Sara's 2 cents

New Beginnings

2012-01-04T21:18:00.004-06:00

I have been contemplating my New Year's Resolutions. I have a lot of them. They are mostly about becoming better at this or that. A better mother, a better wife, a better writer, ...christian, friend, blogger, person in general. More of an organizer, less of a procrastinator. Blah, blah, blah. *Insert Charlie Brown's teacher's voice here* And of course the obligatory...get in shape and eat right.

Now you might say, why can't you just be happy with yourself? Are any of us? I think most of it is fear of failure or is it fear of success? I can't be sure. So this year, 2012, I am not going to get down on myself because I'm not where 'I think' I should be. I am just going to do the best I can in all of these areas and pray that it makes a difference for myself and the others in my life. Maybe we can learn to trust that we are enough with all our imperfections. May this year bring you all the goodness that you can handle!

I read this blog post 25 things writers should stop doing thanks to newport2newport and loved it! I think he hits home with a lot of my doubts and shortcomings in my writing. Happy New Beginnings.

Oregon Coast

2011-05-19T11:48:00.000-05:00

I am very excited that I will be going to a Children's Book Workshop in Oregon in July. I will be flying in a little early to do some sightseeing along the coast. Does anyone have any suggestions of what is a must-see? Any tips are appreciated. :)

Separating Confidence from Self-Doubt

2011-04-27T19:59:00.011-05:00

I love this post on author Nathan Bransford's blog. So true! Write on.

From Books to Movies

2010-11-20T17:02:00.003-06:00

With the movie Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows coming out this weekend, and my family watching Avatar: The Last Airbender on DVD last night, I wondered what your favorite movie made from a book was.

Here's the ones I can think of in random order.

-Harry Potter
-The Last Airbender
-Lord of the Rings
-Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief
-Pride and Prejudice
-Because of Winn Dixie
-The Princess Bride
-The Lovely Bones
-Memoirs of a Geisha
-The Notebook
-Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
-The Polar Express
-The Jungle Book

I'm sure there are many more that I can't remember right now. What ones do you like?

Thankfulness

2010-11-13T21:56:00.003-06:00

With Thanksgiving right around the corner I have been thinking of all the things I'm thankful for.

I'm thankful everyday that I have God in my life.
I'm thankful I am healthy when I see many who aren't.
I'm thankful that I have a beautiful family that loves me (even when I'm grouchy).
I'm thankful for my job which a lot of people don't have.
I'm thankful that I can write words on a page and feel a calmness come over me.
I'm thankful for wonderful, supportive friends.
I'm thankful for great books and good movies.
I'm thankful for the soldiers who have and do protect me and my family (especially my dad and brother-in-law).
I'm thankful for my hardships because they make me stronger.
I'm so thankful for my life...
It gets better and better with every passing year.

How about you?
Happy early Thanksgiving!

2010-08-28T20:29:00.005-05:00

7 Quirky things about me

1. I cannot tell jokes! I screw up the punch line every time.

2. When I was in 1st grade, I had to see a counselor because I was sooooo shy I hardly talked. (For those of you who know me, the counseling obviously worked.)

3. If I go to bed with my hair wet I will wake up with an afro in the morning.

4. I love romantic movies and if I really like it I'll watch the same scenes over and over with obsession.

5. I have an extra hole inside my ear from where a cyst burst when I was a baby (yes, I have a hole in my head)

6. When I get excited my voice goes up higher and higher in octave.

7. Gross scientific stuff like watching brain surgery fascinates me. (I'm in the medical field) It doesn't bother me to talk about it while I'm eating either. :)

***If you have any to add, go ahead. Just don't make it too embarrassing. Please?

Writing what you want to know

2010-06-05T22:33:00.003-05:00

I've been neglecting my blog terribly. I have lots of excuses, most of them good, as I'm sure most of us do. So I'll try to do better.

The other morning I was thinking in the shower (What? Isn't that where you get your best ideas?) I've been to many, many conferences and the one thing I hear over and over is... write what you know. You hear this from editors. You hear this from agents. You hear this from authors. But what I want to say is--how boring is that? Yes, you do need to add some things in there that you have learned along the way, but wouldn't you like to pursue new things, too? There will always be a bit of yourself in your work. Your morals, emotions, things that have happened to you. It's scary to think about learning something different and beyond your comfort level, but I think it makes your connection even stronger when you've had to do research, interview people, get to know personally what it may have been like for another person even if this certain thing has happened to you.

So instead of writing what you know----Write what you've been curious about, write what you want to know about, write what doesn't come naturally but what comes honestly from the heart. You'll be glad you did and so will your readers.

Hope

2010-03-01T23:05:00.002-06:00

Hope is... never giving up on your dreams even if they are many moons away.
Keep stretching and growing and living your life in a way where your children are proud you're their parent.

This past week was a difficult one for me and my husband. Our son was in the hospital for 4 days with a severe case of pyelonephritis (kidney infection). He is doing much better now, but we still have check-ups and follow-up tests. But I am thankful! Sometimes you lose sight of what is really important. On the way to the ER he told me that he was going to die. I said, "You are absolutely not going to die. If you died, then I would have to die." He responded, "You can't die, what about S (his sister)." He, of course, was right. But still...

