Another Gray Day

Gone writing

2012-01-13T11:14:00.000-06:00

I'm trusting YOU all to behave, eat your vegetables, and fill me in on the latest when I return.

Xoxo,

Kristin

"Whoever watches the wind, will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap." Ecclesiastes 11:4

For the Love of Books.

2012-01-10T09:27:00.003-06:00

Type Bookstore, Toronto. Bravo.

January 1st

2012-01-01T00:00:00.000-06:00

Source: journal.neilgaiman.com via Kristin on Pinterest

Happy New Year.

2011-12-29T16:36:00.003-06:00

Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Adorable since 500 Days of Summer.

12 x 12 in 2012, A Picture Book Writing Challenge

2011-12-21T09:06:00.003-06:00

A new challenge for picture book writers.

Initiated by Julie Hedlund, 12 x 12 in 2012 is a sure-fire way to kick start your writing for the new year and multiply your output. Did you look back at 2011 and wish you'd written more (like me)?

Here's help.

The mission: Write one picture book draft per month for each of the twelve months of 2012. Your drafts do not need to be polished, but you do need a beginning, middle, and an end.

What a great way to use those PiBoIdMo ideas.

Let me know if you've signed up. Thanks to Rebecca for sharing the link!

Xoxo.

Kristin

A new story of friendship.

2011-12-10T11:00:00.005-06:00

That's sure to be a classic.

It may be my go-to gift book of 2012.

I've been waiting, waiting ever since I first heard about this book over a year ago, and now it's almost here! The idea is brilliant, and the art looks oh-so delightful.

Here is the PW review: When Blue Met Egg

Lindsay Ward. Dial, $16.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-8037-3718-1

A foldout bird’s-eye view of Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge—rendered in an airy cut-paper composition that features scraps of test answer sheets and a New York City map—is a highlight of Ward’s (Pelly and Mr. Harrison Visit the Moon) story about a kindhearted, stocking-capped bird. When Blue mistakes an errant winter snowball that lands in her nest for an egg that’s lost its mother, she snaps into action. Toting her tiny white charge in a bright orange pail, Blue embarks on a months-long search high and low, uptown and downtown, canvassing her fellow birds. The trip yields treasures like carousel rides and hot dogs, but no mama for Egg, who starts to shrink once warmer weather rolls around. Happily, spring provides a sunny conclusion. Those familiar with New York will recognize skyline landmark buildings, the Statue of Liberty, Central Park, and other stops in this uplifting Big Apple adventure. And Ward offers a plethora of fun visual details—Bird posting “Lost Egg” signs; Bird and Egg seated in a box at the opera—along the way. Ages 3–5. Agent: Andrea Brown Literary Agency. (Feb.)

Congrats to Ms. Ward and to Blue, whose sunny outlook I already adore.

I think I will hug her and squeeze her and call her George.

I can't stop laughing.

2011-12-01T09:06:00.002-06:00

The 56 best/worst analogies written by high school students.

I'm sure these are more hysterical when sleep deprived.

My favorite is #10.

What I'm Reading Wednesday

2011-11-30T13:27:00.008-06:00

Last night, I began THE NAME OF THE STAR by Maureen Johnson. At dear son's basketball practice no less. (Thanks, Mandy.) I'm only on page 82, but I may have made a few clicks online to see about enrolling in a study abroad program in England next semester. They allow children, correct? They'll be good and quiet. No trouble at all . . . *wink*.

I finished Erin Morgenstern's debut, THE NIGHT CIRCUS, at one o'clock yesterday morning. I enjoyed the story and its present tense. I loved being swept up in the circus--the sights, the sounds, the caramel scents. The curious magic and many mysteries surrounding her characters kept me turning pages. The author is a brilliant wordsmith and has a great imagination. That said, I wanted to love it more than I did. Honestly, I was a tad confused by the end (it was late). Regardless, I'm still amazed by her skill of weaving so many fantastical threads together, from differing points of view. I loved Bailey's character best. Worth a read.

And THE STRANGE CASE OF ORIGAMI YODA is my car line read this week. I'm a bit behind on this because I have three elementary aged boys under my roof and we arm-wrestled for it we did. A witty and fun read, a compilation of several short stories make it an easy one to turn to when you only have a few moments at a time. Like me, right now.

Happy Wednesday.

Xoxo,

kristin

Unputdownable. (Or, Confessions of a Cupcake-a-holic)

2011-11-22T13:46:00.023-06:00

un·put·down·a·ble/ˌənˌpo͝otˈdounəbəl/

Adjective:

(of a book) So engrossing that one cannot stop reading it.

I just returned from NYC with ~~twelve~~ ten cupcakes. (Hey, if your flight was delayed at LGA and you sat next to a dozen freshly baked cupcakes, let's see what you'd do.) Sigh. These cakes were so heavenly engrossing that one, meaning I, could not stop eating them. They were unputdownable.

Now. I visited three other cupcake shops in NYC. I bought one red velvet from Crumbs.

Apparently, it wasn't the Crumbs on 3rd, but my feet were tired. So, I took the cupcake back to the hotel and anticipated devouring it while my husband went on his eight. mile. run. through Central Park. (Heh. Do you see who's more disciplined?)

The cake was the teensiest bit dry but still full of flavor. The icing, however, was buttercream. People. Every good Southern girl knows you only put cream cheese frosting on red velvet cake.

The other bakery was jam-packed with tourists. I was tempted, even had wax paper in hand at the self-serve counter, but I decided the fuss was mostly hype from a certain TV show. (If I am wrong, I will live with the consequences.) I squeezed my way out the door.

The third bakery I wandered past, this one in SoHo, announced you could "build your own cupcake". Hello? Build my own? That's music to a bakery-snob's ears. A gaggle, and I mean gaggle, of teen girls were doing just that. But something still felt off. I didn't order.

Then, our last morning, I found Sprinkles.

Cue the angelic choir. Friends had told me about Sprinkles for years. I'd even tried their strawberry recipe myself. As soon as I walked through that door, I knew I was home. It smelled amazing. The staff was enthusiastic. The cupcakes were to-die-for at first bite. The perfect proportion of frosting to cake that's melt-in-your-mouth moist. And, they had real cream cheese frosting. They boxed my order, noted the flavors, then wrapped it all in a giant ziplock bag for me to carry home. Aw.

In short, I want my stories to be like those cupcakes. Unputdownable. Perfected. Crafted and wrapped with utmost care.

THE HUNGER GAMES was the last book I read like that. I neglected laundry, cleaning, grocery shopping, sleeping, and um, maybe showering, until I reached The End. (Luckily, it did not take long.)

How do I do that? How do I make my writing that engrossing, that mesmerizing, that compelling? I'm pretty sure it boils down to making readers care. And if that takes a lot of sampling, a lot of tries, to find the one, I'm game. Just bring on the cake.

I'll have the salted caramel for starters, please.

Xoxo,

Kristin

What was the last unputdownable book you read?

PiBoIdMo 2011

2011-11-15T13:41:00.005-06:00

I blame Tara Lazar for the fact I keep waking at 2 o'clock in the morning to scribble down ideas. A couple I cannot decipher. A couple are flat out horrible. But a few have me very. Very. Excited. (With all kinds of !!!! and chickens. Oh yes. Chickens.)

Now, does anyone know how to pitch a nearly-wordless picture book?

Are any of my readers in? If so, how is it going?

Guess what week it is.

2011-11-14T12:40:00.002-06:00

SCBWI MO Conference Recap

2011-11-11T02:20:00.004-06:00

(I promise, this picture relates.)

Insomnia has paid me a visit, so I'll pull up a chair and fill you in on last weekend. (And I'm not talking about the earthquake that I completely missed.)

Mandy and I braved uneven lanes and road tripped to Missouri's SCBWI Confluence Conference. We had five hours to talk unicorns, pets, recent (not so recent) reads, and when in a story to introduce (or kill) minor characters. Basically, she put up with my nervous babbling and phobia of six lane roads.

But! I did not break out in benadryl-demanding, pre-conference hives as someone in our Writer's party of two has done. I'm not naming any names. (But it wasn't me.)

So. The conference. Those Missouri people know how to treat you right when registration begins at eight a.m. on a Saturday. Coffee. Tea. Juice. Pastries galore. (I may have eaten a box of Whoppers instead. The perks of being a grown-up on vacation.)

Quinlan Lee with Adams Literary (Charlotte, NC) was the keynote agent. Upbeat and approachable, she stated Adams receives 7,000 submissions a year. She is looking for really great writing she can get lost in (in other words, make her forget to cook dinner). She talked about the power of words, dispelled fears regarding e-readers, and shared tidbits of her clients' works. Which reminds me, I need to ask my son about The Missing series he started yesterday. (We thumb wrestled for it. Guess who lost.) Adams is currently open to submissions and they request that you sub your completed, polished manuscript via their online form.

Heather Alexander at Dial Books for Young Readers was the editor in attendance. She, too, is looking for "exceptional writing" and said writers ask her how they can make their work stand out. (If only we could turn around three times and cross our eyes just so.) Heather encouraged us to think about what great writers do: They listen, imagine, focus, interpret, and leave their reader with a gift, a nugget of truth to walk away with. A few of the things Heather is looking for are "forever picture books", girl middle grade, and thriller YA. Note exceptional writing trumps all. Pick up her holiday book THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS by artist Laurel Long and count how many hidden gifts you find.

Illustrator Rich Davis taught us anyone can be a lifelong doodler and studies have shown there is an increased retention of facts when people draw. (Really, why do most grown-ups stop coloring? Life is more fun with with crayons!) He also conducted portfolio reviews for the illustrators. In disclosure, Rich visited my children's school a year ago and made such an impression, they still talk about him and draw his Doodlebug. His Pick and Draw game is a hit at our house and has survived many trips.

Author Suzanne Morgan Williams had me near tears talking about the making of her novel, BULL RIDER. It's worth a look. If you have a chance to attend one of her writing workshops, treat yourself. And never, ever give up.

Then, twenty minutes before the end of the day, I received a phone call from my saint of a spouse, who'd stayed behind with all the children so I could do writerly things. My dog (who no longer suffers from halitosis and is always delighted to see me) had escaped our yard and been taken to the POUND! (She's home now.) Let's just say, I needed that post-conference drink.

