Holiday Mishap Contest

I am so excited to join in the contest fun! I was afraid I wasn't going to get this up in time thanks to the strep the children shared with me over the weekend. 

The wonderful Susanna Leonard Hill is running her 3rd Annual Holiday Contest. All the details can be found here. Without fourth ado, here is my Holiday Mishap:

A Juicy Cautionary Tale for the Traveling Mouse

As told by Auntie M

Artist's Date Anyone?

After a wonderful month with PiBoIdMo, how do I keep up the idea generating groove? With Artist Dates. They sound heavenly.

Artist Julie Cameron has brought the idea of the Artist Date to us and she is a wonderful champion for the movement. She writes:

The Artist Date need not be overtly

“artistic” — think mischief more than mastery. Artist Dates fire up the

imagination. They spark whimsy. They encourage play. Since art is about the

play of ideas, they feed our creative work by replenishing our inner well

of images and inspiration. When choosing an Artist Date, it is good to ask

yourself, “what sounds fun?” — and then allow yourself to try it.

-Julie Cameron

http://juliacameronlive.com/basic-tools/artists-dates/

Sounds good right?

I'm a PiBoIdMo Winner and My #Nerdlution

Thanks to the PiBoIdMo challenge I have 34 brand new ideas to play with. I've already written two of them into drafts and there are a few more gems in the pile I think!

PiBoIdMo Halfway Point!

We made it! Halfway through November. So now Christmas music is playing in just about ever retail space. I'm not prepared! Well actually, I should be done with all the extra shopping I'm doing before the end of the month. Whoot! I'm trying to keep December more about my 3 Fs: Family, Friends and FOOD. Yum. I'm excited just thinking about it. :)

My first PiBoIdMo week was more full of ideas then this past week. Only 8 new ideas. Just over half of week one. But, I'm still on track to finish with more then 30 new ideas. And there are a few that are actually GOOD ideas. Some ideas are dead ends right now. Like the one I got when we found a caterpillar ride along in the stroller. That one isn't inspiring me at ALL right now. But maybe one day.

That's why I'm keeping all these ideas. My own treasure chest of ideas. (Yes, it's a folder, but it's full of gems. HarHar.) One day one of these dead end ideas may spark a new story. Who knows! I could write something about a world traveling caterpillar. That doesn't excited me right now, but with the right twist it could. I just need to sit on these ideas until they are ready to hatch.

Each idea counts. Some won't grow in to anything quickly, but they have the potential. It's all about the potential.

Week 1 PiBoIdMo Done!

There has been a lot of chatter recently about how great the kid lit community is and I completely agree. I have truly enjoyed the openness and camaraderie that the online community offers along with the acceptance and encouragement that surround the interactions. It still amazes me how quickly I felt like part of the community. My local SCBWI Region has been a wonderful community as well. Art Date anyone?

These year has been a whirl wind of new experiences and I am enjoying most of it. Rejections (I just got one today) are part of the game and to reach the ultimate goal they are a necessary evil. Sad, but true. But, by being part of the phenomenal kid lit community we can all celebrate each others' successes and rise together when we are feeling down and out. 

Right. Back to it. 

So, for the first week of PiBoIdMo I am ahead! 13 ideas logged so far. I am enjoying my current idea keeping system. I've been using notecards for the actually ideas and pinning articles/pictures to my cork boards. Ok, one cork board is all kid art work. :)

My sticker machine makes some great stickers.
I have the little lightbulb all over. 

PiBoIdMo Idea Meter

I am all set up and ready for PiBoIdMo (that's Picture Book Idea Month) to start tomorrow. Ok almost ready. I still need to decide how I want to record all these ideas, but I have a few options. Notebook, index cards, cork board and pins. I think I'm going to end up with a combination of all three to be honest. Over the course of the challenge (30 PB ideas in 30 days) maybe one of these will win out. Stay tuned to find out how they are all working!

November will be all about the ideas! So to keep visual track of how things are going I added a progress meter over there on the left. In case you are participating in PiBoIdMo (or NaNoWriMo) you can add this to your blog too!