Last night, my daughter then told me she felt like we didn't love her anymore (she wasn't in the car when my son and I had the conversation). Which made me feel horrible! I had to reassure her that we loved her with everything we had and that would never, ever change. She was very worried about her brother but tried not to show it.

I honestly don't know who I would be without my children. They are the most honest people I know. They teach me humility. They show me bravery. They give me strength when I don't feel it and I thank God for them every day.

Book Reviews

2009-12-21T21:52:00.012-06:00

I'm catching up on my book reviews. These are just a few of the ones I loved.

Graceling by Kristin Cashore
Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight-- she's a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king's thug.

She never expects to fall in love with beautiful Prince Po.

She never expects to learn the truth behind her Grace--or the terrible secret that lies hidden far away... a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone.

I don't know what I expected from this book but it outweighed my expectations. I'm always a sucker for a good romance and for a strong character who clearly knows who she is and what she wants. Don't get me wrong, she did change throughout and was even stronger at the end. This is a great read. Now, Santa can you bring me her next book...Fire?

Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink
Twin sisters Lia and Alice Milthorpe have just become orphans. They have also become enemies. As they discover their roles in a prophecy that has turned generations of sisters against each other, the girls find themselves entangled in a mystery that involves a tattoo-like mark, their parents' deaths, a boy, a book, and a lifetime of secrets.

Lia and Alice don't know whom they can trust.

They just know they can't trust each other.

I picked this book up at the library having never heard of it. From the very beginning it intrigued me and pulled me in. It had secrets all throughout that kept me guessing. The ending was quite the cliffhanger which always makes me want to pull my hair out! But in a good way. There are 2 more books forthcoming to make this a trilogy set. I can't wait to read them.

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

In a single moment everything changes. Seventeen-year-old Mia has no memory of the accident; she can only recall riding along the snow-wet Oregon road with her family. Then, in a blink, she finds herself watching as her own damaged body is taken from the wreck...

This book is written so beautifully. The way Gayle Forman intertwined back story throughout is absolutely amazing. I don't know if it's because I'm in the medical field, but this book made me boo-hoo through most of it and spoke to my heart. The characters were jumping out of the pages. This has been one of my favorite books...okay, yes I'll say it....Ever. Praise to Ms. Forman for writing this book. Loved this book!!!

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.

This is the second book in the Hunger Games triology and it did not disappoint. It was a page turner which kept me up all night reading. It made me talk out loud to the book as I read. "Gale. No wait, Peeta. Umm..okay, choose Gale." I was as confused as Katniss on who to love more. Sorry if that was a little spoiler. These books are so different and compelling. Of course I wished I'd thought of something like this. Can't wait for the last book to come out 2010!

Happy reading and writing.

A little goes a long way

2009-11-28T18:37:00.012-06:00

Last weekend a friend of mine and I went to Quartz Mountain to do some much needed writing.

See all that I got done!!! (Yeah, okay 2 scenes are blank but still... at least it's colorful)

We had a wonderful time and did some sightseeing as well. It was nice to get away from the noise of the city (and of my children) ~smile...but mostly just to get better acquainted with my characters and their story.

It is quite beautiful there.

You didn't know we had such diversity of landscape in Oklahoma, did you?

This little guy posed and everything.

And she did, too.

This sunset was absolutely breathtaking.

Now back to writing! Cheers.

Something amazing, I guess

2009-11-10T00:04:00.007-06:00

I love the movie, The Incredibles. Especially the little neighbor boy who rides his tricycle around blowing bubblegum bubbles.

It seems I have been waiting around for something amazing to happen with my writing without putting the effort in. I don't put BIC like I should. I write in spurts and always give myself big goals that are often unrealistic. Then I get downhearted when I can't live up to those goals and want to give up. And I have this little problem of wanting everything to be perfect --well at least in my writing.

Yet, with all of that, I do believe in myself--that someday I will be published. And maybe, just maybe, something amazing will happen if I lay out my heart and piece together all the ordinaries and make them extraordinary.

So...I have tucked away some time for this passion I have called writing. Booked in a place that will empty the cobwebs and wash away my worries. Yay!

And hopefully I'll come home with something amazing (or the start of something amazing after 12 revisions, of course). Or even better, when I get that phone call from an agent they will yell.....

What? A girl can dream, can't she? :)

Interviews

2009-10-19T23:30:00.003-05:00

I am preparing to do an interview (as research) for a novel I started forever ago and finally dusted off. It's been one that is near to my heart, and I don't know why I strayed away from it. I'm a little nervous about doing an interview since I have never really done one for my writing life. I talk to people all day at my full-time job, but it's a little different talking about emotions and life-changing experiences with someone you hardly know.

So...do any of you have any advice for me on what to do or what not to do? I don't want her to feel like I'm grilling her. How do you do your interviews? How long do they last? Do you do them over the phone or in person? Just asking.

31 days of Halloween

2009-10-01T21:42:00.004-05:00

My friend and author, Susan Meyers, is blogging about the 31 days of Halloween. She is going to have fun puzzles, spooky haikus and ghostabulous illustrations to get you in the Halloweeny mood. Go check it out here http://susanameyers.blogspot.com/2009/10/31-days-of-halloween.html

Happy Halloween!!

Research

2009-09-07T21:19:00.003-05:00

I'm in the middle of digging up research for a YA novel. It just got me wondering how everyone else goes about this process and what resources you use. Any suggestions or recommendations?

