Princess Blue Kitty (my car, if you didn’t happen to be around this summer :)) and I will be driving to the Big Apple for the Brick Church Holiday Fair, which is always an extravaganza of epic proportions! Me, Phyllis, Woolliam, Santa – what could be more fun??? 🙂 Personally, I can hardly think of anything 🙂
It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood but very cold this morning, and I am feeling significantly under-fueled for this weather, so let’s dive into something chocolate, shall we? How about….
Photo copyright Stacy Jensen 2012 used by permission
… mmmmm… some Rocky Road Cookie Bars! They look sustaining, don’t they?! 🙂 Also just exactly like what your mother would approve of for breakfast 🙂 (Rocky road, by definition, includes nuts, and nuts have protein which equals healthy breakfast – see how that works?)
All right. Everyone feeling energized? Let’s start by announcing the winner of the October Pitch Pick! Announcing winners is such a cheerful fun thing to do! And the winner is…
Carrie! with her pitch for Scooter Annie!
Carrie, your pitch has already been flung through cyberspace to editor Erin Molta, and we will all await her words of wisdom with great anticipation!
Onward to today’s pitch which comes to us from the lovely Kim. Kim is “Mama” to a wonderful 8-year-old with multiple nicknames, wife of a genius, and has switched careers numerous times in her short (ha!) life. She has been passionate about picture books since her first encounter with Dr. Seuss, though it has taken her decades (don’t ask) to realize that writing them is something that she can probably do for the rest of her life. She writes a wonderful blog over at Kid Lit Dish and is a regular participant in PPBF. She would love it if you’d like to follow her on Twitter or like her on Face Book!
Here is her pitch:
Working Title: How The Bull Lost His Feathers Age/Genre: PB (ages 4-8) The Pitch: What, you say? Bulls don’t have feathers? Well, long ago, they did. This is the fable of how one bull lost beautiful peacock-like feathers for himself and his descendants… forever. (Hint: It’s also why the color red will always make a bull’s temper flare.)
So what do you think? Would You Read It? YES, MAYBE or NO?
If your answer is YES, please feel free to tell us what you particularly liked and why the pitch piqued your interest. If your answer is MAYBE or NO, please feel free to tell us what you think could be better in the spirit of helping Kim improve her pitch. Helpful examples of possible alternate wordings are welcome. (However, I must ask that comments be constructive and respectful. I reserve the right not to publish comments that are mean because that is not what this is about.)
Please send YOUR pitches for the coming weeks! For rules and where to submit, click on this link Would You Read Itor on the Would You Read It tab in the bar above. There are openings in January, so you have time to polish 🙂 for a chance for it to be read by editor Erin Molta!
Kim is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch! And I am looking forward to a fun-filled author visit at the Brick Church Fair and hanging out with Santa! If you’re in NYC, stop by! 🙂
Now, I know all about woolly bear folklore… the whole 13 segments, one for each week of winter (OK, well, that’s just hogwash – around here we definitely have more than 13 weeks of winter!), and how a lot of black at the front means early winter will be harsh, and a lot of black toward the hindquarters means the end of winter will be harsh (and if you don’t know which end is which, well, you’re just going to have to figure that one out on your own :)), and generally you want a nice wide band of brown because the brown means mild. So I’m thinking an allblack woolly bear is either a true pessimist, or is having a Halloween trick on us a bit late (or just hasn’t changed out of his Dementor costume yet), or really likes dark chocolate and is campaigning for world wide recognition of a National Dark Chocolate Rules Day.
I think I’d like to vote for number 3 🙂
But I do not think it is a harbinger of a serious, cold, snow-filled winter, because unlike our friend the black woolly bear, I am not a pessimist 🙂
(I also really like the word harbinger… it’s fun to say! But I digress…)
Now that I’ve come up with a very clever way to sneak in a picture of a woolly bear because I think they’re really cute AND we’re all on the same page about how we will most certainly not be having a Little House In The Big Woods type of winter, let’s warm up with something Short & Sweet, shall we?
Remember (because it’s been a couple weeks and you might have forgotten) – Short & Sweets are meant to be fun and quick. No agonizing! Just write!
Okay, ready?
First…
Pick a holiday, any holiday.
Of course Halloween, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, National Deviled Eggs Day (no I did NOT make that up – it’s November 2 – you can check!), Kwanzaa, Make Your Own Head Day (November 28th if you’ve never celebrated before) etc. are clearly foremost in our minds right now, but I hope some of you free spirits will dance to your own tune and pick National Gum Drop Day (February 15) or Easter or Look Up At The Sky Day (April 14), or maybe Sidewalk Egg Frying Day (the lesser know July 4th holiday) or Ear Muff Day (March 13) 🙂
Okay.
Got your holiday?
Write down the name of your holiday.
Now, write down – something you see on that holiday – something you smell on that holiday – something you hear on that holiday – something you taste on that holiday – something you touch on that holiday
Then write down the name of the holiday one last time.
Guess what?
You just wrote a holiday poem!
And maybe it will be even more than that and give you a great idea for a story! (Or at least your PiBoIdMo idea for the day if you’re participating in that festival of inspiration and frivolity as I most certainly am!)
I’ll give you an example. Remember… short… sweet… off the top of our heads here (because let’s be honest – I used up most of my available time rambling on about woolly bears :))
Christmas Delicate ribbons of tinsel shimmering silver and gold Spicy pine breathing the outside in Joy To The World singing clear to a starry sky Bright peppermint, cool and sweet, and Peace On Earth warming every heart Christmas
So, are you ready? Get set… WRITE!!!
