THE SUMMER IS MORE THAN HALFWAY OVER!
IT’S HARD TO BELIEVE…KIDS ARE OUT BUYING NEW SCHOOL SUPPLIES….AND TEACHERS ARE GEARING UP FOR THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR.
This post is a summary of some of the projects I have underway and some of the events that have been taking place recently, here in Colorado.
WE’VE BEEN POUNDED BY TRAGEDY…FIRST THE WALDO CANYON FIRES RIGHT HERE IN COLORADO SPRINGS (AND VARIOUS OTHER WILDFIRES IN THE REST OF THE STATE) AND JUST LAST WEEK, THE AURORA THEATER MASSACRE, WHERE TWELVE PEOPLE LOST THEIR LIVES AND DOZENS OF OTHERS WERE SERIOUSLY INJURED.
MANY ASK…HOW CAN WE STOP THIS TYPE OF SENSELESS VIOLENCE?
UNFORTUNATELY, I DON’T THINK THERE IS AN ANSWER…NOT UNTIL EVERY PERSON’S HEART IS FILLED WITH LOVE FOR OTHERS.
WHAT WE CAN DO IS PRAY FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN IMPACTED. WE ARE ALL ONE FAMILY. WE CAN REACH OUT TO EACH OTHER WITH LOVE AND COMPASSION BECAUSE, IN THE FACE OF TRAGEDY, LOVE IS WHAT HEALS.
WE CAN ALSO TRY TO MAKE OUR OWN LITTLE WORLD A BETTER PLACE.
SOMEONE WHO DOES THAT VERY WELL IS picture book author, SUSANNA LEONARD HILL.
DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR, SHE HOSTS A PERFECT PICTURE BOOK FRIDAY WHERE SHE INVITES OTHERS TO LINK UP WITH A PICTURE BOOK REVIEW AND RELATED ACTIVITIES AND RESOURCES.
FOR THE SUMMER, SHE HAS COME UP WITH A WHOLE NEW CHALLENGE: SUMMER SHORT AND SWEETS.
DO YOU LIKE TO WRITE? ARE YOU AN ASPIRING AUTHOR?
JOIN SUSANNA AND FRIENDS FOR THIS CREATIVE WRITING EXERCISE.
I hope you will check out this fun-filled writing exercise! Here is my entry for week #3:
I am Castle.
Gray as weathered stone in a cloud-filled twilight.
With tall turreted towers.
Decaying.
Crumbling.
Adjacent to an ancient herb garden where quartz paving stones glisten in the moonlight.
Guarding a hidden secret.
Protecting a forgotten treasure.
Waiting for eventual discovery.
Like a tightrope walker holding his breath.
I am Castle.
Another project for me this summer was to submit a picture book to Rate Your Story. This amazing website is hosted by several children’s authors, illustrators and editors. They provide professional manuscript critiques and other services…but will look over your story for FREE and rate it from “1”…great story, you should consider submitting…to “10”…consider this story as practice and write another one. In addition, some of the judges may even give your story some constructive suggestions to help make it better.
A couple of weeks ago, I submitted, “The Boots of Dylan McGee”. This is a rhyming picture book that tells the story of a little boy who wants to be a cowboy and loves his boots so much that he never wants to take them off.
Here’s the first verse:
Dylan McGee was a cowboy-in-training.
Boots were his garb, whether sunshine or raining.
“It’s time to go nighty-night”, Momma would say.
But take off his boots? Nada, nix, no and nay!
When his boots begin to hurt his feet because they are too small, “he tried to remove them but couldn’t succeed…those boots wouldn’t budge ‘cause he’d grown like a weed.”
Early this week, I got the reply back…”The Boots of Dylan McGee” scored a “3”… which means: good story, get a critique or two and polish before submitting. I was really excited because the judge gave me three awesome suggestions which I am working on implementing to make the story better and ready to put out there in publishing-land.
I’m also continuing in Julie Hedlund’s 12×12 in 2012 Picture Book Writing Challenge.
I’ve been having so much fun since January…writing a picture book draft each month. Thanks to Julie and the encouraging group of more than FOUR HUNDRED participants, I now have seven picture book drafts waiting to be revised and polished and revised and polished and revised and polished some more. July’s picture book draft is completed!
Another project for me is to de-clutter my garage.
As the comic strip character, Cathy, would say, “AACK!!!!!!”
I know that clutter is a problem for many of us. Objectively, I understand that clutter creates stress. Subjectively, it is difficult to decide what to keep and what to toss.
