As impossible as it is for me to believe we’re already one full month into 2012, here we are.  Did you get a Picture Book draft written in January?  Let us know in the comments section.  If you did – YAY – you’re eligible for an extra point toward a critique from Tara Lazar (but make sure you’ve left a comment on her Jan. 1 post).  You have until midnight EST Feb 1st to leave a comment on this post and Tara’s initial post to be eligible for the drawing.  I’ll draw a winner via Random.org on Feb. 2nd.

If you didn’t complete a draft this month, try not to be discouraged, and don’t get down on yourself.  Brush yourself off and get ready for February.  While the ultimate goal is 12 PBs, the main idea is to write more by being part of the group than you would have by going it on your own.

I did get my draft finished, albeit by the skin of my teeth.  I wrote the conclusion only yesterday.  With both of my kids having birthdays this month, January is always busy.  Add to that all the administration related to the launch of this challenge, and I can say for absolute certain that I would not have written anything this month if it weren’t for you guys.  So thanks!  The challenge is working its magic already!

Now, for those of you who are really, truly crazy need an even greater challenge, February is also the Picture Book Marathon.  The goal there is to write 26 PB drafts in February (with three rest days).  Good luck to those of you who participate.  I’ll be cheering you on – from the sidelines!

Many thanks, once again, to Tara Lazar, who launched this challenge for us so beautifully!!  We are all going to buy her debut picture book, THE MONSTORE, when it comes out next year, right??

AND – Be sure to come back tomorrow for our February featured author. Excitement!

This mug can be yours!!

Want to proclaim your participation in 12 x 12 while donating to a worthy cause?  Or perhaps you just want to contribute to a worthy cause and get some cool gear.  Either way, the 12 x 12 in 2012 Cafe Press store officially opened its “doors” today.

One hundred percent of the proceeds of sales in the 12 x 12 store will be donated to First Book, a nonprofit which has distributed more than 85 million books and educational resources to programs and schools serving children from low-income families throughout the United States and Canada.

From the First Book website:

• First Book increases children’s interest in reading. Two separate studies found that “high interest in reading” triples among children who received new books from First Book.
• First Book empowers teachers. 99.2 percent of programs that receive books from First Book are able to increase their literacy efforts and offer new curriculum activities, including parent engagement programs.
• First Book improves literacy in the home. With First Book’s resources, families are able to create home libraries for the first time. More than 70 percent of children who received books through First Book reported increased reading at home.
• First Book engages a growing number of programs. More than 25,000 programs are registered with First Book and hundreds more join each week.
• First Book is mission-driven and highly efficient. 95 cents of every dollar donated to First Book supports our efforts to provide new books to children in need.

CONGRATULATIONS to the 401 brave souls who decided to take this plunge with me.  I am so grateful to you all for providing ME with the inspiration and encouragement I need to meet my writing goals this year.

A few announcements and reminders:

1. I have sent an email to all registered participants confirming your participation in the challenge.  You DO NOT NEED TO REPLY to that email.  It is for your reference.  If you believe you signed up for the challenge and do not get an email from me, please contact me at JulieFHedlund (at) gmail (dot) com as soon as possible.
2. If you want to be eligible for at least one point toward this month’s giveaway – a PB critique from author Tara Lazar, you MUST leave a comment on her post by midnight EST on Wednesday, February 1st.  I will draw a winner through Random.org on February 2nd.
3. Check the blog tomorrow for our monthly check-in.  If you completed a PB draft in January, leave a comment saying so and you’ll be eligible for an additional point toward the giveaway.  Please remember that a comment on the check-in post will not count unless you’ve also commented on Tara’s initial post.
4. All “official” 12 x 12 announcements, giveaways and prizes will be made here on the blog.  Please make sure you are following so you receive all of the information.
5. We have a very active 12 x 12 Facebook group where people are introducing themselves, sharing information and support and forming critique groups.  If you are on Facebook, I highly encourage you to join us there.
6. I am now following all 12 x 12 participants with Twitter accounts. If you haven’t already followed me back, please do so at https://twitter.com/#!/JulieFHedlund.  I have created a list of all 12 x 12 participants that you can follow if you want to keep up with your fellow participants: https://twitter.com/#!/list/JulieFHedlund/twelve-by-twelve-in-2012.  We are tweeting about the 12 x 12 challenge using the hashtag #12x.  If you provided me with your Twitter handle and I wasn’t able to follow you, you will hear from me within the next week or so via email.
7. I am also following all participants who are blogging.  If I had any difficulty following your blog, you will hear from me within the next week or so via email.  Some of you provided me with static author and/or illustrator websites.  Please note that I am not able to follow those, as they do not have feeds embedded into them.
8. We have created a list of participant blogs on the Facebook page, and I encourage you all to follow each other.  We’re here to support one another, after all.
9. As a reminder, all “official” 12 x 12 posts will have our banner displayed across the top.  It’s a companion to our lovely badge.  So whenever you see the banner, you know that post will be 12 x 12 related.  Don’t forget you can put the badge on your blog too!  Wear it proudly!
10. Last, but certainly not least, GOOD LUCK to everyone!  I can’t believe we’re already almost one month in.  What a fantastic month it has been!

Still more questions?  Please leave them in the comments.

Here he is making a wish at the Trevi Fountain. My wish for him is that his life is all he dreams it will be.

Although Jay’s 6th birthday was on Wednesday, I’m dedicating this week’s Gratitude Sunday post to him, just as I did for my daughter on her birthday.

Jay is quite a character.  He has so much enthusiasm for life and a great sense of humor.  But he has a very sweet and sensitive side too.  Consider this conversation we had over the holidays.

Jay: The heart is the most important organ in your body right?

Me: Right (through a mouthful of food). I was just getting ready to add, “It pumps all the blood through your whole body,” but before I could say it, he said…

Jay: That’s because your heart is where you feel love.

Which of course, made my heart practically explode with love.

Quotes on Gratitude for Sons

“[Sons] are not things to be molded, but are people to be unfolded.” — Jess Lair

“Before you were conceived I wanted you. Before you were born I loved you. Before you were here for an hour I would die for you. This is the miracle of life.” — Maureen Hawkins

“Making the decision to have a child – it’s momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking outside your body.” — Elizabeth Stone

Reasons I am grateful for Jay

1. He says things that are so funny, but somehow wise at the same time.
2. He is not shy about expressing himself or talking to people, even when he’s just met them.
3. I wouldn’t call him “still waters,” given how much he runs around, but he IS a deep thinker.
4. When we snuggle at bedtime, he still puts his head on the same spot on my shoulder that he did as an infant.
5. Speaking of snuggles, he is a VERY snuggly boy, which I love.
6. He loves reading AND math, and especially loves school.
7. He adores and looks up to his big sister, and although they argue, he lets her know how much he loves and appreciates her.
8. He reminds me of my father with his “big personality,” as one of his teachers called it.
9. He loves his family and friends, but he is very independent.  He can entertain himself for long periods of time.
10. He is very imaginative, especially when it comes to building things with Tinker Toys, Legos and other toys.  His building is his “art.”

What are you grateful for this week?

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!

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.  

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

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?

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