Fall Fun!

I just received my copies of the September/October issue of Turtle magazine.  They did a fantastic job with the illustration for my poem "Beasty Feast".  It's also a hidden picture page which is so fun.  Be sure to check it out.  Happy Fall!

Hooray for NaPiBoWriWee!

Last day of NaPiBoWriWee and I am done with seven new picture book manuscripts!  This was a super busy week so I thought it was a little crazy to take on the challenge but...I'm so glad I did.  Something different happens to you when you are writing under a deadline like this.  You don't have time to listen to your inner critic, just need to get it down on paper.  And then, magic happens...

Last night I was so tired and thought I'd just sit down and at least outline my idea.  Then, not sure what happened, but the manuscript took a completely different turn and it's so fun.  I love it when that happens.  Looking forward to spending more time on it.  

My next idea came to me in the middle of the night.  It's a young PB but came to me pretty much fleshed out.  So I forced myself to wake up, pull out a notebook and get it all down.  We'll see if I can read that "middle of the night chicken scratch".  It's a cute idea.
Congrats to everyone who participated!  Thanks so much to Paula Yoo for putting this together, and to our little FB support group.  Wow, that was so terrific to read everyone's posts and words of encouragement each day.  Made it so much more fun.  Hooray!

Happy Cinco De Mayo!

Just received my author copies of the May / June issue of Humpty Dumpty magazine.  Robin Boyer did such a great job with the illustration for my poem "Pinata".  It's a two page spread with hidden pictures and it's so cute.  So celebrate Cinco De Mayo with your own copy of Pinata!

To purchase Humpty Dumpty magazine visit http://www.uskidsmags.com/ or call 1-800-558-2376 for a subscription or back issue.  Enjoy! 

Almost there!

I can't believe that it's Day 5 already of the NaPiBoWriWee Challenge and I have five bright and shiny new manuscripts already.  (Well, some aren't shiny yet... but they will be.)  Two more to go! 

This morning inspiration hit on a silly idea of mine while I was on the front porch in my pj's saying good bye to one of my kiddos.  My son was laughing at me as he ran to the bus.  I rushed inside and got it all down on paper.  And my youngest may have almost been late to school, but hey...I really like this new one.

Many thanks to Paula Yoo for organizing this, because if it wasn't for her challenge, I definitely would not have written 7 new manuscripts this week.  May is always so crazy busy that I usually give myself a little slack.  But I guess this proves that even at the busiest times, I can create new work and still get all of the other stuff done!  It will be so nice to have the summer to critique all of these new pieces.

Keep going everyone that's participating!  We can do it.  And thank you Paula!  You are wonderful!

Happy May!

I can't believe it's May 1st.  How did that happen? Even though the weather doesn't feel like it - we've already started a countdown to summer in our house.  (And in case you were wondering, there are only 24 school days left!)

May 1st is also the first day of the National Picture Book Writing Week challenge (NaPiBoWriWee).  Write seven picture books in seven days.  I'm ready to go and have my list of story ideas mapped out.  For more information, check out Paula Yoo's website http://www.paulayoo.com/.  She has the rules, words of encouragement and interviews different picture book authors each day.  I'm looking forward to it! 

Off to start on my new manuscript for Day 1....

Turtle Magazine - Coming Soon...

I just found out that my poem "Beasty Feast" will appear in the September/October issue of Turtle magazine.  I got a little inside scoop today on the illustration plans.  Should be really cute so keep an eye out for it.  Can't wait to see it!

The Publishing Scene with Arthur Levine

On Saturday I attended SCBWI's Spring Thaw program with author & editor extraordinaire Arthur Levine.  What a fabulous speaker.  Arthur covered the key ingredients for remaining savvy in the current children's publishing market and also offered his perspective on launching picture books during a time when the format is considered "a tough sell".  It was definitely a day well spent.  Thank you so much to Arthur and to the committee that made this great event happen.  It's always wonderful to get together with my writing friends. 

I was also able to purchase Arthur's new book "Monday is One Day".  A heartwarming story about how hard it is for parents and children to say good-bye when Monday comes and parents head off to work, and children to daycare or school.  Sure to be a new family favorite.