2009-08-22T22:42:00.001-05:00

A Tribute to Niki

2009-08-13T22:28:00.007-05:00

My beautiful friend, Niki, passed away this week from a three year battle with hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer). She was the most gracious, joyous, loving person I have ever met and she always had a smile on her face, even in the end.

I feel very blessed to have been able to call her a friend. If I could only have a quarter of her gracefulness and dignity I would be so much closer to what God has intended for us. Niki touched every life she met with her quiet kindness, and I will miss her very much. I love you, Niki. Here's for you as you become a gorgeous butterfly. Enjoy your flight.

(She loved butterflies)

A few pics from vacation

2009-07-21T22:55:00.009-05:00

I know it's been too long since I blogged. I promise I'll try to keep up.

My family went to the Riviera Maya in Mexico the end of June and had a nice, relaxing (okay, maybe not so relaxing with 2 kids arguing all the time) trip. It was very beautiful.

It was raining pretty hard this morning so we took the time to go
shopping that day.

They are acting like they like me or something??

And here, they are acting like they like each other. Don't
be fooled. :)

My husband and son at one of the many restaurants we went to.

My kids went snorkeling in the ocean for the first time and loved it.

This was at Xcaret, a zoo/water park. Lots of walking, but tons of things to see.

Although it was nice, we were ready to get home. Too much togetherness or something?????

We also got a new puppy when we got home, so I'll post a few pics of him next time.

2009-06-04T21:00:00.005-05:00

So... 10 years ago today I was at the hospital giving birth to my beautiful daughter. I never could have imagined time would fly so fast. I have tried to enjoy every moment- even the arguments- and especially the one on one time I get with her.

Pretty soon she won't need me so much and will probably be embarrassed to be seen with me. I have to remember back to that time in my life and think of all the problems that felt catastrophic to my ten-year-old-self.

It's hard to watch your children have struggles and not be able to do anything to help. Especially for girls. They have so many worries to contend with.

All I know is...she is my heart.

Books that make you go hmmm...

2009-05-14T20:02:00.002-05:00

This is a little late, but I blogged at http://www.kidlitcentralnews.com/ today about reasons that make me fall in love with a book. Go check it out or see below.

Many times I read a book and a week later think-- now what was that one about? Not that I didn’t enjoy it, but the characters just didn’t have that extra oomph that makes them stay with me. Could it be the plot is like every other one or the voice didn’t draw on my emotions? Maybe the setting is not unique or the story didn’t have enough layers? Perhaps the beginning didn’t pull me in or the ending left me unsatisfied? Hmmm…
This made me stop and really think about what makes me fall in love with a novel and why. Of course I want all the above in a story--I’m selfish that way-- but truly the characters have it hands down for me. I need to feel torn for them, know them like my best friend, and cheer for their successes. So what makes them memorable? Hmmm…
It’s different for everyone, but my thoughts are: they have to be a good person with some rotten luck, something I can empathize with. They have to change throughout the story and learn a bit about themselves. The main character has to believe in herself (who wants to listen to a whiney character). And mostly, they have to have honest relationships with the secondary characters.
The ending is the icing on the cake. I always wait for that fantastic ending that gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling even after I close the cover. The ones that make me whisper wow. Those characters and their story I know I won’t forget.
“With a good beginning, people will read your story. With a good ending, they’ll remember it!”-- Janet Evanovich.
Some of my favorites are:
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
A Great and Terrible Beauty series by Libba Bray
The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt
Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson
The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong
Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden (Not a YA, but still great)
Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling (I know, I know)
13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher
What makes a book stand out for you? I’d love to hear your comments. If you don’t know… maybe you should go grab one and start reading. Like you need a reason!

Book Review

2009-05-11T19:20:00.003-05:00

Meet Holling Hoodhood, a seventh-grader at Camillo Junior High, who must spend Wednesday afternoons with his teacher, Mrs. Baker, while the rest of the class has religious instruction. Mrs. Baker doesn’t like Holling—he’s sure of it. Why else would she make him read the plays of William Shakespeare outside class? But everyone has bigger things to worry about, like Vietnam. His father wants Holling and his sister to be on their best behavior: the success of his business depends on it. But how can Holling stay out of trouble when he has so much to contend with? A bully demanding cream puffs; angry rats; and a baseball hero signing autographs the very same night Holling has to appear in a play in yellow tights! As fate sneaks up on him again and again, Holling finds Motivation—the Big M—in the most unexpected places and musters up the courage to embrace his destiny, in spite of himself.

I loved this book. It had great voice, characterization and humor with so many layers woven throughout. It had me laughing out loud one moment and crying the next. Definitely one of my top choices from my reading list so far. Happy reading!

A Mom's little poem

2009-05-04T20:12:00.008-05:00

Here's a poem that was inspired from a sweet calendar that my son made for me at Christmas. I don't know all the rules about poetry, but I loved how this turned out.

My life, My son

I open the book and see a handprint.
Your handprint.
All blues and yellows, oranges and greens,
smeared across the corners of my heart.
Tears flow and break like waves in a mother’s ocean.
Overwhelming pride envelops my soul
as pictures of flowers and fish, pumpkins and turkeys
pass before my eyes.
All painted carefully with my child’s love.
Your love.
No one knows, but I see your blue eyes
flash through the kaleidoscope of my memories.
Sweet temperament with sun kissed blonde hair.
Then…growing and learning fast.
Now…knowing more than your parents.
Soon…going off on your own.
My little boy smiling, and becoming a young man.
My life.

