"Beyond the Library: Researching Nonfiction for Children"

Mel is Mel Boring, moderator of this interview with Joanne Mattern and web editor of the ICL Web Site.

Mel: Happy St. Patrick's Day Evening to you from Joanne Mattern and me! I have been so eager for this Guest Chat because I am involved in researching children's nonfiction too, and I'm dying to ask Joanne questions of my own. In my opinion, she is the Master of Research, having researched her way through the writing of more than 130 books for children. You could probably name very few subjects that Joanne has not researched for one and another of her one hundred-thirty books. Just practicing with Joanne in preparation for a chat is a journey into the mysteries of research. For she takes the mystery out of research, explaining in simple terms the what, where, how, when and why of nonfiction research. Joanne Mattern, we WELCOME you WARMLY back to our ICL Chat Room—thanks for coming!

Joanne: I'm happy to be back, Mel! Hi, everyone!

Mel: None of you can see it tonight, but I am wearing my bright green St. Patrick's Day top hat—just like the one on Google today! A tip of the hat and top of the evening to you, Joanne! Are you any part Irish, lass?

Joanne: Nope, I'm afraid not! I'm half Italian, a quarter German, and a quarter Dutch.

Mel: Joanne, when you were here in December, you told us about your crazy cats. Will you update us, please, on those feline critters?

Joanne: They are doing great. Lacey is an 11-year-old Maine Coon. She spends most of her time sleeping and snuggling with me. Cinnamon Girl is a 5-year-old calico. She demands attention from everyone! And Dylan is our baby, just 18 months old. He's a gray tabby and sweet and shy.

Mel: Is Lacey snuggling with you while you're writing?

Joanne: No, she is on our bed—her favorite spot!

Mel: You also told us of your two daughters in December, but now you have THREE. Please tell us about how this third daughter came to be in your family.

Joanne: Well, all our girls are adopted from China. Our newest, Grace, is 4 years old and she came home about 7 weeks ago. She is a lot of fun and full of energy! Very strong-willed, but a sparkly, happy girl.

Mel: About research, where is a good place to start researching, Joanne?

Joanne: I always start at the library. I look for books on the topic I'm writing about and also check encyclopedias for background information. Libraries are also a good resource for magazines and newspapers.

Joanne: I don't know who founded libraries in the U.S. Not to be flippant, but it sounds like you need to do more research!

Joanne: That sounds like me! I make a pile for each project I'm working on. Then, as I work on a project, I sort the piles by topic or relevance. It's messy, but it works for me! Other writers I know use folders to organize by topic and subtopic.

Mel: What is available at the local library for research?

Joanne: Libraries have a lot more than many people realize! There are books, magazines, newspapers, government pamphlets, etc. Most of all, there is the reference librarian! Every writer should make the reference librarian their friend! This person's job is to find information on ANY topic, and they are very good at it. They will have access to databases and other sources you might not even know about!

Joanne: I'm sure the library would be happy to give old magazines to you. Just ask your librarian to save them for you! (Another reason to make friends with your library staff!)

Mel: What kinds of things does a reference librarian know, for examples?

Joanne: A reference librarian knows how to find information. In fact, he/she has a degree in Library and Information Science. These people know about databases, how to find archives and old magazines, you name it. If they don't know the answer, they know where to find it.

Joanne: I don't usually use the computer to organize material. I print out articles and such from the Internet or the library's databases, and just add it to my pile of papers and books.

Joanne: Yes, I do! This is very helpful and a good way to find books you might not be aware of. It is also a good way to find primary sources. Go on, Mel, ask me what a primary source is!

Mel: All right, what IS a primary source, Joanne?

Joanne: A primary source is something written by the person you're researching, such as a diary or a letter. It is like a first-hand account. For example, Martin Luther King's Letter from a Birmingham Jail is a primary source. A book written about Martin Luther King or his time in jail would be a secondary source.

Mel: My local library is very small. Are there still ways it can help me find resources?

