Moni Ritchie Hadley
  • Home
  • Bio
    • Interviews & Blog visits
  • Books
    • THE STAR FESTIVAL Lessons & Activities
    • ANZU AND THE ART OF FRIENDSHIP Curriculum Connections
  • School Visits
    • Past Events
    • FREEBIES!
    • Diversity Handout
  • WKN! Scholarship
  • Path2Publication Blog
    • Cabana Room >
      • Writers' Nook
      • Teachers' Room
      • Parents' Planet
      • Students' Corner
  • Contact
    • SHOP

Librarians Tell Us—Which Children's Book Themes are being Requested?

2/10/2023

0 Comments

 
Picture
What started as a casual conversation with a local librarian led to a more extensive discussion with five local librarians about which books parents were requesting for their children but couldn't find. What was lacking, and what themes were being overlooked or underrepresented? With the exception of a couple of topics, the results were widely varied. Check out what five Los Angeles-based librarians had to say.

The first library I visited expressed a need for books about consent, such as the picture book, Don't Hug Doug. Another one that comes to mind is C is for Consent. The need for diverse books hasn't slowed, and helpful books to assist parents are also being requested. Newer takes on potty training, and weaning and books about single parenting are in high demand. The librarian specified that this topic extends beyond divorce and separation stories. She feels that parents need assistance and conversation starters to represent one parent raising a child/children while the other parent is absent.

The second librarian had yet to receive many requests from parents, but the library is still actively purchasing books with social justice themes and social-emotional learning. She expressed concern that Covid continues to affect social transitions in schools. She also reinforced that kids use their local library to do homework after school. I've seen this library at total capacity, and I love that the kids have a safe place to congregate!

The third librarian I visited needs books about climate change, Native Americans, and local biographies about interesting people. In her words, "Not the same ol' people." She also expressed interest in fresh takes on classic themes such as sibling rivalry and grandparents' passing. This library continues to acquire books on social justice, gender identity, and neurodiversity.

The fourth librarian said there had been little input from parents since Covid. But she had received a few involving themes of entering school for the first time (preK, or preK to Kinder). Other topics requested are books on emotions, trucks, and manners. ​

And finally, the last librarian commented on the disparity between the type of books parents want their kids to read, and the books children choose for themselves. Parents seek the classics for their children, but kids can't get enough of graphic novels. Kids are devouring them, even early reader graphic novels. She shared how her son loves this format. He reads and rereads stories such as Dogman. Each time he reads from a new perspective. As he matures, new connections are formed, and he accesses the material at higher levels of understanding. 

So, there you have it. If you are a writer, I hope this information fuels your imagination, and I hope your book appears on future library's list to purchase. If you are a librarian, teacher, or parent, I'd love to hear which topics you wish to see on the shelves. 
​
Leave your comment below!

0 Comments

Kidlit Authors Trivia Quiz

11/28/2022

1 Comment

 
Picture
It's time for some kidlit author trivia! How will you score? TOP DOG? BADDEST CAT? or CASUAL KITTEN? Take out a sheet of paper to record your choices. Scroll down for the answer key when finished.

1 This book was written on a $50 bet when this author's publisher challenged him/her to write a book using 50 words or less.
a. Where the Wild Things Are/Maurice Sendak
b. Green Eggs and Ham/Dr. Seuss

c. Baby Animals/Gyo Fujikawa
d. Goodnight Moon/Margaret Wise Brown

2. This author only writes/wrote stories using a pencil and yellow paper.
a. C.S. Lewis
b. Jason Reynolds
c. P.D. Eastman
d. Roald Dahl


3. This author preferred outdoor activities to reading and was an avid sailor.
a. E.B. White
b. Arnold Lobel
c. Chris Van Allsburg
d. Shel Silverstein

4. A skating rink in Kiyose, Japan, was named after this author.
a. Laura Ingalls Wilder
b. A.A. Milne
c. Ezra Jack Keats
d. Madeleine L'Engle

5. This author's illustration of a red lobster created for an advertisement led to his first picture book assignment.
a. Mercer Mayer
b. Eric Carle

c. Crockett Johnson
d. Norman Bridwell

6. This author shares a birthday with Abraham Lincoln and Judy Blume.
a. Beverly Cleary
b. Bill Martin Jr.
c. Astrid Lindgren
d. Jacqueline Woodson


7. This author was frightened of “dogs, swimming, and thunderstorms as a child.
a. Grace Lin
b. Lauren Child
c. Judy Bloom

d. Sandra Boynton

8. This author kept a journal and jotted down private thoughts in a secret code.
a. Lewis Carroll
b. S.E. Hinton
c. Richard Scarry
d. Beatrix Potter


9. This author wished to become the first female major league baseball player, and also wanted a career as a FBI agent.
a. Rosemary Wells
b. J.K. Rowling
c. Jane Yolan
d. Mem Fox

10. This author hates Mickey Mouse.
a. Laura Numeroff
b. R.L. Stine
c. Mo Willems

d. Linda Sue Park


​How did you score?

