Eric Hoffer Award!!

News Release:
Windward Publishing Title Named Honorable Mention
for The Eric Hoffer Award

May 11, 2010

For immediate release

Lakeville, MN – Through Endangered Eyes, A Poetic Journey into the Wild by Rachel Allen Dillon, was recently named a 2010 Honorable Mention in the Children’s Book category for The Eric Hoffer Award.

The Eric Hoffer Award proclaims “this book will inform you about several threatened or endangered species through the use of playful poetry. Each poem is paired with an abstract illustration of the individual animal created from an assortment of colorful dots, which make the creatures come alive on the page. After becoming connected to each living thing through illustration and poetry, you are invited to read more factual information about each animal. There are activities for home and classroom, a list of ways individuals can help endangered animals and a compendium of conservation organizations including their descriptions.”

Author and Illustrator Rachel Dillon was born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin. She earned her bachelor’s degree in art and graphic design from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and currently lives and works as an artist in Folsom, California, near Sacramento. Beyond design and fine art, Rachel holds a special interest in ecology, evolution, and extinction. Her passion for animals and endangered species has led her to write about them in hopes that educating others will lead to more conscientious treatment of these animals and their habitats. To learn more, visit www.racheldillon.com.

Through Endangered Eyes is published by Windward Publishing, an imprint of Finney Company, and can be ordered by calling Finney Company at (800) 846-7027 or visiting www.finneyco.com. It is also available at national and local bookstores.

This title is one of only five award winners in the Children’s category of The Eric Hoffer Award. The award, known as the Writers’ Notes Award prior to 2007, was established at the start of the 21st century as a means of opening doors to writing of significant merit. It honors the memory of the American philosopher Eric Hoffer by highlighting salient writing in short prose and independent books. The winning stories and essays are awarded prizes and published annually in the anthology, Best New Writing, along with the results of the book awards.

Finney Company was established in 1947 currently has more than 400 proprietary publications and distributes more than 6,000 quality products, enhancing the company’s mission to help improve the quality of lifelong learning worldwide. For additional information about Finney Company, visit www.finneyco.com or call (952) 469-6699.

April 24th SCBWI Conference

SCBWI held a writer's conference in Rocklin, a couple of weeks ago. Me and the young adult critique group I belong to went.

It was a lot of fun. Last year, I went to a SCBWI conference in Oakland and knew a couple of people. This one I was shocked to know or recognize about twenty people. A lot of wonderful things have happened with writing this past year for me.

I got a chance to practice pitching my ya novel idea to a couple of editors. Whew that was tough. The most challenging part was summarizing my 230 page book into 1.5 minutes. It was a great exercise.

The most inspiring session was held by Jeanne DuPrau, author of "The City of Ember." She spoke about revisions and her process of writing. I have re-written my novel several times because of the input I've received from paid critiques and local critique groups. My story is more interesting, tense and focused because of the people that have helped me. What DuPrau really hit me with was the fact that I have to really polish my novel before I submit it to anyone. I have to LOVE it before sharing it - I'm not quite there yet.

Since that conference, I have completely changed the first few pages of my novel, including a new working title, "The Lion Within." I am changing the age of my protagonist too. She will be 14-16 years old in the novel, not 12-16 years old. This shakes up some things with relationships in the beginning, they will become more "edgy" to use an industry catch phrase.

I am going to take a writer's workshop in the summer to hone my craft more. In the meantime, I am almost done with my sketches for my next endangered species book. I will be sending those off for my publisher to review in the next couple of weeks. Oh, and I still completely suck using commas. I am actually looking into buying a book called, "Grammer for Dummies." I know, pretty low, huh?

Earth Day at Twin Lakes Elementary

I had the privilege of working with Twin Lakes Elementary fourth graders on Earth Day. I spoke to the classes about the importance of learning about endangered species and the sadness of losing them. Then we painted.

Twin Lakes Elementary is so lucky, because they have an art teacher on staff that works with the kids. So many of the schools around us don't have any art program. I wonder how that will affect children in the years to come. I remember when I was in elementary school we had a huge art room filled with supplies and even a kiln. I am sure part of why I love art is because I was exposed to it in school.

There are some traveling programs at a few schools that offer art to classrooms once per month. Doesn't feel like enough though. I am glad to get into classrooms to offer a different way of looking at painting.

I have been working for the past two weeks on the sketches for my next endangered species book, "Through Desert Eyes." They are more intricate and the compositions more complex than my painting ideas in the past.

I am excited to finish up the sketches and send them off for review!

Painting with the Daisy Girlscouts

I have been having a lot of fun traveling to classrooms and other venues talking about my book and art. Each visit and group have just as much to teach me about my process as I have to teach them.

I created outlines in Adobe Illustrator of four different illustrations from my book, the vaquita, tiger, panda and corroborree frog. YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THESE IF YOU WANT TO TRY DOTTING!

It seems I can categorize the kids I work with in three groups. One group is so excited and patient that their focus is unbreakable; a second group of students do a few dots and can't stand it, so they end up spreading the paint and forgetting the dots; the third group have some patience but do a sprinkling of dots anxious to work on their next project. I love when the kids surprise me with their creations.

I am more prepared for all levels of patience, and I am finding ways to hold their interest. One cool thing is how some of the parents that walk around and help out steal a bit of time to paint in dots - a most seem to love it. I love the comments, "it is so relaxing," "almost meditative." I completely agree!

