Contests and Stories and Prizes – Oh My!

Posted on December 1, 2014 by viviankirkfield

I hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving – ours was, thanks to our standby generator, a huge success. Good food, loving family and lots of old-fashioned fun. We ate and played board games and ate and talked and ate some more.

December is going to be a busy month.

I’m finishing up Mira Reisberg’s Illustrating Children’s Picture Books course – it was an amazing journey into the world of art and how it impacts picture books. Mira also has another incredible class starting in January – The Chapter Book Alchemist – I may have to write that on my list to Santa.

I managed to write two picture book drafts as part of Julie Hedlund’s 12×12 Challenge…it will soon be time to register for 2015 – click Julie’s link to get on the mailing list so you don’t miss out..

I’m getting the house ready for the holidays – my son and his family are flying in from Chicago for Christmas.

I finished Tara Lazar’s PiBoIdMo challenge and have a journal FILLED with over 30 story ideas that will keep me busy throughout the long cold winter and beyond.

I’m putting together my newsletter which will go out to all my subscribers in the new year. I’d also like to give away a copy of my Show Me How book – just click and subscribe and you’ll get the newsletter, filled with picture book recommendations, quick and easy craft projects and child-friendly recipes; a one-page anti-bullying toolkit guide for kids, AND an entry for the book giveaway. What are you waiting for? (If you’ve already subscribed, you already have your golden ticket entry for the book giveaway): http://eepurl.com/8pglH

Continue reading →

Can’t Sleep Without Sheep Contest and Sleep Tips for Parents

Posted on May 6, 2013 by viviankirkfield

Do you have trouble sleeping? Some might advise counting sheep. Or, you could read Susanna Leonard Hill’s wonderful picture book, Can’t Sleep Without Sheep. Or, on May 7th, you could purchase an ebook copy of Can’t Sleep Without Sheep. Or, you could grab some paper and sharpen your pencil and write a jingle.

YES! It’s contest time over at Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog. To celebrate the release of the ebook edition (come back on May 7th for the link to purchase) of Can’t Sleep Without Sheep, Susanna is holding a contest. Hurry over to her blog to read the rules and join the fun and have a chance to win a fabulous prize!

Here’s my jingle – to be read as an upbeat chant: Continue reading →

Picture Book Contest: No Birthday for My Brother

Posted on May 19, 2012 by viviankirkfield

I don’t usually post on Saturday…except when there is something special…which there is today!!

Susanna Leonard Hill is holding one of her FAMOUS picture book contests…the topic this time is a unique or unusual birthday celebration. Please click on her link and visit…I know there will be lots of great entries!

Birthdays mean CAKE!

Birthdays mean opening presents!

Birthdays mean fun and games and balloons and friends!

In No Brother for My Birthday, a young girl doesn’t want her little brother to be at her birthday party because he is noisy and always in the way. She finds a very ingenious way to dispose of him…but, almost as soon as he is gone, she begins to miss him. Read on to find out what happens. I hope you enjoy it!

No Brother for My Birthday

I’ve a brother, he’s a bother…told my mother and my father.

To my birthday he’s not coming. He’s too noisy, keeps on drumming.

He can travel to Aunt Lizzy and to Uncle Elmo Frizzy.

So on Monday I got busy…worked so hard my head got dizzy.

Packed my brother in a big box…gave him cookies and his pet rocks.

Closed the edges, taped them tightly…glued the label, not so lightly.

Tuesday came and I felt sickly…to the mailbox I walked quickly.

Slid the package down the drop slot…goodbye noisy drumming marplot.

All day Wednesday, peace and quiet…no more noisy drumming riot.

Thursday dawns and I’ve decided…solitaire is too one-sided.

Friday night I’m sad and gloomy. This big house is just too roomy.

One more day until my birthday…Saturday is NOT a mirth day.

Sunday noontime, guests arriving. House is hopping, party’s thriving.

Friends are happy, eating, drinking. I am sad, I can’t stop thinking.

Then I hear the doorbell ringing…mailman stands there, what’s he bringing?

There’s a big box, taped up tightly…with a label, glued not lightly.

Stamped in red I find a clue…return to sender, postage due!

Hear a rhythm, sounds like thrumming. Could it be my brother drumming?

Rip the tape off, lift the corner…up pops brother like Jack Horner!

He’s the best gift of the lot, my noisy brother – drumming marplot.

I had a lot of fun writing this story…although my husband is now questioning my morals because I’ve created a little girl who packs her brother in a box and mails him away. Seriously though, I think kids will get a kick out of it…and will identify with the frustrations of the older sister who has to “put up with” her noisy drumming marplot of a brother, but then misses him so much she cannot enjoy her birthday party. Oh yes, and I had to get out the dictionary to prove that “marplot” was a real word!

I can’t wait to see all of the entries in this contest!