Friday, December 31, 2010

Auld Lang Syne

  Well, it is my last blog post of 2010.  For me 2010 will always be the year that I began to take my writing seriously and I joined the blogosphere.  Let's raise a glass and toast the year that was, and the one that lies ahead.  Here's to a happiest new year and the possiblities it holds!
A few resolutions for 2011, in no particular order:

Write more
Blog more
Attend an SCBWI conference
Continue to build, grow and nuture relationships within my writing community
Be a more attentive, affectionate and giving girlfriend
Write something I truly love and am proud of
Lose the self-doubt, worry, anxiety
Be more open. Less afraid
Be a better friend
Read more
Do something that inspires & challenges, everyday if possible
Believe in the possibility of publication, and do everything I can to get there!

CHEERS

Sunday, December 12, 2010


On the Twelfth day of Christmas Francis P. Church wrote to me:

"Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The external light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.
Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies...
Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived could tear apart. Only faith, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives and lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay 10 times 10,000 years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood."
~ Yes, Virginia there is a Santa Claus

 

"And God bless us, everyone!"
~ Tiny Tim, A Christmas Carol 

Merry, merry Christmas 

Saturday, December 11, 2010


On the Eleventh day of Christmas Santa said to me:

"This bell is a wonderful symbol of the spirit of Christmas - as am I. Just remember, the true spirit of Christmas lies in your heart."
~ The Polar Express

Friday, December 10, 2010


On the Tenth day of Christmas Bob Wallace (Bing Crosby) sang to me:

"If you're worried and you can't sleep,
just count your blessings instead of sheep
and you'll fall asleep counting your blessings..."
~ White Christmas

Thursday, December 9, 2010


On the Ninth day of Christmas Linus said to me:

"I never thought it was such a bad little tree. It's not bad at all, really. Maybe it just needs a little love."
~ A Charlie Brown Christmas

 

Wednesday, December 8, 2010


On the Eighth day of Christmas Kris Kringle said to me:

"Oh, Christmas isn't just a day, it's a frame of mind... and that's what's been changing. That's why I'm glad I'm here, maybe I can do something about it."
~ Miracle on 34th Street

Tuesday, December 7, 2010


On the Seventh day of Christmas Rudolph sang to me:

"Oh by golly have a holly, jolly Christmas this year!"
~ Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

Monday, December 6, 2010

On the Sixth day of Chrsitmas the Grinch narrator said to me:

"And what happened then? Well, in Whoville they say that the Grinch's small heart grew three sizes that day. And then - the true meaning of Christmas came through, and the Grinch found the strength of *ten* Grinches, plus two!"
~How the Grinch Stole Christmas



Sunday, December 5, 2010

On the Fifth day of Christmas Buddy the Elf said to me:

"We elves try to stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns and syrup."
~Elf

and because I couldn't pick just one:

"The best way to spread Christmas Cheer, is singing loud for all to hear."

Saturday, December 4, 2010

On the Fourth day of Christmas Aunt Bethany said to me:

"Is your house on fire, Clark?"
~Christmas Vacation




Friday, December 3, 2010

On the Third day of Christmas Ralphie Parker said to me:

"I want an Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two-Hundred-Shot Range Model Air Rifle!"
Santa Claus: "You'll shoot your eye out, kid."
~A Christmas Story



Thursday, December 2, 2010

On the second day of Christmas Kevin McCallister said to me:

"This is extremely important. Will you please tell Santa that instead of presents this year, I just want my family back. No toys, nothing but Peter, Kate, Buzz, Megan, Linnie and Jeff. And my aunt and my cousins. And if he has time, my Uncle Frank. Okay?"
~Home Alone

 

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

  Happy December! And warmest holiday wishes to all!

I love, love, love Christmastime and to joyfully welcome the season I will be quoting my favorite Christmas movies for the first twelve days of December.

