Artwork

Today my editor sent me a sneak preview of the artwork for my new book, Rodney Robbins and the Rainy-day Pond. It is fantastic! I don't think I'm supposed to reveal who the artist is, but I will say that the style is just exactly what the story needs. I'm thrilled to finally see Mr. Hamilton and Rodney come alive. All artwork is supposed to be finished by the end of December for a January 2010 book launch. That should translate into a late-Spring book in hand. Marketing is hoping to get the book on some summer reading lists.

Last week I sent October Bell out to five more publishers. We'll see what happens with this batch. Somewhere out there is a publisher who is just right for that story.

Two Roads

Okay, so this isn't a running blog, but I must report that I ran my fourth marathon on Saturday. Twenty-mile-per-hour winds were a definite factor as was the reality that I would be running the distance by myself (oh, and 1499 other runners) due to my running buddy's having begged off four weeks previously. At the starting gun, I choked back tears: the last thing I was looking to do was run for nearly five hours in my Polartec mittens. (It was 37 degrees.) Instead I desperately wanted to return to our suite at the hotel and drink coffee and watch HGTV. But alas, there was a 26.2-mile job to be done. Two roads diverged in the Huntsville dawn. I took the one traveled by crazy people. And that has made all the difference.

Here's a little unsolicited praise for Mumsi Meets a Lion from someone I don't even know in Texas:

"As part of the teaching process, we were to bring in a picture of a lion or some video footage to help understand how big they are, etc. So I brought her book about Mumsi--the kids loved it!"

It's always nice when someone else loves your baby.

What's Up

Not much going on these days other than final training runs for my December 12 marathon. I am trying to work steadily on the information needed for a new website, filling in a Google doc a little at a time.

I recently read Peace Like a River by Leif Enger. I'd heard so much about it, and in many ways it didn't disappoint. The strengths for me were the pacing and drive of the story. Each event propelled you to the next--not in a cheap thrills, cliff-hanger sort of way but in an adrenaline-charged, curiosity-killed-the-cat ride. The style was solid and non-cliched, unforced and comfortable. Perhaps if I'd read it before Gilead, I'd have been more taken with it. Don't get me wrong--I'd highly recommend it.

Mumsi Music

Today I met with the director of the Mumsi Meets a Lion program. She and I attempted to figure out where within the text to place the poems (that she will turn into songs) that I wrote. We found some places where I need to edit the poems for logic's sake. We also found one "hole" that needs to be filled by another song--probably about Mumsi's running home after the lion leaves. The collaboration was a lot of fun.

I've also been asked to speak in a writing class next week as a writer of children's nonfiction. I will discuss my freelancing opportunities and the challenges of writing for a deadline and to fit someone else's idea of a good piece.

More research today on places to send my writing. I used the latest issue of SCBWI magazine for ideas. Always something on the to-do list . . .

Website Demo

I demoed a CMS for my upcoming website yesterday. Wow, was it ever easy, which is just what I need. I'm definitely not wired for techno and creative. Creating pages, adding content, etc., seemed to be a breeze. I continue to write copy for the website: book blurbs and bios and the like. This is another form of self-promotion, a difficult task for me. But if one is going to produce a product (and one is trying to), it seems that one ought to be willing to get it out there for folks to see. (You see, I'm talking about myself here.)

Website Planning

I met with my tech people (wink, wink) and began planning for a website. I've done some preliminary research about what I like/don't like, want/don't want. Now the time has come to make decisions about specifics for each page: how many pages, how people will navigate through the site, what will appear on each page, and many other things I don't know anything about. I'm told I need to select a Content Management System. I'm considering Big Blue Hat, but I need to give it a trial run first. I'm told it's easier than many--and I'm such a techno-infant.

Two More Submissions

I submitted Daniel's Day to two more publishers today. I hope to get a rejection letter from at least one of the publishers I've submitted to. I can't learn from nothing, so it would be nice to get some kind of feedback. I also worked on the novel just a bit. I must get more consistent with that--I wait so long between times that I work on it that it's almost like starting over every time.

Hidden Treasure Reading

Today I took Mumsi Meets a Lion to Hidden Treasure, a school for the disabled. Since today is National Young Readers Day, the school decided to have a number of local celebs and/or authors in to read to the students. (I fall most firmly into the latter category.) The students there were so enthusiastic and attentive. They really became involved in Mumsi's story--imitating the lion sounds and echoing Mumsi's injunction of "Don't move; don't breathe. And whatever you do, don't run." Some understood more than others, but all were appreciative. I found myself encouraged and challenged by those special students. I left a complimentary copy of the book with them, and they were so excited to get to read it again and again. At the end of my visit, they presented me with a big cookie. What a wonderful ministry the teachers and helpers at Hidden Treasure have!

Daniel's Day Out Again

I've decided to send my stories out to multiple publishers at the same time. I sent Daniel's Day out to two more places. It's hard to wait 9 to 12 weeks between sending things out. This way I feel less like I'm spinning my wheels.

Noises in the Night

That's the title of one of the songs I've written for the K5 program that will feature Mumsi Meets a Lion (or Mumsi, the Musical, as my husband likes to call it). The song features onomatopoeic words that mirror animals that Mumsi meets in the forest. I have about eight songs in the works. I've "released" three to the program director/musician who will be setting them to music. So far, so good. I'm hoping that one of the songs that states the book's repeated warning, "Don't Run, Mumsi," will use a variation of the Kenyan folk song (not sure that's what it would be called?), "Jambo Bwana." But we'll see what the composer thinks. . . .

Sonnets in the Mail

Mumsi Meets a Lion is being turned into a play! A K5 class is going to be performing a staged version of the book in the Spring. I've been asked to write some songs for the kids to sing at various points in the action. This will definitely be a first for me: ditty writer.

Yesterday I mailed the two sonnets to Indiana. I took them to the post office without an entry fee check inside and had to call and have the postmaster pull the envelope out of the pile so that I could run a check up. Ooops. That would've been embarrassing: "Ummm, Ms. Stegall, you didn't include a check. But just forget about it . . . really." Today I'm hoping to work on some song texts for the Mumsi play and put in some time on the novel.

Quondam and Tide

Those are the titles of two sonnets that I've written for a sonnet contest. I'm no sonneteer, mind you. Just stretching my poetic wings a bit. I like the constraints of the form as an exercise in flexibility--if that makes some sort of odd sense. . . . I hope to print them off later today and possibly send them in. That would be a pleasant finish to a fairly unproductive week writing-wise.

Just the Facts

Wow. I've been so bad about posting. Here's what's happening around here that's keeping me from writing. No excuses, just facts.

--new responsibilities at work
--death of a friend
--new commitments at church
--an out-of-town trip that I coordinated
--showers and parties and kids' school events
--increased marathon training (read: lotsa miles)

In brief, LIFE has happened, and writing has been put on hold for a season. In the queue I have a sonnet to finish before November 15, a poem to write before November 15, and a short story to write before January 1. (Note to self: this story may be titled, "This Little Cow.")