My eyes are growing heavy (finally).

Sweet dreams, Friends.

It's OK to Read YA (when you aren't)

2011-11-07T11:38:00.008-06:00

From Orca Books, Olympia, WA.

Query Tip of the Day

2011-10-25T13:01:00.003-05:00

Comes from Gordon Warnock of Andrea Hurst Literary Management.

"But if you look up the hospital where I was born and include that in your query, you'll only succeed in giving me the heebie jeebies."

Ha!

Happy Querying.

Kristin

Synopses are . . .

2011-10-12T12:42:00.005-05:00

Evil.

Click here for help writing them.

Watch Me.

2011-10-06T12:41:00.006-05:00

Funny. Often the voice that yells loudest is my own . . .

Keep On.

2011-09-29T12:29:00.003-05:00

Many of the great achievements of the world were accomplished by tired and discouraged men who kept on working. -- Source Unknown

Love Time Travel?

2011-09-25T16:33:00.007-05:00

CLOCKWISE by Elle Strauss

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Casey Donovan, a fifteen-year-old teen with unmanageable curly hair, "the color of burnt toast", is anything but typical. Sure, she has a crush on Nate MacKenzie, the cute football MVP of her high school, but she also carries a secret - that only her BFF knows. That is, until she accidentally takes the one and only Nate with her to the 19th century. Goodbye, shoulder pads. Hello, history. Perhaps that unit on the Civil War will come in handy after all.

CLOCKWISE is a smart, engaging read, a sure hit for lovers of time travel or the occasional history buff. I immediately liked Casey, her awkwardness, and felt like she could be a close friend. Casey's story doesn't disappoint. It refreshingly lacks the overzealous angst common to some YA reads and packs in the values of honest friendships and family relationships with a heart-warming, twist-at-the-end punch. Elle Strauss is a writer to watch.

I highly recommend this warm tale.

Buy your e-book here.

View all my reviews

Thankful Thursday

2011-09-22T08:59:00.006-05:00

The five year old.

Photography his own.

1. My state found its long lost moon rock. I will sleep much better now.

2. The smell of rain, sweet rain, a warm cup of coffee, a good book, and laundry caught up (for now).

3. My IRL crit group, really I could stop right there. But they kinda liked my new pages. (Whew.) Which may or may not be six degrees from item 1.

4. The suddenly witty five-year-old who admonished me as I sipped a smoothie in the car this morning: Mom, I think drinking and driving is a bad idea.

5. The husband, who packed the kids lunches last night and put them to bed, so I could have dessert out with friends. I think this should be a weekly occurrence.

Name one thing you're thankful for today. I'd love to know!

Xoxo,

Kristin

10 Years

2011-09-10T20:42:00.003-05:00

I don't pretend to understand how New Yorkers felt, or those with loved ones there on that day.

All I know was my life, my world. Balancing my first born, then seven months, on my hip, tears rolling off my face. I stood in my empty town house, splat middle of Iowa, hours away from closest family, and watched the towers fall. Helpless, stunned, heart-broken for my fellow Americans. Yet never more thankful to be in the middle of nowhere with my babe.

I give you Meg Cabot's Post on 9-11-01. Much closer. Mere blocks. She says it with such grace and hope.

Worth making it to the end.

Swoon

2011-09-03T15:40:00.003-05:00

I just found a link to Lauren Child's kitchen. I adore the bright colors.

Can someone click over and tell me if that is indeed a piano painted white?

If you could re-do your house, whose art would you look to for inspiration?

Or would you leave it as is?

New Can't Miss Podcast

2011-09-01T14:40:00.006-05:00

Wordplay Podcast

Hosted by MG/ YA authors Nathan Bransford, James Dashner, and J. Scott Savage and geared toward readers and writers. To be posted every Monday morning.

Every 3rd Monday, there will be a Kids Only podcast, aimed for those 8-12 years with their parents, teachers etc.

Can't wait.

On My Nightstand Tuesday

2011-08-30T10:40:00.015-05:00

1. TRUE (. . . SORT OF) by Katherine Hannigan (Greenwillow)

2. JACOB WONDERBAR AND THE COSMIC SPACE KAPOW by Nathan Bransford (Dial Books)

3. FOXY AND EGG by Alex T. Smith (Holiday House)

4. CLOCKWISE by Elle Strauss (e-launch 9/26)

*****

Having a bad day?

Check out this adorable baby aardvark.

Cheaper than cupcakes and cuter than your therapist.

Permission to be Awesome + Thankful Thursday

2011-08-25T08:52:00.004-05:00

In light of the news yesterday that Apple CEO Steve Jobs stepped down, my husband found a speech Mr. Jobs gave in 2005 at Stanford's graduation.

We only live once. Make it count.

Why no one needs permission to be awesome. Writers, people, take note.

*****

Thankful Thursday (Or, things I take for granted.)

1. The sun is shining.

2. I woke up this morning.

3. My 3 year old daughter, who fell six feet this summer to concrete below, is home snuggling in her pajamas with her plush dog and giggling.

4. I'm eating a perfectly ripened banana with peanut butter. Amen.

5. I have no coffee pot this week, but the Word is open and a manuscript awaits.

Oh, Abrams Books,

2011-08-10T10:49:00.000-05:00

I already love your books and authors.

But after this shiny stunt, I've fallen hard.

The Story Spine

2011-08-05T18:12:00.006-05:00

I recently read a post at Imagination Soup by the talented Deborah Underwood, author of A Balloon for Isabel and the NYT best-selling The Quiet Book.

In the post, Ms. Underwood discusses how daunting she assumed it would be to teach plot to elementary-aged children. Then, someone introduced her to the story spine.

I liked this method so much, I asked permission to share it with you. Sometimes, hearing something in a new way makes all the difference. (At least for me, it can.)

The Story Spine is exactly what it sounds like: a structure that supports a story. It consists of a series of sentence beginnings that you complete:

Once upon a time… Introduce your character.

Every day… This is the character's ordinary world. Before everything changes.

But one day… The inciting incident, or change, that sets the story in motion.

Because of that…

Because of that… Each event causes the next to happen, "so the plot elements aren't disconnected incidents."

Until finally… Cues the climax of the story and resolution.

And ever since then… Shows how the character has changed as a result of the conflict or event.

Although the Story Spine seems simple, it’s really an ingenious way to help kids learn how to construct a satisfying story.

My wish is it will help us construct a satisfying story, too. Happy writing.

~Kristin

Doggy Whys? A picture book review.

2011-08-03T14:55:00.001-05:00

Doggy Whys? by Lila Prap

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I adored this non-fiction picture book, written in an original, engaging format. Q&As (Why do dogs wag their tails?) feature on the left-hand side of a spread, while more detailed information can be found in paragraphs on the right. The author cleverly divides the book by common dog breeds. Did I mention the illustrations! are! adorable!? My heart about melted on spot by the rendering of a terrier I had years ago. A must-buy for any dog-lover, big or small.

View all my reviews

Jonathan and the Big Blue Boat, a review.

2011-07-28T05:30:00.002-05:00

Jonathan and the Big Blue Boat by Philip Christian Stead

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Having viewed the trailer (over and over), for which Mr. Stead also composed the music, I so wanted to fall in love with this story. I laughed out loud over the item bartered for, enjoyed the clever ways animals participate in this cumulative tale, but overall I didn't connect as much as I'd hoped. That said, the art is some of the best I've seen. Brilliant, vibrant, detailed, and whimsical, it demonstrates the creator's passion for all things nautical. All in all, I loved this story enough to gift it to a Jonathan who entered the world last week. May Mr. Stead produce more amazing art, and soon. I can't think of any better gift than that.

View all my reviews

Hurry! 25 page crit up for grabs!

2011-07-26T13:49:00.005-05:00

You have one hour left for a chance at the 25 page manuscript critique. It closes at 4 PM EST.

But there are many other exciting auctions going on at author Carrie Harris' blog (like a chance to win a Kindle). I just won a picture book critique myself, so I'm spreading my luck to you!

All donations to benefit the University of Michigan C. S. Mott Children's Hospital's giving library.

*A big thanks to Carrie for masterminding, Corey for alerting me, and Jean for participating. Looking forward.

I love peanut butter and a few other things.

2011-07-25T10:11:00.010-05:00

Five things I love right now. Plus, a recipe, because I want your thighs to look like mine.

1. Peanut butter. Amen.

2. Cream cheese.

3. My sun-kissed, freckled children - especially when they are asleep. It's amazing how sweet they look.

4. My new insulated to-go tumbler. Isn't it the cutest thing ever? Almost as cute as my sleeping kids.

5. Dear Genius, The Letters of Ursula Nordstrom. It's no secret (see goodreads) I started this book on December 24, 2010. I have been savoring it. It sits on my nightstand, travels in my suitcase, has been splashed upon at the pool. I read a few letters a day. I don't want it to end. I have laughed. Cried. Snorted. Re-read pages. In short, I adore this sassy, brilliant woman, the editor of books I grew up on. I want to be her when I grow up. Or at the very least, name the next canine my husband (whom I also love) better not bring home after her.

I think she'd be okay with that.

The recipe.

Peanut! Butter! Cupcakes!

1 box your favorite brownie mix

1 bag Reese's peanut butter cups

Grease or paper-line two mini muffin trays. Fill 2/3rds full with brownie batter, made according to package directions. Push one peanut butter cup into each muffin cup, until batter touches top edges of candy. Bake according to brownie directions, about 15-18 minutes until set.

Remove from tray to wire rack to cool. Frost with peanut butter cream cheese frosting. Garnish with salted peanuts.

Peanut! Butter! Cream! Cheese! Frosting!

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

8 oz. cream cheese, softened

3 cups powdered sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

2-3 Tablespoons milk or cream

Blend until smooth. I double dog dare you not to lick the bowl.

Xoxo,

Kristin

Eureka! (And help.)

2011-07-20T10:47:00.009-05:00

I have quite possibly my best idea to date.

But I don't know what to do with it.

Waaa.

How do you brainstorm plots?

