Girl, Unpublished

2011-11-05T22:14:00.003-04:00

When I grow up, perhaps I’ll be
the president of our country.
Or maybe, I won’t lead at all.
I’ll be a cashier at the mall.

When I grow up, I’d like to write
about a princess and a knight.
And when the princess goes astray,
My knight will come and save the day.

When I grow up, I think I’ll dance
in theatres all over France.
And when my dancing days are done,
I’ll stroll off towards the setting sun.

When I grow up, I’ll stay in school
for mama didn’t raise no fool.
I’ll be a doctor or a vet,
and help the patients that I’ve met.

When I grow up, I’ll do great things
and relish what the future brings.
Whatever I grow up to be,
I know that I’ll be proud of me.

Happy Hedgehog Day

2011-10-02T19:59:00.005-04:00

Earlier today, I did a little blog post about brainstorming. But what I didn't tell you in that post, is that I'm also in the beginning stages of working on a little story that I kind-of love.

It all started a few months ago, when I was reading a very interesting blog post about hedgehogs. Long story short. Apparently, we Americans, have had it all wrong when it comes to weather predicting animals. In ancient Rome, the hedgehog was actually the reigning super weather predictor. And when immigrants settled in the Americas, they replaced these spiney, little meteorologists with the most hedgehog-looking creature that they could find in America, the local groundhog.

So all these years, we've been consulting the wrong animal for weather advice.

Well, to be honest, I thought that this historical fact was hilarious, and too great to pass up. So lately, I've been working on a little story involving the two, groundhogs and hedgehogs. And in the end, a very rough draft of 'Happy Hedgehog Day' was born.

'Happy Hedgehog Day' is a funny picturebook manuscript about a groundhog that's afraid of her own shadow(quite literally), and crotchity old hedgehog who comes to the rescue. So stay tuned for details about that:)

And in the meantime, check out the article for yourself. You may just find the article amusing, too.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/blog-post/2011/02/groundhog_day_2011_is_punxsuta.html

What's New In Writerland?

2011-10-01T23:45:00.016-04:00

I think this song pretty much sums it up. Feel free to imagine me singing this song whilst I brainstorm new picturebook ideas.

But in actuality, I'm probably listening to this song whilst I brainstorm.

I'd like to think of myself as a hip mom and writer. And the fact that I just said 'hip', just goes to show you how unhip I actually am;)

You're probably picturing the lady in mom jeans who still wants to be cool, so she listens to all the latest bands and keeps up on all the trends. And if you are......you'd be right-o.

Waiting and Heartache

2011-09-18T09:51:00.008-04:00

This week, I finally did it. I finally sent out my story 'The Barnyard Exercise'.After much debate and advice my from awesome critique group and writers on Writeoncon, I finally deemed it ready for the eyes of literary agents throughout the word-well, mostly New York, anyway.

'And how's that going?' you ask.

Well, not so good.

The day after I submitted my story, I got a bite. Yippee! Hooray! I'm on my way! A literary agent liked my query, so I sent in my 150 word manuscript to the agent with all the hope that a heart could hope.

And.... he didn't like it. Wah! Wah! Wah! Heartache!

He did have some very positive things to say about the manuscript, however. So I'm not going to consider it a complete wash.

So now what?

Well, I wait and hope some more. Maybe others will like my little ms. After all, 'Carrie' received like 30 rejections before someone decided to publish that work of genius. And 'Gone with the Wind', received 38 rejections. And that is a classic, my friends.

Not that I'm saying 'Barnyard Exercise' is the same league as either of those books. That would be laughable.

But am I saying, that one rejection isn't going to cause me to cower beneath the covers, or shake beneath the sheets. I will hold onto hope until the very last rejection comes back. And even then, I will search for even the smallest hint of advice, and use it to make my story better. Because my little story is cute and original, I tell ya. And I believe it could be successful.

So my questions to you guys and gals are these: Have you ever had an experience like this? Did your story get picked up eventually, or did you give up? What advice do you have for other writers ont this particular subject?
=

Kids Say the Darndest Things

2011-09-11T11:18:00.006-04:00

So today, I was huddled in my computer room, sending out query-after-query, when my four year old happened into the room.

"Whatcha doing, mommy?" he asks, as he removes his saliva soaked thumb from his mouth.

"Well, buddy," I start to answer, as if he'll know what I'm talking about. "Mommy is sending out her story today. You see, if mommy ever wants to see her story become a book, I have to send it to people who can make that happen."

Suddenly, Josh shrieks. "No, mom, I wanna hear your story every day! If you send it out, I will never get to hear it!"

To which I reply, "It's okay, buddy. I have a copy. And when it gets published, I promise that you'll be the first person to get a signed copy."

Josh looks at me with a raised brow. " What's that?" he asks, innocently.

To which I respond with a hug, "Nevermind, I guess you have to be five to appreciate that!" and chuckle.

Then, of course, I retell my picturebook, from memory.

And Josh, says all the words with me:)

God, I love my kids!

Add A Little Extra

2011-09-04T14:14:00.005-04:00

Want to add a little something extra to your blog?

Try adding a custom signature. Follow the link, and give it a try.

http://shabbyblogsblog.blogspot.com/2009/05/tutorial-how-to-add-custom-signature-to.html

Hotbed Of Out-Of-Control Behavior

2011-09-04T10:16:00.019-04:00

Today my household is a hotbed of out-of-control behavior. Little boys are zooming through the house, like tasmian devils on a sugar highs. Little boys are are jumping from couch-to-couch, like mischievous monkeys. And little boys are eating a buffet of semi-sugary treats and drinks that would cause a full-grown adult to go into a sugar coma.

'Why in the world am I allowing this anarchy to continue?' you ask.

Research.

Today is all about perusing the internet for the agents, and finding the perfect super-group of agents to send my story to.

For the past year and half, I have worked on my craft. I have read books, articles, and blogs. I have participated in online critique groups and attended online conferences. I have even submitted one picturebook story to about 3 agents...total.

But today, is all about up-ing my game. I've talked the big talk, and now I'll walk the big walk. And in order to do that, I need to take it to the next level.

So what is the next level?

The next level, is researching pb agents until my eyes bleed, apparently. It's looking at submission guidelines-so long and so hard-that I walk away with away with a small group of feint black dots swirling around in front of my eyes, and a migraine that would bring a horse to his knees.

But, surprisingly, I'm enjoying it. The kids are playing semi-nicely. I haven't had to intercede....yet, anyway. And I'm appreciating the VERY lengthy guidelines and agents descriptions.

Because,hey, I don't want to wast my time and money either.

So, I'll continue researching until my eyes bleed. And I'll allow the anarchy to continue in my household-at least, until it seems like my children have had way too many sugary treats, and I simply must intercede with an apple or some grapes.

And I won't feel the least bit guilty. Because, hey, I am living my dream. And a good mother shows her children balance. And a good mother plays with her children and still shoots for the stars. And a good mother can do it all.

Right?

Ok. So maybe I'm feeling a little bit guilty about trying to do it all. But a good mother always worries, right?

RIGHT?

The Song of the City

2011-08-27T22:01:00.008-04:00

Warning: This poem was written for the sheer fun of it. I have not checked it for meter or syllable count. Nor have I have lost any sleep over it-mostly because I wrote it an hour ago.

Sometimes you just have to write what's in your heart, without any intention of it being published traditionally. And on this day, in particular, I was just thinking about the background noise of the world, and how its like lullaby of sorts.

The Song of the City
As I lay in bed, with my eyes shut tight,
The glow of the street lamps light up the night.
With a zip and a zat, they click on like that.
And I hear the song of the city.

As the planes fly by, like a flash in the sky,
The sounds of their engines soar upon high.
With a woosh and a creek, tiny flaps start to squeak.
And I hear the song of the city.

As the cabs speed past, with their fares in tow.
They race through the night in the streets below.
With a honk and a beep, as I try to sleep.
And I hear the song of the city.

As the train chugs on, like a sad soft song,
With a haunting refrain, that I must sing along.
With a choo and a choo, I feel like a snooze,
As I hear the song of the city.

As my eyes flip flap, like the wings of a dove.
And the stars blink high, in the sky above.
With a ZZZZZZ like a roar, I begin to snore.
And I add to the song of the city.

Writing In Rhyme Can Be Such A Rough Climb

2011-08-21T17:13:00.015-04:00

Think you have what it takes to write in rhyme, just because you know a few rhyming words and a have a cute idea for a story? Think again!

Writing in rhyme is tough. Not only do you have to tell a story with perfect meter-Huh?-but you also have to progress the story and have a unique twist. Which in case no one told you, isn't easy.

About a year ago and a half ago, I started writing in rhyme. And although I hate to admit it, I thought rhyming would be a breeze. After all, how hard could it be? Dr. Seuss made it look so darned easy, with so few words.

But little did I know, just how hard it would be. And when I submitted my first story to one of my critique groups-fully expecting to get rave reviews-what I found instead, was that I was greeted by a bunch of meter maids, who politely hit me with their buckets, then ran me over with their (figurative) livestock.

OUCH! Painful!

And I don't want that for you guys. I don't want you to be assaulted by a bunch of meter maids (or men). I want you to know what you're doing.

So today, I've posted a lovely little video-courtesy of wikihow-detailing how to write in rhyme, or at least scan your rhymes. And I hope that it will help you, like it helped me.

Good luck, fellow rhymers!

Rhyming Resources
http://www.wikihow.com/Scan-a-Poem
http://www.underdown.org/mf-rhyme-and-meter.htm
http://www.underdown.org/mf-rhyming-picture-books.htm
http://www.rhymezone.com
http://www.smartwriters.com/content/view/351/
http://writeoncon.com/2010/08/meter-meter-sleep-depleter-by-author-tiffany-strelitz/

*This post was inspired by a very clever meter man. And if you're reading this, you now who you are:)

They look so friendly, don't they?

What's New With Me?

2011-08-14T09:27:00.015-04:00

This summer was rough. In the late spring, I received a few rejections-worded very nicely, not too tough to swallow-and I was feeling really bummed about writing in general.

And while I know I said that I would let rejections roll off of my back and learn from them in a poem posted on this very blog, I didn't at first. I let them simmer and stew. And soon, my bummed feelings turned into full blown, bury your head in the sand-itis.

Seriously, I was like an ostrich. I burried my head under my pillow and refused to write.Ideas would come to me, and I would ignore them. The imaginary characters that tried to whisper to me, had found that I was holding my ears and yelling 'Lalalalalalalala' at the top of my lungs, like a stubborn kid who doesn't want to listen to his mother.

It was really quite sad. Imagine a 34 year old acting like that.

But then Fall arrived-or at least the beginning of the school year in Florida-and I was feeling hopeful again. I simply couldn't ignore my friends anymore.

After all, they hadn't abandoned me. I had abandoned them.

So slowly, I took my fingers off of my ear lobes and started listening again. And what I heard, was a funny, rhyming picture book story about barnyard animals who like to excercise each morning, before the farmer wakes up.

Picture dogs jogging by with sneakers on. Imagine cows doing yoga by the plow. Visualize ducks playing hockey. If you can do that, you'll have an idea of what 'Barnyard Exercise' is all about.

So that's what I've been up to, bloggers: burying my head in the figurative sand, recovering from rejection, learning from rejection (hopefully), and writing a funny story about barnyard animals.My only prayer is that someone will see the story, and be just as happy with it as I am.

So here I am, crossing my fingers and throwing my intentions into the universe.

I'll let you know if the universe throws anything back:)

Technical Difficulties

2011-08-14T09:24:00.002-04:00

Right now, I'm having technical difficulties with the blog. I can see your comments, but I can't comment. So for those of you who are commenting, I am seeing your comments. And when the problem is fixed-hopefully, soon-I will go back and add my comments.

So please keep commenting, friends. I am reading them:)

'The Help' Storybook Contest

2011-08-01T19:32:00.003-04:00

Are you an aspiring picture book author? Have you written an original story with a positive message? If you answered yes to both of those questions, be sure to check out the following link for a chance to have your book illustrated and published online.

http://www.takepart.com/thehelp

The Coolest Book Game In All Of Book Game History

2011-05-11T17:38:00.000-04:00

Today as I was reading a new book, I stumbled upon one of the funniest sentences that I'd ever read. Not only was it funny because of the words themselves, but knowing the context added to that, at least for me.

And that got me to thinking, wouldn't it be fun to post silly book quotes every week and have people guess the names of the books that they came from?

And then I thought, that would be an awesome game for my blog.

So that's exactly what I'm going to do. And at the end of the month, the person with the most book points will win a 10$ gift card to Barnes and Noble. And in the event of a tie, I will put names in a hat and have one of my children draw one out. (Fancy, I know. We're high tech around here)

So if you're interested in playing, below is the 1st quote.

"Sometimes I think that if I had to choose between an ear of corn or making love to a woman, I'd choose the ear of corn."

The title of the book and next week's quote will be announced on Wenesday.

Cheers and Happy Reading!

A Song to Honor My Mama Followers

2011-05-08T10:48:00.001-04:00

Happy Mother's Day, Mothers!

Mother's Day Mice

2011-05-08T10:22:00.009-04:00

Sometimes being the youngest child (or mouse) can be really hard, especially when you have two older siblings who know exactly what to do for Mother's Day.

When youngest mouse sets off to find the perfect gift for Mother Mouse, he learns that a gift from the heart can mean so much more.

In this tale, Youngest Mouse wishes to do the impossible-take some honeysuckle from the cottage in the woods. But with cat on guard, it may prove too difficult for a little mouse to do.

Will Youngest Mouse be able to find his mother a special Mother's day gift, or will he have to share a gift with his brothers?

To find out the answer to this and more, read Mother's Day Mice, by Eve Bunting and Jan Brett-a perfect story for Mother's Day.

NaPiBoWriWee

2011-05-01T11:27:00.009-04:00

Love Picture Books? Wanna flex your writing muscles and have a blast, maybe even win a prize or two?

Follow the link and enter Paula Yoo's NaPiBoWriWee, which is short for National Picture Book Writing Week-a delightful picture book version of NaNoWriMo.

http://paulayoo.com/napi/?p=11#more-11

Although I'm not personally entering this year due to being sick, I wanted to make sure that you all knew about this wonderful opportunity to network with other writers.

Good Luck & Happy Writing!

