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.
Monday, 20 October 2008
Sunday, 12 October 2008
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.
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.
Wednesday, 8 October 2008
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."
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.
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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."
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