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:

Lucy Giglio
Author Booking Agent
email: lucy.giglio@live.com

Interviews:

-- video interview with writer Andrea Page (May 2019)

at Andrea Page's blog

-- interview and book review for Squirrel on Stage (October 2022)

-- interview and book review for Squirrel in the Museum (April 2019)

at Children's Book Corner, by Judy Bradbury

-- Interview in Time Travels Time Two (October 2016)

conducted by Susan Olson.

--  interview conducted by Debbi Michiko Florence re. 23 Minutes (2016)

--  interview conducted by Debbi Michiko Florence (2013)

You can read more about Debbi

at her website:  http://www.debbimichikoflorence.com/ 

-- Awake at Midnight interview (conducted by JS Daly) (February 2014)

-- Holiday House Q & A regarding 8 Class Pets (November 2011)

-- OK, it's not so much an interview, but an article I wrote in response to an invitation from David Harrison.

Visit David's website at >http://www.davidlharrison.com/  

 * 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.

-- Interview conducted by Cynthia Leitich Smith in her on-going series about authors' critique groups (2011)

Cynthia has a great website at http://www.cynthialeitichsmith.com/ where she has wonderful information for writers and book lovers. 

Cynthia's newest book is Ancestor Approved (2021)

-- Interview (conducted by Carly Reads!) for the Greater Rochester Teen Book Festival (2010)

-- ALAN Review (Fall 2004) 

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.

Check out the effervescent Candie

here.

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

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)

Sparkly Something
My daughter Beth's beautiful (and sparkly!) hand-made creations. 
http://www.etsy.com/shop/SparklySomething?page=1

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/

Stephen Ministries
My husband Jim is a trained Stephen Minister. This is a non-denominational volunteer organization that provides an empathetic ear for those who need someone to talk to. 
http://www.stephenministries.org/stephenministry/default.cfm/928

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.

AMAZING KIDS! ONLINE MAGAZINE

Website:  http://mag.amazing-kids.org/get-involved/write-for-us/

Contact:  Victoria Feng, Editor-in-Chief: editor@amazing-kids.org

• ages 5 – 18
• fiction (up to 2,000 words)
• non-fiction (recipes, science, reviews, travel, jokes)
• poems
• art/photography
• kid-friendly videos – up to 3 minutes
• contests

HIGHLIGHTS FOR CHILDREN

803 Church St.

Honesdale, PA   18431

• 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

MAGIC DRAGON MAGAZINE

P.O. Box 687

Webster, NY   14580

e-mail:  magicdragonmagazine@gmail.com

Website:  http://www.magicdragonmagazine.com/

• 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.

POLYPHONY H.S.

1514 Elmwood Ave./Suite 2

Evanston, IL 60201

Submissions:  https://www.polyphonylit.org/copy-of-submit

Website: https://www.polyphonylit.org/

• open to high school students, grades 9 - 12

• all the editors are high school students
• stories and creative essays up to 1,800 words; poetry up to 80 lines

SKIPPING STONES, MULTICULTURAL CHILDREN’S MAGAZINE

P.O. Box 3939

Eugene, OR 97403-0939

ATTN:  Managing Editor

e-mail: Editor@SkippingStones.org

Website:  http://www.skippingstones.org/wp/

·         70% written by children and teens

·         established 1988, for kids under the age of 18

·         magazine publishes stories, articles, poems, jokes, riddles

·         runs various contests

·         length of short stories and articles: up to 1,000 words; poetry:  up to 30 lines

·         artwork: comics, cartoons, b&w or color photos, paintings, drawings; prefers ink & pen or pencil; color photos OK

·         will accept typewritten, legibly handwritten, computer manuscripts

·         submissions should include “cover letter with name, age, address, school, cultural background, inspiration piece, dreams for future”

·         “international, minorities, and under-represented populations receive priority” 

STONE SOUP

Submissions Dept.

P.O. Box 83

Santa Cruz, CA 95063-0083

Articles/Fiction Editor, Art Director: Ms. Gerry Mandel

website:  http://stonesoup.com/how-to-submit-writing-and-art-to-stone-soup/

• by children age 13 or younger
• 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
• artwork: illustrations, color

TEEN INK

Website:  http://www.teenink.com/magazine

• for students ages 13-19
• since 1989
• 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.

Useful websites (in no particular order):

• a listing for young writers:

https://www.newpages.com/writers-resources/young-authors-guide

·         a list of writing contests for teens:

            https://www.weareteachers.com/student-writing-contests/

·         writing tips from Ralph Fletcher:

http://ralphfletcher.com/tips-young-readers/

·         Advice to Young Writers from Melissa de la Cruz: 

      https://melissa-delacruz.com/2007/advice_for_young_writers/

·         Tips for Young Writers by Susan Beth Pfeffer:  http://susanbethpfeffer.blogspot.com/2009/04/tips-for-young-writers.html

Some writing advice from my website, though not specifically for young people: http://www.vivianvandevelde.com/writingAdvice.cfm

Next, here’s a short clip of Rick Riordan giving advice to writers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81iwOVdWfIY

And one of Neil Gaiman:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qg0_FinB6EE

And one of Tedd Arnold:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yxSOyHfNtc

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

Best of luck to you.

Vivian Vande Velde

August 2021