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#FallWritingFrenzy 2022 Contest Entry: Conjuring Courage

Thank you for hosting the spooktacular Fall Writing Frenzy contest, Kaitlyn Leann Sanchez and Lydia Lukidis, along with their special guest judge Alyssa Reynoso-Morris. I’m excited to share my submission inspired by Selina Wing’s hauntingly gorgeous photo and my eight-year-old daughter. There are also some fantastic prize donors! You can shower our hosts and prize donors with love by visiting their blogs, following them on social media, and showing book love. 

Image credit: Halloween- Credit: Selina Wing for Bing

CONJURING COURAGE

By

Christine Alemshah

[WC: 194]

On this night, when everything twinkles and burning wax fills my nose like birthday candles, all the pumpkins line up like tiny toy soldiers.

My pumpkin is perfectly round, just like everyone else’s. 

It doesn’t stand out. It fits in. 

“Great details,” say the judges. 

“Nice work,” a classmate chimes.

I wish every day at school were like this night, 

where compliments are many, and taunts are few. 

Where I felt more alike than different from everyone else.

Like my pumpkin — proud, smiling, confident.

Hollow eyes stare back at me as if all-knowing, challenging me to dig deep.

I have thick skin, and so do you.  

Look closer at my pumpkin pals,

and you’ll see we’re not the same at all.

Some have broken stems, 

others sun spots, 

some big and some small.

I ponder those thoughts, look around, and agree. 

And not just at the pumpkins but my classmates as well.

Then I think thick skin, take a deep breath, and chant — proud, smiling, confident.

Because on this night, when everything twinkles and burning wax fills my nose like birthday candles, I’ve conjured up the courage to stand out, not fit in.

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12 Days for Writers: Day 3

Children’s author Julie Hedlund, challenged participants of her 12 Days of Christmas for Writers series to post SUCCESSES (rather than resolutions) on our blogs this year. She believes the way New Year’s resolutions are traditionally made come from a place of negativity – what DIDN’T get done or achieved in the previous year.  Instead, she suggests we set goals for the New Year that BUILD on our achievements from the previous one. I decided to participate in this Anti-Resolution Revolution! Here is my list for 2021.

My writing successes in 2021! 

First and foremost… I’m showing up! Whether thinking of ideas while homeschooling my children or taking them to the park, or writing during my 3 am magic writing hour.

1- I rejoined Julie Hedlund’s 12×12 challenge for the first time since 2013!

2- I wrote 21 picture book drafts in 2021 and “won” the 12×12 challenge.

3- Pitch event success progression. The first pitch event I participated in in Feb. 2021 resulted in 1 like. I continued revising my projects and pitches throughout the year, and by the Sept. 2021 pitmad event, my pitches received over 20 likes!

4- I enrolled in Children’s Book Academy’s Illustration and Children’s Book Course in Spring 2021. I had an eye-opening experience learning more about the illustration process of picture book writing.

5- I became a Storyteller Academy Member and as a result, enjoyed fantastic content!

6- After years of digging deep and self-reflection I’ve opened up enough to allow stories highlighting my mixed-heritage and childhood experiences to shine through. I’m look forward to finding the joy in sharing more of my own stories.

7- I’ve been accepted for a  3 Month ONLINE Picture Book Mentorship: Creating a Body of Work for Publication with Rosie J. Pova. I’m over the moon excited! What an excellent way to ring in the new year in 2022!

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Calling Picture Book Writers | #PBCritiqueFest is here!

https://www.pbspotlight.com/single-post/pbcritiquefest-2021

Alright, folks, have you got a completed picture book manuscript (or two or seven or more like me?) and would love to get fresh eyes and feedback from talented authors, illustrators, and/or agents on your project? Now is your chance! Click on over to #PBCritiqueFest and fill out the registration form and you are automatically entered! Ok, ok easy peasy right?! But how would you like to earn MORE entries? There’s an opportunity for that as well!! By following the links above, you can also find the additional entries form and discover how to earn 200 extra entries. You have two weeks to get on this, so what’s stopping you! Good Luck!!

