Re-posted from 5/28/09. I can't believe this was a year ago!
On Memorial Day we went to the carnation drop at the Palm Springs Air Museum. It was a thrilling experience. Carnations were dropped from a B-25 Mitchell bomber that thundered by not far overhead to honor our war veterans. Next time I'll bring a cooler. Ahh, hindsight is 20/20 where common sense fails to thrive.
Joe loves his big brother Dennie, and something about the way Dennie is tenderly holding Joe's hand in this photo just touches me to no end. Joe's other big brother Brian braved the center of the crowd to make sure we could pluck at least one carnation from the batch for our little one. And that is, in fact, what he did.
Thank you to all war veterans and to every man and woman who has served this great country of ours in any capacity, be it military service, as a peace officer, fire fighter or teacher. We owe you a debt that can never fully be re-payed.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Memorial Day Carnation Drop
Labels:
Brian,
Dennie,
Holidays,
Joe Joe,
Lily,
Memorial Day,
My Silly Kids,
Outdoor Adventures
Monday, May 24, 2010
The Blueberry Award - Seeking 2009 pro-fruit & veggie & nut kidlit
I had to share this. Too priceless.
Click HERE for more information, and a link to their application. An excerpt:
What The Blueberry Award Seeks
The Blueberry Award is currently seeking children’s books published in 2009 that present one or more fruits, vegetables, nuts or seeds in a positive light. We’re open to board books, picture books, middle grade, YA, fiction, non-fiction, poetry and more. Because The Blueberry Award seeks to encourage healthful eating and lifestyles in a fun and entertaining way that appeals to children, we’re especially interested in books that are silly, whimsical and zany. But feel free to send us serious and/or subtle books, too, because they can be just as powerful. Simply stated, we invite you to submit any book that includes a fruit, vegetable, nut or seed (or any combination of them) in a positive light, no matter what role it plays in the story or plot. And if the fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds are fresh and organic, even better!
Labels:
Awards,
Contests amp; Awards,
Fruit,
The Blueberry Award,
Vegetable
Saturday, May 22, 2010
New Dallas Picture Bookstore: The Storybook House
There's a new picture bookstore in Uptown Dallas! Matthew and Kristine Abramowitz, the good folks who run The Storybook House, aren't even bothering to install adult titles - this store is for the kids, and the kids at heart.
If you live in Dallas, why not stop by the Grand opening today? Be sure to read the DallasNews.com article by Nancy Churnin for full details. Excerpt:
If you live in Dallas, why not stop by the Grand opening today? Be sure to read the DallasNews.com article by Nancy Churnin for full details. Excerpt:
Grand opening events Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (presentations by Mike Wimmer at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.); Sunday noon to 5 p.m. (presentations by Keith Graves at 1:30 and 3 p.m.). Regular hours are Mondays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 2925 Fairmount St., Dallas. Free admission. 214-740-9401, 1-888-907-8679. www.thestorybookhouse.com.
Labels:
Children's Bookstores,
Dallas,
Dallas-Fort Worth,
Texas
The fart that shook the earth
Originally posted 10/16/2009
Every morning my husband Dennis emerges from the bathroom at 5:30 am and blasts me with a shock of light.
I roll over and take my Levothyroid (I do this as soon as humanly possible since I am then required to wait for an hour before having food and *gasp* coffee) and then, as was the way of the past, fall back to sleep until 7:00 am.
The good old days came to a hasty halt last week when our two year old son Joseph realized that he can open the door of his room at his temporal discretion, scamper into the hallway and proclaim, "Mommy! Mommy! I want light on! I want my vitamin! It will make me strong!"
This usually happens at seven minutes of 6:00 am.
But not this morning. This morning at the callow hour of 5:31 am I tooted a squall so high in pitch and extensive in duration that folks buried at the local cemetery were prompted to tear at the earth above them and re-birth, zombified, on a beeline for the Tastee Freeze and long overdue coffee and jelly donuts.
Since I sleep in earplugs as defense against my husband's garbage truckian snores, it was not until I rolled over to check Joseph's baby monitor (yes I realize he's no longer a baby, if it were up to me I'd have that monitor on him well into high school) that I detected the fuss and caught Dennis gaping at me in wide-eyed sanctimonious husband-fury.
"You woke him up! That fart woke him up!" He pointed towards the monitor. "When I came out of the bathroom he was lying right there."
"I woke him up?"
