Although there is still snow in the yard, we can see the dirt driveway again and there are bulbs poking their heads up through the ground. Dare we hope that spring is really on its way?
The next few months are filling right up with school visits in Maine, tentative ones in PA and a book signing in Minneapolis! This month I will be returning to the Mabel Wilson School in Cumberland, Maine. I had a great time there last year and look forward to meeting this year's kindergarteners. In April I will travel to Tremont Consolidated School in Bass Harbor and at the end of the month to the Cushing School in Wilton, Maine. In early May I will be visiting the Saccarappa School in Westbrook and then leaving on a three week trip. After several days visiting family in Mt. Gretna, I will head to Pittsburg to meet my daughter for the Spring International Quilt Market. This is my first trip to "market" and I am excited! From there, I will travel to St. Paul to visit my sister and to do a signing at The Red Balloon bookstore. I also hope to meet with my editor face to face:)
I am going to learn more blogging skills in the next weeks and hope to add some links to favorite web sites - both book and quilting related. Enjoy the slow awakening of the earth and take some time to refresh yourself as well.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Ready for Spring!
As I watch the sun rise this morning through a forest of white, I realize that despite the beauty of the scene, I am ready for spring. I am beginning to return to my 5am rising, after two months of sleep-in hibernation. It was just too dark to get up!
Of course, that hibernation has put me behind schedule in everything from submissions to house repairs and quilt orders. Maybe I should get up at 4am for two months to catch up. I don't see that happening!
Mother Nature decided to interfer in last week's book signing at LL Bean, sending snow and rain throughout the day and keeping the shoppers home. But we did have a fun storyhour and I met some great folks from Maine and from away. I did manage to finally forget my red ant tablecloth at a signing and will have to return to Bean's to pick it up. But that is OK as I have a gift card to use:)
Much to do - think spring!!!!
Of course, that hibernation has put me behind schedule in everything from submissions to house repairs and quilt orders. Maybe I should get up at 4am for two months to catch up. I don't see that happening!
Mother Nature decided to interfer in last week's book signing at LL Bean, sending snow and rain throughout the day and keeping the shoppers home. But we did have a fun storyhour and I met some great folks from Maine and from away. I did manage to finally forget my red ant tablecloth at a signing and will have to return to Bean's to pick it up. But that is OK as I have a gift card to use:)
Much to do - think spring!!!!
Monday, February 16, 2009
Beans
The calendar for spring is beginning to get filled in with school visits and signings. This Thursday, February 19th, I will be reading and signing at the L.L. Bean flagship store in Freeport, Maine. The storyhour begins at 10:30am and I will be there to chat and sign books until 1:30pm. If your school vacation plans include a trip to Freeport, come on down on Thursday and stop by to say hello.
Other school visits are lining up and I look forward to returning to see friends and to make new ones. A trip to Pennsylvania and Minnesota is shaping up for May - more about that in a future blog. Good luck to my sister as she makes the big move to St. Paul this week - travel safely!
I am certainly enjoying the education I am receiving each week as I spend time in second grade. What a refreshing view they have of the world and I just love their honesty and curiosity. I am learning!
If you live here in New England, enjoy the school vacation week. There are still school visit dates available for spring, so please suggest a visit to your child's teacher or to your parent group. It is always fun to do something different in the spring after the long winter!
Other school visits are lining up and I look forward to returning to see friends and to make new ones. A trip to Pennsylvania and Minnesota is shaping up for May - more about that in a future blog. Good luck to my sister as she makes the big move to St. Paul this week - travel safely!
I am certainly enjoying the education I am receiving each week as I spend time in second grade. What a refreshing view they have of the world and I just love their honesty and curiosity. I am learning!
If you live here in New England, enjoy the school vacation week. There are still school visit dates available for spring, so please suggest a visit to your child's teacher or to your parent group. It is always fun to do something different in the spring after the long winter!
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Book Award Shortlist!
Don't you just love opening your email and receiving a totally unexpected surprise? Today was that day for me. A Isn't for Fox has been selected for the nomination list for the 2009-2010 Keystone to Reading Book Award! Students in grades K-6 in the state of Pennsylvania (home state for both Laura and I) will read the nominated books during the 2009-2010 school year and vote for their favorite in March 2010. The winning author will be honored in October 2010 at the Keystone to Reading Association meeting in Hershey, PA. Like they say at the Oscars - just to be nominated is enough. Big smile!!!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Sketches
Today was one of those days as an author when you get a little present which makes you realize why you write. What was that present? The first sketches for the counting book arrived today and they are wonderful. Laura's critters are perfect - exactly how I imagined them to be! They have so much character and each is perfect for his/her role in the story. I am so thankful to be teamed with such a talented illustrator who shares the same vision as I do for our book.
I also began volunteering today in Mrs. Michaud's second grade class at Dike Newell School in Bath, ME. I will be helping during reading time twice a week. I want to stay in touch with children and with teachers to hopefully better understand how to write for both. It is quite amazing what they already know and yet are still so innocent in other ways. I believe I will be the one being educated!
