DoSeum Kids' Creative Writing Workshop Explored "Heroes Among Us" at Saturday Program

What fun to facilitate the "Heroes Among Us"

Creative Writing Workshop at the DoSeum with fellow San Antonio Writing Project teacher consultants. The DoSeum is San Antonio's new, amazing children's museum. On July 25, young writers learned about The Hero’s Journey and spoke with real life heroes to inspire their own hero stories!  Visiting the DoSeum that

day were all kinds of heroes, including those who work to keep others safe, protect wildlife, and help kids to learn and grow.  To meet some of these amazing heroes visit: http://www.thedoseum.org/heroes-everyday-meet-heroes/

The Queen Mary Hotel and Attraction Book Giveaway

Just learned that last month, the Queen Mary staff hosted a giveaway, and gifted one winner (who liked their post on Facebook) with a copy of WELCOME TO AMERICA, CHAMP! in honor of International Children's Book Day.  I hope the recipient enjoys both this story, set on the Queen Mary in 1946, as well as the gorgeous illustrations of the interior and exterior of the great ship by Doris Ettlinger.

Inspiration for a Story

Illustration by Doris Ettlinger

I received a most gracious invitation to contribute to WGRT’s “Entirely Women” feature, “52 Real Women.”  I found at this site some wonderfully inspiring essays – and how pleased I am that my own appeared on July 28, 2014.  For my part, I chose to write about the amazing WWII event that inspired a picturebook in a piece titled "Time-Honored Sisterhood” at

http://wgrt.com/entirelywomen/?page_id=2

Title Receives Honor

Champ is a champ!

Happy to announce that the historical fiction picture book Welcome to America, Champ! by Catherine Stier and illustrated by Doris Ettlinger was named a 2014 Bank Street College of Education Best Books of the Year for Children!

In this WWII era story, young Thomas, his mother, and baby brother journey from war torn England to a new home in America aboard the great ship The Queen Mary. During the 1946 "Brides and Babies" voyages, thousands of war brides just like Thomas's mother embarked on transatlantic crossings to the U.S. to join the American servicemen they married during the war -- and begin a new life in a new country.

For more info on this title, visit 

https://sleepingbearpress.com/shop/show/11592

An Unforgettable Day on the Queen Mary

Each time I glimpse the lovely Queen Mary, I am filled with awe at the majesty, beauty and history of this celebrated ship.

On February 15, I had the great privilege of returning to the Queen Mary --the setting

for my historical fiction picture book Welcome to America, Champ!--this time as a guest for a “Greet the Author” event.

 Welcome to America, Champ! with stunning illustrations by award-winning illustrator Doris Ettlinger, takes place on the Queen Mary following WWII and during the “Brides and Baby” voyages.  At that time in 1946, an armada of ships took part in what was also known as “Operation Diaper Run,” transporting tens of thousands of European war brides and war babies of American and Canadian servicemen to North America. The Queen Mary alone transported 22,000 war brides and babies in a seven month span.

The Stacks onboard shop hosted the “Greet the Author” event during the Queen Mary Scottish Festival, with thousands in attendance.  I met people from many parts of California -- and the world.  Thrilling bagpipe music played that day as kids stopped by to create their own Queen Mary craft.  You can see here some of their creative work.

Lovely weather, a festive atmosphere and a remarkable location made for a most memorable day.

Kids designed their own take-home
Queen Mary crafts

MEET ME AT THE QUEEN MARY!

I am so excited to be the guest author at a book signing on the Queen Mary, now a hotel and attraction in Long Beach, California.  My historical fiction picturebook, Welcome to America, Champ! takes place on the Queen Mary, just after WWII during the “Bride and Baby Voyages.” It will be like stepping into the book – award winning illustrator Doris Ettlinger created the lovely illustrations for this title. I’ll be conducting the book signing from noon – 4 p.m., February 15, during the Queen Mary Scottish Festival – 10,000 people attended this two-day event last year.

This month marks the anniversary of the Queen Mary’s first “Brides and Baby” voyage, transporting the European (including Scottish) War Brides of American and Canadian servicemen to North America.  Many ships took part in these “Operation Diaper Run” voyages, but the Queen Mary alone transported 22,000 War Brides and Babies during a 7 month span in 1946.

What an honor it would be to meet some of these WWII War Brides and Babies that day!

Another Tea Party...

In 2007, my poem for children, “When Jean Forgot to Say ‘When’” first appeared in Highlights Magazine with lovely, whimsical illustrations by David Galchutt.  

In this story-in-verse, Jean is invited to the castle

for tea with the Queen.  The proper Queen asks Jean to say “When” as she pours her tea.  Jean, however, is so giddy to be in the palace and so distracted by the sights that she forgets to say “When.”  And so the Queen pours, and pours and pours…

Flash forward to the summer of 2013 and the trip of a lifetime to Denmark, Scotland, Ireland and England.  

In Scotland, we had the chance to visit Edinburgh – and I found out one could be served tea at the lovely and majestic Edinburgh Castle.  I was every bit as thrilled as Jean! I felt giddy, too, that my life was imitating a tiny bit of the story I had created years before.  After all, I was having tea (and some scrumptious pastries and delectables) at a real castle!

Edinburgh Castle