tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77596074989553421602024-03-18T21:26:56.451-07:00NANCY ARNY PI-SUNYERBringing Stories to Life:
A Journal of Writing and Illustrating A New BookNancy Arny Pi-Sunyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14464491657657748512noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759607498955342160.post-32942134926322485572017-08-02T13:37:00.000-07:002017-08-02T13:43:56.579-07:00Finding Time and Losing WeightIn my most recent post I shared an idea for a method of staying on track. I'm happy to say it worked.<br />
In the past eight days I have lost 2.4 pounds, found the top of my desk and made a LOT of progress on my children's book. I also made all four of the Mousekin birthday cards that I hope to be selling on MousekinMarket.com by September, so all four of my goals were met. <br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoTBdgjLtlHydSbEnaaurWSQcxYdAPB8ZdkVegCsORAKsT_YKH0ZdGLFp7SwMDmf2EHV-1Coezok7R-jyinrtmEgZxu0AKGJfWWozCK0cJqUAceqrfonqyfZDfUeWUdTIWrZ1T9ahp49Jb/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-07-31+at+10.56.48+AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="430" data-original-width="607" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoTBdgjLtlHydSbEnaaurWSQcxYdAPB8ZdkVegCsORAKsT_YKH0ZdGLFp7SwMDmf2EHV-1Coezok7R-jyinrtmEgZxu0AKGJfWWozCK0cJqUAceqrfonqyfZDfUeWUdTIWrZ1T9ahp49Jb/s200/Screen+Shot+2017-07-31+at+10.56.48+AM.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the 4 new cards</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Here are the steps to take:<br />
<ul>
<li>Set small, achievable goals for each day</li>
<li>Write goals down</li>
<li>Post where you will see it multiple times each day</li>
<li>Check off each goal each day as you complete it</li>
<li>If possible, have a friend or family member share the news</li>
</ul>
This worked like a charm. I think I will make a habit of this.<br />
<br />
The hour (or more) I spent each day at my desk in my studio was very productive. I did reading about writing children's picture books. I read several children's picture books. I made some major revisions on my text and have revised my thumbnails for the book three times.<br />
<br />
New Insights:<br />
<ol>
<li> Decide what question your book answers.</li>
<li>Check to see that it is answered in what you have written.</li>
<li>Focus on that one small question.</li>
<li>Consider two levels: The child and the adult who is reading.</li>
<li>Keep reading <b>new</b> books, as tastes, formats and interests of both readers and publishers change over time. </li>
</ol>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB5jZRaNfFccdTJvuTeqOK1BaZ4JTBa8YshAWexHlq13r0bh850d3ejmxd3NBzkmAExnebeB9OybDfsW28aZ9xfeqyGQFs74-ynnlBueolEQYxx3Ayj7EK5Vk0GZDxs_ZnWi2L7_lSr16C/s1600/IMG_4893.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB5jZRaNfFccdTJvuTeqOK1BaZ4JTBa8YshAWexHlq13r0bh850d3ejmxd3NBzkmAExnebeB9OybDfsW28aZ9xfeqyGQFs74-ynnlBueolEQYxx3Ayj7EK5Vk0GZDxs_ZnWi2L7_lSr16C/s200/IMG_4893.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby Raccoon and Mousekin</td></tr>
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After I did this, I remembered a piece of advice from a speaker at an SCBWI workshop I attended several years ago. The suggestion was to <b>draw a map</b> of the space where your story takes place. When I did this, I realized that by using the map, I could clarify the flow of action in the book. I changed a lot of things and switched one creature for another as I visualized the yard in which my characters are interacting. I also did some research on various animal species that appear in my story and, as a result, switched the order of baby birds and crows, and then dumped the baby birds and added baby raccoons instead. I think the fuzzy baby raccoons will be more attractive to young listeners than the baby birds in pinfeathers.<br />
<br />
I have accepted that several pieces of my original text will not appear in this book, but I comfort myself with the knowledge that they may reappear in another story in the future. I have definitely graduated to letting go, which makes revisions far easier and less painful. I've even accepted that the title will probably change and that the cool back-matter pages will have to become part of a website to support the book and its readers in the future.<br />
<br />
For me, this was <b>BIG</b> progress in a short period. I now feel that I will really get back to work on the book. Now it's time to set the next set of goals and see how far I can go in the month of August toward meeting big goals like:<br />
<ul>
<li>Print, package and market a set of Mousekin Birthday Cards by the end of September.</li>
<li>Acquire a table at the Hollyberry Fair in November to sell Mousekin cards, puzzles and prints.</li>
<li>Search for an agent and/or identify publishing companies that are currently accepting proposals from unrepresented author/illustrators.</li>
</ul>
Small steps can lead to big strides. We'll see how August flows. I'd LOVE to hear from you about whether any of this advice is helpful to you.<br />
<br />
Cheerio,<br />
Momma MousekinNancy Arny Pi-Sunyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14464491657657748512noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759607498955342160.post-68971375284103695072017-07-24T14:39:00.002-07:002017-08-02T12:41:06.947-07:00When is the Write Time?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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May to July... Where did the time go? I have no self control about somethings, but am very disciplined about others. After all, I DID draw 366 mice (one for each day) in 2017. There have been years when I have done my Lenten Projects for 40 days and reached my goals. You can see the results of these productions at <a href="http://pi-sunyernaturally.com/">Pi-SunyerNaturally.com</a>. So I don't feel incompetent or like a failure.<br />
<br />
Since I last posted in May I <b><u>did</u></b> research and write the Centennial Journal for Camp Glen Gray. It turned out quite wonderfully, and I can't thank my friend Paul Holland enough for doing the production work on it. Everyone seems to love it, and I learned a lot working on the project. Our event in June, celebrating the 100th year of a former Boy Scout Camp my dad, uncles, brother and husband all attended, was a great success. That kept me busy too, setting up displays, writing press releases and such.<br />
<br />
<b>BUT </b>this morning while doing my cardio exercise (fast walking with weights to tunes on my ipod nanno) I did a lot of thinking about how I can get myself to apply the same discipline to snacking, writing, drawing and clearing clutter. SIGH!! I guess it's a one day at a time scenario, just like drawing mice. The problem may be that with the previous projects I had something to show at the end of each day. NOT snacking, isn't visible. "Oh yes it is," says you. "You can track your weight." Well, I can tell you that there is no direct correlation there, as there are so many other factors that affect weight (meal size, saltiness of food, exercise duration and level, etc).<br />
<br />
I just found a website that deals with "Staying on Track." There are six suggestions there and every one seems to have an application to my situation.<b> #1 is to Focus on Fewer Things</b>. The examples are - amusingly - starting a new business, writing a book, losing weight and redecorating the house. I"m trying to do three of those four things, and if you switch "barn" for "house" it's four for four! Wowsers!!! Someone is stealing my brain waves! So I guess I need to prioritize and do <b>#2, which is </b>"<b>Plan Ahead."</b><br />
<br />
Looking at my calendar, I have nine days before there will be a chunk of days when I can't do anything on my lists due to other commitments. SO if I plan ahead and do <b>#3 Set Milestones</b>, I can accomplish a bit on several of my goals in that period and maybe even begin to do <b># 4: Build Good Habits.</b><br />
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<b> </b>#1 - Focus on Fewer Goals: I have had this lovely window put in the barn to replace a broken window. The barn was painted last week and today the carpenter came to take out the windows for repair. I think the barn is off my list for the time being. Leaving my business, losing weight and writing.<br />
<br />
Yesterday I drew one Mousekin picture for a set of birthday cards I want to have for sale on <a href="http://mousekinmarket.com/" target="_blank">Mousekin Market.com</a> later this year. If I do three more in the next 9 days I can feel good, but not stressed. For snacking/weight loss goal I just had brilliant (I hope) idea. My usual dessert is two scoops of ice-cream. If I don't snack, I will allow my self this treat for the next 9 days. If I snack, it is fruit only for dessert. Starting right now!! As for writing, I will find my dummy, clear my desk and spend at least one hour working at my desk for the next 9 days.<br />
<br />
I now have some milestones and will, hopefully, be developing some good habits, by working toward these milestones. Here is the chart that will go on my fridge. I'll be back to the blog next week to give you a report. I've already checked off two items for today. Now I'm going for another walk! Wish me luck AND try making a chart for yourself. In 9 days, or even 7, you can probably make a difference in how productive you are! Good Luck!!<br />
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Quick update: 4 days in. I've hit 3 of my targets every day. The 4th, working on the book, I made some very good progress on, though I didn't get to it every day. I'm also down .6 of a pound. While I didn't finish the 2nd Mousekin card on the day it was scheduled, I think I can still make the overall goal. And I've done a lot of other productive things too. So I DO recommend that you try making a chart like mine. Good luck and let me know how you are doing.<br />
<br />
See next post for final results. It worked!! <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Nancy Arny Pi-Sunyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14464491657657748512noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759607498955342160.post-49929583980705744082017-05-01T10:41:00.002-07:002017-07-24T12:46:59.839-07:00Blogging When Life Gets In The Way of Your PlansThe fact that I had to spend half an hour to regain entry to this blog is proof that it's been WAY too long since I blogged. Last night while volunteering at the Montclair Film Festival I was discussing my book and art work with another volunteer and her husband. It was the frustration of feeling that I have a really good product, but can't seem to get the word out. She reminded me that I need to gather a blog following to have publishers take me seriously. So today when I checked into my blog, I was appalled to realize it has been 10 months since I made an entry.<br />
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Life tends to get in the way of plans...<br />
<br />
Since I last blogged the following things have happened:<br />
<ul>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFnD6iAL37pnbaBNPP7V8cjVh0MFo-GnLTIxd9pb__lXW36nGnHP92s47UQJur9-pqB0cuMgfOxQv39kiqHCJ3bmwnGyFdIbE442Mf4pHf279670VUPiZSEZHPkg77KonqgQTylVVWUczI/s1600/IMG_1442.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFnD6iAL37pnbaBNPP7V8cjVh0MFo-GnLTIxd9pb__lXW36nGnHP92s47UQJur9-pqB0cuMgfOxQv39kiqHCJ3bmwnGyFdIbE442Mf4pHf279670VUPiZSEZHPkg77KonqgQTylVVWUczI/s320/IMG_1442.jpg" width="240" /></a>
<li>I've completed the remaining 162 (+) drawings of Moueskin</li>
<li>I took an 11,120 mile Great American Road around the U.S. with my husband </li>
<li>We spent five days on the Navajo Reservation near Winslow, AZ delivering food and gifts to the Navajo elders with Adopt-A-Native-Elder</li>
<li>I've created a journal with drawings of our 52-day road trip</li>
<li>I've worked for about 2 weeks in the Admissions office at my old school earning extra money </li>
<li>I've created three picture puzzles from Mousekin drawings</li>
<li>I've created three sets of notecards based on my Mousekin drawings (and sold quite a few sets)</li>
<li>I've set up an on-line store (MousekinMarket.com) to sell my puzzles & notecards</li>
<li>I've made good progress in funding and producing a Centennial Journal for Camp Glen Gray and helping to plan the weekend-long event</li>
<li>I've gotten about 2,000 children's drawings of their favorite movies contributed from school children and posted around town for the Montclair Film Festival</li>
<li>I've had open-heart surgery and done 19 cardio-rehab sessions</li>
<li>I've made a poster and walked in The People's Climate March in Washington, D.C.</li>
</ul>
Not to mention the things we all need to do like cooking meals, organizing papers for taxes, weeding gardens, preparing for Christmas, volunteering at the library, doing laundry and reading WAY too many mysteries. <br />
<br />
SO, my drawing skills have improved significantly, but my publishing skills have been rusting. My discussion at the Film Festival has reminded me of the need to focus. SO here I am back on line to share the continuing story of <u>On The Laundry Lawn</u>, my embryonic children's book.<br />
<br />
Although I have a lot of commitments in the next two months, I will blog each week, and I will get back to an organized writing/drawing schedule and space. How?<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Watch Less TV</li>
<li>Spend less time reading and more time writing</li>
<li>Organize STUFF so I don't waste so much time looking for things</li>
<li>Start some serious de-cluttering</li>
</ol>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9OE9tJwFvuJMtHDx5gYfinp2VDWoEcOF8QPZffUom2wasTr88C415yVZO9ZJ7CixcqfbqIaZ0PNf3VYVqfQpHEsoNsyMYX0I414ZI0gLm6VZnkDXXdZWYFSsHDEebXiEvz2M1zczPuHBp/s1600/IMG_1105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9OE9tJwFvuJMtHDx5gYfinp2VDWoEcOF8QPZffUom2wasTr88C415yVZO9ZJ7CixcqfbqIaZ0PNf3VYVqfQpHEsoNsyMYX0I414ZI0gLm6VZnkDXXdZWYFSsHDEebXiEvz2M1zczPuHBp/s320/IMG_1105.jpg" width="320" /></a>If you want to encourage me, please post a comment. I will be looking for responses. I didn't meet all my goals for last year, but I DID draw my 366 mice and a few extra as well. If you want to see them you can find the 366 at<a href="http://pi-sunyernaturlly.com/" target="_blank"> Pi-SunyerNaturlly.com</a> under "The Mouse Project" and the 2017 mice at <a href="http://backyardnaturally.ne/">BackyardNaturally.ne</a>t under "Mousekin and Friends". </div>
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Have to run. Duty calls. See you next week! </div>
Nancy Arny Pi-Sunyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14464491657657748512noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759607498955342160.post-13278660493097531392016-07-22T11:54:00.001-07:002016-07-22T11:54:06.421-07:00Ten Things I Know I Need to do for a Successful Revision: Illustrating is More Fun Than Writing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The year is more than half gone and I have succeeded in producing a mouse illustration for each of the 204 days to date. I am encouraged that picture number 200 has garnered more "Likes" in FaceBook than any picture so far. <br />
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"Mousekin Reunion - 200 Mice" took pretty much an entire day to complete, but it was fun. It is quite a different style than most of my drawings. I was amused when I finished to discover that I had included 206 mice, so I had to eliminate six of them. But I am very happy with how it turned out. SO happy that I have ordered a picture puzzle of it. If I like the puzzle, I will be selling it on my "MousekinMarket" on Zazzle.com<br />
<br />
Maintaining the commitment to produce a mouse illustration every day has been difficult at times, but the joys of social networking provided constant feedback and encouragement, so I have been able to keep it up. Friends and family have "Liked", "Loved" and commented on every picture I've posted. Beaucoup thanks to all who watch for Mousekin every day. This really helps me to keep energized, though I admit that some days (or evenings) the inspiration is hard to gather to make it happen. Discovering that a number of my drawings are now turning up on Google Searches for mice or Mousekin, is encouraging too.<br />
<br />
Perhaps that is why the writing seems more difficult. Distractions abound in everyone's lives, I am sure. But getting the energy so sit down and rewrite something that you've already written and rewritten dozens of times, something you've loved, is really the pits! I know the rewrites are needed to improve the book, but so many people loved it in the original form that it's hard to get motivated to revise.<br />
<br />
Here are <u><b>Ten Things I Know I Need to do for a Successful Revision:</b></u><br />
<br />
1. Make time (Schedule it in writing on a calendar) to work regularly.<br />
2. Work at my desk in my studio, not in the living room where distractions are legion.<br />
3. Make a new storyboard with sketches and text on post-its for easy rearrangement.<br />
4. Research wildlife species to find local species that can reasonably provide the numbers required for the counting book at the right time of year (late summer). [I included plants to count in the original version, but I think having it all animals to count will be more engaging.]<br />
5. Get to know (more fully develop) Mama Mouse - now my main character. Have her guide the story where it needs to go.<br />
6. Use Cheryl Klein's idea of writing a letter to a friend about the story, what it's about, what the story is, what I want the book to do, what I love about it and what I think needs work. Then actually share the letter with two or more sympathetic friends.<br />
7. Map the backyard and mark where the action is happening. Accept that some things may need to be fudged, but try to make the story fit the scene.<br />
8. Create a better hook for the first page.<br />
9. Become more conscious of page turns and consider how Mousekin can improve them.<br />
10. Keep reading about revising, but also keep writing revisions.<br />
<br />
I'm going to work on #4 right now and see if that gets me off my duff and into the mood. I'd like to join Mousekin for a strawberry daiquiri, but I think I'd better stick to iced tea for a bit. The day will be more productive that way, I'm sure.<br />
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<u><b> </b></u>Nancy Arny Pi-Sunyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14464491657657748512noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759607498955342160.post-23923120113936468842016-01-29T13:22:00.001-08:002016-01-29T13:28:31.078-08:00On Revising Picture Books, Second Sight, and Drawing Mice<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXqflVzvrYdEF5paL2w2MNQr9qF0Ud6jtDX8YECPIOlmXOuWt4xrq1XFq3LYHTDria-pf_Bh7mT2dxMZm-jAiixEfyckJLtUAtMCg60vj0RIOfbqYNZLvFRAmBO9Dpr_XMDvUvEVOttvMC/s1600/SecondSightFinalCover-thumb-225x347-9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXqflVzvrYdEF5paL2w2MNQr9qF0Ud6jtDX8YECPIOlmXOuWt4xrq1XFq3LYHTDria-pf_Bh7mT2dxMZm-jAiixEfyckJLtUAtMCg60vj0RIOfbqYNZLvFRAmBO9Dpr_XMDvUvEVOttvMC/s320/SecondSightFinalCover-thumb-225x347-9.jpg" width="204" /></a>I am almost a month into the 2016 revision process on my children's book. Although I have been called in to help out at my old school, I am still making time to work on the book. I am finding a great deal of very useful information in <u>Second Sight: An Editor's Talks on Writing, Revising & Publishing Books for Children and Young Adults </u>by Cheryl B. Klein. My copy of this treasure is now sprouting dozens of post-its, marking important points to consider. I have made quite a few changes already, and am certain many more will follow. <br />
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Ms. Klein has pulled together a number of talks that she presented at conferences around the country and has added some of her blog posts, worksheets and other helpful tips and tools. If you are working on a book for children, I strongly recommend this book as an incredibly useful reference. I couldn't find it at my local independent bookstore, so had to order it on line, but you can find it at Amazon.com. It is <i>well</i> worth the price.<br />
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The Mouse Project is progressing well. I have drawn, painted or collaged a mouse every day. It appears that folks love the mice which I am posting on my personal Facebook page. You can see them on my website <a href="http://pi-sunyernaturally.com/">Pi-SunyerNaturally.com</a>. Use the navigation bar and got to "Projects" and you can click on "The Mouse Project" to see images that have been posted so far. This week, each mouse is rendered in the style of a different famous artist, so you can see a Princess Mouse after the style of Velazquez, a VanGogh Mousekin and tonight I will add a mouse in the style of Gaudi.<br />
