Been away for, oh, a few months now, but jumping right back in with a Friday Five/Poetry Friday combo:
1. I’ve been away too long, but for good reason. *drumroll, please* I actually will be published next year. OK, OK, before you break out the party horns, it’s Work for Hire through Rosen Publishing. Bethany Bryan is the lovely editor who assigned me the task of writing KENTUCKY, PAST AND PRESENT. So whoot for me, I’ll be a legit children’s author next fall. That’s my big news. I know I’ve missed lots of big news from many of you, so pipe up! I have a bottle of champagne here just itching to be uncorked.
2. I’ve also, thanks to the five-knuckled incentive support of lovely writers Jenn Bailey, Lisha Cauthen, Sue Ford and Kim Peek, spent the past spring/summer/fall revising WOLF and CLEMENTINE. And let me tell you, they both need serious work. Painfully so. I shudder to think I subbed them as is. Apologies to all those agents.
3. And speaking of Sue Ford, SCBWI’s Kansas Regional Advisor and ferret hunter: She has asked me to serve as the KSCBWI secretary and program director. So all you writers, editors and agents out there, beware. I’ll likely be badgering you to come to Kansas. Soon.
4. No. 1 son’s transition into middle school has been fraught with growing pains. I cringe to see his report card next week.
5. Despite his failing grade in Creative Writing, he did manage to hand in this accrostic poem about his obsession: skateboarding. I found it quite lovely. So here it is, No. 1 Son’s contribution to Poetry Friday:
Soaring above the concrete
Kicking the ground to go faster
Air in my face when I zoom down ramps
Trying not to crash
Elbows, knees, and ribs sting when I fall
welcome back…
…and bravo on number one!
Re: welcome back…
thanks, Slatts! I saw your Lennon portraits
Welcome back
I’ve missed the sass that is the Dayton blog
SO nice to see you here, again! You’ve been missed. Lots of people took breaks this summer so it’s all good. CONGRATULATIONS on the book sale and on the kick-butt revisions!!!
Thanks, you!! How about you? Any more good news?
My last post pretty much sums up my latest good news. ;-D http://kimberleylittle.livejournal.com/42057.html
My book is proofread and off to be printed into ARC’s, but Scholastic says don’t share cover art or anything else until the catalog is finished being printed. Can. Not. Wait!
Thanks for asking, Colleen! Btw–LOVE your new pic, you look very young to me! AND did you know that there is an Aunt Colleen in my book – exactly how you spell it, too? Of course, I didn’t know you back when I first wrote the book 5 years ago, but it’s sort of an interesting coincidence. She plays a pretty major role, too. ;-D
Yeah, you! And a new pic!
thanks (and, well, that pic was two years old. More wrinkles, more sag, more gray…
)
How are you?
I think you look great!
I’m doing real well. The joint book hit the NYT bestseller list, and I’ve sold two books to a new YA publisher that is really enthusiastic. I was nervous to quit my job, but it’s worked out okay. Way better than okay.
Congratulations! That’s awesome!
Next, I take over the world
Congrats!
thanks! I hope you’re well!
You rock!
Did you rock the KC 1/2 Marathon?
My #1 son hit middle school this year and we’re in a constant state of white knuckles around here. I LOVELOVELOVE your son’s poem, though!
He’s a literary geunius, I think, despite the grade card