Dennis corrected, "Your fart woke him up!"
Time to pay the piper. I slithered out of bed in search of Joseph's gummy Flintstones.
Labels:
Fart,
Humor,
Hypothyroidism,
My Nutty Husband,
zombies
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Alice Pope: Tweet Roundup
Be sure to check out Alice Pope's Wednesday Tweet Roundup, a bulging bag of goodies for aspiring children's writers. It contains informational links galore, from a virtual treasure trove of quality tweeters. (Be sure to follow them!)
Sample tweet: @srrcolvin: RT @4kidlit Adventures in Children's Publishing: Quirks Are Character Life S.. http://bit.ly/b7DdAw
*********
You may know Ms. Pope as the former editor of the Children's Writer's & Illustrator's Market. She now authors the fabulous Children's Market Blog at SCBWI.
Sample tweet: @srrcolvin: RT @4kidlit Adventures in Children's Publishing: Quirks Are Character Life S.. http://bit.ly/b7DdAw
*********
You may know Ms. Pope as the former editor of the Children's Writer's & Illustrator's Market. She now authors the fabulous Children's Market Blog at SCBWI.
- Alice Pope on Facebook
- Alice Pope on Twitter
- Alice Pope at JacketFlap
Labels:
Alice Pope,
Children's Writer's amp; Illustrators Market,
Social Media,
tweet roundups,
twitter,
Writers Resources,
Writing Tips
Monday, May 17, 2010
Child1st Publications Releases New Series of Children's Photo Books for Visual Learners
I'm curious to explore Eli's Books. This is the first series of picture books I've seen that uses photographs instead of illustrations.
I love that Child1st takes into account that there are different types of learners. Eli's Books are geared towards visual learners.
An excerpt taken from the press release:
I love that Child1st takes into account that there are different types of learners. Eli's Books are geared towards visual learners.
An excerpt taken from the press release:
"Child1st Publications recently released the first books in a series of picture books designed to model healthy physical activity and family relationships.
Lincolnton, NC, May 16, 2010 -- According to the publisher's webpage for Eli's Books, the photo picture books "model an environment that is nurturing to a child as he develops in body, mind and spirit. In our busy society, technology often replaces active outdoor play, social interaction with peers, and time with parents as they impart life skills. Rich experiences such as these enable children to develop in harmony with their unique design." The books, written by Jeanette Gray, and photographed by Elizabeth Gray Earl, center on one main character named Eli, a very young boy that is constantly exploring the world around him. Several of the titles are about seasons, while others include a day of cookie-making with grandma, an afternoon of exploring sounds and making music, and a time when Eli learns about self control while feeling particularly cross. The series currently contains 8 titles, but Child1st is planning to publish more in the future."
- @child1st on twitter
- @eli_books on twitter
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Crafting & Selling Your Picture Book: Writer's Digest Live Webinar
I will be attending the Writer's Digest University "Crafting & Selling Your Picture Book" Live Webinar, and I hope to see you there!
Info: June 10th at 1pm Eastern, 90 minutes, $49
Hint: Although supposedly expired, I received a 10% discount by applying the coupon code: Writers10
Details from WritersDigest.com:
Info: June 10th at 1pm Eastern, 90 minutes, $49
Hint: Although supposedly expired, I received a 10% discount by applying the coupon code: Writers10
Details from WritersDigest.com:
Each registration comes with access to the archived version of the program and the materials for 1 year.
Description
As simple as it is to read and enjoy a good picture book, it is deceptively difficult to write one. In this session, you'll learn the basics of picture book structure, how to match image with story, and how the pacing of a picture book can drive the story and create a satisfying reading experience—and create a picture book that might catch the eye of a publisher!
What you'll learn:
- Misconceptions about picture books
- Beginner's mistakes and how to avoid them
- The structure of a picture book—including the importance of page count, page turns, and dummies
- How to craft a story that has the visual appeal a picture book needs
- How publishers evaluate picture books
- How publishers match picture books with illustrators
- Resources for picture book authors, including insider's tips on how to find out which topics are in particular demand
How does the critique work?
All writers are invited to submit a rough draft of one picture book manuscript. Instructions on how to submit your work are sent after you officially register. All registrants are guaranteed a critique during the live event or afterward via e-mail.
Speakers
Award-winning author, Tracey Dils, author of You Can Write Children's Books, is the author of more than 25 picture and novelty books. Tracey has also held a publisher/editorial positions at several major children's publishing houses.