Yesterday I mailed a copy of Which End Up? to a publisher whose website says that they are seeking books with a distinctive flair and possibilities for unique presentation styles. I think my book would be a good match given the upside down "motif." I made a dummy book for this submission since the concept of flipping the book is a little difficult to explain. I always wish I were an illustrator for these submissions since seeing the pictures would help sell the concept, I think. But I'm not, so there you have it.

Writing Away

I went yesterday to my favorite writing spot/coffee shop and had a good "session." I didn't get much writing done, but I did get some organizational things accomplished. First, I got the wheels rolling on getting a website. I consulted with "my people" (you know who you are) and as a result I now own the kimstegall.com domain! Woo-hooo! Of course, there's nothing up yet. But one thing at a time. Next, I figured out to whom I want to send Which End Up? and wrote the intro. letter. I'm hoping to send that manuscript out today. Unfortunately, that's one for which I really need to make a dummy book, so it takes a good bit of time to send out. We'll see. I got nothing done on my novel. Oops.

Daniel's Day Submitted

I sent Daniel's Day off last week. Not sure how I failed to record that earlier. I sent it to FSG. This is the first time I've included a SASE with my manuscript. That will be interesting to know when the manuscript arrives. FSG allows for simultaneous submissions, but I can't imagine that editors really like that. (I know of at least one who doesn't.) Still, I may go ahead and send the story off to one or two others just to keep the ball rolling. This week I hope to rework Which End Up? and resubmit that. I would also like to work more on my novel. Wow, it's so hard to long enough blocks of time to make much headway.

I finished my second month of freelancing for a children's magazine and received the first issue. My name isn't anywhere in the mag, but that suits me just fine since the writing is not my usual style. Just keep the checks coming, right?

Three Finished Poems

I finished three poems in my "series" and am sending them off tomorrow. There's not a huge poetry market these days, but I found a small publication that might be interested. I sent "Football," "Radio," and "Horseradish"--my three favorites. My father-in-law would be so amazed to read about his early exploits in poetic form.

Rodney Robbins and the Rainy-day Pond

So that's my official title now. I just got word on that this afternoon. (I told my editor that it would be referred to as Hamilton's Pond in my memoirs.) I now enter what my editor loves to call the "black hole" of publishing. That means that I hear virtually nothing about what's happening with my book while they negotiate with an illustrator, set up pages, design the cover, and so on. Perhaps, if I'm very, very good, I will get a sneak peek at something now and then.

I'm really crossing my fingers about the illustrator. I have a friend who is an excellent illustrator, and her name has been thrown into the ring as a possibility for my book. That would be so great on so many levels. I better not hope too much for that lest I be horrifically disappointed if she doesn't get the job. There's a Shakespeare line that goes something like "Do not? Dare not? Do you know and dare not?" That line comes to my mind every time I have contact with my editor now.

It's a Go!

Hooray! My second book will be published by JourneyForth Press. Hamilton's Pond will actually see the light of day. More details to come!

Taking the Pond Plunge

I did it! I resubmitted my Hamilton's Pond story just two minutes ago! I feel relieved and happy. I just wasn't sure it would happen. I sure hope I don't have to wait forever to hear back. The new edits make the story stronger, I think. There was one I declined to make: I didn't want to delineate everything about the scooter. I felt that a good illustrator could tell a funny story with the scooter better than I could write it out. We'll see what the editor thinks about my ignoring that particular comment. I really want to see this story work out.

Relax and Write

Ahhhhh! I had a wonderfully relaxing morning writing at ABC today. I was able to look objectively at my story and do some tweaking. I don't think the point of view change ruined the story at all. I did have one point of disagreement with the editorial committee: I don't think I should have to explain where Rodney's scooter is at all times. I think that is something that is better left to a clever illustrator. We'll see how my editor reacts to that notion.

I also received two new freelance assignments--we're on to the next month of the magazine.

An Answer

I finally heard back from my publisher about Hamilton's Pond. And the answer is rather mixed. I'm not sure how I feel about it. Before giving me a contract, the review committee wants me to change the POV to Rodney. (Remember him?) The POV now is limited omniscient. I just don't see the change. . . at least not right now. The review committee seems to think that kids won't go for a story that features an adult. I think lots of kids' stories feature adults. Anyway, I need some time to absorb and decide whether I want to make that change.

Sidetracked

Currently not working on creative projects--just doing freelance editorial work, adapting a play, and editing a video project. Knee deep in stuff for other people. Oh, well, back to my pet projects later. . . .

Sparkle Plenty

Anyone remember the cartoon Dick Tracy? Well, the cartoon featured a girl named Sparkle Plenty (daughter of B.O. and Gravel Gertie Plenty). Her name became synonymous with anyone or anything that had chic-ness, effulgence, and, well, sparkle. (Notice her long, flowing, blonde hair. That's sparkle for you.) It's what my editor wants. It's what my piece Which End Up? lacked. The first line began, "Humans function . . ." I mean, really. So this morning a tried adding a little sparkle. I even used the term "tricked out." Just call me Sparkle Plenty.

Green Glow Worms

Just freelanced an article on swimming worms that drop glowing green bombs from their heads when threatened. Really. I'm certainly learning a lot from this experience.

As I expected, my creative writing efforts have been severely curtailed due to my return to work last week. I need to get a plan and stick with it. It's just that now I'm heading to work in the morning, running errands/doing housework/freelancing in the afternoons, then helping with homework and getting supper ready in the evenings. (I know, I know--no excuses.) Right now my choices seem to be to get up earlier, stay up later, or let the house go. Hmmmmmmm.

Updates

Okay, so let's review what's out there hanging:

Since I've heard no word on October Bell, I resent today to another publisher (#3). Now I wait for 3 months.

Still waiting for word on Hamilton's Pond from my first publisher. Word is that I may hear something next week. The project has been tabled but will be revisited soon. My editor is championing this.

Daniel's Day is waiting for my first-choice editor to be freed up from considering the above project.

I'm working on a sonnet just for kicks. This may be entered in a sonnet contest in November. Here's the first line (at least for now): "Somewhere in ancient past before this day."

Still need another poem (on school?) for my poem sequence. I will probably need to talk to Jeff's dad for this since all of the poems are about him.

I've written three articles now for a new freelance project. That is proving to be quite enjoyable.

So that's what's going on for now. What will the rest of the week hold?

Back to Work

Returning to my regular work today was difficult. Of course, the morning was spent greeting colleagues and cleaning off my desk. So it was not until right at the end that I got around to some actual editing. The feeling walking up to the front door was bittersweet--familiar, comfortable . . . but required. (That's the bitter part.)

I received word back from my new freelance writing job for a Christian magazine publisher that my piece was accepted with only minor adjustments. (And most of those were style issues--I'm not used to theirs yet.) One suggestion I made turned into a second (very small) assignment, so that was a pleasant surprise.

Big Week

So much has happened this week. First, I was able to spend two full mornings working on writing. And I do mean working on writing . . . not actually writing. There is so much to be done in the way of researching publishers, researching topics (what topics are already done to death by which publishers and who has what holes), charting a plan, resubmitting, etc. I didn't hear anything from the October Bell people, so I'm planning to resubmit that next week someplace else.

