Children's Picture Books, Reading, Writing, and Fun on Long Island
Category: Onward
It has been a while since I posted but I’m forgiving myself for that. I let too many external issues block my creativity in 2020. There certainly have been a lot of things competing for all of our energy. I’ve been taking some time off to recharge and regain my spark. I was off yesterday and I got a huge lift from this. I know one man can’t change the world but if one is going to lead us out of the muck we’re in – my money is on him.
It’s been twenty days since our beloved Rocky went to heaven. Christmas seemed like a blur this year between his care, my grief, and family holiday expectations. Normally, I love spending time with family during the holidays but this year it was tough to keep my grief and depression from taking over. Thanks to an email from a neighbor that reminded me of Rocky’s good life with us. That helped me regain my focus. I started writing again two days ago and was able to get a picture book draft on paper that had been bouncing around in my head.
I sat down this morning to reorganize my writing. I registered for a writing workshop through the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators – SCBWI-LI group in Bay Shore next Sunday. Now have to buckle down to make sure I have something to present. I have several other manuscripts that I’ve been working on, but I need to get them submission ready. I’m off from work a couple more days so that’s the plan.
While reorganizing I came across an email that I had totally forgotten! Just after Thanksgiving, I learned that “David’s Flamingos” was nominated for a CYBIL Award in the picture book category. CYBIL – Children’s and Young Adult Literary Award. What a thing to lose track of. I was blessed to have Jeanne Conway, as my illustrator. She did such a beautiful job with the artwork. I’ve been blessed with this debut picture book.
Finalists were announced on January 1, 2019. Check out the list.
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.
It is always amazing to me how fantastic I feel after a writers retreat or conference. Last weekend was a wonderful writing experience for me. I started early on Long Island with a Meet & Greet event with our newly established local Long Island Chapter of SCBWI. That was a fun evening and I got to see some familiar faces as well as some new.
The very next morning I was off to Pennsylvania via ferry from Port Jefferson to Bridgeport Connecticut. Ok, I’m sure that makes no sense to those of you who know the area, but I like to AVOID bridges when I can and this is a perfect way. I live east of Port Jefferson so it makes a lot of sense to me. Since I still read actual maps, I’m happy to plot out a course on my own and let the GPS catch up to me.
Once I departed the ferry, I headed north to Danbury and made a left towards Pennsylvania. Four hours later I arrived. GPS said it would have been the same if I had gone through New York City – Ha! –
Anyway, once I arrived at the Highlights facility. It really felt like home and they work very hard to make it so. Kudos to the entire Highli
ghts Staff, Faculty, and Family for a wonderful weekend event.
The SCBWI Eastern PA Poconos Retreat celebrated its 25th year. Although I don’t belong to the Eastern PA chapter I was made to feel welcome and very much a part of their event.
As an SCBWI member, I encourage anyone to attend an event outside of their chapter. You gain a broader network and knowledge base. You get a chance to see new ideas and processes in action.
Go, do, see, write.
Speaking of which, I’ve got some revisions to work on.
Happy Writing!
Autumn is turning out to be a really fun time of year for me this year. Harvest season, a time for receiving all the benefits of your hard work – that’s the farmers take on the season. Right now, I’m pleased to be able to reflect on my farm roots. I am quite blessed.
I feel like I should be running around like Henny Penny shouting, “the sky is falling, the sky is falling.” Or Paul Revere and his raiders announcing, “The British are coming, the British are coming!”
Yet, quietly I sit here fumbling to find words for this post. I can’t hold it in any longer, it’s time to get this out in the open.
Ready…
I just signed with a small publisher in Texas. Clear Fork Publishing will be publishing one of my picture book manuscripts. I feel like I should write that a bit bigger.
It feels great to share that. I was was sure I was dreaming.
I’m going to not share all the details about the picture book but I will give you all a hint. The story has some connection to the picture below. Stay tuned.
I’ve given the blog a bit of a face lift. I thought it was time.
It’s the second day of September and I’ve taken some time off from my day job. Taking advantage of the Labor Day holiday on Monday gives me a nice stretch of time out of the office. I have no travel plans. I will go out to Shinnecock for the PowWow this weekend – an absolute must for me. That helps me reset, almost like a New Year’s celebration.
I intend to work on some manuscripts while the house is quiet. My husband is at work and the dog naps all day long. The story I began last month seems to be getting some traction with me so I’m going to keep following that path. I’ve worked on a couple of revisions for other manuscripts so I am feeling more productive than last month.
I’ve received rejections for the items I submitted last month. Disappointed of course, but it is all part of the process. Onward!
This is usually the time of year that I like to head to the Highlights Foundation in Pennsylvania for a conference. I decided to take a break for this year and focus on getting ready to attend the SCBWI Winter conference in NYC in February.
2017 seems so far away, but it is just around the corner. In October my Christmas Club account will be released. I’ll be getting firewood in and securing the patio furniture for the winter. Then rearranging the living room for the Christmas tree. WAIT! I can’t think of that yet.
I’ve never attended an International SCBWI Conference and I’m getting very excited. Pulling together my most polished work and researching past conferences is where I am so far. My expectation is to get into the atmosphere and soak it all in.
Now that I’ve taken time out from my manuscripts for this post, I’ll sign off for lunch. Then I’ll head out for some errands and settle back in at my desk for the remainder of the day.
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