Scroll down for answers.

Picture



​TOP DOG
​

9-10 correct
You dig kidlit and are granted   arficianado status!
Picture


​
​BADDEST CAT

7-8 correct
No need to be purrrrfect. You can snuggle with the facts and maintain your independent nature!
Picture


​
​CASUAL KITTEN

0-6 correct
You'd rather be playing. You have far too many interests to memorize facts!



ANSWER 

KEY

ANSWERS:
1b 2d 3a 4c 5b 6d 7c 8d 9a 10c
​
1 
This book was written on a $50 bet when this author's publisher challenged him/her to write a book using 50 words or less.
a. Where the Wild Things Are/Maurice Sendak
b. Green Eggs and Ham/Dr. Seuss
c. Baby Animals/Gyo Fujikawa
d. Goodnight Moon/Margaret Wise Brown

2. This author only writes/wrote stories using a pencil and yellow paper.
a. C.S. Lewis
b. Jason Reynolds
c. P.D. Eastman
d. Roald Dahl

3. This author preferred outdoor activities to reading and was an avid sailor.
a. E.B. White
b. Arnold Lobel
c. Chris Van Allsburg
d. Shel Silverstein

4. A skating rink in Kiyose, Japan, was named after this author.
a. Laura Ingalls Wilder
b. A.A. Milne
c. Ezra Jack Keats.
d. Madeleine L'Engle

5. This author's illustration of a red lobster created for an advertisement led to his first picture book assignment.
a. Mercer Mayer
b. Eric Carle
c. Crockett Johnson 
d. Norman Bridwell

6. This author shares a birthday with Abraham Lincoln and Judy Blume.
a. Beverly Cleary
b. Bill Martin Jr.
c. Astrid Lindgren
d. Jacqueline Woodson

7. This author was frightened of “dogs, swimming, and thunderstorms as a child.
a. Grace Lin
b. Lauren Child
c. Judy Bloom
d. Sandra Boynton

8. This author kept a journal and jotted down private thoughts in a secret code.
a. Lewis Carroll
b. S.E. Hinton
c. Richard Scarry
d. Beatrix Potter

9. This author wished to become the first female major league baseball player, and also wanted a career as a FBI agent.
a. Rosemary Wells
b. J.K. Rowling
c. Jane Yolan
d. Mem Fox

10. This author hates Mickey Mouse.
a. Laura Numeroff
b. R.L. Stine
c. Mo Willems
d. C.S. Lewis

How did you score? Please comment below!

1 Comment

Path to Health - A Plot Diagram

10/6/2022

1 Comment

 
PictureMy new fav - morel mushrooms!

​I’ve been on a health kick. Or rather, I’m on a healthier kick. Brought on by high cholesterol, I’ve been digging into the ingredients of the foods I eat. The good news is I’ve managed to get those numbers down! Here’s a fun plot diagram of my journey. 








​OUTLINE

Exposition
Omnivore girl sets out to become healthy. What is healthy?? Who is the antagonist here?

Rising Action 1
The protagonist becomes vegetarian but becomes an omnivore again after marrying and having a kid. The antagonist hides within the body. Hidden, bad news brews.

Rising Action 2
The protagonist separates and goes on an alkaline/vegan diet to rid herself of stress-induced ailments. It works, yay! Then, she becomes an omnivore again. The antagonist hides within the body. Hidden, bad news brews.

Rising Action 3 
The protagonist finds love, and also moves her mom into the house. Her eating habits are all over the place. She fluctuates between veganism and pescetarianism but still considers herself “healthy.” The secret antagonist hides in her body, creating havoc. Menopause hits, and she feels like crap!

Climax
Boom! Bad news comes out of hiding. The protagonist’s blood labs return —HIGH in cholesterol, and she’s put on statins. The antagonist revels in a happy dance.
​

Falling Action
The protagonist digs and researches how to get off cholesterol meds. She meets the antagonist head-on - saturated fat! He is everywhere, hidden in the most secret places, disguised in plain day, tricking people with his charming good taste. The protagonist breaks up with him - forever! She goes plant-based, whole-foods and, within three weeks, drops her cholesterol levels to normal.

Resolution
The protagonist puts on her cape, prepared to fight her antagonist forever, bettering her health, and the lives of animals and the planet.

Here are pictures of some food experiments made without meat, dairy, and oil. I know what you’re thinking - that looks so delicious, and I need that recipe! Click on the links!