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Many of my Facebook friends are making suggestions. It has occurred to me that 366 mice (this is a leap year) is a LOT of mice. Any suggestions for topics are welcome. Please remember that all my mice drawings are copyrighted, but if you want to use one, please contact me for permission and fees, if appropriate. I am generous about sharing, but it would be nice to earn a bit, considering the hours I put in on each creation.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzaV0fnte_4UZjJduYQSkcWXuRz4Iq3_ruAV40JyPiGxuu-DDdXvYZ71k64BvCh5fg1gJ9hFtwo_9CNIJiNdCHTGfsQ-Kr5kJGnD0-10IgOspN7zShfObB_bUWxzBpMi7tIxqcMsuWY9Es/s1600/IMG_4185.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzaV0fnte_4UZjJduYQSkcWXuRz4Iq3_ruAV40JyPiGxuu-DDdXvYZ71k64BvCh5fg1gJ9hFtwo_9CNIJiNdCHTGfsQ-Kr5kJGnD0-10IgOspN7zShfObB_bUWxzBpMi7tIxqcMsuWY9Es/s320/IMG_4185.jpg" width="320" /></a>Working on this project is forcing me to push myself into new mediums and styles. I am enjoying branching out, as well as learning a bit of what I should have learned in Art History class about each of the artists whose styles I am borrowing. I can now really see the influences Picasso and Matisse had on one another. They were great friends and shared much during their most creative years.<br />
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While I want my illustrations to be charming, I also want the intentionally realistic ones to be scientifically accurate. This point was brought home to me when I picked up a new<br />
children's book at Watchung Booksellers the other day. One of the staff recommended it. I will pass on naming it, because I am loath to criticize a fellow author. The drawings are charming and the story is kind of sweet, but it is BAD science. The premise of the book is scientifically impossible. Unfortunately, young readers and (possibly) their parents will not know this. I will take this lesson to heart and work to be sure that in my book things happen as nature decrees. While there will be tidbits of anthropomorphism, animals and plants will be doing things that real animals and plants do, and not behaving in unnatural ways.<br />
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This is not to say that I don't enjoy fun books like <u>If You Give Pig A Pancake</u> by Laura Numeroff, or de Brunhoff's Babar stories and Beverly Cleary's <u>Mouse and the Motorcycle</u>. But unless your story is clearly make believe, it should be scientifically accurate. The mallards in <u>Make Way for Ducklings</u> and the dog in <u>Because of Winn-Dixie</u> act like real ducks and real dogs. This makes the books so much richer. You <i>know</i> that the authors and illustrators really studied these species to get it right. That is what I aspire to. If it's supposed to be real, it must follow the rules of nature. If the story is a fanciful fiction with fun as the desired outcome, than let the silliness, sweetness, exaggeration and exceptional behavior abound!<br />
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Witness, my "Cat-and-Mousekin" in the style of Picasso. Obviously created for fun, not as a science lesson! This is very different from my woodland mouse leaping among grapevines and over logs. </div>
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So I'd better get to work on my next mouse and get back to <u>Second Sight</u>. Month number two and mouse number 31 are at hand. I'd <i>love </i>it if you would post a comment. I need to know I am not writing into a black hole. Thanks so much. <br />
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<br />Nancy Arny Pi-Sunyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14464491657657748512noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759607498955342160.post-24631800757385038602016-01-04T18:46:00.000-08:002016-01-04T18:46:02.021-08:00Setting Goals for 2016: Revising Text & Illustrations/The Mouse Project<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span id="goog_1809532228"></span><span id="goog_1809532229"></span>The resolution to revise and get my book into the hands of an agent in 2016 is set. I'm committed to doing this. I have begun to revise the text in line with suggestions made at the SCBWI workshop I attended in October of 2014. I've done a lot of other thinking and have decided to include more animals and fewer plants in my story.<br />
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With this in mind, I am focusing on mice. Mice will be my page turners and will, hopefully, engage my young readers. So...I have set myself the goal of 365 mice this year: one drawing or painting or collage of a mouse every day.<br />
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Day one (January 1st) I drew a skeleton and also a mouse. Here is the skeleton from a photo on-line. I think proportions were off, because the mouse I did from this skeleton looked really weird. I won't even post it it was so strange.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3lzp0zfyMCxTQcpm7XJxuzxtNfz7aILpIA0phwaBG7rGaWBon8R7anKIYynNa5-WRVYsZY5EYCinVdGjTA7Bot6Hqof5xqCQFCzfzqmZHwR3jFP7l-_dVMimokuoWl_WQFnia8m8qlbHt/s1600/IMG_4072.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3lzp0zfyMCxTQcpm7XJxuzxtNfz7aILpIA0phwaBG7rGaWBon8R7anKIYynNa5-WRVYsZY5EYCinVdGjTA7Bot6Hqof5xqCQFCzfzqmZHwR3jFP7l-_dVMimokuoWl_WQFnia8m8qlbHt/s320/IMG_4072.jpg" width="320" /></a> Day two, I think I did better. Here is my second fuzzy mousie. <br />
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He/she is much cuter than my mouse on steroids and the proportions are better. Front right leg is still probably too long. But a definite improvement.<br />
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Mouse #2 is followed by Mouse #3, which is kind of cute, but I think this one's right rear foot is too big. What do you think?<br />
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Now it's January 4th and Mouse # 4 (below) seems a good improvement. This exercise goes to show that if you keep drawing every day, your drawings will get better. I expect by February I can start doing some fun things with my little mice. I will have to train them to do my bidding, but I think they will help me with my book.<br />
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Tonight I began revision of the text and am now realizing I may have to scrap one of my favorite pieces of text and its accompanying illustration. <br />
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This whole revision thing is not fun, in that one needs to dump things one has struggled to create. Still, I hope that my pipevine trellis may be of use in another place, either in this book or in another.<br />
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Tomorrow I will continue work on the text, do another mouse and try to begin training the mice to follow directions.<br />
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I'll also go see the new Star Wars movie. Maybe I should try a robo-mouse sometime. So many possibilities.<br />
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I'd love to know what you think of my mice so far. <br />
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<span id="goog_760617280"></span><span id="goog_760617281"></span>Nancy Arny Pi-Sunyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14464491657657748512noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759607498955342160.post-89041113979548704442015-10-09T14:14:00.000-07:002015-10-09T14:14:30.615-07:00Jerry Pinkney: Inspiring IllustratorLast night, Jerry Pinkney was the guest speaker at the 29th Babson Memorial Lecture at the Montclair Art Museum. I think I purchased my ticket the day I received the invitation! I first discovered Jerry Pinkney when I was doing a survey of Caldecott winning books, to try to find a "formula" for winners of this prestigeous award. Since that time, I have not only learned that there is no formula, since the judges change each year, but I've learned a lot about Mr. Pinkney as well.<br />
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A Philadelphia native, he began his artistic career at around the age of 13, giving away or selling (for 50 cents of so) sketches he made while selling newspapers on a street corner in Philly. Jerry considers his boss at the newsstand to be one of his early mentors. His mother was another mentor, inspiring him by reading Uncle Remus stories and Hans Christian Anderson's fairy tales to him. As early editions of neither of these books included many illustrations, he seems to have begun to create images to fit the stories in his own head. I remember being read Uncle Remus stories as well, since Jerry and I are only five years apart in age. Joel Chandler Harris's characters came alive through his words. Before Disney homogenized them and colored them with an airbrush, Bre'r Rabbit and Bre'r fox lived a rough and tumble, briar-scratched, tar-stuck life in the imaginations of generations of children like Jerry and me.<br />
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While the books usually had colorful covers, I remember mostly black and white line drawings within. Through the magical pencils and watercolors of Pinkney, the marvelous adventures of the sly fox and the trickster rabbit and their friends have gained new life and new color for present and future generations. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7pjB-3SE2EcY0XuLKbApNdAIQTw7nB4F-Gb-maoKgVVcGFckcI6MOePuJkPSU3P2a4qN9w-LPZzOObwOuJspBiizg0ckuC7ZmfLzNvSeiGbyKm_BXJM8bJ8DMW2vILWe2yQveyk3cTmfc/s1600/1999_uncleremus_complete.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7pjB-3SE2EcY0XuLKbApNdAIQTw7nB4F-Gb-maoKgVVcGFckcI6MOePuJkPSU3P2a4qN9w-LPZzOObwOuJspBiizg0ckuC7ZmfLzNvSeiGbyKm_BXJM8bJ8DMW2vILWe2yQveyk3cTmfc/s200/1999_uncleremus_complete.jpg" width="162" /></a>We are fortunate that he has provided this same service for so many classics including many of those my father read to me: <u>The Jungle Book</u>, <u>Rikki-Tikki-Tavi</u>, <u>The Ugly Duckling</u> and<u> The Grasshopper and the Mouse</u>. A visit to his studio website <a href="http://www.jerrypinkneystudio.com/" target="_blank">www.jerrypinkneystudio.com </a><br />
will provide you with a reading list for the next few years. Between classics, stories he has illustrated written by others, and stories he has collaborated on, you have over 100 books, fairy stories, Bible stories and novels to pick from. <br />
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That day I was surveying Caldecott winners, I fell in love with <u>The Lion and the Mouse</u>. If you have a copy, or have read it, I wonder if you realized how totally unique this book is. Did you notice that neither the front nor the back cover have the title of the book or the author's name? The time has come that a Pinkney illustration speaks for it's creator, declaring his authorship loudly and clearly. The lion on the front cover and the mouse on the back are sufficient to tell any literate human, no matter his or her native language, what treasure of a story lies between those covers.<br />
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Among the gems presented to the audience at the Babson Lecture were the following facts and quotes.<br />
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<ul><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtN-PXTKi5qBfAZceeICTjsasTNI_I_8Led-ONPvkHcrzeTdY_5xxoDk7yJP_cAITl4VY8Dk6Labw7gh_yfXESFFPiz1aDDivP6aFVy1FuMDihX6Hm4Pf1Q0Eu2Wyv83IAAXz4JXHMy6ly/s1600/1998_blackcowboy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtN-PXTKi5qBfAZceeICTjsasTNI_I_8Led-ONPvkHcrzeTdY_5xxoDk7yJP_cAITl4VY8Dk6Labw7gh_yfXESFFPiz1aDDivP6aFVy1FuMDihX6Hm4Pf1Q0Eu2Wyv83IAAXz4JXHMy6ly/s1600/1998_blackcowboy.jpg" /></a>
<li>1 out of every 3 cowboys in the American West were people of color.</li>
<li>His books are based on pure fun and he is less interested in the finished drawing than in the process, and what he learns DOING the drawing. </li>
<li> In his work, the environment has a voice. His reference collection on science and nature is probably more comprehensive than many public library's.</li>
<li>Chipmunks live a purposeful life. </li>
<li>His studio includes different stations for drawing, painting, researching, doing thumbnail sketches.</li>
<li> "Always ask the narrative what the story needs." The illustrator is the bridge between the reader and the narrative. He always asks himself "Why did they pick me to do this book?" This helps to inform him how to go to work on it. </li>
<li>Pinkney always wants to learn from each book he illustrates. </li>
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His advice for young people wanting to become illustrators? "Get a sketch book and draw every day!" He says, it's hard work, but it's worth it!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxuqzmAP320EwelRGENlLpGo2LmzoVQTHatC1kksUuko-JznSA4m57XgZHCwJIGdwjoIXmlB_wBmFGcmNlvkGxCHGqtrhnUSTcd83Py5eKx431EHMk-KMAtgfvkADMGJitPwQuNJTODQ6O/s1600/1991_inforwinter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxuqzmAP320EwelRGENlLpGo2LmzoVQTHatC1kksUuko-JznSA4m57XgZHCwJIGdwjoIXmlB_wBmFGcmNlvkGxCHGqtrhnUSTcd83Py5eKx431EHMk-KMAtgfvkADMGJitPwQuNJTODQ6O/s1600/1991_inforwinter.jpg" /></a>Pinkney's love of nature come out clearly through his work. Although raised in the city, in his youth he periodically spent time in a fairly rural area of New Jersey where a family member had a home adjacent to the woods. That was where he discovered that nature was a safe place for him to go, and that it gave him an opportunity for for personal safety and space, away from a crowded home in very urban Philadelphia.<br />
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Through Pinkney's art, I have no doubt that many children are finding that connection with nature which so richly fills the pages of every book he illustrates.<br />
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It is refreshing for this hopeful author/illustrator to know that Jerry has recently begun exploring new mediums and combinations, as I have begun exploring illustration. He recently "discovered" pastels and is busy experimenting and looking forward to finding out where this may lead his art.<br />
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Perhaps we can look forward to a story about the three chestnuts, with illustrations in pastels to reflect the glossy, ox-blood treasures that are currently dropping all around us in the autumn landscape, encased in prickly treasure chests. His art can make them last forever. It's time for me now to give the horse-chestnut a try in my sketch book. Here it is. What do you think?<br />
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My art, too is informed by nature. I hope you will visit me at <a href="http://pi-sunyernaturally.com/">Pi-SunyerNaturally.com</a>, to see my work as well. I am currently working on a book cover for <u>Flowers of the Holy Land: 50 Blessed Plants in Jesus Life. </u><br />
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If you visit the current exhibit, "Eric Carle: Animals and Friends" at the Montclair Art Museum, be sure to check out the student illustration exhibit in the hallway on the ground floor. You will see three of my illustrations and many other wonderful products of the Yard School of Art class"Writing and Illustrating Books for Children," taught by<a href="http://kristinelombardi.com/" target="_blank"> Kristine Lombardy.</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjaxkKjS2LPHxkk2jb2ONpnmWu3uTO15QrCMPWlpccuyW8KnBNaZlTqA7pTS45BDUMC4VKYwv_A8vvwQkNvO_imXAg3Hy44rPO60Gj0DiKalcO9eiOqeyVub4k0p2XL6wMNZyijxmyF2Nh/s1600/IMG_3222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjaxkKjS2LPHxkk2jb2ONpnmWu3uTO15QrCMPWlpccuyW8KnBNaZlTqA7pTS45BDUMC4VKYwv_A8vvwQkNvO_imXAg3Hy44rPO60Gj0DiKalcO9eiOqeyVub4k0p2XL6wMNZyijxmyF2Nh/s320/IMG_3222.JPG" width="320" /></a> I hope you have enjoyed this brief reprise of last night's lecture and will leave a comment and explore the links you find here.<br />
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Happy illustrating!<br />
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Nancy Arny Pi-Sunyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14464491657657748512noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759607498955342160.post-73965153149242384922015-09-16T19:02:00.001-07:002015-09-16T19:02:58.427-07:00Listen to the Pros - Going Back to Art SchoolLast week was back-to-school week for me. I was a bit nervous, but am now feeling pretty darn fine about making the decision. I was able to sign up for Beginning Illustration at Montclair State University. My classmates are all undergraduates and, I think, all are art majors. Following our first critique yesterday, I am feeling okay. The first assignment was a self portrait that told something about the artist. There was an abundance of anxiety attached to that assignment. I've never been great at drawing faces and was very nervous about doing this, not having a clue what anyone else was capable of.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCK5ODLE_xZx_gQUqpl_nx3i8H_SGvbYWQfvsx6BThu8bbgAlug8vP_b_OQQwkF15VD6_DN_N_sjREEYYeQ7iKXnfeYQQuWYP05CxFLY07vkymXQQGLbTclUfaF4ug453xttdzzjDdlyGa/s1600/IMG_2334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCK5ODLE_xZx_gQUqpl_nx3i8H_SGvbYWQfvsx6BThu8bbgAlug8vP_b_OQQwkF15VD6_DN_N_sjREEYYeQ7iKXnfeYQQuWYP05CxFLY07vkymXQQGLbTclUfaF4ug453xttdzzjDdlyGa/s320/IMG_2334.jpg" width="273" /></a>My portrait illustrates me peeking into a new world of art and illustration. It includes books, drawing pencils and my slightly-off balance jackalope. The exercise was very useful in starting to get a handle on value. It helped me remember that composition is very important, and that I didn't pay enough attention to it the first time around, when I was an undergrad art major.<br />
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I am incredibly impressed by the technical skills of several of my classmates. Many of them have a firm grip on design which I hope to emulate. I am learning about value: light and darkness. It is amazing to me how changes in value can change a picture.<br />
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The next assignment was to draw an egg, from two different view points and on two different surfaces: one light, one dark. It's very challenging. I've learned it's a good idea to take photos and turn them into black and white. I never realized before how different color is from value. I am learning a lot. Our professor, Scott Gordley, is giving us interesting assignments and providing useful feedback that helps us all to improve our work.<br />
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The egg project is very challenging, because we are responsible for making an interesting composition, as well as creating a technically precise likeness. Looking at eggs with strong lighting is interesting, as you end up with part of the egg being almost black.<br />
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I am learning many new ways of changing value. Spots and dots, lines and cross-hatching, shading and contrast. Still work to do on both pictures, but feeling pretty good about them. <br />
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While I am excited about what I am learning in my Illustration class, I'm spending a lot of time on other projects as well. Lots of family history things going on. Hopefully in the next month or two I can make time to get back to the writing part of my children's book.<br />
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I need to find an agent. If you know someone who works in the arena of children's picture books, please send me names. I'd prefer someone in the New York area if possible. Message me on LinkedIn or email me at npi-sunyer@verizon.net.<br />
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Looking forward to touching base with you again soon, but need to get back to my homework. <br />
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<br />Nancy Arny Pi-Sunyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14464491657657748512noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759607498955342160.post-80809990831076111962015-08-27T08:49:00.000-07:002015-08-27T08:49:07.020-07:00Revising Visions and Moving Forward at LastAlmost a year has passed since my last post here. During that time I have been busy, but not so much on the book. Friends and family keep asking "When is your book coming out?' or "How is the book coming?" My response has usually been, "I was totally squashed at a workshop in October when I was told I should take more art classes. I have not worked on it since."<br />
