Change

 Change

Almost a year has passed since I first attended the regional New England Society Children Book Writers and Illustrators conference. Three overworked manuscripts that I tinkered with over 10 years, and a colorful but lackluster portfolio were my body of work. This is not self-deprivation, just honesty that has helped me move forward.
 

During the conference I noticed women far outnumbered the men. 80/20 would be my guess. As I researched Picture books I found that male authors contributed far more than 20% to the shelf. In fact most of my favorite P/B authors are men. I began wondering why men seem to have a higher success rate.  

My theory: Women write like Moms – Men write like Dads. Simple I know but major. Moms are the nurtures, teachers, instructors and disciplinarians and Dads have a more playful roll with children. (Please do not get upset by these comments I know Moms and Dads are a LOT MORE, and this is not war of the sexes just general observations) 
 

Six months after the show I had a dream: I was pitching an idea and I said “my general hook for my stories was friendship” A booming male voice said “What the heck are you writing about friendship for?”  Weird, I know but it got me thinking about how my behavior changes when I want to delight children. I am goofy and without self-consciousness. I get down on their level and play. This is what I needed to bring to my work.

As 2015NESCBWI conference approaches I reflect on my professional growth and know that I am closer to publishing because I am producing new work. This year I will have four fresh stories written to fulfill my life’s mission of spreading joy.

Unifying Fact of My Life

Unifying Fact of My Life

"Personal uniqueness, is the one well writers have to draw from, that no one else can" is the theme that I grabbed hold of this morning as I lay in bed thinking of today's  PiBoIdMo 2014 idea. It occurred to me that I have one great big fact that has played such important roll in my life that I can trace most of the important things back to it. The paths I have traveled; people in my life; strange jobs I have worked; the art I make; traveling the world; the many places I have settled;  my best friends and the man of my dreams all sprout from this single fact that unifies my uniqueness.

My grandparents owned  a fair grounds and every year they organized and ran their very own fair.  It was the best week of the year for me. When the dusty rocky 100 acres was transformed into the happiest memories of my childhood. The story potential hmmmmmm.....

Found this article of how it became their very own.

This was from the last year the fair was run!  (I think)