Project and content management for Contemporary Authors volumes
WORK TITLE: A Tunnel in the Pines
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE:
CITY: Newburyport
STATE: MA
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY: American
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Married; children: three.
EDUCATION:Colgate University, B.A., 1976; attended University of Dijon, Dijon, France, 1974-75.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer, editor, and communications consultant. Communications consultant, self-employed, 1980–; worked as an assistant editor of children’s books at E.P. Dutton, New York, NY; People magazine, New York, NY, staff reporter, 2003-06, contract reporter, 2007-2012; Association of American Railroads, Washington, DC, contract writer, 2009-2015; Philip Exeter Academy, Exeter, NH, writer, institutional advancement & financial aid, 2013-15. Volunteer services include children’s and young adult book program for the Newburyport Literary Festival, 2007–; and Pennie for Poverty, bread pickup and deliveries, 2017–.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
Lucia Greene grew up in Connecticut and Maine, finishing her childhood on a farm in Poland Spring, Maine. Greene has worked as a children’s book editor and a journalist for People magazine. She has also worked as a freelance communications consultant since 1980, consulting with a variety of industries, from nonprofits and the transportation industry to health care and publishing companies. Greene is also the author of middle-grade novels. “I never gave up my love for children’s literature,” Greene noted in an interview with Bonnie Ferrante for the Bonnie Ferrante—Books and More for Children website.
In her debut novel, A Tunnel in the Pines, Greene tells the story of best friends Andrew and Wills. The last week of school before summer vacation inspires the friends to come up with something new to do over the summer. Most of all, they want to avoid doing all the things their parents typically sign them up for to keep them busy. Instead of soccer or computer camp, Andrew and Wills want to do something adventurous. As a result, they start a club called the Annelids, the name referring to a segmented worm that Andrew likes to study.
“While at People I pitched a story on a Princeton University dropout who started a company called Teracycle that feeds organic garbage to earthworms to produce potent fertilizer,” Greene told Ferrante for the Bonnie Ferrante—Books and More for Children website. Greene went on to tell Ferrante that she was “intrigued” by the story and ended up studying Charles Darwin and his work with worms, adding: “I wanted to introduce Darwin and tie his magnificent research in with a modern-day story about kids exploring the outdoors, so the book weaves those findings about earthworms into the more immediate story of a club.”
In the novel, the boys make up an invitation list of their closest friends to join the club. Unfortunately Taylor, the older brother of Wills, and his friend Strat insist on joining the club as well, much to the chagrin of Andrew and Wills, since Taylor and Strat are both bullies. Andrew and Wills end up making up an initiation rite to join the club, namely to dig a deep tunnel like worms do and then subsequently test the bravery of the clubs’ members. Meanwhile, Wills discovers that Andrew suffers from severe asthma. Eventually, Wills, facing pressure from Taylor and Strat, starts behaving like a jerk, leading Wills to consider whether or not he is turning into his brother. “Greene ably presents the contradictions and difficulties of growing up from a boy’s point of view,” wrote a Kirkus Reviews contributor.
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Kirkus Reviews, January 15, 2018, review of A Tunnel in the Pines.
ONLINE
Bonnie Ferrante—Books and More for Children, https://bferrante.wordpress.com/ (August 3, 2016), Bonnie Ferrante, “Author Lucia Greene—Three Random Questions Interview.”
Lucia Greene Website, http://luciagreene.com (June 29, 2018).
Lucia Greene grew up by a river in Connecticut, lived by the harbor in South Freeport, Maine, and finished her childhood on a farm in Poland Spring, Maine. A lifelong reader and writer, she edited children's books, had a career as a journalist for People magazine, and is currently a freelance writer. She and her husband have three grown children and live in Newburyport, Massachusetts.
Lucia is a versatile writer, editor, & media consultant with experience covering a wide variety of industries, including but not limited to education, non-profits, transportation, energy, health care and publishing industries. A rapid assessment of client needs results in compelling, consistent messaging and targeted copy on a tight turnaround.
