YES!

What a fanastic way to combine my two favorite things!

http://www.letsgo.org/resources/StoryWalkInfoPage.php

"To write is to write is to write is to write is to write is to write is to write." -Gertrude Stein

Just do it

Doing what I should, when I should, even if I don't feel like it. It's my new mantra and, so far, so good. I've applied it to nearly everything I can think of. Cleaning. Getting back into running regularly. Being nice to my kids. And, of course, writing. It's like Dory says, "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming, swimming, swimming...." (I regularly replace the swimming with writing in the phrase). And the words are important because I don't always feel like cleaning, or running, being nice to my kids or even writing. BUT, I always feel like having an incredibly clean house, abs and/or buns of steel, the kindest kids on earth, AND a lucrative publishing deal. Soooo, I gotta do what I gotta do - do you?

Bombs Away!

The new year has only just begun and I've already managed to develop another quirky obsession. This time, it's seed bombs. Oh sure, I suppose they've been around for awhile but they're new to me and I can't get enough. And I've found my love of seeds and flowers and gardening paralles so nicely with my love of writing and that whole creation process. Sooooooo, I've decided the world needs story bombs in combination with seed bombs. You know, mix things up a bit. Would it be a recipe for wild imagination or a complete disaster? Just a little something to think about....

Winter Buzz

No, this ain't no Rockefeller Center. THIS is how we welcome winter's arrival South Texas style. While it isn't the perfect weather for singing Jingle Bells in the round, snowball fights, or fireside chats, it IS the perfect weather for appreciating the simple joy of life no matter the packaging. From this busy bee to you, Merry Christmas!

THEY REALLY NEED TO READ!

Yeah, yeah, yeah....they need to be fed, clothed and loved BUT they also gotta have picture books!
http://terrypierce.blogspot.com/2010/10/five-reasons-why-children-need-picture.html

Chalk It Up

I must admit I have much love for San Antonio, Texas. This weekend maybe even more so as my family and I gathered with 18,000 others on a culture-filled downtown street to draw with chalk, watch some phenomenal artists draw with chalk, and draw with chalk some more. It was the perfect reminder of life's possibilities - concrete barriers and all....

Fancy meetin' you here

Oh the things that get our creative juices flowing....

A Keeper

I wanna be a keeper. In the 03.2010 Texas Monthly issue, there was a listing of 63 things all Texans should do before they die. A bucket list of sorts. I was surprised to find I've done more than what I'd thought might be suggested. I've been to the top of the Tower of Americas. I've seen Willie Nelson at Floore's Country Store. And I've explored Palo Duro Canyon and seen the summer musical Texas there (one of my favorite memories). I've also sipped a Dublin Dr. Pepper IN Dublin, Texas no less. Ahhhhhhh....Just as the sign says, they are the keepers of the flame. And they have been since 1891. It's inspiring. The stuff dreams are made of. Ahhhhhhhhhh....

:)

Love this quote....

There's an inherent belief in children's publishing that if the book comes from the heart of the creator, it will speak to the heart of the child."

- Marla Frazee, author/illustrator

The fine print

A local link worth checking out -

http://blogs.mysanantonio.com/weblogs/fine_print/2010/07/hey-kids-its-the-2010-children.html

Gimme the details

Life is full of details. I was reminded of that when I took a visit to downtown SA and one of the historic missions. The details are inspiring in the best "How did they do that?" way. The list of things requiring details is mind blowing. You have the "fill out this form and don't forget the tiny read between the lines kind", the "oh, you wanted me to brush with toothpaste, too?" kind, and you also have the picture book kind. My personal favorite. I'd like nothing better than gazillions of readers to fall in love with my details and wonder "How'd she do that?"

Are you in?

Interested in making 2011 the year of the picture book?
http://jeanreidy.blogspot.com/2010/06/lets-plan-year-of-picture-book.html
The possibilities are endless!