Please share your holiday poem in the comments so we can all admire them and become inspired for a whole week of great writing!
Also, if you have a word you love to say (like harbinger, or maybe Terpsichore or multitudinous, please share that as well! :))
I can’t wait to read your Holiday poems! I hope someone picks Race Your Mouse Day (May 28th)!
(P.S. I will announce the winner of the October Pitch Pick on Wednesday during Would You Read It!)
It’s finally Friday! Hooray! That means I finally get to show you Marathon Mouse! Also, I will be announcing the winner of Monday’s giveaway signed copy of Marathon Mouse at the end of the post (I know – so much excitement!) so stay tuned!
Oh, and there is one other thing… halloween related… 🙂
But first things first, and you know the Perfect Picture Book always has to go at the top of Friday’s post. Those are the rules. And the person in charge around here made the rules so I really have to follow them 🙂
Marathon Mouse Written By: Amy Dixon Illustrated By: Sam Denlinger Sky Pony Press, October 2012, Fiction
Suitable For: ages 3-8
Themes/Topics: Running, Marathons, Goals, Believing In Yourself, Determination
Opening: “Every New York City mouse dreamed of living under the bridge bewteen Brooklyn and Staten Island. There, they didn’t have to dodge taxi cabs or escape hungry sewer cats. And when they wanted to visit, the bustling city was just a hop, skip, and a scamper away. But there was one day each year that their life under the bridge was not dreamy…“
Brief Synopsis: Preston Mouse lives beneath the Verrazano Bridge and dreams of running the New York City Marathon. “Mice were not made to run,” says Papa. “A mouse could get crushed,” says Mama. “You? Run 26.2 miles?” his sisters tease. With this lack of faith, Preston trains secretly, but train he does because he believes he can do it. At least, he wants to try.
Links To Resources: Teacher’s Guide from author’s website. Also I think reading this story gives an excellent opportunity to discuss with kids what they dream about – what do they think they can do? what do they hope to accomplish? Younger kids can draw pictures of themselves working toward or achieving something that matters to them. Older kids can write a story about it. Discover Marathon Kids. And a little about the first marathon and some related activities HERE.
Why I Like This Book: Ah, so many reasons 🙂 First, it’s really well written, a captivating story told with gentle humor and warmth. Second, this is the only picture book I’ve ever seen about running/marathoning, so it’s a new, fresh topic and one I think kids will love. Third, I don’t think there can ever be too many books that encourage kids to work hard toward something that’s important to them, believe in themselves, and follow their dreams. Finally, when Preston gets out there to run, I dare you not to cheer him on, and I think you’ll be surprised and touched by how the story ends 🙂 And seriously, how cute is this little guy? 🙂
Preston Mouse from Marathon Mouse by Amy Dixon & Sam Denlinger
And now that you’re all just desperate to own a copy, I’ll tell you who won Monday’s giveaway 🙂 And I would just like to say that I so enjoyed reading about all the things you guys have accomplished (which was what you had to tell us to qualify for the drawing) – what an amazing group! If you didn’t happen to read the comments from Monday’s post, hop over and have a look – you’re in impressive company over here! But I digress… 🙂
Cue the trumpets!
The winner of a signed copy of Marathon Mouse is…
JARM!!!
(who it just so happens rode a camel to the top of Mt. Sinai and after sunrise walked all the way down! which is not why she won the book – that was just random.org – but I really thought you should know! :))
Please email me (by using the handy button on the side or by actually, physically, manually typing in susanna[AT]susannahill[DOT]com) and tell me your address and (never mind, Jarm – I have it from the PPB book mark mailing!) how you’d like Amy to sign it, and we’ll get it straight out to you!
So, have a nice weekend everyone!
What?
Oh, you think I forgot something?
Tee hee 🙂
Okay. You twisted my arm. I’ll tell you who won the Halloweensie Contest. And let me just say – it was quite the nail biter! But the voters have spoken!
And the winner is…
Oh. I guess we better have trumpets AND a drum roll this time.
Okay. The winner is…
Wait! Maybe we should also throw some confetti, wouldn’t that be nice?
Okay, really. The winner is…
Cake, anyone? Something festive and Halloween-y?
Okay, really and truly. The winner is…
Julie with Hallow‘s Eve!!!
Congratulations, Julie, for a fun story that even included the term halloweensie!!! and was artistically presented in the shape of a cat 🙂 (At least, it looks like a cat to me, but I suppose it could be a halloweensie mouse :)) Julie, you are the lucky recipient of the 5 signed picture books from our generous and talented fellow authors. You will receive Marathon Mouse by Amy Dixon, The Three Ninja Pigs by Corey Rosen Schwartz, Puzzled By Pink by Sarah Frances Hardy, Flap! by Alison Hertz, and The Monster Who Lost His Mean by Tiffany Strelitz Haber! Please email me and let me know how you’d like them signed and we’ll all get on the case 🙂 You are also the distinguished recipient of the incredible fame that comes with winning a contest of this caliber. You can now hold your head high and proudly tell everyone you see that you won the Halloweensie Contest! Not just anyone can say that! (In fact, at the moment, only one other person in the world can say that – Cathy who won last year :)) Fame, I tell you! 🙂
Second place and a $25 Amazon gift card goes to Laura R for Jack O’Lantern!
Third place and a $15 Amazon gift card goes to Nancy for Halloween Drives Me Batty!
Congratulations to all the winners!
