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What I've been working on today. Soon to appear in my Etsy shop.

I’ve been tagged by Janet Riehl:
http://riehlife.com/

I’m tagging:
Norman Benson, forensic expert and author
http://timberbeastheartwood.blogspot.com/
Kim Baccellia , author
http://kbaccellia.livejournal.com/

Kris Bordessa, author

1. How long have you been blogging?
I wrote my first blog post six months ago. I’m not focusing just on children’s literature, or teaching, or particular themes or issues. In a way, I guess I feel it’s more of an online diary. I’ve written about my book HUNGRY and trying to promote it, but my blog also covered my trip to Chile, reflections on lost family members, and whatever seems to be on my mind at the time I feel I like writing an entry. In the future, I hope to do a separate blog of meditations that I’ve written on the Major Arcana keys using a Christian interpretation of the Qabala. When I transferred computers, this was the one file that I lost. I’ve hadn’t had the time or the willingness to type over the meditations, but I figure they'll be a time I’ll just work on this project for a few weeks. I have an idea to do a painting or drawing for each meditation, but I rather doubt I’ll be this productive.

2. What inspired you to start a blog and who are your mentors?
Basically getting word out about my book inspired me. After creating my website, I found I enjoy working on web related things. I am very grateful to Janet Riehl’s wonderful listening ear, her explanations, and encouragement that allowed me to get started. I’m thinking especially of a walk we took last spring when I barely knew what a blog was. Another mentor is Norm Benson who showed me blogspot about the same time.

3. Are you trying to make money online, or just doing it for fun?
The hope is that my writing, Hungry, specifically, will be of enough interest for people to read my blog. I’ve never thought of money making online. I just hope that my book will sell enough copies that HarperCollins will want me to write another one, and if the blog helps with that, terrific!

4. What 3 things do you struggle with online?
I don’t know if I can separate this into three separate things. I get overwhelmed. Wonderful sites like Book Lust and Jacketflap have SO much information. I was recently sent an article about podcast that I haven’t read because I'm not in a place for a learning curve. It’s hard to take time to make connections. When I sit at my computer, I want to spend most of the time writing. I also don't want to spend my life on the computer.

5. What 3 things do you love about being online?
Email. I don’t really like using the phone, but I do love getting emails! Also, I appreciate how much easier the Internet has made the work of being a writer become. I used to feel isolated as a writer living in a small community. I feel the worldwide community now provides a sense of connectedness that, even ten years ago, I couldn’t imagine. Making friends with people I haven't met has been important, as well as having the ability to express my creativity and to get feedback about it worldwide.