Wordless Wednesday

12x12 Update

As many of you know, I am participating in Julie Hedlund's 12x12 challenge for the second time around. Last year I completed my goal of writing 12 new picture book manuscripts in 2012. One of them -- my June MS is currently being polished and is almost ready to be sent on submissions. Since it has been a topic on my mind this week, my Wordless Wednesday post is dedicated to that project.






So how am I doing with the challenge this year, so far?

Jan: Completed!

Feb: Nothing yet.

March: Nothing yet.

As you can see, I'm a little behind on the pb writing this year, but exciting things are happening for me on the writing front. After a nearly two month new idea drought, two finally came to me this week. One involves trains, the other involves aliens -- which makes make smile immensely. I think being a picture book writer is one of the most delightful things on earth. I'm so happy to be following my passion and to have found a group of like-minded individuals who are doing the same.

I'm a 12x12 Winner!

12x12 Winner Badge

I'm a Winner! I can scarcely believe it.

As you can probably tell by my lack of blogging, writing has not been my main focus for the past few months. I was actually on track to finish the 12x12 challenge on time or even early, but then November came and went and... no draft. Then December ALMOST came and went, and I was down two drafts! Eek!

On Dec. 30th I sat in front of the blank screen, all these horrible voices in my head saying I couldn't do it, and I just jotted down an idea or two, and began writing.... and here I am!

I cannot begin to describe how helpful this challenge has been for me this year. Thank you, Julie Hedlund, for hosting! Each time I felt lost, or alone in my struggles, I remembered that there were many other writers out there in the same boat, and that brought me comfort. Now I have twelve drafts to be proud of!

An awesome place to read Children's Books Online: We Give Books

I have recently discovered a wonderful resource for children's books online called "We Give Books," a relatively new digital initiative that allows anyone with internet access the ability to read a large, quality selection of children's book titles. Check out there video below to find out more.

So far I have read and loved the following stories:

1. Goodnight iPad by Ann Droyd - A witty, modern day parody of a classic picture book.
2. Start Saving, Henry  by Nancy Carlson - A fun tale that illustrates the benefits of saving vs. spending. 
3. Dog Wants to Play  by Christine McDonnell - Sparse with words, but fun and slightly rhyming. Follows dog on a search for a 'today' playmate.

 It's a great way to help me research picture books to grow my writing skills as well as search for new, fun, or even classic titles that the children I work would enjoy.

The Liebster Blog Award

The Liebster Blog Award is given to upcoming bloggers who have less than 200 followers. Thank you Krissy for tagging me and giving me this award. I love the graphic and will proudly post it on my blog. Please visit Krissy's blog The Brain of a Children's Author to find out more about her.

The Rules: 
1. Each person must post 11 things about themselves. 
2. Answer the questions the tagger has set for you and create eleven questions for the people you've tagged. 
3. Choose eleven people and link them in your post.
4. Go to their page and tell them. 
5. Remember no tag backs!

Krissy's 11 Questions for me and My Answers:

1.   What's the most recent book you've read?

The last book I read was actually a second read. It was Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why. 

2.  What's a really embarrassing thing that has happened to you?

Hah - Probably many, many things. But the most vivid one was when I was six or seven. It was Easter Sunday and my best friend and I wore pastel dresses and white tights. For some reason we ended up at a farm after church. Perfectly normal, right? We were so busy talking to each other that we didn't realize we stepped into a giant pile of manure. We were covered in it up to our knees! The Farmer had to hose us off. We were pretty mortified.

3.  What would you choose for your last meal?

All the sushi I could eat prepared by my favorite sushi chef, and a large dark chocolate raspberry Godiva milkshake with whipped cream. (I don't do dairy...so if it were my last meal, I'd splurge.)

4.  Which song do you secretly rock out to and have absolutely no idea why? 

Whatever song happens to be running through my head at the time. Which is currently alternating between the theme songs from 'Monk' and 'True Blood'.

5.  What is something other people do that irritates you like no other? 

Throwing trash on the floor and/or leaving crumbs and sticky stuff everywhere. Sticky stuff is my ultimate pet peeve.

6.  What is something you do that irritates other people like no other?

Forgetting to turn off the light in the bathroom...oopsies.

7.  What is your dream vacation?

I was lucky enough to experience my dream vacation in Tahiti in 2010. You can see some of my photos in the post Storytelling with Pictures. But it would be beyond awesome is to go back there again...maybe even for an extended stay!

8.  What is something that you don't know a lot about but would like to?

I would like to know more about writing nonfiction and poetry.

9.  Which perfume or cologne makes you weak in the knees?

Tuscany for Men

10.  Dogs or cats?

Dogs. Bull Terriers in particular. 

11.  Do you believe in soulmates? Yes.

Questions for the people I tagged:

1. What is your favorite book?

2. If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you go?

3. What technology do you think you will never adopt?

4. What is your favorite comfort food?

5. What was your most embarrassing hairstyle?

6. What was your favorite childhood candy?

7. What is the prettiest city you have ever been to?

8. If you had 10 minutes on a popular TV talk show, what would you talk about?

9. Are you a morning person or a night owl?

10. What is your favorite thing to do on a Sunday afternoon?

11. Is there such a thing as too much chocolate?

People I Tagged: (5 instead of 11)

1. Rainy Days, An Artist's Journey 

2. Author, Dakota Douglas

3. Once Upon a *Spark*

4. The Crooked Book

5. Melanie Bennett

Quiet Thoughts in the Night ... A Touch of Sea Glass

There were many presentations from the SCBWI Summer Conference this year that resonated with me, but last night when I couldn't sleep, the one that stood out in my mind was Deborah Underwood's keynote on the "Power of Quiet." After I set aside all the thoughts rummaging around keeping me awake in the first place, I settled into the quiet. (Ok, it's true, I also chanted, 'please let me sleep' several times.) 


My reflection time led me to an idea for a new pb that I am hoping will be my October 12x12 manuscript, in addition to the following thoughts...

Imagine you're on a beach searching for that perfect piece of sea glass. You pick up a jagged piece. It pricks your hand making you bleed, but you try to polish it anyway. After a long, long time, you give up and throw it back in the sand and try again. Maybe one day that piece will be sea glass. You brush your palm against the sand trying to avoid the plentiful spiked pieces sticking out all over, but you can't avoid them; you can only go through them. You dig deeper and only then do you stumble across a smooth stone that feels right in your palm. Sure, it needs some refining, yet it it feels right somehow.

Sometimes, this is what my writing process feels like. Can anyone relate?  

Library Days: Laguna Beach Library

Today, the hubby and I spent the day in Laguna Beach. A cozy breakfast at Heidelburg Cafe followed by a casual stroll and a breezy ride on the free shuttle. I took many deep breaths of salty, fresh-sea air. And then do you know where I wanted to go? The library, of course!

We both brought our laptops and found comfy chairs to lounge in. We had a lovely ocean view. The sunscreeny smell throughout constantly reminded me that the beach was only yards away. We stayed for hours.

I explored the children's book section and found so many amazing picture books to read.

Like these ones.

All the new picture books were displayed here.

There was even a vacant orange couch for me to relax and savor each page. I love exploring libraries in different communities. 1 part research + 1 part writing + 1 part relaxation = One very happy writer.