Inspiration

Some inspiration to get creative!

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124532979

P, B, & J

It's P, B and J with a nasty twist for well over a week at my home.

Puke.

Barf.

Just no sleep.

Happy spring! Excuse me....

Devine Device

Portmanteau. It's not a disease. And it isn't very tasty. But it COULD "literally" be your best friend. Especially if you write for children or read to one or a whole gaggle.

(n) - a new word formed by combining two others and combining their meanings. A linguistic blend, if you will.
Smog = fog and smoke
Motel = motor and hotel
Brunch = lunch and breakfast

The list of words is lengthy and the skill of using portmanteau worthy of exploring.

Lewis Carroll first made use of the word portmanteau, more readily known as a suitcase, in his book Through the Looking Glass (1871).
Denise Doyen takes portmanteau to a whole new level though in her picture book Once Upon a Twice.

Give it a go....

Five Texas Favs

Texas is a BIG state. And there are plenty of things to love about it. Some lovable things you may not be so familiar with. Soooooo I share with you five little known favorite things about Texas and children's literature that you probably weren't aware of or maybe simply misplaced in that dark, mysterious corner of your brain (you know the place where the REAL answer to why the sky is blue lies neatly tucked away?) Here goes....

#1 The Golden Spur Award for children's literature

#2 Author (and a personal favorite) Rick Riordan calls Texas home

#3 Author and friend of Maurice Sendak, James Marshall, was born here

#4 We're home to The National Center for Children's Illustrated Literature http://www.nccil.org/

#5 The Texas Bluebonnet Award
http://www.txla.org/groups/tba/index.html

Hungry?

Writing is my numero uno creative outlet. Without it and kids, life just wouldn't be the same. BUUUUUT....I love a good donut too. So when I found out Dunkin' Donuts was calling, "Time to make the donuts!" to donut lovers across the country, I had to answer. Yes fellow donut lovers, I designed and named my very own donut without ever stepping foot in my kitchen. You can too....

https://www.dunkindonuts.com/contests/#CDND

The fun just never ends!

Hey You Guys!

As a writer, I'm not shy about sharing my passion for writing with others. Specifically, kids. So when I found out that PBS would be carrying on the recently expired Reading Rainbow's Young Writer's and Illustrator's Contest, it was a good, good day. Like a day at the beach with no sunburn kinda good. A day when you get something other than junk or bills in your mail. A day....okay, you get the picture. You can find the details of the contest here - http://pbskids.org/writerscontest/?campaign=go_vndr (share, share, share!)

This contest got me to thinkin'....
If you were to have a book of your very own published, what would your dedication page say? Would you be decidedly serious and share your heartfelt thanks to someone special?
Would your funny bone be in the spotlight?
Would the message be written in secret code?
Tell me, tell me, tell me!
I'd love to know....

Sign of the times

If you've read a picture book lately, the face on the left just might bring to mind the main character of said book. Seems as though there's a parental passiveness that's become pervassive in picture books over the last several years. Hmmmmm....something to think about.

http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/atlarge/2009/10/19/091019crat_atlarge_zalewski