Tameka Fryer Brown

WOTD: Fantabulous

The Fifth Annual 28 Days Later campaign is underway, and today’s honoree is none other than the incredible Nikki Giovanni!

28 Days Later is designed to spotlight various authors and illustrators of African descent, particularly those who are not as widely known as we think they should be.  Author-illustrator, Don Tate, and authors Kelly Starling Lyons, Varian Johnson, Paula Chase Hyman, Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich, Gwendolyn Hooks, Crystal Allen and yours truly make up The Brown Bookshelf team.

Our 2012 honorees are:

February 1 – Kwame Alexander- Acoustic Rooster (PB)
February 2 – Denise Lewis Patrick The Cecile Series: American Girl  (MG)
February 3 – Noni Carter Good Fortune (YA)
February 4 – James Haskins- BBS Vanguard (PB)
February 5 – NiNi Simone  The Break-Up Diaries (YA)
February 6 – Keith Shepherd Walking Home To Rosie Lee (PB)
February 7 – Nikki Giovanni BBS Vanguard (PB)
February 8 – Tracey Baptiste
February 9 – TL Clarke
February 10 – Atinuke
February 11 – Bryan Collier
February 12 – Earl Sewell
February 13 – Debbi Chocolate
February 14 – Lynda Jones
February 15 – Calvin Alexander Ramsey
February 16 – L. Divine
February 17 – Charlotte Riley Webb
February 18 – Bil Wright
February 19 – Pansie Hart Flood
February 20 – Traci Dant
February 21 – Nikki Carter
February 22 – Sharon Robinson
February 23 – Teresa Harris
February 24 – Sofia Quintero
February 25 – Malorie Blackman
February 26 – Alice Faye Duncan
February 27 – Elizabeth Zunon
February 28 – Margaree King Mitchell
February 29 – BBS Members Spotlight

Make sure you visit The Brown Bookshelf daily to find out about these phenomenal artists and their work!

Agape!

Thank you, Abby. 

WOTD: FREE

During the months of January/February, I’ll be offering five 20-minute school visits via Skype at no charge.

The topic featured is From Brain to Book (Writing and Publishing Books for Kids). Q&A session is included.

First come, first serve.  If you’re interested, contact me!

WOTD: Write

Since today is the National Day on Writing (YAAAY–go write something), all of us at The Brown Bookshelf have shared our reasons for writing. I stated my reasons in the following poem:

WHY I WRITE

by Tameka Fryer Brown

I write to express my thoughts, my feelings, my beliefs—

Poignant or not,

Sleeve-worn or not,

Endorsed by the general masses

Or not.

I write because I have something to say

And a right to say it.

I write because my muse has infused my literary tongue

With brilliance unparalleled;

And because she’s abandoned me so

I’m trying desperately to coax her back.

I write because I can.

I write to avoid mopping, dusting, vacuuming,

Tubs, toilets, tile,

Dirty windows, dirty laundry, and dirty dishes…

Because a writer has a good excuse to avoid these things,

But a stay-at-home mom

With kids in school all day

Does not.

I write toward self-actualization.

I write to keep my wits sharp.

I write to show insecure Girl-Me that I can,

To show other self-doubters that they can, too.

I write because words are beautiful things

That I cherish…

And I pray, someday,

Some child will cherish mine.

Kelly Starling-Lyons, Paula Chase-Hyman, Gwendolyn Hooks, Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich, and Don Tate also share their motivations for writing.

So…why do YOU write? Please share your answer at The Brown Bookshelf — or even *write* here.

(Haha. I crack me up.  Agape!)

WOTD: Appreciation

I had a great time with the members of the Charlotte Reading Association this past Monday. Educators from various parts of the city (and one from Raleigh) traveled to Albemarle Road Elementary to hear me speak on the writer’s, educator’s and parent’s role in engaging readers.  There were brownies involved. (Now don’t you wish you had been there?)

I can never thank passionate, dedicated teachers enough for doing what may often seem like a thankless job; it is, in reality, one of THE most vital jobs in all of society. May the impact you have on our young people bring you the honor and reward you most assuredly deserve.

Oh yeah. Almost forgot…in my prep work, I found some great links about encouraging readers. Check them out:

DEAR—Drop Everything and Read

GettingBoysToRead.com

ReaderKidZ, “Beyond The Reading Log” by Bruce Frost

CNN article from James Patterson