Caroline Starr Rose

picture book and middle-grade author

Drafting stats for last week.

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M: -23 words
T: 147
W: nothing
R: 6
F: -33

Some weeks are like that. That’s how it goes. It’s been good to learn I can tackle my work as I see fit. I get to decide — not some set of writing rules or someone else’s approach.

I can edit as I go. I can circle back to move forward. I can skip a day when my alarm doesn’t go off. I can do what works for me.

(I’ll add I’m drafting this book almost entirely* in one to two-hour morning sessions. That’s it. Loving it.)

*Those bigger word-count numbers you see at the top of this chart are from my annual writing retreat.

***

Jasper and the Riddle of Riley’s Mine is $4.49 on Amazon right now (paperback version). If you don’t yet have a copy, now’s the time to scoop one up!

Straight from the Source: Kathleen Wilford on Writing Historical Fiction

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Kathleen Wilford was born in Panama and has lived in four different countries and three different states—but never in Kansas. She studied literature at Cornell University and at Rutgers University in New Jersey, where she now teaches writing. When she’s not teaching or writing, Kathleen can be found outdoors, chasing her disobedient dog. 

What typically comes first for you: a character? An era? A story idea? How do you proceed from there?

I’ve always been fascinated by pioneer literature and the homesteading era. I’m a fan of Willa Cather and Laura Ingalls Wilder. I admire the strong women who endured life on lonely prairies, living in sod houses and struggling to keep themselves and their families alive.

But the specific spark for Cabby Potts, Duchess of Dirt came from learning something that surprised me: in the 1870’s, the British aristocracy founded several settlements on the plains of Kansas. These were “communities of culture and refinement,” where, in theory, “the arts and graces of life” could be imported straight from London. 

What if, I wondered, an outdoorsy young homesteader went to work in a grand house in one of these settlements? And the character of Cabby Potts was born. In my story, Cabby is desperate to escape a job she hates but equally desperate to save her family’s struggling homestead. So, she plays matchmaker between her pretty, romantic sister Emmeline and the rich young lord of the manor—and, as you can imagine, complications ensue!

How do you conduct your research? 

I like to begin with books that situate the time period I’m studying in a larger historical context. For Cabby Potts, Duchess of Dirt, I began with Prairie Fever: British Aristocrats in the American West 1830-1890 by Peter Pagnamenta. After that, I consulted The American West: A New Interpretive History, by Robert Hine and John Mack Faragher; A Shovel of Stars: the Making of the American West 1800 to the Present, by Ted Morgan; and Pioneer Women: Voices from the Kansas Frontier, by Joanna Stratton.

I just have to add in that Pioneer Women was the cornerstone of my research for May B. Such a good book! I read it several times.

I followed these foundational sources with more specific books and then with primary sources. I consulted homesteader journals, 1870’s editions of the Dodge City Times, an 1841 book by Dr. Samuel Sheldon Fitch called Diseases of the Chest (fascinating, trust me), Mrs. Beeton’s book on the duties of a housemaid . . . etc.! 

Since I work for Rutgers University, I’m lucky enough to have access to the rich depth of primary materials owned by the university. I think primary sources are key not only to authentic details but to the language of the times. 

The Kansas Historical Society was also a great source of information, photographs, maps, historical records, etc. Several experts also helped me with questions, and of course, Google is great for filling in details.

Do you have a specific system for collecting data? 

I just take notes—maybe a system would help! I write down things that seem relevant or interesting. Here’s an example from a homesteader’s journal:

“Ox hides himself in deep, stiff, wiry prairie grass in morning, stays still so bell won’t ring.” 

This detail made it into Cabby Potts, when Cabby boasts that she’s good at finding the milk cow when she hides in the grass.  

At what point do you feel comfortable beginning to draft? How does your research continue once you begin writing?

With Cabby Potts, Duchess of Dirt, I made sure I had the basic facts before writing: the history of Kansas and homesteading laws, history of the Victoria settlement, history of the Native American tribes that were displaced by homesteaders, etc. But I kept returning to research to fill in details (how exactly was wheat harvested in the 1870’s? what kinds of hats did women wear? etc.) The danger is going down so many rabbit-holes that you don’t get back to writing!