Spoonfuls of Stories Competition

2011-04-16T16:36:00.007-04:00

If you're a picture book author and are interested in seeing your work reach children throughout the world, the Cheerios' Spoonfuls of Stories competition might be right for you. Click on the link below for more details.

http://www.spoonfulsofstoriescontest.com/

1 More Query Left

2011-04-09T15:03:00.007-04:00

Countdown Creator Progreat free widgetsWidgetboxMore info

Want to read advice on how to make your query and cover letters better? Over at Writeoncon, the lovely Mrs. Fischer of The Bradford Literary Agency is accepting 50 query and cover letters, LIVE. And when the magic number is reached, she will give all kinds of feedback.

The way see it, even if you don't make the cut, you'll still get some really valuable insight from an industry insider. So get over there, people! MOVE IT. MOVE IT. MOVE IT.

As for me, I am number 49. How awesome is that? I feel like a character from a Pittacus Lore novel. So please insert ominous, robotic voice as you say my name...I Am Number 49. Because that's how I say it.

Mom Tip of The Week: Saving The Environment, One Fork At A Time

2011-04-09T11:21:00.007-04:00

If you make your kids a waffle sandwich (two waffles with syrup or honey in the center), you don't have to wash a fork. I'm just sayin'. I'd like to think that I'm environmentally conscious rather than lazy about doing the dishes. I mean, I am using less water and chemicals, people. It's definitely something to consider.Think of it as saving the environment, one fork at a time. I know I do.

Celebrate National Library Week

2011-04-09T09:33:00.008-04:00

Love the libary? Wanna tweet about it and win a 50$ gift certificate to Amazon? Click on the link listed below for the details.

Also, don't forget that I'm holding the 'Dumb Bunny Hop-Hop', in which I'm giving away the book 'Junie B. Jones is a Dumb Bunny'. Details are listed in an earlier post. And so far, no one has joined. So, mathematically speaking, that only adds to your odds of winning. I don't wanna go all teacher on you or anything and preach to you about the rules of probability, but you do realize that that increases your odds of winning, right? And friends, the book is super cute. Even if you're not into kidlit, you're bound to have a child, niece, or nephew who most certainly is into it. So hop on over to March 27th's blog post and click 'Click here to enter', and maybe win a book for your favorite kiddo.

http://atyourlibrary.org/share-your-library-story-17-syllables-and-140-characters

My Twaiku for the Contest
Fictional Haven
Imagination Station
Intellectual mecca

What's new with me?

2011-04-06T23:37:00.014-04:00

Well, to start, I promised to keep to a writing schedule, and I very nearly broke the promise on the very first week. To be honest, I really wanted to go to bed right now. Tomorrow I have 5 LONG meetings in a row. And today, I had to do a lot of paperwork to prepare for those meetings. Add a sick kiddo to that mix, and that pretty much describes my week. TERRIBLE! But I strive to be a gal who keeps her word, so here I am telling you about what's new with me.

So what is up?

Firstly, I am still on the hunt for an agent. So this weekend-barring meetings and childhood illnesses-I will start to sub my two rhyming picture book manuscripts to various agents. Originally, I had submitted the stories to one agent, exclusively. My call, not hers. But unforunately, the time for that exclusivity has run out, and I haven't had an offer yet. So honestly, I'm a little bummed.

And then there's the other terrible thing this week, the diet. Or as I like to call it so I don't feel completely crazy, healthy eating. For some reason, that makes it feel more acceptable to me to call it that. Because when I think of diets, I think of the crazy fads: turnips, only yogurt, no carbs, only proteins, etc. But in the end, healthy eating feels the same to me. I'm still depriving myself of the things I truly want to eat: Mike and Ikes, Swedish fish, bread, non diet soda, and pasta. ( Yes. I am an adult. I promise.) And I've been exchanging them for Yogurt. Bluck! And Lean Cuisines. Double Bluck! And just for fun, I've thrown in some Zumba dancing, just in case the diet doesn't torture me enough.

But there is a silver lining to this long and strenuous week, people.....The Vampire Diaries. After several weeks of no new episodes, Elana's vampire birth mother will be sailing in to town tomorrow night.

I know, right? Awesome.

And after that, it'll be the weekend. And we all know what happens on the weekend, dont we?.....Writing.

So even though this week has been long and I really didn't want to keep up the writing schedule, I think I can muddle through. Because in the end, I get to relax on the weekend, write, and rewatch The Vampire Diaries. Not to mention, I can splurge on those days. So Mama's got a date with Mike and Ike this weekend, peeps. Or perhaps it'll be Ben and Jerry. Either way it's double the pleasure, double the fun. And Mr. Stanford isn't the least bit jealous.

Bloggers Block-Do you have it?

2011-04-03T20:51:00.008-04:00

Everyone talks about writers block. But seldom do they mention a lesser known block that plagues writers and bloggers around the world-bloggers block.

Well, today I read a really great blog post by Jody Hedlund about 'Perserving Through Blogging'. And two tips that I'm thinking about trying are, setting a schedule to blog and sticking to it, and writing in advance. I've tried these things in the past, but I wasn't able to keep up with the schedule. So I think I'm going to start with baby steps.

So here's the new schedule, folks.

What's Up Wednesdays-(What I'm up to personally and professionally with writing)
Saturdays & Sundays-(Writing or Teaching Tips/articles/videos Or Book reviews)

jodyhedlund.blogspot.com/2011/04/5-ways-to-persevere-through-blogging.html

Dumb Bunny Hop-Hop

2011-03-27T15:33:00.017-04:00

In honor of one of my favorite holidays and one of my favorite books, I am holding a 'Dumb Bunny Hop-Hop'. So hop on over and link up. You may just win one of the funniest Junie B. Jones books ever. And just so you don't trip up when it comes to the rules, here they are:

1. Write about the competition on your blog. (1 entry point)
2. Tweet about the hop. Make sure I have your link. (1 entry point)
3. Comment on this post, telling me the name of your favorite Junie B. book.(1 point)
4. Email me a picture of you doing the bunny hop. (10 entry points) Your pic will be posted if you do this. (just for fun/totally optional)

The person with the most points will win! In the event of a tie, I will put the names in a hat and have one of my children pull a name out.

Contest Ends at midnight on Easter Eve. The winner will be announced on Easter.

2011-03-20T23:19:00.001-04:00

5 Ways To Improve Your Picturebook Manuscript-CBI Clubhouse

2011-03-20T22:53:00.004-04:00

5 Things An Author Can Learn From A Pirate

2011-03-18T19:43:00.024-04:00

Today my three year old was running around the house, pretending to be a pirate, and I found myself thinking, 'Do I really want my son pretending to be a pirate?' I mean, historically speaking, pirates are NOT known for their good behavior. In fact, they're known throughout the world as thieves. YIKES!

But then the rational me stepped forward-a.k.a the person I was before I became a mommy-and I started thinking about all the fun that I had pretending to be a pirate as a child. And then I thought, ' Chilax, Mom! There has to be something redeemable about pirates or the world wouldn't be so fascinated by them. I mean authors write about them all the time. Filmakers reenact their lives. And children dress up like them for Halloween.

So I chilled for a sec. and thought, what are the redeemable qualities of a pirate? I mean everyone has at least one good trait, right? And when I was done, it surprised me that I was able to think of quite a few redeemable qualities in a pirate. To be honest, I actually started to think, 'Man, maybe I need to be a pirate! Heck, all writers could learn a thing or two from pirates.

So I decided to pass on my new found knowledge to ye, me friends and fellow pirates. ARGH!

5 Things An Author Can Learn From A Pirate

1. If you want to get the booty, you have to work-off your patooty. Being an author is hard work. So if you joined this profession thinking that all of your ideas are great and that it's going to be SOOOOO easy to get published, you'd probably better rethink your career plans. Authors are some of the hardest working people out there. They write into the wee hours of the night, rewrite until their eyes cross, and network until they amass an army of supporters. And that's not the kind of thing that happens overnight. It takes time. A lot of time. So if you want to get the booty-a.k.a the publishing contract-then be prepared to work your butt off. Because writing is not for the faint of heart. And often times, you'll have to work two jobs at once.

2. It's all about the hook! A good hook captures your attention and draws you in immediately. Without one, readers and agents will not keep reading past the first few pages. So be bold with your beginning! If you have a good hook, you'll surely sell your book.(Ok. Possibly sell your book. But that didn't sound as cool.)

3. X marks the spot. Editing is key when it comes to quality writing. Rome was not built in a day, people. It took a lot of time and planning. And good writing is a lot like creating a great civilization. So if you want your book to see the shelf and be known as the book among books, you must edit. Otherwise, thank the Romans for creating the sewer system, because that's exactly where your book may be headed. Believe me. I know from experience.

4. You can't be a good captain without a loyal crew.It takes a lot of work to run a tight ship. And the key to any successful endeavor is teamwork. Agents, publishers, editors, family, and friends are all a part of your team/crew, so thank them. Because without their support, your ship may run aground. Without them, you may not finish your book. And without them, you may not even be inspired to write at all.

5. Sometimes 'walking the plank' is the only answer. Everything you write is not going to be brilliant. And sometimes you may need to make a character, sentence, or story 'walk the plank'. Sometimes a member of your crew may even need to 'walk the plank'. And that's ok! In the words of the Gambler, Kenny Rodgers, "You've got to know when to fold 'em. Know when to hold 'em. Know when to walk away. And know when to run." And if anyone's had a successful career, it's that man. So if I were you, I'd heed his advice.

Happy Blogging, Fellow Pirates!

Snow Day

2011-03-13T17:54:00.003-04:00

Snow Day
by Jessica Stanford

I didn’t go school today,
for I was feeling sick.
My tummy ached and lurched about.
I couldn’t eat a lick.

I sneezed and wheezed an awful lot.
My Mum rang up the doc.
He quickly came and looked at me.
His face was filled with shock.

“Your boy is ill-so gravely ill-
I think his time is through.
I’ll try my best-my very best-
But that’s all I can do.”

“The signs are here-so very clear-
I think you’d better sit.
I fear your boy is fading fast.
I can not help a bit.”

“Too bad he’s not out with his friends,
enjoying this snow day.”
“What’s that?” I ask. “ What did you say?
We don’t have school today?”

Then, I jumped up. “I’m healed!” I yelled.
My sheets fell to the floor.
I threw my snow suit on, and then
I raced right out the door.

2011-03-12T14:27:00.011-05:00

My good pal and writing critique buddy over at 'The Write At Home Mom', Megan Bickle, had a Picture Book Blogfest this past week. And while I'm a few days late, I'd still like to get in on the action. Because as an aspiring picture book author, myself, there is nothing that I love more than a good picture book.

Picture books are my passion! I just love the way that I feel when I'm reading or writing one. A great picture book is like a time machine to the past. And just like a good song on the radio, reading a childhood favorite has a way of bringing you right back to all the hopefulness and sheer joy that you felt as a child reading them. And who doesn't want to feel that kind of hope and exhiliration in their adulthood?

So here goes. My favorite picturebook-today, anyway-is The Cat In The Hat by Dr. Suess. In my opinion, this book is the book that started it all. The Cat In The Hat was the first book that really made children love to read. Before The Cat In The Hat, the best that a child could look forward to reading was a book that said things like 'See Jane run. See Dick run. See Spot run after Dick and Jane.' BORING! And that is why I love The Cat In The Hat.

Got Voice?

2011-03-09T18:30:00.027-05:00

Mark Twain said, "The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug." And I couldn't agree more. But what Mr. Twain failed to say-at least out loud-is that what makes the difference between the lightning and the lightning bug is your voice. And that without one, you'd be like a sailboat without wind-capable of sailing, but simply drifting about slowly in the vast ocean of slushpiles.

For awhile now, I'd forgotten that about writing. You see, lately, I've been so worried about what others would think about my comma placements and my descriptions, that I'd actually forgotten how to write like ME. In a way, I had writer's laryngitis. My words were there, but they were garbled. And they didn't really represent the passion and zest that I had when I actually spoke. And believe me peeps, I'm a pistol.

Part of the reason I'd lost my voice was because I wanted so badly to follow a magic formula (it doesn't exist) and get my works published. And the other reason was because I was so afraid of how far to take my opinions and jokes. I mean 'Could I really say what I wanted?' I am a teacher, after all. And at the end of the day, that's the job that pays the bills, not my passion for the written word. Fear can be a paralyzing thing, people.

But in the end, I had to realize that if I didn't learn to use my voice, that no one would ever truly LOVE my writing. Sure. They might like it. Heck, they may even dig it. But they'd never really love my writing the way that I love Kathryn Stockett's. Now, that girl has voice. She has big time voice.

So it got me thinking 'How can I make my writing voice stand out? And what can I do to strengthen my 'voice' muscles?' And below is what I came up with.

1. Write like no one's watching. If you write a story thinking that 'everybody and their grandma' is going to be critiquing your writing,you'll never write a story with great voice. One of the things that stifles a writer's voice the most is the worry of failure. And if you give up that worry and write for yourself, you're giving yourself permission to write like no one's watching.

Last week, I wrote a story with the intent of it never seeing the light of day. And frankly, it was the most liberating experience that I've ever had. I was able to throw caution to the wind and let all my emotions hang out, so to speak. And as a result, I churned out one of the best stories that I'd ever written. Well, at least, as far as my voice was concerned, anyway.

2. Do your research. If you're writing a story about an African American woman during the time of integration, then by golly, you'd better do your research. Again, I refer to Kathryn Stockett. After reading her book The Help, I would've guessed that she was an elderly, southern African American. Imagine my surprise to find that she was a middle aged, caucasian. Now, in her particular case-from what I've read, anyway-Stockett herself was raised (by help standards) by an African American woman, a decade after the events transpiring in her book. So, in a way, she was doing the ultimate research for her book as she grew up. But even being raised by someone who had lived during that time period wouldn't have yieled a story as awesome as The Help. I mean I was raised by a WW2 veteran, and I couldn't write a story about that time period to save my life.

So until Kathryn Stocket tells me that she didn't do any research on that book, I'm going to assume that she researched until her eyes bled. Because man, that girl wrote The Help as if she lived during that time period. And I bought it. Hook. Line. And sinker.

3. Become your character. The person you are today is not the person you were yesterday. Every day holds a new experience and feeling. So what was it like when you were a child? How did you feel when your father walked out on your mother? Channel one of your former selves, and you'll be able to harness the voice of today's character. Everyone has been scorned by a lover, or has watched someone being scorned. Everyone knows what it's like on that first day of school, with a ball of nerves churning in the pit of your stomach like a volcano nearing eruption. Use that knowledge to create your character's voice. Become a medium, and channel them.