Four Leaf Clover

**

My daughter found a four leaf clover yesterday, and I got the email I have been waiting for from my publisher. Windward Publishing is taking on "Through Desert Eyes."

I ran out into my cul-du-sac to hug my kids and tell them my news. I'm not sure they get the significance, but they humored me with hugs.

So, my next step is to finish up my sketches and send them along to Windward. Once we make sure the text and images work together, then I'll jump into the paintings.

I think what is different between this next book and my first is that I'm really letting the power of the words inspire my art. My first book was a combination: sometimes it was the painting that inspired the words; sometimes it was the words and the art followed.

My technique and process changed a lot through the course of my first book. My dots got smaller, I included more detail, and I got better at really seeing the animal I was painting. I am so excited to see how my artwork changes for this next process.

I am so excited to work with Windward Publishing again! It is a glorious time to have a focused project.

Leupp School in N. Arizona

I had the opportunity this past Monday to spend the day at the Leupp School, right outside of Flagstaff, Arizona. Tammy Kelly, a fabulous teacher offered me this opportunity and I am so appreciative.

The Leupp School is a boarding school on one of the Navajo Reservations. There are 60 resident kids at the school during the week and return home for the weekends. The school is K-12 and totals around 220 students.

I spent the morning doing almost four hours of reading and book activities. My first class was 7th grade, followed by: 1 st, 4th and then 2nd graders. I have become better at assessing a classes interest level. I change my instruction and detail based on age and time.

Each grade had their own series of questions and comments that always make me smile.

The 7th grade class was very interesting. They took a while to warm up to me, but by the end, and after a few laughs, they came up with a ton of questions.


The 1st grade class had the winning question though. I usually remind K and 1st graders what constitutes a question, otherwise I get lots of stories about their bunnies, when their dog died, or where they last went on vacation. So, I got a lot of 'how' questions from this crew. One little boy raised his hand and when I called on him he froze. He said, "How, how, how (pause) are you doing?" It was the cutest question and left me and Tammy with huge smiles.


In the afternoon, I had the opportunity to work with the kids on dot-art projects. Wow, there is a lot of talent in that school.

Take a look at some of these photos. The one with the spider is the little guy that asked me how I was.
I returned the question to him and he giggled! Spending time with kids really makes me feel blessed that I am published. I wouldn't have had this opportunity if it hadn't been for Through Endangered Eyes. I hope that the kids will remember me and that I'll be able to visit again next year.

Thank you Tammy!

First 500 words of Peridot Cage

I thought it might be fun to post the first 500 words of my Young Adult Contemporary/Fantasy novel that I'm am re-writing. I am having it critiqued this April for a conference, so I thought it might be fun to post this now and then post it again after I get it critiqued.


Peridot Cage
by Rachel Allen Dillon

"Do you think the birds will mind if I take one of their feathers?” Renna asked her best friend, Sean. She didn’t wait for his answer and sprinted towards the flock. She stopped in the middle of hundreds of small birds as they raced into the air to avoid her touch. Renna closed her eyes to listen to the gentle flapping; rejoicing in the birds’ freedom.

She bent down and picked up a single feather and brushed it against her cheek.

“You’re weird, you know that mate?” Sean said with a thick English accent. He laughed as she joined him under a huge African acacia tree.

“It took you two years to realize I’m weird?” Renna shoved him. “You know, of all the countries I’ve lived in, I love Kenya the most.” She said. “There are so many amazing things here. I’ve got a million images to paint. I think my dad even likes it. He was just saying--”

“Shhh. Did you hear that?” Sean turned towards an area of high golden grass and thorny bushes.

“Hear what?” Renna paused and rolled her eyes. “Don’t get all paranoid on me again. Remember the time you thought a giraffe was tracking us? Ha-- that was a good one.”

“It was a huge snap. You really didn’t hear anything?” He dragged his fingers through his light brown hair and looked at her with concern. “What if it’s a lion or something?”

“You’ve been reading way too many scary books about Africa. Are you really fourteen or two?” She reached out and pinched him. He pulled his arm back and glared at her.

Recognizing he was really afraid, Renna consoled him, “The night watchman said they haven’t seen lions near the village for a long time.”

“Yeah? Okay. We should head back anyway, you know how pissed off my mum gets when we take too long of a break.” Sean glanced back towards the wall of grass as they headed to his house in the village.

“You’d think your mom was running a real school or something. Gheesh, it’s just you and me, and it’s not like we’ve been late that often.” She kicked the dirt. “She can be so strict.”

“Try living with her,” Sean said. He smiled.

Renna shaded her eyes and squinted at Sean’s handsome face. He had to be at least a foot taller than she was. Sweat dripped down his forehead as the noon sun beat down on them. Renna was almost thirteen, old enough to like a boy, but smart enough to hide it. He was her first best friend and she didn’t want to ruin things by liking him. She had no idea how long it would be until she and her dad moved again, so she tried not to get too attached.

A loud crunch stopped them in their tracks.

Sean put his arm protectively across Renna. They were silent as they listened and watched the grass rustle. A moment later, a small antelope leaped out from behind the brush. Renna and Sean jumped back. The animal quickly changed directions to avoid hitting them.

Sean exhaled loudly.