Recently Published: A Tunnel in the Pines
Recent Press:
Kirkus Book Review of A Tunnel in the Pines
A Tunnel in the Pines by Lucia Greene: Book Review
Connect
Email Lucia
LinkedIn
Twitter
Lucia Greene
Lucia Greene
3rd degree connection3rd
Writing/Communications Professional
Newburyport, Massachusetts
Self-employed
Colgate University Colgate University
See contact info
See contact info
See connections (353)
353 connections
I'm a versatile writer/editor/communications professional with experience covering a wide variety of industries, including but not limited to education, non-profits, the transportation, energy, health care and publishing industries. I deliver a rapid assessment of client needs results in compelling, consistent messaging and targeted copy on a tight turnaround.
I write for clients seeking fresh, concise, exciting copy.
Media (1)
This position has 1 media
5 Surprising Ways Railroads Improve Life in America/washingtonpost.com
5 Surprising Ways Railroads Improve Life in America/washingtonpos...
This media is a link
Lucia’s Articles & Activity
353 followers
Youth is Not An Excuse
Lucia Greene on LinkedIn
See all articles
Our Best Hope Against Fake News? Your Local Librarian
Lucia Greene likes this
keep thinking about celebrating w The Wharton School MBA class of 2018 last weekend.. so much fun !! https://bit.ly/2wNWa6G #tbt
Lucia commented
keep thinking about celebrating w The Wharton School MBA class of 2018 last weekend.. so much fun !! https://bit.ly/2wNWa6G #tbt
Lucia liked
See all activity
Experience
Self-employed
Communications Consultant
Company Name Self-employed
Dates Employed 1980 – Present Employment Duration 38 yrs
I specialize in advising clients on web development, providing insightful, engaging content and creating original profiles highlighting individual and industry innovations. My fresh, targeted SEO branding across the social media spectrum consistently engages readers. I focus on humanizing an industry, non-profit or cause by delivering meticulously researched, compelling stories to captivate while making connections, and have experience presenting crisis communications seminars offering companies insights critical to successfully navigating and managing complex media challenges.
Current project: Contract tech writer for McNeil, Gray & Rice ~ Strategic Communications ~ Boston, MA
Phillips Exeter Academy
Writer, Institutional Advancement & Financial Aid
Company Name Phillips Exeter Academy
Dates Employed Jul 2013 – Apr 2015 Employment Duration 1 yr 10 mos
Location Exeter, New Hampshire
My primary responsibility involved interviewing faculty members, fellows, students and directors to communicate relevant information to the Academy's major scholarship and fund donors, updating them on pertinent activities relating to their donations. Exeter is one of the top private preparatory schools in the nation, attracting quality students from all over the world while actively nurturing an extremely active alumni network and subsequently robust endowment.
Association of American Railroads
Contract Writer
Company Name Association of American Railroads
Dates Employed 2009 – Mar 2015 Employment Duration 6 yrs
Location Washington D.C. Metro Area
My lengthy collaboration with the AAR Communications team spotlights the importance, historical and current, of America's freight rail industry. I focused on the incorporation of critical SEO language throughout all copy--web slideshows, profiles and the launch of a AAR's Freight Rail Works site-- reaching targeted audiences while developing consistent, powerful branding. The FRW site won the 2012 Association Trends Award for Best Website and was a 2012 Webby Award nominee for Best Website (Associations.)
Recent project: I created featured freight rail content for washingtonpost.com.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/brand-connect/wp/enterprise/5-surprising-ways-railroads-improve-life-in-america/
For another project, I was the researcher/writer of a slideshow illustrating US railroads' involvement in the Civil War:
http://bit.ly/1JigbB7
Media (1)
This position has 1 media
AAR.Org
AAR.Org
This media is a link
People Magazine
Contract reporter
Company Name People Magazine
Dates Employed Jan 2007 – Sep 2012 Employment Duration 5 yrs 9 mos
Location New England
I covered breaking news stories throughout New England, working with People's New York bureau team to deliver compelling, accurate stories on tight deadlines. Subjects included celebrities, crime and general interest topics.
People Magazine
Staff Reporter, New York Bureau
Company Name People Magazine
Dates Employed Jan 2003 – Apr 2006 Employment Duration 3 yrs 4 mos
Location Time Life Building, New York City
I reported and wrote breaking news, entertainment and feature stories, often collaborating with a team of reporters assigned by the New York Bureau chief.
