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Monthly Archives for December 2011
Writing and Reading
Writing and reading go hand in hand. As Stephen King wrote, “If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.” That’s why I set aside time every day to read, not just children’s books, but works of adult fiction and non-fiction that inspire me. When my children were young, I used to take them to the library every week in order to expose them to quality children’s literature and cultivate an interest in reading. My imagination would take off like crazy during these trips, as I saw examples …
Staying True to Your Vision
One of the most important parts of being a writer is staying true to your vision and standards. This can be pretty tough in today’s world when many agents and publishers put pressure on you to alter your creation so that it is….(that dreadful word!) marketable. I promised myself when I was finding an illustrator that I wouldn’t compromise my vision of Danny the Dragon. It was quite a search, taking nearly a year, but finally I found exactly what I was looking for with Aija Jatsuna, who lives in Latvia, Europe and didn’t even speak one word of English. …
Danny the Dragon Makes the News in Iran!
Danny the Dragon is quite the worldly traveller–he’s made the news in Iran! www.ibna.ir, the Iran Book News Agency, has reported that I took first place for Best Illustrations in the Five Star Publication Purple Dragonfly Awards for my illustrations by Aija Jasuna. Here’s an excerpt: “Turbin’s illustrations were enthusiastically praised by the judges who praised them as ‘outstanding.’ They went on to say, ‘Not only are the illustrations charming and expertly rendered, the paintings practically leap off the page! Rather than static or two-dimensional, they are full-bodied, full of movement and motion. They speak well to the story and …
Stories of Famous People with Tinnitus to Share with Your Child
Tinnitis can vary in severity among children, but as with any health condition, it can be hard to cope with it, especially when you’re a child. When I visited a school for the deaf on my East Coast book tour for my children’s book, Danny the Dragon Meets Jimmy, I connected with the kids on a very special level and began to conduct research in the areas of deafness and hearing problems such as tinnitus. One of the most interesting discoveries I made had to do with how common tinnitus actually is, and how many great artists and celebrities must …