September and October promise good things for me and my publisher.
- DRIVE, the fourth installment in Baker's Mountain Stories will be published on September 11.
- I'll be leading a Historical Fiction Workshop at Highlights Foundation October 28 - 31! Details below.
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Historical Fiction Workshop
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 In 2002 while teaching school, I asked my principal for a week off to attend a writing workshop at the Highlights Foundation. He agreed and I registered.
Then I received an assignment - to find a story from my backyard, research it, write about it, and bring it to the class. That assignment, that Highlights workshop, and that story changed my life. I wrote Blue on snow days and by the end of the school year I submitted the manuscript and decided to pursue writing full time.
Sixteen years later I'll be teaching a Highlights historical fiction class, sharing much of what I've learned. If you want to explore writing historical fiction, join me, my editor and three fabulous writers.
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Fundamental STEPS to Writing Historical Fiction
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Using the acronym STEPS, I will, with help from guest speakers, introduce the basics of writing historical fiction.
Story,
Time,
Experts,
Place,
Sources
I'll meet one-on-one with participants to give feedback on their manuscripts. Together we'll explore your story's strengths and examine ways to make it even more powerful. To view the workshop schedule visit the Highlights Workshop site. The schedule is still being updated - for example Carol Baldwin will be with us in person - not via SKYPE.
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There’s No Place Like This Place
Look around you. How do you know where you are? Details of place tell you and your readers, where characters are in a story. Not only that, place can also be a large part of the story. Think of the South in To Kill a Mockingbird, or the North in White Fang. In this talk, Julie will share tips on how to choose telling details through the choices she made when revealing early 20th century NYC in her novel DEADLY.
Julie Chibbaro is the author of three YA
historical novels: Into The Dangerous World, a Junior Library Guild Selection; Deadly a National Jewish Book Award winner, and Redemption, an American Book Award winner. She is currently at work on a contemporary novel that uses historical elements, and she finds it hard to live in the modern world.
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 Experts: The Voices of Experience
The voices of our characters sometimes come to us most clearly through the voices of the people who have lived through our story’s time period. Each story you glean and each interview you capture will add another layer of authenticity to your book. In her talk, Carol shares how to find these experts, how to use their stories to inform your own, and how to organize these valuable conversations that will breathe life into your story.
Carol Baldwin is happiest when she is concocting a story that makes history come alive, teaching writing, talking about books with one of her six grandchildren, or after she hits a golf ball well. Her most recent book is Teaching the Story: Fiction Writing in Grades 4 - 8. Find her book reviews and giveaways on www.carolbaldwinblog.blogspot.com and follow her on Facebook (Carol Federlin Baldwin) or Twitter (@CBaldwinAuthor).
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From Eyewitness to Storyteller
Lila Quintero Weaver is the 
author of several historical novels
which draw heavily from her life.
Is there a story in the history you’ve lived through? Novelist and memoirist Lila Quintero Weaver has twice tapped into the historical events that marked her childhood and used them to craft stories. In her talk, she shares her writing journey, along with ideas for discovering the story gold in your own youth.
Lila Quintero Weaver is the author-Illustrator of a graphic novel, Darkroom: A Memoir in Black & White, as well as a children’s book,
My Year in the Middle. She was born in Argentina and grew up in Alabama.
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 Carolyn Yoder is the editor who sent me searching for a story in my backyard. She recognized in my manuscript "the makings of an incredible story" and then she nurtured it into an award winning book.
She's taught me about showing time and place,deepening my characters' motivations, and delivering authentic stories.
Carolyn will join us for Tuesday dinner, an informational session, and for breakfast on Wednesday morning. This is a marvelous opportunity to learn from and network with the finest historical editor in the children's book business!
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Publication Date
September 11
 In 1952, as Daddy’s war trauma threatens tranquility at home, twins, Ida and Ellie Honeycutt struggle to cope. Ellie escapes to the NASCAR speedway while Ida immerses herself in art. At their new high school, social dynamics drive them further apart as does a shared attraction to a particular boy. However, a sudden crisis provides an opportunity to renew their deep connection and to move forward, each on her own path.
Drive is the fourth book in Bakers Mountain Stories. Other books in the series include AIM, BLUE, and COMFORT.
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* transportation to and from
airport
* private cottage
* gorgeous scenery
* scrumptious gourmet food
* time to dream, plot, write
* ongoing connection to the
writing community
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by August 24
telling me how you forwarded this newsletter or shared it on social media and I will enter you in the giveaways.
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A classroom set of signed bookmarks
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 An advance copy of Drive
(Hardcover)
When I receive my copies I will send to you.
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Full Manuscript Critique
for anyone who attends the workshop as a result of reading this newsletter.
Deadline for this giveaway entry is good through
mid- September.
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A sampling of books Edited by Carolyn Yoder
by Sara Holbrook
by Kathy Cannon Wiechman
by Selene Castrovilla
by Mary Morton Cowan
by Larry Dane Brimner
by Michaela MacColl
by Gail Jarrow
by Barbara Walsh
by Harold Holzer
by J. Albert Mann
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I'd love for you to share this link on social media or forward to a friend who is interested in writing historical fiction. Thanks so much!
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