flora MacDonald’s Inn on the Isle of Skye,
the whiskey distilleries, and Monarch of the Glen country were just a few of the stunning places we visited.
July and August saw us set out by car for Saskatchewan’s Homecoming
to mark the province’s 100 years in Canada.
On the way we stopped at Thunder Bay to visit with on old friend from university,
Winnipeg, to explore the haunts of Hugh MacDonald and Louis Riel,
Buchanan, to reconnect with the old gang from husband Don’s days growing up, and
Oxbow, to help Don’s brother and his wife celebrate 25 years together.
September welcomed us with a surprise party hosted by our daughters
in honor of 35 years of marriage,
and a trip to Prince Edward County for same,
followed by a camping trip with our friends from the Gourmet Group.
The news of our first grandchild, also received during this time,
marked the end of a glorious summer.
25 May
My critique group met at my place for its monthly meeting.
I reviewed a book proposal for an inspirational/humorous nonfiction book for women and
commented on a chapter in a fantasy novel.
Comments from other writers on two of my stories revised in response to professional critiques were helpful.
14 May
Attended An Afternoon with an Editor,
sponsored by the Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.
Heard presentations by author Mary Borsky and editor Rebecca Waugh from Dial Books for Young Readers.
Rebecca critiqued Another Name for Ellie, my magazine story for girls 9–14 years old.
Ellie learns how the Qu’Appelle Valley got its name
and in so doing also learns to appreciate her own heritage.
21 April
Received a diploma for completion of an 18-month special publishing course
given by the Institute for Children’s Literature, Charter oak State College, Connecticutt.
The three-credit professional program offered instruction
in writing short stories and articles for publication.
5–19 April
Holidayed in Vancouver, Victoria and Salt Spring Island.
Went to see what spring is like on Canada’s west coast. Verdict: beautiful.
Certainly sometimes rainy, wet and cool. But when the sun comes out, the sky is a crystal backdrop for blossoms,
lacy greenery, hummingbirds, eagles, inspiring architecture, and ocean-etched rock.
Other highlights: Great west-coast cuisine and old friends.
2–3 April
Attended a 2-day workshop in creative writing,
sponsored by Canadian Authors Association.
Sessions were led by Leo Brent Robillard,
author of first novel Leaving Wyoming and many other short stories.
Every Thursday
Thoroughly enjoying my time with Mrs. Real’s class at Byrns Curry school.
We’re cooking up recipes from the pages of my stories.
And as we go along, I’m trying to show the kids
how much fun and how rewarding reading can be.
The kids are great. If they’re learning only a fraction from me of what I’m learning from them,
I’ll have considered my efforts a success.
3 March
Cook Up a Story visits R. Byrns Curry Public School.
I’ve begun tutoring students one on one
and we're cooking something from the pages of our books to enjoy together afterwards.
22 February
My critique group discussed publishing strategies and
offered further advice on various stories in progress.
I critiqued a poem and another chapter in a fantasy novel.
15 February
Entered my short story for young adults, More Milk Please,
in the National Capital Writing Contest
sponsored by the Canadian Authors’ Association.
12 February
Attended a one-day workshop with Ruth Latta on writing short stories,
sponsored by the Canadian Authors’ Association.
Using Ruth’s techniques, I came up with the first draft for Taking Care of Business,
a tale about a city boy in the country
who’s gotta do what he’s gotta do.
5 February
Joined the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.
4 February
Entered Prune Puff Smooths the Way in a short-story competition
sponsored by Highlights for Children.
Entered Prue’s Puzzle in a postcard story competition
sponsored by the Writers’ Union of Canada.
25 January 2005
The Ice Birds was reviewed by my critique group.
I reworked it to focus on two key issues
and sharpen the dialogue.
5 January 2005
The Ice Birds flew off to the Institute for Children’s Literature for comments.
Wauna’s example encourages girls to follow their dreams when
she becomes a drummer, after learning to laugh at herself.
16 December
Last session of our critique group for 2004.
Three of us reviewed each other's stories and received comments on our own work. Always worthwhile.
My latest effort, Plum Puff Smooths the Way, shows that the way into a person's good books is not always through the stomach.
12 December
Off to Winnipeg, all expenses paid.
Along with other team members, I'll be accepting a Gold Harvest Award 2003 from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
The award honors work aimed at getting science into Canada's schools:
Make Science your Future!
8 December
Finished a website redesign.
My work as a science editor is now separated on-line from my life as a children's author.
5 December
Finished the first draft of Plum Puff smooths the Way,
and sent it to my Critique Group for comments.
Next meeting, 16 December.
19 October
Tipped over in Rome on the very last night of our month in Tuscany and
broke my foot in two places.
Should have lots of time now to catch up on my writing.
18 September
Set out for Italy today, after submitting my 5th ICL assignment to Sharelle Byers for comment. Besides that and getting out a proposal to Lionel Bender in London, this summer saw me concentrate on market research, as outlined in the ICL publishing course.
I now have a tentative marketing plan for some the work I've developed.
Write to me at rudnitski@cyberus.ca