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Well, I was. That comment hit me harder than any of the rejection letters I had received to that point. Friends, family, librarians and teachers have all stated how much they LOVE my drawings. As each has been revised, I find it is even better. I still toy with the idea (suggested by many) of self-publishing and making the book the way I visualize it. But a sneaky voice in the back of my mind keeps niggling about the need for more art classes. Sigh! I started as an Art major in college, but switched my sophomore year. I've taken one class at a local museum and have watched a lot of tutorials on You Tube. But still...<br />
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This morning, after weeks of trying to contact professors at the local university Art Department, I have received permission to enroll in a Beginning Illustration class. I'm enrolling as a non-degree student through the OLA program at Montclair State University. This means, I will need to pay fees, but no tuition (as an Older Learner). The campus has changed so much since the last class I took there (in around 1970), it might as well be a foreign country. I have scoped out where my class will be, have found the Student Center and bookstore and the Office of Information Technology. My computer is now hooked in to the university WiFi system and tomorrow morning I can officially register for class.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0TVGQbIuaPlmU0Gmn6hY9KWmEp0DBRbi7u56eHzy1Hcis6WbgVVuHxVa2awVPvouZ1VFLFRG9mgZ11IuwmLNVepYBXyqNOFtzaOhihi0_BEgbrMHlGoYAKr2ioFEgFy9axd1-lIGWh0EG/s1600/IMG_4900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0TVGQbIuaPlmU0Gmn6hY9KWmEp0DBRbi7u56eHzy1Hcis6WbgVVuHxVa2awVPvouZ1VFLFRG9mgZ11IuwmLNVepYBXyqNOFtzaOhihi0_BEgbrMHlGoYAKr2ioFEgFy9axd1-lIGWh0EG/s200/IMG_4900.jpg" width="150" /></a>It's been a long time since I had a First Day of School on the other side of the desk. I've looked through my sketch pads and found two new ones to start with. My kneaded eraser is at the ready, as are my colored pencils and pens. I will pick up several pencils of varying hardness at the bookstore tomorrow, when I go up to register. It's been 50 years since I was an art student at a university. My professor for this class probably wasn't even born when I took Color and Design. I'm sure a lot has changed. But I am determined to go into this new adventure with a positive outlook: to learn all that I can. I expect to learn some new techniques and a lot about the design aspect of illustration. From the course description, it sounds as though I will likely be introduced to many illustrators I am unfamiliar with, although I <i>have </i>kept up pretty well with children's book illustrators.<br />
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So it's back to school, and back to work on the book. Time to get the studio upstairs cleared up and make room to draw, and maybe paint. If I can find an agent to work with me, maybe I can get the book back on track and get it to a publisher in 2016.<br />
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What are your thoughts on this new adventure?Nancy Arny Pi-Sunyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14464491657657748512noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759607498955342160.post-23500931681970736612014-11-11T11:45:00.000-08:002014-11-11T11:53:35.625-08:00Forward March: Reimagining My BookToo many of my posts seem to focus on getting BACK to something on which I have lost momentum. It is time to move forward. No excuses of holiday madness. No moping over another rejection. Progress is my most important product for the rest of this year.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggHbdgOGxFOUUVgITXLpCeKbAlSWTCt7dkzKcdpcnm0WfOGTxwQhvNcCrjtXhyxqWK259eyr3ksoU4Qj7vcHMNq4FPIdJvr9OD4e0FVJTVi2nqroQS6KRLuMmw53Erzxo-Nbq0sjbvL-HZ/s1600/2013_NJSCBWI_Logo-01-300x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggHbdgOGxFOUUVgITXLpCeKbAlSWTCt7dkzKcdpcnm0WfOGTxwQhvNcCrjtXhyxqWK259eyr3ksoU4Qj7vcHMNq4FPIdJvr9OD4e0FVJTVi2nqroQS6KRLuMmw53Erzxo-Nbq0sjbvL-HZ/s200/2013_NJSCBWI_Logo-01-300x300.jpg" width="200" /></a>Two weeks ago I attended the SCBWI Craft Weekend at Princeton Theological Seminary. For anyone who
doesn't know, <a href="http://www.scbwi.org/" target="_blank">SCBWI</a> is the Society for Children's Book Writers and
Illustrators. This weekend was a wake-up call at several levels. First, it brought
home to me how many people like me are out there trying to get books
published. Most of the attendees are hopeful authors and/or
illustrators. Most have not gotten a book published yet. Some have, and I
now have heard enough stories to give me heart to continue the process.
My fifth rejection arrived days before the conference, so my project is
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I am beginning to listen to what editors, publishers and agents say more closely. While every friend, librarian, teacher and parent I have shown my dummy to thinks it is wonderful and can't wait to buy it, I now believe that some of the comments from those "in the business" have more validity than I once gave them. A full afternoon with <a href="http://wanart.com/" target="_blank">Joyce Wan</a> showed me a better way to create my dummy. Joyce, thank you! It is now all double-spreads and it is easier to put together and to illustrate.</div>
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The big break-though came in the all-day-Sunday workshop with Patrick Collins, Creative Director at Henry Holt. He reviewed each of the eight dummies or mock-ups presented by workshop participants, gave thoughtful feedback and suggestions to each, and then spent the remainder of the afternoon cycling among us with suggestions, critiques and encouragement. </div>
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Prior to the workshop, we had each submitted work for Patrick's comments and then tried to prepare some revised work in response to what he told us. My revisions involved, for the most part, cutting out whole pages that don't add to the action, and setting the opening scene. Following discussions with Patrick, more was cut, the scene has been set more clearly and another fun dimension has been added. </div>
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Each change requires adjustment to art work, development of new page turns and adapting my original ideas of some parts of the story. I had picked up one good suggestion in a peer group critique session on Saturday evening. I remind newbies to the peer group environment to consider from where comments come. I was astounded at the way one member of the group had interpreted part of my story. She saw drugs and sex where I had written bunnies and blossoms. WOW! The only thing I will say here is, consider your word choices carefully.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKXIaKRKSBn0wTdRAzvY2F70b8UXJ5OF0vkUvGs1SDW9VqxSZjoGfB7wJ8jYXdOu-oghC_og-z6WzOdVBRivfPepyNqum1JektFeijNeLp9Ov-ZemcENX8Xf2kEyF5XJj9xCk3B93JO5wy/s1600/6_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKXIaKRKSBn0wTdRAzvY2F70b8UXJ5OF0vkUvGs1SDW9VqxSZjoGfB7wJ8jYXdOu-oghC_og-z6WzOdVBRivfPepyNqum1JektFeijNeLp9Ov-ZemcENX8Xf2kEyF5XJj9xCk3B93JO5wy/s200/6_3.jpg" width="200" /></a>Now almost every page is a double spread. I have added two new dimensions to the art work, as well as adjusting the viewpoint on several illustrations. My beetles will now be in the tree, rather than among the dandelions. I was also encouraged to take more art classes. This was something I did not want to hear but, I am exploring options in my community. I guess one can never learn too much. </div>
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So now it's time to focus forward on refining the two new dimensions (one is numerals on each page and the other is a secret suggested by Patrick, which I love). I need to find an art class and/or check out more YouTube videos on illustration. I also need to do some revision in the rhymes for setting the scene. By next week I hope to have made some real progress. I wil keep you posted. </div>
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Nancy Arny Pi-Sunyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14464491657657748512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759607498955342160.post-78878710783743814492014-08-29T19:55:00.002-07:002014-08-29T19:58:26.619-07:00Where Did The Summer Go? Getting Back to Books<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip1QotztJjsQTPh2-TcI1Xs-VBnQzFjs77Jkp018Cj5kMa_HX-Y7h4NidAlS71kk9LW6pkkWaCgCrK3w0hS2INcK0JcdisKte-8xUe_HjcWw0EpkEiVIQUPQYNiRAb7HrhJjG1TRCFozU0/s1600/my-antonia-willa-cather-audio-cover-art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip1QotztJjsQTPh2-TcI1Xs-VBnQzFjs77Jkp018Cj5kMa_HX-Y7h4NidAlS71kk9LW6pkkWaCgCrK3w0hS2INcK0JcdisKte-8xUe_HjcWw0EpkEiVIQUPQYNiRAb7HrhJjG1TRCFozU0/s1600/my-antonia-willa-cather-audio-cover-art.jpg" /></a>It's been too long since I set fingers to keys on this blog. Sorry to have kept you waiting. The fingers have been busy excavating weeds, following routes on maps, tracing family tree branches and searching on line for a wedding dress. I think two more days will complete the rehab of the driveway. I've been digging weeds from between paving stones with a steak knife and sweeping loc-tite sand in to every crack to prevent more weeds from becoming entrenched. This is the price I pay for taking the low bid on the paved driveway! But it looks like it's going to work. At least I have listened to <u>Black Arrow</u>, by Robert Louis Stevenson, <u>My Antonia</u>, by Willa Cather, <u>The Mozart Conspiracy</u> by Scott Mariani and a lot of my iPod tunes. It's kind of a Zen activity. Not liking to use chemicals in our yard, I seem to always find projects that require an inordinate amount of time as the trade-off for an almost chamical-free landscape. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New World Trade Center</td></tr>
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We also spent five weeks hosting and traveling with a cousin from Mexico who visited with us to improve her English. We visited the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, the 9/11 Memorial and the new World trade Center site. We sailed on Lake Champlain, walked The High Line in NY, shopped at L.L. Bean in Freeport, Maine and Zara in the Big Apple, and introduced the young lady to 46 of her other U.S. cousins in <span id="goog_741419428"></span><span id="goog_741419429"></span>five different states. I was thrilled to discover that I have made a reader of her. Before visiting with us, she had only read required books for school. I introduced her to the YA section in our local library. She picked out a few books. She found two that she really enjoyed and these seem to have set her on the path to reading. That she read them in English makes the accomplishment even more exciting.<br />
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Over the summer, our young rabbit, the main character in my children's book, has grown from a tiny bunny to a near adult. It is becoming difficult to distinguish between the baby bunny and its parents. Family seems to have been a focus this summer. I spent many hours expanding my family tree on <br />
Ancestry.com. I added my future daughter-in-law's family back four generations and explored my own family roots in Germany. A great nephew will be spending his junior year abroad in Germany, and I wanted him to have the tree and the information about his Vonweisensee ancestors. Perhaps he can help me follow that trail further into the past.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8vRmxCnKzX_fTWIbDf77a4Cfm-G1LOGnfCOUjp6VfSRe-6g4a7s4aniBHjnscvQjwCNENgnRNDP9A8DyBCs4e2OP4zzEcTTOAa9oC5O3eGftUE0rwW3f_WSBKeCGXUBXmlE_YE3Bhh5o-/s1600/61uVTX5ZRhL._AA160_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8vRmxCnKzX_fTWIbDf77a4Cfm-G1LOGnfCOUjp6VfSRe-6g4a7s4aniBHjnscvQjwCNENgnRNDP9A8DyBCs4e2OP4zzEcTTOAa9oC5O3eGftUE0rwW3f_WSBKeCGXUBXmlE_YE3Bhh5o-/s1600/61uVTX5ZRhL._AA160_.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a>As for the future... It is time to regroup and re-engage. I need to contact the current holder of my manuscript and then apply some of what I learned in the recent Webinar by <a href="http://www.childrensbookacademy.com/" target="_blank">Mira Reisberg </a>from Childrens Book Academy and what I hope to learn from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&page=1&rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3AJennifer%20Tzivia%20MacLeod" target="_blank">Jennifer Tzivia MacLeod</a> in her new book, <u>The Seven Day Manuscript Machine</u>.<br />
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A comment from you will add to my motivation, so please leave me a note, even if it is only to say "You go girl!" I must say, my heart was warmed by the recent sidebar exchanges during Mira's webinar where I discovered how many of us late bloomers are out here, working on our dreams. <br />
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More soon. I promise!<br />
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<br />Nancy Arny Pi-Sunyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14464491657657748512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759607498955342160.post-38026527408714280862014-06-04T14:49:00.001-07:002014-06-04T14:55:32.991-07:00Back to Blogging: Reconnecting With Passions<br />
I just spent a week in Mexico visiting with some of my husband's family. It was a wonderful chance to distance myself from my (too) many projects and gain some perspective. One of the most delightful events was actually getting my hands on a copy of our cousin, Ana Gerhard's lovely book <u>Listen to the Birds</u>.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiypSLmhG6LRQRIvpveefufm0V-RCO4_ayX7wRue7Z_ZdoAkyZs1msXiP4P4Ai47e1y320xvkM1KZZmcC4LVfY3Xrql8Em_pjOqWlRVOh6VvTE9DHMaiOs9bg4nRWLiSaM5H-xKN3Qh3pK-/s1600/71wm2-9065L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiypSLmhG6LRQRIvpveefufm0V-RCO4_ayX7wRue7Z_ZdoAkyZs1msXiP4P4Ai47e1y320xvkM1KZZmcC4LVfY3Xrql8Em_pjOqWlRVOh6VvTE9DHMaiOs9bg4nRWLiSaM5H-xKN3Qh3pK-/s1600/71wm2-9065L.jpg" height="312" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Ana Gerhard's Delightful Intro to Classic Music</i></span></td></tr>
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Ana is a talented musician. She created this introduction to classical music for children with great thought, imagination and delightful creativity. I am personally not a huge fan of classical music, but this book brings back memories of some of the lovely experiences I have had with the classics, including "Peter and the Wolf" and "The Magic Flute." I am so pleased that Ana's second book is progressing well and that <u>Listen to the Birds</u>, has already been translated from the original Spanish into English and several other languages.<br />
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If you have children, this will be a delightful shared experience for you. The CD works beautifully with the text and illustrations bringing the classics right in to your home and hour heart. You can find it for sale on Amazon, and may be able to find it, or order it through your local book store. Here you can see an interview with Ana about her upcoming book, <u>The Secret Mountain</u>. </div>
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<a href="http://www.thesecretmountain.com/AnInterviewWithAuthorAnaGerhard"> http://www.thesecretmountain.com/AnInterviewWithAuthorAnaGerhard</a></div>
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We saw a lot of birds whilesitting in the gardens in Cuernavaca and Tepoztlan, including several that were new to me. The rufous-backed robin and golden-cheeked woodpecker were two newbies. I also saw a gorgeous old friend: the vermillion flycatcher, which I first encountered in the Galapagos, and a charming hummingbird I can't ID from my Mexican bird book.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOyYtTjXY3N3qqF5KaEhGj80pDd6MI8VkcMlcZ11AYUfevOCeT22E3npQ1wp3Ak9zESfiNNf05XwyPXiIuB4sz3dy9i22mLi3GqH2cMuE_LnqJ3ieoqZCd65zR2ETcrFyz9b3gHK-ECam0/s1600/IMG_5398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOyYtTjXY3N3qqF5KaEhGj80pDd6MI8VkcMlcZ11AYUfevOCeT22E3npQ1wp3Ak9zESfiNNf05XwyPXiIuB4sz3dy9i22mLi3GqH2cMuE_LnqJ3ieoqZCd65zR2ETcrFyz9b3gHK-ECam0/s1600/IMG_5398.JPG" height="316" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: orange;">Rufous-backed Robin in Cuernavaca, Mexico</span></i></td></tr>
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The robin looks very like our American Robin, but has a rusty back, and the breast is not so orange. The hummer probably is way more iridescent, but the light doesn't show it. I sat for hours on the patios in the two yards, watching and taking pictures, chatting and listening to conversations in Spanish and Catalan. Our hosts were somewhat amazed that I was so interested in the birds, but once I showed them the <u>Peterson's Field Guide to Mexican Birds</u>, and they saw how many birds there are in Mexico, they too, began to take more interest.<br />
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This is a part of the point of the children's book I am trying to get published. All these natural treasures, birds, butterflies, bees, beetles, trees and flowers, surround us. My book will open eyes of readers so they can enjoy the same <i>U</i> are such a natural part of my life.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG-dmUyoltiOcuW1Ekqm16loEXm7rhqhKoovPm6S1uJKW3ViVJkBJW5FfIskJc-k8EveFiFMPnAZUin3ZsA6VNKwpaoLPoz0otcX_HjPsgeX94NVJUMJfT3-UjDEHt8fItY_T_qJUxlPGI/s1600/IMG_5481.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG-dmUyoltiOcuW1Ekqm16loEXm7rhqhKoovPm6S1uJKW3ViVJkBJW5FfIskJc-k8EveFiFMPnAZUin3ZsA6VNKwpaoLPoz0otcX_HjPsgeX94NVJUMJfT3-UjDEHt8fItY_T_qJUxlPGI/s1600/IMG_5481.JPG" height="320" width="257" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: red;">Unidentified Hummingbird in Cuernavaca</span></i></td></tr>
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The text of my book is now with another publisher with whom I connected through a friend on LinkedIn. I didn't send the entire proposal, and now am thinking that perhaps I should have. I think tonight I will do the revision of the post card on Zazzle and when it comes, send it, along with the full proposal, to the publisher. This might get it to the top of her pile and I might hear one way or the other. <br />
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If the response is not positive, I will start sending out the postcards. I think I may begin to create the back yard garden website to go with the book, since that may prove to be another selling point. I'm told that telling publishers you will create a website, isn't as convincing as having one up. So here we go again. Into the fray!!!<br />
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Go out and enjoy <i>your</i> backyard for a bit now, before you spend any more time on line. <i>Even if it's dark ou</i>t!! Go listen for an owl and look for a shooting star. If you see one, wish for the right publisher to discover my book, please. Nancy Arny Pi-Sunyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14464491657657748512noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759607498955342160.post-29627963401041390932014-05-07T18:16:00.000-07:002014-05-07T18:16:22.899-07:00Reacting to Rejection: Questions to Myself<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi03R83qiQNF2DNQgoGMMXPaTjrm9Cz9K22FdXIQzaLUXPl60fdmLSGQJwEWAYmffhmu6l5PaLjfwDUC2pcPp88eTBQwCLCbZOLz4L4nIMQOSEjqsvayvLQbySlIuMycViOZVcuwNGCqFCw/s1600/Nancy+and+Roxie+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi03R83qiQNF2DNQgoGMMXPaTjrm9Cz9K22FdXIQzaLUXPl60fdmLSGQJwEWAYmffhmu6l5PaLjfwDUC2pcPp88eTBQwCLCbZOLz4L4nIMQOSEjqsvayvLQbySlIuMycViOZVcuwNGCqFCw/s1600/Nancy+and+Roxie+2.JPG" height="195" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: cyan;"><span style="color: blue;">Roxie Munro and </span></span><span style="color: blue;">Me in 2013.</span></td></tr>
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Though I believed I had targeted my next publisher <i>SO</i> accurately, another rejection letter arrived in the mail the other day. Of course I was depressed and down and felt a bit weepy. If you say you don't feel that way when you get a rejection, I'm not sure I believe you. To add insult to injury, the publisher enclosed a form rejection addressed to "Dear Author". Couldn't they even reject me with a bit of class? No suggestions. No criticisms. No encouragement. No use. And really, no use obsessing over another lost two months. I'm so glad I did my <a href="http://www.pi-sunyernaturally.com/lenten-series---2014.html" target="_blank">Lenten Journey </a>during the wait. <br />