4. Read until your eyes bleed. Or at least until you need a pair of reading glasses because you've read so much that your eyes are strained. Learn from the masters. Heck, copy them if you have to. Imitation is the highest form of flattery. At least, that's what I've heard. So fake it til' you make it. (But obviously, only during a writing exercise. You obviously don't want to steal another writer's thang'. That, my friends, is a big no-no.)

So in conclusion( my teacher speak), if you don't have voice, you will never reach the highest level of your writing. And in the end, I think that's something that all writers strive for.

So what do you do to strengthen your voice muscles? Is there a writing excercise that you've discovered in a book, class, or critique group that has really helped you out? Is there something that you thought of on your own? Do share. Please. I'd love to hear your ideas.

* Kathryn Stocket bio link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathryn_Stockett
http://boofsbookshelf.com/2010/06/11/interview-kathryn-stockett-author-of-the-help/

Happy Birthday Dr Suess!

2011-03-02T22:45:00.007-05:00

In honor of 'Read Across America' and the beloved Theodore Geisel a.k.a Dr. Suess, I am going to post some of my favorite Dr. Suess quotes today. Feel free to post your own favorite quotes in the comments.

“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.”

“I meant what I said and I said what I meant. An Elephant's faithful-one hundred percent”

"The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.”

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. You are the guy who'll decide where to go.”

"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not."

Fox In Socks

2011-02-27T19:46:00.003-05:00

100 Books In 100 Days Update

2011-02-27T18:58:00.004-05:00

As I'm sure most of you have noticed, I've long since given up on doing a book review a day during my '100 Books In 100 Days Challenge'. But what you haven't seen-well, unless you've secretly placed a bug/camera in my home-is that I'm still pluggin' along with the challenge. Every day I read a book, as stipulated in the challenge. And often times, I find myself reading more than the required book a day.

So stay tuned for the '100 Books In 100 days' tab. In it, I will list the 100 books that I've read, along with a book rating.

'Is My Idea Good?' By CBI Clubhouse

2011-02-27T10:23:00.003-05:00

Ramp Up Your Tension By CBI Clubhouse

2011-02-27T10:01:00.008-05:00

Read Across America Activity #5

2011-02-24T19:55:00.020-05:00

Playing dress-up isn't just for girls, and it isn't just an activity for the home. Try having a dress-up week at school to go along with your week's worth of book selections. Below is my schedule for 'Read Across America'

Monday-Read The Cat In The Hat and have Silly Hat Day

Tuesday-Read Fox In Socks and have Silly Sock Day

Wednesday-Read Green Eggs and Ham and have a Green Day

Thursday-Read There's A Wocket in My Pocket and have Wacky Outfit Day

Friday- Read The Sleep Book and have Pajama Day

Read Across America Activity # 4

2011-02-23T22:11:00.013-05:00

Create a who.

A who?

A who.

Wait. What do we do?

Create a who!

One of the things that is becoming increasingly important in education these days is cross curricular teaching. Simply put. You need to cram as much as you can into one activity to maximize a child's learning potential.

'Why?' you ask. Well, because a teacher's/child's day is getting shorter and shorter due to state mandated EXTRA stuff. And as a result, the days of teaching one subject at a time are gone. Instead, we are replacing them with activities that incorporate a lot of subjects at once a.k.a cross curricular teaching.

A great activity for cross curricular instruction during 'Read Across America Week' is creating a who. Below are the instructions for the activity, and a list of subjects/skills that you are practicing.

1. Read a Dr Suess book featuring a who OR have your students read a story independently or with a buddy. (comprehension, vocab, phonics,and fluency)

2. Create a who or whos on Suessvile. (art)

3. Cut it/them out and glue them to one or more writing papers.(art)

4. Write a story that goes along with your whos OR retell the story that you read in your own words. ( writing lesson or comprehension lesson, depending on writing or retelling)

www.seussville.com

Read Across America Activity # 3

2011-02-23T18:53:00.004-05:00

Head over to the 'Read Across America' site on Suessville, and download your free activity booklet.

http://www.seussville.com/Educators/educatorReadAcrossAmerica.php

Read Across America Activity #2

2011-02-22T18:48:00.003-05:00

Have a weekly read-a-thon in which your students graph their progress with little Cat In The Hat 'Hats'. This activity will double has a Math and Reading Activity, and push your kids to read as much as possible.

Activities For Read Across America

2011-02-21T10:42:00.007-05:00

With Read Across America quickly approaching, I'd thought I'd share an activity a day that you can use in your own classroom or household (I haven't forgotten about you homeschoolers). So here's activity #1: Have an entire day or week of dressing up as characters from Dr. Suess' most beloved books. This will REALLY kick off your reading celebration, and get everyone in the mood to read.

At my school, the kindergarteners all make their own iron-on Thing 1 and Thing 2 shirts and wear blue hair. It's a really cool tradition. The teachers buy the iron ons and hair, and the parents donate the red shirts. Which reminds me, I need to buy my own little one's red shirt. Guess who's the last 'who' to buy their kiddo's shirt? Yup. Me. Mrs. Responsible.

Above is a picture of myself and former intern, Ms. Jessie, posing in front of our bulletin board/reading graph. I'll talk more about the graph tomorrow. And, hopefully, I'll get down to my little kiddos Kindergarten classroom to take pics for you guys to see my little Thing 1 or Thing 2. SQUEE! I love Read Across America!

Want To Inspire Your Child To Become President...I Do

2011-02-21T09:13:00.035-05:00

As a parent, teacher, and writer I believe that my children can be anything that they want to be when they grow up. Heck, I can be anything I want to be when I grow up, for that matter. But how do we inspire a nation of children to believe that they can become more, especially in a time when all they want to be is a rapper or an actor?

Well, by reading to them, ofcourse. And below are some books that are aimed at inspiring our children to apply for the top job in our country,the US Presidency.

When It comes to picture storybooks that inspire children to want to become president, my top pick goes to 'Grace For President' by Kelly Dipucchio. This book is at the top of my list for so many reasons: 1. The story starts out with a little girl realizing that we have never had a woman president in our country, so she sets out to become class president of her school. And at first, the boys laugh at Grace. But by the end the story, no one doubts that Grace can become president when she grows up. I practically tear up every time I get to the end of the book, and Grace is grown-up and being sworn in as president. My students actually think that it's quite funny. 2. This book is also awesome because it teaches children about electoral votes. And believe me, kids don't get that concept easily. But after reading Grace For President, that concept always seems to click. 3. This book shows that hard work will help you achieve your goals. And any book that inspires to children to want to work is ok by me.

'Duck For President' by Doreen Cronin comes it at a close number two on my list of top president themed books, but for entirely different reasons: 1. This book is just funny. In this story, Duck is fed up with many things, so he runs for one office after another. And the HILARIOUS thing about it all is that he's not even really qualified to do any of the offices that he's running for, but he just keeps climbing up the political ladder. Sound familiar to anyone? In the end, however, Duck realizes that being back at the farm is where he should be. So he ends his political career and goes back to being a duck. 2. 'Duck For President' is also a good story because it shows students that they really need to work hard if they want to acquire the top spot. And, again, any book that inspires kids to work hard is fine by me.

Rounding out the list of top three books that inspire small children to want to become president is 'My Teacher For President' by Kay Winters. And it's probably not going to come as a surprise as to why I like this book so much......uhmmmm...I'm a teacher. For years, I've ranted about how putting a highly effective teacher in the top position would totally solve our country's problems. And, apparently, Kay Winters also thought the same thing. Her book is adorable. Throughout the entire book, she lists the qualities that a president needs to possess in order to do a great job in office, and lists the qualities that most(not all) teachers already possess: kindness, being able to stop a fight, etc. All in all, this teacher gives 'My Teacher For President' an A++.

What is your favorite presidential themed book? Is it one of these books? I'd love to hear your comments.

Creating Life Long Readers

2011-02-19T12:26:00.047-05:00

For some kids, reading is worse than doing chores or homework. And asking them to get out a book becomes a daily fight, a battle of the wills. 'Do I have to?' they whine. 'But I already read a book today!' Or my all-time favorite, 'But I've already met my AR goal, why do I have to read another one?'

For me-a writer and a teacher-it pains me to hear such things. Reading has been a hobby/obsession of mine since I learned how to blend letters into words, and I've got the library fines and borrowed/kept books to prove it. The library was like a second home to me. Stories have always fascinated me. Tales have always thrilled me. And I just love to READ! I simply CAN NOT imagine NOT wanting to read. So when I hear kids whining about reading, it's like telling me that you don't want to breathe, or drink, or eat. Simply put, it's unnatural.

So it got me wondering, what happened to these kids early on that made them so disinterested in reading? And how can we-the writers, parents, and teachers-encourage our children to become lifelong readers?

Below is a list of things that we can do to create an interest/spark in young readers. Feel free to add your own tips in the comments.

1. Read a book to your child every day. To me, this is a given. If you want your child to be a reader, then you should read to them daily. And not just for the sake of becoming a good reader, it's also a really great way to reconnect with our kids at the end of a busy day. A lot of snuggling and a bit of reading, can mean a WHOLE lot to your child. So just do it:)

2. Take your child to the library for books, readings, performances, author visits, etc. Your local library is a mecca of all things entertainment nowadays. Gone are the days of just books and quiet zones. Today's libraries are bustling with activities and awesomeness. So enjoy it! After all, your tax dollars helped paid for it. And sometimes hearing a book read and acted out by a pro can go a long way in the eyes of a child. So it's win-win for both parent and child.

3. Buy books as presents. Sure. Your kid wants the new wii game more than he/she wants to read a book. But in the end, what's going to provide your child with the necessary skills in life, reading or playing wii? Well, unless you said that your child is going to be a video game developer/creator, books are the way to go. Sure, they might whine a bit. But in the end, they'll read their books and be happy. And most of the time, we as parents, can afford to buy a little bit of both. So that's the way to go.

4. Read in front of your child. Every single time I get out a book, my sons try to get behind me and make out some of the words in my book. And often times, they'll run to their own bookshelves and grab some of their books for me to read aloud. While this annoys me sometimes because I'm totally reading my own book, I put my book down. Because at that moment, my kids are excited about reading. And even though I may be in the juiciest part of a new novel and dying to finish it, my kids are more important. So it's worth it! Not to mention, that one minute of being a role model might ALMOST make-up for the bad example that I set when I tripped and accidentally said a 'bad word'. Their words, not mine.

5. Turn off the t.v and dedicate some time to reading.
Saying that I LOVE television may just be the understatement of the century. In fact, I probably watch a little more than I should, if I'm being totally honest. But every night, we have the t.v off during certain hours. And honestly, my kids don't even miss it. They're just happy about reading the newest book from the library or cuddling with mommy. And twenty or thirty minutes a day is plenty of time to read a few books with your children. It doesn't even have to be every single day.

6. Find books that are right on their reading and interest levels, and then check them out with a frequency. If you're checking out books for your child that are of absolutely no interest to them or are too difficult for them to read, then you're setting your child up to hate reading. And reading will become a form of torture. So think about what your child likes when checking out books. Involve him/her in the checking out process. Let them look around the shelves themselves. If you do this, your child will be picking something that they are more likely to read. If you don't, your child may never even crack the cover open. Well, unless you force them, that is. And then, that kind of defeats the purpose of trying so hard to get them to WANT to read.

7. Enjoy reading. Have reading themed parties. Go to Reading Festivals. This is super fun for kids and moms. For Halloween, throw a book themed Halloween Bash. At the beginning of the school year, throw a Harry Potter themed back to school party. A friend of a friend did that last year, and it looked AWESOME. When my boys are old enough, we're totally doing that. The kids wore Hogwarts uniform/costumes, learned how to make potions and cast spells, watched the movies, and ate Hogwarts themed desserts. It was a huge success!

8. Create a reading zone. Set up a comfy chair and book shelf somewhere in your child's room. Use the space often. Make the space fun. With a few fun decorations, reading can become something that your kids will relish, not something that they loathe.

Do you know of any tried and tested reading tips? I'd love to hear them.

Valentine's Poem For Those On A Budget

2011-02-14T21:32:00.004-05:00

Roses are red.
White is our door.
This poem's your gift
because I am poor.

* My husband really enjoyed his homemade card and poem.

Four Eyes

2011-02-12T21:41:00.011-05:00

When I was just a little girl
my mama said to me,
that eating carrots every day
would help my eyes to see.

I chomped and slurped my vegetables,
and gave up eating sweets.
Instead of eating candy bars,
I gobbled healthy treats.

And all the while I hated it,
but somehow I got through.
I listened to my mom’s advice
and swallowed all that goo.

But then one day as I looked up,
I couldn’t see the class.
My teacher handed me a note-
a dreaded nurse’s pass.

She made me read a tiny sign
with blotches and ink drops.
I guess I didn’t score that well
because she called my Pops.

He took me to the eye doctor,
who said a dreaded word.
“Your daughter can not see at all.
Her vision is so blurred.

If you report to our front desk
they’ll give you what she needs,
a purple pair of reading specs
to wear each time she reads.”

And that’s the day I learned the truth
about my mother’s lies.
I know she thought that it was best,
but still I got four eyes.

So when your parents say “Eat up!”
and list the reasons why.
Remember, kids, it’s just a scam,
and eat your apple pie.

*This poem is based on true events.
And 22 years later, I'm still mad!

* And to all the kids who might be reading this,
spinach does not make you have muscles like Popeye.
That is a lie too!

Hommage To A Sunbather

2011-02-12T21:15:00.004-05:00

There was a young gal who loved fun.
So she moved to the land known for sun.
She surfed and she swam,
And she baked like a ham.
Now she looks like a fresh toasted bun.

My New Obsession

2011-02-12T21:00:00.002-05:00

Best Commercial Ever

2011-02-07T17:05:00.000-05:00

Ironic Limerick

2011-02-06T12:03:00.027-05:00

There was a young lass who loved words;
And the way they took flight, just like birds.
She read and she read
Til’ a book smacked her dead.
Then the mourners came calling in herds.

Rejection Stings

2011-01-30T15:57:00.019-05:00

“Rejection stings a bit,” they say.
But I don’t even care.
I’ll go on writing for myself
pretending they’re not there.

I’ll read their marks and grow and change;
And thank them all the while.
Won’t even feel rejection’s sting
cause’ I’ve got too much style.

“Rejection smarts a mite” they say.
But I won’t even mind.
I’ll keep on writing every day,
And leave their words behind.

I’ll learn my craft and make my mark.
My time is drawing near.
And when I’m at my book signing,
I’ll grin from ear-to-ear.

