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Congrats to the SCBWI Tri-Regions Of Southern California KITE TAILS newsletter for winning an Inkygirl Golden Cupcake Award!

KITE TAILS is a free online newsletter published by the Los Angeles Chapter of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. 

Each issue is packed with all kinds of useful info about the craft and business of writing and illustrating for young people, including interviews with agents and editors.

Some of the focus is on the West Coast, but there is still a ton of valuable advice and information of use to all children's writers and illustrators.

In the current issue, for example, you can find:

- What is a Sketchcrawl?

- Common Core State Standards: Education Reform and What It Means For Illustrators

- Report from SCBWI-L.A. Illustrator's Day includes useful details about what attendees learned. Advice from children's book writer/illustrator Dan Krall: "Don't try to second-guess what other people to see."

- If It's Work, Is It Supposed To Be Fun? A First Look At SCBWI-L.A.'s Working Writer's Retreat 2012

- On Queries - by literary agent Michael Bourret

- A Will Write For Chocolate comic by yours truly :-)

- Journey To The SCBWI Summer Conference - by my friend Maple Lam (who won a place in the SCBWI-LA Mentorship Program!)

- A Poet's Perspective - by Sheila Ellis

- The Hollywood Writer's SChmooze

- Profiles of local authors and illustrators

....and sooooo much more.

You can browse past issues in the Kite Tails archive online. And I should remind you again: all this info is FREE.

Congrats again to Kite Tails on winning the Golden Cupcake! :-)

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Here is a list of other winners of the Inkygirl Golden Cupcake Award.

This week, I'm awarding the Inkygirl Golden Cupcake Award to Maggie Stiefvater for her The World According To Maggie blog.

I'm a huge fan of Maggie's books, including her Wolves Of Mercy Falls series and most recently, The Scorpio Races. Wonderful stories and characters, but I especially love this writer's voice.

Just some of the things I love about Maggie's blog:

- She talks about her writing process.

- Lots of great visuals. Not just photos but also Maggie's own drawings.

- Her wry, frank personality shines through everything she posts.

I've tweeted about Maggie's great posts frequently from @inkyelbows; her blog is one of my go-to blogs when it comes to looking for tweetable quotes. 

She also comes up with the BEST post titles, like her recent:

Why I'm A Writer & Not a Fighter Pilot

in which she answers reader questions about knowing one's goals as well as keeping true to yourself and your dreams despite other people. Do go visit her blog now! You'll be delighted, inspired and moved.

http://maggiestiefvater.blogspot.com

Established in July/2010, the  Inkygirl Golden Cupcake Award is given to blogs  or sites I find particularly inspirational to writers, especially those that may not already be well-known. Criteria is unapologetically subjective.

If you win the award, you do NOT have to display or acknowledge the award (but feel free, if so inclined). Just bask in the ephemeral, golden glory of online blog stardom and then move on, continuing to be an inspiration to the writing community. And THANK YOU for doing what you do.

Here is a list of other winners of the Inkygirl Golden Cupcake Award.

Pig wasn’t one to yield to his temptation, but there IS a first time for everything.

………………………………………………………………………………………

Sheeeeeepers! That was a hard word for “Illustration Friday!” But I was determined to get back in the game this week, last minute though it may be!

Booyah!

Here's a quick digital painting for this week's Illustration Friday. Cupcakes have become so popular in recent years and you will be too if you take them to work or school.I suffer from a fierce and demanding sweet-tooth, but so far the trendy cupcake has failed to seduce me. Cookies, ice cream, and tiramisu - I'm still yours and yours alone. For now....

Congrats to Writer's Knowledge Base, who wins an Inkygirl Golden CupCake Award! Created by mystery author and writing advice curator Elizabeth Spann Craig (@elizabethcraig on Twitter) this search engine is specifically geared toward writers.

It's a pretty amazing resource. Are you feeling dejected about a recent rejection? Entering "rejection" in the search field will turn up over 1400 posts on the topic! If you haven't already, I encourage you to try it out yourself.

