Newbery author Linda Sue Park

The year I joined RACWI (Rochester Area Children's 

Writer's and Illustrators)  Linda Sue, a member of the 

group, won the Newbery (2002) for A Single Shard.  

Since then Linda Sue has inspired me (and I'll bet,  

everyone in the group, published and unpublished) 

with her talent, warmth, intelligence, and unbounded 

energy.  She continuously helps others hone their

writing skills and shares what she has learned.  I found

this section of her website about writing helpful.

There was a article in the Democrat and Chronicle 

recently about Linda Sue that illustrates her world now 

after winning the Newbery.  Whew!  She sure is busy! 

NEWSFLASH

My friend and member of our critique group,

Jennifer Burrows, just signed a contract for her first 

chapter book, Most Beautiful, with Royal Fireworks 

Press in Unionville, NY.  Congratulations, Jennifer, 

on this outstanding accomplishment.  You have worked

hard and you deserve it.  No details yet on the release date.

It will be exciting for me to follow the process of this book.

Family Time

Gary and I enjoy having friends and relatives visit at our cabin.

Last week cousin Alice from Cleveland, came for a few days. 

She loves fishing.  Even though the catch was released (too small)

just being on the serene lake was a much needed vacation for her

before starting back teaching in a few weeks.

Michele, our daughter, enjoyed time with Alice and spending a 

relaxing day.  She is a very creative artist and designs flower 

arrangements and wreaths for Preferred Plants in Rochester.

Palmyra Pirate Days

Again this year, I signed books, along with other authors, at 

this yearly event in Palmyra. 

 

Some little pirates.

Me and some of the other authors signing books at the event.

New Contract

I just signed the contract with Raven Tree Press for a 

fourth Marco adventure.  This time Marco and his friends 

will have a cave adventure.  Marco has become so "real" 

to me that I breezed through the manuscript and sketches 

in one weekend. This is not the norm.  But, I was at our 

cabin on the lake where I have few distractions and the 

soothing sound of the water kept me in a rhythm. 

Marco's adventures in the Jungle will be out in March 2011 

and Marco's adventures in a Cave is planned for Fall 2011.

Life is good!

After getting back from Hilton Head, Savannah, Atlanta and 

a cousins reunion in Cleveland, I spent the last two days

sending out manuscripts to various publishing houses.  I get

intensely committed to staying "on track" with my writing 

after a respite.  But, enjoying life and family and friends

gives me a rest from thinking about stories and actually

living a story. 

Hilton Head:  Me and my granddaughter, Anna

Hilton Head: Ty is only 10 weeks old and already enjoys 

looking at books.  I read this book to him three times before 

he lost interest!

Hilton Head: Granddaughter, Taylor

 

Savannah

Savannah Riverfront

Savannah

Cousins reunion in Cleveland:  Alice, Me and Karen

New experiences also feed my soul. And taking time to really 

look helps me appreciate the beauty and design in nature. 

I have never seen lichen in bloom.  This design reminds me of

a Christmas wreath.

I really want to paint more this month. Thank goodness I have 

a husband who loves to weed or I would be living in a jungle!

We have both been eating out of jar of mixed nuts for dinner

rather than take time to cook anything.

Gary finished another carving.  He's amazing!

 

USA Book News Best Book Award

Jeannie Patchin, Vice President of Delta Publishing / Raven 

Tree Press, submitted my book, Marco Flamingo Under the Sea 

for this award.  Meanwhile, my book is now one of the books 

featured at their website.  As Jeanne states:  

"This listing will be live for 5 months.  The National “Best Books 

2010” Awards are specifically designed to garner media coverage 

and book sales for the winners & finalists throughout the 2010

holiday retail season and 2011! Winners & finalists will be 

announced October 2010 and I will let you know the outcome.  

USABookNews.com is currently listed on thousands of book related

-websites and welcomes thousands of visitors per month!  

Great publicity!"

Thank you, Jeanne, for submitting my book!