SCBWI LA or BUST!

I did it! I registered for the International SCBWI Summer conference in L.A. 

In hopes of offsetting the cost of the trip, I entered the FAiRy gOdSiStErS' annual scholarship contest. The challenge was to write at least one, but no more than three haiku telling them why I should be picked for this year's conference.  Winning haiku receives $1000 towards the conference. 

I didn't win. YA writer, Heather Hamilton-Senter won with her winning Haiku, The Haiku Trilogy of the Querying Author. You can read her winning entry on the FAiRy gOdSiStErS' Facebook page.

Now it looks like I am going to have to sell one of my sons to pay for the trip. My first-born is very bright and can serve as your personal encyclopedia. Really. Who needs Google when you've got him? My youngest makes a great pet. He'll play ball with you and provide you with lots of snuggle time. Any takers? 

On second thought, I think I'll keep them. 

Image courtesy of Daniel St. Pierre / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Here's the cost of my trip:

SCBWI LA conference: $795

Hotel: $627

Airfare: $200

Cost of a jam-packed weekend of agents, editors, inspiration, knowledge, insights, memories,  friendships... 

PRICELESS!


I signed up for the Monday Intensives too. It's an extra full day of personal growth and hands-on instructions. I figured if I'm going to spend that much on a conference, I might as well go for broke. Sure, it cost an arm and a leg, but at least I still have my head!

Here is the haiku I submitted for the contest:

A Writer's Dream

Critiques Revisions
A tub full of hot tea
Life of a writer

Yearning to be free
Spreading magical seeds- like
a dandelion

To inspire and
be desired- dreams of an
author wannabe



If you want to donate to the "Writer's Dream" fund, I accept Paypal! 

I hope to see you at the SCBWI in L.A! 

Book Review: The Emotion Thesaurus

Look what I got in the mail!

In my interview with debut author, Donna Earnhardt, she recommended a few books that helped her become a better writer. The Emotion Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi was one of them.

It is a fabulous guide to character expressions. “Show don’t tell” (SDT) is important in story writing. If you are struggling with how to “show” your character’s emotions, then this book is a great resource.

As I flipped through the pages of the book, I was immediately impressed. The book is structured in a way that makes it easy to use.

How it works:

You search for the emotion you are looking for among the 75 emotions listed in the book. Since it is listed in alphabetical order, it is easy to find.

Then you read through the different emotional responses, select the appropriate cues you want to use and apply it to your story.

Under each emotion, you will find the following subheading:

• Definition
• Physical signals (body language)
• Internal sensations (physiological response)
• Mental response (thoughts)
• Cues of acute or long-term emotion

Here are some of the advantages of this book:

1. You will find fresh ways to describe emotions
2. It is a great brainstorming tool for developing your character
3. If your thoughts or ideas have run dry, this book will help spark an idea for you
4. It will help you write a story that readers can experience emotionally

I love my book and can’t wait to revise my stories to give it that extra spark it needs to get readers to connect emotionally to it.

Pick up your copy today! 

But here's a little secret. . .

Image courtesy of David Castillo Dominic / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

   . . .you can go to Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi's blog, The Bookshelf Muse, and get a FREE preview of the Emotional Thesaurus. They have a good list of emotions available on their site.  

Got a secret to share with me?

New Series- My Online Community Member Highlight

The online community of writers is a close-knit one. We spend time forming friendships, supporting each other’s works, learning from each other, and building relationships.

I belong to Julie Hedlunds’ 12x community, the Children’s Book Creative, the Children’s Book Hub, and Wordsmith Studio. And then there is the blogging community.

My online friends are quickly out-numbering the friendships I make in person, which is a little disturbing to me refreshing thought.  The only time I get to meet my online friends are at conferences or book signings. Of the estimated 500+ members, I have only met a handful in person.

This year, I hope to change that and meet more of you. I am excited to do a series titled, “My Online Community Member Highlight,” in which I introduce to you a member whom I had the pleasure of meeting in person.

Here is a preview of what it will include:

• About my friend
• How we met
• Our connection (what we have in common)
• Our first encounter (when and where me met)
• 3 things you don’t know about my friend
• Their work-in-progress (W.I.P.)
• Where to find my friend (social media sites)

********************

Allow me to introduce to you my first Online Community Member Highlight: 

Lori Tian Sailiata (aka Lara Britt)

BIO: Lori is from Honolulu, Hawaii. She enjoys morning strolls through Lili’uokalani Botanical Gardens and late night walks along the beach. Lori is a chronic volunteer. When she isn’t wrangling butterflies in her efforts to birth a community blog or raising her Klout score to stratospheric heights, Lori is a docent at Honolulu's Bishop Museum. Most likely you will find her deep in a history, mystery, or memoir.