The Hunger Games

2009-04-25T22:33:00.004-05:00

Twenty- four are forced to enter. Only the winner survives.
In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. Each year, the districts are forced by the Capitol to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the Hunger Games, a brutal and terrifying fight to the death – televised for all of Panem to see.
Survival is second nature for sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who struggles to feed her mother and younger sister by secretly hunting and gathering beyond the fences of District 12. When Katniss steps in to take the place of her sister in the Hunger Games, she knows it may be her death sentence. If she is to survive, she must weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

All I have to say is... AMAZING! It was so addicting and drew you in from page one. When I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about it and the characters. I really felt for them. Suzanne Collins did an incredible job on this and deserves all the awards she has won for it. I didn't want the book to end. I would have liked to see the ending with her family and Gale but luckily the sequel, Catching Fire, will be out September 2009.

Awesome read!!!

SCBWI- Oklahoma conference

2009-03-29T21:40:00.028-05:00

Last weekend we had an awesome conference in Tulsa, Oklahoma. First let me tell you of all the worry everyone had beforehand. A big snow storm was suppose to blow in. And it did! I didn't get pics during the day, but you should have seen how beautiful it was. It snowed and snowed and snowed all day long. When we went to our cars, a foot of snow was piled on our hoods. (seriously)

Our first speaker, art director, Laurent Linn with Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers was fantastic. He was very funny and personable. He talked about the Anatomy of a Picture book.

-The Physical--hardcover, paperback
-The Literary Sense--how it's perceived, the story
-What is a picture book ultimately?--it's about connecting with the kids

And also...
Six PB genres:
1. Holiday Books
2. Folktale or Fairytale
3. A child's discovery of the world
4. Nonfiction
5. Poetry
6. Animals

Next, the very sweet, Mary Kate Castellani from Walker Books for Young Readers shared the Five Elements that Make or Break a Manuscript.

-Plot: has to be unique and intriguing
-Characterization: reader has to care about your character, know them like they are real
-Voice: essential
-Setting: needs to be weaved throughout, it can sometimes be its own character
-Details: Show don't tell, can write physical look of character by comparing to someone else- immediate picture

She read from several books to demonstrate these elements.

After Mary Kate came Kristin Daly with Harper Collins. She was such fun and seemed excited to be there. She spoke about Bridging the Picture Book-Middle Grade Gap: The Role of Easy-to-Reads and Chapter Books

Easy to Reads:
1. Content-good story or plot
2. Character- appealing protagonist
3. Format issues-Vocabulary, language
4. Rhythm and Repetition
5. Sentence structure-avoid dependent clauses
6. Illustrations-interaction between pictures and text

Chapter Books:
*Age group:
Early Readers 4-8
MG- 8-12
CB-8-10, word count- 5,000-6,000 younger; 9,000-10,000 older

Most important things of Chapter Books:
-Edited with audiences reading level in mind
-Black and white illustrations
-Plots are straightforward, character based
-Most are part of a series

Then after lunch, we listened to Gail Gross, Royalty consultant. She went over things an author should look for in a contract. (These are pieced together because there was so much info)

1. Author or author's representative has right to review books of publisher
2. Right to review relevant records maintained by publisher with respect to any royalty statement not locked in.
3. Era
4. Look back clause-don't reject right to look at royalty statement within certain amount of time.

Deciphering Royalty statement (after 1st advance paid and check deposited)
1. How many total copies of books were sold in royalty period cumulative sales
2. Are royalties properly calculated
3. Royalty cover price-number of units and royalty
4. Special sales clause-outside of normal channels of distribution(eg. dog book sold at animal stores, vet clinics etc)
5. What are the reserve for returns?
6. Sub-rights-deals publisher makes with other publishers-reprint rights etc.

Next up was Abigail Samoun, Tricycle Press-Crown Books. She sat at my table at lunch and seemed genuinely interested in what we all had to say. She spoke of Three Wheeling down the Road to Publication.

The Editor's Role:
-They guide project through development
-Champions project
-Offers guidance and suggestions
-Acts as keeper of story's logic and clarity
-Helps to find illustrator
-Helps art director
-Communicates with production staff

Rejection Letters:
-Respect their history
-Keep a collection and treat yourself after you get so many, shows you are trying
-If advice is given, consider it carefully then follow up

The PB process:
From manuscript to finished book
I. Editing your manuscript
Pre-offer
-Does proposed format fit story? Intended audience? Topic?
-Story arc
-Point of view
-Back and front matter
-the development letter

Post-offer
-Rhyme scheme
-Language level
-Ending

II. Paginations
-how the text will fit on every page

III. Working with illustrator
-finding perfect artist for project

IV. Illustrations

V.Printing
-takes months

To end the day we had agent, Elana Roth from the Caren Johnson Literary Agency. She gave us a great metaphor for relationships with agents.

