Dual-Curriculum in Learning to Write for Children
I am the mother of four grown sons. But they weren’t always grown. There were quite a few hectic years that could best be described as managed chaos. I would get a little one off my hip and onto his feet just in time to have another firmly attach himself. And honestly, who knew there were […]
What Spills Out of You?
When you jostle a full glass of orange juice, what spills out? And what spills out of a full glass of milk? Silly questions? Maybe. Of course, orange juice will spill out of the first glass and milk will spill out of the second one. But perhaps not so silly when we apply this to […]
Dusty Old Writing
I remember words of advice from seasoned professionals in the writing industry. Don’t be in a hurry to hit ‘send’ as soon as you finish your manuscript. Put it away for some time. Then, revisit it and send the revised, polished work on to your agent or publisher. I was like many authors I know. […]
Putting the Right Face on Facebook
These days, Facebook is the social media platform everyone loves to hate. It seems as if this Internet giant changes its rules as often as we change our clothes. But Facebook is still a social media powerhouse for a reason: millions of people use it to establish community and connections. By following these six tips, […]
Pitch Your Picture Book through a Twitter Party!
“For what event would you pack an ax, a vial of serum, and dog booties? Racing in the Iditarod! Find out what else mushers pack. #PBPitch #NF” “Jersey wishes she had spots like the other cows, so she knits herself a spotted sweater, and all the other cows want one too. #PBPitch #H” The above […]
The Weight of Words
Do you know the answer to this old riddle? Q: Which weighs more: a pound of bricks or a pound of feathers? A: Neither. They both weigh the same. Silly, I know. But I’ve been thinking a lot about weight lately. And no, this has nothing to do with the pants I no longer fit […]
Preparing for a Writers’ Conference
It’s writers’ conference season! The idea of attending a writing conference might be new and scary to you. It might be an annual event on your calendar, or you may be one of the seasoned professionals who presents at multiple conferences around the country each year. After many conferences, my heart races a bit at […]
The Power of Story
I love a good story, don’t you? Skilled storytellers have beguiled audiences with mesmerizing tales since the dawn of time. I have vivid memories of waiting breathlessly for stories that began with the words, “Once upon a time.…” I’m still transported by the power of those words today. However, the power of story is not […]
Marketing Your Children’s Book
Marketing a book can be overwhelming! Planning social media posts, website updates, blog posts, mail campaigns, book signings, and speaking engagements can cause an author’s head to spin. And then there’s that next book to write. And all these tasks occur at the same time! How can you cover all the bases of marketing? Start with a list […]
God’s Best
Have you heard the story of the little girl and her pearls? There once was a little girl who went shopping with her mother and saw a strand of costume jewelry pearls. Oh, how she wanted those pearls! But her mother wouldn’t provide the money to buy them, so she saved her allowance and birthday […]