Welcome Carpinello's Writing Pages. This post catches us up with chidren's author Cheryl Malandrinos. We haven't had Cheryl on since 2012!! But before we see what she's been up to, let's take a look at Icebergs. Real icebergs.
On our trip to Iceland in early September 2021, we had the opportunity to see a lot of icebergs. And I mean a lot! And what's more, those icebergs were blue!
We stopped at Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon at the edge of the Breidamerkurjokull Glacier, which is a part of the larger Vatnajokill Glacier in southeastern Iceland.
Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought I would get to see icebergs, especially blue icebergs!
The blue color is because the icebergs absorb all colors of the spectrum except blue which is reflected. And so, the icebergs seem appear blue.
If you get the opportunity to visit this land of fire and ice, be sure to put this lagoon on your itinerary!
And Now...
Join me in welcoming to
Carpinello's Writing Pages
Children's Author Cheryl Malandrinos
First, here's a bit about our author:
I am a freelance writer and editor, who has authored three picture books and the first chapter reader, A Christmas Kindness. I’m a member of SCBWI, a blogger and book reviewer. I live and work about 20 minutes away from where I grew up. I am also a wife and the mom of three adult children.
Why did you pick to write books for children?
I can’t say I picked writing for children as much as I fell into it thanks to a failed attempt at NaNoWriMo. After struggling through that month-long writing fest, I discussed my project with my pastor, who asked if the story was for children. Though I told him no, the gears in my mind began turning. I took one aspect of the story and developed my first picture book.
What types of books do you like to read, and what do you do when you are not writing?
I love reading historical fiction, cozy mysteries, Amish fiction, inspirational romance, and true crime. I’m a licensed real estate broker in Massachusetts. I also hold a real estate license in Connecticut and North Carolina. In my spare time, I enjoy gardening and spending time in the kitchen.
Tell us about A Christmas Kindness and how the story came to be.
A Christmas Kindness was born out of my desire to encourage my children to think of others. When the girls were younger, they browsed through the toy catalog and wrote down long lists of wishes. In A Christmas Kindness, eight-year-old Robert is excited to share his long list with the mall Santa on Christmas Eve. When he bumps into another boy in line, they talk about Glenn’s special wish. This makes Robert think about what he might do when he finally sits on Santa’s lap.
Here's a peek at A Christmas Kindness:
“Oh, when will we get there?” whispered Robert from the backseat of his mother’s car. He fiddled with the pull on his coat. The wipers brushed aside the snow falling on the windshield.
As they arrived, lines of cars streamed in and out of the mall parking lot. Robert peered over his mother’s shoulder and saw her white-knuckled grip on the steering wheel. She huffed as she scanned the parking lot for an empty space. He wiggled around, but his seat belt kept him secure.
Inside the mall, Christmas music and the tinkling of jingle bells tickled Robert’s ears. With his mother, Robert weaved through the crowd of shoppers. He smelled fried food from Burger Mart. The sweet scent of warm chocolate chip cookies from the bakery made his mouth water.
Robert’s shoulders drooped when he saw how many kids waited to see Santa. There were babies, some crying and struggling to get out of their mother’s arms. Little kids, many younger than eight-year-old Robert, clung to their father’s pants or jumped up and down as they waited their turn.
“This is going to take forever!”
How do you go about researching for your stories?
This particular story did not require research, but the additional activities and crafts did. The new material added to A Christmas Kindness in the second edition, also includes information on Christmases around the world.
Have you written other books? If so, tell us a bit about them.
I have written three picture books. Two place fictional characters into Biblical settings. The other is a humorous story about a girl needing to come up with a way to save dinner when the dog steals the turkey off the table on Thanksgiving. My fifth book, tentatively titled, Clever Tom, is under contract with 4RV Publishing.
What’s next for your writing? Are you working on a new story?
Amelia’s Mission is a middle grade historical I’m plugging away at. I have completed twenty chapters. My hope it to have it done by the end of the year. After that, I have other stories in various stages and several new ideas to flush out.
What advice do you have for other authors?
Learn all you can about the craft of writing, creating strong query letters, and submitting your finished manuscripts. In addition to self-editing, work with an editor to polish your manuscripts before you submit them. Read books in the genre you are writing because market research is important.
Anything else you want readers to know?
All my books feature a hidden message to help kids learn about life and the world around them. It’s fun for me to create books that educate while they entertain. These messages are shared through the actions and reactions of characters to what is happening in the story, so they are subtly woven in. I hope your readers get a chance to check them out.
Where to connect with Cheryl and her books?
Visit Cheryl online at http://ccmalandrinos.com and her children’s book blog at https://childrensandteensbookconnection.wordpress.com.
Connect with Cheryl on Twitter and Facebook.
Cheryl's Books:
Purchase your hard copy at Amazon.
Purchase the paperback at Amazon.
Purchase the Kindle ebook at Amazon.
Purchase directly from the 4RV Publishing.
Purchase at Barnes & Noble.
Purchase at Indiebound.org.