Media (1)
This position has 1 media
He Feels Your Pain
He Feels Your Pain
This media is a link
Education
Colgate University
Colgate University
Degree Name Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Field Of Study English/French
Dates attended or expected graduation 1972 – 1976
Activities and Societies: Hosted show on WRCU-FM; theater reviewer; Varsity Women's Volleyball
University of Dijon, Dijon, France
University of Dijon, Dijon, France
Degree Name Study abroad
Field Of Study French Language and Literature
Dates attended or expected graduation 1974 – 1975
Volunteer Experience
Newburyport Literary Festival
Children's and Young Adult Book programming
Company Name Newburyport Literary Festival
Dates volunteered Apr 2007 – Present Volunteer duration 11 yrs 2 mos
Cause Arts and Culture
I help select children's and young adult authors to participate in Newburyport's annual celebration of books; organize programs, promote the finest authors/illustrators/poets writing for kids today.
Pennies for Poverty: 2 cents 4 Change
Bread pickup and deliveries
Company Name Pennies for Poverty: 2 cents 4 Change
Dates volunteered Jan 2017 – Present Volunteer duration 1 yr 5 mos
Cause Poverty Alleviation
Along with a team of P4P volunteers I regularly pick up quality, unsold bread from a local bakery called When Pigs Fly, delivering it to area hunger relief organizations serving the greater Merrimack (MA) Valley.
Skills & Endorsements
Publishing
See 19 endorsements for Publishing 19
Giovanna Breu and 18 connections have given endorsements for this skill
Storytelling
See 11 endorsements for Storytelling 11
Luke Connolly and 10 connections have given endorsements for this skill
Social Media
See 11 endorsements for Social Media 11
Mirian Omolade Ola and 10 connections have given endorsements for this skill
Industry Knowledge
Editing
See 11 endorsements for Editing 11
Marketing Communications
See 7 endorsements for Marketing Communications 7
Proofreading
See 6 endorsements for Proofreading 6
SEO
See 6 endorsements for SEO 6
Writing
See 5 endorsements for Writing 5
Text Editing
See 4 endorsements for Text Editing 4
Crisis Communications
See 4 endorsements for Crisis Communications 4
Copy Editing
See 4 endorsements for Copy Editing 4
Publicity
See 4 endorsements for Publicity 4
Press Releases
See 3 endorsements for Press Releases 3
Content Strategy
See 1 endorsement for Content Strategy 1
Content Development
See 1 endorsement for Content Development 1
AP Style
See 1 endorsement for AP Style 1
Copywriting
See 1 endorsement for Copywriting 1
Public Relations
See 1 endorsement for Public Relations 1
Research
See 1 endorsement for Research 1
Marketing
See 1 endorsement for Marketing 1
Magazines
Other Skills
Online Editing
See 2 endorsements for Online Editing 2
Profile Pieces
See 2 endorsements for Profile Pieces 2
Online Media Relations
Fact-checking
Editorial
See 4 endorsements for Editorial 4
Conducting Interviews
See 3 endorsements for Conducting Interviews 3
Published Author
Recommendations
Received (0)
Given (1)
Tony Abbott
Tony Abbott
Independent Writing and Editing Professional
February 27, 2013, Lucia was a client of Tony’s
I have twice brought Tony to the Newburyport Literary Festival's annual celebration of books, and on both occasions--once on a panel and once solo--he has given dynamic, exciting presentations. Tony writes first-rate children's books and our toughest audience critics--the kids--are avid fans.
