I'm filling out book information for my second book with GUARDIAN ANGEL PUBLISHING.
 How do I condense 40,000 words into a 50 word blurb that will entice a future readership.  For starters, I always love my characters and by the end of the book I'm living with them, worrying about them, wondering if I've put them into a precarious situation from which they'll never recover.
 TOW HOUSE LILLY was inspired by a sweet little neighbor girl by the same name who ferried back and forth between two homes after her parents' divorce. Her dad jokingly said, "Lilly lives in two houses."

 A wonderful premise,  I thought, but a premise is just that. With no plot you have no story. Slowly she emerged with a fully fleshed step-family, love interest for her mother, and an endearing Grandmother with the energy of someone half her age.

Now to work on the cover illustration. Slowly working out the roughs on watercolor paper; Lilly is truly coming to life.

Illustrator's Grass is Greener.

So I was purusing the internet as so many freelance artists and writers are wont to do. I discovered a wonderful artist whose work in children's book illustration made my heart leap.  

That's my style, I said to myself. Why aren't I more aggressive. I poked and looked. Ah, she has an agent. I must see how my work fits with that agent. Surely, if I submit, that agent won't be able to resist. On to the agent. Oh, I've submitted to a member of her family, but not her directly. Get the addy in address book, look through my queries. Quick! Not a minute to waste. How I'd love to be that illustrator! I pondered important calls coming through.
 Then I backspaced too many times, and as the internet so frequently does, it time-warped me to a page I had already visited. But not very thoroughly.
I was back on the illustrator's page. It was as though I had missed an essential piece of information. In a small corner were condolences. She had apparently suddenly and tragically passed in 2005. There would be no more contracts, calls, etc. Her lovely work would certainly be a legacy but no more works would be forthcoming.
My mood instantly changed. Oh, sure I'll continue submitting. There will be days when there's a sense of urgency, days when I'll ponder those contracts coming in, days when I feel like time is running out on me. And always a little prayer for all those involved in this business of children's publishing.

Happy Birthday Bob!

Just finished reading THE DRESSMAKER, a wonderful historical novel by author Kate Alcott. As I was thinking of adding a small review, I happened upon my old SHELFARI account which now allows me to add a Widget to my blog. So voila! Here 'tis.
Happy Birthday to my dear Hubby who adamantly refused a cake. Ok, not a birthday cake, how about a chocolate cake with no candles. Problem solved. So it's frosted and awaiting the evenings very played down celebration. Did I mention dear Hubby is not fond of birthdays.

Did I Miss Spring

As we once again haul air conditioners in, supporting them in the various windows, I'm reminded that two weeks ago we donned winter coats, convinced ourselves, hot coffee in our laps as we sat on the wooden glider, that spring would come. Judging from the rhubarb and promises of tiger lilies,  it was indeed here.
Memorial Day weekend allowed the tent to be out~ briefly. Winds and rains forced it to be taken down and hung to dry. And now husband has decided it's not worth the effort. I love to draw in the tent; my miniature window on the world sans mosquitos. Even Lily seems content enough, hunkered down on old comforters that found their way there for an overnight.
I want to hang on to the few more days of 70's, birds chirping in celebration of their fledglings. That small window of time before neighbors consume my solitude with noisier celebrations of the summer solstice; pools, splashes, cries and scoldings.
So I ask again, "Did I miss spring?"

Ahead of time or Behind?