I hope everyone is warm out there. After 18 inches of snow last weekend and a return to single digit temperatures coming this weekend, I think we are all ready to shed some layers and head for warmer places. But since that isn't possible, let's just enjoy the beautiful snowscapes, the birds at the feeders and the sea smoke rising over the river.
Don't forget to ask your favorite teacher about a school visit this spring - we still have some open dates.
I also began volunteering today in Mrs. Michaud's second grade class at Dike Newell School in Bath, ME. I will be helping during reading time twice a week. I want to stay in touch with children and with teachers to hopefully better understand how to write for both. It is quite amazing what they already know and yet are still so innocent in other ways. I believe I will be the one being educated!
I hope everyone is warm out there. After 18 inches of snow last weekend and a return to single digit temperatures coming this weekend, I think we are all ready to shed some layers and head for warmer places. But since that isn't possible, let's just enjoy the beautiful snowscapes, the birds at the feeders and the sea smoke rising over the river.
Don't forget to ask your favorite teacher about a school visit this spring - we still have some open dates.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Too Long!
Happy New Year! Well, this was definitely way too long between postings. I'm not sure where December went, but it was certainly busy with writing, quilting and family. January started with a bout of sickness, but I am now getting back on schedule.
I spoke on the phone with Laura Knorr, the illustrator for A Isn't for Fox and for the new book which we think will be released in about one year. We got to know each other a little bit and had fun discussing and deciding on the basic ideas for the new book. I have never had the opportunity to be part of the illutration process this early in a book's production. It was fun and very educational to learn the issues the illustrator must think about when conceiving a book's look. I can't wait to see the early sketches.
My new publicist, Audrey Mitnick, has been busy working on a signing at L.L. Bean's flagship store in Freeport. I will be there during school vacation week, on February 19th at 10:30 am. There will be authors in the store most days that week and many activities going on for the family. If you aren't jetting off to Florida, stop in for a visit.
I have been sending out manuscripts and have others in the hands of my reader/reviewers for comments. I am also doing research for a middle grade novel set during the Revolutionary War and working on a book to follow up the new one that is in production. There are not enough hours in the day - if I just didn't have to sleep!!!
There are still dates available for school visits. My fee is reasonable and can often be covered by the school's parent group. As spring begins to arrive, it is always good to break up the long routine of winter with a visiting author or other type of guest. Education comes in many forms and fashions, and visitors help keep the students engaged and interested.
Take care, be careful in the snow and enjoy the beauty of winter.
I spoke on the phone with Laura Knorr, the illustrator for A Isn't for Fox and for the new book which we think will be released in about one year. We got to know each other a little bit and had fun discussing and deciding on the basic ideas for the new book. I have never had the opportunity to be part of the illutration process this early in a book's production. It was fun and very educational to learn the issues the illustrator must think about when conceiving a book's look. I can't wait to see the early sketches.
My new publicist, Audrey Mitnick, has been busy working on a signing at L.L. Bean's flagship store in Freeport. I will be there during school vacation week, on February 19th at 10:30 am. There will be authors in the store most days that week and many activities going on for the family. If you aren't jetting off to Florida, stop in for a visit.
I have been sending out manuscripts and have others in the hands of my reader/reviewers for comments. I am also doing research for a middle grade novel set during the Revolutionary War and working on a book to follow up the new one that is in production. There are not enough hours in the day - if I just didn't have to sleep!!!
There are still dates available for school visits. My fee is reasonable and can often be covered by the school's parent group. As spring begins to arrive, it is always good to break up the long routine of winter with a visiting author or other type of guest. Education comes in many forms and fashions, and visitors help keep the students engaged and interested.
Take care, be careful in the snow and enjoy the beauty of winter.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Portland and Jay
Despite the rain, we had a nice time at the Holiday Book Fair in Portland. It is always good to spend time with other writers, to compare notes and talk about our writing experiences. A Isn't for Fox was well received and will be under several trees on Christmas morning.
I just returned from spending the day with the third and fourth graders at Jay Elementary. It is a joy to visit in a school with great teachers and wonderful students. The kids asked great questions, were very observant and had a great time with our Lego activity. The children attending Jay Elementary are lucky students, indeed!
I find that the more I do school visits the more I love doing them. So it is hard hearing that budgets are already frozen for the year and that there are more cuts coming from the state. This means no more new books for the library and in some cases, no more librarians. Please consider volunteering at your child's or grandchild's school or asking if there is anything you can do to help a classroom.
Our children's education is too important to ignore - adopt a classroom, you'll get as much out of it as the kids.
Have a great Holiday Season.
I just returned from spending the day with the third and fourth graders at Jay Elementary. It is a joy to visit in a school with great teachers and wonderful students. The kids asked great questions, were very observant and had a great time with our Lego activity. The children attending Jay Elementary are lucky students, indeed!
I find that the more I do school visits the more I love doing them. So it is hard hearing that budgets are already frozen for the year and that there are more cuts coming from the state. This means no more new books for the library and in some cases, no more librarians. Please consider volunteering at your child's or grandchild's school or asking if there is anything you can do to help a classroom.
Our children's education is too important to ignore - adopt a classroom, you'll get as much out of it as the kids.
Have a great Holiday Season.
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