Accomplishments
Lucia has 4 projects 4
Projects
Bonnie Ferrante Interview and Book Review Pets with Benefits Delivering Wind Energy Home State Health
Lucia has 3 publications 3
Publications
A Tunnel in the Pines book review A Tunnel in the Pines 100 Best Communities for Young People
Lucia has 2 honors 2
Honors & Awards
2017 Author in Residence Honorable Mention for Non Profit
Lucia has 1 organization 1
Organization
Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI)
Interests
McNeil, Gray and Rice
McNeil, Gray and Rice
385 followers
Leaf Holdings
Leaf Holdings
1,796 followers
Public Relations and Communications Professionals
Public Relations and Communications Professionals
367,019 members
Gestalt Interactive
Gestalt Interactive
32 followers
Newburyport Literary Festival
Newburyport Literary Festival
8 members
Journalism Jobs TV Radio Social Media PR Journalist Communication Public Relations JournalismJob.com
Journalism Jobs TV Radio Social Media PR Journalist Communication Public Relations JournalismJob.com
104,066 members
https://www.linkedin.com/in/luciagreene1/
Author Lucia Greene – Three Random Questions Interview
AUGUST 3, 2016 / BONNIE FERRANTE
Lucia Green is the author of A Tunnel in the Pines, a suspense novel. “Best friends Andrew and Wills… start a club, adopting Andrew’s Darwinian science project as their guiding mission after being forced to accept Wills’ overbearing older brother Taylor, and his hulking sidekick, Strat, as members. But …the club’s underground initiation goes haywire, surviving it tests the strength of both friendship and brotherhood.”
Click on the cover to buy a copy.
Bonnie Ferrante: Welcome, Lucia. Tell us a bit about your writing and your most recent work.
Lucia Greene: I used to be an assistant editor of children’s books at E. P. Dutton, reading manuscripts, writing jacket and promotional copy, and working with authors and illustrators to bring stories to life. After that I was sidetracked for many years when I worked as an editor and journalist at People Magazine, but I never gave up my love for children’s literature. When my three kids were growing up I used material gleaned from their lives to write my second novel, CRAZY MOON, a middle grade that’s currently under consideration at Islandport Press.
Lucia author
Ferrante: What a lot of impressive experience. Congratulations on Crazy Moon.
Ferrante: What research did you do for this novel?
Greene: My debut middle grade, A Tunnel in the Pines, is based on something we did–digging an elaborate underground tunnel– with neighborhood kids while growing up alongside a river in Connecticut. While at People I pitched a story on a Princeton University dropout who started a company called Teracycle that feeds organic garbage to earthworms to produce potent fertilizer. The idea intrigued me, so I did a whole lot of research on the guy who started it all, Charles Darwin. His studies with worms and other living beings back in the mid 1800s produced the theory of natural selection and totally changed the way we view evolution. I wanted to introduce Darwin and tie his magnificent research in with a modern day story about kids exploring the outdoors, so the book weaves those findings about earthworms into the more immediate story of a club and the dangerous repercussions involved with its initiation process. People never did go for the story on Teracycle’s founder, but I was able to incorporate vermiculture into the plot, making it far more interesting than it might have been.
Ferrante: On Amazon, there seems to be a confusion between a novel for teenagers and a guide for parks. Can you explain what happened here?
Greene: Sigh. The book is not for teens per se, it’s a middle grade novel. My publisher says Amazon messed up and linked me with that parks author, but I’m not sure who’s responsible. I only know there is no connection, and both the publisher and I have tried again and again to straighten it out, to no avail. If you have a suggestion, I’d love to hear it.
Ferrante: Unfortunately, if it doesn’t get straightened out before reviews start coming in, your best bet may be to retire the title and start again under a new ISBN. Amazon seems to have a limit of two or three pieces of correspondence and then they close down the conversation.
Ferrante: How many versions did you write of A Tunnel in the Pines?
Greene: I wrote one version but extensively edited and re-wrote over time. Even though I’ve been an editor, my writing constantly needs tightening, and editing, and revision. It’s a lengthy, important process.
Ferrante: What do you feel makes your writing original?
Greene: Because so much of the book reflects experiences from within my own family, I tried to be as honest as possible while remembering how it feels to be a 10 or 11 year old. As the youngest of five, my next oldest brother was always giving me a hard time, physically and mentally. He’d punch or trip me just about anytime he got the opportunity. The friendship between Andrew and Wills, my narrator, is as close as I could make it to the often conflicted feelings kids have at that age about themselves, their siblings, their friends, and what friendship means. Sometimes you’re thick as thieves, sometimes acute jealousy intervenes. And I do remember having girlfriends who would come over to our house just to be near that next oldest brother of mine. I remember how that felt when I realized I was a conduit to him. Wills comes to feel that way about his pretty older sister, Connie.
Ferrante: What is the most important thing you have learned about writing?
