"Discipline"

In my last post on this blog, I wrote a list of words that would inspire me in 2013. One of them is the word "Discipline". It is not one of my favorite words. It conjures up visions of angry aunties and strict teachers. I was even hesitant to add it to my list and yet I knew I must in order to make it through the first 7 months of 2013. Erasing the negative images associated with the word, I embrace its promise of routine, planning, direction, order. And if I add the word "self" in front of it, it becomes all the more friendlier and positive. So with self-discipline at the forefront of my days I am:

•  painting a new book with a deadline at the end of March. It is called Deer Dancer, written by the author, Mary Lyn Ray, who also wrote Mud and Red Rubber Boot Day, two of my earliest illustrated books. It is wonderful to be inspired by her words again. My studio is glowing green which is a wonderful thing as temperatures promise to drop again today and tomorrow with -35 degrees wind-chills!
• Marketing, writing and creating activity guide, up-dating website, preparing slide shows and talks, scheduling events, creating post cards, etc. for the publication of my new book, When Stravinsky Met Nijinsky, Two Artists, Their Ballet, and One Extraordinary Riot. 

I am so excited about this book! I cannot wait to share it with the world. It has been nine years in the making with lots of back-story. It's publication date is March 5th and I have many book store events as well as a big lecture to give about its making. The manuscript won the McKnight Fellowship for Children's Literature this year which is allowing me to get ready for the next thing on my list...

• In May I will be an Author-in-Residence at the American School of Paris for a week. I will be working with the Librarian, Dance Teacher and Music Teacher at the school to bring workshops to the students all inspired by my new book. When I am done, I am traveling to Venice to research a chapter book I began last year that is set in Venice. Then I will return to Paris on time to be present for the centennial performance of The Rite of Spring at the very theatre it was performed at 100 years ago, where a riot broke out. And if you want to know more about that, read my book! 

Le sacre dancers - 1913

• I finished the script for Circus Juventas summer show in December and finalized the set design in early January. Yesterday was the first full production meeting, so the sets and props are being built and soon painted with my final "uber-painting" to be done as soon as I return from Europe. I have a team of painters to help this year, so I am looking forward to painting "big" come June-July. The show this year is "OZ"-- the circus version. My son Cooper will be Tin Man-- though a sort of Steam-punk version. 

model for the Wicked Witch's castle with trampolines for wall tramp act.

2013 promises many wonderful adventures and events for me. I want to be able to embrace all that it is offering. Thus I embrace the word discipline with the added self. 

What 2013 holds for me...

I don't have a new book coming out in 2013, but I do have the exciting adventure of teaching at Spalding University's MFA residency abroad in Ireland during the month of July!  Half of the time will be spent in Dublin on the grounds of Trinity College, and the other half will be in Galway, including a visit to the Galway Film Fleadh, an international film festival.  When the residency is over, my husband will meet me in Ireland, so we can do some traveling on our own.

Right now I am in the midst of registration and preparations for our MD/DE/WV SCBWI Conference and 20th Anniversary Celebration to be held on March 23, 2013, and featuring award-winning author T.A. Barron, Caldecott award-winning illustrator Paul O. Zelinsky, author and co-founder of SCBWI Stephen Mooser, editor Jill Santopolo of Philomel/Penguin Group, editor Sylvie Frank of Paula Misner Books, a Simon & Schuster imprint, agent Ammi-Joan Paquette of Erin Murphy Literary Agency, and agent Evelyn M. Fazio of EMF Books, LLC.  This promises to be a truly inspirational gathering of speakers!  After this event, I will step down as Co-Regional Advisor for the region and, though I'll remain active within the organization, I will have more time to focus on my own writing.

And I remain open to whatever new opportunities 2013 presents to me...

2013...

2013 holds lots of promise for me, with two (and maybe three) new books coming out this year:
*How Martha Saved Her Parents from Green Beans, illustrated by Mark Fearing (I got my first copy in the mail today)
*Moo! illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka (I can hardly wait for this book's September release date)
*And possibly Arlo's Art-rageous Adventure, the first picture book where I get to be both author and illustrator (we are still working on the cover details, but it should be out late 2013 or early 2014)
And I'm resolved to be make my writing a priority. I want to have new books coming out regularly.

With all the challenges with family members so many of the Spuds have faced recently, I hope that Stephanie is correct, and that 2013 is wonderful year for ALL of us.

Reboot the Usual Resolutions

Like others on this blog, last year presented some challenging issues in my life that distracted me from work, at times.  But I am starting the new year refreshed and ready to get back at it.  My resolutions remain the same: keep working on my craft, finish some projects, submit said projects, keep working, keep submitting, bask in the glow of acceptances as they come, keep working.  All the while, of course, I need to enjoy the other interests and people in my life...

What's New In 2013

For some reason, I have been telling my husband that 2013 is going to be my year.   Maybe it's because my first picture book came out fifteen years ago this year. Maybe it's because my first YA came out in 2008 , five years ago, and the sequel to that book is coming out in September. Well, only two weeks into this year, I found out I will be going on an author tour for that novel. Yes, I actually chortled when I read that email. More details to come, I don't know the cities, but I will definitely let you know. I told my Minnesota sister-in-law  " I have been waiting fifteen years for an author tour" and she said, " And some people will wait forever!" She's right, of course. 2013 will be a year of being grateful for whatever comes my way. There are no givens or entitlements in the business of publishing, each book could be my last, and I need to keep my nose to the grindstone.....as I stop and smell some roses along the way. I have a feeling it is going to be a great year for all the Spuds.

Resolutions....

One of my resolutions was to be more organized, but obviously I am failing so far... But what I lack in the day to day stuff I do more than make up for in the big stuff. Like I did turn in Book One of my middle grade series on January 1st...I know I have plenty of revisions facing me (including incorporating a lot of sailing-related things from our resident sailing expert Spud Mark) but I  am well on my way, I think. And I am beginning the draft of Book Two, as well as working on another YA... I have some exciting things happening in 2013, including a new novel that  was about seven years in the making, but more on that my next post.  Happy 2013 to all!

Better Late Than Never

I may be a little slow at the starting gate this year to post my writing-related resolutions for 2013, but that's because I've been busy writing.  2012 was a tough year for me--chock full of family issues and loss.  I admit I did not move forward with my novel.  In fact, I went months without even touching my manuscript.  But, sometime last October I received an email from Audrey Couloumbis, who had recently moved to our MD/DE/WV SCBWI region and was looking for a writer's group.  I wrote back and asked, "Are you THE Audrey Couloumbis who wrote the Newbery Honor book Getting Near to Baby?"  Her humble answer was, "Only in SCBWI would I have name recognition."  Well, to make a long story short, Audrey and two other close writing friends of mine, Lois Szymanski and Sue Poduska, and I have formed a critique group--precisely what I needed to boost my writing spirit, make me accountable, and give me deadlines.

Here's a picture of me, working away in my writing cabin while trying to keep my hands warm on a recent cold day.  At a quick glance, it looks as if I've grown fur on my hands or have become part werewolf in my passion to get back to writing.

By the way, Audrey Couloumbis has a brand new YA out, Not Exactly A Love Story (Random House), if you're looking for a good read!