Tina M. Cho
  • Blog
  • About
  • Books
    • Rice from Heaven
    • Korean Celebrations
    • My Breakfast with Jesus
    • The Ocean Calls
  • School Visits
  • Work for Hire Projects
    • Other Writing Credits
  • Resources for Writers
    • Guest Blog Posts I Wrote
Picture

Ending the year~

12/30/2020

4 Comments

 
Picture
I hope you had a wonderful Christmas with your family in spite of having to stay close to home this year. For us, it was our first time to have Christmas with my side of the family in over ten years. 

This week I'm on Kim Chaffee's & Kirstie Call's podcast, The Picture Book Look with my wonderful editor, Joanna! It's only about 15 minutes long. 

And I'm the featured author at Linda Sue Park's KiBooka's page, Kids' books by Korean Americans.

In other good news for THE OCEAN CALLS, it comes out as an audio book on January 19! 
​You can hear a sample here. 

Lastly, Teaching Books emailed that my name is now part of their list of authors' names! You can hear me pronounce my name!

What have I been up to? I just finished scouring over sketches of my lyrical graphic novel coming out from Harper Alley in 2023. The title changed to The Other Side of Tomorrow. About North Korean refugee kids. Illustrator Deborah Lee is doing an awesome job bringing my text to life. It's been fun seeing them as she progresses through the manuscript.

I'm also enjoying my short winter break from school. I ordered some library books and did the curbside checkout for the first time. Some fabulous books I just read:

*When Stars Are Scattered, a graphic novel built on a true story, a necessary read for all upper elementary & teens. This book shows what life in a refugee camp is like. 

*Fauja Singh Keeps Going, a picture book biography about the 108 year old Sikh who runs marathons! 

*Playing from the Heart, a picture book in which a father never stops loving his son's piano playing.

Next on my list: Prairie Lotus by Linda Sue Park

What children's book do you recommend? Happy New Year!

4 Comments

Christmas Gifts, a podcast, & Meeting a Critique Group

11/14/2020

2 Comments

 
Picture
I've been a part of a critique group called Pens & Brushes since 2008. Members have come and gone, but four of us inaugural members are still a part of this group. With the idea of Diane Hower, we met for the first time, hearing each others' voices along with seeing each other! If you haven't done a Zoom with your critique group, I highly recommend it, unless you can meet in person! 

In October, author Kate Narita invited me onto her podcast, Chalk & Ink: The Podcast for Teachers Who Write & Writers Who Teach. Scroll down to October 9th to hear our conversation.

​Being back in the states, I'm ecstatic to see all the Christmas decorations and Christmas candies! With that in mind, some of you have asked how to get autographed books.

If you want an autographed THE OCEAN CALLS, I recommend ordering from the website of The Learning Post & Toys. I can go into the store & personalize it if you want. Just let me and them know. 

​If you want an autographed MY BREAKFAST WITH JESUS, I recommend ordering from Choices Christian Bookstore. I can go in & personalize it if you want. Just let me and them know.

If you want an autographed RICE FROM HEAVEN, I recommend ordering from Barnes & Noble at Jordan Creek Mall in West Des Moines, Iowa, as I can go in & sign their books.

With so many children now at home, it's good to get books into their hands! 
​
Picture
2 Comments

A Pandemic Book Launch during a move

9/7/2020

8 Comments

 
Picture
Well, moving during a book launch in a pandemic--I wouldn't recommend it. But I'm so thankful to all of you who have supported me, through watching my online activities or even buying and sharing about the book! 

If you missed out, you can see me and the illustrator Jess at Little Shop of Stories on Facebook  here or me reading the book at Warwick's Bookstore on Instagram here.

And good news--The Ocean Calls is on the Fall 2020 Kids' Indie Next List by the American Booksellers Association! 

I'm in Iowa now. Big difference from the lightning fast Internet of Korea. That's the main thing we miss. In fact, it took over two weeks just to get service. Which means I had to go to a hotel to use their Internet to do my LIVE book launch online! 

And now I'm back in the classroom with two hybrid groups of kindergartners teaching them how to walk in a line like zombies, arms out to measure social distancing. 