Here's a peek at my to-do list for the next week/weeks:
1) Join SCBWI.
2) Check out writing conferences to attend. (NYC in January?)
3) Think seriously about putting together a website.
4) Re-submit October Bell and Which End Up? (8/20).
5) Study publishers who have/don't have books about adoption.
6) Look for publishers who welcome/encourage manuscripts about disabled children.
7) Write another poem for the "series."

Lots to do. And I start back to my "real" job on Monday!

Publisher Research

I've spent several days and tons of hours poring over the 2009 Children's Writer's & Illustrator's Market. (Incidentally, do they ever need a good editor!) The articles by authors and publishers have given invaluable advice on today's market. They've also given me encouragement to keep submitting even after rejection. It's amazing how many times some of these people were rejected before finding a publisher. I've been marking the publishers who accept unsolicited manuscripts and noting who is interested in what kinds of books. A number of publishers are looking for books about children with handicaps--which I just happen to have.

Another interesting section of the book is about various writing conferences and support groups. Many of the authors cite those two outlets are primary influences and helps in their getting published. I'm looking into some conferences here in the Southeast this fall.

Now on to the 2010 guide!

Gilead

I finished Marilynne Robinson's Gilead a couple of weeks ago. The story was at first difficult reading--heavy, that is, and serious. I was afraid that it was going to be a bit esoteric for me. But I really grew to love the story, the characters, and Robinson's writing style. The language and themes were all so lovely and tranquil yet with a throbbing undercurrent of faith-based questioning that (at least for me) strengthened rather than diminished the book's effectiveness--not at all preachy but very moving and instructive. There is also an element or two of surprise in this otherwise placid letter from a preacher to his son that makes the ending sparkle with thoughtful significance. The book makes me want to read the author's other books, Home and Housekeeping.

Poetry

Today I worked on my poetry "collection." (I use quotation marks because there are only five poems so far, so I'm not sure that they qualify as a collection. They are, however, related somewhat, so perhaps they do qualify.) They are free-verse poems based on stories that my father-in-law has told me about his childhood. The poems are Radio, Shoes, Horseradish, Football, and today's new one, Outhouse. There is very little market for poetry, but these were just begging to be written. It's amazing how much time and energy go into the artful compression of thought that makes poetry poetry. Exact, sparse, and imageful words take effort; there is a lot of paring away of unnecessary bits. Sometimes I worry that I take so much away that the image is visible only to me, like covering up most of a photograph and expecting someone else to recognize the picture: it seems so obvious to the one doing the covering or the paring. Perhaps I'll publish some of the poems (or parts of them) here at some point.

Movie Version a Flop

Wow. The movie version of The Tale of Despereaux was a disappointment. Much of what made the book delightful--namely the author-reader interaction--was gone from the film script. Characters were altered drastically or invented capriciously, e.g., the jailer/unfit father and the strange vegetable man. And poor Miggery Sow was not given her due--she was a much more pitiful creature than the movie led one to believe. And Roscuro's redemption seemed a bit over the top. I wonder what Kate Di Camillo thought of the version they presented? No surprise that the movie didn't come close to the book. Most of them don't.

Juvenile Fiction Read

I failed to mention in the last post that I read The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo on the plane last week. What a delightful story! DiCamillo artfully captures the interest of the young reader throughout, urging said reader to look up words, listen carefully, heed advice. She capitalizes on the childish fascination with things a bit gross and scary and weaves a tale of bravery and forgiveness despite overwhelming adversity. The first chapter, in which the large-eared, wide-eyed mouse is born ends in a way that compels the reader to read on:

"But, reader, he did live.
This is his story."

The drama involves said mouse, several unscrupulous rats, and Miggery Sow (yes, reader, named for a pig), a pitiful, not-too-bright farm girl, who's been abandoned and abused.

Here are a couple of favorite quotations among many memorable lines:

"Reader, you must know that an interesting fate (sometimes involving rats, sometimes not) awaits almost everyone, mouse or man, who does not conform."

(Oddly enough, I didn't find the book a tirade on conformity, as the previous sentence would suggest.)

"Unfortunately, a rat can hang from a chandelier for only so long before he is discovered. This would be true at even the loudest party."

The true test was giving it to my 12-year-old boy, who devoured the 270-page book in a day. Definitely a must-read for the 7-12 age group.

More Great Reads

I finished A Tree Grows in Brooklyn last week. I almost didn't plow through because of some objectionable elements but more than that a nearly overwhelming sense of despondence that came over me while I was reading. I just knew the main character and her mother were going to make terrible choices, and I didn't feel up to handling that. (I'm a very empathetic reader.) However, I did persevere and was glad I did so. Francie makes such an amazing journey and gathers so many images along the way. My favorite image was of a young Francie sitting on the fire escape with her pillow and book sucking peppermint disks and watching girls in other apartments get ready for their Friday night dates. The image recurs at the end of the book when Francie is leaving the old neighborhood and sees a little girl reading and watching her. When Francie tells the girl, "Goodbye, Francie," it's a real heartstring puller.

I'm now reading Gilead by Marilynne Robinson. It's a Pulitzer Prize winner that is deeply reflective--a work that cannot be rushed and will most likely never be plumbed (at least by me). Will probably comment further on this when I'm finished.

And the Answer Is . . . Wait Some More

My editor/publisher let me know yesterday that she is herself in a holding pattern given some restructuring/negotiations/red tape stuff going on in her office. The publisher evidently is trying to broaden its audience. That being the case, it doesn't seem that this will affect the decision on my book (Hamilton's Pond) except for timing possibly. Of course, this is all speculation on my part. Exact words: "this will push the decision deeper into the calendar." Go figure.

Stamp of Approval

Today the mother I interviewed about her son's disability read Daniel's Day. She cried. Okay, that was quite gratifying. She felt that the tone (what I'd been so concerned about) was right: serious but not morbid and with enough touches of humor. She made one suggestion and that was that the massaging session I mentioned would take place at the therapist's not the doctor's office. I made that change and am continuing to let the piece simmer as I consider whether to submit it now.

Still waiting to hear about Hamilton's Pond. I really don't want to submit another story to the same editor until I hear about the first one. Not sure if that's the right tactic or no.

No News Is No News

I found out yesterday that my editor will be out of the office until Thursday of this week. So that means that I will most likely not hear anything until next week about the status of Hamilton's Pond. This manuscript submission process will teach me patience yet.

Still diddling away on Daniel's Day.

An Austen Afternoon

My daughter and I attended a Jane Austen lecture, tea, and film showing this afternoon at our downtown public library. The lecturer spoke on the subject of "Austen and the Stormy Sisterhood," a reference to a famous criticism of Austen by Charlotte Bronte. (Bronte believed Austen to value reason over passion to a deplorable degree.) Although I did not agree with all of the lecturer's assessments, I was intrigued by the whole of idea of famous authors critiquing one another's works. I know my favorite criticism quotation is Jonson's of Shakespeare when Jonson said, "Sufflaminandus erat," that is, "He ought to have been stopped." Of course, I humbly but heartily disagree with Mr. Jonson.

