
by Jane Yolen
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I was in seventh grade (or thereabouts) when I discovered female pirates. Or rather with a rather loud shout of AHOY! they found me. Our class assignment was to create a book and I decided to write about something I was fascinated with--pirates. And doing research I discovered Ann Bonney and Mary Read. They became the centerfold (I kid you not!) of my pirate book which I hand sewed and illustrated.

Were there more lady pirates? I hadn't a clue, but those stuck with me for years. And when in 1961 I decided to write real books, I made a leap of faith that where there were two female pirates, there might be more. I wrote a book proposal, titled it PIRATES IN PETTICOATS (a misnomer since for the most part they wore men's clothing--easier to sail and fight in, you see!) and sold the idea to David McKay Publishers as my very first book on my 22nd birthday. The book came out in 1963.
Ah, then I had to find more. With the help of something called Foul Anchor Archives, I did, indeed, find a bunch of possible lady pirates, including the world's greatest pirate, Madame Ching who actually ended up in one of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. However, I say "possible lady pirates" because years later, on closer inspection, I decided some of them were mythic and not real.

For years my first book was the only book totally about female pirates in the world. My next pirate book featuring Ann and Mary was BALLAD OF THE PIRATE QUEENS (Harcourt), written in rhyme and beautifully illustrated by David Shannon. And then over forty years later, I decided to totally rewrite, re-imagine, and rethink the first book and wrote SEA QUEENS (Charlesbridge). Again, Ann and Mary anchor the book.

They also have a cameo role in the book BAD GIRLS that my daughter and I have written which will be published next year (I hope) by Charlesbridge.
What next? Maybe a novel featuring them? A movie of my own? I haven't a clue. No X marks the spot. I only know that female pirates, buccaneer broads, swordswomen of the sea will not let me go!
~end
Guest post created for ...and a bottle o'rum event by Jane Yolen
© 2011. All rights reserved.
by Jane Yolen
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Avast, me hearties!
Winner's pick of...
Women Pirates Around the World
by Jane Yolen
illustrated by Christine Joy Pratt
OR
The Ballad of the Pirate Queens
by Jane Yolen
illustrated by David Shannon
Open to all.
Offer ends: May 29 --> extended to June 12, 2011
TO DO:
Visit Jane's site and tell me something About or What's New with Jane.
AND, leave your email (if I don't already have it)
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Contest has ended - winner is here
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I learned she won a caldecott medal.
ReplyDeleteShe has been called the Hans Christian Andersen of America and the Aesop of the twentieth century. WOW!!! *_*
ReplyDeleteThank you for this giveaway! :D
Switching on the Moon is a finalist for the Cybils award.
ReplyDeleteShe is the Hans Christian Anderson of America.
ReplyDeleteYou have my email but I like to post it again just in case XD
shinsgirl@yahoo.com
My daughter and I just read Sea Queens not too long ago and loved it.
ReplyDeleteI learned she has been elected Grand Master by the members of the Science Fiction Poetry Association
Jane Yolen!!!!!!! Be still my little fangirl heart!!
ReplyDeleteOk .... my heart did a little flip-flop when I saw it was Jane Yolen today --- LOVE her writing! I had a chance to meet her at a convention years ago and got completely choked up with I asked her to sign my childhood copy of The Moon Ribbon. :)
ReplyDeleteEEEP!!! Jane Yolen!OMG! Sister Light, Sister Dark and White Jenna are two of my favorite books!! EEEP! Definitly entering this contest!
ReplyDeleteSomething new about her:
She received third place for the Dwarf Stars sf/fantasy poetry award for “Goodbye Billy Goat Gruff”, from Asimov’s Magazine.
aimeelavalle@gmail.com
Jane is also a poet. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteMargaret
singitm@hotmail.com
Met her last weekend at the NESCBWI conference (she was one of the keynote speakers). She's inspiring in print and in person.
ReplyDeleteChild of Faerie/Child of Earth is one of my favorite books. Magic abounds when stories leak from her fingers onto the keyboard.
I can't believe she has written over 300 books! We have several on the shelf, but not near that many.
ReplyDeleteMelanieinoh2003@yahoo.com
Jane Yolen’s books and stories have won the Caldecott Medal, two Nebula Awards, two Christopher Medals, the World Fantasy Award, three Mythopoeic Fantasy Awards, the Golden Kite Award, the Jewish Book Award, the World Fantasy Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Association of Jewish Libraries Award among many others.
ReplyDeleteaikychien at yahoo dot com
I learned she has won over 13 awards
ReplyDeletewow...she has written over 300 books. I can't believe it.
ReplyDeleteShe has been elected Grand Master by the members of the Science Fiction Poetry Association- amazing achievement!
ReplyDeleteand
Her book "SWITCHING ON THE MOON" won an Oppenheim Portfolio Gold award and is one of the Toronto Globe & Mail’s top books of the year.
sarah.setar@gmail.com
I learned that she's the Hans Christian Anderson of America. The American version of one of my favorite fairy tale writers! :D
ReplyDeleteKris
elfdrop AT gmail DOT com
Ahoy! Me ladie pirates be sailing the big waters with me and spied yer giveaway! Me crew found that....
ReplyDeleteSwitching on the Moon be a finalist fer the Cybils award. Thanks fer the chance at some plunder. Arrrrrgh...
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com
I was surprised to read that she's written 300 books. Busy lady! :) amazing_alex.0818ATyahooDOTcom
ReplyDeleteShe has three books listed on a Top 50 Poetry Books for children which I found pleasantly surprising! I always think of Jane Yolen as a great author and storyteller but I don't always think of her as a poet!
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting the giveaway!
herbookself at gmail dot com
**NOT ALL PRINCESSES DRESS IN PINK is a finalist for the first ever SCBWI Crystal Kite Award in the New England region.
ReplyDeleteheykiddego(at)gmail(dot)com
Thanks!
She has SIX honorary doctorates in literature! Damn, girl! You rock!!
ReplyDeletejwitt33 at live dot com
Thanks for a great giveaway!!