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Perfect Picture Book Friday: Bedtime Monster

January 27, 2012 by Julie

This week’s choice is a book my kids love and both the author and the illustrator are participants in the 12 x 12 in 2012 challenge.

Written by Heather Ayris Burnell, Illustrated by Bonnie Adamson
Raven Tree Press, September, 2010
Suitable for:  Ages 4-8
Themes/Topics:  Bedtime, Family, Humor
Opening and brief synopsis: From Booklist: “There are many books about scary monsters, but in this lively picture book, a toddler actually becomes the scary monster when he has a temper tantrum. Kids will recognize how he enjoys toppling skyscrapers and crashing cars on his bedroom floor and then refuses to go to bed. He snuffles and screeches, grunts and twitches. And the line-and-colored-pencil pictures show all the transformations as the boy’s hair grows, a tail sprouts, and sharp claws jab from his fingertips.”
Activities: There are downloadable activity sheets on the Raven Tree Press website that include a craft, song idea, game, snack, and coloring sheet. You can find them at the Bedtime Monster Page.
Why I Like This Book: This book has equal appeal to both kids (who are the monsters) and the parents (who have to corral the monsters into bed).  We don’t have the bilingual version, but I’m sure that would make the story even more fun and educational to read.  My son asks for this book at least once a week.  Hmm… I wonder if he recognizes himself in little Paul? :-)

For more books with resources please visit author Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog and find the tab for Perfect Picture Books!

Posted in Authors, Perfect Picture Book Friday, Picture Books | Tagged , , , , , , | 29 Comments »

Four More Days to Sign Up for 12 x 12 in 2012

January 26, 2012 by Julie

REMINDER: The deadline to sign up for the 12 x 12 in 2012 challenge is 10:00 p.m. MST on Sunday, January 29th.  Don’t miss this chance to connect and work with 350+ picture book authors and illustrators who’ve committed to writing one picture book draft every month in 2012.  Still not sure?  Consider these benefits:

  1. The chance to win craft-related giveaways such as critiques, books, consultations, etc. from our monthly featured authors.  This month’s prize is a critique from Tara Lazar.
  2. Access to the 12 x 12 Facebook Group, where an active and supportive group of writers are cheering each other on and helping each other out.  Seriously, these people are already moving mountains for each other – forming critique groups, sharing resources, giving advice.
  3. Spontaneous opportunities such as the one being offered in February – a chance to win a critique with freelance editor Tamson Weston.
  4. The biggest benefit?  You could end the year with 12 shiny PB drafts.  What could be better than that?

If you are ready to take the plunge, you can sign on the digital line here.  

Posted in Authors, Giveaway, Goals, Picture Books, Social Media, Works in Progress, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments »

Another Artist’s Way Delay

January 25, 2012 by Julie

Folks, it’s been a crazy week, so I haven’t even read all of Chapter 8 yet, much less digested its teachings.  Today is my son’s birthday, so it’s not going to happen tonight either.  Next week, I will post my Week 8 and Week 9 check-in together so as not to push everything back by another week.  See you then!

Posted in The Artist's Way | Tagged , , | 9 Comments »

Twofer Tuesday: Two 12 x 12 in 2012 Announcements

January 24, 2012 by Julie

Two exciting 12 x 12 in 2012 announcements!

Announcement #1

Beginning February 7th, a pre-published participant of the 12 x 12 challenge will guest post on the blog for the new Tuesday 12 x 12 series.  Each participating author and/or illustrator will write a post on a topic of their choice related to the challenge – why they joined, what they’ve learned, connections they’ve made, books they’ve written, etc.

I am so excited about this series because it will give you a chance to get to know some of the talented and courageous writers who have taken the plunge with me into this challenge.  Many of these writers, you will discover, have fabulous blogs of their own where they generously share their knowledge, successes, and bumps along the road.

