Wednesday, August 18, 2010

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everyone in the group, published and unpublished) 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! 

Sunday, August 15, 2010












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.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

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!