But I’d like to say again how fabulous ALL the entries were, and congratulate everyone who entered. You all did a great job, and I know how hard it is to put your work out there, so BRAVO!!! I know I speak for everyone when I say how much we all enjoyed reading ALL the entries!
And here’s a little heads up. I’m not running the Thanksgiving Contest this year. I think it’s just too much with everything else going on in November and having just finished the Halloweensie Contest. But I WILL be running the Holiday Contest during the week of December 19-24. And I’ll tell you right now that there are 5 (that’s FIVE!) Picture Book Manuscript Critiques up for grabs to the winners of that contest!!! And maybe some other good stuff too! So start thinking holiday thoughts. Make some notes. And be sure to keep your calendar open enough to participate! The reason there are 5 fabulous prizes is because we got so many entries for that contest last year, which gave me the impression (possibly misguided :)) that it was popular. So I hope people will enter, and please spread the word to anyone you know who might be interested. I will post the contest rules in the first week of December… hopefully… 🙂
Okay. Now for real, go have a nice weekend 🙂 PPBF bloggers, please remember to add your post-specific link to the list below!
Well, my goodness! This has been a busy week so far, hasn’t it?
I apologize for the extra post yesterday, and thank everyone who took the time to read and vote for their favorite Halloweensie Contest entry. If you haven’t had a chance to vote yet, the running is VERY tight and we need all the votes we can get, so please go HERE!
And speaking of voting, we’ve had so much of it this week! Voting for the president… voting for the Halloweensie Contest… and now voting for the October Pitch Pick winner. Truly, I feel a little weak, and I suspect you may too, so I’d like to offer you all a restorative chocolate cake pop 🙂
Photo copyright Stacy Jensen 2012 used by permission
Very festive, don’t you think? And orange-y and yellow-y for post-Halloween scrumptiousness 🙂 And as we all know, if it’s cake, it’s breakfast (milk, eggs, grains, need I say more?) Hmm… I like that! I think it should be my new motto: “If it’s cake, it’s breakfast!” (and you have to say it in the voice of a Saturday morning cartoon narrator, you know, like “Not far outside the city, the evil scientist, Simon Barsinister, was up to no good!”!)
Now that we are thusly fortified, here are the revised pitches from October, presented for your voting pleasure. Enjoy reading the new and improved versions and then please vote for the one you think deserves a read by editor Erin Molta.
#1 Linda Alpha Bitty (PB ages 4-6) A special tree stands on Wordy Hill. It doesn’t sprout apples or oranges but letters, from A to Z. All year Wind, Rain and bright Sunshine, have helped the letters grow strong, but how can they pick them? Alpha Bitty comes to the rescue and together the friends share the letters near and far so new stories may blossom.
#2 Sidney Phantom And The Boneyard (MG) The Phantom awakens to find himself separated from the other airplanes in his squadron and relocated to a military “boneyard” in the Arizona desert where retired aircraft are used for spare parts. But Phantom isn’t ready to retire. With the help of new friends, he starts plotting his escape before he, too, ends up in permanent storage with his “eyes” wrapped shut.
#3 Brenda Dishing Up (PB ages 3-8) What could possibly go wrong when Dan Platter, Kay Gravy Boat and Amy Gravy Boat take over the kitchen!
#4 Carrie Scooter Annie (PB ages 4-8) Annie loves swooping and gliding on her new scooter. Nothing can stop her…except the hill at the end of her street. Now, if Annie wants to ride in the neighborhood parade, she must find a way to tackle that big hill – without getting hurt in a big way.
Please vote by Friday November 9 at 11:59 EST!
And now for today’s pitch from the lovely Heather (who you may remember from that gorgeous dragon painting we all enjoyed so much for the Summer Send-Off Contest – helpfully linked in case you want to go look at that picture again!) Heatheris an artist, writer, wife and mom living in the woods of Maine. When she’s not scribbling away at her desk, she’s busy exploring, learning and generally raising a ruckus with her family. You can find her at her blog or her website.
Working Title: A Banshee Birthday Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 4-8) The Pitch: Ailbe wishes she had some friends to invite to her birthday party, but it’s tough finding girls willing to attend a nocturnal banshee celebration. For those girls brave enough to say “yes” and stay awake past bedtime, Ailbe has many secrets of the night to share.
So what do you think? Would You Read It? YES, MAYBE or NO?
If your answer is YES, please feel free to tell us what you particularly liked and why the pitch piqued your interest. If your answer is MAYBE or NO, please feel free to tell us what you think could be better in the spirit of helping Heather improve her pitch. Helpful examples of possible alternate wordings are welcome. (However, I must ask that comments be constructive and respectful. I reserve the right not to publish comments that are mean because that is not what this is about.)
Please send YOUR pitches for the coming weeks! For rules and where to submit, click on this link Would You Read Itor on the Would You Read It tab in the bar above. There are openings in January, so you have time to polish 🙂 for a chance for it to be read by editor Erin Molta!
Heather is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch! And I am looking forward to a lovely day in which there will be sunshine and temperate temperatures and certainly NOT what the weather man is calling for which I will not repeat here because this is a kid-friendly blog and the weatherman is tossing about a four-letter word that begins with S!
See you Friday for Perfect Picture Books and the winner of Amy’s giveaway for Marathon Mouse!
The time has come, the walrus said, for the Halloweensie Contest Finalists to be revealed!!!
I can just feel the very air quivering with excitement!!!