Here's how I added mine.

First I Googled and found a progress meter I liked at http://honorless.net/progressbar.htm.
It was the first one I found that would let me go as low as 30. Most of what I found are for novel writers for NaNoWriMo and didn't like being set below a few thousand. (Any programers out there want to make a snazzy meter for us PB writers??)

This is a screen shot of the website. All I did was change the goal number from 50,000 to 30 and picked the font. Then click Refresh Code and copy all the text in the box.

Now the next part will be different depending on where your host your blog. But here's how I did it in Blogger.

From the Blogger Dashboard, go to the layout page and click add gadget. Choose the HTML/JavaScript Gadget.

A smaller window will pop up. Enter a Title for your meter then paste the code you copied from the website box in the Content box. Save and you're done!

There's mine!

You could save the website with the progress meter and repeat the process each time you update your meter. That is every time you add ideas! Or you can change the code by editing the gadget.

From the layout page on the dashboard, click EDIT in the bottom right hand corner of the gadget box. The following window will open.

Your total number of ideas is the BLUE box (here 10) and the RED boxes are the percentage you are finished. To find that number divide your number of ideas by 30 and multiply by 100. (I rounded a bit here. :) )

Then save and you're done!

I think I got all of it.

Here's to many great ideas in November!!

Presenting....

After quite a LONG hiatus, I'm slowly getting back into everything. One bit at a time, baby steps. :)

First, we welcomed our newest addition, a little boy, at the end of August. He has yet to reveal his alter ego, but for the time being he'll be known here as "Little D."

Next up is an invitation to an event I'm co-hosting:



I've heard from a few novel writers so far and I would love to grow the picture book group!

For more information about the November challenges, visit PiBoIdMo and NaNoWriMo.

Hope to meet you at the event or virtually for PiBoIdMo!

Let's Start a Conversation: How do we get good books to kids?

I was going to write up a post about the Picture Book Panel at Politics and Prose on May 19th, but Publisher's Weekly did a nice job and there is video HERE. For a great blow-by-blow, check out Once Upon a Story's synopsis.

Instead of writing up my notes, which would not be as good as the two above, I've been thinking about children's literacy non-profits. Something Jon Scieszka said on the panel was that there are a lot of these literacy programs but they give the "crappiest books to the poorest schools." 

So how do we get the BEST books out to kids? If the books the kids are presented with are great, engaging, thought provoking books they are going to want to read. And read them again and again. 

Not only do many of them have programs for getting books into the hands of kids, they have wonderful volunteer opportunities and various events for us all to get involved with. 

Here are is a VERY brief selection:

An Open Book - This organization was mentioned by Meg Medina during the panel.Their mission is to promote literacy in the Washington, DC area. They give books to disadvantaged children and teens and they also provide author and illustrator visits. (If you know of an organization like this near you, please share it below!)

Reading is Fundamental (RIF)- The largest children's literacy non-profit in the US. From their website, "We prepare and motivate children to read by delivering free books and literacy resources to those children and families who need them most. We inspire children to be lifelong readers through the power of choice. RIF provides new, free books for children to choose from and make their own."

National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance - Founded by award-winning authors and illustrators, the NCBLA believes that literacy is more then just the ability to read it is also about accessibility to quality literature that encourages the readers to dream and achieve those dreams. "We believe that literacy is essential to the development of responsible citizens in a democracy. The main goal of the NCBLA is to make issues related to young people’s literacy, literature, and libraries an ongoing priority on our national agenda." (from the NCBLA website.)

Children's Book Council (CBC)- "The Children’s Book Council is the national nonprofit trade association of children’s book publishers. The CBC offers children’s publishers the opportunity to work together on issues of importance to the industry at large, including educational programming, literacy advocacy, and collaborations with other national organizations." (from the CBC website.)

Raising a Reader -  This organization focuses on family involvement in a child's reading adventure. According to their website, since they began they "have helped more than 900,000 families build and sustain reading routines in their homes, with special attention to highest-risk for educational failure."