You may be wondering why this series is focused on pre-published authors specifically.  For one thing, I guess I have a soft spot for pre-pubbies (my newly minted term), since I am one myself. Second, I already have plans to feature many published authors and illustrators throughout the challenge, so I wanted to shine the light on the great folks putting in the hours and the hard work it takes to get published today.  Finally, I have learned so much from reading their blogs already, and I know you will too.  After all, you don’t have to be traditionally published in order to have knowledge and experience worth sharing.  If so, my own blog would be out of business! :-)  So I hope you’ll come by on Tuesdays and give these brave souls the support and encouragement they deserve.

Announcement #2

I was thrilled to welcome freelance editor Tamson Weston into the 12 x 12 challenge as a participant.  Tamson has very generously offered to give participants a FANTASTIC opportunity to practice writing pitches for the chance to win a manuscript critique from her.  More details will be provided on February 16th when the contest goes live, but because you will only have FOUR DAYS to submit your pitches, I wanted to give you some advance warning so you can start working on them in your “spare” time.

You may choose ONE of your WIPs and submit a pitch that is no more than 140 characters (same as a maximum Twitter message), along with THE FIRST line of your book.  The only exception is if your book is in verse, in which case you can submit the first four lines.  So get ready, because this is a HUGE opportunity.  The grand prize winner will receive a manuscript critique from Tamson.  Again, more information on how to submit, how the entries will be judged, etc. will be posted on February 16th.

Tamson is published children’s book author and editor with over 15 years experience at several prestigious publishing houses including HarperCollins, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and Disney Hyperion.  Adam Rex, Mac Barnett, Robert Weinstock, Adam Gopnik, Jane Leslie Conly, Anne Rockwell, Deborah Hopkinson, Jen Violi, Alexander Stadler, and Dan Santat are just a few of the authors/illustrators she’s worked with.

Are you excited yet??

Now, I suggest you go follow Tamson everywhere she lives!

Tamson’s Blog

Tamson’s Facebook Page

Tamson on Twitter

Still need to sign up for the 12 x 12?  Go here. 

Posted in 12 x 12 in 2012, Authors, Children's Books, Guest Blogging, Picture Books, Publishing, Works in Progress, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 45 Comments »

Gratitude Sunday 69

January 22, 2012 by Julie

This week’s Gratitude Sunday post…

Quotes on Gratitude

“The grateful heart that springs forth in joy is not acquired in a moment; it is the fruit of a thousand choices.” — Nancy Leigh DeMoss

“Every single day do something that makes your heart sing.” — Marcia Wieder

“And forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair.” – Khalil Gibran

Gratitude List for the week ending January 21

  1. Jay’s teacher said about him, “His face tells thousands of stories that he would never be able to express in words.”
  2. I volunteered for the School Food Project in the kids’ cafeteria this week, as a chef came in to demo cooking stir-fry.  Watching the kids gobble up that food, veggies and all, was a delight.
  3. I FINALLY got my business bank account open.  So much hassle and such a relief to get it done.  So you can all start sending me money now! :-)
  4. Having movie night with the kids, watching Mr. Popper’s Penguins (and eating pizza and popcorn).
  5. My mom had the kids for a sleepover on Friday, giving me the night “off,” which I used to take a long hot bath and read my book.
  6. I got to spend a whole afternoon skiing with a girlfriend while our kiddos had a lesson.  Amazing how many runs you can get in when you’re not constantly stopping for bathroom breaks, hot chocolate or to warm up little fingers and toes!
  7. I am grateful for the 12 x 12 in 2012 community.  I’m in awe of the response to this challenge and how much the group members are already helping and supporting each other.  It’s an inspiration!  Don’t forget the deadline to sign up is January 29th – one week from today!
  8. I received and accepted a Top Secret opportunity this week that won’t be Top Secret for much longer.  And no, it’s not that I got an agent, but I am SO excited about it!! :-)
  9. I got to go for a run outside on a rare 60-degree day.  Doesn’t happen much in Boulder in January.
  10. Listening to Em’s classmates all tell her what they appreciate about her during her “birthday circle” at the school.

What are you grateful for this week?

