Wawa Moore

I'm in the SCBWI Bulletin!

2006-12-28T23:03:00.000-05:00

I hope everyone's been having a great holiday! I'm pretty tickled right now, lol! One of my illustrations is in the SCBWI Nov.-Dec. Bulletin. If you have a copy, I'm on the regional news/events page.

What is just as cool to me is that the cover (which always has a kite theme) was done by my absolute favorite illustrators Leo & Diane Dillon. It's like double the YAY!

I'm Back!

2006-11-30T11:09:00.000-05:00

Sorry! Things have been kuh-razy!!!!

More postings to come!

Stanford Wong Rocked Big Time

2006-07-22T17:04:00.000-05:00

Stanford Wong Flunks Big Time by Lisa Yee had been on my Amazon wishlist for a while and after the postal service lost it in shipping, I was sent a new one.

I'm so glad they did, because I couldn't put it down and finished it this morning. Having re-read Millicent Min: Girl Genius, I was ready for it. After Lisa Yee received a big award and spoke at the 2004 SCBWI LA Conference, there was a rush on it by the rest of us there. I bought the last copy of Millicent that they had. All my pages had a slight dent in them somehow, and for a moment, conversations were like this:

Other Person: "Ohmigod! You have Millicent! Where'd you find it?"
Wawa: "I got the very...last...one!" (and would hug it close. Did it need its own guard?)

LOL. It was like gold. For some reason, on my very last day there, I was in the foyer outside of the main ballroom and who should be coming out but Lisa Yee. She graciously signed my book, although she had this total "Aaiggh!" look, LOL. I had the slight feeling I'd kind of ambushed her or something. (Sorry Lisa!)

Look, Stanford is a really funny, touching book and I enjoyed every minute of it. I can't wait to read So Totally Emily Ebers.

World's Ugliest Dog Contest

2006-06-30T11:32:00.000-05:00

Pee Wee Martini, World's Ugliest Dog candidate

I know it's not kidwriting and I know I haven't posted in a while (sooo sorry!), but I have to share the website for the World's Ugliest Dog Contest that was held at the Sonoma-Marin County Fair in California every year.

Hilarious.

These are truly faces that only a parent could love!

Me 'n' Dora the Explorer

2006-05-23T10:24:00.000-05:00

Me w/Dora the Explorer at the BookExpo's Children's section.

Hola! What more can I say?

Post BookExpo America 2006

2006-05-22T19:13:00.000-05:00

Since it was in my hometown, I thought I'd go to BookExpo America 2006 with my friend, supernatural suspense author Chesya Burke. It is very much an industry event, but it was fantastic to see so many publishers all in one place like that. Imagine a football field filled with publishing houses and there you go.

The second of the adult horror/suspense anthologies that I'm in came out last month. I got a good review in Publisher's Weekly for the last story. This one, the horror entertainment mag Rue Morgue enjoyed and chose my story as the only one that they talked about in length. I'm flattered, especially given that horror isn't necessarily my genre. See, I'm comfortable writing historical supernatural suspense in that aspect of my writing life.

As Wawa Moore, I have a chance to write more lighthearted things. I actual enjoy writing stories where the characters employ humor a lot. That's the way I know I interact with my friends and family and it's always fun to read books with characters like that. For instance, I adored Millicent Min: Girl Genius by Lisa Yee and when I was much younger, I was a fan of Paula Danziger and Judy Blume. It was their use of humor and helping to create a world that seemed pretty real that made the books fun to read. I'd like to take that kind of feel and throw in a twist of what I write for adults and create something that'll make kids and middle graders not be able to put it down! If anything, this weekend has given me a bit more clarity about the direction I wish to go more in my kid lit writing.

Stay tuned...

Book World and Children's Books

2006-05-13T11:27:00.000-05:00

Is it just me, or are other children's and young adult book writers out there tickled when they find a major news outlet writing articles or section about our industry? I know I find myself reading the whole thing.

Today, The Washington Post's Book World featured their 2006 Children's Book Review.

You can read it here.

Author Sharon Draper

2006-04-16T22:30:00.000-05:00

I've found an author after my own heart. Remember my post about finding books for African American teens? I found the author that the other 13-year old told me about. While at Barnes & Noble (I swear I'm there at least once a week!), I scanned the young adult section and found the works of Sharon Draper.

She is the author of many books for middle graders and teens. The ones I noticed were part of her Hazelwood High Trilogy. Her newest book is called Copper Sun. Her plots are interesting and I can see why they would be really appealing. I know that I'm really looking forward to reading her work, and she inspires me because I know that this is a genre I would like to write more of. There just aren't enough writers doing this niche genre.