Lastly, RIF has a current campaign called Book People Unite. You can see the short video and sign the pledge here.

The Enforcer already LOVES to read!

I see our "mini library" at home as such a blessing and gift for our kids. I would love to be able to share the love of reading my family has with others. And hopefully, work towards making books accessible to all kids. 

Do you know of a great children's literacy organization that we all should know about? Please share it below! 

I would love to get a great list together over time.

Any ideas on other ways to get great books to kids?

How a Book is Made according to Mac Barnett

This weekend at the Gaithersburg Book Festival, I had the pleasure of hearing Jon Scieszka and Mac Barnett speak together in a talk called Picture Book Fun. (Read more about their talk and the festival HERE.) The audience LOVED seeing them and Mac Barnett shared how his first book was made. I wish I had a video of this because the pictures don't do justice to how funny and engaging his explanation was! 

But, without further blabbing from me:

How a Book is Made according to Mac Barnett 

(paraphrased by yours truly.)

Here is how Billy Twitters and His Blue Whale Problem was made. This is a picture of..... right the United States as it looks from space. This red dot is me in California. I came up with the story and after about the 5th draft sent it to my editor....

 in New York. (See the Statue of Liberty?) An editor is like a teacher and tells you what to fix and what jokes aren't funny. So I changed to the ideas of hers I liked and sent it back.

"But you didn't change this."
"Well, I didn't think it was a good idea."
"I think it's a good idea."
Back and forth and back and forth. (That would be all the red lines crossing the US.)

Then around the 10th draft it was ready to go to the illustrator.

Adam was the illustrator (shown here by the glasses near the Statue of Liberty) and he sent me a few pictures of monsters.

"But these aren't whales?"

"Yeah, they're for my book."

"But what about MY book??"

"I'll get to that.... after I move to Arizona....and write a novel."

(Apparently while moving to Arizona, Adam took a wrong turn and went to Canada and then hiked through the mountains. His move is noted by the green dots from the glasses to the cactus which Mac says looks quite a bit like Adam.)

Finally, the book has pictures and it's sent back to NY where it is ready to be printed. 

Now if you were going to print something that needed to be sent all over the country where would your print it? Exactly, in the middle (see the X.)  And they print it really close to there, over here in CHINA. (big red circle on the bottom of the board.) This is just what China looks like from space. 

Then they print stacks and stacks of my books. You can see them from space, just like the Great Wall of China. (great likeness in the picture too...)

So after they are all printed, how is the fastest way to get them here? Right, by boat...

The boat sails through the sea is then boarded by pirates, who don't care about books since they don't read, and then the boat goes on past a sea monster and into the Bermuda Triangle. Finally, after months and months it pops out up by NY. But all the words are backwards. So they have to sail back through the Bermuda Triangle to POP back out with the words the right way. 

Then they send them out all over.

And that is how a book is made. 

As I said, it would have been great as a video. But now we know why it takes so long to get a book published, printed, and out to the readers!

Jon, Mac and the Gaithersburg Book Festival

Get out your pen and mark your calendars for May 17, 2014 The Gaithersburg Book Festival was a wonderful event and I am already looking forward to next year.

What made this event so great? Amazing speakers, friendly helpful staff and volunteers, great food, and of course, great books ALL OVER!

Since I was volunteering in the afternoon, I arrived early to have time to hear a program or two and check out all the community and author/illustrator booths.

I talked with authors and illustrators in the Hall of Exhibiting Children's Authors and met some wonderful people. I spread the word about SCBWI to those who hadn't heard of the organization before and handed out a few brochures.

The opportunity to meet so many other authors and illustrators and really have a chance to talk with them one-on-one is a big advantage of this festival. Smaller then the National Book Festival in DC and the Baltimore Book Festival (both in September,) the Gaithersburg Festival has a great community feel and everyone is willing to talk without feeling rushed or bustled. The pavilions are nicely sized so everyone gets a seat, but even at the packed programs you feel engaged with the speakers. Oh, and though I stayed in the children's area they have areas and presenters for adult genres as well. I meant to stop by and hear the Mommy Bloggers, but I got caught up chatting with a few children's authors. 