Posted in 12 x 12 in 2012, Birthdays, Family, Gratitude Sunday, Skiing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 21 Comments »

Perfect Picture Book Friday: Show Way

January 20, 2012 by Julie

I didn’t write a post about Martin Luther King Day this week, so I thought I would share my favorite picture book on the subject of slavery and racism in the U.S.  I had the extreme good fortune of hearing the author read this story out loud at a conference, where I was moved to tears.  This is also a Newbery Honor book.

Written by Jacqueline Woodson, Illustrated by Hudson Talbott
Putnam Juvenile, September, 2005
Suitable for:  Ages 4-8
Themes/Topics:  Slavery, Civil Rights, Martin Luther King, Jr., Race Relations, Families, Mothers and Daughters, History
Opening and brief synopsis: Opening: “Soonie’s great-grandma was only seven when she was sold away from her parents in Virginia and sent to South Carolina. All she had was a piece of muslin from her mother, two needles, and bright red thread. She was raised by Big Mama, who cared for the plantation children and at night whispered stories of freedom. Big Mama taught great-grandma how to sew messages and directions into quilt patterns, a Show Way.”
The book follows the journey of eight generations of Woodson’s own female ancestors, ending with her own daughter.  Make sure you have tissues nearby when you read it.
Activities:  Lesson Planet has several lesson plans based on Show Way and others of Woodson’s books.  Woodson herself does not have any on her site, saying, “I write because I have questions, not because I have answers…”  Have to say I love that!
Why I Like This Book: I wrote a entire blog post about what this book means to me here.

For more books with resources please visit author Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog and find the tab for Perfect Picture Books!

Posted in Authors, Children's Books, Perfect Picture Book Friday, Picture Books | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 42 Comments »

The Artist’s Way: Week 7 Check-In

January 19, 2012 by Julie

Click the image to go to the O Website where you can make an electronic vision board

Another late Artist’s Way check-in due to the blackout yesterday, but it was for a good cause.  Now here it is.

I enjoyed this chapter, and I wish I’d had more time to work on some of the journaling exercises.  I’m going to bleed some of them into week eight.

  • Week 7 Theme: “Recovering a Sense of Connection.”  This chapter is about connecting to your dreams and working on receiving as well as doing.  There is a focus on excavating areas of creative interest, dropping perfectionism and taking risks.
  • Morning Pages: Yup – every day.  They felt boring to me this week.  Mostly I ended up writing to-do lists in the pages, but I suppose that freed my mind for more creative pursuits later in the day.
  • Artist Date: One of this week’s tasks was to get a stack of  magazines and cut out images that appeal to you or reflect your life or interests.  They could be related to the past, present, or future.  Since I’ve been wanting to create a “vision” board, I used my artist date to sit down with my magazines and focus on images related to what I want my future to look like.

Any “Aha” Moments? 

  • It was WAY more difficult to cut out those images than I thought it would be.  In the end, I was left with very few and my foam board is still bare.  First of all, I am a verbal, rather than a visual person, so using pictures of any kind feels strange to me when doing “blue sky” work like this.  Perhaps I should have gotten a smaller board so it wouldn’t be so daunting – LOL.  I thought it would be fun, but I found it kind of stressful instead.  Do I really want to do that, go there, meet him/her?  Or I’d think, “Oh I couldn’t possibly cut that out. I’ll never do that, go there, meet him/her.  But, I’m not going to give up on it!  It’s just going to be a work in progress, and I’ll keep you posted.
  • I had a LOT of ideas this week.  My skin is practically tingling with creative energy.  It’s all very exciting, but now I have to find the time and the discipline to actually make something of these ideas.
  • I was offered (and accepted) a fantastic and exciting opportunity (details coming soon).  I can’t help but wonder if these ideas and opportunities are coming as a result of whatever “opening” is happening within myself from doing The Artist’s Way.  *Cue mysterious music*

A few favorite quotes from the Week 7 chapter:

“Expect the universe to support your dream.  It will.”