​Pink beet sauce gave this seitan its red middle which was sliced up into a sandwich. Link

I've been busy making veggie broth out of all discarded vegetable parts. This provided the base to a yummy soup.
I've turned to growing sprouts since almost no veggies grew in my garden this year. And I've been closing down the day with a chocolate-banana brownie. Yum! Link
​
​If you are considering going plant based, whole foods and need more information or motivation, here are a few films to check out.

https://www.eating2extinction.com/
https://gamechangersmovie.com/
https://www.forksoverknives.com/the-film/​

Wishing you happiness and good health wherever you are on your journey. 
1 Comment

Write Kidlit NOW! Scholarship

7/22/2022

1 Comment

 
Picture


​Write Kidlit NOW! Scholarship


​What are the obstacles that are keeping you from getting published? When I reflect on the 'whys' that it took me so long to get published, I don't do so with regret. Every writer's path is different. I do try to understand, though, in hopes of gaining insight that might assist me in the process of illustration and help others achieve their writing goals.

The shortlist includes working a full-time job and becoming a single mom in my forties. Maybe you can relate. 
Thankfully, I did not stop writing altogether during that period, but it did slow me down. Years later, I remarried and retired from teaching. Life looked a bit different. I had managed and moved through the difficult, transitional years, and I found myself with a bucket full of time.

Those of you who have been following my Path to Publication Blog know that I then enrolled in a class at the Children's Book Academy, which was instrumental in getting my first book, THE STAR FESTIVAL, published. With another book on the way, I'd now like to help you achieve your dreams. Call it "giving back" to the small, close-knit community that helped support my debut, or call it "paying it forward." Either way. If you are an unpublished and unagented children's writer and need help moving through the blahs, a creative stump, a frustrating period of rejections, unforeseen life situations, and finances,
this opportunity is for you.

You get the first peek at the Write Kidlit NOW! Scholarship. Woohoo! Look through the guidelines and find a class that will help you succeed. Applications open in October, so start polishing those manuscripts now! 


"You don’t start out writing good stuff. You start out writing crap and thinking it’s good stuff, and then gradually you get better at it. That’s why I say one of the most valuable traits is persistence.”
                                                                                                                         ― Octavia Butler
1 Comment

BOOK LIST: Favorites for the Indecisive Artist

6/17/2022

0 Comments

 
The road to studying children's book illustrations has taken me in many directions. My artistic interests vary, as evidenced by this motley list of books. While my goal still is to illustrate, I take the time to explore. I trust that the pieces will come together, and my unique voice will emerge. 
 
​Society puts overwhelming pressure on us to succeed. I heard a quote recently that went something like this - To be successful, "hurry up and fail." I've been thinking about that quote and where I am today, a published writer with a desire to be a published writer/illustrator. The truth is, I fail daily, advance slowly, and enjoy the process of play. I've come to realize that the culmination of my days, rather than achievements alone, constitutes happiness.

With that - here is a list of my favorite art books. I hope you take a few minutes to play today!

“Life is a succession of moments. To live each one is to succeed.”― Corita Kent


Book: THE ART PACK
THE ART PACK
Book: PRINTS AND THEIR MAKERS
PRINTS AND THEIR MAKERS
Book: PICTURE THIS: HOW PICTURES WORK
PICTURE THIS: HOW PICTURES WORK
Book: QUICK DRAW PEOPLE: STEP-BY-STEP MASTERPIECES
QUICK DRAW PEOPLE: STEP-BY-STEP MASTERPIECES
Book: LEARNING BY HEART: TEACHINGS TO FREE THE CREATIVE SPIRIT
LEARNING BY HEART: TEACHINGS TO FREE THE CREATIVE SPIRIT
Book: BEGINNING DRAWING ATELIER
BEGINNING DRAWING ATELIER
Book: INK: DO MORE ART
INK: DO MORE ART
Book: PAINTING WITH MIXED MEDIA
PAINTING WITH MIXED MEDIA
Book: ALTERED BOOKS WORKSHOP
ALTERED BOOKS WORKSHOP
Book: ENCAUSTIC WORKSHOP
ENCAUSTIC WORKSHOP
Book: COVER TO COVER
COVER TO COVER
Book: PAINT MOJO A MIXED MEDIA WORKSHOP
PAINT MOJO A MIXED MEDIA WORKSHOP
Book: SLOW STITCH
SLOW STITCH
Book: DISRUPTED REALISM
DISRUPTED REALISM
Magazine: PROJECT CALM
PROJECT CALM
Book: CARTOONING
CARTOONING
Book: ART BEFORE BREAKFAST
ART BEFORE BREAKFAST
Book: READ THIS IF YOU WANT TO TAKE GREAT PHOTOGRAPHS
READ THIS IF YOU WANT TO TAKE GREAT PHOTOGRAPHS
Book: STEAL LIKE AN ARTIST
STEAL LIKE AN ARTIST
Book: DRAWING LAB FOR MIXED MEDIA ARTISTS
DRAWING LAB FOR MIXED MEDIA ARTISTS
Book: THE BORDER TRILOGY
THE BORDER TRILOGY
Book: DESIGN IS STORYTELLING
DESIGN IS STORYTELLING
Book: FECK PERFUCTION
FECK PERFUCTION
Book: GYPSY
GYPSY
Book: ETCETERA ETC.
ETCETERA ETC.
Book CUT PAPER PICTURES
CUT PAPER PICTURES
ART SCHOOL: A COMPLETE PAINTER'S COURSE

​THE ART PACK Christopher & Helen, Frayling Ron van der Meer
Who can resist a book about the history of art with pop-ups!!

