Cynthea Liu

All Purpled Out!

Dear Jarman Elementary,

Wow! I’ve finally read every single one of your notes, and I am really impressed.

You all came up with some great book ideas! Many suggested a sequel to Paris Pan. I might have to do that now that you’ve given me plenty of material to work with. I also LOVE one student’s title suggestion: Paris Pan 2: The Dare Returns. Awesome.

The animal story ideas were amazing, too. I do have a thing for animals – dogs, cats- you name it. Kira, thank you for noticing!

Watch out for a book from me one day featuring an animal as the main character. Maybe Go, the dog from Paris Pan, can get a starring role!

I was very happy to hear some of you think you might write a book one day. When you do, be sure to tell me all about it. I will be the first in line to buy it!

Finally, I wanted to show you pics from the visit and just a few of the many great letters you wrote (scroll down). Wow, seriously, thank you.  Your enthusiasm means so much to me. I hope we’ll see each other again one day.

Happy reading and writing,

Cynthea

Check out those tattoo faces!

P.S. A.J., to answer your question, the best time to write is when you want to write!  There are no rules about when you should write and when you shouldn’t. Write when inspiration strikes!

P.P.S. Tea and A.J., to find out how to get a publisher, do check out my articles at www.writingforchildrenandteens.com. Also Jarman Elementary library has a copy of WRITING FOR CHILDREN AND TEENS: A CRASH COURSE. Check out the chapters on how to find an agent or editor.

P.P.P.S. Lexie, the amount I write a day really depends on how much I can get done. Some days, I can write about eight pages. Some days, I can write only one sentence! (Though usually I can get in at least one paragraph.) If I feel like I am out of ideas or words, I still try to write SOMETHING just to keep the story going. Even if it doesn’t make sense. I know I’ll have to fix it later, but that helps me get to the good parts.  Some days, I just have to stop and start again the next day. Again, there are no rules. Do whatever works for you! If whatever you’re doing doesn’t work, keep trying something else until it does!

P.P.P.P.S. Micah, I live in Chicago, Illinois, but I return often to Oklahoma to visit family!

My last P.S.! A special thank you to Jessica Smith and Patti Pitcock for all of your help in making the visit a great day for everyone. Union rocks! I’m so proud to be a former student!

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Dear Briarglen Elementary,

At Briarglen Elementary

First, I wanted to apologize for taking so long to repond to your thank you notes and letters! I’ve had a crazy last few months, visiting schools, attending conferences, and taking some time out for my family as well. The life of an author can be crazy at times; hope you forgive me!

I read through each of your thank you notes carefully and all the memories of my wonderful visit to Briarglen came back instantly. You were all wonderfully involved in the reader’s theatre and the quiz show and I had such a great time talking to you about writing and reading!

Many of you shared with me ideas for a new book YOU want to write and how much fun you had. I am so glad to hear it!

Also, I wanted to make sure I answered some of the questions you posed in your letters and I’ve also included some awesome pics of the event for you to see. In there, you’ll also see some samples of the great letters you wrote! (scroll down)

Awesome letters in the making!

Visha, my parents did come from China. Take a look at my other video for The Great Call of China to learn more about my family and upbringing. I also only have one daughter. And I did fly from Chicago to Tulsa to see you all!

Mackenzie, the author of A Crooked Kind of Perfect is Linda Urban. And she is a very nice lady! I really enjoyed that book, too. It is one of my favorites.

Hector, I was 28 years old when I started writing my first book for publication. My favorite sport is bowling! (I’m not very athletic.) I also like to ski and rollerblade. I’m 34 years old this year!

Beyonce, thanks for the compliments, and I hope you keep thinking about becoming a writer! Thanks for the note about my makeup, too! I had just bought some new eye shadow and was excited to wear it for the visit!

Andrew, I drink a lot of Diet Dr. Peppers while writing my books. For every book, I probably consume at least 30-60 cans over the course of many months. However, I may need to cut back because all that pop gives me headaches, too! Bah! (I do like my Diet Dr. Pepper though.)

Keila, I hope to come back again one day! It was a lot of fun for me, too. I’m also flattered that you think I am the best author in the world. Authors like to hear words like that!

