Click here to go to the Writing Tip of the Month. For this month: Part Two of 'A Sensory World: How to get your eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and fingertips into your writing'

Welcome to the web page of a teacher, writer and all-around restless mind. I teach because I can't help it, write because I can't avoid it, and think because that's what people do, or should.

Homeschool and classroom teachers should check out my approach to creative writing (click the "For Teachers" link) and students can improve their composition skills by practicing the "Writing Tip of the Month" (see the quick link on this page).

You'll also find links and study guides to my Shakespeare-related novels, ideas for teaching Shakespeare (and reasons why you should), and a movie list. Scroll down a little further for information and links to the Wordsmith creative writing series as well as all my novels.

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NEWS!

The Middle of Somewhere has been selected as a "Notable Social Studies Trade Book For Young People" by the National Council For the Social Studies and the Children's Book Council. As described by the NCSS: "The selection committee looks for books that emphasize human relations, represent a diversity of groups and are sensitive to a broad range ofcultural experiences, present an original theme or a fresh slant on a traditional topic, are easily readable and of high literary quality . . .

"Sounds good to me!

Patti Newman writes about books and authors for California Kids magazine. Her interview with me for the magazine is now on her website, and it's got some great information for teachers. To read the interview go here.

UPCOMING DATES:

April and May are shaping up to be action-packed months! If you're in the neighborhood of these events, come see me.

April 12: Young Writers Conference, Warrensburg, Missouri.
April 14: Missouri Association of School Librarians (MASL) convention at Tan-Tar-A resort, Lake of the Ozarks.
April 17: Texas Library Association (TLA) convention in Dallas. I'll be signing books in the Random House booth at 3:00.
April 24: Fayette, Missouri, Middle School and Annual Friends of the Library meeting.
April 25-26: Southwest Home Education Ministry (SHEM) annual convention, in Springfield.
April 30: Shawnee Heights Middle School, Topeka, Kansas.
May 1: Tecumseh North Elementary in the morning; Tecumseh South Elementary in the afternoon; both in Topeka.
May 1: (evening) Cornerstone Homeschool support group meeting, location TBA.
May 2: Shawnee Heights Elementary in the morning; Berryton Elementary that afternoon, Topeka.
May 17: Second annual Kansas City Literature Festival!

PERSONAL NEWS:

The little princess (and her mom, the big princess) paid us a visit in February. Here's Adriel (my grandbaby), working on her first literary masterpiece:

REVIEWS AND RECOGNITION FOR THE MIDDLE OF SOMEWHERE:

A 2008 Notable Social Studies Trade book for Young People.

Nominated for the 2008-09 Texas Bluebonnet Award.

Selected as a Washington Post KidsPost book of the week!

"In a wonderful balance of humor and pathos, readers will find this trip through Kansas wound up as tight as the largest ball of twine." Topeka Capital-Journal.

"Plenty of oh-my-gosh scenarios . . . a climactic conclusion . . . [and] crafty, descriptive first-person narrative." Kirkus Reviews

"The main characters are particularly well-drawn, and readers will root for both children as they attempt to overcome the obstacles placed in front of them. Fans of Jack Gantos's Joey Pigza series are sure to appreciate Ronnie and Gee's excellent adventure." Booklist

"Cheaney does a great job with the characters, presenting them with depth and humor . . . The story is sweet and funny, and written with an obvious affection for the quirky roadside attractions of Kansas . . . ." Wichita Eagle

"Gee's almost-too-wacky-to believe predicaments may get kids laughing (the story opens with a madcap incident involving a squirrel and a toilet), but it's Ronnie's rueful humor and dry-eyed take on life's surprises that ultimately move . . . Her inimitable mix of vulnerability and worldliness make this a journey readers won't want to miss." Family Fun Magazine

A Book Buzz pick of the month (Missouri Press Association)

A "Bill's Best" selection for reluctant readers (ALAN Online)

I describe it as "the heartwarming story of an ambitious girl, her hyperactive brother, their eccentric grandfather, a paranoid dog, and the road trip from hell." If that sounds intriguing, Click here for a look at the first chapter.

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BOOKISH THOUGHTS:

My most recent thoughts are about two tales of extreme adventure--to the top of the world, and to the bottom. Peak, the latest from guy-friendly writer Roland Smith, is about an expedition to Mt. Everest. The White Darkness, winner of this year's Prinz Award for excellence in young-adult literature, takes us to the Antarctic. Also to the limits of human endurance. If it's still cold where you are, these books will help you feel warmer.