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My husband is so wise. He just hugged me, kept quiet and bought me flowers the next day. I whipped out a feeling-sorry-for-me email to my mentor, posted my new status (REJECTED AGAIN) on FaceBook and went back to <u>The Book</u>, a valuable resource from SCBWI. The Society for Children's Book Writers and Illustrators has lists of publishers. Now I have checked off two. I spent some time searching the remainder of the list for my next target. Then checked on-line to find out if they are accepting unagented, unsolicited manuscripts. Most, of course, are not. But now I will work my network on LinkedIn and see if I can find some connections there.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkj5q-x-zbjgHBnuoZnemcvWgj9v-WLii8H7mWPS3wExxTJhL6AifDiqPaAwY04ogrh-sRDDLXSiymFRYKcjXWRClt5D14JtC4rvlvo8UxlEd1WWLsxPOHDhoDzT0ecj__M9q_VmuuDbXf/s1600/OceTDS-6245_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkj5q-x-zbjgHBnuoZnemcvWgj9v-WLii8H7mWPS3wExxTJhL6AifDiqPaAwY04ogrh-sRDDLXSiymFRYKcjXWRClt5D14JtC4rvlvo8UxlEd1WWLsxPOHDhoDzT0ecj__M9q_VmuuDbXf/s1600/OceTDS-6245_2.jpg" height="115" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><i>Ready to stick my neck out again.</i></span></td></tr>
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Questions to myself generated from reading other blogs and websites, email from my mentor, FaceBook responses from friends and serious personal reflection:<br />
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1. Was I foolish to send a dummy to the last company, even though they said they accept dummies?<br />
2. Is there something wrong with my cover letter? <br />
3. Does that fellow on line REALLY have the secret to the perfect cover letter and should I send him $37.95 to get it?<br />
4. Should I join a critique group?<br />
5. Can I afford to go to the 21st Century Non-Fiction Writer's Conference in June? (I found my mentor and a lot of positive reinforcement there last year).<br />
6. Should I listen to people who suggest I self publish the book?<br />
7. Should I do a multiple submission next time?<br />
8. What might be wrong with my proposal, besides the cover letter?<br />
9. Should I have included less art work, or more?<br />
10. Do I have any talent, or is this all a waste of time?<br />
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Actually, number 10 didn't cross my mind. I KNOW the book is good. The text is engaging and everyone who has seen it (with the exception of the most recent rejector) thinks it ought to be published!<br />
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My answer to most of the other questions ranges from a firm "No!" to a soft "Maybe." I think I need to spend the next week or two reconnoitering on cover letters and considering who to share the book with, for new insights. I will check in to meetings of SCBWI for upcoming review sessions. I'm open to comments from readers about the concept of multiple submissions. I also plan to revise my postcard and start sending it to editors and publishers.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2U5s_srYdut0b8nnsY-Cy02YRULqU5OVpk96_hPdTQeiRX30faEOSiYjy2H378zun00UZ56c17g_Mq1hgM6NN66h7PIsdiAwEGoTUAlcCSfDb1bzhgjECgvbGt3JZvMyApbo54GNIYTnE/s1600/IMG_4374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2U5s_srYdut0b8nnsY-Cy02YRULqU5OVpk96_hPdTQeiRX30faEOSiYjy2H378zun00UZ56c17g_Mq1hgM6NN66h7PIsdiAwEGoTUAlcCSfDb1bzhgjECgvbGt3JZvMyApbo54GNIYTnE/s1600/IMG_4374.JPG" height="242" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d;">My Postcard to Be Revised</span></td></tr>
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<i> </i>I think sending the dummy was fine, but I probably need to revise it again. I know that the cover letter can be improved. Not sure how, but I will work on that. I don't think sending for the "perfect" letter is a useful step. I know that group critiques are not for me. I don't think I can afford the June conference, but maybe I can afford a local SCBWI conference. I know that self-publishing is my last ditch position. I know I need to talk to other authors about multiple submissions. It has taken 2 1/2 to 3 months for each of the last to submissions. At that rate it will be another year before I get the proposal to 4 more companies. More conversations or emails with published authors may give me some new insights regarding proposals and what to include.<br />
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There is plenty to work on, and plenty to learn. It's time to pick myself up, dust myself off and start submission over again. So, my friends, here I go again. Wish me luck, and send suggestions if you have them.<br />
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Happy spring.<br />
<span id="goog_1605605198"></span><span id="goog_1605605199"></span><br />
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<br />Nancy Arny Pi-Sunyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14464491657657748512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759607498955342160.post-23320196208454791842014-04-06T20:12:00.002-07:002014-04-07T10:05:16.701-07:00Blog-Hop Into My Garden: Thanks for Coming<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPLK0LKBgDJNj2VZuoDhyLZbivhO3cVF7L7N-rfuloY1mZSTk3yShXBYPcCA_gzglImN5rfLznGJxQrhyphenhyphenGU4Ds64xMGFh1L3CGO_tOIaOEVR-8uAXBs8clD3eLGJfomYupM1xHdMcQ15QU/s1600/Authors_in_Bloom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPLK0LKBgDJNj2VZuoDhyLZbivhO3cVF7L7N-rfuloY1mZSTk3yShXBYPcCA_gzglImN5rfLznGJxQrhyphenhyphenGU4Ds64xMGFh1L3CGO_tOIaOEVR-8uAXBs8clD3eLGJfomYupM1xHdMcQ15QU/s1600/Authors_in_Bloom.jpg" height="166" width="200" /></a><span style="color: lime;"><b>WELCOME TO MY GARDEN </b></span><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><i> </i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><i></i></b></span><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><i></i></b></span></div>
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Thanks for hopping in. Unlike many of you, I have not yet
had a children’s book published. My blog is about the process of moving stories
from my mind to a manuscript. I am a writer and illustrator, and I invite you to
my garden of growth: growing my skills, growing my experience, growing my
audience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrA-Zdw14D0iskFpzayPOV9DD0xi8Q11obvpL33rjmtyOHUAakqOjfaYWnFcxqVkRqz9WzGDT58Fx8GyJA4xFVCPndw7nyZEXI6z9ZroEJsajYVyNhOYmOJdxAIw-x9jYxNWZ4l7oTIOp2/s1600/IMG_0942+-+Version+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrA-Zdw14D0iskFpzayPOV9DD0xi8Q11obvpL33rjmtyOHUAakqOjfaYWnFcxqVkRqz9WzGDT58Fx8GyJA4xFVCPndw7nyZEXI6z9ZroEJsajYVyNhOYmOJdxAIw-x9jYxNWZ4l7oTIOp2/s1600/IMG_0942+-+Version+3.jpg" height="200" width="195" /></a></div>
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As you will see, if you check out my website
(<a href="http://pi-sunyernaturally.com/">Pi-SunyerNaturally.com</a>), my work is informed by nature. So on this blog hop
I’m happy to share some <span style="color: red;">gardening tips</span>. They will be highlighted in red.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ksW9shq7z3DpBKIHbtwxhjihCid-raHPACAxnUjFdj99F_rCNCbGJRnqr-e-FZpaEMv-0tbn1p-AP2VeH3XwqMOpK5sVSBFivpxbCGjhZ-P6Az1WsW0ID0vw3gjCjFiTHLGxYarroWlx/s1600/4+-+Version+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ksW9shq7z3DpBKIHbtwxhjihCid-raHPACAxnUjFdj99F_rCNCbGJRnqr-e-FZpaEMv-0tbn1p-AP2VeH3XwqMOpK5sVSBFivpxbCGjhZ-P6Az1WsW0ID0vw3gjCjFiTHLGxYarroWlx/s1600/4+-+Version+3.jpg" height="200" width="119" /></a>My yard is a registered <a href="http://www.nwf.org/how-to-help/garden-for-wildlife.aspx">Backyard
Wildlife Habitat</a>, through The National Wildlife Federation and is also
certified as an official butterfly garden with the <a href="http://nababutterfly.com/butterfly-garden-certification-program">North
American Butterfly Association</a>. Both of these programs encourage me to
<span style="color: red;">provide for all the needs of wildlife: food, water shelter and nesting and
breeding space</span>. The yard is the setting for my first children’s book, which is
currently being reviewed by a publisher.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Keep your fingers crossed for me, please. I'd love it if you would read some of my other posts and comment there. <a href="http://nancyarnypi-sunyer.blogspot.com/2014_01_01_archive.html">My first rejection letter</a> was awesome. You can read about it in one of my earlier posts. Those of you who are published, might have a fun flashback to that moment in YOUR career. </span></div>
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If I were to win Publisher’s Clearing House Sweepstakes, the
first thing I would do is hire a gardener. I would love to get the yard back to
where it was when I was a child, growing up in it. In those days, my grandmother had a gardener several days each week. She had my parents, my siblings and me to help keep our acre trimmed, weeded and filled with flowers, fruit and vegetables, as well as specimens of many trees and flowering shrubs. During World War II our place was home to a blue ribbon Victory Garden. 'Wishing I could get it under control again. Three hours in the garden today, made a miniscule dent in what could be a full time job. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwTjWSasA6JJprKe2pjBPMVpHnKMTNKR3wNYF1m9WwbP68kL068XhqwTgLDhJNnPoi5UNh6FePB3JyOG5Xn64Zg2_9Dc3JMThqPeL9wStFD2dxfPLFhVppGt8fFpeZfUhD5LZGvDEtyJLo/s1600/IMG_4953.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwTjWSasA6JJprKe2pjBPMVpHnKMTNKR3wNYF1m9WwbP68kL068XhqwTgLDhJNnPoi5UNh6FePB3JyOG5Xn64Zg2_9Dc3JMThqPeL9wStFD2dxfPLFhVppGt8fFpeZfUhD5LZGvDEtyJLo/s1600/IMG_4953.JPG" height="194" width="200" /></a></div>
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One of the best things I have done in the yard is to <span style="color: red;">build stone walls.</span> It is a fun, but strenuous activity, but very worthwhile. My stonewalls not only outline gardens and provide the country feeling in our suburban setting, but if you build stone walls - at least here in New Jersey - chipmunks will come. They are a delight to watch and their cheery chittering is a happy addition to the bird songs which abound here. </div>
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I have also created one area of the yard which is a specific butterfly garden, though the entire property provides good habitat for these colorful charmers. In the butterfly garden I <span style="color: red;">plant many perennials, such as butterfly bush, lilies, echinacea, and milkweed.</span> These are inter-planted with colorful annuals which also attract hummingbirds. I also put in a shallow pan filled with pebbles and sand, that I keep watered, so there is always a <span style="color: red;">shallow source of water for the butterflies. </span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"> All of these aspects of the garden are elements that are part of my book. The plants and animals are also part of another project of mine: Copy-cology©. You can find out more about my Copy-cology© products on my website, <a href="http://pi-sunyernaturally.com/">Pi-SunyerNaturally.com</a>. My favorite item is the </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd_8fV9w7NGJdwQFO7kwDyMkFydwP_P7azvDlImeRQyAT5fRPTBUHav47H7EXOmZqfxVSOtiC8fo0wkBIv191nlG2xFOhKA69451k-1v1dQxrVw8E-U25vsiOW5iR28byEslVnSkyvi9Lu/s1600/IMG_8368.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd_8fV9w7NGJdwQFO7kwDyMkFydwP_P7azvDlImeRQyAT5fRPTBUHav47H7EXOmZqfxVSOtiC8fo0wkBIv191nlG2xFOhKA69451k-1v1dQxrVw8E-U25vsiOW5iR28byEslVnSkyvi9Lu/s1600/IMG_8368.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="color: black;">memory card game. This is my <span style="color: magenta;">GIVE AWAY.<span style="color: black;"> I will be happy to send a set of the Memory Card game of your choice to five people who leave comments on my blog. I'll put all your names in a garden pot, and pull out five names. SO <span style="color: magenta;"><i>please be sure to leave your name and email address on your comment so I can contact winners for their mailing addresses and their choice of sets. </i></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: black;"> SO head</span> <span style="color: black;">on to the next blog on the hop. It's been nice having you for a visit. Please come visit again and see how my journey toward a published book is going. I can use your encouragement!! Please "Like" me on FaceBook (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/NancyArnyPiSunyer">Nancy Arny Pi-Sunyer</a>) and think about following my Lenten Journey (<a href="http://lentenjourney2014.com/2014/03/">LentenJourney2014</a>.com). </span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: black;"> Now it's time to hop on to another website. Have fun.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" class="_inlinkzLinksTable"><tbody>
<tr><td class="_inlinkzA">1. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=15791966" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to www.diannevenetta.com ">Dianne Venetta ~ Cozy Mystery/Romance (US)</a> </td><td class="_inlinkzA">37. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=15854009" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to www.staceyjoynetzel.blogspot.com ">Stacey Joy Netzel</a> </td><td><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="_inlinkzA">2. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=15793823" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to calliopeswritingtablet.blogspot.com/ ">Rose Anderson</a> </td><td class="_inlinkzA">38. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=15854902" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to debsanders.com ">Deb Sanders</a> </td><td><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="_inlinkzA">3. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=15793978" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to www.alexa-grace.net ">Alexa Grace</a> </td><td class="_inlinkzA">39. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=15855802" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to authorjanetteharjo.blogspot.com ">Janette Harjo</a> </td><td><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="_inlinkzA">4. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=15794224" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to www.katharinagerlach.com ">Katharina Gerlach, YA Fantasy author</a> </td><td class="_inlinkzA">40. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=15869355" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to www.lorrainepaton.com ">Lorraine Paton (INTL)</a> </td><td><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="_inlinkzA">5. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=15794232" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to jenniferloweryauthor.com/blog-2/ ">Jennifer Lowery</a> </td><td class="_inlinkzA">41. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=15884922" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to amyandthepen.wordpress.com ">Amy Saunders, Chick-Lit Mysteries (US)</a> </td><td><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="_inlinkzA">6. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=15794261" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to www.catherinechant.com/blog ">Catheirne Chant (US)</a> </td><td class="_inlinkzA">42. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=15886824" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to www.jenceywrites.blogspot.com ">Jencey Gortney</a> </td><td><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="_inlinkzA">7. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=15794365" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to www.jdfaver.com/blog.html ">J.D. Faver ~ Bad Girls Need Love Too...(Intl)</a> </td><td class="_inlinkzA">43. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=15888405" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to sandracox.blogspot.com ">Sandra Cox</a> </td><td><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="_inlinkzA">8. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=15794430" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to tjmanderino.webs.com/apps/blog/ ">Tara Manderino (Intl)</a> </td><td class="_inlinkzA">44. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=15897637" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to www.SomeWriters.com ">Alisia Compton</a> </td><td><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="_inlinkzA">9. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=15794551" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to judyswriting.blogspot.com ">Judy Baker, Cowboys and Indian Romances</a> </td><td class="_inlinkzA">45. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=15904514" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to catedeanwrites.com/my-blog ">Cate Dean</a> </td><td><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="_inlinkzA">10. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=15794795" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to authorsharonkleve.blogspot.com/ ">Sharon Kleve</a> </td><td class="_inlinkzA">46. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=15916885" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to livingourfaithoutloud.blogspot.com ">Lisa Lickel</a> </td><td><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="_inlinkzA">11. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=15795607" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to www.sarawalterellwood.com/blog ">Sara Walter Ellwood (US)</a> </td><td class="_inlinkzA">47. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=15928588" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to iyanajenna.blogspot.com ">Iyana Jenna</a> </td><td><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="_inlinkzA">12. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=15796193" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to anna-patterson.blogspot.com/?spref=fb ">Anna Patterson</a> </td><td class="_inlinkzA">48. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=15944176" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to www.jessekimmelfreeman.com/blog.html ">Jesse Kimmel-Freeman (INT)</a> </td><td><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="_inlinkzA">13. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=15798462" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to www.karlfields.com ">Karl Fields (Intl)</a> </td><td class="_inlinkzA">49. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=15975842" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to sheilaseabrook.com/2014/04/07/authors-in-bloom-2014-blog-hop/ ">Sheila Seabrook</a> </td><td><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="_inlinkzA">14. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=15798830" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to scatblogging.blogspot.com/ ">LENA HART</a> </td><td class="_inlinkzA">50. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=15982055" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to www.gracepete.blogspot.com ">Grace Peterson</a> </td><td><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="_inlinkzA">15. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=15800495" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to janiceseagraves.org/ ">Janice Seagraves, author</a> </td><td class="_inlinkzA">51. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=15982594" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to NancyArnyPi-Sunyer.blogspot.com ">Nancy Pi-Sunyer</a> </td><td><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="_inlinkzA">16. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=15807193" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to gemmajuliana.com/authors-in-bloom-hop-april-2014 ">Gemma Juliana</a> </td><td class="_inlinkzA">52. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=15997321" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to ElenaWill@wordpress.com ">Elena Williams</a> </td><td><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="_inlinkzA">17. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=15812538" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to victoriaadams.blogspot.com ">Victoria Adams</a> </td><td class="_inlinkzA">53. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=16021942" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to scandaliciousstories.blogspot.com/ ">Scandalous Stories</a> </td><td><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="_inlinkzA">18. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=15812608" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to myeroticnotions.blogspot.com ">Daryl Devore</a> </td><td class="_inlinkzA">54. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=16024869" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to www.anindieadventure.blogspot.com ">L.A. Sartor</a> </td><td><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="_inlinkzA">19. