Carmela writes for both children and adults.  Her first children’s novel, Rosa, Sola, (Candlewick Press) was named to Booklist magazine’s “Top Ten First Novels for Youth:  2006.”  Her most recent publications include a poem in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Teens Talk High School, and a humorous short story in the middle-grade anthology I Fooled You: Ten Stories of Tricks, Jokes, and Switcheroos, (Candlewick Press), edited by Johanna Hurwitz.  

Before writing for children, Carmela worked as a freelance journalist.  Her articles and essays have appeared in the Chicago Tribune, Writer’s Digest, Catholic Parent, and Catholic Library World.  

Carmela enjoys sharing the story of her writer’s journey with audiences of all ages.  Her basic presentation, “Worms, Pens, and Butterflies,” describes her roundabout route to becoming a published author while emphasizing the importance of both reading and writing in accomplishing career goals.

Carmela also offers writing workshops for students in grades 3-12 and adults. In her children’s programs, she uses games and group activities to “make writing fun.” She is happy to incorporate the 6 + 1 Traits of Writing into her presentations. She can also tailor her talks to fit a specific curriculum. Her two most popular workshops are:

• Transforming Life into Fiction:  explains how she transformed people, places, and events from her life into fiction. Students practice using their own magic wands (or trusty pens) to turn their life experiences into spellbinding stories.
  
• Re-Visioning---Seeing with "Fresh Eyes":  describes the many revisions Rosa, Sola went through prior to publication and presents specific techniques to help students "re-vision" their own writing.

For more information, visit her website or email Carmela directly.

Contact Information:
Email: carmela@carmelamartino.com
Website: http://www.carmelamartino.com
Blog: http://www.TeachingAuthors.com