Author Archives: hatfield13

My Spring 2012 novel EYE OF THE STORM is on its way to copy edits. Copy edit notes for REAL REVISION: AUTHORS’ STRATEGIES TO SHARE WITH STUDENT WRITERS are on a UPS truck somewhere, heading back to Stenhouse for the book’s release this May. My mail from readers is answered. The email in-box is empty.And [...]

About a year ago, my son started teaching himself how to write code for iPhone, iPod, and iPad applications. The endeavor has taken on a life of its own, to the point where he’s commandeered one of our basement rooms and dubbed it "Snowfire Software World Headquarters." This summer, the boy’s first app, a custom-background [...]

I’ve been reading Betsy Lerner’s book THE FOREST FOR THE TREES: AN EDITOR’S ADVICE TO WRITERS – it’s entertaining and thought-provoking, a great book for writers and people who want to write.  Here’s what she has to say about our ritualized writing behaviors and excuses for not showing up at the keyboard:If you are meant [...]

Last year, I had an author visit with students at Highgate Elementary School in Vermont, and the kids told me all about the project they were working on — a book called Lake Champlain, A to Z, Past & Present.  They were in the research stages when we met to share writing stories, and they knew [...]

The Tiny Glass Tub Vial Jar : Why Revision Takes So LongPicture the scene: I’m sitting in my writing room one recent afternoon, on deadline with the final revision for my 2012 Walker/Bloomsbury dystopian novel, EYE OF THE STORM.  And I’m staring at this line:She pulls out a tiny round tub filled with some kind [...]

There is no school today. The temperature is -17…the wind chill -31.  Inside the house today, there will be reading aloud (we just finished Ellen Potter’s THE KNEEBONE BOY over breakfast, and wow! What an ending!)  There will be hot chocolate and Scrabble and chicken chili and some writing time.  Outside, there is a very, [...]

For folks in the Plattburgh, NY – Burlington, VT region, I have a couple weeknight book events this week and would love to see you!A Novel Evening for LiteracyThursday, January 207:00 pmKoffee Kat – 104 Margaret St. PlattsburghI’ll be reading from SUGAR AND ICE and giving a talk, along with local author Bonnie Shimko (THE [...]

One of the things I’ve learned about revising a manuscript is that no matter how tight the deadline, I can’t just lock myself in a room and revise 24-7. Much of my rethinking happens away from the keyboard. Leaving my desk provides me with different lenses through which I can view the story — and [...]

In San Diego today, the ALA Youth Media Awards were announced just as I was having my lunch break on the East Coast, so I was able to gobble up every honor and award announcement along with my leftover chicken. I was so happy to see some of my favorite titles from 2010 honored and delighted [...]

I got a terrific email from a young reader today:Hi Kate, I am an ABSOLUTE number 1 fan of your book, The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z. I was wondering if there are any other books like that you know of? They don’t have to be yours, just books that you would recommend. I am more [...]