Picture Books – Page 2 – My Pilgrimage to Publication and Beyond

On The Verge

Long time, no type, friends! I’ve had several bigger things happen since the last time I blogged… I was invited to join Bethany Hegedus’ The Verge in early March. Bethany, herself, called me and we had a wonderful conversation. I jumped right in to what’s a sort of sub-community within the Courage to Create. ItContinueContinue reading “On The Verge”

Good News, Great News

I have a very happy update! In the last week, I won a mini-mentorship with THE Kailei Pew and received my first-ever REQUEST from a Literary Agent. Woooooo! I was privileged to visit with Kailei via Zoom last week and she’s just as lovely as I’ve always known. She asked me to send her threeContinueContinue reading “Good News, Great News”

Birds, Books, & Becoming

Now we find ourselves almost three months into our new “family situation,” and at least for now, I’d say things have gotten much better. I’ve become a bird person – more so than before – like I’ve got bird seed on Amazon Subscribe and Save. Our whole family finds so much joy watching for theContinueContinue reading “Birds, Books, & Becoming”

It is Well with Me

For the past week, the song It is Well by Bethel Music has been on my heart and mind. The lyrics help me feel grounded, preparing me for the weeks ahead as I wait, believing for the next breakthrough in my writing career. Far be it for me to not believeEven when my eyes can’tContinueContinue reading “It is Well with Me”

Winner Winner Turkey Dinner

It’s been a pretty BIG MONTH for my writing journey! On November 2, I was named a WINNER of #FallWritingFrenzy 2022! WOOOOO! #FallWritingFrenzy has a special place in my heart because it was the very first writing contest I entered last year when I first began my true, full-time, not wandering aimlessly career in writing.ContinueContinue reading “Winner Winner Turkey Dinner”

#PBCritiqueFest 2022

It’s a beautifully rainy autumn morning and my hope continues gathering and pooling, like the sloshy puddles on our sidewalk. In querying, no news is still good news, in my opinion. Yet, new opportunities are falling upon me plentifully. #PBCritiqueFest is underway and I’m fully enveloped in promoting and lifting up the author participants whoContinueContinue reading “#PBCritiqueFest 2022”

Flight Delays

A gif of a little gray baby bird peeking out of his nest, saying hello to spring

Peek-a-boo! Spring’s in view. Now someone tell the sun! It’s shivery BRRR without any fur. My feathery down just won’t do. “Momma!” I squirm for a slippery worm. A feast for my beak and my belly! With twinkling eyes, a springtime surprise, Mom says, “It’s your turn to learn!” “To fly?” I replied, butterflies tumbleContinueContinue reading “Flight Delays”

Onward & Yonward

A cup of coffee in a teal-colored coffee mug, a "cinderella" pumpkin, bright orange with some green, a container of candy corn, and a pumpkin apple candle burning, surrounding a book titled Illustrating Children's Books

I feel better when I’m moving forward. It doesn’t have to be much, even baby steps in what I think is the right direction gives me complete satisfaction. Sitting and waiting I can survive. Not a big problem. But when I have a perceived set-back, no matter how small to someone else, I stumble intoContinueContinue reading “Onward & Yonward”

Death of the Storybook

Jen's vast collection of Little Golden Books, Board Books, and other Story Books, most of which were from Jen's childhood. Divided out semi-organized on black shelves.

Yes, it’s very dark and depressing. And, no. No one told me until now. I completely missed the funeral. There was no kindly written obituary or eulogy. Just a collective decision among the publishing world, I suppose. Apparently, the concept and therefore the genre of Storybook is dead. Extinct. I grew up reading storybooks. TheseContinueContinue reading “Death of the Storybook”