On the first day of Christmas George Bailey said to me:

"What do you want? You want the moon? Just say the word and I'll throw a lasso around it and pull it down. Hey. That's a pretty good idea. I'll give you the moon..."
~ It's A Wonderful Life



Thursday, November 25, 2010

Thankful Thoughts

  Happy Thanksgiving!! I love this holiday, and this year there is much to be thankful for.  I am thankful for my new writing family that has grown out of Peggy Anderson's writing class.  I feel blessed to have gotten to know such insightful, intelligent and supportive fellow writers, who have helped me to grow immensly as a writer myself, and for that I am truly grateful.  And of course I am eternally thankful for my family, friends and followers whose endless encouragement and love keeps me moving forward and reminds me that passions are always worth pursuing.  With love, appreciation and gratitude, I wish a happy holiday to all!



“You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.”

~Walt Disney, Entrepreneur and Dreamer

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Rejected

  Uggghhhhhh. No matter how many times it happens, the rejection process never gets any easier.  It feels like getting dumped- dumped in the most impersonal, heartless way ever, over email.  What's worse is that the rejection just came from "Intern." That's all it said in my inbox. You know its bad when you get a form rejection letter from the intern. No critique, no notes for improvement from the editor, just straight forward- No thanks your work sucks! Ok, ok not quite that straight forward, but it tends to feel that way. Its awful. I really had high hopes for this particular work and thought I had found the perfect fit in the publisher I chose. So, I'm just feeling a little down, dejected and rejected today.  Ok, a lot down. Plus, I have to go to my last writing class tonight and tell them the news that I won't be getting published any time soon. Bummer way to end :(

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Kiwi & Chirp

  The latest story I've just begun working on revolves around a kiwi bird and his best friend.  Now if only I could figure the story out...

who cares about the story, look how cute!

  Happy November!  (Where has this year gone?)

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

"Come on, we've got a diem to carpe!"

~Flint Lockwood, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
  Just mailed out another manuscript, this time to a local publisher.  I would so love to see this particular story out in Seattle gift and bookshops and especially in classrooms around Washington!  Hoping the publishing gods will love it as much as I do :)

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Spooky Stories

 
 
  With Halloween just around the corner, I'm feeling the spirit of the holiday and wanting to share some of the scarier books I loved to read at this time of year when I was a kid.  I must have checked out In a Dark, Dark Room and Other Scary Stories by Alvin Schwartz every Halloween from the school library.  The Green Ribbon story in it is still burned in my memory, probably because the girl's head is only held in place by that titular ribbon.  I also distinctly remember my second or third grade teacher reading Bunnicula to us and being totally spellbound.  As a kid I was easily frightened but I loved to be scared! It was enthralling, mysterious, and spine-tingling fun.  One winter my family and some friends spent time in Lake Chelan and I remember cozying up in bed as the snow fell outside, and my dad telling us young girls a ghost story.  He was a great storyteller, and that night he told us the story of The Hook Man- now, I can't remember much about it, except two teenagers being trapped in a car hearing the eerie, foreboding scrape of metal against the car doors and windows as the Hook Man approached, and we were petrified. I mean full on crying, sleeping with the lights on terrified! and we loved it! The more we shrieked and screamed the better.  And that's what Halloween fun is all about.
  Wishing you all happy haunting and more treats than tricks!



  P.S. other repeated check-outs included R.L. Stine's Goosebumps series, plus Three Books to Chill Your Bones: Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark/ More Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark/ Scary Stories 3: More Tales to Chill Your Bones...

"Come live with me and be my love,
And we will all the pleasures prove..." 

~Christopher Marlowe

  Just moved in to a new place with my wonderful boyfriend of four years, Tim.  It's tiny but looks out on Elliot Bay, the Olympics and the ferry boats, which I love!  Here's to home sweet home

  I stole this quote from a family I used to babysit for in grade school. They lived just down the street from me, so I started babysitting for them before I could even drive.  They were the kind of family that had tons of interesting pictures, magnets, quotes and clippings stuck to their refridgerator and after the kids had gone to bed, I'd wait up for the parents to get home, hanging out in the kitchen with only a tiny black and white television with no stations for entertainment. So instead of watching that, I would read every single thing posted on their fridge. And this quote was at the very top, it was tiny and cut out of some old newspaper and just taped there, could almost have been skipped over. But I found it and I loved it. I memorized it and decided that when I had my own home I would use it too. 