Greene: Writing as a journalist was challenging, but writing creative fiction presents the ultimate challenge. Being an author means you get to create a world, and a story, that’s your own work. At its best, your characters take control and the dialogue and story spin forth according to their direction. That’s the sweet spot. But facing a blank computer page and coming up with that first sentence? That’s the hard part.
Ferrante: Is there anything else you would like to tell us?
Greene: I come from a long family of writers. My mother is Constance C. Greene (http://ccgbooks.com ), author of 25 children’s books and one adult novel. In her heyday she did very well. She’s now nearly 92 and I recently edited and revised parts of her latest book, Luke the Lizard Sitter, which is with Elizabeth Harding at Curtis Brown as I write. My oldest brother Shep Greene wrote The Boy Who Drank Too Much, a book that is still used to teach reluctant High School readers, and my next oldest sister, Stephanie Greene, is a successful author of children’s books ( http://www.stephaniegreenebooks.com ).
The final thing I’d like to say is that when I present a children’s program on this book I bring materials and show kids how to make their own worm farm, which is a pretty easy, and sustainable, thing to do. For some reason kids are fascinated with worms, and the idea that they are actually very positive environment activists, i.e. they’re capable of removing harmful pollutants from soil and leaving it fertile, is a source of fascination.
IMG_4706-1
Ferrante: I love how the children seemed so intrigued when you share your worm farms with them.
IMG_4771-1.jpg
three random questions
Ferrante: If you were writing an autobiography, what would be the hook’s title?
Greene: Being Greene
Ferrante: Ha! What would your dream house look like?
Greene: It would either be a converted barn on acres of rolling pastures with grazing horses, or an old stone farmhouse by the sea, perhaps in Maine where I used to live.
Ferrante: Sounds lovely. If you could see the front page of a national newspaper dated January 1, 2100, what do you imagine that the main headline might say?
Greene: We made it!
Ferrante: Funny!
Thank you for sharing this fascinating topic with us. Best of luck with your books.
Greene, Lucia: A TUNNEL IN THE PINES
Kirkus Reviews.
(Jan. 15, 2018): From Book Review Index Plus. COPYRIGHT 2018 Kirkus Media LLC http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Greene, Lucia A TUNNEL IN THE PINES North Country Press (Indie Fiction) $10.95 5, 15 ISBN: 978-0-945980-57-5
During summer vacation, a boy faces difficult choices during a club initiation in Greene's debut YA novel.
School is almost over, and narrator Wills and his best friend, Andrew Wyler, have plans for a new club called the Annelids, named after worms that Andrew finds interesting. The invitation list includes the boys' closest friends, but inevitably, Wills' older brother, Taylor, and Taylor's friend Strat Sherwood find out about the club. They insist on being part of it, too, but they're bullies who have a tendency to take things over. "Having Taylor involved in this club is not making my life any easier," thinks Wills. At the first club meeting, Wills makes a suggestion for an initiation: "How about we dig a really deep tunnel and make like the worms do, join our powerful brothers underground?" Taylor and Strat seize on this idea, liking the thought of a bravery test to weed out the weak. The boys organize and carry out their plan, finding a good location in the pine woods, gathering tools and plywood, making scale drawings, and digging out stones and roots. During this process, Wills finds Andrew's journal and discovers that his friend has severe asthma, but he keeps the secret, as his friend is already picked on enough. When the tunnel is complete, the initiation rites will test the boys' courage and resourcefulness. Greene ably presents the contradictions and difficulties of growing up from a boy's point of view. Wills and his friends are at an age when girls are still "others" and boys fear looking weak more than anything else in the world. Wills, however, is kind; noticing his mother's laugh lines, he thinks, "It's my mission to get her laughing as often as I can." Still, pressure from the older, challenging boys gets to Wills; he has to admit that he's been a jerk sometimes, that Andrew has reason not to trust him with the news of his diagnosis, and that maybe he's become too much like his brother. The way that Wills navigates his competing instincts is realistic and moving.
1 of 2 5/20/18, 5:52 PM
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MA...
A skillful exploration of a tween boy's coming-of-age.
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Greene, Lucia: A TUNNEL IN THE PINES." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Jan. 2018. Book Review Index
Plus, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A522642875/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS& xid=9a69631f. Accessed 20 May 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A522642875
2 of 2 5/20/18, 5:52 PM