I learned today that I know absolute nada about football. (Okay, maybe I know a tad more than nada). I need to take a crash course because it seems we're in it for the long haul. My son had his first game today. He LOVES, LOVES, LOVES football. He even LOVES to go to practice. Is that crazy or what? I can learn a lot from him.

But, I was thinking that maybe writing is a lot like football.

-Sometimes you score a field goal by meeting the little goals you set for yourself.

-Sometimes you make a great tackle by finishing that manuscript you've been slaving over.

-Sometimes you get knocked off your feet with a rejection, but you get back up and try, try again.

-Sometimes you cry on the sidelines (these are 5-7 year olds) but after visiting your favorite writer's forum, you feel encouraged to tackle that query letter once again.

-Sometimes you make it to the end zone for a touchdown and actually see your name on a book cover.

-Most important though, sometimes you inspire someone to do the

best they can and never give up on what they love most. Go for the goal!!

Keep writing and learning!

Sixteen-year-old Mattie Gokey has big dreams but little hope of seeing them come true. Desperate for money, she takes a job at the Glenmore, where hotel guest Grace Brown entrusts her with the task of burning a secret bundle of letters. But when Grace's drowned body is fished from the lake, Mattie discovers that the letters could reveal the grim truth behind a murder.Set in 1906 against the backdrop of the murder that inspired Theodore Dreiser's An American Tragedy, Jennifer Donnelly's astonishing debut novel effortlessly weaves romance, history, and a murder mystery into something moving, and real, and wholly original.

I just finished reading Jennifer Donnelly's "A Northern Light" and all I have to say is WHOA!! I know I'm very late in reading this book, but I loved that it made me laugh and cry. Mattie's voice is amazing and real. It touched my heart.

Makes me hope beyond hope that I'll write with that much feeling one day.

Cheers!

Welcome

Welcome to my new blog.

I have been writing seriously for the past 4 years. In high school I dabbled in a little poetry that I pretty much kept to myself. Then somehow I drifted away from writing anything.

After my kids were born I gravitated back toward it. So here I am four years later with a lot of knowledge and a little procrastination. (I'm working on that)

Last week I was lucky enough to get to go to the SCBWI National conference in L.A. It was absolutely fantastic! I met tons of nice people in elevators, at the Paint the Town Red party and in sessions. I left very inspired and hyped about my own WIP. Children's writers are just the friendliest people. Here are a few pics of some I met.

Darlina and me

Martha and Lisa

Sonia and Steve

Lisa and Jenn

The Big Bad Wolf, Anna Myers, and

Little Red Riding Hood

The Oklahoma Chapter

There are others who I didn't get good pics of. Kim from Kidlit Central News http://community.livejournal.com/kidlit_central/ has started a new blog. Kidlit Central News brings you the HOTTEST children’s publishing news, reviews, entertainment and more—by and about those involved with children’s literature in and around the Central U.S. Featured states include: Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Illinois, Oklahoma and Wisconsin. Go check it out!!! She's the one who encouraged me to start this blog.

Keep writing and learning.