The Villages Daily Sun

THE VILLAGES — As Mary Lois Sanders read the latest chapter of her book aloud, her audience took notes and prepared to tell her exactly what they liked and didn’t like about it.

The idea might sound nerve-wracking, but as a member of the Children’s Authors Team, Sanders relies on the other team members to help her accomplish her goal of writing a chidren’s book for publication.

“The idea of reading what you’re writing to a group is to get their help,” the Village of Chatham resident said.

When Sanders finished reading, she received several suggestions to help her improve her story about a boy living during the time of the American Revolution, and she said that kind of feedback is exactly what she comes to the group to hear.

She said she definitely wants the book to be published, and appreciates the help of the group as she continues to work on it.

“You need other ears to hear so that you can hear it from a different perspective,” Sanders explained.

The reason the group is called a team rather than a club is because everyone is working together and helping each other produce high-quality children’s books for publication, said Mark “Top Cat” Newhouse, the team’s founder.

“We are a team of writers that want to be published,” the Village of Virginia Trace resident said. “Because we are a team, we help each other. Critique is not criticism. It is help.”

At the monthly meetings at Laurel Manor Recreation Center, the group hears a presentation on a topic relevant to writing or publishing. After the presentation is finished, people take turns reading whatever they are working on, and then the other members of the group critique it.

Village of Tall Trees resident Kathleen Farrell has been coming to the team meetings since the group started three months ago, and said she already is learning a lot about improving her writing.

“The group is absolutely amazing. It’s dynamic. There’s so much enthusiasm generated,” she said.

Although many would-be children’s authors might find the idea of reading their work to a group to be daunting, Farrell said the feeling in the group is just the opposite. She said the group is very welcoming and everyone is given constructive help.

“(Newhouse) has created a team kind of approach, where people are sharing their backgrounds and their knowledge,” Farrell said. “I think all of the members have such a background of knowledge that they’re bringing to the group. That’s really helpful.”

Newhouse said he wanted to start a group specifically for children’s book authors because of the uniqueness of the genre. In regular writing clubs, it is sometimes hard for adults who aren’t interested in children’s literature to offer constructive help and remarks.

“I think children’s writing is a special genre. You have to have a very special love for children’s literature,” Newhouse, a retired teacher and published children’s author, explained. “I felt this was a wonderful opportunity. It’s been very well received.”

The Children’s Authors Team is open to anyone with enthusiasm for children’s writing as well as those who want to be published in the genre.

The Children’s Authors Team meets 9-11:20 a.m. on the second Tuesday of every month at Laurel Manor Recreation Center. The group also will be involved in The Villages Literary Festival to be held 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Oct. 18 at The Villages High School. For information, call Mark H. Newhouse at 753-3290.

Caroline Klapper is a reporter with the Daily Sun. She can be reached at 753-1119, ext. 9018, or caroline.klapper@thevillagesmedia.com.