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=15812980" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to jeanaemann.net/ ">Jeana E. Mann, New Adult Romance</a> </td><td class="_inlinkzA">55. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=16053133" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to www.bloominthyme.com ">BloominThyme</a> </td><td><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="_inlinkzA">20. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=15819471" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to www.jenniferbchambersauthor.blogspot.com ">Not Neccesarily In That Order</a> </td><td class="_inlinkzA">56. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=16256317" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to www.margaritamatos.com/ ">Margarita Matos (UF & Romance)</a> </td><td><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="_inlinkzA">21. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=15820570" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to brendamaxfield.wordpress.com/ ">Brenda Maxfield's Smart and Sassy Teen Reads (INT)</a> </td><td class="_inlinkzA">57. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=16256522" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to lisa-chalmers.com/blog-2/ ">Lisa Chalmers</a> </td><td><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="_inlinkzA">22. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=15821101" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to elizabethmckenna.com/my-blog/ ">Elizabeth McKenna</a> </td><td class="_inlinkzA">58. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=16256857" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to dianeburton.blogspot.com ">Diane Burton</a> </td><td><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="_inlinkzA">23. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=15821275" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to www.hasomerled.blogspot.com ">H. A. Somerled</a> </td><td class="_inlinkzA">59. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=16259302" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to rebeccajclark.blogspot.com ">Rebecca J. Clark</a> </td><td><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="_inlinkzA">24. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=15821662" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to susanaellisauthor.wordpress.com ">Susana Ellis</a> </td><td class="_inlinkzA">60. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=16262808" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to www.victoriapinder.com ">Victoria Pinder</a> </td><td><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="_inlinkzA">25. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=15822288" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to aileenfish.com/blog ">Aileen Fish</a> </td><td class="_inlinkzA">61. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=16268281" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to www.lovebychocolate.blogspot.com ">Zelda Benjamin</a> </td><td><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="_inlinkzA">26. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=15823734" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to www.cherylbolen.com/ ">Cheryl Bolen</a> </td><td class="_inlinkzA">62. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=16268646" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to www.elizabeth-allen.com ">Liz Allen (US)</a> </td><td><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="_inlinkzA">27. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=15828689" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to elizabethrosenovels.com ">Elizabeth Rose</a> </td><td class="_inlinkzA">63. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=16272104" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to stacyjuba.com/blog/posts/ ">Stacy Juba's Characters at a Crossroads</a> </td><td><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="_inlinkzA">28. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=15832483" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to lalisonheller.com/ ">L. Alison Heller</a> </td><td class="_inlinkzA">64. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=16272607" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to jenniferconnerwriter.blogspot.com/2014/03/authors-in-bloom-blog-hop.html ">Jennifer Conner Romance Author</a> </td><td><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="_inlinkzA">29. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=15832488" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to www.eleanormoran.co.uk/u-s-books/#.U0KafyJOXq5 ">Eleanor Moran</a> </td><td class="_inlinkzA">65. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=16273613" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to iamareader.com ">I Am A Reader</a> </td><td><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="_inlinkzA">30. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=15833352" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to kcmaguire.com/book-blog.html ">K C Maguire</a> </td><td class="_inlinkzA">66. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=16274700" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to www.darcyflynnromances.com ">Darcy Flynn (US)</a> </td><td><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="_inlinkzA">31. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=15834011" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to www.mindyhardwick.wordpress.com ">Mindy Hardwick, Author</a> </td><td class="_inlinkzA">67. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=16281834" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to www.cassandralshaw.com/twysted-blog ">Cassandra L Shaw</a> </td><td><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="_inlinkzA">32. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=15834538" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to www.kmccullough.com/kblog ">Karen McCullough</a> </td><td class="_inlinkzA">68. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=16475742" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to www.authorjanetteharjo.blogspot.com/ ">Janette Harjo</a> </td><td><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="_inlinkzA">33. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=15834788" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to michelle-abbott.weebly.com/ ">Michelle Abbott</a> </td><td class="_inlinkzA">69. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=16504307" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to www.louisamack.com ">Louisa Mack</a> </td><td><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="_inlinkzA">34. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=15840186" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to www.twocandobooks.wordpress.com ">Mary Laudien</a> </td><td class="_inlinkzA">70. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=16833417" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to featherpenstartandreams.wordpress.com/ ">Melanie Macek</a> </td><td><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="_inlinkzA">35. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=15840500" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to aubreywynneauthor.wordpress.com ">Aubrey Wynne</a> </td><td class="_inlinkzA">71. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=16833450" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to www.acozyreaderscorner.com ">Tiffany Schlarman</a> </td><td><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="_inlinkzA">36. </td><td><a class="_inlinkzA" href="http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=15853764" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Go to kimberlykcomeau.blogspot.com/ ">Kimberly K. Comeau</a> </td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Nancy Arny Pi-Sunyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14464491657657748512noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759607498955342160.post-45545750161515816462014-03-16T14:40:00.000-07:002014-03-16T14:43:16.643-07:00The Art of Waiting: What to do while a publisher holds your fate in his/her hands Three or four months is a long time to wait. From all reports, this is a standard when submitting an unsolicited book proposal. Many of us have had a lot of practice waiting this year: waiting for winter to move on, waiting for ice to melt, waiting for the first signs of spring. I have been filling the days since I mailed proposal #2 with a lot of work. It's been 16 days. No word, even of the publisher receiving it. But I am not just sitting around waiting.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcvUjtitrTQsQ-U9sPhopi8Yls7ePjHlnEyY3Gjd3uzjl2Q2RHF5vk4yUliM7aG5qljh5n-HhmMIQ9Gw5u-H5JoWudWqwrCLRQXY6bovpJ2g6cp80Vr7al61HNXRTbDJvZF7f3yk9sQ_gE/s1600/IMG_4953.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcvUjtitrTQsQ-U9sPhopi8Yls7ePjHlnEyY3Gjd3uzjl2Q2RHF5vk4yUliM7aG5qljh5n-HhmMIQ9Gw5u-H5JoWudWqwrCLRQXY6bovpJ2g6cp80Vr7al61HNXRTbDJvZF7f3yk9sQ_gE/s1600/IMG_4953.JPG" height="194" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #38761d;">Looking For Spring</span></i></td></tr>
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<br />
One of many things I am working on now is a Lenten series of drawings and mini-essays. If you are interested you can find it on my website at <a href="http://www.pi-sunyernaturally.com/">www.Pi-SunyerNaturally.com</a>. This is really quite a project, as it requires me to identify a topic, research it, write an essay, and draw an illustration on every one of the 40 days of the Lenten season. <br />
<br />
Some days, the inspiration comes immediately, it's easy to find information and reference photos on-line and the drawing flows smoothly off the tip of my pen. Other days, it is a real struggle to identify an appropriate topic. I've read more of the Gospel of Matthew this week than ever before. I guess I will dip into Mark, <br />
Luke and John's versions of Christ's life to see if I find more inspiration next week.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg9cREo4Mp3tedS7Cywipu0FIiyqJXeaSpPyEfIBcOsqGXc3T0STcA0Y6CLV93ZZyz4g9rLfnMJomNc7ucZL6icN0iNF32p4u61XpbxC0HYFFIHiuOftULSo28IBrSQ6wlpCSP2LffDI2A/s1600/IMG_4965.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg9cREo4Mp3tedS7Cywipu0FIiyqJXeaSpPyEfIBcOsqGXc3T0STcA0Y6CLV93ZZyz4g9rLfnMJomNc7ucZL6icN0iNF32p4u61XpbxC0HYFFIHiuOftULSo28IBrSQ6wlpCSP2LffDI2A/s1600/IMG_4965.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #38761d;">Faith Like a Mustard Seed</span></i></td></tr>
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So far, for the first 10 days, I have been successful at finding and researching topics. One day I chose the "art" part to be the art of cooking, and took a photo of the Malta Lenten cookies that I baked. The recipe is shared on my website, and I highly recommend it to my readers. The cookies are delicious, if quite a bit of work.<br />
<br />
This entire project is, actually, a lot of work, but I think it is a valuable exercise. One of the topics I almost chose, and still may, are the related terms "disciple" and "discipline". The Lenten series requires substantial discipline. To get it all done every day, and posted both on my FaceBook© page and my web page, takes a lot of time. Still, I am learning much about my faith, the world and natural history. I am also polishing my illustration skills. Each day, I remember a new technique or find a new way of blending colors or producing shading. <br />
<br />
So I am growing as a disciple (a follower of Jesus), as well as growing in discipline. Both words have roots in the word which means "student," so I am studying every day of my journey.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvIajMUCD60HM0xiIWtVkWWEsL-ewICzyeFGDbWJuBU7be1PukBHISiOyLRDRb7OzCqFC1w73eiDdxLOKua-X2COySq47TMwjzfkpuQt_KErFXk-THbyY6KXHpMdrsBoB0dDJWtGde99dG/s1600/IMG_4893.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvIajMUCD60HM0xiIWtVkWWEsL-ewICzyeFGDbWJuBU7be1PukBHISiOyLRDRb7OzCqFC1w73eiDdxLOKua-X2COySq47TMwjzfkpuQt_KErFXk-THbyY6KXHpMdrsBoB0dDJWtGde99dG/s1600/IMG_4893.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><i>Count the Crystals of Salt</i></span></td></tr>
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To give you an idea of how the essays and illustrations work together, here is the picture and the essay for day 4.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><span class="userContent"><b>DAY 4 - MARCH 7th - </b>When you Google “Lenten Symbols”, one of the
more intriguing items that you will find is the lowly pretzel. What
could this possibly have to do with the lead-up to the most holy of
Christian holy days? <br /> There i<span class="text_exposed_show">s
one claim that in 610 A.D. an Italian monk created pretzels as a reward
for children who had learned their prayers. He calls the strips of
baked dough “pretiola” (little rewards). They were an appropriate treat,
as they were made solely of flour water and salt, thus not including
any of the forbidden ingredients of Lent: milk, eggs, butter or lard. <br />
There is documentation that pretzel shaped pastries have been
used as the emblems of baker guilds in Southern Germany since 1111. The
little treats, known in Germany as “bretzels,” were described as showing
the shape of a child’s arms, folded across the chest in prayer. The
three holes, created by the twisted dough, are said to represent the
Trinity: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. This treat may also be
the origin of the term, ”tying the knot.”<br /> A prayer book used
by Catherine of Cleves in 1440, included an illuminated picture of St.
Bartholomew surrounded by pretzels. By that time, pretzels were
considered a sign of good luck and spiritual wholeness, probably because
of their relation to the Trinity. <br /> Originally all pretzels
were what we now call soft pretzels. According to several sources, the
dry pretzels we now purchase by the bag, were a result of a baker in the
Pennsylvania town of Letitz, who left his pretzels in the oven too
long. The upside of this dried product was that they lasted longer and
so could be sold further afield.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="userContent"><span class="text_exposed_show"> Waiting: for spring, for ideas for topics, for the yard to dry so I can start gardening, for my laundry out on the line to dry, for days warm enough to really enjoy walking, to hear about my book. It will all happen. The laundry may be dry already. Five days til spring on the calendar. Thirty more days of Lent. And how many days til the rest? I'll just keep working, and learning and trying to grow, like the snowdrops in the garden, that waited under ground all winter, and then under the snow, but are now bringing great joy. Spring is just around the corner. Is a book deal? Hope springs eternal. </span></span>Nancy Arny Pi-Sunyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14464491657657748512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759607498955342160.post-73128791807140191942014-02-28T14:44:00.000-08:002014-03-16T12:31:07.202-07:00Submission #2: I'm On Track!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgun6yp5JSgTFDcD68VDjeyJXhH-DlOk1DhjH5_3QowyNPVO99pwPQgkhbn2BIfsKYL-4JxzisO0fhzsEY1nfiSe3qDEcDnNmpca2BgYU9CS3Dwz9IMfd44TdwX6V1-Z-rInQDpEFfPY3Eh/s1600/IMG_4810.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgun6yp5JSgTFDcD68VDjeyJXhH-DlOk1DhjH5_3QowyNPVO99pwPQgkhbn2BIfsKYL-4JxzisO0fhzsEY1nfiSe3qDEcDnNmpca2BgYU9CS3Dwz9IMfd44TdwX6V1-Z-rInQDpEFfPY3Eh/s1600/IMG_4810.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><i>It's In The Mail!</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
The Memorial Post Office at Watchung Plaza closes at 3:00 p.m. At 2:50, after dodging a car that was in as much of a hurry as I, I walked in the door with my new proposal and its accompanying papers, ready to mail. I had to buy one more envelope for the SASE to enclose, but there it was. Ready to mail on February 28th, as planned! I am feeling really good!!!<br />
<br />
When I received the first rejection last month, I pledged to get the proposal out to another publisher by the end of this month. I have worked diligently to research publishers, as well as to improve my project. I have a new set of thumbnail sketches which enabled me to consider the overall design more clearly. I have several new "finished" illustrations. I have revised the text a bit and have created a more polished dummy. I have also carefully chosen to whom to submit it. <br />
<br />
As I wrote on a Post-It© on the dummy, the dummy is not only a model of my proposed book, but it is a window on the process of creating my book. It includes some near-final art work and the near-final text and back matter. There may be more to add, if National Wildlife Federation agrees to let me use their Backyard Wildlife Habitat logo in my illustrations. I need to get the non-disclosure agreement off to them next week. <br />
<br />
While walking the dog with my husband this morning, I mentioned that I am really pleased with all the changes that I have made since my first version. He was kind of surprised, as he didn't think I'd really changed the story. Well, the basic story remains intact, but dozens of small changes have created smoother language, more inviting page turns and more a more compelling overall design and message. The new version is a far better informed piece of work, both artistically and technically.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUA_hs8r6gNrdX4pPokNTHigYTW4bUL7PhS0dHcvS-g5R0ka25HvJbl0IZOMkduOsKr1LuWElUxVfm3F0838S7obnfDpkZbaMHHQkB8RZ-DJ-9ZMoxCIS3FTNdpVt61GlCcnzCMCE9TMqH/s1600/IMG_4804.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUA_hs8r6gNrdX4pPokNTHigYTW4bUL7PhS0dHcvS-g5R0ka25HvJbl0IZOMkduOsKr1LuWElUxVfm3F0838S7obnfDpkZbaMHHQkB8RZ-DJ-9ZMoxCIS3FTNdpVt61GlCcnzCMCE9TMqH/s1600/IMG_4804.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><i>The Old Dummy</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
My earlier dummy was little changed from my original text and dummy. I have now added several pages as well as revising the language on other pages. I have been able to address the issue that one editor brought up last summer regarding point of view. She seemed to think this made the book a non-starter after the first two lines. I think she underestimated readers, but I have now shown the reader who is speaking, through a new illustration. <br />
<br />
The new dummy (version 3) has color on every page and even the rough sketches are more finished. Thought has been given to text placement. I have not yet settled on a preferred font. That is the kind of thing on which I am sure the publisher or editor will provide guidance. I wish I had better technical skills with PhotoShop© so the dummy looked even better, but a dummy is not supposed to be a finished product, so I am not stressing about that.<br />
<br />
It has been a busy week, bouncing from sketching, to drawing, to scanning, to cut and paste, to editing the proposal and accompanying papers. The final product is so worth it. Reading through the dummy before I put the finishing touches on it, felt like I was reading a real book. Hard cover and end papers help, but this version is just so much more "finished".<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioqwsTXfK4wky8p3-5Bm9zCV90Ln4p_jriBY3dWJhsVGPgtpllz-DbuaAlqzX_cqCD5F8sYPL9V1RT8lbzIMA3_QPtti5ikxhQaP4fVNtuT16nKEj6x3Krq_f4EWRuc-54GzUqIEuc4Ja1/s1600/IMG_4807.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioqwsTXfK4wky8p3-5Bm9zCV90Ln4p_jriBY3dWJhsVGPgtpllz-DbuaAlqzX_cqCD5F8sYPL9V1RT8lbzIMA3_QPtti5ikxhQaP4fVNtuT16nKEj6x3Krq_f4EWRuc-54GzUqIEuc4Ja1/s1600/IMG_4807.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><i>Author/Illustrator at work</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The cover letter, along with the dummy, the proposal, the text and background materials were all proofread carefully more than once. <i> SO</i> glad I did this, as I caught one typo in the cover letter, three space glitches in my profile and a wrong date for my M.S. Hopefully I caught all the errors.<br />
<br />
If you are following me and my journey, please cross your fingers for me, and send up prayers to St. Francis de Sales, who I just discovered is the patron saint of authors and writers. My book deals more with the creatures beloved by the other St. Francis, but maybe with both of them on my side, this exclusive submission will find its way out of the slush pile and into print. <br />
<br />
I'll leave you with this hopeful quote from one of my favorite children's authors. <br />
<br />
“Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the
shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then
listen close to me... Anything can happen, child. Anything can be.”