Sending out a special thank you to Brian Gehrlein for hosting who’s debut picture book THE BOOK OF RULES releases November 16, 2021 and is available for pre-order now!

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#FallWritingFrenzy Contest Entry: SEA IN THE SKY

Fall- Credit: Vino Li / Unsplash

SEA IN THE SKY

By

Christine Alemshah

[WC: 196]

The stormy sea sky mocked me. Could Daddy and I see the same sinister moon?  Hopefully, he’s tucked safely inside his ship, not in danger of falling overboard as the swirling clouds suggested.

“No costume, Beatrice? It’s almost time for trick-or-treating,” called Mom.

I kicked the screen door. It squeaked. I hoped it might break.

“You don’t want to go?”

“I can’t, Mom. The sea is in the sky tonight.”

“I think it’s lovely with that crescent moon up there.”

“You mean the frowning crescent face staring at me?  It’s creepy — and Daddy…”

“Was supposed to go trick-or-treating with us?,” Mom finished.

I nodded.

“I miss Daddy, too.  It stinks he got deployed at Halloween. Ok, no trick-or-treating. Something else in mind?”

I squeezed my eyes shut as Daddy’s smiling face painted my mind. His tummy rumbled with a quirky chuckle while dolloping dots of frosting on our noses. Frosting — that’s it!

“Can we make graveyard cake with cookie headstones?”

Mom’s chin crumbled, her voice hitched. “Daddy’s favorite. I’d like that.”

The screen door whooshed as we left the stormy sea sky behind us. It could mock me no more.

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How to use twitter lists and bookmarks

Hello everyone! Are you on Twitter? Have you heard of bookmarks? Or lists? I’ve received questions about these tools lately, and I wanted to share a how-to guide and why you might want to utilize bookmarks and lists on Twitter. I’m an organization queen, so they help me feel better about my twitter navigation experience, and I hope you enjoy using these helpful tools as well!

Twitter lists:
Why might you use a Twitter list? My top reason for using creating one is to organize relevant groups of people based on events or topics. I also use lists during pitch events to find other writers in my genre. Using a list, rather than the general Twitter feed at large will filter irrelevant content. This is beneficial during large-scale events like #pitmad or #pbpitch.

Here’s a quick how to guide to set up a list and get started.

To create a list go into your profile and click on lists to create a new one:

Once you have made your list, you can click on the three little dots at the top right of someone’s tweet… And add them to your list.

Bookmarks

Bookmarks are another genius tool to stay organized and keep posts you treasure readily accessible when you want to reference them again in a sea of twitter posts. To create a bookmark choose the arrow up symbol at the bottom of the post and choose bookmark. For reference later, go into your profile and you will see all your saved bookmarks and lists.

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    #SpringFlingKidLit contest entry: FLORY’S FAIRY WINGS

    Thank you for this delightful Spring Fling Kid Lit contest opportunity hosted by Kaitlyn Leann Sanchez and Ciara O’Neal. There are also some amazing prize donors! You can shower our hosts and prize donors with love by visiting their blogs, following on social media, and viewing their amazing books.

    I found my gif HERE.

    I now present my tiny tale introducing Flory, The Garden Fairy.

    FLORY’S FAIRY WINGS

    By

    Christine Alemshah

    WC: 149

    At graduation, Flory and her fairy friends debuted wings displaying their true power. 

    Willow’s green wings cascaded a flowering arch. 

    Phoenix’s fiery wings transformed her into a bird.

    Amaya’s silver wings showered everyone in light rain.

    Flory touched her back. Nothing. Her smile quivered at her turn. She ran to the ice cream shop instead.

    “I’ll never be a real fairy without wings.”

    A boy in front of her pulled at empty pockets.

    Flory handed him a coin.

    “My treat,” she said.

    “Thank you,” the boy replied.

    Prr-ing! Golden wings sprouted on Flory’s back.

    Flory puzzled.

    The boy ran to help an old fairy tie shoes he couldn’t reach.

    I get it now, thought Flory.

    She ran back to graduation.