Tuesday, September 28, 2010

My favorite book this week

 Anything Toot & Puddle.  These two pigs are so cute and sunny, their lighthearted stories and lovely illustrations just make me feel warm and cheerful!



  Also, just read Mo Willems' Knuffle Bunny Free, the last of the Trixie trilogy and actually got a bit choked up!  Mo's fantastic sense of humor and warmth is sentimental in a genuine, non-cheesy way, which is refreshing and heartwarming at the same time. A joy to read :)


 

  I am back from my ahhhhmazing Hawaiian vacation and have my first writing class tonight.  I'm a little ashamed to admit that I basically took the summer off from new writing.  I revised and tweaked a lot of material I already had, but unfortunately I have nothing new to offer up in class tonight :(
 Here's hoping that inspiration and motivation begin flowing in abundance once I am in a focused classroom setting again!

Friday, September 10, 2010

"The cure for anything is salt water- 
sweat, tears, or the sea"

~Isak Dinesen

Island Dreaming



I am leaving for Hawaii on Tuesday for 2 whole weeks!   First, to Maui for a girlfriend's wedding and then to Oahu to stay with friends.  I last went to Hawaii with all of my best friends for our high school senior trip, and those same girls are now all going back together, nearly 10 years later!  Rainy fall has come early to Seattle and I am very excited to extend my summer and bask in the sun once again.  Unfortunately, I will be missing the first regional SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators) meeting, as well as my first writing class, which I am very bummed about.  But the islands of aloha are calling...

Thursday, September 9, 2010

My favorite book this week

 
  I came across Imogene's Last Stand one day this summer at the wonderful Secret Garden Bookshop in Ballard.  The story follows the young, feisty, and passionate history-buff Imogene in her struggle to save the historical society building that has been abandoned and unappreciated by her New Hampshire town.  I loved this story immediately, especially for its unique incorporation of famous quotes from important historical figures.  I actually got chills while reading about Imogene's efforts to stand up for what she believes in, fight for a cause close to her heart, and ultimately prove that even the young and small can make a difference.  Seeing this kind of strong, independent female lead character was so heartening, I bought the book the second I finished it!  An inspiring read for girls (and boys!) of any age and one I think is great for a classroom. 
  I'd love to hear about other's favorite picture books you're into right now as well...

Monday, September 6, 2010

Eat, drink and be merry...

Spent Sunday at the Gorge seeing Dave Matthews Band, such a fantastic live show in an amazing setting!

"To change the world,
Start with one step.
However small,
The first step is hardest of all...

If you give, you begin to live"

~You Might Die Trying
#4 in Sunday's setlist

Friday, September 3, 2010

  "Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart."  
 
~William Wordsworth

Library Day


 
  As a kid attending St. Matthews School in Seattle I remember loving library day.  I think it was every Thursday afternoon that our class would line up quietly and head down the hall to the coziest place in the whole school. 
  I loved library day because it meant the librarian, sweet, little Mrs. Rutzel with her neat white bun would sit us all down on the carpet and we'd have story time. 
  I loved library day because it meant shelves and shelves of unexplored books, most too advanced for me at the time, but I liked to imagine reading them when I was old enough.  (Specifically, I remember the wall of Nancy Drew books- I was always drawn to The Secret of the Old Clock, of course for the intriguing picture on the front.  As a kid I totally judged a book by its cover :) 
  I loved library day because it meant freedom to choose whatever our hearts desired and check it out ourselves- a small moment in our adult-run lives where the decision was ours alone.  (It was still the old-school system then, of handwriting your own name on the card and getting a date stamp!) 
  Most of all though I loved library day because it meant seeing my mom, who was a library helper volunteer and so every Thursday afternoon I was lucky enough to see her at school! (keep in mind this was kindergarten or 1st grade, before the preteen years of your parents being too totally emabarssing to be seen with in public.)  I remember feeling like it was the biggest treat in the world to have my mom there.  Getting a hug from mom in the library was just such an enveloping feeling of total warmth, comfort and love.  I wish everyone the sweetness of a Library Day.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Big day! I just mailed my unsolicited manuscript out into the publishing world.  My hands were actually shaking as I very carefully put my story into the envelope.  Hoping the much researched publisher I chose was the best fit!  Who knows what the future will hold, but I do know that success belongs to those brave enough to go after it.  Crossing my fingers, wishing on a star and just sending positive thoughts out into the universe for all kinds of good luck to come this way...