Perhaps one day, by the time my younger cousin is in high school, she can read one of my books from that section...

Of Nerd-Girls & Nibelungs

2006-03-27T23:20:00.000-05:00

Right now, the SciFi Channel's showing a miniseries version of the Ring of the Nibelungs. I'm really enjoying it, LOL.

Years ago, when they showed the first inkling of a preview for the Lord of the Rings (which was very influenced by this), I was sitting with my best friend and very nerd-girl-like said "YES!!!" (while pumping a fist) at the movie theater. Um, mind you, this was before everybody knew what the heck it was and I was in a largely African-American audience when I did this. Let's just say I had a lot of folks looking at me like I lost my dang mind.

Growing up, I read a lot and always felt weird reading all the things I did. I loved history, myths and legends, heroes and warriors, faeries and dragons, epic journeys, and travels to exotic or alien lands. It was an escape for me from the realities right outside my window and growing up where I did in D.C., it just wasn't cool. I might as well have had "Supergeek" stamped on my forehead, but it was me. That's the only person I could be, right? I was lucky that I had a friend who was into it too and if you're somehow somewhere reading this, I just want to tell you that I had so much fun with you. Thanks for being a nerd-girl with me.

Standing in Borders

2006-03-22T13:04:00.000-05:00

When asked if she'd like to chill and talk over apple cider at Starbucks or to go to a bookstore, my 13-year old cousin Brianna was a girl after my own heart. "Let's go to the bookstore. I'd love to see what's out right now!"

It's always fun to go shopping with someone who is the age group you prefer writing for. I was genuinely interested in seeing what she'd choose. The young adult section at my local Borders is about two stacks full. She wandered around both sides, skimming the spines. On the other side, another girl stood looking pretty much the same way as my cousin.

"Excuse me, sorry to bother you," I told her. "How old are you?"

"13," she said, smiling.

"Is it me, or are you having a hard time finding books about Black teen girls too?" I asked. She smiled even bigger this time and said, "Definitely. There just aren't very many of them at all." She recommended two authors to me. My cousin seconded the girl's statement. For both girls, judging from the books in their hands, they had no problem reading stories with non-"ethnic" main characters, but I know from talking to them and seeing the section with my own eyes that there's a hole--a need--there and it became glaringly obvious to me that night.

The next day I told my friend Sylvia, who is Mexican-American, about my experience and she told me, "You know, I think girls 'of color' like us need fun stories about us doing positive things."

I agree.

Brianna's picks: The 310: Life as a Poser by Beth Killian, How to Survive Middle School by Rick Bundschuh, Girls Rule by Ashley Rice and a book of poetry, What My Mother Doesn't Know by Sonya Sones.

Great Art in a Heat Spell

2006-03-17T14:57:00.000-05:00

Last week, we had a bit of beautiful weather--we're talking in the 80s here in D.C. I just wanted to get outside and walk and explore. Ran into some co-workers who gave me their extra strawberry-banana smoothie (yay!) and I was off. I walked past the National Geographic headquarters building, popped into a store, bought cool shell earrings from a West African vendor and used my Potbelly gift card for a sandwich. Ahhh, the life of a worker downtown, lol.

As I was nearing my job, I heard calls of "Portraits for 25 cents! Get a portrait done!" I couldn't resist. Students from the 2nd grade class at the SAIL charter school at the Washington Very Special Arts program were sitting on the stairs of their school, surrounded by pastels and clipboards with paper. One young businessman was already standing there posing with his suit and briefcase. He looked at me and smiled. I stopped and said, "I'd love one! Who's going to draw me?"

A young lady named Amber said "I will!" and proceeded to sketch me with her pencil, paying close attention to what I was wearing and my hair (which she declared as "really long", lol) and even got my sunglasses on my head. She was thrilled when I paid up and her friend Tanyia (pictured above) declared, "Well, I'd like to draw you too! Have a seat!" I was too tickled and plopped myself down. Her class was winding up behind us to go back in and she asked for more time to finish. Her teacher, Mr. Pierce, sat with us and enjoyed the day as Tanyia sketched and blended. I was really happy and gave her a dollar--you know, for the extra time and because it was for a good cause--they were raising money for the homeless. As we were sitting there, a man--who may have been homeless himself--came over and gave her a handful of change.

This experience really made my day.

Being Productive

2006-03-01T15:34:00.000-05:00

Well,

I'm going to sit down with the 2006 Children's Writers and Illustators Market and ID some companies to a.) send postcards to, and b.) send manuscripts to.