It's the day after Christmas and I'm pretty sure many of my neighbors, one in particular will be aggressively dismantling their holiday decor. While it's early, in a couple of hours I'll see her out there, alone, boxes on the ground, small ladder at the ready, undoing what she was the first one in the neighborhood to do, more than a month ago. The rest of us were quietly savoring our turkey dinners and like a beacon from the Griswalds, her lights illuminated our living room. Like clockwork, it's been that way for more than a month every evening at sundown.
We'll likely see many of her decorations at the street for garbage pickup and there will be valentines in her window before the rest of us have our trees down.
Maybe it's my age, that contemplative period when kids are grown, well pretty much any way; still around but no longer really accountable to their parentals. I can savor, speculate, yes, even give in to a little laziness. Twelve days of Christmas meant to me it was a season, not a day to be done with as soon as the last sugar cookie is gone and the turkey is, well, ready for soup rather than sandwiches. I've been reading, Jim Bishop's THE DAY CHRIST WAS BORN and clearly those events took more than a day. Unlike customary manger scene portrayals, the Wise Men didn't turn up until Jesus was more than eight days old.
I want to see the old CHRISTMAS CAROL on tv, not a ton of contemporary Hallmark made for tv movies, laugh at the Griswalds one more time, maybe pop in a now antiquated "Carol Burnett Show" special.
As an illustrator who sometimes does seasonal work, I'm always thinking six months ahead anyway. Christmas cards need to be finished by June, any holiday magazine submissions now need to have a summer theme. But for the moment, I'll linger; watch the news, run some laundry and bask in the knowledge there is no where I really have to be.
Merry Christmas to all of you and a very happy, safe, productive and Blessed New Year.

Flu or what

Fighting a nasty four days of vertigo has left me pondering what is actually wrong. It can't be flu, no temp, aches pains, etc. It's annoying when you can't draw and assignments are due. And how is it possible that a room can feel like it's about to swim as you're staying in one place. Worst case scenario, my MS has yet again reared it's large and ugly head, just when weather is nice enough to really enjoy- quick before it snows. So, pens and paints wait as I speculate. Get the doctor's number out and put it back. Speculate some more. Thank goodness for audio books. Perhaps I'll briefly not fight this and give in to it. Some pillows and delicious words of James Patterson. What say you?

Mary Magdalene Illustration

As a natural-born redhead and illustrator, I was delighted to receive an assignment for MY LIGHT MAGAZINE to illustrate Mary Magdalene. This wonderfully enigmatic and elusive New Testament character has fascinated, Catholics, Christians, and historians alike.
So where do I begin. I look for resource illustrations and find as I knew I would, fine art representations; many hinging on the sultry as well as downright erotic. I always thought of her as the unnamed woman who washed the feet of Jesus with her tears. Further research indicated that at this time Jesus was visiting a Pharisee's house, a controversial step for a holy prophet. In fact the entire event was steeped in controversy.
Back to the illustration. I knew I was over thinking as I pulled Mary Magdalene to the foreground. I tried to create a look of longing and wistfulness. After all, at some level, Jesus was a love interest. (Whose feet would you wash with your tears and dry with your hair if not for love?) I placed Jesus somewhat in the background, with a wise old man (the probably wealthy Pharisee) pouring Him wine.
The event of creating the red hair reflected my views of the scripture as I repeatedly, softened, lightened, punch up color with the most vivid mineral orange. Too bright? Subdue with terra cotta. Too brown? add some venetian red. Ah, just right. How much hair would have shown. More than Our Lady, for sure. But she's inside the house, is her hair still covered? Probably.
Hold on, go back to the scriptural resource. But she's not actually named. Do I even have the right Mary? I'll have to take Pope Gregory the Great's word for it.

MEMORIAL DAY

Chilly but pleasant Memorial Day and Happy Birthday Lily Pearl, our 5 yr. old Dalmation. She has a huge stuffed toy fish waiting for her. (She almost saw it as we brought it in the house and I swear she followed my daughter to see where she was hiding it.) Of course she'll squeak it to death and we'll have to keep her from annihilating it. Then a game of hide and seek of course. And a special treat in her dinner bowl. Happy Birthday Sweet little girl. You'll never know how glad we are you share your life with us.

SAW WHAT!

An evening walk. Chilly but doable; We needed jackets, my daughter and I. It was a bit darker than I like to out; no longer seeing our shadows and dependent on streetlights and a few opened living room windows to shine light out on ourselves. I regretted not having brought a flashlight and was just about to complain when my daughter grabbed my arm. I instinctively stopped and looked around, "furtively", you might say, were this the beginning of a mystery novel. Karen pointed up into the tree. I saw nothing unusl, save what appeared a batlike presence fluttering madly in place, then flying off. On second look, an odd shaped mass of feathers, twittering softly, babyish even. It was a few seconds before I realized I was looking at an owl. Small, but indigenous to NW Ohio is the sweet little saw whet owl. I longed for a camera. We stood in awe for about 15 minutes, then went on our way. Nest time, a flashlight and a camera, I promise.