Joanne: Absolutely. Ask the reference librarian—or librarian, period—what sources are available. For example, they may be able to request books from other libraries. They may also have access to things like historical archives or government databases that the average person can't access.

Mel: GREAT suggestions, Joanne! I know you work at a library. Tell us what kind of work you do there, please.

Joanne: I LOVE libraries! I was in our local library so much that they actually gave me a job! I work as a page, which means I shelve books, keep the shelves organized, and help people find what they're looking for. It's great to be around books all the time, and working there has also helped me find resources even I didn't know the library had!

Mel: Say you watch a VIDEO about your subject at the library. Do you take NOTES, or do you just take away general impressions from it?

Joanne: I take notes, absolutely. I don't want to rely on my memory alone—I might not be accurate. Videos are a great resource. I've used them to get direct quotes from biography subjects or experts in the field I'm writing about.

Mel: What about using university libraries?

Joanne: These are a great source of more scholarly material, such as historical archives or publications aimed at scholarly readers. Many universities will let local residents use their libraries. Also, if you graduated from a college or a university system, you can often use it forever! My husband graduated from a school that's part of the State University of New York, and he just has to show his alumni card to use the state libraries. University libraries can also be accessed via the Internet.

Mel: Can you specify how to do that, perhaps?

Joanne: One way would be to go directly to the university's Web site and search for the topic you want. Another way is to Google search (or whatever search engine you use) a topic and then go to the university resources that come up. I just did that this morning, in fact. I was looking for information on Galileo and Newton and the experiments they performed on force and motion. A Google search brought me right to some EXCELLENT articles from the University of Virginia's Web site—just what I needed!

Mel: May I ask what you might be writing that involves Galileo and Newton's force and motion experiments?

Joanne: I knew you'd ask! :-)

Mel: We think ALIKE, methinks! (-:}

Joanne: I was writing the introduction to a science book about Newton's laws. They wanted a short overview of how Newton built on the work of scientists before him, such as Galileo. Interesting stuff, although more technical than I usually write about!

Joanne: Absolutely! Many writers use their research for a book, then take material that didn't make it into the book and turn that into a magazine article. I've heard fiction writers say that you should know more about your characters than you ever put on the page. In nonfiction, you should know more about your subject than you ever write about! It gives your writing more depth and background.

Joanne: My shortest nonfiction book was just about 200 words—it was a book about using math in everyday life, written for first-graders. My shortest article was about ways using the library could save you money, written for an adult newsletter called The Dollar Stretcher.

Joanne: GREAT question!!! Every fact should be corroborated by at least two other sources. This isn't as hard as it sounds. If you find information only from one source, it's suspect, and you can't really use it, no matter how fascinating! One way to get around this is to tell the story but say that it is a "rumor" or say "Some sources report that..." Just make it clear that this isn't an accepted fact.

Joanne: Thanks for asking—I wanted to clarify that point. Say you are writing about a fire. A primary source would be someone who witnessed the fire writing or speaking about it. Another example, the Ellis Island Museum in New York City has oral histories recorded by immigrants. So if you were writing about immigrants and their experiences, you could use those oral histories as a primary source.

Joanne: I list all adult books. Many publishers do not want you to use other children's books as sources. I also list any periodicals—magazines and newspapers—Internet sites, and CD-ROMS or videos, if applicable. If I used it, I list it!

Mel: Joanne, is there any particular reason many publishers don't want you to use other children's books as sources?

Joanne: Yes, they feel that the information may be "watered down" and not have enough depth for a resource. Most publishers prefer writers to work from adult material and bring the information down to a young reader's level. However, it's important for writers to know what other children's books are out there and what they cover. I often read some other children's books on a topic in the early stages of my research.

Mel: Any GENERAL advice as to how to bring information like Newton's and Galileo's experiments "down to a young reader's level"?

