Warmth

The quickly approaching holidays always puts me into a nostalgic mood.  I reminisce about happy childhood times that I have shared with family and friends.  I think about the winter drives down Christmas tree lane where the streets were lined with impeccably decorated houses—lights twinkling brightly.  Or the short lived tradition of eating at IHOP (complete with hot cocoa stirred with a candy cane) before going to the tree farm to select the perfect tree—and all the eight-legged stowaway “friends” that also found their way into our home.   I think about family members coming from all parts of California to celebrate Thanksgiving at Grandma’s house.  Or going from one family member’s house to the next, and somehow finding a space in our stomachs to pack away a few more bites of holiday treats.  I think about New Year’s Eve sparkling apple cider, and seafood gumbo on New Year’s Day.  I think about the smiles we shared, the games we played, and the memories we built together.

 And as I reminisce about times that fill my heart, I endeavor to capture this warmth in the stories that I write.  How wonderful it would be that each time someone reads a story I write, they are filled with happiness, even though their experiences may have been different than mine.  Isn’t that a great goal to strive for?  Writing that captures and warms the hearts of all who read it? 

I think that if I am able to perfect infusing these happy feelings into my writing, that I will be forever preserving a childhood that I knew, and that was so wonderful to me.

But of course, I think that taking the time to reflect on my own happy memories is a great first step toward this goal.  Plus, it’s often an inspiration for new stories to come.

 

Happy November, everyone!

My Perfect Recipe

Add one big blue, cloudless sky

A couple green, green, grassy hills

Half a warm and gentle breeze

A few soft bluebird and swallow songs

One extra long glistening lake

A sprinkle of fresh river air

 

Turn on the sun to medium heat.

 

Add one tensed up and stressed out me

And one cozy, yellow blanket too

A touch of quiet

A dab of peace

 

Turn when golden brown.

 

 

 

 

 

The breath-taking inspiration of nature!

 

 

 

 

 

Taking Notes from Experts

Hello, hello, HELLO!

It has been much too long.  I have been busy, busy, busy (planning a wedding, getting married, honeymooning, and starting a new job teaching at a community college, and of course writing too).  Boy, the last few months have been packed!  But, now that things are beginning to cool down, I am rejoining the blogosphere—and with writers news too!

Today, I had the pleasure of attending a book launch for Jeri Chase Ferris’s Noah Webster and his Words.  This was an intimate event where many people came together to celebrate the release of her new book.  And what a book it is!  It follows the life of Noah Webster, the writer of the dictionary.  Not only was it an intriguing book, but so informational!  AND, Jeri has been given several awards including star reviews from School Library Journal, Booklist, Kirkus, Horn Book, and has been deemed the “pick of the week” in California Kids and has been selected by the Junior Library Guild for Fall 2012.  Wow!

Obviously, she is an expert, so I took note of the wonderful atmosphere Jeri set for the occasion.  She had cookies and coffee for her guests, a guestbook, a display of other books she’s written (10+), letters and artifacts from the publishing process for Noah, and lots of books to sell.  She sold and signed several copies of her book, and everyone seemed so happy to be there.

 

I just want to say “job well done, Jeri!” and congratulations on the new book, all the great reviews and awards, and on a successful book launch!

2012 Children’s Writer’s & Illustrator’s Market

Today’s short blog is about the 2012 Children’s Writer’s & Illustrator’s Market, a fabulous resource for the aspiring author.  This book is a 400 page source that includes insightful articles, sample letters, and lists of valuable information regarding publishers, agents, conferences, and contests.

So why do I mention it today?  Because I finally had a chance to closely scour the pages in search for publishing houses and literacy agencies that I am planning to query.  I wanted to do this for quite some time, but I finally I have had the chance to, and I look forward to typing up my own list to begin sending out again (YAY!  One check off of my to-do list).    

Of course writing always includes research to make sure what you are writing is realistic, but it also requires putting in plenty of time to research houses and agencies that are looking for what you write. 

 

Always and again, onward and onward!

To Copyright Or Not To Copyright?

Last week, I sat in on a short workshop geared for high school students that discussed what it takes to become an author.  I am always interested to see what other authors talk about, especially when their message is targeted at children.  The facilitator of the workshop informed the students of many basic steps one must take to become an author.  As I listened to his presentation, the thing that jumped out at me most was his emphasis on copyrighting.  He told the students that it is imperative to copyright their work before they send it out because it is possible for a publisher to like their work, take their work, and publish it through someone else.  Further, he used an example of Sophia Stewart, an author who claimed that she wrote the Matrix and that it had been stolen from her.