Researching is a lot of fun, but it’s important to remember that historical fiction is fiction. All details must be subservient to the story, so a lot of my fun facts got left out.

Has your research affected the overall thrust of your book? How so?

I was sobered to learn that fully half of all homesteaders never made it—they never “proved up” on their claims, and they lost their land. We tend to romanticize the homesteading era, but in truth many people who started off poor also ended up poor. I hope my book helps show how the system was often stacked against homesteaders, especially when unscrupulous land agents helped rich speculators.

Also, the more I learned about the history of the Plains tribes of Native Americans, the more I wanted to communicate the truth about the injustices faced by dispossessed Native people. 

Why is historical fiction important? 

I love the way historical fiction immerses readers into a different world. All good fiction is immersive, but with historical fiction, the past comes alive in fresh ways. I think many kids—adults too, maybe—learn best through story. Non-fiction helps readers learn too, but fiction adds an important layer of empathy. 

Thinking about American historical fiction in particular, I believe that to understand where we ARE in this country, we need to understand where we’ve BEEN. If we only see what’s happening now, it’s like watching only the second half of the movie. 

And in my opinion, historical fiction is just fun to read!

Georgia O’Keeffe’s Ghost Ranch in pictures

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I took a horseback ride at Ghost Ranch last weekend, a northern New Mexico landmark best known as Georgia O’Keeffe’s home. I went with my childhood friend, Anna, who visits every now and again to soak up the goodness that is New Mexico. That pretty pinto you see is Nacho, named for murderous cattle rustler, Nacho Archuleta, who along with his brother, Matteo, kept stolen cattle at El Rancho de las Brujas (Ranch of the Witches — a clever name to keep nearby residents away). The brujas eventually evolved into ghosts, giving the ranch the name it has today.

If you know O’Keeffe’s landscapes, you know they’re saturated with color. This was no interpretation. She recorded what she saw. If you look at the center of the picture above, you’ll see the cliff chimneys.

A bit of snow showed off the landscape’s subtle contours. It was such a gorgeous day!

For years, a cow skull was used as the marker for the ranch. In 1934, when Georgia O’Keeffe first visited Ghost Ranch (then a dude ranch owned by Arthur Pack), she was told to look for the skull. She stayed for the summer and returned to New York for the winter, establishing a pattern that lasted for years. Today the cow skull is still Ghost Ranch’s emblem, made iconic through O’Keeffe’s skull paintings.

Is that me or a child with legs too short to ride Doug the horse?!

A lot of movies have been filmed at Ghost Ranch, like Silverado, Wyatt Earp, City Slickers, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, and the Magnificent Seven.

Georgia O’Keeffe wanted to stay away from the dude ranch, so Arthur Pack was willing to rent her his home, Rancho de los Burros (seen at the base of the butte above), which was set apart from all the activity. By 1940, she’d bought the house from him, along with seven acres. When her husband, Alfred Stieglitz, died, she bought a house in nearby Abiquiu to live in during the winter.

Chimney Rock near O’Keeffe’s home, cousin to the nearby cliff chimneys.

Here’s Gerald’s Tree, a juniper that writer and philosopher Gerald Heard walked(?) danced(?) meditated(?) around, leaving footprints that inspired the O’Keeffe painting (you can see it in the upper-right hand corner of the last picture in this post).

This sweet burro (with one ear tucked behind the fencing) reminded me of Calamity, the burro in my next verse novel, The Burning Season. She was a very good girl.

Georgia, I’d have to agree.

Classroom Connections: This Joy! by Shelley Johannes

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age range: 4-8 years
format: picture book
website for Shelley Johannes

A huge dose of joy and a clear reminder to celebrate each day and each other.
―Kirkus Reviews

A wonderful reflection on enjoying the amazing world and people around us, this book will have readers young and old smiling in recognition.
— School Library Journal

Please tell us about your book.

