I laughingly call writing my sub-minimum wage job. Counting the time involved in coming up with an idea, writing the first draft, revising, editing and creating a dozen or more successive drafts, gnawing at my fingernails, sleep-walking and dreaming the story, the ROI is nothing to write home about. And then there\’s all the time […]
Even if no one paid me Read More »
Today I am off at Harper college in Palatine, Illinois for SCBWI\’s annual Prairie Writer\’s and Illustrators day, a conference for filled with authors, illustrators, editors and agents. There are contests, workshop sessions, portfolio reviews, and general information sharing and networking. This year they are featuring something new. Lunch and Learn sessions, where people will
SCBWI Prarie Writers and Illustrators Day Diversity session Read More »
I am about to be completely, almost scary honest. I\’m an author, and I belong to multiple writing groups, we share our work, do critiques, give feedback, share tips and all that stuff. Last night I attended my very last meeting of one group. To me it\’s an example of what happens when good ideas
Writer’s group farewell Read More »
On Friday I traveled the 144 miles to Bloomington Illinois to meet with freshmen at Bloomington High School. I was invited by Keran Johnson, the school\’s retiring Library Media Specialist (she\’s in full countdown mode). We met last fall when I spoke at the Illinois School Library Media Association in Springfield, and she mentioned how
End of Year School visit Read More »
This week I was asked to do this week\’s post on The Writing Process (as if I have a for-real process.) I want to thank my friend and fellow author Ellen Parker or inviting me to join The Writing Processblog hop. Ellen writes Romance from the Heartland and you can find out more about her
The Writing Process Blog Tour Read More »
I spoke at the 8th National Conference of African American Librarians on August 8, 2013. The topic was Empowering the Voice of the Black Male in Children’s and Teen Lit. [Click here to read the YALSA Hub post about the conference] At one point we had a discussion on the role of non-fiction. One librarian
Empowering the Voice of the Black Male in Children’s and Teen Lit – NCAAL 2013 Read More »
I feel lucky and honored to be a member of the Chicago North RWA chapter. Doubly lucky because Sonali Dev is also a member. She is one of the 2013 Golden Heart ® finalists with her Contemporary Single Title Romance – The Bollywood Bad Boy. Sonali agreed to visit my blog and discuss the manuscript
Interview with 2013 RWA Golden heart finalist – Sonali Dev Read More »
This was my second year of participation at the fair, held at the Fountaindale library in Bolingbrook, Il. Many patrons were not aware of the fair until they heard library staff on the microphones telling them to come over and to meet and greet local authors. The library handed out small autograph books for patrons to
Bolingbrook Author Fair – April 13, 2013 Read More »
I have seen a lot of discussion lately about contest judging. There is a big blame-it-on-the judge outbreak for making snarky comments or having a God complex and not liking the manuscript. Maybe it\’s because I just finished donating my time to judge two contests, I\’m in the middle of a third, and coordinating a
And the 5th test- Will it be FUN? Today, after one of 2013\’s few (and worst) snowstorms, I was up at six am and out the door into a road IDOT had not yet cleared because of a commitment I made months ago. It seemed safe back then to schedule my visit to talk to the
Reluctant Readers and the Rotary Read More »