Chasing Redbird

Earlier this week I finished Sharon Creech's YA novel Chasing Redbird. Although I still loved her semi-rambling, casual style--a style that feels comfortable, like a favorite chair--the plot of this novel passed me by somehow. The characters were endearing and memorable--the uncle who runs about waving a stick; the main character, Zinny, a collector of everything from bottlecaps and white pebbles to mental images and fading memories. The weakness I saw was the fact that many of the character actions seemed unmotivated: why is Zinny obsessed with the trail? why have her aunt and uncle created this other world in the woods? and how is it possible that no one knew about the cabin? why is Jake a kleptomaniac? I had the same feeling with this novel that I have feared for my own writing; that is, that I will become so enamored of a certain image that I will ram it into my work whether it fits or no. The dying-in-a-drawer image struck me this way. And the medallion. And the snake thrashing. And the divided house. I'm not giving up on Creech though. I still admire her breadth of style and unwillingness to fall into a safe pattern in her writing. Formulaic she is not. And that seems like a great rule to follow.

Read Aloud

I read my story aloud to my husband today. It was nice to have an audience. I found myself getting choked up near the ending. I still think that there are some rough passages and that some of the things that are clear to me are probably muddy to someone unfamiliar with my topic, but it's coming along. The tweaking continues.

Down to Business

Today is another writing day courtesy of my hubby. I'm sitting in a coffee shop with a mug of coffee and a banana nut muffin top preparing to let the creative juices do what creative juices do best. My goal is to knuckle down on the Daniel's Day story. I'd love to get that into submittable style before we leave for vacation in a week and a half. I need to incorporate the info from the interview and get a couple more questions answered along the way. I think tone is going to be my biggest hurdle on this piece: serious but not somber, light but not trivial, happy but not giddy.

Response to Literature

I recently re-read the epilogue to More Precious Than Gold, the story of a terrible house fire that left young Becky Vaughn permanently disabled and disfigured. Several things stuck out to me as I read of her ordeal. One was the magnitude of her injuries: she had over 57 surgeries and 171 blood transfusions at the time of the writing. Another was her awareness (as an impressionable teenager) that she was not physically attractive to other people and her knowledge that other people would stare at her. At one point in her narrative, she says, “I’m only telling you this because I’m writing it and you’re not looking at me.” Throughout her story Becky remained thankful that God spared her life. Although she was “not sure what [her] story will be yet,” she recognizes that “God has been very good” to her. The poignant statement “I’m glad I’m alive” at the end of her piece is a gut-punch of an ending and a reminder of “what is really important in life.”

Reading Update

Last week I read Jamie Turner's newest book, Sometimes a Light Surprises, about a man whose wife died years previously, and he is estranged from his children. Although I could not empathize as well with this character as with the protagonist of Winter Birds, I enjoyed Turner's exquisite characterizations as always. These are people you feel you know and just might catch yourself requesting prayer for at Wednesday night prayer meeting. I also read Kate DiCamillo's Because of Winn-Dixie, a book I've intended to read for some time. I thoroughly enjoyed the pacing, the characterization, and the plot. I thought it was spot-on for its YA demographic. Next up: Chasing Redbird by Sharon Creech, my current favorite YA author.

Research Interview

Today I talked with a friend who has a disabled child. She answered my questions about the family's daily activities and how the other children are involved in taking care of the disabled child. I spoke with the children, too. Their input was quite affectionate. Neither one seems at all shy or embarrassed about their sibling. They both treat the whole situation as if it's the most normal thing in the world. As I expected, I had no sooner left but I had a number of further questions. Ah, well, these can be covered by email.

Probably the most interesting thing about the interview was the mother's saying that the disabled child adds an immeasurable sweetness to the home--something that seems to defy description. However, I shall attempt it. Or perhaps the sweetness is better left to the illustrator. . . .

Back at It

Today my wonderful husband gave me the morning to write. I went to a local coffee shop that had wi-fi and worked diligently on Daniel's Day, the story of a handicapped child and his siblings. I was surprised at how much I had already written. The story is really taking good shape. Tomorrow I will go visit friends who have a handicapped child and ask questions about how they go about their days. I'm interested mostly in how the other children work with the handicapped child. I feel as though I'm handling this in a very sensitive manner, and I genuinely want the piece to be educational, inspiring, and challenging. But I worry that in my ignorance, I may ask questions that seem callous. At the same time, I don't want to sugarcoat what the family is dealing with. Happily, this family is well-grounded and very open.

I also did something I've never done before--at least not on a computer. I reformatted the last two or three paragraphs with each of the 10-12 sentences on separate lines (not in paragraph form). Then I cut and pasted in order to get the right order. In the process I realized that there were some redundancies as well as sentences that were irrelevant. How difficult it is to part with favorite ideas or turns of phrase! But seeing each attempting to "stand" on its own made the superfluous sentences obvious.

Stagnation

My life is currently so busy that I don't seem to have time to write . . . at least not for publication. I'm writing blog posts for Summer Shakespeare, writing assignments with a student I'm tutoring in writing, and similar things, but no "official" writing. And momentarily I'm leaving to address a group of high school students about the play they will see tonight (Two Gentlemen of Verona). (That's related only by virtue of its being communication of some sort.) I really am itching to have a block of time in which to get some ideas down on paper.

Off to Reviewers

Well, my book Hamilton's Pond made it through its first big hoop: the editor. As far as she's concerned, it's a go! Now it's off to the review committee. I'm not sure what that means--whether it's something of a formality or yet another potential obstacle. At any rate, I'm glad to have news. Now it's wait, wait, wait again for the reviewer feedback to come in. That should be several more weeks.

I'll be interested to see whether any of the reviewers question the use of the word "asphalt." I hadn't thought of it before, but today during an email exchange with my editor, I decided that the word was perhaps a bit old for children the ages of my intended audience. I did "field research" on three subjects ages 5, 10, and 12. Neither the 5-year-old nor the 10-year-old knew what the word meant. The 12-year-old did. (Incidentally, the 12-year-old is my son.) I suggested "tar" as a possible change from my own text since I talk only of how somethings smelled--not what it actually was.

Add One to the Booklist

A friend just brought me A Beginning, A Muddle, and an End: The Right Way to Write Writing by Avi. So I'm adding that book to my to-be-read list. This should be a good week for getting some reading done . . . and hopefully some writing as well.

Tomorrow (which is, I guess, today) I hope to do further research on Lovers of Laundry. I did some Bible study yesterday and attempted to outline the book. My thoughts so far are rather unwieldy: too broad, too scattered, too nebulous. I'm hoping that looking at other books of a similar genre will help me focus on what I want to accomplish with this book.

Books I'm Reading

While I wait for word on my latest project(s), I'm continuing to write. But as most (all?) good would-be writers do, I'm reading, too. Here's what's on my recently read list:

Heartbeat (Creech)
How to Study the Bible (MacArthur)
The Old Man in the Corner (Orczy)
Kitchen Privileges (Clark)

Here's what's on my to-be-read list:

Sometimes a Light Surprises (Turner)
How to Speak Shakespeare (Pritner & Colaianni)
Peace Like a River (Enger)
another Sharon Creech book

What else should I be reading? Any suggestions for me?