My Books

The Playmaker (Random House, 2000)
Richard Malory, age 14, journeys to London in the age of Good Queen Bess to seek his fortune. To his own astonishment, he lands a position in the Lord Chamberlain's Men, the city's premiere acting company. While struggling to learn his new craft, he becomes aware that someone is very anxious to see the last of him. While trying to unravel the mystery, Richard is drawn into a web of suspense, intrigue, and danger reaching into the court of Queen Elizabeth herself.
Reading level: ages 12 and up
Study guide for The Playmaker

The True Prince (Random House, 2002)
Further suspense, intrigue and danger in Elizabethan London. Richard is finding his feet on the London stage, but while his star rises, the reputation of his bitterest rival, Kit Glover, is beginning to suffer. Kit is obviously hanging out with a bad crowd, but what business is that of Richard's? Unless, perhaps, his own reputation hangs in the balance--or even his life!
Reading level: ages 12 and up
Study Guide for The True Prince

Hazel Anderson's greatest wish is to spot an enemy plane or evidence of sabotage, and get a medal pinned on her by President Roosevelt. But World War II has been going on for three years already and all she's seen, from her lookout over Hood River Valley, Oregon, is life on the home front, going on as usual. Until the day she finds the Japanese message tangled in the brush. All of a sudden the war moves to her own back yard, leading her to an unlikely friendship that will test all her ideas about patriotism and loyalty.
Reading level: ages 10-14 Study Guide for My Friend the Enemy

"My Friend the Enemy is a masterful novel about WW2. I was born and raised in Oregon, where the story takes place, and J. B. Cheaney taught me things about my beautiful state I didn't know. I could not put the book down. I wish I had written it."
--Roland Smith, author (Zach's Lie, Cryptid Hunters)

TEACHER RESOURCE: I've completed a resource packet to help teachers (whether home, private, or public school) work My Friend the Enemy into their curriculum. Each packet includes period clippings from the Hood River News (setting for the story), the war messages of both President Roosevelt and Emperor Hirohiti, two origami projects, full-color postcards of WWII posters, a science project, and more! Price is $2.00, which doesn't quite cover my cost of postage and printing. Send your request to P. O. Box 634, Bolivar, MO 65613.

Wordsmith: A Creative Writing Course for Young People
(Common Sense Press, 1992; 2nd ed. 2003)

Anyone who's tried to teach middle-schoolers to write has heard the mantra: "I don't know how to start," or, "I don't know what to write about." Wordsmith demolishes both these barriers, first by putting proven, accessible techniques into the writers' hands and then showing them that they have tons of source material in their own lives. A humorous, student-friendly approach disarms reluctant writers as they work through exercises and assignments that may be a bit out of the ordinary (for instance, describe how to play your favorite board game using the most active verbs you can think of).

NOTE: Wordsmith is self-teaching, but an optional Teacher's Guide shows home educators and tutors how to make the most of the course work.

Wordsmith Apprentice
(1995, Common Sense Press; 2nd ed. 2003)

Designed for upper-elementary grades (4-6), Wordsmith Apprentice introduces beginners to the varieties and uses of written language through the medium of a newspaper. Students "join the staff" of an imaginary paper (their first assignment is to fill out an application), where they will be instructed by the editor about parts of speech, paragraphing, word choice, the four "W's," and much more. Comic-book-style illustrations by Tielman Cheaney add to the fun. Home educators will find Wordsmith Apprentice an easy-to-use introduction to the subject of creative writing, and classroom teachers will want to adapt many of the exercises to their classes.

Wordsmith Craftsman
(Common Sense Press, 1996; 2nd ed. 2003)

High school is the time to get serious about composition, and Wordsmith Craftsman, though maintaining the informal and friendly tone of the other two books, does just that. After an opening section dealing with everyday writing requirements such as note-taking and summary-writing (both absolutely essential for the college-bound), students work on polishing their writing style (shades of Strunk and White), then move on to accomplish, step-by-step, five types of essay-writing: descriptive, narrative, expository, critical, and persuasive. A handy appendix summarizes all five essays, provides a reproducible form for taking notes and writing summaries, and gives the student a crash course in recognizing logical fallacies.