Who should attend?
- Beginning writers
- Anyone aspiring to write for children
- Writers who have experience in other genres who want to enter the picture book market
- Writers who want an insider's view of how publishers make decisions
How does the webinar work?
The live audio is delivered over your telephone or computer speakers. The Power Point presentations and desktop or document sharing are presented over the Internet. This is like a talk-radio program with visuals on the Web. You'll be able to have a live Q&A chat with the speakers.
What equipment do I need?
All you need is a computer. You will be able to view the slides and listen to the audio over the computer speakers. However, if you are on wireless we recommend you listen to the audio over a phone line as VOIP technology is not as stable on a wireless connection.
When you log into the webinar, your computer will be taken through a brief configuration check and will let you know if you're missing any software. So be sure to login to the event at least 5 minutes before it starts.
Labels:
Children's literature,
Children's Picture Books,
Critiques,
Picture Books,
Webinars,
Writer's Digest,
Writing Education
2010 Children’s Festival of Reading – Knoxville
Oh, wow! Look at the great authors appearing at the 2010 Children's Festival of Reading in Knoxville, Tennessee, including one of my son Joe's very favorites - Jack Gantos!
Per the Knox County Public Library website:
Per the Knox County Public Library website:
The 2010 Children's Festival of Reading will be on May 22 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Make sure to come prepared for all sorts of fantastic fun! There'll be great authors and illustrators, storytellers, musicians, magicians, a mad scientist with crazy water experiments, a hayride, fun craft projects and even a giant inflatable!
Labels:
Book Fairs amp; Signings,
Children's Festival of Reading,
Festivals,
Jack Gantos,
Picture Books
Saturday, May 15, 2010
It's Not All Flowers and Sausages
Be sure to check out the Picture Book Reading Extravoganza 2010 at It's Not All Flowers and Sausages!
Mrs. Mimi is workiing down the "Top 100 Picture Books Poll Results" from SchoolLibraryJournal.com, and sharing her learned and enthusiastic opinions with us. What a fabulous idea, and what a wonderful resource. Thanks, Mrs. Mimi!
Per Mrs. Mimi, It's Not All Flowers and Sausages is:
"... a blog for TEACHERS WHO ROCK and are frustrated by the day to day drama that gets in the way of our interactions with children. Don't get me wrong, I love my job, but sometimes a girl has gotta vent..."
Mrs. Mimi is workiing down the "Top 100 Picture Books Poll Results" from SchoolLibraryJournal.com, and sharing her learned and enthusiastic opinions with us. What a fabulous idea, and what a wonderful resource. Thanks, Mrs. Mimi!
Friday, May 14, 2010
There's a rogue spammer at Blog Catalog!
Here's what an innocent glance at my inbox netted me just now...
You are evil, ReyJr! :twisted: Everyone who has a Blog Catalog account has received the very same message at one time or another for real.
ReyJr, the rogue Blog Catalog singing spammer (tongue firmly in cheek) with the good sense of humor may be found at reyjr.com and on twitter @ryjr.
If you should cross his path, be sure to click his ads! :lol:
*****
P.S. I didn't delete my header. I just upgraded to Thesis 1.7 and I can't figure out how to add it back! :oops:
You are evil, ReyJr! :twisted: Everyone who has a Blog Catalog account has received the very same message at one time or another for real.
ReyJr, the rogue Blog Catalog singing spammer (tongue firmly in cheek) with the good sense of humor may be found at reyjr.com and on twitter @ryjr.
If you should cross his path, be sure to click his ads! :lol:
*****
P.S. I didn't delete my header. I just upgraded to Thesis 1.7 and I can't figure out how to add it back! :oops:
Labels:
Blog Catalog,
Fun Stuff,
Link Love,
ReyJr
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Jan Fields on The Role of Dialogue and Narrative at ICL
Jan Fields posted a helpful article entitled "The Role of Dialogue and Narrative" at the Institute of Children's Literature.
The entire read is fascinating, but I found the bit comparing how one would narrate the same scene for younger readers vs. for intermediate readers or teens quite instructional.
(Is it "found it quite instructional" or "found it to be quite instructional"?) Oh my!
Enjoy.
Jan's World of Writing
Follow Jan Fields on twitter @Kidmagwriters
The entire read is fascinating, but I found the bit comparing how one would narrate the same scene for younger readers vs. for intermediate readers or teens quite instructional.