“Perfectionism is not a quest for the best.  It is a pursuit of the worst in ourselves, the part that tells us that nothing we do will ever be good enough...”

“We’ve all heard that the unexamined life is not worth living, but consider too that the unlived life is not worth examining.  The success of a creative recovery hinges on our ability to move out of the head and into action.  This brings us squarely to risk.”

“There is something enlivening about expanding our self-definition, and a risk does exactly that.  Selecting a challenge and meeting it creates a sense of self-empowerment that becomes the ground for further successful challenges.  Viewed this way, running a marathon increases your chances of writing a full-length play.  Writing a full-length play gives you a leg up on a marathon.”

What creative risks have you taken lately?

Week 6 Check-In

Week 5 Check-In

Week 4 Check-In

Week 3 Check-In

Week 2 Check-In

Week 1 Check-In

The Artist’s Way

Posted in Creativity, The Artist's Way, Writing | Tagged , , , , , | 39 Comments »

Gratitude Sunday 68

January 16, 2012 by Julie

I couldn’t post this yesterday because the wireless wasn’t working at the Breckenridge rental.  Which is a bummer because I wanted this to post on Em’s actual birthday – the 15th – when she turned 9 years old.  But better late than never.

This week’s Gratitude Sunday post is dedicated to Em.  I am so blessed to have her as a daughter.  To say I could not imagine my life without her is the world’s biggest understatement.

Quotes on Gratitude for Daughters

“A daughter is a miracle that never ceases to be miraculous… full of beauty and forever beautiful… loving and caring and truly amazing.” — Deanna Beisser

“A daughter may outgrow your lap, but she will never outgrow your heart.” — Author Unknown

“A daughter is the happy memories of the past, the joyful moments of the present, and the hope and promise of the future.” — Author Unknown

Reasons I am grateful for Em

  1. She is kind and compassionate.  So much so that when a new girl came into the classroom, the teacher sat her next to Em because she knew Em would take care of her and make her feel welcome.
  2. Likewise, she takes excellent care of her little brother.  Of course they argue, but when push comes to shove she is his fiercest protector and most patient teacher.
  3. She is very artistic – in visual, verbal AND dramatic arts.
  4. She loves reading and writing.
  5. She asks for (and gives) LOTS of hugs, and often tells me, “You’re the best Mom in the whole world.”
  6. Even as she gets older and wants to spend more time with her friends, family always comes first for her.
  7. She is very sensitive and doesn’t have a mean bone in her body.  For this reason, friends have sometimes taken advantage of her.  Instead of accepting this treatment, she’s worked with us and other adults to learn to stand up for herself and express her needs and feelings.  Now she is not only a good friend to others, but understands what makes someone a good friend for her.
  8. She is adventurous with experiences (if a little shy with new people).  She climbs rock walls, rides horses, skis, dances, acts, paints, swims, plays basketball.  She loves art museums and science museums equally.  She’s always willing to try something new.
  9. She loves school and values learning.
  10. When she laughs, the world stands still to listen to so pure and beautiful a sound.

What are you grateful for this week?

Posted in Birthdays, Childhood, Family, Gratitude Sunday | Tagged , , , , , | 56 Comments »

Perfect Picture Book Friday: Holler Loudly

January 13, 2012 by Julie

A selection from fantastic kidlit blogger and writer, Cynthia Leitich Smith.

Written by Cynthia Leitich Smith, Illustrated by Barry Gott
Dutton Juvenile, November, 2010
Suitable for:  Ages 3-8
Themes/Topics:  Differences, Acceptance, Fitting In, Special Talents
Opening and brief synopsis: Holler Loudly has a voice as big as the southwestern sky, and everywhere he goes, people tell him to “Hush!” From math class to the movies and even the state fair, Holler’s LOUD voice just keeps getting him into trouble. But when a huge tornado comes twisting into town, Holler (with that voice of his!) saves the day.
Activities:  Cynthia’s website has links to teacher guides for Pre-K, Kindergarten and Grades 1 & 2.
Why I Like This Book: This book has fantastic voice (as a book named HOLLER LOUDLY should).  It is fun to read aloud because you can read it LOUD! The way Holler learns how to use his gift (and rein it in sometimes) is very satisfying.