Joanne: Bring the vocabulary down—substitute shorter, simpler words and phrases—and keep the sentences short, lively, and clear. My boss at Troll Communications once said that ANY topic could be written about for children, as long as you kept things simple.

Joanne: About 90 percent of my writing is for children. I've also written a few articles for ICL's Children's Writer newsletter and a few other adult-themed newsletters. And many years ago, I wrote adult fantasy and science fiction for fanzines!

Joanne: I wouldn't single out one resource. It depends on your topic. If you're writing about a person, biographies are a key source. If you're writing about local history, a newspaper or local journals would be the first sources you'd go to.

Joanne: I think so, yes. Ask your reference librarian for help. You could also search for lighthouse sites on the Internet. Many of these are historical sites and could be a gold mine of information! (Can you tell I love the Internet?!)

Mel: I have a child’s curious mind like any nonfiction writer. I can't resist asking caq to tell us in a question sender what "lightships" are!

Joanne: I list the title, the company that produced the video, and the date it was released. You can find a more exact description in a book called the Chicago Manual of Style. This is an ESSENTIAL reference book for writers and it explains how to footnote, cite, and do pretty much anything else with any source you can think of!

Mel: Could we find the Chicago Manual of Style at a library, or do you recommend buying it?

Joanne: I would buy it, since it's such a valuable guide. Most libraries would have it in the reference section if you just wanted to look something up.

Joanne: Same to you, netty!

Mel: Thanks, netty, for keepin' it green in here! Joanne, Is there a way to obtain books right from your own computer at home?

Joanne: Do you mean find books, or actually print off books from your computer?

Mel: FIND them.

Joanne: Okay! Yes. One way is to go to Amazon.com or Barnes and Noble (bn.com) or any other major bookseller's Web site to find books on the topic you want to learn about. You'll be surprised how many books are listed at these sites! Also, some libraries allow their patrons to search their catalog at home. I do this all the time. That way, I know exactly what I want when I go to the library—saves time!

Mel: (I might mention parenthetically here that sites like Amazon.com are great places to get bibliographic information, too!)

Joanne: Yes, and Amazon can also tell you if a book is still in print.

Mel: Now that you’ve mentioned it, CAN you print books from your computer?

Joanne: Actually, I don't know about printing books from your computer. I know there are e-Books and electronic files, but I've never accessed them. See, there are some things about research I DON'T know after all! :-)

Mel: But NOT MUCH you don’t know, Joanne! Since you mentioned, too, finding out if a book is still in print, would you hesitate to use books too old to still be in print?

Joanne: It would depend. If the book was a primary source or a book about a specific era, written in that era, that would be fine. But if you are writing about science or you're examining the influence of a historical figure, you want the most up-to-date sources possible. Most publishers prefer sources that are no more than 5 years old.

Joanne: It's okay to use some of the same words as your sources do—in fact, there's no way to avoid it. There is something called "fair use" which allows writers to take small amounts of text without plagiarizing. To make your writing more unique, I suggest doing more of the "twisting" you mentioned—really try to tell the story in your own words, rather than paraphrasing information from others.

Mel: I can repeat some of those questions as you go along, Joanne.

Joanne: Yes, please, this is a lot of different questions, so it would be helpful to take them one by one.

Mel: OK!

Joanne: A bibliography should include all the sources you used. Sometimes the publisher will ask you to create a bibliography that is really a "further reading" list for the child, so that would include simpler, age-appropriate books. Many times the publisher uses the bibliography to fact-check your work, not necessarily show it to the reader.

Mel: Looking at some research material, the bibliography has letters/terms that would only confuse a child, or is that necessary for publication?

Joanne: If the bibliography is for the publisher, don't worry about this. If the bibliography is for the child to reference, then you shouldn't list books that are not age-appropriate.

Mel: VERY wise answer, Joanne! Footnotes, are they necessary in children's nonfiction?

Joanne: Most publishers don't use footnotes, they use "end notes" or "source notes." This means that quotes or materials that are directly taken from another source are numbered in the text. The source is then listed in the back of the book in a separate section. It's a lot like the whole footnote system, but it's easier for younger readers if they don't have all that distracting text at the bottom of the page.