    “Oh, Flory,” said Amaya.

    “They’re beautiful,” said Phoenix.

    “What’s your power?,” asked Willow.

    Flory smiled. “Something measured, yet unseen. I spread kindness forward one fairy at a time.”

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    Book Review: What Do Moms Do? By Amy Houts & Emily Bush

    This little gem arrived in the mail recently, and I read it to my girls right away. They are super curious about what Moms do all day (answer: ALOT!). It’s a constant conversation we carry out each day. To their delight, this little book by Amy Houts & Emily Bush talked about that very subject! They loved saying at the end of each page whether it was something their mom did or not. Their giggles and snickers told me they loved it.

    I also must talk about the animal mom/children illustrations throughout the book. They are just darling and very nostalgic for picture stories from my childhood. My new reader (who is 6) will be able to read his on her own. I love adding new books she can pick up and enjoy anytime she pleases. This one is a welcome addition to our library.

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    Virtual Spring Break ideas for kids

    Credit: es.phillipmartin.info

    So… Spring is coming up, and just like last year, things are looking a little different. I know we are all itching to get out! Our family included! And this year, our family does have a plan to get out … a little!

    But, largely — we will still be at home, so we will still be doing a bit of vicarious vacationing! I’ve compiled a list of wonderful resources to enjoy a virtual vacation!

    Don’t forget laundry basket + water in a spray bottle + roller coaster videos

    = Ultimate At Home Splash Mountain Experience!!

    San Diego Zoo
    Smithsonian’s National Zoo Webcams

    Canadian Egg Farm
    Canadian Apple Orchard
    Undeniably Dairy- Visit a Dairy Farm

    Yellowstone National Park – visit several locations in the park.
    Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida
    Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii

    Yosemite National Park, California

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    My #50Preciouswords entry – The Kindergarten Train

    There’s a lovely little contest hosted by children’s author, Vivian Kirkland, going on right now for children’s writers, and there’s still time to enter through 3/7/21 if you’d like to join! The rules are quite simple to follow. Write a story with a beginning, middle, and end appropriate for children 12 and younger in 50 words or less. That’s it! And did I mention there’s prizes? You can find information and read everyone’s entries by following this —> here!

    And here is my entry called The Kindergarten Train. The first lines came to me years ago — left in a notes file incomplete. I’d imagined what the first day of school for my nervous new students would be like and how there might be a story that would help with that transition. The visual imagery of a train that all the kids climb aboard while their parents waved goodbye came to mind as an analogy about the new journey they were embarking upon —an adventure and their opening to the wide world of school. Vivian’s contest provided the perfect opportunity to complete this story idea!


    The Kindergarten Train
    By
    Christine Marie Alemshah


    When the kindergarten train whistle sounds — Choo! Choo!
    Will you be ready?

    “All aboard!” 

    Along the way, you’ll pick up new friends. They’ll have lunch boxes, backpacks, and smiles – just like you.

    Finally, you reach your destination.

    “Choo-Choo!” your teacher will say. “Your kindergarten adventure is about to begin.”

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    Picture Book Review: Cow Says Meow by Kirsti Call | Read this one out loud!

    Cow Says Meow

    Author: Kirsti Call

    Illustrator: Brandon James Scott

    I had the pleasure of reversing Kirsti Call’s latest picture book “Cow Says Meow.” Here is the book blurb on the back cover:

    Read this zany picture book full of mixed-up animal sounds out loud. Fun puns and wordplay will have readers mooing, neighing, and clucking, and even laughing with every page turn.

    I feel the key phrase in that blurb is read out loud. Because it’s true, when you read it out loud, especially to a three year old and six year old, a special kind of magic happens. You will laugh, and you will have little readers joining in and telling each animal that they are not, in fact, making the correct sounds. The illustrations are absolutely hilarious and kid-friendly. My daughter especially enjoyed the ‘pig who said hi.’ These animals are definitely confused. The wordplay throughout will make the parents reading along chuckle as well. I definitely recommend this book for some, rollicking laugh out loud fun. My guess is your little readers will ask you to read it again and again.