Do you make a pros/cons list? Just start writing? Phone a friend?

Don't say eat ice cream straight from the carton, I've already tried.

And more importantly, if you have a spare second, please vote for Heartline, friends in Haiti. They have a chance to win a $50,000 grant to build a maternity center for struggling babies and moms. All they need is more votes.

Thanks.

I'm Back. Haiti, Part 1

2011-07-13T11:21:00.008-05:00

I wrote this before midnight Saturday to share with my church back home. More pictures and thoughts to come. ~Kristin

*****

We visited the Rose-Mina Orphan house in Haiti today.

I was prepared for the dust, the filth, the partially clothed children. I’d seen pictures. Not here.

But others.

I’ve sat in church. Seen slide shows.

Read National Geographic, Voice of Martyrs. Perused albums of other trips on Facebook.

What I wasn’t prepared for was the environment.

Exposed electrical wires dangling from dank hallways.

Rusting metal stairs steeper than the highest intensity stair master back home. And these tykes climb these.

All the time.

Their playground is the ROOF. A flat concrete slab with the occasional tricky step or exposed steel and not a single guardrail.

Oh, and the boys’ bunkroom is directly off of it. Where Jonathan, a timid 16-year-old boy surprised us all with his rendition of I Surrender All on a borrowed keyboard. Did I mention he is blind?

He sits in a creaking folding chair at roof center or on the floor in his room, back pressed to the wall, too scared to take a step.

Can you blame him?

Babies, yes babies, sleeping in and on metal bunk beds.

All infants and tots wearing soiled adult diapers.

Two women workers present, and one Spanish-speaking man, God bless their souls. How do they keep up with roughly 95 children?

How to keep them fed, clothed, clean, medicated, and schooled?

I don’t have an answer.

But God does. He has a purpose, a plan, for each of them. I don’t know (or could even begin to pronounce) their names, but He knows their innermost being.

Even in conditions as this, He cares.

"For you created

my inmost being;

you knit me together

in my mother’s womb.

I praise you because I am

fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful,

I know that full well."

~Psalm 139:13,14

PB Crit Group Opening

2011-06-29T10:43:00.005-05:00

The on-line picture book critique group I belong to is looking for a new member. Our group consists of both new and experienced writers, as well as one published writer. Our members write in prose and rhyme, live across the US and internationally, and are all members of the SCBWI.

Group members submit one manuscript every eight weeks in a rotation. For the other seven weeks, they critique one mss per week. The manuscripts are circulated amongst the members via email and the critiques are done using the ‘track changes’ tool in Word. Manuscripts must be under 1000 words.

If you are interested, feel free to email me a short bio and two writing samples. I'll pass along your information to the rest of the group. We have a post up at Verla's with the above information.

Thanks,

Kristin

How Querying is Like Sending Your Kids Off to Camp

2011-06-21T08:25:00.012-05:00

1. You worry, stress, obsess over details. (Does he/she need a beach towel and a bath towel, or only bath? Does this sentence need a comma? You take it out, put in back in, take it out . . . Not that I did this while packing.)

2. The cool kids. If your camper is going alone, you might find yourself tossing and turning at 2:00 a.m. Will he/she fit in, find the right friend or home? The same with your manuscript. You want it to succeed, to grow, or you wouldn't be sending it out. Also, TUMS.

3. Generally there is a no contact policy. (You want to call the next day to check on your offspring/ manuscript, but you can't. Or shouldn't. So you consider patenting a invertebrate-sized surveillance camera . . .)

4. Mail call. Camp staffers and those at publishing houses have oodles upon oodles of mail to sort. Be patient. And while care packages containing homemade cookies and treats and confetti are usually acceptable at camp, not so much in publishing. A professional looking, clean manuscript is, free of loopy hearts, smiley faces, lipstick kisses.

5. Dirty Laundry. Campers come home at the end of the week toting a bagful of dirty laundry. (Unless they are like my son, who judging by the camp photos posted online each night . . . Let's just say, fingers crossed he's changing underwear.) Lucky are the ones whose manuscripts are returned safely with ink and suggestions and coffee stains - instead of grass ones. You have been given a roadmap, the gift of revision. Kiss your kid, go out for ice-cream, and get to work.

Story Endings (Or, Johnny Depp & Alan Rickman in the same post.)

2011-06-15T07:29:00.010-05:00

I'm having a time brainstorming a couple of picture book endings. I usually start strong with a single idea that somehow chases a rascally rabbit down a deep dark hole. Which leads me to Johnny Depp when I'd started with an outdoor garden party. Some of you may be wondering what's the problem.

Cohesiveness. And one thing logically leading to another, instead of a smattering of events.

I stayed up way too late last night thinking about endings I like and why. I like endings that . . .

1. Satisfy the reader, bring resolution. Tie up nagging loose ends and show that everything (whether events, items, people) have purpose. Thinking A Sick Day for Amos McGee.

2. Echo the beginning.

3. Reveal the character's growth.

4. Add an element of surprise, an unexpected twist. Leave me gobsmacked. I loved O. Henry shorts as a kid.

5. Provide a promise of good things to come. (I keep thinking of the blue butterfly (Alan Rickman) in the Alice in Wonderland remake.)

6. Don't feel too abrupt, or leave me feeling like I was dropped.

7. Make me laugh, or cry, or stare in awe. Or laugh louder. (These are usually the result of any of the above.)

8. Keep their promise, the unwritten secret code between the writer and the reader. The story stays true to itself. No genre hopping.

9. I am having so much fun, I don't realize I'm learning something. I come away feeling smarter. (In The Kitchen Daughter, the protagonist doesn't twist the biscuit cutter because that would seal the edges and prevent a rise.)

10. Leave me wanting more. More time with the characters, in their world. (Hello, LOST. As maddening as some episodes were.)

I'm curious. What is your favorite ending and why?

Blockbuster Plots

2011-06-13T10:55:00.003-05:00

Thanks to Mandy, Kate, and Anastasia for the forward.

Miracles

2011-06-01T20:39:00.005-05:00

“Always leave room in your life for miracles.” - Thomas Wolfe

“For nothing will be impossible with God.” Luke 1:37

Friday Five and a Half

2011-05-27T00:00:00.019-05:00

1. My daughter had her first dance recital. She's not bossy or anything.

(Remind me to pull her hair back next year, will ya?)

2. I had a fabulous time in Chicago, in spite of icky weather (32 degrees, people.)

Pizza! Garrett's! Spa! Nordstrom Rack! Good Food! Better Friends! And, uh, Three New Pounds.

3. My kids have 3 days of school remaining. I'm so not old enough to have a fifth grader.

4. We have nice Amish people working on our house. I might have shut the blinds so they can't see me use my laptop. Which reminds me, you should read my friend Kim's, Who-Totally-Didn't-Come-To-Chicago-As-Planned, book. Just kidding, Kim! (She had a good excuse.)

5. My state, and surrounding area, was hit hard by severe weather this week. Prayers appreciated as we assist those in Joplin. No words.

5.5. I have feathers! That is the only thing I'll ever have in common with Steven Tyler.

How have you guys been?

On Studying Writing

2011-05-25T09:13:00.012-05:00

I've been reading, a lot.

Craft books, novels, a beta manuscript.

I've learned a few things in the last couple weeks of study.

1. Don't make the antagonist evil for evil's sake. Give your villain a reason or something redeeming, even if it's nurturing Grandmother's houseplants. This increases conflict. (Thanks to Blake Snyder, SAVE the CAT.) I'm a bit befuddled when I consider Voldemort. But, in general, this sounds like a good plan.

2. Leave white space for the reader. Readers need - want - to be able to fill in their own conclusions. We don't need to spoon feed every single detail, like what kind of socks the protagonist is wearing, unless it's pertinent to the story - like being coerced into the Iditarod* wearing trouser socks. In fact, in the book HOOKED, the author states physical description is the weakest way to connect with a character. Dialogue and actions are supreme. Excellent example of leaving space for the reader is how Jandy Nelson ends The Sky is Everywhere.

3. Every major character needs to experience change, not just the protagonist. Thank you, Jandy Nelson.

4. Characters need to be distinct, able to be distinguished from one another. Show us their individuality or personality. In the way they talk, dress etc. Give them something so when they appear on the page the reader has an aha moment. To recall they've met them before. The manuscript I beta-read did an excellent job with this... one character had trademark shiny pink lips or red ribbon.

5. Kill your darlings. I know, I know. Every writer or wannabe has heard or read this in Stephen King's On Writing. It's been a few years since I've read it, but it has hit home. It means more than weeding out extra thats and justs.

Background, I usually write humor. At times, I'd be so tickled pink at myself for the dozens of hilarious (to me) story lines I'd created, I'd use them all. Or a good 88%. (Blake Snyder addresses this too.) It's overkill. I know from personal experience, what you end up with is a dizzying amount going on and an uphill battle for cohesiveness.

I've come to the place where I will sacrifice lines or threads for the sake of story. I want a stronger story more than I want to be clever.

And that has got to be a better place to be.

*A friend of mine knows a couple who did this for their *honeymoon*! That has all the makings of a great romantic comedy.

Housekeeping

2011-05-11T08:22:00.007-05:00

The winner of the last Choose Your Own Adventure Wednesday (CYOAW) SCUMBLE edition is Karen @ Novels During Naptime.

The winner of the soon to be released JUNIPER BERRY, complete with signed bookplate, is author Clara Gillow Clark. Please email me your mailing addresses so we can get your books to you.

Thank you for playing!

I'm taking a week or two off to travel, catch up on beta-reading, and FOCUS. There are so many great new releases, and I'm trying to refrain until my work is done.

See you soon!

:) Kristin

Author Interview & Giveaway

2011-05-10T05:05:00.006-05:00

I'm so excited to welcome M.P. Kozlowsky to the blog today for an interview and book giveaway. (You might remember I blogged about his book trailer.)

M.P. Kozlowsky was a high school English teacher before becoming a writer. Juniper Berry is his first book. He lives in New York with his wife and daughter.

Hello, M.P., thank you so much for joining us!

1. First things first, as a debut author, can you tell us a little bit about your path to publication? I'm guessing it wasn't all rainbows and cupcakes.