Mel: Is there any essential difference between "end notes" and "source notes"?

Joanne: No, different publishers just call them different things. They are basically footnotes without feet! :-)

Mel: HA—I LOVE THAT! Glossary: Should it include words/terms already mentioned in the text, and how selective should the glossary be? Could it be set up as footnotes?

Joanne: I've never seen a glossary set up as footnotes. A glossary always includes words mentioned in the text that may be beyond the child's reading level. In the glossary, these words are defined, and sometimes a pronunciation is given. Sometimes the glossary words are printed in bold in the text, sometimes not. That is up to the publisher. I want to add that publishers will generally give you specific guidelines on how to set up notes, bibliographies, glossaries, and other "back matter".

Joanne: A magazine article might define a few words in a sidebar, and also list extra sources in a sidebar. I think editors would appreciate that extra information. But I would check the format of the magazine you're submitting to, to make sure they follow that format. Or query the editor.

Joanne: I can't remember a time when I didn't want to write! I got into writing nonfiction because I love animals and wanted to write about them. There weren't any specific books that triggered my interest.

Joanne: A lot!! Probably about 50-65 percent per book. The amount depends on the topic. If I'm writing about someone or something that is well-documented, then I will use more books. But if I'm writing about current topics then I find the Internet more useful. For example, I'm working on a biography of a soccer player named Brian McBride. I can't find any books on him because he is a current player, so I will rely entirely on the Internet and on magazine articles.

Joanne: I use information from the Internet all the time. Just be sure the info comes from reliable sources and that you can double-check the facts. Also, try not to rely solely on Internet sources--books and periodicals are still preferred by many editors, and using different sources will give your manuscript more depth.

Joanne: I usually write on topics assigned by publishers. That's why my body of work is so diverse.

Joanne: I think you should outline and query with a sample first chapter. Two reasons: 1) You don't spend time writing a book that editors aren't interested in; 2) An editor might like your idea but ask you to focus on different aspects, or tailor it for a different audience or age group. If you haven't written the book yet, it will be easier for you to adapt it to the editor's needs (if you choose to do so!).

Mel: Joanne, tell us what difference there might be in what BOOKS can give you, as compared with MAGAZINES/PERIODICALS.

Joanne: That's a great question! Books usually present a more in-depth look at a topic just because they are longer. You can say a lot more in a 200-page book than you can in a 2-page magazine article or on a Web site. Also, books are considered more "balanced" and fair, although that isn't always the case. You've always got to watch your sources, no matter whether they are books or Web sites.

Joanne: Yes, I always do this. Many publishers require it, and it's easier for me to organize things.

Mel: LOVE that "bib" abbreviation!

Joanne: I like "biblio" myself!

Mel: Yes, I believe that's clearer!

Joanne: Well, I've never traveled anywhere exotic! If a museum or historical site is close by, I will go there, but usually I work from home. I'm lucky enough to live near New York City, so I've gone there a lot to visit museums, etc.

Mel: What portion of your research might you do via the PHONE?

Joanne: I've done some phone interviews of experts in the field I'm writing about. However, these days, even those experts prefer e-mail interviews. I do too! It gives both the interviewer and the subject time to collect their thoughts and present them in a more thought-out and coherent manner.

Mel: What if you want to e-mail-interview an expert, but you end up talking with their assistant or some other aide?

Joanne: Actually, that's never happened to me! I think I would ask the assistant to forward the e-mail to the expert, then follow up with another e-mail or phone call. I want to toss something out here: When you do research, it's important to "think outside the box." That means, try to find new and different sources! Books and periodicals and Web sites are invaluable, but try to look at other sources. If you're writing about a medical topic go online and find a teaching hospital. If you're writing about a career, find a professional organization and interview someone there. If you're writing about a historical event, find a historical site or museum to do your research. There are many, many resources out there beyond the library books!