Finally, a special thank you to Leslie Cohen and Tammy Beadles for putting together such a wonderful event for Briarglen. I so appreciate the opportunity you gave me to share this experience with your students!

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First a heartfelt thank you to everyone who participated in the Take the Dare: Show You Care auction launched on the release day for my debut middle grade novel PARIS PAN TAKES THE DARE. Like Paris, we dared to do the unexpected and show where our hearts truly lie. I was so proud to be among hundreds of children’s book writers, editors, agents, and illustrators, raising money for a school in need in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

The effort raised more than $15,000 for Tulakes in just a few weeks. On Sept 16th, I had the pleasure of visiting Tulakes for the first time and delivering a check in the amount of 13,918.09 – funds raised from the auction itself (minus darned paypal fees) and more than a thousand more dollars in donations through DonorsChoose.org to Tulakes and other schools in Oklahoma. Not to mention book donations made directly to Tulakes.
I am so happy to have an update and photos so you can see what your efforts and dollars have done for this school.

Of course, words cannot describe the joy it was to visit the students and teachers of Tulakes personally. Tears were shed, hugs exchanged, and the students had a wonderful time meeting a children’s book author for the first time. And what a fantastic thing it was to meet the teachers who were eager to have the funds to get the kids the tools and resources they deserve to enhance their reading and writing programs!

I, along with the educators and students at Tulakes, thank you!

Enjoy the photos, reliving the experience with me and knowing that the joy continues each time a child opens one of those books that your time, money, and love got for these kids. Think of the insight each child will gain each time they crack open a dictionary to learn the meaning of a new word. Think of the pride each child will have each time they grab a book from their very own sturdy box that bears their name proudly.

**Before Take the Dare: Show You Care**

**After **

Thank you so much!

Cynthea

P.S. By now, everyone should have received their critiques or prizes for the auction. If you have not, and have not made previous arrangements with me, please contact me immediately at dare@cynthealiu.com.

P.P.S. A special thank you to Michele Parham for your tireless efforts in making this happen for Tulakes. Also to Lori, Maddy and Ashley for being such top-notch escorts during the visit; I couldn’t have had a smoother and more enjoyable experience!

P.P.P.S. And finally, a big thanks to all the authors, illustrators, editors, agents, and writers who made this all possible.  The list is too long to re-list so I’m linking to the auction prizes. Wow! What an event it was!

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All Purpled Out!

Dear Washington Irving Elementary,

Thank you so much for making me feel so welcome! I have never seen so much purple in my life. Your bookmarks and cards were amazing. As promised, I am posting some of my favorites here. Actually, I had my bunny Snoop pick them out so don’t blame me if you don’t see yours up there. I thought all of them were pretty amazing. I couldn’t do a better job if I tried myself!

Reading PARIS PAN the right way!

In addition to all of the art, I will never forget your awesome participation in the visit, of course. Plus, there was so much singing and dancing, we could have a made a musical!  Finally, let’s not forget the reading. Nothing cooler than reading in the dark with a favorite pillow and a flashlight.

Thanks again! I hope you big readers out there turn into serious writers. I look forward to reading your books on the shelves one day.

P.S. Mischievous Guys, you rocked. Ashley, thank you for the bracelet!

P.P.S. A big thank you to Mrs. Lemmons for putting together a great visit, and to the 5th grade teachers for sharing PARIS PAN with your students.  Please make sure you give Mrs. Lemmons and your teachers a big hug from me. Also, Mrs. Lemmons, I am still wearing the purple hair everywhere I go. LOVE IT!

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Dear 5th Graders at Independence Elementary,

I had such a great time meeting you on September 9, 2009 and sharing with you why I write. Hopefully, I have helped you think about why you might want to be a writer one day, too.  It’s very hard work, as you saw–you may not even like writing–AND it requires a lot of perseverance.

But there is nothing like being able to tell a good story and sharing it with others.

I hope the students who told me they were writing their own stories will finish them. Work hard, keep writing, and keep revising! I think it is awesome that you guys are getting such a head start. I wish I had known when I was in fifth-grade that I’d become a writer. Think of how many more books I would have out by now!

