There are two things I wanted to be when I grew up: a mom and a writer.
Mom - got that covered
Writer - on the write (pun intended) path
I have always written. One of my most vivid school memories is taking the TAG (Talented and Gifted) test in Texas and when we got to the story writing section I had to go up twice to ask for more paper. Maybe I just had big handwriting, but I remember actually enjoying that part of the test. In high school, I worried more about the multiple choice tests then the essays. Writing was just something that came easliy to me, something I was good at.
I lost that for awhile. Without the need to write for my education, I let it slip away. It became something I did sometimes. Once every few months. Or even less often.
Then I wrote the Ellen show every day for 50 days when I was looking for a job I could do from home to be able to stay home with our kids. (She never responded sadly and those poem letters were tough to write.)
Then it slipped away again.
Enter baby number four, my helpful speed bump, and I slowed down long enough, I was willing enough, and crazy enough to take a chance that picture book writing was what I was supposed to do.
And I have been welcomed into a wonderful community of children's book writers. The group participating in the 12X12 Challenge has been an amazing motivator and resource. Dr. Mira Reisburg and all of my fellow graduates at the Picture Book Academy have helped me learn and grow more then I could have imagined in 6 short weeks. Joining the Society of Children Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) has allowed me to realize writing picture books as a profession and expand my investment in myself and my stories.
For now, I'm off to write, revise and probably wipe a nose or two!
