Another excellent Florida Writers Conference

Exhaustion and happiness! These two words describe many of us, I suspect, who attended another great Florida Writers Conference held this year in Altamonte Springs, FL. It was great to see old friends and meet new fellow writers and faculty presenters. Unlike the previous three years where I worked as a volunteer, this year I attended and enjoyed the sessions and panel discussions. Bolstering up my courage, I gave a verbal "pitch" at Chris Hamilton's exciting and instructive Pitch Fest Gong Show. I escaped the "gong" but I can't say I knocked 'em dead with my three-minute pitch. However,  I certainly learned what worked and what was missing from my very short description of my YA story CROSS OVER.

The exciting part is I was able to refine my presentation and successfully pitched to an agent the next day who requested fifty pages to review. Excited because I liked him. I truly believe a bit of personal rapport helps both writer and agent on this long and winding road to publication.

Next event is the Western  PA SCBWI conference in Pittsburgh, PA, Nov. 11 and 12. For this conference, I'm concentrating on my upper middle grade story THE WHISPERING CHIMNEY. I'll be showing two editors from major publishing houses my beginning pages. Wish me luck!

Finalist in Florida Writers' Contest

Good news this morning. My flash fiction short story "The Garden" (which is being published in this year's Florida Writers Collection) and my unpublished middle grade novel THE WHISPERING CHIMNEY are both finalists in Florida Writers' Royal Palm Literary Award competition. At the FWA conference in October I'll find out if either has placed in the top three. Here's hoping!

Book Signing in Morgantown, WV

Hello, friends. As I did last May, I will be signing copies of my chapter books for seven to ten year-olds at the Barnes and Noble store, University Town Center, Morgantown, WV. The signing will be between 1 and 4 pm on May 21. 
New website is up and running: www.janeellenfreeman.com

JEREMIAH LUCKY AND THE GUARDIAN ANGEL

Eight-year-old Jeremiah tries hard. That’s good. But he worries too much. Not so good. Jeremiah misses his dead father and pushes himself to be grown-up to help his mom. With so many things to remember, Jeremiah’s forgetfulness grows. What will happen when Jeremiah teams up with his guardian angel?

JEREMIAH LUCKY FINDS PUPPY LOVE

What a worry! Eight-year-old Jeremiah Lucky plays the frog prince in their third grade play and the princess wants to kiss him! Can he leap away in time? After summer begins, Jeremiah has a bigger worry—the cutest puppy ever is lost. Jeremiah’s guardian angel appears. Will their plan work?

Midwest Book Review Praises JEREMIAH LUCKY FINDS PUPPY LOVE

Great news! Midwest Book Review has announced that they are featuring my chapter book JEREMIAH LUCKY FINDSPUPPY LOVE on the Children's Bookwatch List. The following review will be in the March 2016 issue.

What a worry! Eight-year-old Jeremiah Lucky plays the frog prince in their third grade play and the princess wants to kiss him! Can he leap away in time? After summer begins, Jeremiah has a bigger worry-the cutest puppy ever is lost. Jeremiah's guardian angel appears. Will their plan work?

Charmingly illustrated by Eric Hammond, "Jeremiah Lucky Finds Puppy Love" is artfully written by Jane Ellen Freeman (a former language arts teacher who has been creating stories for over fifteen years), is very highly recommended for young readers ages 7-10, and would prove to be an enduringly popular addition to school and community library collections. For personal reading lists it should be noted that "Jeremiah Lucky Finds Puppy Love" is also available in a paperback edition (9781616337179, $9.95).

For my Morgantown, WV, friends I will be doing a spring book signing at the Barnes and Noble store near University Town Center on May 21 between one and four p.m. Hope to see you there. Both of my Jeremiah books will be available.

Positive Reviews for JEREMIAH LUCKY FINDS PUPPY LOVE

Once an author gets past the excitement of her book's release, holds the print copy in her hand, counts the pages and smiles at the illustrations, the next step is to encourage the book's forward movement into the hands of readers. I am blessed to belong to a large community of writers. Two organizations fostering writers that have been essential to my growth as a writer are the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and the Florida Writers Association.  As I've met and corresponded with fellow writers in Florida and across the US, several have expressed interest in my writing and my books for young readers. Two reviews of JEREMIAH LUCKY FINDS PUPPY LOVE have recently been posted on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. I'm reprinting them here with thanks to reviewers and authors, Sharon Stanley and Janet Ann Collins.

Review by Janet Ann Collins

This book has an interesting plot that isn't obvious and will keep young readers guessing. It will be welcomed by kids who have met Jeremiah Lucky in an earlier chapter book where the boy encountered his guardian angel. And Angus, that unusual angel, does make some brief appearances in this book.

But Jeremiah Lucky Finds Puppy Love can stand alone and will be enjoyed by kids who haven't read the first book in the series. And they'll probably be eagerly awaiting the next book about Jeremiah Lucky. They'll be lucky to have read this one.

Review by Sharon Stanley

Jeremiah Lucky is ready for summer and all that stands between him and a good time is the third grade play and his desire for a puppy. With his best friend headed for camp, his dad no longer living and his mom at work, a puppy could be just the right companion, but he may not be the only one in love with the shelter dog Polly.

Ms. Freeman has taken a simple story and combined just the right amount of intrigue, fantasy and possibility to make it a real page turner for elementary age kids. And to be honest, me too! Jeremiah Lucky Finds Puppy Love shared several great tips, was perfect for both girls and boys and managed to be sweet without being sappy. A tall order for just 70 pages. Highly recommend this one.