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―
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/435477.Shel_Silverstein">Shel Silverstein</a>Nancy Arny Pi-Sunyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14464491657657748512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759607498955342160.post-5556388968002425362014-02-15T12:22:00.000-08:002014-02-15T12:22:18.596-08:00Picking a Publisher: The next step in the journeyToo long since I've blogged, but I have <i>not </i>been idle. Nor have I been immersing myself in depression. Maybe a bit too much chocolate has passed my lips, but much good has come of the time as well. I spent a long day at the Montclair Public Library in the children's section.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh7EuMOiSCzk6sgVdJzuC-KCB7vEWYqaI4E7ktWN4Eyic2a9b8taEwqNZqztyn3QiPR-6gWOhPadHifwhpjJ97N1_Dgy8XJ3n281J8BTz5bfcCXOAoRL2oPd667YpVsEwM-HS5Ze0xbC84/s1600/IMG_4670.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh7EuMOiSCzk6sgVdJzuC-KCB7vEWYqaI4E7ktWN4Eyic2a9b8taEwqNZqztyn3QiPR-6gWOhPadHifwhpjJ97N1_Dgy8XJ3n281J8BTz5bfcCXOAoRL2oPd667YpVsEwM-HS5Ze0xbC84/s1600/IMG_4670.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
This charming sculpture greets patrons just outside the Children's reading room. Like this odd couple, I spent a thoughtful day. I spent it reading and analyzing children's picture books and counting books, and researching publishing companies. I had gotten leads through SCBWI and had checked out several companies on the net. <br />
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I now have a new target in my sights. The next company is one which prides itself on publishing "new voices." I read every picture book they published that was in our collection and sent for about ten more on inter-library loan. The books are coming in and I am making great strides in getting to know this company and it's authors and illustrators. I have linked to several on LinkedIn and have checked out many websites and FaceBook pages. What a treasure we have in the Internet, to enable us to "meet" and get know the works of other writers and artists. <br />
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I feel that I will now be able to write a well crafted, well informed letter to submit with my proposal by the end of this month. I know something of the authors and illustrators, their media, their background and experience as well as how my chosen company puts books together. I was thrilled, this morning, to find the first of their picture books with illustrated end papers. This is one thing I am hoping for, as folks have reacted very positively to the illustrated end papers in my dummy. Here is another plus: my chosen company is willing to accept a dummy, which many companies are not willing to do. I have a very nice dummy, but...<br />
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If you read my previous blog, you know that I had just received <u>Writing With Pictures</u> in the mail, and was expecting that it would provide some guidance. I can't recommend this book too highly to any hopeful author/illustrators. As Bonnie Ferrante wrote in the <i>Children's Books Authors and Illustrators Group</i> on LinkedIn, "Uri Shulevitz's book could be a text for a university class." As a result, I have redone my thumbnail sketches and am revising my dummy. So far, I like the new version a lot. It flows more smoothly, and I think the page turns will work more effectively as well. <br />
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My goal is to get the new dummy completed, and perhaps one more "finished" drawing, so I can submit the new proposal by the end of February. It's a short month, but I believe it is doable.<br />
Of course, if Mother Nature would send less snow in the coming weeks, so I didn't have so much shoveling of snow, chopping of ice and feeding of birds and bunnies, I would have more time.<br />
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I have used snow days, when it was too inclement to venture out, to create a new website with some of my art work. I invite you to visit it at www.Pi-SunyerNaturally.com. <br />
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As always, I welcome comments, suggestions or just a simple "Hello."<br />
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Hopefully there will be more art on the website and more progress to report on the dummy in the next week.<br />
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<br />Nancy Arny Pi-Sunyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14464491657657748512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759607498955342160.post-66132896885669513182014-01-26T19:28:00.001-08:002014-01-26T19:28:11.915-08:00My FIrst Rejection LetterIt is interesting to note that if you Google "First Rejection Letter," it yields 43,100,000 hits. Although several thousand of these entries deal with rejections from colleges (or preschools), or bank loan applications, a substantial number of them are related to letters of rejection from publishing companies to people like me. So, should I feel comforted that I am not alone? Or should I be depressed that I'm one among a throng of millions? <br />
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125 days after I submitted my proposal for a picture book to a publisher in New York, I received my very first real rejection letter. My literary and artistic creation has been rejected!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1OK2a9GFlGUixUim-Dd7XbU6IwzaYmxOxji6FhWk7stYufvbWspBZXY5M946PqCW7ysloboQuiUnSM9Kg-5X_kLW81YkFyYBddPuk-1lm3bHCPuCDF9J9HaN5yphBZsPE1zVy-TW4Fhmc/s1600/IMG_4648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1OK2a9GFlGUixUim-Dd7XbU6IwzaYmxOxji6FhWk7stYufvbWspBZXY5M946PqCW7ysloboQuiUnSM9Kg-5X_kLW81YkFyYBddPuk-1lm3bHCPuCDF9J9HaN5yphBZsPE1zVy-TW4Fhmc/s1600/IMG_4648.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a>After an extra-large hot chocolate (with and extra shot of cocoa), a huge bowl of buttered popcorn and five pieces of chocolate candy (including two I snitched from my husband's chocolate orange) I sought consolation in a more positive way. Reading through some of the really brutal rejections received by many authors (and non-authors) I decided that I was better off than most. When you read the 1912 letter sent to Gertrude Stein, or the one George Orwell received ("It is impossible to sell animal stories in the United States"), I feel quite good about my letter.<br />
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My rejection was phrased very encouragingly. The letter from the Vice President /Editorial Director "...Appreciated the informative style that teaches about animals and nature..." The animal examples I chose "are appropriate and would be engaging for young readers...". Unfortunately, as the country song (sort of) says "I came along one [manuscript] too late." The publisher has just signed another picture book, which mine is too reminiscent of. Sigh!!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Mitten The Mouse</i></td></tr>
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I will take to heart the advice from the "Smart Nooks for Smart Kids" blog by Debbie Glade.<br />
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1. Don’t quit when somebody rejects your work; keep trying.<br /> 2. Know that all people who accomplish great things take risks.<br /> 3. Believe in yourself<br /> 4. Be realistic. Educate yourself about the process.<br /> 5. If your story is good, know that somewhere out there, there’s a person who will read it, love it and publish it.<br />
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Yesterday a book I ordered came in the mail. It's called, <u>Writing With Pictures</u>. It looks as though it is filled with good advice for artist/authors like me. I will spend time with it this week. I will continue working on my art work, and explore the publishing process. It is time to select the next company to which I will submit my proposal. I DO believe in myself, and I believe in this book. Who knows what the next 125 days will bring?<br />
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I am confident that - at the very least - they will bring more polished illustrations, a good deal of frustration and anxiety and clearer insights into a good many publishing houses, their requirements and publishing lists. My days at the library and book stores will be filled with exploration of books that have the feel of mine, so that I can find a company that shares my philosophy and appreciates my story, my message and my art work. My job is cut out for me.<br />
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I will get by, with a little help from chocolate, and a supportive network of family and friends, all of whom, I know, have faith in my book, and who continue to cheer me on on this journey.<br />
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Oh! And I will set up a notebook called "Rejections." I'll let the letters live their, and not let them take up residence in my mind or my heart. <br />
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<br />Nancy Arny Pi-Sunyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14464491657657748512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759607498955342160.post-17694847219497126022014-01-14T09:18:00.003-08:002014-01-14T09:18:24.182-08:00IS IT A SHORT STORY OR A MEMOIR? Expanding or Contracting a Great Idea.I have a story that's been running around in my mind, in my heart and on my computer for several years. Three or four years ago I screwed up my courage enough to share it at the local writers group Open Mike Night. I had had to cut it down to 5 minutes after I arrived at the meeting. Not knowing that The Write Group has a strict time limit before I arrived, I edited out what I could. It still went 8 minutes, <i>but they didn't cut me off.</i> That was when I knew that this story was something special. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKe7irxlQS8d1Uq1vDuxKg7O6O_vJHDGSXU3RjjMxsCABhAUbAtllon1HOLxqFRElNQhlXNsPNxHhTJna1d1R2xtDPxjZ2q6SwO_P_ju7brwWb8gtk97ysUfJrnsaJi-_7bMQ-wKZi07XI/s1600/IMG_4583.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKe7irxlQS8d1Uq1vDuxKg7O6O_vJHDGSXU3RjjMxsCABhAUbAtllon1HOLxqFRElNQhlXNsPNxHhTJna1d1R2xtDPxjZ2q6SwO_P_ju7brwWb8gtk97ysUfJrnsaJi-_7bMQ-wKZi07XI/s1600/IMG_4583.jpg" height="200" width="140" /></a>I've written three or four more versions of the story since then. I've committed myself to getting it to a publisher this year, or possibly self publishing it, but now I am in a quandary. Every time I re-approach it, I find another part of the story that begs for more detail. Do I simply breeze over the Spanish Civil War by mentioning a few of the more famous battles, or do I provide one or two in-depth scenes, introducing specific characters and revealing the true horrors of life in that time and in that space? Should I provide my readers with a clear picture of the dangers and deprivations of homesteading in the Big Bend region of Washington Territory in the 1880s, or simply pass it by with "She had homesteaded in Western Washington when she was a girl..."?<br />
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Will readers really care to be pulled into a Victorian living room to watch me cutting out paper dolls and listening to family stories? Do they want to know how I met my husband?<br />
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A few of my readers will be all too familiar with the dreadful and delightful details. Others will not have a clue. Is it my job to tell the story to those who know the setting and some of the characters, or is my mission to reveal an entire set of worlds to unknown readers who have never hear of Catalonia or Washington Territory?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgM176NGQE5gdfOjz-42Cmk1yXJ-7cUA1bPAx82J-LROSJuHi-Al2f6m2BFe0zFKf_j-gsxMPv1J-BzBtqzJjdqwB-bsWxv7m7Et2gccm6vn9ZY4X7KXyFG4wq7YMn0__ujsSLlGdBaWHU/s1600/IMG_4577.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgM176NGQE5gdfOjz-42Cmk1yXJ-7cUA1bPAx82J-LROSJuHi-Al2f6m2BFe0zFKf_j-gsxMPv1J-BzBtqzJjdqwB-bsWxv7m7Et2gccm6vn9ZY4X7KXyFG4wq7YMn0__ujsSLlGdBaWHU/s1600/IMG_4577.jpg" height="200" width="138" /></a>Yesterday, between reading "Character", "Plot", "Dialogue" and "Set Design" in <u>Bird by Bird</u> by Ann Lamott, I delved into <u>Auntie Kate </u>by Katharine Garford Thomas, a distant cousin. I located my - as yet unread - copy of <u>History of Catalonia</u> by Jaume Sobrequés i Callicó.<br />
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Anne Lamott is advising me to tell more: to let my readers get to really know my characters. I like this idea. I'd love everyone to know Grandmother Arny and Uncle Vin and Big Lina and all the rest of us. But is it too much?<br />
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtLc8zmPrjVhOMCB1D9kqdO7HESu0sjfkTC5zDoY-mzivgJQQsSD6JqHJ6Xtw-1eLD7ev7zyA17PBBH3x0l2mkfinOk4d1MFj2LmRfy75itXtNUsz-wjBSZD17o_C0-jX4K54CK600otZk/s1600/IMG_4581.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtLc8zmPrjVhOMCB1D9kqdO7HESu0sjfkTC5zDoY-mzivgJQQsSD6JqHJ6Xtw-1eLD7ev7zyA17PBBH3x0l2mkfinOk4d1MFj2LmRfy75itXtNUsz-wjBSZD17o_C0-jX4K54CK600otZk/s1600/IMG_4581.JPG" height="200" width="128" /></a>If the story worked so well in 8 minutes, will I spoil it by making it 8 hours long? Or will I open the hearts and minds of my readers to events they never knew of, and to truths they have not discerned?<br />
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I'd love to hear from you, to know what you think.<br />
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Meanwhile, I'll keep reading Ann's book and skim through the history book, and maybe see if I can talk with a relative who crossed the steep mountain passes from Spain to Toulouse, France or Skype with a family member who was there, on the docks in Le Harve in 1939.<br />
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I really would appreciate your thoughts on this.Nancy Arny Pi-Sunyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14464491657657748512noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759607498955342160.post-64354854280333201962013-12-29T17:21:00.001-08:002013-12-29T17:21:15.821-08:00Decluttering for Creativity's Sake - New Year Thoughts for the Author/Illustrator<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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2014 is the year I WILL become a published author. How do I know? Because the publisher that is currently holding my proposal for a children's book has promised to get it moving early in the new year. If this doesn't happen, I will send it elsewhere. While I work on being patient with publishers, I will continue working on other projects, including possibly self-publishing a wonderful story, for adults, that is just about ready to go. It's a story of love and of war and of how two families became one, through a series of amazing coincidences. <br />
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But where will I work? My studio, which has doubled as a guest room and Santa's workshop over the holidays, is totally out of control. The lovely new pencils and sketch books I received for Christmas have no place to call home, and I can't find the right papers to move on with my illustrations for the book that is under consideration. When I get the call, I need to be ready to get back to work on illustrations. Clutter has taken over... again!<br />
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I thought I'd try a few strategies for clutter control that I found in the Internet. Since much of the clutter from the studio was moved to another bedroom to make space for company, I thought I'd attack that room, which HAS seen the light of day in the past month. A bed full of clutter from the studio disappeared in less than an hour. I turned on some music, set my phone alarm for 30 minutes,<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzcsklr-SqOxnAVf8217ShrnY3ySteX5IN_F5XHcXiIeEvUNlIBZpLsuqoopOEWhyphenhyphenGd5zS7GnXSehCbpYfvf4TFz_vpFhGpW1LhbKzw9g2m35bBAcfmgHT_e8GbeUHvTHEKYoPxjglYQ8Y/s1600/IMG_4365.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzcsklr-SqOxnAVf8217ShrnY3ySteX5IN_F5XHcXiIeEvUNlIBZpLsuqoopOEWhyphenhyphenGd5zS7GnXSehCbpYfvf4TFz_vpFhGpW1LhbKzw9g2m35bBAcfmgHT_e8GbeUHvTHEKYoPxjglYQ8Y/s320/IMG_4365.JPG" width="320" /></a> and got to work with one bag for recycle, one for trash and another for donations. Everything that was on the bed is now in a proper bag or is located where, or near, where it belongs in the studio or various closets. It took less than an hour.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCg3krIJ3jQqO7b91j0pf46VZMGNN_ISRR3Wd0luysZSt3A_M7PJ0d0iXsAktf41j64RM6SjOFnidyfTlXIsFsVDIvC1Cu4pZdBpV3qwP_2AIJ8wLtLBN1h1iYd2snbVzUBxpg8SyxLN_o/s1600/IMG_4373.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCg3krIJ3jQqO7b91j0pf46VZMGNN_ISRR3Wd0luysZSt3A_M7PJ0d0iXsAktf41j64RM6SjOFnidyfTlXIsFsVDIvC1Cu4pZdBpV3qwP_2AIJ8wLtLBN1h1iYd2snbVzUBxpg8SyxLN_o/s320/IMG_4373.JPG" width="320" /></a>While clearing up this clutter, I also came up with some possible strategies for the studio. I see now that I need bins or shelves for the many types and sizes of paper, page covers and laminating pockets I use. I also need bins or boxes for materials for different projects: genealogy, the current book, two up-coming books, the foundation I run and my card-game business, Copy-cology (c). It is clear that I need some type of shelves in the closet to organize wrapping paper, fabrics, gift bags and various craft supplies. <br />