It can be rough trying to get published, isn't it? I think it's a combo of luck, studying your industry and talent. You can be plenty talented, but if you're not putting yourself out there, who'd know?

In the SCBWI Bulletin

2006-02-28T18:37:00.000-05:00

Yay! One of my illustrations is going to be in the SCBWI Bulletin--the main newsletter-magazine for the organization! I'm pretty tickled about that! That means that all of you SCBWI folks out there will see my work. I know I enjoy seeing everyone else's!

Working Hard or Hardly Working?

2006-02-13T23:24:00.000-05:00

I've been working on a middle grade fantasy--a departure for me, but oh-so-much fun to write!! It's so crazy and funny and well, crazy, that I really enjoy writing it. I have been pretty good lately about parking myself in front of the computer and tikking away. That's the hard part. Focusing and getting it done. Forget all the imagined glory and recognition for after it is completed. The reality is that everyone would like to be a writer, but darn it, sitting down and doing it is hard work no matter the genre or age group.

I've run into a lot of people who think that writing for kids is either a.) easy or b.) somehow less worthy than writing for adults. Some are surprised when I tell them that I write for kids too and I am working really hard at being good at it--because a.) it's not easy and b.) it's just as important as writing for the adult market. Every day that I write for kids is just as important as any words I write for adults, and in some ways more so. Here's a chance to spark imaginations, inspire, educate, innovate--maybe even shape a life.

How could that not be important? How could it be "less than"?

In Spite Of...

2006-01-24T23:57:00.000-05:00

As a writer, there is nothing more distressing than hearing that a middle school doesn't have a library. I am a product of D.C. Public Schools, and I'm familiar with hearing how DCPS is one of the worst school systems, the students perform so badly, blahblahblah. Well, you know what? What do you expect when middle schools don't have books? Why don't people care more? Is it a "not my kid" thing? That's not right and as a kid, when you feel you've been written off, what kind of reaction do you think you'd have?

Well, let me tell you about something positive. In spite of their lack of a library, the students at Charles Hart Middle School in Southeast D.C. are participants in the D.C. Creative Writing Workshop. Along with Simon Elementary and Ballou Senior High, these kids and teens are creating some amazing work and are being recognized for it. These kids have dealt with some rough environments--even within their own schools--yet someone saw the potential that was there within them. All it takes is someone to believe in you to help you believe in yourself.

If you want to know more about them and this fantastic program, please click on this link. You'll be so glad you did.

Fan Art! Jordan's Bug

2006-01-17T16:33:00.000-05:00

OK! I have a fan! This is from Jordan, who has a multicolored spin on one of my bug cartoons. The red teeth, those irritated eyes...I love it!

Doing Good

2006-01-16T16:16:00.000-05:00

Today, on the observance of Dr. Martin Luther King's birthday, I found myself thinking about what can I do to help my community. Living in the Washington, D.C. area you read/hear so much negative news about our failing school systems, the cycles of violence and/or poverty that kids here are subjected to and the repercussions from them both. The thing that always ticks me is you hear these sad stories, yet no one ever gives info on how to help or make a difference. I think people really want to help, but just don't know where to start. All it takes is one person to effect change.

I'm not just an aspiring kids book writer-illustrator, I actually am a published author in the adult market. I know I can make a difference using this talent for good. I know that when I was a kid growing up in the hood, keeping a diary and writing stories was a source of venting, of creating another world, of keeping my thoughts in line. Perhaps I can help to do the same for others? I don't even know where to start myself, but I know I have to at least begin. I've been toying with the idea of starting a creative writing class or club at my local elementary and high school. Kids and teens need to get their feelings out somehow. What better way than through words?

Holiday's Over

2006-01-09T13:07:00.000-05:00

I took a heck of a holiday break huh?

Well, in the spirit of the new year, I picked up the Children's Writer's & Illustrators Market 2006 and another market guide. I plan on sitting down and truly mapping out a plan to get published. Yup, I know a lot of it is luck and the right place at the right time with the right editor, but I can't even get that far without some research.

I can make it happen this year. IthinkIcanIthinkIcanIthinkIcan...

Illo Friday: Theme is "Imagine"

2005-12-16T17:55:00.000-05:00

"Even Lizards Dream Big"

Interview with Aaron Jasinski

2005-12-10T15:48:00.000-05:00

Aaron Jasinski is the up-and-coming illustrator of the books The Heart's Language (written by Lois-Ann Yamanaka) and Fall Leaves (written by Don Curry). We've been in contact since 2001, when we were in a Society of Illustrators 9-11 memorial exhibit together. He does cool work and he's a cool guy.

You can read my quick 'n' painless interview with him HERE.

