Ten writers for children. All with something to say.

4/16/12

I'm looking forward to...

This round is about things we're looking forward to. I've got a few. My current WIP is the sequel to The Compound. I'm looking forward to finishing the draft. For me, that's the worst part: the actual creating. Once the draft is done, I'm very happy to plop on my revision hat and go to town. But first I have to finish the book...
I'm also looking forward to starting in on my new middle grade series. I have a fairly detailed outline written for the first book, which I'm excited to dive into. Of course, I have to finish my other book first...
And in August, my latest novel comes out. It looks like this:


and I'm so excited to get the actual copies of the book. It was a tough book for me to write and I'm glad to be finished.

But actually, the thing I'm looking forward to the most is June 8, when my youngest daughter, Tanzie, graduates from high school. I'm not looking forward to her going off to college, but I am ready for the k-12 part to be finished. Here she is when she was about 3. We lived in Fergus Falls, MN, and my husband's project for the US Fish and Wildlife Service was to restore 300 acres of native prairie. Over the 7 years we were there, it went from a barn and some fields to the Prairie Wetlands Learning Center. Tanzie spent a good portion of the first 5 years of her life out there. I took this photo of her dipping a net into the wetlands, trying to catch tadpoles. Seems like yesterday.

7 comments:

David LaRochelle said...

Boy, is that a striking cover for THE RAFT, Stephanie. That's going to grab folks'attention immediately!

And yes, you DO have a lot to look forward to!

Edie Hemingway said...

Stephanie,
I absolutely love the cover of THE RAFT and can't wait to read it! And what a rich life you and your family have had, living in so many unusual areas of the world amid such natural beauty. Best wishes to Tanzie as she graduates from high school!

Lauren said...

I agree with Edie and David-- what a gorgeous cover for your book! I will add, that I love the gorgeous photo of Tanzie! I understand what you are saying about being ready to be done with K-12. I am feeling the say way here, but my son is only in 10th grade! Yikes- two years to go.
Anyhow, congratulations on raising another child to the point of letting go and congratulations on your new books, the one being released and the ones in the works!

Christy said...

Stephanie, you have so much richness in your creative life--a good fortune for an empty-nester. It's interesting to balance the various stages of creative work. I'm impressed that you can focus on writing, revising, and developing something new simultaneously. THE RAFT will certainly be another feather in your cap. Feathers may be light, but seems like your cap is getting mighty heavy!

Congrats to Tanzie (and you and your husband for successfully launching another child). One year to go for us.

Stephanie said...

Thanks guys. I love the cover too. And I feel lucky I have a series to write at the same time my baby is going off to college. I think it will help keep my mind off the empty house...

john said...

I love both the cover and the picture. I also love having a daughter the other side of college. some big advantages of that including not paying tuition.

Mark said...

Congratulations, Stephanie! I'm really looking forward to updates about your series, it sounds awesome!