Winter Storm

We're bombarded once a gain with snow. A whopping 8-12 inches due by dinner time. So I'm going to be stuck indoors once again (my nasty MS keeping me from safely shoveling or walking.) thank goodness for the exercise tapes I can watch from my computer screen. A favorite, a walking tape lets me walk and actually break a sweat. Problem is, my screensaver often takes over in the middle of it so I need to push mouse to keep it going. Aurgh! Happy skiing to those in the midst of this most recent winter storm. Stay safe and warm.

ICE STORM

Not sure whether to be glad we're iced in or not. While I wouldn't have minded all snow (which would have translated into 66-12 inches, Mother Nature decided to once again treat us to a variety of events ranging from snow, to sleet (about 5:00 this morning) to freezing rain. The temps hovering right at freezing cause the moisture to arrive as rain then freeze at the ground. Now it's thawing somewhat, leaving a slushy mess which is supposed to be followed by snow. YUCK! I think of all those individuals trying to get home for Christmas and other winter holidays and celebrations and my heart goes out to them. On the plus side, being "weathered in" always gives rise to the creative muses and so I'll probably work on my much delayed "REUBEN" a wip in progress that even I weary of at times. (My illustrative style changed after I was well into it, preferring now watercolor over layered colored pencil, but will continue in the latter venue on this project.)
I'll try to ignore, at least for the time being, the drier buzzer going off, or the sound of the salt truck. And transport myself to pre-war Germany for some artwork.

WAITING

I'm not the most patient person and never more so than waiting to hear from an editor. And it's not unsual to have a six month wait for an answer. Even then, one should expect to do some rewrites.
I know the rule of thumb is to have seven (yes, seven!) things out there at all times.
I'm sure the suspense of wondering who is reading what and what do they think of it would render me completely helpless. After all, how many hours can one reasonably spend in front of a screen that isn't platinum?
It's a heady thing to have your manuscript requested. You begin to fly around wondering what to wear, what time he'll pick you up, (oops no, that's high school prom). You begin to fly around wondering how you'll cast your leading character when Hollywood comes calling. Then you weakly crawl to the publisher's site and hesitantly peel back the covers of what he already deemed publishable. Oh, no, I'm not nearly edgy enough for the YA market. Oh, God!, that character has my character's voice! Rendering my character now speechless.
I received advice a long time ago; tell your story. Have engaging realistic characters, Then worry about marketing. Having done that, move to the next project. OK. done. Excuse me while I check my email.

ALL SOUL'S DAY

After the hype of Halloween and before the hype of Election Day, sits a quiet barely acknowledged day of All Soul's. Traditionally a day of prayers for the dead, it leaves me reflective on individuals who are dearly departed and recently departed. People I thought would be around forever, or, at least until I got around to calling, going to lunch, writing. But they weren't. Three dear friends have passed since August. I have no doubt they're around, chuckling at my stupidity, encouraging me in moments of doubt, and, I hope, forgiving my moments of nastiness, indifference or just plain neglect. Did I dismiss them when I heard they had Alzheimers, figuring they wouldn't know who I was anyway? Did I avoid them when the terrible C word came up, wondering what I'd say? Was I offended when, in a senior moment, they forgot my name or lost my number? Whatever the reason, I'm sure I could have done better. So before the Christmas season is upon us, that's my goal. To do better.

Beautiful Day

I'm trying to enjoy the wonderful fall weather before either rain or snow comes. Today is so gorgeous and cool enough for a good walk. So many birds in the yard (my mom always saw that as a sign of impending doom_ hope that's a wive's tale; don't want anything to mar this great day and the fact that Im at least temporarily remitting.
Great inspiration for artwork. I've had some terrific assignments that lend themselve to my love of history (or at the very least, nostalgia). Working on a conestoga wagon, draft horses in traces, ah, where do all those lines go, LOL! But for the next 40 minutes, I'm going to indulge and get a nice long walk.