Let me just say that I was bowled over – by both the number and the quality of the entries!!! I NEVER expected a turnout like this! I was so happy at the response and enthusiasm – really it was just wonderful! I had SO much fun going around to read each new entry as it was added to the list – each better than the last. I hope you all had as much fun with it as I did.
Now, I realize I said I’d try to narrow the field down to 3 finalists, but you all know I can pretty much never do that anyway 🙂 and that was before I knew there were 38 entries! And in this case there were so many great entries that cutting any of them was brutal! So after much hemming and hawing and gnashing of teeth and consulting with my lovely assistant, I have ruthlessly done away with more than 75% of the competition – much as it pained me! – and have left you less than a quarter to choose from (and that’s just as close as we’re going to get to correct percentages because math is not my thing!) And I’d like to say right up front that many of the entries that were cut I was EXTREMELY nitpicky about because I had to cut something! They were all excellent!
I also decided that since there were so many entries I should give a couple more prizes. So while the winner will still receive the fabulous 5 signed picture books, 2nd place will receive a $25 Amazon gift certificate, and 3rd place will receive a $15 Amazon gift certificate (which was the best I could think up on short notice! If anyone has a better idea, let me know :))
So, with GREAT FANFARE, here are the finalists! They were chosen on the basis of kid appeal and quality of story within 100 words – tough criteria. Please read through and then vote for your favorite by Thursday November 8 at 6 PM EST. In the interest of trying to help you be objective they are listed by title only – no author names for now (though of course if you have photographic memories and remember who wrote what I can’t help with the objectivity :))
I would also like to add that, for spookiness/creepiness, Renee (’round the moonlit town) and Sidney (The Last House) should receive honorable mention. And for the other 2 stories that I finally cut because I decided 10 finalists was just too many and these were a little more like character sketches than stories but still really, really good, honorable mention to Cathy (The Halloween Queen) and Lauri (No Trick-orTreating For Jack). But really – excellent job EVERYONE, and thank you all for providing us with such fantastic Halloween entertainment!
#1 Sneak-a-Sweet
There was a little witch
who kept a little bat
high upon the top
of her little pointy hat.
Every Halloween
when she would trick-or-treat,
the little bat would swoop right down
and grab an extra sweet.
The bat knew this was sneaky,
impolite and , yes, uncouth—
But when your home’s a witch‘s hat
you MUST tend her sweet tooth!
#2 The Witches of Fairy Top Hill
On Halloween eve up on Fairy Top Hill,
A trio of witches, Pam, Tamsin and Lil,
Were practicing magic and chanting out loud,
“Bat-candy, bat-candy…rain down from that cloud!”
“Kaput! and Kabob!” Pam invoked with a shout
The sky quickly filled with a hover of trout.
“Kibosh! and Pish-posh!” Tamsin yelled with finesse.
A chorus of frogs joined the fish-slippy mess.
Then bold Lil spoke up, “This is Trick-or-Treat night,
And children get candy and Turkish delight.”
Costumed as young children…with treat bags to fill,
The trio went guising, Pam, Tamsin and Lil.
#3 The Little Scaredy Witch
Chloe was a scaredy witch. She was scared of bats, jack-o-lanterns, and most of all, costumed trick-or-treaters. Her sister Mavis told her, “Don’t be a scaredy witch! You’re supposed to be the one scaring people on Halloween.” With Halloween days away, Chloe worried about the trick-or-treaters who would visit. Maybe she would hide until Halloween was over. She found a sheet, and draped it over her head. Mavis walked in and screamed. “You frightened me!” said Mavis. Chloe suddenly felt braver with her sheet. So on Halloween night, she wore the sheet and happily greeted trick-or-treaters at the door. “Boo!”
#4 Witch Party
The wee witchis very excited,
her pointed toes quiver with glee.
Today is the day
all the ghouls come to play.
This night will be super spooky.
Bent tree branches scratch at the windows,
carved pumpkins do flicker and scowl.
Dry leaves fly and swirl
as the batsstart to whirl,
cold wind swoops around with a howl.
Her cauldron glows green as it bubbles,
the wild creatures party all night.
No one on this street
dares to come trick or treat.
They’re all in a shivering fright.
#5 The Scariest Halloween
Ghost heard an eerie sound.
Hee-hee-hee-hee!
He trembled beneath his sheets.
Ding-dong-ding-dong
Ghost froze. “It’s probably just a bat,” he said.
He hid behind the curtain and peeked out his window.
Princesses, fairies, and superheroes roamed the streets singing, “Trick or treat!”
“How could I forget?” said Ghost.
He called Mummy, Skeleton, and Witch.
“It’s Halloween!”
They dashed out of their house.
“Boooo,” wailed Ghost.
“Muahahahaha,” cried Mummy.
“Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah!” chattered Skeleton.
“Ack-yak-yak-yak,” shrieked Witch.
They scurried to the streets, running amuck until they reached their hiding place.
A banana whizzed by them. “This is the scariest Halloween ever!” said Ghost.
#6 Hallow’s Eve
#7 Halloween Drives Me Batty
Winifred stared at the calendar, “It’s Halloween!
Unimpressed, her black cat, Ebony, turned away and returned to slumber.
“I know witches are supposed to like Halloween. But I don’t. Halloween drives me batty. I never want to hear “trick-or-treat” again.”
Winifred grabbed her Spell Book and turned pages, “No . . . No . . . Not a chance . . . Hmm . . . Maybe . . . No . . . YES!”
Winifred chanted as she tossed ingredients into her cauldron:
Eye of Newt, Hair of Dog, Wing of Bat
Just for today . . . turn me into a Cat!