URL: http://hiveword.com/wkb/search

Established in July/2010, the  Inkygirl Golden Cupcake Award is given to blogs  or sites I find particularly inspirational to writers, especially those that may not already be well-known. Criteria is unapologetically subjective.

If you win the award, you do NOT have to display or acknowledge the award (but feel free, if so inclined). Just bask in the ephemeral, golden glory of online blog stardom and then move on, continuing to be an inspiration to the writing community. And THANK YOU for doing what you do.

Here is a list of recent winners of the Inkygirl Golden Cupcake Award.

One of my favourite sites for writers: ROUTINES FOR WRITERS. Their posts are almost always inspirational and/or informative. Not surprising, considering their tagline: "Helping Writers Write More"

Today's post on their blog is no exception, an interview with Erin Bow. I've always enjoyed learning how about how writers organize a space, and it was fascinating to read how Erin ended up using a pole dance studio for her writing office (!).

I'm also intrigued by the fact that her office has no Internet access, no phone and no doorbell on purpose, so she can totally focus on her writing. Wow, now THAT'S dedication. Since so much my work is tied into being online, I don't think I'd be able to do this.

But hm...maybe a variation? Must think on this...

Meanwhile, congrats to ROUTINES FOR WRITERS on winning an Inkygirl Golden Cupcake Award!

Two twin cupcakes, my little almost edible sculpted acrylic paintings. See the progress here.

Close-up:

Christmas Tree Cupcake products at Zazzle

Just a doodle -- that ended up taking days to finish as I've been inundated with guests recently. Very happily so I might add. I ended up declaring a holiday/vacation "go slow" for myself as a result, and am only now finally getting my act together again.

Perhaps being ill made me realize that although work is definitely a priority it certainly should not be my top priority, and that Quality of Life (which includes family, friends, and enjoying the glorious summer days in Provence) and Health should be moved above Work on my little list.

At any rate, I'm finally winding down as far as visitors are concerned and in a few days will be back on my own and back at work. Good timing too as I'm now itching to get back to some drawing, though I'm also looking for a different approach to my art. Something needs to be changed, I need a dose of New Perspectives. Am not quite sure of what that might be as yet, but it's there just at the edge of my vision (isn't that frustrating? Like having that word just there, on the tip of your tongue ...) and I'm hoping it turns up soon to inspire me ...

Meanwhile, these are what I've managed to squeeze in thus far. The above drawing popped into my mind when customers began purchasing my Christmas products! And below are some of the text designs requested by wonderful friends and customers. I've enjoyed doing them and still have a list of more to go through, so will be putting them up as I go along. Cheers to all!

Tini purple Products at Zazzle

Sprog lime green Products at Zazzle

Wishing a sweet weekend with a cherry on the top to all SFG community!

A nice story about cupcakes? From josh pincus is crying? Are you kidding?
READ IT HERE on my blog. (Click illustration to enlarge.)
WARNING! Contains adult language, snobby opinions and blatant references to baked goods.

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This is my first submission for Monday Artday before finishing this week's challenge. Madame Cupcake. Porcelain face and ice-cream hair. A living doll, ready for her next masquerade ball. By Sandra Vargas.

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This was a special request by my niece Marisa for a good friend of hers, Sara, who is a huge fan of a certain Crime Scene programme on TV :) Blood red icing, a dagger plunged into it, a bullet in its side and a hangman's noose draped over the cupcake ... as well as the DO NOT CROSS police tape -- I hope I added enough murderous implements to satisfy her!

And here's the magnet that just won the Today's Best Award over at zazzle.com :)

When I returned home for a visit last year my nephew and one of my nieces were baking these glorious cupcakes and I took photos so that I could eventually draw them as they looked (and tasted!) so yummy. Well, I've finally managed to get one down onto paper though I really am not doing it justice. This one is for my nephew Kaelen!

Life has been hectic and I've been pretty blocked too. The final move into the new house has been a huge relief and I'm happy. Since then I've had visitors non-stop and am about to go overseas for two weeks again, after which life will I hope resume it's normal (?) peaceful routine and I can begin drawing on a more regular basis. Cheers!

Cupcake Hearts Card at Zazzle

When I think of "yummy," I think of cupcakes. I love cupcakes!