Mel: Toss things in any time you want to, Joanne—that was a RICH tidbit!

Joanne: Editors LOVE to find authors who are experts in a subject, especially a subject as hard to write about as vaccine research! I would mention your expertise and credentials in your cover letter and query, then mention any other sources you've used.

Joanne: I'm not sure. If there is a university or college in your community, ask them if you can have a card. You may be able to use the library for research but not check anything out. The books and periodicals could still be available to you though.

Mel: I might throw in my own experience just a bit here. Our state’s university libraries will give me a card, but it is more limited. For example, I can only check out 20 books at a time—but that works for me!

Joanne: Here's another idea: Some libraries will give "non-resident" cards to people who work in the community, but don't live there. I had a non-resident card for a New Jersey library system when I worked at Troll. Like Mel says, privileges are limited, but you can still check out books and do research in the library.

Joanne: I would look for books such as collections of songs or folk traditions. Periodicals and historical archives might help. This could also be a topic where interviewing people about their experiences and traditions could be a rich source of information!

Joanne: I actually don't write for magazines. I do know that Cobblestone, Ranger Rick, and Boys’ Life are good nonfiction markets. Here's another way your library or bookstore can help—go peruse the racks and see what magazines are out there and what they publish.

Joanne: Sure, why not? They are very well-written and informative books, despite the titles!

Joanne: I know publishers love writers that can work with the "hard" sciences—chemistry, physics, astronomy, etc. They are also looking for biographies of lesser-known, but still important figures. If you're writing about an "old" topic, try to find something new and different to say about it.

Joanne: Unfortunately, Internet sources don't always have consistent information. I list the author's name if it's available, plus the title of the article, the name of the site itself, and then the URL where the site is located. Mel, is this a good place to talk about how to weed out unreliable Internet sites?

Mel: YES!

Joanne: An editor at ABDO once gave me wonderful guidelines for Internet sites. You're more likely to find reliable sites if they end with .edu (these are university sites) or .org (these are museums and organizations). Sites that end with .com are okay as long as they are not blatantly commercial. For example, a store is not a great source (their goal is to sell something, not educate people), but many public figures have their own Web sites, and these are generally reliable. Another thing to stay away from are sites put up by people who just like a subject. They aren't authorities, and they may just be expressing their opinions, not facts. You can find a lot of these sites at geocities.com and angelfire.com. I never use Web sites from these URLs. Some might be great, but I just can't be sure!

Mel: Joanne, could you cite the example of ONE of your books that was published, and explain to us, from scratch, how you BEGAN the research, and where you went from there, and what your more "refined" sources were like later in the research?

Joanne: Sure! I did a book for Enslow called From Radio to the Wireless Web. I started with library books on the topics in the book, such as how radio was invented, how cell phones work, etc. Then I went to the Internet and found Web sites that explained the technology behind these forms of communication. One of my best sources was a Website called "How Stuff Works" that explains, well, how stuff works! Once I had a handle on the topics, I made an outline so I knew what info would go in which chapter. I LOVE outlines, by the way. They provide a road map that helps you see where you have too much information and where you need to fill in some gaps. Also, having an outline makes it much easier to actually write the book, because all the organization is done. As I wrote, I noted places where I still needed to explain things more clearly, then went back to my sources for more information. A long answer, but I hope it is helpful!

Mel: EXCELLENT and HELPFUL info, Joanne, thanks! By the way, caq sent me to the dictionary to find out what a "lightship" is. It's a ship with a bright light on it that anchors in a dangerous spot and warns other ships! THANKS, caq!

Joanne: I didn't know that!

Mel: Are there any special clues you feel that tell you you're "done" researching and ready to begin writing? Or do you write from the very beginning?

Joanne: Research can definitely become an excuse to put off writing the book! I tend to read some material for background information and then research and write simultaneously. This is easier for shorter books, because you can go along and pull out information as you need it. For longer books, doing research and outlining is essential! Once the outline looks complete, it's time to start writing—no excuses!

