Here is an article about Mary Amato, her new book Invisible Lines, and her work with young writers through Passion For Learning, written by Sandy Moore for The Takoma Voice.

When I do workshops on revision, I often share an example from a draft and a revision to illustrate how I work. At the request of teachers, I have created pdf pages that you can download and print (or project onto your classroom screen) to share with students.

Example of Editing and Revising The Naked Mole-Rat Letters

Example of Revising from Invisible Lines

Example of Editing and Revising Snarf Attack, Underfoodle, and the Secret of Life

Example of Editing and Revising Edgar Allan’s Official Crime Investigation Notebook

After writing Invisible Lines, I became enchanted with mushrooms. My friends began to send me images of mushrooms. Here’s a mushroom craft idea. Software developer and game designer Zach Barth, in Bellevue, WA, realized that screws resemble mushrooms and created this whimsical sculpture.

First find some large screws and paint them however you like. Although it may scratch off, Barth suggests using standard, hobby-grade acrylic paint. Next, find a fallen tree branch, thick enough to hold the “mushrooms” you’ve made. If the branch is too long, you can use it as an opportunity to give an impromptu and safe lesson on woodworking. Ask very young children to “work” alongside you with their pretend tools, but if your kids are old enough, you may want to teach them how to use real tools safely. Saw off the ends to make your branch the size you want. Then, drill a hole for each “mushroom.” You can still buy simple, hand-held manual drills, which are great for projects with kids. When my kids were young, I’d have them put their hands on top of mine, so that they could “help.” –Mary Amato

Mushrooms release spores, which are tiny, round, reproductive bodies, which you can literally “capture” in a print. Take a mushroom and gently remove the stem—you don’t want to damage the mushroom, but you do want to make sure the thin veil of flesh covering the gills is open so that the gills are exposed. Put the mushroom gill-side down on a piece of paper and cover with a glass. Wait 24 hours, lift off the glass, and carefully pick up the mushroom. You should see the spores released in a pattern.

Spore Print from MAW Fair

If the spores are white, you won’t see them on white paper and should try placing a new mushroom on a piece of black paper. Some people make spore prints on half black/half white paper to cover either possibility.

Grocery store mushrooms do not work well because they aren’t fresh. Your best bet is to pick a mushroom in the wild, one in which the veil has already begun to open or has opened. You should wash your hands after handling the mushroom, but don’t worry about toxicity exposure…mushrooms that are poisonous to eat are okay to handle with appropriate caution.

If you want to keep your print, make sure to spray it with fixative.

Some people are allergic to mushroom spores, so be appropriately cautious and don’t sniff the spores. –Mary Amato

In my book, Invisible Lines, Trevor’s science class goes outside for a mushroom “foray.” Looking for mushrooms is kind of like going on a natural treasure hunt. You don’t have to be in the wild. Mushrooms grow everywhere, even in New York City!

Photo by Jim Kuhn

Mushroom Hunting:

Once you start looking for mushrooms, you will start to see them growing on trees, near trees, under leaves, near creeks, in median strips, on your front lawn, etc.  Different mushrooms pop up at different times of the year. Especially after a good soak.

Photo by Ivan Amato

Looking over some mushroom identification guidebooks can be a great way to familiarize yourself with what might be out there.

Poisonous species can look remarkably similar to edible types, so don’t eat anything unless you are foraging with a mycologist. Join your local mycological association to find experts who can teach you how to identify mushrooms.–Mary Amato

Booklist says:

“With its exciting mix of soccer, science, art, friends, and enemies, Trevor’s first-person narrative will pull in readers…Trevor’s anger and tenderness are heartbreaking.”

Ages 10 and up.

Mushroom Burgers for One

1. Preheat a toaster oven to 400° F.
2. Chop and sauté mushrooms (one large portabella or a half-dozen small button mushrooms) in olive oil. Let them cool slightly.
3. Meanwhile in a bowl, beat an egg and add ¼ cup of breadcrumbs and any seasonings you like.  Add the mushrooms to the egg mixture, add 2 oz of crumbled feta cheese and mix. Form this mix into two patties.
4. Place the patties on a well-oiled baking pan. Bake them in the toaster oven for 10 minutes and then flip and bake for 7 more minutes or until golden brown.
5. Serve with a dollop of plain Greek yogurt and a splash of hot sauce!

Stuffed Caps

Coat mushroom caps (you can use any type of edible mushroom. I prefer baby bellas) with olive oil & stuff with goat cheese. Season w/sea salt & your favorite herb. Bake on well greased (use olive oil) baking pan at 375 for fifteen minutes or until tender.

Mushroom and Pumpkin Soup

Saute your favorite type of edible mushroom and onions in olive oil. Add 1 t. curry powder and 1 T flour (or potato starch), stir in 2/3 can of pumpkin, add 28 ounces of any type broth. Cook for 30 minutes. Add 1 cup of milk (do not boil). At the very end, you can also add the following optional garnishes: chopped cilantro, chopped spinach, croutons. Delicious!

Shiitake Pasta

While you’re boiling up your favorite noodles, sauté some shiitake mushrooms in olive oil until they are thoroughly cooked. Add other veggies if you want. When the noodles are done, toss the shrooms with the pasta and add goat cheese. Stir until the cheese melts into a creamy sauce.  Easy and yummy.

Stuffed Caps

Coat mushroom caps with olive oil & stuff with goat cheese. Season w/sea salt & your favorite herb. Bake on well greased (use olive oil) baking pan at 375 for fifteen minutes or until tender.

Mushroom and Pumpkin Soup

Saute mushrooms and onions in olive oil. Add 1 t. curry powder and 1 T flour (or potato starch), stir in 2/3 can of pumpkin, add 28 ounces of any type broth. Cook for 30 minutes. Add 1 cup of milk (do not boil). At the very end, you can also add the following optional garnishes: chopped cilantro, chopped spinach, croutons. Delicious!

Shiitake Pasta

While you’re boiling up your favorite noodles, sauté some shiitake mushrooms in olive oil until they are thoroughly cooked. Add other veggies if you want. When the noodles are done, toss the shrooms with the pasta and add goat cheese. Stir until the cheese melts into a creamy sauce.  Easy and yummy.

More Information about Edible Mushrooms

Hidden Superfood: Some people believe that mushrooms have little nutritional value. Wrong. Mushrooms are good for you. They contain protein, fiber, essential amino acids, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, biotin, ascorbic acid and Vitamin D. Mushrooms produce strong antioxidants, antibiotics, and antiviral compounds. Scientists are studying their medicinal compounds to cure cancers and small pox, to treat diabetes, obesity, immune disorders and more. See Mycelium Running: How Mushrooms Can Help Save the World by Paul Stamets.

Cook Before Eating: Make sure you thoroughly cook your mushrooms. White button mushrooms are commonly eaten raw in salads, but many mushrooms will cause digestive problems if eaten raw.

I often use index cards to keep track of my plot. I try to write short statements related to the action of the story on cards. Sometimes I spread them on the floor to “see” my plot. Sometimes I tape them to a display board.

In addition to using the cards for plotting purposes, I also use them to keep track of important bits of information, such as my character’s school schedule. These are the cards for the novel Invisible Lines. I have a new set of cards for the book I’m working on now.