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

"And by the way, everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt."

 ~Sylvia Plath

The Magic of Writing for Children

  I just signed up for my second writing class with the wonderful Peggy King Anderson, The Magic of Writing for Children (Intermediate/Advanced)!  Taking this class last spring was the single greatest step forward I took with my writing.  Before Peggy's class I hadn't let a single soul read my stories- it was such a solitary process and I was terrified to share something so personal and close to my heart.  The first time someone else reads your story aloud to a class full of critiquing students is beyond nerve-racking. Let's be honest, everytime is nerve-racking!  Even as my heart beats overtime and I find myself holding my breath listening as another voice recites the words I know by heart, when it is all over I experience such an amazing sense of liberation.  Writing is so much better when it is a shared, communal adventure embarked upon together with those who support, encourage and inspire you and your work.  Peggy's class truly is a joy and her warm, enthusiastic, nurturing demeanor makes writing for children absolutely magical!
Check out her blog http://soundfrommyheart.blogspot.com/and website www.peggyking.com
  We had such a fantastic group of students last time around, I hope to see you and all your stories again this fall!

Thursday, August 26, 2010

  "You become.  It takes a long time.  That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily or have sharp edges or who have to be carefully kept.  Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off and your eyes drop out and you get loose in your joints and very shabby.  But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand." 
~The Velveteen Rabbit


Beloved Books


  Thinking back on the books of my childhood, I remember this particular one, The Teddy Bears' Picnic, as my absolute favorite picture book.  I remember being completely spellbound by the idea of children dressing up in bear costumes and frolicking in the forest for a day.  I loved every detail of each illustration, I loved the text that was also a song, I loved the wonderfully whimsical, magical tone of the story.  
  I'm curious to know which picture books were favorites for others growing up, which ones evoke distinct memories, which ones still touch your heart...?



p.s. Anyone else remember Jenny Linsky?  She was another favorite of mine..   

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

  Me and my roommate, Kahly, who encouraged me to start blogging!  It is her dog Lexie, (well she adopted/dognapped sweet Lexie from her sister) who was the inspiration for my story Pixie: The Min Pin Pillow Princess.  More on that story coming soon... :)


"Happiness is
a climbing tree."

~Charles M. Schulz


Armchair Memories

  When my sister, cousins and I were very young, before bedtime at Grandma's house, my Grandpa, who we call Papa, would sit us on his lap in his big, cozy armchair and read stories to us from this old book.  The book was so loved by us and our parents before us that the pages were clearly worn and falling out from so many readings.  I have the fondest memories of those times in Papa's chair, and I can still hear his rich, deep voice bringing the stories to life. 
  Our favorite story was one called "Quack!" Said Jerusha which tells the tale of a little duck's charming adventures as she grows up and soon has ducklings of her own.  Seeing those illustrations again reminds me of how vividly the images captivated me as a child.  I am beginning to realize now that some of my most favorite memories from childhood are those in which the people I loved read to me.  It truly is the best way to instill a beautiful sense of wonder and imagination, spark creativity, open hearts and minds, and broaden horizons to the vast possibilities around us.  Thanks to all the storytellers!

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Sing a Song of Washington

  An excerpt from my prose poem of Washington's designated state symbols, such as our state bird...

This is the state, the Evergreen State.
Where the rhythm of the rain beats steady and pure.
Wild wonders abound, from mountains to Sound,
Come along, Washington awaits!

This is the goldfinch, the Willow Goldfinch.
How sweet is his song as he warbles with joy.
Bright yellow in summer, like a lemon with wings,
Feathers aflutter in a waterfall bath. 

 
This is the frog, the Pacific Chorus Frog.
His throat bubble swells with each croaking love spell.
A small speckled body and blackened eye stripe,
Create a frog in camouflage on damp forest floor.
 