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I also need to work at getting rid of things I don't need and letting go of things that have emotional glue all over them. Today I managed to let go of a number of papers, including the networking plan I created for a university class I used to teach and a crossword puzzle I created for that class. The new year needs a new mind-set. If I created those things 16 years ago, I can certainly create the same things or better ones now. Some of this material might be on an old computer, but accessing old files is yet another challenge for the year ahead. One of the lines I loved from the Internet pointed out that, if your home is full of clutter, there isn't room for all the good things you want in life. <br />
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So tonight I will plan and search for organizing tools, and tomorrow (before the new year even begins) I will attack the studio and make it mine once more. Then I will begin to polish "The Mexican Blanket," and work on illustrations for my children's book. The author/illustrator will be back on track for 2014: the year my first book is published!<br />
<span id="goog_1106064339"></span>Nancy Arny Pi-Sunyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14464491657657748512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759607498955342160.post-80183841295936505082013-12-04T19:50:00.003-08:002013-12-04T19:50:59.136-08:00Holiday Herald - The Art of Christmas at My House<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX7XEELk9iYL8wLDhV7uuDPnRUfLrJEDkSvWVkpBVuG-813BU3RBfSLwmhj_IqKAl3eAf4HpAVImgDHRpZdj12deH1T1kGgejpsouQB3P1CBVFpVfDXAbIl6la19QZk-nc_q_m1dLVFyni/s1600/IMG_5296.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX7XEELk9iYL8wLDhV7uuDPnRUfLrJEDkSvWVkpBVuG-813BU3RBfSLwmhj_IqKAl3eAf4HpAVImgDHRpZdj12deH1T1kGgejpsouQB3P1CBVFpVfDXAbIl6la19QZk-nc_q_m1dLVFyni/s320/IMG_5296.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<b><i>Of all the arts and crafts projects I have ever created</i></b>, I think my Advent banner is the one of which I am most proud. During a particularly difficult December about 33 years ago, I made this banner from scraps of felt and bits of craft materials I found in my sewing basket. Finances were tight that year, and I made do with what I could find. The banner, itself was ready on the first day of December, but many nights I stayed up late piecing together the ornament for my son to put on the tree the following morning. A few were patterned after pictures I found in magazines or books, but most were <i>works of heart.</i><br />
The Advent banner has hung in my homes in four states, and traveled with my son and me when ever we went "...over the river and through the woods to Grandmother's house." It is <i>a constant in my Christmases</i>, whether a child or a spouse shares the trimming of the tree each year. I was deeply touched when my husband's niece called to ask for pictures of it, as she wanted to recreate it for her niece and nephew. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZGoVb66MVFEoQlLokFj1Gc9ZbqZ2VSuiMq6k0RjjSEhQBE1mjOa-cOiyq4WHjXsocZyS2PT4-FltkEbHOCO-9odto9H0ZK9EG9BS63Xr7_ksoB_C38xiCNybrSFw5_NDuEcBlZtMlMKmY/s1600/IMG_3498.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZGoVb66MVFEoQlLokFj1Gc9ZbqZ2VSuiMq6k0RjjSEhQBE1mjOa-cOiyq4WHjXsocZyS2PT4-FltkEbHOCO-9odto9H0ZK9EG9BS63Xr7_ksoB_C38xiCNybrSFw5_NDuEcBlZtMlMKmY/s320/IMG_3498.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Holly, Jolly Dragon</td></tr>
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It's fun to choose the ornament each day from the bright red basket with it's cheery holiday bow. Some have special significance. The sleigh with a gift in it always goes up on my son's birthday, which falls on St. Nicholas Day. I usually put the wreath ornament up the same day I put the evergreen wreaths on our doors. The snowflake is added the day of the first December snowfall, and the tree on the day we put up our tree. Santa arrives on the tree on December 24th, and the star goes atop the tree on Christmas morning. So, in a way, the banner is the diary of our Christmas preparations.<br />
We have a drum for the drummer boy, a lollypop, a candy cane, a gingerbread boy and a Christmas mouse. More spiritual symbols include an angel, one of the abiding shepherd's sheep, a candle, a sprig of holly and an evergreen wreath. Santa, a toy train, a teddy bear<br />
and the Cat-in-the-Hat's hat are joined by dinosaurs,<br />
a trumpet and a bell.<br />
For the crafters among you, the ornaments are<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg0o6H6NQ2BWZPQtUJhH4EcMmgZA0bx8KbZTeG-pAVlwe6SR6ycI7TT-UQYRefUkzMWxuopuZmYturUlNHu_LoGh3ovkGo0JvzO-_6cwLUtZQvxb6jfHFF4xdpQuhp20S1w5qX_u4fM8vg/s1600/IMG_3517.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg0o6H6NQ2BWZPQtUJhH4EcMmgZA0bx8KbZTeG-pAVlwe6SR6ycI7TT-UQYRefUkzMWxuopuZmYturUlNHu_LoGh3ovkGo0JvzO-_6cwLUtZQvxb6jfHFF4xdpQuhp20S1w5qX_u4fM8vg/s320/IMG_3517.jpg" width="286" /></a>stuck to the tree with Velcro (c) dots. Before it is fully dressed, the dots are white balls on the tree. They are interspersed with shiny snowflakes sewn to the tree. Each ornament is slightly stuffed with batting to give is a 3-D look. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqsbtsELOqCTWqGmZOkNMDvBUdyepyWFtjWwSoGTVbaBfX0x3FDrpUCni2njFQVDcWlQ4p9wHrNbfpqTaqHycaZiBsx7s-FkGpScX7N9FnGoIp9aIii_TSGDq7uuj_boqJo78sAroYRmzs/s1600/IMG_3505.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqsbtsELOqCTWqGmZOkNMDvBUdyepyWFtjWwSoGTVbaBfX0x3FDrpUCni2njFQVDcWlQ4p9wHrNbfpqTaqHycaZiBsx7s-FkGpScX7N9FnGoIp9aIii_TSGDq7uuj_boqJo78sAroYRmzs/s200/IMG_3505.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmasaurus</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"></td><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZUxyjdNHbUGFnLK8VsXktIB2sDI5lNMEfxTN2xfO6wRKs2f1YcWiVrc1fDWUz0IkvLjn8QgrIKv0v2dATp-0-db7eYLb8czuP-VntQD2PN-Xm2onrpJygmpVv1SF9wBplBrV1AmM3nZ3i/s1600/IMG_3511.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZUxyjdNHbUGFnLK8VsXktIB2sDI5lNMEfxTN2xfO6wRKs2f1YcWiVrc1fDWUz0IkvLjn8QgrIKv0v2dATp-0-db7eYLb8czuP-VntQD2PN-Xm2onrpJygmpVv1SF9wBplBrV1AmM3nZ3i/s200/IMG_3511.jpg" width="199" /></a></td></tr>
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Each ornament is about 2 inches high. Some have googelly eyes. Some include bits of ribbon or bells. Each is hand stitched with love and stuck together with craft glue and affection. This is a treasure that I hope will become an heirloom for future generations.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggWrSl9jlVxDHIrxOi6rrKRPdha_dM_k6ILUl5FJsAN40oH38pNWVnoV3poxobthpTAJFIrXT606iRehqKoKhb1fIAKMpSWWMZquu58S68rGQ04q4oHpjjbFZqt2D-SUCauk_bhh4S221r/s1600/IMG_3488.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggWrSl9jlVxDHIrxOi6rrKRPdha_dM_k6ILUl5FJsAN40oH38pNWVnoV3poxobthpTAJFIrXT606iRehqKoKhb1fIAKMpSWWMZquu58S68rGQ04q4oHpjjbFZqt2D-SUCauk_bhh4S221r/s200/IMG_3488.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stuffed Teddy</td></tr>
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So in the days and weeks ahead, as we continue to dress the house for the holidays, write Christmas cards and letters, listen to hymns and Christmas songs, and read beside the fire, the banner, created for my little boy, will be a constant reminder that the days are drawing nearer to the special<br />
day when we received that most<br />
special gift: Jesus, the Christ Child. <br />
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As I wait til after the holidays to hear more from my publisher about my book proposal (I got another encouraging email this week) I plan to work on another story which I think I will self-publish. I will get back to work on my illustrations and, of course, create a Christmas letter for my husband and me to send to family and friends. I will also create some new Christmas decor, and bake dozens of cookies and batches of granola. The Longest Night is closing in on us, and I will endeavor to fill these short days with creativity and the spirit of the season. <br />
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Nancy Arny Pi-Sunyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14464491657657748512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759607498955342160.post-87371095560955228432013-10-15T13:30:00.000-07:002013-10-15T13:30:01.033-07:00Stories are Calling to Me...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-i7y0RDUiuwTIPTwxzmf1qEwSPxyirU71oZYkGUJ8ylDHTEb0XADUdwhnbXsd21uGAV92Wb5ES8HFPrCVxCNaBIpklo96g3-NxClIbLKvbUrvl1NGH_XQ9khEUHJxsvM7ZhrnjjjGGuwQ/s1600/IMG_2890.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-i7y0RDUiuwTIPTwxzmf1qEwSPxyirU71oZYkGUJ8ylDHTEb0XADUdwhnbXsd21uGAV92Wb5ES8HFPrCVxCNaBIpklo96g3-NxClIbLKvbUrvl1NGH_XQ9khEUHJxsvM7ZhrnjjjGGuwQ/s200/IMG_2890.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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Sometimes, it's nice to just let the wind blow your creative spirit where it will. As I wait to hear details from the publisher, I continue to stir up new stories in my mind. This morning's email in-box contained a message from Liz, who just may become one of my new best friends. She was writing to let me know she has read my text and seen my illustrations and is moving the process on. "It's a lovely story with beautiful illustrations!" She tells me the team will be reviewing my book proposal and she will keep me posted. Can you hear me smiling????? I signed my return email to her, "Hopeful Author-in Waiting." Keep your fingers crossed for me, please.<br />
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This last weekend was a picture-book-perfect weekend in Vermont. We drove up Friday for the annual barn dance at Olivia's Crouton Kitchen. If you don't know about <a href="http://www.oliviascroutons.com/" target="_blank">Olivia's Croutons</a>, check them out on line. They are the yummiest, and Francie, Olivia's mom, has come up with new gluten-free versions of croutons, crackers and stuffing mix too. Francie is our niece and we LOVE going up to the farm she and David live and work on. The traditional croutons are made in the barn at the farm, and each year, on Columbus Day Weekend, they hold a barn dance for family, friends and neighbors. We figure there were over 200 folks there this year. Great food, great fellowship and a wonderful time to be in Vermont. The weather was magnificent and you could have fooled me that the foliage was past peak!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr8mYuuWZcnd5NwOaz5PxUjvGbDIk4kYYU0d9GLzFN2OEdxVqEccQvOMGDKO8TqHAi4rA5DjX0sA5WjhNAQgx6LkwA-l1_LXH5LuvFygRvyhpgB-I9JjvT89ugmbTxkgVLp8vA4Go4ZlAO/s1600/Our+Animal+Friends.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr8mYuuWZcnd5NwOaz5PxUjvGbDIk4kYYU0d9GLzFN2OEdxVqEccQvOMGDKO8TqHAi4rA5DjX0sA5WjhNAQgx6LkwA-l1_LXH5LuvFygRvyhpgB-I9JjvT89ugmbTxkgVLp8vA4Go4ZlAO/s200/Our+Animal+Friends.jpg" width="145" /></a>Francie and David's farm reminds me SO much of one of the books I most loved reading to my son: <u>Our Animal Friends at Maple Hill Farm,</u> by Alice and Martin Provensen. After my boy was grown up, I spent years looking for a hardcover copy of this (before Google made such searches simple). All day on Saturday, as we were working to get everything ready for the barn dance, I kept glimpsing perfect images for a picture book, and overlaying them with illustrations from this classic in my mind. The dogs, the chickens, the horses, the fall colors and pumpkins and sunflowers. I am SO ready to sit down and write the story that Francie gave me the title for. I won't tell you any more about it, except to say that this is the title character. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXrKeh7cO7TmAw71cHV2OtK7XHhMB_JSWmCc6N-Nt5YvLwvo5cEbw8sflgPz6RKxdVlskiuymCkY-Xi0TZTxmZTKKuYru_r2QUZuoXE8f2tYAqz90k3EjnvkXTvyN73PGXE33Cy0dtfVcV/s1600/IMG_3014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXrKeh7cO7TmAw71cHV2OtK7XHhMB_JSWmCc6N-Nt5YvLwvo5cEbw8sflgPz6RKxdVlskiuymCkY-Xi0TZTxmZTKKuYru_r2QUZuoXE8f2tYAqz90k3EjnvkXTvyN73PGXE33Cy0dtfVcV/s200/IMG_3014.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
My camera was busy clicking all day and well into the evening. As we gadded about purchasing pumpkins and searching for sunflowers, collecting chrysanthemums, getting gourds and investing cash in Indian corn, I was collating colors, tracking text , creating context and conflict and beginning the book in my brain. SO much fun!!<br />
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Here are a few images which one day you may see in illustration form in my new classic. (Oh let me dream!!! I KNOW I'm so far ahead of myself, but if I can dream it, I can do it! Right?)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJoKvPu_9A0MXrrfKEDyBpOJ5Bhfx2aZM2JYlLdraONRhlFs9kcdKbMkvZrRITS5Z3D-BbBna-KwiFLKBsSBnDYA7gVtgNccRXylJ5AsNuTTyVuLbWfu_Kb3do1NuOJsnBbShzXlLftYew/s1600/IMG_2761.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJoKvPu_9A0MXrrfKEDyBpOJ5Bhfx2aZM2JYlLdraONRhlFs9kcdKbMkvZrRITS5Z3D-BbBna-KwiFLKBsSBnDYA7gVtgNccRXylJ5AsNuTTyVuLbWfu_Kb3do1NuOJsnBbShzXlLftYew/s320/IMG_2761.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Welcome to the Barn Dance</td></tr>
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We never did find mums, so I arranged corn stalks, sunflowers, a bit of sumac and the pumpkins. Great nieces and nephews spent the morning carving jack-o-lanterns that lined the path to the barn doors. A pot of petunias from the patio lent a bit more color and, "Viola!" Martha Stewart couldn't have done better. <br />
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The Provensens wrote about each animal on their farm. We had chickens and roosters wandering at will. Amazingly none of the five dogs (three visiting pooches including our Mugo, and Rufus and Maggie who live on the farm) chased the little feather balls, but the great nieces and nephews found a stash of eggs in the hayloft. The two horses quietly watched the action, between nibbles of grass and handfuls of hay. Pigeons were displaced from their perches in the upper barn and we swept and cleaned and disinfected places where food and folks would be congregating. Fairy lights were lit in the barn and while the musicians got their equipment set up, and company began to arrive with pans of pork and casseroles of coleslaw, containers of cookies and plates of pies, we set out the spiral hams, the rolls and mustard. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEialczlxWsMimVk6XAEKtM4qlxGnLbtabVSPG8WD__kqbSaSx7kDIKptzWkjgNPUr0084gSIEHU81gFSevs5IGInjQBGOBbAc8znTw-CJz06hRTfi3o4DrkdOyL4nwXXiI7P1KQt3yN59-F/s1600/IMG_2870.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEialczlxWsMimVk6XAEKtM4qlxGnLbtabVSPG8WD__kqbSaSx7kDIKptzWkjgNPUr0084gSIEHU81gFSevs5IGInjQBGOBbAc8znTw-CJz06hRTfi3o4DrkdOyL4nwXXiI7P1KQt3yN59-F/s320/IMG_2870.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pastoral Pasture</td></tr>
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As the long day of preparation drew to a close, the evening of entertainment opened. That barn was full of so many stories, so many characters and incredible food, family and friends, that "I could write a book!" doesn't even begin to cover it. Traditions in rural America are the stuff of so many classics, we'll just have to hope that the bookshelves have room for one more. It's on its way. SO don't expect me to be raising my hand to volunteer for much this year or next. I have a mission! The stories are out there calling to me: begging me to write them down and to share them with you. SO here goes...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXg46roKMdoA3QCzQi3nBPO1C1hVWdrBLFrz84Vyg0nz8Tek98byPYx4qkgXvVO_yM0K_tWhuS2LZG2GJva9ZVoTh7LEtGOIswH0HUKD90-wtyH-ht2urrbUBTpUcfixO7ngKZF2F_QLWz/s1600/IMG_2787.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXg46roKMdoA3QCzQi3nBPO1C1hVWdrBLFrz84Vyg0nz8Tek98byPYx4qkgXvVO_yM0K_tWhuS2LZG2GJva9ZVoTh7LEtGOIswH0HUKD90-wtyH-ht2urrbUBTpUcfixO7ngKZF2F_QLWz/s320/IMG_2787.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the Cusp of the Barn Dance.</td></tr>
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Nancy Arny Pi-Sunyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14464491657657748512noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759607498955342160.post-91197690453286700962013-10-04T19:38:00.003-07:002013-10-15T13:32:03.721-07:00While I Wait... Keeping Skills Sharpened<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXoEuWGQd-sLGVJDxGHO5BKFMXL7HRth3VENRWs_KHWwDNLMvZT4Igm1Bh71PylDKkhyphenhyphenY825o0AHroMTqOu_2W_rOTyhzG1eurYwHJ18rj40Fy2vYgi0PQZ7ncDTlltJOYuexu9eLOxc7o/s1600/1_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXoEuWGQd-sLGVJDxGHO5BKFMXL7HRth3VENRWs_KHWwDNLMvZT4Igm1Bh71PylDKkhyphenhyphenY825o0AHroMTqOu_2W_rOTyhzG1eurYwHJ18rj40Fy2vYgi0PQZ7ncDTlltJOYuexu9eLOxc7o/s320/1_2.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div>
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While I wait to hear from a publisher, I am keeping busy and trying to keep creative juices flowing. 'Have spent lots of time in the yard, around the laundry lawn, weeding, watering and doing general fall clean-up. Our scarecrow, Jeremiah, has returned for another season, and the October decor in the yard is coming in to focus. Some other visitors to our yard this week have included a preying mantis, downy woodpeckers, robins, a golden-shafted flicker, several types of warblers and a great blue heron, which may save me the trouble of setting up an aquarium indoors for the gold fish from the pond. I think the circle of life is turning here at Tongueslip. My 6 year-old giant goldfish, Draino, has not been seen for several days. He may be flying over New Jersey wetlands in a new form. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqUr-vF3gu7AmJJr24Q8KYHW3NrjQ-0mK5XA4CiCj0cP2n1OnRsNcD_tdJIyePu9-t_bgqs_632jM0VgmkcLLWyKuKKjK7gbEpjK0_ujZsa8SFlZszBAhyphenhyphenf3io7qVLlRxzJ_w3E0DnOVep/s1600/IMG_2470.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqUr-vF3gu7AmJJr24Q8KYHW3NrjQ-0mK5XA4CiCj0cP2n1OnRsNcD_tdJIyePu9-t_bgqs_632jM0VgmkcLLWyKuKKjK7gbEpjK0_ujZsa8SFlZszBAhyphenhyphenf3io7qVLlRxzJ_w3E0DnOVep/s320/IMG_2470.jpg" width="240" /></a>Jeremiah II is the latest version, created to replace the original that teenagers swiped from the yard year before last. This version is fairly well secured, and we'll hope he stays with us at least through the Christmas season, when he will don his Santa hat and a warm scarf. I couldn't resist the LED pumpkin. We saw one in a neighbor's yard last week (even before October arrived) and when I saw it at our local hardware store, my 20% off coupon called to me. My patient husband smiled when I marched home with it after I went to check out the non-functioning orange lights for the fence. Since I only needed a new fuse, rather than a new string of lights, it seemed reasonable to spring for the pumpkin. It is so <i>lightful!</i><br />