Favorite Children's Book Animals Stamps

2005-12-09T08:48:00.000-05:00

In Jan. 2006, the U.S. Postal Service will start carrying the "Favorite Children's Book Animals" series of stamps. It will feature characters such as Wilbur from Charlotte's Web, Olivia, Maisy and even the Wild Thing from Where the Wild Things Are.

I'm looking forward to a set so that I can frame it.

Don't Quit Your Day Job

2005-12-01T21:43:00.000-05:00

You know, one thing about creating children's books is that it's if-fy for it to actually happen and with the markets becoming fewer and fewer, there are even less opportunities. Smaller publishing houses are closing or merging and bigger houses seem to rule--with a definite bottom line. I mean, if it isn't going to be the latest trend, why bother right? Add to it a glut of folks submitting and publishing houses not being as open with their submission policies and the situation looks downright dire, huh?

And yet we want to do it anyway, lol.

Happy Turkey/Tofurkey Day

2005-11-23T19:58:00.000-05:00

GOBBLE.

Thought I'd have an old-school drawing flashback...
Have a great holiday everyone!

Retratos

2005-11-21T22:01:00.000-05:00

La Familia, Abraham Ángel, 1924

Well, my postcards are stamped and ready to go out. I'm going to cross my fingers.

Thought I'd let you know about an interesting exhibit going on at the Smithsonian National Portrait Galley. Retratos looks at 2000 years of Latin American portraiture from Pre-Columbian to Contemporary artists. I think I'm going to head on down there and check it out.

Sketch Sunday: Big Spud

2005-11-20T16:44:00.000-05:00

Not that I'm obsessed with potatoes or anything, but as a kid my best friends and I wrote endless stories about Big Spud--a planet-eating potato. "First Idaho, then the WORLD!"

Goblet of Fire

2005-11-19T18:09:00.000-05:00

Well, Harry Potter's out at the movies, but I have a confession:

I have never read one of the books.

EEEEEEK!! Harry Potter fans everywhere are screaming right now. I know, I know. Blasphemy, right? It was one of things for me where I missed the first one and it exploded into this phenomenon. I mean, I like wizards and the fun stuff that goes on in it. I would've normally been all over it. Great thing is, they are books soooo I still get to read them anyway.

Besides, aren't the books always better the movie anyway?

Illo Friday: Free

2005-11-18T20:30:00.000-05:00

Here's my illo for Illustration Friday. Topic's "Free"...

Postcard Frenzy

2005-11-17T19:26:00.000-05:00

I've been sitting down addressing my new sample postcards. I sent out a different batch of them...wow...a year ago now. I also sent some with color copies and cover letters as their guidelines requested.

Didn't hear a thing. Not a peep. Not even one rejection letter. Ouch. I don't know what the heck that means, lol.

Question is, Do editors and art directors really pay attention to them? How many illustrators do they really pluck from the slush pile of cards they must have? I'd be glad to hear from other illustrators with their experiences with this.

Silly Crazy Super-Short Story: Sloth Attack

2005-11-16T19:51:00.000-05:00

When the sloth ran amok,
everyone was running...
very slowly.

Art & Animation

2005-11-15T22:50:00.000-05:00

Much has been made of the demise of traditional animation. Tonight I went to see "Chicken Little" and my husband and I got into a big discussion about how computer illustration has truly become the norm now. We joke that we have to thank the Japanese for keeping that alive in anime, but it's becoming true. Sure, even many of those are done with computer animation too, but it doesn't have the "look" of 3D computer animation. I must sound like a Luddite unwilling to brace new technology--which isn't true at all. I'm quite the opposite. I'll admit that I enjoy it, but a part of me is starting to miss the artistry of well-done cel- or cel-style animation.

Kiddie Me: Bullies Need Love Too

2005-11-14T20:40:00.000-05:00

My friends and I loved to rollerskate. We're talking, why walk when you can skate? So the 4 of us could be found at any moment skating around the neighborhood, laughing, doing tricks, chilling.

One day we were skating through a part of the alley that was more like a nice street and came across one of our friends, T. Now T. had a brand-new bike that we thought was pretty nice. Bad thing is the bully of the neighborhood thought so too and was standing there trying it away from him. He wasn't your stereotypical bully--all bulk and brawn. Nope. This one was rangy, a little devious and a lot crazy. Fearless 10-year old girls that we were, we knew that if we didn't do something he'd take our friend's bike, so we rolled over to him and surrounded the bike. We threatened the bully, telling him that if he tried to take it all of us would kick him with our skates. We're talking quads, not rollerblades here. He took one look at those heavy things and decided it wasn't worth it.

