0 Comments
I had never written fantasy before, but this spark of an idea came to me many, many years ago. I wrote a short story, or a picture book, or a fairytale - I really didn't know what it was - and knew that couldn't be the end of it. As my critique group was only too eager to point out, there were too many questions that remained unanswered, too much background missing, and more character development (not to mention characters!) waiting to come alive.
Recently, a fellow writer in my SCBWI group in Cincinnati gave a presentation about her 40 year journey towards publishing a book, and she mentioned how valuable her workshops at Highlights have been. In fact, it was where we met and I was connected to that group and two separate critique groups. I have now attended two Highlights workshops myself and I wanted to collect my thoughts and share my experiences with others who might find the workshops as useful as Kathy and I have.
|
I remember the excitement of visiting the public library as a child. The magic and suspense of reading favorites like The Velvet Room and The Secret Garden tugged at my imagination. Biographies of George Washington Carver and Betsy Ross allowed me to see the lives of those who came before me and to appreciate their accomplishments. Poetry collections like my favorite The Tall Book of Poems, which I took with me on sleepovers, introduced me to a range of poetry where I could consider how the placement and rhythm of words affected your mood – sometimes bouncy, other times melancholy. Plus, I really loved the way that book felt in my small hands. My goal in writing children’s books, I think, is an attempt to recreate those feelings, those early years of reading books where everything seemed possible.
I received an M.F.A. in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Hamline University and won the Karen and Philip Cushman Late Bloomer Award from SCBWI. I worked as a Children's Librarian for 20 years and still prefer to read books written for young people. I have two Cavapoo dogs named Prince Albert and Daisy Wu, and a black kitten named Mortimer. I am married and split time between homes with my husband Rod in Dayton, OH and in Cadiz, KY where we enjoy our pontoon boat on Lake Barkley.
Categories
All
You can find more detailed information about me by clicking a link below:
Archives
February 2024
|