PRINTS AND THEIR MAKERS Phil Sanders
A great introduction to contemporary printmakers and their techniques.

PICTURE THIS: HOW PICTURES WORK Molly Bang
How placement of shape, line, color, and placement evokes emotions. A must have for picture book creators!

QUICK DRAW PEOPLE: STEP-BY-STEP MASTERPIECES Sarah Wimperis
Before Instagram reels showed an artst's process from start to finish, this book did it.

LEARNING BY HEART: TEACHINGS TO FREE THE CREATIVE SPIRIT
Corita Kent, Jan Steward
Easy and creative assignments and exercises. "There's only make," Corita Kent.

BEGINNING DRAWING ATELIER: AN INSTRUCTIONAL SKETCHBOOK Juliette Aristides
Sketch right inside this book. Touchy-feely paper and cover.

INK: DO MORE ART Bridget Davies
Tons of cool ink techniques and its unpredictable nature.

PAINTING WITH MIXED MEDIA Paula Guhin, Geri Greenman
Media, tools, substrates, and techniques. This book has it all!

ALTERED BOOKS WORKSHOP Bev Brazelton
Messin' up old books to make new books.

ENCAUSTIC WORKSHOP Patricia Baldwin Seggebruch
I don't work with wax, but this book makes me want to learn. The beautiful textures serve as inspiration for other media as well.

COVER TO COVER: CREATIVE TECHNIQUES FOR MAKING BEAUTIFUL BOOKS, JOURNALS, & ALBUMS Shereen LaPlantz
Tons of book binding techniques!

PAINT MOJO A MIXED MEDIA WORKSHOP: CREATIVE LAYERING TECHNIQUES FOR PERSONAL EXPRESSION Tracy Verdugo
Exercises and examples to inspire. This artist is a great teacher as well.

SLOW STITCH: MINDFUL AND CONTEMPLATIVE TEXTILE ART Claire Wellesley-Smith
I purchased this book for the feel of the fabric cover. Another touchy-feely. Oh, and it has great photos too.

DISRUPTED REALISM: PAINTINGS FOR A DISTRACTED WORLD John Seed
Features artist who distort realistic images.

PROJECT CALM: MINDFULNESS THROUGH MAKING
​A quarterly magazine to inspire creativity. Look, read, make, enjoy the freebies and pullouts. 

CARTOONING: PHILOSOPHY AND PRACTICE Ian Brunetti
A guided, fifteen-week course in cartooning.

ART BEFORE BREAKFAST: A ZILLION WAYS TO BE MORE CREATIVE NO MATTER HOW BUSY YOU ARE Danny Gregory
Drawing practice, ten to fifteen minutes a day.

READ THIS IF YOU WANT TO TAKE GREAT PHOTOGRAPHS Henry Carroll
An impulse buy from a gift shop, but it offers super quick, easy to read and understand photography tips for the less knowledgeable, like me.

STEAL LIKE AN ARTIST: 10 THINGS NOBODY TOLD YOU ABOUT BEING CREATIVE
Austin Kleon
A super quick read. Read it when you head keeps saying, "I can't ..."

DRAWING LAB FOR MIXED MEDIA ARTISTS: 52 CREATIVE EXERCISES TO MAKE DRAWING FUN Carla Sonheim
Super fun and creative exercises! And I love this artist's work.

THE BORDER TRILOGY Suzy Lee
My absolute favorite book for picture book creators.  This artist offers an in-depth, analytical study into the artistic choices she made for the books, MIRROR, WAVE, and SHADOW. 

DESIGN IS STORYTELLING Ellen Lupton
Everything tells a story. This book shows you how with tons of graphics.

FECK PERFUCTION: DANGEROUS IDEAS ON THE BUSINESS OF LIFE James Vicotore
I throw this one in here for any creative who gets too much in their head. Me.

GYPSY: A WORLD OF COLOUR & INTERIORS Sibella Court
Beautiful book #1. You'll just want to look and savor, maybe redecorate too. A great book for finding color palettes.

ETCETERA ETC. CREATING BEAUTIFUL INTERIORS WITH THE THINGS YOU LOVE Sibella Court
Beautiful book #2. Stylish photographs. Tons of muted colors. Reads like a journal.

CUT PAPER PICTURES Clover Robin
Even if you're not into cutting paper, working with shapes helps develop the muscle memory for drawing.