*POOF*
Winifred padded over to join Ebony for a cat nap, and purred, “Better catty, than batty.”
#8 JACK O’LANTERN
Jack O’Lantern was an orange-headed kid
With a very round face, a stem on his lid.
On Halloween night, Jack met an old witch.
He begged for a spell and presented his pitch.
“I want to trick-or-treat like a regular boy
In spooky attire. I love Almond Joys.”
Jack guzzled her brew, full of bat wings
And all sorts of other odd, horrible things.
“Jack?” Joe asked. “You’re as white as a ghost.”
“A witch threw a pumpkin. I thought you were toast!”
“My pumpkin head’s gone! I feel….BOO!” Jack haunted.
“Turning into a ghost was not what I wanted.”
I know! Tough choice, right? We need all the votes we can get! Ready, go!
As you know, today is our day for a guest post from Amy Dixon, author of MARATHON MOUSE. (And did I mention there’s a giveaway?!!)
It was also supposed to be the day I posted the Halloweensie Contest Finalists (of which there are a lot more than 3 because at final count we had 38 entries and 3 finalists was simply not a number I could get down to with so many fantastic stories!!!)
I actually started writing the post thinking I’d put everything in.
But by the time I got to the end of Amy’s part, I knew it wasn’t going to work. Wonderful as you all are, I felt it was just too much to ask you to go on from Amy’s post to the contest finalists – it was getting VERY long. So since today is her scheduled day, I hope you will all thoroughly enjoy her post, which is full of inspiring words for writers! I will post the Halloweensie Contest finalists in a separate post either later on today or tomorrow (which I realize is not a normal posting day for me) – feel free to tell me in the comments which you’d prefer!
So without further ado, heeeeerrrre’s AMY!
Amy Dixon
When I was growing up, some of my favorite books involved one Miss Ramona Quimby. I’m sure I related to her trials as the little sister, and to her attempts to prove herself worthy of admiration and acceptance. I will say though, that Ramona went to much greater lengths to gain such admiration. I never accidentally cracked a raw egg on my head, or wore a Chiquita banana sticker on my face in order to be a part of the latest fad. But I was always delighted by her antics, and always wished, in spite of what seemed like constant embarrassment, that I could be more like her. What perhaps now I would categorize as impulsiveness, I then regarded as bravery. Ramona was brave. I wanted to be brave, too.
It was my affection for Ramona that made the nickname I earned on the soccer field when I was 10 a little more palatable. My sister and I both played on a team called The Golden Touch. I wasn’t a flashy player. I don’t think I ever saved or scored a goal. But our coach would put me in the midfield, point out one of our opponents and say, “Don’t you let her get by you.” I took his charge seriously. I followed that player around on the field like a stray puppy who was once given a scrap and was hoping for more. I would not leave her alone for a second. And so, on the soccer field, I became Amy the Pest.
When I started writing for children six years ago, I had no idea the tenacity that would be required to make things happen in this business. It definitely called for a bit of…pesty-ness. Not a bombard-agents-and-editors-with-e-mails-and-phone-calls-till-your-name-is-engraved-on-their-list-of-psycho-writers kind of pesty-ness. But a persistent, persevering, resilient kind of pesty-ness. A pesty-ness that revises the same manuscript 27 times until it is just perfect…and then starts from scratch because an editor thinks it would work better in third person. A pesty-ness that takes in each painful rejection and yet still finds a way to send the story back out again. A pesty-ness that makes us certain those rejections will be fun to share later in a “look how many times my amazing, award-winning story was scoffed at before it sold!” presentation.
And so, 20 years after my days as a half-back for the Golden Touch, Amy the Pest was resurrected. I wrote. I revised. I critiqued. I conferenced. I submitted. I was rejected. I revised some more. I submitted some more. I was rejected some more. I buzzed in the ear of the publishing world, and was swatted away again and again.
But like Ramona and her questions about Steam Shovels and their bathroom habits, I wouldn’t go away. I believed in my work. I had critique partners who believed in my work. And somewhere in there, somewhere in between growing as a writer and learning the business of publishing, I became brave. Brave enough to send out MARATHON MOUSE, even after getting some discouraging editor feedback. (So…all that happens in this book is…he runs? Am I missing something?) Brave enough to get a publisher’s offer on MARATHON MOUSE, and ask the editor for 2 weeks to follow-up with agents before saying yes. Brave enough to now say out loud, “I am a writer.”
So here I am…Amy Dixon, Age 37. Here to encourage you to channel your inner Ramona. Release your pesty-ness. Learn to be brave. You will grow as a writer, even if, every once in a while, you end up with a little raw egg on your head.
Wasn’t that just terrific? Thank you so much for those inspiring words, Amy!
I will tell you all that I have read MARATHON MOUSE and will be posting it this Friday as my Perfect Picture Book – it’s fantastic and I highly recommend it and you should all find any excuse you can to buy it! 🙂
In the meantime, one lucky, lucky reader is going to win a signed copy, because Amy is just that wonderful! All you have to do is leave a comment telling about something you accomplished (like a marathon :)) For example, I could say that once I was Sneezy in our third grade play of Blanche Neige – and if you’ve ever tried to sneeze in French you will know just what an accomplishment that was! But I realize it’s Monday morning and many of you may not be fully caffeinated yet, so if you can’t remember anything you’ve accomplished at this hour you can just write why you’d like the book 🙂
Stay tuned for the Halloweensie Contest Finalists and don’t forget to let me know if you have a preference for later today or tomorrow. The post is already written because it used to be half of this one 🙂
You know me. Planning is not my strong suit. I’m definitely a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants kinda gal. But for today, I planned. I had a book in mind. I was all set. I ordered my copy well in advance. Unfortunately the release date was shifted. Fortunately, it still shipped in time. But… thanks to Sandy… delivery has been delayed, so today’s book, which was supposed to have been Marathon Mouse by Amy Dixon, just in time for the NYC marathon and in advance of her interview here on Monday, ain’t happenin’. Sad face. Apparently I am not destined to be a planner!