Spy Network

My daughter and her friend ran into my editor yesterday. The editor told the girls that she was eager to read my revised manuscript and that it was next on her list. So perhaps that means that I will hear something this week. The editor also mentioned that she could already see some of the illustrations and who would do them. Now doesn't that seem hopeful?! To be continued . . .

Hamilton's Pond Revisited

Yes, it's true. I re-submitted my children's book story Hamilton's Pond with a revision that added a child who is involved in the plot. My editor will get back to me at some point. So it's the waiting game again. For now, I'm continuing to work on our summer play, which opens Friday. After that, I'll try to find time to do some research on Daniel's Day and Lovers of Laundry. Both pieces have been stagnating for some time while other projects pushed them out of the way.

An Ending in Sight

The End is near! The story Hamilton's Pond has made it through my daughter and now my husband. His comments involved questioning how asphalt is laid (who knows?), remarking that my placement of an odor in the story was odd (it was), and wanting me to add some more details (I did). So now everyone's happy, but I still need one more pass before I'm willing to let it go back to the editor. Hopefully, I'll be able to do that in the morning before I head to the ticket office for the day. Perhaps my quick turnaround will inspire a quick turnaround in others. :)

It's All About the Ending

And I'm having trouble with mine. I just can't seem to get it right. It doesn't feel or sound finished yet. The reader needs to feel a sense of "Oh. Wow. That was good" when he reads the last line, I think. I'm hoping to spend some time this weekend massaging that final paragraph and then back to the publisher. But right now I'm headed to buy a dog leash and doggie treats for our summer play. First things first!

Add-a-Kid

Rodney Robbins. That's the name of the boy I added into the Hamilton's Pond story that I am revising. I did a reworking on Wednesday in ABC then tested it on my 14-year-old daughter. She had some good insights: things like, "Who's Rodney talking to when he says . . . ?" or "Would a kid really send an email to the mayor?" (I decided that this particular kid would. But it's helpful to think about things as a genuine first-time reader does.) I've now given the story two days' rest, and I'm going to go back at it this afternoon to see what I think now that I have a little perspective. I'll probably read it aloud, too. It's amazing what that exercise will point up.

I'm reading a memoir of Mary Higgins Clark right now (Kitchen Privileges), and she states that she submitted her first short story 40 times before it was published. Wow.

A Chance to Revise

I heard from an editor at one of the publications at which I've submitted a story yesterday. The word was a "no-but-if-you-care-to-make-a-change-we-might-be-able-to-talk." I'm taking this as an opportunity to learn and grow and what's more, get another story published. The editor felt that my story Hamilton's Pond was too adult (where have I heard that before?) in that it features an adult with an adult problem solved by an adult "albeit with humor" (her words). She feels that I need to write some children and childish thinking into the story. I couldn't agree more. But I just didn't see it before she said it.

Take one of my favorite children's books: Officer Buckle and Gloria. Officer Buckle is an adult who has an adult job that he loses, which is a very adult problem. However, it is a child, Claire, who states the theme of the story in one of her star-shaped notes to Officer Buckle: Always stick with your buddy. So now the question before me is whether I can accomplish this with Hamilton's Pond. Stay tuned.

More Shakespeare Research

These days my writing time is mostly taken up with writing for the Summer Shakespeare blog. Yesterday's entry ("Superlative Obscurity") was an enjoyable exercise in research and writing. As a blog entry it is probably a little long (I'm still getting the hang of length), but I just couldn't seem to stop once I got going. How bad is that for a would-be author? Sometimes my love for history and my enjoyment of writing come together nicely. My research led me to an old book in our attic--two volumes with no date and very little publication information--that is a complete works of Shakespeare. The information in it was so quaintly written and copious that I found myself virtually tied to the tome for hours. You can read that one and any others I've posted by clicking here.

Writing--Er--Submitting Is Hard Work

Yesterday's writing session saw me get my Which End Up? manuscript resubmitted. (I actually made all of the requisite copies, cover letters, etc., and mailed it.) I'm starting to realize that getting the manuscript in the mail is half the battle--at least for me. I also got the next blog finished for Summer Shakespeare. Still no word on Hamilton's Pond. Waiting is so hard!

What's the most difficult part of writing for you? Ideas? Rewriting? Submitting?

Blogging in ABC

I'm sitting in ABC blogging and writing. I've managed to update my manuscript submissions charts and write a submission letter for Which End Up?--submission number three for this picture book, but who's counting? My submission letters are getting better, I think. I'm trying to focus more on the things that a particular company finds important and using those buzzwords in my letter. This publisher requires exclusive submissions and also requests that authors state their previously published works. I was able to list Mumsi Meets a Lion and the blogging I do for Summer Shakespeare. Speaking of which, next on my to-do list is a new blog promoting the educational materials I've written for that site.

Also on my to-do: Daniel's Day research about a family with a special-needs child.

1947 Research

I spent part of the morning yesterday researching the year 1947 for a video project I'm helping write a script for. What a fascinating year: advances in microwave and transistor radio technology, female students given full student privileges at Cambridge, CIA formed, Israel granted statehood, first Dead Sea Scrolls found, Jackie Robinson's joining MLB, Hollywood 10 indicted, and so on. How very interesting is the idea that almost any year taken in isolation would seem to be so pivotal. There's a story in there somewhere. But maybe it's already been done to a certain extent in the late-80s/early 90s television show Quantum Leap. (What ever happened to Scott Bakula?) There is truly nothing new under the sun.

Comedy and Tragedy

I've written before about my taking a writing test and being accepted as a freelancer by publisher out West. I have been eagerly awaiting my first big assignment. Yesterday evening I received an communication from the editor thanking me for my patience but informing me that the series I was hired to write for has gone belly up. It was really quite humorous: "Thank you for your willingness to write for _____. _____ has been discontinued." Once again I find myself thinking that I'm glad I'm not depending on that to put bread on the table. The editor did inform me that they are keeping my name on file should a need arise elsewhere in their company. Ahhhhh, the economic downturn affects us all.

Of Scripts and Speeches

Well, I'm no speech writer, but I did write and deliver a farewell/retirement speech today that seemed well received. My dear colleague Judy Lanier retired today after having worked on our team for seven years. I was asked to say a few words, which was easy since she is such a wonderful co-worker. So that's my excuse for a no-writing day today. I'm also beginning a collaboration on a program script that will involve interviews and film. The writer/director has a strong concept already--I'll just be massaging and editing. But it should be a challenge--especially working with someone else.

Another Week Bites the Dust

Somehow this week got by without my being able to write for any length of time--a drip here, a drab there, but nothing substantial. Good thing I'm not trying to make a living at this! Still in the hopper: Which End Up? rewrite, Daniel's Day (in the research stage), and Lovers of Laundry (in the mulling-it-over-in-my-mind stage). I may never have mentioned Lovers of Laundry. It will be a non-fiction piece (an article?) about things that keep Christians from knowing God based on a concept from I Peter 1:8.

Children's Science Books

I'm broadening my chart/audience for the children's science-y book Which End Up? (I don't want to presume to call it a true science book. . . .) To do this, I'm researching types of animal books published and then cross-referencing that information with publishers who accept unsolicited manuscripts. This should help as I seek to re-submit this story. This may be better suited to an article than a book, but I'm going for the book angle first. So far I have three possibilities. I'm sure there are many more out there.