Speaking of speakers: I was able to see Mary Quattlebaum and her husband dressed as pirates as they shared her newest books Pirate vs. Pirate, The Hungry Ghost of Rue Orleans, and Jo MacDonald Had a Garden. Who doesn't love a pirate presentation? We all definitely did and the kids anxiously awaited to see what her most precious treasure was in her treasure box. In a pirate author's treasure box you will find jewels and gold of course, but you will also find a hungry ghost trying to eat vegetables from Jo MacDonald's garden. But the most precious treasure of a pirate author is her PIRATE PEN!

Up next was a power-duo, Jon Scieszka and Mac Barnett. Both authors have an astonishing list of accomplishments pertaining to writing and spreading a love of literature. 

In one word, they were HILARIOUS. These two gents obviously enjoy playing off one another and the audience certainly enjoyed the show. Each read a story and the other gladly interrupted through out.

Mac then provided the audience with a detailed version of how a book is made, but that will be a separate post later this week. Good stuff there, I sure learned a lot. (Yes, that was a hint of sarcasm.) Here it is!

Then I was off to volunteer at the Story Time tent where local volunteers (teachers, media specialists, and community members) would sit for a bit and read picture books to groups of kids. There were two little girls that would have stayed all afternoon and listen to stories. We had a little break between readers and they looked so disappointed I read them a few of the books I picked up in the morning until the next reader arrived. I love that! It's always nice to find kids excited about books! Getting a small crowd to sit down was always easier after the reader had started, but the biggest crowd was there to hear RGIII's parents read a few of his childhood favorites. 

Though the weather wasn't ideal, it wasn't sun-burning and hot or heavily raining, so I can't complain! I had a great time volunteering and I'm looking forward to next year!

Just a little heads up, I checked the list of already confirmed presenters for the National Book Festival and award winning illustrator JON KLASSEN is on the list! 

Whoa May, Slow Down

Ok, May starts tomorrow so I was taking a good look at my calendar. IT IS SO FULL! Whoa. 

Now that it is getting nice weekends are bound to disappear before we even get to them (full of fun things of course.) But, it seems as my weeks are terribly busy too. More so then usual. 

Here's what's coming up this month:

This is the extent of my doodling.
I should write a story about a snail...

May 1st-May 31st is Doodle Day May. I am not an artist, nor do I claim to be, but this has the potential to get some more creative juices moving and I can involve the kiddos! Can't get much better then that right?

May 1st-May 7th is NaPiBoWriWeek or National Picture Book Writing Week. The challenge here is to attempt to write 7 picture book drafts in 7 days. I have my list of ideas ready and I'm hoping they are ready to be written. Sometimes those ideas can be quite stubborn and the first drafts are SUPER bad, but a draft is a draft and the habit or writing a bit every day would be a great one to develop.

May 1st - July 31st Cheerios Spoonfuls of Stories Contest is open to New Authors. They pick 3 finalists and then in early November he public votes for their favorite. The winner gets their story in a whole bunch of cereal boxes and in the hands of millions of little readers. Not to shabby!

May 13th -May 19th is National Children's Book Week. Their about the week page says "Established in 1919, Children's Book Week is the longest-running national literacy initiative in the country." How awesome is that?!? Go kid lit!

May 18th is the Gaithersburg Book Festival where they are going to have an awesome amount of stuff going on. Jon Scieszka, Mac Barnett, and Christopher Myers caught my eye quickly! I'm volunteering for the morning of the festival and hoping to be in the children's area to rub a few elbows!

May 19th is a Picture Book Panel at Politics and Prose in Washington DC. Part of the panel are Neal Porter (editorial director of Neal Porter Books) and authors Mac Barnett, Meg Medina and Jon Scieszka and author/illustrators Christopher Myers and Laura Vaccaro Seeger. I'm hoping to meet up with a few other SCBWI members before hand too! 