But I have done a little work on this and plan to do more every weekend until I am done.
As Nancy at Spirit Lights the Way would say, “Aaaah, that’s better.
And now I’d like to share some lovely news.
Lovely news #1: Last week, I got an email from WordPress notifying me that I had reached a milepost in “likes”…1000 of them.
For that I have to thank all of you, my readers! Sometimes it’s difficult to find the time to write, especially because I love to read and comment on everyone else’s posts. I’m thrilled to have connected with so many people all over the world…what an exciting journey this has been!
Lovely news #2: I just got word from TaRhonda Thomas, Emmy-winning anchor for the 9News Morning Show in Denver. She will be interviewing me on August 27th and we will be discussing an extremely timely topic for the opening of the new school year…how parents can detect the subtle signs of bullying. I’ll share more details in future posts.
Lovely news #3: Diane Kress Hower over at bookwisdombydiane did an amazing review of Show Me How! and also one of Cindy Moo. She has a spot on the local NBC affiliate KKCO TV 11 News morning show where she spotlights children’s books. On Tuesday morning, she talked about the importance of self-esteem and how those two books were wonderful resources for parents and teachers. Diane is offering a copy of each of the books as a giveaway on her website…you just need to leave her a comment.
Lovely news #4: My daughter and her family will definitely be moving to Colorado Springs within the year…I can’t wait to be able to spend more time with my grandson!
VIVIAN KIRKFIELD - Writer for Children 
Oh Wow! Vivian, where do I begin…what with the fires and all, what a summer you have been having, congrats on “Show me How”. I have to say I love the photo of you and your grandson and lovely that they are moving closer to you. I loved your poem on Susanna’s blog and your story The Boots of Dylan McGee sounds delightful. Can’t wait to see that published.:-) Wonderful to hear of all your good news and look forward to hearing more about your morning show interview…
Aren’t we lucky to have such lovely people as the 12x12in12 group.
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Yes, Diane, we are so very lucky! What an amazing synergistic meeting of people from all around the globe with one common goal…write great picture books for children! Thanks for the kind words…and I do love that photo also…it was a perfect moment in time and I am glad my daughter captured it with the camera. 🙂
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Very informative post. First, congrats on your books and interview and your children moving closer- great news. And thanks for all the helpful hints- I might have to dig out my picture book drafts and try those sites. I have one ready to go. I love your castle book and the cowboy!
And the garage– well don’t worry about that so much when you have so many wonderful creative pursuits! Also, bullying– I did a post about bullying and books awhile ago. Of course books alone aren’t the answer but I think great literature is much better to address themes than these pre-packaged curriculums. My 2 cents.
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Lisa…your two cents is priceless…I think quite highly of you…and what you have to say. 🙂 I won’t get started on the pre-packaged curriculums and ditto sheets that many kindergartens (and even pre-K’s) are utilizing. 😦
Thanks for the congrats…and please please definitely check out the kid lit sites I mentioned…Susanna, Julie, Rate Your Story…many of the people who comment on my posts are also quite involved in writing picture books and often have helpful and inspiring posts…Stacy, Diane (patientdreamer), there are so many of them. 🙂
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It has been a tough summer here. Such wonderful news for you. The Show Me news and RYS is wonderful (I enjoyed your Boots McGhee story at scwbi), but I know the best news of all has to be your daughter’s (grandson’s) move closer to you. 🙂 Congratulations all around.
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You hit the nail on the head, Stacy! Although the Show Me How success and the picture book writing fill me with joy…the news that my daughter and grandson will be living close by is like a miracle…the best gift ever…I totally will NEVER need another present again. 🙂
By the way, the help I got from you and ? (I forgot the name of the other woman who was in our little critique circle) during the last SCBWI meeting was amazing…and now I have these new suggestions that I will use to polish the story. 🙂
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Wow Vivian! You are keeping yourself busy. It has been a heartbreaking summer for us Coloradans, but hopefully fall will bring healing. I’m ordering your book Show Me How! 🙂
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Well, Julie, since you are the epitome of “busy”, I guess you are qualified to say that I am also. 🙂
You and Susanna are definitely my heroes in the kid lit arena! Thank you for buying a copy of Show Me How…I know you will enjoy it. 🙂
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That is a lot of news on your end and I can see you’ve been having a busy summer. Great news about your daughter moving closer. Grandparents are so important in a child’s life and I’m saddened my kids don’t get to enjoy theirs like they should. Congrats on your book critique too, that’s great!
