Older houses have attics for storage. Even people who don't have an attic usually have one room or closet or area where they put everything that they don't know what to do with, or that they don't have room for anyplace else.
This is my internet attic room.
How to contact me:
Because of the volume of mail I recieve, I cannot respond to individual emails. If you'd like to get a personal response, you can send me a letter through the regular mail by writing to me at:
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Children's Books
125 High Street
Boston, MA 02110
Attn: Vivian Vande Velde Author Mail
(If you enclose an envelope already addressed to you with a stamp, that's even more helpful.) I'll do my best to get back to you as quickly as I can, but sometimes I might be delayed because of my writing schedule or because I'm occasionally away from home at conferences or visiting schools. So don't write to me when you absoutely, positively MUST have an answer within a couple of days.
If you want to write to me regarding a school or library or conference visit, please contact:
* A note for teachers, librarians, and students I've met over the years at the Children's Literature Festival in Warrensburg, Missouri: David also has a blog post about that festival--including a list of authors and illustrators who formerly participated and their contact info. Visit that post here.
Or take a look at Something About the Author, available at many libraries.
Or--and I'm so tickled and yet blush to mention it--there is a biogrphy of me: Vivian Vande Velde: Author of Fantasy Fiction
written by Candie Moonshower as part of the "Authors Teens Love" series.
RACWI I belong to a group called Rochester Area Children's Writers & Illustrators, which is a network of the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators. This is an organization for people actively working in the field of writing or illustrating children's books. ("Actively writing" does not necessarily mean "published" but it means more than thinking about writing "someday, when I have the time.") Meetings are in the evening, the first Thursday of the month. If you're interested in joining, you can contact: Roxanne Chadwick at roxanec@rochester.rr.com.
Rochester Children's Book Festival An annual one-day gathering of authors and illustrators. We sell books, meet with the public, give mini-presentations and workshops. Parking and admission to all Book Festival events are free.
For information about the Rochester Children's Book Festival, click here.
Art by Fans
by Nathan from 12 Corners Middle School
by Sophie from 12 Corners Middle School
by Vivi of 12 Corners Middle School
from my talk where I mentioned having trouble with games' rules - Catch the Ball by Xavier from 12 Corners Middle School
Haunted House by David from 12 Corners Middle School
Little Gray Riding Hood by Hasan from 12 Corners Middle School
Thank you by Vivian from 12 Corners Middle School
Miss Turtledove (from Troll Teacher) by McKayla in California
Galileo and Newton from 8 Class Pets, by Jenna in Williamson, NY
A request from Rochester, NY: Could you make a book named Learn Disco Dance
A thank-you note from a future writer in Rochester, NY
3-D card from students at Hartford Memorial Middle School in White River Junction, VT:
by Aubrey from Rochester, NY:
by Autumn from Rochester, NY:
by Cory from Rochester, NY:
by Whisper from Texas, "Death of Roses":
by Yajaira from Colorado, an illustration of Three Good Deeds:
by the exceptionally clever book club at Kennedy Elementary School in Roxbury, NJ, whose members gave themselves goose names, and made goose sculptures:
by Hayley, from Texas:
by the talented performers from Juneau, Alaska who did a podcast of "For Love of Sunny" from Once Upon a Test
Robert:
Helen:
Elias:
Adrienne:
Smart Dog talks about books, by Isabella of PA:
2 pictures from Heir Apparent by Amanda of WI:
From Sarah, in Texas:
an illustration of Dragon's Bait, from Kirisa, of Virginia:
VVV with Flat Stanley
(at Maryland Association of School Librarians Conference: Ocean City, Maryland - 2007)
Author School Visits by State
Author Kim Norman's helpful list for people trying to track down authors by where they live. http://authorbystate.blogspot.com/
Birthright Simply because this is a good organization that does good work. Birthright helps women and girls facing problem unplanned pregnancies. http://www.birthright.org
Fawn Meadow Wood Crafters
Because we're related, and because Bruce does incredible work. http://fawnmeadow.com/
A plug for the web designer
Like this website? Contact From Dark To Light Designs at: maranda@fdtldesigns.com
BOOK AND MAGAZINE PUBLISHERS
PUBLISHING WORKS BY YOUNG AUTHORS
I'm delighted to hear that you're interested in writing. The best advice I can give is to read a lot to prepare yourself for writing; and also not to become discouraged—either by the writing process itself (which can sometimes be slower and harder than you think it should be), or by any rejections you might receive. Another thing to keep in mind is that at this point you should be concentrating on experimenting and having fun with your writing—don’t worry too much about getting published.
Highlights does not accept submissions through e-mail. Submit to their street address.
15-20% of magazine written by children
uses drawings, poems, jokes, riddles, tongue twisters, stories, science questions, book reviews, Creatures Nobody Has Ever Seen!, recipes, craft ideas, and letters to Dear Highlights; stories should have fewer than 200 words; poems should have fewer than 75 words.
will accept typewritten, legibly handwritten, and computer printout
artwork (no cartoon or comic book characters, no commercial products); submit black & white or color artwork on unlined paper
quarterly publication by elementary school age children
Stories and essays can be up to three pages (neatly printed or typed); poetry up to 30 lines--serious or funny, true or fiction
You may send original art or a copy. If you want original art returned, enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope big enough for it. If you send a copy, be sure it represents fairly the original work (colors are the same, lines are clear, copy looks just like the original). Your name should appear somewhere on the artwork.
Each piece of writing or art must have a “Permission to Publish” form attached. (Available on the website.)
You may send writing to either the P.O. Box or by e-mail.
You may send digital photos or scanned art in jpeg files.
preference is for work based on personal experiences
magazine published 6 times a year
fiction (animal, contemporary, fantasy, history, problem-solving, science fiction, sports, spy/mystery/adventure) or nonfiction stories (up to 10 pages, but most are 2 – 5 pages), poems, and book reviews
submit through website (can be handwritten, but needs to be sent electronically
a national teen magazine, book series, and website devoted entirely to teenage writing, art, photos and forums.
poetry sports, movie reviews, fiction
submit on line
contests
Most often, you can submit your work electronically. When submitting by mail, NEVER send an original or your only copy. Be sure to send an S.A.S.E. (self-addressed, stamped envelope) so that the editors can return your work if they cannot use it.
When you get older, editors will insist that stories be typewritten; but some publishers will accept neatly handwritten manuscripts. In all cases, put your name and address in the top left-hand corner of the first page, along with school, grade level, and teacher’s name; after that, put your name on every page.
Check out additional rules and requirements on each website.
Here are the writers from South Park with their #1 writing rule (Warning: as with South Park itself, their language occasionally had to be bleeped out): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGUNqq3jVLg