At the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum

How we met

Lori and I met in April 2012 during a month-long Platform Challenge held by Robert Lee Brewer. After the completion of the challenge, friendships were made and the group MNINB (My name is not Bob) was formed. The community of writers has since been changed to Wordsmith Studios. Lori is one of the founding members of Wordsmith Studios.

Connection

As her biography states, she is from Hawaii. I, too, am from Hawaii. I have lived there for most of my childhood years. We enjoyed talking about growing up in Hawaii and about the foods we love like Hawaii’s very own coco puffs from Liliha Bakery.

Our first encounter

I had planned a trip to Hawaii to visit my parents. Lori suggested I give her a call when I get there. She graciously invited me and my family to the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum. When we met face-to-face, it was as if I had reacquainted with an old friend. Lori volunteers for a 2.5 hours a week at the museum, but she generously spent all Thursday morning with me, my mom and my two boys.

Lori took the time to show us around the museum grounds and shared her extensive knowledge of the Hawaiian culture. Her passion is contagious as well as her down-to-earth personality. I had a lovely time with Lori.

3 Things you don’t know about Lori Tian Sailiata:

1. She's been busy developing a business and has been conducting trainings and meetings with clients in an old sugar plantation town of Waialua on the island of Oahu.
2. Lori discovered Hatha yoga on a PBS station called Lilias' Yoga and You (1972-1992) when she was 12-years old and fell in love with it. She later taught yoga and even led a weekend seminar with Lilia when she was almost 7 months pregnant with her elder daughter.
3. Back in the day, it had been every kid's dream to be on the Bozo Show.  So when a friend of hers (a writer for WGN at the time) offered her tickets, she couldn't refuse. She was thrilled to be able to bring her daughters and a friend to the televised children's program.  It was a dream-come-true for Lori…um, I mean her daughters.  *wink*

W.I.P.

Lori is working on 3 mystery novels in the Passport in Time series (PIT), a spin-off of Whirled Peas Mysteries, and a YA series based on Oceania myths and modern Diaspora youth. The closest to completion is her Syringa Gulch Survey, which is the 1st of the PIT mysteries.

Where to find Lori Tian Sailiata/Lara Britt

Writing Space 

HawaiiContent Marketing  

Wordsmith Studio 

Lara Britt on Facebook 

@LaraBrittWrites  

You can also follow her Tweets on Storify and #WSChat

********

If you are ever in San Francisco and would like to get together, feel free to contact me. I'd love to meet you in person!

Rejection Letters- From a Positive Perspective

I have two sons.  My eldest is the quiet and obedient one who  is wise beyond his years.  My youngest son...well, let's just say that I try to look at him with a positive perspective.  Here is how I would describe him:

He is a good negotiator

(translation:  he's sometimes spoiled and gets what he wants)

He has perseverance

(translation:  he whines)

He has good leadership skills

(translation:  he is bossy)

He takes a stand on what he believes 

(translation:  he is stubborn)

He is very passionate

(translation:  he gets temper tantrums)

When I received a rejection letter from a publisher, I couldn't help but wonder about the hidden message behind the fluff.  In other words, what are they really trying to tell me? Here's how I read into their messages:

It does not fit our editorial needs

(translation:  It's not up to our standards because...it sucked.)

We hope that you will be successful in placing it elsewhere

(translation:  Go find somewhere else to submit because...it sucked.)

Be assured your submission received close consideration.

(translation:  We hoped it was good, but it wasn't because...it sucked.)

Okay...I'm sure that's not what they're really saying, but I know that's how some of us take it. 

From now on, I propose that we look at our rejection letters in a new light! 

 "Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you'll start having positive results." ~Willie Nelson

With a new outlook and a new attitude, here is what your rejection letter is telling you:

It does not fit our editorial needs

(translation:  We are not worthy of your outstanding manuscript.)

We hope that you will be successful in placing it elsewhere

(translation:  Your story is so awesome that we think you deserve better.)

Be assured your submission received close consideration.

(translation:  We are honored that you chose us to submit to, but we can't accept your manuscript because it's just too good for us.)