SO! That's just the picture book/writing/creative bits on my calendar this month. I hope baby #4 likes to go because we are going to be doing quite a bit of it this month. With tee ball, swim lessons and (what we like to call) "Mom's Stroller Workout" during the week and the end of trimester two coming up fast, I'm hoping I have time to sleep!

I'll apologize for the state of my house now, I won't be bored enough to clean it. :)

The Helpful Speed Bump ( aka Finding my Path)

There are two things I wanted to be when I grew up: a mom and a writer.

As other SAHMs (that would be: stay-at-home-moms) will tell you, it is the greatest and hardest job staying home with your kids. Some days are full of fun, laughter, and seemingly unending joy. But other days it can be hard to make it to bedtime. It can be terribly lonely if you don't seek out other adults, but these kiddos are endless sources of energy and boring is NEVER how I would describe my job.

Thank goodness for Spring!

It has taken me a bit longer to realize that being a writer was at the core of everything else I thought I wanted to do professionally. Before working at a television station in college, I was sure that's what I wanted to do. I was going be the next Katie Couric. But, that career ended before it began. The three years I did television in college were the only three years I had anything to do with television production.

From college, I volunteered for six months with Boys Hope Girls Hope in Detroit as a house parent for five teenage girls. This volunteer opportunity opened my mind to a career in non-profit and after a few months as a substitute teacher, I joined Talbot Mentors as the Program Coordinator. I loved the freedom to create new programs and monthly newsletters. I loved working with the elementary and middle school students after-school with homework, projects and other educational enrichment. After the Politician was born, no longer wanting to work full time, I signed on with Caroline County Recreation and Parks as a middle school After-School Coordinator.

Then came PT and with two little ones at home, I took on full time, stay at home mom status. Lots of play groups and story times. And along came the Enforcer in 2011. By then I was really looking for something to call mine, again. Ok, and a way to get rid of some baby weight. :)

So, 2012 was my year of running. With the three little ones at home, I relished the short time away to have something I needed to do alone. Each month I conquered another race. One was a half marathon! I loved the community, the commitment, the determination, and the persistence that running asked of and provided to me. As 2012 came to a close, I was already planning my racing calendar for 2013.

Enter baby number four and my running came to a screeching, stalled out, halt. Our new addition will be arriving late into the summer and has changed all those plans I had for 2013.

I wanted something like running. Something that required so much of me, but brought me so much in return. Something that got me out of my house and even though I could share it with my kids there was much I would need to do on my own. Something with a wonderful community and a way to grow and evolve in many different ways. I found just what I was looking for in writing.

I've always had journals and stories floating in my head, but I finally feel like I have taken the path I was supposed to take. Just like any crossroads in life, without a speed bump (mine is growing daily :) ) I probably would have missed the exit and passed right on by. For so many reasons, I am thankful for my children, but number four will always have a special place as the one who helped me realize a dream I had forgotten.

Many thanks to everyone in the Picture Book Community. Through 12X12 and the PBA (Picture Book Academy,) I have felt right at home and surrounded by amazing, intelligent and like minded people. I look forward to what is in store for 2013 and beyond!

I would love to hear your journey! Have you had a helpful speed bump?

Newbie Writer Goes to a Conference

First, so sorry I'm a bit behind. I had every intention of writing this post a week ago, but ah well. My darling helpers kept me quite busy all week! But, here we are my first writing conference overview and synopsis! (It's a long one, so go grab that drink and relax!)

To start, I want to second what I read on a new writing friend's blog last week: if you can go to a conference, go. If people ask what you want for your birthday, tell them you want to go to a conference. BEST GIFT! Not only do you get all the amazing information from the speakers, have the opportunity to meet with other wonderful people who share a love that you have, but you can have a day or two that your only responsibility is what you want to be doing. I had so much time in the morning since the only one I needed to get ready was me. Such a difference I wasn't quite sure what to do with myself!