MPK: Within the text of Juniper Berry there is actually a veiled commentary on the publishing industry and the often tumultuous path to it. In a way, Juniper’s journey mirrors mine. This is intentional. For many, you are one person before publishing a book and another person after. To maintain one’s true identity, that is key.

2. What drew you to tell the story of Juniper Berry and her eccentric, illustrious family?

MPK: Juniper Berry was a culmination of a variety of things all coming to a head at once. It could have only been written at this particular point and time in my life. I was lost, at a daunting crossroads, of which every direction seemed bleak, and was suddenly inspired to write something immensely personal but told in a universal way. By creating Juniper and her family, I was able to tackle several issues that I find deeply important and mix them into what is, hopefully, a very chilling and inspiring tale.

3. You have a knack for delightful character names. (I still chuckle at Kitty.) Do you mind sharing how you came up with one or two?

MPK: I wanted opposites, a world of opposites, as described in the opening line of the book. There had to be two sides to everything. Juniper berries are relatively bitter, and yet, even with her world falling apart all around her, Juniper Berry, the character, is not bitter at all. She is rather sweet and optimistic. In keeping with this theme, Kitty, of course, is a dog, and Neptune, whose name represents water, and thus life itself, happens to be a raven, a predator, one who takes life.

4. One of my favorite lines is found at the beginning, where you discuss Juniper's penchant for spyglasses and lenses: "Discovery and exploration were her salvation; if she couldn't go out into the world, she could bring the world to her: the stars, the insects, the unsuspecting distance." I love Juniper's passion for her backyard, which almost becomes a character in and of itself. She learns her way through thick trees, a clearing, to her friend Giles's house, in good weather and bad. She even knows the behavior of a certain bird. What made you decide on a raven?

MPK: Of course you can go back to Poe, which is fitting in a story such as this one. In his poem of the same name, the raven is a dark messenger, a communicator from beyond, just as it is inJuniper Berry. There had to be a link between the two worlds. And, to take it even further, in mythology, particularly Norse mythology, ravens have been known to represent thought and memory, as with Odin’s pet ravens Huginn and Muninn. I felt this, too, was appropriate as Neptune perpetually preys on the thoughts and memories of others.

5. I have to gush for a moment on the brilliance of your cover - even the drawing on the dedication page - in light of having finished the book. What did it feel like to see Erwin Madrid's renderings of your characters for the first time?

MPK: I thought he captured them beautifully, and this with minimal direction from me. Juniper looks exactly like my wife as a young girl, which is why the red hair was essential. I have to talk to Erwin about acquiring one or two of the illustrations; I would love to hang them on my wall. True works of art.

6. Balloons play an important role in Juniper's story, as does knowing your deepest longing. If someone were to offer you a balloon right now, what color would use choose, and what would you wish for?

MPK: If I were being true to the text, and a bit of a sagging wet blanket, I would say that to take a balloon would be to give in to temptation and is completely unadvisable; therefore the answer would abruptly end there. However, for the sake of the question I will oblige. Because I do not have a favorite color, I would pick what seems to be my daughter’s favorite: blue. And, right now, I suppose I would wish for a bright and successful future in writing. (I could see Skeksyl writing away on that blue balloon right now, a wicked grin on his face.)

7. I have a nagging curiosity, you have a few references to acting, movies, theater, screen-writing... something I know little about. Do you have a background in stage or have you completed a script?

MPK: Actually, I attended NYU for screenwriting (films are a passion of mine, and I have a few great scripts tucked away for a later date), and there’s nothing I would love more than to write a play and have it performed. If only there was more time. Perhaps I need to change what I would wish for in the previous question.

8. In closing, what books/ authors had a significant impact on you as an early reader?

MPK: I tended to stick to the classics as a child. Authors like Roald Dahl, Ray Bradbury, Shel Silverstein, Charles Dickens, C.S. Lewis, and books like Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh, Watership Down, Charlotte’s Web, Treasure Island, The Hound of the Baskervilles, Alice in Wonderland, and Wizard of Oz, among hundreds of others.

Thank you for your time, M.P. I wish you all kinds of success.

You may learn even more about Juniper at www.mpkozlowsky.com, where the publisher is hosting a writing contest for readers ages 9-14. The winner, chosen by Mr. Kozlowsky, will receive not only an i-Pad but a library of Walden Pond Press books! Be sure to check it out.

**Don't forget to comment below for a chance to own your very own JUNIPER BERRY.**

Juniper Berry Blog Tour: Part II

Wednesday, May 11th - Interview at Bri Meets Books
Thursday, May 12th - Interview at Book Yurt
Friday, May 13th - Review and Giveaway at The Book Maven's Haven
Saturday, May 14th - Review at MundieKids
Sunday, May 15th - Guest Post at Kid Lit Frenzy
Monday, May 16th - Review and Giveaway at Kid Lit Frenzy
Tuesday, May 17th - Interview and Giveaway at MundieKids
Tuesday, May 17th - Guest Post and Giveaway at The Cozy Reader

Plotting Workshop Notes (Or, The Girl Who Lived.)

2011-05-08T21:17:00.012-05:00

(Cheryl being introduced.)

Yes, the homework that had me quaking in my rain boots was worth it. It didn't kill me... I survived!

Here are a few teasers from the workshop I attended last Saturday by Cheryl Klein, editor at Arthur A. Levine Books (Scholastic) and continuity editor for the last 3 Harry Potter books. (Squee!)

Cheryl was brilliant and witty and gave us all so much to think about, my brain will be exploding for several days. She also had several copies of her book for purchase, which you may buy here.

*Plotting = Compulsions Vs./ Obstacles. (True whether a picture book, novel, screenplay.)

*Think about Drivers - Who or what is driving the action, the climax?

*If you don't have change, you don't have plot.

*A good story has both Action Plot (External) and Emotional Plot (Internal).

*Finally, I loved this quote so much, I shared it with my husband: “It doesn’t matter if your lead character is good or bad. He just has to be interesting, and he has to be good at what he does.” – David Chase, Sopranos creator/writer

If you ever have an opportunity to hear Cheryl talk on bookmapping or plot, jump at the chance. It's money well-spent. I'll admit, I was nervous going in, and it was intense. But Cheryl is incredibly encouraging and sprinkles her talk with delightful backstory about working with some beloved authors (Lisa Yee, Elizabeth C. Bunce, Francisco X. Stork, Sara Lewis Holmes). All the attendees walked away with handouts/ links galore for analyzing our own manuscripts and/or beta-reading others. Which I will utilize soon. (Looking at you, Laura.)

(Two of my CPs, Mandy and Kim, ready to go.)

Thanks to the fine folks at Kansas SCBWI for hosting.

I must now crash.

The Crazies (Or I take 5 kids to a wedding.)

2011-05-06T08:00:00.018-05:00

Last weekend I missed my home state's SCBWI conference, but I had a pretty good excuse.

My sister-in-law got married.

One state over.

Here she is dancing with her step-dad.

It was my kids' first experience at a wedding.

And the youngest was in it. She decided it was the perfect occasion to try out new smiles.

In. Every. Single. Photo.

I call this the bunny rabbit.

Here we are five hours after the hoopla began.

It rained.

It thundered.

But we had a good time.

Even when the photographer took us outdoors for a family portrait on wicker furniture circa 1980.

The two in the middle are thrilled to be here.

So you know, I normally don't dress my children alike, ~~even though I did homeschool 1.5 years~~.

And that's not me flaunting arm fat. It's a relaxed triceps. And why do my eyelids turn purple when I'm tired?

My husband looks pretty spiffy though, if I do say so.

I am leaving town in a few hours for Cheryl Klein's master plot class of awesome. Proof. I have bookmap instructions.

See you next week with class notes, a honest to goodness author tour, and brand new book giveaway.

Happy Friday!

Choose Your Own Adventure Wednesday (And Book Giveaway)

2011-04-27T06:50:00.014-05:00

The winner of the last CYOAW giveaway is Rebecca. But since she lives across the pond, I drew a second name to receive OPERATION YES, Mandy's.

Here is this week's CYOAW:

“Shh.” I held my finger to my lips and whispered, “Don’t you go anywhere.”

Max stared.

That's fish for he understood.

“Vilonia, honey, I know you’re in there." A familiar voice drifted inside.

I peeked through the side curtains and snapped them shut. There was only one person in all of Howard County who wore floral prints the size of dinner plates.

That was Miss Bettina, owner of Tom Sawyer's Catfish. I disliked her more than cauliflower.

"Vilonia, this is important business. Right up there with that royal wedding. Is your Mama home?"

I groaned. Everything was important to Miss Bettina, especially when it was none of her business. I don't know why I opened that door.

She buzzed in faster than a fly to jelly-clad toast.

"Where's that Mama of yours? Ms. Tooley's finally kicked the can." Miss Bettina clapped her sausage-like fingers together with glee. Everything about Miss Bettina was big. Her hair, her hips, even her eyeballs. Only Miss Bettina would be thrilled when a member of our town's passed on. She bowled by me in screaming hibiscus print, and honest to goodness, I tried to protest. But Miss Bettina was large.

And in charge.

"Mama's resting. She doesn't need to be bothered."

"Nonsense, Vilonia. This is Ms. Tooley we're talking about. It'll be the biggest obit of the year!" She leaned closer to me and cackled. I smelled onions and garlic and hushpuppies. At nine thirty in the morning. "Do you think there'll be one of those fancy estate sales?" Her flabby cheeks wobbled with excitement. "I'd love to get my hands on her iron skillets. Why, they're positively ancient."

Now, Mama pretty much liked everyone in Howard County, and even though her job was to consult next of kin when writing our dearly departed's obituaries, I knew for a fact she already had a draft put back for Belinda Beatrice Bettina.

It wasn't scathing. But it wasn't overly kind.

Just like Miss Bettina.

"Vilonia! This here fish has the fungus."

"What?" My heart stopped cold. I didn't know fish could catch fungi. But if anyone knew fish, it was Hushpuppy Breath. I ran to the fishbowl. Sure enough, Max had rolled onto his side, his top fin white-coated and flailing. He wasn't floating, but he wasn't swimming. He stared straight ahead.