Okay, I went a little overboard on the translation. But it doesn't hurt to drown our sorrows in a bowl of ice cream drizzled with chocolate syrup, a wallop of whipped cream, and a cherry on top. 

www.sxc.hu

As long as you did your research, had your manuscript critiqued and revised numerous times, is as best as it can be and you are in love with your story, then know that your manuscript will find its way to the right publisher for you. 

So hold your head high and think positive.  Better than that, keep on writing!  The more stories you write, the better the chances of you finding that gem that will land you a contract instead of a rejection letter. 

" A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." ~Winston Churchill

If you received a rejection letter and need something to make you feel better about it, I recommend reading the following posts:

It's Not You, It's Me
http://romellebroas.blogspot.com/2009/06/its-not-you-its-me.html

Decoding Query Rejections
http://www.booksandsuch.biz/blog/decoding-query-rejections/

Subjective- A New Look at Rejections
http://www.institutechildrenslit.com/rx/ws03/subjective.shtml

7 Reasons Your Manuscript Might be Rejected:
http://www.darcypattison.com/marketing/7-reasons-your-manuscript-might-be-rejected/

OPTIMAL WRITING TIME

I’m a runner and most runners like to run in the wee hours of the morning when the air is fresh and crisp…except me. I’m not a morning person.  In the morning, my energy is low and I feel sluggish.  So running at this hour is difficult for me.  My breathing is labored, my form is poor, and my time is slow.  My optimal running time is in the early evening when the sun is about to set.  At this hour, I’m alert, alive, and full or energy.

This got me thinking about my writing.  Perhaps I have an optimal writing time- a time when my right brain is functioning at its peak.  As a mom of two young boys and a full-time job, I write whenever I have the opportunity to write.

My optimal writing time would be when:

• feel most inspired to write
• creativity strikes me
• ideas pop into my head like popcorn
• my mind is most alert
• I am energized

In the next few weeks I’m going to try to see if I can find my optimal writing time. When I do, I'm taking advantage of that opportunity. 

How about you?  When is your optimal or favorite time to write?

Please take my poll on the RIGHT bar and I'll post results in May.

Author Interview: Nancy Viau

THE LONG ROAD TO PUBLICATION

As aspiring authors, it’s easy to fall into the trap of wanting to be published NOW.  The reality is that your preschooler may be entering middle school before you get a picture book published.  Nancy Viau knows this all too well. She is the author of Samantha Hansen Has Rocks in Her Head.  

Nancy is my featured author today. She is not a debut author, but after reading her story, you could say that she is a two-time debut author.

A note about the picture to the left: I asked Nancy to send me a profile picture and this is what she sent me. It looks as if the looong road to publication produced cobwebs. Very symbolic, I must say. Anyway, instead of the interview format, I am having Nancy share her experience herself.  It’s a story about determination, perseverance, and patience. 

"In 2002, I penned the first words that would eventually lead to a picture book sale in 2009,” says Nancy.   “Seven years. Seven, long years.”

Let’s welcome my guest writer, Nancy Viau.  So sit back, relax, and enjoy Nancy’s journey.

******

My story is a crazy one, but it may provide some inspiration for PB authors. Although I have the MG out, I feel very much like a debut author, and I guess I really am a debut PB author. It’s where I started my writer’s journey, where my heart has always been, where it will continue to be.

HOW IT STARTED

When my youngest daughter ventured out to preschool in 2001, I sat down at the computer and decided to be a writer. Of course I thought, I can write a picture book, and I began with a story about a girl on a beach—a 1700-word story, full of onomatopoeia and enough sensory-related elements to make you gag.

In the next year, many other picture book manuscripts followed, and I learned to cut, cut, CUT, leaving room for an illustrator. I wrote a rhyming story titled  It's Not Easy, and I subbed that and others out to editors I met at SCBWI conferences. No luck. Form rejections, tons of them.

Comic published with permission: http://boscafelife.wordpress.com/

WRITING FOR AN OLDER AUDIENCE

A critique partner suggested I had a voice suitable for an older audience (*groan* NOT what I wanted to hear). So, I dabbled in writing a chapter book titled Samantha Hansen Has Rocks in Her Head. I also wrote a ton of Op Ed essays for the Philadelphia Inquirer and various magazines for grown-ups—essays about parenting, kids, cell phones, vacations, etc.

GETTING BACK TO WHAT I LOVED

Trying to keep my hand in the younger market, I submitted stories and poetry to children’s magazines, and to my surprise, acceptances started dwindling in. This encouraged me to get back to what I loved—writing for a younger audience.

