Summer, 2007

Kim Winters, from The Edge of the Forest, interviewed my kids, Faith and Sammy, about “Blogging for Mom” and about what they love to read.  

When I tell people that my three kids spend their summers away from home at three different overnight camps, most people react with a sad face and say something like, “Oh, that must be so hard. You must miss them so much!” And because I am wired to be brutally honest, I don’t simply nod and smile. I shock these people by telling them the truth.

I love when my kids go to camp!

Here’s why:

• It’s not as if they’re gone for good. They’ll be back in August.
• They’re not at prison camp. They are having the times of their lives at summer camp. Faith is playing sports and being silly with her girlfriends. Jacob is playing sports and getting dirty with his guyfriends. And Sammy is singing, dancing, and acting with boys and girls. They’re each in their own personal heaven.
• Let’s face it… parenting three middle school kids is no walk in the park. I need a break from them, and they need one from me.
• When the kids get away from all their school friends, they are able to see themselves in a new light. They learn and grow in ways you can’t duplicate at home.
• When my kids are gone, I get a taste of what it’s like to have a really clean house.
• When my kids are gone, I do two loads of laundry a week. That’s all! I maybe go to the grocery store once a week. And when I go, my cart is filled with fresh foods. No HoHos in sight.
• When my kids are gone, I make my own schedule. I’m not a chauffeur/cook/referee/personal shopper/nurse/psychologist/cheerleader/police officer/teacher/maid. I’m just me.
• When my kids are gone, I don’t nag anyone about anything.
• When my kids are gone, I have time to work out, write, see my friends, and enjoy my husband’s company.
• When my kids are gone, Alan and I remember why we got married in the first place. We’re more than just parents. We’re a couple.

So, no, it’s not hard sending my kids away to summer camp. In fact, I feel incredibly fortunate that we can afford to do so. Sure, I check the camp websites daily for pictures of the kids, and I delight in rifling through the mail to find their brightly colored letters with random bits of news from camp. And when they do come home, I hug them tight, and I appreciate a little more how fleeting childhood really is and how privileged I am to parent these three amazing kids.

In other news…

The AJL convention in Arizona was wonderful. Sammy blogged all about it at Blogging for Mom. Highlights for me included:

• Getting to meet Jennifer Roy, author of one of my favorite books, Yellow Star.
• Hanging out with Esme Raji Codell, a talented author who touches everyone she meets with her generous, warm, and fun spirit.




• Reading from my diaries (something I’ve never done before) to a roomful of librarians and knowing that they didn’t think I was weird or boring.
• Hearing the best acceptance speech ever by Yael Mermelstein, who won the Sydney Taylor Manuscript Award. Yael came all the way from Israel to accept her award. Her parents, grandparents, sister, and brother-in-law were there to support her. Yael definitely has a bright future ahead of her!
• Celebrating this incredible honor with Sammy and Alan by my side.

Have a great summer!

Brenda

April, 2007

So I finally decided to jump into the kidlit blogosphere… sort of! Actually, since I’d rather be writing books than blogs, and my children are in love with everything cyber related, I agreed to let them create a blog for me. I think this might be the worlds’ first blog about writing children’s books written by children of a children’s book writer. (Try saying that ten times fast!)

We’re just getting started with this blogging experiment. Hopefully my kids will have fun, and readers will get something valuable or entertaining out of my kids’ unique perspective. So check it out at www.brendaferber.blogspot.com. And if you or any kids you know have comments or questions for me or my kids, shoot me an e-mail or leave a comment at the blog.

In other news, I signed with an agent! I’m now represented by Michelle Andelman at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency. Yay Michelle! Yay me!

Also, I heard from my editor about JEMMA HARTMAN. She agrees that the manuscript has come a long, long way, and most of the hard work is done. Phew!

Now, I’m starting work on Book #3. Actually, I’m spending time deciding which book that is going to be. I have a bunch of ideas, and I have to think long and hard about which one of those ideas I’m willing to commit to. I’m going to a writing retreat at the end of this month, so I’m determined to make a decision by then.

Lastly, I read a ton of books over spring break, but I still didn’t get through my two ton pile of books that I want to read. Nevertheless, I put up reviews of my faves. Check out the reading page for that.

Happy Spring!

March, 2007

Cynthia Leitich Smith interviewed me on her Cynsational blog! Click here to read it: http://cynthialeitichsmith.blogspot.com/2007/01/julias-kitchen-by-brenda-ferber.html

The other day I was driving around town, and I saw a new house under construction. The front of the house was pale yellow stucco with big gray rocks trimming the edges and windows. To put it mildly, it was not attractive. But the back of the house was a pretty red brick. I couldn’t help but wonder how a house like that got built. Certainly, nobody intends to build an ugly house. Did the builders change their minds mid-way through? Did they think a stucco, rock, and brick combination would work? Did they try one material and then decide to try another? Or was this strange concoction all part of the master blueprint? And were the builders really sorry now?

It made me thankful that I’m an author, not a builder. Because I would probably build a dozen ugly houses before I hit upon a really good one. Two months ago, when I thought I was almost finished with another draft of JEMMA HARTMAN, CAMPER EXTRAORDINAIRE, I sat down and read it. Guess what? It was just about as ugly as the stucco/rock/brick house. I realized it was not at all the book I had intended to write. I liked about thirty pages of it. The rest was garbage.

So I started again. And this time, I think I got it right. I’ll know for sure when my critique group and editor tell me. But the point is, even if it’s not finished yet, I know it’s a whole lot easier to delete pages on a computer than walls on a house. And for that, I’m grateful.