ART SCHOOL: A COMPLETE PAINTER'S COURSE Halyn Publishing Group (Editor)
Looks like a textbook. Reads easy. Very comprehensive. It has just about any painting technique imaginable. Great reference book for beginning painters.
0 Comments

Top 5 Creativity Boosts

4/10/2022

0 Comments

 
Art work

Sometimes I try to understand the source of my creative frustrations. It is never for lack of inspiration or drive.

Most of the time, I am happy to meander and make discoveries that make me happy and continue on. But sometimes I do question.
Why do I create?
Do I need an end result, a finished product?

When this happens, I take inspiration from people who have found the perfect ways to articulate it.

I hope you enjoy my top five creativity boosts. 
If you'd like to share other quotes or posts, please comment below!


1. IRA GLASS

"Most people I know who do interesting, creative work went through years of this. We know our work doesn’t have this special thing that we want it to have. We all go through this. And if you are just starting out or you are still in this phase, you gotta know its normal and the most important thing you can do is do a lot of work."


​2. ETHAN HAWKE 

"​The pull of habit is so huge, and that's what makes kids so beautifully creative, is that they don't have any habits, and they don't care if they're any good or not, right? They're not building a sandcastle going, "I think I'm going to be a really good sandcastle builder." They just throw themselves at whatever project you put in front of them -- dancing, doing a painting, building something: any opportunity they have, they try to use it to impress upon you their individuality. It's so beautiful."
SEE THE FULL TALK ON TED


​3. PATTI SMITH

"I wanted to be one of those people. I wanted to produce work that would be enduring—the work that would inspire other people."
SEE THE FULL INTERVIEW ON LOUISIANA CHANNEL


​4. SIR KEN ROBINSON

"What these things have in common is that kids will take a chance. If they don't know, they'll have a go. Am I right? They're not frightened of being wrong. I don't mean to say that being wrong is the same thing as being creative. What we do know is, if you're not prepared to be wrong, you'll never come up with anything original -- if you're not prepared to be wrong. And by the time they get to be adults, most kids have lost that capacity. They have become frightened of being wrong. And we run our companies like this. We stigmatize mistakes. And we're now running national education systems where mistakes are the worst thing you can make. And the result is that we are educating people out of their creative capacities."​
SEE THE FULL TALK ON TED


​5. AUSTIN KLEON

"The creative life is not linear. It’s not a straight line from point A to point B. It’s more like a loop, or a spiral, in which you keep coming back to a new starting point after every project. No matter how successful you get, no matter what level of achievement you reach, you will never really “arrive.” Other than death, there is no finish line or retirement for the creative person. Forget about the finish line. Do this loop. Then do another. Keep going."
READ THE FULL BLOG POST

0 Comments

Inviting Accountability

1/28/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
Great things happen when we begin to hold ourselves accountable for the things we have in life and what we want. We stop blaming others and life circumstances for standing in the way of our dreams. We realize that successes come from the work we put into it. And we discover a bit more about ourselves. The scary part is, when we hold ourselves accountable and move forward (okay, there might be setbacks), we might get what we want!​

But that doesn't mean we can't have a little help along the way. Enter an accountability partner or someone besides ourselves to whom we verbalize intentions and check-in. This person listens to our goals, provides support, and shares theirs as well. 
 
​
An accountability partner can be helpful in any area. Maybe you are an entrepreneur, an artist, a teacher, a doctor, or a student! You might even be working on personal goals. Are you trying a healthier lifestyle, becoming a new mom, or changing careers? Think of your partner as a one-person support group giving you a gentle nudge to get it done.

Consider the scenario. Somewhere inside your head, there's a whisper, I'm going to write a children's book, I'm going to run five miles tomorrow, or I'm going to apply for three jobs this week. But the self-doubt chatter sets in, the series you're binging temps you to watch, or the pile of junk on the desk begs you to clean up. The hopeful whisper gets squashed! 

 
If we're a bit of a self-starter, we do take action. Yes! I came up with an idea for a book. Whew! I got in a mile. Or, Well, I applied for one job. Baby steps are important, right? Yes. 
 
But what happens when you verbalize goals to another person? Then, there are two to share an excuse or celebrate a win. This is not to say that there won't be times that you won't achieve a goal we set for ourselves. The point is that it becomes a habit. And more often than not, we do follow through.
 
For eight months, I've been meeting once a week with my partner, setting goals, sharing experiences, and checking in about industry-related frustrations and successes. The value in this practice is greater than what meets the eye. 
 
Yes, the goal-setting helps keep me moving forward. Yes, the follow-through keeps me disciplined. And, yes, it is helpful to chat with someone working in the same industry to exchange ideas, get help, and get inspired. 
 
