
I'm cheating a little bit this week with something I did for MacMillan/McGraw Hill-the three little pigs story cards!
In writing news, Fandangle Magazine published my poem, "Home is Not Too Far," which was inspired by my windshield wipers. Click here and scroll to page nine to read it. Also, the copyedited manuscript for Violet Raines is scheduled to arrive on my doorstep by Friday! I cannot believe how fast this process is going--it's like dog years.
In other news, I'm on my way to a big box shopping center. I only hope I don't have Ello's experience. She's doing well; the bruises have almost faded.
While decorating, we opened one of our boxes to discover tiny black bugs creeping among my favorite decorations. This is the box that holds most of my snowmen, the Christmas plaque (which is made of fabric), and the silk poinsettia topiary I like to put by the stairs. My husband thinks we should spray a bunch of paper towels with bug spray, put it in the box, and seal it tightly.
It's a good idea, but we've got natural solutions right here in the house--a lizard (a gecko like on those Geico commercials but not cute and not Australian) lives in my computer room, and a different one was last seen Tuesday under the Christmas tree at 11 a.m. I tried to catch them, but they were too smart for my paper cup trap. I say we open the bug box of decorations and let the lizards do their job.
My very first illustrated picture book has came out yesterday! It is a new version of the Grimm brother's Hansel and Gretel story.
irisz
My very first illustrated picture book has came out yesterday! It is a new version of the Grimm brother's Hansel and Gretel story.
irisz
(And the book is Nim's Island)
Here's the Rye Primary School library bulletin board. I had the most fabulous time there two weeks ago, when I opened their 'What if Everyone in Rye read the same book?' event. The band played, I cut a huge (and delicious!) cake – and best of all,met some fantastic kids and their super enthusiastic teaching staff. I think this project is quite incredible, and kids and staff all need to be commended for it. With their teachers' support, the kids in the Library Enhancement Group wrote to me to invite to their opening, organised the cake, the school band, and various other things behind the event... and now, as well as everyone in the school being encouraged to read Nim's Island or have their parents read it to them, they're going to take copies out to the Shire Offices, the Bowls Club, down the street to the local shops, so that wherever you go in Rye, you can chat to anyone you meet about the book.
I'd think this was the most fantastic, community & literature project I've ever heard of no matter what the book was. And that it's Nim's Island.... well, that's just incredibly special.
The samples are here! The samples are here! The Mixed-Up Alphabet, written by Steve Metzger and illustrated by yours truly. Published by Scholastic, out October 2007.
Some interior shots:
The alphabet as a happy family:
One of my favorite scenes:It was alot of fun to work on, coming up with different "personalities" for each alphabet. Adding little details such as lightning bolt "zaps" on the Z, plaid on the P, and making C into a cowboy. It wasn't long ago that I had these guys as sketches up on my wall. Now they are in color and in a book. I feel like a proud mama.
Been posting some weird things lately, so I thought I'd share some older work with you guys. These are from various FHM jobs in recent months:
Prefer weird? Go look here
By all means, let the lizards have their way. I hate bug spray.
Congrats on the poem. I checked it out. Would be a great one to read to a kid on a rainy day.
Thanks, Charles!
Danette, I loved that poem! I'm going to memorize it so I can recite it to my girls the next time we are in the car on a rainy day. That was wonderful!
Lizards are the new cats!
And I loved your poem. It was wonderful. Congrats again on making the final issue of Fandangle!
Anddd have fun with the copyediting!!
!!!
Love the poem! Great job!
Good luck with the bugs...hope the lizard helps...
Ello,
Wow! Thanks for the wonderful compliment!
Courtney,
Thanks for the kudos. And yes, I'm looking forward to the copyedit; I have an array of colored pens from which to choose.
Brenda, that box is still tightly sealed; I'm not even up to dealing with that!