Getting Excited About PiBoIdMo

Picture book idea month is coming in November. I participated last year and diligently (and sometimes painfully) came up with a PB idea each and every day. Well, it's coming again...

The information about registration and logos (by author-illustrator Joyce Wan) by just arrived from Tara Lazar at www.taralazar.com/piboidmo. I'm looking forward to having 30 fresh ideas by Dec. 1!

Websites for Writers

Writer's Digest published a list of the 101 Best Websites for Writers. Though they were not primarily focused on writing for children, there were several that I thought were helpful:
Winning Writers includes some poetry contests,
Cheryl Klein gives her perspective as a senior editor at Scholastic's Arthur A. Levine books,
Cynsations is Cynthia Leitich Smith's blog
WOW! Women on Writing includes market info and contests
 Wordsmith is just plain fun for word lovers.

Hapless Heron

I spent some time admiring this heron today. Story starter- How did he get that wound on his wing? What will happen next?

Do's and Don'ts for Writers

I have come across several lists with some suggested characteristics shared by successful writers. I found this one by Robin Gardner to be particularly helpful. The 9 Signs of an Amateur Artist at Skinny Artist also struck a chord. As I have had some quiet time to actually focus on a writing schedule, I realize how much I usually let other things get in the way...so much can be accomplished with undivided attention!

A cautionary tale-- I am now on Facebook so these lists were found during time I spent distracted by my computer!

And Now for Something Completely Different... NATURE NOOK: Invaders of the Landscape

I wear several hats; wife, mom, aspiring children's author, master wildlife conservationist. Every now and then, I am going to switch hats and share some of the nature news I have learned. Welcome to the first edition of the Nature Nook. 

I spent some time waging war on some invasive plants. Invasives were imported to the US and spread abundantly after planting. They displace the native plants and decrease the diversity of the environment. Some of the invasive plants we were battling included:

Honeysuckle

 Bittersweet

 Multiflora Rose

 Barberry

Burning Bush

Why are native plants so important? There are species that have developed to survive on very specific native plants. For example, this spice bush swallowtail caterpillar will only feed on spice bush or sassafras. If the invasive plants had crowded out this sassafras bush, we would have also lost this caterpillar and the butterfly it will become.

Summertime is all about quiet reflection...and reading! My summer reading list is coming soon, if I can put my book down long enough to write it!

The View From the Adirondacks

The wild blueberries were SO abundant this year!