Moving Forward

This week I am in PA visiting family and meeting the illustrator of two of my books. I have done some more research on self publishing and am excited about making some contacts in the near future. Too soon to really feel comfortable, but there is always hope in possibilities!

Confusion

After receiving a personal rejection letter from a publisher this past week, I experienced the normal reaction of "What exactly do they want?" This has been the million dollar question, of course, for writers throughout time wishing to be published. People sometimes mistakenly think that once you are published, it gets easier. For me, nothing could be further from the truth! Although teachers and kids love my books and ideas, publishers come to the edge, but don't jump in. So I am beginning to serioulsy consider the self publishing route, but with a little twist. At the same time, however, today I received an invitation to the New England Reading Association 'Evening with Authors' event in September. So somebody out there knows about me! Perhaps, it will be a combination of methods which keeps me writing and sharing with kids. But however it happens, I'm not ready to give up just yet!

That Won't Work!

I often think about solutions to my writing problems while I am walking, cleaning, hauling firewood, sewing, etc. I have been stalled for a while about how to proceed in a middle grade fantasy I have been working on. Long story short - two wizard brothers will be in big trouble if anyone finds out what they have done. How to resolve this issue and lay the groundwork for continuing the story had me baffled. Finally, while vacuuming at the shop the other day, I thought I had it figured out. At lunch time, I read back over the previous chapters and realized the one element that had to be in there for my solution to work - was missing:(  Forget that solution? No way - going back to rewrite the other chapter as I now know how to work in the missing piece that is needed. Sometimes it just isn't easy, but it's always worth the effort.

Nora's Stars

As I continue to prepare for my "star" visit to Lura Libby school, I have read many books about the stars. Some of the books are factual and others are fiction. Nora's Stars is a sweet story of a little girl who, through the help of her toys, brings all the stars in the night sky into her bedroom. Can you imagine never seeing the stars again in the sky? How long would it take you to notice that they weren't there?

No need to worry - Nora gathers up all the stars into her bed spread and flings them back into the sky. It does make one stop and wonder - how much of our beautiful earth do we take for granted?

Excited!

A month from today, I will be meeting Laura Knorr, the illustrator for A Isn't for Fox and Zero, Zilch, Nada. We have spoken on the phone, but have never met. Because there are restrictions on having contact during the actual book process, questions for each other go through editors and art directors. I am eager to talk with her about what it is like to receive someone else's words and then come up with illustrations to hopefully match the intent of the author. We will both be visiting family in PA and can finally have some time together without any middlemen! Maybe a book signing or school visit together, too:)

Combining Loves

As most of you know, in addition to writing, I also quilt. However, my studio became a total disaster over the holidays and now I am taking time to clean up and throw out. I can't write on a cluttered desk and I can't quilt in a cluttered studio!  But as I was choosing what fabric to throw, I had an idea for a writing activity - Fabricated Poems. I will suggest it to the teacher of the second grade where I volunteer, and maybe they will try it out for me. Fingers crossed, My Twelve Maine Christmas Days goes out today!