Drop It LIke It's Hot

What's up everybody!!! I am feeling so renewed and rejuvenated after attending the SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) conference this weekend. I happened to sit beside John Claude Bemis at one lecture and now we are BFF's. He is the author of The 9 Pound Hammer which sounds intriguing. I also spent lots of time chatting books with Niki Schoenfeldt from the blog The Fractured Keyboard (Yes Niki, I have forgiven you for not thinking The Book Thief is one of the most brilliant books ever.) I was also introduced to Carole Boston Weatherford by my friend Kelly Starling Lyons. If you don't know who Ms. Weatherford is, shame on you. She is a true diamond in the jewelery box of picture books. (Did that work as a metaphor?)Anywho, she has won more awards than I can count and her latest book Becoming Billie Holiday is achieving great success. She is exceptionally talented and so nice. I really enjoyed talking to her and could have sat at her feet listening to her wise words for days. Way Cool!! Okay, I think I dropped just about every name I could so, in a nutshell, I had a fabulous time at the conference. I learned a lot more about how the industry works and I also have gained a little more self-confidence. After a writing exercise in one of the workshop, several people (okay 2) came up to me and told me I was talented. It is just so nice to hear good feedback every once in awhile. It really gives the ego a boost. Mine really needed it. Until next time.

Book Review: Description and Setting

Those folks from Writer's Digest Books have done it again. Description and Setting by Ron Rozelle is an awesome book. A must for your writing shelf. The book has techniques and exercises to strengthen the world you have created in your story. At the end of each chapter is a couple of practice exercises and instructions on taking out your own manuscript and improving it bit by bit. It has been really helpful in improving my latest story. Somehow it is a really friendly book and I felt like I was sitting down with my own little writing tutor. Until next time.

Raise A Reader part 2

I love lists. I have made lists for as long as I can remember. Something soothing about putting things in order. Anywho, I have been thinking a lot about my son (almost two) and the books that I need to include on his bookshelf. I know so many articles are written about getting boys to read especially African- American boys. Being an avid reader myself, it is so important that my children discover the thrill of diving headfirst into books. I have been researching and making a list of picture books featuring African-American boys. I have found some great books and I will include the list here at some point. My only problem is that there are a lot of books featuring brown children dealing with slavery and segregation, growing up in the hood etc There is certainly a need for books like that, but is it wrong of me to skip right past those books? I am looking for books that my kids can relate to right now. I want books about little boys searching for bugs, or going on a trip with Daddy. Books featuring brown boys doing things all boys do. Getting dirty, teasing their sister, whatever. Books about everyday stuff. I don't know why it seems that the main books featuring brown folks need to take place during slavery, or need to be about overcoming" the hood." Anyway, guess I will get off my little soapbox. You tell me, what kinds of books are you looking for for your kids?? Until next time.

Mary Amato: Queen of the World

I am so easily amused and excited. Last week, I wrote out a list of my new favorite picture books. Mary Amato's book Chicken of the Family made the cut. It's a really funny story about how two older sisters convince their little sister that she is really a chicken. Ms. Amato has Google alert so since my blog mentioned her, it was easy to track the source. She emailed me and told me she liked my blog. (Do you see me blushing? You know that is not an easy trick for a brown girl!) She also has a blog which is really the point of this post. If you are a children's book writer like myself, you really need to take a look at it. Right now she is giving little writing lessons that are really helpful, and since she is my new BFF you can tell her I sent ya!!! Check out Amato Ink . Until next time.

Say It Ain't So

I have officially turned into my mother. I just ordered a subscription to Better Homes and Gardens. **Sigh** Hold me!!!

Raise A Reader

My daughter speaks in tag lines. For those of you who are not writers, tag lines are what come after a character's dialogue( he said, she shouted etc). These are some of the typical phrases that come out of her mouth.

* "My brother is bothering me, I shout."
* " I need help, I exclaim."
* "I'm tired, I cry."

Pretty cute. It makes me laugh. She certainly loves books and I can think of no better thing. When people tell me they don't read, it always makes me sad. Reading is one of the greatest gifts in the world. It is especially meaningful to me to think that my ancestors were denied this right. Some of them learned to read even though it was against the law. Now everyone can read, but not everyone takes advantage of the opportunity. I just recently found out that in my public school system, they discontinued the program that helps struggling readers. They have replaced that human interaction with a computer program. I am so upset about this. I am certainly going to dig deeper and see what is going on. Stay tuned. Until next time.