So instead, in the aftermath of Sandy when so many have lost so much, I’ve chosen a book I dearly love. I know. This makes two quiet books in a row. But after the craziness of this hurricane week it seemed like a good choice. I dare you to read it without feeling touched 🙂
All The Places To Love Written By: Patricia MacLachlan Illustrated By: Mike Wimmer HarperColllins, 1994, Fiction
Suitable For: ages 3-8
Themes/Topics: appreciating what you have, love, family, new baby
Opening: “On the day I was born my grandmother wrapped me in a blanket made from the wool of her sheep. She held me up to the window so that what I first heard was the wind. What I first saw were all the places to love…”
Brief Synopsis: Everyone in Eli’s family has a favorite place – Mama loves the blueberry barren, grandmother loves the river, grandfather loves the barn. “Where else,” he says, “can the soft sound of cows chewing make all the difference in the world?” Eli knows that no matter where he goes in the world, all the places to love are right here, connected to his family, and always to be cherished. Then one day, Eli and his grandfather wait together in the barn until grandmother holds someone new up to the window, wrapped in a blanket made from the wool of her sheep – Eli’s sister Sylvie – and he looks forward to sharing his joy, showing her all the places to love including his favorite, which is revealed in the end, but I won’t spoil it 🙂
Links To Resources: here is a nice Teacher’s Guide, but I also think this book lends itself perfectly to discussion of the places YOU love and why. Draw a picture of a place you love. Make a list of places you love. Talk about why you love them, what makes them special.
Why I Like This Book: I don’t just like this book – I absolutely love it. The language is poetic and lyrical with a rhythm that makes it wonderful to read aloud. The art is warm, loving, and so appealing. The story is all about love, appreciation, and family. It’s a quiet book, just right for bedtime or those moments when children need to settle down. It brings all the warmth and comfort of love and family to the surface, giving children a model whereby they can revel in their own experience of the people and places they love. I read this book many, many times to my kids and after all those readings, even now, it makes me teary every time (in a good way :)) Simply a gem.
Here’s the only other picture that was available on the internet for a glimpse of the beauty inside:
And now, before you all rush off to read everyone’s wonderful offerings for today, a teensy Halloweensie Contest update. We had an INCREDIBLE turn-out – 37 entries at the time of this writing (and I did say I’d extend the deadline to the end of today to help people who lost their power and couldn’t post or link up.) If you haven’t had a chance to read them, please go HERE and have fun following the links and checking the comment section for the 6 that were entered there. All these writers worked so hard, and produced such wonderful, entertaining stories I’d hate for you to miss any of them. And a couple got added late and I’m worried they didn’t get many visitors 😦 so please, if you’re looking for a little light reading over the weekend, check them out!
Now, if all you amazing PPBF bloggers would kindly leave your post-specific links below, we’ll all come visit you with a piece of paper and a pencil so we can make extensive library lists 🙂 OH! And don’t miss Monday’s post – with Amy Dixon, author of Marathon Mouse, and the vote for the Halloweensie Contest Winner (assuming my assistant judge and I have any luck narrowing this unbelievable field!)
Have a great weekend, everyone, and GOOD LUCK to anyone who is running the NYC Marathon (and that includes my better half! :))!!!
Before we begin the contest, I just want to thank everyone who expressed their concern and sent their thoughts and prayers my way during the storm, and say that I hope all of my friends out there were able to stay safe. We were lucky here, but I know a lot of people who read this blog were in harm’s way and I hope you and your loved ones are all safe and well.
And now…
It’s the (2nd Annual!) HALLOWEENSIE CONTEST!!!!!
courtesy google images
The Contest: write a 100 word Halloween story appropriate for children (title not included in the 100 words), using the words witch, bat, and “trick-or-treat“. Your story can be scary, funny or anything in between, poetry or prose, but it will only count for the contest if it includes those 3 words and is 100 words (you can go under, but not over!) Get it? Halloweensie – because it’s not very long and it’s for little people 🙂
Post your story on your blog today! – Wednesday October 31 – by 11:59 PM EDT and add your post-specific link to the list below. If you don’t have a blog and would like to enter, you can simply copy and paste your entry in the comments section. Then have fun hopping around and reading all the fabulous entries! Anyone who has trouble commenting, please email me! (susanna[at]susannhill[dot]com) P.S. Special Note: due to the chaos and power outages caused by Sandy, if you would like to enter but need a little more time to post, please let me know! I will extend the deadline out to Friday if that helps anyone!
The Judge: my lovely assistant and I will narrow down the entrants to three (hee hee hee – you know how much trouble I have with only 3, so we’ll see) top choices which will be posted here and voted on for a winner. The vote will be added to Amy Dixon’s guest post on Monday (because Amy needs Monday since her book is Marathon Mouse and Monday is the day after the NYC marathon (which will hopefully still be able to take place) but we also need to vote for a winner!) Unless you all let me know by popular vote in the comments that you’d prefer a separate post on a day I usually don’t post – Saturday or Sunday? or next Tuesday?
