Writing With a Broken Tusk

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Writing With a Broken Tusk began in 2006 as a blog about overlapping geographies, personal and real-world, and writing books for children. The blog name refers to the mythical pact made between the poet Vyaasa and the Hindu elephant headed god Ganesha who was his scribe during the composition of the Mahabharata. It also refers to my second published book, edited by the generous and brilliant Diantha Thorpe of Linnet Books/The Shoe String Press, published in 1996, acquired and republished by August House and still miraculously in print.

Since March, writer and former student Jen Breach has helped me manage guest posts and Process Talk pieces on this blog. They have lined up and conducted author/illustrator interviews and invited and coordinated guest posts. That support has helped me get through weeks when I’ve been in edit-copyedit-proofing mode, and it’s also introduced me to writers and books I might not have found otherwise. Our overlapping interests have led to posts for which I might not have had the time or attention-span. It’s the beauty of shared circles—Venn diagrams, anyone?

On Canada Day and July 4th
Uma Krishnaswami Uma Krishnaswami

On Canada Day and July 4th

In acknowledgment of both Canada Day (July 1) and American Independence Day (July 4), this post addresses nations whose forebears were here on this land before either Canada or the United States:

[Posted by Jen Breach for Writing With a Broken Tusk]

In June 1942, Major General Clarence Tinker’s plane was downed in the Battle of Midway, and he was lost in the ocean. He had been a career soldier, a decorated aviator, and the highest ranking Native American officer in the US armed services.

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