THIS JOY! is my second author-illustrator picture book, and it’s as joyful as its name implies! It’s a book about a young child who attempts to measure the size of her joy and the depth of her gratitude as she bubbles up with happiness throughout the day. Have you ever felt so alive you wanted to hug the whole world, but your arms weren’t big enough? Have you ever wanted to throw your arms around the treetops, but your tiptoes weren’t tall enough? THIS JOY! explores big feelings and unbridled joy—and finding a way to enthusiastically embrace the gifts each day brings our way.

What inspired you to write this story?

THIS JOY! was inspired by a moment of overwhelming gratitude in my own life. I was heading to my favorite art store to gather supplies to begin the final artwork for my first picture book, MORE THAN SUNNY, when I was overcome by the beauty of the day and the gravity of the dream-come-true moment. I felt so grateful to be alive and doing what I love. Driving down the road, I pictured myself in a field with arms wide open, wanting to embrace the whole world and all its goodness, but found that my arms weren’t big enough to hold it all, and that words weren’t adequate to express the abundance of gratitude in my heart. The only solution was to make a book about it.

It’s often said that art begets art—in this case, it literally did. The joy of working on my first picture book immediately sparked my second one. 

Could you share with readers a bit about your writing process for this book?

My creative process is messy and intuitive, working in words and images simultaneously. The first half of the book solidified pretty quickly after that inspirational car ride, but finding my way into the second half took lots of searching, trial-and-error, and play. I was fully immersed in the process early in 2020, which was a perfect time to be pondering the depths of joy and gratitude, and the everyday gifts life gives.

Did this book present any special challenges during the writing process? 

The biggest challenge I faced while making this book is the same challenge the girl in the book faces: How do I tangibly communicate this profound feeling that’s bigger than words and beyond my ability to express? I loved that the character and I were on parallel journeys. In the end, metaphor met us when the dictionary ran out. 

What topics does your book touch upon that would make it a perfect fit for the classroom?

I love seeing all the creative ways educators use picture books in their classrooms, and I’ve already been so inspired by how schools are using THIS JOY! 

THIS JOY! fits wonderfully with SEL books and other books about big feelings. While discussing anger, sadness, worry, frustration or loss—I love the idea of including a book about joy and gratitude! The text is a helpful tool in discussions about trying to describe our indescribably big feelings, and creative ways to express them. 

THIS JOY! is also a wonderful companion in discussions about measuring and comprehending the size of the world and the size of our bodies, in both math or social studies settings. And there are so many related crafts to expand the discussion. 

In older classrooms, THIS JOY! is a great resource to practice synonyms, similes, and metaphors. 

Mostly, I hope it makes lots of people experience a moment of joy exactly when they need it.

Quick Lit: What I’ve Been Reading Lately

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The Great Zapfino by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Marla Frazee

This nearly-wordless picture book, all rendered in black and white, stars the Great Zapfino, who freezes in the middle of his circus act and flees to take a quieter, less risky job as an elevator operator. But when a smoking toaster means a daring escape is needed, Zapfino’s prior training comes in handy — he finally makes his leap!

There’s so much to discover in this clever book, especially on the spreads of Zapfino’s many elevator rides. As far as I know, this is the first pairing of Barnett and Frazee, two of the most talented people currently creating picture books — reason enough to pick up a copy.

The Beguiled by Thomas Cullinan

I found this book on display at my library with a collection of Gothic novels. Yes, please! I love books that are atmospheric with a tinge of eerie and a strong sense of place. The Beguiled is set at a crumbling Southern girls’ school during the last years of the Civil War. Miss Martha Farnsworth Seminary for Young Ladies has dwindled to five students, ages ten through seventeen, when thirteen-year-old Amelia stumbles upon a wounded Yankee soldier and decides to bring him home. Everyone is charmed by Johnny, and he soon forges connections with every girl and woman at the school.

The book is multi-point of view (one of my favorite storytelling techniques). We hear from every character but Johnny (an approach I used in Miraculous, choosing not to include the voice of the mysterious Dr. Kingsbury). The Beguiled is told as though looking back to the weeks when Johnny convalesced at the school, giving the book a feeling of gathered testimonies and leaving the reader wondering what exactly the story is building toward. The imagery of death and decay is everywhere — the South’s lost cause, the old Farnsworth home, the failing school, Johnny’s gangrenous leg (it’s all very Faulkneresque).