*If you're feeling a little saucy, you could change the ending to:
And when my book is out at last,
"Cha-ching" is all I'll hear.
* I have an even saucier ending on file, but you'll have to email me for that one. It's not PG at all.

How To Write A Picture Book That Shines, CBI Clubhouse

2011-01-29T09:09:00.004-05:00

Want to write a picture book and don't know the basics? Check out this video from the folks over at CBI Clubhouse. It clearly defines the basics of PB's in a 4 minute long video.

Enjoy & Happy Writing!

2011-01-25T14:25:00.001-05:00

What Am I Reading?

2011-01-24T22:02:00.008-05:00

Ever wonder what other writers are reading when they're not writing? If you answered yes, then you're not alone. Every time I pick up a book and read the back cover, I think ' I wonder what (fill in the name of your fav author) is reading? They are freaking awesome!' SQUEEE!

So that got me thinking. Does anyone ever wonder what I'm reading? Maybe they're curious about what I read when I'm not writing.

And then I thought, 'Probably not. I'm just not that cool.'

Well, this internal debate went on for quite some time, as you can imagine. And in the end, I decided that I'm just gonna tell ya'. And not only am I gonna tell you what I'm reading now, but I'm also gonna tell you every time I start a new book. Because that's just interesting, people.

So here goes. The book that I am currently reading is Paranormalcy, by Kiersten White. So If you've already read the book, feel free to let us know what you thought of it. And if you haven't read the book, please let us know if the trailer persuaded you to read it.

Thanks! And Happy Reading!

Live Chat On Writeoncon

2011-01-23T16:10:00.005-05:00

Interested in the latest information on cover letters and queries, be sure to tune into Writeoncon's latest monthly chat(Thanks, ladies!). It takes place Monday, January 24th, 5pm EST. And the guest hosts for the evening will be the lovely ladies of Pippin Properties: Holly McGhee, Elena Mechlin, and Joan Slattery.

The link to the online chat is http://writeoncon.com/. Be sure to click on the tab that says live events and chat.

How To Make A Book Trailer

2011-01-20T23:00:00.030-05:00

If you want to be a successful writer in today's market, you have to be a little bit savy when it comes to self promotion. And one of the things that seems to be big right now is making book trailers.

Why? you ask. Well, they're simple create. They're cheap to make. And if they're of really good quality, they could help sell your book.

So what is a book trailer anyway?

A book trailer is a lot like the previews that you see at the movies. The only difference that I can see is that movie previews are a lot more expensive to make, and you don't actually see a book trailer during a movie. In a nutshell, a book trailer is like a commercial for your book.

So where do you see book trailers?

Book trailers can be viewed at a lot of different places: your blog, your website, your agent's blog or website, youtube, and pretty much anywhere you want to post it on the internet.

Do I really need to make a book trailer?

Well, that depends. If you're Jane Yolen or Eric Carle, then probably not.(Jane Yolen still makes them) But if you're new to this industry, I'm going to say yes.

There are a lot of books out on the market these days. And when it comes to unknown authors and known authors, who would you pick? I know who I would pick.

Buying a book is kind of like going to your favorite restaurant. If you had a choice between a dish that is absolutely delicious and one that you've never had, you're going to order the one that is delicious. Well, books are the same. And most people are a lot like me. Money is tight these days, and we don't want to throw it away on the unknown. So If I have a choice between Nicholas Sparks and some newbie, I'm going to pick Nicholas Sparks. He churns out book after book, and they're amazing.

So do new authors even have a shot?

Absolutely. If I didn't believe that, then I wouldn't even be writing this post today. I'm an aspiring author.

The trick to being successful in anything, though, is all about two things: knowledge and talent. The knowledge part I can help you with. The talent part is something that we all have to work on ourselves.

Have you ever bought a book based on a book trailer?

Yes. I've seen at least two book trailers that I thought looked awesome, and have purchased the book as a result.

I've also purchased books based on people's blogs or webpages. If I read a person's blog and I think 'They are freakin' hilarious', then I'll definitely take a chance on their book. But that's just me.

Have you ever made a book trailer?

Yes. It was terrible. But yes, I've made one.

What is the best way to learn to make a video trailer?

Well, watching this first youtube video couldn't hurt. And then I'd suggest watching a lot of video trailers. That's the only way you'll really be able to see what looks good and what doesn't.

I have posted a really cute picture book video trailer below. Let me know what you think of it. I'd also love to hear anything you have to say about making a video trailer. Or you could tell everyone where we could find your video trailer. If you are an author, I would love to post your video trailer on my site-provided that it's pg. It doesn't have to be a picture book video trailer either.

Submitting To Publishers by CBI Clubhouse

2011-01-17T14:01:00.016-05:00

In addition to all the wonderful tips from CBI Clubhouse, I would like to add a few.

Do
1. Do look for the literary agent or publisher's specific guidelines. Do not just go by the basics listed on this video. They may not apply to that particular literary agent or publisher's specific guidelines.
2. Do look for sample query or cover letters, before you draft your own.
3. Do submit via email (if it's an option). It will save you paper, money, and time.

Do Not
1. Do not write 'Dear Editor or Dear Agent' on your query or cover letter. It is frowned upon. Todays agents want to know that you've researched their houses and know their names. (I'm guilty of this one. Not on purpose, of course. I merely forgot to change the master letter that I created, and sent it out. I knew who I was writing. I'd done my homework, etc. But once I hit send, it was too late. I nearly died when I'd read the sent email. So my advice, have someone else look at your letters before you send them. That extra effort could make all the difference.)
2. Do not reply to a rejection letter, call, or email. If an agent or house rejects you, take it like a man or woman. Replying will only make you look desperate and crazy. And it WILL ruin your chances of working with that person in the future.
3. Do not try to make your query or cover letter SUPER fancy to get attention. This will not work, and people will laugh. In fact, I just listened to a really funny audio query online the other day. The guy just kept saying " I am the Batman." And while I laughed til' I nearly peed-which did get my attention-it did not earn positive attention. In the end, I just kind of felt bad for the guy. He went out on a figurative limb, only to fall off and break his 'writing' neck. So don't be like him.
4. Do not send your query or cover letters via the blackberry. They will know, people. And they will blog about it. And tweet about it. So just don't do it. It makes you look as if you don't care about your writing career.

Let me know what you think about the tips. Do I need to add some? What has worked for you? Any advice?

Writing Picture Books CBI Clubhouse

2011-01-17T11:54:00.001-05:00

Books #11, 12, &13

2011-01-17T11:16:00.013-05:00

Books 11, 12, and 13 are all written by one of the greatest-if not the greatest-biography picture book authors of our time, David Adler. Mr. Adler weaves a tale from childhood to adulthood beautifully, and makes sure to portray historical facts in a way that is not frightening to children.

For some children, the story of Martin Luther King Jr. is scary. In fact, I've received questions like, " Why did that man kill Mr. King?" and "Why don't those people like us, Mrs. Stanford?" But the way that Mr. Adler tells the story of Dr. King's life focuses more on the peaceful side of the civil rights movement, rather than his assassination and the violence. Children seem to connect with Adler's biographies. And because of Mr. Adler, elementary teachers are able to explain to younger children the basics of the civil rights movement and other historical events.

I give all three books high fives. Because without books like these, my job would a whole lot more difficult. So thanks, Mr. Adler!

I Have A Dream

2011-01-17T10:50:00.009-05:00

While I spend my day at home, relaxing and writing, I am mindful of why that is possible. Although I am not African American, I am still thankful for Dr. King and his work to make our country great. Because of him, my son, who is Guatemalan, is able to go to schools with children of all races. Because of him, the idea of adopting a child outside of one's own race is not taboo. And because of him, my child will have many more chances in his life. So for that, I am grateful.

So today, I honor Dr. King by posting one of his epic speeches, and by reviewing a great picturebook biography about his life. I hope you all will take the time to watch the video and read the review that follows.

Because.......

“History informs us of past mistakes from which we can learn without repeating them. It also inspires us and gives confidence and hope bred of victories already won.”
William Hastie

You Must Read This Article About The Nerd Cycle

2011-01-16T13:24:00.004-05:00

For months, I've been complaining about the creeping weight-gain that is slowly accumulating on my thighs and butt, as I focus more and more on my writing career. I've tweeted things like, "We shoud create a deskercise video. I want to create a treadmill that has a monitor and keyboard. " And "I want to buy a bike that has a monitor on it, so I can write and not fall of in the process."

Well, apparently I'm not the only weight-conscious, geek out there. Because, Martin, a reader of 'Life Hacker', is in the process of designing his very own 'Nerd Cycle' as we speak. And so to Martin, I tip my hat. The second that he markets that baby on late night television, I'll promptly be dialing the 1-800 number that I see on the screen.

Here is a link to the article, in case you're interested, too. Let's all let Martin know how important this bike is to the writers across the world.
http://lifehacker.com/376204/nerdcycle-mounted-monitor-exercise-bike

Book #10 I Love You Because You're You

2011-01-16T12:27:00.011-05:00

I Love You Because You're You, by Liza Baker, is just that-a book about loving your child no matter what. Its rhymes are simple-if there is such a thing as simple with rhyme and meter. Its words will melt your heart. And your child will walk away from this story KNOWING that you will love them no matter-even when they're cranky, and yell and scream and shout.

If you want to read a book that REALLY shows the love that parents feel for their children, this is it. In the words of Liza Baker, "I Love you any way you feel, no matter what you do. I Love you any way you are. I love you because you're you!"

And in the words of Jessica Stanford, "I love this book. It is a gem. And I would read it all again. " See, I told you that simple rhymes were hard. Haha. Well, I guess near rhymes are hard, too.

Book # 9 The Going To Bed Book

2011-01-16T12:11:00.012-05:00

In a sea of bedtime books (he-he), The Going To Bed Book, by Sandra Boytnon, stands out as one to learn from. It's simple rhyming text and unusual bed-time routine, make this book a hit with both children and parents alike. And the twist of rocking to sleep (in a boat), is just plain brilliant.

I give this book a double high five. Because not only will I read it again and again with my children, but I'll also reference this book as one to use when learning about what makes a great picturebook.

Book # 8 Over The Moon

2011-01-16T11:45:00.006-05:00

Over The Moon, by Karen Katz, is a beautifully illustrated and written story about international adoption. As an adoptive parent, myself, I really felt the words of this book ringing true in my heart. Because as my husband, Brian, and I embarked on our own journey, we too wondered how we would explain our son's wonderful story to him one day. And luckily, we were able to read this beautiful book by Karen Katz.

I give Over The Moon, by Karen Katz, a high five. It is beautiful and brilliant; and it stands out as exceptional, in a field of only so-so adoption books. This book will be a staple in our house for quite some time.

Book # 7 Class Picture Day

2011-01-16T11:31:00.012-05:00

Class Picture Day, by Andrea Buckless, is the hilarious, yet simple story of a girl who is tricked into sticking her tongue out during a class photo. When she gets her class photo back and sees that she is the only one sticking out her tongue, she feels silly. So the whole story, she is trying to get rid of the photo. But it always seems to find its way back to her. In the end, though, she finds a simple and funny solution to her problem. I don't want to spoil it for you, but it's really cute.

I give Class Picture Day a thumbs up for having a really cool ending. Andrea Buckless channels her inner child brilliantly in this story.

Waaaasup Followers

2011-01-13T22:27:00.024-05:00

For those of you who don't know me, I am a complete and total scatterbrain. One would think that an educator would be impeccably organized and remember things at all times, but one would be wrong. I'm actually more of a go-with-the-flow type of gal. And as such, I've totally neglected to keep you guys posted on what's going on with me.

So in nutshell-even though it's not Wednesday-I'm going to do my 'Waaaaasup Wednesday' on Thursday. Especially, since I haven't done a Waaaasup Wednesday in ages.

So here's waaaasup:1. I'm still working my day job.And I probably will until the end of time. Or at least until I win the lottery. Seriously, my job as an educator is way too fun to quit. Even if I sold a best seller and made millions, I'd probably still volunteer or something in a school. It's great market research! 2. I finally sent a story out to literary agents. Wasn't sure that I was ever gonna' do that. 3. I received my first rejection the very next day. Boo hoo! But it was actually pretty cool. At least, I can say that I'm a writer now. And the rejection wasn't even that bad. I was basically rejected because they don't accept debut picture book authors. They even suggested that I contact them if I decide to write for an older crowd. So I wasn't actually too sad about that rejection. It's not like they said, "You stink! Please do humanity a favor and stop writing!" 4. I'm on twitter now, so I'd love to hear from you in very short sentences. I love their instant message of " Not clever enough. You'll have to do better than that." I think that it's even helped me to be more succint in my writing. And in pb's, that's huge. 5. Right now, I'm in the middle of doing a 100 picture books in 100 weeks challenge. And as you've probably noticed, I'm lagging a bit on the reviews part. Rest assured, though, that the reading is going off as planned. So stay stuned for more book reviews. And hopefully, I'll catch up during this 3 day weekend. Feel free to join in. I'd love to hear your feedback.

Anywho. That's what I'm up to. So now enough about me. I want to know what you are up to? What are you reading or writing? Any big writing news with you? Any big life news? I'm all ears.

Book # 6 Hiccups For Elephant

2011-01-09T22:40:00.007-05:00

Hiccups For Elephant, by James Preller, is a cute really book about an elephant who has hiccups. One-by-one, elephant wakes up different animals in the jungle with his hiccuping. And, one-by one, they try to help him cure them. In the end, though, the cliche' of elephants being afraid of mice ends up being the solution to the problem.

This book is a great book for early and struggling readers. It's predictable text and easy vocabulary make it a favorite in my household of little readers. Not to mention, my little ones think that it's hilarious that the BIG elephant is scared of the tiny mouse.

Overall, I give this book a thumbs up. My kids and I will definitely be reading this book again.

Book # 5 David Goes To School

2011-01-09T16:20:00.021-05:00

Before I wrote my review on David Goes To School by author David Shannon, I found myself reading it one more time, just to give it another chance. In all honesty, this book is not one of my favorites-even though plenty of really great writers have highly recommended it. 1. I hate that the teacher is painted as the villain in the story. (Well, duh! I'm a teacher) 2. I didn't think that there was anything really special about the writing in the book. In regards to description, it was pretty matter-of-fact, and it didn't really SHOW me anything. In fact, it looks like something that one of my students could write.

And that's when it hit me like a foul ball. That's it! It does look like something one of my students could write. Therefore, if I use this in my classroom, the students might feel a little less intimidated by writing.(Cue angels playing harps) David Goes to School is actually the perfect model of the kind of writing that is acceptable in my grade-level.