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Hi Milka…I’m sure you are having a busy summer as well! Thanks for the congratulations…I’m happy because it means more people will hear about the book…and possibly buy it and USE it. 🙂 And I know my daughter felt the same way as you do about the importance of kids getting a chance to interact with grandparents.
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Vivian, I was glad to hear such exciting news about your TV interview and, best of all, your family moving back to CO. The picture of you and your grandson is filled and framed with Love! I hope this joy offers you comfort with all the sadness that has befallen the people in Colorado. Take care! Sheila
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Thank you so much, Sheila…yes, with all of the sadness that has surrounded Colorado residents lately, I wanted to spotlight a few happy items…there is not much we can do on a large scale to solve the world’s problems, but we always have a choice as to how we react and act. 🙂
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Love the vid.! 🙂 For Lovely News #2, will you be on TV? Ot a blog/website? I like the news though. Everyone should have you for a news flash for their blog! 🙂
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Thank you, Erik! I once embeded a youtube video…but then I forgot how to do it (I’m not the most tech savvy person in the world). I knew that the Beatles song would be a perfect addition to this post…and luckily, after taking my own advice of try, try again, I figured it out…:)
I believe the interview will be TV. 🙂 And yes, I guess I am like Paul Revere, galloping along, shouting out the news. 🙂 🙂 I was just so excited with all that is going on and wanted to share.
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Vivian, this is fantastic news all the way around! I hope you can get an online clip of your interview so your friends all the way around the world can see it. (P.S. Dylan McGee reminds me of my 3-year-old who is still wearing his Spiderman Halloween costume from last year.)
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Thank you, Kirsten…I hope I can also…I don’t seem to have much luck when it comes to stuff like this…I did two blogradio shows and one was never recorded and the other file was deleted by the station manager because of lack of space…and then the TV morning show where Show Me How was spotlight the other day was also not recorded by the station because of the major event (Auora theater tragedy) that garnered the file space. 🙂
My kids also had treasured outfits or items that they didn’t want to part with. 🙂
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Hello Vivian , What can I say your post are truly great contribution thanks for sharing 🙂
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Thanks, Jake…I actually have a different post for the Sunday Post: Road…which I will hopefully put up tonight. 🙂 Glad you liked this one!
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Vivian
Congrats on all fronts for so many pieces of good news! I’m sure you will get many more reviews, many more “likes” and best of all, many many more precious moments now that your daughter’s family is moving closer.
I’m a pretty untechy blogger (yes, one day I will finally get down to adding my additional columns for blogrolls and all). But to embed a youtube video, copy the youtube link when the youtube is playing, paste it to your post, highlight the entire link and click the “unlink” button on your toolbar and it will show up when you preview your blogpost. Hope that helps!
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Hi Emily…Thank you so much for an ‘untechy’ approach to doing this…I really appreciate it…sometimes I figure something out, but then if I don’t do it again for a long time, I forget how I did it. 🙂
Yes, life has been bringing some beautiful bouquets to me…and I always focus on the positive anyway, no matter what. 🙂
Hope you and your family are doing well!
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I’m so glad that your grandson will soon be living in such close proximity. Here’s to brighter days . . . and starry nights.
And good luck with the garage! (Aah . . . that IS better!) 😆
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Hi Nancy…thanks for the heads-up about the spam folder…yes, I retrieved you from there and dusted you off and you are now bright and shining as a spirit that lights the way whould be. 🙂
I’m so excited about the fact that they will be closer…and the uncluttered garage will one day be more than a dream. 🙂
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Oh my goodness, so many good things for you, Vivian! I’m so glad! Your work(and so do you) is getting famous and getting more and more exposure that it deserves. It is really nice that more and more parents would get to know Show Me How and the importance of positive parenting. I wish I can watch the interview!
My prayers go out to the victims and families of the victims of the shoot out.
Spanish Pinay
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Thank you so much, Marilou! I really value your thoughts about the book and my parenting advice…you are a very caring and devoted mother…and you and your husband are extremely serious about your parenting responsibilities. 🙂 If the interview is something I can post, I will. 🙂
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By the way, I loooove your picture with your grandson. It’s a picture perfect – a heartwarming one. I looked at it for a good minute. I was captured by how your grandson looks at you with pure love and adoration. It’s priceless!
Spanish Pinay
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It’s one of my favorites as well! My daughter just bought me a plane ticket for early September…she and her husband are going away for a couple of days and they want me to take care of Jeremy. 🙂 🙂 What a treat for me…I can’t wait!
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