After doing a little research myself, I only found conflicting information about whether Stewart’s claim is true or not, and whether she did, in fact, win a lawsuit concerning her claim.

With all that said, I remember hearing somewhere, some time ago, that writers don’t need to copyright because since their idea is theirs, it belongs to them.  But after hearing this facilitator’s message, it has made me question, is it necessary to copyright your work before you send it out to editors, agents, and publishers?

 What do you think: To copyright or not to copyright?

A Full Heart

As an unpublished picture book author, I am blessed to have a job that allows me to go into classrooms and read to children.  And so, in the spirit of “Read Across California” month, I stepped into two classrooms to share my love of reading.  I read “Miss Brooks Loves Books (and I don’t)” by Barbara Bottner, illustrated by Michael Emberley, and of course one of my all time favorites, “The True Story of the Three Little Pigs” by Lane Smith and Jon Scieszka.  The children enjoyed it!

Oh, did I mention I read two of my own manuscript too?

Yes!  I read some of my own work as well.  And students made comments like “I really liked that!” and “I hope you get published”, not to mention “You’re gonna be famous!” 

My heart is full.

I finally stepped out of my comfort zone.  I guess I was a little intimidated by the idea of sharing my work with children, before it was published, because it kind of felt like sharing an unfinished project.  But instead of thinking of it that way, I have decided to use it as a learning experience for myself and the children I read to.  

I started off by asking the students if they liked writing.  Many of them would raise their hands and say that they did.  I told them that I did too when I was their age, and now that I am older, I still do—so much so that I want to write children’s books, and am in the process of doing so.  Then, I told them that it’s important to listen to their teachers when it comes to editing papers, because that’s a skill they will use their whole lives, especially if they want to write books one day.  Next, I showed them what a manuscript looks like, and I held it up next to a published book and ask them to compare (what is different between a manuscript and a published book, besides the obvious that one is published and one isn’t).  After that, I told them that since my manuscript didn’t have any pictures yet, that they get to close their eyes and make their own pictures in their minds. 

And guess what...they sat and listened contently to the whole story—and really seemed to enjoy it!  Man did that feel like a success!

I also told them that as long as they work hard on their education, they could be anything they want to be, even an author!  Last, I showed them a Highlights for Kids Magazine and told them how one day my poems would be in the magazine since I had sold two poems to Highlights.

One of the teachers said he really enjoyed my talk, and that it’s great for students to hear my message.  So, I now plan to use opportunities to read to children as a way to share my love for reading, to teach, and to confirm that they really can do anything they want to do! 

Nothing like kids to perk up your spirits and reaffirm why you do what you do!  I can’t wait to share this message in the future while holding one of my own published picture books!

So, if rejections are like 's on my path to publishing...

 

 THEN

 

reading to kids would be like finding areminding me of my destination.

On I go!  Forward!  Forward!

Blogging in March

Oh me! Oh my! It’s been too long!

You know how sometimes, life feels like it’s moving so fast—full speed like a carousel spinning and spinning and spinning and you hope that the horse that you are riding doesn’t come un-poled and send you flying off into oblivion.

Yea, it’s kind of been like that lately.  But, it feels so good to be back on my blog.

Although I have not heard any new publishing news over the last month and a half (man, has it really been that long?), a couple cool things have occurred pertaining to my publishing path.

1.      An exciting picture book idea popped into my mind.  That’s always a good thing!  I am working to finalize it so I can send it out as soon as possible.  I am feeling very good about it.

2.      Rosi (one of my wonderful picture book critique group family members) and I are working quite hard on our poetry book.  We have a collected a nice amount of poems, and we are moving closer and closer to completion and submission.  Yay!

3.      I received an incredibly informative interview from fabulous children’s author Sue Fliess, and not to mention copies of her fun books “Shoes For Me!” and “A Dress For Me!”.  You’ll find her interview on my “Points from the Published” tab.

4.      I celebrated Read Across America Day as well as the birthday of one of my idols, Dr. Seuss, with books and children—I’ll post a separate post about that.

So, as days go by, I keep to my path, with my heart full of hope, and my eyes to the sky. 

Keeping it moving!