So even though this book is not my favorite, I am giving it a thumbs up. Because 1. Even a mean teacher like myself, can see the educational benefits of using this picture book in my class. This story is perfect to model the basics of writing! And then, we can add to that foundation. 2. The colorful and humorous illustrations would draw children into the story. They are pretty funny! 3. The teacher does-sort of-redeem herself at the end of the story by giving David a star for cleaning up. So, obviously, David isn't trying to TOTALLY vilify educators.

So if you're looking for an easy reader for young children or struggling readers, this book is a great choice. And if you're looking for a book to teach the basics of writing, this is also a great choice. Because even though it's not the most descriptive book on the planet, it's definitely worth another read.

Book # 4 The Paper Bag Princess

2011-01-09T09:12:00.017-05:00

When I think of hilarious, easy reads for children, one of my favorite books that springs to mind is Robert Munsch's, The Paper Bag Princess. In this unique fairytale, Princess Elizabeth is set to marry a handsome prince named Ronald. But before their happily-ever-after can take place, Prince Ronald is kidnapped by a fierce dragon, and is set to become dragon chow.

"So what does this unique princess do?" you ask. She sets off in a paperbag dress- as all of her beautiful clothes are ruined-to save the day. And after she outwits the daft dragon, she goes to her beloved prince, Ronald.

The hilarious twist is what happens next. Ronald-who is unlike the dreamy princes in most fairytales-tells Princess Elizabeth that she will have to come back to save him when she is dressed like a REAL princess. To which she replies " Ronald! Your hair is nice. You look like a prince. But you are a BUM." And the story ends with a twist on fairytale endings. "They didn't get married after all."

This book makes the mom and closeted feminist in me cheer (more below). For centuries, women have been told that they must rely on men to take care of them. But this fairytale book has the female main character being the hero. And it also sends the very subtle message that 'if your prince is a bum', then don't get married. For that reason alone, I give this book a high five. And, surprisingly, my three year old son gives it a high five, too. He likes the daft dragon and feisty princess. He doesn't really care about the societal impact. It's one of his favorite bedtime books.

*I must clarify the feminist comment. I simply mean that I like stories that portray females as strong, independent main characters. Most fairy tales do not, and the damsel in distress bit is getting old. Not that I don't like the usual fairytales-because I do. I just applaud books that show a different side to the typical fairytale.

Book # 3 The Hippo-Not-Amus

2011-01-08T13:27:00.011-05:00

When Little Hippo decides that he's bored with a life of sitting in the water and munching on brown grass, he makes up his mind to become something else altogether. With great repetition and silly attempts at becoming different creatures, this young Hippo-gir-ele-potamus makes even the most reluctant readers want to turn the pages of this book.

I knew that this book was something special, when I saw one of my most relucant readers dive into it, head first. And one week later, she still hasn't come up for air. She even asked if I would read it to the class because she loved it so much. And 6 months ago, this child would have never asked me to read a book aloud.

I give The Hippo-Not-Amus, by Tony and Jan Payne, a high-five. And thank Tony and Jan Payne, for my making my job as a reading teacher a little easier.

How The Waiting Game Is Like The Dating Game

2011-01-07T22:01:00.022-05:00

In 1965, ABC aired a new television show, The Dating Game, in which a bachelor asks contestants questions, in the hopes that they might make a love connection by the end of the show. Well, submitting is a lot like The Dating Game. A desperate author (bachelor/bachelorette) submits his or her manuscript (questions) to some litery agents & publishers (contestants). And then-based on his/her answers (ms)-there may be a love connection(deal) made.

Right now, I am in the throws of a slightly different version of the game, The Waiting Game. All the same rules apply as in The Dating Game, of course. But rather than making an instant match, I must wait...And wait....And wait some more. You get the picture.

So it got me thinking. What am I going to do while I am waiting to hear my story's fate?

Below are 3 things that writing experts around the world do, when they are waiting to find out if their current projects are going to be accepted or rejected.

1. Keep Writing. Just like anything else in life, practice makes perfect. If you want to become the best author that you can be, you're going to have to excercise your writing muscles. Great writers aren't just born, to spite what some authors have said interviews. I've never seen a child come out of the womb writing. It is a learned skill. And it takes years and years of practice to be great at it. So if you want to be a great author one day, you need to keep writing.

Now that's not to say that your first story can't become an over-night success. Because you hear of that happening all the time. I'm simply saying that at some point in the successful writer's life, they attended writing classes(even in early childhood), read books, had an active imagination, and made up stories.

Not to mention, writing more stories will keep your mind occupied, and give you something to submit later on.

2. Attend a writing class or conference.This will be helpful for two reasons: 1. It will help you improve your writing skills 2. You will make connections with people who are also interested in writing. And honestly, there's a lot of value in that.

Sometimes even great writers don't get noticed because they haven't made the right connections. Sometimes it's just a matter of getting that one lucky break from someone in the business. And going to these kinds of events, can help get you that break.

3. Blog, Tweet, FB, and join some type of social media for writers. This is another way to practice your writing skills, and make connections with people like you. I know that I've made some lifelong friends since I started blogging and tweeting. And who's to say that they might not mention my name, once they get their own publishing deals in the works.

Stranger things have happened. Why J.K Rowling, herself, may not have gotten her big break, if it hadn't been for a secretary who fell in love with her first story. And the rest-as they say-is publishing history.

Books 1 & 2 of the 100 Books In 100 Days Challenge

2011-01-02T10:03:00.031-05:00

The first book that I read for 100 Books In 100 Days Challenge is There's A Wocket In My Pocket, by Dr. Seuss. Surprisingly, I hadn't read it before. And, frankly, I'm so glad that I did.

There's A Wocket In My Pocket has a lot of things that I look for when I'm choosing picture books to use in my classroom. Firstly, I love the rhyme in the book. It's fun, and it's silly. And I adore funny as much as any kid ever did. Secondly, I love the fact that it's a great book for teaching nonsense words. For that reason alone, it makes it a great book for teachers. There are so few good books that contain nonsense words these days. And lastly, I love that it's great tool to use when teaching children to use word families to help decode words. Teaching phonics application is a big half of the reading puzzle, and this book is full of phonetic gold mines.

The teacher in me gives this book a big thumbs up. While it's not the greatest Dr. Seuss book that I've ever read, it's definitely worth a reread. In fact, my five year old is reading it right now. * my heart is smiling at this very moment*

How Do I Love You?, by Marion Dane Bauer, is the second book that I read for the challenge. And this book, I give a high five because it tugs at the heart strings. While I could use it in the classroom to teach rhyme, I mostly read it to my children. Because who doesn't love reading books that tell their children how much they love them? I know that I do. In fact, sometimes I buy books just because that's their message.

How Do I Love You? is reminiscent of the poem How Do I Love Thee? Sonnet 43, by Elizabeth Barret Browning. But for children. The words are palpable."How do I love you? Let me count the ways. I love you as the sun loves the bright blue days." ....."I love you as the moon loves each shining star. I love all that you will be and everything you are." You can just feel how much the author loves her child. Or, at least that's how I feel when I'm reading this picture book. It's lovely rhymes and wonderful art work, makes this story one of my absolute favorite picture books/board books. And I know that you will love it too.

An Irish Blessing For My Blog Friends

2011-01-01T09:43:00.010-05:00

Wishing you all of you a Happy & Successful Writing New Year!

May all of your writing endeavors succeed.
May your agents be friendly and bursting with speed.
May your books be best sellers and earn accolades;
And good luck and great fortune be yours all your days.

By: Jessica Stanford

100 Books In 100 Days

2010-12-29T17:19:00.011-05:00

Writing guru and children's author, Anastasia Suen, teaches a writing workshop in which she says that aspiring authors must read 100 books, in order to learn the ins and outs of writing for children. And although I haven't taken her course yet, I find myself agreeing with her. How can one become a picturebook author, if they don't know the characteristics of a great picture book? And how can one identify great stories, if they haven't read great stories?

So starting on January 1st at 12:01 am, I will be starting a book challenge entitled "100 books in 100 days". And I hope that all of you will join me.

The rules of the challenge are simple: 1. Read 100 picture books or 100 chapters, in 100 days 2. Check my blog weekly to see what books I have read during the challenge. 3.Comment as often as you like. 4. At the end of the challenge, write your name in the "I read 100 books in 100 days" final post, indicating that you have completed the challenge. And as a prize, you be able to display the "I read 100 books in 100 days" button on your own blog page. (100 clip art button above. Technically, it's 100days of school clip art. But I think it'll work out great.)

Who's up for the challenge?

Mid Winter's Eve Blog Hop Giveaway Winner

2010-12-23T09:19:00.009-05:00

Thanks to all of my new blog friends for stopping by. I'm glad to see that so many of you love Junie B. as much as I do. She has given my class many hours enjoyment. And one day, when my brood is a little older, I know that my boys will love her, too.

And now for the winner. Can I get a drum roll, please?

The winner is.....mmafsmith, a.k.a Maria. Congrats, Maria! I'll be in touch with you soon. I hope you enjoy the book:)

New Year's Writing Resolutions: 5 Ways To Keep On Track

2010-12-21T16:57:00.008-05:00

As this year draws to an end and a new year quickly approaches, I find myself doing what everyone does at this time of the year-making resolutions. 'I am going to spend more time on writing. I am going to quit talking about sending out my manuscripts, and just do it already. I am going to find a literary agent. And before the year is over, I am going to get a publishing deal.' The end. Period.

Every year is the same. We make resolutions, and we break resolutions. Sure, we mean them when we say them, but it's just words. So how do we make this year's writing resolutions stick, when others have failed? And how do we hold ourselves accountable for our writing goals?

Below are 5 tips to keep you on track, all year long.

1. Make realistic goals. Saying that you are going to write a book that tops the New York Times' Best Seller list, might be a bit lofty for your first manuscript. And while I realize that it's not impossible to do, it's defintitely improbable. So start out small, and gradually increase your goals as your skills improve. Saying things like 'I will write every day for one hour' is achievable, if you're a newby. Or 'This year I am going to send out one manuscript'. Set goals that you think you can achieve. After all, only you know your comfort level, and only you will know if you've achieved your goals or not.

2. Join A Critique Group. If you're looking to improve as a writer, you HAVE to join a critique group. Showing your stories to friends and family, no matter how truthful they are, is not the same thing. Your friends an family are not experts in writing. So even if they tell you that your work is spectacular, you're never really going to know unless you've put your manuscript in the hands of fellow writers. Writers know all the little nuances that make a story great. If you ask one of your family members about your story's arc, they might say something like " Wow! I must've missed the part about the big boat. Let me read it again." That's when you know that you've picked the wrong person to give you criticism. Not to say they won't have anything valuable to add, because they will. They just won't know critical writing elements that you'll need to improve. So join a group. It's the gift that keeps giving.

3. Write your goals down. Something about writing a goal down seems to make it more real. When you look at that little paper with your goal on it, it serves as a visual reminder. And when you're doubting yourself and wanting to quit, that little paper will not let you do it. Believe me, I've tried. So be like Nike, and just do it. You'll be glad that you did.

4. Provide a timeline. A timeline also serves as a visual reminder. But in a way, it's a little more. A timeline keeps us on track. It keeps us on time. And the rule of thumb with timelines is this, you can definitely work faster than the timeline, but never slower. Timelines are a great kick in the pants, when you need a little extra push to get a book proposal or manuscript completed. Just be sure to set realistic timeline goals. Saying 'I will be done with my picturebook manuscript within the month' may be a realistic timeline goal. But saying ' I will be done with my novel in a month' is probably not. Notice I said 'probable', not 'impossible'. Only you know you know your limits.

5. Be prepared to tweak your goals. Some goals are quickly achieved, and if this is the case, you need to be ready to change your goals. Don't stop writing because you already achieved your first goal, and aren't due to start your next chapter until the following month. That's just nonsense. The goal of goal setting is to 'Keep Moving Forward'( Meet the Robinsons quote). So as long as you are doing that, then you are on the right writing track. And don't feel upset if it takes you two months to perfect your picturebook, just because your goal was one. Again, as long as you are writing, then you are achieving the ultimate goal. So keep it up!

What are your writing goals for this year? Do you have some? Please feel free to share.Just be prepared to get a swift kick in the pants if you're not doing the work, because I run a tough ship. And please, feel free to do the same for me:)

Happy Writing & Goal Setting

The Polar Express

2010-12-12T17:47:00.007-05:00

One of the greatest Christmas stories of all time, is now online for teachers and parents to enjoy with their children. Click on the ticket to the right, to board the Polar Express. All Aboard!

Lesson Links Below
http://www.teachingheart.net/polar.html
http://www.tangischools.org/21stCCLC/hjh/Polar%20Express/index.htm
http://www.marcias-lesson-links.com/polarexpress.html
http://www.kinderkorner.com/polarexpress.html
http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/features/thepolarexpress/tg/polar.shtml

Video From The World Quidditch Cup

2010-12-11T13:19:00.019-05:00

It used to be the that the highest honor that an author could achieve was having his/her own book published, and maybe, if they they were lucky, winning an award or two. But nowadays, the skies the limit for our budding authors and authoresses. Having your book published is just one of the wonderful possibilities in store for writers today. Because in this century, there's movie deals, action figures, theme parks, bedding sets, pillows, fragrances, board games, etc. The list is endless.

And having said that, I'd like to introduce you to something that I just stumbled upon today. Something that we've only read about in books and dreamt about at night, but never really thought was possible-an intercollegiate Quidditch Cup. Yup, you heard me right. Quidditch is now an actual game that is played at nationally accredited colleges throughout the land. In fact, one of the most prestigous schools in the world, Harvard, is one of the participating colleges.

And that's not even the best part. The best part is that there's an actual rule book posted online. And how-to video, just in case you're not really into reading manuals. Heck, there's even an International Quidditch Association to consult if you want to learn even more.

So check it out. Better yet, start a team. If you do, I will gladly post pics of your team on my blog and tweet about you all the time. Because, honestly, as much as I think this is hysterical. I, also, think that it's quite possibly the coolest thing ever. It makes me miss my long lost college days, and wish that I could back, if only for just one little game of "Muggle Quidditch" and a few drinks of butter beer with friends.

http://sites.google.com/site/savannahquidditchleague/IQARulebook
http://www.slashfilm.com/fourth-annual-quidditch-world-cup-coming-york-city-weekend/
http://www.internationalquidditch.org/

How To Play Quidditch (as explained by ECQ players) from Lauren Milazzo on Vimeo.