Dating:
1. Make sure your book is ready
2. Know what you're looking for (check out websites. Find one that reps what you write. Do your homework!)
3. Put yourself out there- conferences, queries, use words masterfully
4. Do's and Don'ts
-Do check blogs and websites for submission guidelines
-Don't e-mail or call for submission guidelines
-Do spell names correctly
-Don't say "This can appeal to all readers everywhere," or "My kids love it."
-Don't burn bridges
-Don't e-mail back and ask why you got rejected
-Do be clear in queries about your book
-Do be patient when waiting on response

The Call: Questions to ask
1. Ask about communication style (How quickly do you get back to me? e-mail, phone)
2. What is agents vision for your career (What publishers do they work with?)
3. What kind of editorial work do you provide?
4. Foreign rights? Film rights?
5. Go with your gut, level of enthusiasm, intelligence

Run away if: (for agents)
1. Lack of focus, poor submission history
2. Too many manuscripts under the bed
3. Crazy- personality just doesn't click

Run away if (for writers)
1. Shady history-no background, not enough sales
2. Money- wants money up front
3. High turnover- staff, writers

Marriage:
1. Sign Contract- responsibilities, clauses
2. Balance of Power- partnership BUT author provides product, agent provides guidance
3. Communication- Be clear and honest with one another
4. Be kept informed and speak up if not happy

Divorce:
Agent should be passionate about your writing
Relationships sometimes change

1. Client not producing
2. If relationship is not working, do not stick it out
3. Terminate your agent before finding a new one
4. You deserve any and all rights
5. Don't burn bridges; be on best behavior

All of the speakers were amazing and friendly. Many of us went to dinner afterwards and had a great time getting to know them a little bit better. Kristen Daly sat beside me at dinner and she said our regional advisor, Anna Myers, was a rock star!! Anna really went above and beyond to make the guests feel welcome. Between Anna and our assistant regional advisor, Darlina Eichman, they never disappoint at our conferences. Thank you, Anna and Darlina, for always taking care of your Oklahoma writers.

May our next conference be as wonderful as this one was. Spring conference 2009.

2009-03-20T12:47:00.006-05:00

Oklahoma writer, Darleen Bailey Beard, author of many children's books-including (PBs)The Pumpkin Man from Piney Creek and Twister;
(CBs)The Flimflam man and Annie Glover is NOT a Tree Lover (fall, 2009) and novels, The Babbs Switch Story and Operation Clean Sweep is now offering a Critique Service for writers.

You can check out her website at http://darleenbaileybeard.com/ to find out just how involved she is in the children's book industry and with other writers.

Her Manuscript Critique Fees are:

$6.00* per page--includes line-by-line editing of your manuscript PLUS a typed critique that explains in detail the line-by-line editing, offering suggestions and helpful advice. *4 page minimum

$5.00 per page--for manuscripts over 20 pages

$4.00 per page--for manuscripts over 50 pages

All manuscripts must be typed and double-spaced for easy editing. SASE (self-addressed, stamped envelope) required.

If interested please contact Darleen at darleenbaileybeard@sbcglobal.net

2009-03-03T21:11:00.002-06:00

So for my birthday my sister sent me a Barnes and Noble giftcard. Yay! But really what I got at the bookstore was the best present I could have ever asked for.
My son, C, who's seven went straight to the middle grade section and picked "The Monsters of Morley Manor" by Bruce Coville. This made me proud that he wanted to read up from the chapter books he has been reading. The week before he had read 100 pages from Charlie Bone in 1 day.

Then my daughter, S, decided she wanted a diary. I let them go off with Grammy while I perused the YA's. C came back with a cool journal and said he wanted that too. I didn't think much about this until later at home when he was excitedly writing in it. I told him boys called them journals, but he insisted his was a diary. Who cares as long as he's having fun writing in it. Woohoo.

I have always worried that he wouldn't like reading and now I'm relieved, for now, that he does.

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!!

2009-03-02T07:00:00.003-06:00

Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!

Happy 40th Anniversary, Cat in the Hat!

This year marks the fortieth anniversary of the children’s book, The Cat in the Hat written by Dr. Seuss and also his birthday on March 2nd. He was born as Theodor Geisel in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1904 and died in California in 1991.
He wrote under a pen name, Dr. Seuss with Seuss being his middle name and adding the Dr. since his father had always wanted him to become a doctor. His first book, And to Think That I Saw it on Mulberry Street (1937) was rejected 27 times before being accepted by Vanguard Press.

Dr. Seuss wrote and illustrated almost 50 whimsical picture books which include the very popular:

And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, 1937

Bartholomew and the Oobleck, 1949

Cat in the Hat, 1957

Fox in Socks, 1965
Green Eggs and Ham, 1960

Horton Hears a Who, 1954

How the Grinch Stole Christmas, 1957
I Am not Going to Get up Today!, 1987

If I Ran the Zoo, 1950

Marvin K. Mooney, Will You Please Go Now, 1972

Oh, the Places You'll Go!, 1990

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish, 1960

Sneetches And Other Stories, 1969

There's a Wocket in My Pocket! 1974

Yertle the Turtle & Other Stories, 1958

Test your knowledge and take this quick quiz for Green Eggs and Ham.
1. What is the first line in the book?
a. Sam I am.
b. I do not like green eggs and ham.
c. I am Sam

2. Which line is the one that’s not correct?
a. Would you like them in a house?
b. Would you eat them with a fox?
c. Would you eat them under stairs?

