Karenann E. Knotoff, Children's Book Author: New Picture Book

Karenann E. Knotoff, Children's Book Author: New Picture Book: Well, I finished a picture book!  My first attempt in a long time to create one.  I'm happy with the results and have sent it out to a few e...

Karenann E. Knotoff, Children's Book Author: Middle Grade Novel Published!!!!!Well, I finally ...

Karenann E. Knotoff, Children's Book Author: Middle Grade Novel Published!!!!!
Well, I finally ...: Middle Grade Novel Published!!!!! Well, I finally have another children's book published!  A middle grade magickal, fantasy!  Woo Hoo!...

Karenann E. Knotoff, Children's Book Author: The Dreaded Writers Block

Karenann E. Knotoff, Children's Book Author: The Dreaded Writers Block: I've been working on a YA novel for approximately two years now inbetween middle grade novels and picture books and I've hit the dreaded 'wr...

The Dreaded Writers Block

I've been working on a YA novel for approximately two years now inbetween middle grade novels and picture books and I've hit the dreaded 'writers block'.  I can sit for hours looking at the blank page of my computer monitor hoping for a spark so I can complete this overly stressful manuscript.  My main character is so intense I sometimes get worn out writing her.  Don't get me wrong, she's an extremely profound character, with many flaws that she's driven to correct after much soul searching however, at her core, she's caring, loving and just wants to be accepted.  Torn between two different worlds, she struggles with who and what she is knowing all along what her basal instincts are and as much as she attempts to defy those instincts, at her nucleus she knows that is where she belongs.

I've accomplished, I feel, a great beginning and middle, however, its the down hill slope that's got me in turmoil.   After a turbulent beginning and middle, I've slowed down and I think I'd let my readers down with how the story is going.  But then, I tell myself, the pace is necessary because these are necessary details.

I'm at the point in this manuscript where I wish I was just finished and I could start the rewriting process.  Much of the earlier text has been rewritten several times, which I find comforting.  I so enjoy the rewriting process, its the getting it down part that sometimes drives me crazy.  I so love when the text just flows like a vessel from my mind onto the pages.  I wish it could always be that way.  So, here's to tomorrow, another day which I hope I can accomplish much more then the three or four lines I got down today.

Middle Grade Novel Published!!!!!

Well, I finally have another children's book published!  A middle grade magickal, fantasy!  Woo Hoo!

Stylus!

In this entertaining novel, the protagonist, Cassandra Halsey, receives a magickal pen from her beloved, eccentric cousin. Magick enters her once normal life, then danger in the form of a wicked pixie.  Wanting to rule the worlds, both fey and human, the pixie does what it does best – causes mayhem.    It’s up to Cassie to protect all she holds dear. 

This adventurous, fun, magickal book will have children laughing out loud, cringe in fear for Cassie and empathize with her many tribulations and victories.

Back Cover



RULES FOR GUARDING THE PEN

 (In no particular order)

(And not a complete list)

1. Never let the pen out of your care. Keep it locked away somewhere safe and secret. In iron if possible.

2. Never let the evil pixie get it.

3. The pen can and will destroy the world if gotten into the wrong hands.

Rules are made to be broken, and Cass breaks them all. As Guardian to a magickal pen, she misuses her responsibility by making a game of her duty. Soon, Cass becomes a victim of blackmail. Things only get worse when the pen is stolen by an evil pixie and she is cast into the Fey World. Cass needs to regain possession of the pen to protect humanity, master her spell casting, and make a truce with her archenemy before she can save the world and find her way back home.

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 I am particularly proud of this book, not only due to the many long hours of rewrites (I must confess here and now, I love the rewrites!) but as the result of the extremely hard work of the illustrator, Ginny Fox-Fey.  Ginny, is my sister and an exceptionally talented self-taught artist.  I don't think I will ever forget her begging our dad with her big blue eyes and blond hair in her little red pants and white shirt to allow her to try to paint with his oils at the age of 7 and him actually allowing her.   The result?  A nearly perfectly painted still life.   I guess I can say, I could not expect anything less when both your father and grandmothers were talented artists.  I can say she was born with a paint brush in one hand and a pencil in the other with a sketch pad between her feet.  Thanks Gin for all your hard work that's made my book look so magickal.