Waasup, Friends?

2010-12-04T20:36:00.038-05:00

If cloud nine were an actual place and that's where people really went when they were ecstatic, then I'd have to say that I'm its latest resident. Not only was I lucky enough to be a finalist in last month's Storybird challenge; but yesterday, I found out that I won a mansucript review from a published author, courtesy of Tara Lazar and her lovely PiBiIdMo challenge. Thank you, Tara!

So if you've been wondering why it's been eerily silent on my blog lately, those are just a few of the reasons. It's not because I don't love you anymore, because I totally do-fervently, in fact. I've just been keeping busy this month.

In addition to all of those things, I'm smack-dab in the middle of final edits for a few of my pb manuscripts,and I've finally mustered up enough courage to send them out. This is huge!

And just so I don't go completely batty while I'm waiting, I also plan on entering a few more contests along the way, just to keep my mind busy. You know what they say about watched pots and all, they never boil. So I think it's important to keep busy while I wait for acceptance or rejection, don't you?

So my questions to you are these: What are you up to? What do you do while you wait? Well, other than your day job, and parenting. And do you have good news that you'd like to celebrate on this blog? Because I am in a celebrating kind of mood this month. Let's all celebrate together!

Storybird

2010-11-24T19:38:00.007-05:00

If you're an aspiring picturebook author, you have to visit this website http://storybird.com/challenges/2010/11/curiosity/. Illustrators upload amazingly colorful artwork, and writers paint the pages with their beautiful, funny, rhyming,and prose words. It's a writers playground! Seriously...I think I may be addicted. Thanksgiving is today, and I can't even begin cleaning my house until I've blogged, tweeted, and FBed about this site.

*Shameless plug to follow. Please Forgive me.* Oh yeah, and there are monthly and weekly competitions, with themes and prizes. This week, my story, What Do Monsters Do, is a weekly semifinalist. My pen/computer name is Writermama2. And in 1 day and 15 hours from now, the public will get to start voting on their favorite stories for this week. If you could check out the link and vote for me, I'd really appreciate it. But, honestly, only do it if you think it's the best story in the competition. I don't want to win because you like me. I want to win because I really and truly earned it. Just don't tell me if you didn't vote for me. My ego is very fragile:)

Thanks in advance!And Happy Blogging & Happy Thansgiving!

Midwinter's Eve Giveaway Hop

2010-11-19T17:15:00.027-05:00

The Details
The Midwinter's Eve Giveaway Hop will be a quick 2 day hop. Midwinter's Eve is the longest night of the year, so why not spend it entering some great giveaways? The hop will run from 12:01 AM on December 21st to 11:59 PM on December 22nd.In order to enter, all you have to do to is 1) follow this blog, and 2) leave a comment below.

The Prize
The winner will receive a copy of the book Jingle Bells, Batman Smells (P.S. So Does May.) by Barbara Park.

*Winners must have a US address, and they must forward their address to me within two months of the award notification. Otherwise, they forfeit their prize.

5 Reasons Hermione Granger Is Awesome

2010-11-14T08:46:00.036-05:00

With the release of Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 1 less than a week away, I felt that I needed to create a little more buzz for the book. You know, because the book doesn't have enough already.

So, below, are the reasons why I think Hermione Granger may just be the greatest character EVER! Enjoy! And please go out and support the movie. You know, because it probably won't do that well unless we all go out and support it.

5 Reasons Why Hermione Granger Is Awesome

1. She's REALLY smart, and she adds to the story. I hate to say it, but I'm tired of the female characters in most MG and YA novels. Most of the girls are either dumb, or they pretend they're dumb, which REALLY drives me insane. And if they are smart, they have so many other flaws that it diminishes their character. I love that Hermione does her thing, and doesn't apologize for it. She's not perfect, mind you, but she's pretty darn close.

2. Yes, she loves Ron Weasly, but she doesn't sit around pining after him all the time. Her love is appropriate. She simply waits for Ron to realize that he's an idiot, and that she's the love of his life. You're not going to see Hermione Granger stalk anyone or make any love potions. No. She bides her time, and wins him over the old fashioned way.

3. Hermione is not afraid to get her hands dirty. The thing that I love about Hermione is that she can brew a kick $#@ poly juice potion, yet throw together a rockin' look for a ball. You won't see Hermione Granger going around tying ribbons in her hair that match her robes. No. She knows how to be one of the guys and a lady. Bravo!

4. Hermione is loyal. Most girls would've jumped the 'friend ship' when they realized that their best friend was public enemy #1 of Lord Voldemort. Well, not Hermione. Hermione proves to be even more loyal than Ron, Harry's first real friend. She sticks by Harry's side through everything, thus proving that girls are way better than boys. (Hahaha. Had to throw that in there.)

5. Hermione is intuitive. She always seems to know how the other person is feeling. When Neville learns that Bellatrix is free, she has to explain how he is feeling to her less intuitive friends. And when, Cho Chang is feeling bad about liking Harry after Cedric's death, Hermione has to explain that, too. Hermione is all knowing. She is the heart and the brains of the Harry Potter Series! And that's why she is the perfect character! She stands out in a book that makes other books cower in the corner, ashamed to be sitting on the same shelf! Well, at least that's how they would feel if they had feelings. (Which they totally don't! Right?)

*Some of the facts may be muddled with that of the movie. Having read the books and watched the movies, sometimes facts run together. If something is amiss, feel free to correct me in the comments.

Writer's Day Off

2010-11-13T11:02:00.012-05:00

So, today, I'm stuck in the house, writing and blogging. Then, suddenly, an idea hits me like a foul ball to the frontal cortex. This is lame! I want to go outside with my children! I want to take a trip to the library! And, frankly, I don't want to blog, twitter, or edit today! *33 year old throwing a tantrum*

So, today, I'm declaring a writer's day off. And I encourage you all to do the same. We can all pretend we're on an idea scouting adventure. Maybe, that will make us feel a little less guilty abadoning ship.

Who's with me?

* Cue theme music as I storm off with my two children in tow.*

(Ironically, I was also doing laundry like Mr. Jason Mraz was in my theme music. Honestly, that's probably what pushed me over the edge. You guys already know how I feel about laundry. You've seen the poem.)

Copyright Law: 5 Things That Every Author Should Know

2010-11-10T19:35:00.045-05:00

*Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer. I am not a law student. And, frankly, I could totally be wrong. In truth, that happens a lot. I am a flawed, flawed individual.

Ok, so now that I've warned you about my fallability. And, hopefully, you've accepted this documented truth. Time to delve into the myths and truths about obtaining copyright of your ideas and stories as interpreted by ME, Jessica Stanford, self proclaimed Copyright Expert. NOT!

1. The moment that you write your mansucript, it is protected against plagiarism or reproduction without your consent. TRUTH! In fact, you never even have to contact the US Copyright Office if you don't want to. Or, you could purchase a legal copyright for every single thing you pen. It's totally up to you! It just depends on how you feel about plagiarism.

Personally, I'm a glass half-full kinda' gal, but some of you may be conspiracy theorists. So if you honestly think that you've written the next 'Twilight' and worry that someone might steal your big story, then maybe you should copyright your work legally. Here is the link to do it electronically http://www.copyright.gov/eco/
(Or, is it secretly my personal email disguised as the US electronic copyright site? Muhahaha! You'll never know!)

If you're like me and write stories on a semi-daily basis, you may want to try the poor man's approach instead. I email my stories to my critique buddies and ONLY post stories on password protected sites. That way, I have a time and date stamp to verify my claims. And, then, I only have to worry about a dozen or so people stealing my stories. And, honestly, they all seem great. I'm not really worried at all!

2. Book ideas are copyrighted the moment you dream them up. Wrongo! Big time Myth! They're not even your's once you verbalize them to everyone you meet. Calling 'Copyright' is not like calling 'shotgun', just ask Al Gore, inventor of the internet. Hehehe! (Yes, I went there in my blog about picture books! It was just too tempting to resist.) According to the US Copyright Office, "Copyright protection does not extend to any idea, system, method, device, name, or title." http://www.copyright.gov/fls/fl109.html

So my advice: hold on to your ideas until they are actually written. Otherwise, you open yourself up to someone stealing your great ideas! And if you want to write the twentieth book on hibernation, have at it! You have the right. Ideas are not copyrighted. However, that doesn't give you the permission to steal a writing buddy's idea! In fact, that's a major 'party foul'. So don't do it!

3. My copyright is protected forever. In fact, my future generations can live off of the royalties of my highly successful book. Half Myth and Half truth. According to the US Copyright Office " As a general rule, for works created after January 1, 1978, copyright protection lasts for the life of the author plus an additional 70 years. " However, for works that are cowritten, they are protected for seventy years after the last living author dies. So, technically, the next two generations might benefit from your work. Woohoo!http://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/faq-duration.html

4. I can totally take someone else's story and just rewrite it in my own way. I can write it better, anyway. They'll never know. Wrong. Maybe? And, wrong, you big jerk! Stealing is stealing! And the law is the law. The end!
http://www.infobarrel.com/Plagiarism_and_Copyright_Infringement:_Thou_Shalt_Not_Steal

5. I can post whatever I want and claim that it's 'fair use'. Half myth and Half Truth. In order to be fair, you just can't go around using other people's work, unless you have the author's permission. You can, however, use a part of an author's work to crictize, comment on, use to teach, or use in a parody. But be forewarned, using 'fair use' as an excuse for stealing someone's work could get you into trouble, especially if you're profitting from it. So to be safe, unless you are honestly using someone's work, you should just stay away from other people's stuff. And if you're not sure about the terms of 'fair use', please look it up. After all, you wouldn't want someone using your working inappropriately, would you? http://www.copyright.gov/fls/fl102.html

So in conclusion, know the law. It could very well make you or break your piggybank. Here is great article if you're interested in learning more about your rights as an author. And, of course, check with the US Copyright Office. After all, they are the experts.

Happy Writing, Everyone! And, remember, stealing is NOT cool!

A Rose By Any Other Name

2010-11-07T10:30:00.025-05:00

When writing a story there are a lot of things to consider: plot, pacing, word count, setting, titles, voice, solutions, etc. The list goes on and on. And if just one of these laundry list of items falls flat, the whole story can suffer because of it.

Today, on the blog, we're going to talk about the power of a character's name. Some may think that naming a story's character/characters is a simple task. But surprisingly, there are a lot of things to consider when choosing a name.

For example, are there other REALLY famous literary characters that already have this name? In my latest picturebook W.I.P, this was a big problem for me. And now, I have to figure out how I'm going name a dog that is found after kids make a wish on a turkey's wishbone, without naming the dog Wishbone.

Is this name too hard for your target audience to pronounce? If your target audience is birth to pre-k children, than Chrysanthemum might not be a great character name for one of your characters. However, if your target audience is early, school aged children, this could be really funny and kind of perfect. In fact, it might just add to the story's theme.

Does your character's name add something to the story? If Fudge from the Judy Blume series were called Bobby, for example, would the story have been as funny? I think not! In fact, the whole storyline behind his name was one of the funniest parts. Imagine a boy kicking his Kindergarten teacher because she won't call him by his nickname, Fudge. Now that's hilarious to both kids and teachers alike!

So what are some ways that we can go about naming our characters? Below is a list of 5 ways that you might try to use.

1. Name your character after his/her character traits. For example, if your character went through a terrible life situation and is struggling with finding a way to deal with her faith and the terrible loss, naming her Faith might be a great idea. Then, you could even name the book Finding Faith so that you're talking about her finding herself and her actual faith.

2. Pay your respects to loved ones by using their names in your stories. In my opinion, this is even better than dedicating a book to them. If one of my manuscripts is ever sold, it's almost certain that one of the characters will be named after one of my children, my parents, grandparents, or an old family name. In my manuscript, The Peanut Butter Prince, the princess is name after my mother and the queen is named after my grandmother. In my manuscript, Let's Go Fishing, the two brothers are named after my two sons. And, in The Twins of Er and Est, the two brothers are named after my dad and dearly, departed Uncle Larry.

3. Name your characters after constellations. J.K Rowling is known to use this strategy from time to time. Brother's Sirius and Regulus are examples.

4. Use a baby name generator. This is actually good for two reasons: 1. It will help you discover the meaning of the name. This can really help you with making your character live up to their character traits. For example, this pb author once toyed with writing a YA novel in which a prophet child was born. In said ms, I gave my child prophet the name Jeremiah simply because it was biblical. Little did I remember at the time, but Jeremiah was actually a prophet. Score! And his name meant 'to rise up'. Double Score! Turns out, I couldn't have picked a more appropriate name. 2. You can see all the different spellings of the name and pick something that is more unique for your character. After all, we all want to be unique, right?

5. Use intitials kind-of like a Mnemonic device, but with a twist. Instead of using it in a way that helps you remember a thing, you use it in a way to spell out a character's traits or interests instead. I, personally, love it when authors do this. For example, if you have a story about a kid who loves bats, maybe could you name him Benjamin Alexander Tripp. Alone the name looks completely normal. But when you just look at the initials, it spells out 'bat'. Trust me. Readers love little hidden things like this. That's why the Da Vinci Code was so successful.

Picking a character name is anything BUT easy! After all, would a rose by any other name smell as sweet? I don't think so! Sorry Shakespeare, but I have to disagree with you on that one!

What are some ways that you have used to pick your characters' names? Is there something that you have tried that is not on this list? Something that might making picking names a little easier? I'd love to hear your feedback!

And the winner is....

2010-11-06T18:23:00.010-04:00

Halloween Eve, I held my first, annual Halloween Book Hop-Hop. And, boy, it fun for me! There was dancing, music, and most importantly, prizes. And, I'd like to think that everyone who participated at least had an interesting time.

The winner of the Halloween picture book contest was Christie Wright from Write Wild. And, this week's winner is Megan Bickel from The Write-At-Home-Mom.

Congrats, Megan! Thanks so much for particpating! You were a great sport! And, there are so few of those left in the world these days.

Please email me your address, and your prize will arrive in four-six weeks:)

Flag Counter

2010-11-06T17:58:00.005-04:00

If you're like me, you're fascinated by other cultures. You read books, cruise the web, and try to learn as much as you can about what makes people around the world tick.

Well,today, I happened upon a really cool tool that feeds into that particular hobby of mine, the flag counter. Not only do I get to display flags from around the world and encourage international camaraderie between picture book authors such as myself, but I also get to see which countries are actually viewing my blog. Awesomeness!