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Writing this week has been focused on the program for the 61st Ole Bull Music Festival. The event takes place on the 26th of this month, in Galeton, Pennsylvania, and I have much writing and designing of ads to do. Last night I did an abbreviated retelling of the story of King Hakkon of Norway and his escape from the Baglers. I discovered a charming rendition of this story by <span class="tagline">Lise Lunge-Larsen, </span>with lovely illustrations by Mary Azarian. Look for <u>The Race of the Birkbeiners</u> at your library or independent book seller.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBIOKfDtgidnldaFRfyNVanmzhpk7C4pJKEm9YltpRBhAoGOJFCo6yDblkHW2mFZIiEmKOXqBceBNSz6DVoPD-6BS0SRJrb3JxXv4sf2d4usQN2BbtPv7BsNcv6GAOEYo1U8eIsIoGMS6I/s1600/birkebeiners.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBIOKfDtgidnldaFRfyNVanmzhpk7C4pJKEm9YltpRBhAoGOJFCo6yDblkHW2mFZIiEmKOXqBceBNSz6DVoPD-6BS0SRJrb3JxXv4sf2d4usQN2BbtPv7BsNcv6GAOEYo1U8eIsIoGMS6I/s320/birkebeiners.jpg" width="254" /></a></div>
I try to fill the festival program booklet with information and trivia about Norway, and the history of the Oleana Colony that violinist Ole Bull tried to establish in Potter County, PA. Although the colony failed, it sowed seeds of music in the ridge and valley provinces of the Commonwealth. The program this year includes a retelling of the saga of Hakkon, a list of words we use that have Norwegian roots and some troll tales. Check my website, SpunkyNorwegianFoundation.com for more on this topic.<br />
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From trolls to Brownies... Brownie Scouts that is! This week I had to create a Kaper Chart for my Brownie/ Jr.Scout troop. Kaper Charts are a Girl Scout tradition, designating assignments to be done by each Scout at a meeting or at camp. My chart defines the responsibilities of each job and allows for the movement of girls from one job to another. The avatars for each girl were colored by them after I drew three versions of Brownies and Jr Scouts. The girls colored them at the last meeting and they are now laminated and have Velcro (c) dots so they can be moved from one job to another.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggdJMQtgEBI9SXDY-HpVZGjCXztX7Vv6lkG3vtvY6sXei_kr4nBeyV_4EkwpmqBEJ0Q_wMQLMJZd9jMdXhkrUF86dWCc-TiwU9LtlkLve2BFcnvYFKldel9UWjzE5MsZu-tAA9Rwei5Soh/s1600/IMG_2461.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggdJMQtgEBI9SXDY-HpVZGjCXztX7Vv6lkG3vtvY6sXei_kr4nBeyV_4EkwpmqBEJ0Q_wMQLMJZd9jMdXhkrUF86dWCc-TiwU9LtlkLve2BFcnvYFKldel9UWjzE5MsZu-tAA9Rwei5Soh/s400/IMG_2461.JPG" width="400" /></a> I'm pretty pleased with how this projected turned out. It also proved to me that I can draw people (if not overly realistic ones) so maybe I can get on with a new picture book I am considering. The idea was generated following a creative meeting with one of my friends and cheerleaders, Andrew. Following a productive chat with him, I am seriously thinking of revamping a chapter book I wrote and turning it into a picture book. So creative juices are still flowing and the always inspiring beauty of autumn nature in the Northeast is energizing me. <br />
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'Hoping all my readers are keeping up with THEIR creative projects too. This season is a wonderful one for finding inspiration. If you haven't read this one, although it is a week late, please take time to enjoy one of my favorite seasonal verses.<br />
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<i><u>By Helen Hunt Jackson (1830-1885)</u></i><br />
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<b>SEPTEMBER</b><br />
THE golden-rod is yellow;
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The corn is turning brown;
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The trees in apple orchards
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With fruit are bending down.
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The gentian's bluest fringes
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Are curling in the sun;
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In dusty pods the milkweed
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Its hidden silk has spun.
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The sedges flaunt their harvest,
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In every meadow nook;
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And asters by the brook-side
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Make asters in the brook,
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From dewy lanes at morning
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The grapes' sweet odors rise;
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At noon the roads all flutter
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With yellow butterflies.
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By all these lovely tokens
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September days are here,
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With summer's best of weather,
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And autumn's best of cheer.
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But none of all this beauty
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Which floods the earth and air
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Is unto me the secret
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Which makes September fair.
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'T is a thing which I remember;
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To name it thrills me yet:
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One day of one September
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I never can forget.
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<br />Nancy Arny Pi-Sunyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14464491657657748512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759607498955342160.post-54165223855758625172013-09-20T19:34:00.000-07:002013-09-20T19:34:07.011-07:00Making the Deadline: Submitting the proposal<h2 style="text-align: center;">
HEY WORLD!!</h2>
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I SUBMITTED MY BOOK PROPOSAL TODAY! </h2>
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I had set September 20th as my personal deadline to submit my proposal to a publisher. Today, on 9/20/13 I dropped hard copy of my proposal at a publisher's and also sent the proposal via email. SO now the waiting begins. </div>
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Since my last blog-post I redid two illustrations and completely reformatted one page using PhotoShop. I bought the program this week, and my friend Maddy showed me the basics. It really is amazing what it can do, even without an experienced operator!</div>
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I learned how to make pages, how to erase, how to add and edit text, how to work on layers. It's really a super tool. I thought that technological applications had no place in my hand drawn art. But it's so neat the way that you can modify a drawing, move elements around, copy all or segments of a drawing. For example, this box turtle can now be introduced into other pages than the one on which he was originally drawn. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsq3O3ceOciRgPf42tutlJgD4AIXeEjJwa-ChkfoGwBoWJIcLoc-Y9OfCV7ptkqwN2lMNqP5KHuoNKYIiDNIUZQTRI85Vu5iXvLRqs6J6xtKmBI08tELUgCjAfvZErJiBEmTDclDnoCK_H/s1600/OceTDS-6245_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="115" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsq3O3ceOciRgPf42tutlJgD4AIXeEjJwa-ChkfoGwBoWJIcLoc-Y9OfCV7ptkqwN2lMNqP5KHuoNKYIiDNIUZQTRI85Vu5iXvLRqs6J6xtKmBI08tELUgCjAfvZErJiBEmTDclDnoCK_H/s200/OceTDS-6245_2.jpg" title="Box Turtle" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Box Turtle</td></tr>
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He was on a page that was originally formatted to be vertical, but now the page is horizontal. I was able to redesign the page in a few minutes, rather than having to redraw eleven images. I was even able to re-size things to better fit the new format. PhotoShop is still a mystery to me in many ways, but it has saved me hours of work and it was certainly a big part of what allowed me to meet my deadline. <br />
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So what now? I have submitted a proposal. I know that it will be weeks - or more probably - months, before I hear back from the publisher. So what will I do while I wait? This weekend and next week I will focus on other projects: the program for the Ole Bull Music Festival, creating my fall garden and making a kaper chart for my Girl Scout Troop. But the following week, I plan to get to work on other illustrations for my book. </div>
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It has become clear to me that, just as the text improves with each revision, so the illustrations become more finished with each iteration. Every time I work with pen or pencil, I find new ways of making the illustrations come to life. Working on the same drawing over a period of time allows the drawing to evolve. I see the early versions of some of the pictures and I wonder that I thought they were pretty good. Now I see how very much better they have become with repetition and revision.By the time the book is published, I hope that they will be something to truly enchant my young readers.</div>
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I will also continue searching for pictures on line and in nature to use as references. </div>
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Photos like this one of dew on clover will help me to improve the drawing of clover wet with dew. I will continue to study other artist's work. My dear friends Gene and Ashley just sent me a wonderful book called <u>Show and Tell</u> by Dilys Evans. It promises to provide hours of enjoyment and many revelations about other artists and their work in illustrating children's books. There is so much to learn!<br />
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I'll be busy reading for the Book Fair, gardening, Scouting and working for The Spunky Norwegian Foundation, but I'll be on the lookout for emails or letters so I can report to you on the next stage in writing and illustrating a Caldecott winning book. <br />
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Til then, I will work on polishing my writing, my illustrations and my patience. I expect they will all be stronger by the time I hear "Yay" or "Nay."<br />
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Nancy Arny Pi-Sunyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14464491657657748512noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759607498955342160.post-6892602697198922902013-09-09T18:35:00.001-07:002013-09-09T18:35:39.416-07:00What Keeps Me From WritingIt's 9 days into September, and I am not much further along with my writing and illustrations than I was on the 1st. What is my problem? In a word, overcommitment.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stave Church at the Ole Bull Museum</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
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Planning for my Girl Scout troop, volunteering at the library, working on a variety of projects for The Spunky Norwegian Foundation, keeping up two of my three websites (1963Mounties.com and SpunkyNorwegianFoundation.com), blogging, FaceBooking and reading for the book fair. It all takes time. I think I need to do less FaceBook, to start with. Unfortunately many of the other projects are in crunch mode, or will be if I don't keep up with them. Sigh! Less TV will help too, but a lot of my time on TV is multi-tasking doing email/FB or blogging while keeping one eye on the U.S. Open, "Who Do You Think You Are?" or other faves.<br />
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Today at the library, I picked up another book to read for the book fair and told my friendly librarian, Nola, how much I had enjoyed two others I've read this week. For those who don't know me personally, I have served as the Book Fair Ambassador at the school where I used to teach, for the past four years. This involves reading as many of the books we'll be selling as possible, so that I can help students find books they will enjoy reading. So far this year, I've read 46 books, including 10 for the book fair. I have eight more books in my fair pile so far, and have read a lot of the other books we'll be selling in previous years, so I'm doing reasonably well on that schedule. I have 'til the beginning of November to get really into the mode. Of course, by then, I also have to come up with a cool costume to go with the theme "Reading Oasis". Suggestions are welcome!<br />
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Nola said I should blog on the books I liked, so, Nola, this one's for you.<br />
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The books I read are ones featured by Scholastic on their Book Fair website, best-sellers from a variety of book lists, or books that our committee chooses as "special orders" for a variety of reasons, including that the authors are visiting our school. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkkoe0hAzLQwyVbByZlJaNNtB_0dM6yK0YbTH2Y1LrGEfcq1FNEQhw58vvv6EKMDggP_g-IjvvRyO5fGsx5t0KlOX7qGQ9tmv4R99E69TJYMmLMcQkt4__t-jYCQ8NL_UPSc8o7QesQ-0F/s1600/9780670012893_p0_v1_s260x420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkkoe0hAzLQwyVbByZlJaNNtB_0dM6yK0YbTH2Y1LrGEfcq1FNEQhw58vvv6EKMDggP_g-IjvvRyO5fGsx5t0KlOX7qGQ9tmv4R99E69TJYMmLMcQkt4__t-jYCQ8NL_UPSc8o7QesQ-0F/s200/9780670012893_p0_v1_s260x420.JPG" width="118" /></a><br />
I have noticed that many of the books have quite different themes from past years. <u>Hold Fast</u> by Blue Balliette and <u>Almost Home</u> by Joan Bauer, both deal with the topic of homelessness. In our current economic situation, it seems like a very important topic for young people to be able to read about, since they, or their friends or classmates may very well find themselves in this situation at some point. Both books handle the situation with great sensitivity and are more thought-provoking than depressing or worrying. I enjoyed both and look forward to meeting Blue and hearing about her writing when she visits our fair in November<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAGW6C409-PYkC5MAqc4gEIEvJxRgnEabNiTzGla9NYk5EQC3bZ5CdILHtDryY1X89mx3LwhdLWEy4-R1OGMPpfMi2ZDzBxZHB0cN707FjK49A6EcXX6nhu9of-Ks7dtK4iXZoOM5rPu0n/s1600/6609765.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAGW6C409-PYkC5MAqc4gEIEvJxRgnEabNiTzGla9NYk5EQC3bZ5CdILHtDryY1X89mx3LwhdLWEy4-R1OGMPpfMi2ZDzBxZHB0cN707FjK49A6EcXX6nhu9of-Ks7dtK4iXZoOM5rPu0n/s200/6609765.jpg" width="121" /></a> The two books I read this week that particularly struck me were <u>Out of My Mind</u> by Sharon Draper and <u>Aristotle </u><u> and </u><u><u>Dante </u>Discover the Secrets of the Universe</u> by<span style="color: #444444;"> Benjamin Alire Saenz. The first is about an eleven year old girl with cerebral palsy. While it is a novel, it clearly reveals much of the reality of life with this dreadful disease: how it effects the individual and his/her family, as well as how others perceive the wheel-chair-bound person. It helped me to better understand our church-friend, Joseph and his frustrations in trying to communicate with me and others. It has made me much more aware of the concerns and challenges facing special needs students in schools everywhere. This book would be an awesome book-club pick for students in communities or schools with CP students or others who are being mainstreamed. </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEire7gaKPqsSyuFqUKtZ4MW3plzGZha5A1ClEAs_-7To3Ccrta3vdIxK9cEu01ToxiJcXO89lW3W3JWFjf5bd-O2L1_GFuYBtyqHObZ7b1TGrEXyCT9JEtPQZtB20EPncjsf1HBeJvORc-I/s1600/12000020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEire7gaKPqsSyuFqUKtZ4MW3plzGZha5A1ClEAs_-7To3Ccrta3vdIxK9cEu01ToxiJcXO89lW3W3JWFjf5bd-O2L1_GFuYBtyqHObZ7b1TGrEXyCT9JEtPQZtB20EPncjsf1HBeJvORc-I/s200/12000020.jpg" width="112" /></a><span style="color: #444444;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;">Dante and Aristotle, in the second notable book of this week, are teenaged residents of El Paso, Texas. Both are loners, until they meet at the swimming pool one summer and Dante volunteers to teach Ari to swim. This is an extremely sensitive coming-of-age book with a gay-self-discovery twist. A great read for boys who are trying to figure out those big secrets of the universe: Who am I? What is love? Where do friendship and loyalty fall in the greater scheme of things? What is the place of family secrets in a teen or a grown-up world? </span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;">There are so many wonderful books out there!! I better quit blogging and get busy making another one!! Let me know what you think of these books. I'd love to hear from you. </span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><a class="authorName" href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4841310.Benjamin_Alire_S_enz"><br /></a></span>Nancy Arny Pi-Sunyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14464491657657748512noreply@blogger.com0