That's fish for "Help!"

"Miss Bettina, you'll have to come back another time." I pressed my palms against her wide backside and shoved her to the door. I might have dead bolted it behind her.

I zipped back and grabbed Max, fishbowl and all. With a backward glance to make sure Mama's door was still closed, I ran out the side door. There was no time to leave a note. This was a matter of life or death.

I set Max in my bike's handlebar basket and sped off. Rounding the corner, I hit a rock. Water sloshed out of the fishbowl, but I pressed on. Nothing would happen to Mr. Plummer’s classroom fish. No siree. Not on my watch.

"Hang on, Max. We're almost there."

++++++++++

Dear Readers, you decide where Vilonia is taking Max. Let me know in the comments for a chance to win SCUMBLE.

Read the rules here.

ETA: Click to enter another giveaway, this one for Clara Gillow Clark's HATTIE.

Because Talent is Overrated (Or, I've lost it.)

2011-04-23T09:11:00.009-05:00

I just did something very, very scary.

Involving quake in my rain-boots homework.

Homework that I've been avoiding because every time I attempt it, Fear pays me a visit. And all I want is a nap equivalent to snow-cave hibernation.

I am not prepared.

Yet.

Please send good vibes, friends. I am in three different states in a matter of that many weeks. Not sure how I'll make the time to do the pre-conference work.

Was it just three days ago I asked for a revision workshop?

Then spots opened.

It's like I'm starting my own The Dan Plan.

Heaven help.

"But here's the deal: faith IS the willingness to look foolish.

Noah looked foolish building an ark in the desert. Sarah looked foolish buying
maternity clothes at ninety. The Israelites looked foolish marching around
Jericho blowing trumpets. David looked foolish attacking Goliath with a
slingshot. Benaiah looked foolish chasing a lion. The wise men looked foolish
following yonder star. Peter looked foolish stepping out of the boat in the
middle of the lake. And Jesus looked foolish hanging half-naked on the cross.
But, that's the essence of faith. And the results speak for themselves.

Noah was saved from the flood. Sarah gave birth to Isaac. The walls of Jericho
came tumbling down. David defeated Goliath. Benaiah killed the lion. The wise
men found the Messiah. Peter walked on water. And, Jesus rose from the dead."

"Remember this: we serve an unlimited God with unlimited resources. A God who
looked at a few loaves and fish and saw a banquet for five thousand people."

- Mark Batterson, excerpts taken from In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day: How to Survive and Thrive when Opportunity Roars

That's what I have. A few meager, stale loaves of bread.

With a helping of faith.

(Thanks to my friend Lizann for the pep talk.)

Working Conference

2011-04-20T12:13:00.002-05:00

I'm under the weather (allergy season in full swing), but unlike last year, I haven't ended up at the eye clinic looking like I'd lost a round to Evander Holyfield. So, brief post today.

Does anyone know of a good conference along the lines of Darcy Pattison's Novel Revision Retreat? I'm out of town the weekend it's offered nearby, so her workbook will have to suffice.

I'd love to get away and work with people who get it.

If you know of a good, working retreat, will you pretty please with sugar on top let me know when and where?

Thanks.

Friday Five (Or I cry in under 2 minutes)

2011-04-15T07:23:00.007-05:00

1. Participate in #fridayreads if you have a twitter account. I won this NYT best-seller in hardcover last week.

2. Like an idiot, I went shopping for jeans. Skinny, straight, boyfriend, flare, cropped, or trouser fit. It's enough to make a grown girl cry. But, dear designers, PLEATS?! *sob*

3. Naturally, I came home with this instead:

Friends, I have a dress with no place to go. Invite me to a garden party in a far away city, please? It looks a little too breezy for NYC this fall. (Oh yes, I just said that.)

4. I have a beta! (Hi, Laura.)

5. This made me cry in under two minutes. Required watching for everyone.

Choose Your Own Adventure Wednesday (And Book Giveaway)

2011-04-13T03:00:00.014-05:00

Last week, we started something new called Choose Your Own Adventure Wednesdays.

Read the rules here.

The winner, thanks to random number generator, is...

#10, Audra of the cooking/crafting/simplifying blog Inspired Nutmeg.

A copy of SAVVY will hit your mailbox in the near future.

And let me tell you how much fun it was turning Max into a goldfish.

This week's CYOA giveaway is OPERATION YES by Sara Lewis Holmes,

complete with signed bookplate.

Onto this week's contest:

Someone had to stay put in case he croaked.

Max wasn't a toad.

Max occupied my entire existence.

Max was a goldfish.

Mr. Plummer's to be exact.

My dreamy T.D.H. (tall, dark, and handsome) fifth-grade teacher with eyes greener than a four-leaf clover. And I was the lucky student whose name - Vilonia Renae Beebe - he drew out of his glittering World's Best Teacher mug. So, I entered 21 times, but who's counting? Mr. Plummer chose me to be the sole responsible party for the duration of Spring Break for Maximus Tropicana, classroom fish.

I watched from the kitchen as Daddy and Leon rattled down the drive pulling our flat bottom fishing boat. They'd made it to the mailbox before I pressed my freckled nose up to the smudged fishbowl glass.

And squealed.

Mr. Plummer would be won over by my truest potential. I was sure of it.

I wasn't about to let Max out of my sight.

Then the doorbell rang.

***

“Shh.” I held my finger to my lips and whispered, “Don’t you go anywhere.”

Max stared.

That's fish for he understood.

“Vilonia, honey, I know you’re in there." A familiar voice drifted inside.

I peeked through the side curtains and snapped them shut. There was only one person in all of Howard County who wore floral prints the size of dinner plates.

That was _________.

******

Dear Readers, who would you have at the door?

Tell me in the comments for your chance to win. I'll randomly select a winner and continue the story next week. Stay tuned! :)

******

P.S. It's my husband's birthday. I'm busy making banana pudding *from scratch* and prepping for an out of town guest. Please forgive if I'm tardy on replies. (It's because I'm sneaking spoonfuls of deliciousness...)

Be Careful What You Wish for...

2011-04-11T12:48:00.003-05:00

Coming April 26th to a store near you, a fantastical, dark fairy tale.

I'm hosting one stop of the author's blog tour. More to come in May.

Choose Your Own Adventure Wednesday (Complete with SAVVY Giveaway!)

2011-04-06T10:34:00.013-05:00

So.

I've been talking to the husband about writing. Guys, I clued in.

I've forgotten how to have fun with writing.

I procrastinate, I'm tense, and I've developed this little neurotic twitch that I'm not going to talk about... er, wait.

It's been weeks since I've produced serious wordage for fear of certain eyeballs reading. The closer I get, the scarier the journey becomes.

So, I'm doing something about it. But, I'll need your help. Help me find my groove, people.

THE DEAL:

On (most) Wednesdays, I will post a short story and leave off in the middle - you, Dear Readers, will choose what comes next.

THE RULES:

1. I reserve the right to post as little or as much as I want, as little or as often as I want. But, I'll shoot for Wednesdays. (Hence, Choose Your Own Adventure Wednesdays.) It's my blog. I have another life. Really.

2. In the event my house becomes a sick ward, I will not post.

3. I will choose one comment, supplied by you, and continue the story the next week or so based on the winning comment's idea or suggestion. Be creative! But please don't make me spend six hours of my life researching alpacas. (See Rules 1 & 2)

4. The winning commenter will win that week's book giveaway. It can be a shiny new book, or a beat up well-read one, as long as it is off my shelf. I will exclude toddler-teethed on ones for the sake of germaphobes everywhere (Rule 2). You're welcome.

5. I will continue CYOA Wednesdays until I get bored, you get bored, or I run out of books. The latter event is highly unlikely.

6. I reserve the right to amend rules as we go along. (I've always wanted to say that.)

7. You do not need to be a follower of my blog to play, that's just silly. (But I'd love you forever and ever amen.)

8. Yes, you may blog, tweet, fb it. Brownie points are always a good thing.

9. Anyone, kids included, are encouraged to participate. However, I'm sad to say I cannot mail books outside the 48 contiguous United States. I will try to mail books within 2 weeks, but there is no guarantee. (Rules 1 & 2)

10. Disclaimer: This is my blog, not an actual manuscript. While I will do my best, the entries will probably have mistakes, typos, and not necessarily be factual. They will most likely be whimsical, done on the fly, in the carpool line, for FUN.*

THE GIVEAWAY: SAVVY, a Newbery Honor book, by the fabulous Ingrid Law

THE ENTRY: (This one is semi-autobiographical. *cough* adorable baby in yellow *cough* Enjoy!)

WEEK 1:

The day I was born I was four times smaller than the trophy big-mouthed bass hanging in my Daddy’s office.

My entire hand fit on the doctor’s thumbnail. Nobody, Mom included, had planned on me arriving three months early.

But I did.

At two pounds, two ounces, I was the size of head of cauliflower (I hate cauliflower) and didn’t make a peep. My twin brother didn’t either.

Boy, have times changed.

Daddy says I talk faster, and louder, than a car salesman guzzling his tenth lukewarm Folgers. Which is why he refuses to take me fishing.

Girls who talk too much scare away the catch.

My brother now, he could put a jig on a lure faster than said bass could strike. Therein lies the problem.

He was gone fishing while I was stuck home. Babysitting Max.

TO BE CONTINUED...

+++++

Readers, who or what is Max?

ETA: Is he a baby brother, a pet, a robot? You choose, and I'll write him in next week. One word answers are fine.

(Commenting often increases your chances. I'll choose one answer and write from there. Best of luck!)

*Then why am I still nervous? Meep.

How to Craft a Picture Book

2011-04-05T10:04:00.002-05:00

A picture book about creating a picture book, by the amazing and brilliant Polly Dunbar.

Click here to read IDEAS ARE EVERYWHERE.

Happy Friday

2011-04-01T14:30:00.003-05:00

Worth watching until the end.

ETA: A disclaimer: I have 4 boys.

I've Fallen

2011-03-30T10:03:00.004-05:00

Again.

