Sunday, August 26, 2012

School Time--New Beginnings

It's that time of year again. I haven't taught school for over thirty years, and I still get a thrill in the fall. Lucky teachers get two new beginnings every year in the autmn and in January too. There's something about the season that makes me want to get out the scissors and colored paper and make a bulletin board. It's in my blood. My mother and grandmother were teachers.

Perhaps this is the reason I feel compelled to write a non-fiction book for kids. I loved teaching and working with students. On this blog, you will note I planned to take you, Dear Reader, along with me on my adventure into publishing when my first mystery novella, Sunshine Boulevard, was published by Muse It Up Publishing. 

Today I introduce you to my next adventure--publishing a non-fiction book for middle grade girls, Girls Succeed: Stories Behind the Careers of Successful Women.




From 2003-2006 I spent summers working at a girls summer resident camp in Michigan, Camp Newaygo. I enjoyed meeting and interacting with the campers and the counselors. So many smart, brilliant girls with such wonderful futures ahead of them. I wondered in this new world of more career opportunities for women what choices would girls make. What plans do they dream for their future?

In 2006 I began the process of interviewing successful women about their careers and how their lives led to their decisions. I gathered all the interviews and put them together so girls can discover information about careers.

It has taken me this long to get it all together and to decide to publish the book as an interactive e-book, the technology which completes my vision as a way to deliver an interesting, worthwhile experience for the readers. After each interview there are links and resources for learning more about the woman and her career. So when the reader is connected to the internet, she can click on links for more information.

It is my hope the profiles with these savvy women will inspire and empower the girls to dream big dreams and to work hard to make their dreams come true.

Girls Succeed: Stories Behind the Careers of Successful Women will be released in October. Come back for more information as I step into this exciting new adventure in publishing. Grab your ticket and join me as I share this  new beginning with you.

7 comments:

Pat McDermott said...

What a wonderful project! I'm a tad past middle school, and I look forward to reading this ambitious work. Keep us posted, J.Q.!

J.Q. Rose said...

Hey Pat, Thanks. It has been an ambitious project and I have loved every minute of it and honored to have these wonderful women trust me to write their stories.

See you tomorrow on this blog!!

Tess Grant said...

This is a great way to empower girls to follow their dreams whatever they are. It's a great vision, JQ

The Swimmer Writer said...

JQ, your critique group is proud of you!

J.Q. Rose said...

Thank you, Tess!!

Deb, that is very sweet of you. I couldn't have done it without all the input from the group...duly noted in my acknowledgements in the front of the book!!

Joylene Nowell Butler said...

Janet, that is so impressive. One of my neighbours was a school office administrator in Canadian army bases all over Europe. She's in her 70s now and still gets excited at this time of year. The other day we were in the city and one of her students stopped her to say hello. He was 6 years old when she was working in his elementary school. That's the kind of influence she had. He introduced her to his 13 year old and said, "This is the lady that made me feel as if I could do anything." Nice, eh?

Kudos to you, Janet, for making a difference.

J.Q. Rose said...

Thanks for telling me that story, Joylene. It encourages me to keep going on this project. I am very excited to see it through and to actually get the inspiring stories into the hands of girls. I hope it does make a difference.

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