The story relies heavily on dialogue and is told in such close quarters I wondered if the author was a playwright, too (he was). I was so absorbed in this book! The characterization is incredible. The storytelling is a slow, steady unraveling, and because readers never hear directly from Johnny, there’s lots of room for speculation about his motives. I knew “beguiled” meant “one who is charmed or enchanted” but didn’t realize the definition also includes that the charming / enchanting is often deceptive. Who exactly in the story is beguiled becomes the central question. You’ll have to decide for yourself. Expertly crafted and told. If Gothic is your thing, I can’t recommend this one enough!

Fellowship Point by Alice Elliot Dark

Fellowship Point is set in Maine and Philadelphia and follows the decades-old friendship of Agnes and Polly. Agnes is a children’s author with a successful series about a little girl named Nan. What no one knows — not even Polly — is she is also the author of a successful series of adult books, too. A young editor, Maud, who grew up with the Nan books, contacts Agnes to ask if she might consider writing a memoir about her writing life. This opens a can of worms about the child who inspired the Nan stories and about Agnes’s past. On top of this is story is Agnes and Polly’s family history that is intertwined with a stretch of land in Maine called Fellowship Point.

I ADORED THIS BOOK. I DEVOURED IT. It’s big and beautiful and about the internal workings of people. I love internal workings of people books. Both my mom and running partner have now read it, too. Truly a book that is an experience and something I had to share. I don’t say this lightly (as I take these sorts of things very seriously): this is a lifetime favorite, a book I know I’ll never forget and plan to revisit again.

What have you been reading lately?

Reading in 2023!

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First, some stats from 2022:

I read 81 books last year, a combination of read-with-your eyes hardcopy books and audiobooks (plus a few that were a combination of both. [I’m looking at you, Les Mis and Great Expectations.]) Sadly, this number excludes any picture books. I’ve yet to consistently keep records on these, which is something I need to remedy. My favorite book of the year was Fellowship Point (review forthcoming). It’s gone on my favorite books of all time list, which is the highest praise I can give. The longest book was the aforementioned two-volume Les Mis (545,925 words!), which my book club read over a two-month period. The book I read (actually listened to) twice was 4,000 Weeks: Time Management for Mortals, a book I hope to revisit often. My favorite middle grade was the powerfully unforgettable Fighting Words.

Now, onto 2023!

If you know me very well, you know I’ve always got book plans and reading goals. For the last few years I’ve completed a “Clear Your Shelves Challenge,” where I’ve read books I already own. (I was also the only participant in this do-it-yourself reading endeavor.) The first year of my challenge I committed to twenty-five books. By December I was really down to the wire when I hadn’t budgeted my reading time very well. But I finished! And it was a really good experience. The last two years, I’ve cut my Clear Your Shelves books down to twelve a year — much more manageable in the midst of book club titles, library holds, and whatever currently is striking my reading fancy.

This year’s version of my Clear Your Shelves Challenge is a little different: I’m only committing to one (enormous) book I already own: …And Ladies of the Club. It’s my mother and grandmother’s favorite book, and since we’re all double-r Starrs, I’ve always meant to read it (600,000 words. It’s a doozy). Of course, I know there will be other books I’ll read that will qualify for this year’s tweaked challenge (I’m thinking of Kristin Lavransdatter, which my book club will tackle this spring), but I’m keeping it simple and just officially committing to Ladies, as far as personal challenges go.

Speaking of book club, we’ve got all sorts of interesting plans, from my beloved The Phantom Tollbooth to David McCullough’s John Adams*, to Corrie Ten Boom’s The Hiding Place.**

This will be my third year reading a poem or two most nights before bed. It’s a habit I hope to hold to forever. So far I’ve read through books I own and have checked a few out from the library. I’ve hardly begun to dip into my collection, one largely made up of books that were once my grandmother’s.

