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Monday, October 28, 2013

PiBoIdMo - I'm in!






I've finished the NaNoWriMo challenge 3 times, but this year I'm trying something different. PiBoWriMo, which stands for Picture Book Idea Month.

So I'm taking the oath...
I do solemnly swear
that I will faithfully execute
the PiBoIdMo 30-ideas-in-30-days challenge,
and will, to the best of my ability,
parlay my ideas into
picture book manuscripts
throughout the year.

This should be fun. I'm cracking open a new Moleskin notebook for the occasion. Usually, I have no problem coming up with ideas. (I find the implementing to be the hard part.) But 30 fresh, original, awesome ideas during a single month might push me to my limit. Plus I'm going to be cooking a turkey during that time. (Not to mention promoting my picture book, Dear Santasaurus.)



I'm tired already.

If you want to join in all the craziness, visit the website for registration and information. (There are prizes!)
http://taralazar.com/

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Setting Up School Visits For November and December



I love visiting elementary schools and meeting young readers.
I'm setting up one school visit per week for the remainder of 2013. Please e-mail me to get on the schedule. 
stacy (at) stacymcanulty (dot) com

 
Speaking to children at an elementary school in NC.

About my school visits

  • I have designed a 30 minute presentation about books, dinosaurs, and writing. This presentation, which includes PowerPoint, works in an auditorium, media center, or classroom.
  • I can also talk to children about writing and story ideas. This is best in a classroom setting or small group.
  • All school visits, which can last up to two and a half hours, are completely customizable.

 
Dino Trivia Game (I'm the handsome spinosaurus on the left.)

About my book

  • Dear Santasaurus is my debut picture book. It’s series of letters from Ernest B. Spinosaurus to Santasaurus throughout the year, chronicling all of Ernest's nice (and naughty!) behavior.
  • The School Library Journal wrote, “The book is sure to elicit many laughs at storytime, and possibly inspire kids to keep up their own year-round correspondence with Santa.”
  • And The Horn Book review said, “Bold black outlines and vibrant colors mark Ernest as a fitting cartoon stand-in for unruly but well-intentioned children.”



Now Available


About me
 I’m a mother of three from NC. I love books and dinosaurs. Want to know more?
 
Signing a book for my own children.

About the cost

Please contact me directly for pricing.
stacy @ stacymcanulty (dot) com

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Author Blog Hop



Last week I was asked by the lovely Tina M. Cho to join a blog hop. I said yes despite never hopped before (and having a very pathetic vertical leap). 

I hop like a bison. Not so good.

Say hello to my fellow writer Tina M. Cho...
 
Tina is the author of 26 guided reading books from Lakeshore Learning and Compass Media. A coloring book, God Is So Good, from Warner Press was published in 2013. She has three nonfiction books forthcoming from Legacy Press Kids. She is a former elementary teacher who currently homeschools her 6th grade daughter and 3rd grade son. Though she grew up in Iowa, she is now living outside of Seoul, South Korea. Learn more about Tina at http://www.tinamcho.com/





This hop requires me to answer 4 questions. That I can do.

What are you working on right now? 
I’m always drafting and rewriting picture books. It’s a continuing (fun!) process. I’m also writing a YA novel. My goal is to have a first draft done by the middle of October. For over a month, I’ve been working on the novel an average of 4 hours a day. When it’s complete I plan on unwinding by cleaning our bathrooms and organizing my closet.

How does it differ from other works in the genre?
The YA involves a tragedy, but I really prefer to write humorous pieces. So I’m taking a strange look at death and grieving. I guess you can also call it historical fiction. It takes place in 2007 and I’ve made every effort to capture the look, sound, and feel of 2007.

Why do you write what you do?
I tried writing for adults when I started, but it turns out I’m very immature. (I actually had an agent tell me that!) I love reading kids’ books from picture books through young adult. I didn’t read much as a kid so I’m catching up on lost time. And the idea of writing books that kids will read (and hopefully love) blows my mind. I’m truly living my dream.

What is the hardest part about writing?
There’s a lot of “hardest parts” when it comes to publishing, from rejections to negative reviews. Yuck! But the hardest part specifically related to the craft of writing is staying in love. At the beginning of every project, I’m in love. Then I go through the period where I want to break it off. And if I followed that urge I’d never finish a manuscript. The reason for the break could be plot or character or even related to the amount of research needed. There comes a point when I feel trapped in a dark hole with no way out.
I also have a hard time with grammar and spelling. (But that’s probably obvious.)


The final bounce in the blog hop is to tap three other kid lit authors. It is here that I have failed. I asked seven authors to participate and only one said yes (and she’s been double tagged).  So without further delay, I give you Mary.

Mary Cronk Farrell is an award-winning author of Children's/YA books and former journalist with a passion for stories about people facing great adversity with courage. Writing such stories has shown her that in our darkest moments we have the opportunity to discover our true identity and follow an inner compass toward the greater good. Both her fiction and non-fiction titles feature little-known true stories of history based on thorough research. Her latest, PURE GRIT; HOW AMERICAN WWII NURSES SURVIVED BATTLE AND PRISON CAMP IN THE PACIFIC comes out in February 2014. www.MaryCronkFarrell.com.
 








If you or a loved one would like to be added to this hop, please send me a note. stacy @ stacymcanulty (dot) com