Got any ideas for me?

Pond to the Publisher

Another story went out the door yesterday. It was Hamilton's Pond and is based on an anecdote about my grandfather. This one I was able to send by email, so that meant no making of mailing labels, copies, etc. I'm quite excited about the possibilities for this piece. It has a fun story line that just begs for great illustrations. (Oh, how I wish I could draw!) Here's a line from the story, just to whet the appetite:

Every time it rained, the street in front of Mr. Hamilton’s tidy white house with the perfect picket fence became a pond. Not a puddle. Not a pool. A pond. Some folks called it a lake, but they were fond of exaggerating.

Any idea what will happen with/at/to Hamilton's pond? Let me know your guesses!

Up and Running

On Wednesday of this week, I took a couple of prime morning hours and wrote in a quiet house with the lovely smell of freshly made coffee to inspire me. My wondrous husband had roped the kids into cleaning house the night before so that I couldn't say, "Well, I wanted to write, but the laundry was calling me" or "The bathroom floor needed attention." (Why is it we get distracted from things we enjoy doing by things we don't enjoy doing?) I very nearly had an emotional train wreck when there was initially no coffee in the house, but hubby came to the rescue again by running up to my folks' house and borrowing some. All of my usual excuses gone, I hammered away at my laptop and ended up nearly finishing the story I'm calling Hamilton's Pond and fixing up October Bell for another go with another publisher.

Tomorrow I should have time to work on Which End Up? and putting the final touches on Hamilton's Pond. I can email the pond one, so I'm planning to finish out the week with that submission. I'm glad that I have charts for all of this because it's starting to get confusing.

Blog Review

Becky Bilby at inthepages.blogspot.com just reviewed my book, Mumsi Meets a Lion. She's a children's librarian in Iowa who really seems to know her stuff. I've been following her blog for some time, and I noticed that she was looking for books to review. So I sent her mine! Check it out!

Missed It by That Much

My second story didn't quite make it to the mailbox yesterday. (My goal was two in the mail by the 10th.) But I made strong headway on the second one yesterday thanks to my husband's carving out some time for me to work alone on it. It's not the one I had originally intended to be the second submission, but it's one I've been working on for a while. I believe it will go in the mail next week to someone. I'm very excited about its possibilities. It has been probably the easiest story for me to write--the words really just tumbled out. I would love to see what a great illustrator could do with this story about a man who solves his problem in an unusual way.

In the Mail

Just returned from a trip to the post office where I mailed my new Toad and Spider story off to three--count 'em--three publishers. The title I put on it is "Eight Is Just Right." At least one of them requires 24 weeks to wait for answer. I'm no mathmetician, but that seems like about six months to me! Yikes. I do have a sense of accomplishment just by virtue of the fact that I put something else out there. I'm not sure I can get the other story ready for mailing tomorrow, but I'm going to work on it tonight and see what happens. At any rate, I'm halfway to the goal I set for myself last week.

Starting Over

So I'm starting over on "October Bell." The story had lost its simplicity in a web of over-worked phrases and pressurized metaphors. It's just a story about a boy and his new mom and the celebration of that. I actually took the old story, which had been divided into pages, and tried to state the essence of what was on that page in a sentence or two. I think the result might be better than what was there before.

Hey, what about a book called The President's New Plan? It's about a President who thinks that he is the man with the ultimate plan, but when he presents his idea . . . it's terrible. Everyone around him tries to act like the plan is awesome because they're afraid/ashamed/embarrassed/whatever . . . sound familiar? Sound really familiar?

Officially Freelancing

After I fill out the paperwork, I'll officially be freelancing for a Christian publisher in Colorado. I received word today that they were pleased with my writing test, so I'm in. It will be nice to be able to work some from home. The person who contacted me said that work will be "sporadic," but that's even better!

Gotta run make a chocolate ganache cake to celebrate!

More Goal Setting

I'm continuing to work on two main projects mostly. These are the revision/resubmission of "October Bell" (sometimes referred to as "Autumn Bell") and "Frog and Spider." I'm hoping to get these polished into submittable shape by next week some time. I still have "Which End Up?" floating out there at New Leaf, but I won't know the outcome for another three weeks at least. I've already re-worked that one for another submission should this not work out.

"October Bell" has been giving me trouble as I attempt to incorporate editor feedback. Making the thread of the bell more visible without making it stick out too much is tricky. Also, plumbing the depths of an eight-year-old's emotions is difficult--my protagonist feels as deeply as an adult but would not be able to express his feelings in a mature way. Still working on finding the balance.

So here are my goals in black and white: revise and submit two pieces by April 10. There, I've said it. Now all I have to do is follow through. . . .

What's the Generic Name for Gummi Bear?

Yesterday was spent taking the writing test for a freelance position at a publishing company. I was asked to write a sample lesson, about 6 pages of text. One of the parts of the lesson involved coming up with a snack that related to the day's theme. I suggested a snack called "Deep Blue Sea Cups" that involved blue gelatin cups topped with animal-shaped gummi/gummie/gummy candies. I went with "gummie" because "gummi" appears to be the German brand name for the Haribo bears that we all know and love, while "gummy" implies (at least to me) stickiness. This was decided on after consulting at least two other editors at my place of employment. Whew.

In other breaking news related to the writing test, I discovered that the Chicago Manual of Style has changed its position on the possessive of the word Jesus. The previous manuals have said Jesus' is the correct possessive; now they're back to Jesus's. As an author of Christian materials, this actually will affect my life.

Test Anxiety

The company that I contacted about the possibility of freelancing has offered me the chance to take a writing/editing test online. I'm going to work on it tomorrow and hope to complete it in a day. (I haven't even opened the attachments they sent yet, so that goal may be absurdly optimistic.) They have given me nearly a month to complete the three-part test, but I imagine that the deadline itself is part of the test: how long will this person take? Will she work right up to the deadline, or will she get on the task right away? I'll be writing sample Bible lessons, some other piece of writing, and completing a questionnaire. Should be interesting. My only real concern is volume of work should I be offered a position.

Library Expo Flop

Although the Local Authors Expo at the downtown library was something of a bust, I did learn some valuable lessons. Number 1 being that if you want marketing, you must do it yourself. With little or no (let's just say no) empirical evidence, I'm going to state that there was virtually zero advertising that went on for this event--no newspaper ad, no radio spot, no signage whatsoever. There was barely anything showing actual library patrons where to go. The guy at the coffee shop just outside the conference room where we were secreted didn't even know about the event. Note to self: send an email blast.

That said, my table did look pretty enticing thanks mostly to a ginormous lion that I borrowed from a friend of a friend. That brought folks to my table if only to view the lion. I did sell several Mumsi Meets a Lion books and met a number of nice people, so the day wasn't entirely without merit. One man who bought my book was a pediatrician who intends to put it in his office lobby; another was a school teacher who bought it for her classroom. Not sure I'd do it again . . . but glad I've done it once.