January, 2007

The great news keeps on coming… JULIA’S KITCHEN won the Sydney Taylor Book Award for 2007! I am thrilled and amazed that the Association of Jewish Libraries chose to honor my book in a year when there was an abundance of outstanding Jewish books published. The STBA honors new books for children that exemplify the highest literary standards while authentically portraying the Jewish experience. The award memorializes Sydney Taylor, author of the classic ALL-OF-A-KIND FAMILY series. For more information about the award, follow this link: http://www.jewishlibraries.org/ajlweb/home.htm

Also, VOYA (A respected journal for librarians, educators, and other professionals who work with young adults) named JULIA’S KITCHEN to their Top Shelf Fiction for Middle School Readers in 2006. I think there are only 30 books chosen for this list. Wow!

So 2007 is off to a great start. I just signed my contract for JEMMA HARTMAN, CAMPER EXTRAORDINAIRE. It is scheduled for a spring 2009 release. (groan!) Yes, that is two years from now. But it gives me more time to revise and make the novel as good as it can be.

Happy New Year!

December, 2006

Great news… FSG has offered me a contract for my second novel, JEMMA HARTMAN, CAMPER EXTRAORDINAIRE! I’m revising like crazy. My next draft is due on February 1st. The weird thing is that I’ve been working on this novel off and on for the last five years. It’s taken dozens of different shapes. And now, finally, this is the version that is going to stick. This is the one that will become an actual book. The characters and the story are finally becoming so very real to me. It’s a magical process. I love it!

As for JULIA’S KITCHEN, I’ve been having a blast speaking at different synagogues, book fairs, book clubs, and writing conferences. One of the coolest things about being a published author is hearing from people who have read and loved my book. I’ve gotten touching letters from lots of readers. And some kids have even sent me their book reports! Here’s an illustration from Sarah E. in Darien, Illinois. She got an A+. Go Sarah!

September, 2006

Hooray! Beverly likes my new novel! I’ve got a ton of revisions ahead of me. But that’s okay because it’s actually my favorite part of writing. I don’t want to say too much about the manuscript yet (I still don’t have a contract), but here’s the working title: JEMMA HARTMAN, CAMPER EXTRAORDINAIRE.

Check out the September issue of Ladybug for my story, “The One with the Freckle.” Aren’t these illustrations by Valeria Petrone snazzy?

And guess what? Julia’s Kitchen is being translated into German! I can hardly believe it!

August, 2006

It has been a very busy summer for me. I’ve been writing, writing, writing, and I’m happy to say, I sent the manuscript of my second novel to my editor on Friday. Now it’s time to catch up on the rest of my life while I wait to hear her opinion. My husband laughs at me as I go from thinking she will absolutely love it, to fearing she will wonder why she ever thought I had a shred of talent in the first place.

Whatever the case, I am so proud of myself! I started this novel before I started Julia’s Kitchen, so it has been a long time coming. I don’t want to say much more because I really shouldn’t even think about it!!! But I will post here when I hear from editor extraordinaire, Beverly Reingold.

Other news: I was interviewed about my writing journey by the lovely Jan Fields for an Institute of Children’s Literature live web chat on July 20th. If you are looking for some information or inspiration, click here for a transcript: http://www.institutechildrenslit.com/rx/tr01/ferber2006.shtml  
Also, check out my Picks of the Season on the reading page if you are looking for some great new reads.

And watch for my story, “The One with the Freckle” in the September issue of Ladybug magazine. The real life inspiration for this story: When my twins started kindergarten, my daughter was terrified to be separated from her brother. She packed a picture of him in her backpack, and that soothed her fears. She ended up never even looking at the picture and loving her first day without her brother by her side. I wrote this story as an assignment for a class I took through the Institute of Children’s Literature. It was the first thing I ever sold! Now my twins are starting middle school. They grow so fast! As my dad says, “They are only ours to borrow.”

May, 2006

Julia’s Kitchen is officially in book stores! April was filled with school visits and celebrations. And May is already jam packed with signings and such. Check out my speaking page for the latest.

I’ve also updated the reading page, so if you’re looking for a good book to read, be sure to look at my recommendations.

Here I am signing a book at my dream-come-true party, and here’s the cookie cake before my daughter accidentally spilled my glass of champagne all over it!

April, 2006

Julia’s Kitchen has received a starred review from Kirkus! Here’s my favorite part:

“…the emotions are real, the protagonist empathetic and the resolution believable. Family bonds, Jewish traditions and overcoming grief to reconnect with life are deftly braided in this poignant story, just like the challah on Friday nights.”

I wish I knew who the anonymous reviewer was. I’d send him or her a batch of Cara’s chocolate chip cookies!

Here are some photos from my kids’ school’s Scholastic Book Fair. They were able to get 60 copies of Julia’s Kitchen in before the publication date, and we sold them all! Happy days!

March, 2006

Things are starting to heat up for Julia’s Kitchen! Reviews are coming in (good ones… yay!), and author appearances are being scheduled. Check out my Speaking page for info on upcoming events. Please come to one of my book signings, and bring a friend or two! I’ll have Cara’s homemade cookies at each event (while supplies last)!

Other news… I just received word that my story, “A Cheer for Charlie,” will appear in the June issue of Ladybug magazine. Yippee! I sold that story almost four years ago, and I thought for sure they had changed their mind about wanting to publish it. I’m glad it will finally see the light of day. This story was inspired by my son Sammy and his first experience playing soccer. Even though he wasn’t the best soccer player on the field, he had the best attitude. It was a joy to watch him play!