Poem. I just got word that another one of my poems has been accepted and will be published this year in a children’s book of poems. Yea!! This short poem had lingered around for years. I had never submitted it before but someone encouraged me and insisted that it was just right for this particular book. And it was!

Here is a list on Publishers Weekly of the upcoming “most anticipated children’s and YA books of spring 2018.” I am looking forward to buying some of these books.

And if you are ready to submit one of your manuscripts, go for it. Here is the link to the Institute for Writers contest. Visit their site for guidelines.

US Kids Magazine is also accepting submissions. This is your chance to submit your story.

I am reading the book, Save the Cat, by Blake Snyder. It’s got great tips for screenwriters as well as writers.

“There is more treasure in books than in all the pirates’ loot on Treasure Island … and best of all, you can enjoy these riches every day of your life.” — Walt Disney

Oldest Bookstore/Library. Here is a link to pictures of the oldest bookstore/library in Lisbon, Portugal. Interesting, right?

Well, Happy New Year!! I wish all writers and illustrators a fruitful and productive year and success in all that you endeavor to achieve.

I am brushing up on reading and revising some old manuscripts that I hope to submit in 2018. One of my goals is to have some more of my poetry published as well. I do have two publications coming up, though. One is a story for POCKETS magazine and the other one is an essay for a book anthology.

School visits and presentations are also forthcoming so I’m busy setting up a schedule. In the meantime, I took time out to attend the musical play of CINDERELLA at our beautiful Majestic Theater. It was an awesome night.

By the way, my granddaughter made this wooden plaque as a Christmas gift. I love it and put it up on my wall next to my PC. I look at it every day for inspiration.

Until next time …. Keep writing!

“The best ideas will eat at you for days, maybe even weeks, until something, some incident, some impulse, triggers you to finally express them.” – Criss Jami