Hello dear friends. My blog, which was just selected again by FeedSpot as one of the Top 100 Children’s Book Blogs on the web.https://bloggers.feedspot.com/childrens_book_blogs/, began back in 2010 when my very first book launched…the parent/teacher activity guide, SHOW ME HOW: Build Your Child’s Self-Esteem Through Reading, Crafting and Cooking.

Yes, it’s true…even before the thought of writing books for children crossed my mind, I was enthralled with the concept that reading with children…and picture books in particular…could help kids soar. I set out to connect with parents, teachers, librarians…basically all caregivers of young children. I still have copies of this great resource…which I would love to send to anyone (US addresses only) for the cost of the postage…which is about $5. Please reach out in the comments or via email (viviankirkfield@gmail.com) if you are interested in receiving the book that started me on my writing journey. If you are a preschool teacher, daycare provider, parent or grandparent, the book is an excellent resource. If you want multiple copies, I can pack 8 into a flat rate box for $25. And if you are local to me and can swing by and pick them up, I’m happy to give them away for FREE! Books sitting in boxes aren’t doing the job they were created to do.

After that book launched, my son took me skydiving for my 64th birthday and I was empowered to believe that I could not only read and review those picture books…but perhaps I could WRITE them. I’m so grateful to the many mentors who seemed to appear magically…Susanna Leonard Hill with her Perfect Picture Book Friday blog and Making Picture Book Magic class; Julie Hedlund with her 12×12 Picture Book Writing Challenge, Emma Walton Hamilton with her Just Write 4 Kids course, Renee LaTulippe with her Lyrical Language Lab, Tara Lazar with her PiBoIdMo/StoryStorm, Angie Karcher with her RhyPiBoMo…and the legion of critique partners who encouraged me and provided much-needed feedback on manuscripts…Carrie Finison, Tina Cho, Hannah Holt, Alayne Kay Christian, Diane Tulloch, Maria Marshall, Ellen Leventhal, Nancy Churnin, Hanh Bui, Carmen Castillo Gilbert, Beth Gallagher, Beth Anderson, Julie Abery, Pam Courtney, Linda Hofke…well, you get the idea. If I continued listing all the fabulous CPs who helped me become a better writer, this post would never end. Whether I named you or not, please know how grateful I am for your support. And throughout this journey on the path to publication, I’ve met so many of you…more than the writing, I’ve fallen in love with the kid lit community.

Last week, while I was in the Peloponnese, enjoying the incredible beauty of the area and the kindness of the wonderful people, my latest book, PIPPA’S HANUKKAH HUNT, illustrated by the talented Jill Weber and published by the amazing Holiday House team headed by editor Mary Cash, flew into bookstores.

The book continues the adventures of dear Pippa Mouse and her friends…and there is a mystery for our youngest story lovers to solve. In the blog post that went live on launch day, September 29th, I promised a GIVEAWAY of a signed copy of the book…and the winner is…

CARMELA MCCAIN SIMMONS!!
I’ll reach out to you, Carmela, so I can get your address and mail a signed copy to you!

I’m actually still catching my breath from my whirlwind trip to Vienna and Greece…one of my long-time critique buddies, Linda Hofke, traveled over 7 hours by train with her daughter to spend time with me in Vienna…we had a ball!. And because I know that many of you may not be active on social media, I wanted to share some travel photos with you.

As you can see by all the smiles, it was a wonderful trip! And I’ve already booked a trip to Alaska…the one state I’ve never been to…for July 2027…I’m excited. According to WordCat.org, there is already a copy of Pippa’s Hanukkah Hunt at the Anchorage School District Library…and I will be in Anchorage at the back end of my trip.

Other than a couple of book events in November and December, (one is at the Silver Unicorn Bookstore in Acton, MA on December 5th…so if you are anywhere local to the Boston/Southern New Hampshire area, I hope you’ll SAVE THE DATE and stop by).

I’m keeping my calendar free so I can clear my desk of promised critiques…as well as do some writing of my own. Even though the publishing industry is moving at snail speed and all of the manuscripts my agent has out on submission have only received passes, I still have stories to tell…and will continue to hold to my belief that as long as the joy is still there, moving forward is the only way to proceed.

Also on my agenda is to read the dozens of books I’ve received over the past few months from publishers who are hoping their titles will be among the SCBWI Golden Kite finalists. I’m honored to be one of the judges in the Nonfiction for Older Readers and Nonfiction for Younger Readers categories…and when it is all over (Winners are announced in January, I believe), I’ll be donating all of the books to local schools in need. Through the #50PreciousWords Literacy Initiative…and because of the generosity of the kid lit community, we’ve already been able to donate 1200 books!

Speaking of #50PreciousWords…I am excited for the new year. I’ll begin gathering prizes in January…and the Heads-Up-The-Contest-Is-Coming post will go live sometime in early February. If you were a prize last year, I will be reaching out to you again. If you weren’t, but would like to donate a manuscript critique or a 30-minute Ask-Me-Anything virtual chat or some other fabulous prize, you can reach out to me to let me know. Also, if you have/know an agent and/or editor who would like to offer a submission opportunity or a critique or an Ask-Me-Anything virtual chat, please share that info with me. Last year we had 67 awesome prizes (and 677 amazing entries)…and although more prizes mean more time to distribute them, I’m happy to add more to make the event even more exciting for all the participants. Hosting the contest is a joy for me…and I’m thankful to my wonderful judges, many of whom have been part of the event for many years. Maria Marshall, Diane Tulloch, Pamela Courtney, Carmen Castillo Gilbert, Leah Moser, Shirin Shamsi, Amber Lavoie…I’m grateful for them all and hope they will want to return for the 2027 contest.

If you made it to the end of this post, congratulations! It was a long one. The important points to remember:
1. If you’d like a copy of SHOW ME HOW, email me. They are FREE…I only ask for $5 if I have to mail it to you (US addresses only).

2. If you haven’t left a review for PIPPA’S HANUKKAH HUNT, I wish you would: And with Hanukkah just around the corner, perhaps you need to purchase a copy for yourself or for a young story lover you know.
AMAZON
GOODREADS
B&N

3. If you’d like to be a prize for the 2027 #50PreciousWords, please reach out to me. This is such a challenging time for those on the path to publication…I know that the contest is a bright spot of hope and recognition for those who participate.

Thank you for spending your precious time with us. Fall is definitely upon us here in New England…the mornings are crisp and cold…and the trees are sporting headdresses of scarlet and gold. I’m not a fan of the coming winter…but it’s definitely a great time to hunker down with a good book…what book has you turning the pages?