What are some new things you're adjusting to? How's your writing?

8 Comments

Pre-order, Give-away Contest thru August 3rd

7/17/2020

1 Comment

 
Picture
The Ocean Calls swims into stores August 4th! Me & the sea in South Korea.
Picture
Yes, we're moving to Iowa!
Picture
Picture
You could win a picture book critique from me OR this swag which includes a Korean bag, haenyeo stuffed animal, a Jeju Mirror, a Korea magnet, and Korea bookmark. (US residences for the swag. Anyone for the critique.) To enter the contest, you must pre-order the book and then fill out the form below. I'll announce the winner on my blog & at my virtual launch. Details about that coming soon. 

    Pre-order give-away contest

Submit
1 Comment

A New Look

6/21/2020

12 Comments

 
Picture
With two books out this summer, it's time my website gets a new look. Please take a look around. What do you think? What could I do to make it even better? 

News: My new picture book My Breakfast with Jesus is getting reviews on social media. If you've read it, I'd love for you to leave a book review on Amazon, Good Reads, B&N & share about it. It's a great way to segue into a discussion about race and culture with kids. I'm @TinaMCho on Instagram & Twitter.

Star-worthy news: The Ocean Calls: A Haenyeo Mermaid Story has received THREE stars so far! One each from Kirkus, Booklist, and Publisher's Weekly. I'm grinning from ear to ear. Only my teens don't get it. haha  Only my writing tribe understands.

​My daughter painted this verse for me for my birthday. It's what I base my writing on. 
Happy official summer! How are you doing? 

Picture
painted by Anna Cho
12 Comments

New Book with a Heavy Heart

6/8/2020

8 Comments

 
Picture
My 3rd picture book released quietly into a troubled world on June 2nd. This nonfiction picture book features children from around the world eating various breakfasts and showing Jesus' love & kindness. How the world needs this now! Use this to teach kids about diversity and that Jesus loves them no matter what color their skin is. On that same topic, I wrote this blog post for the Christian Mommy blog, "9 Ways to Encourage Your Children to Think Globally." My heart hurts for my home country of the USA. I'm praying for you daily!

Leading up to the book's release, I tried something new--doing short videos on Instagram Stories. I featured a breakfast and 1 spread from the book for five days. I saved all the videos on my Instagram Profile under "Breakfasts," if you'd like to see some of them. I'm tinamcho on Instagram. Follow me, & I will follow you.

If you'd like a chance to win this book, check out 2020 Vision's debut June picture books rafflecopter here.

Today was my last day teaching at this international school in Korea. I've taught kindergarten at this school for 4 years. Time to move on. But change is hard! Please pray for us as we seek what God has for us. 

8 Comments

Children's Day 2020

5/5/2020

0 Comments

 
PictureIllustration by Farida Zaman from my book KOREAN CELEBRATIONS
Proverbs 22:6 Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.

It's Children's Day here in Korea, and we've been blessed with the day off from school & work. If you'd like to know more about Korea's Children's Day, I blogged about it here. My kids are in high school now, and so we celebrated by eating at Subway and doing some light shopping. Plus, it was a rainy day.

Things are easing up in Korea. Korean public schools will start next week with grades staggered. International schools like mine are still working on their schedules.

May is also Children's Book Week. I thought I'd share some favorite books my kids have enjoyed over the years. 

Picture
​
Isaac liked:
The Crossover by Kwame Alexander
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon trilogy by Grace Lin
The War that Saved my Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan
Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
Stink The Incredible Shrinking Kid series by Megan McDonald
The Lemonade Wars series by Jacqueline Davies
Geronimo Stilton series

Anna liked:
Dork Diaries series by Rachel Russell
The Cupcake Diaries series by Coco Simon
Thea Stilton series
Cam Jansen series by David Adler
The Cul-de-sac Kids series by Beverly Lewis
Linda Sue Park's MG novels

Are you seeing a consistency? At least with my kids, upper elementary through teenage years are hooked on a series. Mine were comfortable with a certain author and then would buy/check out all the subsequent books.