This is the dragonfly, the Green Darner Dragonfly.
Glistening emerald in soft sunlight streams.
With darts and flits, quick, quick, slow,
She dances a waltz with petaled partners aplenty.
 
This is the marmot, the Olympic Marmot.
Calling to friends with a whistling trill.
On hind legs he keeps watch, senses always alert,
Til it's time to burrow down for a long winter's sleep.
 
This is the trout, the Steelhead Trout.
Born to the river, flowing fast and fresh.
The great open ocean summons him onward,
A silvery silhouette in the sea.
 
This is the whale, the Orca Whale.
Mighty and majestic she breaches the waves.
Her pod rolls along with the rhythm of the deep,
Black dorsal fins setting sail on the horizon.
 
This is our state, Washington state.
Our motto is "Alki," a symbol of hope for tomorrow by and by.
Hope for our forests and fields, our meadows and mountains,
To be an evergreen home evermore.

 



Monday, August 16, 2010

"Be glad of life because it gives you a chance to love and to work and to play and to look up at the stars." 
 
~Henry van Dyke

Thursday, August 12, 2010

A year ago at this time I was here, Villefranche, France on the cote d'azur of the French Riviera..

I rented a flat in a tiny medieval hilltop village called Haut de Cagnes, in between Nice and Antibes, and stayed for three weeks, often visiting this lovely seaside town of Villefranche. I meant to go and spend time writing stories, and I did fill an entire journal, only it was all about my everyday experiences and not once did I work on my children's stories! That's how writing goes sometimes, even with the best of intentions you can get sidetracked.  Sometimes, though, it turns out the sidetrack is the right track- who knows, maybe that journal will be a novel one day!

Every Time I Share My Love

Here is a little story I wrote for children about examples of love in our everyday lives...

Every Time I Share My Love
  Every time I share my love, my heart grows bigger. And when my heart grows bigger, I am filled with happiness from the top of my head way down to my toes. It tickles and tingles and delights my soul.
I share my love with my mommy and daddy by giving snuggles, and hugs, and plenty of kisses. I share my love with my brother and sister when we play and laugh and cooperate cheerfully together. Every time I help out around the house, even when no one asks me to, I am sharing my love with my family.

When I gently pet my doggy and scratch his belly, I am showing him how much I love him. When I share my favorite toys or crayons or books at school, I am spreading love around for my friends and classmates to enjoy.

Every time I recycle, or plant a tree, or turn off the water when I’m brushing my teeth, I am sharing my love for Mother Earth. Whenever I lend a helping hand to someone in need, I am sharing my love with humankind. Even when I share just a friendly smile or give my compassion, my respect and my kindness to others, big and small, I am giving love to the world.

Love is the greatest gift one can give and receive. It is more precious than gold or silver or even diamonds. The most amazing thing is that when you share your love, you get more love back in return. The more love you give away, the more love will grow and grow, until one day it just might envelope the whole world!

Every time I share my love, my heart grows bigger. And when my heart grows bigger, I am filled with happiness from the top of my head way down to my toes. It tickles and tingles and delights my soul. Share your love everyday in every way you can and see for yourself!
“Hope is the thing with feathers That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all,”
 
~Emily Dickinson

Treasured Tales

 
  Reading Peter Rabbit with Nellie this morning made me remember how much I loved the world of Beatrix Potter as a child.  I adored Flopsy, Mopsy and Cottontail, Mr Jeremy Fisher, Jemima Puddle Duck, Squirrel Nutkin (such wonderful animal names :) and of course Peter, but for some reason it was the little mouse Hunca Munca that captivated me the most.  In The Tale of Two Bad Mice Tom Thumb and Hunca Munca discover a doll's house and cause quite a ruckus attempting to eat the food and steal the furniture, not realizing that it's all made of plastic.  I remember being so delighted by this story as a child, probably because I had a doll house of my own and thought how funny it would be to have such visitors.  I love how great characters are ageless and can be appreciated and beloved by new generations.

My Victorian dollhouse, built by my Dad and Papa, decorated by Mom and Grandma, enjoyed endlessly by me throughout my childhood 

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

“Anything's possible if you've got enough nerve.” 
 
