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Ripples…One Year Later
Last year I heard the amazing, Bruce Coville speak at my very first SCBWI 2012 Summer Conference. Here are a few quotes from his keynote “Ripples in the Pond: Why What We Do Matters…and Matters…and Continues to Matter”: “Start ripples throughout the world” and “You cannot know how you’ve affected the world; make ripples anyway.” Powerful words, right? Every time I hear them, I my heart melts. I threw my tiny rock in the pond in 2010. That’s when I attended my first ever writing conference, the Central Coast Writing Conference at Cuesta College. I met Children’s Book Author, Merrily Kutner, who told our class that the best thing we…
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Picture Book Review: A Balloon for Isabel
Sometimes there are books that touch my heart so much, I can’t help but review them. A Balloon for Isabel by Deborah Underwood is one of these books. Here are a few reasons why I love this book. 1) It has a clever, witty plot and is an all around fun read. 2) The main character is an adorable little girl named, Isabel. She also happens to be a porcupine who wants a balloon, and for obvious reasons can’t have one. Brilliant. 3) It’s filled with vibrant, colorful illustrations. 4) Isabel’s best friend is Walter. His Dad owns a candy shop. But what does Walter love? Broccoli, of course. What…
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YA Novels: Hooked in Five Sentences or Less
It’s late at night. You’ve just finished a book on your e-reader and are dying for something new to read. But how much time will you give a sample chapter to lure you in? For me personally, I’ve found that new late-night reads need to hook me in five sentences or less, that way I can sink my teeth into them right away I’ve chosen three excerpts from books I’ve loved that have ‘hooked me in five sentences or less‘. I’ll tell you why they appealed to me as a READERS and what we can take away as WRITERS. From The Selection by Kiera Cass When we got the letter in the post, my mother was ecstatic. She had already decided that all our problems were solved, gone forever. The big hitch in her plan brilliant plan was me. AS A READER: I’m loving the title, and the fact that there is a mysterious letter. I love mail! I also immediately like this girl. AS A WRITER: Right away we are hearing the MC’s voice and already know of a conflict brewing. From…
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Muddy Feet Story and a Very Muddy Recipe
Rio with puppy, Aria in the bath I’m over the moon today. My short story Muddy Feet is the ‘Story of the Day’ at Knowonder!. This story was inspired by my Mom’s red and white English Bull Terrier, Rio (pictured at left). She is a beautiful dog with a gentle, loving disposition. She’s also known as the cling wrap dog, a clown, and a mother hen. Check out the story to see what Gina thinks of her dog, Rio. In honor of Rio’s muddy feet I decided to share a recipe for Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Peanut Free Muddy Buddies*. (We have some food intolerances in our house. Can you tell?)…
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11 Tips for Maintaining a Daily Writing Habit
This summer I’ve made a deal with myself — write something new every morning, Monday-Friday. I can’t move on (with submissions, revisions, etc.) until I’ve written something new. At first it was like scratching nails over a chalkboard. I’d talk myself out of it for at least a dozen different reasons. It’s been a few weeks now, and I’m on the daily writing train showing no signs of derailing. I decided to share 11 tips that have helped me so far: 1. Set a schedule and stick to it! 2. Make new writing the first thing you do in your writing time. 3. Avoid Social media and the Internet…
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Take Three…
vampires in the story could transform into animals. This inspired me to write a novel about a young shape-shifter on a quest. I called it Ravyn’s Quest. I began typing the story on my tiny Mac Classic. I actually made 3/4 of the way through the manuscript before I realized I didn’t know how the story would end. I sent my character on this treacherous journey only to realize I didn’t know what she was going to do when she got to where she was going. I always thought in the back of my mind, some day I’ll finish it. And I did take it back out last year. I started over, from the very beginning. This time I’d make sure there were actually characters in the book and…
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Creating a Writing Nook
Where do you complete your writing? Do you have a zen-like place with the sounds of a gentle trickling fountain nearby? Perhaps there’s a vanilla scented candle burning and Enya playing in the background? I think that’s how I pictured it would be before I started writing seriously, but in reality my writing corner has consisted of this… A saggy spot in the corner of a 30+ year old couch. I must say some of my brightest ideas were penned (actually typed) from this very corner. While it is homey and comfortable it doesn’t exactly inspire me to write in a professional and focused manner. So this summer I made it…
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Update on the journey
Here is a blurb from my first ever Sunflower Scribe Blog Post: In June 2010, inspiration struck. My first children’s book main character, Iris the Colorful Spider was born. The manuscript is written and now I am learning more about the editing and publishing process. The journey has just begun and I have finally found my focus. I want to be a Writer. I have come to terms with the fact that this may be a process that is years in the making but, I am up for it! Carpe Diem! I hope you enjoy the ride! I know I will. So how am I doing in my journey now…
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Bullies!
No — not the mean kind that pull your hair and call you names, rather English Bull Terriers, of course! My family has owned and loved them for the past fifteen years. Some people refer to them as ‘lovable dogs in clown suits’. It’s no wonder that bullies spark so many of my children’s story ideas. Stories for Children Ezine Nov. 2011 My first magazine story, Max and Digby’s Big Day (cover featured at left) was loosely based on my sister’s Miniature Bull Terrier, Elmo. Here’s Elmo posing for a photo op after winning several agility medals. He is an excellent agility dog with many titles, but Elmo’s ever the…
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Pick of the Month: February 2012
I have been plugging away at my 75 Book Challenge. I have read 26 books so far. Awesome — yes! But, I still feel behind. Will I make it to 75 by the end of the year? I hope so! It’s been fun so far. Here is my favorite read from February 2012. Picture Book: Lost Boy: The Story of the Man who created Peter Pan by Jane Yolen This is lovely picture book biography about the life J.M. Barrie, author of “Peter Pan.” At 2990 words, this is probably not the best choice for a one-night bedtime story for young children. It might work if you spread it out over…