Mel: Someone just asked what is a "bib." It is an abbreviation for the longer-to-write "bibliography".

Joanne: Ondevine, that would be fine, as long as you were very specific as to what you wanted, so the reference librarian didn't go on a wild goose chase!

Joanne: Actually, I usually have my books assigned by the publisher. I have also gotten acceptances with an outline and a query, so that works for me too! I find it saves time, both for me and for the editor who's considering my work.

Joanne: It depends! I had a week to write the introduction to the book on Newton's laws. Generally, I have between 4 and 8 weeks. For longer works, the publisher usually asks me when I can get the book done, and I will give myself 2-3 months.

Joanne: Generally, yes. I usually submit a bibliography with the manuscript even if I don't have to, just so the editor can see my sources.

Joanne: Wow, that's a tough one. I might try e-mail rather than the phone. Or you could try to find someone to translate for you! Sorry I don't have a better answer.

Joanne: I would guess there are olive farms and olive-oil production companies or cooperatives that have Web sites or are listed in a professional directory. Ask your local market where they buy their olives—perhaps there is a local farm that could help you. Of course, you should check the Internet for informational Web sites and check the library for books and periodicals.

Mel: Does the date of a source matter, Joanne?

Joanne: Absolutely! This is especially true when you're writing about science—it has to be as up-to-date as possible. Publishers also want historical topics to reflect current scholarship, especially books for older readers. Also, you have to watch some older biographies and children's books from the 1950s-1970s—it was acceptable in those days to make up dialogue, and that's not acceptable any more. A quote must be exact, not something the subject might have said.

Joanne: They put out a new edition every few years, but you can get by with an older edition for quite a while. The rules don't really change, the book just gets updated to include new forms of technology and usage.

Joanne: I believe it is USA-specific.

Joanne: I don't see why not.

Joanne: It depends on the topic. I would say that I use the Internet for at least 50 percent of my research on most books, even more on others.

Joanne: It would certainly be polite to ask the person if you could use the quote in a different way, yes.

Joanne: Absolutely, yes, and they should, unless you're talking about self-publishing.

Joanne: I always send information about myself and my work unbidden to publishers, and I update them several times a year. That way I am in their minds when they are looking for a writer on a particular topic. Also, editors I have worked with often come to me when another project comes along and offer the job to me.

Joanne: Thank you for calling it an honor, caq! I did have to build up a body of work, so I would say it took about 6 years.

Joanne: If you have them, then yes, I would include them. Some publishers do their own photo research, though. With magazine articles, I believe submitting photos is a big plus and is sometimes even required. Of course the photos and visuals should be very professional and high-quality!

Joanne: I set up the sidebars as a separate part of the text (for example, in a box or under the heading SIDEBAR) and include them with the manuscript.

Joanne: Just ask! Some magazines put out lists of what topics they will cover in future issues. I believe Cobblestone does this. Otherwise, read magazines to see what general topics they cover, then query them with your idea.

Mel: How can I broaden the scope of my research and find more interesting or detailed information?

Joanne: As I said earlier, try to think outside the box. Don't rely on those old standbys—books, articles, Web sites. Instead, look for new sources, such as museums, hospitals, professional organizations, historical sites, local experts. You can also use Web sites to find new approaches. For example, go on amazon.com and see what other books are out there on your topics. What ideas aren't included in these books? How could you make your work stand out? Or go to a news site and find an interesting story or a fresh approach to an old issue.

Mel: Do you need to double-check facts, or will editors do that for you?

Joanne: Editors expect YOU to have double-checked everything! They will also fact-check at the publisher, but if they find you are way off base on something, it really makes you look bad. So make sure you know what you're talking about!

Mel: How do I prepare a bibliography, in general?