The Prize: The winner will receive the INCREDIBLE prize of 5 (that’s FIVE!) brand new picture books personalized and signed by the authors! These 5 awesome books are: PUZZLED BY PINK by Sarah Frances Hardy, THE MONSTER WHO LOST HIS MEAN by Tiffany Strelitz Haber, THE THREE NINJA PIGS by Corey Rosen Schwartz, MARATHON MOUSEby Amy Dixon, and FLAP! by Alison Hertz. Great to keep for your own collection or to give to little ones in your life as holiday gifts 🙂 The winner will also be incredibly famous and able to boast that he or she won The Halloweensie Contest… and that is not something most people can say! 🙂
Here is my official sample, cobbled together in the midst of Sandy. If only she had been as benevolent as the story…
Sandy Candy
Bad weather brewed. “Windy!” said Wanda. “Stormy!” said Spellda. “Halloweenie!” said baby Cauldra. Just then the lights went out. “Perfect!” squealed the little witches. They grabbed their broomsticks and candy cauldrons. “Let’s trick-or-treat!” “Sorry,” said Mama Witch. “Spook Radio just issued a Wild Weather Warning. All broomsticks grounded. I’m afraid we’ll have to stay home.” “No candy?” Cauldra began to cry. “We can still have fun,” said Wanda. They played Pin-The-Bat-In-The Attic. They sang Monster Mash and danced. They told ghost stories by jack-o-lantern light. The front door rattled. Dad blew in, covered with… “Candy!” shouted the girls. “Happy Halloween!” (99 words)
Here is the first sample I wrote which I’m including just for fun. It originally had 2 other verses and totaled 176 words… too long! This version is close though, with 116 words 🙂 What was I thinking? 100 words! Ouch! 🙂
Topsy-Turvey Halloween
In a spooky old house perched perilously On the creaky branch of a skeleton tree Lived Emmeline Witch and her sisters three But they weren’t as happy as they should be.
Emmeline Witch wiped away a tear. “I just don’t get why year after year no trick-or-treaters ever come here. It totally spoils my Halloween cheer.
Emmeline tried to figure out why. She puzzled and pondered, then gave a sigh. “By Jingo, girls! We’re way too high! The kids don’t see us when they pass by!
Now Emmeline Witch and her sisters three are the favorite stop on the Halloween spree, the only house you’ll ever see that hangs like a bat from a skeleton tree!
So now, having comforted yourselves with how much better your stories are than these!, everyone please add your post-specific contest entry link to the list below, or paste your story into the comments! I CAN’T WAIT to read them!!!
Also, please let me know if you have thoughts about what day to post the vote!
Happy Halloween!!! (Please be sure to check the comments for entries – already 6 there from Sidney, Linda, Patricia, Larissa, Adele, and Pam!)
Batten down the hatches, all my fellow east-coasters! In spite of the fact that I bought candles on Friday and filled the bathtubs with water this morning, the Frankenstorm appears to be coming anyway. I hope you are all in a safe place with plenty of batteries and chocolate and possibly your floaties and a rowboat!
To keep your minds off whether or not your basement is likely to approximate Lake Superior by tomorrow, let’s dive in to today’s Oh Susanna question, which is one that strikes a real chord with me, and I’m guessing a lot of you will feel the same way.
Penny asks, How in the world do you decide which blogs to follow regularly??? I would love to follow everyone! I would love to comment on all posts! But, if I do that, I have no time to do what I really love, which is writing! I read lots of blogs that I only comment on randomly, so the writer never knows that I read them often. We have become so connected by the Internet that I sometimes feel rude because I can’t spend time with all my writing friends equally. Does anyone have a “qualifier” list for what blogs they will choose to best suit their goals? Do those who blog rely on comments to “keep them going”…or are you going to blog no matter what? Is anyone else as frustrated about this as I am? (I know you covered time management in one of your Oh Susanna! posts…but I think I need a refresher focusing on blogs.)
Yes, Penny! I am definitely as frustrated as you are! 🙂
As Penny mentioned, we did discuss this a little in the Oh Susanna post on Time Management. But I decided to post this more specific question because it’s something I think lot of people wrestle with every day (including me! :)), and I’m very interested in hearing from everyone out there about how they handle this issue.
I think the answer partly depends on what you hope to get out of blogging. If you’re trying to hone your craft, then you’ll read a list of blogs that focus on craft and you might not need to comment unless you have a question. This is a very different picture from that of someone who is trying to build a platform and will have to visit and comment on many blogs regularly in hopes of encouraging them all to follow back.
If you, like me, blog for community – for the connection, the interaction, the discussion, the feeling of being part of a group of like-minded people, the friendship – there’s really no limit to how much time you CAN put in, which is where the problem lies. And from the way Penny asked the question, I think this is at least partially what she’s talking about.
This is a knotty problem, because we do develop friendships. There is a large group of people out there who I am very fond of even though technically I’ve never met them in real life :)! I feel guilty if a day goes by when they post and I don’t have time to read, or I read but don’t have time to comment. I worry they’ll feel slighted and think bad thoughts about me!
But let’s face it: there are only so many hours in the day. And most of us here have things to do besides blog 🙂
I’m very interested to see how these turn out! And I have a feeling the results may be a very informational part of this post for all of us. I hope a lot of people will respond.
If it helps to share concrete information, I’ll tell you what I do: (and I will admit straight out that I DO NOT have the answer!)