Toad and Spider

My idea has morphed into a toad and a spider. The story (which is now in a complete first draft) is so unlike anything I've ever written. It's very free-wheeling, cartoony, offbeat. No thoughtful metaphors, no lush language--just fun and fast-moving dialogue. There is a lesson/theme/story, mind you. And it's not stream-of-consciousness. Can't wait to see where this takes me. I just wish I could draw because these two (the characters) are so clear in my mind.

The other story (the one about Grandpa) is coming along, too. Entirely different from Toad and Spider and very dissimilar to anything else I've done. Guess I'm finding my voice . . . whatever that means.

New Beginnings and Old Hash

Wow. I have a couple of new ideas buzzing around in my head. One is about my grandfather and is based on a two recent encounters: one with a sermon I heard on contentment, the other with a short story I've been writing teacher notes for at my day job. (The story is "Neighbour Rosicky" by Willa Cather.) My Grandfather Hamilton really was such a kind, low-key, gentle man. I'm sure I never heard a cross word from him. He lived to be two weeks shy of 96. I've heard my mom tell the story of how he once handled a neighborhood dispute with dignity and grace yet determination. My second idea is about frogs--maybe two frogs who are in business together. I really can't say more about that here, but I'm chuckling to myself just thinking about it.

The old hash is the gut feeling that I don't want to give up on October Bell quite yet. I'm going to revisit it with an eye toward fixing several issues brought up by my editor and then resubmitting it somewhere new.

Now if I could just decide what to do first!

But It Was Such a Nice Rejection Letter

I got a rejection letter today on my October Bell story. I had sent it about two months ago to JourneyForth and was expecting to hear something soon. I must say that I'm not surprised. I did think the story too mature for the type of book that it would be targeting (picture book). It was just a story that needed to be told. The letter said that the acquisitions editor saw the book "as a picture book for an older audience" with "vocabulary" and "concepts" that are "much older and wiser than many would find feasible for a child." She also says that "it is a nice story with the flavor of Sarah, Plain and Tall" but regrets that "as it stands, it is not a good fit" for their publishing house. She does mention that she would give it another read were I to attempt some revision. So the choice before me is to rework for that same house or send it along to someone else. I'm sort of torn between the safety of a publisher I've had past success with and someone new. I will definitely use some of the editor's suggestions before I do anything. Then I will take a look at my chart and see what's next in line!

In a Presidential Library--Sorta

I sent a copy of Mumsi Meets a Lion to Laura Bush (yes, the President's wife) in December. Of course, she had a lot on her mind at that time: moving, job change, and so on. . . . But I finally heard from her last week. Never mind that it's not gushing or that it's probably signed by a secretary trained to imitate her signature--I'm thrilled to have this memento of my first children's book to be published! I've included images of both the frontispiece signed by me and her congratulatory letter. (See above.)

To Blank Verse or Not to Blank Verse

After meeting with an author about his blank verse story, we've come down on the side of pragmatism, I think. Although the idea of a classically told, blank verse story is extremely appealing (at least to me), we think that shelving considerations (where a bookstore/library would shelve a book) may force him back into the prose market. Poetry is just not all that sought-after. And it's even worse in the children's market. Just check out the children's poetry section in a large chain bookstore to see what I mean. His book would be relegated to the far reaches of the store on a single shelf of pristine (read "never been cracked") books of poetry. He's waiting to see what his publisher says about the matter. Perhaps if the publisher shows interest, he'll go for it.

That Shakespeare Was Quite a Guy

What, I wonder, is the market for blank verse (unrhymed iambic pentameter)? I currently working on a project with a friend that involves my taking a story and turning it into blank verse. The story was written with very poetic rhythms and syntax, so the genre seemed a natural fit. Now the big question is, "Is this marketable?" I think yes. I mean, the story being told is of an elevated, classic nature. To me the poetry piece makes the story more authentic. We'll see. At any rate, I'm currently (once again) in awe of Shakespeare, who wrote hundreds of sonnets and reams of lines of blank verse. Sonnet 29 is one of my favorites, "When in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes, I alone beweep my outcast state . . ." Amazing. And he was rhyming, using meter, and getting it into a fourteen-line scheme. What a guy!

Upcoming Author Expo

Today I got word that I've been accepted into the local author expo to be held at our downtown library. I'll be able to market my chidren's picture book,
Mumsi Meets a Lion, to sign and sell copies, and so on. There were a limited number of spots, so I'm excited to be chosen. If you're reading this and live in the Greenville, SC, area, please stop by on March 21 between 1:00 PM and 5:00 PM.

What Rhymes with "Angel"?

Wow, I think every remotely Christmasy word has already been rhymed (and rhymed and rhymed) with every other Christmasy word. For example, if you use the word "child" in a Christmas context, one immediately thinks of "mild." Same with "holy" and "lowly," and so on. It's all been done before. Well, there's comfort in the fact that that concept in and of itself is a biblical one: "There's nothing new under the sun" (Ecclesiastes 1:9). The poem is taking some shape, but I don't claim to be a poet--at least not a good one. It has been a challenge though, and far different from what I'm used to.

Christmas Poem

I've had an idea for a children's picture book (or board book). It's a Christmas poem that I'm working on. I've been humming a musical version of it in my head for some time and am finally trying to get it down "on paper" (really on my laptop). I'm also seeing dewy-eyed little Eloise-Wilkinesque children in the illustrations. (And I'm not a big fan of the Precious Moments genre of art.) If only my other life as a textbook author didn't suck the joie de writing out of me before I can get to the fun stuff.

Back to Writing

So what am I doing while I'm not blogging? Writing! Or at least trying to write. I'm currently working on two stories. One has a working title of "Daniel's Day." I'm having some trouble focusing on how detailed this story about a unique little boy will be. That's really all I'm at liberty to say about him right now. The other story is still in my head, but it's about the biblical character Jonah. I'm sorta in the research phase on that one--and no working title yet. Soooo, little time for this kind of writing (blogging) theoretically means more time for the other kind of writing. We'll see about that!

Bloggers, Bloggers Everywhere

Being brand new to the world of blogging, I'm still trying to figure out how this phenomenon works. I've selected some of my favorite blogs to follow (anonymously) and am amazed at how many sites are out there devoted to the world of children's literature. I try to read enough about the person blogging to make a judgment on the quality/validity of the blogger's opinion. But in the end, it's just a gut feeling about who's legit and who's a wingnut. Of course, if the person is at all like me, he or she is wary of this whole medium and is giving out as little information as possible. That's no help. However, I have finally selected one blogger to request a review of my book from. This lady seems intelligent, kind, and eager for review material. An email sent by me got a favorable response ("I would love to review it"), so I'll be sending Mumsi along and will be checking for a review on the TBA site.

Guest Reader

Today a group from my church went to a local elementary school that we have partnered with and were guest readers for literacy week. I read Mumsi Meets a Lion and was greeted with lots of wide eyes and gasps as Mumsi made his way through the dark forest. It was gratifying to experience his story through their fresh first-grade eyes and ears. In the second class I read to, the teacher asked me afterward whether I had been peeking at his lesson plans for the last two weeks since the story seemed so perfectly timed for them. I left the two classes with bookmarks and the school library with a signed copy of my book. The librarian took my picture to post somewhere. How nice!