But there have been unexpected benefits I have found by checking in weekly. I discovered that I am productive even when I think I am not. There are times when I beat myself up about one thing that I did not complete. However, when I look back at my list of goals for the week, I realize how much I did accomplish!
 
I also discovered what I like to do, what feels like a chore, and what realistically I can schedule in a week. I have since reevaluated and restructured my tasks to fit my needs and wants. 
 
Another unexpected benefit is connecting and being inspired by like-minded people. I am encouraged by my partner's optimistic outlook, drive to succeed, and ability to manifest opportunities for herself. Like myself, she is an educator and a children's book author. She is also an inspirational speaker and a true go-getter! Check out Shannon Anderson, my accountability partner, and her new book, I LOVE STRAWBERRIES!
 
Accountability Partner Checklist
  1. Look around in classes, social media, work, or friend circles. Who is doing what you are doing or what you want to be doing? Reach out to this person and ask if they'd consider working with you. This sounds super scary. But look at it this way, at worst, they will say no, but they might say yes!! If they say no, look around again and repeat! You have nothing to lose and tons to gain!
  2. Set a date and time to meet through a video format or in-person every week. Try to stick to the same time. This develops a pattern of routine, which is essential for consistency. When that time doesn't work for you, try to find another time during the same day. Sometimes it will be necessary to change the day, and that's okay. Allow flexibility in scheduling when life intervenes!
  3. Decide who will call or send a link. If meeting in person, decide where to meet every week.
  4. Review goals from the last week.
  5. Set goals for the new week.
  6. Keep the meeting 30 minutes max! Short and sweet! Discuss setbacks, insights, and discoveries. And definitely, celebrate successes! 
0 Comments

Explore!

12/2/2021

0 Comments

 
With just a few weeks left in 2021, my mind goes to reflection and exploration. The launch of my book pushed me to explore who I am, who I want to be, and how I want to spend my days. Maybe something in your life is challenging you in the same way. As a writer, it is easy to get in a rut. But this idea of getting stuck happens in everyday life as well; stuck in a 9-5 job that might not be your passion or bound by routines that seem to leave no time for the ideas that ping pong in your head. We put up imaginary blocks that we sometimes call limitations and prevent us from walking the walk of our dreams.

I spent the last month on break from my writing and illustrating classes to explore new places in my life. Some might call this a waste of time, but I consider exploration a worthwhile pursuit:
  1. It gives my mind a break from my rut.
  2. Trying something new opens up a new perspective.
  3. It's never too late to learn something new.
So join me as I share my latest explorations and ways that you can explore in the last few weeks of December, even during the holidays!
Picture

​TAKE A CLASS

After thirty years of teaching, I have now become a perpetual student. I can't seem to get enough classes, the latest in abstract art. The thing I love about abstract art is that it looks like child’s play but, in reality, is incredibly challenging. And this is good for my brain. While it seems like random strokes and splatters and puddles of paint, the techniques involve composition, attention to color, marking, intention, and a lot of exploration! Here are a few examples of work I did in the classes. I share them not because they are anything to brag about but because they help document the moments I took to delve into new skills, new interests, and new thoughts. The first class I took was by Laura Horn, who has a very clean, refined, and more of a controlled technique. The second class was by Tracy Verdugo, who has a wilder, more uninhibited approach to teaching abstract art. I enjoyed them both. It was a nice shift to put my intention on a new blank page. There are other classes I'd love to take. Biomimicry intrigues me and is on my bucket list.
EXAMINE UP CLOSE
Sometimes, I need a change of scenery, a break from the walls of my office/studio. When traveling is not an option, I like to break out my iPhone macro lens. When I get that itch to leave my work behind or clear my mind, the backyard offers a whole new world, a closer look, an examination of the bits of nature that I normally miss. Here's what's going on in my backyard.

​DISCOVER SECRETS

Asking new questions to family members can open up a whole new can of beans! For years, it was very well known that my mother had a deep aversion to beans. Cooking can be a challenge in a home where many of us do not eat meat. So, recently I asked my mom, why? She seemed to be OK with miso, which comes from soybeans, but she won't eat the beans from the pod. She seems OK with the bean paste in daifuku mochi but shivers at the mere mention of any other bean-related dish. 
"Mochitsuki : a japanese tradition" by Frédéric Poirot is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Picture
Picture

​EXPLORE YOUR CITY
Like most people, I often feel that I need to travel to explore new places, and I did have the pleasure of visiting Kauai recently, but here in Los Angeles, there are so many places I have never been. As businesses reopen from the pandemic, I find myself craving the experience of new worlds, even having become such a homebody. One place I recently visited was the LA Printers Museum and fair. I surrounded myself with letterpress and printing machines for a couple of hours and even discovered a vendor, Hiromi Paper, with the most beautiful handmade papers from Japan. This business is on my list for another exploration day. 

