Category: Writing

Mixed bag of thoughts

This weekend I was blessed to be included in the reunion of my brother with his biological brother.  That’s right, my brother met his brother.

I should have mentioned that my siblings and I are all adopted from different biological families.  DNA testing kits made it possible for this event to happen.  One of my sisters located her mother a few years ago.  I’ve located very general information of my own biological beginnings so I’m still digging.  This reunion this past Saturday affirms for  me that it can be very satisfying to meet the long-lost relative or family.

This was a very special day!

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Thompson / Jones Reunion July 28, 2018

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Cover David's Flamingos

My picture book, David’s Flamingos was released on May 1, 2018.  I’ll be working with my publisher to host a Facebook Live event in September.  I’m also working on presentations for school visits. Hopefully this will be a busy few months as we speed towards the end of the year.

I’ll keep you posted.

Click here to order David’s Flamingos from Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.

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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.

 

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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!

Coming Back Down To Earth…

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 Highli100_1567 - Editedghts 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.

 

  • I left the retreat knowing more than I did when I arrived.
  • I have more writing and industry connections.
  • I have more writing courage.
  • I have raised my writing bar.

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!

 

More Patience Required

This has been a long start of the new year – 2017.

Our family has been working through Alzheimer’s issues with an aging parent.

It is already difficult to watch a parent age without this frightening condition.  Add the unpredictability of everything that was once predictable and you have one of life’s oldest jokes.  Work hard to learn and understand as much of life as you can, then watch it slip away.  You have to savor those moments when we get a glimpse into the mind of the former life.  Talk with, smile with, be with that person whatever that looks like – now.

I never set out to write a book about Alzheimer’s but in hind sight I guess that was in the back of my mind.  Children can be confused and frightened about the changes in a loved one.  I watched my son manage his relationship with my mother when he was five years old.  That was twenty years ago and his “matter of fact” attitude was an excellent natural gift for him and me.  I tried to address that in my manuscript.

Faithful

In a few months my picture book is scheduled to be released, but an illustrator has not yet been paired with my manuscript.  As a picture book author it is difficult to send off my words, but I think it is harder for me to wait to see how those words are translated back through an illustrator.

I am faithful that the star that guided me to Clear Fork Publishing for my debut picture book will guide my future illustrator as well.