Picture Book Summit 2017

Meet Dash...he is everywhere these days getting others excited about the upcoming Picture Book Summit 2017.  October 7, 2017, is rapidly approaching.  What a day it will be! Even if one is unable to attend live, replays are available for a period of time after to listen, or re-listen, to all information and presentations. It is an incredible experience and well worth every cent.

It is not too late to sign up. For more information on speakers and workshops or to register, go to http://picturebooksummit.com.

Tommy dePaola, Carole Boston Weatherford, Adam Rex, Julie Hedlund, Steve Swinburne, Laura Backes Bard, Brenda Bowen...need I say more?

Now, Dash away, Dash away, Dash away all and sign up!

A Day to Read

I just read today is National Book Lovers Day. What an awesome day! A day for all who love to read. What more could we want? Except maybe a little extra time today to enjoy a good read:)

So, whether you are reading for school, reading for fun or reading to your kids, carve out some time and enjoy!

Opportunity for Writers in the Area

We have a wonderful SCBWI Dakotas writing opportunity in September.  Consider joining us if able. It sounds amazing! Thank you to Kendra Levin for providing this terrific conference and to Betty Raum, our fearless leader, for organizing it.

Click here for more information...https://dakotas.scbwi.org/events/dakotas-2017-writing-workshop/

Hope to see you there!

Building Sand Castles

I've been thinking recently about all my manuscripts that are started, in various stages of completion, as well as those in need of final edits before sending out into the world. I seem to have an easier time starting new things this summer than I do tackling the edits needed on several PB manuscripts.

As a matter of convenience, I can start something new no matter where I am...in my car, on vacation, running errands, etc.  All I have to do is grab a scrap of paper or dictate a voice memo into my phone and viola...something new is born.  However, it feels a much bigger project and is definitely a more time consuming one to sit down, butt in chair, and tackle the edits and re-workings of shaping a current WIP into submission shape.  Perhaps it is having the kids all home during the summer months or constantly being on the go for a variety of reasons. I have four PBs needing final edits and want them all complete before a very exciting September conference thus the time has come to buckle down and get to work. It is exciting to envision the finished products and yet daunting to tackle as a whole.

Today, I saw this quote, and it gave me new inspiration.  Who doesn't love to build a great sand castle? It is an inspiring idea and one I will hold onto as I shape my sandbox into various sand castles.

Where do you find your greater inspiration...in the creation of the original draft or in the shaping into a final and finished product? I would love to hear your process and insights.

Book Review: Tamara Turtle's Life So Far

TITLE: TAMARA TURTLE’S LIFE SO FAR

AUTHOR: Regan W.H. Macaulay

ILLUSTRATOR: Javier Duarte

PUBLISHER: Mirror Publishing

PUBLISHED: June 15, 2017

PAPERBACK ISBN: 978-1-61225-368-8

Tamara is a Red-eared Slider turtle, and this endearing story tells the tale of her life thus far. Tamara is excited to be chosen from all the other Red-eared Sliders only to eventually be forgotten and ignored by her owner and set free in a nearby creek by his mother. Tamara is found by a man who finds her and taken to a special new place where she eventually is rescued and taken home where she belongs.

                       

Ms. Macaulay weaves facts about turtles and taking care of them as pets into a fun story to which kids can relate and learn from without feeling a lesson is being taught—though a good lesson on the importance of providing the best environment and pet care is being taught.

Javier Duarte’s illustrations are beautifully colorful and vivid and bring Tamara and Ms. Macaulay’s story to life.

TAMARA TURTLE’S LIFE SO FAR is a terrific book which teaches responsibility and encourages a very important conversation between parents and children about rescue and care of pets.

Author information can be found at http://reganwhmacaulay.weebly.com.

**Disclosure: I received a copy of this book free of charge from the author in exchange for an honest review. This review consists only of my truthful opinions, not influenced in any way by the author or publisher.

Celebrate Independence

Happy Independence Day!  Thank you to all who have served and those who continue to serve. We owe you all such a debt of gratitude!

Enjoy your 4th of July holiday and be safe. God Bless the USA!

To Rhyme or Not to Rhyme?

That is, indeed, an important question.  It is one I've been wrestling with on my recent PB edits.  I have a story begging to be written in rhyme, so I've been immersing myself in the "what to do/not to do" rules in the world of rhyme recently to refresh myself as I tackle the edits.  

I LOVE rhyme!  Always have.  I love to read a good rhyming picture book, and I enjoy the challenge of writing a good rhyming picture book.  But a challenge it is! There is so much to think about...more than just rhyming the end words of lines. It has to sing!

I listened to a wonderful webinar replay on rhyming last night by Renee LaTulippe from my 12 x 12 webinar series. It was incredible and re-energized my edits.  Renee is wonderful and so very knowledgeable about writing in rhyme. I highly recommend reading or listening to anything she presents if you are prone to writing in rhyme.  I will be checking out her Lyrical Language Lab myself soon.

For more information on 12 x 12, go to http://12x12challenge.com/membership/.  I cannot say enough about the benefits of belonging to the 12 x 12 community.  It is, without a doubt, the best thing I've done for my writing life.  

For more information on Renee LaTulippe, go to http://www.reneelatulippe.com/writing-courses/.

Back to the point of my post...for you rhymers out there, what is your process?  Do you start with a story written in prose and decide it needs to rhyme? Do you hear the music and rhyme of your story and build from there? I would love to hear your thoughts if you are willing to share.

Happy writing and rhyming!