Picture

USE NEW MATERIALS

Whatever your profession, sometimes a change in materials inspires new energy. If you usually use a pen, use a pencil. Do you color with a crayon, use a marker. Do you draw in ink, use paint. If you typically write on a computer, try paper, fabric, sidewalks, or sand!

WRITE POETRY
The blank page can be scary. Try stringing words together that don't usually go together. Take two random words from the dictionary and put them together. 
Start with words already on a page. Create blackout poetry. This is really fun and sort of works the puzzle part of my mind. This guy, Austin Kleon, wrote a whole book on the concept. Here are a couple of mine.
Picture
Picture

​SAVE OLD ART AND OLD BOOKS
Go thrifting for deals or a blast from the past. Ancient things hold vibrations. It makes me sad to see old paintings in thrift stores. When I find old books or art, I imagine who created them, who held them, who read them, and why they were important to them. Here is a piece of wood art I found some time ago, and old building plans for a passenger station in Missouri. So random!
Picture
Picture

BREAK THINGS APART AND PUT THEM BACK TOGETHER
Radios, toys, appliances. I feel that if something isn't working and I'm going to throw it away anyway, I might as well take it apart, study it, and put it back together. I'm currently doing this with a story as well! 

READ SOMETHING NEW
Expand knowledge. Currently, I'm loving The New York Times - Science.

ASK YOURSELF IMPORTANT QUESTIONS
What is one thing that you can change today to steer yourself toward your goals? Start with one thing, something small. No need to completely turn your life upside down. What is the one thing you can give up to make room for where you want? Consider that option, and happy exploring! It's a jungle out there!
Picture
0 Comments

Top 10 Tips For Getting An Agent

9/30/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
Fifteen years after I began writing and five years after actively searching for an agent, I landed at Red Fox Literary and am thrilled to announce that I am now represented by Sara Stephens! This is a dream come true for me. While there is no cookie-cutter method to this process, this list represents the strategies that worked for me.

First, take a look at my path to acquiring an agent breakdown. 

84 agent submissions
15 years writing
5 years subbing to agents
10 different manuscripts/12 if you count the major rewrites
6 nice rejections with helpful feedback
5 requests for more work
4 subs to agents at my current agency
3 oopsies (name snafus and misread guidelines - it does happen!)
2 calls
1 referral 
1 OFFER!

I hope this is encouraging! Hang in there and keep moving forward!
​

1. RESEARCH AGENTS
​

Stay on top of which agents are open to submissions the genre you write by checking out sites such as Query Tracker, MSWL, agency websites, and agent interviews. Sometimes there are nuggets of information in interviews that are not readily available anywhere else. I also subscribed to professional magazines such as Publishers Weekly and Publishers Marketplace to track which agents were making deals regularly. 




​2. STUDY AND PRACTICE HOW TO WRITE A PITCH

There are many samples online! Seek out the ones you like, study how the author crafted their sentences and emulate them using your own words. I recently began using a new formula based on advice from another agent (the name escapes me). It goes like this: 

Character is X until Y which leads to Z.

I like this model because if I can fit my pitch into one or two sentences, it helps me leave out unnecessary words and zero in on the theme of my story. Here is an example of my pitch that caught the attention of my agency. 

As Susumu begrudgingly learns the secrets of koji-making, the magic ingredient in miso, mounds of rice capture his imagination and take him to play in the snowy mountains. But the demanding process works its magic in other ways, creating a delicious transformation between Papa and Susumu—full of umami! 

Don't forget to show the voice of your manuscript when writing your pitch!


3. STUDY AND PRACTICE HOW TO WRITE A QUERY

Yes, they matter to some agents. Unfortunately, we don't know which agents skip the first page and go right to the manuscript. Again, use a mentor text. Find one online that you think sounds good. Study. What did the author write about in the first, second, and third paragraph? I follow a format similar to this:

Paragraph 1: Include one or two sentences about how you became aware of the agent, essential details such as title, genre, word count, and intrigue the agent with comps. 
Paragraph 2: The pitch.
Paragraph 3: Bio.
​
Look at how the author of your mentor query letter crafted their sentences. Vary sentence structure. Trim any words that don't matter - just like you do with your picture book manuscripts! When writing comps, include why you chose them and what inspired your manuscript. State why your story matters. Here is how I wrote out my comps and inspiration. And don't forget to keep it as concise as you can.

Children ages 4-8 who enjoy the relationship in Drawn Together (Le), the imagination in The Paper Kingdom (Ku), and the world-building in A Different Pond (Phi), might like this story. STEM backmatter (170 words) is included for kids interested in science. Research into my mother’s youth working for her father in Japan opened up a conversation about the process of miso-making and inspired this manuscript. 

