My creativity has been redirected for the last two weeks into our dining room/kitchen space. I imagined, and a contractor brought to reality, doors that would establish a closed/pet-free zone. I love our pets, but wanted to be able to work in the kitchen without them underfoot, without cat hair in every nook and cranny. Now they can watch, but not create havoc. They get lots of hugs and attention everywhere else in the house. The doors are beautiful.

The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators-Carolinas critique group meeting on August 1st was very helpful. I enjoy the constructive comments that challenge and invite improvement. It's great working with others who are writing for children. My years with the Tega Cay Writers' critique group were so valuable while I was writing my memoir, and now I'm delighted to find the SCBWI group as I focus on picture books. My present manuscript will be better for the feedback!

I've sent in my manuscript to be critiqued at the SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) Fall Conference. I'll have 15 minutes with a professional agent, editor, or publisher to go over the ms. This story is based on a technique I used with children with a parent who was dying when I worked with hospice. It brought great comfort to the kids at a very difficult time. I hope my picture book will be published and made available to hospices and therapists. This critique is an important step and I'm thrilled to have the opportunity.

As a writer sitting before a blank page, I am aware of endless possibilities: fiction, nonfiction, characters, plots . . . I've been a primary school teacher, a clinical social worker, a hospice bereavement counselor, and a few other things along the way. But always, I've wanted to be a writer. Over the years, I've written, and sometimes published, a few things. My focus is now on writing children's picture books. I'm having the best time of my life.