3. How many places would he eat green eggs and ham at the end?
a. 12
b. 14
c. 16

4. Would you eat green eggs and ham?
a. Yes, yes, yes
b. Absolutely not
c. Maybe

answers at bottom

To celebrate this special day, try this yummy treat that looks like the hat worn by Dr. Seuss’ Cat in the Hat character.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Ingredients:
· Vanilla Wafer
· Gummy Lifesaver Candies (preferably red)
· Vanilla Frosting

Preparation:
Start out by placing the wafer cookie on plate; place a thick glob of frosting in the center of it. Place a gummy Lifesaver (preferably red) on the frosting. place another glob of frosting on the gummy Lifesaver, place another Lifesaver on the frosting. Continue this until your treat looks like the red and white striped cat-In-The-Hat hat.

Here are some of my favorite quotes by the great Dr. Seuss.
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.”
“Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened.”
“And will you succeed? Yes indeed, yes indeed! Ninety-eight and three-quarters percent guaranteed!”
“Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So... get on your way.”
“I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells.”

My brain cells definitely need waking up! Dr. Seuss, thanks for making children's books fun and letting kids think out of the box...um...er...hat, I mean.

For more Dr. Seuss fun, go check out author Susan Meyers blog!

answers for quiz: 1. c 2. c 3. b 4. That's up to you!

Questions for Agents

2009-02-24T06:00:00.002-06:00

I posted on Kidlitcentral today about Questions for Agents. Check it out or see below.

Have you ever wondered what you would say if you got the call to be represented? Or maybe after your excitement died down if you, in fact, said the right thing? Do you have some questions written down for that big moment so you won’t be flustered?
Here are a few gems I’ve come across. Some you should know before you send in your manuscript.
Who are some of your authors?
How many clients do you represent?
Are you a member of the AAR?
What publishers have you worked with?
What is your vision for my book?
Will you work with me on revisions, if necessary?
Do you keep your clients informed about correspondence with editors? Rejections?
What is your commission rate for U.S. sales? Foreign sales? Film rights? Audio rights?
What expectations do you have for your clients?
Do you have an agent-author contract?

Of course you don’t want to inundate them with all these questions at once. Find out a little bit about their personality and if they would fit with you best. It’s like marriage. Hopefully you’ll be together for a long time.

How to Get a Literary Agent by Michael Larsen –this book is fantastic, check it out for more details.

ALA award winner calls

2009-02-15T19:29:00.004-06:00

I loved hearing the winners reactions. It made me cry. Congratulations to all.

Okay, I have no idea how to make this look like a video? I tried to add it, but it won't let me.

http://alfocus.ala.org/videos/2009-youth-media-awards-winner-calls

Happy Valentine's Day

2009-02-14T21:33:00.004-06:00

Valentine's Day has never really been a big deal for me. The flowers are way too expensive, it's too crowded at the restaurants, and I definitely don't need all the chocolates. Usually my DH doesn't get me much because my birthday is in February and he goes all out for that which is great by me. But...this Valentine's he asked what I wanted and I told him I wanted him to make me a card. I really didn't think he would do it.

I got home from my critique group this morning and he had printed me out a card with a poem he had written in it. It was very sweet and touched me more than any other present could have. So I guess he's a keeper. :)

Hope you all got exactly what you wanted from your Valentine.

Darcy Pattison's PB retreat

2009-02-08T22:17:00.004-06:00

Over the weekend, I went to Darcy Pattison's Picture Book Retreat. It was more than I ever anticipated. She gave superb suggestions on how to make your picture book stand out. From coming up with a focusing statement to new ideas and making dummies to marketing.

It was extremely challenging, but it made me aware that each little word counts.

Lots of great info. I came home with great feedback and lots of new friends. If you get a chance to take it, I highly recommend this workshop.

Book Reviews

2009-01-24T14:42:00.011-06:00

Okay, I'm a little behind on the books I've recently read. Here are a couple:

My name is Chloe Saunders and my life will never be the same again.

All I wanted was to make friends, meet boys, and keep on being ordinary. I don't even know what that means anymore. It all started on the day that I saw my first ghost--and the ghost saw me.

Now there are ghosts everywhere and they won't leave me alone. To top it all off, I somehow got myself locked up in Lyle House, a "special home" for troubled teens. Yet the home isn't what it seems. Don't tell anyone, but I think there might be more to my housemates than meets the eye. The question is, whose side are they on? It's up to me to figure out the dangerous secrets behind Lyle House...before its skeletons come back to haunt me. (front jacket flap) 2008

I am intrigued by ghost stories and this one didn't disappoint. There is plenty of tension throughout that keeps you turning pages. You really end up caring for these characters. I did feel a little cheated by the ending, but you can go on Ms. Armstrong's blog and read the first few chapters of the sequel, The Awakening, which comes out May 2009.

As children, Jennifer Harris and Cameron Quick were both social outcasts. They were also each other's only friend. So when Cameron disappeared without warning, Jennifer thought she'd lost the one person who would ever understand her. Now in high school, Jennifer has been transformed. Known as Jenna, she is popular, happy, and dating---everything "Jennifer" couldn't be. But she still can't shake the memory of her long-lost friend.

When Cameron suddenly reappears, they both are confronted with memories of their shared past and the drastically different paths their lives have taken.

