Category Archives: Italian Americans

Good Things Worth Waiting For

Posted on January 13, 2017 | Leave a comment

Finishing Line Press has informed me that my book will be at least 8 weeks late–today is the day it was supposed to come out.

I just got my galleys on Monday and am sending them back on Tuesday the 17th, checking  and rechecking.

Please be patient!

 

 

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Storystorm!

Posted on January 2, 2017 | Leave a comment

So, I am rarely at a loss for an idea so decided this would be a good way to organize my thoughts for the new year and give me marching orders for a series of new picture books.

Two days into it, already more than two ideas, but the discipline is a very good one. Also trying to channel creativity into a new haiku start each day.

storystorm_participant

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Never Done

Posted on August 19, 2016 | Leave a comment

A writer’s work is never done!

I am busy working on PR, blog hops etc for Summer in a Bowl and also at the same time working on poems, my usual quota of articles, and coordinating with my publisher on revisions in the texts of the NEXT TWO Rosa books–Rosa and the Red Apron and Rosa’s Shell

 

Heather Zeissler of THEAQLLC has been wonderful to work with.

If you want me to come to your school to talk about the process of writing picture books or  to talk to your group about how I got started writing picture books, just email me at joanleotta@atmc.net

 

 

 

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Fiona McVie Interviewed Me

Posted on August 4, 2016 | Leave a comment
Fiona McVie in the UK interviewed me and that interview is live today!
Click on the link to connect.
whoosh_cover_2500

Picture Book by Joan Leotta

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Posted in Book Reviews, Books, children, Children, Writing, Performing, Book Reviews, Food, creativity, Food, gardening, parenting, recipes, soup, vegetables, HIstorical fiction, Italian Americans, Joan Leotta, Joan Leotta, children, performing, writing, food, recipes, creativity,, librarians, pre-school teachers, kindergarten teachers, parents, parenting, fathers, daughters, mothers, daughters,, marketing, short stories. picture book, Writing in england

Summer in a Bowl,Progress Report

Posted on June 27, 2016 | Leave a comment

Right now I am in a hold pattern. I am waiting for the illustrator to do her magic, conjuring up the images that will bring my words to life for young readers.

I thought while we were waiting I would answer a question that many people ask of authors–how real is this story?

Like WHOOSH!, this story was inspired by a real afternoon in my life. Yes, there really was an Aunt Mary. Yes, I did watch her make soup from the ingredients in her garden! Yes, I did help her gather those ingredients.

Aunt Mary passed on many years ago. She was the mother of three of my wonderful cousins, John, Diane, and Ernie.

Diane sent me these photos of her Mom to share with you.

Here is the real, wonderful, lovely woman who inspired Summer in a Bowl:

aunt mary 3

 

 

 

 

 

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Prompts for April 8-15

Posted on April 8, 2016 | Leave a comment

More one word prompts on the theme of gardens! Have you thought about setting an extra challenge to yourself? Perhaps writing in couplets?

8. shovel
9. dirt
10. bushes
11. bouquets
12. weeds
13. leaves
14. strawberries
15. rake

The book is coning along. As I write the prompt words I picture little Rosa with her Aunt in the Garden behind her Aunt’s house. In the early 1950s many Italian Americans devoted their entire back yards to garden space. No wide expanse of lawn for them. Every inch was taken up with
comestibles. Yum

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