Sunday Post: Christmas…A Holiday of Gifts

Posted on December 23, 2012 by viviankirkfield

Jake at Time after Time has a Sunday Post Challenge and every week he provides a theme…this week’s theme is CHRISTMAS.

Christmas is a holiday that is all about gifts!

Christmas: Gifts for good boys and girls!

Christmas: Gifts for the Baby Jesus!

What’s the best gift you can give your young child? Your love and your positive parental participation in some simple activity like reading a picture book or doing an easy arts and crafts project.

And now some “gifts” from me to you…links that might be helpful.

Are you needing a picture book, but don’t know which one to pick?

Susanna Leonard Hill’s Perfect Picture Book Page

Show Me How! Build Your Child’s Self-Esteem Through Reading, Crafting and Cooking

Are you a writer of children’s stories who needs inspiration, motivation, encouragement and support?

Julie Hedlund’s 12×12 in 2013

Alayne Kay Christian’s Thirty-One for Fun

Alayne Kay Christian’s Sub Six

Happy Holidays…and May the New Year Bring Good Health and Much Joy to All!

Want more information about Jake’s Sunday Post?

http://jakesprinters.wordpress.com/

In joyless season, Newtown faces Christmas (azfamily.com)
Bubba Show: My Holiday Wish For You (starpittsburgh.cbslocal.com)
http://tracycampbell.net/blog/?p=538
http://talesfromthemotherland.me/2012/12/21/christmas-tripping/

12 x 12 in 2012: Picture Book Writer’s Party!

Posted on December 12, 2012 by viviankirkfield

Have any of you read “The Celestine Prophecy”? Author James Redfield talks about ‘synchronicity’…a term first used in the 1920’s by Swiss psychologist Carl Jung. Redfield explains that coincidences have a meaning personal to those who experience them.

Late last year, one of my blogging buddies, Nancy over at Spirit Lights the Way, suggested I check out a Friday linky of Picture Book Reviews. I hurried over to Susanna Leonard Hill’s Perfect Picture Book Friday…and I’ve happily been there every Friday since then! Susanna also hosts writing contests and writing prompts that encourage us to express our creativity.

Connecting with an amazing kid-lit community that followed Susanna’s blog, I met dozens of wonderful writers (one of whom has a birthday today…Happy Birthday, Beth!!!!), illustrators, librarians, teachers, moms…one of those was Julie Hedlund. It turns out that Julie had just organized a challenge called 12×12 in 2012…write a picture book draft every month of the coming year.

My love affair with picture books began over sixty years ago, but I had put away my picture book writing when I started working on my book for parents and teachers, “Show Me How! Build Your Child’s Self-Esteem Through Reading, Crafting and Cooking. Heart beating like a rock-band drummer, I immediately signed up.

And now the year is almost over…so it is definitely party-time! I know WE are all ready!

I have completed twelve picture book drafts…twelve more than I would have had if not for Julie Hedlund! Two or three have been critiqued and polished (hopefully enough) and will be submitted to publishers/editors shortly.

Caroline’s Flower-Sprigged Hat
Whom Do I Love?
The Boots of Dylan McGee
The Tomato Turner
No Brother for My Birthday
Grandma’s Visit
Confessions of the Tomato Turner
Hugs Are Not For Sale
How Can I Learn How to Snow
The Witches of Fairy Top Hill
Where Is Buddy?
Further Adventures of The Tomato Turner

Julie’s blog also provides guest posts by writers, illustrators, editors and others who love children and books…each sharing a journey that motivates and teaches. I’m sure I speak for all of us when I say that we couldn’t have done it without her.

I also have thirty picture book ideas, generated during Tara Lazar’s PiBoIdMo…an amazing challenge in November that I recommend to anyone who has ever thought of writing a picture book or to anyone who has dozens of published picture books…the information and inspiration gained by reading the guest posts is invaluable!

This year has been a joyous one for me…due, in large part, to my immersion in Julie’s picture book writing challenge. It’s kind of like a picture book party where I am always dancing around, scribbling story titles, character names and plot ideas…what fun!

I will be retiring from my ‘day’ job on December 31…lots more time for picture book writing, I’m sure! I’ll be hopping aboard the 12×12 in 2013 train…I’m looking forward to continuing this picture book writing journey…with Julie Hedlund as the engineer!

Don’t Be Afraid…Go Ahead…Write Picture Books! (viviankirkfield.wordpress.com)
Make a Dummy to Perfect Your Picture Book Manuscript (onewaytowonder.wordpress.com)
12 x 12 | JulieHedlund.com (onewaytowonder.wordpress.com)

Sunday Post: Favorite Spot – Wherever Loved Ones Are!

Posted on September 30, 2012 by viviankirkfield

Jake at Time after Time has a Sunday Post Challenge and every week he provides a theme…this week’s theme is FAVORITE SPOT.

Horseback riding in the western hills above Steamboat Springs, CO.

FAVORITE SPOT: WITH MY HUSBAND!

Fishing in Rocky Mountain National Park

Great cast into the Big Thompson River in RMNP.

A perfect autumn day in New England.

FAVORITE SPOT: WITH MY GRANDCHILDREN!

Reading with kids at Tollhouse Preschool in New Hampshire.

FAVORITE SPOT: SCHOOL VISITS!

Cooking with kids builds self-esteem, develops literacy skills and is just plain fun!

FAVORITE SPOT: IN THE KITCHEN!

FAVORITE SPOT I HAVEN’T BEEN TO YET: ITALY

I’d love to have the opportunity to travel…I’ve driven across the country twice and next spring I may have the unbelievable opportunity to speak at the Asian Festival of Children’s Content in Singapore.

However, sipping wine and feasting on homemade bread and cheese al fresco under the Tuscan sun is a dream of mine.

A writer friend of mine has organized an amazing retreat for women writers in Florence, Italy. It will take place from April 7-13, 2013. I cannot attend (this time), but you might like to go. Julie has an overview of the retreat on her website, plus specific information about the Program, Faculty, Accommodation and Rates. If you do register, please let Julie know I sent you!

Speaking about Julie…today is the last day of September…time to check in with the 12×12 in 2012 Challenge. In January, children’s author Julie Hedlund issued a challenge: write one picture book draft every month in 2012. Over 400 writers answered that challenge!

The challenge has definitely inspired me to write a picture book draft each month…and I’ve enjoyed connecting with dozens of members of this amazing kidlit community. My September draft is done…I’m hoping that in the next few months, I will prepare several manuscripts for submission!

This is the last day for nominations to give a dozen free copies of Show Me How! Build Your Child’s Self-Esteem Through Reading, Crafting and Cookingto schools or other childcare facilities. Nominate your child’s school, or your own school if you are a teacher, in the Show Me How School Initiative by leaving a comment and telling us why you’d like that school or classroom to have this book. If you don’t have young children, but know people who do, please tell them about the free book their child’s school can receive! On Friday, we will use Random.org to choose 12 lucky schools.

You can purchase a copy of this award-winning resource on Amazon (only $19.95) and on Amazon Kindle (only $9.95). This award-winning book is a great gift for parents, grandparents, teachers, daycare providers and every young child (ages 2-8) that you know! Get started on your holiday shopping…no batteries required…powered by a child’s imagination and a parent’s positive participation! Check out this wonderful review from a kid’s point of view.