Next year for my challenge I’ll read my Lucy Maud Montgomery journals again. This will be my third time through. (I’ve committed to rereading them every ten years. See? Reading goals and book plans.)

And I’ll always read a handful of recent picture book and middle grade novels (and sometimes a bit of YA, too). So far on that list I have The Star That Always Stays, The Midnight Children, and Wayward Creatures.

So much good reading ahead! I’d love to know what do you plan to read this year. Drop me an email or comment below.

*Another enormous, already-owned book.
**Already owned, but alas, not enormous.

Writing and Reading Links

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“The uneasy truth underpinning children’s literature is that we are adults writing for (and often as) children. Children’s literature is—at least in this day and age—mostly unique in this aspect. That is, it is written pretty much entirely by one group of people for a totally different group of people. What makes this dynamic all the more precarious is the marked imbalance of power between the adult creators and the child readers.”
Are middle grade authors getting it wrong? :: Ali Standish

I’ve also written in an office-closet and love the two-hour writing rule!
Why the Best Way to Get Creative Is to Make Some Rules by Aimee Bender :: oprah.com

“A writer can be compared to a well.”
Water in the Well :: Austin Kleon

Envy: We’ve all been there (and will probably be there again).
Poll Results: How Book Creators Cope with Other Creators’ Success :: Debbie Ridpath Ohi

For all of us who have used odds and ends as bookmarks and neglected to remove them from library books! I’m happy to say a family photo I once left in a book was returned by an eagle-eyed librarian who slipped it in a book I’d requested.
Found in a Library Book :: Oakland Public Library

This is full of wise words and reminded me of reflections I wrote twenty years in.
Ten Things I Learned from Ten Years in Publishing :: A Slice of Li(fe)

Classroom Connections: Lindsey Leavitt on Willis Wilbur

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age range: 8-12 years
genre / themes / topics: contemporary fiction, humor, friendship, problem solving
Lindsey Leavitt’s website

This stand-alone story perfectly captures tween self-absorption . . . this is a quick read with great tips for readers about friendship, the pitfalls of jealousy, and developing insight and confidence. Amusing black-and-white spot art enhances the narrative . . . Humorously over-the-top fare that will make a positive impact and inspire readers. 
—Kirkus Reviews

Leavitt has created an endearing, plucky hero, whose wit and self-confidence will charm and amuse readers . . . her [plotline] embodies children’s imaginations perfectly. VERDICT A perfectly fun addition to summer reading lists for middle grade readers; a recommended purchase. 
—School Library Journal

Please tell us about your books.

Today you’re getting two books in one! WILLIS WILBUR WOWS THE WORLD & WILLIS WILBUR MEETS HIS MATCH. Because Willis is so amazing, he can’t be contained in just one summary! 

WILLIS WILBUR WOWS THE WORLD

Nine-year-old Willis Wilbur has his summer figured out. He and his best friend, Shelley, are going to Band Camp, and he’s going to learn how to play the sousaphone. Easy. Simple. A done deal. But when Shelley is whisked off to Hawaii for a summer with her family, Willis is left staring down the long, boring road of an empty summer. Or even worse–eight long weeks of Day Camp. So Willis decides to try something new. He’s going to MAKE A DATE WITH DESTINY. And after spotting a flyer for a local business competition, he finds exactly what his true calling really is: becoming the Neighborhood Life Coach. A kid helping other kids with kids’ problems. His niche, he discovers. And he’s going to be great at it. The best at it. So good, that he’s going to become wildly, ridiculously famous. All he needs are some clients…

With gumption, tenacity, and many other buzzwords he finds in self-help business magazines, Willis dives bowtie-first into the entrepreneurial waters. But starting a business alone, especially without his best friend by his side, is tough work. And with neighborhood bullies getting in his way, a guinea pig client who’s actually a guinea pig, and an annoyingly competent little sister asking for a raise, Willis has his work cut out for him.

Funny, heartfelt, and overwhelmingly endearing, Willis Wilbur is here to make all of your (well, his) dreams come true. (For a small fee.)