I have fallen - and fallen hard - for a new middle grade. Every. Single. Line is perfect, witty, and chosen with care. It's no surprise, as the author is my hero. (The illustrations are spot-on, too.)

So, THE TROUBLE WITH CHICKENS by Doreen Cronin.

I took it to the gym and read it in a one hour stint on the elliptical. I daresay it made my workout more enjoyable. No telling what the lady in the red Lycra to my right thought about my maturity. Especially when I did one of those hiccough/laugh combos. Tears hit the corners of my eyes faster than my fingers punched "Lower Resistance". Not from the cardio burn, but from hysteria.

This book puts the unny in funny.

I'll throw a line out there. We've all seen dogs wearing the cone of shame, right?

"He had a long, skinny build, beady eyes, and a giant white funnel around his neck. He looked like a cross between a dachshund and a lamp." (Page 37.)

Hysterical.

If you have 8-12 year-olds, or even the younger set, I beg you to run, not walk, to the nearest library or bookstore and sniff this book out. This is read-aloud writing at its best.

Oh, and there's another one coming, THE LEGEND OF DIAMOND LIL.

That makes my puppy's tail wag something fierce.

Sometimes, I'm amazed by us. (And by us, I don't mean me.)

2011-03-22T14:30:00.007-05:00

Really. That we send humans to space, have walked the surface of the moon, and can recover bits of rockets. Not in a prideful way, just awe-struck by some people's intelligence when I struggle most days to string 400 cohesive words on paper or to remember what it was I was supposed to cook for dinner.

So, NASA released a high-definition video of the booster recovery process. I'd always wondered how they did this... or if they even bothered. I cannot fathom the hugeness of the splash, and this lucky crew watches it happen in open water.

I come from a family of scuba divers, so this fascinated me. I mean, who grows up thinking, I want to be those guys? But what an awesome job it is.

Thanks to kidlit agent Michael Bourret for posting the link on twitter. My nerd quota is met for the day.

Here Comes the Sun

2011-03-20T06:00:00.000-05:00

Life Goes On

2011-03-17T12:51:00.006-05:00

With so much heartache in the world making headlines, I thought I'd share a happy video. This wasn't my scheduled post for today, but I hope you'll be smiling and toe-tapping before it's done.

I'm going quiet the rest of the week to pray for our friends who are hurting. In spite of all the necessary resources, monies, and aid, storming heaven with heartfelt prayer is the best gift I can give.

For a list of ways to help, see Amber's blog.

For a Japan relief T-shirt, click here.

To bid on items in the Kidlit 4 Japan auction, click here.

See you next time.

Kristin

"The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18

Fear and goals, or What the heck was I thinking?

2011-03-14T11:26:00.007-05:00

Don't hate me. This is my view.

I'm about two minutes away from buying a warm mocha.

Snow is falling.

Yesterday, a few minutes were not so idyllic. Some background, I didn't learn to snow ski until my late twenties. I grew up on the water, have even barefoot. Where you lean back instead of all this forward business. Now, My husband took me to the top of the mountain yesterday, and although I was fine physically, my head screamed one part was crazy steep.

Enter irrational Kristin.

My voice reached that croaky high pitch. Tears brimmed the corners of my eyes. Five year olds zipped past. (Which made me feel worse, as cute as they were.) But then I realized something: The only way I was getting down the mountain was to just do it. One turn at a time.

So I took a deep breath, and I made my way down just fine. Not pretty, but fine.

Then I did it again.

That experience got me thinking about fear. Although I didn't know it, I was eating the elephant one bite, or turn, at a time.

If you're writing, or revising, or dealing with anything that seems too big, too overwhelming, remember to ask yourself, "What's the smallest step I can take?"

You can either stare at your goal and let your brain tell you it can't be done, or you can start moving, bit by bit. Movement creates inertia. Action makes momentum. If you're bogged down in procrastination (often stemming from fear), make yourself work for five minutes. You might be surprised when fifteen have flown by. Before you know it, you'll have eaten that elephant, written that novel, skied that mountain.

I'll be the one in the aqua hat at the bottom, holding out a mocha.

But for now, I'm off for re-writes.

~Kristin

Day in the Life of an Editor & Live Chat

2011-03-09T13:37:00.006-06:00

Naomi Kirsten, Associate Editor at Chronicle Books, blogged about her day as a children's book editor.

Hint: Pastries and in-house Pilates are involved.

(Um, that would be awesome. Books, art, pastries, and Pilates... I'd need the Pilates after the pastries.)

Read all about it here.

She's also hosting a live Facebook chat tomorrow, March 10th:

Join us on Thursday, March 10, from noon-1pm PT for a live Facebook chat with Chronicle Kids editor Naomi Kirsten!

Find out everything you've wanted to know about life as an editor, Children's publishing at Chronicle Books, and what makes a stellar kid's book cover.

We'll also be giving away three of Naomi's favorite Chronicle products, including an advance copy of the latest project she can't wait to release.

Unfinished

2011-03-07T22:46:00.007-06:00

It's been years since we gave this dog away.

Funny, I never got around to finishing.

Don't think I want to.

I loved that dog. She was horrid.

Which makes me wonder.

How can I be sure about leaving that work but not other creative efforts?

Maybe knowing when to walk away boils down to knowing when you can't.

Now, the sun is dallying. The days are longer.

Can I have a hallelujah?

Maybe I'll pick up paints. Do something crafty. Play with the kids, outdoors.

Finish a few things.

You know that I've been meaning to.

If something strikes my fancy, I'll post soon enough.

As a family, we're entering a whirlwind season. I hope to come out with my mess of hair relatively tame.

But tonight, I'm just thankful.

He's not finished with me yet.

How close we came to Seuss Dry Cleaners

2011-03-02T08:36:00.007-06:00

instead of a Pulitzer Prize winning children's author.

Read the story here .

Happy 107th Birthday, Theodor Seuss Geisel, an inspiration to us all.

"Oh, the places you'll go! There is fun to be done!/There are points to be scored. there are games to be won./And the magical things you can do with that ball/will make you the winning-est winner of all." From Oh, The Places You'll Go.

Where does the heart crack open?

2011-02-28T05:00:00.001-06:00

"Here’s the thing . . . where the heart cracks open is where our deepest longings lie, and that is what Story is all about."

If you write, please read this post by Kathi Appelt. Then be brave enough to ask the same question.

I am trying.

It's not easy.

But who said anything worth it is?

Thoughtful Thursday

2011-02-24T11:13:00.004-06:00

"Try again. Fail again. Fail better." -Samuel Beckett

I believe God allows seeds to root and flourish in barren cracks to show humanity His character. Nothing is impossible with him. Nothing, how seemingly unimportant, goes unnoticed. He is faithful. Hope persists.

Friday Five

2011-02-18T09:20:00.005-06:00

1. Thanks to a 3rd grade class in Indiana, NASA remembered we might have planted "Moon Trees". I kinda love those kids.

2. Speaking of NASA, we made a spontaneous road trip to Tulsa to see some friends and tour a mini Air & Space Museum. The kids saw a show at the planetarium, and my oldest worked a robotic arm used by astronauts for space station repair.

3. Oldest also photographed friend's dog, rescued from Hurricane Katrina. Aww.

4. In 3 weeks i hope to have my middle grade out with beta-readers. Um, who set this deadline? I need to speak with her.

5. Also, I need betas. Versus bettas, because that would just be weird.

Chocolate, please.

2011-02-16T05:30:00.007-06:00

My family and I are on a 30-day diet of insanity. No dairy, no gluten, no processed anything, so I might have swooned like a teenage girl next to a vampire over this jacket.

I am dying of cuteness.

Bunnies + chocolate = irresistible.

And the cake is bigger than her head! That's my kind of slice.

Her peachy shirt and polka dot tights? Spunky.

The swirlies behind her name? Adorable.

This totally throws my premise of Bunny looking for just the right carrot in the nearest compost pile. (Come on, I can't be the only neurotic soul that searches for the perfect elusive baby carrot.)

Back to the eating, I've persevered to Day 11 and am happy to say I've rounded a corner. You might have found me, oh say 4 days ago, in bed crying and dreaming of buttermilk pancakes slathered with maple syrup, pecan scones, crusty French bread, or oatmeal chocolate cookies. Just the mention of Valentine's creme brulee, I mean He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, nearly sent me in a tailspin.

Or was that red velvet cake? (The first step is to admit there is a problem.)

But the headaches are gone! I have energy and have found a suitable recipe for BROWNIES!!! All is right with the world.

I'm one happy bunny. Maybe not as happy as Betty, but happy.

Feel free to send tried-and-true gluten free recipes.

Or wine.

:) Kristin

Friday Five

2011-02-11T11:06:00.009-06:00

1. We had a mini-blizzard in my corner of the world, where they cancel school for a few flakes and are not accustomed to such blustery-ness and frigid temps (-18 F).

2. That's right. I made blustery a noun.

3. My family has experienced LOTS of togetherness. And there's only 4,141 minutes until Monday morning. Not that I'm counting.

4. My new picture book critique group is lovely, and friend Tammi Sauer's latest book, MR. DUCK MEANS BUSINESS, is out.

5. A little late to the party, but I'm reading - and adoring - COSMIC by Frank Cottrell Boyce.

Make a Superlative Book

2011-02-07T05:00:00.002-06:00

by Mo Willems.*

• Biggest thing one needs to do…decide whose side your on…the key: BE ON THE KID’S SIDE.

• Realize that childhood sucks.

• Life is filled with restrictions for kids.

• Keep in mind that the book must be read aloud…it’s like a script or play.

• Study improv comedy.

• Our picture books are THEATRICAL PERFORMANCES.

• Sound of the words is very important.

• Mo says…if he can read a ms and understand what’s going on, there are too many words.

• Take out as much as possible and let each word do as much as possible:

Nouns and verbs are important.

• The more words you have on the page, the faster it’ll be read and vice versa…example: in Leonardo the Terrible Monster there is one page that contains only one word…Sam. When a teacher reads this page, she reads it slowly.

• Characters who are enemies are so b/c they are essentially the same.

• It only takes one moment of empathy to turn enemies into friends.

• Storyboard your ms so you can see what happens in the page turn.

• Work for an audience…always keep the audience in mind.