I must share one favorite board book of each of my kids.
Picture
Picture
Can you guess who liked which one? Well, enjoy Children's Book Week with your favorites & the children in your life!
0 Comments

Learning New Things...

4/24/2020

8 Comments

 
Picture
Hey, all~
Part of being an author means we learn new things, especially about social media, right? I've conquered Facebook & Twitter. I've been lurking around Instagram and posting photos now and then. Lately, I learned there's a whole new world in Instagram with Instagram Stories. Who knew there were more hidden goodies in the circled rings around people's names? Oh goodness, have I got a lot to learn. I have to beg my teenaged kids to help their elderly mom. haha  So TODAY I'm doing my first-ever Instagram live interview with author Jessica Kim, of the new middle grade, STAND UP, YUMI CHUNG. I'm almost done reading this awesome book. One you need to put on your list! Anyway, if you're free this afternoon/early evening depending on your time zone, do check in the Kokila Instagram channel. I'll be waking up super early on my Saturday morning to participate. And I cleaned my office just for you. Hope to SEE you. And please follow me. @TinaMCho. If you have Instagram tips, please leave them in the comments!

Update: Here's the recording of my part:  ​https://photos.app.goo.gl/Wfp9CjAx8TSyo2TV6 
8 Comments

A Day in the Life of Online Learning--COVID19

3/2/2020

8 Comments

 
Picture
I thought I'd update my blog and let you know what's going on in my part of the world. If you follow me on social media, you probably already know. Our school has been closed by the government for 1 week due to coronavirus. We are now starting week 2. And the government just announced schools will be closed through 3/23. God help us all!  At the time of this writing, there are 4,335 cases in Korea with 26 deaths. Every hour the number rises.


My day has now given over to online learning or schooling. Since I teach kindergarten, I rewrite my lessons for the parents to teach to their children. I video myself teaching at least 1 lesson every day. I upload videos, worksheets, all assignments to an online platform called Class Dojo. Students work from home and upload their assignments to their online portfolio. Writing lessons in a new way, working with parents, videoing, checking assignments--it's more time consuming than regular teaching. My teenage children receive their instruction through Google Hangouts and Google Classroom etc... They are online from 9 - 3:30 with a break for lunch. We are not the only country doing this. Most countries in Asia are now doing online school. Some have been doing it since January! 

Can we go out? Sure, but on our own risk. We wear a mask wherever we go, but as they say, the best protection is washing hands with soap & warm water. There are 5 cases in my big city, most of the cases are in the southern part of Korea. Many times throughout the day, the government sends emergency alert text messages telling us if someone in the area just became infected and what stores and places to avoid. 

Because the government says not to have assemblies, we even had online church, live streaming. It's easy to get downcast, having to stay inside all the time. But we have to remember, God is greater than the coronavirus! Pastor shared the popular verse, Isaiah 40:31 "but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength, they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Be like an eagle and soar above the storm! Whatever your "storm" is today, rise above it and just keep writing! 

Picture
My student's online math
8 Comments

How I Accidentally Wrote a Graphic Novel

1/23/2020

44 Comments

 
Picture
In 2010, we moved to South Korea for my husband's work. At churches I heard about people helping North Korean escapees. I had never heard about them in the states. I researched on the Internet, reading all the articles I could find, watching You Tube videos about them. Most of the articles kept mentioning a Pastor Chun, calling him the "Schindler of Asia." So in 2012 I looked him up, found his church & school for North Korean children, and with my husband translating, I interviewed him & two North Korean boys who had recently escaped. Afterward I set out to write a picture book manuscript about this fascinating story. First draft was written November 29, 2012. It went through 16 miserable drafts with my faithful critique group Pens & Brushes, until a couple of them piped up and said I should try this as a middle grade novel.