I revisited that rhyming PB called It's Not Easy. A new critique partner checked it out, helped me with my horrible rhyme and meter, and said something I’ll never forget, “This may be the one.” I sent it out. It got rejected. The consensus was that it was a sweet story. Bah. END of story.

In 2005 (where did the years go?), I got up the nerve to add that manuscript to my application materials for the Rutgers One-on-One Plus Conference, and I was shocked that I got in. My wonderful mentor, Penny Pollack, who wrote quiet stories such as mine, loved my story. She gave me the idea of adding a refrain, which really made the piece come alive. Penny introduced me to editors, and I ended up sending It's Not Easy to twelve. It got rejected all around, but with each rejection came a bit of personal feedback. (Personal feedback! The Golden Nugget, right?) The story got rewritten and resubmitted more times that I can count. Eventually, I got discouraged, stopped submitting it, and stopped beating myself up about it. I continued to write other PBs, still having no luck at publication..

THIS MAY BE THE ONE

The years ticked by, and my friend’s comment, “This may be the one,” often haunted me. One afternoon while watching the forest animals play outside my window, I decided to dig out that manuscript from years ago, look at my personal rejections with a fresh (and slightly more experienced) eye, and revise it yet again. I had formed a relationship with an editor at Abrams for she had acquired my middle-grade in 2007. (Remember the chapter book above? It grew up and became my first published book, a MG novel. Selling that is a whole different story!)  Anyway, I submitted It's Not Easy to Abrams, unagented, and in 2009, they made an offer. 

What started out as a very early attempt ended in success! Some authors get published immediately and I say KUDOS to them. But I am thankful for the opportunity to travel on a longer road to publication…my journey taught me so much about myself.

LookWhat I Can Do! was released March 12, 2013. (Looking back, I felt my original title said it all because it really wasn’t easy (!), but Abrams preferred a more positive title.) A second picture book, Storm Song, was acquired by Marshall Cavendish (now Amazon Publishing) in 2011 with little drama. It will be published on April 16, 2013.

*****

Thank you so much, Nancy, for sharing your journey with us. You painted a picture of a real-life situation of the publishing industry. You proved to us that if you believe in your work, persistence is the key to success.

You can find Nancy Viau at:

www.nancyviau.com

She is also a wonderful resource for young writers and offers writing information and tips (WIT) at:

nancyviau.blogspot.com

Children's Festival of Reading & BOOKMARKS!

Look what I've been busy with...

I finally made bookmarks for my eBook, Casey Chameleon, published by Flying Books, 2012 AND a website (still in a work-in-progress)! I've been thinking about doing this for a while now. I have to thank Donna Martin for giving me the push. More on Donna later. But first, a little about my bookmarks: 

Making the Bookmarks
I went with Gotprint.com from the recommendation of the lovely ladies at the Children's Book Hub.

Here's the lowdown:
Specs: 2 x 8 bookmarks, gloss on both sides, rounded corners, economy shipping
Quantity: 250 bookmarks
Cost: $39.36

Quality: Excellent

I recommend them.  If you are comparison shopping, another company I recommend is Overnight Prints. I requested their free samples and I was impressed. They cost a tad bit more, but they offer sales on occasion and when they do, their prices are comparable. 

As for the design, I recommend Alison K. Hertz. She designed a number of our picture book author's bookmarks and postcards. I happened to design my own before I knew of Alison's services. Since I spent hours on it, I didn't want to throw my hard work away. I think it came out pretty good considering I did it myself. On a writer's budget, sometimes you have to go DIY.

Childlren's Festival of Reading
The Children's Festival of Reading is coming up on May 18, 2013 in Knoxville, Tennessee and Donna Martin is hosting a booth.  She is offering a free giveaway for the over 15, 000 families that will be attending.  Donna has graciously opened up her project to our writing community to help us promote our books in the hopes of instilling the love for reading. It's a win-win situation! 

"Proceeds from the festival will benefit Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, which fights against illiteracy by donating free books every month to children ages NB to 5-years-old."

I couldn't find gummy chameleons so the lizards should suffice

Since I have an eBook, I can only handout autographed bookmarks with a QR code directing readers to my publisher's site. I am in the process of working out a way to offer the eBooks for free for a limited time or quantity.  I'll let you in on the details as soon as I figure it out.   

In the meantime, I am on my way to the post office to mail the bookmarks with gummy treats to Donna. The Children's Festival of Reading is a wonderful event. I wish I could be there.

If you are interested in donating to the festival, visit Donna Martin for more information!