• Once you care about the audience more than yourself, you are a writer.

• Develop a loud sense of empathy—how would I feel if I were in a kid’s position?

• Mo says, “Their [kids’] misery is HILARIOUS. Just be on their side.”

• With ideas…the easy part is coming up with one…the hard part is keeping it alive.

• Look for emotional truth in a story.

• Seeming effortless is KEY.

• “Books should not be read. They should be played.”

• He plays with characters and situations.

• He explores characters before putting them in a story.

• He designs the star of every book so a kid can easily render the character’s image.

*I was cleaning old files and found this fantastic list saved from August 2006. My apologies I cannot properly credit the note-taker. :(

Perfect Story Arc in Under 1 Minute

2011-02-03T08:51:00.004-06:00

No dialogue.

Showing vs/ telling.

A character worth rooting for.

A cute dog. (Never hurts.)

Authentic kid emotion and experience.

A twist ending.

Sure a grown-up swoops in, but by then, I don't care. I want this kid to reach his goal.

Way to go, Volkswagen.

Preparing for the Winter Apocalypse, 2011

2011-01-31T09:57:00.013-06:00

If meteorologists are correct, this will be the third consecutive year we've experienced an ice storm the last week of January. In my neck of the woods.

I remember, because every year I go to bake my oldest a birthday cake. Yet we have no power.

In 2009, this lasted. For. Days. (Whimper.) For others, weeks. We were the lucky ones. But this year, I wised up. I bought his cake.

I must admit, the first 48 hours of hunkering down are fun. Practically pioneer-y.

There's something unifying about camping out in your living room, walled off from the rest of the house via quilts nailed to the wall, shivering in front of a wood burning fireplace with your pajama-clad kids and flashlights and open books and boardgames and a mutt with chronic halitosis.

I think that was a run-on.

And don't forget the snacks.

Necessary snacks.

Everyone knows being snowed or iced in, is made better with proper snackage.

Like caramel popcorn.

A handed down family favorite.

I made ours last night.

Old Man Winter, we're set.

As soon as I round up all the flashlights.

Caramel Popcorn

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup light corn syrup

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 tsp. baking soda

16 cups popped popcorn

1 cup nuts or M&Ms (optional)

Stir together first 5 ingredients in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stir constantly.

Remove mixture from heat, and stir in soda.

Place half of popcorn, and if desired nuts or candy, in each of 2 lightly greased shallow roasting pans. Pour sugar mixture over popcorn. Stir well with a lightly greased spatula.

Bake @ 250 for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Spread on wax paper to cool, breaking apart large clumps. Store in airtight container.

Photography courtesy of my husband.

On today. A serious post.

2011-01-27T09:07:00.010-06:00

My oldest turns ten today. The big 1-0.

It's a hard concept to wrap my mind around. I carried him, warm in my belly the last six months of gestation wondering whether he had the chromosomal anomaly one doctor said possible.

And look at him now.

Perfectly healthy.

And so boyish.

Stinky socks. Sloppy handwriting. Lover of Legos and science and home teams and Percy Jackson. I'm appalled I even fuss at him for his handwriting.

Ten years ago, we didn't know if he would even be able to *do* homework, attend regular school.

Grace.

Ten years.

I don't feel any older. Except on days when it's really cold, my bones don't want to get out of bed.

I heard this morning that today marks 25th anniversary of the space shuttle Challenger explosion. I had already dropped my boy off at school. He would have loved to know. He inherited a little bit of DNA nerdry, mostly from his father's side of course.

I sat in my car, engine humming. I was transported back to third grade, Mrs. McElhaney's class. I was indoors for recess. Was it a sick note? A reprimand for talking? I'm not sure. I do know I wasn't alone. Christopher Stone was there, walking about the room in his thick glasses, sandy stick-up hair, and white turtleneck under a red polo shirt. (Moms, don't let your boys grow up to wear turtlenecks.)

Mrs. Michaels, one of the librarians, wheeled in a Sony TV on a metal rolling cart. Boy, have times changed. With a click, she switched on the news. Eyes wide, I sat up straight. The shuttle launch.

You see, I had this thing for astronauts.

I wanted to be one. What kid doesn't, for at least a season?

I'd been to the national museum in DC, toured Cape Canaveral. Shoot, I even owned a pair of pewter space shuttle earrings. I was uh, rad. But somehow I could never convince my parents of Space Camp.

I will never forget that ball of fire.

I guess it's my generation's JFK.

My friend Allison had the poster of the 7 on her wall for years.

So, I think all this is part of me. The old "write what you know". My middle grade book revolves around a boy fascinated with space. I guess I still am. To be honest, though, I haven't worked on the book in some time. I have these three new picture books that are teetering on the edge. Potential, yes. Polished, no.

I emailed a writer friend yesterday and asked. "How does one learn to work through the doldrums?"

Working through the doldrums. The I'm not good enough. I can't plot to save my life. My head hurts. Are my characters alive? Am I doing anything right?

I read books, a recent example ONE CRAZY SUMMER, whose prose is butter rich. It seems effortless. How do you achieve that? How do I?

I don't have an answer. Just one word at a time.

I teared up in the car today. Hearing the coincidence of the Challenger and the birth of my eldest. Call it hokey. Call it a sign. Whatever it is, it's enough to spur me on today.

I will write.

Then surprise my boy with Chick fil A.

Oh, his birthday present?

A telescope.

I never met a cupcake I couldn't eat.*

2011-01-25T21:02:00.010-06:00

Until now.

Kermit: [navigating in the Studebaker] Bear left.
Fozzie: Right, frog.

Wocka, wocka, wocka.

And if you'd like to get inside the head of an editor, read this post by Tom Dupree of Bantam. I'll give you a snippet:

"I used to hear about the huge stack of submissions that faced every editor and took it with a grain of salt. Folks, it’s true! Most unsolicited works are easily dismissed after only a page or two; it’s the few that are right on the edge that drive you crazy."

Thanks to Karen for pointing out the cupcake site.

*Except for lemon. Ew.

See Kristin.

2011-01-21T15:49:00.004-06:00

See Kristin revise.

Based on my amount of roots, I need to move to the salon instead of my kitchen table.

Carry on.

How bad do you want it?

2011-01-20T16:48:00.004-06:00

This lady really wants her yard mowed.

I'm trusting that front baby sling held. Maybe the engine's loud rumble is payback for all the crying at night. (I'm kidding.)

Who knows. But, she did what she had to do to get the lawn cut.

How hard am I willing to work to meet my goals?

Take Monica. She LEARNED A SECOND LANGUAGE and WROTE HER NOVEL IN IT, in order to publish.

Um. Yeah.

I'm a lightweight.

(Who has terrible success with Rosetta Stone, another goal of mine, darn Southern accent...)

Take 1 step today to meet a goal of yours. Feel free to post it below.

(Thanks, 22 Words, for the photo.)

My Inner Judy Moody

2011-01-15T15:04:00.003-06:00

I went from:

I can SO write this.
Writing this is hard.
I can never write this.
Do I even want to write this?
Why am I even writing?

In under 45 minutes today.

Also, I changed paper to papers. Then deleted so.

*thunk*

How I was Pulled from the Shark Tank

2011-01-14T08:00:00.004-06:00

So, I've been trying to win an ARC of Veronica Roth's debut DIVERGENT.

Um.

I don't do dystopian.

But, the buzz on that book is a-mazing. And Veronica's posts are insightful and fun. Plus, she has a multi-book deal. I think she just graduated college. *cough*

(Hey, my Wii fit age isn't bad.)

People are scrambling for her book.

So did I.

I entered this contest hosted by none other than the notorious agent JANET REID. (Holy Cow, what was I thinking?)

Janet is known around these waters (water-coolers) as The Shark. She's persnickety, ruthless, and wise.

And my silly little entry was pulled from the tank to make the final cut!

Now, I didn't win DIVERGENT.

But I'm still grinning.

And swimming.

Just keep swimming, just keep swimming...

Happy Friday, y'all!

SNOW DAY!

2011-01-11T11:48:00.004-06:00

I brought my boys to work. :)

Oh, writers,

2011-01-08T22:03:00.003-06:00

This blog's for you:

EMU's Debuts is an exploration of the winding path that lies between the Book Deal and the Debut, brought to you by eight debuting authors represented by Ammi-Joan Paquette and Erin Murphy of the Erin Murphy Literary Agency (EMLA). New content appears on Mondays and Wednesdays.

Happy Thursday, Cute Kid Addition

2011-01-06T06:03:00.003-06:00

If this doesn't make your morning, your heart is colder than freezer-burned yogurt pops.

One Crazy Writer

2011-01-03T11:53:00.009-06:00

How's 2011 shaping up for all of you?

*I had a fabulous break, over which I joined goodreads! Book Nerds, Unite!

*I burned 400 calories on the elliptical this morning thanks to Rita Williams-Garcia's ONE CRAZY SUMMER. Holy Moses, what voice. Beautifully written, and I'm only a quarter in.

*I'm not a candy person (unless it's chocolate), but someone, God bless their soul, gave my children a package of 12- flavored gummi-bears. Heavens to Murgatroyd. Those 400 calories won't last long with those bears in the house. Revision does that to me.

And, yes, they are that pretty in person.

*Which brings me to the last point. If someone who writes (or reads a lot of) picture books, would be willing to take a look at one for me, I'd be eternally grateful. I have a smashing crit group, but I need some fresh eyes.

Happy New Year to you all!

Merry Christmas 2010

2010-12-21T15:11:00.008-06:00

From our house(s) to yours!

It's hard to let ~~the ever growing pile of~~ rejections get me down this time of year. Shoot, I even missed the lunar eclipse, but Candy! Baked goods! Everywhere! (We even have a birthday thrown in the mix.)

Twinkling lights, Christmas carols, live nativities, hot cocoa, fires, and reading late at night.

Movies, family, health, and warmth.

I'll see you in January. (My goal is to make significant writerly progress, chock-full of madcaper-y fun.)

And if you're needing a holiday treat in a pinch, I insist you try Graham Cracker Goodness. My favorite - from editor Cheryl Klein.