The blogs I follow regularly belong, as a general rule, to writers, illustrators, teachers, librarians, and a few agents, editors, book reviewers, and mom bloggers – at least, those are the blogs I read with commitment. (I confess there are a couple funny ones I read sometimes that don’t fit into any of those categories :)) These are the people I share common ground with, the blogs where many of my interests lie, that also intersect with what I have time for. (I would love to read blogs about horses and dogs and a few other things, but I simply don’t have time, so for me blogging centers in a more professional area.)
I like having new posts delivered straight to my inbox, even though it fills up, because then I’m sure to see them. Anyone whose blog does not include an email option is likely to get sporadic reading from me because I read so many that I tend to forget about some without the reminder.
I try to carve out a chunk of time at the approximate beginning, middle, and end of my work day to read and comment on blogs, but it is rarely that neat… reading and commenting on blogs feels deliciously like being productive at moments when the writing isn’t going well which makes it a nearly irresistible distraction 🙂
I read an average of 30-40 blogs per weekday (fewer on weekends – I’m trying to cut back :)) I comment on an average of 20-25 per day, maybe a little more. Chances are high that if you ever see comments from me (and you have an email option for delivery :)) I’m reading your blog all the time – every post.
As for comments on my own blog, they are very important to me. They let me know that I’m not just shouting into the abyss – that I hopefully provide something enjoyable maybe sometimes even valuable on some level. And I genuinely like hearing everyone’s thoughts on everything.
Truthfully I feel like the amount of blogging I do is both insufficient and far too much.
Wouldn’t it be great if we could agree on some sort of system? So that we could spend a little more time on our actual work without worrying that our friends are feeling neglected and unloved? Maybe an “I’m-Up-To-My-Eyeballs-But-I-Took-The-Time-To-Come-Over-Here-So-You’d-Know-I-Still-Love-You-Even-Though-I’m-Not-Reading-Or-Commenting-Today” button? 🙂
What works for one may not work for another, but it sure would be helpful to hear from you all about how you manage. How do you decide who to read? How much is enough? Please share!!!
(And remember! Only 2 days until the Halloweensie Contest! Rules HERE!)
Remember on Monday when I was feeling all flibbertigibbetty?
Well, I decided I’m not the only one who feels that way. Life is crazy! 🙂 So for today’s Perfect Picture Book I chose some balm for the flibbertigibbeted soul 🙂
Silence Written & Illustrated By: Lemniscates Magination Press, March 2012, Fiction
Suitable For: ages 3-8
Themes/Topics: listening, taking time to notice yourself and your world
Opening: “In the silence I can hear the waves crashing and the wind playing with my kite.“
Brief Synopsis: A child takes different moments of peace and quiet throughout the day, in different seasons, and in different locations, to see what the world has to say.
Links To Resources: I think the best activity for this book is to do exactly what it says: listen! What can you hear in the quiet of your room? What can you hear if you listen quietly outside? What do you notice when you take the time to absorb what’s going on around you? Try just being quiet for a few minutes 🙂
Why I Like This Book: Let’s face it – life is busy! Even for kids. This lovely, peaceful, quiet book reminds children and parents to pause for a few minutes, listen. and reflect. The book is filled with lovely lines like, “In Spring, I can hear the bees loving flowers” and “When I listen I can hear my feet when dancing my heart when running…” This book may be as close as you can get to meditating with the under 6 set 🙂 I find it very peaceful 🙂
Since we’re talking Perfect Picture Books today, let me just say that I’m pretty excited that the Perfect Picture Book book marks arrived this week! They turned out beautifully! I have the following packaged up and ready to send out to the wonderful people who are taking it upon themselves to help spread the word of our endeavors here:
Beth – 200 Vanessa – 100 Patricia N. – 100 Donna – 100 Darshana – 50 Kirsten – 50 Heather B. – 50 Laura M. – 50 Julie R-Z – 30 Kim Mac. – 30 Clar – 25 Penny – 25 Stacy – 25 Vivian – 25 Jennifer R. – 25 Joanna – 20 Pat – 15 Jarm – 15 Alison – 10
If you asked for book marks and don’t see your name here, please let me know! Saba and Amy both said they would like some but I need to know how many. Vanessa, Patricia N,. and Donna – I’m happy to send you more if you need them – please let me know – but I only had 1000 to start. ONLY! I can’t believe we used them ALL!
If anyone else would like book marks to pass around to local libraries, schools, teachers, parents, day care providers, preschools, etc., please let me know. If you email your address and let me know how many, I’m going to order some more and I’ll send them along!
And now, a quick reminder before the weekend, when some people might be able to find a few spare minutes to work on it… The Halloweensie Contest is next week! – Wednesday October 31 to be exact!! – tons of fun and a great prize (as well as incredible fame should you happen to win :))!!! So whip up those 100 words! For complete details, please see HERE. And can I just say, I don’t know what’s up with the weather, but after saying I hoped we wouldn’t get 2 feet of snow that knocks out the power and the internet like last year, would you believe we have a HUGE storm predicted for Tuesday into Wednesday? I am going to do my best to get the post written ahead (Stop that! I hear you rolling around on the floor laughing! I didn’t promise, I said I’d TRY!) so that everyone will be able to add their links and such even if I can’t get on to read. By planning ahead, I’m hoping to scare the storm away altogether. I am that powerful. But in case the worst happens, we will still have our contest whenever the power comes back on!
PPBF bloggers, please add your post-specific links to the list below. I can’t wait to see what shows up this week! 🙂
Susanna Leonard Hill 
You must be logged in to post a comment.