WILLIS WILBUR MEETS HIS MATCH 

Nine-year-old Willis Wilbur is beyond excited to go back to school. Now that he has discovered his destiny as a life coach, he’s looking forward to signing on more clients (preferably human ones, not just guinea pigs). 
 
So when Willis and his classmates are tasked with creating a passion project — an opportunity to present an idea they love and share it with the whole school — Willis knows exactly what he’s going to do. He enlists his very smart friend, Margo, and his number one best friend, Shelley, who is finally back from a family vacation in Hawaii. Together, they are going to make the Willis Wilbur App, also known as the first-EVER life-coaching app. Willis is confident he’s going to become a millionaire. Soon, he can probably buy, like, a bunch of tacos. 
 
Except Willis has one teensy problem. He doesn’t know anything about technology. Or worse yet, coding. And then he discovers something even more horrific: Shelley wants to do her own passion project on horse therapy with her new, extremely weird, absolutely awful friend, Clint. In a tough spot with his life-coaching dreams and his best friend, Willis must learn hard but rewarding lessons about jealousy, realistic goal setting, and putting your pride aside to ask for help. 

What inspired you to write these stories?

Some writers friends and I attended an editor’s workshop about getting to know your character. The class had a big life coaching angle, which totally surprised us (and was a little intense for an early morning). Afterwards, we started talking about life coaching as a career and someone said it would be funny to see a teen running that workshop. I commented that It would be funnier to see a kid running a life coaching business. Three seconds later, I shouted, “And I call dibs on that!”

Writers often talk about what comes first—plot or character. This applies to drafting and the idea itself. Willis came to me almost immediately after I called idea dibs. All I had to do was ask myself what kind of kid would DO a job like this? What kind of kid would we fall in love with as he takes his work very, very seriously? And there was Willis—a kid with buckets of gumption and dreams that stretch beyond hyperbole. A kid who dresses professionally for a swim party. A kid who can use his experiences with bullying, jealously, and rejection to help other kids (and make money doing it). Part Ted Lasso, part Leslie Knope, part Tim Gunn, Willis is a rare gift of a character because he came to me pretty fully formed. He has clear motivation, misbeliefs, insecurities, loves, and the occasional delusion of grandeur. Willis Wilbur is my favorite character I’ve ever written and I hope you enjoy spending some time with him too! 

Could you share a few interesting tidbits about your writing process with these books?

My first experience with life coaching was rather accidental in that I didn’t know that’s what I was walking into. As such, my initial view on the practice was cynical. Like, how to make a joke out of this? (Which is basically my view on life anyway.) But as I started to read books and listen to podcasts (SO MANY PODCASTS), I realized how much value there is in coaching—any sort of coaching. I listened to business coaches who helped my business, financial coaches who helped my finances, fitness coaches who got me to run a half marathon (all while listening to all this coaching). Once I had researched all the different categories of the impressively vast world of life coaching, I shut it all down and focused exclusively on how a kid would view this field. How a kid would misunderstand aspects. How a kid would push past limitations. Basically, I went from making this a big joke to trying to honor Willis’s experience. The books are still funny, but this shift brought so much more heart into the story. I had to believe in Willis and what he is doing in order for him to believe in himself. 

What topics do your books touch upon that would make them a perfect fit for the classroom?

The first book focuses on Willis trying to win the BOO (Business Owner’s Organization) scholarship. The second—the school passion fair. These pursuits gave a natural timeline to the stories, though one is set in the summer and one during the start of school. Although students can relate to the projects, I find the “fit” lies in the emotional journey the characters’ cover in both books, specifically related to friendship. Willis and his best friend Shelley have always been inseparable. In the first book, they spend a summer away from each other. They both need to figure out who they are as individuals. When Shelley comes home, they have to adjust to how they fit back together now that they have separate interests. That interplay happens constantly in the classroom—what happens when this friend is in another class? What happens when they quit soccer for lacrosse? What happens when another kid moves into town? These shifts happen throughout childhood (and adulthood!). I hope WILLIS is a book that helps teachers discuss these friendship evolutions with students.