Merry Christmas!

I thought you might enjoy these cute little guys my dad carved out of wood in his shop. He loved working with wood. I love you and I miss you, Dad.  ~Jody

Tasty News

Happy Monday, All!

We're experiencing the sun before the snow today in Missouri. It's a gorgeous 65 degrees right now. But by 7:00 pm tonight, the temperature is supposed to drop almost 40 degrees, with a slight chance of snow. Ouch. I keep telling myself I love the four seasons. I love the four seasons.

On Saturday I was lucky enough to attend the Kansas SCBWI conference, and boy, was it awesome! Speakers and faculty included author Sharon Draper, agents Karen Grencik, Jen Mattson, and Heather Alexander, and editor Brett Wright from Bloomsbury.

While I couldn't attend every breakout session, I did learn a ton from the ones I sat in on. Heather gave us great advice about improving our voice, and Karen used actual letters from editors (anonymously, of course) to discuss why manuscripts get rejected and how ours can avoid the same fate. Sharon inspired us with tales of her journey as an author and encouraged us to write what we know. And the five lines panel was sooooo interesting. It was fun to see the agents' and editor's takes on the first five lines of blind submissions. [I squee'd silently when they read and liked mine!]

Two of the best parts of the conference? Videos by Sharon and Karen featuring "Rise" by Shawn McDonald and "Words" by Hawk Nelson.

Thanks to Sue Gallion, my buddy, crit partner, and RA for the KS SCBWI chapter, for organizing such a great event!

In other news, if you're near a current [December 2014] Highlights magazine, please flip to page 30 and read my rebus, "My Tasty Snowman."

Hmm. You don't think I brought on this cold snap, do you?

All the best,

Jody

The Steam-Powered Classroom on Youtube

Hey, everyone,

I had to interrupt my KC Royals love to share something I found today on the Internet. The Steam-Powered Classroom. What a great resource for kids and teachers! On the episode I watched, they discussed recent graphic science novels and how cool they are.

I agree! My VAMPIRES AND LIGHT (Capstone Press) is one of the featured titles. You can see the video review at about 1:45 in.

Thanks, Steam-Powered Classroom. Great work introducing cool books to cool kids!

Jody

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiL0VJE40T4

THE KANSAS CITY ROYALS ARE IN THE WORLD SERIES!!!

Dear Friends,

Let me take this opportunity to depart from my usual blog discussions to say,

      THE KANSAS CITY ROYALS 
    ARE IN THE WORLD SERIES!!!! 
                    YEAH, BABY!!

I hope to return to my regular posts again soon. But not before I watch

         THE KANSAS CITY ROYALS 
           IN THE WORLD SERIES!!!! 
                    YEAH, BABY!!


Feeling Royals LOVE,

Jody

Go, ROYALS!

We LOVE our home team! Good luck on Thursday, guys!

Barnes & Noble Hosts Park University's River Read Authors

This past Saturday, I had the pleasure of participating in a book signing at Barnes & Noble. The event was co-hosted by Sherry Polito of B&N and Park University's Shannon Cuff. It highlighted authors who will be talking with elementary students at Park University's River Read festival in mid-October. Here are some of my writing buddies. Thanks, B&N and Park University!

Debra McArthur and Anola Pickett

Ann Ingalls and Dale-Marie Bryan

Christine Taylor Butler

Teresa Herbic

Some of my books

From Down Under to a Bookshelf Near You -- BEARDED DRAGONS

Hey everyone,

It's officially fall and time to open the windows, if you're in my neck of the woods. A sure sign of the changing seasons in Missouri are the mums that decorate front porches.

I was lucky enough today to find something else decorating my porch: a box from my publisher, ABDO, with copies of my latest book.

I hope you get a chance to celebrate fall with a sweatshirt, a few colorful flowers, and a great book.

~Jody

ANNOUNCEMENT!

Hey, everyone,

I am thrilled and humbled to share this news: 

                            Nancy Paulsen will be publishing my debut picture book, ROCKY! 

Thanks to my awesome agent, Kathleen Rushall, for sending my little pebble out into the world. And thanks to Nancy for believing in him once he arrived. I can't wait to start working with her!

Here's the Publisher's Marketplace announcement.

April 21, 2014 - ROCKY by Jody Jensen Shaffer

Children's Picture Book

     Jody Jensen Shaffer's ROCKY, about a little pebble trying to find his place in the world alongside some famous relatives complete with informational backmatter, to Nancy Paulsen at Nancy Paulsen Books, by Kathleen Rushall at Marsal Lyon Literary Agency (World).

Lewis and Clark Elementary Rocks!

A big shout out to the fifth graders at Lewis and Clark Elementary!

I had a great time today talking with them about writing nonfiction. They listened well, asked good questions, and made me feel right at home.

They even introduced me to a resource I didn't know existed, myON.com, an interactive digital library. We listened to some of my VAMPIRES AND LIGHT book. Cool voices! These smart students and their equally-wise teachers use it all the time.

Thanks to super teachers, Ms. Raney, Ms. Williams, and Mr. Lewis, and to Assistant Principal, Katie Lawson.

Go get 'em, fifth graders! I can't wait to see where YOUR interests take you!

[Photo credit: Ms. Raney]

Middle Grade March

Hi all!

I was recently interviewed by my critique buddy and school librarian, Deb Marshall. Thought you might like to have a peek.

Thanks, Deb! I can't wait to send one of your students one of my books!

Jody

http://middlegrademarch.com/2014/03/07/interview-and-giveaway-with-jody-jensen-shaffer/

I went a little ape! CHIMPANZEE, in fact!

Happy New Year, Everyone!

I went a little ape in 2013, and my newest book, CHIMPANZEES: THE SMARTEST ANIMALS, is the result.

Here's what my publisher, ABDO, has to say about this book:

Go inside the mind of one of the most intelligent animals on Earth. Learn more about chimpanzees, how they use their cleverness to survive, and how they are astonishing scientists with their surprising smarts. Complete with well-researched, clearly written informational text, primary sources with accompanying questions, charts, graphs, diagrams, time lines, and maps, multiple prompts, and more. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Core Library is an imprint of ABDO Publishing Company.

I hope you have a chance to read about these amazing, oh-so-human-like creatures. They are fascinating and endearing and definitely worth taking care of.

All the best to you and yours in 2014!

Jody