Pumpkin Head

The past few weeks, I've had pumpkins on the brain. With our Texas version of autumn, cooler weather and imported pumpkin patches, I've had renewed inspiration to get my Pumpkin Named Jack dummy book done. I've spent time in the church's pumpkin patch several times and managed to sketch a few while I was there. I also presented it to an audience for the first time at Saturday's meeting of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators group. (Say that fast three times!) They had some good suggestions, which I plan incorporating into the story and illustrations. It became very clear that this is still very much a work in progress, and anyone who sees it will have an impact on it.

Mostly, I was surprised that they still had suggestions about the story, which I thought was pretty well set. After all, it was a finalist in last year's picture book competition. First was to cut it by 300 words, and let the pictures do the talking. Good point. But then, it was also suggested that Jack being the hero needed to find a way to save himself, instead of external forces doing it for him, which completely changes the tone of the book. See if you agree. Click the link for the ABC Picture Book Competition. Go to Year 3 finalists and read the story. I'm really interested in what you have to say. It could change the whole thing.

Baggie of Water

Fact or fiction?
We've tried this, and the results are mixed, but it sounds plausible.

If you put a penny in a baggie of water and hang it in a prime location, it will deter flies. Flies have many facets in their eyes. The way the sun reflects through the baggie and water has a prismatic effect on the fly, confusing it. One explanation says their GPS works on the directionality of the sun, and this throws it off. Another says, that the bag looks like a bee hive, and since they are afraid of bees, they stay away. Either way, it's worth a try next time you're having a BBQ outside. It's better than bug spray any day.

I hope you sleep better now that you know the answer.

Jack O'Lantern

This week, I'm working on Jack's new Jack O'lantern face for my dummy book. This is the big ta-da for the story, so it has to be extra special. If you plan to carve pumpkins, I'd like to see your designs. Email them to me and I'll post them here.

A friend of mine sent this sweet greeting to me (thanks, Peggy!), which encapsulates the meaning of A Pumpkin Named Jack. It's the reason I can't give up on Jack. If you haven't read the story, click on the ABC Children's Picture Book Competition link to the right. Look under the 3rd competition finalists.

-----

A woman was asked by a coworker,"What is it like to be a Christian?"

The coworker replied, "It is like being a pumpkin." God picks you from the patch, brings you in, and washes all the dirt off of you. Then He cuts off the top and scoops out all the yucky stuff.
He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, and greed. Then He carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside of you to shine for all the world to see."

Beth's Brain Aerobics

Okay everyone, assume the position (that is pencil or mouse in hand)! Let's work those brains! This will be a regular feature, and I want to hear from you. When I walk in the mornings, I sometimes have strange thoughts that turn into strange questions, which I'll pose to you. These should be exercises in creativity. Think up the most unusual solution and send it to me. No googling to find the "right" answer. I'll post them here!

A couple of RVs in our park have a gallon-size ziplock bag full of water with a penny in it, hanging from their awnings outside their trailer. WHY?

I just found out what this is for, and I'll tell you in a few days. But first, send me your most creative guesses.

I've Been Outed!

For the past few years, I've concentrated on learning the craft and business of writing. I heard so many negative things about trying to submit art and manuscripts together that I set my illustrating aside. I already knew how to do that and could pick it up at any time.

Even in the local chapter of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, I presented myself as a writer. So, when I asked about the notes for the talk on "How to Make a Dummy Book," the leader of our chapter asked, "Are you an illustrator?" I had to confess. And there was a need to fill the Illustrator Coordinator position for the group, which I volunteered for.

So now I'm neck deep in it, and I'm sort of glad. Because now that I think about it, I've been denying an essential part of my creativity. I can write and/or illustrate. And doesn't that make me more marketable?

Thus, I've remade my blog - again, to be used more as a marketing tool. And hopefully, you'll see some of the things I'm working on in both writing and illustrating.

I still haven't given up on A Pumpkin Named Jack. I just know he's destined for publishing. I'm working on drawing up a dummy book that I can send to publishers. See how far Jack has come from prelim sketch to final illustration (right).

Also, my dear friend and former boss, Chuck Sisson has self-published his first novel called Pitch Black! You can find it on Amazon.com. He's asked me to illustrate a book of poetry for him. So you'll see some of those sketches soon.