For more books with resources please visit author Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog and find the tab for Perfect Picture Books!

Posted in Authors, Perfect Picture Book Friday, Picture Books | Tagged , , , , , , , | 41 Comments »

The Artist’s Way: Week 6 Check-In

January 12, 2012 by Julie

The flowers I bought myself this week

I am now officially halfway through The Artist’s Way and twice as far as I’ve ever made it before.  That in and of itself is an accomplishment, but it’s beginning to feel likely that I will complete it this time.

  • Week 6 Theme: “Recovering a Sense of Abundance.”  This chapter asks us to tackle our beliefs about money and its connection (or lack thereof) to art.  Artists of all stripes tend to convince themselves that it is not possible to make money by making art, or even worse, that money corrupts art.  Clinging to these beliefs limits the ability for all kinds of abundance to enter our lives because we somehow feel unworthy, or that the art is not worthy.
  • Morning Pages: I did the morning pages every day except the day Katie Davis and I recorded the Brain Burps podcast.  I got out of bed that day charged up and ready to go.  What’s interesting now is that I’ll realize I missed later in the day and then everything feels “off” somehow.  I guess that’s what happens when a practice becomes a habit.
  • Artist Date:  I had two full days at our Breckenridge ski rental to myself.  I spent most of the time dreaming about and planning not only 2012 but the years beyond.  Then I made a tactical plan to support the goals and dreams.  The time I wasn’t working was spent walking the dog with the views of mountains all around or soaking in the tub with a book.  So yes, I’d say it was one heck of an Artist Date!

Any “Aha” Moments? 

  • Because money and abundance is such a charged topic, I actually thought this chapter gave it short shrift.  It dealt mostly with the ways in which we can be miserly with ourselves, suggesting we allow more luxuries, however small, into our lives.  One thing I did was buy myself fresh flowers.  I love the sight and smell of flowers in the house, but I almost never buy them because it seems like such a frivolous use of funds.  I’ve decided that I’ll buy them once a month from now on.  I didn’t notice any additional flow of prosperity into my life as a result of allowing myself that luxury, but maybe over time… ;-)
  • One thing I realized is that I have to confront my overall fear of numbers. I’ve been living in avoidance of them for so long because I consistently tell myself I’m no good with them.  Can’t do that if you want to run a business and make money.  My most common recurring nightmare is that I have a math exam of some sort coming up and I haven’t attended any of the classes so I know nothing and have no way to pass.  Maybe if I believe I can learn to manage numbers (and actually take steps to learn), I will one day have a dream where I pass that exam!
  • Overall, I do believe that doing what you love leads to abundance of all kinds, that there is enough money to go around and that creating art is a worthy livelihood.  I don’t feel deprived in any way.  I’ve always had everything I needed and most the time what I’ve wanted.  I want money to support my family, yes, but I view luxury as experiences – travel, classes, dining, recreation, etc., rather than things.  I view money as the means to have those experiences and the freedom to choose how to live my life.  If there is one word I associate most with money, it is freedom.

A few favorite quotes from the Week 6 chapter:

“Most of us harbor a secret belief that work has to be work and not play, and that anything we really want to do–like write, act, dance–must be considered frivolous and be placed a distant second.”

“When we do what we are meant to do, money comes to us, doors open for us, we feel useful, and the work we do feels like play to us.”

“Because art is born in expansion, in a belief in sufficient supply, it is critical that we pamper ourselves for the sense of abundance it brings to us.”

What are your beliefs about money, art, and doing what you love to do?

Week 5 Check-In

Week 4 Check-In

Week 3 Check-In

Week 2 Check-In

Week 1 Check-In

The Artist’s Way

Posted in Creativity, Family, Goals, Spirituality, The Artist's Way, Travel, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , | 37 Comments »

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