I dare you

I was looking over some old pictures recently when I came upon this one from four or so years ago. I love this shot. It reminds me of a time when it was completely okay to capture my son's goofiness on film. It also reminds me of the movie Alice in Wonderland - the Johnny Depp one. In the movie, Alice refers to something her dad taught her to do....think of 6 impossible things for breakfast. It wasn't necessary for me to dare my son to plant his head inside the ravenous jaws of a giant fake dinosaur, but I have begun to dare (because that's waaaaay more fun than just asking them to) my kids to think of 6 impossible things before breakfast. I'm really looking forward to all the possibilities they invent. I dare you to do the same....

a little link

Easy summer reading....
http://www.guidetoliteraryagents.com/blog/5+Lies+Unpublished+Writers+Tell+Themselves+And+The+Truths+That+Can+Get+Them+Published.aspx

It Ain't a PB without the P's

The National Center for Children's Illustrated Literature presents

Golden Kite Golden Dreams
Celebrating over 30 Years of Art from the SCBWI's Golden Kite Awards
July 8, 2010 - October 1, 2010
102 Cedar Street, Abilene, TX 79601
325.673.4586
www.nccil.org

FEATURING ORIGINAL WORKS OF ART BY
Keith Baker, Kristen Balouch, Carlyn Beccia, Barbara Helen Berger, Holly Berry, Jean Cassels, Tim Coffey, Gregory Christie, Larry Day, Diane de Groat, Tomie dePaola, Donna Diamond, Marla Frazee, Ponder Goembel, Kevin Hawkes, Trina Schart Hyman, Erick Ingraham, Kathy Jacobi, Susan Jeffers, William Joyce, Beth Krommes, Barbara LaVallee, Carol Lerner, Loren Long, Suse MacDonald, Laura McGee Kvasnosky, Barbara McClintock, Charles Mikolaycak, Lauren Mills, Yuyi Morales, Dennis Nolan, John Parra, Jerry Pinkney, Alice Provensen, Robert Sabuda, David Shannon, Uri Shulevitz, Aki Sogabe, Janet Stevens, Lauren Stringer, Lynn Sweat, Melissa Sweet, Amy Walrod, Richard Jesse Watson, Kurt Werth, Don Wood, Hyewon Yum

EXHIBIT OPENING SCHEDULE
THURSDAY, July 8th
Exhibit Opening Gallery event, the NCCIL will be open to the public. Two visiting illustrators will give demonstrations and talks about their work. Lin Oliver and Steve Mooser will give a brief talk on the Golden Kite Award.

FRIDAY, July 9th
Exhibit Opening Gala Dinner Please contact the NCCIL for tickets to this event. A few words will be spoken by Debbie Lillick NCCIL Museum Director, David Diaz, Lin Oliver and Steve Mooser.

SATURDAY, July 10th
Exhibit events and talks welcoming SCBWI members
10:00 AM Barbara McClintock will speak/demonstrate @ 45 mins
11:00 AM Illustrator TBA will speak/demonstrate @ 45 mins Lunch
12:00-2:00 PM We invite the visiting SCBWI membership to join us for a casual lunch at a local restaurant
2:00 PM Lin Oliver and Steve Mooser will discuss some of the history, stories, and anecdotes of the Golden Kite Award. Afterwards they will be joined by Richard Jesse Watson for Q&A Dinner
7:00 PM We invite the visiting SCBWI membership to join us for dinner at Perini Ranch (about 30 minutes out of town) http://www.periniranch.com/

TRAVEL INFO
American Airlines flies to Abilene. For lodging, the Hilton Garden Inn in Abilene is offering a rate of $99 per night, with a made to order breakfast included.
Hilton Garden Inn, 4449 Ridgemont Drive Abilene, Texas, USA, 79606 1-325-690-6432

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION & LINKS
SCBWI Board of Advisor Illustratrator Committee Blog
Golden Kite, Golden Dreams Facebook Page

Why Books?

THE WEEK is a magazine must in my home. It's the top news stories mixed in with the wackiest ones from across the globe. Last week featured relevant commentary on Obama's handling of the oil spill and how a woman is suing Google after she was hit by a car following a route SUGGESTED by Google Maps. Sandwiched between it all though was a tiny little piece about the importance of books in the home. The presence of books, stats show, was 2x as important to a child's progress in school as a dad's level of education (thought to be the strongest indicator). Did I need a reason to visit my favorite bookstore? Nah, but it makes me feel soooooooo goooooood. BRING ON THE BOOKS!

new contest to contemplate

http://www.naesp.org/resources/1/Foundation/FINALENTRYFORM.pdf

Just me and my gnomies

Yes, it's true. I've ACTUALLY taken a photograph with some level of skill. And I managed to realize something along the way. A reeaalllly good photograph has the same job as a reeaalllly good story and the exact opposite of a reeaally good meal. The photograph and story need to leave you hungry for more. Inspired. The good meal? Nap.

Smell that?

Some great information on the stinky odds of publication and why you don't need to care....
http://www.underdown.org/publishing-odds.htm