As I was driving home from Hamline's MFAC Alumni Weekend Writer's Conference, I got a call with very exciting news. It was Lin Oliver, Executive Director of SCBWI, informing me that I was chosen to receive the Karen and Philip Cushman Late Bloomer Award. This is a work-in-progress grant in which I had submitted "Octopus Capers" back in March. My first award! Lin told me to go ahead and post the news on my Facebook account to create some buzz, which I did, so for the remainder of my drive home I heard the happy "pings" from my phone as the news made the rounds. Prior to the call, I was listening to an audiobook, which I assumed would be my next blog post. After the call, I couldn't concentrate on the story and had to put it away. I can live with that. As part of my award, my registration at the SCBWI Annual Conference in Los Angeles will be paid for. See you there!
0 Comments
|
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
|