A MG novel? I had never written one before. Another critique partner, Nancy I. Sanders, had a self-paced course "How to Write a Middle Grade Novel in One Month," which I took. I already had the basic plot line. I wrote the 21 chapters between March/April 2015. Revised 4 times with some beta-readers & used editor Cheryl Klein's book Second Sight. Then someone told me about the Scholastic Asian Book Award--submit a story about Asia, written by an Asian. That's me. I had nothing to lose. I was floored when someone contacted me that my MG novel had been shortlisted for this award, and would I fly to Singapore for the results? In May 2016, I took a day off from teaching, flew to Singapore for the Asian Festival of Children's Content conference, when I discovered the renowned picture book historian & author, Leonard Marcus, was one of the judges! My MG novel titled at that time, Chasing Freedom: The Asian Underground Railroad, won 2nd place, or what they called 1st Runner Up. Scholastic Asia wanted to publish. I blogged about that experience here.

After receiving the contract from Scholastic Asia, I didn't feel that it was right for me and my story. $500SG + few edits. I knew that since it was my first novel, it needed a lot of work. After talking to many professionals in the industry, I passed.

In December 2016, I signed with my wonderful agent, Adria Goetz, who loved a couple of my picture book manuscripts. I told her about this novel, and she agreed to help. From 2017-2018 I revised with Adria. She sent it out to editors, and they sent back rejections. I revised per their suggestions. She sent it out again. 11 rejections. Then Adria had a wild idea. Try writing it as a novel in verse. She had just sold one, and my previous picture book, RICE FROM HEAVEN: THE SECRET MISSION TO FEED NORTH KOREANS was written as a lyrical picture book. Adria knows my writing better than me. I loved reading novels in verse but had never written one.

So I read the great novel in verse authors' works that I could get my hands on, checked them out from the library when I was in the states during summer, even took an SCBWI Novel in Verse webinar with author K.A. Holt. During the latter part of 2018 - beginning of 2019 I worked on rewriting this as poetry. 

Until March 2019, I sort of QUIT. I was depressed. Who was I to try to write a novel in verse? or a MG? I don't classify myself as a poet. Some parts of the story just weren't coming together. Being across the ocean from my agent, somehow Adria could sense something was wrong. She emailed me to have a phone chat in April. Just what I needed. Adria was such an encourager, a believer in me & my writing, and gave me a great pep talk & kick in the pants, so to speak. 

With encouragement & prayers, I finished the 5th novel in verse revision that May, and we changed the title to The Tune without Words b/c there was already another book with my previous title. She sent it out to editors. In June editor Carolina from Harper Collins asked if we were interested in publishing it as a lyrical novel in verse GRAPHIC NOVEL. 

A graphic novel?! Truthfully, I had only read 1 previous graphic novel of my niece's--one of Raina Telgemeier's books. I'm not really into say-- superhero graphic novels & comics. (no offense!) I did read comics growing up, The Sunday Funnies like Peanuts, Garfield, Dennis the Menace, Cathy, etc...

But graphic novels have changed! Blogging friends showcased graphic novels that were being published about historical topics and nonfiction. Articles are being written on the effects of students reading them in the classroom. While in Iowa during the summer, one that I really liked was HIDDEN: A CHILD'S STORY OF THE HOLOCAUST written by Loic Dauvillier & Greg Salsedo, illustrated by Marc Lizano. So I told Adria, yes, let's go for it.

The editor from Harper Collins found an illustrator, Deborah Lee, a Korean American illustrator in CA, who would illustrate a sample poem so we could get an idea. She sent illustration samples in August. I fell in love with the characters & color palette. It was so poignant & made me cry. I want children in the U.S. and around the world to know that as we speak--some kids in N.K. are escaping or living hidden in China. With Deb's illustrations, this story will really come to life and especially bring out the cultural aspects that people might not be familiar with. 

I signed the contract in November, my biggest yet, & received first edits in December which I submitted & will continue to revise until it's perfecto! Carolina has been a wonderful editor for this story.

But even better--God has perfect timing. I've been wanting this story to be out in the world, but it wasn't the time yet. Most of you know I teach at an international school in S.Korea. I've wanted them to do a service ministry with North Korean refugees but it never worked out, until now! The same North Korean school run by Pastor Chun agreed to have some of our high school students come in March to do an English camp with their 40 North Korean children. I'm one of the teachers on the team. And now I can share with him that this story finally sold & will become reality in 2022!  God is good. His timing is perfect. 