(Is it "found it quite instructional" or "found it to be quite instructional"?) Oh my!
Enjoy.
Jan's World of Writing
Follow Jan Fields on twitter @Kidmagwriters
New picture book deal for Tara Lazar!
Be sure to check out Tara Lazar's post The New Deal! over at Writing for Kids (While Raising Them). Congratulations, Tara, on THE MONSTORE! Well deserved, Tara. You've shown us that the dream is alive!
Tara Lazar on twitter @taralazar
Tara Lazar at JacketFlap
- Tara Lazar is represented by The Erin Murphy Literary Agency.
- Her book deal was done with Emily Lawrence at Aladdin/Simon & Schuster.
Labels:
Aladdin,
Book Deals,
Erin Murphy Literary Agency,
Picture Books,
Simon amp; Schuster,
Tara Lazar
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
The Nine Lives of Rotten Ralph by Jack Gantos
It's official! My three year old son Joe is a fool for Rotten Ralph! He adores him and his rotten ways.
Amazon Product Description: Poor Rotten Ralph. His health just isn't what it used to be. Thanks to his rotten ways, he's down to the very last of his nine lives! One more slip and he'll be gone forever, warns the vet. Sarah, Ralph's doting owner, is fiercely determined to keep her cat safe. But how much coddling can Ralph take before he has to do something totally and utterly rotten? In this ninth tale about the most delightfully disobedient cat in town, being naughty has never looked so good to Rotten Ralph. But then again, after a hard day's rotten work, neither does the warmth and safety of Sarah's lap!
Author: Jack Gantos
Illustrator: Nicole Rubel
Reading Level: Ages 4-8
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children (April 20, 2009) - Submission Guidelines
Publisher Jack Gantos is presently associated with: Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers "As of January 2010, Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers, in compliance with The Macmillan Children's Publishing Group's policy, does not accept unsolicited manuscripts. We recommend finding a literary agent to represent you and your work. "
Labels:
Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers,
Houghton Mifflin Books for Children,
Jack Gantos,
Joe Picks,
Macmillan,
Nicole Rubel,
Picture Books,
Rotten Ralph
Saturday, May 8, 2010
What is happening here?
My son's favorite park borders an elementary school. I was so moved by a beautiful child that I took this photo from the corner of the playground with my phone.
Labels:
black and white,
Inspiration,
My Silly Kids,
playgrounds
Friday, May 7, 2010
Brick Walls
Republish: Originally posted May 15, 2009
I was drop-kicked into yesterday morning by a bad dream. After tossing and turning for a bit, when it became irkfully apparent that I would not be falling back to sleep, it dawned on me that if I were to get out of bed that very moment I could expect to have roughly ONE hour to myself. ONE hour! I could network. I could blog uninterrupted. I could think deep thoughts. I could lounge on the toilet and read Better Homes & Gardens. High on life, I ripped off the covers and flung myself across the room and into the hallway.
On my way to my computer I noticed that Joe had opened his door and turned on his light in the middle of the night. Giggling at the rhyme of it all (remember, I was still high on life) I crept over to his room, turned off his light, and closed his door as gingerly as any human can hope to gingerly close a door. Not quite two seconds later Joe exploded into a highly vocal crying frenzy so fierce I expected to find him literally caught by the toe by a tiger.
Just then, my bowels churned and threatened to erupt, and left me with no choice other than to dash into the bathroom. After a few very unpleasant moments, I made my way back to Joe's room to save him from the tiger. My bowels churned again, and so it was back to the bathroom. (Bad chicken???!? Damn that chicken!) From the bathroom I heard Lily working herself up to a crying frenzy as well. Is it possible there were two toe-grabbing tigers? As I sat there on the toilet I almost began to cry myself. One uninterrupted hour had been so close I could almost taste it! Alas, it was not meant to be.
My bowels behaved long enough to allow me to make it to Lily and Joe's rooms, save them from those blasted tigers, and hoist them by the teardrops onto the living room rug. Bleary, I decided I was not ready to be entertaining and thus went searching for the remote. I pressed 8 for PBS only to be greeted with the Spanish version of "A Place of Our Own". I tried to explain to Joe that they were speaking a language called Spanish, and that we spoke English, but that someday hopefully he could speak both English and Spanish, but he just stared at me, his face devoid of any hint of future bilingual prowess.
