As summer approaches and we prepare to have some fun in the sun,
As summer approaches and we prepare to have some fun in the sun,
Into the Woods Newsletter May - June
Greetings!
As summer approaches and we prepare to have some fun in the sun, it's a brilliant time to share the latest news from Tanglewood headquarters.
First up, we have an exclusive interview with Ashfall series author, Mike Mullin. His latest book, the riveting and action-packed Surface Tension, was just released in paperback. To celebrate, we ran a giveaway on Goodreads, which received close to two thousand entries. Also, the Children’s Book Council posted a Beyond the Page feature with Mike answering a few interesting questions for fans.
Read on for the latest and greatest Eva Kor news, and to learn about an upcoming video from The Kissing Hand author, Audrey Penn. We are also happy to introduce our new intern, Ashley. And finally, don't miss the Tanglewood Spotlight feature on one of our favorite summer titles, The Tiptoe Guide to Tracking Mermaids.
Oh, and one more thing—don't forget your sunscreen!
Mike Mullin on the SURFACE TENSION Editing Process
In celebration of the paperback release of Surface Tension, we were lucky enough to sit down with Mike Mullin and discuss the editing process for his books. If you've ever wondered what it takes to write, edit, polish, and ultimately finish a book, click here and read the full interview!
Tanglewood: How long was the process of working with your editor on revising and editing Surface Tension, and were there any obstacles along the way?

Mike: The overall process of writing and editing Surface Tension took about four years, although that’s not all I was doing in that time frame. Some of the work overlapped with finishing and editing Sunrise. Of that time, I think the time I worked with Peggy (Tanglewood’s fabulous editor and owner) was about a year. There were some obstacles along the way, as there always are in doing something as ambitious as writing a book. The one I remember best was the reaction of the sensitivity readers—both Peggy and I were happy with the draft and thought we were basically done with it. But the sensitivity readers found some serious problems that required a major rewrite and ultimately made the book quite a bit better.
Tanglewood: How did the experience compare to working together on your Ashfall series?

Mike: Ashfall didn’t change much from the draft I turned in to Tanglewood to the published version. Only the ending changed dramatically, and although getting that right was difficult (six rewrites!), it wasn’t nearly so difficult as rewrites spanning the whole book that I did for Surface Tension. Ashen Winter had larger rewrites—I threw out the whole last third of the book and rewrote it very late in my process—but those came before I turned it in to Peggy. With Sunrise, the big change I recall was Peggy’s suggestion that Alex and Darla didn’t react strongly enough to [redacted for spoilers]. So that required a lot of rewriting in the last half of Sunrise, which strengthened the book considerably. Surface Tension changed far more comprehensively between the first draft I submitted to Peggy and the final than any of my previous work had.

Tanglewood: Were there particular sections or storylines that were more difficult to hammer out?

Mike: Yes, some storylines were so difficult that I abandoned them entirely. For example, in the first five or six drafts, Laurissa’s family was Muslim. I could never get that right, however. Either I had to dramatically change her relationship with Jake, or make her what some people would consider a “bad” Muslim, or create a lot of interfamily conflict in Laurissa’s clan. I couldn’t do justice to any of those options and ultimately decided that I’m not the right person to write that story. Of course, that decision bit my tail later, when a sensitivity reader (not the Muslim sensitivity reader, by the way!) pointed out that there was nothing in the book that counterbalanced all the negative stereotypes of Muslims peddled by Betsy and her father. So that led to one of the last rewrites, and to the FBI agent, Lin becoming Agent Soufan.

Read the Full Interview Here
Audrey Penn Video Coming Soon
Audrey Penn Author Photo KidLit TV The Kissing Hand
To celebrate 100 years of Children's Book Week, KidLit TV is posting 100 Creator Corner videos to its website. In the three-to-five minute videos some of the most renowned children's book authors speak directly to their young readers. New York Times bestselling author Audrey Penn has created her own video—available in July—recounting the story behind the inspiration for The Kissing Hand and its beloved characters. Be sure to check out our next newsletter when we'll share the link to watch Audrey's video and learn more about The Kissing Hand.

Eva Kor Named Indiana Living Legend

Eva Mozes Kor, author of Surviving the Angel of Death, was named an Indiana Living Legend by the Indiana Historical Society. Eva will be honored at the annual gala held July 25 at the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center. To read more about this special recognition and event, click here.

Eva Documentary Airing on PBS


Throughout April and May, Eva A-7063 aired over a thousand times across the country. Keep an eye on your local PBS listings to catch the film when it next airs.
Also, make sure to check this page for upcoming screenings and events.
Surviving Classroom Sets Now Available

Welcome, Ashley!

Ashley Burns is a junior at Ball State University, where she studies English Literature as well as Marketing, and Professional Writing and Emerging Media. She has always loved fun stories that have strong characters with comedic voices. She is excited to work with Tanglewood to help publish books readers keep on their shelves long after they grow up.

Tanglewood Spotlight:

The Tiptoe Guide to Tracking Mermaids

The Tiptoe Guide to Tracking Mermaids
Memorial Day has come and gone which means that summer unofficially begins. Many schools will be closed for a few months leaving parents and caregivers looking for ways to keep kids engaged while having fun.
Books are always a great resource, especially those that also provide activities to intrigue kids in different ways. Look no further—The Tiptoe Guide to Tracking Mermaids offers a wonderful way to encourage children to pay close attention to all the interesting things that can be found on the beach or in the water, including mermaids. Most people don’t see them, but they might just not know how to look for signs. That sand dollar—why, that could be a mermaid-size surfboard. Those twisted reeds—a bed for a lovely afternoon mermaid nap. And if you peer closely into the water, you might see a mermaid market.

We’re thrilled that Epic!—the leading digital library for kids 12 & under—has received over 35,000 views of this book!

Discover More About the Book
Don't forget to follow us on social!
Twitter Facebook Instagram
Subscribe to our email list.