Joanne: Entries are always listed alphabetically by author. If the author is unknown, then alphabetize that entry by title. After the author, list the title, the place of publication, the publisher, and the date. For example, Smith, George. Baseball Stars. New York: Scholastic, 2003. (That is not a real book—I just made it up!)

Joanne: You do not list page numbers in a bibliography. You do list them in source notes, however.

Mel: You’re talked about how to put books into a bibliography. How do I write a citation for a magazine?

Joanne: That would be author, article title, magazine title, date, volume number, issue number, page numbers. So: Huff, Alice. "Hiking in Canada." Traveler Magazine. September 2004, Volume 9, Issue 14, pages 21-25.

Mel: How do I write a bibliography citation for a Web site?

Joanne: Author, title, Web site title, and URL. Let's see: Jones, Harry. "Galileo's Experiments with Motion." University of Virginia. http://www.galileo.lecture.uva.edu" (again, I just made that up!)

Mel: Can I use museums or historical sites for research? How would I list them in the biblio?

Joanne: Yes. If you used a museum's Web site, just follow the example I used above. If you took notes from an exhibit or interviewed someone, you have to be a little creative. For example, I might say, "Notes from Exhibit on Italian Immigration." Ellis Island Museum, New York, October 24, 2004. Just include all the relevant information. The publisher will give you guidelines if they want this sort of citation in a different format.

Joanne: Absolutely! I've been lucky a few times and had an editor give me a list of sources! Most recently, this happened with a company that I am writing career guides for. The editor had already put together a list of professional organizations which she shared with me. Another recent experience—I was having trouble finding scholarly sources for a book on Cinco de Mayo, so I asked my editor for suggestions and she came up with some very helpful ideas that pointed me in a new direction.

Mel: Last question: How do I get in touch with experts in the field I'm writing about?

Joanne: Last question—I can't believe it! Okay, the Internet is a good source, and so are local organizations. For example, when I needed to interview a Patient Advocate for a career guide, I did a Google search and found a list of Patient Advocates at a large hospital in Florida. Two e-mails later, and I had my interview!

Mel: A ZILLION THANKS to you, Joanne Mattern, for revealing the mysteries of how to do research for children's articles and books! You've given us so MANY places to start, which will lead us on the "treasure hunt for facts." THANK YOU also for all the Web sites you have given me to post at the end of the interview when it is posted tomorrow. They'll be research treasure for us for years to come. We have many more questions about research and about the many books you have published, and how you found the facts for them all. Would you come back and guest again, please?

Joanne: Research IS a treasure hunt, Mel! Of course I will come back again. I love chatting with you all, and I love helping my fellow writers. Thanks for inviting me!

Mel: On the last day of March, the 31st, we will have as our Chat Guest, a person who knows the Internet so well that she could move around it with her eyes closed. Jan Fields is the moderator of one of the most heavily trafficked sites on the Internet. Jan has not only moderated Web sites, but started them from scratch. She knows the BEST places to go for an online chat with other children's writers, and where you can learn about children's writing in general, or specific topics, such as writing only for children's magazines. If you have found online discussion boards awkward, Jan Fields can put your mind at ease, explaining just how they work, and just what you can expect—and not expect—from an online discussion group. Come and chat March 31st with this mover and shaker of the Internet, as well as ICL Instructor!

Mel: A HEARTFELT THANK-YOU to you again, Joanne Mattern, for turning on so many lights in the darkness that research for children's books often is for us. Using the MANY tips you have given us, and the Web site links that will be added tomorrow at the end of this chat, we will take on the challenge of publishing children's nonfiction with MUCH more confidence now, because you were here. THANK YOU, Joanne, and we wish you and your family well!

Joanne: Thanks, Mel! Thanks, everyone! Happy writing to you all!

Joanne: No, I don't! Someday...

Mel: Kudos for you, Joanne, WELL deserved!

Joanne: Wow, kelmar, that's great! Congratulations!

Joanne: I’m glad we could help you, ondevine!

Mel: You are WARMLY WELCOME, ondevine! Goodnight, children's writers!