Out of the Nest

It's outta my hands now. I've just (as of 4 minutes ago) submitted my story Autumn Bell (or October Bell, I can't decide--not that they'll keep my title anyway)! This story has been, quite literally, years in the writing. I've had the idea ever since a friend of mine married a widower with two children. It's a mostly fictional, terribly sweet story about one boy's struggle to accept a new mother. It's a love story really. I need to fill out my manuscript submission chart so that if (when?) I get a rejection, I can move on quickly to submit it elsewhere. I have a sorta sick feeling in the pit of my stomach now that I've pushed the thing out of the nest. Oh, I must keep myself from getting so attached to my writing!

Literacy Week

I have been asked to read Mumsi Meets a Lion at a local elementary school in celebration of Literacy Week. I'm looking forward to interacting further with students and the book.

Recent funny reactions to my book:

"My kids fight over our copy. I need to buy two more."
"I told my son that that was you out running, and he wanted me to slow the car down so that he could see you."
"My son carries his book around and roars."

Chance at Freelance

Today I mailed my resume to a Christian group looking for freelance writers and editors. I included pages from one of the literature books I've worked on, two magazine articles, and Mumsi Meets a Lion. A little side work would be a change of pace. Getting my name out there wouldn't hurt either.

Off Track

Looks like it's back to the proverbial Square One for me and a Mumsi sequel. The baboon thing isn't working out. There's just nothing to be done with baboons once they decide to invade a village. Tribal wisdom says to *whisper* exterminate them, but that won't fly in a children's book. So I'm at a loss for a resolution for Mumsi. I have lots of material for humorous anecdotes, but no satisfactory ending. My research says that, believe it or not, our best idea is to hire people to follow the baboons around and try to keep the havoc to a minimum. Hmmmm, we can put a man on the moon. . . .

Library Holdings

Look, Mom, I'm in the library!

Item Information Catalog Record Mumsi meets a lion / Kim Stegall ; illustrated by Kimberly Batti. Stegall, Kim.  Call Number: J PBK ISBN: Copy Info: 1 copy available at Hughes Main Library in Children's paperback section.

Holdings



Library	Call Number	Copy	Material	Location	Due Date
Hughes Main Library	J PBK	1	Juvenile paperback	Children's paperback section

Two Gigs

Let's see . . . in my real life as wife/mother/textbook author, I'm hip-deep in floor plans, laundry, and page proofs, yet on the promotional horizon lie two possibilities. One is for an informal book signing/appearance at the nearby University bookstore; another is for the inclusion of Mumsi Meets a Lion in a local music curriculum for the Spring semester. Both come at a time when I'm too busy to self-promote, so I'm thrilled that someone else is getting on board. Maybe.

No further work on Mumsi II. Reason? See paragraph 1, sentence 1.

Overcoming Inertia

Yes. The chart is working. At least, I've now made myself submit another piece for publication. I mailed a cover letter, the 5-page author proposal, and a copy of the completed Which End Up? manuscript to a publisher today. Yippee! I'm so glad to have overcome my complacency or inertia or embarrassment or whatever was keeping me from resubmitting. That makes me almost as happy as having gotten the thing published.

I also sent a copy of Mumsi to the lady in Florida who has financially supported the Kenyan friend who told me the original/seed story for the book. I just know she'll be interested in it.

A lady in the post office today told me that I should send Mumsi to Kindermusik International for consideration. I'll have to look into that further. . . .

Charting a Course

I've just finished writing an author proposal for a non-fiction article (or short book) for a piece I wrote last year about animals that live upside down. I think it's a great early childhood introduction to Creationism and unique animals. The submission document was five pages long and included a 500-word biography (I don't have that much to say about myself!) and three separate summaries of the piece--one 300 words or less, one 100 words or less, and one 30 words or less. I resisted the temptation to write one summary of 30 words and call it a day since a summary of that size would fit all three categories. (Not a good way to start a relationship.)

I also began making submission charts for the two pieces I'm currently ready to begin submitting. I found this idea in a magazine for writers. It points out that a chart of the top ten places you'll submit each manuscript not only helps take the sting out of rejection but also cuts the lag time between rejection and re-submission. I guess after ten rejections you say, "Okay, Lord, I get it." The two pieces I'm wanting to submit are Which End Up? (aforementioned animal composition) and October Bell, a story about adoption that I'm quite shamelessly knit to. It's the one I can't quite push out of the nest yet. However, I hope to do so this month!

More Feedback

Here's some feedback I've gotten just recently. One is from an old friend from high school who ordered eight copies to pass out to family and friends; another is from a guest artist from last year's opera. He'd ordered one back in March--eight months before the book even came out.

we love your book and are really proud to know you.

 

i loved the book! read it yesterday. 

great story, and great illustrations.  congratulations!

Back to the Laptop

It was back to work on the new book this afternoon after a ten-mile run with a friend and before a long winter's nap. I'm still struggling with what the thesis for this book will be. I think the story may be leading me toward humility (as the theme of the story, not for me personally--however, that would be good, too). Another issue is whether the story will take same "shape" as Mumsi Meets a Lion: as in, exposition followed by big pause (or "big paws"--sorry, couldn't resist) and then some foreshadowing of the major problem, followed by incident, incident, incident--all interspersed with mantra restatements, and so on. So far, the story just feels different. And it's slow going. Right now I'm just putting blanks or italicizing where I need to (e.g., a person's name or what the Samburu use for a certain task or the words I think I'll want in Swahili--all things I'll have to research). Oh, well, back at it for another hour or so . . .

Fan Mail

This made my day!

Dear Miss Kim,

Thank you for writing this nice book.  Barb Sicko gave it to me for Christmas, and I like it a lot.  It is a special book.  Thank you for signing it for me.

God bless you,

Joe Daniels
4 years old
Tadley, England

Latest Idea

So I say to myself this morning, "Hey, what about 2009 VBS themes?" After a little investigation (very little, more to come), I find that several publishing houses have planned African themed VBS lines for this coming summer. Perfect for Mumsi Meets a Lion! I'm looking into writing some of them and asking about the possibility of their using Mumsi as a resource for reading to the children before class begins or as children are leaving or during snack/transition times. I would love for my publisher to take this on, but I sorta doubt that will happen. They are on to the next thing at this point. It will take a little thought to come up with a good angle and lots of further research to locate the best possible vendors to fit my book. Could work!?

Wiki World

A good friend just notified me that he'd put Mumsi Meets a Lion up on Wikipedia. So far the entry is just a stub with more content to be added (or not) later. The site wouldn't allow him to upload a picture yet--I suppose they need to vet the content first. I may need to look into adding  some factoids about Kenya, the Swahili in the book, the back story (see previous blog entry), and so on.

Here's the link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mumsi_Meets_a_Lion

No work on any writing projects. Hey, I'm on vacation! Back to work soon . . .

Happy New Year!

It's a new year, and I've taken the opportunity to set a few goals for myself. Several of them involve growth as a writer. One is to attempt to schedule time for writing each week like I do with running or cleaning. Another is to submit a new story this year--either another Mumsi or my October Bell book. I'll also try to journal as a part of my Bible study--putting devotional thoughts on paper.

May 2009 be profitable spiritually and personally!