Beautiful view from the Conference Center!
When there was no wind it was comfy too!

On to the conference! The MD/DE/WV SCBWI Conference was held just outside of Fredrick, MD on March 23, 2013. After the light breakfast and a bit of mingling, we hopped right into the day which was jammed with great speakers. Writers and illustrators from nine states plus DC were in attendance for the day: MD, WV, DE, PA, VA, NY, NY and NM. Quite a list!

Starting the day off in a great way was T.A. Barron. His talk was inspirational to many as evidence by the fact that all of his books sold out of the book sale area!
A few tidbits that stuck with me:

• There is always more to learn, more to explore and more to create.
• "Just the right word" is what we all strive for
• Place must rise to the height of character.
• It is just as important and should be treated as such. 
• Not consumers, be creators.

Up next was Jill Santopolo, an Executive Editor at Philomel Books, who focused on the importance of a great main character. She suggested we ask ourselves these four questions about our main character:

1. How are they interesting?
2. How are they imperfect?
3. How are they vulnerable?
4. How are they kind?

Oh and all of these should be answered by the end of your first chapter! She also talked about "What does this character want?" and can it be achieved through the plot. Action plot and heart line (or emotional) plot are both important to the character's journey and tie into each other, she said. There is a character's controlling belief that connects these two plots and it is this belief that moves the story. One of her suggestions was to get to know your character outside of the story and she offered a handout with some great questions to answer as your character. Such a great resource!

Ammi-Joan Paquette, an agent with Erin Murphy Literary Agency, talked about beginnings, how they are read and the expectations of the readers. She started right at the top with the title that must entice you and hook you into opening that cover. Then the first sentence which must pull you in and get a sense of what your are getting into! And it continues on up: first sentence gets you to read the first page which gets you to read the first chapter. Hopefully, by then the reader is hooked in and asking for more. Since the first chapter is likely to be what will be seen in submission, a writer needs to make them ask for more!

One of the co-founders of SCBWI and current society President, Steve Mooser, was our next speaker and he was a treat! I admit I didn't write many notes during his talk because I was so interested in what he was talking about.  His talk focused on the changes to children's book in the upcoming years due to digital technology. He shared a number of statistics that made us all cringe, like there are over 4300 new ISBNs created everyday and the average American reader only reads 17 books a year. So how, in this new digital world do we get someone to read our books? Chance plays a gigantic role in which course to take, he said. While explaining his website based on his book Class Clown Academy, he offered a few suggestions on how to bring our stories into the digital age and perhaps push some traffic to our books:

• Turn your story into a mini-movie via You Tube
• Website about book character or world
• can it attract advertisers?
• store with books and merchandise links

Paul O Zelinsky was up and he shared some insight into the illustrators world. And it is fascinating. He commented on how technology has changed how books can be illustrated and he even used a handy tablet during his presentation and created some simple pictures I wouldn't be able to do if I tried. It was fascinating to learn his process on illustrating the book "Z is for Moose" (which I was lucky enough to get signed by him for our three!) "Nonsense has to be logical," he said. This makes so much sense when you think about it. If it was just nonsense with no sense it wouldn't be very interesting. 

Sylvie Frank, an associate editor at Paula Wiseman Books,  spoke about ways to write a picture book that is "not quiet." One that would not get lost in the pile. She explained the importance of plot in picture books. If your story has a plot, you will always have the answer to "What is your story about?" She cautioned everyone to remember the audience and when possible use real kids as test subject for our stories. Format of picture books is also very important. "Something new must happen on every spread" with new action on each page. "Has this been done?" is what she told us to ask ourselves. And if the answer is "no," why hasn't anyone? 

A little aside: "Picture books are a form not a genre,"was another tidbit Sylvie Frank shared that has stuck with me.  It definitely got me thinking. Within the form of picture books, there are fiction, nonfiction, humor, educational, the list goes on and on. They are our children's first interaction with books and they reflect so many of the interests we have as adults. 