~J. K. Rowling

Nellie P. Bean

Here is Penelope Jane, (also known as Nellie, Nellie P., Bean, Bugadoodle, etc) the wonderful 3 year old girl I have been lucky enough to nanny for since she was 5 months old!  She is absolutely the reason I rediscovered my passion and love of writing and has provided endless inspiration throughout my time with her.  Love u Beanaloo!

This is a bedtime poem I wrote when Nellie was a baby...

Lullaby Bunny

Goodnight little bunny, goodnight little one.

Rest your head and your eyes, the long day is done.

The blanket of night has spread over the sky,

And now mama will sing you a soft lullaby.

Off to dreamland we’ll drift, in a boat built for two,

Where winds whisper your wishes, so all can come true.

Goodnight little bunny, goodnight little one.

Hush-a-by my sweet love, the long day is done.

Lay your head close to mine and your dreams I will keep,

And tend to them lovingly like flocks of sheep.

Feel our hearts beat as one, as I sing you this song,

Swaddled up in my arms where you’ll always belong.

Come in close and we’ll cuddle and snuggle together,

And mama will love you forever and ever.
  With summer winding down I began feeling a little nostalgic today, and thought about what summer read I really remember enjoying as a kid.  I grew up loving the entire American Girl doll collection (Samantha was always my favorite), but the hands-down best story for me was totally Molly Saves the Day.  Something about the combination of girl power, competition and summer camp made me wish that I could have been Molly for a day!  Maybe I'll go to my parents house, dig that book out of my old closet and remember the greatest of all feelings as a kid~ sweet summer freedom...


make a wish...

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

"Open your eyes to the beauty around you, open your mind to the wonders of life, open your heart to those who love you, and always be true to yourself." 
 
~Donna Davis
Villa Cimbrone
visited in Gatto's Song
Here is the sweeping view from the Ravello restaurant, Il Ristorante Garden, where I found Gatto.

Buon giorno Gatto!

I came across this cat in a restaurant in Ravello, Italy on a family vacation in 2006.  His bright blue eyes mirrored the Mediterranean sea in such a mesmerizing way that the idea of this beautiful Italian cat stayed with me long after the trip.  He is the inspiration for my picture book (I am hoping to one day publish :) entitled Gatto's Song.  Here is the opening teaser...

  Faraway across the sea, up the winding green hills and past the lemon trees, perched high atop the Amalfi coast, is the town of Ravello. And in the town of Ravello, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea is the windowsill where Gatto sings each night.
  Gatto is one of the only singing cats in Italy. He sings for the morsels of fresh fish, the flowers, and the warm applause that adoring guests shower him with after each performance. Most of all, though, he sings for his mother.
  Gatto does not remember much of his mother because they were separated when he was just a young kitten. Italian streets and back alleyways can be cruel at times to stray cats. But, he has never forgotten the lullabies and beautiful opera songs she used to sing to him before bedtime. She would tell him enchanting stories about her time performing with a traveling circus. She could make anything seem glamorous, especially when she sang.
  He sings each night with the hope that somewhere, somehow his mother is listening and one day she will find him.
“To Live would be an awfully big adventure.”  
 
~Peter Pan

Remember...

  Remember that warm feeling you had as a child whenever your parents read to you? How the pictures of your favorite book fascinated you everytime you saw them? Or the way the pages smelled, well-worn with loving, tender fingers?  I remember being captivated by the sweet magic of The Teddy Bear's Picnic, the intricate illustrations of Graeme Base's Animalia, and the gentle loveliness of Elsa Beskow's Children of the Forest and Margaret Wise Brown's Little Fur Family.  Even as a young child my mother would read chapter books to me and my sister.  We'd curl up all together and unfold the mysteries of The Secret Garden, or have wild adventures on the prairie with Laura Ingalls Wilder in On the Banks of Plum Creek. All of these stories instilled in me a lasting sense of wonder and a love of writing for children. My blog is dedicated to sharing stories, imagination, inspiration, and always keeping a pocketful of sweet dreams near to your heart, so warm childlike wonder can always be reawakened.


“If you want to remain always happy, always perfect and always fulfilled, then always keep inside your heart a pocketful of sweet dreams.” 
 
~Sri Chinmoy