I honestly. *crunch* Can't stop eating. *crunch, crunch* Them. Excuse me.

Happy Holidays, and God bless us every one.

((Hugs))

Kristin

"For unto YOU is born this day, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."

IF-Phenomenon

2010-12-13T12:30:00.002-06:00

If showers were flowers what a phenomenon that'd be.

Heads up: Meteor Shower & Total Lunar Eclipse

2010-12-11T20:36:00.008-06:00

The massive Geminid meteor shower, the year's best display of shooting stars, will peak during the overnight hours of Dec. 13 and 14th.

And the total lunar eclipse on the night of Dec. 20 promises to be the best lunar eclipse show until April 2014.

Lunar eclipse skywatching tips

For the Western Hemisphere, the eclipse will "officially" begin on Dec. 21 at 12:29 a.m. EST (9:29 p.m. PST on Dec. 20) as the moon begins to enter Earth's outer, or penumbral, shadow. It should last 72 minutes.

That's my Public Service Announcement of the week. J

And, I've got nothing. I just dipped 200 plus pretzels in chocolate coating and crushed peppermint. For dear son's school project. He owes me big time. :)

All Time Favorite Christmas Book

2010-12-07T14:19:00.008-06:00

Hands down.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

By Barbara Robinson
(HarperCollins, Hardcover, 96pp.)

Description: When the Herdmans storm Sunday school and take over the annual Christmas pageant, everyone braces for the worst. But no one is prepared for what really happens when the rottenest kids in the world take over the greatest story ever told. It's a pageant full of surprises for everyone–including the Herdmans themselves.

I love it so much, we're taking our kids to see the play. (I also love A CHRISTMAS CAROL.)

And this just makes me all kinds of happy:

What is your favorite holiday read?

Librarians, avert your eyes.

2010-11-29T10:55:00.007-06:00

If you're doing Christmas on a shoe-string budget (like me) and are or know book lovers (like me), you must check out Living with Lindsay's fabulous tutorial on making your own book wreath. (That's her wreath above.)

It's raining here, and I'm working blissfully on a super secret project. My kids are away for a few hours, and the coffee is warm.

O, happy, happy Monday!

~Kristin

Plotting (Again)

2010-11-26T15:39:00.008-06:00

So much of writing is thinking.

Can I be real for a moment? Plotting hurts my head.

Like a calculus proof.

I'm having nightmares just thinking about it.

(Calculus was not my friend.)

I'm learning plotting is more difficult after turkey and dressing.

To. Die. For. Dressing.

And my sister in law made this fabulous bread pudding with homemade tres leches and caramel sauce...

But, back to plotting. I've snagged a couple of story maps to share.

I do my best thinking with a pencil and some paper. Curled up on the sofa.

What about you? How do you plot?

If you have any tried and true tricks, do spill.

IF-Sneaky

2010-11-21T22:40:00.000-06:00

It was quite sneaky of Clare to hide the bookcase's revolving switch with a painting.

Friday Five (and a half)

2010-11-19T06:46:00.010-06:00

1. My soon to be 8 year old had an apple pie baking contest at school. We lost.

2. However, he now has mad pie-crimping skills. :)

3. Check out The Mercy House in Kenya when you have a chance.

4. If you need a good caper type read for your middle schooler, may I suggest Edison's Gold by Geoff Watson? Mr. Watson's a screenwriter, as this fast, fun read shows. It was pitched as National Treasure meet Goonies. Love.

5. Is Thanksgiving really next week?

I'm baking my grandmother's cornbread dressing and thankful to God for family and health and 1,000 other gifts like Greek yogurt.

5.5 Oh, and my 4 year old insists his construction paper Pilgrim's hat is a pirate one. Wouldn't that have been interesting? Just think, we could have had Talk Like an Englishman Day.

What are you thankful for?

Dear Anthropologie,

2010-11-18T10:53:00.014-06:00

Are you trying to kill me?

Your Savannah Story ornaments are more than my writerly heart can take.

I could die of cuteness right now.

Please stop.

My checkbook can't take it. I've no room on my tree.

Even though it'd be great fun to talk about the elephant in the room. :)

ETA: This Holiday season, Anthropologie customers can donate select storybooks* to Reader to Reader, a nonprofit that stocks the bookshelves of our nation's neediest schools and libraries. That makes this reader/writer happy.

*More books and toys on their website.

Am giddy.

2010-11-17T11:12:00.002-06:00

I ordered this book so I'd have some *light* reading over the holidays. All I need now is a cupcake.*

*Red velvet with cream cheese frosting, please.

IF - Burning

2010-11-15T11:16:00.005-06:00

Here's my Illustration Friday piece. The topic was burning.

It's cut paper. And a good excuse to use the new lightbox I bought for my birthday in September.

This spotted owl is PiBoIdMo idea #13.

Here's hoping 13 will bring me lots of luck!

So, I'm a sap.

2010-11-12T16:09:00.002-06:00

But this made me tear up. In a good way.

I've decided.

2010-11-10T20:04:00.002-06:00

I'm changing my initials to J.K.

Picture Book Process

2010-11-08T05:27:00.002-06:00

I first heard of illustrator Lynne Chapman via the Picture Book Junkies.

My ears perked up immediately because she works in pastels.

I do too.

Er, did.

Once the kids began ~~scribbling on~~ enhancing my pictures and using the pigmented chalk to paint the floor, I packed up my supplies and began to write.

It's a heckuva lot easier to click SAVE than wash/rinse/put away wet paint from little fingers.

Notice I didn't say the writing itself was any easier.

But pastels are fragile. Even with fixative. Shipping finished work was always an adventure. (I only had one casualty.)

If you're a picture book writer or illustrator, you'll enjoy her video series. She talks about her process, starting with the commission. Her accent is fun, too.

How to illustrate a book - Part 1 from Open College of the Arts on Vimeo.

NYT Best Illustrated Children's Books 2010

2010-11-05T17:23:00.008-05:00

The New York Times announced its list of 10 Best Illustrated Children's Books of 2010. Click here for the slideshow.

1. HERE COMES THE GARBAGE BARGE!

By Jonah Winter.
Illustrated by Red Nose Studio.
Schwartz & Wade Books.

2. CHILDREN MAKE TERRIBLE PETS
Written and illustrated by Peter Brown.
Little, Brown & Company.
3. SEASONS
Written and illustrated by Blexbolex.
Enchanted Lion Books.

4. SHADOW
By Suzy Lee.
Chronicle Books.

5. BUSING BREWSTER
By Richard Michelson.
Illustrated by R. G. Roth.
Alfred A. Knopf.

6. BIG RED LOLLIPOP
By Rukhsana Khan.
Illustrated by Sophie Blackall.
Viking.

7. HENRY IN LOVE
Written and illustrated by Peter McCarty.
Balzer & Bray/HarperCollins Publishers.

8. A SICK DAY FOR AMOS McGEE
By Philip C. Stead.
Illustrated by Erin E. Stead.
A Neal Porter Book/Roaring Brook Press.

9. SUBWAY
Written and illustrated by Christoph Niemann.
Greenwillow Books/HarperCollins Publishers.

10. BINK & GOLLIE
By Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee.
Illustrated by Tony Fucile.
Candlewick Press.

Congratulations to those listed!

From the Sketchbook

2010-11-02T14:20:00.003-05:00

Meet Piper.

She's the star of my latest work in progress.

Gotta love those leg warmers.

I'm going for real-kid emotion with this one.

And keeping it S.I.M.P.L.E.

*bunny ears crossed*

Another Gray Day

Gone writing

For the Love of Books.

January 1st

Happy New Year.

12 x 12 in 2012, A Picture Book Writing Challenge

A new story of friendship.

I can't stop laughing.

What I'm Reading Wednesday

Unputdownable. (Or, Confessions of a Cupcake-a-holic)

un·put·down·a·ble/ˌənˌpo͝otˈdounəbəl/

PiBoIdMo 2011

Guess what week it is.

SCBWI MO Conference Recap

It's OK to Read YA (when you aren't)

Query Tip of the Day

Synopses are . . .

Watch Me.

Keep On.

Love Time Travel?

Thankful Thursday

10 Years

*Swoon*

New Can't Miss Podcast

On My Nightstand Tuesday

Permission to be Awesome + Thankful Thursday

Oh, Abrams Books,

The Story Spine

Doggy Whys? A picture book review.

Jonathan and the Big Blue Boat, a review.

Hurry! 25 page crit up for grabs!

I love peanut butter and a few other things.

Eureka! (And help.)

I'm Back. Haiti, Part 1

PB Crit Group Opening

How Querying is Like Sending Your Kids Off to Camp

Story Endings (Or, Johnny Depp & Alan Rickman in the same post.)

Blockbuster Plots

Miracles

Friday Five and a Half

On Studying Writing

Housekeeping

Author Interview & Giveaway

Plotting Workshop Notes (Or, The Girl Who Lived.)

The Crazies (Or I take 5 kids to a wedding.)

Choose Your Own Adventure Wednesday (And Book Giveaway)

Because Talent is Overrated (Or, I've lost it.)

Working Conference

Friday Five (Or I cry in under 2 minutes)

Choose Your Own Adventure Wednesday (And Book Giveaway)

Be Careful What You Wish for...

Choose Your Own Adventure Wednesday (Complete with SAVVY Giveaway!)

How to Craft a Picture Book

Happy Friday

I've Fallen

Sometimes, I'm amazed by us. (And by us, I don't mean me.)

Here Comes the Sun

Life Goes On

Fear and goals, or What the heck was I thinking?

Day in the Life of an Editor & Live Chat

Unfinished

How close we came to Seuss Dry Cleaners

Where does the heart crack open?

Thoughtful Thursday

Friday Five

Chocolate, please.

Friday Five

Make a Superlative Book

Perfect Story Arc in Under 1 Minute

Preparing for the Winter Apocalypse, 2011

On today. A serious post.

I never met a cupcake I couldn't eat.*

See Kristin.

How bad do you want it?

My Inner Judy Moody

How I was Pulled from the Shark Tank

SNOW DAY!

Oh, writers,

Happy Thursday, Cute Kid Addition

One Crazy Writer

Swoon