Evelyn M. Fazio, an award-winning publisher and literary agent, spoke about writing believable dialog within a middle grade and young adult novels. She cautioned us all to make it believable and authentic, but to many monosyllablic words in a row becomes hard (and boring) to read. "Show, don't tell," she said. It's not a big difference, but it makes a difference. 

More tidbits on dialog:

• Use contractions
• Be realistic about profanity
• Use a thesaurus
• Read it aloud and record it to play it back to yourself
• Don't interupt dialog to explain something
• get all of the explaining out of the way before(or after) the dialog.
• Follow patterns of award winners. 

This was a theme through out the day: look at those who have done it well and follow their path and patterns. 

I have to say it was a great day. Made me want to come back for another! Meeting wonderful people and having someone else make lunch is good by me anytime! haha.  Sadly, this maybe my one and only this year, with a young one on the way at the end of August fall conferences are a bit out of reach I think. Maybe I'll make it to the one in Northern VA in October, we'll see as we get closer to that though!

Happy writings!

How to Schmooze

Tonight was the dessert reception before my first SCBWI conference tomorrow in Fredrick, MD. I have been to a few other conferences, but not any specifically for children book writers, or even ones just for writers. So, I had a little bit of an idea of what to expect, but I was still walking into the unknown.

I was able to meet quite a few wonderful writers and illustrators and I am completely excited to see what tomorrow brings. Something I learned about myself, or relearned rather: I am a terrible schmoozer. I feel like I am telling the same stories again and again. But I suppose they are new to each person I talk with, still I definitely feel a bit like a broken record at times. What I need to work on is maybe some different questions to make me more memorable. There's the standard: Hi, where are you from, do you write or illustrate, how long have you been doing this, are you published... Before my next conference (I know there is no hope of me coming up with something by tomorrow morning...) I want to make a list of questions, even just one or two, that are a bit outside the box but still pertinent to the profession. Any ideas??

Another way I am bad at schmoozing: I forget that I made these nice business cards to hand out to everyone I meet. I keep forgetting or the conversation shifts and it becomes SUPER awkward. Hopefully, I will be better at this tomorrow. Maybe I should put my cards in a place other then my purse. Or I can ask them if they have a card. Now that's a good idea, wish I had thought of that before RIGHT NOW.

All of tomorrow's presenters were there tonight and were nice enough to strike up conversations with any of us brave enough to say hello. The only ear I was able to snag was T.A. Barron's and he was so wonderful to talk with. It is so easy to forget that they had to start at the beginning too. Their beginning was awhile back and their success has been great, but they are still incredibly relatable and a joy to talk with. So, thank you Mr. Barron for listening to this preggo's ramblings at the end of the evening. You made my night.

Can't wait until tomorrow!! Looking forward to learning much and hopefully getting a little better at my schmoozing!

Dream Writing Space

As part of a conference I am going to in a little less then two weeks, I have started participating in their blog's Conference Challenges. There will be eight when we are all finished and I am playing catch-up right now since they are already on number six! 

I finished the first four so far. Each one only takes about half an hour and it has been really fun to take the prompts and get creative!

The third challenge was to describe our dream writing space, the ideal place for us to create. The challenge was to make the reader want to go there. It didn't take me long to decided on exactly where I would like to be:

With my journal in hand, I trek down the well-worn path away from the joyful clamor of a full house. As the shouts of laughter, and sometimes tears, blend then disappear within the melody of the soft wind and sweet refrain of the forest chorus, I find the wispy limbs and strong trunk of my favorite willow. My handmade quilt sewn from everyday memories is still warm from swaying on the line in the streaming sun. On the cold stone bench, I rest my jug of sun-kissed sweet tea in a cooler of ice and let my pencil fly with abandon in hopes of capturing the words before they slip away on the breeze. 

So, tell me, do you want to slip away too? Where do you dream your ideal place is?

The conference I'm attending is the regional Society of Children Book Writers & Illustrators conference for MD/DE/WV on March 23rd. You can find the blog for the MD/DE/WV region, SCBWI here. 