If you share this hobby of mine, here is the link to get your own flag counter
http://www.flagcounter.com/index.html

Happy Blogging, everyone! And, remember, sharing is caring!

Halloween Blog Hop-Hop

2010-10-31T09:16:00.030-04:00

Halloween Hoppers,
Welcome to my Halloween Book Hop-Hop! You brought the blogs, so now I'm bringing the boogie. Don't forget to take pics! And be sure to scroll through the entire playlist to find out who the book winner is. Technically, I can't make you do this part. I'm just not technological enough to create a way to only release the name after you've watched all the videos. But what's the fun of doing all this if you don't listen to all the songs, right? Right!

*Halloween Joke of the Day: What do you call a monster who likes to dance?

The Boogeyman

This is just a Halloween Classic.I had to include it on my playlist.

It had to be done. This reminds me of childhood.

Pure 80's, my friends. Good times!

I'm not gonna lie. I teared up on this one a little. I love Casper!

I ain't afraid of no ghost!

And this is Thriller! Ooooooowhooo! Thriller Night!

And the winner of The Hallo-Weiner by Dav Pilkey is......Christie from Write Wild.Please email me your address at jessicamstanford@yahoo.com to claim your prize. You should receive your book in 4-6 weeks.

*The contest for the giftcard will end on November 5th. Remember, you must email me a picture of you dancing to Thriller to be entered into the drawing.

The Heroes Of Olympus Video Trailer

2010-10-29T21:24:00.005-04:00

Halloween Book Hop-Hop

2010-10-26T16:04:00.002-04:00

Do you love picture books? Do you love Halloween? And most importantly, do you love to shake your groove thang'? If you answered yes to one or more of those questions, then you are going to love my newest 'Halloween Book Hop-Hop' blog hop.

What is a Halloween Book Hop-Hop?
It's only the coolest thing ever. It's a dance off and a book contest all in one. So join me on Sunday, October 31st at 10:30 pm. I am going to give away the picture book, The Hallo-Weiner, by Dav Pilkey. And we're all going to dance along with Michael Jackson's Thriller video dressed as our favorite monster/zombie. Fun, right?

Well, that's not even the best part. After the blog hop is over, anyone who sends me a photo or video of them participating in the hop(dancing in costume) will have their names entered into a drawing for a 10$ gift card to Books A Million. Not to mention, I will post all pics and video on the blog, provided that they're not too racy. So not only are you entered in the drawing for the 10$ Books A Million card(dancers only), entered into the drawing for the free book, but your blog is also getting exposure.

So how do I join?
It's simple. Just copy the linky code at the bottom of the post(or hop) and paste it into your html for one entry into the contest(+1). If you don't have a blog and still want to participate, you could Twitter(+1) or Facebook(+1) about the contest, and provide a link back to the post in the comments section. And if you do all three: blog, twitter, and facebook about the contest, you will receive three tickets in the drawing for the free book. The hop entries close on October 30th, so copy the linky ASAP.
*The only way to enter the gift card contest is to send me pics or video via my email jessicamstanford@yahoo.com by November 5th, 12pm EST.For any questions, post them in the comments section or email me.

*FYI, this is my first attempt at doing a blog hop, so bear with me as we go on this new journey together.

You may not know this about me..... A Crusader's Challenge

2010-10-25T16:21:00.000-04:00

Disclaimer: Non of what you are about to read is true in any way at all, well except for the best selling pb author part. I wholeheartedly believe that part. The rest is just my silly attempt at winning a crusader's challenge issued on another blog. So if you're interested in read my silly, totally untrue story, proceed with caution. I do use some non PG words. Check out Rach Writes and the following link if you're interested in participating. http://rachaelharrie.blogspot.com/2010/10/second-crusader-challenge.html
*******************************************************************
You may not know this about me, but in an effort to get all the skeletons out my closet before I become a famous, best selling children's author, I feel I need to let the cat out of the bag. I don't want to be like one of those flash-in-the-pants politicians that bursts onto the scene, and then gets depantsed with some big scandal. So I'm just going to dish the dirt now, on my own terms.

I...am...an...umbrella...aficionado and artist. There. I said it. Out aloud.

I am the crazy lady that collects discarded umbrellas and turns them into works of arts.

I turn trash into treasure!

Call me crazy if you will, but something about umbrellas speaks to me. Perhaps, it's the fact that they protect you when life comes pouring down around your head. Perhaps, it's because I was breast fed and an umbrella is the shape of an enormous boob. I don't know!

All I know is that they speak to me. They inspire me.

I don't want to brag or anything, but I think that I probably have the biggest collection of umbrella sculptures on the East coast, maybe in the entire United States.

Just last week, I did a show entitled A Downpour Of Art under my pseudonym Grinhelda Kartoffelpuffer. I'm thinking of just changing it to The Artist Formally Know As Kartoffelpuffer when my work starts to really take off, and just have a potato pancake symbol represent my name. But that's still a ways off. I'll get back to you later on that.

I just wanted to take the time now to reveal the many sides & faces of Jessica Stanford. I am not only an artist of words, but of umbrellas as well.

Anywho. I hope that you can understand that an artist is an artist. Whether it's words, umbrellas, or poems a true artist creates with anything.

Dog Breath: The Horrible Trouble With Hally Tosis

2010-10-25T14:27:00.000-04:00

Every once in a blue moon, a book comes along and knocks your sock off. You read it over and over again. You laugh until you cry. And, ocassionally, you even pee a little. Which in my opinion, is a good sign that a book is a keeper.

Well in the case of Dog Breath: The Horrible Trouble with Hally Tosis by Dav Pilkey, author of the award winning Captain Underpants series, I'm a little embarassed to admit that I practically peed my pants. Not only does this book have great pictures and a funny storyline, but it's just clever. And as a teacher and mama, I appreciate that.

In Dog Breath, the Tosis' Family dog has the worst breath in town, perhaps the entire world. Hally's breath curls wallpaper, makes skunks run for cover, and even makes the Mona Lisa plug her nose. So the parents decide that Hally Tosis must go, but the children are not quite ready to give up their beloved pet. And in an attempt to keep Hally, they try a number of equally funny things to tame Hally's bad breath, even going as far as watching a movie that's supposed to take your breath away. In the end though, it's a band of burgulars that inadvertantly help determine Hally's fate.

If you like books that make you laugh til' your sides hurt, has clever puns and phrases, and turns reluctant readers on to reading, then this book is for you.

I give it a high five.

Creating An Online Presence

2010-10-24T10:21:00.001-04:00

In this day and age-a time when everyone is obsessed with the next big technological thing-practically everyone spends some time online doing something. My seventy-five year old, great aunt spends time farming on Facebook. My three and five year old sons play educational games on PBS Kids. And, I have started a Facebook page, Twitter page, and this blog, of course, just to keep up with the online Joneses.

"And why do I need to do all that?" you ask. Well, the answer is simple. I, like everyone else who forms an online presence, have something to say. And my message is this....I want to be the next top model. Oh wait... no that's not it. I'm wait too short for that. It's this....I want to be the next big picture book author.

And after a year or so of researching the writing bizz-give or take a few days-I have come to realize a few things about becoming successful in the writing industry. While I don't necessarily NEED an online presence to become a successful picturebook author, it's definitely a recommendation. After all, if I can command the attention of thousands of people online on a daily basis(I wish. Seriously. Please follow. LOL), then chances are I can sell a book or two. Right? Well, that's the logic anyway!

Ok. So now that we've all decided that having an online presence is esential, what next?

Well, now you need to get down to the nitty gritty and decide which platform is best for you. You need to discover which platform/platforms suit your personal style best. Because, honestly, nothing's worse than creating a site, blog, or page in which you can't work and that you're terrible at. I mean technology is forever, people. If you mess up, it'll be documented somewhere on the world wide web forever. No pressure or anything.

So here is a list of options for you to consider using as an online presence: Twitter, Facebook,any number of writing sites, and any number of blogging sites. My preference for the blog, of course, is blog spot. But I'll get to that in a minute.

Let's start out by talking about Twitter. That seems to be all the rage now. And frankly, I'm just not getting it....yet.

Twitter's advantages, to me, are this: 1. You can get your message out there and not bore the reader with tedious details. 2. You learn a lot in quick spurts. You can join big time authors groups and find out what's going on with industry insiders (Love this aspect) 3. It's a little more formal than texting, and a lot like a real conversation. You don't have to be perfect with your writing, and most of the words are spelled correctly. 4. You can decorate your Twitter page with cool backgrounds.If you love the personal touch, you'll like this feature.

Twitter's Disadvantages: 1. I hate having to limit my words. I'm a writer. I love words. 2. Some people abuse the word limitation and send multiple tweets to get their message out there. People, if you're doing this than Twitter's not your platform. Get a new one. Please:) There's nothing worse than reading 15 tweets from the same person, in a row. I think we should have a 5-8 tweet minimum. 3. Sometimes I have to scroll on forever to get to through all the tweets in a day. Probably the reason I loathe multiple tweets in a row. 4. If you don't tweet for a few days, no one misses you. This could be a pro or a con, depending on your perspective. If you don't have a lot of time to work on your online presence, this is great. If you need to feel the love, it's not fun NOT being missed.5. Not as user friendly-IMO.(Sidenote:So far, tweeting is not my favorite online platform. I have learned a lot and will continue to use it, though. I can definitely see its advantages in the long term.)

Facebook's Advantages: 1. You're getting your message out there. 2. It's way more layed back. It just feels more comfortable for the people who have little time, and want to tell you what's going on. 3. You can post pictures and captions. 4. Very user friendly-IMO.

Facebooks Disadvantages:1. There has been a lot of controversy surrounding Facebook. 2.You can't add really cool backgrounds. Not cool if you like the personal touch.3. Again, word limitation springs to mind. While it's not as bad as Twitter, it does still put a cramp on your writing style.

Blog Advantages: 1. You're getting the word out. 2. If there is a word limitation, I haven't reached it yet. 3. Lots of cool features: backgrounds, polls, pictures, multiple pages, etc. 4. Most are pretty user friendly. I personally love blogspot, because it is so user friendly. A lot of my friends use Wordpress, and I've heard bad things. For one, you can't post countdown clocks on Wordpress. And as you guys have seen, I love countdown clocks. I will use them often. Countdowns til' book releases. Countdowns til' movies. And countdowns til' the last day of school. They serve as great reminders, and give hope that there's an end in sight.

Blog Disadvantages: 1.It takes A LOT of work to keep your blog updated. The word count is high, so people expect more. It's mucho pressure. 2. You're constanly having to look at other people's blogs to find out how to make your's better. Did I mention that it's a lot of pressure?

And Lastly, Writing Group Advantages: 1. These are a must. One, they get your name out there. 2. You will find great resources on these sites. 3. You will learn to rely on these people to critique your work and help you grow as a writer. 4. You could meet someone who helps you get published. 5. It's just the smart thing to do.(Sidenote: I personally love Writer's Digest and Writeoncon, but I've heard that Redroom is good too. Technically, I'm a member. But honestly, I don't visit. I just don't have the time.)

Writing Group Disadvantages: 1. Not all writers are created equal in these groups. What I mean by this is that some have more experience than others. So in truth, you're going to want to look at their credentials before you just go and buy into their critiques. After all, they could be new to this, like me. I always say things like ' But this is just my opinion. I'm new to all this, so take my opinion with a grain of salt' when I give a critique to someone who doesn't know my experience level. But not everyone does this. Just keep that in mind when you're listening to these people. Don't go changing up your entire story because Joe Schmoe says you should. After all, Joe Schmoe's not an expert!

So to sum everything up, whether you use Twitter, Facebook, Blogspot, or any number of other online sites, do something. Done correctly, building an online presence could help you get published, help you sell books, and help create the buzz that you want to.

More importantly, write great stories. Because in the end, that's all the matters.

LAUNDRY

2010-10-23T18:13:00.002-04:00

When you're a writer, even the most mundane tasks become a chance to practice your craft.

Leave it til’ tomorrow
Aroma of stinky socks fill the air
Underwear drawers are empty
Never ending pile of clothes
Detergent oozes out of the bottle
Really?Am I the only one who knows how to operate this machine?
Y do these clothes mock me?

*Am I the only one who does this? Are there support groups for this? Seriously. I need help!

Book and Treat: Make Halloween A Hoot With Storybook Costumes

2010-10-20T17:07:00.001-04:00

Fall is my absolute favorite time of year. The weather cools. Comfy sweaters are back in fashion. It's socially acceptable to drink hot cocoa with marshmallows everyday, especially if it's a REALLY cold. And Halloween is right around the corner.

Now some of you, especially the moms who follow the blog, may be saying, "Ugh! All that candy! I just can't handle my kids hopped up on all that sugar."

And in that regard, I agree with you. Halloween definitely provides a few, minor battles in regards to candy consumption.

But have you considered this advantage of the holiday? Halloween is actually a really great time to get your kids excited about reading again.

"Say what?" you ask. "Halloween is going to get my kids to read?"

You heard me right. Halloween is a great time to get your kids reading again. Not only are all the books about witches, goblins, monsters, and ghosts back in rotation at all the stores and libraries again. But you can also turn the first two weeks of October into a read-a-thon in which your child chooses a storybook costume to wear at the end of the month. So not only are they getting different types of books to read, but they're also getting to choose a cool prize at the end. A prize that you were probably going to give them anyway because of the holiday, and without having read all those wonderful, mind enriching, vocabulary building books.

And if you want to make the read-a-thon even more exciting and creative, you and your child/children could take it a step further and make the storybook costume together using household items like make-up, yarn, boxes, spray paint, and duct tape. It's a perfect activity for teaching to your child/children to use their imagination. Not to mention, you could throw in some math skills like measurment, just for good measure( hahahahah...get it?), if they are a little older in age.

Costume making was a yearly tradition in my household when we were younger-mainly because we didn't have the money for costumes-but I still treasure that tradition to this day. It was one of my happiest childhood memories, and I intend to continue it with my children when they are old enough to fully partcipate.

Below are some store bought and homemade, storybook character costume ideas. Please add comments if you decide to try an idea. Better yet, send in pics to jessicamstanford@yahoo.com. I'd love to post pics of the kiddos, if you feel comfortable having your little guy or gal posted on the blog.

