Laredo Book Festival in Texas.  I recently participated with other authors in the Laredo Book Festival. My daughter, illustrator Carolyn Dee Flores, and I did a dual presentation about snow cones because we both have books out about snow cones. Is that not too cool? She illustrated the picture book, A Surprise for Teresita, while my book was The Battle of the Snow Cones.

Author (right) with snow-cone machine and operator.

After the presentation, the library staff had a real honest-to-goodness snow-cone machine and those attending the festival enjoyed the delicious ice treats.

If you’re thinking about entering a writing contest, and you should be, take a peek at a post on the Institute for Writers blog, titled “How to Win a Writing Contest.” I just entered one a few weeks ago. Wish me luck.

Have a Blessed Thanksgiving.

Storyfest. A few days ago, I attended an event, “An Evening with the Authors” here in San Antonio. It was sponsored by the Friends of Northside Libraries as a fundraiser. The activity center where it was held was packed with authors, illustrators, teachers, and librarians. The authors rotated from table to table to talk about our books. It was a fun evening with a silent auction and books, books, books.

I also just got back from meeting with one of my critique groups. I took several poems that I want to submit to another contest—this time a poetry contest. Will let you know the results.

Here is an interesting link for the month of November. On the blog, Publishers Weekly ShelfTalker, “The Month of Mo” written by Elizabeth Bluemle, details NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). Also mentioned in the article is the National Picture Book Month calendar featuring authors and illustrators for the month of November. I was honored to have been featured as one of the “champions”  on this calendar in 2014.