The Aftermath of the Food Fight!

Thank you so much for everyone who participated in the FOOD FIGHT last week! And thank you for allowing me to participate. Definitely glad I plunged in!

I had a great time working on this story as well as all the other wonderful food fight wars. Such a fun, creative way to get some ideas flung around! I am really looking forward to reading the finished stories and I know the Politician and PT are excited to hear them!

Here is my finished Food Fight Story! I would love to hear what you think. Thanks and enjoy!

On the Way Home From Grandma's

Everyone was tired,

cranky and upset.

And from the back someone yelled,

"why aren't we home yet??"

Mom was looking frazzled,

as Dad stared at the road,

these long drives back from Grandma's

were always worse when it snowed.

SCREECH! SHWOMP! KAPOOM! and HISSSsssss?!?

The windshield went solid white!

One look at Mom and Dad

said it'd be a longer night...

First, Dad pulled out his phone

to get a tow here right away.

But, "I'm sorry dear," he murmured,

"it'll be an hour or more delay."

"WE'LL STARVE!" Moaned sis behind me

through the baby's high pitched howl.

With Mom lost in a silent stare,

Dad's face began to scowl.

"At least we have the turkey,

with the fixin's, sides and sweets!"

As these words came out my lips,

Mom's stare turned on the backseats.

It's a look I've never seen before,

that one in my Mom's eyes,

still sis and I cannot forget her smirk

as she started throwing fries!

.                
Let’s get her!” I said laughing,

.                Then unwrapped the jello slow.


.                POP – Sis ripped off a lid.


.                I flung first – But Mom ducked the blow. Jennifer Young

.                 

.                
It met the windshield with a THWACK!


.                And slid down to the dashboard.


.                Before dear Dad could catch one bit


.                It hit my magnetic chessboard.

 Julie Rowan-Zoch

.                 

.                Dad tried to steer through jello smear


.                and narrowly missed a truck.


.                KERSPLAT, sis launched her chocolate Mousse,


.                Mom gasped and prepared to chuck.
 Joanna

.                 

.                I rolled the stuffing into


.                a gooey ball of attack


.                And let it fly at Mom's head But - WHACK –

.                it bounced right back!
 
Lauri Meyers

.                 

.                That must be some tough hairspray;

.                here Mom, my juicy juice will get through

.                 that beehive SQUIRT!
 
DonnaLouise

.                 

.                But Mom was the pro,


.                She was the one who made the food,


.                KERSCHLOOP, she scooped up her pie


.                And aimed it at her brood.
 Sylvia Liu 



.                 

.                Having started the day dry,


.                now all covered in pie,

.                we the children began to cry.


.                SPUTTER! SNORT! HONK!
 
Anonymous 



.                 

.                 
Whaa, whaa, wait a minute,

.                 I'm not wasting this." I wiped the pie from my face

.                 and PLOPPED it on a plate.

.                 Then I threw a radish at my sis-BOINK.
 DonnaLouise

.                  

.                 
A radish sticking from her face,

.                 Her scowl proved I was in disgrace;

.                 I ducked, she threw turkey innards

.                 SCHLEPPED, ooh Patricia Nozell

It was then, I’m sad to say it,

that dear Dad opened the door,

with big, wide eyes in a young man stared

and got more then he did ask for.

He said, as he stood dripping,

those turkey pieces all on the snow,

“I’m here to help and pull you out.”

It was finally time to go.

Sis and I cheered in triumph

the battle had been such fun

as we squeezed out into the cold

we each felt that we had won.

Silently, we all stood

sticky and gooey from the fight

while the tow truck hooked up and pulled

our car was stuck in that snow tight!

We thanked the young man quickly

as one by one climbed in our seats.

He nodded once and winked as he turned,

“those looked like real good eats!”

The car filled up with laughter

while Dad pushed it into drive.

“And we still have some safe for dinner,”

if there is any left when we arrive!”

SMACK!