Book-I Love You Dear Dragon (Any Dragon series)
Age Group-Toddlers and Kindergarten
http://www.buycostumes.com/browse/Fairytale-Storybook/Kids-Costumes/_/N-1z141psZ3l/results1.aspx

Book-Alice In Wonderland
Age group-teens and preteens
http://www.buycostumes.com/browse/Fairytale-Storybook/Kids-Costumes/_/N-1z141psZ3l/results1.aspx

Book-Little Red Riding Hood
Age Group-toddlers to teens
http://www.buycostumes.com/browse/Fairytale-Storybook/Kids-Costumes/_/N-1z141psZ3l/results1.aspx

Great article from Scholastic on making your own costume.
http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=1492

Countdown To PiBoIdMo

2010-10-17T13:31:00.001-04:00

Countdown Clock by Zoodu.com

Not sure what PiBoIdMo is? Check out Tara Lazar's blog, and sign up. This is our picture book SuperBowl, ya'll (I swear I'm educated. I just live in the South.)! I hope to see you there!

http://taralazar.wordpress.com/2010/10/06/piboidmo-2010-is-coming/

Breaking Through The Wall: 5 Ideas On How To Overcome Writer's Block For PB Authors

2010-10-16T15:26:00.001-04:00

Fortunately for me, I am a never ending well of picture book ideas. I've never experienced writer's block. I don't think I'll ever experience writer's block. The ideas are percolating in my brain constantly. So much so, in fact, I have to carry a journal with me every where I go, just so I don't forget a great idea.

Having said that, I think there's a big reason that I'm a never ending well of ideas, and the reason is simple-I'm completely surrounded by kids 24 hours a day. Kids at home. Kids at school. Kids at the store. Kids at the park. Kids! Kids! Kids!You get the point.

So the question is this, what do you do if you're NOT constantly surrounded by kids and you're a picture book author? How do you break through that wall and get ideas flowing? Below are my 5 suggestions.

1. Volunteer or substitute teach at a school. If you can afford to do this, the ideas will hit you from all sides. Once, I was talking to a kid about his overflowing desk and listening to the tale of how someone took his homework( NOT, he just lost it); a minuter later, I have the idea of a prankster desk fairy who steals children's homework outlined in my mind. The children believe that that they're being pranked by a fairy, and they set out to prove it to their doubting teacher. Funny, right? But if I hadn't had that simple, yet totally mundane experience, I wouldn't have had that idea.

Not to mention(fyi-my favorite phrase), volunteering in a school is a great way to get feedback from your future readers. I test out stories all the time with my kids. And the funny thing is this, sometimes they actually give me ideas that I have never considered. Once, I was reading a story from a father's perspective and one of my 2nd graders said, " You know, if you change it to mother instead of father, you would have a perfect rhyme with the word other." I know. Genius, right? It amazes me to this day that I hadn't thought of it, yet that 7 year old did.

2. Volunteer for story time at the public library, or local bookstore. Those places are always on the hunt for readers for story time. And maybe after you read a book of their choosing, they'll allow you to read one of your stories. It's worth a shot! Not to mention, (told you it was my favorite phrase) you'll be honing your presentation skills. Some day you're going to want to get paid to do author's visits. This is your chance to see what works and what doesn't, in a low pressure environment.

3.Read children's books, not just books on writing. This seems like a no brainer, right? But sometimes, I wonder if people really do this. Sometimes, I think that people try to cheat their way through writing a picturebook. They just don't get how important it is to do the research. And as a result, their stories seem tired and outdated.

My suggestion, pick timeless and current, bestselling books. Also, pick books with a strong child's voice, even if it's not a picture book. I, personally, love the Junie B. Jones series. Barbara Parks is brilliant! She channels her inner 5 and 6 year old better than anyone I've read. I, also, love the Fudge series by Judy Blume. Fudge, like Junie B, is hilarious. When he goes through his money/miser phase, I laughed til' I peed(figure of speech, I'll never tell if I really peed). And when I became a parent and read it again, I enjoyed seeing how his parents reacted to his crazy phases. Every good children's writer owes it to themselves to read these books. They WILL make you a better writer, or at least appreciate good writing.

4. Kid watch.(Sorry men, I hate to discriminate, but this probably isn't your best research strategy. This research strategy is best for females, preferrably ones that resemble grandma.)And be sure to 'kid watch' in a non scary, non stalkerish kind of way. Taking out a notebook and staring at a child, will freak the soccer moms out.In fact, they may call the cops. This strategy is only useful if you happen to find yourself sitting on the subway or a bus one day, and a child is sitting beside you. In this situation, it's totally normal to glance over at the child to see what he or she is doing. Is he or she reading a book? If yes, what kind of book? If no, what are they doing? Are they pretending to be a monster, or playing with a certain toy? If you take a quick peek, in a non threatening way, it won't wake the sleeping bear that is their mother. But if that mother happens to make eye contact with you and look wary, for-the-love-of-Pete, smile at her. Maybe, even talk to her. If you don't, she could pounce on you at any moment. Be forewarned.

5. Watch Cartoons and kid shows. They're funny. The kids love them. And they'll tell you anything that you want to to know about what's in right now. It's a perfect way to research kids and what they like. My favorite shows span from Spongebob to the Wizards of Waverly Place. And today, I spent the whole morning watching How To Train Your Dragon-twice. I mean what's not to love about dragons? They're like fire breathing, oversized dogs. Who wouldn't want to live in a viking village with a dragon pet? I'm just sayin'. Brilliant!

So that's it, five strategies on how to break through the wall of writer' block and get those ideas percolating. Feel free to chime in if you have another strategy that might help others, too. Together, we can change the world of picturebooks!

Happy Writing!

Celebrating My 50th Follower

2010-10-15T17:39:00.000-04:00

Holla! Holla! I finally have a 50th followa'. Yay! And, in honor of this awesome milestone in my blogging/ writer career, I'm going to celebrate all weekend long.

'How?' you ask. Well for starters, I'm going to give a great, big, virtual hog hug to all of my followers.

Then, I'm going to give away a free picture book, just to prove how awesome they really are.

And the winner is...Dangerous With A Pen. Please email me your home address, and I will send you an amazing picturebook. You should receive the book within 2-4 weeks.

And lastly, I'm going to do my happy dance, while lighting fireworks.

Followers/Friends, I hope you enjoyed the hog hug, video, and flashtacular fireworks; and imagined a pasty, pre-middle aged school teacher dancing in between Will and Carlton. I tried to figure out how to edit myself into the video because I thought it'd be funnier, but my technology skills are limited. This was the best I could do. Sorry:( Maybe, I can figure it all out before the 100th follower joins the blog.

Thanks, Everyone! Happy Blogging:)

Tag! You're It!

2010-10-13T17:20:00.000-04:00

One of the really great things about blogging within the literary community, is that everyone once in awhile you get to be involved in something totally silly and random, and it takes your right back to your childhood. Or as I like to call it, the good ole' days. The days when things were fun and silly, and I didn't have to clean up after anyone but myself. AWWWWWWWW(sigh), the good ole' days!

Anywho. This week we get to play a friendly game of tag on our blogs. So if you're reading this, consider yourself tagged. You're it!

1.) If you could have a superpower, what would you have? Why? That's a no brainer for me, I'd choose to have the power of invisibility. If you're super strong and you can't see me, I beat you. If you can fly but you can't see me, I beat you. And if you have x-ray but you can't see me, that power's useless. Not to mention, invisibility is just awesome. I could send in my manuscripts, and then eavesdrop as the lit agents and pubs read them. How awesome would that be?

2.) Who is your style icon? Me. Honestly, I don't even think much about what I wear before I wear it. As long as it's comfortable and looks somewhat professional,I wear it to work. And as for the rest of the hours of the day, I'm in my pajamas. The moment I walk in the door, I throw those pjs on. Pajamas are like a great big hug for your entire body. And don't even get me started on comfy slippers.

3.) What is your favorite quote? My new favorite quote is from the new Wallstreet movie. " If you stop lying about me, I'll stop telling the truth about you." In the words of pretty much anyone from that 70's show, "Burn!"

Burn! sound clip That '70s Show sound clips

4.) What is the best compliment you've ever received? One of my students just made me a poster that says "School Rocks and So does Mrs. Stanford!" It's huge, too. I have it hanging on my classroom door. All the other teachers are so jealous of my awesome poster.

5.) What playlist/cd is on your iPod/cd player right now? I have varied taste. You will find songs from The Sound of Music, John Denver, Judy Garland, Flo-rida, Rianna, The Tings Tings, and Sia. I love any song that has great lyrics.

6.) Are you a night owl or a morning person?

Night Owl. Nuff said.

7.) Do you prefer dogs or cats?

Dogs, ofcourse, man's/woman's best friend.

8.) What is the meaning behind your blog name?

It's pretty self explanatory. I'm a girl who's unpublished. I thought it seemed edgier, though, to add the comma like in 'Girl, Interrupted'.

So, that's it! Those are the eight questions you'll use if you so choose to participate in this incredibly random little tag!

Until next time, write on!

2010-10-10T18:07:00.000-04:00

In the words of world renowned singing sensation, Christina Aguilera,“Oh my God, you guys, I seriously do not have a speech prepared whatsoever. I'm shaking right now.”

Seriously, that's how I felt when I received my two 'lovely blog awards' this past week. Not only did I not expect them, but I didn't even realize that I could receive such an honor from my peers. So thanks, Kangaroobee and Allison Stevens:)I promise to post my 'lovely blog award' on the shiny mantel that is my blog and treasure it always.

And as an added bonus, I get to take my 'lovely blog award' and pass it on to other blogs that I feel are lovely. Yay!

So if I could get a drumroll please(tadadadadadadadadadadada). Here are the names of 15 blogs that I think are lovely, some are relatively new and some old pros.

1.A Newby's Guide To Publishing http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/
2.Dooley Noted http://swdooley.blogspot.com/
3.http://10blockwalk.blogspot.com/
4.http://www.storyqueenscastle.blogspot.com/
5.http://www.ishtamercurio.blogspot.com/
6.http://www.nikischoenfeldt.blogspot.com/
7.http://sharppendullsword.blogspot.com/
8.http://seeingdreamingwriting.blogspot.com/2010/09/writers-platform-building-crusade.html
9.http://mamainwonderland.blogspot.com/
10.http://karenamandahooper.blogspot.com/
11.http://jstanton-chandler.blogspot.com/
12.http://jestkeptsecret.blogspot.com/
13.http://rachaelharrie.blogspot.com
14.http://megankbickel.blogspot.com/
15.http://christiewrightwild.blogspot.com

And in addition to those lovely blogs, here are the lovely bloggers who thought that I was lovely. Much Love, ladies:)

http://kangaroobee.wordpress.com/
http://alisonstevens.blogspot.com

Are You A Diamond? I Will Be One Day!

2010-10-09T08:54:00.000-04:00

One of the toughest things about writing is the brutal sting of rejection. I'd love to say that when you submit your first story to publishers and literary agents that you won't experience the sting of rejection, but let's face it, I'd be lying. The world can be a cruel place. Rising to the top takes time. We all have to pay our dues. Nothing in life worth having comes easily. The internet is filled with quotes about rejection and success like these.

But, maybe, we need to take a moment to reflect upon the life-cycle of a diamond. First, it starts its life off as the dead remains of trees and plants. Yuck! I don't want to wear that on my finger. Then, after millions of years of hard pressure, it becomes coal-very useful, indeed. Finally, if it's lucky, it receives just the right amount pressure and turns into a priceless, yet flawed diamond. This is a rare and beautiful phenomenon of nature.

We, the apsiring writers of the world, are a lot like pieces coal, unfortunately. First, we start off with thoughts of writing. They are not mature, yet-just little inklings of what is to come in our future if we take the time to develop. We are dead the plants.Yuck! Then, we write and receive feedback. It hurts. A LOT. Sometimes we give up under the pressure. We stop growing and maturing as writers. We are coal-very useful for teaching others to write, but not reaching our fullest potential. So sad:(

But sometimes, we continue on with our writing journey despite the odds-not content with just being lumps of coal. Coal is useful, but we WANT to be diamonds. We NEED to be a diamonds. Diamonds are all we think about. So, we endure all the pressure of the writing world, and come out it as great writers because of our ability to receive criticism and grow from it. We have reached the pinnacle of our life-cycle. We are authors. We ARE AUTHORS!

So, I guess my question to you is this, are you content with being coal? Or, do you want to be diamond? Because you have to want it bad( yes, I know it's technically badly, but work with me).Will you give up because someone tells you that you're not good enough? Or, will you tell them thanks for the feedback( Yes, you must), then try to mold yourself into the writer you want to be?

I think the late Eleanor Roosevelt said it best, "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." So don't let those people make you feel inferior. Who are they anyway? They are just stepping stones to guide you across the ocean toward success. And, although they seem evil now, they ARE actually trying to help you along the way.(Yes, I choose to believe that the REALLY mean ones are too).

Not to mention, their opinion isn't everything. They may HATE your writing, but someone else may LOVE it. Think of them as only one opinion is a sea of opinions. They are just another Average JOE, just like you. They put their pants on one-leg-at-a-time, just like you. They use the bathroom, too, just like you. And, yes, they have their own insecurities about their writing and life, just like. We all do.

The only BIG difference between 'them' and 'you' is this-they didn't give up when they felt the sting of rejection. So you can't either! Not if you want to be a diamond.

For The Fun Of It

2010-10-04T00:44:00.001-04:00

Warning: This poem has not been edited for grammatical errors or meter. It was written for the sheer fun of it. Enjoy:)

My Mom's A Nut
by: Jessica Stanford

My mother tried to warn me
to stay away from thee.
"Your eyes will cross, or you'll go blind
from watching that t.v!"

I didn't heed the warning.
I thought it was absurd.
And now my eyes are criss crossing
just like a cuckoo bird.

Next time, I swear I'll listen
to my dear mom's advice.
I'll clean my room and do my chores-
won't have to ask me twice.

Unless, she tells me no t.v.
It makes your eyesight bad.
On second thought, my mom's a nut.
I'll listen to my dad.

Syllable Contest-Calling All Poets

2010-10-03T21:03:00.000-04:00

As a wannabe writer of rhyming picture books, I have come to realize that syllable count and stress are just as important as word choice. Sometimes they even limit your ability to choose the right words to write.

So in the spirit of having fun and growing in our craft, this month I will hold a syllable writing contest. The rules are simple. Write a description about yourself using ONLY fourteen syllables. The winner will get the esteemed honor of being my FIRST interviewee on this blog(LOL). The contest ends on October 31, 2010.

And to lead by example, here is what I would write.

14 Syllables Describing Jessica Stanford

weekend blogger
shot-gun caller
mother
wife
and teacher