Sorry to ramble on and on, but don't give up on your story. If you believe that it needs to be told, find the best format/genre/style, take classes, study the craft, and it will get out into the world ❤️
44 Comments
<<Previous

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

    Picture

    Tina M. Cho, children's author

    I'm a children's author and freelance writer for the educational market. Welcome!

    Picture

    Archives

    December 2020
    November 2020
    September 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    August 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    September 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    October 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013

    Click here to read previous posts at my old blog.

    Categories

    All
    Adria Goetz
    Agent Interview
    Asian Festival Of Children's Content
    Audio Book
    Author Brand
    Author Email Signature
    Author Platform
    Author Presentation
    Author Signing
    Author Skypes
    Author Visits
    Award Winning Book
    BIC
    Book Birthday
    Booklist Review
    Book Query
    Book Reviews
    Books About Diversity
    Book Signing
    Breakfasts Around The World
    Chapter Book Series
    Children's Day
    Common Core Book Activities
    Common Core Standards And Nonfiction Text
    Coronavirus Korea
    Creating Extension Activities For Your Book
    Cynthea Liu's Critiques
    Difference Between Picture Books And Novels
    Diversity
    F&Gs
    Focused Writing
    Focus Words
    Fonts And Clip Art
    Global Picture Books
    Goals
    Guided Reading Levels
    Haenyeo
    Hans Christian Andersen Award
    Harvest House
    How I Got My Agent
    How To Create An Educational Product
    How To Get An Agent
    How To Land An Agent
    How To Write A Lesson Plan For Your Book
    How To Write A Lyrical Picture Book
    How To Write A Picture Book Biography
    How To Write A Rebus
    How To Write For The Christian Market
    How To Write For The Educational Market
    How To Write Picture Book Activities
    Instagram Live
    Interview Joshua Hawkins
    Interview With Evelyn Christensen
    Interview With Hannah Holt
    Interview With Laura Murray
    Interview With Marie Harris
    Interview With Nancy I. Sanders
    Kibooka
    Kindergarten
    Kirkus Reviews
    Kokila
    Korean Celebrations
    Korean Holidays
    Korea's Independence Movement Day
    Landing A Book Contract
    Lexile
    Literary Christmas
    Little Bee
    Martin Literary
    Molly Holt
    Mother's Day
    Multicultural Writing
    My Breakfast With Jesus
    Nami Island
    New Year
    Nonfiction Picture Book Online Class
    North Korea
    North Korean Refugees
    Online Learning
    Paid Critiques
    Parent's Day
    Piboidmo
    Picture Book Agent
    Picture Book Ideas
    Picture Book Island
    Picture Book Look Podcast
    Picture Book Subtitles
    Picture Book Timeline
    Preorder
    Professional Critiques
    Proverbs 16:3
    Publisher's Weekly Review
    Researching A Biography
    Rice Balloon Project
    Rice Form Heaven
    Rice From Heaven
    Rosemary Wells Lecture
    Scholastic Asian Book Award
    School Visits
    Self-publish E-book
    South Korea
    South Korea's Holidays
    Summer Activities For Writers
    Teachers Pay Teachers
    The Girl's Guide To Manners
    The Ocean Calls
    Tuttle Publishing
    Using Twitter To Promote Books
    Why Write Children's Books
    Word For The Year
    World Read Aloud Day
    Writer's Courage
    Writers In Summer
    Writing About Culture
    Writing A Graphic Novel
    Writing An Endorsement For A Book
    Writing A Novel
    Writing A Subtitle
    Writing Back Matter
    Writing Behaviors
    Writing Conference
    Writing Guided Reading Books
    Writing Picture Books
    Writing Priorities
    Writing Tips

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Blog
  • About
  • Books
    • Rice from Heaven
    • Korean Celebrations
    • My Breakfast with Jesus
    • The Ocean Calls
  • School Visits
  • Work for Hire Projects
    • Other Writing Credits
  • Resources for Writers
    • Guest Blog Posts I Wrote