I sometimes wonder what became of the bully. Did he change his ways? Or, sadly, knowing the neighborhood, is he even alive now? I wonder.

Sketch Sunday...

2005-11-13T12:21:00.000-05:00

Just a sketch...

All About Picture Books

2005-11-12T23:02:00.000-05:00

Check out this website. It's a great resource for information about picture books, their layout, design and history.

Illo Friday: Strength

2005-11-11T21:01:00.000-05:00

Here's my illo for Illustration Friday: Strength.

LOL, how smug the strong bug looks, LOL.

THE Org for the Biz

2005-11-10T19:17:00.000-05:00

You know, I'm still pretty new to this kid illowriter gig. I've been a member of SCBWI for about 3 years now, but I'm just starting to really get super-serious about writing and submitting my work. I'm kind of mad that I missed this year's conference in L.A. I had so much fun there last year. I mean, who knew kid's writers and illustrators could get down at a party like that?! All partying aside, I had a chance to attend some really great workshops and speeches and rub elbows with others who loved what they do--published and unpublished, known and unknown. It was great.

On a local level, I'm a member of the Mid-Atlantic chapter. A recent trip to Europe really threw me off for the main L.A. conference and Mid-Atlantic's Fall conference this year--which I usually always go to. Last year I had a great critique w/Emma Dryden, now of McElderry. She really enjoyed my manuscript. That made me feel pretty good. SCBWI is a great organization if this is what you are interested in and trust me, it's worth it.

Silly Crazy Super-Short Story: Giant Killer Potato

2005-11-09T23:18:00.000-05:00

THIS is the kind of crazy fun stuff I would have written as a kid...Every Wednesday you get to find a silly crazy super-short story right here!

Sketchbook Page...

2005-11-08T23:20:00.000-05:00

Just doodling...

First Kiddie Story

2005-11-07T09:20:00.000-05:00

I tell people I'm a D.C. native and they're usually like "Really?" Being born and raised in this city seems to be a rarity of sorts, since the government creates a kind of transient nature for many of its residents. Yet, I grew up in "inner-city" D.C. in neighborhoods that could be alternately called "colorful" or "somewhat dangerous", take your pick. However, as a kid, those things didn't bother me. I just did my thing. No matter how idyllic or desperate-seeming a neighborhood, you can rest assured you'll see kids playing. It was no different for me and I'd thought I'd share some of the crazy stories I have from being a kid. Everybody's got one, ya know, so let's go:

I was in the 3rd grade and our elementary school's field was surrounded by high hills. My best friends and I lived across the street and if we were sitting at the fence at the top we were at street level. We'd sometimes get lucky and see a family member or neighbor going by and wave, but mostly we'd sit and share secrets and talk and talk and talk. At the end of recess, the bell sounded and we had to go line up. I was wearing flip-floppy sandals and decided to run down the hill and tripped. I rolled head over heels down the length of the entire hill and when I hit bottom, I sat up and had to go to class with dried grass in my hair. My best friend laughed about that for years and years.

Style Exploration: Parka Girl

2005-11-06T15:37:00.000-05:00

I was playing around with a new style and had some sample postcards done of this one. I did an event with the Illustrators Club and was surprised when most of the art directors picked up the card with it on there. It's a departure for me, but I enjoy it. Maybe I'll play around with more illos like it...

Guys Read!

2005-11-05T22:55:00.000-05:00

Read a great article about a local boys literacy group at a middle school in this area. Educators are finding a great gap in literacy levels between boys and girls. Why? Most books boys have to read don't speak to them and they don't relate as well to the female protagonists in them or those involved with reading in their lives. Hmm. I can see that. I mean, reading about girls and "girl" things just isn't as much fun as reading about burping and other gross weird things that could happen. No, really. I think boys really do have a different idea of what's fun to read and what's not. I'm all for anything that'll get them excited about reading!

There's a great website called Guys Read, that also talks about this issue and is pretty fun to look at. Started by Jon Scieszka of Math Curse and The Stinky Cheese Man, he knows a thing or two about that touch of twisted humor that dudes love! Enjoy!

Illustration Friday: Night

2005-11-04T12:31:00.000-05:00

Here's my first posting for Illustration Friday : "Bump in the Night"

Welcome to Wawa Moore's Blog!

2005-11-03T22:29:00.000-05:00

Well, you've found me. I am a children's book writer-illustrator. Just trying to get published and spread joy and fun and good stories with the world. I'm a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators and the Illustrators Club of DC/MD/VA.

Ooo...you've got all sorts of crazy kid illowriter goodness to look forward to!