ABOUT WRITING, RUNNING, AND BEING OUTDOORS
Twinkie has a lot to say! She's the most popular snake at the Reptile Zoo in the Prehistoric Pets Store in Fountain Valley, CA. That's not the only reason she was named the largest albino python by the Guinness World Records 2014. She's got some real personality and everyone loves her. Sometimes all that love can be overwhelming. Read more…
I recently re-read the many, many critiques that have been done on one of my chapter book stories over the past 9 years -- yes, 9 years. This book has gone through hundreds of iterations. It has been critiqued by chapter, in sections and then I paid (way too much) for an author to do a total edit. A similar…
The Czech Republic has a history of freedom. But when the Nazi's marched in, everything changed. Then WWII ended and the Communists took over. But the Czech's never gave up. In The Change to Freedom, their fight for democracy and freedom will open your eyes to this small country's fortitude. Small countries as the Czech Republic don't have a ton…
I've been submitting queries to children's magazines as much as I could in 2013. I love doing short, high impact articles. I am very blessed to have received 7 assignments in past 2 & 1/2 months. Oh my goodness. A great roll. APPLESEEDS Magazine Twinkie Tells All - Twinkie, the worlds largest albino python tells her story FACES Magazine Czech…
My critique group suggested I volunteer in a school. So I applied. It's been a crazy experience. When the assistant principal and teachers saw my interest in helping children read - and I wanted to be with my books' target audience, 3rd graders, they suggested an idea. They would like to pull out accelerated readers. Would I like to work…
I just took my law student son and youth pastor son-in-law to Disneyland. It was exactly what my children's writer spirit needed. To see the sheer joy, costume, imagination, delight and laughter created by the expert, Walt Disney, got my engines going again. He knew how to tell a story, and give a child of any age a wonderful experience.…
The Los Angeles SCBWI (Society of Children's Writers and Illustrators) Conference was packed with over 1200 people. Like a conference in any industry, you need to have a plan to tackle getting the information you need. I introduced Melissa Manlove, editor with Chronicle Books, as one of my regional advisor (RA) duties. She was terrific. Check out Chronicle's site for…
At the SCBWI national conference in Los Angeles 4 years ago, I attended a wonderful workshop by SCBWI regional advisor Sue Ford. (She writes under Sue Uhlig. She was RA in Kansas at the time and is now RA in Oregon!) While I'm published in other industries like health care, I did not have published work in children's literature. (And…
Everyone hits roadblocks in their work and their writing. Sometimes coming up against one roadblock after another, and sometimes big slam-backs, just make you weary. You need something to clear your brain and give yourself a break. For me, it's running. And especially running along rivers, high desert paths (without super hi heat.) and trails that give me God's spectacular…
After a back injury related to running 2 marathons, I am blessed to be able to train with running friends and run one year later in the Alameda Half Marathon on this Sat. June 8th. I've done slow training to get to a few 14 mile runs. I've had to retrain my running style, use the PT exercises and more.…