Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! to everyone who voted for A Pumpkin Named Jack in the ABC Picture Book Competition. It was amazing to hear how the news spread like wildfire across the internet. Mostly, I appreciated all the positive, encouraging feedback I received from everyone. It definitely helps me to keep going.
Unfortunately, we didn't win. However, if the previous years are any indication, there is still hope that the story will be picked up by another publishing house. Five others who were finalist have had that happen.
Oh, well. I'm already working on another picture book idea, and I may try to enter again next year. I have to have it in by February, so I'll see if I can pull it together in that time. Also, I'm working again on Dillon and Blue, the middle-grade novel I wrote while in England. The critique group will keep me honest and working . I have to show them something new every month.
Again, thanks for warm fuzzies. Maybe someday soon, I'll be able to write and say that Jack will be published after all.
Saturday, 6 October 2007
Monday, 1 October 2007
Went to the Animal Fair
The birds and the beasts were there - well, mostly chickens, sheep, and cows.
All the children in our school district had the day off on Friday for "Fair Day." We live in a rural area and so many children raise animals to show at the fair that they give everyone the day off. So we went. It was fun to show Brendan what a county fair is like in America (or at least in Texas), since we'd been to a few in England.
In England, even in the middle of July, it can be blustery cold. You park in a sheep paddock and walk around the hedge rows to get to each section of the fair. They had lots of blow-up slides, some cheesy rides and midway games. They show small animals like chickens and rabbits and sell home-baked goods, have clay pidgeon shoots and sheep-hearding demos. Not bad. The most disappointing thing is the food. They roll up in snack wagons and sell burgers and dogs and not much else.
In comparison, the county fair in Texas had more and bigger stuff. They had lots more large animals. They showed and judged and gave awards for the kids that raised them. Some kids go to college off the money they win on prize-winning steer and sheep. There was a petting barn in which we touched chicks, piglets, calves, and lambs. There were the homemade goods, both baked and handmade things like quilts that were judged. The high school bands were going wild. The midway was huge with many more rides and games. And the food! Glorious fair food! We didn't sample any because it was too hot to eat, but it was all there - funnel cakes, sausage on a stick, turkey legs, kettle corn, big sour pickles and so much more. Plus each night they put on a rodeo with barrel racing, calf roping and bull-riding, and live concerts. We didn't stay for the night activities, but I still want to see some bull-riding.
We'll have to go back next year. We made some rooky mistakes going too early. Next year, we'll stay late, go hungry and enjoy the nightlife.
All the children in our school district had the day off on Friday for "Fair Day." We live in a rural area and so many children raise animals to show at the fair that they give everyone the day off. So we went. It was fun to show Brendan what a county fair is like in America (or at least in Texas), since we'd been to a few in England.
In England, even in the middle of July, it can be blustery cold. You park in a sheep paddock and walk around the hedge rows to get to each section of the fair. They had lots of blow-up slides, some cheesy rides and midway games. They show small animals like chickens and rabbits and sell home-baked goods, have clay pidgeon shoots and sheep-hearding demos. Not bad. The most disappointing thing is the food. They roll up in snack wagons and sell burgers and dogs and not much else.
In comparison, the county fair in Texas had more and bigger stuff. They had lots more large animals. They showed and judged and gave awards for the kids that raised them. Some kids go to college off the money they win on prize-winning steer and sheep. There was a petting barn in which we touched chicks, piglets, calves, and lambs. There were the homemade goods, both baked and handmade things like quilts that were judged. The high school bands were going wild. The midway was huge with many more rides and games. And the food! Glorious fair food! We didn't sample any because it was too hot to eat, but it was all there - funnel cakes, sausage on a stick, turkey legs, kettle corn, big sour pickles and so much more. Plus each night they put on a rodeo with barrel racing, calf roping and bull-riding, and live concerts. We didn't stay for the night activities, but I still want to see some bull-riding.
We'll have to go back next year. We made some rooky mistakes going too early. Next year, we'll stay late, go hungry and enjoy the nightlife.
Saturday, 22 September 2007
Critique Groups
I have just returned from my first meeting with the San Antonio chapter of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and I am PUMPED! This group is so accomplished. I thought I was a big-shot being a finalist in this book contest, but one lady had just come back from the Ukraine where she shared her published book with school-kids there because her book is set there. Another has just had her second book published and is having a book signing in October. The leader of the group is a full-time jewelery-maker and write articles for Beads magazine. On, and on, and on...
This is good. It lets me see that there are people in my immediate surroundings who are making it as writers and illustrators, and inspires me to keep trying. I've signed up to be in a critique group that meets once a month, so I must produce!
We had a critique session at the meeting today, and got such good feedback, that I've good new ideas and a new direction to take Dillon and Blue that will make it more marketable, I'm sure of it! I had gotten bogged down and disappointed with the rejection letters.
Writing and illustrating can be lonely pursuits. Everything I've read says not to show rough drafts to family and friends because they'll be too kind, and immediately like it. Now I have an objective group of peers to share my ideas with, and it gives me new energy. I even met a women from Puerto Rico whom I might collaborate with on an idea that I've stored away for a year or two. She could be invaluable at filling in Hispanic traditions and cultures that I don't even pretend to know enough to write about, but would like to include in the story.
Refreshing. New vitality. I can't wait to get started!
This is good. It lets me see that there are people in my immediate surroundings who are making it as writers and illustrators, and inspires me to keep trying. I've signed up to be in a critique group that meets once a month, so I must produce!
We had a critique session at the meeting today, and got such good feedback, that I've good new ideas and a new direction to take Dillon and Blue that will make it more marketable, I'm sure of it! I had gotten bogged down and disappointed with the rejection letters.
Writing and illustrating can be lonely pursuits. Everything I've read says not to show rough drafts to family and friends because they'll be too kind, and immediately like it. Now I have an objective group of peers to share my ideas with, and it gives me new energy. I even met a women from Puerto Rico whom I might collaborate with on an idea that I've stored away for a year or two. She could be invaluable at filling in Hispanic traditions and cultures that I don't even pretend to know enough to write about, but would like to include in the story.
Refreshing. New vitality. I can't wait to get started!
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