Sweethearts is a story about the power of memory, the bond of friendship, and the quiet resilience of our childhood hearts. (front jacket flap)

This story broke my heart (in a good way). It had a lot of emotion and made you really think about how lives are changed by one action. It was bittersweet in the end.

Turning Up the Tension

2009-01-22T07:35:00.000-06:00

I blogged over at kidlitcentral about turning up the tension in your novel. Go check it out or just read below. Hope you can get some tips from it.

The first thing agents and editors say they look for on your beginning page is something that keeps them reading. Is it voice, characterization? Maybe. But more than likely that something is tension and conflict. Most readers want the book to begin with signs of trouble then watch how the main character struggles throughout the rest of your story.

These are some ways you can turn up the tension in your writing.
· Start first scene with trouble
· Avoid using flashbacks in beginning
· Use foreshadowing to heighten tension throughout
· Add cliffhangers at end of chapters
· Use short, punchy sentences
· Draw on emotions of all characters
· Let MC have flaws/Antagonist have good qualities
· Use dialogue to allow forward motion of story (don’t allow MC to be alone too often)
· Give MC a secret
· Use setting details to establish mood and tone
· Betray your MC and use suspicion and fear
· When MC is hurting, make it worse (kick them while they’re down)
· Build tension gradually for climax

Increasing your tension keeps your readers happy. Whether they want to scream, slap, or kiss your characters, you’ll be grateful you put the extra effort into it when they’re coming back for more.

Keep writing and learning!

Bird Lake Moon

2009-01-17T15:55:00.006-06:00

One of my writer New Year's Resolutions is to read 200 YA novels this year. Some will be new, some old and some that I'm embarassed to say have been out forever and I haven't read. So bear with me as I try to accomplish this and post about these books.

Spencer thought the house might be haunted.

Mitch knew it wasn't. And he knew why.

The whole time Spencer and Mitch hung out together at Bird Lake that summer, there were secrets keeping them apart.

And maybe a secret knowledge keeping them together, too---together like members of the same tribe. Like friends.

(front flap copy from Amazon)

This is a quiet book. It's about divorce, loss and the things these kids do in order to move on. I enjoyed reading it, but I didn't see why it was in the YA section (maybe it wasn't suppose to be?). I always love the way Kevin Henkes handles these big subjects for kids.

*******

I give it a 7 out of 10 stars.

Has this happened to you?

2009-01-11T16:28:00.001-06:00

I went to my local B&N yesterday to read a bunch of picture books (I'm taking the Darcy Pattison picture book retreat in February and she requires you to read a lot of PB's beforehand). I would grab about 10 off the shelf and find a spot, read them and log info then return them to their correct spot.

One of the workers kind of hovered around me the whole time. I got more PB's and he came up and asked if I needed a basket for my purchases. I told him "No thank you, I'm just reading them right now." He gave me this very odd (almost hateful) look and left.

Then he kept hovering. I finally said "I'm really not weird. I'm a children's book writer." He said, "That's okay."

I guess he expected me to buy all of those books. Or didn't want me there if I wasn't going to look quickly then go. Geez, it's not like I didn't just buy $50.00 worth of books the week before. Ah, well.

Has this ever happened to any of you?

Let me hear you say....

2009-01-08T19:22:00.002-06:00

OU!

Thankful Thursday

2008-12-25T21:31:00.001-06:00

Merry Christmas! Today was an exciting day. The food... the presents... the presents... the food. My kids got all they wanted plus more (my mom goes a little bonkers since they are her only grandchildren). Being with family is great and sometimes stressful. But I am very thankful to have the crazy, insane family I have.

My husband's cousin has been staying with us because he came down to visit his friend who is dying of bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma). I've met the friend, Gene, a dozen times and he's a great guy. He actually came over to our house tonight and stayed for awhile. It's been really hard for him to eat anything because the way the food tastes to him, and he's lost 40 lbs. Gene wasn't a big guy to begin with.

He is ready for his time on earth to be over, which is very sad and difficult, but is realistic in his eyes. What's worse is: he's estranged from his son.

My dad passed away from bladder cancer in 1999 when my daughter was only 2 months old. It was a very traumatic and awful time, but I'm glad I had the small amount of time I had with him. He made me into the person I am today. I pray that I make him proud of me every day. And I am so glad I got to be there his last days. There has never been any regret. He knew I loved him and vice versa.

Now, I didn't mean for this to be a depressing post. I just wanted to say, cherish what you have while it's still in front of you. While you can still reach out and hug them and fight with them. For no matter how crazy, they are YOURS and you are THEIRS!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

2008-12-24T21:42:00.000-06:00

Merry Christmas and may all your wishes come true this New Year. Hopefully you won't have to throw any rocks to get what you want. :) Many blessings and joys to you and your family. It's a wonderful life.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJHpBCyTTi0

Query Holiday

2008-12-12T19:04:00.000-06:00

I saw this over at http://asuen.wordpress.com/ For those of you who don't get her e-newsletter, you should. It's filled with all kinds of facts about the publishing industry. So here is the latest tidbit.

Are you terrible at query letters? Want an agent? Well here's your chance to avoid the dreaded query letter and possibly hook an agent. Good Luck!

