Category: creativity

After Groundhog Day

Black history month kicked off February 1st.  This year I’m using the month to seek out the history of African Americans unknown to me.  I’ve been researching African Americans in the 1700s and I can tell you there is quite a lot to learn.  I’ll share a story, photo, quote, or other interesting tidbits.

First up is Science fiction writer Octavia Estelle Butler was the author of a dozen novels and many short stories. She also remains the only science fiction writer to ever receive a MacArthur Foundation ‘Genius’ Grant.

Quote from Ms. Butler:

Octavia Butler
Octavia E. Butler 1947-2006

“And I have this little litany of things they can do. And the first one, of course, is to write – every day, no excuses. It’s so easy to make excuses. Even professional writers have days when they’d rather clean the toilet than do the writing.”

I was tickled when I read this quote. I can’t tell you how clean my bathrooms are when I’m trying to get a story on paper.  I’m getting a bit more consistent with daily writing time.  I’ve varied what I’m working on so that makes me more excited to stare at the blank page.  At least it’s a different blank page for a different project.  Sounds like an excuse, but its been working for me so far.

Catching up.

I’ve spent most of yesterday catching up on emails, cleaning up my office writing area and actually working on a manuscript.  I’m working on a piece that is a little different from the picture books I generally write.  This one is historical and biographical.  Writing about a person’s life is harder than I thought when I began.  But once I’m into something, it’s hard for me to drop it.  And why would I drop this one?  This character has become my friend.  I refer to him as my 300-year-old friend.  I have questions for him that I ask out loud as if he is going to answer me…Sometimes he does. Continue reading “Catching up.” →

Weekend of knowledge!

What a EPA SCBWI Room Signwonderful weekend!

I spent three days in the Poconos at the Eastern Pennsylvania SCBWI Retreat.  Three days of workshops, critiques, sharing, learning, community and meeting fellow writers and illustrators.  I’m excited and inspired to get back to work on a couple manuscripts.  Finding the right time to write is still challenging but I’m looking ahead to new goals.

My debut picture book,  David’s Flamingos is out!  Yeah, I still can’t believe I get to write those words.  TherCover David's Flamingose was a lot of positive feedback at the workshop and it has fueled me to move forward! I’m still working on marketing, I know I’m behind so that is definitely something I need to work on.

I’m making this a short post today so that I can get myself organized for my new projects.

Happy Book Birthday!

It’s finally here.  May 1st, 2018.

Cover David's FlamingosThe official release date for my picture book,    David’s Flamingos.  It’s been a journey and I’d do it all again (and again).  Multiple revisions, multiple submissions and plenty of hope, prayers, and love, now finally I’m published.

Thanks to my critique groups, publisher (Spork) and the wonderful illustrator, Jeanne Conway.  You are my village.

I am very much behind on any marketing that I should be doing but thanks to a very loyal group of colleagues, the day was spent with many verbal reminders and other conversation about the book.  All of that has fed my ambition to get something together SOON to get the sales rolling.

I’ll be at the Highlights Foundation for the North East Pennsylvania Pocono Retreat this weekend.  I’ll be participating in workshops throughout the weekend but there will be time set aside for book sales.   I can’t ask for a friendlier forum for my first direct sales.  Wish me luck!

David’s Flamingos is a heartwarming multi-generational story that speaks to the connection and love between grandparents and grandchildren.  Jeanne Conway’s illustrations are soft and endearing.  She brings the text of Pam Jones-Nill to life from the very first page.

David’s Flamingos –  Available at amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com

 

Upcoming Book Birthday-May 1, 2018!

I can hardly believe that I’m lucky enough to be here on the fringe of a book launch.

My book launch. 

I received my proof copy and cried when I saw my name as author on an actual press printed bound hardcopy book.  I first wrote this story three years ago and with the support of my wonderful critique group, multiple revisions and persistence, my manuscript was purchased by Clear Fork Publishing for their Spork imprint.

Special thanks to Jeanne Conway whose illustrations have brought my characters and story to life.

Cover David's Flamingos.jpg

Pre-order here   

Use the link above to pre-order on Amazon.

Next up – working on Launch Party activities and lining up school visits and other fun things, stay tuned.

I’ve got so much work to do.  I’m so excited!!
Continue reading “Upcoming Book Birthday-May 1, 2018!” →

Valentine’s Day

heart-stamped-letterValentine’s Day is fast approaching.  I remembered to purchase cards thatI’ll mail out on Monday.  I even send my husband’s in snail mail.  I do keep a backup card in case snail mail is too slow.  That’s a lesson learned kind of thing…

I’m happy to say that I’ve also remembered the Valentiny Writing Contest that author SUSANNA LEONARD HILL hosts.  It’s the 3rd Annual, I’m not sure where I was for the last two – but I’m in now!   With Hopeful Heart! – The 3rd Annual Valentiny Writing Contest!!!  Here is my contest entry – wish me luck!

heart_balloonsCleo’s Wish

Cleo was sitting with her grandmother and her three older sisters in the hospital waiting room.

