Hi friends,
I'm coming your way soon to celebrate my new picture book . . .

Book store Events Fl & IL
Sat. May 10 - The Book Loft, Amelia Island FL 11 am - 1 pm 
Sat. June 7 - Barbara's Bookstore, Lombard IL 1 pm
Sun June 8 - Barbara's Bookstore, Vernon Hills IL 1 pm
Sat. June 28 - Story & Song, Amelia Island, FL 10:30 am

Speaking Events IL
How to Make Your Prose & Poetry POP with Poetic Devices
Tues. June 3 - Urbana Free Library, IL 7 pm
Thurs. June 5 - Dole Branch Mtg Room, Oak Park, IL 7 pm
(Both sponsored by SCBWI-IL, free events open to all)

Hometown Authors: Our Paths to Writing Children's Books (Eileen Meyer, Natalie Rompella & Malcolm Newsome)
Tues. June 10 - Waukegan Public Library, IL 6:30 - 8 pm
(Program is for all ages - adults and children plus crafts)

Sandcastles & Crafts - Children's Program
Wed. June 11 - Clarendon Hills Library, IL 3:30 pm
(Children from any area may register for the free program)

Hope to see you there!

This month I had the opportunity to visit Washington D.C. - a favorite place and frequent stop on my travels. If you haven't been, you must add THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS to your tour list the next time you visit D.C. This architectural wonder is so beautiful — it's always a special thrill to wander inside this building dedicated to books and reading. I spied my recent title, THE SUPERLATIVE A. LINCOLN, with gorgeous art by illustrator Dave Szalay, at the Library of Congress Bookstore - WOW! Always excited that fresh and fun Lincoln stories are finding their way into the hands of young readers. Happy touring!

Amazing weekend at the Amelia Island Book Festival 2024, raising funds for literacy & reading programs in the community. So enjoyed spending time w/ these authors: (left to right) James Spooner (YA writer), Kevin Lewis (adult fiction), (me), David Baldacci (adult fiction), James Ponti (MG fiction), Deborah Goodrich Royce (adult thriller), Terah Harris (librarian and adult fiction), and John Grisham (adult fiction, of course!!) 

Sometimes writers enter contests to receive feedback on a yet-to-be-published project, and find out if they are on the right track. .  . Seeking validation from judges who routinely review manuscripts - and because most contests are set up as a "blind" submission (no names revealed), judges determine if the work stands on its own.

That's what I did with this unpublished picture book project. I love this sweet little story, but yet it has met with resistance from some because it falls into a category of books that may seem "saturated" at times. (But it has received an endorsement from a key editor in the industry, too!) Pitching your project is like trying to find that perfect match between topic and willing editor at just the right moment. I'm going to give this one all I can - and find a home for it someday!