It was a pleasure meeting all of you!

Special thanks to Ms. Spomer and the third grade students who shared their stories with me in the morning.  Ms. Spomer rocks as always. And of course… Ms. Tosto who helped make it all happen for you guys! The wonderful thank you letters her students wrote demand my response, so here they are….

P.S. Blake, I think that’s a very good idea about the novel you are thinking of.

P.P.S. Ben, you are right on about the Dare.

P.P.P.S. Andrew, suspense is one of my favorite genres, too!

P.P.P.P.S. Happy B-day, Emily and we’ll see about PARIS PAN 2. I still need to finish this one other book first!  Good suggestion though!

P.P.P.P.P.S. Tary, isn’t that interesting about Paolini?  And it was just a summer project. WOW!

P.P.P.P.P.P.S. Kelly, keep working on that book! Dedication is half the battle!

P.P.P.P.P.P.P.S. Elijah, I’m glad to hear it! And I hope I still have 100 more good books in me. That’s a lot of work!

P.P.P.P.P.P.P.P… ..you get the idea.  Chase, family members and fellow classmates make GREAT material. Just be sure to change the names. And make the names really different from the people you know in real life (and don’t tell them you are writing about them unless you think they will think that’s cool).

P.P….S. Samantha,  I’m sooo glad the author visit wasn’t boring. Who likes to listen to boring authors? Not me!  Glad you liked Paris Pan!

P.P….S. Gabby, very interesting title for your book. I hope you write it, and keep writing, and keep revising. Way to go, girl!

P.P….S. Courtney, thanks so much for taking me to the teacher’s lounge. I really hope your story comes along well! I’m glad you got some new ideas for it from the visit. Awesome!

P.P….S. Erin, I loved how you signed your note, “A future author.”  I know that will come true for you one day if you keep writing, revising, and believing!

P.P….S. Averie, I hope you read THE GREAT CALL OF CHINA. It’s a very different book. The kind that might make you cry even. Write me after you read it and let me know if you liked it.

P.P…S. Elle, recurring dreams make great material for books! When I wrote Paris Pan, I would sometimes dream up new scenes in my sleep. So go with that! I hope you write lots and lots of books!

P.P…S. Hanson, Iswai, Joey: I hope you enjoy the rest of PARIS PAN, and those questions during the quiz were really hard, weren’t they? I did that on purpose because I enjoy making you all think! Next time, I will make them even harder. I enjoy watching you all squirm!

P.P…S. Kevin, thank you for the compliment! Now start writing!

P.P…S. Kyle, it would be cool if PARIS PAN were a movie! I’ll have my people talk to your people and see if we can get that going. Actually, PARIS PAN is being considered for film. So please cross your fingers for me!

P.P…S. Supreet, I enjoyed meeting you and I am so glad you think I look like I’m in my 20s! What a compliment! It was an honor to meet you, too.

P.P…S. Conner, I hope my new book comes out, too. But I have to finish writing it first and that could take me a while!  Boo! Enjoy the rest of PARIS PAN!

P.P…S. Robert, thank you for the kind words! Your fan – Cynthea

P.P…S. Tivona, you asked some great questions. Almost all of them are answered in my book WRITING FOR CHILDREN AND TEENS: A CRASH COURSE. But in short–no, you don’t have to have an agent, and the time it takes to become an author varies a lot. It depends on how quickly you write/revise and whether or not you send your book to the right editor at the right time. So check out the Crash Course if you are interested in learning about the details behind the submission process. Good luck with your writing!

P.P…S. Ryan, I LOVE animal stories. Did you know the first book I ever wrote was about animals? I haven’t finished revising it yet, but when I get that one done, I will be soooo excited to see it as a real book.  So I think your plan is a good one. Now write that book!

P.P.S-to-Infinity!  Thank you, Ms. Tosto, for having me out to see the fifth grade. The day was wonderful and you helped make it special for everyone!

Kids, did you hear that? You should all be clapping for Ms. Tosto now. *Clap, clap, clap—Huzzah!* I hope to see you all again one day!

Your fan,

Cynthea