I'm registered and have my calendar. National Novel Writing Month is upon us and I'll admit, I'm a little nervous. This is the first time I've participated in this challenge to write 50,000 words in 30 days, and I don't quite know what to expect. I'm not even sure how to begin. I will be working on a middle grade fantasy that doesn't even have a title yet. I've read lots of Andrew Lang's fairy tale collections in preparation and I've jotted down some ideas in an outline. I've even thrown around a few ideas with my critique group. I guess I will jump in feet first as soon as the bell rings to get a good jump start and hope to run a straight course. I plan to attend a few write-ins to switch things up during the 30 days and be in contact with others trying to complete the challenge.
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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.
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