So Wednesdays are usually my “Waking up Grumpy” post. But not today. NO sir! Today I have a few announcements I hope will brighten or enhance your life in some fantabulous way. 1. My Picture Book Love Contest is still … Continue reading 
By: Jean Matthew Hall,
on 1/17/2011
My hand trembled as I reached for the shiny, still too-new-looking book. It had been weeks--too many weeks--since I had cracked the cover. I slid it from it's shelf-tomb. I brushed dust from the cover and laid the book on my desk reverently. I've been a bad little writer. I made a promise to myself that I would spend months submerged in Anastasia Suen's Picture Writing: A new approach to writing
By: Jean Matthew Hall,
on 11/15/2010
Yes, I've been cheating. I haven't done every single assignment in Anastasia Suen's incredible book Picture Writing: A new approach to writing for kids and teens. Even with my cheating I'm learning tons of useful things about my own writing. This chapter on Nonfiction is jam packed with explanations of every type of nonfiction books imaginable. She gives detailed explanations for the various
By: Jean Matthew Hall,
on 10/18/2010
Have you ever been to a children's writing conference where the topic of Concept Books wasn't at the top of the discussions around the lunch tables? I’ll bet I’ve heard twenty different explanations of the term Concept Books. None of them have been satisfactory to me. Once again Suen speaks my language. We’re on the same wave-length or something. She’s making this and other terms clear to me at
By: Jean Matthew Hall,
on 9/29/2010
At my local NC library I found a delightful picture book by a truly talented author/illustrator, David Ezra Stein. Pouch! was published by G.P. Putnam's Sons in 2009. Pouch! is a delightful story about a baby kangaroo (Joey) discovering a big new world outside mother's pouch. In 150 words and a series of cute, CUTE illustrations Stein gives us a bouncy tale of adventure and daring--well, it was
By: Jean Matthew Hall,
on 9/13/2010
I'm wading through Chapter two of Picture Writing: A new approach to writing for kids and teens--"Seeing Fiction." At the beginning of the book Suen provides a suggested schedule for completing the book in 18 weeks. (You read that correctly. I said eighteen weeks.) Chapter two requires two weeks to read, complete the exercises, and write journal entries about my projects and progress. In
By: Jean Matthew Hall,
on 9/6/2010
It's no secret that I admire Anastasia Suen and her accomplishments in children's literature. But for some reason I kept postponing the purchase of her book Picture Writing: A new approach to writing for kids and teens. About six months ago I finally ordered one. The moment it arrived I opened the cover and scanned through the first few pages. "Oh, boy! This is going to take some time!" I said
Hi Donna,
I can’t enter your contest because I don’t have any of these accounts, but I just wanted you to know that I shout your greatness wherever I can.
Love,
Linda
You can always share the info when you visit other folks blogs. How ’bout that? When yo uvisit someone else’s blog, yo ucan tell them about my contest. Whatcha think?
You made me click over to find out about the big, hairy thing
You ornery thing 
Big hairy thing. Yup, I had to check it out too! I guess you didn’t get a glimpse of him when you were hiking? Hmmm…that description could apply to many husbands!
Cheryl and Carol – you know you’re glad you investigated. You would have wondered all night if you hadn’t.
Hairy husbands. HAH!