Some time has passed since I wrote this paragraph, and I still see ways to improve it. Always revising; a writer's work is never done! ;)


3. JUMP RIGHT IN

This suggestion may be controversial. But I believe that you can't wait forever to test the waters. It's like having a baby - you never feel quite ready. I think it's okay to start submitting after you've polished your manuscript. Chances are- and we've all been there - we hit that send button, and a few days later, we realize the manuscript wasn't as polished as it could be, and the query letter could use improvement. 
That's okay. It is part of the process. Next time you will have knowledge you didn't have the first time. And so it goes ...​


4. SUBMIT AND FORGET

I am not a fan of nudging, but some writers do. Some agents say it's okay to nudge, but I didn't do this unless I had a reason. (a publishing deal) I found the best method for me was to keep looking at what I should be doing next. 


5 CREATE A SPREADSHEET OF AGENT CONTACTS

This is a very important step. You want to be organized and keep a list of who you submitted to, complete with dates, agency info, and notes if you do or do not want to sub to particular agents in the future. Sometimes an agent may not respond to the manuscript you submitted, but they will invite you to submit to them in the future. You will want to document this information!


6. ACCEPT OPPORTUNITIES

Attend conferences! Now that many are happening on Zoom, targeting the ones that will benefit you is easy. Research the agents that will be attending. Do they seem like a good fit for your manuscript? Are they usually closed to submissions but will allow conference attendees to submit for a period of time? Are they offering critiques? Take the opportunities to get your work seen!

Participate in pitch events! You never know which agents might be lurking on Twitter and will want your story. Some of the popular events are #pbpitch, #pitmad, and #dvpitch. 


8 JOIN MULTIPLE CRITIQUE GROUPS AND POLISH THREE MANUSCRIPTS

Life gets busy as you get close to representation. You should have three; ideally, four manuscripts polished in the event an agent asks to see more work - and they will! At this point, you will need more than one critique group. Having four stories in rotation with constant revisions will require more eyes on them. You also want fresh eyes to read your stories and may need a quick turnaround for the agent. Seek out other groups. If you can't find one, consider private groups such as 12x12 or Sub It Club Critique Partner Matchup to get quick feedback.


9 BE PROFESSIONAL, AND DON'T LET MISTAKES SLOW YOU DOWN

You will hear that the agenting/publishing industry is a subjective business. This is absolutely true. Rejection brings up insecurities and feelings of inadequacy. Do your best to scream your disappointments in the pillow, not online or to the agent. Maintain public composure and professionalism! Online tantrums will land you in a long timeout! 

When making a submission mistake, send a quick apology and/or ignore it. There usually is nothing you can do about it. Given a few months, while you're still fretting about it, they will have forgotten. So, learn from it and move forward.


10 DON'T GIVE UP!

If you need encouragement, refer back to my path to acquiring an agent breakdown at the beginning of this post. You will get rejections, lots of them. But you won't get an agent if you don't try. So if you want it, don't give up! I wish you success on your path to acquiring an agent!

Would you please comment below if this post was helpful or if you have a question? 

Picture
0 Comments

A Timeline - From 1st Draft to Published

6/15/2021

0 Comments

 
Every writer's path to publication is different, but that doesn't stop the questions from being asked. "How long did it take from your first draft to publication?" "How long did it take for the editor to get back to you?" "How long did it take the publisher to find an illustrator." 

If you've been following this blog, you have read about my path. Now I have organized the important dates into a timeline. I consider my acquisition and the production of THE STAR FESTIVAL to be fast comparatively speaking in the publishing world. I've heard of books that had faster turnarounds and books that took years to make. This timeline serves as a reference for the curious. It is not meant to be the standard. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask in the comments section!
Picture
0 Comments
<<Previous
    Picture

    Path To Publication

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    ​Librarians Tell Us
    Kidlit Authors Trivia Quiz
    Path 2 Health-Plot Diagr​am
    Write Kidlit Scholarship

    ​Books 4 Indecisive Artist
    Top 5 Creativity Boosts
    ​Inviting Accountability
    ​Explore!
    Getting An Agent
    ​1st Draft to Published
    ​What's Next?
    The Year of Travel
    The Year of Change
    The Year of Critiques.
    ​The Year I Made It Back!
    ​The Year of Breakups
    The Year of Inspiration
    ​
    The Year of Firsts
    The Year "It" Happened
    Long Beginnings

    All

    By Date

    February 2023
    November 2022
    October 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    April 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    September 2021
    June 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    August 2020
    May 2020

    Picture
  • Home
  • Bio
    • Interviews & Blog visits
  • Books
    • THE STAR FESTIVAL Lessons & Activities
    • ANZU AND THE ART OF FRIENDSHIP Curriculum Connections
  • School Visits
    • Past Events
    • FREEBIES!
    • Diversity Handout
  • WKN! Scholarship
  • Path2Publication Blog
    • Cabana Room >
      • Writers' Nook
      • Teachers' Room
      • Parents' Planet
      • Students' Corner
  • Contact
    • SHOP