I flicked the channel button up one notch and was greeted with some seminar footage. A man named Randy Pausch, may he rest in peace, was sharing childhood photos of himself at Disneyland. He went on to detail his efforts to secure a position as a Disneyland Imagineer after having obtained his PhD. He read to us from one of many rejection letters he received from The Land of Disney. He had, in fact, hit a brick wall.
And then he said it!
Wow. If only that notion had dawned upon me years ago! I've always been painfully apologetic of my existence in the world. As though my mere presence was an irritation to the people who really deserved to be existing. And loving. And laughing. And succeeding. Every now and then I'd poke my little chipmunk nose around the corner and give something a try. Expecting rejection, I was never surprised when I hit a brick wall. I was overstepping my bounds, after all. I would apologize to the brick wall and scurry back into the safety of the shadows that were meant to be my home.
It never occurred to me for one moment that brick walls were golden opportunities! If they were keeping me out, isn't it possible they were keeping other people out as well? That I could net myself an advantage simply by deciding not to be discouraged—to give it another try? And maybe even another? Dare I? Who do I think I am, anyway? In the past all this uppity thinking would have had me scuttling back under a rock. But not today. And not ever again. I've got brick walls to climb!
I was drop-kicked into yesterday morning by a bad dream. After tossing and turning for a bit, when it became irkfully apparent that I would not be falling back to sleep, it dawned on me that if I were to get out of bed that very moment I could expect to have roughly ONE hour to myself. ONE hour! I could network. I could blog uninterrupted. I could think deep thoughts. I could lounge on the toilet and read Better Homes & Gardens. High on life, I ripped off the covers and flung myself across the room and into the hallway.
On my way to my computer I noticed that Joe had opened his door and turned on his light in the middle of the night. Giggling at the rhyme of it all (remember, I was still high on life) I crept over to his room, turned off his light, and closed his door as gingerly as any human can hope to gingerly close a door. Not quite two seconds later Joe exploded into a highly vocal crying frenzy so fierce I expected to find him literally caught by the toe by a tiger.
Just then, my bowels churned and threatened to erupt, and left me with no choice other than to dash into the bathroom. After a few very unpleasant moments, I made my way back to Joe's room to save him from the tiger. My bowels churned again, and so it was back to the bathroom. (Bad chicken???!? Damn that chicken!) From the bathroom I heard Lily working herself up to a crying frenzy as well. Is it possible there were two toe-grabbing tigers? As I sat there on the toilet I almost began to cry myself. One uninterrupted hour had been so close I could almost taste it! Alas, it was not meant to be.
My bowels behaved long enough to allow me to make it to Lily and Joe's rooms, save them from those blasted tigers, and hoist them by the teardrops onto the living room rug. Bleary, I decided I was not ready to be entertaining and thus went searching for the remote. I pressed 8 for PBS only to be greeted with the Spanish version of "A Place of Our Own". I tried to explain to Joe that they were speaking a language called Spanish, and that we spoke English, but that someday hopefully he could speak both English and Spanish, but he just stared at me, his face devoid of any hint of future bilingual prowess.
I flicked the channel button up one notch and was greeted with some seminar footage. A man named Randy Pausch, may he rest in peace, was sharing childhood photos of himself at Disneyland. He went on to detail his efforts to secure a position as a Disneyland Imagineer after having obtained his PhD. He read to us from one of many rejection letters he received from The Land of Disney. He had, in fact, hit a brick wall.
And then he said it!
"The brick walls aren't built to keep you out. The brick walls are built to keep out the people who don't want it badly enough. They're built to keep other people out."
Wow. If only that notion had dawned upon me years ago! I've always been painfully apologetic of my existence in the world. As though my mere presence was an irritation to the people who really deserved to be existing. And loving. And laughing. And succeeding. Every now and then I'd poke my little chipmunk nose around the corner and give something a try. Expecting rejection, I was never surprised when I hit a brick wall. I was overstepping my bounds, after all. I would apologize to the brick wall and scurry back into the safety of the shadows that were meant to be my home.
It never occurred to me for one moment that brick walls were golden opportunities! If they were keeping me out, isn't it possible they were keeping other people out as well? That I could net myself an advantage simply by deciding not to be discouraged—to give it another try? And maybe even another? Dare I? Who do I think I am, anyway? In the past all this uppity thinking would have had me scuttling back under a rock. But not today. And not ever again. I've got brick walls to climb!
Labels:
Inspiration,
Introspection,
obstacles,
Randy Pausch,
Spirituality
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)