NESCBWI 2014

It is so strange not to be working on this year's New England SCBWI Spring Conference. I really miss it. But I love Co-director, Kristine Carlson Asselin's choice for the theme CREATE BRAVELY, MAKE YOUR MARK! So I was so excited when I found that Alex & Ani make bracelets with support making your mark. 20% of all Alex and Ani sales of the Make Your Mark Charm, benefits generationOn to inspire, equip, and mobilize youth to take action that changes the world and themselves through service.

Order your bracelet today and support generationOn and CREATE BRAVELY, MAKE YOUR MARK!

Celebrate Summer 2013

So much has happened since my last post at the beginning of May. It was just a day before the 2013 NESCBWI conference that I directed and I was so entrenched in the final details. The conference went so smoothly and then suddenly, I was just done. No more planning, or checking and rechecking details. Just quiet exhaustion!

Logan Airport, June 2013

I had planned a vacation with my daughter to London and Paris just because I wanted time with her and because I knew I would need a distraction from the quiet of no longer planning out the conference. I packed for that and off we went.The Flight out of Logan was delayed due to severe thunderstorms but this amazing rainbow heralded the days ahead and we had a flawless flight to Heathrow. We spent several days with in-laws and then stayed in Central London and saw one of our former Cultural Care Au Pairs. It had been 6 years and she was amazed at how "her" Kendra had grown up!

We had a lovely surprise when arriving at the Globe Theater for a tour, we were able to see a full dress rehearsal for the upcoming performance of MACBETH. It was a true gift and I enjoyed it very much.

Paris France, June 2013

We headed over to St. Pancras Train Station and
waited for our train to Paris. I was nervous since I speak no French, but I should have known...I never have a problem communicating!It was so nice to visit family and friends in London and to make a few new ones in Paris. The 10 day trip flew by and I was home again only to to be so very lucky to be able to spend some time spend some time at Lake Champlain with Murray and his lovely companion, Nancy.

Another quick turnaround and I was on my way to Gettysburg, PA for the 4th of July. While sitting in the car, I was finally able to start reading my copy of Chris Eboch's ADVANCED PLOTTING. Get a copy, it is excellent!

Versailles, France June 2013

PA was great. Visited a dear and now (old) friend and her family and introduced them to some new friends from New Hampshire who came with us! Now I am helping my daughter to pack for camp and then I will start plotting the next grand adventure!

Summer 2012 - Prepping for the Next 12 Months

Summer 2012 is already booking up. The family calendar is starting to have fewer and fewer unmarked days. What I want to know is how do I fit it all in?

I have one writer's retreat scheduled and I can't wait. I've started a new YA and have been working on the outline. I'm hoping these three and a half retreat days will consist of writing as much as I can of a new first draft.

Now on to bigger and better things: 2013 NESCBWI Conference. The Call for Proposals for the 2013 NESCBWI Conference, "Word-By-Word: The Art of Craft will go out June 1, 2012. So mark your calendars. With the call going out earlier, the deadline will also be sooner, August 27th, 2012!

Registration Table at the 2012 NESCBWI Conference

We will be looking for all levels of craft workshops, particularly those that are for advanced or master level writers. These Master level classes we are calling studios and will be 180 minutes.

So, please start thinking about what you would like to propose. Also, preferential consideration will go to presenters who have sent in two or more proposals.

Quality Books

Quality Books! That's what Pugalicious Press is all about. My "Partner-in-Publishing," Jen Carson and I, have been so impressed with the many wonderful manuscripts we have received for consideration.we are amazed at the amount of talent out there. And you are a talented bunch of writers!

You can review the guidelines here.

But think long and hard about whether your manuscript is polished draft. Because most often, we reject because they aren't. The ones we accept are.

So if you want to be let into the Doghouse, send us your very best.

NESCBWI - No Place Like Home

     It was a great weekend and I hated to see it end, but it was nice to be home.
     I sat with my husband at the kitchen table and between bites of salad I explained why it felt to so good to be at a conference.
     My conference peeps aren't just colleagues, they are friends. They are genuinely happy to see me, make feel loved and appreciated, and inspire me to more than I would settle for.
     He smiled. He understood.
     To every single person who attended this year’s NESCBWI Conference in Springfield, MA, Thank you. You made this past weekend one I will never forget.

Hello Guidebook

As some of you know, I am this year's NESCBWI Conference Co-Director. I've been able to work on some fun projects for the conference. One of them has been building the NESCBWI's debut guidebook app. If you don't know about Guidebook you need to check it out at guidebook.com. 

Guidebook is user-friendly on iPhones, Android phones, Blackberries, and any other devices that you might use. The app is compatible with iPhones, iPads, iPod Touches and Android devices. Windows Phones and Blackberry users can access the same information via Guidebooks mobile site at m.guidebook.com. 

Are you interested in checking out the Guidebook app I created, then scan:

What technology are you crazy about?