10, 000 Hours

According to Malcolm Gladwell author of Outliers, on average it takes 10,000 hours of practice to become an expert at your craft. It doesn't matter what craft; writing, dancing, chimney-sweeping. That has made for a very interesting fact and also a little depressing. In between chasing after my two little monsters all day, I just find little bits and pieces of time to actually write. Last night I was jotting some notes down on the way to the hospital to visit my friend. (She just had twins now she has 4 children.) No, I did not write and drive, but I did write at the stoplights. If any teens are reading this, just say no to writing and driving! I can't even begin to fathom how many hours I have put into my craft. What about you? How many hours have you put in??? Close to 10,000? Until next time.

Passion

I went to my first rock concert last night. (Okay, technically they have been categorized as piano rock, but still rock nonetheless.) My sweet, sweet hubby bought me tickets to The Fray for an early birthday present. (actual birthday, Oct 7, write it down) I love, love, love The Fray. Don't know The Fray? You should. If you watch Grey's Anatomy some of their songs are used on the show to set the mood. Anywho, I had an awesome time. I love going to performances. I love watching people who are passionate about their art, whether their art is writing, dancing, whatever. The group sounded good, started just about on time and had some great background effects. There were some high school kids sitting in front of me that made me laugh. I sat there the whole time trying to observe and suck in every detail, and they spent the majority of their time fiddling with their phones and trying to record it. (until they got in trouble with security) Teenagers! Anywho, I give the concert two thumbs up. I would give more, if I had more thumbs. Thanks hubby!!!! I am still on cloud 9. If you see me today, I will be wearing my new The Fray tee-shirt. (Oh yeah, I promise I will pay you back Molly, thanks for being my date.) Until next time.

School Daze

My daughter finally starts preschool this week. She is a 4 year old social butterfly, so she is ready to get back to her people and rule the school.

Sorry I haven't had any book reviews in awhile. I have been reading, but just haven't read anything that struck my fancy. Since I am an aspiring picture book writer, I have been studying lots of picture books. I know some of you are like me and looking for good books to read your kids. (I told my daughter I absolutely refuse to read anymore Curious George books.) I have compiled a list of my fav's. They are my favorite, because they are either funny, or heartwarming or inspiring. Looking at my list I realize most of the books feature girls as the main characters. I do have a son, I guess I'd better start looking for more boy books. (I have also heard from a writing list serve I am on, that pickings are slim when it comes to books for brown boys. Say it ain't so!!!) Anywho, here's my list.

1) How to Heal a Broken Wing
2) In a Blue Room
3) How Mama Brought the Spring
4) The Chicken of the Family
5) Those Shoes
6) The Chicken Chasing Queen of Lamar County
7) Granddad's Fishing Buddy
8) Sally Jean Bicycle Queen
9) Keep Climbing Girls
10) School Picture Day
11) Precious and the Boo Hag
12) Color Me Cori

Ah, just seeing if you are paying attention. Color Me Cori is mine. Oh writing gods when will you deem me worthy to see my name in lights oops I mean print. Until next time.

Schoolhouse Rock

Apparently I never watched this show because my grammar skills stink! I remember being in grade school and when it came time to diagram sentences and all that jazz, going to my happy place and dreaming of butterflies and soft kittens. Needless to say now that I am trying to do this writer thang, I wish I had paid attention. But as life always finds a way to do, the universe heard my cries for grammar help and and answered the call. On Sunday I was at a consignment sale shopping for my kids. I stumbled in to the homeschooling section and what is the first thing that catches my eye? Grammar and Composition Handbook High School edition. Know how much I paid for it? $1!!!!!!!!!!! I am super excited. Yes, I am a school nerd, get over it. Anyway, the book goes through grammar mechanics and punctuation. It has exercises to complete and the answers are in the back. I am actually having fun with it. Today I have worked on pronouns. Do you remember how many types of pronouns there are? I am sure you don't, but now I do. Hopefully, you will begin to see some improvements in my blogging skills. I know I have at least have one English teacher who reads this blog (Hi Beth) and of course lots of writer friends. I never have a clue where commas should be so I just throw them in wherever it feels good. I always just hope that that once I hit publish, the comma fairies come out and clean it all up for me.

On a final note, I sent my manuscript in to Candlewick Publishing. I am not sure how long it will take to hear anything, but send me some good vibes. Until next time.