Their parents were with the doctor in the labor room and odds were that the new arrival was going to be another girl.   

The girls chatted and giggled about the new baby girl.  “We could play dress up and dolls,” said Stella.  “Tea party would be so much fun,” added Julia.

Cleo stared out the window.  “Oh how I wish for a baby brother,” Cleo thought.   She imagined playing baseball, tag, and fort.  Cleo whispered, “If only the baby would be a boy for Daddy and a brother for me.”

The door to the labor room opened and the girls eyes opened wide with anticipation.  

The girls gathered around the doctor all asking questions.  “Does she have curly hair?”, “Are her cheeks rosy?”, “Are her eyes green like mine?”

The doctor lead everyone to the nursery window.  Their father met them there.  The sisters all took a spot at the window and a surprised look appeared on their faces, even grandmother.  

“I can’t see!” exclaimed Cleo.  Her father lifted her up to look through the glass.

“I knew it! I knew it!” shouted Cleo.  “Daddy look, we have a boy!”

Yes, Cleo, you have a brother.Valentine_Frog

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Getting back to work.

Well, it has been a while since I’ve posted anything and I’m feeling guilty about that.  I’ve been keeping busy reading and writing.  I received the first round of edits for my upcoming picture book a couple weeks ago.  I was excited to receive them but a bit worried at some of the suggestions (revisions).  There was one that I felt I could not change and I sent a quick email to my publisher to weigh in on that change.  Luckily, she was ok with me not using that suggestion.  What a load off of my mind that was.  Instead of going to work on the rest of the revisions, I decided to let them simmer in my head a bit. I finally got the revised manuscript out and now I’m waiting to hear if there are additional revisions.

Next came Christmas and I was not prepared.  I generally bake a lot for Christmas and I had let everything go until practically the last minute.  I even ran out of sugar – what kind of a baker runs out of sugar?  A disorganized one for sure.

My brother’s family made it easier for me, gathering in one location this year, so I only needed to ship one box!  Very considerate, but still I was behind.

 

scones 2017
Cranberry Scones and Green Mountain Coffee – Christmas 2017

Now that I’m catching up I’ll be posting some book reviews for the Multicultural Children’s Book project. #ReadYourWorld

Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2018 (1/27/18) is its fifth year and was founded by Valarie Budayr from Jump Into A Book and Mia Wenjen from PragmaticMom. Our mission is to raise awareness on the ongoing need to include kid’s books that celebrate diversity in homes and school bookshelves while also working diligently to get more of these types of books into the hands of young readers, parents, and educators.

I’m thrilled to be a participant this year.

Keeping myself on track should be my resolution for 2018 but since we’re still a week away, I’m not going to commit to anything just yet.

Seventh Inning Mid Summer Stretch

This has certainly not been an easy breezy summer for me.  I’m continually asking myself, “what am I supposed to be doing now?”  There are so many things competing for my attention both in my writing and in the rest of my life.  Please don’t get me wrong, this is not a post about being too busy.  The alternative scares me, but I do need to buckle down and focus.  My way of re-focusing is compiling a to-do list and working through it.

So here goes:

  • I accepted an invitation to speak at an SCBWI-PA sponsored event in August.
  • I’ve worked on a couple of picture book manuscripts, new and revised, but I feel stuck.
  • Looking for a new project to help get unstuck.

For the new project, I’ve logged several hours in the library for the research I started for a historical fiction picture book on a local (local to Long Island) African-American poet.  A fellow picture book author suggested the topic during a discussion a couple of months ago.  Over the years I have collected several articles and documents on this local poet to satisfy my general curiosity but never thought of him as a picture book subject until that discussion.  – Thanks,  A.L.

Information Overload – Exposure to or provision of too much information or data.

That is what you can get when research includes genealogy.  Dates, places, names, occupations, marriages…

There seems to be no end to the genealogy loops that I’ve entered into.

I’m researching African-American characters from the mid-1700’s for a historical fiction picture book.   There are gaps where African American facts are concerned, for sure. Some of that is just due to the fact that African slaves were considered property, not people. For the research that I’m doing, there was a lot of documentation and it has connected two of the largest northern “plantations” on Long Island.  It helps that the slave owners were highly influential people.  Their records have now become part of history maintained in libraries and museums.  This is going to be fun!

A little down time

I finally got a chance to get away for a quick weekend.   My husband and I traveled up to our favorite spot in northwest Connecticut.  Quaint town squares, mountain views, long walks and the sound of the rushing Housatonic River.

I had time to read for research and take in the sites.  I even took a couple photos – although not as many as I used to; I’ll have to work on that.  I was thrilled to see a friend’s blog post with the Daily Post Photo Challenge subject: BRIDGE

I’ve photographed this bridge in all four seasons.  Fall is my favorite, but the weather this summer has been spectacular so I’ll post this summer as my favorite for the moment!

The Housatonic River runs under this bridge as it sits on a scenic route along Route 7 in Connecticut.  This is my entry for the challenge.

 

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Covered Bridge – West Cornwall, Connecticut