Firebrand Literary is hosting a QUERY HOLIDAY- check it out: http://www.firebrandliterary.com/query-holiday

Things I have done Meme

2008-12-08T23:31:00.000-06:00

I saw this on http://saputnam.livejournal.com/ blog and thought it sounded interesting. The ones I have done are in bold.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band (okay, I was a band geek for 2 years)
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland (does Disneyworld count?)
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis (Um..no, these bugs scare the beejeezus out of me)
10. Sang a solo (I wouldn't torture anyone that way)
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping (enough said)
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run (played softball all through childhood)
32. Been on a cruise (actually, used to be a travel agent)
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied (off and on)
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung karaoke (those poor people)
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling (love both)
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving ( No way!)
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book (One day!)
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible (well most of it)
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (watched my dad do this many times)
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby (Actually 2)
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day (and in one sitting)

I've got a lot of things to do and see!!! :)

I tag anyone who wants to play.

Inspire your Imagination

2008-12-06T14:44:00.000-06:00

I thought this seemed fitting and inspiring.

http://www.duirwaighgallery.com/inspiration_aknock.htm

Happy Weekend.

Keep writing and learning!

2008-11-28T17:34:00.000-06:00

So, I didn't get out into the craziness that is Black Friday, but I am almost done with my Christmas shopping! Yay! Which is a VERY FIRST for me. I have never had all my shopping done before December 1st or even before December 20th.

What good deals did you get today. Anything worth getting up at 4 a.m. or earlier?

Happy Holidays

Submission Admission

2008-11-16T17:34:00.001-06:00

So, I sent a little poem into a magazine. I'm trying to do small projects while I get this mess of a novel figured out. I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed and frustrated with it right now. Wish me luck on the poem. :)

What have you submitted lately?

2008-11-09T20:40:00.000-06:00

Okay, why do 4th graders have Science Fair Projects??? Ugh. That is what I did all weekend. I tried to let my daughter do all of it, but some things aren't that easy. And to top it off I cut my finger open on the scissors and a few hours later I went out to the garage and stepped on a top from a coke can and sliced my foot open real bad. Ouch!

All right I'll stop whining. :) Tomorrow is a new day and I'm thankful for that.

Picture Book info

2008-11-02T20:02:00.000-06:00

Check out what Editorial Anonymous had to say about PB layouts.
http://editorialanonymous.blogspot.com/2008/10/basic-book-construction.html

Happy Halloween

2008-10-31T09:00:00.000-05:00

Halloween is one of my favorite "holidays". Especially when it's warm outside --like it will be here today. The spooks and fun that ensue always get me in a festive mood. I love the jack-o-lanterns and skeletons, the bats and black cats, the mummies and goblins. But what I don't love is going through haunted houses. I know, I'm a chicken but they just flip me out.

My hubby and I used to go to an annual Halloween party every year. It was always so much fun. One year we went as Tinkerbell and Captain Hook. Another time we went as Marilyn Monroe and Joe DeMaggio. Unfortunately I have no pics to show.

So what have you dressed up as? What is your favorite thing about Halloween?

Go check out www.kidlitcentralnews.com today and get a chance to win some cool writer gifts from some amazing authors.

Good luck!!! Keep writing and learning.

2008-10-27T20:16:00.000-05:00

On Halloween, check out http://www.kidlitcentralnews.com/ for a spooktacular treasure haunt for writerly gifts. It will be sure to make you scream with excitement. Mawahahahahahha.

Description & Setting

2008-10-16T20:20:00.000-05:00

Description & Setting by Ron Rozelle, one of many Writer's Digest Books, is a phenomenal asset to have in your collection of writer's handbooks.

I knew I had to put description and setting in my novel but reading this book was like putting the light in a firefly. I started glowing from the inside out with all the knowledge and could finally see through the dark.

It talks about:

-The importance of your setting and description

-Learning to pay attention to your surroundings

-Use the flavors of your words (metaphors,

similes, cadence, flashbacks, backstories,

foreshadowing, sentence lengths, adverbs and

adjectives.)

- Showing and telling (when to use each)

- Sensory description (the SIX senses)

- Descriptions of characters (making character

profile sheet)

-Time and place

-Get your facts straight for specialized fiction

-Using description and setting to drive the story

(mood and tone)

-Working the Magic with titles, opening

paragraphs, voice, etc.

-Too little, too much (dialogue tags, repeating,

passive voice, need to know basis)

I highly recommend this book. One of the best things I got out of it was to make a writer's journal of different details you'd use in your writing and to really make notes in it every day. It enhances your senses and creativity.

Hope you love it as much as I do.

The Wacky Things Kids Say

2008-10-11T21:20:00.000-05:00

This is what I blogged about at kid lit central on Wednesday.

http://community.livejournal.com/kidlit_central/30588.html

When to let go

2008-09-16T20:56:00.001-05:00

I've been working on this picture book for...hmmm...let's see...oh, yeah---years! It started as a little poem for my son's pre-k classroom door. Then I added more of a middle. Then later, after an editor critique, a beginning and ending came about. My poor critique group has seen it so many times in so many phases of its life. I know the final revisions I need to make before I can send it out into the world and for some reason I hesitate on making them.

Do any of you have a manuscript like this? I guess it's like having your baby walk for the first time. You want it but you don't.

2008-08-23T21:02:00.000-05:00

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!

2008-08-18T19:45:00.000-05:00

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

2008-08-10T16:07:00.000-05:00

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.