Anita Laydon Miller declared today to be "Post a Photo of Your Work Area Day," and I do what Anita tells me so here it is! If you watched my vlog last week, you saw me in action in my work area, the family room couch. There's my laptop, my thesaurus, my rhyming dictionary, my refreshing beverage, my notebook and my pup, Daisy. When I'm writing, she likes to curl up next to me with my other dog, the Goof. I'm slightly embarrassed to showcase my beat up furniture. Last year my hubby told me we needed new coffee table set, I told him that ours just looks weathered and has character. Now that I look at this picture, I realize that ten years of beat downs from my three kids have taken its toll...he was right! Do you see my Coca Cola glass? I got this at Steak n Shake with a $15 purchase last week. I'm way more excited than I should be. I have said, "I love my new glass!" ten times in the last two days.Another reason I was excited this weekend was that I was able to go to an author launch party!
Here is Tina P. Schwartz with her newest book, Writing and Publishing, by Scarecrow Press.
When I started attending local SCBWI meetings four years ago, Tina was co-director of our chapter. I have to say I was a bit nervous at first at meetings, as I was so new and naive about the writing business. She was always so supportive and friendly. I ended up taking an online writing course with her (which she still offers), and she walked me through many different aspects of writing for children. In this class, I completed my first picture book rough draft and wrote a short story that ended up in Stories for Children magazine last year (among other assignments).
Writing and Publishing: The Ultimate Teen Guide is Tina's third book (her other titles: Organ Transplants: A Survival Guide for the Whole Family and Motocross Freestyle). Here is Tina and the illustrator, Conrad Locander, also known as Professor Whimsy at our chapter meetings, before Tina was interviewed by a radio station.
I enjoyed being able to congratulate Tina on her big day, and I also got to visit with Lori Degman, who won the Cheerios New Author contest last year. Her rhyming picture book, 1 Zany Zoo, will be in Cheerios boxes in March and the hardcover will be released in July!
Congrats to Tina, Conrad, and Lori!